The New, The Old, and the True Self

The Illusion of New and Old

To the people of this world, the concept of the 'new' is often filled with hope, power, and expectation. It represents a fresh beginning, a promise of something better, or a shift in circumstances. Conversely, the 'old' represents the weight of time, the depth of history, and the accumulation of memories and past experiences. Between the new and the old, there lies the significance of transmission and succession. It indicates that there were those who came before us, and there will be those who follow after us.

Whether we speak of the new, the old, or the space between them, all these concepts are defined by distinctions of front and back, good and bad, time and space. This is the very nature of the world we inhabit. It is a realm defined by these relative differences, and it is within this framework that we find ourselves bound.

The Endless Cycle of Samsara

The cycle of reincarnated existence and the force of karma are constantly repeating and playing out within this framework of time and space. We see the same dramas unfolding over and over again, generation after generation. These dramas are filled with the full spectrum of human experience:

• Emotions: The highs and lows of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
• The Five Poisons: Greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt.
• The Five Desires: The relentless pursuit of wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.

The scripts of these lives remain fundamentally the same; only the time, the space, the characters, and their outward appearances change. We are caught in a loop, repeating the same patterns while believing that each life is a unique and original experience.

The Persistent Nature of Suffering

Within the inner world of the heart, the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death remain constant. The components of our existence—our Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations, and Consciousness—have been present since the very beginning of life. They have never truly disappeared. They are the shadows that follow every living being, persisting through every lifetime.

These sufferings are not merely external events; they are deeply ingrained in the way we perceive our existence. Unless one achieves the state of an awakened being and finds the true self, one will continue to be buffeted by these waves of suffering. We must look beyond the surface of our daily lives to find the stillness that lies beneath.

Awakening to the True Self

In the realm of the true self, there is no distinction of time or space. There is no separation between the new and the old. Everything is one, and everything is as it is. This is the ultimate Truth, the reality of our existence. The Truth does not change based on the person, the time, or the location. It is not affected by the shifting sands of time or the vastness of space.

Because the true self is beyond these limitations, it can penetrate the past and the future, allowing for the perfect harmony of principle and phenomenon. Its reach is infinite, spanning the entire Milky Way, this world and other realms, and encompassing the four holy states and the six realms of existence. In this state of awakening, the body is no longer subject to aging and sickness, and the spirit is neither born nor destroyed; it is truly immortal.

This message was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.