{"id":921,"date":"2022-10-04T09:42:01","date_gmt":"2022-10-04T13:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/?p=921"},"modified":"2022-11-07T19:18:03","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T00:18:03","slug":"perfect-enlightenment-7-the-world-honoured-one-speaks-of-the-perfect-awareness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/2022\/10\/04\/perfect-enlightenment-7-the-world-honoured-one-speaks-of-the-perfect-awareness\/","title":{"rendered":"Perfect Enlightenment 7: Buddha Answers Ma\u00f1ju\u015br\u012b, On the Perfect Awareness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Show scripture (Chinese).<\/span>

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Chinese:<\/h2>\n

\u723e\u6642\uff0c\u4e16\u5c0a\u544a\u6587\u6b8a\u5e2b\u5229\u83e9\u85a9\u8a00\uff1a\u300c\u5584\u54c9\uff0c\u5584\u54c9\uff0c\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff0c\u6c5d\u7b49\u4e43\u80fd\u70ba\u8af8\u83e9\u85a9\u8aee\u8a62\u5982\u4f86\u56e0\u5730\u6cd5\u884c\uff0c\u53ca\u70ba\u672b\u4e16\u4e00\u5207\u773e\u751f\u6c42\u5927\u4e58\u8005\uff0c\u5f97\u6b63\u4f4f\u6301\u4e0d\u58ae\u90aa\u898b\u3002\u6c5d\u4eca\u8ae6\u807d\uff0c\u7576\u70ba\u6c5d\u8aaa\u3002\u300d\u6642\uff0c\u6587\u6b8a\u5e2b\u5229\u83e9\u85a9\u5949\u6559\u6b61\u559c\uff0c\u53ca\u8af8\u5927\u773e\u9ed8\u7136\u800c\u807d\u3002<\/p>\n

\u300c\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff0c\u7121\u4e0a\u6cd5\u738b\u6709\u5927\u9640\u7f85\u5c3c\u9580\uff0c\u540d\u70ba\u5713\u89ba\uff0c\u6d41\u51fa\u4e00\u5207\u6e05\u6de8\u771f\u5982\u3001\u83e9\u63d0\u6d85\u69c3\u3001\u53ca\u6ce2\u7f85\u871c\uff0c\u6559\u6388\u83e9\u85a9\u3002\u4e00\u5207\u5982\u4f86\u672c\u8d77\u56e0\u5730\uff0c\u7686\u4f9d\u5713\u7167\u6e05\u6de8\u89ba\u76f8\uff0c\u6c38\u65b7\u7121\u660e\u65b9\u6210\u4f5b\u9053\u3002\u4e91\u4f55\u7121\u660e\uff1f\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff0c\u4e00\u5207\u773e\u751f\u5f9e\u7121\u59cb\u4f86\u7a2e\u7a2e\u985b\u5012\uff0c\u7336\u5982\u8ff7\u4eba\u56db\u65b9\u6613\u8655\uff0c\u5984\u8a8d\u56db\u5927\u70ba\u81ea\u8eab\u76f8\uff0c\u516d\u5875\u7de3\u5f71\u70ba\u81ea\u5fc3\u76f8\uff1b\u8b6c\u5f7c\u75c5\u76ee\u898b\u7a7a\u4e2d\u82b1\u53ca\u7b2c\u4e8c\u6708\u3002\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff0c\u7a7a\u5be6\u7121\u82b1\uff0c\u75c5\u8005\u5984\u57f7\u3002\u7531\u5984\u57f7\u6545\uff0c\u975e\u552f\u60d1\u6b64\u865b\u7a7a\u81ea\u6027\uff0c\u4ea6\u5fa9\u8ff7\u5f7c\u5be6\u82b1\u751f\u8655\uff0c\u7531\u6b64\u5984\u6709\u8f2a\u8f49\u751f\u6b7b\uff0c\u6545\u540d\u7121\u660e\u3002\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff0c\u6b64\u7121\u660e\u8005\u975e\u5be6\u6709\u9ad4\uff0c\u5982\u5922\u4e2d\u4eba\u5922\u6642\u975e\u7121\uff0c\u53ca\u81f3\u65bc\u9192\u4e86\u7121\u6240\u5f97\uff1b\u5982\u773e\u7a7a\u82b1\u6ec5\u65bc\u865b\u7a7a\uff0c\u4e0d\u53ef\u8aaa\u8a00\u6709\u5b9a\u6ec5\u8655\uff0c\u4f55\u4ee5\u6545\uff1f\u7121\u751f\u8655\u6545\u3002\u4e00\u5207\u773e\u751f\u65bc\u7121\u751f\u4e2d\uff0c\u5984\u898b\u751f\u6ec5\uff0c\u662f\u6545\u8aaa\u540d\u8f2a\u8f49\u751f\u6b7b\u3002\u5584\u7537\u5b50\uff0c\u5982\u4f86\u56e0\u5730\u4fee\u5713\u89ba\u8005\uff0c\u77e5\u662f\u7a7a\u82b1\uff0c\u5373\u7121\u8f2a\u8f49\uff0c\u4ea6\u7121\u8eab\u5fc3\u53d7\u5f7c\u751f\u6b7b\uff0c\u975e\u4f5c\u6545\u7121\uff0c\u672c\u6027\u7121\u6545\u3002\u5f7c\u77e5\u89ba\u8005\u7336\u5982\u865b\u7a7a\uff0c\u77e5\u865b\u7a7a\u8005\u5373\u7a7a\u82b1\u76f8\uff0c\u4ea6\u4e0d\u53ef\u8aaa\u7121\u77e5\u89ba\u6027\u3002\u6709\u7121\u4ff1\u9063\uff0c\u662f\u5247\u540d\u70ba\u6de8\u89ba\u96a8\u9806\u3002\u4f55\u4ee5\u6545\uff1f\u865b\u7a7a\u6027\u6545\uff0c\u5e38\u4e0d\u52d5\u6545\uff0c\u5982\u4f86\u85cf\u4e2d\u7121\u8d77\u6ec5\u6545\uff0c\u7121\u77e5\u898b\u6545\uff0c\u5982\u6cd5\u754c\u6027\u7a76\u7adf\u5713\u6eff\u904d\u5341\u65b9\u6545\uff1b\u662f\u5247\u540d\u70ba\u56e0\u5730\u6cd5\u884c\u3002\u83e9\u85a9\u56e0\u6b64\u65bc\u5927\u4e58\u4e2d\u767c\u6e05\u6de8\u5fc3\uff0c\u672b\u4e16\u773e\u751f\u4f9d\u6b64\u4fee\u884c\u4e0d\u58ae\u90aa\u898b\u3002\u300d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Show scripture (English).<\/span>

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

English:<\/h2>\n

Then the World Honoured One, speaking to Ma\u00f1ju\u015br\u012b Bodhisattva said: \u201cExcellent! Excellent! Good Son, you have skillfully asked on behalf of the bodhisattvas about the dharma practice of the causal ground of the Tath\u0101gata, and on behalf of all sentient beings of the degenerate age who seek the great vehicle to gain correct abiding such that they do not fall into erroneous views. Now listen well, and I shall explain for you.\u201d Ma\u00f1ju\u015br\u012b Bodhisattva received the teaching with reverence and joy; all those in the great assembly became silent and listened.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood sons, the unsurpassed King of the dharma possesses the great dh\u0101ra\u1e47\u012b-entrance. It is called Perfect Enlightenment. From it is manifested all purity, suchness, bodhi, nirv\u0101\u1e47a and the paramitas that teach bodhisattvas. All tath\u0101gatas in their primordially arisen causal ground rely on the perfect illumination of the appearance of pure awareness to permanently sever ignorance and directly accomplish Buddhahood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is ignorance? Good sons, all sentient beings fall into various delusions since the beginningless time. Just like a disoriented person who confuses the four directions, they mistakenly take the Four Elements as the attributes of their bodies and the perceived shadows of the Six Objects as the attributes of their mind. It is just like when our eyes are diseased and we see flowers in the sky, or a second moon. Good sons, the sky actually has no flowers\u2014they are the false attachment of the diseased person. And because of this false attachment, not only are we confused about the inherent nature of the sky, we are also mixed up about the place where real flowers come from. From this false existence there is the cycle through life and death. Therefore, it is called ignorance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood sons, this ignorance actually lacks substance. It is like a man who is dreaming. At the time of the dream, there is no non-existence. But when he awakens, he finds that there is nothing for him to hold on to. Similarly, when the sky-flowers disappear from the sky, you cannot say that there is a definite place of their disappearance. Why? Because there is no point from which they arose. All sentient beings falsely perceive arising and ceasing within the non-arising. Therefore, it is said there are cycles through life-and-death.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood sons, in the practice of Perfect Enlightenment of the causal ground of the Tath\u0101gata, one understands these sky-flowers, thus there are no undergoing of cyclical existences, nor body and mind to undergo life-and-death. But they are not caused and thus non-existent, because primordially insubstantial. Now, knowing this awareness is like the vast expanse, knowing this vast expanse is none other than the appearance of sky-flowers, you cannot say that this awareness is not known. Existence and non-existence both being dispelled is called in accord with pure enlightenment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? Because the nature of vast expanse, because it is eternally immovable, because the Buddha-Within is neither arising nor ceasing, and because there are no fixed points of view, like the nature of dharmadh\u0101tu it is totally complete and perfect, pervading the ten directions. Therefore, it is called the dharma practice of the causal ground. Bodhisattvas, relying upon it arouse their pure mind in the Mah\u0101y\u0101na, sentient beings of the degenerate age who practice relying on this will not fall into erroneous views.\u201d<\/p>\n

Commentary:<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

In Buddha\u2019s answer to Ma\u00f1ju\u015br\u012b, he said, \u201cGood sons, the unsurpassed King of the dharma possesses the great dh\u0101ra\u1e47\u012b-entrance. It is called Perfect Enlightenment. From it is manifested all purity, suchness, bodhi, nirv\u0101\u1e47a and the paramitas that teach bodhisattvas.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the text, \u201cperfect enlightenment is this great dh\u0101ra\u1e47\u012b-entrance, the epitome of entrances, epitomizes the dharma and other relevant teachings. From this entrance, is a manifestation of \u201call purity, suchness, bodhi, nirv\u0101\u1e47a and the paramitas.\u201d These teachings can be seen as variations of the same dh\u0101ra\u1e47\u012b-entrance to perfect enlightenment. Seen in this light, it becomes obvious that this entrance is also inclusive of teachings of Madhyamaka and Yog\u0101c\u0101ra. The realization of these teachings are said to be suchness, reality, true appearances, praj\u00f1\u0101 p\u0101ramit\u0101, selfless of the ego self, selfless of the phenomenal self, thusly like all wisdom, the epitome of all wisdom, and so on.<\/p>\n

For those who doubt the authenticity of the S\u016btra of Perfect Enlightenment<\/em>, their main point of contention tends to be the differences from other scriptures. This is a rather peculiar take. If every scripture expresses the same idea, then Buddha was at best a language teacher. This s\u016btra summarizes many relevant teachings into one definitive dh\u0101ra\u1e47\u012b-entrance, and since it is a definitive summary, it no longer delves into the different branches of details individually. Nowadays, many are fond of being scientific, one gets excited whenever a scientific phenomenon is in line with a saying of Buddha, which amounts to placing science above Buddhism. This is interesting. If Einstein\u2019s physics could surpass Newtonian physics, then why could Buddha not have a great dh\u0101ra\u1e47\u012b-entrance that surpasses all other expedient devices? No one ever questions how Einstein\u2019s physics differ from Newtonian physics. Sadly, the damage has been done to this s\u016btra; I suspect that nowadays, not too many people are willing to present it. With this trend, the hidden meaning of Buddha, Buddha\u2019s ultimate view, his direct realization of primordial awakening, they have all suffered major damages.<\/p>\n

The scripture continues...<\/span>

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

The scripture continues, \u201cAll tath\u0101gatas in their primordially arisen causal ground rely on the perfect illumination of the attributes of pure awareness to permanently sever ignorance and directly accomplish Buddhahood.\u201d<\/p>\n

The perfect enlightenment that encapsulates all dharma teachings are said to be \u201cthe perfect illumination of the appearance of pure awareness.\u201d \u201cPerfect\u201d means perfect and complete, the \u201cillumination\u201d illuminates all phenomena and all dharma. From this perfect illumination is the arising of the \u201cthe appearance of pure awareness,\u201d in turn it perfectly illuminates all dharma. This is the perfect enlightenment, where there are in fact two kinds of wisdom, the root wisdom and the consequent wisdom.<\/p>\n

With the perfect illumination, one attains the pure awareness as the direct realization of the root wisdom, where Buddhahood is accomplished. At the same time, the consequent wisdom arises without interruption, for this attained wisdom can perfectly illuminates all mundane phenomena. The root wisdom and the consequent wisdom coalesce perpetually, we can, then, also say that the perfect illumination and the appearance of pure awareness coalesce perpetually. This perfect enlightenment is exactly the perfect enlightenment the great dh\u0101ra\u1e47\u012b-entrance pointed towards. The function of this perfect enlightenment is to \u201cpermanently sever ignorance and directly accomplish Buddhahood.\u201d The accomplishment of Buddhahood is the awakening of the mind of perfect enlightenment.<\/p>\n

From the perspective of an ordinary being, how ignorance can be forever severed is the fundamental question. The scripture has clearly pointed out that ordinary beings become attached to delusionary appearances, it is akin to \u201cwhen our eyes are diseased and we see flowers in the sky, or a second moon.\u201d What is illusive is seen as substantial. Like dreaming, where the dream is seen as reality. Or like seeing sky flowers, where non-arising is seen as arising. The scripture says, \u201c[I]n the practice of Perfect Enlightenment of the causal ground of the Tath\u0101gata, one understands these sky-flowers, thus there are no undergoing of cyclical existences, nor body and mind to undergo life-and-death.\u201d This \u201cno [undergoing]\u201d is not an intentional act causing it to disappear. Rather, it is a recognition of the nature of the cycle of life and death, its inherent nature is insubstantial, like the insubstantiality of sky-flowers and dreams.<\/p>\n

Therefore, to break free of ignorance begins with the inherent nature of things. None of the expedient (but relevant) teachings are truly ultimate. Sayings such as \u201cnone other consciousness-only\u201d or \u201cdependent origination is emptiness,\u201d the so-called emptiness is a fabrication. In contrast, in \u0100rya-anantamukhapari\u015bodhana-nirde\u015ba-parivarta-n\u0101ma-mah\u0101y\u0101na-s\u016btra<\/em> (\u7121\u908a\u838a\u56b4\u6703) Ratnak\u016b\u1e6da<\/em> (\u5927\u5bf6\u7a4d\u7d93), the three dh\u0101ra\u1e47\u012b-entrances taught by Buddha is the inherent emptiness.<\/p>\n

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What is the inherent nature of emptiness...<\/span>

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

What is the inherent emptiness? This is why the Buddha-Within was brought up. The Buddha-Within is the buddha\u2019s inner realm of wisdom realization, where all conventional phenomena arise (a natural spontaneous arising). Their nature is of the essence of the wisdom realm. This is analogous to a mirror image has the essence of the mirror, or the moon reflection on water has the essence of water. Taking the essence as one\u2019s nature, when speaking of the inherent emptiness, one\u2019s nature is naturally emptiness as well. The scripture says, \u201cGood sons, in the practice of Perfect Enlightenment of the causal ground of the Tath\u0101gata, one understands these sky-flowers, thus there are no undergoing of cyclical existences, nor body and mind to undergo life-and-death. But they are not caused and thus non-existent, because primordially insubstantial.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ordinary beings are not aware of this insubstantiality, thus there is a need for the practice. The scripture says, \u201c[K]nowing this awareness is like the vast expanse, knowing this vast expanse is none other than the appearance of sky-flowers, but you cannot say that this awareness is not known. Existence and non-existence both being dispelled is called in accord with pure enlightenment.\u201d<\/p>\n

The perfect enlightenment is like the vast expanse, for it is the metaphor for the dharmakaya, the metaphor for buddha\u2019s inner self-realization of wisdom, the awakening in this realm of wisdom is the perfect enlightenment. Regarding this perfect enlightenment, it cannot be \u201cknown\u201d or \u201cunknown.\u201d If it were treated as knowable, there is also an attachment to the vast expanse, this awareness is no longer perfect enlightenment, but rather the thoughts on the practitioner\u2019s mind, entirely conceptual. The scripture says, \u201cKnowing this vast expanse is none other than the appearance of sky-flowers.\u201d The appearance of mind is like sky-flowers. This way, the awareness cannot be said to be \u201cperfect,\u201d and yet, one is not without feelings. Otherwise, how is one different from a rock or a piece of wood? The practice of perfect enlightenment does not fall into the confines of knowing and unknowing, which is why it is called \u201cin accord with pure enlightenment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Knowing that being \u201cin accord with pure enlightenment\u201d is also to dispell \u201cexistences and non-existences,\u201d the scripture continues, \u201cWhy? Because the nature of vast expanse, because it is eternally immovable, because the Buddha-Within is neither arising nor ceasing, and because there are no fixed points of view, like the nature of dharmadh\u0101tu it is totally complete and perfect, pervading the ten directions. Therefore, it is called the dharma practice of the causal ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

It becomes clear that the practice of perfect enlightenment is the realm of direct realization of the Buddha-Within, the realm of non-arising and non-ceasing. Entering into this realm is the attainment of awareness, the perfect enlightenment. One can also expediently call this realm of Buddha-Within as the realm of dharma (dharmadh\u0101tu). One\u2019s practice and observation of dharmadh\u0101tu, one enters into the profound praj\u00f1\u0101 p\u0101ramit\u0101, which is the \u201cdharma practice of the causal ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

The above is critical so as to not fall into erroneous views. Many have damaged the teachings of perfect enlightenment and the Buddha-Within with erroneous views. Such phenomena also signify we have entered the latter days of dharma (sad-dharma-vipralopa<\/em>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Show scripture (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

\u6587\u6b8a\u6c5d\u7576\u77e5\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u4e00\u5207\u8af8\u5982\u4f86\uff0c
\n\u5f9e\u65bc\u672c\u56e0\u5730\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u7686\u4ee5\u667a\u6167\u89ba\uff0c
\n\u4e86\u9054\u65bc\u7121\u660e\u3002\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u77e5\u5f7c\u5982\u7a7a\u82b1\uff0c
\n\u5373\u80fd\u514d\u6d41\u8f49\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u53c8\u5982\u5922\u4e2d\u4eba\uff0c
\n\u9192\u6642\u4e0d\u53ef\u5f97\u3002\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u89ba\u8005\u5982\u865b\u7a7a\uff0c
\n\u5e73\u7b49\u4e0d\u52d5\u8f49\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u89ba\u904d\u5341\u65b9\u754c\uff0c
\n\u5373\u5f97\u6210\u4f5b\u9053\u3002\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u773e\u5e7b\u6ec5\u7121\u8655\uff0c
\n\u6210\u9053\u4ea6\u7121\u5f97\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u672c\u6027\u5713\u6eff\u6545\u3002
\n\u83e9\u85a9\u65bc\u6b64\u4e2d\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u80fd\u767c\u83e9\u63d0\u5fc3\uff0c
\n\u672b\u4e16\u8af8\u773e\u751f\uff0c\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u4fee\u6b64\u514d\u90aa\u898b\u3002<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Show scripture (English).<\/span>

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

English:<\/h2>\n

Then the World Honoured One, wanting to re-emphasize the meaning of this, proclaimed a verse. He said:<\/p>\n

Ma\u00f1ju\u015br\u012b, you should know
\nAll Tath\u0101gatas
\nFrom their primordial arisen causal ground
\nPenetrate ignorance
\nWith enlightened wisdom.
\nKnowing it to be like sky-flowers
\nThey are able to escape sa\u1e43s\u0101ra.
\nIt is like the man in the dream
\nWho has nothing to grasp upon awakening.
\nAwareness is like the vast expanse
\nEqual, unchanging.
\nEnlightenment pervading the worlds of the ten directions
\nIs none other than the attainment of the Buddha-way.
\nAll illusions cease at no-place
\nAnd in accomplishing the Way there is nothing attained.
\nThe primordial nature is complete, perfect.
\nIn it, bodhisattvas
\nAre able to arouse bodhicitta
\nAll sentient beings of the degenerate age
\nPracticing this, will avoid erroneous views.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Commentary:<\/h2>\n

This verse is a comparison between wisdom and consciousness. A buddha\u2019s wisdom awareness is equanimous, immovable, and pervades all worlds in the ten directions, the conscious experience of an ordinary being is like dreams and illusions (sky-flowers). Previously, the scripture says, \u201c[T]hey mistakenly take the Four Elements as the attributes of their bodies and the perceived shadows of the Six Objects as the attributes of their mind.\u201d Realizing Buddhahood can be said to be the cessation of delusions and the attainment of awareness, the delusive consciousness is transformed into the thus awareness.<\/p>\n

Be mindful of the secret meaning. The cessation of illusion does not mean there is a true place of this cessation, nor is there a location for enlightenment. The verse says, \u201cAll illusions cease at no-place \/ And in accomplishing the Way there is nothing attained.\u201d Why is that? The verse continues, \u201cThe primordial nature is complete, perfect.\u201d The awareness of this primordial nature is naturally complete and perfect. For those who reject the primordial awareness as being naturally complete and perfect, the source of contention comes from the primordial awareness being complete and perfect since the beginningless time. Does it mean that all beings are already buddhas from birth? They don\u2019t understand that the cessation of illusion and the attainment of Buddhahood are simultaneous. Without meditation and observation, there is also no cessation of illusion, and naturally there is also no attainment of Buddhahood, nor is there the awakening of awareness that is primordial, perfect and complete.<\/p>\n

The verse continues, \u201cIn it, bodhisattvas \/ Are able to arouse bodhicitta \/ All sentient beings of the degenerate age \/ Practicing this, will avoid erroneous views.\u201d This refers to the stages of practice towards the cessation of illusion, and simultaneously, the stages to allow the primordial awareness to reveal itself. In the process, the two kinds of bodhicitta are aroused. The cessation of illusion is the conventional truth; accomplishing Buddhahood is the ultimate truth. Knowing this, a practitioner would not fall into erroneous views. What is erroneous are the erroneous conceptuality. For some practitioners, they believe the seated meditation (zazen<\/em>, dhy\u0101na<\/em>) is the only way to \u201cthe shedding of body and mind.\u201d This is an erroneous view, because it is a narrow-minded pursuit of buddha-nature. Huineng (638-713), the Sixth Patriarch of Chan, said, \u201cThere is no buddha-nature.\u201d It was said as an antidote to this contrivance.<\/p>\n

Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for what has been posted so far in the series.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Buddha\u2019s answer to Ma\u00f1ju\u015br\u012b, he said, \u201cGood sons, the unsurpassed King of the dharma possesses the great dh\u0101ra\u1e47\u012b-entrance. It is called Perfect Enlightenment. From it is manifested all purity, suchness, bodhi, nirv\u0101\u1e47a and...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":926,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=921"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1054,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921\/revisions\/1054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbatoronto.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}