See the Sea Deeper Than the Waves
In the teaching of the Lankavatara Sutra, waves of many forms of consciousness are said to arise in the sea of storehouse consciousness. The sea is one, yet when the wind blows, countless waves arise. In the same way, on the ground of the original mind, many thoughts and emotions, discriminations, and movements of karma appear.
Waves clearly arise, but they do not exist apart from the sea. Even when the waves are rough, the deep sea does not disappear. Even when the waves grow calm, the sea does not newly come into being. Our mind is like this.
When we see an object with the eyes, judge it as good or bad, and then let emotion and action follow that judgment, karma is made. But if we notice that moment, we are not swept away by the waves and can see the depth of the sea.
A practitioner should not try to get rid of the waves, but should clearly know that waves are waves. It is important to observe, "Today the mind is rough," or "Today it is calm," and not forget the original deep place.
Today, may you not be swept away by the waves of thoughts and emotions as they arise, but spend the day looking into the deep and quiet sea of mind beneath them.
Thoughts and emotions arise like waves, but the original mind is like a deep sea. Rather than trying to remove the waves, we should notice that they arise and pass away. Today, please do not forget the deep sea of the mind.
