Vajra (Diamond) Sutra March 25, 2011 Lecture

8/7/2019 Vajra (Diamond) Sutra March 25, 2011 Lecture

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The Vajra (Diamond) SutraMarch 25 lecture

as outlined by a Buddhist monk(Listen live or recorded audio explanations atwww.wondrousdharma.org)

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ecogn z ng e rue m n s o a e nRealityS 28 No greed and nothing acquired


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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)

The unsurpassed, deep, profound, subtle, wonderfulDharma,

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In a hundred thousand million eons, is difficult toencounter, 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.


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Q&A

Question: What can we learn from the teachings on the Reality ofdharmas?

Answer:

Here is a verse from the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra: The Buddha in the same way Just like a reat cloud

Covering over everything Having come into the world For the sake of living beings

He discriminates and expounds The Reality of dharmas.

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4-line verses Principles All 3 is One Vehicle

S 3 If a Bttvahas anappearance ofself, others

Because ofdiscriminatingthoughts comeconditioned dharmas

From amidst equalitycomes the notion of selfand others; the cause ofsuffering is attachment .

S 5 Allappearancesare false andem t

Conditioned dharmasare fundamentallyEmpty

Because of suffering, theBuddha first taught theTwo Vehicles.

S 26 One wholooks for me informs, or seeks

me in sounds

Conditioned dharmasare not empty

The Buddha thenintroduces Bttva Vehiclehaving compassion for

others still suffering.S 32 Allconditioneddharmas arelike a dream, an

Thereforeconditioned dharmais empty and yet notempty

When Bttva Vehicle isperfected there is nodistinction betweenempty and not empty 4


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Q&A

The Buddha not only explained Reality in the Vajra Sutra butalso explained how we could abide in it and thereby subdue ourminds.

S 17 The Thus Come One did not attain the dharma ofanuttarasamyaksambodhi teaches us that our self nature is

, .

What is the self nature? S 14 The Appearance of Reality is without appearance

Therefore what should we do?

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Q&A

S 14 We should relinquish all appearances

What are those appearances?

oug s are no oug s po n o e m nthat is the source of appearances.

What is the cause for all these false thoughts?

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Q&A

It is discriminating the false self and others s5.

The true self is the awakened from confusion; the mind beingconfused by appearances.

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Q&A

The awakening is that this Dharma is level and equal;nothing is higher or lower. (S 23)

This illustrated in s 25 although the Thus Come One speaksof the existence of a self, there is really no self that exists.However, common eo le think the have a self.

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Q&A

Now that we know that we are covered up by the false mind, weshould think wisely; release our inherent prajna wisdom.

What is our inherent prajna wisdom?

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Q&A

We contemplate and see that all appearances are empty andfalse (S 5) and thereby let go of everything (s6) including ourthoughts (s9)

Let go of everything is essentially let go of conditioned dharmasre resentin the 6 sense ob ects s10

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Q&A

Though conditioned dharmas are empty and false, weshould not deny their existence and see them as namesfor namesake being not totally empty yet not reallyexisting ; thats all. (s13) This is acknowledging that it isnot totally empty.

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Q&A Until s 13 of the Vajra Sutra it teaches the concept of not

grasping at appearances (s32) and see appearances forwhat they are.

S 14 reveals the second part of our true self the unmovingnature . (s 32) by leaving appearances in putting down the self

and others through patience in not producing any thought.

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Q&A

The pertinent question is how do we put into practice patience ofnot producing any appearances?

In the practice of patience of not producing anything, we1. recognize the interplay of causes and conditions in this

conditioned existence; the reality of having to face karmic

2. Ultimately this physical body is an empty and false self.

.

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Q&A

3. We recognize that nothing is attained by us and the sameapplies to every living beings. (s17)

4. The false is also within the Buddhadharma and we should notreject them. (s17)

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Q&A

5. All our thoughts are empty and false because we and livingbeings are still confused and thus dont rely on them. (s18)

.

6. Through understanding Reality, we are not moved by blessingsand virtue (s19), by appearances (s 20) and by words (s21)[deeds, thoughts and speech respectively ]

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Q&A7. Seeing every living being as equal because our minds are open

to the Reality that every living being is a potential Buddha. (s22and 23)

8. Point 7 can be inversely interpreted that every living being isholding the common fallacy that this physical body is the true

.(s25)

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Q&A the Reality of not empty From sections 3 to 25, the Buddha was explaining the dharma

in the scenario that this universe is fundamentally empty. From sections 26 to 29, the Buddha explains how we let go of

attachments and remain unmoving in the scenario that thisuniverse is not completely empty.

We recognize the Reality that this universe is fundamentallyemp y n s rue orm, e very reason we cu va e s ere orefor the purpose of leaving all appearances and eventually beunmoving. (s26 and 28)

Because we realize that everything in this universe is devoid ofself, we become patient in neither be greedy for or attached tothem.

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Summary brief of Vajra Sutra CategorizeS 2 Bodhi resolve and quiet the mind IntentS 3 Ignorance is discrimination Cause of confusionS 4 to13

Prajna is not grasping atappearances

1) Thoughts ofAttachment

S 14to 25

Stillness or unmoving nature 2) False thinking

S 25 Because ever thin true and falseto 31

inherently dont exist but areappearances from falsediscrimination, cease the mad mind

S 32 Conclusion - not grasping atappearances and be unmoving bycontemplating Reality that allconditioned dharmas are like adream, an illusion, a bubble or a

Awakening is tocontemplate andrecognize the truemind and see the wiseand unmoving nature19


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Reality

Summary brief of Vajra Sutra Categorize

S 2 Empty Bodhi resolve and quiet the mind IntentS 3 Ignorance is discrimination Cause of confusionS 4

-13Prajna is not grasping atappearances

1) Thoughts ofAttachment

S 4- 25

Stillness or unmoving nature 2) False thinking

S26to s28

Notempty Because everything true andfalse inherently dont exist but

are appearances from falsediscrimination, cease the mad mind

S 9to s31

oneappea-rance -emptyandyet notempty

S32

Conclusion - not grasping atappearances and be unmoving

by contemplating Reality that allconditioned dharmas are like a

Awakening is tocontemplate and

recognize the truemind and see the20


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1 Initialwisdom

Compassionsupplements

wisdom

Equality

Reality Empty Not empty Empty andyet not empty

2 First ThenEmpty People Dharma

(thought)Patience

Leaving appearance Form Mind

3 50% 50% Equal

practice ofwisdom andstillness

Abiding in Reality Notattaching Unmoving(stillness) Contemplateand21


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S 28 No greed and nothing acquired

Sutra: Subhuti, a Bodhisattva might fill up world systems equalin number to the grains of sand in the Ganges River withthe seven precious gems and give them as a gift. But ifanother person were to realize that all dharmas are devoid

of self and attain patience, that Bodhisattvas merit andvirtues would surpass the merit and virtues of the previousBodhisattva.

ommen s:

Why is everything devoid of self? It is without identity; it was allone true appearance; being appearances from or projections ofthe mind.

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S 28 No greed and nothing acquired Because we see through everything as devoid of self, we see

through its true character that everything is inherently nonexistent and empty.

Therefore it is not surprising that the sutra says: all dharmas are devoid of self and attain patience - devoid

.

Because everything or Reality is seen as empty and not realbut projections of the mind, one attains patience.

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Extract of s 28: But if another person were to realizethat all dharmas are devoid of self and attain

patience

1. He sees every living being as empty and not real; being

causes and conditions.2. He sees every phenomena including thoughts as not real

or empty; being appearances of the false mind.

3. Therefore he attains patience with non producing ofdharmas or phenomena; nothing was produced nor

destroyed because originally there was nothing at all . 25


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S 28 No greed and nothing acquiredSutra: Why Subhuti? Because Bodhisattvas do notacquire blessings and virtues.Comments:

Bodhisattvas do not acquire blessings and virtueswould mean blessings and virtues originally dont existbecause every living being is replete with blessings andvirtuous conduct of a Buddha.

They are expedients to negate the false and reveal thetruth. As such they are a product of projection of the

mind. This accords with Reality.

Therefore nothing was acquired. This is prajna paramitato see Reality in its true form. What is Reality?

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What is Reality?

The Appearance of Reality is without Appearances .(s 14) Basically there was nothing at all.

From absolute nothingness comes this world ofexistence which fundamentally doesnt exist.

When seen in this way, no blessings or virtues areacquired in this world of existence which fundamentallydoesnt exist.

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Sutra: Subhuti addressed the Buddha, World HonoredOne, how is it that Bodhisattvas do not acquireblessings and virtues?

Subhuti, Bodhisattvas should neither be greedy for,nor be attached to the blessings and virtues which

.

blessings and virtues.Comments: Because we now see the Reality of Appearance of

blessings and virtues, we see it as fundamentally emptyand thus we do not greed for nor attached to them.

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Q&A pertaining to s 28

Question: If all dharmas are devoid of self, what about the hells?Answer:Great Master Yung Chia,

When one is certified to the characteristic of Reality, There are no people or dharmas

, If I were deceiving living beings with untrue words, Id invite upon myself the Ripping Out of Tongues for eons as

many as dust and sands.

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Q&A on section 28

Great Master Yung Chia,

In a dream, very clearly, there are six destinies;

After enlightenment, completely empty, there is nouniverse.

Explained by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua:

While people are confused in a dream, the six paths ofgods, humans, asuras, hells, hungry ghosts and animalsare distinctly evident.

After one becomes Enlightened and is roused from theconfused dream, emptiness is pulverized, home is

broken and people vanish. Then how could there theThree Thousand Great Thousand World system exist?30


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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

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, ,and to joy.

May kindness find reward; may all who sorrow leave theirgrief and pain;

May this boundless light break the darkness of theirendless night. Because our hearts are one, this world of pain turns into

paradise;

May all become compassionate and wise (2x)

Documents

Vajra (Diamond) Sutra March 25, 2011 Lecture