The Principle of Equality, in Calligraphy

The essence of the Diamond Sutra is embodied in the principles of equality. The first of the five was eloquently expressed by the late Master Xuan Hua in the following couplet when he delivered a Dharma talk on Feb 2, 1969 at San Franscisco:

This is the traditonal way of writing a Chinese script, vertically up-down and read right to left.

This is in line with the modern text structure, written horizontally from left to right and up-down.

Translated into English, they can be paraphrased as:

While gradual and sudden enlightment may differ in terms of pace, they become one when enlightenment is achieved. Then why bother with the North-south divide? [Traditionally the teaching of sudden enlightenment is credited to Master Hui Neng, the sixth Patriarch of Chinese Zen School who hailed from the South region while Master Shen Xiu, a contemporary of Master Hui Neng from the North region, is the acknowleged proponent of the gradual enlightment.]

The difference between the Sage and the laity only lasts momentarily since both possess the same Buddha nature. Why should we then be obsessed with the East West chasm? [Tradtionally, the west is where the Pure Land, hence the Western Paradise, is located.]