On Practice

Discussion of meditation in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.
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sraddha
Posts: 302
Joined: Sun May 24, 2009 11:54 pm

On Practice

Post by sraddha »

Learned Audience, those who recite the word 'Prajna' the whole day long do not seem to know that Prajna is inherent in their own nature.

But mere talking on food will not appease hunger, and this is exactly the case with these people.

We might talk on Sunyata (the Void, Emptiness) for myriads of kalpas, but talking alone will not enable us to realize the Essence of Mind, and it serves no purpose in the end.
Huineng, Platform Sutra.
sraddha
Posts: 302
Joined: Sun May 24, 2009 11:54 pm

Re: On Practice

Post by sraddha »

But all those explanations may be traced back to one principle.

To illumine our gloomy tabernacle, which is stained by defilement,

We should constantly set up the Light of Wisdom.

Erroneous views keep us in defilement

While right views remove us from it,

But when we are in a position to discard both of them

We are then absolutely pure.

Bodhi is immanent in our Essence of Mind,

An attempt to look for it elsewhere is erroneous.

Within our impure mind the pure one is to be found,

And once our mind is set right, we are free from the three kinds of beclouding (defilement, evil karma, and expiation in evil realms of existence).

If we are treading the Path of Enlightenment

We need not be worried by stumbling-blocks.

Provided we keep a constant eye on our own faults

We cannot go astray from the right path.

Since every species of life has its own way of salvation

They will not interfere with or be antagonistic to one another.

But if we leave our own path and seek some other way of salvation

We shall not find it,

And though we plod on till death overtakes us

We shall find only penitence in the end.

If you wish to find the true way

Right action will lead you to it directly;

But if you do not strive for Buddhahood

You will grope in the dark and never find it.

He who treads the Path in earnest

Sees not the mistakes of the world;

If we find fault with others

We ourselves are also in the wrong.

When other people are in the wrong, we should ignore it,

For it is wrong for us to find fault.

By getting rid of the habit of fault-finding

We cut off a source of defilement.

When neither hatred nor love disturb our mind

Serenely we sleep.

Those who intend to be the teachers of others

Should themselves be skilled in the various expedients which lead others to enlightenment.

When the disciple is free from all doubts

It indicates that his Essence of Mind has been found.

The Kingdom of Buddha is in this world,

Within which enlightenment is to be sought.

To seek enlightenment by separating from this world

Is as absurd as to search for a rabbit's horn.

Right views are called 'transcendental';

Erroneous views are called 'worldly'.

When all views, right or erroneous, are discarded

Then the essence of Bodhi appears.

This stanza is for the 'Sudden' School.

It is also called the 'Big Ship of Dharma' (for sailing across the ocean of existence).

Kalpa after Kalpa a man may be under delusion,

But once enlightened it takes him only a moment to attain Buddhahood.
From Platform Sutra :thumbsup:

Here's a mummified Huineng!!! AWESOME!!
http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddh ... urn false;

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joy&peace
Posts: 1115
Joined: Mon May 11, 2015 4:53 pm

Re: On Practice

Post by joy&peace »

I love Huineng and this was surpassingly beautiful.

Thank you for posting this sraddha :anjali:

May you always be well and safe :)

Happiness, good health, peace, and light to all beings :namaste:
Om Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate bodhi svaha
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