Mokugen Kublicki, Rev. Master

A prayer of silent illumination: we start with the pure intent of the heart.

It is a wondrous mystery that this pure heart and intent exists within us and all beings. It exists at this very moment—not in some far-off land, some far-off place, some far-off kalpa—but here and now. By grace and mystery, the true heart beats within us and within all beings, whether we are in the midst of joy or in the midst of suffering.

With both confidence and humility, we can turn the stream of compassion within to the unchanging source—to silent illumination.

In Japanese there is a word: moku, sometimes translated as ‘silence’. This moku is not a dead, lifeless silence—nor a dead, lifeless vacuum. This ‘silence’, this silent illumination, is the still vibrant heart of the Unborn from whence everything emerges, and to which everything returns. Here radiates eternally illuminating, inherently purifying and clarifying, bright Truth.

The symbolic black of a robe, which young monastics first receive, may appear lifeless and dull. Yet black is made up of colours which can stream a rainbow. Dark black is also the fabric of light! Just so, however things appear, we always have the bright potential of First Mind — the widest and most completely fathomless beating heart of the Unborn.

A starling against the sky may have the appearance of a black shadow but, looking closer, its simple body glistens with rainbow colours and vibrant drops of life. It is enough that it is a starling in the wide sky in the palm and fabric of the Unborn. It is enough to fly that sky, to know the Unborn, to know the Mind that seeks the Way: first mind, last mind, forever mind, forever Buddha.

The prayer of silent illumination: what draws us to this mystery? Yet Its call is to rest in ever-present, true, bright nature. To expect nothing, to seek nothing, to grasp nothing.

The heartfelt prayer of silent illumination rises in our being—whether clouds, emotions fly in the winds of the mind—bodhicitta, the mind that seeks the way is unchanging, luminous and gathers no trace. Where indeed can dust alight?

The prayer of silent illumination: a prayer of no words, the prayer of a full heart. We lift our eyes in the faith of the offering of an open heart. Burdens can be laid down, fears allowed to pass, and worries can dissolve in their inherent impermanence.

The grace and prayer of silent illumination resonates and is heard: we can entrust all to the All.

The prayer of silent illumination: —expecting nothing, seeking nothing, grasping nothing—just opening the hand and heart we find then that no thing is lacking and no thing can be held onto in a tight grip.

The prayer of silent illumination: when, in letting go, we find that we do have all that we need and all that we seek is in our palms and heart. All that we attempt to fix and grasp simply dissolves.

The prayer of silent illumination: where, in opening the heart, we find the fullness of Great Compassion, Great Love, Great Wisdom.

The prayer of silent illumination: where radiates the jewelled luminescence of eternal gratitude, eternal bowing, Eternal Life.

May the prayer of Silent Illumination guide and enrich our day, our night, our stillness, our activities, our comings, our goings. Our life, our death: the Light of Buddha increasing in brilliance and the Wheel of the Dharma always turning.

May we rest there with gratitude eternally.

“In the sapphire of the night
ahead the road is dim,
yet Thy bright light
calls to rest within
ever luminescent Truth”