old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

could be no bodhi tree. The bodhi tree owes its existence to the seed. The tree is the continuation of the seed. Before the seed penetrated
roots into the earth, the bodhi tree was already present in the seed. If a dharma is already present, how can it be born? The bodhi tree’s
nature is without birth.”
The Buddha asked Ananda, “After the seed penetrated roots into the earth, did the seed die?”
“Yes, Lord, the seed died in order to give birth to the tree.”
“Ananda, the seed did not die. To die means to pass from existence to non-existence. Is there any dharma in all the universe which can
pass from existence to non-existence? A leaf, a mote of dust, a trail of incense smoke—none of these can pass from existence to nonexistence.
All these dharmas transform into different dharmas, that is all. The bodhi seed is the same. The seed did not die. It transformed
into a tree. The seed and the tree are both birthless and deathless. Ananda, the seed and the tree, you, me, the bhikkhus, the Dharma hall,
the leaf, a dust mote, a trail of incense smoke—all are without birth and death.
“Ananda, all dharmas are without birth and death. Birth and death are only mental concepts. All dharmas are neither full nor empty,
neither created nor destroyed, neither defiled nor immaculate, neither increasing nor decreasing, neither coming nor going, neither one nor
many. All these are merely concepts. Thanks to the contemplation on the empty nature of all dharmas, it is possible to transcend all
discriminating concepts in order to realize the true nature of all things.
“Ananda, the true nature of all things is that there is neither full nor empty, birth nor death, becoming nor dissolving. It is based on that
true nature that the world of birth and death, fullness and emptiness, becoming and dissolving arises. If not, how could there be a way out of
birth and death, fullness and emptiness, becoming and dissolving?
“Ananda, have you ever stood on the seashore and watched the waves rise and fall on the surface of the sea? Birthlessness and
deathlessness are like the water. Birth and death are like the waves. Ananda, there are long waves and short waves, high waves and low
waves. Waves rise and fall, but the water remains. Without water, there could be no waves. The waves return to water. Waves are water,
water is waves. Though the waves may rise and pass away, if they understand that they themselves are the water, they will transcend
notions of birth and death. They will not worry, fear, or suffer because of birth and death.
“Bhikkhus, the contemplation on the empty nature of all dharmas is wondrous. It leads to liberation from all fear, worry, and suffering. It
will help you transcend the world of birth and death. Practice this contemplation with all your being.”
The Buddha was finished speaking.
Venerable Svasti had never heard the Buddha speak more profoundly or wondrously. The eyes and smiles of the Buddha’s senior
disciples radiated happiness. Svasti felt he understood the Buddha’s words, but had not penetrated their deepest meaning. He knew that
Ananda would repeat the entire Dharma talk in the coming days. He would then have an opportunity to learn more by listening to the senior
disciples discuss what the Buddha had said.