The Great Calm Observation, Volume 1, Part 4, Page 1

The Great Calm Observation, Volume 2, Part 2, Page 1

3. Clarifying the Half Seated, Half Walking Samadhi

First, the method
Secondly, encouraging its cultivation

1. The Method

The Body, that which is permitted and that which is prohibited
The Mouth, that which is spoken and that which is silent
The Thinking Mind, that which is Calm and that which is Observation

This method appears in two Sutras:

A. The Sutra on the Great Dharani of the Universal Way¹ says:
"Circumambulating 120 times, then sitting down and considering it."

B. The Lotus Sutra says:
"Whether people walk or stand to read and chant this sutra,
Or whether they sit down to consider it,
I will appear before them riding a white elephant with six tusks.”

Therefore we recognize that both sutras use the ‘half walking & half seated method’.

A. The Universal Way

i. The Body, that which is permitted and that which is prohibited

The Universal Way is most honored and should not be treated lightly. If one desires to cultivate and learn this, the guardian spiritual luminaries must attest to one’s worthiness. One first seeks out of the Kings of Dreams. When one gets to see one, it is a sign that one’s confession has been allowed². In a quiet and secluded place, one adorns the sanctuary of enlightenment³. Using a fragrant paint, one covers the ground as well as the walls inside and outside the room. One paints a circular altar, and hangs five colored banners around it. One burns a special sandal incense found at the seashore and lights some bright lamps. One sets up a high throne on the altar and invites the images of the 24 Honored Ones⁴ into the sanctuary. Others may be added. One lays out food and drink as offerings to reflect one’s sincerity.

One should wear new clothing and sandals. If one does not have new clothes, one’s old ones should been cleaned. Whenever entering or leaving the sanctuary, one should not let one’s clean clothes get mixed up with one’s other clothes. One goes on a seven-day long post-noon fast and bathes three times daily.

On the first day, one offers service to the Sangha for as long or as briefly as one feels appropriate. One seeks out a special person who clearly understands the inner and outer disciplines to be one’s teacher. One receives the 24 precepts as well as the dharani spells⁵and one faces one's teacher and expounds upon one's sins. This should be done during the seven-day period between the eighth and fifteenth day of the month. One definitely should not reduce the time period, but one may extend for as long as one can handle it. Up to ten people may participate, but no more than this. Lay people are also allowed but it is necessary that they provide the three single seamed articles of clothing in accordance with Buddhist rites.

ii. The Mouth, that which is spoken & that which is silent:

Beforehand one learns to chant the dharani spells fluently. At the beginning of the first day, everyone chants in unison, three times summoning and requesting the Three Treasures -Tthe Ten Buddhas, the Father and Mother that is the Dharani of the Universal Way, and the Ten Princes of the Dharma. One summons and requests them as described in The Hundred Examples of the Nation’s Purification⁶. This is the Request⁷.
Having finished the request, one burns incense and as one reflects on them as one offers service in thought, word and deed⁸. Having offered service, one worships the Three Treasures that have been requested. This is the Worship.
Having already worshipped, with resolve, sincerity of heart and tears of grief, one confesses and repents for one's sins. This is the Confession.
Having confessed, one gets up and circumambulates around the Bodhimandala 120 times. Each Circumambulation is equivalent to one Spell⁹.

The walk is not too fast and not too slow.
The chant is not too loud and not too soft.

Following the circumambulation and the spell, one again worships the Ten Buddhas, the Dharani of the Universal Way, and the Ten Princes of the Dharma. Having done this, one sits and considers them. Having sat and considered them, one again gets up and circumambulates, chanting the spell. Having circumambulated and chanted, one once again sits and considers them. One does this for seven days. From the second time forward, one can abridge the part on summoning and requesting, but must always do the other parts.

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Footnotes:

1. The Sutra on the Great Dharani of the Universal Way: (S. Maha Vaipulya Dharani Sutra) An early esoteric Sutra popular in China at the time of Hui-Ssu and Chih-I Universal Way: (S. Vaipulya) Broadly and equally applying to all, another name for the Great Vehicl

2. The Kings of Dreams: According to the Sutra, the Dharani was revealed by the Buddha King of Treasure to the Bodhisattva Bouquet of Blossoms who wished to save the Monk Sound of Thunder, who was plagued by demonic spirits. When the Monk Sound of Thunder invoked the Dharani, the demons became the Kings of Dreams and the guardian spirits of the Dharani. One of them must show a sign before one will be initiated into the practice. In order to gain their acceptance, one must perform a seven day preparatory ritual in which one must make heartfelt confession of one’s transgressions and request them to appear.

3. Sanctuary of Enlightenment: (S. Bodhimandala) The special place where one practices the Samadhi.

4. The 24 Honored Ones: #1-10 Ten Buddhas #11-#20 Ten Dharma Princes (Bodhisattvas) #21 The Father & Mother that is the Dharani #22 The Bodhisattva Bouquet of Blossoms #23 The Monk Sound of Thunder #24 The 12 Kings of Dreams #25++ Sariputra and the other Sravakas are normally added, among others

5. The 24 precepts as well as the dharani spells: 24 Precepts are delineated prohibiting greed, anger, lust, etc., each with a dharani spell to help the practitioner embrace it.

6. The Hundred Examples of the Nation’s Purification: The Kuo-Ching Pai-Lu, written by Kuan-Ting in 605 CE, which describes Buddhist rituals and ceremonies of the time.

7. The Request: One summons, or invites, the Three Treasures, which is the Buddha (The10 Buddhas), the Dharma (The Dharanis), and the Sangha (The Princes of the Dharma which are the Bodhisattvas, the Bodhisattva Bouquet of Blossoms, The Monk Sound of Thunder, Sariputra and the other Sravakas, and the Twelve Kings of Dreams)

8. Offering servce in thought, word and deed: The three karmas (the body, mouth, and thinking mind) are the creeators of one's spiritual destiny Offer service: kneeling, chanting, & reflecting.

9. Circumabulation: Walking around the Bodhimandala Spell: Incantation of the Dharani (magic prayer)

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