Our mind is not clear enough... our wisdom is not enlightened enough... every perspective we have is unclear.
Because the mind still differentiates... the heart is not open... wisdom is not clear... the mind is not pure...
We are still ordinary beings.
— Winston Man
Excerpt from AI:
This short article by Winston Man carries a Zen-inspired tone, reflecting on the inner self and the process of spiritual practice. Let’s analyze it piece by piece to understand it more deeply:
"Our mind is not clear enough… our wisdom is not enlightened enough… every perspective we have is unclear."
This is an honest acknowledgment of one’s current state.
"Mind is not clear" could mean it is not pure, still clouded by delusions, greed, anger, and ignorance.
"Wisdom is not enlightened enough" means one has not achieved clear understanding, not seeing things as they truly are.
As a result, one’s perspectives and judgments are distorted, unclear. This leads to ignorance, one of the root causes of suffering according to Buddhism.
"Because the mind still differentiates… the heart is not open… wisdom is not clear… the mind is not pure…"
This part explains the limitations mentioned above:
"Mind differentiates": still clinging to ego, still seeing self and others as separate, still comparing and getting attached.
"The heart is not open": the heart is not wide enough to embrace all things, still unable to practice unconditional compassion.
"Wisdom is not clear": emphasizes again the lack of enlightenment.
"The mind is not pure": still mixed between good and evil, right and wrong—has not yet reached a state of purity, emptiness, and tranquility.
"We are still ordinary beings..."
The final sentence is simple but profound.
"Ordinary beings" refers to those who have not attained enlightenment, still governed by ignorance, delusion, and suffering.
This is not an expression of inferiority, but a humble acknowledgment of one’s current position, recognizing the need for further practice.
Overall:
The article is a moment of self-reflection, demonstrating a process of observing oneself and realizing the existing limitations of the mind. It is not pessimistic but serves as a gentle, profound reminder of the journey of inner transformation.
Winston Man’s article expands on this idea in a meditative spirit—like an inner journey that everyone on the path of self-cultivation or self-improvement will experience.
MIND STILL NOT CLEAR – WISDOM STILL NOT ENLIGHTENED – WE ARE STILL ORDINARY BEINGS
There are moments of stillness in the flow of life when we suddenly realize: everything we think is “right” may only be the result of a mind that is not yet pure, a wisdom that is not yet enlightened. We judge others, make judgments about things, and place our trust in what seems "logical"… but sometimes, it is just a thin layer of dust covering the true sight.
Our mind is not clear, because it is still full of fluctuations—love and hate, gain and loss, superiority and inferiority. When the mind is still stirred by external conditions, it cannot fully reflect the truth. It is like the surface of water being disturbed; even if the moonlight is present, it cannot be reflected clearly.
Our wisdom is not yet enlightened, because it has not yet transcended the cycle of the ego. We learn, we know, we understand—but we understand with a mind still bound by fixed views. This wisdom still differentiates, still clings, still holds onto old and limited perspectives.
All our viewpoints are unclear, because they arise from an unstable foundation. When the mind is unsettled, and wisdom is not yet clear, all judgments—even those that seem logical—can be distorted. We don’t see others as they are, but rather through the lens of the ego, of the past, of our biases.
Why is that?
Because the mind still differentiates—it still sees self and others as separate entities. It still clings to "right – wrong", "good – bad", "me – them", and cannot touch the ultimate truth that is beyond all distinctions.
Because the heart is not open—the heart is not wide enough to embrace things that are uncomfortable. It is easy to close off, to retreat into the safety of the ego, and not open up enough to truly feel the suffering and pain of others.
Because wisdom is not yet clear, we have not yet truly seen that all things are interdependent, impermanent, and without self. We see this—but have not yet fully lived it.
Because the mind is not pure, we are still swayed by external things. The mind has not yet returned to its true state—settled, empty, and still. We are still driven by emotions, by delusions, by the constant desire for more.
And so, we are still ordinary beings—still trapped in the cycle of emotions, thoughts, and the ego. But realizing that we are ordinary beings is the starting point for transformation. When we no longer have illusions about ourselves, we can truly begin the journey back to our true nature.
Going deeper into self-reflection, where each word illuminates the self—not to understand something new, but to see clearly what has always been present within us.
THE MIND IS STILL NOT CLEAR – A VAGUE UNCERTAINTY HARD TO DEFINE
There are times when sitting alone, the heart is restless but we don’t know why. Everything outside is as usual: no one has insulted us, no one is suppressing us, there are no big crises. But inside, a thin layer of mist covers the mind—vague, tangled.
That is when the mind is not clear.
A mind that is not clear is not always filled with anger or outbursts. Sometimes, it is a quiet dullness, a lingering emotion that prevents us from seeing clearly. We can no longer distinguish the true voice from the inner self from the echoes of old habits, unresolved issues. We make decisions without being sure whether we are choosing out of love or fear.
WISDOM IS STILL NOT ENLIGHTENED – BECAUSE THE MIND IS STILL UNSTEADY
True wisdom is not just knowledge; it is the ability to see the essence of all things, right in the present moment. But how can there be clear wisdom when the mind is still swept away?
When someone says something contrary to our liking, if the mind still differentiates, wisdom will immediately jump into defense, justification, and protection. We don’t truly listen to them—we only hear our own reactions in our minds. And so, wisdom is no longer clear—it becomes the rational mind of the ego.
To have clear wisdom, the mind must first be calm. Just as the surface of water needs to be still to reflect the depths, wisdom can only be clear when the mind is undisturbed.
THE MIND STILL DIFFERENTIATES – THE ROOT OF ALL ERRORS
We are used to living with "me" and "them", "right" and "wrong", "good" and "evil" as fixed concepts. But in a deeper view, nothing is entirely separate. Everything is interconnected by countless hidden conditions. What we call "the other person is bad" is often just a reflection of parts we have not yet accepted within ourselves. The mind of differentiation does not allow us to see the truth—it only shows us the conditional choices of the ego.
Differentiation is a distorted mirror—though we stand in front of the truth, the image we see is still distorted by the will of "me".
WE ARE STILL ORDINARY BEINGS – A RECOGNITION FULL OF AWARENESS
When someone says, “I have attained enlightenment,” be cautious. But when someone quietly says, “I am still an ordinary being…”, that is a sign of a deeper step in their spiritual journey.
Why?
Because that person has truly seen themselves—not through the illusions of self-constructed images, not through the mask of ethics or knowledge. That person sees their own greed, their own anger, their own desire for recognition, their own craving for control. And they do not avoid it.
Only when we dare to face our darkest corners, without judgment, without hiding, without explaining… can the light begin to enter.
CONCLUSION (Not finished)
Still ordinary, but knowing that we are ordinary—that is the first step on the path to enlightenment.
Not needing to go anywhere far, not needing to become anyone else,
Just turning inward and seeing clearly.
As long as there is differentiation, a cloudy mind, and delusion…
Then we are still ordinary.
But when we know that we are differentiating, we are deluded, and our mind is clouded…
At that moment, that knowing is no longer ordinary.
