The Sixth Patriarchs Sutra January 13, 2012 lecture

as outlined by a Buddhist monk

at 1777 Murchison Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010, free to public (phone 650-6925912) (Listen live or recorded audio explanations at www.wondrousdharma.org)

Q&A Meaning of mind, no mind, no thought Chapter 2 Prajna - Mahaprajnaparamita

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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 Buddhadharma:

According to living beings desires, he teaches the Dharma in various ways. the Thus Come One out of veneration for this wisdom, deep and far reaching has long remained silent on this important matter, being in no hurry to set it 2 forth. (the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra)

Q&A
Question: I have been using mind as a collection of thoughts and

no mind as no thought. Is this correct?

Background and answer: The question arose from a discussion that:In the Avatamasaka Sutra it says,

If people wish to understand the nature of the Dharma Realm, everything is made by the mind. When everything is made by the mind, Mind produces everything; no mind nothing is produced
3 When nothing is produced, you return back to ultimate reality.

Q&A
The more pertinent question is: what is the mind? The mind that produces everything can refer both the original true mind or the false mind. From the original mind, the mind moves in trying to understand what is already understood. Understanding what is already understood, creates something out of nothing. This is the birth of the entire cosmos out of nothingness in the mind that originally was empty and clear of any appearances.
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Q&A
The creation of something is the birth of the 5 skandhas of our body and mind. The 5 skandhas comprise: 1. Body 1. Mind representing 1. Feeling, 2. Thinking 3. Subtle thoughts 4. Consciousness or sense awareness

Q&A
Feeling and thinking then becomes a fodder for our continual birth and rebirth as a result of the karma created by ourselves. Therefore the 3 Realms is created by the mind. This world is within the realm of desire as beings here have heavy attachment to the 5 desires of sound, sights, smell, tastes, touch, and thoughts Therefore consciousness is the false mind acting up when we remain confused.
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Q&A
The consciousness is therefore our false mind and the sense objects are the appearances of the false mind; they are interdependent. The original mind is without appearance or nothing at all. Whilst in the midst of this world, when we have no mind to the sense objects, we have returned back to our source The recognition of your original mind is the original liberation. The attainment of liberation is the Prajna Samadhi, is no-thought.

Q&A
What is meant by no-thought? No-thought means to view all dharmas with a mind undefiled by attachment. The function pervades all places but is nowhere attached. Merely purify your original mind and cause the six consciousnesses to go out the six gates, to be undefiled and unmixed among the six objects, to come and go freely and to penetrate without obstruction. That is the Prajna Samadhi and freedom and liberation, and it is called the practice of no-thought.

Q&A
Not thinking of the hundred things and constantly causing your thought to be cut off is called Dharma- bondage and is an extremist view. Good Knowing Advisors, one who awakens to the nothought dharma completely penetrates the ten thousand dharmas; one who awakens to the no-thought dharma sees all Buddha realms; one who awakens to the no-thought dharma arrives at the Buddha position.

Q&A

When you are not attached to the sense objects, then . It is the original understanding the real nature of consciousness. (Shurangama Sutra)

When you are not attached to the sense objects then you have returned back to the source or pure consciousness.

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Q&A
What do we mean by not attaching to sense objects? It is when you have no feeling of greed/liking, anger/disliking and other delusional thoughts like scheming, contending, self benefiting to get the sense objects When you have no discriminatory thoughts, without fixed views, without lingering thoughts for the sense objects; for example you listen without judgment. When random thoughts arise, you do not follow it
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Q&A
When everything is seen as consciousness which are appearances in the mind that is empty and false thereby not accepting nor rejecting but taking things for what they are.

The mind is closed to the sense objects that is when: The eyes see form but inside there is nothing The ear hears sounds but the mind does not know. What matters is Did your mind moved to give rise to a thought or just see everything as empty and false conscious mind acting up?

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Q&A

In short you begin to develop patience with emptiness of people And finally patience with the emptiness of dharmas.

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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: The following day, at the invitation of Magistrate Wei,

the Master took his seat and said to the great assembly, All of you purify your minds and think about Maha Prajna Paramita.
Comments:

Why is Chapter 2 about prajna? The first chapter is essentially an introduction and preface. The second chapter PRAJNA is the heart of the Sudden Teaching; the sudden realization of the inherent prajna wisdom within every living being.
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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: The following day, at the invitation of Magistrate Wei,

the Master took his seat and said to the great assembly, All of you purify your minds and think about Maha Prajna Paramita.
Comments:

Purify your mind by stopping your discursive thoughts and doubts and Focus on the Great Wisdom of the Sages.

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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: He then said, Good Knowing Advisors, the wisdom

of Bodhi and Prajna is originally possessed by worldly people themselves. It is only because their minds are confused that they are unable to enlighten themselves and must rely on a great Good Knowing Advisor who can lead them to see their Buddha-nature.
Comments:

Prajna is originally possessed tells us of our inherent wisdom. The second fundamental is full awakening, which also has no beginning; it is the original and pure essence of nirvana. It is the original understanding the real nature of consciousness. (Shurangama Sutra)
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Chapter 2 Prajna

But because our minds are confused that we need a teacher to teach us how to activate our inherent wisdom by putting down the confusion.

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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: He then said, Good Knowing Advisors, the wisdom of

Bodhi and Prajna is originally possessed by worldly people themselves. It is only because their minds are confused that they are unable to enlighten themselves and must rely on a great Good Knowing Advisor who can lead them to see their Buddha-nature.
Comments:

Confusion lies in the minds. The good knowing advisors will guide the confused to understanding.
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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: You should know that the Buddha-nature of stupid and

wise people is basically not different. It is only because confusion and enlightenment are different that some are stupid and some are wise. I will now explain for you the Maha Prajna Paramita Dharma in order that each of you may become wise.
Comments:

The Buddha nature of the stupid and wise is perfect in wisdom and complete in merit and virtue; The difference presently lies in the stupid being confused and the wise being no longer confused and understands Mahaprajna paramita.

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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: You should know that the Buddha-nature of stupid and

wise people is basically not different. It is only because confusion and enlightenment are different that some are stupid and some are wise. I will now explain for you the Maha Prajna Paramita Dharma in order that each of you may become wise.
Comments:

What is the teaching principles of Maha prajna paramita? It is the teaching spoken by the Buddha during the prajna period. Recommend Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra, Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra and the Sixth Patriarchs Sutra.

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Chapter 2 Prajna
However, you need to comprehend then detail explanations of Reality in the Shurangama Sutra to better understand the profundity of prajna. The Shurangama Sutra contains details explaining the origin of the universe, the concept of everything is made by the mind, the true and false mind; the emptiness of the four elements. Without the Shurangama Sutra, you need deep roots from past cultivation to truly fathom prajna teachings.
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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: I will now explain for you the Maha Prajna Paramita

Dharma in order that each of you may become wise.

Comments:

What is the teaching principles of Maha prajna paramita? It is the teaching spoken by the Buddha during the prajna period. Recommend to learn the Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra, the Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra and the Sixth Patriarchs Sutra.

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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: I will now explain for you the Maha Prajna Paramita

Dharma in order that each of you may become wise. Pay careful attention, and I will explain it to you.
Comments:

Pay attention or be attentive in your mind That is: you receive your Dharma in your mind.
Why is this so?....

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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: Good Knowing Advisors, worldly people recite

Prajna with their mouths all day long and yet do not recognize the Prajna of their self-nature.
Comments:

Recite prajna and yet do not comprehend what prajna is about. It is the original understanding the real nature of consciousness. (Shurangama Sutra) When you do understand that prajna is within our self nature, we do not need to look outside to find it.
24 The Dharma prajna is to be put into practice, not merely recite.

Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: Just as talking about food will not make you full, so,

too, if you only speak of emptiness you will not see your own nature in ten thousand ages. In the end you will not have obtained any benefit.
Comments:

Prajna is not merely a conversational mouthpiece but rather seen in our way of life.

It is about patience with emptiness of people and emptiness of dharmas.

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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: Good Knowing Advisors, Maha Prajna Paramita is a

Sanskrit word which means great wisdom which has arrived at the other shore. It must be practiced in the mind, and not just recited in words.
Comments:

How do you practice prajna in mind? Have no greed, no anger, no delusion, no arrogance and no doubt; these are the practices in our own minds.

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Chapter 2 Prajna
Sutra: What is meant by Maha? Maha means great. The

capacity of the mind is vast and great like empty space, and has no boundaries. It is not square or round, great or small. Neither is it blue, yellow, red or white. It is not above or below, or long or short. It is without anger, without joy, without right, without wrong, without good, without evil, and it has no head or tail.
Comments:

When it is like empty space, there is no boundaries. Without boundaries, everything contains within and yet nothing is outside it; it is that flexible. Without boundaries, there is no bigness or smallness.
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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; 28 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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