The Great Calm Observation, Volume 1, Part 4, Page 8

 C. The Six Identities with Bodhi, and Revealing the Right Inspiration of the Mind

Question:
Which is the right inspiration of the mind, the beginner’s first inspiration of the mind or the ultimate state of realization?

Answer:
It is like ‘flame and the burning wick’ as described in The Great Discourse:
     “It is not there at the beginning, but it is inseparable from the beginning, and
       it is not there at the end, but it is inseperable from the end¹.”

When one has enough wisdom and faith, and one hears that each single thought is the right inspiration of the mind:

• There will be faith so that one does not slander, and
• There will be wisdom so that one is without fear.

From beginning to end, everywhere there will be the right inspiration of the mind.

• If one is without faith, one will reject the lofty sphere of that which is noble, and there will be no wisdom.
• If one is without wisdom, the highest conceit will arise and one will reason that one is already be equal to the Buddha.

Beginning and end will both be wrong.

Because of this, it is necessary to recognize the Six Identities, which are:

1. Identity With Enlightenment in Principle
2. Identity With Enlightenment in Name
3. Identity With Enlightenment in Practice of Observation
4. Identity With Enlightenment in Appearance
5. Identity With Enlightenment in Increments
6. Ultimate Identity With Enlightenment

These Six Identities begin with that which is common and end with that which is noble.

• They begin with that which common, so that they abolish any doubts or trepidation.
• They end with that which is noble so that they abolish any conceit of greatness.

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Footnotes:

1. Beginning and end: The flame (the light that is the inspiration of the Bodhi mind) is the same whether it is at the beginning or the end, but the wick (the point of progress along the path) changes. There is only progress on the path (the burning of the wisk) while there is inspiration (the flame). But there is no inspiration (flame) before embarking on the path and after the ultimate realization of Nirvana, but there is while on the path (while the wick burns).

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