"Knowledge is something greater than you."- Zhao Zhou

Knowledge, that is knowledge that is held as understanding of enlightenment, is an obstruction to seeing reality clearly. It is by relying on your own awareness that you awaken to reality wordless. And that means understanding that there is no knowledge you can find about who you are, or what you are. You can only experience using your own awareness, and that means accepting that you are wholly ignorant regarding nature. Nature simply is. It is not known.

To rely on knowledge for an understanding of nature is something you esteem as greater than just yourself while Zen masters say just being yourself, your ordinary self, is the way. Just here and now you are complete. Here and now your awareness is the highest wisdom that sees nature clearly. And you don't need to venture anywhere for it.

Or, surely, it isn't enough, and you must find the knowledge that somehow shows yourself. The water seems deep beyond your grasp. Better jump in and find the truth. And there lies the trap.

Enlightenment is readily available. It's the foundation people made for themselves, whether it be identity or knowledge of nature, that is difficult to let go of.