sixth patriarch's sutra february 1, 2013 lecture

7/29/2019 Sixth Patriarch's Sutra February 1, 2013 lecture

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The Sixth Patriarchs Sutra7:30pm Pacific timeFebruary 1, 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 Drums in monasteries

Chapter 6 Repentance and reform the 3 refugesof our own nature

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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: 12

For the sake of Dharma, I renounced the royal position, leaving thegovernment to the crown prince. I beat upon the Dharma drum,announcing my search for Dharma in the four directions, saying

Whoever can speak the Great Vehicle for me, I will act as a servant forthe rest of my life. (The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra)


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Q&A

Question: What is the role of drums and what is the benefit to the

monasteries? Isnt the drum at the monasteries made of hide?

Answer:

Drums are percussion instruments providing the rhythmic

percussions that is part of offering to the Triple Jewel.

Every Buddhists knows the Bodhisattva Universal Worthy

conduct and vows to make praises to the Thus Come Ones

and extensively make offerings.

Bodhisattva Wondrous Sound was able to have great spiritual

abilities because in the past he offered music to the Buddha3


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Q&A

For twelve thousand years, the Bodhisattva Wondrous

Sound made offerings to the Buddha Cloud and Thunder

Sound King of a hundred thousand kinds of music.

He also offered up eighty four thousand bowls made of the

seven jewels.

As a result of these causes and conditions, and rewards,he has been born in the country of the Buddha Wisdom of

Pure Flower Constellation King, and now possesses these

spiritual powers. (the Dharma Flower Sutra)

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Q&A

Singing of praise and music accompaniment are expedients to

teach the Dharma; the tune to attract and the words to convey

the meaning.

Drums are also use to rouse up the spirit (as opposed to emotions)

as a prelude to Dharma assemblies and as a simple instrumentto keep pace of recitation of the assembly.

Dharma assemblies are effectively turning the Dharma wheel.

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Q&A

Drums are permanent fixtures in the monasteries belonging to

the permanent dwelling.

Drums without hide are preferred when they are available.

It is unlikely that the animals are slaughtered specifically for the

hide; besides the animals whose hide is being used as a drumin monasteries receive the merit being part of the offering to the

Triple Jewel.

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Q&A

Question: Isnt the day of enlightenment of the Buddha in the

month of May where Vesak is being celebrated?

Answer:

In China, the Buddhas enlightenment day is celebrated on the

8

th

day of the 12

th

lunar month.

In Japan, it is called Bodhi Day and it is celebrated on 8th

December.

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Q&A

In Theravada countries it is celebrated in the full moon day in

May during the celebration to mark the three important days of

the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of the Buddha.

There are many types of calendars; it is the significance of theevent that is important, an expression of gratitude to our

teacher.

In order to teach living beings, the Buddha showed us the way

to bodhi by doing so for 8,000 times.

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Q&A

I have come to this world eight thousand times. Based at

this Saha World seated upon the Vajra Floral Brilliance

Kings Lion Throne, and all the way up to the palace of theHeavenly King Maheshvara. I have for the great multitudes

therein completed speaking of the Mind-Ground Dharma

door in general terms. (the Buddha Speaks of the Brahma Net Sutra)

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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.

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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.11


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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 15


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Dont be anxious about the future because the reason for

anxiety is that you have expectations that are non dual.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 20


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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. 21


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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. 22


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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.

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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. 24


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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.

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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.

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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.

Cultivation is about creating merit and having virtue of the Way.

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Sutra:

The skin and flesh of the physical body are like an inn to

which you cannot return. Simply awaken to the three

bodies of your self-nature and you will understand the self-nature Buddha.

Comments

Cultivate the self nature is to cultivate the mind; the body is just

temporary possession.

The three bodies is about unmovingness, wisdom and

conduct

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Th e origin of the Great Masters definition of the Three Bodies of the Self

nature:

How should this Sutra be explained for others? By not

grasping at appearances and being in unmoving thusness.Why?

All conditioned dharmas

Are like dreams, an illusion, a bubble or a shadow,

Like dew on a lightning flash

Contemplate them thus. (Vajra Sutra)29


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Sutra:

I have a verse without marks. If you can recite and

memorize it, it will wipe away-accumulated eons of

confusion and offenses as soon as the words are spoken.The verse runs:

Comments

Verse without appearance so dont be attached to them for in

reality, there isnt wisdom nor delusion.

The appearance of Reality is without appearance. (Vajra

Sutra) 30


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Sutra:

A confused person will foster blessings, but not cultivate

the Way;

Comments

Blessings come from giving; why dont we then foster

blessings?...

It is because it is not in the gift but the state of mind when you

give; it has to accord with reality that originally there isnt

anything at all.

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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)


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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.

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sixth patriarch's sutra february 1, 2013 lecture

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