Chan Scripture

"Mm-hm."

"Oh, right, Master, can you write a scripture like the Heart Sutra—short and badass?"

"What do you need it for?"

"Hehehe, it's nothing, Master. I'm just curious."

"Such a little thing? Isn't that easy? Cough, cough, cough."

"Really, Master?"

"Of course. Here, look;

'Chan Scripture' — Author: Chanxin

What you see is you, yet not you; what is not you is you. It is so because of consciousness, and also because of nature.

Consciousness discriminates; nature does not.

What you see arises because nature gives birth to mind, mind gives birth to intent, intent gives birth to consciousness—thus the wondrous arises. Yet because of this, the true reality cannot be attained.

Sense faculties and sensory objects coexist, giving rise to consciousness that veils the mind.

Seeing is nature; not seeing is also nature.

Seeing is consciousness; not seeing is also consciousness.

Through the function born of nature, living beings behold all things in the world. Speaking from the standpoint of nature, all things are appearances.

And because one must borrow appearances to see and borrow appearances to know, there are no appearances; it is truly the wondrous arising of emptiness-nature.

Thus: what is truly without is truly with; what is truly with is truly without. Therefore, illusion and reality intermingle, yin and yang coexist.

Emptiness is not other than form; form is not different from emptiness. Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.

Form is the wondrous function through which emptiness manifests; emptiness is the wondrous abiding essence of form.

The Dao gives birth to nature, nature gives birth to mind, mind gives birth to intent, intent gives birth to consciousness. It is often said that a thought of the mind is mind and intent giving rise to consciousness.

Therefore: without consciousness there are no thoughts; without thoughts there is