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16. Buddha Dwelling in
the Individual Mind.
Enlightened Consciousness in
the individual mind acquires for its possessor, not a relative knowledge of
things as his intellect does, but the profoundest insight in reference to
universal brotherhood of all beings, and enables him to understand the absolute
holiness of their nature, and the highest goal for which all of them are
making. Enlightened
Consciousness once awakened
within us serves as a guiding principle, and leads us to hope, bliss, and life;
consequently, it is called the Master1 of both mind and body. Sometimes
it is called the Original2 Mind, as it is the mind of minds. It is
Buddha dwelling in individuals. You might call it God in man, if you like. The
following dialogues all point to this single idea:
On one occasion a butcher,
who was used to kill one thousand sheep a day, came to Gotama, and, throwing
down his butcher-knife, said "I am one of the thousand Buddhas."
"Yes, really," replied Gotama. A monk, Hwui Chao (E-cha) by name,
asked Pao Yen (Ho-gen): "What is Buddha?" "You are Hwui
Chao," replied the master. The same question was put to Sheu Shan
(Shu-zan), Chi Man (Chi-mon), and Teu Tsz (To-shi), the first of whom answered:
"A bride mounts on a donkey and her mother-in-law drives it;" and the
second: "He goes barefooted, his sandals being worn out;" while the
third rose from his chair and stood still without saying a word. Chwen Hih
(Fu-kiu) explains this point in unequivocal terms: "Night after night I
sleep with Buddha, and every morning I get up with Him. He accompanies me
wherever I go. When I stand or sit, when I speak or be mute, when I am out or
in, He never leaves me, even as a shadow accompanies body. Would you know where
He is? Listen to that voice and word."3
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