Receiving the unconditioned transmission

I have been thinking about transcendence versus attachment for sometime.  I speculate that this is a major portion of what Buddhism is about.  Reality as we know it is just the appearance of the unreal which is always conditioned, never unconditioned or truly real.

The goal of the would-be-bodhisattva is to realize the unconditioned then enlighten the very thoughts within the mind.

This is exemplified by the mantra found in the Heart Sutra (Xīnjīng), namely, Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha/ Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone utterly beyond, awakening, hail! (awakening to the unconditioned).  The translation of this mantra is fairly simple but what it means is far more subtle than a literal translation can offer. 

Human beings as a rule prefer to stay on this mundane shore of samsara which is the conditioned world.  They crave the body that came through their mother's birth canal.  They are very attached to these bodies.  They could not care less about going beyond, that is, reaching the unconditioned. 

But this mantra is all about going beyond all conditioned things including this body and even its most sublime thoughts and aspirations.  What we aspire to including the one who aspires must also be transcended.  This puts us into a hopeless position or so it seems. But how can we receive the unconditioned transmission by holding on to what is conditioned?

Comments

[Walter Braun]

"appearance of the unreal" -
to me that makes no sense...

[BuddhaRandom]

Interesting. While I don't study Zen as much as others, I've come to similar conclusions on my own via meditation and general questioning of the narrative.

However, this article certainly puts my conclusions into perspective. This reality is conditioned isn't it? I find that to be quite enlightening as it's something I know to be true, yet, never stumbled across the language nor the understanding in a way that brought it forward. Thank you for that, much appreciated.

I most certainly feel the sense of hopelessness, I know there's nothing to cling onto, and how easily I could let loose of the rope will just float and yet...

I think personally that's where I struggle the most. It's like knowing the truth yet I'm unable to step into it fully. Anyway, just using this space to burn through some things.

Appreciate you.