The Great Calm Observation, Volume 2, Part 2, Page 6

 

Concerning the following of one's own thinking mind, we make four parts:

  1. In Terms of the Sutras
  2. In Terms of That Which is Good
  3. In Terms of That Which is Evil
  4. In Terms of That Which is Unaccountable as Good or Evil

A. In Terms of the Sutras

Those that practice the teachings of Sutras not included in the three Samadhis described before fall into the category of Following Their Own Thinking Mind. As a further example of this, we indicate the aspects of The Sutra on the Requesting the Bodhisattva Observing the Sounds of the World1.

In a quiet place one adorns the Bodhimandala with banners, canopies, fragrances and lamps. One makes one's prayers and requests to an image of the Buddha Amitabha and the two Bodhisattvas, Observing the Sounds of the World and Endowed With Great Power, all placed in the western part of the room2. Pure water and willow sprigs3 are placed out as offerings. Upon exiting the Bodhimandala, one must wash, clean, and perfume the body before reentering and wear clothing that is fresh and clean.

Once commences the practice on one of the fast days4. Facing westward, the five limbs fall prostrate onto the ground and one worships the Three Treasures in the form of:

Having worshipped them, one kneels with one’s right knee on the ground, burns incense and scatters flowers. With all one’s heart, one turns one's life over to them8 in the usual method. Having offered service to the Three Treasures, one's body is erect and one's mind is straight. In the locked cross-legged posture, one focuses one's mind by counting the breath with ten breaths bringing on singleness of mind9. Having accomplished presence of mind, one gets up, one burns incense and, for all living beings, one requests the names of the Three Treasures three more times. Having requested them, one praises the names of the Three Treasures three times. In praising the name of the Bodhisattva Observing the Sounds of the World, one joins the palms and the ten fingers together and recites four stanzas of praise from the Sutra10.

And next one chants the spells three times - some but once, some seven times - at the beginning and the end of the day. Having chanted the spells, one relates one's confession, remembering one's own offenses. Upon exposing them they are washed away. Having been cleansed, one worships the Three Treasures that were previously requested. Having worshipped them, one person sits upon an elevated seat and chants the spell and the words of this Sutra, with the others in attendance listening to it. One uses this method before noon and in the early evening. At the other four times of the day one uses the regular ritual. If one dislikes this abbreviated form of the ritual, one may seek guidance from the Sutra to help supplement the procedure.

The Sutra on Requesting the Bodhisattva Observing the Sounds of the World says:
“The eyes corresponds with the forms they see,
How can they abide in concentration?...
The thinking mind corresponds with the objects of its attention,
How can it abide in concentration?”

The Sutra on the Great Gathering says:
“The mind that is as-it-is is abiding”

That which is 'as-it-is' is emptiness. The passage “Each one of the six senses everywhere enters into the bounds of reality as-it-is” is just different expression of emptiness and that which is as-it-is.

In The Sutra on Requesting the Bodhisattva Observing the Sounds of the World Sariputra says:

If one reasons that element of earth is existent, its existence assumes its reality and substantiality. Its reality and substantiality imply it solidity. Whether one reasons that earth is non-existent, that it is both existent and non-existent, or that it is neither existent nor without existence, they are all matters of substantiality and they all imply its nature of solidity. Now we clarify that its ultimate incomprehensibility disproves its nature of solidity.

If one reasons that water is existent, its existence implies its permanence. With water being neither existent nor without existence, its nature is still permanently remaining. Now, water does not remain permanent in the tetralemma of existence, the tetralemma of non-existence, and the tetralemma of that which is inexpressible. Therefore the Sutra says that the nature of water is without permanence.

If one observes wind as being existent, with its existence there is its nature of resistence. Eventually reasoning that wind is neither existent nor without existence, it is also not without the tetralemmas. Therefore the Sutra says the nature of wind is without resistance.

Fire is not born from itself, it is not born from another - it is not born from both and it is not born without cause. Originally not self-existent, it depends upon conditions in order to exist. Therefore the Sutra says that it is without real existence.

Having observed that material form is like this, feelings, thoughts, acts of will and consciousness each and all enter into the bounds of reality as-it-is.12

 

Next Page         Outline          Home Page

  

Footnotes:

1. The Sutra on the Requesting the Bodhisattva Observing the Sound of the World: (C. Ch'ing Kuan-Shih-Yin P'u Sa Hsiao-Fu T'o-Lo-Ni Ching) Early esoteric Sutra used by T'ien T'ai school for veneration of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

2. The Buddha Amitabha and the two Bodhisattvas, Observing the Sounds of the World (Avalokitesvara) and Endowed With Great Power (Maha-Sthamaprapta), all placed in the western part of the room: In the Pure Land practice, these two Bodhisattvas, personifying respectively compassion for those in need and the great power of wisdom that breaks the hold of the threefold realm, are respectively the left-hand and right-hand attendants of the Buddha Amitabha, the Buddha of infinite light in the western paradise of ultimate bliss (Nirvana).

3. Pure water and willow sprigs: Pure water for bathing, willow sprigs for cleaning the teeth, representing the purity of the body and the mouth.

4. The fast days: The Six days of fasting per month (The Posadha or Uposatha); the 8th, 14th, 15th, 23rd, 29th, & 30th (or 1st) day of the lunar month - Two days each for the full & new moons, & one day each for the first & the last quarter moon; when the spiritual forces, good (gods) & bad (demons) are most busy. It is a post-noon fast. This ritual practice is supposed to undertaken for a period of three weeks or seven weeks.

5. The Seven Buddhas, Sakyamuni, & Amitabha: In terms of the Three Treasures, the Buddhas; The Seven Buddhas were said to be the most recent incarnations of the Buddha, up to and including Sakyamuni, they were  #1 Vipasyin #2 Sikhin #3 Visvabhu #4 Krakucchanda #5 Kanakamuni #6 Kasyapa #7 Sakyamuni – the first three were the last of the last Kalpa (‘The Glorious Kalpa’) and the last four of these are said to be the first of the present kalpa.

6. The Three Dharanis: The terms of the Three Treasures, The Dharma; #1 The Dharani that subdues harmful poisons, #2 The Dharani that breaks evil, and #3 The Dharani of the six syllables - these Dharanis are the heart of this ritual.

7. The Two Bodhisattvas and the Noble Assembly: In terms of the Three Treasures, the Sangha

8. One turns one's life over to them: The act of devotion in which one opens oneself up with faith and takes refuge in the spiritual influence of the Three Treasures.

9. In the locked cross-legged posture, one focuses one's mind by counting the breath with ten breaths bringing on singleness of mind: Practices that help subdue the mind and facilitate calm and mental concentration

10. The Four Stanzas of praise from the Sutra:

11. Here the tetralemma is used to explain the box of logic that traps the mind into conventional thinking based on the aspects of mutual dependence such as existence vs. non-existence and self vs. other. The views of solidity, permanence, resistance and real existence are transcended by the emptiness of reality as-it-is, which is incomprehensible and inexpressible.

 12. This concludes the observation of emptiness. Next comes the observation of what which is temporary.

 

Copyright © Peter Johnson 2001 - All rights reserved

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

  

  Since July 9, 2001


 FastCounter by bCentral