Book 14 Chapter 3

Mind's Eye (心眼)

"Do you know what it takes to have the eyes of a Great Roc?"

The boy shook his head again.

"One can only see far by flying high. That is why you need the wings of a Great Roc!"

Memories flooded back without pause. His master spoke again.

"I will give you those wings. Fly! If you cannot overcome the mountains that block your path, you cannot see the world beyond. If you do not have strong wings to pierce through the clouds and soar, you cannot see the world above. With the wings of a Great Roc, flap your wings and gain eyes that can see through and embrace all things in the world. This is the gateway and shortcut to the Realm of Illumination (惚恍境)!"

Knowing there was another stage after that, he felt a sense of dread but decided to give up, as he lacked the ability. It is incredibly difficult to make a fair assessment of oneself. However, to see others, one must first look at and understand oneself. One must possess the eyes to examine oneself.

He had been learning well from the beginning. He was an outstanding student, not bad from the start. Perhaps.

"Are you asleep?"

"Ah, no. How could that be."

*Hiss!* The boy wiped his mouth with his sleeve and answered. It was a very natural gesture.

"Hmmph, Ryuyeon-ah!"

"Yes?"

"When I'm speaking respectfully, dig the wax out of your ears and listen properly!"

His master said kindly, with a playful glint in his eyes.

"There are stages to seeing."

He even emphasized it, telling him never to forget.

First Stage: Right Eye (正眼).

To see correctly.

This is the first stage where eyes, blinded by the grime of the secular world, finally open. One can look at things correctly, without being swayed by misguided public opinion. One no longer entrusts their value judgments to others and possesses a yardstick free from preconceived notions. One develops a fair gaze that correctly evaluates both the other person and oneself.

Second Stage: Broad Eye (廣眼).

To see broadly.

One gains a wide perspective that is not swayed by fixed common sense or conventions. Furthermore, through this broadened perspective, one can simultaneously receive and organize a lot of information. One can encompass much within their field of vision.

One comes to respect diversity and, knowing how vast the world is, does not hastily conclude or judge carelessly.

Third Stage: Deep Eye (深眼).

To see deeply.

This is the stage of examining the essence of things to their deepest point. Not missing even the slightest detail. Moreover, without conscious effort, one can understand the intended meaning behind the subtle movements that others unconsciously exhibit. One begins to recognize that feeling is more important information than thought. Insight begins to sprout.

Only after going through these three stages can one be considered to have reached the threshold of the Mind's Eye (心眼).

Fourth Stage: Penetrating Eye (透眼).

To see through.

This is the stage of instantly seeing through the essence of things. It is also called the Eye of Insight (通察眼). A large amount of information is organized and resolved in an instant. Core information, like a precious gem, is grasped in an instant.

One becomes convinced that feeling is more important information than thought. This is because one can feel accurately and knows that it is always correct. The most difficult process at this point is clearly distinguishing between pure feeling and imitation feeling.

It is also a stage where things invisible to ordinary eyes begin to be seen.

Upon reaching between the third and fourth stages, one can roughly read the flow of Qi (氣) (though not completely). And upon fully entering the fourth stage, the Penetrating Eye, one can read the flow of Qi inherent in all things in the universe. With this tremendous secret knowledge, one can predict the movements of others by applying it!

However, if one's vessel is small, even a little bit of this information can cause a person to explode. This state of a broken vessel is usually called "insanity." One becomes one with the world's energy and forgets oneself. Therefore, it is extremely important to first cultivate one's own vessel into a great one.

Fifth Stage: Transcendent Eye (越空眼).

To transcend space.

One completely grasps everything within the range of their gaze. This is also the first stage of dominating space.

Sixth Stage: Time-Transcendent Eye (時越眼).

To transcend time.

This is, as the name suggests, the stage of transcending time. It is said to be the stage where the Foreseeing Eye (豫知眼) is obtained. This stage is transmitted only through secret teachings.

The fifth and sixth stages are sometimes collectively called the Spacetime Eye (時空眼). However, a state that slows down the speed of things, not a true Spacetime Eye, can occur even between the third and fourth stages. Usually, martial artists consider the fourth stage to be the ultimate stage. However, it is said that a minority have approached the realm of this Spacetime Eye.

Those who reach between the sixth and seventh stages are said to transcend life and death and gain the ability to interfere with the laws of the universe.

Seventh Stage: The Ultimate Stage, Divine Eye (神眼).

To see the divine.

This is the stage of meeting the divine within oneself. The inner universe (內宇宙) and the outer universe (外宇宙) become one, and the part (己) becomes the whole (全), and the whole becomes the part. It is a stage where, through the secret teaching of the unity of all things (萬物一體), separation does not exist in anything in the world.

It is said that upon reaching this stage, one can see everything in this world, grasp the essence of everything, and obtain the answers to all questions. Therefore, it is also called the Eye of Truth (眞理眼).

This is the final stage, the mythical realm of Divine Union (神化境) where one becomes a god, achievable only by attaining ultimate enlightenment. It is a realm where one does not awaken to the Tao (道) but becomes one with it. It is said that by obtaining this eye, one can escape the cycle of reincarnation of all things in the world and enter the realm of liberation and nirvana. And upon reaching the ultimate, one becomes a god (神).

"… This is the infinitely profound world that lies behind the act you simply call 'seeing'."

Without regard for the disciple's level of understanding, the master continued to speak.

"Though it sounds simple, the first stage is actually very difficult. To see correctly is to approach the essence of things, unswayed by surrounding common sense, public opinion, ideas, consciousness, or conventions. It is said that one cannot see correctly without a right heart and right eyes (正心正眼). For humans, who live constantly influenced by their environment for a long time, this is an extremely difficult realm. Fundamentally, someone who blindly agrees when everyone else shouts that something is right, regardless of what their own heart thinks, is not yet at the basic level. Does it even make sense to seek one's own standards of judgment from others? Will others feed you if you do that? Well, there are indeed some who greedily gobble things up from others, without even distinguishing between dung and soybean paste, as long as they are given something. Such people live their lives as if walking in their sleep. Do you want to become one of them?"

"No! Are you crazy?"

Biryuyeon answered honestly. Becoming such a cliché human was a horrifying thought.

The master nodded.

"The surprising thing is that when you go out into the secular world, there are unexpectedly countless numbers of such people everywhere. It is possible that your judgment coincidentally aligns with others. That's not the issue. However, it is a completely different matter to adopt someone else's judgment as your own without any thought process. Sometimes there are also people who claim to have done the first part after having done the second part. Do you know what the characteristic of these people is?"

Biryuyeon shook his head.

"They are very weak to authority."

"Authority?"

"Yes, authority! Such people grovel before authority. When it gets a bit severe, there are even people who try to flatter them to the point of gladly licking the hindquarters of those with authority. These people believe that if someone in authority says something is right, it is absolutely right! And if someone rebels against that authority, they try to burn them at the stake! This is because they want those with authority to think for them. How can they stand by when someone insults the convenient beings who think and judge for them! Burning with patriotic fervor, they go on a rampage to execute the villains who challenged 'their' authority—they often have this delusion of their own authority."

"Isn't that just playing the fool?"

Biryuyeon said with a look of disbelief.

"It is. It's playing the fool!"

The master agreed.

"Rather than participate in such puppet play, it is far more beneficial to strive to establish a righteous standard within oneself. That is much more advantageous."

The master's words were ruthless.

"Are there really so many foolish people in this world? Can't you tell with just a little thought?"

He could not understand it at all with his way of thinking.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, did you bury what I was saying earlier in the backyard? Didn't I say that such people don't need to think at all? Because there are others who think for them!"

"Ah, right, that's what you said."

It seemed like the memory had finally returned.

"Remember now?"

"Yes, I remember!"

"Alright, then let's move on!"

The master further explained that it was difficult to achieve the Mind's Eye because the first stage was difficult.

"Above all, what is important is the courage to break through your own preconceived notions and the attitude of wanting to see with truth. However, to be a proper person in our Biroe Gate, one must at least achieve up to the third stage before starting. Otherwise, you won't be able to keep up with the complex and profound movements of the Biroe Sword."

It was still his master making unreasonable demands. It seemed there was a reason why his master could read his thoughts like a ghost.

The master looked directly into Biryuyeon's eyes. It felt as if the master's gaze had become a spear of light, piercing his spirit. Then, he asked in a serious voice.

"To what stage, precisely, do you think you can reach?"