The Great Calm Observation, Volume 1, Part 3, Page 3

 

And the five part outline of the Main Idea is the same as that elaborated in the ten sections:

  1. The first five sections1 are generally on the idea of ‘Inspiring the Bodhi Mind’.
  2. The sections on Ways & Means and Proper Observation are generally on ‘The Four Samadhis’2.
  3. The one section on the Fruitts & Reward generally clarifies opposing and obeying the Dharma3. In opposing it, there is the Reward of the Two Extremes. In obeying it, there is ‘The Most Wonderful Reward’4.
  4. The one section on the Arising of the Doctrine is on turning one's mind towards the benefit of others. Some create the Buddha's body, offering that which is provisional for that which is real, whereas some create the image of the Nine Spiritual Realms5. Gradually or suddenly one turns from protagonist to convert to propagator6. The section on Returning to the Intent is generally the same as that of ‘Returning to the Great Place’, which is the Treasury of the Secret Mystery7.

Therefore we recognize that the ideas of the outline and the elaboration are the same.

 

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Footnotes:

1. The first five sections: #1 The Main Idea #2 Explaining Its Name (Calm-Observation) #3 Its Embodiment & Aspects #4 Its All-Inclusiveness #5 Its Partiality & Totality

2. The Four Samadhis: Described in the section on Practicing the Great Practice; A. Always seated B. Always walking C. Half seated, half walking D. Neither seated nor walking

3. The Dharma: Spirituality, the Spiritual Reality

4. The Most Wonderful Reward: Feeling the Great Effect

5. The Buddha’s Body vs. The Nine Spiritual Realms: Teaching the provisional in order to reveal the real, in terms of person (the anthromorphic representation) and the Dharma (the spiritual states of the mind, as in the nine realms of reality from Hell to the Bodhisattva).

6. Offering that which is provisional for that which is real and turning from protagonist to convert to propagator: This is Breaking the Great Net

7. Treasury of the Secret Mystery: A term used in the Lotus Sutra and the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, referring to the ultimate trinity of enlightenment, and explained as the Three Virtues as well as the Threefold Body of the Tathagata. It will be explained later in greater detail.

 

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