If you can see that all things inter-are with each other,

Then you will not be fooled by the labels of the mind.

Because all things depend upon all others,

There cannot be or will ever be a separate I.

Without a separate I then all things are inconceivable,

All things are transient labels of the mind.

All people are wondrous trails of smoke,

Great endless chains of mysteries.

Although we are not exactly the same,

We are also not totally different…

We are more than our rising thoughts,

More than a string of names and labels.

When we realize our deep connections,

We understand our non-separation.

We are an endless river flowing,

Intermixing with everything.

With this understanding, we can see…

All the things that we quarrel about…

They are like ants on an oak tree,

A little pebble swirling in the sea.

Words and descriptions are provisional,

They can never describe our whole being.

It is like this with all thoughts and things,

Intangible and quite magical!

When we touch our inter-being,

We realize our great dependence,

We see that we are not separate,

We go beyond old illusions.

Mist and fog will disperse…

With the rising of the sun.

Calm lakes and green forests,

Rain clouds and bright flowers.

— Luan Dinh

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