The Sutra on Limitless Meanings

The Sutra on Limitless Meanings
Introduction

The Sutra on Limitless Meanings (C. Wu-Liang-I Ching, J. Muryogi Kyo) was translated into Chinese by Dharma-Jatayasas in 480 CE. By comparison Kumarajiva translated The Lotus Sutra around 406 CE, but an earlier surviving translation was made of it was made by Dharma-Raksa as early as 286 CE.

In The Sutra on Limitless Meanings, the Buddha sums up his first 40 years of teaching the Dharma. He explains that there has always been but one spiritual reality (Dharma), but it has been explained in limitless ways to adapt to the different prejudices, natures, desires, and capacities of the various spiritual seekers. The Dharma has always been one and the same, beyond prejudice, beyond aspects, inconceivable and inexpressible, but the different audiences have given limitless different meanings to it, which has been a reflection of their prejudices, desires, and capacities. This of course is still true today. The Dharma, the spiritual reality, is always the same, but each of us give it new meaning through our unique lives and our different paths to enlightenment.

This relatively short Sutra is divided into three chapters.

The Practice of Virtue

The Teaching of The Dharma

The Ten Merits and Virtues

The Sutra of Limitless Meanings serves as a preface to The Lotus Sutra. It sums up the provisional teachings of the Dharma in preparation for the quintessential teaching. As the introductory chapter of The Lotus Sutra relates, having completed the summa of the provisional teachings and the ten stages (S. Bhumis) of the Bodhisattva path, the Buddha enters into the deep Samadhi of Limitless Meanings. Having reached the perfection of the provisional teaching, there will be the revelation of the ultimate teaching, which is The Lotus Sutra.

The Lotus Sutra goes beyond the provisional teachings and reveals the ultimate will and intent of the Buddha, first of the historical Buddha (the Buddha as revealed to the world) and then of the eternal embodiment of enlightenment.

On the Title of the Sutra

The title of The Sutra of Limitless Meanings expresses the Three Truths.

The Buddha explained the empty nature of the Dharma - that ultimately it does not have a specific nature or form, that it is neither great nor small, that is neither visible nor invisible, etc.
The Buddha explains the temporary nature of dharmas (the aspects of spiritual reality) and how they are born, remain a while, are changed and then perish. These are the ‘four aspects’ of transience.
Where these two intersect, there is the mean. In this Sutra it is called the ‘meaning’.
* It is where Life & Death meets up with Nirvana.
* It is where emotional troubles meet up with awakening.
* It is where living beings meet up with the Buddha.
* It is where the Dharma is taught, where it is faithfully received and where enlightenment is attained.

These Three Truths are expressed in the Sutra’s title:

Without, Nonexistence (C. Wu, J. Mu) = Emptiness
Limit, Measure (C. Liang, J. Ryo) = That Which is Temporary
Meaning, Significance (C. I, J. Gi) = The Mean

On the meaning of the word Sutra (C.Ching, J. Kyo)

The Sutra is literally the very word of the Buddha. The Sutra is the Buddha's eternal life in what is known as the Spiritual Body or Spiritual Life (S. Dharmakaya). In practicing the Sutra (reading it, reciting it, understanding it, worshipping it, propagating it, living up to it, etc) one brings it to life and attains its wisdom and virtues (the Body of Reward, S. Sambhogakaya) and becomes the Buddha teaching the Dharma to enlighten others (the Body of Response or Manifestation, S. Nirmanakaya).

The Sutra is the Sutra, whether it is The Lotus Sutra, The Sutra of Limitless Meanings or any of the other manifestations of the word of the Buddha. There really is only one Sutra in the same sense that there is only one Dharma.

Next Page Literature Home Page

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

Since July 9, 2001

FastCounter by bCentral