What is real freedom? To find the answer, we must examine the mind, which is so prone to restlessness and distraction. When faced with impermanence, can the mind adapt to whatever circumstance without troubling you or annoying others? When faced with disputes, can the mind remain calm and composed and let things happen naturally? When faced with fame and fortune, can the mind transcend them serenely without getting caught up and imprisoned? When faced with separation, in life or in death, can the mind maintain right mindfulness and clarity? As long as we are able to handle the mind, we can live carefree without abiding in anything and be people who are truly virtuous and free.

Jinbifeng was an enlightened Chan master who had let go of desiring anything, save for a jade bowl that never left his side. Each time he sat down to meditate, he would first make sure to put his jade bowl away in a safe place. Only after he was sure it was safe could he meditate.

Then one day Yama, the lord of death, sent a few of his demons after Jinbifeng because his life had run out and he was fated to die. But because Jinbifeng was in a deep meditative state the demons were unable to seize his spirit. After a few days, the demons became quite worried, for they dared not return to Yama withoutJinbifeng in tow.

Finally the demons went to petition a local earth deity and to ask him how they could get Jinbifeng to leave his meditative state. The earth deity gave them the following advice: “Jinbifeng is enlightened and has already let go of many of this world’s attachments, but he still loves his jade bowl. Perhaps if you were to tamper with his jade bowl, a thought of the bowl would arise in his mind and he would leave his meditative state.”

The little demons did as the earth deity had instructed: they found Jinbifeng’s jade bowl and mischievously gave it a nudge. Sensing the bowl was not safe, Jinbifeng quickly emerged from his meditation and snatched the bowl away.

Now that Jinbifeng’s spirit was before them, the demons clapped their hands and laughed, “Come along now, you’re coming with us to see the lord of death!”

Jinbifeng realized that this single thought of desire was about to end his life, so he immediately smashed the jade bowl and returned to his meditative state. Within the emptiness of his meditation echoed the following verse:

If you wish to seize Jinbifeng,
Then you must lock up space with iron chains;
And if empty space can indeed be locked up,
Then you can come again and seize Jinbifeng.

Everyone has some kind of “jade bowl” within their heart: something they are unwilling to let go of. The “jade bowl” could be wealth, fame, love, power, or any of a variety of other things. If we are unwilling to smash the jade bowl that shackles our thoughts, then how are we to live without abiding in anything? No matter what it is that we become attached to, the mind can become affixed to it, making it impossible for us to realize what is truly most important in life. We can be free only when we let go of and transcend our attachments.

Source: Hsing Yun. Four Insights for Finding Fulfillment: A Practical Guide to the Buddha’s Diamond Sutra. Los Angeles: Buddha’s Light Publishing, 2012.