Huineng’s Platform Sutra turns the usual “practice then enlightenment” storyline on its head, arguing that true practice arises from already having awakened mind. Instead of treating enlightenment as a distant finish line, this text points out that Buddha-nature is present here and now—no need to chase after some future state.

One moment in the Sutra feels especially fresh: when Huineng tells disciples to drop all notions of good and bad, right and wrong. The idea isn’t to accumulate merit by ticking off a checklist, but to recognize the mind’s inherent clarity. It’s a bit like realizing that the smartphone in your hand already contains a powerful camera; practice is simply learning to see what’s been there all along.

This approach contrasts sharply with gradualist methods, where enlightenment is parcelled out in tiny increments. According to the Sutra, slicing the mind into “beginner, intermediate, advanced” is grasping at shadows. Instead, sudden insight bursts through as soon as delusion is laid to rest. Modern mindfulness apps—think Headspace or Calm—often encourage daily exercises to build up focus over time. Huineng’s message: while repetition can help, the real breakthrough comes from directly letting go of all mental chatter.

Contemporary attention spans being what they are—think scrolling TikTok for hours—this teaching feels oddly on point. There’s no point in memorizing sutras if the heart remains cluttered. When the dust of craving settles, glimpses of pure mind appear spontaneously. Enlightenment isn’t a trophy earned; it’s the mirror always wiped clean once dusted off.

Winning the race against one’s own ego isn’t about slow and steady steps. It’s more like a snap judgment: recognizing what’s already whole. Practice, then, becomes the art of instantly dropping every last idea about “me” and “other,” revealing the ever-present light of awakening.