So It Is — Nothing Is Any Great Matter

📖Master’s Reading

Much of life's suffering comes from taking things too seriously. When clinging arises, endless affliction follows. The great wisdom of the Dharma, in a modern rendering, can be captured in two plain phrases: the Diamond Sūtra is "nothing is any great matter"; the Prajñā Heart Sūtra is "so it is." These two phrases seem simple yet hold the deepest way of liberation.

The Diamond Sūtra has two keys: one lets you abide, one opens wisdom for you. When we understand "all conditioned things are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble," we see that all worldly things are unreal and nothing can be grasped forever. However great the setback or temptation, just tell yourself "nothing is any great matter," set down the mind of clinging and fear, and the problem is no longer a problem. When you do not treat difficulty as an earth-shattering thing, the heart's capacity grows without limit.

The Prajñā Heart Sūtra leads us to see the truth of things. When you see through the cause and effect behind appearances and understand that all worldly things are but "the five aggregates all empty," you suddenly awaken and say: "So it is!" So the love and hate that made you feel unbearable were only a fleeting illusion. When you can see through the truth and say from the heart "so it is," you leave inverted dreaming far behind, no longer fear or resist, and the soul regains true freedom.

🌱Reflection for Daily Life

• Affliction has not vanished, but you have already transcended it.
• Understand that suffering comes from taking things too seriously.
• Meeting setback, tell yourself nothing is any great matter.
• See the five aggregates as empty and realize: so it is.
• See through worldly illusion and leave inverted dreaming far behind.