To hold the truth firmly before you, never before or against—this is an ancient saying. I’ve heard it attributed to Chinese Zen philosophers. If you look it up on Google, you’ll find it quoted in various different ways. This is my favorite way of saying it.
For years and years, I had this posted up on my wall just so that I could remember, because, I mean, come on, if you’ve paid attention to being in your own brain, you’ll notice that you’re constantly forming opinions about things. And if you have this quote foremost in your mind or printed on your wall, you’ll always be reminded, ‘Wait a minute, there’s another side. Try to find it. Try to find it. What if it was the other way around?’
So, to hold the truth firmly before you, never be for or against, also means that truth, this nebulous truth that we’re seeking in non-duality, Zen, and any sort of Enlightenment teachings, is not an opinion.
It’s something else to hold the truth firmly before you and never before or against.