Returning the Six Senses to the Empty Mind-Ground!

[Shi Da Dao]

Although the hua tou returns the 'hearing' to the empty mind ground - in reality this technique returns ALL six-senses simultaneously to the empty mind ground! Hearing, according to the Surangama Sutra - happens to be the most efficient entry-point for this technique when used by human-beings. 'Who is Hearing?' is actually (also) 'Who is Seeing?', 'Who is smelling?', 'Who is tasting?', 'Who is touching?' and 'Who is thinking?', etc. In theory, any of these 'six gates' can be used to return the other five-senses to the empty mind ground - but most people are unable, at least to start with, to operate in this manner outside of the hearing capacity. The Tantra School, however, often utilises the othe senses in this manner and 'returns' the different senses to their empty base. This is why the sadhana of this School are varied, and quite often exist outside of the Vinaya Discipline!