{"id":1276,"date":"2024-06-01T11:38:32","date_gmt":"2024-06-01T15:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/?p=1276"},"modified":"2024-06-01T11:38:32","modified_gmt":"2024-06-01T15:38:32","slug":"perfect-enlightenment-30-buddha-reveals-the-nature-of-phenomena-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/2024\/06\/01\/perfect-enlightenment-30-buddha-reveals-the-nature-of-phenomena-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Perfect Enlightenment 30: Buddha Reveals the Nature of Phenomena, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Show scripture (Chinese).<\/span>

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chinese:<\/h2>\n

\u300c\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff01\u672b\u4e16\u773e\u751f\u4e0d\u4e86\u56db\u76f8\uff0c\u96d6\u7d93\u591a\u52ab\u52e4\u82e6\u4fee\u9053\uff0c\u4f46\u540d\u6709\u70ba\uff0c\u7d42\u4e0d\u80fd\u6210\u4e00\u5207\u8056\u679c\uff0c\u662f\u6545\u540d\u70ba\u6b63\u6cd5\u672b\u4e16\u3002\u4f55\u4ee5\u6545\uff1f\u8a8d\u4e00\u5207\u6211\u70ba\u6d85\u69c3\u6545\uff0c\u6709\u8b49\u6709\u609f\u540d\u6210\u5c31\u6545\u3002\u8b6c\u5982\u6709\u4eba\u4ee5\u8cca\u70ba\u5b50\uff0c\u5176\u5bb6\u8ca1\u5bf6\u7d42\u4e0d\u6210\u5c31\u3002\u4f55\u4ee5\u6545\uff1f\u6709\u6211\u611b\u8005\u4ea6\u611b\u6d85\u69c3\uff0c\u4f0f\u6211\u611b\u6839\u70ba\u6d85\u69c3\u76f8\uff1b\u6709\u618e\u6211\u8005\u4ea6\u618e\u751f\u6b7b\uff0c\u4e0d\u77e5\u611b\u8005\u771f\u751f\u6b7b\u6545\uff0c\u5225\u618e\u751f\u6b7b\uff0c\u540d\u4e0d\u89e3\u812b\u3002<\/p>\n

\u300c\u4e91\u4f55\u7576\u77e5\u6cd5\u4e0d\u89e3\u812b\uff1f\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff01\u5f7c\u672b\u4e16\u773e\u751f\u7fd2\u83e9\u63d0\u8005\uff0c\u4ee5\u5df1\u5fae\u8b49\u70ba\u81ea\u6e05\u6de8\uff0c\u7336\u672a\u80fd\u76e1\u6211\u76f8\u6839\u672c\u3002\u82e5\u5fa9\u6709\u4eba\u8b9a\u6b4e\u5f7c\u6cd5\uff0c\u5373\u751f\u6b61\u559c\u4fbf\u6b32\u6fdf\u5ea6\uff1b\u82e5\u5fa9\u8ab9\u8b17\u5f7c\u6240\u5f97\u8005\u4fbf\u751f\u778b\u6068\u3002\u5247\u77e5\u6211\u76f8\u5805\u56fa\u57f7\u6301\uff0c\u6f5b\u4f0f\u85cf\u8b58\uff0c\u904a\u6232\u8af8\u6839\u66fe\u4e0d\u9593\u65b7\u3002\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff01\u5f7c\u4fee\u9053\u8005\u4e0d\u9664\u6211\u76f8\uff0c\u662f\u6545\u4e0d\u80fd\u5165\u6e05\u6de8\u89ba\u3002\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff01\u82e5\u77e5\u6211\u7a7a\uff0c\u7121\u6bc0\u6211\u8005\uff0c\u6709\u6211\u8aaa\u6cd5\uff0c\u6211\u672a\u65b7\u6545\uff0c\u773e\u751f\u3001\u58fd\u547d\u4ea6\u5fa9\u5982\u662f\u3002<\/p>\n

\u300c\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff01\u672b\u4e16\u773e\u751f\u8aaa\u75c5\u70ba\u6cd5\uff0c\u662f\u6545\u540d\u70ba\u53ef\u6190\u610d\u8005\uff1b\u96d6\u52e4\u7cbe\u9032\u589e\u76ca\u8af8\u75c5\uff0c\u662f\u6545\u4e0d\u80fd\u5165\u6e05\u6de8\u89ba\u3002\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff01\u672b\u4e16\u773e\u751f\u4e0d\u4e86\u56db\u76f8\uff0c\u4ee5\u5982\u4f86\u89e3\u53ca\u6240\u884c\u8655\u70ba\u81ea\u4fee\u884c\u7d42\u4e0d\u6210\u5c31\u3002\u6216\u6709\u773e\u751f\u672a\u5f97\u8b02\u5f97\u3001\u672a\u8b49\u8b02\u8b49\uff0c\u898b\u52dd\u9032\u8005\u5fc3\u751f\u5ac9\u59ac\uff1b\u7531\u5f7c\u773e\u751f\u672a\u65b7\u6211\u611b\uff0c\u662f\u6545\u4e0d\u80fd\u5165\u6e05\u6de8\u89ba\u3002\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff01\u672b\u4e16\u773e\u751f\u5e0c\u671b\u6210\u9053\u7121\u4ee4\u6c42\u609f\uff0c\u552f\u76ca\u591a\u805e\u589e\u9577\u6211\u898b\uff1b\u4f46\u7576\u7cbe\u52e4\u964d\u4f0f\u7169\u60f1\u8d77\u5927\u52c7\u731b\uff0c\u672a\u5f97\u4ee4\u5f97\u3001\u672a\u65b7\u4ee4\u65b7\uff0c\u8caa\u3001\u778b\u3001\u611b\u3001\u6162\u3001\u8ac2\u66f2\u3001\u5ac9\u59ac\u5c0d\u5883\u4e0d\u751f\uff0c\u5f7c\u6211\u6069\u611b\u4e00\u5207\u5bc2\u6ec5\uff0c\u4f5b\u8aaa\u662f\u4eba\u6f38\u6b21\u6210\u5c31\u3002\u6c42\u5584\u77e5\u8b58\u4e0d\u58ae\u90aa\u898b\uff0c\u82e5\u65bc\u6240\u6c42\u5225\u751f\u618e\u611b\uff0c\u5247\u4e0d\u80fd\u5165\u6e05\u6de8\u89ba\u6d77\u3002\u300d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Show scripture (English).<\/span>

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

English:<\/h2>\n

\u201cGood sons, sentient beings of the degenerate age do not perceive the Four Traces, and though they may struggle through many kalpas of difficult practice while cultivating the Dao, it is still only conditioned existence. They are ultimately incapable of consummating the fruits of sagehood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? Since they regard these traces of self to be nirvana, and they regard their witnessing and cognition to be consummation of enlightenment. It is like a man who mistakes a thief for his son. His family’s holdings will always come up short. Why? Because the lover of self also loves nirv\u0101\u1e47a, and takes the suppression of self as the characteristic of nirvana. The hater of self also hates sa\u1e43s\u0101ra. Not knowing that it is the attached love itself that is actually sa\u1e43s\u0101ra, he singles out sa\u1e43s\u0101ra for hatred, calling it non-liberation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can you know this dharma as non-liberation? Good sons, these sentient beings of the degenerate age who are practicing bodhi regard the ego\u2019s infinitesimal perception as their own purity, and are therefore unable to penetrate to the root of self-trace. If someone praises their [mistaken] dharma, then they will be overjoyed and immediately try to save him. But if someone criticizes their attainments, they will be filled with anger and resentment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHence, you can know that the trace of self is being firmly held to; it is concealed in the storehouse consciousness and is playing freely throughout the faculties without interruption.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood sons, if these aspirants do not remove the trace of self, they will be unable to enter pure enlightenment. Good sons, if the emptiness of self is known, there can be no eliminator-of-self. If, holding to self, you expound this dharma, it is because you have not yet eliminated self. It is the same with sentient being and lifespan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood sons, sentient beings of the degenerate age mistakenly understand these diseases to be the dharma. Therefore they are called the pitiable. Even though they struggle with great effort, they merely exacerbate their various diseases, and therefore are unable to enter pure enlightenment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood sons, sentient beings of the degenerate age do not discern the Four Traces, and erroneously taking the understanding and practice of the Tath\u0101gata to be their own practice, they ultimately do not accomplish enlightenment. Thus there are sentient beings who understand non-attainment to be attainment and regard non-actualization as actualization. When they see a genuine adept practitioner, they are filled with jealousy. It is exactly because these sentient beings do not sever their love of self that they are unable to enter pure enlightenment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood sons, sentient beings of the degenerate age hope for Buddhahood but do not exert themselves to achieve awakening; they merely extend their intellectual knowledge, further enhancing the view of self. What they should do is just endeavor to subdue the afflictions and arouse great courage: attain what they have not attained, sever what they have not severed. Not allowing the greed, anger, love, pride, flattery, perversion, jealousy and envy which are directed at the objective realm to arise, and extinguishing all love and attachment to self and other call these people gradually consummated. Finding a Genuine Teacher, you will not fall into mistaken views. Therefore it is called the true dharma in the degenerate age.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if you discriminate, and have a special feeling of desire or dislike regarding the [kind of teacher] you are seeking, you will be unable to enter the ocean of pure enlightenment.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Commentary:<\/h2>\n

After explaining the four traces, Buddha proceeded to explain that the four traces as the cause for sentient beings for not consummating the fruits of sagehood. Practicing the correct dharma and yet incapable of reaching fruition is the hallmark of the latter days of authentic dharma (\u201cdegenerate age\u201d in the text).<\/p>\n

Why the fruits of sagehood cannot be consummated? Because of the practitioner\u2019s perception of self in the four traces as the characteristics of nirv\u0101\u1e47a.<\/p>\n

More on the perception of self.<\/span>

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

With the self, there is the lover of self that also loves nirv\u0101\u1e47a. The attached love is taken as the characteristics of nirv\u0101\u1e47a.<\/p>\n

With the self, there is the hater of self that also hates sa\u1e43s\u0101ra. Being attached to sa\u1e43s\u0101ra as reality is therefore called non-liberation.<\/p>\n

The self in each of the four traces has the attachment for love for nirv\u0101\u1e47a and hate for sa\u1e43s\u0101ra. This is the non-liberation despite the practice. According to Buddha, sentient beings in the degenerate age who yearn for sagehood in one\u2019s practice, have a tendency to take one\u2019s infinitesimal realization as their own purity, as the purity of one\u2019s body and mind, as the purity of self. Because the realization is cognized as a self, all karmic wisdom is guarded like one\u2019s life, clearly the trace of self is not yet extinct.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

How can one be aware of the trace of self has not fundamentally been extinct? Buddha said, \u201cIf someone praises their [mistaken] dharma, then they will be overjoyed and immediately try to save him. But if someone criticizes their attainments, they will be filled with anger and resentment.\u201d One can then see that \u201cthe trace of self is being firmly held to.\u201d This grasping is concealed in \u0101layavij\u00f1\u0101na (storehouse consciousness) without interruption. This is the attachment to dharma.<\/p>\n

With attachment, various sicknesses arise.<\/p>\n

More on the illness from attachment.<\/span>

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

First, not able to remove the trace of self, one becomes calculating of praises and criticisms, such that all four traces are present, taking the \u201cself\u201d as the teaching: claiming that one\u2019s realization as the trace of self, claiming that one\u2019s understanding as the trace of person, claiming one\u2019s insight as the trace of sentient beings, claiming one\u2019s enlightenment as the trace of longevity. This way, the practitioner is hard at work with the four traces, essentially compounding on one\u2019s sickness. They may believe that they are practicing according to the understanding of tath\u0101gata\u2019s teaching, and conduct themselves according to tath\u0101gata\u2019s conduct, but because they have become trapped by the four traces, their practice amounts to surface imitation, such that fruition is never within reach.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, because of attachment, it is easy to become conceited, where a non-attainment is claimed to be an attainment; a non-realization is claimed to be a realization. Along with the pride, jealousy and envy arise as well. Naturally one cannot enter pure enlightenment.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

With these sicknesses, what is the antidote?<\/p>\n

Buddhahood as the antidote.<\/span>

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Buddha said, \u201c[S]entient beings of the degenerate age hope for Buddhahood but do not exert themselves to achieve awakening; they merely extend their intellectual knowledge, further enhancing the view of self. What they should do is just endeavor to subdue the afflictions and arouse great courage: attain what they have not attained, sever what they have not severed. Not allowing the greed, anger, love, pride, flattery, perversion, jealousy and envy which are directed at the objective realm to arise, and extinguishing all love and attachment to self and other call these people gradually consummated.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

On finding a genuine teacher.<\/span>

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As well, finding a genuine teacher, so that one can distinguish between true dharma and mistaken views. \u201cBut if you discriminate, and have a special feeling of desire or dislike regarding the [kind of teacher] you are seeking, you will be unable to enter the ocean of pure enlightenment.\u201d A genuine respect to the genuine teacher is also a genuine respect to the true, authentic view and dharma.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

By discussing the four traces, Buddha has thoroughly explained attachments to the ego self and the dharma self. The two attachments are common sickness among sentient beings in the degenerate age. May the readers follow Buddha\u2019s teaching of the four reliances to read this scripture with fairness, eliminating what one believes to be my knowledge, my view, my realization, my understanding, my insight, my enlightenment. Conduct oneself thusly, one naturally enters the four reliances, to rely on the authentic dharma and not the person, rely on the authentic meaning and not the words, rely on wisdom and not consciousness, rely on the definitive meaning and not the non-definitive meaning.<\/p>\n

The concluding verse for the section (Chinese).<\/span>

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chinese:<\/h2>\n

\u723e\u6642\uff0c\u4e16\u5c0a\u6b32\u91cd\u5ba3\u6b64\u7fa9\u800c\u8aaa\u5048\u8a00\uff1a<\/p>\n

\u6de8\u696d\u6c5d\u7576\u77e5\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u4e00\u5207\u8af8\u773e\u751f\uff0c
\n\u7686\u7531\u57f7\u6211\u611b\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u7121\u59cb\u5984\u6d41\u8f49\uff0c
\n\u672a\u9664\u56db\u7a2e\u76f8\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u4e0d\u5f97\u6210\u83e9\u63d0\u3002
\n\u611b\u618e\u751f\u65bc\u5fc3\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u8ac2\u66f2\u5b58\u8af8\u5ff5\uff0c
\n\u662f\u6545\u591a\u8ff7\u60b6\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u4e0d\u80fd\u5165\u89ba\u57ce\u3002
\n\u82e5\u80fd\u6b78\u609f\u524e\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u5148\u53bb\u8caa\u778b\u7661\uff0c
\n\u6cd5\u611b\u4e0d\u5b58\u5fc3\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u6f38\u6b21\u53ef\u6210\u5c31\u3002
\n\u6211\u8eab\u672c\u4e0d\u6709\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u618e\u611b\u4f55\u7531\u751f\uff1f
\n\u6b64\u4eba\u6c42\u5584\u53cb\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u7d42\u4e0d\u58ae\u90aa\u898b\u3002
\n\u6240\u6c42\u5225\u751f\u5fc3\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u7a76\u7adf\u975e\u6210\u5c31\u3002<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The concluding verse for the section (English).<\/span>

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

English:<\/h2>\n

Then the World Honoured One, desiring to reiterate the gist of this, spoke a verse. He said:<\/p>\n

Purifier of Karma, you should know
\nThat because of attachment to and love of self
\nAll sentient beings
\nDeludedly transmigrate without beginning.
\nNot removing four kinds of traces
\nThey cannot accomplish bodhi.
\nLove and hatred arise in the mind
\nAnd flattery and perversion remain in all thoughts
\nThere is much delusion and grief;
\nYou are unable to enter the citadel of enlightenment.
\nIf you wish to be able to return to the enlightened realm,
\nFirst leave all desire, hatred and ignorance.
\nWhen the dharma of love does not remain in the mind
\nYou can gradually Perfect Enlightenment.
\nThe self originally does not exist:
\nHow can love and hatred arise?
\nIf this person seeks a Genuine Teacher
\nHe will never fall into evil views.
\nBut if \u201csomething separate to be sought\u201d arises in his mind
\nThere will ultimately be no consummation of enlightenment.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Commentary:<\/h2>\n

The verse says the \u201cself\u201d in the four traces should be eliminated. According to the scripture, attachments to self is not an ailment specific to ordinary people. Theravada practitioners of \u015ar\u0101vaka and Pratyekabuddha, as well as Mah\u0101y\u0101na bodhisattva practitioners, they may also become trapped by the self. Despite practicing the authentic teaching, the moment one becomes trapped by the self, the authentic dharma becomes distorted (\u00e0 la \u201cdegenerate age\u201d or \u6b63\u6cd5\u672b\u4e16). This is a common mistake nowadays.<\/p>\n

Before the four traces are eliminated, it is naturally the case where \u201cLove and hatred arise in the mind \/ And flattery and perversion remain in all thoughts.\u201d Many proclaim to be practitioners with a thorough understanding of the dharma. Nowadays, many take pride in reiterating their own sectarian views. This pride is naturally a self in the four traces. This verse is in essence a serious warning to us.<\/p>\n

To seek the dharma with the self can ultimately no consummation of enlightenment. Leave all desire and hatred is when the seeking beneficial.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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