Categories: Justin Stone: In His Words
One Mind
By: Justin Stone
If one seeks enlightenment apart from the things of the world, that is mistaken. In truth, there is only enlightenment. Properly understood, even ignorance is enlightenment.
One time, living at an ashram in America, a very fine Nun spoke to me and said, “When I go down into the world to buy groceries, I can’t wait to get back to this sanctuary.” I answered that, unfortunately, she did not understand what she had been taught. Not by seeking escape from the world would she attain understanding. She was a very dedicated and faithful practitioner of the Ramakrishna teaching, yet she suffered from this delusion.
For those on a path, or those who are true seekers, I have a question. In Zen it is said that there is nothing but this one Mind (which is no mind). Accordingly, I ask, “Does this one Mind manifest Consciousness, or does Consciousness manifest this one Mind?” This type of inquiry is not a waste of time, nor is it an intellectual exercise. It is a good way to arouse intuition of the Truth.
Source: New Mexico TCC News, Sept. 1996
Originally appeared in: September 1996