The Hidden Moon

Below is a passage I helped to translate to Chinese for Buddhist Library’s newsletter:

Brightly shining, luminous is this mind, but it is defiled by the stains which visit it.
This the unlearned common folk do not really understand; so for them there is no development of the mind.

Brightly shining, luminous is this mind, and it is freed of the stains which visit it.
This the learned noble disciples really understand; so for them there is development of the mind.
– Anguttura Nikaya (The Buddha)

明亮的,发光的,是这个心,但它由外来之污垢玷污。
这,无智之一般人不真正了解,所以他们未心净化心。

明亮的,发光的,是这个心,因它无外来之污垢。
这,有智之圣弟子真正了解,所以他们能净化心。
-《增支部》佛陀

I like to use the full shining moon to represent the unseen luminous mind,
which is analogous to our innate Buddha-nature when uncovered,
that is always shining, albeit shielded by the dark clouds of defilements most of the time.
To become enlightened is to clear these clouds once and for all.

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