"But deluded people don't realize that their own mind is the Buddha. They keep searching outside"

Bodhidharma, the legendary Buddhist monk credited with bringing Zen Buddhism to China, imparts a profound philosophical insight in this quote. The declaration, "But deluded individuals do not understand that their own mind is the Buddha. They keep browsing outside," records the essence of Zen mentor, which emphasizes direct experience and insight into one's own nature.

At the heart of this quote is the concept that knowledge, symbolized here by "Buddha," is not something external or remote. Rather, it is intrinsic to each individual. Bodhidharma suggests that many people stay "deluded," suggesting they are caught in misunderstandings or misunderstandings about the nature of presence. This delusion leads them to search for enlightenment outside themselves, perhaps through rituals, academic understanding, or reliance on external spiritual leaders.

However, according to this mentor, real awareness originates from recognizing that a person's own mind, or deeper awareness, is already the Buddha. In Buddhist viewpoint, the mind is inherently pure, informed, and capable of viewing supreme fact, but it is frequently clouded by ignorance, desires, and attachments. Zen practice involves stripping away these obscurations to reveal the mind's original, enlightened nature.

This process needs introspection, meditation, and direct experience, instead of intellectual study or speculation. Zen practices often stress looking inward to understand one's true self, promoting a direct, experiential insight into one's essence.

Bodhidharma's message challenges the applicant to desert futile external missions for significance or knowledge. Instead, he encourages the practice of mindfulness and self-inquiry, directing attention inward to discover the innate knowledge and clarity that every private has. Ultimately, this quote functions as a pointer that knowledge is accessible in today minute and within oneself, rather than as a remote goal to be obtained somewhere else.