seventh world of chan buddhism - Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun

PART II: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DISILLUSIONMENT
CHAPTER 5
SIX WORLDS OF SAMSARA
Spiritually speaking, human existence is divided into ten worlds. The first six of
these worlds are depicted as segments of an endlessly turning wheel; the last four are seen as
stories of a high mountain.
The six worlds belong to Samsara, the realm of illusion in which reality is distorted
by an intervening ego. The four worlds belong to Nirvana, the realm of pure awareness in
which, in ascending degrees, reality is experienced directly without the ego's interpretations.
The goal of Chan is to get to the top of this mountain, i.e., to experience life spontaneously,
without subjecting all incoming data to the ego's edicts and explications.
Because it is so important to understand at the outset exactly what is meant by these
two terms, Samsara and Nirvana, or, Form and Emptiness as they are frequently called, we
will illustrate the distinction between them.
Let us imagine a room, a parlor in the home of Miss Jane Doe. In this room a human
being sits on a blue velvet sofa. Opposite the sofa are two pale silk brocade chairs. At the
ends of the sofa are tables upon which sit lamps which have large, ruffled shades. On the
floor is a rose and cream medallion rug and on the walls are many oil paintings which bear
the signature of Jane Doe. The windows are open and a strong breeze causes the curtains to
billow into the room. Outside, a poplar tree branch slaps rhythmically against one of the
window panes. A clock on the mantle chimes eleven o'clock.
This description of things exactly as they are is the reality of Nirvana or Emptiness.
Now let us imagine this same room as seen though the eyes of the person who is
sitting on the sofa. Let us say that this person is Louisa Doe, Miss Jane Doe's niece who has
come in response to an invitation for tea. While the aunt is busy in the kitchen, the niece
looks around the room and says to herself, "Those paintings are atrocious. No wonder the
poor woman never married. And those lampshades. Good grief! But this sofa is first rate.
CHAPTER 5 SIX WORLDS OF SAMSARA
S EVENTH W ORLD O F C HAN B UDDHISM
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