Professional Documents
Culture Documents
February 25 lecture©
as outlined by a Buddhist monk
(Listen ‘live’ or recorded audio explanations at
www.wondrousdharma.org)
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Verse for opening a sutra
• Homage to the Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra and the
Vajra assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas (3x)
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Q&A
Question : What is the role of vigor pertaining to the Vajra Prajna
Paramita Sutra? Does it end when one realizes bodhi or
awakening?
Answer:
• Because of the difficulty to subdue the mind, the only path to
really subdue the mind is through vigor.
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Q&A
4
Q&A
• Great Master Sixth Patriarch was awakened to the principle
that basically there was nothing at all, so how could there be
defilement?
5
Q&A
• Chapter 4 of the Lotus Sutra tells of the poor son who spent
twenty years of getting rid the filth of the delusion of views and
the delusion of thoughts.”
• Later on the 5th Patriarch says, “Start on your journey now and
go south as fast as possible. Do not speak too soon, for the
Buddhadharma arises from difficulty.”
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Q&A
7
Q&A
Question: I have no problem in becoming a vegetarian. But I cannot
avoid thinking of “Pink elephant” when someone mentions
“Pink elephant”. Is it the case of shallow samadhi power
(mental absorption) just as in the case of a meditator who hears
a truck passing by but at the same time he does not notice the
clock ticking?
Answer:
• There are 2 aspects to this matter – samadhi concentration and
wise contemplation.
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Q&A
• Not being able to listen to the ticking of the clock yet cannot
avoid the sound of the truck reflects the intensity of mental
concentration in relation to the degree of distraction.
• Though one may listen to the sound of the truck, yet if one
takes the sound as a sound; this itself is wise contemplation.
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Q&A
• A sound is a sound without forming any opinion; it would
mean treating the sound as empty and the stillness
arising is concentration.
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Q&A
• Thinking of ‘pink elephant’ on hearing ‘pink elephant’ is
the subtle attachment to distinguish it so.
11
Q&A
• Contemplating that ‘all thoughts are not thoughts’, we therefore
don’t give rise to a thought to turn the sound of words into an
annoyance; this is being unmoved.
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Q&A
• Yet if one could contemplate that the sound, be it pure or
impure, good natured or evil natured, pleasing or frightening –
that all sounds are of one appearances that they are all
fundamentally or inherently not existent, then one has already
abide in Reality.
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Next week’s Q&A
Background to Question:
• I am in conflict regarding acceptance and trust of the universe.
• I have always tried to believe that the universe will take care of
me so long as I am true to myself and have faith, yet I can’t
seem to catch a break.
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S 26 The Dharma body is not appearances
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S 26 The Dharma body is not appearances
Sutra: The Buddha said, “Subhuti, if one could contemplate
the Thus Come One in his Thirty-two Physical
Appearances, then a Wheel Turning Sage King would be
the Thus Come One.”
Comments:
• The Thirty-two Physical Appearances are just the reward of
having cultivated blessings and wisdom for 100 eons.
• And so it is not surprising that the Wheel Turning Sage King
also has these appearances.
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S 26 The Dharma body is not appearances
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S 26 The Dharma body is not appearances
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Dedication of merit
• May every living beings,
• Our minds as one and radiant with light
• Share the fruits of peace, with heart of goodness
luminous and bright.
• If people hear and see, how hands and hearts can find in
giving unity
• May their minds awake, to great compassion, wisdom
and to joy.
• May kindness find reward; may all who sorrow leave their
grief and pain;
• May this boundless light break the darkness of their
endless night.
• Because our hearts are one, this world of pain turns into
paradise;
• May all become compassionate and wise (2x) 24