The Four Holy Truths

Chapter Eight

SUTRA:

THE SAHA WORLD

AT THAT TIME, MANJUSHRI BODHISATTVA MAHASATTVA TOLD ALL THE BODHISATTVAS: “ALL OF YOU DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THIS SAHA WORLD, THE HOLY TRUTH OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED OFFENSES, PERHAPS CALLED OPPRESSION, PERHAPS CALLED FLUX AND CHANGE, PERHAPS CALLED GRABBING ONTO CONDITIONS, PERHAPS CALLED CONGLOMERATION, PERHAPS CALLED THORNS, PERHAPS CALLED RELYING ON THE ROOT, PERHAPS CALLED VAIN AND DECEPTIVE, PERHAPS CALLED CARBUNCLES AND SORES, PERHAPS CALLED THE CONDUCTS OF STUPID PEOPLE.

COMMENTARY:

AT THAT TIME, MANJUSHRI BODHISATTVA MAHASATTVA, also called “Wonderfully Auspicious” Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva of great wisdom, speaks. Since he is a great Bodhisattva, he acts as the leader of other Bodhisattvas. This means that his practices have surpassed all the other Bodhisattva’s sattvas’. It doesn’t mean that he fought to be leader; rather, all the Buddhas permitted him to be the leader of the Bodhisattvas. It wasn’t the case that he himself was arrogant and hollered, “Now al of you Bodhisattvas should pay attention to me! You should protect me, since I am your leader.” It’s not that way. It’s not a position he pushed for. He was not like the leaders of the countries of today who fight and jostle to be on top. It’s not because of virtue that they get to rule over others but because of their insatiable craving for power.

If you want to rule people by means of virtue you won’t need to fight. So why is our world going bad? It’s because rulers are trying to subdue people by force, not by virtue. It’s because no one in this world yields, everybody strives and nobody can be patient with anyone else. The world leaders are always wanting more power. They want to be number one. The more they fight, the worse it will get, to the extent that heaven and earth become topsy-turvy. That’s just the appearance of living beings’ upside-down thinking.

So people who cultivate the Way shouldn’t be jockeying for position, fame, or power. Instead they should be patient and vigorous. They should want to have dhyana samadhi, they should want to hold precepts. Whoever cultivates is number one. If you are number one in not following the rules, you’ll never get to be a leader of the Bodhisattvas.

At that time, Manjushri Bodhisattva TOLD ALL THE BODHISATTVAS: “ALL OF YOU DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, I will now tell you about the Sagely Truth of Suffering. In the Saha world, there are many other names for it, and I will tell you all these different names.”

What is going to happen is that Manjushri Bodhisattvas is going to give ten names for each truth in each of ten world systems. That adds up to four hundred names in all. In this first case, regarding the Truth of Suffering in the Saha world, you should recognize that all of these names are different names of suffering all belonging to the Holy Truth of Suffering. If you can easily recognize suffering, then you can cultivate. In the Saha world, that is, our world, we endure suffering. “Saha” is Sanskrit; translated it means “able to endure.” The name implies that we are capable of enduring all the suffering here.

Manjushri Bodhisattva says, “In this world, happiness is the root cause of suffering.”

IN THIS SAHA WORLD, THE HOLY TRUTH OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED OFFENSES. Because you have offenses, you have suffering. If you don’t have any offenses, you won’t suffer. And if you don’t suffer, you don’t have offenses. So another name for suffering is “offenses.”

PERHAPS it is CALLED OPPRESSION. It oppresses your body and mind. PERHAPS it is CALLED FLUX AND CHANGE. This flux and change refers to the process of decay. PERHAPS it is CALLED GRABBING ONTO CONDITIONS. The motto of Gold Mountain Monastery and The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is, “Freezing to death, we don’t climb on conditions,” which is to say, even if we were freezing to death, we wouldn’t create offenses by seeking advantage from people. The suffering of freezing to death is not as severe as creating offenses. Being opportunistic is also a form of suffering.

PERHAPS it is CALLED CONGLOMERATION. This means the aggregation of your offense karma. Here it doesn’t mean piling up your virtuous practices; it means piling up all of our offense karma. PERHAPS it is CALLED THORNS. Sometimes, suffering is called thorns. When you’re pierced by it, it hurts. PERHAPS it is CALLED RELYING ON THE ROOT, relying on the root of offenses. PERHAPS it is CALLED VAIN AND DECEPTIVE. You do a lot of empty and false things to cheat people.

PERHAPS it is CALLED CARBUNCLES AND SORES. This is like when your body breaks out in sores and starts to ooze blood and pus. Your precious energy leaks out through the sores and your body loses its health and vitality. Likewise, when you experience suf-fering, it takes away all your energy. The more suffering and abuse you go through, the more your self-nature loses its light and suffers a beating. PERHAPS it is CALLED THE CONDUCTS OF STUPID PEOPLE. Stupid people are those without wisdom. Because of a lack of wisdom, everything they do is offense karma. With offense karma, there is suffering.

The above are ten names for suffering. Al-though the names are different, the underlying principle is the same. We should take each one of these names and ponder over them deeply, and in that way open up a far-reaching understanding and wisdom.

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THIS SAHA WORLD, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE ACCUMULATION OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED BEING BOUND UP, PERHAPS CALLED DECAY AND RUIN, PERHAPS CALLED THE MEANING OF LOVE AND ATTACHMENT, PERHAPS CALLED FALSE ENLIGHTENMENT AND THOUGHTS, PERHAPS CALLED TENDING TOWARD AND ENTERING, PERHAPS CALLED DECISIVE, PERHAPS CALLED NET, PERHAPS CALLED IDLE SPECULATION, PERHAPS CALLED FOLLOWING ALONG, PERHAPS CALLED THE ROOT OF INVERSION.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva, afraid that they are not paying attention, calls out to the Buddha’s disciples again. He says: DISCIPLES OF THE BUD-DHA, IN THIS SAHA WORLD, THE HOLY TRUT OF THE ACCUMULATION OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED BEING BOUND UP. This refers to either being tied up and suspended in mid air, or fettered to a stump. People get bound up or fettered when they fall in love. Love is an accumulation of suffering. PERHAPS this suffering is CALLED DECAY AND RUIN. When your happiness is ruined, of course there is suffering.

PERHAPS it is CALLED THE MEANING OF LOVE AND ATTACHMENT. When you love something or someone, and are unable to give that person or thing up, there is attachment. PERHAPS it is CALLED FALSE ENLIGHTENMENT AND THOUGHTS. It means you enlighten to the wrong thing. You work under an erroneous assumption. PERHAPS it is CALLED TENDING TOWARD AND ENTERING. One tends toward the places of affliction, like stepping into quicksand or a mire and then being unable to get out. PERHAPS it is CALLED DECISIVE. What are you de-cisive about? You’re decisive about having afflic-tions! And yet you yourself don’t understand it.

PERHAPS it is CALLED NET. You’re caught in a net, unable to get freed. This is like fish which swim about in the sea or the rivers, quite free and at ease, but if they are snared by a fisherman’s net, then they might lose their lives. PERHAPS it is CALLED IDLE SPECULATION. The words that one says are not true and actual; they are like playful speculations of casual jokes. PERHAPS it is CALLED FOLLOWING ALONG. You follow along with the conduct of afflictions. PERHAPS it is CALLED THE ROOT OF INVERSION. Accumulation is the very root of being upside down.

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THIS SAHA WORLD, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED NON-CONTENTION, PERHAPS CALLED LEAVING FILTH, PERHAPS CALLED STILL QUIESCENCE, PERHAPS CALLED MARKLESS, PERHAPS CALLED WITHOUT DEMISE, PERHAPS CALLED WITHOUT A SELF-NATURE, PERHAPS CALLED FREEDOM FROM IMPEDIMENTS, PERHAPS CALLED EXTINCTION, PERHAPS CALLED TRUE AND ACTUAL SUBSTANCE, PERHAPS CALLED ABIDING IN THE SELF-NATURE.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva calls out again: DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THIS SAHA WORLD, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING is known by many names. PERHAPS it is CALLED NON-CONTENTION, that is, it is without fighting or strife. PERHAPS it is CALLED LEAVING FILTH. One separates far from the wearisome dust. PERHAPS it is CALLED STILL QUIESCENCE. To be apart from vexation is “stillness,” to cut off all agony and disasters is “quiescence.”

PERHAPS it is CALLED MARKLESS, that is, the state where one sweeps away all dharmas and separates from all marks. PERHAPS it is CALLED WITHOUT DEMISE. One never falls, or suffers ruin. PERHAPS it is CALLED WITHOUT A SELF-NATURE. All dharmas are without a self-nature. PERHAPS it is CALLED FREEDOM FROM IMPEDIMENTS. This means there is no obstacle of afflictions and no obstacle of what is known. PERHAPS it is CALLED EXTINCTION – extinction of all afflictions. PERHAPS it is CALLED TRUE AND ACTUAL SUBSTANCE. One reaches the original substance of true reality. PERHAPS it is CALLED ABIDING IN THE SELF-NATURE. Since this is the extinction of suffering, one dwells in the self-nature.

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THIS SAHA WORLD, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE WAY LEADING TO THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED THE ONE VEHICLE, PERHAPS CALLED INCLINING TOWARD STILLNESS, PERHAPS CALLED INSTRUCTING AND GUIDING, PERHAPS CALLED ULTIMATELY WITHOUT DIFFERENCE, PERHAPS CALLED LEVEL EQUALITY, PERHAPS CALLED RENOUNCING ONE’S BURDEN, PERHAPS CALLED WITHOUT TENDENCIES, PERHAPS CALLED ACCORDING WITH THE SAGELY INTENT, PERHAPS CALLED THE CONDUCT OF IMMORTALS, PERHAPS CALLED TEN TREASURIES.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva again calls out; DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THIS SAHA WORLD, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE WAY LEADING TO THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING is known by different names. In brief, there are ten names in all. PERHAPS it is CALLED THE ONE VEHICLE. As the Dharma Flower (Lotus) Sutra says:

There is only one Buddha Vehicle;
There are no other vehicles.

There is only one Buddha Way, and there are no other ways that could be cultivated.

PERHAPS it is CALLED INCLINING TOWARD STILLNESS. One tends toward the state of still tranquility. PERHAPS it is CALLED INSTRUCTING AND GUIDING. This truth leads living beings to the Buddha’s country. PERHAPS it is CALLED ULTIMATELY WITHOUT DIFFERENCE. When you arrive at the ultimate place, what discrimination could there be? PERHAPS it is CALLED LEVEL EQUALITY – there is no high or low. Everything is level and impartial.

PERHAPS it is CALLED RENOUNCING ONE’S BURDEN. You give up your heavy load, all the things that tie you down. PERHAPS it is CALLED WITHOUT TENDENCIES. You walk on a bright, broad, path that doesn’t veer off on tangents. PERHAPS it is CALLED ACCORDING WITH THE SAGELY INTENT. You follow along the path that all sages walk. PERHAPS it is CALLED THE CONDUCT OF IMMORTALS. You practice the path that the Great Immortal – the Buddha – trod, which is the Bodhi path. PERHAPS it is CALLED TEN TREASURIES. The Ten Treasuries are the Treasuries of:

• faith
• precepts
• shame
• remorse
• learning
• giving
• wisdom
• mindfulness
• upholding
• eloquence

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THIS SAHA WORLD, THE FOUR HOLY TRUTHS CAN BE DESCRIBED IN FORTY TRILLION NAMES SUCH AS THESE, WHICH, BY ACCORDING WITH LIVING BEINGS’ THOUGHTS, CAN CAUSE THEM ALL TO BE TAMED AND SUBDUED.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva calls out again: DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THIS SAHA WORLD, there are the forty names of THE FORU HOLY TRUTHS we have just discussed. They further expand from those forty to four hundred, then to four thousand, forty thousand, four hundred thousand, four million, four billion and so forth, all the way up so that they can be DESCRIBED IN FORTY TRILLION NAMES SUCH AS THESE, WHICH, BY ACCORDING WITH LIVING BEINGS’ THOUGHTS, CAN CAUSE THEM ALL TO BE TAMED AND SUB-DUED. When living beings hear these names, their bodies and minds are compliant and subdued. They bring forth the Bodhi mind and accomplish the Un-surpassed Way.

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, THE HOLY TRUTH OF SUFFERING AS EXPLAINED IN THIS SAHA WORLD, IN THE WORLD CALLED SECRET INSTRUCTIONS, IS PERHAPS CALLED ROOT OF SEEKING AND SEARCHING, PERHAPS CALLED NOT GETTING OUT, PERHAPS CALLED THE ROOT OF BONDS AND FETTERS, PERHAPS CALLED DOING WHAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE, PERHAPS CALLED UNIVERSAL STRIFE AND CONTENTION, PERHAPS CALLED LACKING POWER TO DISCRIMINATE AND ANALYZE, PERHAPS CALLED THAT ON WHICH ACTIVITIES RELY, PERHAPS CALLED EXTREME AGONY, PERHAPS CALLED AGITATED MOVEMENT, PERHAPS CALLED OBJECTS WITH SHAPE AND FORM.

COMMENTARY:

DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, Manjushri Bodhisat-tva says, THE HOLY TRUTH OF SUFFERING AS EXPLAINED IN THIS SAHA WORLD, is known by various names. And IN THE WORLD CALLED SECRET INSTRUCTIONS, that is, the world to the east, it is also known by many names. In general there are ten. PERHAPS it is CALLED ROOT OF SEEKING AND SEARCHING. This means people exhaust their means to go outside and “climb on conditions,” seeking advantage from this place and that. What do they seek? They seek ig-norance. Ignorance is just not understanding. Because of not understanding, they go out and seek and this is the root of suffering. PERHAPS it is CALLED NOT GETTING OUT. They do not want to get out of the Three Realms; instead they are willing to stay in the “burning house.”

PERHAPS it is CALLED THE ROOT OF BONDS AND FETTERS. By suffer-ing they are bound, so they do not arrive at the source of liberation. PERHAPS it is CALLED DOING WHAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE. Because living beings do what they shouldn’t do, they create offenses. With offenses there is suffering. PERHAPS it is CALLED UNIVERSAL STRIFE AND CONTENTION. Everywhere there is fighting. People fight with peo-ple, families strive with families, nations war with nations. This is the Dharma Ending Age and everyone is strong in contention.

Therefore, living beings who are stubborn and hard to subdue, day and night steep themselves in contention. What is the reason behind this? It is because Asuras are being born into this world, fanning he fires everywhere, stirring up waves. Their only talent is to instigate contention. They contend, so that what is good turns to bad, what is bad gets even worse. They contend so that the rich are reduced to poverty, and the poor are forced to die. And even after they die, their flesh and bones are turned into fertilizer – how cruel! Those who like o contend are all transformations of asuras. When here is no contention in the world, then the world will receive some peace.

PERHAPS this Truth of Suffering is CALLED LACKING POWER TO DISCRIMINATE AND ANALYZE. One does not have the strength to discern good from evil. PERHAPS it is CALLED THAT ON WHICH ACTIVITIES RELY. One bases one’s offenses upon suffering. One’s actions are built upon suffering. PER-HAPS it is CALLED EXTREME AGONY. This is misery to the extreme. PERHAPS it is CALLED AGITATED MOVEMENT. One has a violent temper which flares up at any moment and is totally unpredictable. PERHAPS it is CALLED OBJECTS WITH SHAPE AND FORM. Sometimes one feels as if one’s heart is constricted with something so that one can’t breath freely. This is another trick of afflictions and ignorance.

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THAT WORLD CALLED SECRET INSTRUCTIONS, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE ACCUMULATION OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED FLOWING ALONG WITH BIRTH AND DEATH, PERHAPS CALLED DEFILED ATTACHMENT, PERHAPS CALLED BURNING, PERHAPS CALLED FLOWING AND TURNING, PERHAPS CALLED THE ROOT OF DECAY AND RUIN, PERHAPS CALLED CONTINUATION OF ALL REALMS OF EXISTENCE, PERHAPS CALLED EVIL PRACTICE, PERHAPS CALLED LOVE AND FIXATION, PERHAPS CALLED THE SOURCE OF ILLNESS, PERHAPS CALLED SHARE AND MEASURE.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva says: DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THAT WORLD CALLED SECRET INSTRUCTION, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE ACCUMULATION OF SUFFERING is known by many names. PERHAPS it is CALLED FLOWING ALONG WITH BIRTH AND DEATH. Living beings flow along with samsara without cease. PERHAPS it is CALLED DEFILED ATTACHMENT; Their attachment is corrupt and not pure. PERHAPS it is CALLED BURNING. This suffering is as if one were burnt by a roaring fire. PERHAPS it is CALLED FLOWING AND TURNING. Living beings turn and flow in the six paths, unable to get out. PERHAPS it is CALLED THE ROOT OF DECAY AND RUIN. This is the very root that destroys all good practices. PERHAPS it is CALLED CONTINUATION OF ALL REALMS OF EXISTENCE. There are twenty-five realms of existence within the Triple World. In brief, they are summarized in the following verse:

There are four continents, four evil places, Brahma King and the Six Desire Heavens.
The Heaven of No-Thought and the Five Heavens of No-return,
Also the four stations of emptiness, and the four dhyanas.

PERHAPS this suffering is CALLED EVIL PRACTICE – very vile actions. PERHAPS it is CALLED LOVE AND FIXATION. One craves and is obsessed with the five desires. PERHAPS it is CALLED THE SOURCE OF ILLNESS. Illness stems from afflictions. If there are no afflictions, then the roots of illness will dry up. PERHAPS it is CALLED SHARE AND MEASURE. Every person has his share and measure of afflictions.

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THE WORLD CALLED SECRET INSTRUCTIONS, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED THE FOREMOST MEANING, PERHAPS CALLED ESCAPE, PERHAPS CALLED DESERVING PRAISE, PERHAPS CALLED PEACE AND SECUR-ITY, PERHAPS CALLED WHOLESOME TENDENCIES, PERHAPS CALLED TAMING AND SUBDUING, PERHAPS CALLED ONE SHARE, PERHAPS CALLED FREE FROM OFFENSE, PERHAPS CALLED SEPARATING FROM GREED, PERHAPS CALLED DECISIVENESS.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva CALLS OUT AGAIN: DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THE WORLD CALLED SECRET INSTRUCTIONS, this HOLY TRUTH OF THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING has different names. PERHAPS it is CALLED THE FOREMOST MEANING, which is just the dharma of still quiescence. As it is said, “All dharmas from the beginning are naturally still and quiet in character. PERHAPS it is CALLED ESCAPE – escape from the Three Realms, in order to head for the Pure Land of Eternal Stillness and Light. PERHAPS it is CALLED DESERVING PRAISE. This dharma of extinction merits praise and exaltation. PERHAPS CALLED PEACE AND SECURITY. There is no strife or contention, so there is harmony and peace.

PERHAPS it is CALLED WHOLESOME TENDENCIES. One is killed at tending toward proper enlightenment. PERHAPS it is CALLED TAMING AND SUBDUING. One can tame and subdue stubborn living beings and influence them to become gentle and compliant, to change from the evil and go toward the good and to repent of all their evil offenses. PERHAPS it is CALLED ONE SHARE. Every one has on share of this. PERHAPS it is CALLED FREE FROM OFFENSE. Once we eradicate our offenses then we have no more afflictions. PERHAPS it is CALLED SEPARATING FROM GREED. One is apart from all craving and greed. PERHAPS it is CALLED DECISIVENESS. One definitely wants to leave the suffering of the Three Realms and attain the bliss of Nirvana.

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THAT WORLD CALLED SECRET INSTRUCTIONS, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE WAY LEADING TO THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED VALIANT GENERAL, PERHAPS CALLED SUPERIOR CONDUCT, PERHAPS CALLED TRANSCENDENCE, PERHAPS CALLED POSSESSING EXPEDIENTS, PERHAPS CALLED LEVEL EYES, PERHAPS CALLED APART FROM EXTREMES, PERHAPS CALLED UNDERSTANDING AND ENLIGHTENMENT, PERHAPS CALLED GATHERING IN, PERHAPS CALLED MOST SUPREME EYES, PERHAPS CALLED CONTEMPLATING THE DIRECTIONS.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva calls out again: DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THAT WORLD CALLED SECRET INSTRUCTIONS, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE WAY LEADING TO THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING is known by various different names. PERHAPS it is CALLED VALIANT GENERAL, who wins at every battle. PERHAPS it is CALLED TRANSCENDENCE. One transcends the sea of suffering. As it is said, “The sea of suffering is boundless, a turn of the head is the other shore.” PERHAPS it is CALLED POSSESSING EXPEDIENTS. One has the skill-in-means to cultivate. PERHAPS it is CALLED LEVEL EYES. One universally contemplates all living beings and considers them all as level and equal.

PERHAPS it is CALLED APART FROM EXTREMES. One separates from the extremities of existence and emptiness, and abides in the Middle Way. PERHAPS it is CALLED UNDERSTANDING AND ENLIGHTENMENT. One cultivates this path and be-comes enlightened. PERHAPS it is CALLED GATHERING IN. One gathers in living beings to go to the Pure Land of Eternal Stillness and Light. PERHAPS it is CALLED MOST SUPREME EYES, the most supreme Dharma Eye. PERHAPS it is CALLED CONTEMPLATING THE DIRECTIONS. One universally contemplates the four directions. The four directions refers to the Four Holy Truths. The contemplation of the Four Holy Truths is just the Turth of the Way.

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THE WORLD CALLED SECRET INSTRUCTIONS, THE FOUR HOLY TRUTHS ARE DESCIBED BY FORTY TRILLIONS NAMES SUCH AS THESE, WHICH BY ACCORDING WITH LIVING BEINGS’ THOUGHTS, CAN CAUSE THEM ALL TO BE TAMED AND SUBDUED.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva calls out again: DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THE WORLD CALLED SECRET INSTRUCTIONS, THE FOUR HOLY TRUTHS ARE DESCIBED BY FORTY TRILLIONS NAMES SUCH AS THESE. Although the names are different, the principle behind them is the same. They are names WHICH BY ACCORDING WITH LIVING BEINGS’ THOUGHTS, CAN CAUSE THEM ALL TO BE TAMED AND SUBDUED and to obtain benefit.

SUTRA:

III. THE WORLD MOST VICTORIOUS

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, THE HOLY TRUTH OF SUFFERING AS EXPLAINED IN THIS SAHA WORLD, IN THE WORLD CALLED MOST VICTORIOUS IS PERHAPS CALLED TERRIFYING, PERHAPS CALLED SHARE-SECTION, PERHAPS CALLED LOATHSOME, PERHAPS CALLED DEMANDING ATTENTION, PERHAPS CALLED CHANGE, PERHAPS CALLED RESENTMENT THAT BECKONS, PERHAPS CALLED DECEPTION AND USURPATION, PERHAPS CALLED DIFFICULT TO WORK TOGETHER, PERHAPS CALLED FALSE DISCRIMINATION, PERHAPS CALLED POSSESSING STRENGTH.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva calls out again: DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, THE HOLY TRUTH OF SUFFERING AS EXPLAINED IN THIS SAHA WORLD, is known by many different names. IN THE WORLD CALLED MOST VICTORIOUS, it is also known by many names. PERHAPS it is CALLED TERRIFYING. When one’s heart is terri-fied, one suffers. PERHAPS it is CALLED SHARE-SECTION. Every living being has his own share, his own body and lifespan. Therefore, the suffering of share-section comes into existence. PERHAPS it is CALLED LOATHESOME. This suffering is repulsive; it is CALLED DEMANDING ATTENTION. One has to patiently undergo this type of suffering and not com-plain. As it is said,

To undergo suffering is to end suffering.
To enjoy blessing is to end blessing.

PERHAPS it is CALLED CHANGE. Things change from good to bad. This is also suffering. PERHAPS it is CALLED RESENTMENT THAT BECKONS. All enmity and grudges are brought about because of beckoning. You asked for it and you have to undergo it yourself. PERHAPS it is CALLED DECEPTION AND USURPATION. This kind of suffering deceives living beings and usurps their joy. PERHAPS it is CALLED DIFFICULT TO WORK TOGETHER. It is very hard to handle this kind of suffering. PERHAPS it is CALLED FALSE DISCRIMINATION. The discriminations are false and ungrounded, not based on truth. PERHAPS it is CALLED POSSESSING STRENGTH. This type of suffering has great power, it can manipulate everything.

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THAT WORLD CALLED MOST VICTORIOUS, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE ACCUMULATION OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED DECAY AND DESTRUCTION, PERHAPS CALLED THE ROOT OF STUPIDITY, PERHAPS CALLED GREAT RESENTMENT, PERHAPS CALLED SHARP BLADE, PERHAPS CALLED DESTROYING FLAVOR, PERHAPS CALLED ENMITY, PERHAPS CALLED THAT WHICH DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU, PERHAPS CALLED EVIL GUIDE, PERHAPS CALLED INCREASING DARKNESS, PERHAPS CALLED RUINING WHOLESOME BENEFITS.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva calls out again: DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THAT WORLD CALLED MOST VICTORIOUS, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE ACCUMULATION OF SUFFERING IS known by differnt names. PERHAPS it is CALLED DECAY AND DESTRUCTION. Because of the accumulation of afflictions, there is decay, and everything goes bad.

PERHAPS it is CALLED THE ROOT OF STUPIDITY. Originally everyone has his own share of the Bodhisattvas’ wisdom and virtuous practices, but because they abuse it, they become stupid. If you light an oil lamp every day, the amount of oil is bound to decrease, and the light will grow dimmer until there is total darkness. Darkness is ignorance. When people have ignorance, every day they strike up false thinking. False thinking is the root of stupidity. PERHAPS it is CALLED GREAT RESENTMENT. If you resent this and resent that, eventually you’ll end up with a big resentment. PERHAPS it is CALLED SHARP BLADE. The accumulation of suffering is the sharpest blade; it can really harm. Therefore, in the Sutra of Forty-Two sections it says of desire:

People who cannot renounce wealth and sex are like small children who, not satisfied with one delicious helping, lick the honey off the blade of the knife and so cut their tongues.

PERHAPS it is CALLED DESTROYING FLAVOR. When you are troubled, even the food you eat doesn’t have any taste. PERHAPS it is CALLED ENMITY. When you are faced with an enemy, you are consumed with rage. The two of you can’t stand face to face, and a life and death struggle ensues. Why is there this type of deep hatred? Perhaps in the past you killed his father, or maybe he robbed you of your wife.

PERHAPS it is CALLED THAT WHICH DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU. Afflictions are basically not inherent in your nature; they come from outside. PERHAPS it is CALLED EVIL GUIDE. Evil advisors take you to dangerous places. PERHAPS it is CALLED INCREASING DARKNESS. When darkness takes over, there is no light, which is another way of saying there is a lack of wisdom. PERHAPS it is CALLED RUINING WHOLESOME BENEFITS. It ruins wholesome benefits that should be coming to you. Therefore, this accumulation of suffering is reall an evil thing.

SUTRA:

“DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THE WORLD CALLED MOST VICTORIOUS, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED GREAT MEANING, PERHAPS CALLED BENEFITTING, PERHAPS CALLED MEANING WITH MEANING, PERHAPS CALLED LIMITLESS, PERHAPS CALLED THAT WHICH SHOULD BE SEEN, PERHAPS CALLED APART FROM DISCRIMINATION, PERHAPS CALLED MOST SUPERIOR TAMING AND SUBDUING, PERHAPS CALLED FOREVER LEVEL AND EQUAL, PERHAPS CALLED ABLE TO LIVE TOGETHER, PERHAPS CALLED UNCONDITIONED.

COMMENTARY:

Manjushri Bodhisattva calls out again: DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA, IN THE WORLD CALLED MOST VICTORIOUS, THE HOLY TRUTH OF THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING IS PERHAPS CALLED GREAT MEANING. Its purport is most extensive and vast. PERHAPS it is CALLED BENEFITTING. It can help living beings instead of harm them. PERHAPS it is CALLED MEANING WITH MEANING. The meaning within meaning is the most subtle, wonderful type of Dharma. PERHAPS it is CALLED LIMITLESS. It embodies measureless principles. PERHAPS it is CALLED THAT WHICH SOULD BE SEEN. This truth of extinction is something that should be brought to light and seen. PERHAPS it is CALLED APART FROM DISCRIMINATION. If one can separate from discrimination, then one can arrive at the nature of all Buddhas.

PERHAPS CALLED MOST SUPERIOR TAMING AND SUBDUING. This is an unsurpassed method that can tame living beings. PERHAPS it is CALLED FOREVER LEVEL AND EQUAL. It is constantly impartial, without any bias. PERHAPS it is CALLED ABLE TO LIVE TOGETHER. One can co-exist within this truth and not feel hampered. PERHAPS it is CALLED UNCONDITIONED. There is no contrivance or activity. It is able to cut off all evil and bring forth all good. That is, one “desists from all evil, and offers up all good acts.” This is also a state of not acting and yet getting everything done.

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