The Great Calm Observation, Volume 1, Part 3, Page 9

4. What is Hearing the Various Different Teachings and Inspiring the Bodhi Mind?¹

When one hears of 'Birth & Extinction' in term of each of the Doctrines, the examples are like this:

1. Whether it is from the Buddha, from good spiritual acquaintances, or from the volumes of scripture, when one hears the single phrase 'Birth & Extinction', one understands being of this world and being beyond this world. In all of the births and extinctions and in all of one's different thoughts, wherever there is morality, concentration, and insight, liberated understanding and serenity, so there is that which is true. One vows to attain enlightenment and teach of the path that is pure.
2. Some hear of Birth & Extinction and understand that the Four Truths are everywhere without birth or extinction. In emptiness there is no opposition to suffering & origination. How is it possible to root it up? Who is there to suffer and who to originate it? Who is there to cultivate a path and who to realize extinction? In the end one is pure of this. One is able to serenely declare one's vow to attain enlightenment and be able to teach of the path that is pure.
3. Some hear of Birth and Extinction and understand the duality of that which is both with birth and extinction and without birth and extinction. They also understand the mean as being that which is neither with nor without birth and extinction. The middle way is preeminently pure and so it transcends the expressions of Life & Death as well as Nirvana. One vows to attain enlightenment and to be able to teach of the Supreme Path to living beings. It is preeminent and transcendent like the lotus blossom rising up from the water, and like the moon’s place in the sky.
4. Some hear of Birth and Extinction, and there is understanding of that which is born and extinguished, that which is neither born nor extinguished, and that which is neither born nor extinguished nor without birth & extinction. In illuminating birth, extinction, and that which is without birth or extinction, they are one and yet they are three - they are three, and yet they are one. In the secret mystery that is the Spiritual Realm, there is the perfection of eternity and bliss. It is like one who holds a common stone and turns it into a precious gem, and it is like one who holds a poison and turns it into a medicine.

When one hears of that which is ‘Without Birth’ in term of each of the Doctrines, the examples are like this:

1. When some hear of that ‘Without Birth’, they reason that those of the Two Vehicles are not born of the Threefold Realm but that Bodhisattvas are not yet without birth.
2. When some hear of that Without Birth, they reason that all of three vehicles are not born of the Threefold Realm.
3. When some hear of that Without Birth, those of the two vehicles are not part of this as it only refers to the Bodhisattvas. The Bodhisattvas are at first without birth in the fate one has as a mortal in the threefold realm, and then they are without birth in the station that is beyond this threefold realm which is a result of their good karmic deeds².
4. When some hear of that Without Birth, they understand that each and all are without birth.

When one hears of that which is ‘Limitless’ in term of each of the Doctrines, the examples are like this:

1. When some hear of that which is Limitless, they reason that it refers to the ways and means of the Two Vehicles, such as the Four Truths, the Sixteen Truths, etc.
2. When some hear of that which is Limitless, they reason that those of the Two Vehicles use this to subdue their own confusions, but are unable to influence others, and that the Bodhisattvas use it to subdue their own confusions as well as to influence others.
3. When some hear of that which is Limitless, they reason that those of the Two Vehicles are not part of this and that only Bodhisattvas are able to use it to become free of the dusts and sands of this world and subdue as well as the dusts and sands of spiritual realm beyond this world. When some hear of that which is limitless, they reason that those of the Two Vehicles are not part of this, and that only Bodhisattvas use it to become free of the dust and sands of this world and the spiritual realm beyond it as well as to subdue the darkness of ignorance.
4. When some hear of that which is Limitless, it is only Bodhisattvas that use it to subdue and become free of the darkness of ignorance.

When one hears of that which is ‘Innate’ in term of each of the Doctrines, the examples are like this:

1. When some hear of that which is Innate, they reason that it is not of the Buddhas, the Gods, Humanity, or the Asuras, but rather it is a realization of those of the Two Vehicles. The Scripture on Brahma’s Questions says: "We who have studied that which is innate have already attained realization of it, and yet the Bodhisattvas are not able to attain its realization."
2. When some hear of that which is Innate, they reason that those of the Three Vehicles are all able to attain realization of it.
3. When some hear of that which is Innate, they reason that it is not in the spiritual realm of the Two Vehicles, much less that of the Common Six Realms. The Bodhisattvas refute that which is provisionally innate and realize that which is really innate.
4. When some hear of that which is Innate and that there is that which is provisionally innate, they realize that which is really innate. When they grasp this idea, upon accepting and hearing a single phrase of the teaching, they will penetrate and reach many and eventually all of the teachings. At this point one is without hindrances or obstacles in one's understanding of all of the teachings.

Next Page         Outline          Home Page

1. In this section of the text, Chih-I again explains The Four Doctrines that are progresively deeper understanding of spiritual truth. Before this was explained in the analysis of the Four Truths. Now there is an explanation of the four progressively deeper understandings of each of the Four Doctrines themselves.

2. The fate one has as a mortal in the threefold realm, and the station that is beyond the threefold realm which is a result of one’s good karmic deeds: The two kinds of Life & Death (S. Samsara), the first being that of common mortals of the six lower realms of this world, and the later being that of those that have made spiritual progress beyond it (on the three vehicles).

Copyright © Peter Johnson 2001 - All rights reserved

Copyright Policy - Contact the Author at pj@tientai.net

  Since July 9, 2001

FastCounter by bCentral