Buddhism occasionally uses the ocean to describe our state of mind, and sometimes the sky and clouds to explain the essence or activities of the mind. Here we draw a parallel between the ocean and our mind.
The clarity of the mind is likened to an ocean surface which is completely still -- without sound, waves or ripples, it is calm and peaceful and seemingly empty of time and space.
Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series : THE PAPER TIGER ~ Suffering is just a paper tiger