When thought is in bondage the truth is hidden, for everything is murky and unclear, and the burdensome practice of judging brings annoyance and weariness. What benefit can be derived from distinctions and separations?
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes that when our thoughts are constrained, understanding and truth become obscured, leading to unnecessary judgments and divisions.
Sengcan reflects on the nature of thought and how it can become a prison, clouding our perception of truth and reality. He suggests that entanglement in judgments and distinctions not only leads to confusion but also mental fatigue. The essence of the message is a call to free our minds from restrictive thoughts to see beyond separations and distinctions, which may ultimately lead to greater clarity and understanding.
In practice
In a philosophical debate, this quote can be used to illustrate the complexity of human perception.
One thing, all things: move among and intermingle, without distinction. To live in this realization is to be without anxiety about non-perfection. To live in this faith is the road to non-duality, because the non-dual is one with the trusting mind.
To live in the Great Way is neither easy nor difficult, but those with limited views are fearful and irresolute: the faster they hurry, the slower they go, and clinging cannot be limited: even to be attached to the idea of enlightenment is to go astray. Just let things be in their own way and there will be neither coming nor going. Obey the nature of things (your own nature), and you will walk freely and undisturbed.
Return to the root and you will find the meaning.
When mind exists undisturbed in the Way, nothing in the world can offend, and when a thing can no longer offend it ceases to exist in the old way. When no discriminating thoughts arise, the old mind ceases to exist.
The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences.
Step aside from all thinking, and there is nowhere you can't go.
Realization consists of getting rid of the false idea that one is not realized.
Ours is not a problem of the intellect but of spiritual poverty. That is why we need a Savior.
We of the sinking middle class may sink without further struggles into the working class where we belong, and probably when we get there it will not be so dreadful as we feared, for, after all, we have nothing to lose.
Religion can emerge in all forms of feeling: here wild anger, there the sweetest pain; here consuming hatred, there the childlike smile of serene humility.
Concern for man and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.
The Old Ones were, the Old Ones are, and the Old Ones shall be. Not in the spaces we know, but between them. They walk serene and primal, undimensioned and to us unseen.
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