The Sixth Patriarchs Sutra

7:30pm Pacific time

February 1, 2013 lecture

as outlined by a Buddhist monk
at 1777 Murchison Drive, Burlingame, California 94010, open to public (phone 650-6925912) (Listen live or recorded audio explanations at www.wondrousdharma.org)

Q&A Drums in monasteries Chapter 6 Repentance and reform the 3 refuges of our own nature
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Verse for opening a sutra

Na Mwo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha (3x) Homage to the Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra (3x) The unsurpassed, deep, profound, subtle, wonderful Dharma, In a hundred thousand million eons, is difficult to encounter, Now that Ive come to receive and hold it, within my sight and hearing, I vow to fathom the Thus Come Ones true and actual meaning.

Exhortation to uphold the Dharma: 12

For the sake of Dharma, I renounced the royal position, leaving the government to the crown prince. I beat upon the Dharma drum, announcing my search for Dharma in the four directions, saying Whoever can speak the Great Vehicle for me, I will act as a servant for the rest of my life. (The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra)

Q&A
Question: What is the role of drums and what is the benefit to the

monasteries? Isnt the drum at the monasteries made of hide?

Answer:

Drums are percussion instruments providing the rhythmic percussions that is part of offering to the Triple Jewel. Every Buddhists knows the Bodhisattva Universal Worthy conduct and vows to make praises to the Thus Come Ones and extensively make offerings.

Bodhisattva Wondrous Sound was able to have great spiritual abilities because in the past he offered music to the Buddha 3

Q&A
For twelve thousand years, the Bodhisattva Wondrous Sound made offerings to the Buddha Cloud and Thunder Sound King of a hundred thousand kinds of music.

He also offered up eighty four thousand bowls made of the seven jewels.

As a result of these causes and conditions, and rewards, he has been born in the country of the Buddha Wisdom of Pure Flower Constellation King, and now possesses these spiritual powers. (the Dharma Flower Sutra)
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Q&A
Singing of praise and music accompaniment are expedients to teach the Dharma; the tune to attract and the words to convey the meaning.

Drums are also use to rouse up the spirit (as opposed to emotions) as a prelude to Dharma assemblies and as a simple instrument to keep pace of recitation of the assembly.

Dharma assemblies are effectively turning the Dharma wheel.

Q&A
Drums are permanent fixtures in the monasteries belonging to the permanent dwelling.

Drums without hide are preferred when they are available.

It is unlikely that the animals are slaughtered specifically for the hide; besides the animals whose hide is being used as a drum in monasteries receive the merit being part of the offering to the Triple Jewel.
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Q&A
Question: Isnt the day of enlightenment of the Buddha in the

month of May where Vesak is being celebrated?

Answer:

In China, the Buddhas enlightenment day is celebrated on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month.

In Japan, it is called Bodhi Day and it is celebrated on 8th December.

Q&A
In Theravada countries it is celebrated in the full moon day in May during the celebration to mark the three important days of the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of the Buddha.

There are many types of calendars; it is the significance of the event that is important, an expression of gratitude to our teacher.

In order to teach living beings, the Buddha showed us the way to bodhi by doing so for 8,000 times .
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Q&A
I have come to this world eight thousand times. Based at this Saha World seated upon the Vajra Floral Brilliance Kings Lion Throne, and all the way up to the palace of the Heavenly King Maheshvara. I have for the great multitudes therein completed speaking of the Mind-Ground Dharma door in general terms. (the Buddha Speaks of the Brahma Net Sutra)

Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

Good Knowing Advisors, when your own mind takes refuge with your self-nature, it takes refuge with the true Buddha. To take refuge is to rid your self-nature of egotism and unwholesome thoughts as well as of jealousy, obsequiousness, deceitfulness, contempt, pride, conceit, and deviant views, and all other unwholesome tendencies whenever they arise.
Comments

Our own mind takes refuge with our inherent Buddha nature, the mahaprajnaparamita within us.
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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

Good Knowing Advisors, when your own mind takes refuge with your self-nature, it takes refuge with the true Buddha. To take refuge is to rid your self-nature of egotism and unwholesome thoughts as well as of jealousy, obsequiousness, deceitfulness, contempt, pride, conceit, and deviant views, and all other unwholesome tendencies whenever they arise.
Comments

Taking refuge is the intent to turnaround from being unwholesome to wholesome and it begins with our thoughts. The original self nature is without the self; turning around comes when the false self comparing with others is put down. 11

Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

To take refuge is to be always aware of your own transgressions and never to speak of other peoples good or bad traits. Always to be humble and polite is to have penetrated to the self-nature without any obstacle. That is taking refuge.
Comments

A common habit is to look and compare with others, resulting in our mind not being able to return to the original stillness. I see yet do not see.
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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

To take refuge is to be always aware of your own transgressions and never to speak of other peoples good or bad traits. Always to be humble and polite is to have penetrated to the self-nature without any obstacle. That is taking refuge.
Comments

There is tendency to attach to the notion that our practice is superior and being condescending towards others thats why the Great Master reminds us to be humble and polite to others.
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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

What is the perfect, full Reward-body of the Buddha? Just as one lamp can disperse the darkness of a thousand years, one thought of wisdom can destroy ten thousand years of delusion.
Comments

The perfect full Reward body is the greater transformation body that comes from our wisdom nature. Wisdom is the reversal of delusion; it begins with our mind.
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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

Do not think of the past; it is gone and can never be recovered. Instead think always of the future and in every thought, perfect and clear, see your own original nature. Although good and evil differ, the original nature is nondual.
Comments

Dont think of the past because whatever good or evil cause will take its effect; it is pointless to regret but to be perfect and clear in future. Being perfect and clear in future thoughts are thoughts that are non dual. 15

Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Dont be anxious about the future because the reason for anxiety is that you have expectations that are non dual.

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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

That non-dual nature is the real nature. Undefiled by either good or evil, it is the perfect, full Reward-body of the Buddha.
Comments

The sixth conscious mind is the mind that makes distinction; it is not our original nature. Our original nature is beyond good and evil because originally there isnt anything at all; if there is good, there is evil.
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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

One evil thought arising from the self-nature destroys ten thousand eons worth of good karma. One good thought arising from the self-nature ends evils as numerous as the sand-grains in the Ganges River.
Comments

Our self nature has both our good nature and evil nature. The self nature can produce everything both good and evil depending upon our thoughts. But the original self nature is non dual and without movement.
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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

To reach the unsurpassed Bodhi directly, see it for yourself in every thought and do not lose the original thought. That is the Reward-body of the Buddha.
Comments

The original thought comes from the original self nature which is non dual and without movement.

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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

To recap earlier 1. How unexpected! The self-nature is originally pure in itself. 2. How unexpected! The self-nature is originally neither produced nor destroyed. 3. How unexpected! The self-nature is originally complete in itself. 4. How unexpected! The self-nature is originally without movement. 5. How unexpected! The self-nature can produce the ten thousand dharmas. 20

Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

What are the hundred thousand myriad Transformation bodies of the Buddha? If you are free of any thought of the ten thousand dharmas, then your nature is basically like emptiness, but in one thought of calculation, transformation occurs.
Comments

Why arent we Buddhas of the past and present but continue to remain Buddhas of the future? It is because we are full of calculating thoughts; the Buddhas of the past were the ones who were the first to forget about the self and quickly cease calculating thoughts. 21

Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

Evil thoughts are transformed into hell-beings and good thoughts into heavenly beings. Viciousness is transformed into dragons and snakes, and compassion into Bodhisattvas. Wisdom is transformed into the upper realms, and delusion into the lower realms.
Comments

Good and evil comes from the mind; everything is made by the mind alone. In the true reality of all dharmas, there is equality between wisdom and confusion.

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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

The transformations of the self-nature are extremely many, and yet the confused person, unawakened to that truth, continually gives rise to evil and walks evil paths. Turn a single thought back to goodness, and wisdom is produced. That is the Transformation-body of the Buddha within your self- nature.
Comments

A turn of the head is the other shore; affliction becomes bodhi.

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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

Good Knowing Advisors, the Dharma body of the Buddha is basically complete. To see your own nature in every thought is the Reward body of the Buddha. When the Reward body thinks and calculates, it is the Transformation body of the Buddha.
Comments

The Dharma body is basically complete; one with reality. The Reward body that sees the self nature does not think of good or evil The Reward body that moves creates the Transformation body, the product of thinking and making distinctions.

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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Venerable Master Hjsuan Hua explaining the 3 bodies:

Why do I say the Shurangama Sutra is the sutra for developing wisdom and the Dharma Flower Sutra is the sutra for becoming Buddhas? Its because the Dharma Flower Sutra is the Buddhas Dharma Body. Its the real body of the Buddha. Its the Buddhas Reward Body. The Buddhas clear, pure, Dharma Body Vairochana Buddha is also the Dharma Flower Sutra.
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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

The perfect, full Reward Body Nishyanda Buddha is also the Dharma Flower Sutra. The one hundred thousand millions transformation bodies are also the Dharma Flower Sutra. Within the Dharma Flower Sutra you will find the three bodies of the Buddha, the four wisdoms of the Buddha, the five eyes and six spiritual penetrations of the Buddha as well. The Dharma Flower Sutra is the king of the Sutras.
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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

Awaken and cultivate by your own efforts the merit and virtue of your self-nature. That is truly taking refuge.
Comments

Once you understand the principle, you put it into practice to turn your Transformation Buddha back into the Reward Body Buddha. Cultivation is about creating merit and having virtue of the Way.

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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

The skin and flesh of the physical body are like an inn to which you cannot return. Simply awaken to the three bodies of your self-nature and you will understand the selfnature Buddha.
Comments

Cultivate the self nature is to cultivate the mind; the body is just temporary possession.

The three bodies is about unmovingness, wisdom and conduct

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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Th e origin of the Great Masters definition of the Three Bodies of the Self nature:

How should this Sutra be explained for others? By not grasping at appearances and being in unmoving thusness. Why? All conditioned dharmas Are like dreams, an illusion, a bubble or a shadow, Like dew on a lightning flash Contemplate them thus. (Vajra Sutra)
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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

I have a verse without marks. If you can recite and memorize it, it will wipe away-accumulated eons of confusion and offenses as soon as the words are spoken. The verse runs:
Comments

Verse without appearance so dont be attached to them for in reality, there isnt wisdom nor delusion.

The appearance of Reality is without appearance. (Vajra

Sutra)
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Chapter 6 Repentance and reform

Sutra:

A confused person will foster blessings, but not cultivate the Way;

Comments

Blessings come from giving; why dont we then foster blessings?... It is because it is not in the gift but the state of mind when you give; it has to accord with reality that originally there isnt anything at all.
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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 hearts 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; 32 May all become compassionate and wise (2x)

Dedication of merit
I vow that merit made from this deed will become, Adornments for the Pure Land of Bu-ddhas. Repaying the four kinds of kindness above, And aiding those in three paths below. May all who see and hear of this deed Bring forth the resolve to reborn In the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

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