(The full title is:)
Great, Upright and Broad Tathagata's Unimaginable State Sutra
Or
Maha-Vaipulya Tathagata's Unimaginable State Sutra
(Dai Forng Gworng Yiu Loy Bud See Yee Ging Gai Ging)
(Tripitaka No. 301)
Translated during the Tang Dynasty by Kustana Tripitaka Master Siksananda
Thus I have heard. At one time the Buddha achieved Samyak-Sambodhi (Correct Peerless Enlightenment) under the Bodhi-tree in Magadha state. The Bodhi-tree's name is Ahsipah, its root was deep in the soil, its trunk was tall, straight and had no knot, like a sandalwood column. Whenever birds approach, they had to fly back because they could not fly over the tree. The tree's skin was fine and glossy, with various interlaced colors, just like damasks. The tree was branchy and the crown of it was bushy and green.
Around the tree, there were many beautiful and lovely flowers blooming and emanating fragrance. They were much more beautiful than all other flowers except the Kovidars and Parijatas.
Around the tree, there were also many shorter trees. This Bodhi-tree, the king of trees, was splendid and handsome. It was like the Sumeru Mountain, which is the king of all mountains. It was so tall that even the people beyond 1 Yojana could see it. Its fragrance flows all around and its halo shines all around. People who saw it far away at night would suspect that it is a group of huge fires. The area under the tree was majestic, beautiful, spacious, and flat, like the happy garden, with luxuriant fragrant grass. It was like the neck of the peacock king, beautiful and fragrant, people do not tire of watching it.
At such a place, the Tathagata sat rightly and divinely, with many beings around him, just like a moon surrounded by stars.
At that time, coming from other directions, there were Buddhas as many as the atoms of ten Buddha-Worlds. In order to make the Bodhi-manda(site of enlightenment) of Vairocana more sublime, those Buddhas appeared as Bodhisattvas and joined the congregation. The names of their leaders are: Avalokitesvara(Contemplator of the World's Sounds) Bodhisattva, Manjusri Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha(Earth Store) Bodhisattva, Akasagarbha(Space Store) Bodhisattva, Vajragarbha Bodhisattva, Vimalakirti Bodhisattva, Virtuous mighty light Bodhisattva, Extinguish all eclipses Bodhisattva, Ratna-Pani(Treasure Hand) Bodhisattva, Mahamati(Great Wisdom) Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra(Universal Goodness) Bodhisattva, and so on.
Moreover, hundred billions of Bodhisattvas appeared as Sravakas and came to join the congregation. The names of their leaders are: Shariputra, Maha-Maudgalyayana, Subhuti, Rahula, Ajnata-Kaundinya, Maha-Kasyapa, Upali, Aniruddha, Revata, Ananda, Devadatta, Upandanda, and so on. All of them had practiced the Six-Paramitas for a long time, and had already been very close to the Bodhi of Buddhas. In order to enlighten living beings, they appeared as Sravakas in this defiled world.
There were also innumerable Bhikshunis headed by Maha-Prajapati. All of them had already accomplished the meritorious virtues of great and wise men, in order to soothe the inferior living beings, they appeared as women.
There were also innumerable Sakra Devanam Indras, Brahmas, guardian gods, Devas, dragons, Yaksas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, human and nonhuman beings. They were all great Bodhisattvas, none of them was mundane person.
At that time, the Bhagavan(World Honored One), who was sitting under the Bodhi-tree, was sublime, pure, refined and wonderful, like the Wish-fulfilling pearl under the Citta tree. With the immovable Correct-Mindfulness, he was like the Sumeru Mountain. In order to make all Bodhisattvas and living beings understand the mighty and holy power of Buddhas' profound and secret Dhyana(Zen)s, he entered a Samadhi named Tathagata's Unimaginable State. Suddenly, each mark of the 32 marks of the Bhagavan revealed infinite Buddha-Worlds and Buddhas of the ten directions, just like a bright mirror reflecting various colors. Moreover, each mark of the 80 minor marks of the Bhagavan revealed his previous Bodhisattva-practices. From the Radiance king to the final incarnation at the place of Dipamkara(Burning Lamp) Buddha, all the difficult and arduous practices, the history that he completely donated all his heads, eyes, bodies, skins, fleshes, arms, legs, wives, servants, and the kingships, palaces, and so on.
This Samadhi has the great mighty power, all Buddhas are always in this Samadhi when they are eating, walking, teaching Dharmas, and even in Nirvana. Why? Because all Buddhas rely on this Samadhi to achieve boundless great mighty sacrosanct power, as far as to realize-and-prove(pravista) the vacuum nature of all dharmas, so they can manifest various unrestricted things at all Buddha-Worlds of the ten directions. For example, a person visualizes various fantastic things in his dream, but when he wakes up, all those things disappear. Likewise, for the mundane persons, because of the dreams of ignorance, they mistakenly think that all things are entities; meanwhile, all Buddhas are awakened and do not cling to anything, thus they can freely show infinite Buddha-Activities(Buddha-karya) within one infinitesimal thought, to profit all living beings and make them succeed, to help them comprehend innumerable abstruse and wonderful Liberation-Gates.
At that time, Virtue Store Bodhisattva, who had not yet achieved the perfection of Bodhi-Practices, asked Samantabhadra Bodhisattva: "What is the name of the Samadhi that the Tathagata entered into just now? How can he freely show various Buddha-Activities in all the worlds of the ten directions to rescue living beings?"
Then Samantabhadra Bodhisattva spoke to Virtue Store Bodhisattva: "Listen carefully and I'll tell you." At that time, all Bodhisattvas looked at them intently and reverently, and glorified together with one voice: "What an excellent question! How profound, delicate and wonderful! Arya(sage) Samantabhadra, who knows everything, is going to preach now." Instantly, the earth shook in six different ways, heaven rained down exquisite flowers, all living beings suffering from afflictions and distresses were relieved for a while.
Showing posts with label Bodhi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bodhi. Show all posts
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
A Spiritual Goal For This Lifetime
by Professor Li Ping-Nan
Master Chin Kung’s Dharma Teacher
--------------------------------------------
Professor Li Ping-Nan was Master Chin Kung’s Dharma Teacher. Professor Lee’s Dharma teacher was Patriarch Yin Guang.
The following article was adapted from a small book by Professor Lee titled “A Buddhist Goal that Can Be Achieved in One’s Present Life”. In this book, Professor Lee describes some of the characteristics of the Pure Land and explains how Pure Land practitioners can use the technique of Buddha recitation to achieve rebirth there.
Two important sections of this article are titled “Morning and Evening Devotions” and “The Ten Recitation Method”. These two sections explain exactly how you can practice Buddha recitation every day, at home.
--------------------------------------------
Life is difficult most of the time.
Who can avoid sickness, aging and weakness, separation from loved ones, deaths of friends and family members, loss of wealth, and hate and mistreatment from others?
The poor seek wealth, the childless want to have children, the unemployed want to find work, and on and on.
How many of these wishes can come true? Is there any way to solve these unfortunate problems?
Life is full of calamities.
Many people die in hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and fires. Many others starve due to drought or too much rain. Unexpected death is facing us every year. In a nuclear or biological war, the human race could be eliminated. Is there any way to avoid these disasters?
The revolving wheel of birth and death is painful.
And death is not the end. A living body can die, but its consciousness never dies. Upon the death of the body, consciousness leaves the body and goes to one of the six paths: heaven, the human world, the asura world, the animal world, the hungry ghost world, or hell. Heaven and the human world are the better places of these six, but the cycle of birth and death is unavoidable. Everybody has to go through the birth-and-death cycle on one of the six paths. Imagine how terrible it must be in the animal world, and how painful it must be in hell! The birth-and-death cycle through the six paths is known as the “six-path revolving wheel of Birth-and-Death”. Is there any way to escape this revolving wheel of Birth-and-Death and secure a peaceful, happy eternal life?
Overcoming Life’s Difficulties and Escaping From the Cycle of Birth and Death
Eliminate life’s difficulties and divert calamities.
Whether we have a fortunate life or an unfortunate life is determined by our own mind and our own behavior. It is a system of cause and effect.
Causes and effects involve three time periods: the past, the present, and the future. A difficult life and the occurrence of disasters are results of previous evil thoughts or bad behavior. But can divert and avoid unfortunate events by reciting Buddha’s name. The Sutras tell us that serious offenses and crimes committed aeons ago can be eliminated by sincerely reciting Buddha’s name.
The Sutras also say that there is a limitless number of Buddhas in the universe who protect those who recite, “Amitabha Buddha”. Buddha possesses infinite virtue, supreme wisdom, and boundless might. If you have Buddha’s blessing, no disaster can befall you.
Master Chin Kung’s Dharma Teacher
--------------------------------------------
Professor Li Ping-Nan was Master Chin Kung’s Dharma Teacher. Professor Lee’s Dharma teacher was Patriarch Yin Guang.
The following article was adapted from a small book by Professor Lee titled “A Buddhist Goal that Can Be Achieved in One’s Present Life”. In this book, Professor Lee describes some of the characteristics of the Pure Land and explains how Pure Land practitioners can use the technique of Buddha recitation to achieve rebirth there.
Two important sections of this article are titled “Morning and Evening Devotions” and “The Ten Recitation Method”. These two sections explain exactly how you can practice Buddha recitation every day, at home.
--------------------------------------------
Life is difficult most of the time.
Who can avoid sickness, aging and weakness, separation from loved ones, deaths of friends and family members, loss of wealth, and hate and mistreatment from others?
The poor seek wealth, the childless want to have children, the unemployed want to find work, and on and on.
How many of these wishes can come true? Is there any way to solve these unfortunate problems?
Life is full of calamities.
Many people die in hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and fires. Many others starve due to drought or too much rain. Unexpected death is facing us every year. In a nuclear or biological war, the human race could be eliminated. Is there any way to avoid these disasters?
The revolving wheel of birth and death is painful.
And death is not the end. A living body can die, but its consciousness never dies. Upon the death of the body, consciousness leaves the body and goes to one of the six paths: heaven, the human world, the asura world, the animal world, the hungry ghost world, or hell. Heaven and the human world are the better places of these six, but the cycle of birth and death is unavoidable. Everybody has to go through the birth-and-death cycle on one of the six paths. Imagine how terrible it must be in the animal world, and how painful it must be in hell! The birth-and-death cycle through the six paths is known as the “six-path revolving wheel of Birth-and-Death”. Is there any way to escape this revolving wheel of Birth-and-Death and secure a peaceful, happy eternal life?
Overcoming Life’s Difficulties and Escaping From the Cycle of Birth and Death
Eliminate life’s difficulties and divert calamities.
Whether we have a fortunate life or an unfortunate life is determined by our own mind and our own behavior. It is a system of cause and effect.
Causes and effects involve three time periods: the past, the present, and the future. A difficult life and the occurrence of disasters are results of previous evil thoughts or bad behavior. But can divert and avoid unfortunate events by reciting Buddha’s name. The Sutras tell us that serious offenses and crimes committed aeons ago can be eliminated by sincerely reciting Buddha’s name.
The Sutras also say that there is a limitless number of Buddhas in the universe who protect those who recite, “Amitabha Buddha”. Buddha possesses infinite virtue, supreme wisdom, and boundless might. If you have Buddha’s blessing, no disaster can befall you.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
The Sutra in Forty-two Sections Spoken by the Buddha (Section 38 to 42)
Lectures by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua,
Given at Gold Mountain Monastery,
San Francisco, California, in 1974
The Sutra in Forty-two Sections Spoken by the Buddha
Section 38 to 42
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 38
Birth Leads to Death
The Buddha asked a Shramana, how long is the human life span? "He replied, few days. "The Buddha said, you have not yet understood the Way."
He asked another Shramana, how long is the human life span? "The reply was, the space of a meal. "The Buddha said, you have not yet understood the Way."
He asked another Shramana, how long is the human life span? "He replied, the length of a single breath. "The Buddha said, excellent. You have understood the Way."
The Buddha asked a Shramana, how long is the human life span? "The Buddha asked this question deliberately. It wasn’t that the Buddha didn’t know the answer himself and had to ask the Shramana to find out. The Buddha asked because he knew that people don’t know the length of the human life span. So he asked a Shramana, how long is a human being life? How much time does a human life last? " He replied, few days. "The first Shramana said, probably after a few days we will die. Life is not very long. " The Buddha said, you have not yet understood the Way. You still don understand. "
He asked another Shramana, how long is the human life span? "The reply was, he space of a meal. "The Shramana answered, n the time it takes to eat a single meal, a person life is over. " The Buddha said, you have not yet understood the Way. "He, too, didn understand.
He asked another Shramana, how long is the human life span? "He replied, he length of a single breath. The life span of a human being lasts for one breath. "The Buddha said, excellent. You have understood the Way." The Shramana who gave this answer understood the Way.
In India there was once a king who believed in adherents of non-Buddhist religions that cultivated many kinds of ascetic practices. Some followed the precepts of cows and some the precepts of dogs; some smeared ashes on their bodies; and some slept on beds of nails. They cultivated all sorts of ascetic practices, such as those undertaken by yogis. Meanwhile, the Bhikshus who cultivated the Buddhadharma had it comparatively easy, because they didn cultivate those kinds of ascetic practices. Now, the king of that country said to the Buddha disciples, believe that although these non-Buddhists cultivate all kinds of ascetic practices, they still cannot stop their thoughts of sexual desire. How much less are you Bhikshus, who are so casual, able to stop your afflictions and your thoughts of sexual desire. You surely cannot put a stop to them. "
One of the Dharma Masters answered the king this way, take a man from jail who has been sentenced to execution and say to him, take this bowl of oil and carry it in your hands as you walk down the street. If you spill a single drop of the oil, I’ll have you executed. If you don’t spill a single drop, I’ll release you when you return. ' Then, send some beautiful women musicians out on the street to sing and play their instruments where the sentenced man is walking with his bowl of oil. If he should spill any oil, of course you’ll execute him. If he comes back without spilling a single drop, ask him what he seen on the road, and see what he says! "
Given at Gold Mountain Monastery,
San Francisco, California, in 1974
The Sutra in Forty-two Sections Spoken by the Buddha
Section 38 to 42
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 38
Birth Leads to Death
The Buddha asked a Shramana, how long is the human life span? "He replied, few days. "The Buddha said, you have not yet understood the Way."
He asked another Shramana, how long is the human life span? "The reply was, the space of a meal. "The Buddha said, you have not yet understood the Way."
He asked another Shramana, how long is the human life span? "He replied, the length of a single breath. "The Buddha said, excellent. You have understood the Way."
The Buddha asked a Shramana, how long is the human life span? "The Buddha asked this question deliberately. It wasn’t that the Buddha didn’t know the answer himself and had to ask the Shramana to find out. The Buddha asked because he knew that people don’t know the length of the human life span. So he asked a Shramana, how long is a human being life? How much time does a human life last? " He replied, few days. "The first Shramana said, probably after a few days we will die. Life is not very long. " The Buddha said, you have not yet understood the Way. You still don understand. "
He asked another Shramana, how long is the human life span? "The reply was, he space of a meal. "The Shramana answered, n the time it takes to eat a single meal, a person life is over. " The Buddha said, you have not yet understood the Way. "He, too, didn understand.
He asked another Shramana, how long is the human life span? "He replied, he length of a single breath. The life span of a human being lasts for one breath. "The Buddha said, excellent. You have understood the Way." The Shramana who gave this answer understood the Way.
In India there was once a king who believed in adherents of non-Buddhist religions that cultivated many kinds of ascetic practices. Some followed the precepts of cows and some the precepts of dogs; some smeared ashes on their bodies; and some slept on beds of nails. They cultivated all sorts of ascetic practices, such as those undertaken by yogis. Meanwhile, the Bhikshus who cultivated the Buddhadharma had it comparatively easy, because they didn cultivate those kinds of ascetic practices. Now, the king of that country said to the Buddha disciples, believe that although these non-Buddhists cultivate all kinds of ascetic practices, they still cannot stop their thoughts of sexual desire. How much less are you Bhikshus, who are so casual, able to stop your afflictions and your thoughts of sexual desire. You surely cannot put a stop to them. "
One of the Dharma Masters answered the king this way, take a man from jail who has been sentenced to execution and say to him, take this bowl of oil and carry it in your hands as you walk down the street. If you spill a single drop of the oil, I’ll have you executed. If you don’t spill a single drop, I’ll release you when you return. ' Then, send some beautiful women musicians out on the street to sing and play their instruments where the sentenced man is walking with his bowl of oil. If he should spill any oil, of course you’ll execute him. If he comes back without spilling a single drop, ask him what he seen on the road, and see what he says! "
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The Sutra in Forty-two Sections Spoken by the Buddha (Section 36 to 37)
Lectures by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua,
Given at Gold Mountain Monastery,
San Francisco, California, in 1974
The Sutra in Forty-two Sections Spoken by the Buddha
Section 36 to 37
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 36
The Sequence that Leads to Success
The Buddha said, it is difficult for one to leave the evil destinies and become a human being.
Even if one does become a human being, it is still difficult to become a man rather than a woman.
Even if one does become a man, it is still difficult to have the six sense organs complete and perfect.
Even if the six sense organs are complete and perfect, it is still difficult for one to be born in a central country.
Even if one is born in a central country, it is still difficult to be born at a time when there is a Buddha in the world.
Even if one is born at a time when there is a Buddha in the world, it is still difficult to encounter the Way.
Even if one does encounter the Way, it is still difficult to bring forth faith.
Even if one brings forth faith, it is still difficult to resolve one mind on Bodhi.
Even if one does resolve one mind on Bodhi, it is still difficult to be beyond cultivation and attainment."
The thirty-sixth section discusses the difficulties of obtaining a human body, being born in a central country, meeting a Good and Wise Advisor, encountering a Buddha in the world, and various other difficulties.
The Buddha said, t is difficult for one to leave the evil destinies and become a human being. "The three evil destinies are the hells, the realm of hungry ghosts, and the realm of animals. It's very difficult to leave the three evil destinies and be reborn as a human being. When the Buddha was in the world, he once brought up a question for all the disciples to consider. The Buddha scooped up a handful of dirt and asked, all of you tell me, is there more dirt in my hand or on the whole earth? "
The Buddha disciples all answered, f course the dirt in the Buddha hand is less than the dirt on the whole earth! " Was there any need to ask about something as obvious as that?
The Buddha said, living beings who can leave the three evil destinies the hells, the realm of hungry ghosts, and the realm of animals and become humans are like the dirt in my hand. Those who remain in the three evil destinies and cannot obtain human bodies are like the dirt on the whole earth. " This shows that for beings to leave behind the evil destinies and become human is not easy. Thus it is said that becoming a human being is difficult.
Given at Gold Mountain Monastery,
San Francisco, California, in 1974
The Sutra in Forty-two Sections Spoken by the Buddha
Section 36 to 37
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 36
The Sequence that Leads to Success
The Buddha said, it is difficult for one to leave the evil destinies and become a human being.
Even if one does become a human being, it is still difficult to become a man rather than a woman.
Even if one does become a man, it is still difficult to have the six sense organs complete and perfect.
Even if the six sense organs are complete and perfect, it is still difficult for one to be born in a central country.
Even if one is born in a central country, it is still difficult to be born at a time when there is a Buddha in the world.
Even if one is born at a time when there is a Buddha in the world, it is still difficult to encounter the Way.
Even if one does encounter the Way, it is still difficult to bring forth faith.
Even if one brings forth faith, it is still difficult to resolve one mind on Bodhi.
Even if one does resolve one mind on Bodhi, it is still difficult to be beyond cultivation and attainment."
The thirty-sixth section discusses the difficulties of obtaining a human body, being born in a central country, meeting a Good and Wise Advisor, encountering a Buddha in the world, and various other difficulties.
The Buddha said, t is difficult for one to leave the evil destinies and become a human being. "The three evil destinies are the hells, the realm of hungry ghosts, and the realm of animals. It's very difficult to leave the three evil destinies and be reborn as a human being. When the Buddha was in the world, he once brought up a question for all the disciples to consider. The Buddha scooped up a handful of dirt and asked, all of you tell me, is there more dirt in my hand or on the whole earth? "
The Buddha disciples all answered, f course the dirt in the Buddha hand is less than the dirt on the whole earth! " Was there any need to ask about something as obvious as that?
The Buddha said, living beings who can leave the three evil destinies the hells, the realm of hungry ghosts, and the realm of animals and become humans are like the dirt in my hand. Those who remain in the three evil destinies and cannot obtain human bodies are like the dirt on the whole earth. " This shows that for beings to leave behind the evil destinies and become human is not easy. Thus it is said that becoming a human being is difficult.
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