Many paths lead from the foot of the mountain, but at the peak we all gaze at the single bright moon.
– Ikkyu, 1394-1481
If we seek to find our true nature, then there are many paths from the foot of the mountain, and in each case, when we get to the “peak” we gaze at the single bright moon.
Some of these paths are within a tradition and some may be outside, that doesn’t matter so much. And we can emphasize heart-centered practices, inquiry, basic meditation, or some other practice, or a combination of several.
What we find – our true nature – is the same in each case.
There is also some that’s slightly different… The way we talk about it. Exactly how we live it in our life. The challenges we encounter and apply it to. Some of the insights that are more specific to the particular practices we are familiar with. Anything that has to do with our human self and our life in the world is colored by who we are as a human being with our own unique history, inclinations, and experiences.
In general, the “peak” may be noticing our true nature, or also living from it, or also bring most of our human self onboard with it. Only noticing our true nature is the “single bright moon”, and the two others will be colored by our uniqueness as a human being in the world.