This discussion will be a parallel which the one hand will be on the sequence of the Platform Sutra and another runs from some of the visits by bhikkhu and bhikshuni to 6th Patriach
The purpose of this discussion is hope all here will "see" ones Buddha nature and extinguished 84,000 Kalpa of Karmic Offense and "light " up ones lamp of wisdom within
Repentance Chapter 6
Transmission of the Formless Repentance
I have a 'Formless' stanza, the reciting and practicing of which will at once dispel the delusions and expiate the sins accumulated in numerous Kalpas. This is the stanza:--
People under delusion accumulate tainted merits but do not tread the Path.
They are under the impression that to accumulate merits and to tread the Path are one and the same thing.
Though their merits for alms-giving and offerings are infinite,
(They do not realize that) the ultimate source of sin lies in the three poisonous elements (i.e., greed, anger and illusion) within their own mind.
They expect to expiate their sins by accumulating merit
Without knowing that felicities obtained in future lives have nothing to do with the expiation of sins.
Why not get rid of the sin within our own mind,
For this is true repentance (within our Essence of Mind)?
(A sinner) who realizes suddenly what constitutes true repentance according to the Mahayana School,
And who ceases from doing evil and practices righteousness is free from sin.
A treader of the Path who keeps a constant watch on his Essence of Mind
May be classified in the same group as the various Buddhas.
Our Patriarchs transmitted no other system of Law but this 'Sudden' one.
May all followers of it see face to face their Essence of Mind and be at once with the Buddhas.
If you are going to look for Dharmakaya
See it above Dharmalaksana (phenomena), and then your Mind will be pure.
Exert yourself in order to see face to face the Essence of Mind and relax not,
For death may come suddenly and put an abrupt end to your earthly existence.
Those who understand the Mahayana teaching and are thus able to realize the Essence of Mind
Should reverently put their palms together (as a sign of respect) and fervently seek for the Dharmakaya.
The Patriarch then added:--
http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/huineng/huineng6.htmlthe formless repentance stanza belongs to the repentance of matter ,which one should view the true nature of karmic offense as void and empty
As Formless Repentance is itself formless ,so what is the mention of repentance ?
Since the 3fold of karmic offense(body,speech and mind) can be extinguished and 3fold of karmic offenses can be purified ,so what is the mention of formless .
practitioner should sincerely cleanse ones karmic offense ,and no longer polluted by the various karmic offense .
One should also not deluded by circumstance/encounters .Which is both devoid of its real nature.
Repentance which mainly is to "extinguish" the past, present and future which made up of the 3 periods of karmic offense ,which is the purpose to attain the purification of Body ,speech and mind
Thus is the purpose of repentance
As Virlmakirti Sutra mentions which is the true nature of karmic offense is not inner , not outer and not in-between .....
Translated from Commentary by venerable Master yanpei
(to be continued)