Wake up Sooner than Sorry

Yutang Lin

At death suddenly realized that it was only delusive grasping;
And yet all through life has been tossing about in suffering.
Right away the mind opens up and nets of illusion fade away;
Breaths remaining saved for spreading the Dharma on occasions.

Comments:

The congregation of diverse and incessant thoughts in one's mind would be realized to be but illusions and grasping when one is at the juncture of life and death. Nevertheless, even though the realization has finally emerged, unfortunately one's life has been driven and tormented by such thoughts already. If only one could wake up right away to see through such thoughts as delusive, and no longer live under their shadows and be confined within the jail of one's prejudices, then it would be possible to merge into the limitless openness of original tranquillity and purity. The remaining breaths are dedicated to the spreading of the Dharma as occasions arise. May all sentient beings break through the nets of illusions, and all attain original purity.

Written in Chinese: January 10, 1999
Translated: September 5, 1999
El Cerrito, California

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