The 21st Century Buddha’s Message I - 2

 Chapter2

TheImmeasurableLight

thestageofseeingtheImmeasurableLightisthegatewaytobecomingaBuddha

TheImmeasurableLight(無量光)

isthelightthatformstheBodyoftheBuddha.

Itisneithercontaminatedbyanyphenomenon

nordamagedthroughalleternity.

Bothinsideandoutsideofitarerevealedlikeacrystal

andareclearandbrightbeyondwords.

Itisthelightofultrahighintensity

likethousandsofsunsappearingatthesametime.

Itisthelightwithimmeasurableandcountlesscolours.

ItistheinconceivablelightoftheoriginoftheBuddhaamonglightthatcancreatealltheconditionedandunconditioneddharma(phenomenalandnon-phenomenalrealms).

ItisthestageofaBuddha,becauseonlyaBuddhacanseeit.

Thelightofselfnatureofanarhat

-thelightofpurifiedmindinsilver-whitecolour

Whenoneispracticingpatriarch’sSeonmeditation(祖師禪)orSeonofphraseinvestigation(看話禪)andisoccupiedinamassofgreatdoubt;themomentone’sHwaduisbrokenthrough,onecanexperiencetheprocessthateverythingiscompletelyoverturned.

Whatcomesintoviewatthistimeisonlythelightofself-nature,allexposedinfrontofmeisempty,thereisnoI,andeventhethoughtofIdisappears.Itisemptiness(空).Itistheoriginalnatureofmindbeforeathoughtarises,thatis,selfnatureofsuchness(眞如自性).Itisdifferentfromthesunlight.Itislightintruesuchness(如如),plusmysticallight.Itisalsoemptytranquility,andspiritualawareness.ShiningontheDharmarealm,itisthelightofthepurifiedmindwhichdoesnotexistinthisworld.Itisthelightofthewhitesilver-whitelight.

Thisisthestateofenlightenment.Then,ifonecompletesone’smaintenanceofpracticeafterawakening,onewillenterthelevelofanarhat.

NowIdeclarethat,fromthelevelofaBodhisattva,itisthelevelthatonecanneverreachonlybyone’sownstrengthwithouttheassistanceofotherpower,namelytheabsoluteempowermentendowedbytheBuddha!

ThelightofaBodhisattva

-thelightofthesunrisinginthemorning

IfapractitionerentersSamadhiwhilepracticing,andoftenmeetswiththephenomenonofabsorbingthelightofthePureLandoftheBuddha(大涅槃光明GreatNirvanaLight),whichisemittedbyManjushri,andSamantabhadraBodhisattvas,plusAvalokiteshvaraandMahasthamapraptaBodhisattvas,wearinglongsleevedredBuddhistDharmarobe,itisconsideredashavingcomeclosetothestageofthelevel(位)ofaBodhisattva.Iwilltellyouindetaillater,butwhenonereceivesone’sTransformationBody(achildofaPureLand)inaPureLandbyvirtueoftheempowermentsoftheBuddha,onebecomesaBodhisattva.

ThelightofaBodhisattva(spiritualbody)whichhasbeencleanedbythelightoftheBuddha,isquitedifferentinitslevel,comparedwiththelightofself-nature.Ifthelightofselfnatureisasilverwhitelikethemoonlight,thenthelightofaBodhisattvaislikethesunlightrisinginthemorning.Sotheseareincomparabletoeachother.

AbillionkindsofImmeasurableLightoftheBuddha

WhenaBodhisattvaofthehighstage(上品)entersthestateofaBuddha,hewillseethelightso-calledtheImmeasurableLight,havingtheintensityoflight(光度)higherthanhundredsandthousandsofthesunsthatareputtogether;andhewillalsoseethelightwithhundreds,thousandsandbillionsofsubtlecolours;ahundredkindsoflightwithfivedifferentcolours(百種五色光);andabillionkindsoflight(億種光).

AbillionkindsofImmeasurableLightarethelightoftheBuddha.ItisthelightoftheoriginoftheBuddha(本源光).Itistheinconceivablelightthatistheoriginofallthelight–thelightofthesun,thelightofself-natureandthelightofthePureLands.Itisneithercontaminatedbyanyphenomenon,nordamagedthroughalleternity.Bothinsideandoutsideofitaretransparent(內外明徹).Bothinsideandoutsideofitarerevealedlikeacrystal,andareclearandbrightbeyondwords.Itislikethesunlightbeingreflectedonadiamond.

Itellyouthatthelightofthegreatomniscience(大智)oftheBuddhaissuchaninconceivablelightthatisbrighterthanhundredsandthousandsofsuns.OnlyaBuddhacanseeabillionkindsofImmeasurableLightwiththousands,millions,billionsandasankhyaofcolours,soitisthestageofaBuddha.ThegatewaytobecomingaBuddhaisnootherthantheImmeasurableLight.ItistheonlygatewayforaBodhisattvatojumpovertoBuddhahood.ThesearethewordsoftheBuddha.

Thus,therearethosewhosaythatBuddhasandBodhisattvasdoexistordonotexistbeforetheyhaveseentheultrahighintensityofthelightoftheBuddhaafterhavingawakenedtoemptiness,butthisisakindofthoughtlessstatementthatordinarypeoplegabble.ItisbecauseabillionkindsofImmeasurableLightarethegateway(關門)toattaining(證)Buddhahood.

Thisisthevirginforest(處女林)wherenopractitioner’sfootstepshavereachedclearlyforages(萬古),butthepractitionerswhohavediscoveredthisboundaryhavebeenonlySubhutiandShariputra;andNobleDisciplesKasyapaandAnandawhohaveattainedBuddhahoodinthislifetimesincethepassingoftheBuddha2600yearsago.

TheBuddhaconsideredgivingupspreadinghiswords(傳道)withthethoughtthattheDharmaheawakenedbyhimselfwastoodeep,toosubtle,toodifficultforpeopletounderstandandhardtoenter,buthebegantoexpoundtheDharmaatthestrongrecommendationandrequestoftheBrahmaHeavens(梵天).Likewise,inordertosetupthetrueDharmaoftheBuddhaonthisland,takingtheriskofmuchdefianceandslander,IwishtocarefullydeliverhisvariousteachingsthatIhaveheardwhenImetBuddhas.

Whenonepassesthestageofthelightwiththesehundreds,thousandsandbillionsofsubtlecolours,onecanseetheBuddhaatlast.Thesentientbeingsofthesahaworld,holymultitudes(arhats阿羅漢),orBodhisattvascanneverseetheBuddhaBodyorBuddhas.ItisbecausethewholebodyoftheBuddhaismadeoftheImmeasurableLightwhichcontainsastronomicallightintensity.

AgreatsaintwhohasattainedBuddhahoodhashisBuddhaBodymadeofthisImmeasurableLightin‘theAbsoluteRealminSelflessness’,namelytheRealmoftheBuddhathatistheRealmofConstantQuiescenceLight(常寂光土).Thatonehasone’sownBuddhaBodymeansthathehasaccomplishedBuddhahood.

Theschoolwhichadvocatesscripturalstudy(敎家)callsaBuddhaBody‘aSambhogakaya’or‘aRewardBody’or‘theCompleteBodyofBliss(Blessing)’.Atthispoint,IwishtoreplacetheBuddhawiththeconceptofaRewardBody(Skt.Sambhogakaya),breakingawayfromthepastconceptoftheDharmaBody(Skt.Dharmakaya).

Intoday’sBuddhism,thedoctrinesayingthat‘themindisnootherthantheBuddha’hasbecomecommon.ContrarilytheDharmateachingsayingthat‘theBuddhasaredwellingintheAbsoluteRealminSelflessnessintheformoflight’willbelikethenuclearbombthatcancausedeformationoftheearth’ssurface.IsincerelyhopethatthissurprisingdiscoverywillserveasagoodmomentuminredefiningtheteachingsoftheBuddhawhichhavebeendistortedcountlesstimes.

AstheBuddhashavetheirbodiesallmadeofabillionkindsofImmeasurableLight,theywillliveanimmeasurablelife,andtheTathagatasofthepast,presentandfuture(三世)areallthesame.Hundreds,thousands,millionsandbillionsofTransformationBodiesmanifestfromtheBuddhaBodymadeoflightwithimmeasurableandcountlesscolours.

HumanbeingshaveatreasurestorehousecalledtheBuddhanaturewithinafalsebody.Inhisbookcalled,“ExistenceandTime,”Heideggertooktheexistenceofahumanbeingasaclueforexplainingexistence.Onlymankindwhoisthelordofcreationcantellthetruenatureofthehumans,natureanduniversewithintheexistenceofahumanbeing.Heisindeedoneofafewphilosopherswhoawakenedtosuchness,namelyexistence,andhasseenthelightofself-nature(自性光).

Ifapractitionerentershundreds,thousandsandtensofthousandsofri(distanceunitinKorea)deeperfromthestagewherehehasseenthelightofself-natureandpassesthroughso-calledOceanicReflectionSamadhiofagreatBodhisattva,hewillseethelightoftheBuddhamadeofabillionkindsofImmeasurableLight.Ifhegoesfurtherforward,hewillseetheBodyoftheBuddhathatindeedhastheastronomicalultrahighintensityoflightandthatismadeofthelightwithcoloursasmanyasthenumberofparticles.TheImmeasurableLightisthemysteriouslightthathasallthemeritandvirtues,andcancreateeverything.

IfashamanorapractitionerwhoknowsnothingabouttheLightoftheBuddhasaysthathemeetsandconverseswiththeBuddha,hetalkslikethat,beingdeceivedbyheavenlymaras.Itisbecauseheavenlymaras(天魔)cantransformandmanifestthemselvestoresembleaBuddhaoraBodhisattvaatanytime.

ButnotonlythePapiman,thechiefleaderofheavenlymaras,butalsothereligiousleadersofnon-Buddhistsectscanneveremanatehundreds,thousandsandbillionsofthelightoftheBuddhawithsubtlecolours.AlthoughaBuddhaappearsafterabsorbinglightinside,somebrilliantlightradiatedfromthehead,backandbody,stillcomesout.Hence,eventheheavenlymaraswhoareskillfulintransformationcanneverimitateit.

WhenIthrewaway

allIhad,

Ihavepossessedall.

Onebecomesmany,

andmanybecomeone.

Eventheonedoesnotexist.

In‘theAbsoluteRealminSelflessness,’

thereisonlyclean,clearandbrightlight(無量光明).

Chapter3

Awakening

toone’soriginalnature

isthebeginningofpractice

Realizing(見性,enlightenment)one’strueself(眞我)

isnottheend,butonlythebeginningnow

Thesayingof‘awakeningtoone’soriginalnature

isnamelytobecomeaBuddha(見性卽成佛)’

isadangerousexpression.

Itisbecauseseeingone’soriginalnature

throughprobingintothedoubtsofaHwaduheadphrase

isnothingbutthebeginningofpracticenow.

Self-naturecanbeawakenedatonce,

buthabitualenergythathasbeenaccumulated

whilelivingthroughthecountlesskalpas

fromtheolddayswithoutbeginning

doesnotdisappearlikethatallatonce.

One’skarmichindranceandone’sthreepoisonousafflictionsofgreed,angerandignorance

arenotclearedawayonlybyone’sownefforts.

ThischapteristhecontentsoftheDharmatalkreportedinthenewspapercalled“HyundaiBuddhism”inSeoulinAugust2003.

TheDharma(法)

neithergoes,

norcomes,

norattaches(着),

norlingers;

itisintruesuchness(如如),

anddoesnotmove.

TheteachingsoftheBuddhaaredistorted

Intoday’sKoreanBuddhism,theteachingsoftheBuddhahavegreatlybeendistorted.Eventheviewoflifeanddeath(生死觀)10isnotclear.DespitethefactthattheBuddhistpracticebasicallyliesinobservingone’spreceptsthoroughly,itistruethatthebehaviorofmonkshasbecomecorruptedtoaseriouslevel.

10UnlessonehasenteredandclearlyseenthephenomenaoftheBuddha,onecannottellordefinewhereapersongoeswhenhedies;wherehegoesagainifhislifeendsthere;wherehegoesifthecauseandconditionsofhiskarmafinishesthere;howsentientbeingstransmigratehells,hungryghosts,animals,humans,asurasandthedevarealmaccordingtothekarmathattheyhavecommitted;andwheretheholymultitudes(arhatsorpatriarchs),BodhisattvasandBuddhas,whohavesurpassedtherealmswithintransmigration,andtheThreeRealms,andwhohaveachievedliberation,goagain.

Itisapitythatthesituationisnotimproving,becausetherehasnotappearedanygreatlyenlightenedsaint.Today’sBuddhismsaysthattryingtofindtheBuddhaoutsideone’smindislikeboilingthesandtomakeboiledrice.TheysaythatthismindisaBuddha,andtheoriginalnatureofmindistheWesternPureLand.

PeoplejustsearchforHellandtheWesternPureLandonlyintheirmind,andsay,“HellandtheWesternPureLandarenotrealrealmsthatexistindependently,butnomorethantheproductofourmind.”TheydonotrecognizethatHell,theWesternPureLand,theBuddha,theBodhisattva,etc.actuallyexist.

However,aretheyexpressingtheseopinionsaftertheireyesarereallyopened?AretheysayingtheseafterattainingtheBuddhaeyes(佛眼)andtheFiveEyes(五眼)?CantheyactuallynotseeHellandtheWesternPureLand?Istherereallytheinsideandoutsideofthemind?Istheretheinsideandoutsideinemptiness?

Themind(self-natureofsuchness)is‘neithertobirthnortodestruction(death)(不生不滅).’Inotherwords,theemptinesswhichistheoriginalnatureoftheuniversespreadsouteverywhereinthetendirectionsoftheDharmarealm.Atthesametime,itexistsbeyondspaceandtime,soitisnotinfluencedbythephenomenalworld(不汚染,nodefilement).Self-nature(自性)ispureandcleanwithoutdefilement,andinthestateoftruesuchnessinimmutability(如如不動).IfonebreaksthroughHwadu(headphrase),emptiness(空),namelytheoriginalnatureofmindwillberevealed.Itisemptyliketheemptyspace,sothereisnothing.Onlythepureandbrightlightisfullandshining.Itistheoriginalnatureofmind.Itis,whatiscalled,toseeoriginalnature(見性).ItisthestateofaveryhighDharmabliss(法悅)inwhichonewillautomaticallydanceahuladance.

Ifonehasseentheoriginalnature,onewillrealizetheprincipleofuniversalreason.Onewillfindoutthatthedoctrineofinterdependentarisingisthetruthandtheprincipleoftheuniverse.Thecreationoftheworldanduniversestartsfromemptiness,andallthingsintheuniversereturntothestateofemptiness.

Apractitionerwithwisdomwhoisthoroughlyenlightenedwillgointohisrealselflesspracticeofdhuta.Thenifhehasnoattachmenttohisbody,hebecomesanarhatatlast.HemustadvanceanextremelylongdistancefromheretoreachthestageofaBodhisattva.Thereisalong,longwaytogettotheRealmofUltimateBliss(theWesternPureLand)ofpermanence,bliss,selfandpurity.Moreover,onemustgohundreds,thousandsandtensofthousandsofri(Koreanmeasuringunit)furtherfromheretoreachtheinconceivableRealmofConstantQuiescenceLightmadeofabillionkindsofImmeasurableLightwheretheBuddhaabidesintruesuchness.ItistherealmonecanreachonlywhenoneentersSamadhiofGreatQuiescence,breakingthroughemptiness(空).

Consequently,I,AnandaJajaeManhyon,havemadeanunprecedentedmegaton-range(nuclearbomb)declarationthatseeingone’soriginalnatureisthebeginningofpractice.Iwishtosayfurtherthatthemomentoneexperiencesemptiness(見性,seeingone’soriginalnature),itislikeoneenjoystothefullestone’sfreedomaswhenaprisonerwhowasimprisonedforalongtimeisreleased,getsoutoftheprisongateandwalksalongthestreet.Oneenjoysone’srealfreedomthatonecannotbuywithmillionsofmoney.Hummingtooneself,onetastestheblissoftheDharma.Butonemustnotactrecklessly,takingoneselfasonewhohasbecomeaneternallyliberatedman,ormisconceivingthatonehasbecomeaBuddha.

WhenapractitionerissaidtohavebrokenthroughhisHwadu(headphrase)andtohaveachievedthePath,heistreatedasaBuddha(如佛).Hemustbecarefulatthistime.Ifsomeonehaddroppedadropofexcrementalwaterontopurewaterinagourddipper,couldyoudrinkit?Hemustobservethepreceptsofpurity,andpracticeselflessness,plusgointothewhole-heartedpracticeoftheactionofaBodhisattva.Ifheactsrecklesslyandeatsanythingwithoutdiscrimination,sayingthatheactswithunimpededness,hemustbeawarethathewillfalldownintoabottomlesshell.I,JajaeManhyon,tellyouclearlythat,ifonedrinksalcohol,eatsmeatandactsrecklessly,misconceivingoneselftobeaBuddha,andsayingthatthereareneitherBuddhasandBodhisattvas,northehellsandtheRealmofUltimateBliss,onewillfallintoanunremittinghell.Ifonefallsdownintoahell,willtherebeanyfreedom–Iampointingthisoutwithagreatconcern.Fromthestandpointoftheemptinessthatisvoidliketheemptyspace,thereareneitherBuddhasandBodhisattvas,northeRealmofUltimateBlissandhells.Thisiswherethelawofreasonisapplied.Sofromnowon,youmustadvanceuptowardtherealmofnirvanaofpermanence,bliss,selfandpurity.

Toresumeoursubject,HellandtheWesternPureLand(theRealmofUltimateBliss)cannotbeseensimplywiththelevelofenlightenmentofone’soriginalnatureofmind.Thereasonisthatonecanneverseethoserealmsfromthisstage.

MydearBuddhists!HellandtheWesternPureLandtrulyexist.BuddhasandBodhisattvasreallyexist.Thewheeloflifeanddeathisalsotrue.DoyouthinkthattheBuddhawhodefinitelyspokeofHell,etc.atsometwohundredseparateplacesintheBuddhistSutrasisaliar?

No,heisnot!Fromnowon,letmebrieflytellyouaboutwhatIhaveseenandheardinthepast,passingthroughemptiness,passingovertheoriginalnatureofmindandenteringprofoundSamadhiinSelflessness(OceanicReflectionSamadhi,SamadhiofGreatQuiescence).Emptinesswhichistheoriginalsubstanceoftheuniverse,namelytheoriginalnatureofmindisthebeginningandendofthephenomenalworld.Thismeansthatitisnottheendofpractice,norsupremeenlightenment(究竟).Meanwhile,itisthebeginningoftruepracticeleadingtotranquilextinction.IshouldliketotellyouconscientiouslyasapractitionerwhatIhavebrokenthrough,whileweepingbittertears.

ThereasonthatIspeakhereaboutthetruthoftheDharmarealmoftheuniverseisbecauseIwantwithalltruthfulnesstostatethat,ifonehasbecomeamonkrenouncingworldlylifetobefreedfromthesufferingsoftransmigrationandtoattainliberationfrombirthanddeath,onemustpracticeearnestlytowardtheBuddhaandpracticeactionsofaBodhisattvaforsentientbeings.

Ifonehasanagony,isitHell?-Hellactuallyexists!

Helldefinitelyexists.TheDharmateachingthat‘ifonehasanagony,one’smindistheUnremittingHell’isactuallytoknowonlyonething,nottwo.

OnecannotseeHellwithone’sownphysicaleyes,butitexistsinthedirectionoftheSouthernKsitigarbhaPalaceoftherealmofspirits.Helldefinitelyexistswhenseenfromthephenomenalworldofdiscrimination.

WhenIenteredSamadhiinSelflessness,HellappearingintheSutraoftheFundamentalVowsofKsitigarbhaBodhisattvawasonlypartofit.Here,Iwillintroducetoyouonlyoneplaceamongthemanyheavysinners’hells.

Thereisahellwheretheunderneatheachofthetenfingernailsofsinnersispokedwithpointedbamboosticks.Thespirits11herereceiveseverelypainfulpunishmenttotheextentthatsinnersfaintfrompainanddietenthousandtimesadayandregainconsciousnesstenthousandtimesadayaswell.Thetortureisfeltthesameasthephysicalbodywould.

11spirits:Ahumanhasaspiritualsubstance(靈的實體)asmetaphysicalintrinsicsubstance(形而上學的本體),namelyaspirit.ItdenotestheNo.1,2,3,andtheNo.4spiritualbodies.Itisourownmaster,andisalsothesubjectoftransmigration.Emptinessormindhereistheultimatereality(窮極的實在)ofallthingsintheuniverse(self-existinglife)includinghumanbeings.Itisdifferentfromaspirit.WhenonereachesthestageofaBuddha,onecanseethespirits;itisapitythattraditionalBuddhismincludingSeonBuddhismistotallyunawareofthis.ButJainismorHinduismofIndiaisawareofithoweverslightly.

Ifonecommitsthefiveheinouscrimesandthefourgraveoffenses,onewillbesenttomoreadreadfulunremittinghell.

Thereistheextremelyunremittinghell.Thelengthoflifethereislimitless.ThepunishmentofHellisexecutedautomatically.Onehellislargerthanthesahaworld.Thesearethespecialcharacteristics.WhenonegoesintoHell,hepassesahugeirongate.Iwilltellyouonlythismuchfornow12.

12InordertoviewHell,thereisonepossibleway:afterapractitionerentersthefruitofaBodhisattva,theBuddhatakeshimtoHellwiththeawesomespiritualpowerandshowshim;theotherwayistoshowHellbyemittinglightfromthemiddlepartbetweenthetwoeyebrowsoftheBuddha.ThepractitioneratthistimemustreachthelevelofaBodhisattvaaboveholymultitudes(arhats).TheHellthatapractitionerwhohasnotreachedthisstageseesinadreamorSamadhiisnomorethantwistedimagesthatarefarfromthetruth,orafantasythatthemagicianofthemindhascreated.

Thesinofmonks’sexualmisconduct

Ifthemonks,whohaverenouncedworldlylifeandarepracticing,committhesinofsexualmisconductevenonce,theywillfallintoaheavysinners’helloranunremittinghell.

Itreallyisadreadfulthing.ImaginethereisapersonwhoisgreatlyawakenedtothePath,whohasfoughtoffvarioushindrancesofmaras,andhaspracticedincessantly,byvirtueofhavingbuiltupmeritandvirtuesofgoodrootsinhispreviouslives.However,ifhecommitssexualmisconduct,distorts,profanes,orinsultstheBuddhaandtheDharmabysayingthattheBuddhasandBodhisattvas,HellandtheWesternPureLanddonotactuallyexist,butthattheysimplyexistwithinthemind,hewillfallintoanunremittinghellandcanhavenoexpectationsofeverbeingreleased.ThesearethewordsthatmanyBuddhasandBodhisattvashaveemphasizedmanytimes.

Buddhismteachesonetorefrainfromdoingallevildeedsandtopracticevariousgooddeeds(諸惡莫作衆善奉行).Itisagreatreligionwishingultimately‘topurifythestateofone’smind(自淨其意)andtobeliberatedfrombirthanddeath.’

Herearethepracticesbyself-power(自力)andthroughthedoorofotherpower(他力,namely,awesomespiritualpoweroftheBuddha,thepowerofuniversalsalvation).Bothofthemmustbesoughttogether.

Itistherightordertosaveoneselffirstandthensaveothers.SentientbeingspossesstheBuddhanatureandareabletoaccomplishthePath(thefruitofanarhat).

TheBuddhahascalledanarhat(聖衆aholymultitude)theonewhoseshellofignorancehasbeencastoff,andwhoseself-naturehasbeenrevealed,pluswhohasmaintainedpracticewellafterawakening.Ifoneattainsthesaintlyfruit(聖果)ofanarhat,therootofhislifeanddeathwillbecutoff,plushewillberebornintherealmfreedfromtransmigration.

However,ahumanbeingcannotreachhigherthananarhatbecauseofthehumanstructure.Arhatshipisthelimitofahumanbeing.IfoneaccomplishestheFourFruits(四果)andbecomesanarhat,onecandevelopagreat,compassionatemindagainandcanreceiveahumanbodyinthisworldaccordingtoone’svows.

ABodhisattvaisthesaintlyfruitthatanarhatcanattainbyotherpower(theawesomespiritualpowersoftheBuddha)afterbeingbornintoahumanbody.

Itissaidthatifoneisfreedonlyfromafflictionsanddelusion,oneisoriginallyaBuddha,butthisisaremarkmadewithoutrealizingwhataBuddhais.ABuddhamustattainhisownBuddhaBody,pluspossesstheThreeBodies(三身).

PreceptMasterJajangoftheSillaDynastyattainedthefruitofthegreatarhatshipandwasrebornintheFirstHeavenoftheholymultitudesexistingoutsideofthewheeloflifeanddeath.Therevelationofself-nature(theoriginalnatureofmind)isalsopossiblethroughthepracticeofHwaduSeonmeditation,Vipashana,andesotericBuddhism.Thewholephenomenalworldbecomesoverturned,andtheinsideandoutsideofthewholeworldbecomeemptinesswhichiscompletelyempty.However,thereisalsostrongandweakenlightenment.Ifapersonhasgreatlybeenenlightened,hismindbecomesthesamewhenawakeorasleep(寤寐一如),andhecanspeakoftheDharmaeveninthedream.

Fromthistime,itisdesirablethatheadvancestowardstheDhuta(selflessness)practice,observingtheprecepts(especiallythepreceptforbiddingsexualmisconduct).Whenonegoesintoselfless(無我)practicewhichistokilloneself,onecanreachthearhatshipthatistheultimateawakening(究竟覺)ofsentientbeings.ButImakeitclearagainthatanarhat(aholymultitude)isnotaBuddha.

Thesayingof‘seeingoriginalnatureisnamelyaccomplishingBuddhahood(見性卽成佛)’isaremarkmadewithoutrealizingtheBuddha.Itisbecauseseeingone’soriginalnaturethroughprobingintothedoubtsofaHwadu(headphrase)isnothingbutthebeginningofpracticenow.Self-naturecanbeawakenedatonce,buthabitualenergythathasbeenaccumulatedwhilelivingthroughthecountlesskalpasfromtheolddayswithoutbeginning,doesnotdisappearsoatatime.One’skarmawhichhasbeenaccumulatedoverthecountlesskalpasoflivesisnotclearedawayonlyonthestrengthofone’sownefforts.TheThreePoisonousAfflictionsofgreed,anger(hatred)andignoranceareneithereliminatedbyselfpower.

Thesayingthateventhoughonehasasinfulkarmathathasbeencommittedoverthepastonehundredkalpas,ifoneawakenstoonethoughtandseeslight,allwilldisappearinstantly(百劫積集罪一念頓蕩除),isnotpossibleinreality.

Suddenenlightenment(頓悟頓修)ispossibleonlybytheResponseBodyofaBuddha.Ideclarethisasadefinitefact.

EventhoughanarhatcomestoJambudvipa(thisworld)againafterhavingbeenbornintheheavenofholymultitudes,hecanfollowawrongwayandfallontotheEvilPath13.IfonehasseentheImmeasurableLightandhasnotexperiencedthesixdifferentwaysofshaking(六種震動)14inone’shead,althoughonehasseentheBuddha,onecannotdirectlyheartheDharmateachingfromtheBuddha,andcannotenterSamadhiinSelflessness,either.

13ThefollowingarethewordsofDharmateacherIn-gwang(印光法師).

Eveniftheypracticedmeditationearnestly,andsawselfnatureandbecamegreatlyenlightened,eventhegreatmasters,forinstance,ChanMasterOjoGye(五祖戒),ChanMasterZhou-dangChing(草堂掅),ChanMasterZhen-ruChiao(眞如喆),andChanMasterDan-aeEui(斷崖義)havenotescapedfromthewheeloflife.Thereforewhentheyreceivedthenextlife,rather,theysteppedbackwardandbecamedisillusioned.Inmostcases,theyattainedfarlessthaninthepreviouslife.ItisstillunderstandablethatChanMasterGye,thefifthpatriarch,wasbornasSuTung-poandChanMasterZhou-dangChingwasbornasNo-gong(老公).ItisalreadyadifficultthingtoendurethatChanMasterHai

YinXin(海印信)wasbornasthedaughterofZhouFangYue(朱肪禦).ItisalsopitifulandsadthatGreatMonkAhn-tang(雁蕩)wasbornasZhenHui(秦檜).(AttheendofNorthSong,hebecameaprisonerofwarandwasrepatriatedtoXhintobecomeanaidetoTai-tsung’syoungerbrother.Heservedasahighofficial,stickingtothesideofSouthSongandinsistedonsurrenderingtoJin(金).Hencehewasdenouncedasatraitorlater.)

14ThisdoesnotdenotethattheearthshakesinsixdifferentwayswhentheBuddhaexpoundshisteachings.Itmeansthatonegetspoundedinsixdifferentwaysinone’sheadwiththesoundslouderthanthoseofthunderandlightningthatdonotexistinthisworld.Withoutgoingthroughthisprocess,onecannothearthewordsoftheteachingsoftheBuddhasandBodhisattvas,norcommunicatewiththem.

Eventhetenthstage(十地)BodhisattvacannotseetheRealBody(眞身,theCompleteBodyofBliss)oftheBuddha.IfonewhoattainedthePathhasnotreachedthisstage,onemustnotspeakoftheDharmacarelessly.Onemustattainthefruitofbeingrebornasahumanoraheavenlybeinginthedevarealm(人天果)onlybyspeakingofthelawofcauseandeffect.

Arhatsaintsarenotsatisfiedinasmallnirvana,soaccordingtotheteachingsandintentionoftheBuddhaastheLotusSutrastates,theycometothissahaworldasahumantobepromotedtoaBodhisattvaoraBuddhawhoselevelsarehigher.

TheBuddhagivesthename‘Bodhisattva’whenonereachestheeighthstageoftheBodhisattva.Whenonereachesthislevel,onewillbeprotectedbytwoheavenlysoldiersandwillberebornintheWesternPureLand.Ifsheisawoman,shewillberebornintheWesternPureLandafterbeingchangedtoaman(變女成男)15.

Nagarjuna,Asvaghosha,Asanga,Vasubandhu,DharmapalaofIndia;DharmateacherHsuen-tsang,Lian-Zong-Zu-ShiHui-YuanofChina;andWon-hyo,Eui-sang,Seo-san,Ham-heomonksofKoreaarethoseBodhisattvaswhohavebeenrebornintheWesternPureLand.

15TheteachingsthatarestatedintheAmitabhaSutra,“IfonecanrecitethenameofAmitabhaBuddhawithone’swholeheartforonedayorsevendays,hecanberebornintheWesternPureLand,”areasufficientconditionforrebirthintheWesternPureLand.IfapractitionerwishestobeabletocontemplatetheBuddhawithoutdistraction,hehastoreachhigherthantheeighthstage(theimmutablestage)(八地不動地)ofaAvatamsakaBodhisattva,plusthismeditativeconcentrationpowercanbecultivatedwhenheobservespureandcleanpreceptsthroughouthislifetime.

TheTibetanLeaderDalaiLamaisafinalbodyofaBodhisattvaofthehighstageintheWesternPureLandandthelegendarysaintMilarepaofthe11thcenturywasrebornasaBodhisattvaofthebestofthebestinthePureLand(theNorthernPureLand).

IfaBodhisattvawantstoaccomplishBuddhahoodbyreceivingmanylivesinJambudvipa,hiskarma,habitualenergy,evilbonds,debtsandtherootsoftheThreePoisonsofgreed,angerandignorance,mustmeltawaycompletely,notevenaparticleofresiduemustremain.ThenheattainshisownBuddhaBodyin‘theAbsoluteRealminSelflessness’byvirtueoftheempowermentsoftheBuddha.OtherwisehecannotattainBuddhahood(佛果).TheBuddhaBodyismadeofathousand,amillionandabillionkindsofcoloursofmysteriouslightcalledabillionkindsofLight(theImmeasurableLight).Thus,theBuddhaislivingintheformoflight.Asheexistsinlight,theTathagatasofthepast,presentandfutureareallthesameineveryparticleandineverythought.

Allfourspiritualbodiesinone’sfalsebodyoftheonewhoattainedBuddhahoodbecomealightmass,andcombinewithhisBuddhaBody.AsdeeperteachingsarethesecretsoftheTathagata,Iwillholdmytongue.

TheSeonSchoolsays,“SakyamuniBuddhawasenlightened,seeingtheearlymorningstarandbecametheBuddha.”However,onecannotbecalledaBuddhaonlybecauseonehasaccomplishedgreatenlightenment.

WhenonepassesthegatewaysofvariousSamadhioverhundredsandthousandsoflifetimes,andthenattainstheBuddhaBody,onecanbecomeaBuddha.Onemustdefinitelyrealizethat‘seeingone’sselfnatureandattaininggreatawakening’meansthatonehasreachednomorethanthestageofanarhat.

TheBuddhaBodycanappearinhundreds,thousands,millions,andbillionsoftheTransformationBodies.HefreelyentershundredsandthousandsofSamadhi,possesseseighty-fourthousandsupernaturalpowers,andisomnipresenteverywhere.Hebecomeswisdom,blessedvirtuesandbenevolenceitself.

Atthetimeofmanifestation,theBuddhaBody(theCompleteBodyofBliss圓滿報身)hasneatandsolemnfeatureswithmorethanthirty-twobodilysignsandeightymarks.Hisappearanceandeveryactionisofultimatebenevolence,andhepossessestremendousawesomespiritualpowerssothatonefeelsthatallone’smisfortuneandkarmawillbeeliminated,althoughonemeetshimevenforamoment.TheScriptureSchoolcallsthisBuddhaBodytheRewardBody(報身,Skt.Sambhogakaya)whichistheBodyofBlessings(至福).

AstheBuddhaisalwaysinSamadhiofGreatQuiescenceandexistsintheformoflight,hewillneverbeannihilateduntiltheendofalltime.WhentheonewhohasattainedBuddhahoodgoesoutsomewhere,theviewisreallymagnificent,becausehundredsandthousandsofheavenlysoldiersguardhimbothinthefrontandattheback.

SakyamuniBuddhaistrulytheKingoftheThreeRealms,andatthesametimetheGreatKingofBuddhisminJambudvipa.HeisalsotheveryfirstBuddha(最初佛)whohasattainedBuddhahoodfromtheimmeasurablydistantpast(久遠實成).

Ifapersonwishestobefreedfromthesufferingsofthecycleoflifeanddeath,hemustkeepthepreceptswelland,amongotherthings,mustnotcommitsexualmisconduct.

Evenifapractitionerwhoisgreatlyenlightenedandismaintainingpracticeafterawakeningcommitssexualmisconduct,hecouldbackslideeventotheevilPath,farfromescapingfromthesufferingsofthewheeloflifeanddeath,asifnoonecoulddrinkthewaterwhenadropofexcrementalwaterisreleasedintothewaterinagourddipper.Irepeatedlystressthathewhohasrenouncedworldlylifeandhasgonetoatemple,mustpursuenopossession,simplypurityandcleanness.

Apractitionermustpracticeunderagreatenlightenedmasterwhoisabletoprotecthimfromallkindsofmara-hindrances.Inaddition,hemustpracticeallfilialpiety(孝)16,readSutras,andrecitethesacrednameofaBuddhaand,ifpossible,removeattachment(着)andforms(相)bypracticingDhuta(selflesspractice).Seeingone’soriginalnature,namelyenlightenmentisnottheendofpractice.IntheParableoftheLotusSutra,ShariputraexplainedtheDharmathatextinctionofsufferinginMahayanaisachievedwhenoneattainsaBody(aRewardBody)possessingthe32bodilysignsaswellastheattainmentofemptynature.AttainingBuddhahood,namelybecomingaBuddhaismadepossible

16Realfilialpietyistosaveone’sdeceasedparentsandancestorsfromtheThreeEvilRealms.Ifevenonlyoneancestorremainsintheevilrealms,theBuddhistwhoearnestlypracticestobepromotedtoaholymultitude,aBodhisattvaoraBuddhamustrealizethathewillnotbeliberated.Infact,theBuddhahighlypraisestheBuddhistswhopracticeallfilialduties.

whenoneentersprofoundSamadhi(SamadhiofGreatQuiescence),afteroneawakenstoemptinessthroughthepracticeofonlytheNobleEightfoldPath(theeightholyways;rightview,rightthought,rightspeech,rightconduct,rightlivelihoodoroccupation,righteffort,rightmindfulnessandrightconcentration,namelySamadhi)andthenattainsone’semptynature(arhatship).Imakeitclear

thatonemustcombinewithemptinesswiththeImmeasurableLightintheAbsoluteRealminSelflessness;mustpossessone’sownDharmaBodyandRewardBodythataretheLordofemptiness;plusmustattaintheThreeBodies(三身)ofaBuddha.

IconfirmthattheSeonmastersoftheSeonsectwhoseetheBuddhaasapersonwhohasjustseenhisoriginalnaturearecommittingthegreatsinofdefinitelyfallingintounremittinghells.I,JajaeManhyon,havewordstosayclearlynotonlytoSeonBuddhismbutalsothetraditionalBuddhismcirclesandpeopleofmanyreligionsintheworld:Ifapractitionerhasrealized(見性,seeingone’soriginalnature,enlightenment)histrueself(眞我),thenafterthishemustdevotehimselftoatrueandgenuinepractice(懺悔發願repentandmakevows,孝filialpiety,持戒observanceoftheprecepts,菩薩行actionsofaBodhisattva,稱名念佛chantingthesacrednameoftheBuddha)ofbecominganarhat,becomingaBodhisattvaandbecomingaBuddha.

IfonecanenterthedeepSamadhi

thatagreatBodhisattvacanenter,

onecanseealltherealmswithinthewheeloflifeanddeath

andtheliberatedenlightenedrealmfreedfromtransmigration.

Whenapersonhasnotreachedsuchastage,

whoeverhemaybe,

hemustnotspeakoftheDharmacarelessly.

Hemustrealizeatthispoint

whatdreadfulkarmawillfollowhim

duetoslanderingandinsultingtheDharma

withthoughtlesswords.

Thiswasanarticlethatwascontributedto“TheDaehanBuddhism”newspaperinBusan,Korea,on17March2004.

AprofessorwhoslanderstheBuddha

andthetrueDharma

IhavenowheardthenewsthataprofessorgavealecturedenigratingBuddhisminpubliclecturesonEBS-TVsometimeago.

IamamonkwhoisseekingthePath,practicinginamountain.Therefore,Idonotoftencomeincontactwithnewspapersortelevision.IreadarticlescontributedinoneortwoBuddhistnewspapersatmost,soIhavebelatedlyheardthethoughtlesswordsoftheprofessorfromanotherperson.

IhaverecentlybeentoldthattheprofessorwasgivingtelevisionlecturesprofaningtheteachingsoftheBuddhabeforemillionsofviewers.SambongDo-jeonJeong,ameritoriousretainerofthefoundationoftheChosunDynastyandaConfuciusscholar,wroteabookcalled‘VariousGossipsonBuddhism’andcriticizedthetheoryontransmigrationofBuddhismnegatively,buttheproblemwasthat,atthattime,nogreatmonkcategoricallyrefutedthis(釋明withanexplanation).Therefore,thenationalpolicyrepressingBuddhismandrespectingConfucianismdevelopedduringthefivehundredyearsoftheChosunDynasty,andBuddhismlostitsplaceandwasbusyescapingintothemountains.

I,asamonkpursuingthePath,whoiswalkingonthewayofpureandcleanpracticetorealizethetrueDharmaoftheBuddha,cannotkeepsilent,holdmytongue,andremainanidlespectator,despitehavingwitnessedthisstunningsituation.

Icametounderstandthatthiswasnotthefirsttimeforhimtospeakorwriteinthisway.Wheneverhehasanopportunity,hehaswieldedhiswritingbrush(Referto‘IseeBuddhismthisway.’‘Headphrase,Hui-nengandShakespeare’),profanedanddisdainedtheBuddha,andcalledGreatMonksstupidormadguys,etc.denigratingandmockingtheThreeTreasuresashepleases.

Notwatchingidlywithindifference,Iwanttomakeacriticalcommentonthethoughtlesswordsandbehavioroftheprofessor,whohabituallycallshimself‘anoratoricaltalent’,‘agreatmountainintheorientalphilosophy’,‘agreatscholar’,‘auniversaltreasure’,supportedbyhissmallworldlyfame.ItisbecauseifIkeepsilent,thismustbeahugeincidentandnoonecanbesurewhatthefutureofBuddhismwillbe.

Whenaflowerwasheldup

inthepresenceofalargeassembly,

onlyKasyaparespondedwithabroadsmile

TheprofessorhasprofanedtheDharmabysaying,“TransmigrationinBuddhismisamythicalcompositionandameanstoencouragegooddeeds.”

Inowwishtoaskhimpublicly:

Professor!PleaseanswerthefollowingpropositionthatIputtoyou?Ifyoudonotanswercorrectly,youwillhavetoliveextremelyunfortunatelivesinthefuture.

“OnedaytheWorldHonouredOneheldupaflower

whichtheFourHeavenlyKingshavepresented

towardsalargeassemblyofpeople

ofhumansandheavenlybeings.

OnlyGreatKasyapa

whohadthoroughlybeenpracticing

thetwelveDhutadeeds

andlovedbytheWorldHonouredOne

gaveabroadsmile.”

GreatKasyapawasagreatpracticingmonkwhowasalreadypassingthroughthegreatBodhisattvastage(thetenthstageofAvatamsaka華嚴十地)atthattimebypracticingselflessness(無我)well,afterseeingtherootsofthephenomenalworld(現象)andtheoriginalnatureofhumansthoroughly.

ThusheunderstoodtheintentionoftheWorldHonouredOnefrommindtomind(以心傳心)byansweringwithasmilealone,andcouldlettheBuddhabesatisfied.AsGreatKasyapawasagreatdiscipleandagreatBodhisattvawhocouldenterdeepSamadhi,hewasabletoseetheflower(金色波羅花)oftheFourHeavenlyKingsandtheWesternPureLand.

HecouldseetheWesternPureLandandHellbecausehehadtheeyeswithahundredandeightmeritsandvirtues.Andhecouldseeclearlythatsentientbeingstransmigrate(輪廻轉生)accordingtothekarmathattheycommitted.

Professor!WhenyoureachthestageashighasGreatKasyapa,youcanspeakoftheDharmawithconfidence,distinguishingwhatistrueandwhatisnot,butIwonderwhatandhowwellyouhaverealized,andIwonderhowcarelesslyyouprofanetheBuddhaanddisdaintheDharma,usingthoughtlesswords!Moreover,Iwonderhowyoucanutterrecklesswordswithoutfear,misguidingblindsentientbeingsthroughthepublicmassmediathatmillionsofviewersarewatching!

Letusgobackto2600yearsago.AssumingthatyouwereamemberoftheassemblyoftheVulturePeakMountain,pleaseanswerimmediatelytotheBuddhawhohelduphishandthatlookedasifhewasholdingsomethingandwasshowingittothepublic.Pleaseanswerhimimmediately!

UnremittingHell

andtheRetributionoftheFourfoldSufferings

TheBuddhawhoisthemosthighlyrespectedintheThreeRealms,hassaidthattheevilkarmaproducedbythemouthprofaningthetrueDharmaisheavierthananyothersinfulkarma.Doyoureallywantmetotellyouwhatkindofkarmawillfollow?

Truly,onewillfallintoanunremittinghelluntiltheendofalltimewithnohopeofbeingreleased.Supposethatapersoncomestobebornasahumanorananimal,hecannotescapenotonlytheThreefoldSufferings(三中苦),buttheFourfoldSufferings(四重苦unfortunatekarmaofbeingunabletosee,hear,speakandsmell).

ThereisasayingthatifapersonspeaksillofthetrueDharma,hehastorepayitwithaheavenlysickness.Helldefinitelyexists,andwhenahumandies,hecanalsobecomeananimal17.

Therearethedevaandhungryghostrealms,plustheWesternPureLand,andtheBuddhaandBodhisattvarealmsalsodefinitelyexist.TheBuddhadwellsin‘theAbsoluteRealminSelflessness’intheformoflightcalledtheImmeasurableLight.

TheBuddhahasdefinitelymentionedHellandtheWesternPureLandinsometwohundredMahayanaBuddhistSutras!

If,asagreatpractitioner,onecanenterdeepSamadhiattheleveloftheOceanicReflectionSamadhi18thatagreatBodhisattvacanenter,thenatthislevelitispossibletoseealltherealmswithinthewheeloflifeanddeath,andtheenlightenedrealmofliberation(解脫悟界)freedfromtransmigration.

17InMahayanaBuddhism,itsaysthat‘everycreaturethatmoveshasitsspiritandtheyhaveaBuddhanature(蠢動含靈悉有佛性)’,buttheBuddhahassaidthatahuman’sspiritcannotenterbirds,fishnorinsects.Asanexceptiontothis,ahuman’sspiritcanenteraseal,awhale,aturtle,acrane,etc.,andthustheyareincludedinthewheeloflifeofhumanbeings.

18ItisalsocalledOceanSealConcentrationorOceanicReflectionConcentration(海印定).Whenroughseawavessubside,allthingsreflectinthesea:whenoneclimbsuptothepeakofamountain,hecanseeallthesceneryunfoldeddowntothebottomofthemountain.InthemidstofagreatBodhisattva’sconcentratedmind(定心)whereafflictionsarecutoff,theDharmaofthepast,presentandfutureisrevealedasitis.ItindicatesthedeepSamadhithatagreatBodhisattvaenters–‘thestateinwhichone’sminddoesnotgraspanyformandisinthestateoftruesuchnessinimmutability(不取於相如如不動).’WhenoneentersthisSamadhi,hewillfullybefilledwiththeblissoftheDharmahundredsandthousandstimesmorethantherefreshingandcleanfeelingsthatonegetswhenwalkingdownthestreetaftertakingabath.

Ifapersonhasnotreachedsuchastage,whoeverhemaybe,heshouldnotspeakoftheDharmacarelesslyasifhisremarkswerethetruth.Usingtheprofessorasagoodlessonatthispoint,wepractitionersandpropagatorsmustrealizewhatdreadfulkarmawillfollowonthethoughtlesswordsofslanderingandinsultingtheDharma.

Thoroughpublicrepentanceisrequested

Theprofessormustrepentusingallmeanspossible.

Irecommendthatherepentclearlyandpubliclythroughtheverytelevisionthatheusedtosaythosethoughtlesswords.

Foryourfuturelife,Igiveyouthiscandidadvice.

Pleaseacceptitasmybenevolence.