Shurangama Sutra (The most important sutra in Buddhism)
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Shurangama Sutra (The most important sutra in Buddhism). It covers almost everything Lord Buddha teaches. A Sutra that answer to so many why why why. The following link provides complete version of the Sutra as what Lord Buddha has spoken + commentary by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua that assist us to understand the Sutra without much difficulty. http://www.cttbusa.org/shurangama1/shurangama_contents.asp www.cttbusa.org/shurangama1/shurangama_contents.asp By Venerable Master Hsuan Hua: Within Buddhism, there are very many important sutras. However, the most important Sutra is the Shurangama Sutra. If there are places which have the Shurangama Sutra, then the Proper Dharma dwells in the world. If there is no Shurangama Sutra, then the Dharma Ending Age appears. Therefore, we Buddhist disciples, each and every one, must bring our strength, must bring our blood, and must bring our sweat to protect the Shurangama Sutra. In the Sutra of the Ultimate Extinction of the Dharma, it says very, very clearly that in the Dharma Ending Age, the Shurangama Sutra is the first to disappear, and the rest of the sutras disappear after it. If the Shurangama Sutra does not disappear, then the Proper Dharma Age is present. Because of that, we Buddhist disciples must use our lives to protect the Shurangama Sutra, must use vows and resolution to protect the Shurangama Sutra, and cause the Shurangama Sutra to be known far and wide, reaching every nook and cranny, reaching into each and every dust-mote, reaching out to the exhaustion of empty space and of the Dharma Realm. If we can do that, then there will be a time of Proper Dharma radiating great light. Why would the Shurangama Sutra be destroyed? It is because it is too true. The Shurangama Sutra is the Buddha’s true body. The Shurangama Sutra is the Buddha’s sharira. The Shurangama Sutra is the Buddha’s true and actual stupa and shrine. Therefore, because the Shurangama Sutra is so true, all the demon kings use all kinds of methods to destroy the Shurangama Sutra. They begin by starting rumors, saying that the Shurangama Sutra is phony. Why do they say the Shurangama Sutra is phony? It is because the Shurangama Sutra speaks too truly, especially in the sections on The Four Decisive Deeds, the Twenty-five Sages Describing Perfect Penetration, and the States of the Fifty Skandha Demons. Those of off-center persuasions and externally-oriented ways, weird demons and strange freaks, are unable to stand it. Consequently there are a good many senseless people who claim that the Shurangama Sutra is a forgery. Now, the principles set forth in the Shurangama Sutra are on the one hand proper, and on the other in accord with principle, and the weird demons and strange freaks, those in various cults and sects, all cannot hide away their forms. Most senseless people, in particular unwise scholars and garbage-collecting professors “Tread upon the holy writ.� With their extremely scant and partial understanding, they are confused and unclear, lacking real erudition and true and actual wisdom. That is why they falsely criticize. We who study the Buddhadharma should very deeply be aware of these circumstances. Therefore, wherever we go, we should bring up the Shurangama Sutra. Wherever we go, we should propagate the Shurangama Sutra. Wherever we go, we should introduce the Shurangama Sutra to people. Why is that? It is because we wish to cause the Proper Dharma long to dwell in the world. If the Shurangama Sutra is regarded as true, then there is no problem. To verify its truth, let me say that if the Shurangama Sutra were phony, then I would willingly fall into the hells forever through all eternity - for being unable to recognize the Buddhadharma - for mistaking the false for true. If the Shurangama Sutra is true, then life after life in every time I make the vow to propagate the Great Dharma of the Shurangama, that I shall in every time and every place propagate the true principles of the Shurangama. Everyone should pay attention to the following point. How could the Shurangama Sutra not have been spoken by the Buddha? No one else could have spoken the Shurangama Sutra. And so I hope that all those people who make senseless accusations will wake up fast and stop creating the causes for suffering in the Hell of Pulling Out Tongues. No matter who the scholar is, no matter what country students of the Buddhadharma are from, all should quickly mend their ways, admit their mistakes, and manage to change. There is no greater good than that. I can then say that all who look at the Shurangama Sutra, all who listen to the Shurangama Sutra, and all who investigate the Shurangama Sutra, will very quickly accomplish Buddhahood. Composed by Gold Mountain Shramana Tripitaka Master Hua The Shurangama Sutra Contents: Exhortation to Protect and Propagate VOLUME 1: Chapter 1. The Ten Doors of Discrimination The Division and The Vehicle Chapter 2. The History of the Transmission and Translation Chapter 3. The Testimony of Faith Chapter 4. Ananda’s Fall Chapter 5. The Way to Shamatha The False Consciousness is Not the Mind The False Consciousness is Without a Substance Chapter 6. Ananda Repents and Seeks the Truth VOLUME 2: Chapter 1. The Seeing Nature Seeing Does Not Become Extinct Seeing is Not Lost Seeing Does Not Return Seeing Does Not Intermingle Seeing is Not Obstructed Seeing is Not Separate Manjushri Bodhisattva asks a Question Seeing Transcends the Ordinary Seeing is Apart from Seeing Chapter 2. The Two False Views Chapter 3. Mixing and Uniting VOLUME 3: Chapter 1. False is Just True Chapter 2. The Five Skandhas Chapter 3. The Six Entrances Chapter 4. The Twelve Places Chapter 5. The Eighteen Realms Chapter 6. The Seven Elements Are All-Pervasive Chapter 7. Ananda Gives Rise to Faith VOLUME 4: Chapter 1. The Reason for Continual Arisal Chapter 2. The Reason for Perfect Penetration Chapter 3. Ananda Attaches to Causes and Conditions Chapter 4. The Two Decisive Doctrines Liberation of the Organs Chapter 5. Hearing is Not Sound Chapter 6. The Source of the Knot VOLUME 5: Chapter 1. The Six Knots Chapter 2. Twenty-five Means to Enlightenment Five Organs Universal Worthy Bodhisattva Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva Chapter 3. Manjushri Selects the Organ of Entry VOLUME 6: Chapter 1. The Three Non-Outflow Studies Unalterable Instruction on Purity One Must Cut Off Lust One Must Cut Off Killing One Must Cut Off Stealing One Must Cut Off False Speech Chapter 2. Establishing the Bodhimanda Chapter 3. The Spiritual Mantra The Shurangama Mantra Chapter 4. The Two Upside-down Causes Chapter 5. The Twelve Categories of Living Beings VOLUME 7: Chapter 1. The Three Gradual Stages Chapter 2. The Bodhisattva Stages The Ten Faiths The Ten Dwellings The Ten Conducts The Ten Transferences The Four Positions of Additional Practices The Ten Positions of the Ten Grounds The Position of Equal and Wonderful Enlightenment Chapter 3. The Names of the Sutra Chapter 4. The Seven Destinies Destiny of Hells Destiny of Ghosts Destiny of Animals Destiny of People Destiny of Immortals VOLUME 8: Chapter 1. The Origin of Demonic States Chapter 2. The Form Skandha Chapter 3. The Feeling Skandha Chapter 4. The Thinking Skandha Chapter 5. The Formations Skandha Chapter 6. The Consciousness Skandha Chapter 7. The Concluding Instructions Chapter 8. The The Arising and Cessation of the Five skandhas Chapter 9. Exhortation to Propagate the Sutra http://www.cttbusa.org/shurangama1/shurangama_contents.asp
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Exactly! Excellence sharing! This is the sutra that large portions in it reveals Beings' Wisdom that eradicated all externalism and heretics beliefs. It is also the first sutra to gradually and completely dies off in the dharma ending era. The Shurangama sutra meets the requirement of intellectual, scientist, rulers, ministers among others. The greatest non fiction reading pleasure as well, that can prevent and ward off mental illness like dementia etc from just constantly reading it again and again. Great sharing -
Thank you Yixian662 for your kind posting. I've owned two books of the Shurangama Sutra at different times of my life. Somehow full reading and further understanding eludes me!
Would any forum poster would further like to offer commentaries or elucidation of the subject in hand?
Your kind input or insights will be deeply appreciated!
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The sutra is pristinely to identify the ultimate noble cause before one could pragmatically recovered from the effect of bodhicitta. Without understanding the truth is liken to cooking sands believing that it could become rice, but would eventually turned out to become hot sands only. Is a much elaborated version of the Diamond Sutra, Heart Sutra and also the highest abode of pureland Amitabha buddha :)
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Hi Dharma bro / Sis, Lord Buddha has warned us since 2500yrs ago, during our present period (dharma ending period), it is common to see fake teaching / demonic teaching. He further emphasized that it is important to follow the teaching of Sutra. Any dharma teacher who teach outside of Sutra will likely spreading demonic or trying to destroy the true teaching of Buddhism. The Shurangama Sutra and Mantra will be the first to disappear during current dharma ending period. Any good person who wish to cultivate the true teaching should constantly refer to Sutra especially Shurangama Sutra and recite the Shurangama Mantra in heart. The heart mantra as follow : "She Tan Toh, Poh Dah lar" Any person who constantly recite this short mantra will not easily confuse by demonic teaching and will be able to hear / see / practice true dharma peacefully. Any good person who spread, read or chant Shurangama Sutra and Mantra will have unlimited merits. - The merits of Shurangama Sutra / Mantra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhYpoUlyRVw - Full Mantra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBi7m3jFxbY - Short Mantra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2PeFyt6gGk End---
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There should be a point where within the context of reading or learning the sutra when one "realises". I am looking for that authentication.
Anyway, Shurangama Sutra is not written 2500yrs ago, see:- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Śūraṅgama_Sūtra
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According to wiki, some researchers think it is a counterfeit Sutra written in China.
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The purpose of researchers is to do research using mind and existences, most probably related to earth only, and inherent wisdom stated in this sutra is beyond their thinking mind. No matter how they perform their research, they will never achieve the truth being revealed in the sutra inherently theirs. Thus they will assess for sake that it is counterfeit, to prove their worth. Master Zhizhe, reincarnation of Buddha Shakyamuni in utmost sincerity prayed 18 years solely for this Sutra to be brought to China. In ancient times, it was a great offence to bring sutra out of India without permission, sutra were regarded as treasure in India.
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I think for this, there is no Indian equivalent unlike Diamond n heart Sutra.
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One of very essential elaboration in the Shurangma Sutra are fifty categories of heart demons appearing in different forms and formats during extremely deep meditation. Kindly note that it is not fifty demons but fifty categories of demons. Which means there are plenty in one category. So, this elaboration is to let those who aspired for buddha nature to understand it in order to maintain consistency during the process of tranquility bliss training session prior to buddhahood achievement :)
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I can't help but think that the saying of categories of demon is very Chinese. I have read the English translation of this Sutra by charles luk. The ten categories of seer (ä»™) in it seems very Chinese as well.
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Demons mentioned in Shurangama sutra did not imply scary beings or matter appearing. It developed from the mindfulness that have not been completely purified and only surfaced in profoundly deep meditation. Breakthrough ain't easy. Extremely subtle, might be an awesome state or even Buddha appearing or holy lights. Thus, in Shurangama Sutra, it emphasised a simpler and safer method, the Mahastamaprapta’s Method for Enlightenment
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The term demon is probably equivalent to Mara. Such labelling can make a meditator imagine a lot.
In Theravada, meditation will be just not to cling and the balancing of the enlightenment factors and turn the concentration attention towards the unconditioned.
I also find the part in this Sutra on sequential releasing of individual aggregates hard to understand.
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Indeed another term for demon is mara. Mara is also related to aggregates. There is no academic study, science or research, without first going into sequential releasing for developing in depth understanding or PHD in a specific field of study, needless to mention beyond academic. In a Theravada approach to visit Shurangama sutra, it becomes Theravada. And when Buddha started to discussion in the Lotus sutra, all Theravada disciples withdrawn themselves as they find it difficult to accept. Shurangama Sutra is discovering an infinite equal self of all. It is marvellously indescribable, and a finite approach is liken to researcher that will never bear fruit of infinity. Constant calm pleasant mind reading over and over again is delightful due to its infinity, and simultaneous upgrading from within. Unlike all worldly books, Shurangama sutra is free of a specific yet all encompassing. And through the tutorial found in this sutra that providing finest details from mote of dust to aggregates and the entire cosmos, it leads reader to rediscover gradually or spontaneously, its wealth of wisdom that no worldly and religious books could measure up.
Shurangama sutra is from the inherent truth of all buddha and beings. May all continue to enjoy and delight together the beauty of dharma
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For general and specific on aggregates, this is a recommended book for easier understanding : Vasubandhu's One Hundred Dharmas Treatise ( 大乘百法明門論)
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Shurangama sutra as it is written seems like an advance meditation manual. One need to have extensive meditation experience I.e. jhanas to practice it?
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Originally posted by libido:
Shurangama sutra as it is written seems like an advance meditation manual. One need to have extensive meditation experience I.e. jhanas to practice it?
Not necessary
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Originally posted by Jayden99:
Not necessary
The Mahastamaprapta Enlightenment method requires a very high degree of Samadhi meditation ability especially when one start talking of past life regression. This power is only achievable when one had reached the 4th Jhana meditative stage.
As for the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattvas’ Enlightenment Method, one would have also realized the emptiness of all emptiness.
In the Bahiya Sutta, Bahiya of the Bark-cloth become enlightenment to the Buddha Non self teaching only when the Blessed said to him… ‘BÄ�hiya, you should train yourself thus: In reference to the seen, there will be only the seen. In reference to the heard, only the heard. In reference to the sensed, only the sensed. In reference to the cognized, only the cognized. That is how you should train yourself. When for you there will be only the seen in reference to the seen, only the heard in reference to the heard, only the sensed in reference to the sensed, only the cognized in reference to the cognized, then, BÄ�hiya, there is no you in connection with that. When there is no you in connection with that, there is no you there. When there is no you there, you are neither here nor yonder nor between the two. This, just this, is the end of stress.’
Both of the above methods requires considerable amount of meditation to achieve. How did you arrive at the conclusion that one does not need extensive meditation experience for both methods?
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Mahastamaprapta Bodhisattvas’ Sutra did not state to achieve enlightenment for the method, you need to be in 4th jhana first
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Originally posted by Jayden99:
Mahastamaprapta Bodhisattvas’ Sutra did not state to achieve enlightenment for the method, you need to be in 4th jhana first
4th stage jhana stated is about concentration required if one is looking at recalling pass lives. Nothing to do directly with achieving enlightenment. It is a preliminary basic for any form of meditation.
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Great Power Arrived, the Dharma Prince, with his similar peers of 52 Bodhisattvas, immediately rose from their seats, prostrated at the Buddha’s feet, and said to the Buddha, ‘I recollect, in past kalpas ago, as numerous as the Ganges River’s sands, there was a Buddha who arose in the world, named “Immeasurable Light”. Twelve TathÄ�gatas arose in succession for one kalpa, and its last Buddha was named “Surpassing Sun And Moon Light”. That Buddha taught me the SamÄ�dhi from Mindfulness of Buddha.
For example, there are persons, of one focused on recollecting, and one person focused on forgetting. Such two persons, if they come across each other, it is as if they do not come across each other, or if they see each other, it is as if they do not see each other. If these two persons mutually recollect each other, with the duo’s mindful recollection being deep, thus, even from life to life, similar to form and shadow, they will not depart from each other. The ten directions’ TathÄ�gatas are sympathetically mindful of sentient beings, like a mother recollecting her child. If the child runs away, although there is recollection, what is the use? If the child recollects the mother, like when the mother recollects the child, the mother and child, in life after life, will not be far away from each other. If sentient beings’ minds recollect the Buddha [AmitÄ�bha], and are mindful of the Buddha, now or in the future, they will definitely see the Buddha. With the Buddha not far away, without use of expedient means, they will, by themselves, attain awakening of their minds.
Like a person perfumed by incense, whose body has fragrance, this is thus named “Adornment With Fragrance And Light”. I, when on the fundamental causal ground, with my mind being mindful of the Buddha, entered the Patience of Non-Birth. Now in this world, I gather those mindful of the Buddha, for return to his Pure Land. The Buddha asked about Perfect Penetration, and I have no other choice, than to gather in the six roots, with pure mindfulness of the Buddha in continuous succession, to attain SamÄ�dhi, as this is the foremost method.’ (The Great Buddha Crown’s Śūraá¹…gama SÅ«tra’s Section On MahÄ�sthÄ�maprÄ�pta Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration With Mindfulness Of Buddha – Translated from Chinese into English in 2556 B.E. by UpÄ�saka Shen Shi’an from Singapore)
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Just curious, this Sutra is captured in the form of conversations of the Buddha with Ananda. If Ananda is the one that reproduced this account, wouldn't it be collected in one of the four nikayas? Ananda is considered an Arahant in early Buddhism, in this account is his attainment considered different? The content's level seems highly advance as it culminated with detailed analysis of means to release each aggregates one by one and symptoms that will appear to judge the entire progress. Such details do not appear in early Buddhism materials. Usually this type of presentation should be later writings that appeared later than heart sutra in my opinion.
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If you would to read it, shurangama sutra has answer to your curiosity especially on buddha leading Ananda from his arahat attainment into full enlightenment. Not all buddhism materials were brought to China then, which means the volumn collected are not fully, but enough to achieve enlightenment. And in China, there were quite a number of materials lost or destroyed during many periods of destroying buddhism.
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According to Earthstore Bodhisattva sutra, it is stated using mahastamprapta bodhisattva method. Earthstore bodhisattva taken buddha advice to use this method as well, and he achieved it in one day, just mindful of buddha amitabha name
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首楞嚴三昧經. Surangama Samathi Sutra. This sutra got Indian equivalent. Translated in about 400ce.