In class I gave you guys this poem during class:
The essence of mind
Is formless;
This itself is the subtle
Body of reality.
The essence of mind is
Inherently empty;
This itself is the infinite
Body of space.— Ta-chu, Tang Dynasty Chan Master
Here is my current understanding of the poem
The essence of mind
Is formless;
The mind is not by nature orderly and constricted with the boundaries we put on it
This itself is the subtle
Body of reality.
Reality is like our mind limitless but also chaotic (chaos is not always a bad thing)
The essence of mind is
Inherently empty;
Without the artificial boundaries that we create the mind is clear and floating along happily
This itself is the infinite
Body of space.
Because of the body/mind connection that which is true of our mind is true with out body and vicea versa. An example, The splits are not an impossible task. Anyone’s body can do the splits but we are limited by the idea that it hurts. This does not mean that you should force yourself into the splits today because “pain isn’t real” that will cause a horrific injury. What I do mean though is not to claim that you will never be able to do it because it hurts. Over time you can work through smaller pain events to get to the ultimate goal.
What do you think? Please feel free to leave your comments below.
Gassho _/|\_ ,
Washu
Kung-Fu with Washu 
I appreciate your understanding/interpretation of this. I would not have arrived at the same myself. When I read , ” The essence of mind is formless”, I consider it boundless. “Inherently empty and endless” I gravitate to the universal knowledge bank that we all draw from. The artificial barriers you speak of, are beginning to resonate with me. As to consider ones thought as original or disconnected from others is a power play of the ego.
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