Chapter5
Transmigration(1)
Thosewhohavepracticedmanygooddeeds,
keepingtheFivePreceptsandthePreceptsofTenVirtues
canbereborninthesixth,fifthandfourthheavens.
Inordertobeborninthethird,secondandfirstheavens,
onemustmakegreatefforts
towardstheworkfortheBuddha(佛事)
andmustperformallfilialpiety
forone’sdeceasedparentsandancestors,
observingtheprecepts(戒律)well.
OnemustmakeofferingstotheBuddha,
actforthebenefitofothers(利他行),
andstudytheBuddhaDharmaintensively.
*ChapterfivethroughChaptertwenty-threearethecontentsoftheDharmateachingsthatIhavecontributedto“TheDaehanBuddhism”inBusanintheformoffeaturearticlesforfivemonthstowhichIhaveaddedsomeparts.
Thefourspiritualbodies
andtransmigrationinthesixrealms
NoonehasbeenfullyawareofthespiritduringthelongperiodofNikayaBuddhismandMahayanaBuddhismafterthepassingoftheBuddha.NowIwillgiveaDharmatalkonthespiritthatistheoriginalbodyofahuman,themaster(主人空)ofeveryindividualhumanandthesubjectoftransmigration,plusthesubjectofinterdependentarising.Aspiritcanalsobecalledspiritualbodies.‘Spirit’hasbeenmostlyusedwhenreferringtoone’sownmaster,namelytherealityofthespiritofanindividualthatisthesubjectoftransmigration(whenreferringtothewholeNo.1,2,3,4spiritualbodiesofanindividualthatexistoverlappingasone);and“spiritualbody”whenreferringtotherespectivespiritualbodiesthatformaspiritofanindividual(e.g.theNo.1spiritualbody,theNo.2spiritualbody....).
Ahumanismadeupofthefourspiritualbodiesandaphysicalbody.LetmenamethemNo.1,2,3,4spiritualbodiesinsequencestartingfromthespiritualbodyplaceddeepestinside.Ifsentientbeingscommitkarma,allofitwillbereflectedinthespiritualbodies.Inparticular,theevilkarmathathasbeenaccumulatedwillbeafundamentalcauseoftransmigration.Sentientbeingshaveahighmountainofkarmichindranceintheirspiritualbodies,somostofthemtransmigratecenteringonthethreeevildestiniesofthehells,hungryghostsandanimals,andthosewhohavelivedavirtuouslifearereborninthethreegooddestiniesofhumans,asurasanddevabeings.Thisiscalledthetransmigrationofthesixrealms.
Thehumanbeingsandanimalslivewithphysicalbodies,butthosewhoareintherealmofthehells,hungryghosts,asuraandheavensliveintheformofspirits.Thus,itisadefinitefactthatahumandies,goestoahell,andthenisrebornasananimal.ItisalsotruethatIhavepersonallyseentheworldsoftransmigrationofthesixrealms.Theotherworldsofthehells,heavens,etc.arenottheworldsexistinginourmindatall.
Thefourspiritualbodiesarelivingbodieswithconsciousnessandmemoryasamassofenergythatisnotseenwiththeeyesofordinarypeople,butseenonlywiththewiseeyesofasaint.Thatisnootherthanmyselfandyourselves.
Thismassofenergyismadeofultrafineparticleswhicharefarsmallerthanelementaryparticles.Theultrafineparticleshavethedualaspectsofparticlesandfluctuations.Whenseenfromthesideoffluctuations,thespiritualbodiesarealivingbodythathasaformliketheelectronicwaveenergywithextremelyshortwave-length,thatis,withsomanyvibrations.
TheNo.4spiritualbody,whichjoinsaphysicalbodywiththeNo.1,2,3spiritualbodies,isahalfmatterthatishigherindensitythanaphysicalbody.IncasewedonotentertheCourtfortheDeceasedunderKsitigarbhaBodhisattvaafterdeath,weliveasforlornwanderingspiritsintheformoftheNo.4spiritualbody(theNo.3,2,1spiritualbodiesareoverlappedinit)intheintermediateexistencerealm.
IfonefallsdownintotheEvilDestinies(intermediateexistence),whenpassedawayafterhavinglivedasacrookedoldman,theappearanceofhisNo.4spiritualbodyisstillacrookedoldman.
WhenenteringtheCourtfortheDeceased,oneentersthereastheNo.3spiritualbody.Therearethedeceasedspiritswhoareborninthedevarealmafterhavinglivedavirtuouslife,ortherearethosewhoarebornthere,havingbeensavedbyagreatsaintwhohasattainedBuddhahoodinthislifetime.ThesespiritsarerebornthereastheNo.3spiritualbody.
TheNo.4spiritualbodyfailstoadapttotheotherworldandthedevarealm,anddies,buttheNo.3spiritualbodykeepshisyouthfulnessaroundtheageofearlyforties.TheNo.1and2spiritualbodiesareoverlappedintotheNo.3spiritualbody.WhenaspiritualbodygoesupashighastheNo.1spiritualbody,densitywillgrowhigher,andthesizeoftheparticlebecomessmaller.
Onegoestoandisbornintheholymultitudes(聖衆)realmintheNo.2spiritualbody.Atthistime,theNo.3and1spiritualbodiesareoverlappedintotheNo.2spiritualbody.
TheNo.1spiritualbodygoestotheWesternPureLand.TheNo.3and2spiritualbodiesareoverlappedintothisNo.1spiritualbody.TheNo.1,2,3,spiritualbodiesneverdie,andjointogether.Theyareinthisunitedstateallthetime.Amongthese,theNo.1spiritualbodyistheoriginalbodyofahuman.
WhenawomanisrebornintheWesternPureLand,herspiritistransformedintoamanbeforeshegoesthere.
Self-natureinsuchness,onething,andone’sownmaster(主人公)whicharesaidinthefamilyoffollowersofChan(meditation)aretherootoftheuniverse,butitdoesnotindicatethespirit.Itis‘theultimaterealsubstance’whichletsallthatexistexist.
WhenonewhohasattainedBuddhahoodleaveshisphysicalbodythatisaTransformationBodyandenterscompletenirvana,theNo.1,2,3,and4spiritualbodiesbecomeamassoflight,arecombined,andmingledwithone’sownBuddhaBody(圓滿報身,theCompleteBodyofBliss)madeoftheImmeasurableLight.
OnlytheBuddhawhoisinSamadhiofGreatQuiescencepossessingthethreeawareness(三明)andfiveeyes(五眼)seesthesixrealmsandthewheeloflifeanddeathofsentientbeingsastheyare.HealsoseestherealityofHell,andeventherealaspectoftheWesternPureLand.
HinduismandJainismalsospeakofliberationfromthewheeloflifeanddeath,andhavephilosophiesasexcellentasBuddhism.
IfonebreaksthroughHwa-duinSeonmeditation(禪),theysaythatonehasseenone’sself-nature(見性),orhasawakenedtoone’soriginalnature.Thatiscorrect.Enlightenmentdenotesthatoneseestheoriginalnature(眞相)ofexistence.Onewillexperienceemptiness(空)andselflessness(無我).
Butenlightenmentthattheoriginalnatureofmindisrevealedforamomentisonlythebeginningofpractice,andwhenonemaintainsone’spracticeafterawakening,onewillbeabletoenterarhatship(聖衆).
Human’sseaofsuffering
Pleasereturnmyyouthfuldays.Givemeyouth.
Youthfuldays,Myyouthfuldays,wheredidyougo?
Anoldcountrywomanwhohasjustpassedtheageofseventywassinginganoldsongaboutherselfcontinuouslywithherfacemessedwithtearsandnosedrippings.Sometwentyoldmenandwomenofthevillagewhosatinacircleweresharingthesadnessandlaughingtogether,clappingtothetemposandthemusicthatshesangwailing,tappingtheflooroftheseniors’roominacommunitycenterfortheaged,withanoldworn-outwhiterubbershoe.
ThisisthescenethatIsawwhentheoldmenandwomen,whogatheredinthecommunitycenterfortheagedinavillagedownthewayfromus,weresinginganddemonstratingtheirspecialtalentsonthefirstdayofaspringeventon20March2003.AstheyhadrequestedmetodeliverthemaspecialDharmatalk,Iwasabletowitnessitrightinfrontofme.
AsIarrivedtheretogetherwithmyattendantabouttenminutesbeforethetimeoftheDharmatalks,Ihadachancetoheartheoldwoman’ssongandmyheartwasgreatlymovedandmyeyeswerefilledwithtears.Ibecamesolemnonhearingthelyricsthatwereflowingoutofhermouth,absorbedinthestateofselflessness,andthetunethatwasmixedwiththesorrow,deep-rootedinhermind,resultingfromtroublesofherpainfulpast.
Thechiefofthevillagesittingnexttomeatthattimewhisperedtomeaboutthesorrowfullifeoftheoldwoman.
Iwastoldthattheoldwomanhadlostherlovinghusbandinhermid-thirtiesandshehadbecomelikeawildgoosethathadlostitspartner.Shehadatypicalcountrywoman’sfeaturesandlookedkindandsimple-mindedinappearance.
Herhusband,whoenjoyedbull-fighting,diedafterhisbellywasrippedopenbybeinggoredbythebullhewasraising.
Theoldwomanhadonesonandfourdaughters.Amongthem,oneofthedaughterswassickwithpolioandanotherdaughterwithepilepsy.Shewasanadmirableoldwomanwhohadmanagedtoraisethefivelittlechildrenwhoareallmarriednow.Peoplesaidthatherhardshipsbothinmindandbodyduringthepasttimehadbeenindescribable.
Allshehadwasonlythreeorfourpatchesofricepaddy.Shehasbeenamaincharacterofanovel-likelifewhowentupintomountainsinspringtogatheredibleplantsandpickmedicinalherbs,andalsoworkedasadaytimelaborerinthefarmingseasoninordertosupportherchildren’seducation.Thesorrowfulstorycontinued.Atnightshehaskeptthedoorlockedandremainedsingle,livingwithherchildreninoneroom.
AlsoevenheronlysonhasfoundajobinSeoulandlefthome.Shehasbeenlivinginthehousealoneformorethantenyears!
Thevillagechiefwentonsayingthat,wheneverthevillagersgoonagrouptourfromtimetotimeorgettogethertohaveaparty,shewouldsingherfavoritesong‘Youthfuldays,myyouthfuldays,wheredidyougo?’,shewouldtapthefloorwitharubbershoethatshehadwornwhenherhusbanddied,andsingasifwailing.
I,whowasdeeplytouchedbythescene,enteredSamadhi(三昧)assoonasIreturnedtothetempleandtrackeddownherpreviouslives.
Everyone!Thebullthatkilledherhusbandhadbeenworkingasafarmhandfourlivesagofromnow.Thefarmhandworkedforamasterwhohadanill-naturedmindandwasmistreatedandnotpaidanywages.Thenhiscausalconditionshavebeenconnectedinthislife.Hewasbornasabullandtookrevengeonherhusbandwhohadbeenthemasterinhispastlifetime.
Thedaughterwhohasbeenafflictedwithpoliohasreceivedkarmicresultsfromthepastdeedsofbeinggreatlyundutifulandcommittingviolencetoherparentshabituallyinthepreviouslife.
TheotherdaughtersufferingfromepilepsyhasreceivedasinfulkarmaforhavingbadlyslanderedaGreatMonkrecitingaBuddha’snameasanon-Buddhist,andforhavinghinderedhispractice.
Thebullthatkilledthehusbandoftheoldwomanhasnowfallenintoaheavysinners’hell(重地獄)andisreceivingkarmicretribution.HerhusbandhasnotenteredtheCourtfortheDeceasedasyet,andhasbeenwanderingaroundherasaforlornspirit.
ThetraceoftheirpreviousliveshasbeenrequestedofKsitigarbhaBodhisattva,andtheircontentsconfirmed.
Thepooroldwomanhascometoourtemplefromtimetotimesincethatday.Ihaveledtheoldwoman,whooftencomestouswithedibleplants,totakerefugeinBuddhism,andexpoundedherDharmateachingsofchantingaBuddha’snameeventothisday.
TherecitationofasacredBuddha’sname,preceptsandfilialpietyaretheforemostvirtuesthattheBuddhaemphasizesmost,andrecommendstoeveryone.
Theheavenlydevarealm(天上)
with54levelsinsixheavens
Theoldwomanlivedinthefifthheavenintherealmofdesiresinherpreviouslife.Thefifthheavenisalowerheaven,butonewhohasreceivedahumanbodyfromthisheavenisaboutlessthanoneoutofonethousandpeople.
Ifapersoncouldbeborn,eveninthefifthheaven,hewillenjoyenormousblessingsandsubtlepleasureincomparablewiththelifeofaparliamentarianoraministerinthehumanworld.However,evenifhecanbeborninthefifthheaven,asthisplaceisalsowithintherealmoftransmigrationwherethecycleoflifeanddeathisnotfreed,hewillfalldown,andbeborninthehumanrealmoraloweroneifhisblessingsareexhausted.
AsIamawareoftheprincipleofcauseandconditions,IhavestartedtopreachtheDharmateachingsthroughthenewspaper,‘theDaehanBuddhism’,todomyutmosttopreventmostoftheBuddhistswhohearthisDharmateachingfromfallingintoatleasttheThreeEvilDestinies(Hell,hungryghosts,animals),andthusmakingitpossibleforthemtobereborninthehumanorthedevarealm.
InthepresentBuddhism,theysaythatthereareperpendicularlysixheavensintherealmofdesires,eighteenheavensintherealmofform,andfourheavensintherealmofformlessness.
InthisHyonjisa,YongsanBuddhism,wecallthesixheavensintherealmofdesires,namelythesixthheaven,thefifthheaven,thefourthheaven,thethirdheaven,thesecondheavenandthefirstheaven;andtheseheavensaredividedinto54levelsagain.Wealsocalltherealmofformandtherealmofformlessnesstheheavenoftheholymultitudes.Thisisdividedintothreeheavensthatarealsosubdividedinto27levels.
Thereexiststherealmofasuraasaseparateheavenfromthesixheavensintherealmofdesires.Thisheavencorrespondstoaheavenequivalenttothelowestlevelofthefirstheaven.Theyliveawealthyandhappylife,butthatistheplacewheretheyhavemanyquarrelsandfights.Allheavensintherealmofdesiresarenotfreedfromtransmigrationofbirthanddeath,butfromtheheavenoftheholymultitudes,thereisawaytobecomeanarhatbypracticingsothatonecouldescapefromlifeanddeath,andadvancefurther.
Anarhatisinthebestofthebest(fromthefifthleveluptothefirstleveloftheheavenofholymultitudes)inthefirstheavenoftheholymultitudes,andescapesfromtransmigration.
Thecolourofhumanspirits(thecolourofthespiritsisdifferentfromtheaurathatradiatesthroughahumanbody.)whowillfalldowntoHell,hungryghostrealm,oranimalrealm,looksblackishanddark.Conversely,thecolourofthespiritsofthosewhowillbeborninthesixthheavenlooksgray.Thosewhowillbebornbetweenthefifthandfirstheavensarewhite.
Thosewhohavepracticedmanygooddeeds,keepingtheFivePrecepts(戒)andTenVirtues(善)canbereborninthesixth,fifthandfourthheavens.Inordertobeborninthethird,secondandfirstheavens,onemustmakegreateffortstowardstheBuddha’swork,andperformallfilialpietyforone’sdeceasedparentsandancestors,observingprecepts(5precepts,10virtues)well.OnemustmakeofferingstotheBuddha,actforthebenefitofothers,andstudytheBuddhaDharmaalot.Thesearethenecessaryconditionstobepromotedtoahigherheavenandattainliberation.
Evenheavenlybeingslivingintheheavenwithintransmigrationwillbedroppedtothehumanrealmorevildestinieswhentheirblessingsareexhausted.
Reversely,ifoneawakenstotheoriginalnatureofmind,maintainsone’spracticewellafterawakeningandreachesthelevelthatbirthanddeathcanbecontrolledasonewishes,thenonewillenterthelevelofasaint,escapefromtransmigration,andberebornintheheavenofthearhats(expressionoftheBuddha).
IfonepracticesVipashyanawellandabsolutelyawakenstothetruenatureofexistencei.e.impermanence,suffering,noself,onewillofcourseattainthefruitofanarhatandberebornintheheavenoftheholymultitudes.IunderstandthatLamaBuddhismandtheesotericBuddhismpracticeofTibetalsohaveanexcellentpracticesystem.
Holymultitudesheaven
AsImentionedearlier,therearethreeheavensintheholymultitudesheaven,andeachheavenhasninelevels,soitisdividedintotwenty-sevenlevels.Theholymultitudesheavenistheheavenoftheheavenswhereonecangetthereafterpassingthroughthesixheavensoftherealmofdesires.Ifonewishestobeborninaholymultitudesheaven,onemustobservepreceptspurely,practicetheteachingoftheBuddhawithawholeheartandreachthelevelofenteringcompleteconcentration.Thespiritsthatwillbeborninthisplacehavesilver-whitecolouredlightasbrightasthefullmoon.Onewhohasreachedfromthefirstleveltothefifthlevelofthebest(上)ofthefirstheavenoftheholymultitudeswillbefreedfromtransmigrationandattainarhatship.
OurfalsebodiesarelikeahouseorclothesasthemattersaremadeupoftheFourGreatElements(四大),namelyearth,water,fireandwind.Whenahousecrumblesdown,wecannotliveinit,soweabandonitandmoveelsewhere.Inthesameway,ourspiritseparatesfromthephysicalbodylikeasnakecomingout,castingoffitsskin.Ourspiritisoverlappedwiththefourspiritualbodies.
ItisrecordedintheHinduSutra‘Veda’thatthreespiritualbodiesarefoldedintooneandliveastheownerinthephysicalbody.Whenthelifespanofaphysicalbodycomestoanend,itcomesout.Thisreallyisadeepsecretoflife.
Chapter6
Transmigration2
Ashumanbeingscommitgreatsin,
theyreceivethebodiesofHelloranimals,
andlivetheirlives.
Thesufferingsthatourspiritshavingfallen
intheevildestiniesreceive
cannotbecomparedwiththose
thatourphysicalbodiesreceive.
Ifonecanperformsalvationservices
forone’sdeceasedancestorsandparents
sothattheycouldbefreedfromtheirsufferings,
thenwherecantherebeamorepreciousfilialpietythanthis?
OnlytheBuddhacancutoff
thekarmicretributionofsentientbeings
Amiddle-agedwomancalledonmetwoorthreeyearsagoafterhearingmyDharmateachingsontheBuddhistRadio.
Asthekarmathatshehadcommittedinherpreviousandpresentliveswassoheavythat,whenshedied,shewasduetobebornintheanimalrealm,receivingabodyofalargesnake.Furthermoreshewasdestinedtobecomealargesnakesixlifetimesinarow.
Ihaveseenthetongueofalargesnakedartinandoutwhenevershewastalking.Thesnakeshavealreadygoneintoherstomachandgrownalot.Onewascoilingaroundherwaistandanothercoilingaroundandaroundherneck.
Everyone!Donotbesurprised.Whoevertheymaybe,humanbeingslive,committingkarmicsinthattheyshouldnotcommit.TheBuddhatoldusthatwemustnotcommitthesekindsofkarma;wemustpracticealotofgooddeeds,andlivecultivatingourmind.However,peopleliveignoringhiswords.Beingblindedbyone’sself-interestandselfishdesire,fillingone’sowngreed,andonlytakingcareofone’swifeandchildren,onecomestocommitkarmicsinasgreatasMountSumeru.
Apersonwhowillbebornintoananimalbodyrightafterhisdeathhasananimalbodygrowingwithinhimthatwillbecomethehouseofhisspiritowingtotheanimalkarmahehascommitted.Asitdevelops,itfollowsthispersonaround.ThecolourofthespiritofapersonwhowillgotoHellafterdeathturnsblackishanddark.Iwilltalkaboutthatlater,butthiswomanhadbondswithmeinadistantpastlifetime.
Shesaidthatwhenshewalkedonacountryroadthroughamountainpasssometenyearsago,snakeslikelargesnakes,poisonoussnakes,etc.wereseeninhereyesmoreconspicuouslythanothers.
Theyappearedinherdreamsmoreoften;theirserpentineappearancesbecamecleareratthetimeofprayers.Thenumberoftimesthattheywereseeninhereyeshasgraduallyincreased.Whensheenteredhomeafewyearsago,shecouldseethemcoilingupinthebedroomaswellasintheentrancehall.Shefaintedandwashospitalized.
Iwastoldthatduringthisperiodoftime,shecalledonfamousexorcists,pastors,priestsandgreatmonkswhoperformedexorcisms.Shekeptprayersatprayingcentersastheytoldhertodo.Itwasastunningstorythat,althoughshehadperformedsalvationservicesforherdeceasedancestorstoheavendozensoftimes,everythinghadendedinvain.Inordertocureher‘sicknessofthelargesnake’,shesoldtheapartmentthatherhusbandhadgonethroughmanydifficultiestobuybyrunningasecond-handstore,andhasbecomepennilessbecauseshehasgivenawayeverything.Sayingthatshehadlostallherhope,sheimploredmewithdesperationwrittenalloverherfacetosaveher.
Ifirstletherreturnhome,thenentereddeepSamadhi;ImetwiththeBuddhaanddeterminedtosaveher.ItisbecauseonlytheBuddhacansaveher.
WhatItrulyaskalltheBuddhistsreadingthisDharmateachingisthatcultivatingone’smindisthemostimportant.TheintermediateexistencerealmofforlornwanderingspiritsandthedevarealmofheavenaswellasHellexist;sentientbeingstransmigratethesixrealmsaccordingtothekarmathattheyhavecommitted.Hence,wemustnotgivemoneythehighestvalue,andmustlivealifedoingalotofgooddeedswithoutcommittingsin.
EvenBuddhistscholarswhohavedeepknowledgeintheBuddhistdoctrinesunderstandHellandtheWesternPureLandthattheBuddhaspokeof,asanexpedientmethod,andalsotendtoseeHellandtheWesternPureLandasunreal.
Thegoalofpracticeasapracticingmonkistobecomeenlightenedtoemptiness(空)andtoawakentotheoriginalnatureofone’smindwhichhasnotearlierhaditsbirthnordeath,andyettherearemanypeoplewhoconsiderthisassomethingvainandideal.
Further,theSeonsectsaysthatonlythemindexists,andallHellandtheWesternPureLandsolelyexistinthemind.SoeventhegreatmonkswhoareknownastheenlightenedpreachtheDharmaontheDharmaseat,asifHell,theWesternPureLandandtheBuddhaarealsoinone’smind.Consequently,weBuddhistsareconfusedaboutwhattobelievein.
Thesearetrulyseriousproblems.Thus,IamcryingoutaloneonthisDharmaseatofthemediawithmywholeheart.
Whenonewantstoseetherealaspectofsentientbeingstransmigratinginthesixrealms,itisstillimpossibleeventhoughonereachesthelevelofaBodhisattva.BothagreatBodhisattvahigherthanthetenthstagewhocanfreelyenterdeepSamadhilikeOceanicReflectionSamadhiandagreatsaintwho,withoutstandingdiscernment,hasattainedaneyeofwisdom(一隻眼)betweenthetwoeyebrows,emitsalightintheshapeoftheswastika(卍)fromhischest,andhasenteredthelevelofaBuddha,canseethesixrealmsandhavethepowertorescuesentientbeingswhohavefallenintotheevildestinies.IwishtostressagainthatthesefactsandthewordsofthesutrasstatingthatsentientbeingstransmigrateinthesixrealmsaretheteachingsoftheBuddha.
IwillstophereandreturntothesubjectoftheDharmatalkagain.
Thepoorwomanwhowassufferingfrom‘thesicknessofthelargesnake’hasnowcompletelyclearedawayherkarmichindrances,andhasbecomeafaithfulBuddhisttogetherwithherlovingfamily,andhasstoodupasoneofthekeenBuddhists.
Shecametoourtemple,andperformedsalvationservicessupervisedbytheBuddhasixtimes.ShehasbeenabletoclearawayallsixlargesnakesbymakingofferingstotheBuddha,theCompleteBodyofBliss(theoriginalBodyoftheRewardBodyBuddhaoftheBuddha),andbyperformingsalvationservicesforherancestors.Inaddition,thespiritsofforty-threeancestorswhohadfallendownintotheevildestinieshaveallbeensavedtothedevarealmoftheheaven.Shesaysthatevenifshetriestorecallitdeliberately,theillusionofalargesnakenevercomestomindandsheismorethanhappy.
IgavethiswomantheFivePreceptsofalayBuddhistandalsogaveheraDharmaname.HerDharmanameis‘Galmuria.’ItistheDharmanameofthetimewhenshewaspracticingasamonkinIndiafivelivesago.
MydearBuddhists!IevendonotknowwhethertheprofessorreferredtoinChapter4isstillappearingontelevisionandisgivinglecturesdenouncingBuddhism.
Iwarnyouagain.IfevengreatmonksintheBuddhistcirclesincludinghimspreaddistortedBuddha’steachings,Isolemnlywanttotellyoutheprincipleofkarmathatthekarmicretributionresultingfromthethoughtlesswordswillsurelycontinueasthethreefoldsufferingsandthefourfoldsufferingsuntiltheendofalltimeasashadowfollowsasubject.
IfonehasnotattainedBuddhahood,
onecannotsavethedeceasedspiritstothedevarealm
Ihaverecentlyreadanarticleinanunknownnewspaperthatsalvationservicesperformedbytempleshavedescendedtoanextremelycommerciallevel.
Savingthedeceasedspiritstothedevarealmisaverydifficulttask.ItishardtobelievethatthosewhohavenopoweroftheDharmaarecommerciallymisusingsalvationservicesforthedeceasedancestors’spirits,whohavefallenintoHell,orwhohavereceivedabodyofananimal,orwhohavebecomeforlornwanderingspiritswithoutgoingtoHell.
ThosemonkswhohavenoDharmapowerclaimthatthereisnoHell,northeWesternPureLand,andtheydonotevenbelieveintransmigration,andyetwhatdeceasedancestorspiritscantheysend,andwherecantheysendthedeceasedancestorspirits?(Theyareunawareofwherethedeceasedancestorspiritsarenow,theyhavenoabilitytobringthemtothesiteofthesalvationservicewhenadeceasedspiritisinahell,orinananimalbody,andtheyhavenoDharmapowertosavethedeceasedspiritstoabetterplace-forinstanceoneoftheheavens.)
Theyinterpretnoself(無我)inthesensethat‘asBuddhismisareligionclaimingnoself,nothinghasitsreality’,andtheyfurtherdenyeventheexistenceofthedeceasedspirits(靈魂)andghosts.Whereasonwhatscripturalgroundsdotheysavedeceasedspiritstothedevarealm?Moreover,itisapityindeedthatthesalvationserviceisbeingoverlycommercialized.
Ihavesaidthatthespiritsdoexist.WhenIenlightenedmyoriginalnature,IrealizedthatthereasonthattheBuddhaspokeofnoselfwasbecausepeoplethought‘thatwhichisnotI(我)’asbeing‘trueI’,sohesaidnoself(無我)togetridoftheerroneousviewofself(我見,I)ofpeopleattachingthemselvesto‘thatwhichisnotI.’Heintendedtosaytoemptythethoughtofselfish‘I’.
Itisquitenaturalthatonewhocultivatesone’smindtobecomeanarhat,aBodhisattvaoraBuddha,mustclearawaythenotionofself,namely,egoisticthought.Itisanundeniablefactthatpracticingselflessnessisearnestlyrequiredinordertohelpthosewholiveinthisworldco-existwithoneanotherandmaketheworldmorepeaceful.
Ifweanalyzematerialandthephysicalbodyintheso-calledphysicalworld(形而下)ofthephenomenalworld,thereisindeednothingthathasanyrealshape.WhereastheBuddhahasneversaidthateventhespiritofthemetaphysics(形以上)doesnotexist,norhastheBuddhaeverstatedthateventhesubject(自我)ofactionsdoesnotexist.
WhattheDiamondSutrasaid,“Allthehumanaffairsarelikeashadowandadream(如夢幻泡影)”,istrue.Weseeeverythingintheworldasitis,butifwediscriminatethatitexistsoritdoesnotexist,wecommitkarma.Hence,apractitionermustsetliberationashisgoal,sohemustkeeppursuingselflesspractice,namelythepracticeofeliminatingone’sself.
Asthenotionof‘I’isassumedasapremise,wecommitkarma.Isingasong,absorbedindeepSamadhi,namelySamadhiofQuiescencethatisSamadhiinSelflessness.
Empty,empty,
itiscompletelyempty.
Thereisneither‘I’nor‘You’,
norsentientbeings,norlivingalonglife.
Selflessness,selflessness.
Clearandclean,
purityitself.
Bliss,bliss,
Itisbliss.
Ignorance(無明)arisesjustascloudsareformedintheemptysky;itbuildsmyphysicalbody,andthewholeworldaccordingtotheconditions;andagainwecreatethesixrealmsandtransmigratebycommittingkarmafollowingthecauseandconditions.
Emptiness(空)ortheOneMind(一心)isundoubtedlythesubstanceoftheuniversethatexistswithoutbeginningandwithoutend;thatisnotcreatednorannihilated;andthattranscendentallyexistsirrespectiveofthephenomenathatalltheworldsdisappearorarecreated.Whenwepassaway,ourphysicalbodyreturnstoahandfulofearth,andtheconsciousnessandmemoryof‘I’willremaininourspiritsasitis.
Mosthumanbeingscommitgreatkarma,sotheylivetheirlivesreceivingthebodiesofhellsandanimals.Thesufferingsthatourspiritswhofelldownintotheevildestiniesreceivecannotbecomparedwiththoseofourphysicalbodies.
Ifapersoncanperformsalvationservicesforhisdeceasedancestors’spiritstobesavedtothedevarealmsothathisancestorsandparents,whohavefallenintoHellorhavereceivedanimalbodies,couldbefreedfromthesufferings,thenhowcantherebemorepreciousfilialpietythanthis?
Itistrulydifficulttoperformasalvationservicelikethis.Whichenlightenedpersoncansaveancestors’spirits,whohavefallendownintoanunremittinghellorextremelyunremittinghell,orwhohavebecomealargesnaketobebornasahumanorinthedevarealmoftheheaven?
ItisimpossiblewithoutthepoweroftheBuddha.TheabsoluteempowermentoftheBuddhaisthenecessaryandsufficientconditionforsavingdeceasedancestors’spiritstothedevarealm.
Ifapersonwhoperformsasalvationservicehasnotattainedthefruitofagreatsaint,thatpersoncannotdrawontheawesomespiritualpowersoftheBuddha,soIemphasizeagainthatsalvationofone’sancestorsisimpossible.
AsalvationserviceperformedbytheonewhodoesnotpossessconsiderablepoweroftheDharma,isakindoffraudulentbehavior.
Chapter7
Transmigration3
Themerit
thatonereceivesbyperformingasalvationservice
forone’sdeceasedparentsandancestors
issuperiortoanyothermerit.
Karmaofthedeceasedspiritswillbecleaned,
andtheywillbesavedtoheaven,
butwhatisevenbetteris
thattheirdescendentisabletoperformgreatfilialduty.
Bysendingforlornspiritswandering
aroundtheintermediateexistencerealm
intotheCourtfortheDeceased,
descendentsarefortunate
becausetheywillnotbetakenillwithbaddiseases,
norcommitsuicide,nordieawayfromhome..
OnlytheBuddhasavessentientbeings
intheEvilDestinies
IonceagainemphasizethataperfectsalvationfordeceasedspiritsisimpossiblewithoutthegreatempowermentoftheBuddha.
TheBuddhaherereferstoSakyamuniBuddhawhoistheKingofBuddhisminJambudvipa,GreatKingofBuddhismoftheThreefoldGreatThousandWorldSystemsand‘theBuddhaoftheBuddhas’.IdeclareclearlythatdeceasedspiritscanbesavedonlywhenthereistheassistanceandcooperationofKsitigarbhaBodhisattva,hisacting(代行)leftandrighthandattendantsDomyong-jonjaandMudok-gwiwangandtheTenGreatKingsoftheCourtfortheDeceased.
Hence,whenthemonkwhoperformsthesalvationserviceisasaintwhoisabletoshareconversationsfreelywiththeBuddhaandBodhisattvasintheabove,andwhohasalsoattainedBuddhahoodduringthepresentlifetime,thensalvationispossible.
Ifoneperformsthesalvationserviceaccordingtotheorderaslaiddownintheceremonialprayertext,theysaythatsalvationcanberealized.Butwhensomeonereadsthemantraforincreasingfoodandclothesfordeceasedspiritstoeatandwear,thingsdonotincreaseaccordingly.EventhoughonerequestsaBuddhaandaBodhisattvatocome,theydonotcomeasrequested,(ABuddhaherereferstotheRewardBodyofaBuddhawhoisarealexistencewithhumancharacterexistingintheAbsoluteRealm.)Althoughabathisofferedtothedeceasedspirits,thespiritsarenotbathed,either.ItisbecausevariousceremonialprayertextshavebeeneditedbyscholarmonksintheprocessofBuddhisthistory.
Firstofall,thedeceasedspiritsmustcompletelybecalledinandassembledforaperfectsalvationservice.Thisisabsolutelyessential.Whenpeoplepassaway,almosthalfofthemdonotentertheCourtfortheDeceased,butwanderaroundasforlornspirits.Thisissad,buttrue.Itisbecauseoftheheavykarmathattheyhavecommitted.ThosewhoentertheCourtfortheDeceased,namelythosewhohaveenteredtransmigration,willinprinciplereceiveadecisionoftheTenGreatKingsafterforty-ninedays,andtheplacethattheywillgoisdecided.Mostofthemwillgotohells,butsomearebornasanimals.
Themonkwhoperformsthesalvationservicemustfirstbeawareofwherethespiritsare,iftheyareinhells,whichhelltheyhavefallenin,whatanimalbodiestheyhavereceived,orwhetherornottheyarewanderingaroundintheintermediateexistencerealmasforlornspiritswithoutenteringtheCourtfortheDeceased,andhemustalsosearchfor,apprehend,andbringallthespiritstotheplacewheretheDharmaseatisonthedayofthesalvationservice.
Ifadoctorwantstooperateonasickpersontocurehissickness,apatientshouldcometothehospital.Inthesamemanner,thebodiesofthespiritsmustbesecuredfortheperformanceofasalvationservicefordeceasedspirits,butthisisadifficulttask.
Whentheyareborninhellsorintheanimalrealm,theycannotcomeeveniftheyarecalledupon.Especially,nomatterwhenasalvationserviceistobeperformedbyaGreatMonk,thespiritswanderingaroundasforlornspiritsrunaway.Youwillunderstandthesituationwhenyouthinkaboutthecaseofaprisonerwhocommittedaseriouscrime,andwasputonthewantedlist,hasbrokenoutofjailandhaskeptrunningaway,eludingthepolice,andappearinganddisappearingunexpectedly.
Forlornwanderingspiritswithheavykarmathinkthatoncetheyarecaught,theywilldie,soitisimpossibletofindandbringallofthemevenwiththeabilityofarhats(holymultitudes).Theyhideawaydeepintheearthorinthewaterasiftheyweredead.
OnlyaBuddhacanperformthetaskoffindingandbringingtogethertheforlornwanderingspiritswhohavenotenteredtheCourtfortheDeceased;onlyaBuddhacanperformthetaskofbringingdeceasedspirits,whoarereceivingpunishmentinhellsnow,totheDharmaseatforasalvationservice;andonlyaBuddhacanperformthetaskofextractingandbringingthespiritualbodiesofadeceasedspiritwhohasreceivedananimalbody.
Therefore,itcannotbeperformedwithoutthegreatpoweroftheBuddha.ItisimpossibletofindandsecuredeceasedspiritswithoutthecapacityandwisdomoftheBuddha.Likethis,asalvationserviceissuchadifficulttask;andyethowcanonedaretosaythewordcommercialization?
Originallythereisnocreator,but,onlythroughthepoweroftheBuddhawhohastheabilityofacreator,forlornspiritswanderingaroundintheintermediateexistencerealm,deceasedspiritsinhells,orspiritswhohavereceivedanimalbodies,canbeextractedandbroughtforasalvationservice.OnlyagreatsaintwhohasattainedBuddhahoodcanaskforhelpfromtheBuddha,andperformgreatpower.
Asacicadathathascastoffitsshellandthathasgottenoutisarealcicada,itfeels,sees,hears,singsandflieshereandthere,buttheshellleftbehinddoesnothaveevenanyfeelingnorthought.Thefalsebodyisalsoliketheshellofacicada.Thespiritthatleftbehindthefalsebodysees,feelsandthinksofthenewworld.
Haveyoueverreadthedocumentarynovelcalled‘Maruta’?EvenifweliveexperiencingextremesufferingsfortensandhundredsofyearsasMarutasuffered,itcannotbecomparedwiththesufferingsinthehells.
Ifapersonisbornasananimal,hewillbasicallybethetwelveanimalsonthezodiacinturnforcountlesskalpas.Ifthereisamonkwhoperformsaperfectsalvationservicesothatsomeone’sancestorspirits,whoaredestinedtoreceivethesekindsofkarmicretributions,canbesavedtobebornasahumanorinthedevarealm,thenitisreallyarareandunprecedentedopportunitythatcanhappenonceinathousandyears.ItwillbeararesalvationservicethatisverydifficulttomeetlikeanUdumbaraflower,whichissaidtobloomonceeverythreethousandyears.
IfthemonkswhohaverenouncedworldlylifeandarepracticingtheBuddha’steachinghaveoneoftheirdeceasedparentsandcloserelativesremainingintheThreeEvilDestinies,itisdifficultforthemtoattainthesaintlyfruit(聖果).ThesearealsothewordsoftheBuddha.
IfapureandcleanBhikshumonkreadstheSutraontheFundamentalVowsofKsitigarbhaBodhisattvainasinglethoughtandthenperformsasalvationservicewithutmostcareandwithawholeheart,thereisalimit,buthecangainacertainlevelofachievement.
Forlornwanderingdeceasedspirits
Isaidthatwhenthosewhohavecommittedalotofkarmicsindie,alargenumberofthemdonotentertheCourtfortheDeceased,butliveasforlornwanderingspirits.
Thosewhodiedawayfromhome,whocommittedsuicide,whodiedofavirulentdiseasewithoutconsciousnessofbodywastes,andmostofdeceasedspiritswhohavealotofattachmenttotheirproperty,wivesandchildren,donotenterthewheeloflifeanddeath,northeCourtfortheDeceased.
Thesespiritsarehalf-humanandhalf-ghost,sotheyfeelcoldandhungry,andsufferfromthepainsofillnessthattheywereafflictedwith,intheintermediateexistencerealm.Also,theforlornspiritswhodiedyoungpossess19thebodiesofdescendantswhohavebondswiththeminordertosatisfytheirbasicdesiressuchaseating,sexuallust(食色),etc.Thebodyofadeceasedspiritisundeniablelife,soithastoeatandbeclothed.Todothat,itmustborrowanotherperson’sbodyandenterthere.Therearecaseswhenspiritswiththeknot
19Itdenotesthatlow-leveldeceasedspirits,suchasghosts,dependonapartofsomeone’sbody,orgointosomeone’sbody,andlivetherepossessingitastheirhouse.
ofhatred20thathavebeengoinginandoutfrequentlygointoabodyandlivethere.Alotofproblemsarisefromthis.Thedescendantspossessedbysuchspiritswiththeknotofhatredorancestorspiritsdieawayfromhome,commitsuicide,orgetvirulentdiseases.
AtthetimeoftheBuddha,Maudgalyayana,whowasoneofthetenmajordisciples,performedsalvationservicesforhismotherfourtimessothatshecouldbeborninthedevarealm.ThiswasmadepossiblebecausethesalvationservicesweresupervisedbytheBuddhawhoisholy.
Ahumanisunabletoeliminatehiskarmathathehascommittedbyhimself.Itcanbepurifiedtoacertainextentthroughpractice,repentance,andactionsofaBodhisattva.ButsinfulkarmaofthesentientbeingscanbeclearedawayonlybytheawesomespiritualpoweroftheBuddha.
OnlytheBuddhacansavelivingbeingsintherealmsofthehellsandanimals.SentientbeingscanbetaughtandsavedonlybytheawesomespiritualpoweroftheBuddhaandtheuniversalpowerofsalvation.NotevenanarhatnoraBodhisattvacanperformthiswork.
20Thespiritwiththeknotofhatredwhoisdeterminedtorevengehimselfonanotherpersonduetoagrudgefromthepastplantshimselfinthebodyofthatperson,livesthereandcauseseverypossibleharmtohim,sothehealthofthepersonwhoispossessedwilldeteriorateandbejeopardized.Unlessoneremovesthedragonspiritorheavenlymarawhichhasbeenpossessingone,onewillhavenofutureinthislifetimenorinthenextlifetime.ButfortheawesomespiritualpowersoftheBuddha,noonecanremovethem.
Hell–supervisedbyKsitigarbhaBodhisattva
andTenGreatKingsoftheCourtfortheDeceased
Thehells,therealmsupervisedbyKsitigarbhaBodhisattva,islocatedbyKsitigarbhaPalaceinthesouth.AgreatpractitionerwhohasreachedtheboundaryoftheBuddhaseesthehellsinSamadhi.Butifapractitionerstillhasattachmentandcannotshakeoffdelusion,hecannotseetherealityofHellevenincompleteconcentration.Thingsthatareseeninsuchlevelofcompleteconcentration(itisnottruecompleteconcentration)arenomorethan‘afalsehell’drawnbythemindofamagician,notarealhell.
Therearetherealmsofhungryghostsandanimalsasevildestinitesaswellasthehells.Therealmofhungryghostsistherealmsufferingfromhunger,thirstandstarvationallthetime,anditistherealmwherethosewhoareverystingyandavariciousduringtheirlifetimegowhentheypassaway.Therealmofanimalsistherealmwherethosewhohaveastupid,vulgarandmeanviewandactlikeananimalgoaftertheydie.
KsitigarbhaBodhisattvaissuchagreatBuddha.TheTenGreatKings(十大明王)areBodhisattvasofthehigheststage.Mudok-gwiwangandDomyong-jonja(theleftandrighthandattendantsofKsitigarbhaBodhisattva)areBodhisattvasoftheutmostsupremestagewhopossessthecapacityofaBuddha(佛格)aboveaBodhisattvaofthehighstage.
Thespiritswhocomefromtheunremittingandextremelyunremittinghellsarebroughtinchainsattendedbyhellguards.
Normallytheresultsofasalvationservicebecomeknownafewdayslater.InthesalvationserviceperformedbyawesomespiritualpoweroftheBuddha,allthedeceasedspiritsaretakenespeciallytoaseparatehouseintheKsitigarbhaPalace.Butmostofthedeceasedspirits,whohavefallenintoanunremittinghellbecauseoftheirheavykarmicretribution,cannotbesaved.
TheBuddhaoffersusgreatkindnessandgreatcompassionandpossessestheuniversal,measurelessability,buthesavessentientbeingswhohavefallenintoevildestiniesonlywhenhisdisciplewhowillattainBuddhahoodinthesahaworldofJambudvipainthislifetimeperformsasalvationserviceandmakeswishes.
Eventhoughthesunlightshinesbrightly,whenapersonfocuseslightthroughamagnifyingglasswell,hecanburnblackcloth.Likewise,whensentientbeingshaveagreatdiscipleoftheBuddha(asaclosetie)toassistthem,thoseinthehellscanbesaved.
Atthispoint,Ihavesomethingtosayasapremise.Firstofall,onemustmakeofferingstoBuddhasandBodhisattvassothatthedeceasedspiritscanbuildupmeritintheirnames.
Themeritthatadescendantreceivesbyperformingasalvationserviceforhisorherdeceasedancestorsissuperiortoanyothermerit.Karmaofthedeceasedspiritsthemselveswillbecleaned,andtheywillnotonlybesavedtoabetterrealm,butalsoitisevenbetterforthedescendantwhoperformedthesalvationservicebecauseheorshepracticedgreatfilialpietyasadescendant.Furthermore,bysendingtheancestorspiritswhoarestillwanderingaroundintheintermediateexistencerealmintotheCourtfortheDeceased,thedescendantsarefortunatebecausetheywillnotbetakenillwithbaddiseases,norcommitsuicide,nordieawayfromhome.
Allthemisfortunesandincurablesicknesses(天病)are,ofcourse,notalltheresultofbeingpossessedbythespirits.Fundamentally,variousmisfortunescometouscausedbythebigevilkarmathatwehumanshavecommittedinourpastlifetimes.
WhatwemustunderstandclearlyisthatthemonkwhoperformsasalvationservicehastobeatleastapureandcleanBhikshu.Thefirstispurity,andthesecondispurity.
Monksshouldbecomeconscientiousnow,andsalvationserviceswhicharebeingcommercializedmustbestoppedimmediately.Ihopethattheywillnotcommitanyfurtherkarmicsin.
Onecanseethatthetemplesperformingmanysalvationserviceswithoutanyabilityarefilledwiththedisgustingsmelloflowerclassspiritsandevilenergy.
Theseplacesarefilledwithghostsandarenolongersacredgroundsbecausetheplacesaredominatedbythem.Thetemplesmustbekeptaspureandcleanplaces.Imostearnestlyrequestthemtostopcommercializedsalvationservicesforthesakeofthetemples.
Itisdesirabletowalkdownasinglepathwithintensedoggednessuntiloneentersatleastthelevelofanarhat.
Thegreenmountaintellsmetolivewithoutwords,
andtheblueskytellsmetolivewithoutaflaw.
Takingoffgreed,takingoffanger,
theytellmetolivelikewaterandlikewindanddepart.
Na-ongHye-geun
