The Withered Tree's Dragon Roar

"The dragon hums within the withered tree." When one's practice reaches a certain level and meditative concentration (samādhi) is very good, one day one will feel that the five-aggregate body is truly just like a withered piece of wood, an empty shell with no substantial function or operation. Those surface-level activities of the five aggregates appear to exist, but in reality it is like a robot being manipulated, merely moving passively. It is like a puppet that only performs martial scenes and acrobatics when someone pulls its strings—in essence, there is no real meaning to it. It is like a powerful ghost possessing a body: all bodily, verbal, and mental actions are the deeds of that powerful ghost. We only need to find this powerful ghost, find the one pulling the strings, find the robot's switch button, and then the endless mysteries will all be unveiled. As long as the dragon remains within the withered tree, the withered tree will meet the spring, sprouting, blossoming, and bearing fruit. As long as the dragon is there, even the iron tree will bloom; everything will be renewed in myriad forms, flourishing and thriving, brimming with vitality.