Take Up, and Also Set Down

📖Master’s Reading

All worldly things cannot leave arising and ceasing. Facing all bonds, we must refine the ease and great wisdom to "take up and set down — with a bond, cherish it well; without a bond, bless each other." The ordinary being often loves deeply when the bond arises yet grips and will not let go when it ceases. In truth all worldly meetings have a time-limit; there is no eternal possession, and often the deeper the love, the deeper the pain at loss. When we see through the truth of arising and ceasing, we do not fear forming bonds. In life any bond may be formed, on the premise that when it is used up you can calmly set it down and give rise to no resentment.

True ease is not never having possessed, nor being cold like a wooden figure refusing all feeling, but knowing to cherish when possessing and to set down when losing, following conditions. Life's hardest practice is often not how to gain but how to let go. Gripping fast a bond not one's own only lets both suffer merciless torment in the eight sufferings of parting.

When we understand that losing is only returning to the original point of not knowing each other, and no longer possess excessively, we can turn the regret of parting into sincere blessing. Letting go was never losing but no longer letting the heart be bound by heavy clinging. When you truly learn to take up and set down, the mind dwelling nowhere, the soul regains lightness and great ease.

🌱Reflection for Daily Life

• Understand that all worldly meetings have a time-limit.
• See through arising and ceasing and do not fear forming bonds.
• Take up and set down; cherish and bless.
• Loosen the mind's bindings and regain great ease.
• Life's hardest practice is often not how to gain but how to let go.