Enlightened Consciousness in the individual mind acquires for its possessor, not a relative knowledge of things as his intellect does, but the profoundest insight in reference to universal brotherhood of all beings, and enables him to understand the absolute holiness of their nature, and the highest goal for which all of them are making.  Enlightened Consciousness once awakened within us serves as a guiding principle, and leads us to hope, bliss, and life; consequently, it is called the Master[FN#154] of both mind and body.  Sometimes it is called the Original[FN#155] Mind, as it is the mind of minds.  It is Buddha dwelling in individuals.  You might call it God in man, if you like.  The following dialogues all point to this single idea: 

On one occasion a butcher, who was used to kill one thousand sheep a day, came to Gotama, and, throwing down his butcher-knife, said “I am one of the thousand Buddhas.”  “Yes, really,” replied Gotama.  A monk, Hwui Chao (E-cha) by name, asked Pao Yen (Ho-gen):  “What is Buddha?” “You are Hwui Chao,” replied the master.  The same question was put to Sheu Shan (Shu-zan), Chi Man (Chi-mon), and Teu Tsz (To-shi), the first of whom answered:  “A bride mounts on a donkey and her mother-in-law drives it;” and the second:  “He goes barefooted, his sandals being worn out;” while the third rose from his chair and stood still without saying a word.  Chwen Hih (Fu-kiu) explains this point in unequivocal terms:  “Night after night I sleep with Buddha, and every morning I get up with Him.  He accompanies me wherever I go.  When I stand or sit, when I speak or be mute, when I am out or in, He never leaves me, even as a shadow accompanies body.  Would you know where He is?  Listen to that voice and word."[FN#156]

[FN#154] It is often called the Lord or Master of mind.

[FN#155] Another name for Buddha is the Original Mind” (Kechi-myaku-ron).

[FN#156] For such dialogues, see Sho-yo-roku, Mu-mon-kan, Heki-gan-shu.  Fu-kiu’s words are repeatedly quoted by Zen masters.

17.  Enlightened Consciousness is not an Intellectual Insight.

Enlightened Consciousness is not a bare intellectual insight, for it is full of beautiful emotions.  It loves, caresses, embraces, and at the same time esteems all beings, being ever merciful to them.  It has no enemies to conquer, no evil to fight with, but constantly finds friends to help, good to promote.  Its warm heart beats in harmony with those of all fellow beings.  The author of Brahmajala-sutra fully expresses this idea as he says:  “All women are our mothers; all men our fathers; all earth and water our bodies in the past existences; all fire and air our essence.”