Our original nature is not attached to phenomena. Just as clay and gold are not attached to forms made of clay and gold, our original nature has never been attached to a single phenomenon.
When we directly discover this nature for ourselves, we realize, for the first time, what non-attachment means. We reflect that since beginningless time, our original nature has never been reborn into a single psychophysical body. Given this fact, by discovering this nature, we also become detached in an instant. This is what real non-attachment means. Nobody can claim to be detached who as not directly apperceived their original nature.
If we fail to realize our original nature what does this mean for us? It can only mean that we are still firmly attached to this psychophysical body of ours even though we might deny being attached to it a thousand times. It also means that we are attached to the conditioned world since our original nature is unconditioned. Being thus attached to the psychophysical body and the conditioned world we are always reborn into it. This is samsara.
HardcoreZen:
The essence or nature of our mortal, skandha body is the Buddha nature. Unless we see this nature in our present mortal condition, we can never be Buddhas. In truth we don't actually possess this nature which is eternal, blissful, personal and pure, it only potentially exists. We still have to 'see' this nature, i.e., the Buddha-nature like making butter from milk.
Posted by: thezennist | May 25, 2013 at 11:19 AM
"But if you can find your buddha-nature apart from your mortal nature, where is it? Our mortal nature is our Buddha nature. Beyond this nature there’s no Buddha. The Buddha is our nature." (Bodhidharma)
Posted by: HardcoreZen | May 25, 2013 at 10:44 AM
I remember reading that the modern teacher Adyashanti had a premonition of his first kensho that took form as the thought that he would "die at the age of 25." He relates that he wasn't particularly disturbed by it (as many would have been.) So from the age of 19 to 25 he galloped after "enlightenment" without knowing exactly what he was seeking--conceptualizing it as "controlling the mind" or some such nonsense he realized later that he had never got from the Zen teacher he was working with. But at 25, the payoff came: after practically killing himself, in the physical sense, or driving himself mad, he realized immortality, joy, and freedom from fear & frantic seeking. This is the result of our Buddhist practice, not obliteration or nihilism.
Posted by: Susan | May 23, 2013 at 11:58 AM