Today's Word

The Pure Mind Is Like Empty Space

2026 . 04 . 25

When we look at empty space, many appearances can be seen. We see a clear sky, clouds, and mist. At times it appears dark, and at times it appears dyed red. But those colors and shapes are not empty space itself.

Empty space holds all those appearances, but it is not stained by them. Empty space does not become cloudy because clouds gather, and it does not newly appear because mist clears. Empty space is simply empty space.

Our original mind is the same. Thoughts arise, emotions pass through, and discriminations of like and dislike appear, but these are not the original mind itself. Seeing the many conditions and functions that appear in the mind, we grasp them as "me," but the original place of the pure mind is far wider and quieter than that.

Names and language are the same. We explain things in words, give them names, and study by listening to Dharma talks. But words and names are only skillful means that point to truth; they are not awakening itself. Just as empty space cannot be fully contained in words, the world of awakening cannot be fully revealed by language alone.

This does not mean that words and Dharma talks are unnecessary. The Buddha's teaching is transmitted through language, but its meaning goes beyond language. When a finger points to the moon, we should not look only at the finger but see the moon. In the same way, when we listen to a Dharma talk, we should not remain only in the words, but see the place in the mind to which the words are pointing.

Thoughts and emotions come and go like clouds. Discriminations and names arise and disappear like mist. But the original mind that illumines all of them is wide and pure like empty space.

Today, may we not be caught by the thoughts and emotions that arise, may we not remain only in names and words, and may we spend the day looking into the original mind, wide and pure like empty space.

Thoughts and emotions pass like clouds, but the original mind is pure like empty space.

Even when clouds and mist appear in empty space, empty space itself is not stained. In the same way, thoughts and emotions arise in the mind, but the original mind is not stained by those conditions. Words and names are skillful means pointing to truth; they are not truth itself. Today, may we not be caught by discrimination, but look into the pure mind like empty space.

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The Pure Mind Is Like Empty Space
The Pure Mind Is Like Empty Space cartoon
Clouds of thought and emotion gather, and the main character thinks the sky is stained.
Hyedal sunim points to the wide empty space unchanged behind the clouds.
Clouds and mist appear, but empty space is not stained; the original mind is pure.
The main character stops trying to erase emotions and notices them passing.
The clouds drift away, and the mind opens clear like a wide sky.
Thoughts and emotions pass like clouds, but the original mind is pure like empty space.