Vikalpa (Buddhism)

This state of uncertainty, of being unsure in which direction to go, is the result of relying on a multiplicity of objects for knowledge and not on that which reflects these objects. The world is seen as a realm of opposites, outside the person perceiving it, the error being induced by taking as the whole of reality the fleeting world of appearances perceived by the mind and senses. This is contrasted with [satori]

, where the mind moves from discrimination of the "ten thousand things" to non-discrimination, from relativity to emptiness, from the "ten thousand things" to the contentless self or mirror-nature. The bright, mirror nature of satori is there all the time but it is obscured with the dust of "things" and has to be revealed. The contradiction is that wiping off means dirt accumulating. There is no enlightenment which one can claim to have attained. Hui-neng and the Prajna or Southern School of Zen therefore preclude continuous progress as a means of freedom from [mayoi]

. There needs to be absolute negation, for otherwise progress stops at the bright mirror and no account is taken of how the bright nature of the mirror allows itself to be defiled.