In Buddhist Teaching, one of the best pointer is The Great Mirror Wisdom, using the nature of mirror to represent the Ineffable Awareness [The Absolute Truth and the ONE Reality].
Now everyone know what a mirror is, but have we ever seen the Real face of a mirror ??
Let us take a mirror and direct it at a cloudless sky on a bright day. The mirror display a bright Void.
Now we direct the mirror to face the mountain and river, and it display mountains and rivers,
Lastly we take the mirror into a dark room and have darkness for its face.
In these Three states, the real face of the mirror is veiled by its reflections and is always hidden, but present throughout the three states. Without the mirror, non of the three display is possible.
With this understanding in mind ,let us compare it with our actual experiences. There are three states that cover all our experiences.
Starting with deep sleep, we have no experience of the world or living beings [mirror in the dark]
The sleep then give way to dreams followed by waking [Here the mirror is reflecting the space and forms of the dreamscape and landscape]
During the three states, our Awareness is always present, but awareness like the mirror itself is a stateless state, forever hidden and ineffable, but is known to BE by the knowing of what it is aware. That is we can intuit the existence of the mirror by its reflections. The Real is alluded by the illusions [reflection]
On the same note, our True nature is ineffable and all that is known by awareness is nothing but Illusions. Illusions like reflections on the mirror comes and go, while the mirror remain still. So the world and all living beings in it being impermanent comes and go, while the Omni present awareness remain still and immutable. As the mirror and its reflections are one, so too Awareness and all the objects of awareness within it are also ONE. As the mirror is known to exist by its reflection, so too is awareness alluded by what its is aware [The illusionary world of samsara]
The mirror is permanent whether objects are reflected or not. Hence our awareness is always present whether, there is thoughts or no thoughts and this is our nature that is beyond all forms, feelings and thoughts. As the mirror is the source of all reflections, so too is Awareness the source and essence of all phenomena.
The mirror is not the least affected by its reflection, be it war or peace, calamities of storm, flood or fire. So too is our Nature as awareness unaffected by the events of the world [samsara]
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Heart Sutra
The Heart Sutra in its condensed form is the shortest sutra and is the conclusive statement to round off the entire Buddhist teaching. It is a Statement of Reality which is DIRECT and differ from Sakyumuni's earlier teachings relying heavily on expedient, as skillful way to point to the ineffable.
Buddhist teachings can be broadly classified into four vehicles [carts] They are :
1] The goat cart, [The four Noble Truth ]
2] The deer cart [ The twelve Interdependent Origin ]
3] The ox cart [ The Six paramitas ]
and
4] The Great White Ox cart.
The first three uses expedients and consist of skillful ways of pointing to the Truth, while the Great vehicle is Direct without relying on any expedient.
The Teachings progressively reveal the illusionary nature of all forms[dusts] from the very course [matter] to the very subtle [ thoughts].
In conclusion, the Heart sutra states that Forms being illusionary is no different from emptiness and have only the existence of emptiness. The Truth being such, there are no living beings and no world. In this Only real condition, concepts of the three poisons of Greed, Hatred and Delusion losses its foothold and the Heart sutra categorily dismisses the first three carts, leaving only the ever present Awareness [ Kuan Zhi Zhai ] As there are no living beings and world, There is nothing to be feared and No one to be in fear.
Since there is Not a single living being [5 skandas] existing, the first three carts can be discarded as it is only beneficial to reduce outflow, requiring effort from the Ego.
For the benefits of those still on the Hinayana, with various means of cultivations and meditation methods, the Truth reveal there is Nothing to meditate on and No one to be the meditator. All effort in the dream [samsara] pertain to the dream. Recognizing the dream as a dream is all is needed to awake TO [in contradistinction to FROM] the dream. This is Prajna identifying with the Dreamer [Kuan Zhi Zhai] and remain aloof to the dream, while witnessing it. The wisdom of Sunyatta. knowing that all IS a dream in the MIDST of the dream and Awake TO it, not waiting for the dream to end
Hence the Victory mantra wiping out all delusions. Gate,gate,paragate,parasamgate, Bodhi shava.
Buddhist teachings can be broadly classified into four vehicles [carts] They are :
1] The goat cart, [The four Noble Truth ]
2] The deer cart [ The twelve Interdependent Origin ]
3] The ox cart [ The Six paramitas ]
and
4] The Great White Ox cart.
The first three uses expedients and consist of skillful ways of pointing to the Truth, while the Great vehicle is Direct without relying on any expedient.
The Teachings progressively reveal the illusionary nature of all forms[dusts] from the very course [matter] to the very subtle [ thoughts].
In conclusion, the Heart sutra states that Forms being illusionary is no different from emptiness and have only the existence of emptiness. The Truth being such, there are no living beings and no world. In this Only real condition, concepts of the three poisons of Greed, Hatred and Delusion losses its foothold and the Heart sutra categorily dismisses the first three carts, leaving only the ever present Awareness [ Kuan Zhi Zhai ] As there are no living beings and world, There is nothing to be feared and No one to be in fear.
Since there is Not a single living being [5 skandas] existing, the first three carts can be discarded as it is only beneficial to reduce outflow, requiring effort from the Ego.
For the benefits of those still on the Hinayana, with various means of cultivations and meditation methods, the Truth reveal there is Nothing to meditate on and No one to be the meditator. All effort in the dream [samsara] pertain to the dream. Recognizing the dream as a dream is all is needed to awake TO [in contradistinction to FROM] the dream. This is Prajna identifying with the Dreamer [Kuan Zhi Zhai] and remain aloof to the dream, while witnessing it. The wisdom of Sunyatta. knowing that all IS a dream in the MIDST of the dream and Awake TO it, not waiting for the dream to end
Hence the Victory mantra wiping out all delusions. Gate,gate,paragate,parasamgate, Bodhi shava.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Deepavali
The Hindus have just celebrated Deepavali which many pass off as a festival of light [over darkness] Being a Chinese, I have always wondered why this day is refer to as ' Chu Yao Jie ' meaning to celebrate the annihilation of the Devil.
From the many cultures, most of the celebrations are symbolic in nature and points towards a lofty message. The celebration of Deepavali is always preceded by the breaking of coconut and towards dusk, oil lamps [using only coconut oil] are lit. One must realized the significance of this ritual.
The coconut represent one's Ego. The Ego in Hinduism and other religions is regarded as the Devil that veiled the Light of Brahman within ALL. The Ego represented by the coconut must be broken [with wisdom] to reveal the essence within [The oil from the kernel ] the Heart which then shines to removes all the darkness of Ignorance. This Light is symbolized by the light from the oil lamp.
Prior to Deepavali, elaborate designs and pictures [Kolam] were made from coloured rice laid out on floor, all to be swept away after Deepavali. This is to symbolize the impermanent and Maya nature of the Universe. Upon removing the Ego, all illusions disappear and only the Light of Awareness remain. In Buddhism this is known as Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.
The celebrations continue and will continue, but the message is lost in the festivities.
From the many cultures, most of the celebrations are symbolic in nature and points towards a lofty message. The celebration of Deepavali is always preceded by the breaking of coconut and towards dusk, oil lamps [using only coconut oil] are lit. One must realized the significance of this ritual.
The coconut represent one's Ego. The Ego in Hinduism and other religions is regarded as the Devil that veiled the Light of Brahman within ALL. The Ego represented by the coconut must be broken [with wisdom] to reveal the essence within [The oil from the kernel ] the Heart which then shines to removes all the darkness of Ignorance. This Light is symbolized by the light from the oil lamp.
Prior to Deepavali, elaborate designs and pictures [Kolam] were made from coloured rice laid out on floor, all to be swept away after Deepavali. This is to symbolize the impermanent and Maya nature of the Universe. Upon removing the Ego, all illusions disappear and only the Light of Awareness remain. In Buddhism this is known as Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.
The celebrations continue and will continue, but the message is lost in the festivities.
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