The Great Calm Observation, Volume 1, Part 3, Page 6

 

The Inspiration of the Mind In Terms of the Scriptures

The scriptures clarify the various kinds of Inspiration of the Bodhi Mind.
1.   Some speak of considering various kinds of principles, and inspiring the Bodhi mind.
2.   Some see the various physical signs of the Buddha and inspire the Bodhi mind.
3.   Some see various kinds of spiritual transformations
4.   Some hear various kinds of teachings
5.   Some travel to various lands
6.   Some see various kinds of multitudes
7.   Some see the cultivation of various practices
8.   Some see various kinds of extinction
9.   Some see various kinds of errors
10. Some see others receive various kinds of suffering, and so inspire the Bodhi mind.

We have begun by outlining these ten kinds of inspiration, and we now elaborate upon them.

1. Considering a Principle, and Inspiring the Mind

The Nature of Spirituality1 comes from heaven to declare that:
1. Origination is unable to defile it
2. Suffering is unable to distress it
3. The Path is unable to penetrate it
4. Extinction is unable to purify it

Like clouds that can hide the moon but are unable to interfere with the moon itself, when emotional distress2 is gone, one will see the Nature of Spirituality. The Sutras speak of extinction not being the absolute truth, but causing extinction in order to understand the absolute. With extinction not even being the absolute, how could the other three truths be it?

  1. Considering the Four Truths of Birth and Extinction - In emotional distress there is no Bodhi3, and in Bodhi there is no emotional distress. This is called ‘Considering the Four Truths of birth and extinction, seeking the path of the Buddha above, influencing living beings below, and inspiring the Bodhi mind.’
  2. Considering the Four Truths Without Birth and inspiring the mind - The Nature of Spirituality is not different from suffering and origination. However those that are confused about suffering and origination lose the Nature of Spirituality. It is like water when it freezes and binds together into ice - it is not something different from water. Reaching suffering and origination without suffering and origination, there is understanding of the Nature of Spirituality. With suffering and origination even like this, how much more so are the path and extinction? The Scripture on Brahma’s Questions says “With there being emotional distress, so there is Bodhi, and with there being Bodhi, so there is emotional distress." This is called ‘Considering the Four Truths without birth or extinction, seeking that above and influencing those below, and inspiring the Bodhi mind.’
  3. Considering the Limitless Four Truths - The Nature of Spirituality is also called the True Spiritual Aspect of Reality. It is beyond the sphere and realm of the Two Vehicles, much less that of the common Six Paths. Rising beyond the two extremes, pure spirituality is distinguished as described in the ten illustrations in the Scripture on the Buddha's Treasury4. This is called ‘Considering the Limitless Four Truths, seeking that above and influencing those below, and inspiring the Bodhi mind.’
  4. Considering the Innate Four Truths - The Nature of Spirituality is not separate or distinct from all things, including that which is common and that which is noble. Being detached from the common Six Paths5 and seeking the True Spiritual Aspect of Reality is like trying to avoid space. In the place where one seeks emptiness, that which is common is the reality. It is not necessary to discard that which is common in order to face that which is noble. The Scripture on Brahma’s Questions says "With there being Life & Death, so there is Nirvana", and it is said "Each color and fragrance is not without the middle way". This clarifies ‘Considering the Innate Four Truths, seeking that above and influencing those below, and inspiring the Bodhi mind.’

When one considers a single Truth, and penetrates the Spiritual Realm to its core totally and perfectly, horizontally as well as vertically6, in practice as well as in principle, seeking that above and influencing those below, it is called ‘Inspiring the Bodhi Mind’. Bodhi is also called ‘The Path of Enlightenment’. The Path of Enlightenment is able to penetrate and reach horizontally and vertically to the other shore. This is called the ‘Paramita7 of Inspiring the Mind’. Therefore, in considering a principle, whether it is made to be shallow or deep, the phenomenon and the principle8 themselves are everywhere all-pervasive. All of the various kinds of inspiration that will be described have here examples like this.

 

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1. Th Nature of spirituality: (S. Dharmata) The Nature of the Dharma, spiritual reality

2. Emotional Distress (S. Klesa, J. Bonno) Emotions and desires, the afflictions of mind that taint or defile comprehension of realities (dharmas).

3. Bodhi: Awakening enlightenment

4. The Ten Illustrations in The Scripture of the Buddha’s Treasury (S. The Tathagata Garbha Sutra): Like #1 an illusion #2 a flame #3 an image of the moon in the water #4 empty space #5 an echo #6 the mirage of the Gandharva City #7 a dream #8 a shadow or reflection #9 an image in a mirror #10 magic

5. The Six Path: The six spiritual realms from hell to heaven in The Saha World, the mortal realm of Life & Death

6. Horizontally: Broadly, to all people Vertically: Deeply, to the realm of true spiritual enlightenment

7. Paramita: Literally meaning gone to the other shore, here it also means perfection

8. The Phenomenon and the Principle: The principle is the ineffable, inexpressible absolute reality, the pure spiritual truth whether or not one is enlightened to it. It is the law governing the universe, and it is the true spiritual aspect of reality. Phenomena are our understandings of that reality, and how it is manifested or revealed to us in our day-to-day existence. The more enlightened we are, the more phenomena appear identical to the principle. Therefore the phenomenal reality is the provision that reveals the principle that is the true spiritual aspect of reality.

 

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