Episode 142 – Transmitting the Unsurpassed Mahayana Teachings
>> These and other Bhiksus numbered 12,000 in all. They all were Arhats, having exhausted all bonds and Leaks, never again to be bound or attached. They were truly liberated -Chapter on Virtues, Sutra of Infinite Meanings.
>>Arhat: the Small Vehicle’s ultimate stage of realization 1. “One who kills thieves,” meaning they kill the thieves of afflictions 2. “One worthy of offerings,” meaning they are worthy of receiving offerings from humans and heavenly beings 3. “One who forever enters Nirvana,” meaning they will not face the karmic retribution of birth and death again.
>> Liberation: breaking bonds and attaining freedom, dissolving the entanglements of delusion and transcending the fruits of sufferings of the Three Realms.
>> “After the Buddha finished making this prediction, at midnight, He entered Nirvana without remainder.”
>> “After this Buddha crossed into extinction, Wondrous Light Bodhisattva upheld the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra for a full 80 small kalpas, expounding it to others.”
>> “The eight sons of Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant acknowledged Wondrous Light as their teacher. Wondrous Light taught and transformed them, enabling them to firmly establish. Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.”
>> All eight sons had Wondrous Light as a teacher and could all solidify their unsurpassed enlightenment. The teacher and those who were taught were all virtuous and unwavering in the teaching. This means they would not retreat.
>> The eight sons of Lamp Radiant did not have their father as their teacher but Wondrous Light as their teacher. The ancients taught each others’ sons. Thus, Rahula had Son-of-Body (Sariputra) as his teacher.
>> The past Buddha’s eight sons had. Wondrous Light as their teacher. That Buddha emerged from Samadhi and taught him the Lotus Sutra. Rahula, the present Buddha’s son, had. Son-of-Body as his teacher. When the present Buddha emerged from Samadhi, He expounded this sutra to Sariputra.
At the Dharma-assembly, Buddhas from ancient times to the present have been continually giving teachings. Within the Dharma-assembly, there will always be countless sentient beings and spiritual practitioners listening to the Dharma. There are speakers and listeners. Upon those who continuously and faithfully accept and practice the Dharma, Buddhas will bestow predictions to attain Buddhahood. If we think about how this has remained the same from ancient times to the present, we must examine our minds and see if our internal spiritual training ground can continue in the same way forever.
We have talked of the Sutra of Infinite Meanings. In listening to the Buddha’s teachings, we must comprehend “the unspoken Lotus Sutra” of His heart. The Buddha’s original teaching, the Dharma He retained and guarded, was the Sutra of Infinite Meanings. The intangible “unspoken Lotus Sutra” is the infinite meanings [we perceive] every day in our hearts. When we look at anything, any matter or thing, we see principles. So, the principles of all matters and things are encompassed within these infinite meanings. So, infinite meanings is the Buddha’s true principle and is retained and guarded in the heart of all Buddhas.
These and other Bhiksus numbered 12,000 in all. They all were Arhats, having exhausted all bonds and Leaks, never again to be bound or attached. They were truly liberated -Chapter on Virtues, Sutra of Infinite Meanings.
What is intangible is in our hearts. What is tangible still requires teachings. When the Buddha taught the Sutra of Infinite Meanings, there were many spiritual practitioners, among them, “these and other bhiksus.” The bhiksus mentioned were led by Sariputra and included. Maudgalyayana, Subhuti, Mahakatyayana, etc. They were senior disciples of the Buddha. How many monastics did they lead? 12,000. Many people there were already Arhats and had “exhausted all bonds and Leaks, never again to be bound or attached. They were truly liberated.” By that time they were no longer bound by anything, and were already liberated.
What is an “Arhat”? An Arhat is someone who has reached “the Small Vehicle’s stage of ultimate realization.” There is the first, second, third and fourth fruits. The fourth is the highest state of the Small Vehicle, [at which one becomes] an “Arhat.”
An Arhat has engaged in spiritual practice and has skills of “one who kills thieves.” He destroys afflictions, which act as thieves. Each of us has a Dharma-treasury in our hearts, but unwittingly, we let afflictions come like thieves into our treasure rooms and carry everything off. Thus, engaging in spiritual practice is similar to catching thieves. We need to know what afflictions we have. Once we know, we can guard against thieves. Thus, “one who kills thieves” means one who destroys afflictions, which are like thieves.
These are Arhats, who have achieved the highest fruit in their practice of the Small Vehicle teachings. At the very least, Arhats have destroyed all afflictions in their minds. Because they have attained [realizations] through their spiritual practice, they can eliminate all afflictions from worldly activities and objects. Having eliminated afflictions they became “one worthy of offerings,” those who can accept offerings. To accept offerings from others, they must completely eliminate the thieves in their minds, their afflictions. They must have attained this skill through their practice of cultivating the virtue needed to be worthy of offerings from heavenly beings and humans.
Arhat: the Small Vehicle’s ultimate stage of realization 1. “One who kills thieves,” meaning they kill the thieves of afflictions 2. “One worthy of offerings,” meaning they are worthy of receiving offerings from humans and heavenly beings 3. “One who forever enters Nirvana,” meaning they will not face the karmic retribution of birth and death again.
We all engage in spiritual practice to transcend birth and death, for this is our goal as spiritual practitioners. But why are we yet unable to [do so]? This is because people continually force affinities. They constantly create good and bad affinities, so they are always pulled towards and entangled by birth and death. They are entangled with cyclic existence and with other people.
As humans, we may have roots of goodness or encounter the Buddha-Dharma and spiritual friends. If we did not have these causes and conditions, perhaps our evil acts would cause us to leave the human realm and go to the animal realm. In the Six Realms, aside from the heaven and human realms, the others are all evil realms, filled with unbearable suffering. So, we pray for liberation from the bonds of birth and death. Once we are liberated, we are free.
Liberation: breaking bonds and attaining freedom, dissolving the entanglements of delusion and transcending the fruits of sufferings of the Three Realms.
In what way are we free? We can play effortlessly in this world. Our ability to freely come and go comes from the power of our vows. We focus on helping suffering beings, and we go among the people with this sense of mission. This is the goal of our spiritual practice.
When the Sutra of Infinite Meanings was taught, many Bodhisattvas were present, as well as 12,000 bhiksus who had already attained Arhathood, the highest fruition of Small Vehicle practices. Their minds had already attained liberation and purity, and they no longer experienced cyclic existence. This took place at the Dharma-assembly before the Sutra of Infinite Meanings was taught.
Let me now speak of the Lotus Sutra. Manjusri described the Dharma-assembly of. Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha as being the same. There were also many spiritual practitioners there. Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha also radiated light and so forth. After emerging from Samadhi, He gave teachings to Wondrous Light Bodhisattva and bestowed a prediction upon. Virtue Treasury Bodhisattva.
“After the Buddha finished making this prediction, at midnight, He entered Nirvana without remainder.”
Having fulfilled His one great cause, He was to enter Nirvana without remainder at midnight. “Nirvana without remainder” is a very open and tranquil state. This was Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha’s one great cause being fulfilled.
The next passage states,
“After this Buddha crossed into extinction, Wondrous Light Bodhisattva upheld the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra for a full 80 small kalpas, expounding it to others.”
Once Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha entered extinction, many people still remained at the Dharma-assembly, those who have achieved, are achieving and have yet to achieve [Buddhahood]. So, this Dharma must continue to be transmitted. Who will be responsible for this transmission? Wondrous Light Bodhisattva. Thus, he upheld the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra. For how long? “For a full 80 small kalpas, expounding it to others.”
How long is 80 small kalpas? Very long. If the [average] human lifespan is ten years and increases by one year every 100 years until the [average] human lifespan is 84,000 years, this is called “one increasing kalpa.” After the [average] lifespan reaches 84,000 years, the collective karma of sentient beings causes their [average] lifespan to start decreasing. After 100 years, it decreases by one year. After another 100 years, After 100 years, it decreases by one year. This decrease continues until the [average] human lifespan is ten years. This is called “one decreasing kalpa.” One increasing kalpa and one decreasing kalpa complete one small kalpa. So, 80 small kalpas is a really long period of time. In conclusion, it is innumerable and boundless.
Indeed, the state of the Buddha cannot be measured by human [understanding]. Within this universe, whether time is short or long depends on our state of mind. Thus, if we compare a human lifespan with a heavenly being’s, or those who have surpassed the form and formless realm, their [lifespan] seems very long to us. Thus, [teaching for] 80 small kalpas is not an impossibility. From Buddhas’ and Bodhisattvas’ view of time, Wondrous Light Bodhisattva can uphold and teach the Lotus Sutra for a full 80 small kalpas. Thus, we can believe this explanation.
This tells us that the Buddha’s manifestation is subject to the law of nature and will end, while intangible, true principles are everlasting, and do not arise or cease. Yet, true principles that neither arise nor cease must be promoted by humans as the Way. People must uphold, promote and teach them for these true principles to survive in this world. Thus, after Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha crossed into extinction, Wondrous Light Bodhisattva came to uphold the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra and continuously pass it down.
“The eight sons of Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant acknowledged Wondrous Light as their teacher. Wondrous Light taught and transformed them, enabling them to firmly establish. Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.”
Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha had eight sons. When they heard their father became a monastic and achieved Buddhahood, they also left home like this Buddha. Yet, to become a monastic, they must have a teacher. Where could they find a teacher? Should they just take refuge with Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha? No. Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha would find a teacher for them. What kind of teacher did He look for? He sought a Bodhisattva who could uphold the Great Vehicle, namely, Wondrous Light Bodhisattva. Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha selected. Wondrous Light Bodhisattva to teach His eight sons.
All eight sons had Wondrous Light as a teacher and could all solidify their unsurpassed enlightenment. The teacher and those who were taught were all virtuous and unwavering in the teaching. This means they would not retreat.
It says, “All eight sons had Wondrous Light as a teacher and could all solidify their unsurpassed enlightenment” because Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha chose someone who transmitted the great teachings, the true principles of the wondrous Dharma. “Wondrous Light taught and transformed them” means Wondrous Light had assumed the duty of not just guarding and upholding this great Dharma, but of teaching and transforming others. So, the teacher is one who had been taught. First, one receives the teachings. Then, one teaches them to others. When one receives goodness, one passes on goodness. When one receives the unsurpassed. Great Vehicle Dharma, one also passes on the same unsurpassed Great Vehicle teachings.
But transmitting these Great Vehicle teachings to people is a very arduous task. So, they are “all virtuous and unwavering in the teaching.” This requires conviction and steadfastness. Transmitting teachings like this requires one to conquer many difficulties and to never retreat or turn back. Thus, teaching is a method of transmission. One first receives the Buddha-Dharma and then teaches and transforms sentient beings. Doing so requires a very firm conviction.
The sons of this past Buddha took Wondrous Light Bodhisattva as their teacher. What about the present Buddha? The present Buddha, Sakyamuni, had a son named Rahula. [He had a shortened name,] [but we refer to him as “Rahula”]. He was the son of Sakyamuni Buddha, and his teacher was named Son-of-Body, or Sariputra. This was because when Sariputra was born, his eyes were like his mother’s, so his name came from his mother (Sari). And because he resembled his mother, he was also called Son-of-Body.
The eight sons of Lamp Radiant did not have their father as their teacher but Wondrous Light as their teacher. The ancients taught each others’ sons. Thus, Rahula had Son-of-Body (Sariputra) as his teacher.
The eight sons of the Buddha in the past took Wondrous Light Bodhisattva as their teacher. He was the son of Sakyamuni Buddha, and took Sariputra as his teacher. When Sakyamuni Buddha emerged from Samadhi, He also expounded this sutra to Sariputra.
The past Buddha’s eight sons had. Wondrous Light as their teacher. That Buddha emerged from Samadhi and taught him the Lotus Sutra. Rahula, the present Buddha’s son, had. Son-of-Body as his teacher. When the present Buddha emerged from Samadhi, He expounded this sutra to Sariputra.
If we compare the past and the present Buddha, They should be very similar. So we say, all Buddhas share the same path. We understand that Buddhas manifested here solely to awaken our pure and undefiled minds. The past Buddha had eight sons. The present Buddha had one son. Did anyone notice that those eight sons all had the character “intention” in their names? Combining the “intentions” of the eight sons [creates] one mind-king, which is analogous to having one son, just as the present Buddha [did].
From the very beginning, it was said that everyone has a pure and non-discriminating mind that is no different from a Buddha’s. Thus, the principles are the same. So, my fellow Bodhisattvas, we must work hard to learn the Buddha’s Way. We do not just repeat the written words. In fact, those words were compiled to help us understand the wide array of principles they contain. There are infinite [principles] that are not written down in this text. We can only realize the vastness of the Buddha-Dharma after our wisdom has been awakened. So, I ask everyone to always be mindful.