Mountains and Rivers of ZEN

Lately, my earthly [samsaric] friend Pun2 used the ZEN metaphor of the mountains and rivers during several of his conversation. For the benefits of those who have not heard of it, it is as follows:

  Beginning mountains are mountains and rivers are rivers [a]
  Then mountain are not mountains and rivers are not rivers [b]
  Finally mountains are again mountains and rivers are rivers [c]

Without the wisdom of the sutra, it can sound quite confusing and meaningless

a] This refer to the general view of common people. This view assume that I AM is a person having
    consciousness and is Separate from the world [mountains and rivers] around him/her
    [ I Am identify with a wave in the ocean of consciousness]

b] At this stage there is realization that the Self [I AM] is Awareness and all objects of awareness are
     illusionary and have void as its nature [hence no mountains and river]

c] Finally the Objects of awareness are reconciled as the myriad expressions of awareness. The
    Mountains and rivers are accepted as in [a], but with a new understanding that both the person and
    the world around him Appear within the ONE borderless Consciousness, as a WHOLE, WITHOUT any separation.
    I Am is Awareness [void] and also the Totality of the world.[every things and the void in between.]
    [ I Am is correctly Identified with Ocean and  recognize  the totality of the waves AS the
    expression of Itself and share the same essence of water.
   The world of separation of many is now seen as unity with all objects held together by the FORM 
   of void. [ in contradistinction with an infinite solid fill with myriad holes of various sizes]

In conclusion, I AM NOthing and Everything.  The unconditioned containing the conditioned, like the reflections in the mirror inseparable from the mirror [an immutable whole]

       For clarity, let us revisit the three views and see their significance.

a] The world consist of countless things which are separated and different from one another, giving
     rise to concepts of individuality and generality.

b] The world does not exist and All are Void.

c] The world IS ONE Whole without any division within the Whole and is of one essence. All
     concepts that arise from [a] is totally misplaced and form the seeds of delusion that turn the
     wheel of samsara

A further illustration will be :

a] This shore [samsara]
b] The other shore [nirvana]
c] Neither this or the other, the unification of both.