This World is Very Funny

An excerpt from a letter: This world is very funny. In true nature, all things neither appear nor disappear. Yet people say that things have life and death. This is funny. Things are neither tainted nor pure. Yet people think that some things are good and some things are bad, some things are clean and some things are dirty. Things neither increase nor decrease. Yet people make circles and squares; they think that some things are short and some things are long. This is funny. People are attached to good karma and bad karma. They get happiness and suffering. They have past, present, and future; coming, going, and staying; east, west, north, and south. This is funny.

An eminent teacher once said, 'Original nature is true emptiness.' Yet you want to attain enlightenment. This is funny.

Put it down! Put it down! This is funny. What is 'Put it down?'

GATE, GATE, PARAGATE, PARASAMGATE, BODHI SWAHA!

A hungry child cries to its mother. A dog sniffs all around in search of something to eat. As the sun sets behind the western mountain, the shadow of the pine tree grows longer and longer and touches a distant wall.

Sincerely,

S.S.