Persona is the root from where the word personality comes. In Greek drama the “persona” was used; it was a mask. You can hear the sound, but you cannot see the face of who is behind it. You can see that in the root: sona is sound, so you hear the sound, but you don’t see the face.

Out of that has come the word personality. It means you see people hiding behind all kinds of garbage. Somebody thinks he is the president of his country. Somebody thinks he is the prime minister. Somebody thinks, “I’m the most beautiful person.” But all the presidentship withers away, the premiership is wavering just like a bamboo in a strong wind, ready to fall any moment. And the beauty of today will tomorrow be just a faded painting.

Personality is not you.

That which changes with time is not you. Hence, remember the distinction between personality and individuality. Individuality is your real, authentic being, not given to you by anyone. You have been it forever and you will be it forever. Everything can be thrown away…

Tearing down, breaking up.

…still you are, as a consciousness. There will be no I, no ego, but a beautiful awareness. And this is the greatest experience, that makes someone a buddha.

In this very moment, you all are buddhas. But what to do? You go on forgetting.

But I am also very adamant, I will go on reminding you. You can escape but I will follow. I will come into your dreams, I will haunt you wherever you are – because once I have taken you into the field of my love, you can be anywhere; my work on you continues. And my work is to cut out of your block of marble a Gautam Buddha.

Koko wrote:

The word at last,
No more dependencies:
Cold moon in pond,
Smoke over the ferry.

He’s just giving expression to the inexpressible.

“The word at last.” That is, he is saying about Ummon’s statement, Tearing down, breaking up, “the word at last.” Ummon has said it.

No more dependencies:
Cold moon in pond,
Smoke over the ferry.

Even the most beautiful words indicating the experience are nothing but a reflection of the moon in the cold water of a lake, or smoke over the ferry.

Fumon commented: