Buddha-nature and the precepts jewel are sealed in the mind-ground,
Fog, dew, and rosy clouds are now my garments.


When the moon shines on a river, it seems as if there is a moon in the water. Yet, the moon loses nothing by being reflected in the water. The moon appears because water happens to be there. Likewise, the Ch'an practitioner who helps sentient beings does so only because there are sentient beings who need his help. In helping, the Ch'an practitioner loses nothing, and he does nothing special, just as the moon loses nothing and does nothing special when it is reflected by a river. A practitioner helps himself and others, benefits himself and others, yet he does not do it with the desire to obtain a benefit.

A wind shakes the leaves and branches of a tree only because the tree is an obstruction in the wind's path. The wind had no intention of blowing through a tree, and it does not claim credit for doing so; it simply blows. Likewise, a true practitioner does not have personal motives when he helps sentient beings. He simply helps, because others need it.

The clear breeze and bright moon refer to a practitioner's wisdom. The wisdom is beneficial to sentient beings, but the practitioner is unaware that he is doing anything, just as the wind and moon are unaware that they blow and shine.