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The Great Calm-Observation, Volume 1, Part 2, Page 3
Those that doubt say they wish to hear literary proof of these from other sources. In fact, the Scriptures and Discourses are replete with references. It is not possible to summarize these with one or two quotations.
The
Vimalakirti Sutra1 says:
"He began seated under
the tree of enlightenment. With His power vanquishing the devil, He attained
the ambrosia of extinction and was awakend to the path. He turned the Wheel of
the Dharma three times2 in the Great Thousand-fold Spiritual
Realm3. The Wheel of the Dharma is fundamentally eternal and pure.
That those of heaven and ordinary humanity attain enlightenment is proof of
this and that the Three Treasures4 are here in this world."
This
is the first proof of the Gradual Doctrine.
And
The Vimalakirti Sutra says:
"With
a single sound, the Buddha expounded upon the Dharma. Living beings each
attained understanding according to their capacity. Some bore fear whereas others
rejoiced. Some bore detachment whereas others had their doubts removed. Because
of this, there was spiritual power in dissimilar teachings."
This
is proof of the Indeterminate Doctrine.
And
The Vimalakirti Sutra says:
"It
is taught that all things spiritual are neither existent nor without existence. Because of the
matrix of causality and conditions all things are produced, without a self, without a creator
and without a recipient, and yet the commitment of good and evil karmas is
indelible."
This
is the Sudden Doctrine.
The
Long Chapter5 says:
"A
sequential number of practices, a
sequential number of studies, and a
sequential number of paths."
This
is proof of the Gradual Doctrine.
And
it says:
"When
the Mani-Gem6 is covered with different colored wraps and placed in
water, the water changes colors in accordance with the wraps."
This
is proof of the Indeterminate Doctrine.
And
it says:
"From
the first inspiration of the mind, seated at the place of enlightenment7,
the Buddha turned the Wheel of the Dharma8 to save living
beings."
This
is proof of the Sudden Doctrine.
The
Lotus Sutra says:
"People respond to the
Dharma like this and gradually enter into the Buddha's insight."
This
is proof of the Gradual Doctrine.
And
it says:
"If
they have no faith in one Teaching, the Buddha indicates the benefits and joys
of another deep Teaching."
This
is proof of the Indeterminate Doctrine.
And
it says:
"I
will properly discard the ways and means and only teach the supreme path of
enlightenment."
This
is proof of the Sudden Doctrine.
The
Great Nirvana Sutra says:
"Milk arises
from the cow, and eventually there is ghee."
This is proof of the Gradual Doctrine.
And
it says:
"If
one puts poison in milk, it will kill people that drink it. If one puts poison
in ghee, the ghee will kill people that drink it."
This
is proof of the Indeterminate Doctrine.
And
it says:
"The
Snowy Mountains9 have a grass that is called ‘enduring’. If a cow
eats it, ghee will be attained."
This
is proof of the Sudden Doctrine.
The
Sutra of Limitless Meaning says:
"The
Buddha turned the Wheel of the Dharma. With the raindrops of the teaching
washing away the dusts of desire, the doors of ambrosia were opened up, fanning
the winds of liberation, expelling the heated distress of the world, and
rendering forth the pure and cool Dharma. He rained down knowledge of the
twelvefold wheel of causality & conditions10
and poured it over the ignorance of the
earth, its light covering the glare of false views. In the end, the supreme
Great Vehicle made all inspire the mind of enlightenment."
This
is proof of the Gradual Doctrine.
The
Flower Garland Sutra says;
"The Sagara Dragon11
poured down a rain like the churning of carriage axles into the ocean. No other
place could endure such an onslaught. For those of higher qualities and
natures, the Buddha taught the totally full Sutra. Those of the Two Vehicles12
were like the deaf and dumb."
The
Vimalakirti Sutra says:
"Upon entering the
Campaka forest13, one smells no other fragrance. Those that enter
this room will only smell the fragrance that comes from the merits and virtues
of the Buddha."
The
Surangama Sutra says:
"When one
pounds a myriad kinds of fragrances into a pellet and burns a particle of it,
all of the essences will be possessed perfectly."
The
Long Chapter says:
"With
the Wisdom of All Kinds14 one understands all things. One must study
Prajna Paramita15."
The
Lotus Sutra says:
"Folding
their hands with reverent heart, they desired to hear of the perfect
path."
The
Great Nirvana Sutra says:
"Compare this
to a person that bathes in the Great Ocean. One must know that this person has
used water from all the rivers."
The
Flower Garland Sutra says:
"Compare this
to the rising sun. First it illuminates the mountain peaks. Next it illuminates
the valleys. Then it illuminates the level ground."
The
level ground is the Indeterminate Doctrine, the valley is the Gradual Doctrine,
and mountain peaks are the Sudden Doctrine.
All of these words are from the Golden Mouths of Those That Have Come16 from the past, the present, and the future, and who have honored and esteemed the Dharma17.
If it is already now, it must be inconceivable.
One must know that Calm-Observation is the teacher of the Buddhas. Because the Dharma is eternal, the Buddhas also have eternity, as well as bliss, self-identity, and purity18. We quote proof like this. Would one rather not believe?
Footnotes:
1. Vimakirti Nirdesa Sutra: Great Vehicle (Mahayana) Sutra about the Bodhisattva Vimalakirti (literally meaning ‘Spotless Name’ or ‘Immaculate Reputation’)
2. Turned the Wheel of the law three times: This refers to Sakyamuni’s first teaching of the Dharma at Deer Park which was in three parts #1 Indicating the Law (postulating and defining it) #2 Encouraging the Law (exhortation and urging to practice it) and #3 Proving the Law (offering evidence from His own experience )
3. Great Thousand-fold Realm of the Spiritual Realm: The spiritual realm or conditions of life, including the 10 Realms from Hell to Enlightenment, which interpenetrate each other (x 10), and have the 10 aspects (x 10) as later described.
4. The Three Treasures: The Buddha (the teacher), The Dharma (the teaching), the Sangha (the taught)
5. The Long Chapter: The Pancavimsati, the Long Chapter from The Sutra of the Perfection of the Great Wisdom (S. Maha Prajna Paramita Sutra)
6. Mani Gem: (S. Cintamani) The pearl; The magical gem that fulfills any wish
7. Place of enlightenment: (S. Bodhimandala) the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment
8. Turning the Wheel of the Dharma: The Wheel of the Dharma specifically refers to the Twelvefold Wheel of Dependence Upon Origination, but as an expression Turning the Wheel of the Dharma often was used to describe the act of teaching and propagating Buddhism generally, as here.
9. The snowy mountains: the Himalayas
10. The Twelvefold Wheel of Causality & Conditions: The cause or origination of suffering – the ignorant desire of the self, in a cycle of twelve links #1 ignorance #2 predisposition #3 consciousness #4 name-form (mind-matter) duality #5 the six senses #6 contact #7 feelings #8 craving #9 attachment #10 existence #11 birth #12 old age & death
11. The Sagara Dragon: Dragons or Serpents (S. Naga) represent forces of nature. The Sagara is the Sea Dragon.
12. The Two Vehicles: The sravakas (spiritual disciples) & pratyekabuddhas (the spiritually self-awakened), whose ideal is that of the arhat (who is liberated from the existence of the self)
13. Campaka: A tree with very fragrant yellow flowers, Michelia Champaka
14. Wisdom of All Kinds: Wisdom of the Buddha, wisdom of the middle way (described in detail later).
15. Prajna Paramita: The perfection of wisdom
16. Those That Have Come: The Tathagatas
17. The Dharma: The Teaching of Buddhism; The Spiritual Reality
18. Eternity, Bliss, Self-Identity, Purity: The Four Virtues of Nirvana as described in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra. These will be described in detail later.
Copyright © Peter Johnson 2001 - All rights reserved
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Since July 9, 2001