The
Venerable One knew that the Patriarch’s meaning was victorious.
Buddhanandi knew that the seventh patriarch’s principles were higher
than his own; because genuine principle cannot be expressed. And with his
heart full of respect he said, "I wish to seek the Way. I want to seek
the Way from the Patriarch. And be saturated with the flavor of sweet
dew."
The
Patriarch shaved his head and administered the complete precepts. He
transmitted the great Dharma, the Dharma of the Mind Seal. In a verse he
said,
With
a mind like the realm of emptiness
I
explain a Dharma like emptiness.
When
you certify to emptiness
There
is nothing, which is, nor is not Dharma.
At
that time there is no meaning which can be discussed.
After
the Venerable One obtained the Dharma he led a multitude with his practice
and teaching. When he reached the country of T’i Ch’ieh he transmitted
the Dharma to Buddhamitra, the ninth patriarch. Immediately he manifested
spiritual transformations. He ascended into empty space and displayed the
eighteen transformations. Then he returned to his seat, sat erect and
departed. He sat in full lotus posture and went off to rebirth. Thereupon
the assembly made a precious stupa and placed his body in it.
A
verse in his praise says,
Discussions
are not the meaning
In
a single word he understood.
Penetrating
to the efficacious source
He
renounced all worldly wealth.
The
passageway for sweet dew opened
At
the third watch the sun blazed.
It’s
that way now as it was of old
The
light of purity is dazzling.
Theorizing
and investigating are not the true principle. As soon as he heard this one
sentence he became enlightened. He already understood his original face.
He did not want his gems; the Dharma door of sweet dew was open. The sun
came out at midnight. This is an analogy for achieving a state of light
which allows it to be as if sunny even at midnight. It’s that way now
and it was that way in the past, the light of purity is extremely bright.
Another
verse says:
The
flesh cowl on his crown
Revealed
the true source.
His
hallmark was a fine appearance;
The
strength of his vows were firm.
With
unobstructed eloquence
And
profound prajna,
He
opened great enlightenment
Perceiving
perfectly the esoteric meaning.
With
a mind like empty space
He
transcends the Dharma-realm.
His
capacity includes the universe,
Yet
enters a mote of dust.
Instantly
displaying his spiritual transformations
He
returned then to his seat.
The
third watch dazzled with sun
As
if it were tomorrow.
His
flesh cowl shows that he had big things going for him in the past; he had
a solid foundation. He came from the Buddha.
"Hallmark"
refers again to his flesh cowl, one of the thirty-two hallmarks of a
Buddha. And the power of his vows was such that he would never renounce
them. His vows were eternal.
He
had wonderful eloquence and great wisdom. When he had that discussion with
the seventh patriarch it was indeed mysterious and wonderful "The
theory is not the meaning and the meaning is not theoretical," the
patriarch told him.
The
mind is vast and goes beyond the bounds of the Dharma-realm. At midnight
it was as if the sun had come out, although it actually hadn't.
-------------------------------------------------------------
NOW
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WONDERFUL DHARMA LOTUS FLOWER SUTRA, VOLUME II. This volume, complete with
the Venerable Tripitaka Master Hua's brilliant commentary, contains
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WITH ONE
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