What's the quintessence of the Heart Sutra?
-
The Heart Sutra describes the characteristics of our Buddha nature or true mind. But it also points out the method to restore our true mind. What do you think it is?
-
-
yin1 wu2 shuo3 zhu4? ie by 'being non abiding'?
if not please enlighten.
/\ -
Originally posted by sinweiy:yin1 wu2 shuo3 zhu4? ie by 'being non abiding'?
if not please enlighten.
/\
Yes, the result of 'yin1 wu2 shuo3 zhu4' is 'guan1 zi4 zai4'.
And the way to be 'wu2 zhu4' is 'zhao4' which is a synonym of 'guan1' and 'jyue2'.
So 'zi4 jyue2', which means 'self-awareness', is the method. -
The idea is not to dwell on the writings, as there is no 'dwell' on anything.
There is no 'Heart' in the Heart Sutra. In fact, there is no Sutra at all.
The Heart Sutra helps the reader to realise the true Buddha nature. But the answer once you realised the true Buddha nature is that you don't need the Heart Sutra to help you at all.
Sutras by nature are designed (written!) to help one realise the truth. Many ways to come to this. Once you discovered it, there is no way back!!!!! It stays with you forever, starting from the plane of consciousness while you are in human form from which you discovered it.
Read the words but don't ponder on it. But ponder on what's not written in it!
Through this process of 'pondering-yet not pondering', you will discover the truth of the Buddha nature. In fact, it's here and everywhere, always 'revealing' 'itself' 'staring' you in the face all the time. But then the opposite is also true.
I can share with you what will happen once you discovered it.
The Buddha nature is looking at it, are you 'looking' at it to say hello? -
helloOriginally posted by Eye in the Sky:The Buddha nature is looking at it, are you 'looking' at it to say hello?
Nice to meet you! -
Nice 'meeting' you too!
Have you 'read' Wu(2) Men(2) Quan(1) or the Blue Cliff Records? Them being books, meant that their transmission of the Enlightenment to the 'reader' is limited as words/graphics/calligrapher are limited in nature.
Lots of 'breakthroughs' by Hui-Neng. Have an idea of what Hui-Neng is trying to achieve for his 'readers'. But don't dwell or to 'solve' the question.
They are NOT questions but 'triggers' for your mind to REALISE the TRUTH and TO BE ENLIGHTENED, yes ... Suddenly, Hui-Neng's way.
Zen or in this case of Wu-Men-Guan, develops 'TRIGGERS' or KEYS to help you realise the TRUTH. They are just 'tools'. some work well, some need lots of time.
Not all people 'preceive' or 'react' to triggers in the same way. ALL 'tirggers' exist in nature bcos we live in a nature of DUALITY, some need books or teachers to help out.
Some people realised the TRUTH through a sneeze, most don't at all. -
-
I wanted to say Guan Zi Zai yesterday but went to sleep. hehe
Guan Zi Zai -- practise the prajnaparamita -- Seeing 5 skhandas as empty -- liberated from sufferings
What is Buddha? Buddha is Jue, Awareness. The difference between a saint and a sentient beings lie in 'Jue' and 'Mi', aware/deluded. -
Yes, when we are fully awakened to the fact that everything is ourselves, what we are aware of is actually us, there is nothing else but ourselves, which is our awareness, is called Guan Zi Zai.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:I wanted to say Guan Zi Zai yesterday but went to sleep. hehe
Guan Zi Zai -- practise the prajnaparamita -- Seeing 5 skhandas as empty -- liberated from sufferings
What is Buddha? Buddha is Jue, Awareness. The difference between a saint and a sentient beings lie in 'Jue' and 'Mi', aware/deluded. -
wonderful 'description'!
ever wondered why the symbol of Buddhism, the swastika, is like that? -
hmm... why is it so?Originally posted by Eye in the Sky:wonderful 'description'!
ever wondered why the symbol of Buddhism, the swastika, is like that? -
The Buddhist Swastika is the symbol leading to the realisation of Buddha Nature, aka the TRUTH.
-
It is the 'ultimate' ZEN KOAN from which are dervied all others.
The Christian Cross has the same properties leading to the realisation of the same TRUTH.
They are all 'pointing' to the TRUTH. -
In the end, the TRUTH is 'pointless' ... as you 'become' the TRUTH, you and the TRUTH are one. but there is NO one.
The 'finality' of Duality ... -
Yes, indeed.
Truth is a pathless land. - Jiddu Krishnamurti -
Well said.Originally posted by Eye in the Sky:In the end, the TRUTH is 'pointless' ... as you 'become' the TRUTH, you and the TRUTH are one. but there is NO one.
The 'finality' of Duality ...
It's a shame that I haven’t been able to do that yet. As far as I know, knowing the TRUTH is just the beginning. There is still a long way to becoming the TRUTH. Unfortunately, non-dualism is not just a realization, we have to ‘be there’ step by step. If one has become the TRUTH completely, he won’t need any sleep anymore. He would know everything in the universe. Because sleeping is not sleeping, and he is the universe. I guess that would make him a Buddha already, right? -
"After enlightenment, the laundry."Originally posted by namelessness:Well said.
It's a shame that I haven’t been able to do that yet. As far as I know, knowing the TRUTH is just the beginning. There is still a long way to becoming the TRUTH. Unfortunately, non-dualism is not just a realization, we have to ‘be there’ step by step. If one has become the TRUTH completely, he won’t need any sleep anymore. He would know everything in the universe. Because sleeping is not sleeping, and he is the universe. I guess that would make him a Buddha already, right?
BTW, the Buddha sleeps 1 hour a day as part of his daily schedule. -
Hahaha, nice analogy.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:"After enlightenment, the laundry."
BTW, the Buddha sleeps 1 hour a day as part of his daily schedule.
Well, my master told me that Buddha never sleep. He was only in deep Samadhi.
BTW, he also said the 8th ground Bodhisattva only sleeps half an hour per day. -
CHAPTER 13
THE BUDDHA'S DAILY ROUTINE
"The Lord is awakened. He teaches the Dhamma for awakening."
-- MAJJHIMA NIKAYA
The Buddha can be considered the most energetic and the most active of all religious teachers that ever lived on earth. The whole day He was occupied with His religious activities except when He was attending to His physical needs. He was methodical and systematic in the performance of His daily duties. His inner life was one of meditation and was concerned with the experiencing of Nibbanic Bliss, while His outer life was one of selfless service for the moral upliftment of the world. Himself enlightened, He endeavoured His best to enlighten others and liberate them from the ills of life.
His day was divided into five parts, namely, (i) The Forenoon Session, (ii) The Afternoon Session, (iii) The First Watch, (iv) The Middle Watch and (v) The Last Watch.
The Forenoon Session
Usually early in the morning He surveys the world with His Divine Eye to see whom he could help. If any person needs His spiritual assistance, uninvited He goes, often on foot, some times by air using His psychic powers, and converts that person to the right path.
As a rule He goes in search of the vicious and the impure, but the pure and the virtuous come in search of Him.
For instance, the Buddha went of His own accord to convert the robber and murderer Angulimala and the wicked demon A1avaka, but pious young Visakha, generous millionaire Anathapindika, and intellectual Sariputta and Moggallana came up to Him for spiritual guidance.
While rendering such spiritual service to whomsoever it is necessary, if He is not invited to partake of alms by a lay supporter at some particular place, He, before whom Kings prostrated themselves, would go in quest of alms through alleys and streets, with bowl in hand, either alone or with His disciples.
Standing silently at the door of each house, without uttering a word, He collects whatever food is offered and placed in the bowl and returns to the monastery.
Even in His eightieth year when He was old and in indifferent health, He went on His rounds for alms in Vesali.
Before midday He finishes His meals. Immediately after lunch He daily delivers a short discourse to the people, establishes them in the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts and if any person is spiritually advanced, he is shown the Path to Sainthood.
At times He grants Ordination to them if they seek admission to the Order and then retires to His chamber.
The Afternoon Session
After the noon meal He takes a seat in the monastery and the Bhikkhus assemble to listen to His exposition of the Dhamma. Some approach Him to receive suitable objects of meditation according to their temperaments; others pay their due respects to Him and retire to their cells to spend the afternoon.
After His discourse or exhortation to His disciples, He Himself retires to His private Perfumed Chamber to rest. If He so desires, He lies on His right side and sleeps for a while with mindfulness. On rising, He attains to the Ecstasy of Great Compassion (Maha Karuna Samapatti) and surveys, with His Divine Eye, the world, especially the Bhikkhus who retired to solitude for meditation and other disciples in order to give them any spiritual advice that is needed. If the erring ones who need advice happen to be at a distance, there He goes by psychic powers, admonishes them and retires to His chamber.
Towards evening the lay followers flock to Him to hear the Dhamma. Perceiving their innate tendencies and their temperaments with the Buddha-Eye, [1] He preaches to them for about one hour. Each member of the audience, though differently constituted, thinks that the Buddha's sermon is directed in particular to him. Such was the Buddha's method of expounding the Dhamma. As a rule the Buddha converts others by explaining His teachings with homely illustrations and parables, for He appeals more to the intellect than to emotion.
To the average man the Buddha at first speaks of generosity, discipline, and heavenly bliss. To the more advanced He speaks on the evils of material pleasures and on the blessings of renunciation. To the highly advanced He expounds the Four Noble Truths.
On rare occasions as in the case of Angulimala and Khema did the Buddha resort to His psychic powers to effect a change of heart in His listeners.
The sublime teachings of the Buddha appealed to both the masses and the intelligentsia alike. A Buddhist poet sings:
"Giving joy to the wise, promoting the intelligence of the middling, and dispelling the darkness of the dull-witted, this speech is for all people. [2]"
Both the rich and the poor, the high and the low, renounced their former faiths and embraced the new Message of Peace. The infant Sasana, [3] which was inaugurated with a nucleus of five ascetics, soon developed into millions and peacefully spread throughout Central India.
The First Watch
This period of the night extends from 6 to 10 p.m. and was exclusively reserved for instruction to Bhikkhus. During this time the Bhikkhus were free to approach the Buddha and get their doubts cleared, question Him on the intricacies of the Dhamma, obtain suitable objects of meditation, and hear the doctrine.
The Middle Watch
During this period which extends from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Celestial Beings such as Devas and Brahmas, who are invisible to the physical eye, approach the Buddha to question Him on the Dhamma. An oft-recurring passage in the Suttas is: "Now when the night was far spent a certain Deva of surpassing splendour came to the Buddha, respectfully saluted Him and stood at a side." Several discourses and answers given to their queries appear in the Samyutta Nikāya.
The Last Watch
The small hours of the morning, extending from 2 to 6 a.m. which comprise the last watch, are divided into four parts.
The first part is spent in pacing up and down (cankamana). This serves as a mild physical exercise to Him. During the second part, that is from 3 to 4 a.m. He mindfully sleeps on His right side. During the third part, that is from 4 to 5 a.m., He attains the state of Arahantship and experiences Nibbanic bliss. For one full hour from 5 to 6 a.m. He attains the Ecstasy of Great Compassion (Maha Karunasamapatti) and radiates thoughts of loving-kindness towards all beings and softens their hearts. At this early hour He surveys the whole world with His Buddha-Eye to see whether He could be of service to any. The virtuous and those that need His help appear vividly before Him though they may live at a remote distance. Out of compassion for them He goes of His own accord and renders necessary spiritual assistance.
The whole day He is fully occupied with His religious duties. Unlike any other living being He sleeps only for one hour at night. For two full hours in the morning and at dawn He pervades the whole world with thoughts of boundless love and brings happiness to millions. Leading a life of voluntary poverty, seeking His alms without inconveniencing any, wandering from place to place for eight months throughout the year preaching His sublime Dhamma, He tirelessly worked for the good and happiness of all till His eightieth year.
According to the Dharmapradipika the last watch is divided into these four parts.
According to the commentaries the last watch consists of three parts. During the third part the Buddha attains the Ecstasy of Great Compassion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Buddhacakkhu constitutes the knowledge of the one's inclinations (asaya) and the innate tendencies (asayanusaya nana) and the knowledge of the dullness and keenness of faculties such as confidence, mindfulness, concentration, energy and wisdom (indriyaparoparyat-tananan)
[2] Satapancasataka, v. 78.
[3] The Dispensation of the Buddha. -
Yes, although it is stated here that Buddha 'sleeps mindfully' 1 hour a day, you can also say that he resides in Samadhi. He does not sleep the way we sleep, he does not dream and have sentient thoughts during his sleep. His sleeping can also be said non-sleeping.
In Buddhism, sleeping is "Yan3 Shi2", eye's "food". Buddha does not recommend that we be deprived and lack of sleep, we do require some sleep to rest ourselves. However, if one practises well, or enters deep samadhi in meditation, a little while of meditation can be equal to several hours of sleep.
-
Originally posted by namelessness:
Yes, the result of 'yin1 wu2 shuo3 zhu4' is 'guan1 zi4 zai4'.
And the way to be 'wu2 zhu4' is 'zhao4' which is a synonym of 'guan1' and 'jyue2'.
So 'zi4 jyue2', which means 'self-awareness', is the method. Amtf,
i just recalled 6th Ch'an Master Hui Neng, over heard this phrase and got enlightened.
/\ -
... sleeping is not sleeping ... exactly ... when you said this, did you realised something has happened in your mind, should be a sharp transition??Originally posted by namelessness:Because sleeping is not sleeping, and he is the universe.
the first 'sleeping' is the PHYSICAL state (like lying on the bed ... of which you may be thinking in your head)
the second 'sleeping' should not be intrepreted as the same as the first 'sleeping' but actually the opposite of the first, not like awake and not being conscious, but the MENTAL state.
opposite not in terms of the usual way of opposites (like fat and thin), but states of mind!!! States of mind!
In a way, by you saying "seeping is not sleeping" you have generated your own KOAN to trigger a transition in your mind where the truth is caused to be 'released' ... you just need to 'catch' it ... although it's better that this happens without actually doing it this way.
I once helped someone 'see' the TRUTH which he later shared his experience with me. I saw that I can take advantage of a situation. I noticed that we are in a big crowd of people. I asked him to be aware of his mind, what it is thinking ... then I told him that his zip is down!!! He was so embarrased. I told him not to think of what's outside but what's his mind is thinking. The 'huge' transition that occured in his mind ... like a big KOAN, although in a different form, made him see the TRUTH. -
This picture of the 'sleeping Buddha' should not be taken as ART or a STATUE! It is a Zen KOAN! A physical representation of a Zen KOAN. Buddha is shown as 'sleeping' but his eyes are 'open'!!!
When you realised the TRUTH of the 'sleeping Buddha' statue, you will realise your mind doing a transition. That's when your realise what enlightenment is like, what TRUTH is like. After that, it becomes so clear that it (TRUTH) is everywhere. It has not eluded you or been hiding, it has been there all the time, before the beginning of time and will certainly be there after the end of time. -
Nope, the Buddha closes his eyes during his sleep.
Ok, time for me to sleep, I'm not a Buddha yet.