Praises at the Summit of Mount Sumeru

Chapter Fourteen

 

 

Sutra:

Though there is no seeing, we speak of seeing.
Though there are no beings, we speak of beings.
Whether it is seeing, or whether it is beings,
One knows they lack reality and substance.

Commentary:

Though there is no seeing, we speak of seeing. In this ineffable, inexpressible state of reality —True Suchness, the lack of seeing does not mean there is no seeing. Seeing is spoken of from the point of view of ordinary people. Though there are no beings, we speak of beings. Originally beings have no substantial reality that can be apprehended, because they are like empty space. Whether it is seeing, or whether it is beings, / One knows they lack reality and substance. If you truly understand, you know that everything is like emptiness, devoid of substantial mass.

Sutra:

The faculty of seeing and the object that is seen:
When one dispenses with these concepts,
The true Dharma is left intact, unharmed.
Such a person understands the Buddha.

Commentary:

The faculty of seeing and the object that is seen refer to the seeing nature, which is able to see, and the things which are seen. When one dispenses with these concepts, when the agent of seeing and the object of seeing are done away with, there is only the basic substance of Dharma, which is thus and unmoving. The true Dharma is left intact, unharmed. When that which sees and that which is seen are emptied, both conditioned and unconditioned dharmas are emptied. What has outflows and what doesn’t have outflows are also emptied. All attachments are done away with. That is the true principle and substance of the Dharma Realm.

Such a person understands the Buddha. Why can’t people realize the basic substance of the Dharma? Why can’t we realize the principle of reality, which has no characteristics? It’s simply because we have attachment to what sees and what is seen. Thus we cannot tally with the true principle, and we cannot see the Buddha. If we could tally with the original, true Dharma nature, we would understand the Buddha’s state.

Sutra:

If a person understands the Buddha
And the Dharma that the Buddhas speak,
That person can illuminate the world
Just as Nishyanda Buddha does.

Commentary:

If one understands the state of the Buddha / And the Dharma—the 84,000 expedient dharma doors—that the Buddhas speak, / That person can illuminate the world. Such as person could disperse the darkness of the world with his wisdom light, justas Nishyanda Buddha’s pure Dharma body, which is perfect and unobstructed, pervading all places, does.

Sutra

The One of Proper Enlightenment explains well
The path of purity to the One Dharma.
The Great Lord Vigorous Wisdom
Has expounded countless dharmas.  

Commentary:

The One of Proper Enlightenment refers to Shakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha is one of Unsurpassed, Proper and Equal, Right Enlightenment. He explains well, using clever expedients, the 84,000 dharma doors, in order to resolve sentient beings’ 84,000 kinds of faults. After the Buddha has skillfully explained all the expedient dharma doors, he finally proclaims the One Buddha Vehicle, the pure path to the One Dharma. Basically there’s not even a single dharma; there’s only the pure, original, wonderful nature of True Suchness. The Great Lord Vigorous Wisdom, the great Bodhisattva Vigorous Wisdom of the northeastern direction, has already expounded countless expedient dharmas.

Sutra:

Existence, nonexistence—
All such thoughts are cast aside.
One thus can see the Buddha
And dwell in reality’s realm.

Commentary:

Existence, nonexistence—whether having an end or without an end, whether having outflows or without outflows, whether conditioned or unconditioned dharmas—allsuch thoughts are cast aside. One returns to the source and manifests the fundamental substance of the pure, original, wonderful nature of True Suchness. One thus can see the Buddha. When there’s not a single false thought, when not a single thought arises, everything becomes manifest. The manifestation of the entire substance is itself seeing the Buddha. And one will constantly dwell in reality’s realm in the Pure Land of Eternal Stillness and Light. One realizes the absolute reality. One understands that not a single dharma comes into being, and not a single dharma ceases to be. Within the dharmas of coming into being and cessation, one awakens to dharmas that neither come into being nor cease to be.

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