sixth patriarch's sutra january 25, 2013 lecture
Post on 04-Apr-2018
217 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
1/36
1
The Sixth Patriarchs Sutra7:30pm Pacific timeJanuary 25, 2013 lecture
as outlined by a Buddhist monkat 1777 Murchison Drive, Burlingame, California 94010, open to public(phone 650-6925912)
(Listen live or recorded audio explanations at
www.wondrousdharma.org)
Q&A Worrying over the impending death
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform the 3 refugesof our own nature
[Subscribe to the free Dharma newsletter atwww.wondrousdharma.org]
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
2/36
2
Verse for opening a sutra
Na Mwo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha (3x)
Homage to the Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra (3x)
The unsurpassed, deep, profound, subtle, wonderful Dharma, In a hundred thousand million eons, is difficult to encounter,
Now that Ive come to receive and hold it, within my sight and hearing,
I vow to fathom the Thus Come Ones true and actual meaning.
Exhortation to uphold the Dharma: 11
Just then the Saha world was transformed into one of purity, with lapislazuli for soil and adorned with jeweled trees. Its eight roads werebordered with golden cords. In it there were no towns, villages, cities,
oceans, rivers, streams, mountains, brooks, forests or thickets.Precious incense was burned and mandarava flowers completelycovered the ground. Above it were spread jeweled nets and bannershung with jeweled bells. Only those in the assembly remained, as thegods and humans have been moved to another land.(The WonderfulDharma Lotus Flower Sutra)
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
3/36
Q&A
Question: My 90 year old mother knows that she is going to depart
from the world soon. She is worried for the unknown as to what
is going to happen. How do I explain to her?
Answer:
With one mind, I return my life to Buddha Amitabha who is inthe land of Ultimate Bliss
Wishing his pure light illumines me and his kind vows gather
me in.
Now, with proper mindfulness, I praise the Thus Come Ones
name. 3
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
4/36
Q&A
In order to take the path of Bodhi and to seek rebirth in the pure
land.
In the past, the Buddha vowed, If living beings who wish for
rebirth in my land
And who resolve their minds with faith and joy even for ten
recitations, are not reborn there,
I will not attain the Proper Enlightenment.
4
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
5/36
Q&A
Through mindfulness of the Buddha, I enter the sea of the
Thus Come Ones great vows,
And receive the power of the Buddhas kindness. My
multitude of offenses is eradicated and my good roots increase
and grow.
As I approach the end of life, I myself will know the time of its
coming.
My body will be free of illness and pain.
5
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
6/36
Q&A
My mind will have no greed or fondness, and my thought will
not be upside down, just as entering Chan concentration.
The Buddha and the assembly of sages, leading me by thehand to the golden dais, will come to welcome me.
And in the space of a thought, I will be reborn in the land ofUltimate Bliss.
The flower will open, and I will see the Buddha, straightway
hear the Buddha Vehicle.
6
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
7/36
Q&A
And immediately attain the wisdom of a Buddha. I will cross
over living beings on a wide scale, fulfilling my Bodhi vows.
All Buddhas of the ten directions, and the three periods of time,
All Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas
Mahaprajna paramita!
7
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
8/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
Listen to what I say, for it can cause you to see the three
bodies of your own self-nature within your own body. The
three bodies of the Buddha arise from your own self-natureand are not obtained from outside.
Comments
The precious pearl is within us; turn your light of attention
inwards.
Recognize your original mind and you will see your Buddha-
nature.
8
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
9/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Our original mind is pure without anything at all; in confusion
everything comes from it.
Our original mind is wise without attachment to good or evil.
Our original mind is in samadhi; the unmoving thusness that
unites with Reality.
Recognize the original mind and you will see the originalnature.
9
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
10/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
What is the clear, pure Dharma-body Buddha? The
worldly persons nature is basically clear and pure, and the
ten thousand dharmas are produced from it. The thought ofevil produces evil actions and the thought of good
produces good actions. Thus all dharmas exist within the
self-nature.
Comments
The actual appearance of Reality is without appearance; there
isnt anything at all.
If people wish to understand the nature of the Dharma
Realm, everything is made by the mind alone. 10
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
11/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Basically the Buddha nature within us is without any attributes,
(true emptiness)
but from within it because of confusion, everything both good
and evil manifest within it (wonderful existence) and
it is explained in the Ten Suchness applicable to each of the10 Dharma Realms.
11
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
12/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
As to that foremost, rare, and hard to understand Dharma
accomplished by the Buddha, only the Buddhas and the
Buddha can exhaust the Real Appearance of all dharmas;that is to say, with regard to all dharmas: the suchness of
the appearance, the suchness of the nature, the suchness
of the substance, the suchness of the power, the suchness
of the function, the suchness of the causes, the suchness
of the conditions, the suchness of the effects, the
suchness of the retributionss and the suchness of the
ultimate equality from beginning to end.(The Dharma Flower SutraChapter 2 Expedient Device)
The Great Master Sixth Patriarch gives the analogy of the
clouds in the sky to depict the suchness of people 12
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
13/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
This is like the sky which is always clear, and the sun and
moon which are always bright, so that if they are obscured
by floating clouds it is bright above the clouds and darkbelow them. But if the wind suddenly blows and scatters
the clouds, there is brightness above and below, and the
myriad forms appear. The worldly persons nature
constantly drifts like those clouds in the sky.
Comments
The worldly person sometimes manifest his good nature andsometimes manifest his evil nature.
When we do more good, we ascend; the inverse appliesequally.13
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
14/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
Good Knowing Advisors, intelligence is like the sun and
wisdom is like the moon. Intelligence and wisdom are
constantly bright, but if you are attached to external states,the floating clouds of false thought cover the self-nature so
that it cannot shine.
Comments
The pure mind is like the moon in water;
The quiet mind like a cloudless sky;
True blessings: the mind stopped, thoughts cut off;
True fields of blessing: all desires ended. 14
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
15/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
If you meet a Good Knowing Advisor, if you listen to the
true and right Dharma and cast out your own confusion
and falseness, then inside and out there will be penetratingbrightness, and within the self-nature all the ten thousand
dharmas will appear. That is how it is with those who see
their own nature. It is called the clear, pure Dharma-body of
the Buddha.
Comments
A good knowing advisor does the job of the Buddha; it takes
good roots to meet one.
15
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
16/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
If you meet a Good Knowing Advisor, if you listen to the
true and right Dharma and cast out your own confusion
and falseness, then inside and out there will be penetratingbrightness, and within the self-nature all the ten thousand
dharmas will appear. That is how it is with those who see
their own nature. It is called the clear, pure Dharma-body of
the Buddha.
Comments
First you listen to the good knowing one; then you practice byremoving our confusion and falseness (the false self).
When there is no more confusion, the clear, pure Dharma bodyof the Buddha within us remains.16
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
17/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
Good Knowing Advisors, when your own mind takes
refuge with your self-nature, it takes refuge with the true
Buddha. To take refuge is to rid your self-nature of egotismand unwholesome thoughts as well as of jealousy,
obsequiousness, deceitfulness, contempt, pride, conceit,
and deviant views, and all other unwholesome tendencies
whenever they arise.
Comments
Our own mind takes refuge with our inherent Buddha nature,
the mahaprajnaparamita within us.
17
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
18/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
Good Knowing Advisors, when your own mind takes
refuge with your self-nature, it takes refuge with the true
Buddha. To take refuge is to rid your self-nature of egotismand unwholesome thoughts as well as of jealousy,
obsequiousness, deceitfulness, contempt, pride, conceit,
and deviant views, and all other unwholesome tendencies
whenever they arise.
Comments
Taking refuge is the intent to turnaround from being
unwholesome to wholesome and it begins with our thoughts.
The original self nature is without the self; turning around
comes when the false self comparing with others is put down.18
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
19/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
To take refuge is to be always aware of your own
transgressions and never to speak of other peoples good
or bad traits. Always to be humble and polite is to havepenetrated to the self-nature without any obstacle. That is
taking refuge.
Comments
A common habit is to look and compare with others, resulting in
our mind not being able to return to the original stillness.
I see yet do not see.
19
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
20/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
To take refuge is to be always aware of your own
transgressions and never to speak of other peoples good
or bad traits. Always to be humble and polite is to havepenetrated to the self-nature without any obstacle. That is
taking refuge.
Comments
There is tendency to attach to the notion that our practice is
superior and being condescending towards others
thats why the Great Master reminds us to be humble and
polite to others.
20
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
21/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
What is the perfect, full Reward-body of the Buddha? Just
as one lamp can disperse the darkness of a thousand
years, one thought of wisdom can destroy ten thousandyears of delusion.
Comments
The perfect full Reward body is the greater transformation body
that comes from our wisdom nature.
Wisdom is the reversal of delusion; it begins with our mind.
21
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
22/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
Do not think of the past; it is gone and can never be
recovered. Instead think always of the future and in every
thought, perfect and clear, see your own original nature.Although good and evil differ, the original nature is non-
dual.
Comments
Dont think of the past because whatever good or evil cause will
take its effect; it is pointless to regret but to be perfect and clear
in future.
Being perfect and clear in future thoughts are thoughts that are
non dual. 22
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
23/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Dont be anxious about the future because the reason for
anxiety is that you have expectations that are non dual.
23
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
24/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
That non-dual nature is the real nature. Undefiled by either
good or evil, it is the perfect, full Reward-body of the
Buddha.
Comments
The sixth conscious mind is the mind that makes distinction; it
is not our original nature.
Our original nature is beyond good and evil because originally
there isnt anything at all; if there is good, there is evil.
24
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
25/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
One evil thought arising from the self-nature destroys ten
thousand eons worth of good karma. One good thought
arising from the self-nature ends evils as numerous as thesand-grains in the Ganges River.
Comments
Our self nature has both our good nature and evil nature.
The self nature can produce everything both good and evil
depending upon our thoughts.
But the original self nature is non dual and without movement.
25
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
26/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
To reach the unsurpassed Bodhi directly, see it for
yourself in every thought and do not lose the original
thought. That is the Reward-body of the Buddha.
Comments
The original thought comes from the original self nature which
is non dual and without movement.
26
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
27/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
To recap earlier
1. How unexpected! The self-nature is originallypure in itself.
2. How unexpected! The self-nature is originallyneither produced
nor destroyed.
3. How unexpected! The self-nature is originallycomplete in itself.
4. How unexpected! The self-nature is originallywithout
movement.
5. How unexpected! The self-nature can produce the ten thousand
dharmas.27
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
28/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
What are the hundred thousand myriad Transformation
bodies of the Buddha? If you are free of any thought of the
ten thousand dharmas, then your nature is basically likeemptiness, but in one thought of calculation,
transformation occurs.
Comments
Why arent we Buddhas of the past and present but continue to
remain Buddhas of the future?
It is because we are full of calculating thoughts; the Buddhas of
the past were the ones who were the first to forget about the
self and quickly cease calculating thoughts. 28
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
29/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
Evil thoughts are transformed into hell-beings and good
thoughts into heavenly beings. Viciousness is transformed
into dragons and snakes, and compassion intoBodhisattvas. Wisdom is transformed into the upper
realms, and delusion into the lower realms.
Comments
Good and evil comes from the mind; everything is made by the
mind alone.
In the true reality of all dharmas, there is equality between
wisdom and confusion. 29
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
30/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
The transformations of the self-nature are extremely
many, and yet the confused person, unawakened to that
truth, continually gives rise to evil and walks evil paths.Turn a single thought back to goodness, and wisdom is
produced. That is the Transformation-body of the Buddha
within your self- nature.
Comments
A turn of the head is the other shore; affliction becomes bodhi.
30
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
31/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
Good Knowing Advisors, the Dharma body of the Buddha
is basically complete. To see your own nature in every
thought is the Reward body of the Buddha. When theReward body thinks and calculates, it is the
Transformation body of the Buddha.
Comments
The Dharma body is basically complete; one with reality.
The Reward body that sees the self nature does not think of
good or evil
The Reward body that moves creates the Transformation
body, the product of thinking and making distinctions. 31
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
32/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Venerable Master Hjsuan Hua explaining the 3 bodies:
Why do I say the Shurangama Sutra is the sutra for developing
wisdom and the Dharma Flower Sutra is the sutra for becoming
Buddhas?
Its because the Dharma Flower Sutra is the Buddhas Dharma
Body. Its the real body of the Buddha.
Its the Buddhas Reward Body.
The Buddhas clear, pure, Dharma Body Vairochana Buddha is
also the Dharma Flower Sutra.
32
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
33/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
The perfect, full Reward Body Nishyanda Buddha is also the
Dharma Flower Sutra.
The one hundred thousand millions transformation bodies are
also the Dharma Flower Sutra.
Within the Dharma Flower Sutra you will find the three bodies of
the Buddha, the four wisdoms of the Buddha, the five eyes and
six spiritual penetrations of the Buddha as well.
The Dharma Flower Sutra is the king of the Sutras.
33
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
34/36
Chapter 6 Repentance and reform
Sutra:
Awaken and cultivate by your own efforts the merit and
virtue of your self-nature. That is truly taking refuge.
Comments
Once you understand the principle, you put it into practice toturn your Transformation Buddha back into the Reward Body
Buddha.
34
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
35/36
35
Dedication of merit
May every living beings,
Our minds as one and radiant with light
Share the fruits of peace, with hearts of goodness
luminous and bright. If people hear and see, how hands and hearts can find in
giving unity
May their minds awake, to great compassion, wisdom
and to joy. May kindness find reward; may all who sorrow leave their
grief and pain;
May this boundless light break the darkness of theirendless night.
Because our hearts are one, this world of pain turns intoparadise;
May all become compassionate and wise (2x)
-
7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra January 25, 2013 lecture
36/36
Dedication of merit
I vow that merit made from this deed will become,
Adornments for the Pure Land of Bu-ddhas. Repaying the four kinds of kindness above,
And aiding those in three paths below.
May all who see and hear of this deed Bring forth the resolve to reborn
In the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
36
top related