Commentary:
A practitioner should not seek Buddha-nature or enlightenment deliberately as this promotes attachment to self. One just meditates without any thought of seeking enlightenment. Let the enlightenment come naturally. In Buddhist meditation, paradoxically, when one seeks enlightenment, enlightenment will never come. Seeking is attachment itself ; enlightenment is the product of complete non-attachment to everything. But do not mistake enlightenment as the total abandonment of all worldly possessions or economic wealth. The Buddha promulgates that a lay person, owning wealth but detached from it, can attain enlightenment. Enlightenment is owning wealth without attachment to wealth as far as the laity is concerned. The monks or nuns renounce the world externally because this can accelerate their attainment of enlightenment. A lay person, who immerses himself or herself in household life and eventually attains enlightenment, is extolled by all.
If one thinks, “When can I attain enlightenment? Or “Am I improving?” during the process of meditation, then the Supreme Way (Buddha Path) will be extremely remote from him. During practice, one must let go of everything. One should work honestly and concentrate on the method without thinking of the result. If one thinks of the result, enlightenment will never come. Enlightenment is totally different from worldly pursuits which involve a lot of thinking prior to attainment of results. One just puts forth the best efforts and concentrates on the method without being attached to it. One should relinquish all views and should let go of everything, including method,. In this way, Supreme Way (Buddha’s Path) can be entered into.
When one stops seeking, relinquishes all views and lets everything go, the Buddha-nature will be perceived into. Thus the Buddha-mind will be actualized.
To be continued ….
