Only Those with an Empty Mind Can Become Sages

Buddhist practitioners, whether among crowds or in solitude, should diminish their sense of presence, not pay too much attention to themselves, not take themselves too seriously, not strive to outdo others, and not insist on being first in everything. The self does not truly exist, the other person does not truly exist, the group does not truly exist; there is no first or second, no best or worst—all are merely virtual names and concepts. If a person's mind constantly thinks, "I must defeat everyone, I must be better and stronger than everyone," always wanting to stand out and show off, hoping all eyes are fixed upon them, such thinking carries a very heavy self-nature, is not in accord with non-action, and is not in accord with the mind of the sages; it is very difficult for such a person to eliminate self-view and become a sage.

The mind of a sage is empty and non-active, without such a disposition. The more one tries to assert oneself, the further one's disposition falls behind others. The sages are just the opposite: they have no sense of self-existence; while engaged in conditioned activities, their minds remain non-active. Only those who single-mindedly devote themselves to the multitude are qualified to become sages.