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THE
MASTER HAPPENED TO BE PASSING TA-T'UNG. NOTE: TA-T'UNG IS ONE OF THE EIGHT
SCENIC LOCATIONS OF YANG-CH'ENG I.E. CANTON, AT THE MOUTH OF A MOUNTAIN
CAVE. At a cave beside the ocean A STRONG WIND FORCED HIM ASHORE. The text
says that a wind pushed him up onto the shore, but actually it was
Dharma-protecting Bodhisattvas urging him to build a Bodhimanda at that
site. The Master had the heavenly eye, so he probably knew. Don't
worry about whether what I say is true or false, just believe it. SEEING
AN OLD TEMPLE, HE WAS CAPTURED BY ITS SUPERB ATMOSPHERE AND COULD NOT BEAR
TO LEAVE. If it weren't that the Dharma-protecting spirits and those of
the eight divisions were aiding him, how could he have come across an old
temple? He had no lamp. He saw the old temple lit by moonlight and
he thought when he saw it that it was a pure and excellent place for
cultivation. The Dharma-protecting spirits and those of the eight
divisions didn't want him to leave, so the text says that he could not
bear to leave. HE ASKED LIU TO RENOVATE IT. The Dharma-protectors told him
to ask Liu, a local official, to fix up the old temple.
"Certainly,” replied Liu, "and then you can stay here and
cultivate," for, as already mentioned, Liu revered his virtue. He saw
that this Dharma Master looked like a real cultivator. He was not wearing
good clothes, nor did he seem concerned with worldly things.
"Whatever you need, I will take care of it," Liu told the
Master.
SUNG
EMPEROR T'AI TSUNG CONFERRED THE NAME JEWELED LIGHT UPON THE TEMPLE. IN
THE THIRD YEAR OF THE REIGN PERIOD T'AI-P'ING HSING-KUO (979 A.D.) HE SAID
GOODBY TO THE ASSEMBLY AND DEPARTED. AN EFFICACIOUS LIGHT LIT UP THE
SKIES. After his Nirvana, a light which was not green, yellow, red, white,
or black, but which had a spiritual radiance, went high into the skies.
You don't need to be concerned with exactly how high it went. It was just
high. AFTERWARDS, OFFERINGS WERE MADE TO HIS TRUE BODY AND OFTEN TRACES OF
HIS EFFICACIOUS LIGHT WOULD REVEAL THEMSELVES. His followers made
offerings to his flesh body. EVEN TO THE PRESENT THE BODY HAS NOT DECAYED.
PEOPLE CAME FROM NEAR AND FAR, VYING FOR A CHANCE TO BOW TO IT. THE MASTER
LIVED TO SEVENTY-TWO YEARS OF AGE.
THE
PRAISE SAYS:
A
GREAT LORD APPEARED BY TRANSFORMATION;
ENCOUNTERING
CONDITIONS, HE THEN RESPONDS.
THE
ANCIENT TRACWS OF TA-TSUNG
CONTINUED
THE LINE OF FORMER SAGES.
EFFICACIOUS
LIGHT LIT UP THE SKIES
SHATTERING
THE LONG NIGHT'S DREAM.
HIS
UNDECAYING BODY IS A MODEL FOR THE WORLD,
AND
FORMS A FIELD OF BLESSINGS FOR OFFERINGS.
ANOTHER
VERSE IN HIS PRAISE SAYS:
TWO
WORTHY SAGES EMERGED
FROM THE LAND OF BARBARIANS
THEIR
WISDOM SWORDS PIERCED THROUGH
TEN THOUSAND YEARS OF STRANGE CREATURES.
THE
LIANG HOUSEHOLD HAD A SON
WHO REACHED THE OTHER SHORE.
IN
THE LIU FAMILY, WITHOUT A PATRIARCH,
NONE WOULD HAVE BEEN LOFTY AND
TRANSCENDENT.
THE
WAY HE LEFT
WAS THE WAY WE, TOO SHOULD GO.
OUR
COMING SHOULD, LIKE HIS
BE FREE OF TOIL.
SHOULDERING
OUR BUDDHA'S
GREAT ANCESTRAL TRADE,
HOW
CAN ONE FEAR A BATTERING
BY WIND, RAIN, AND SUN?
TWO
WORTHY SAGES EMERGED FROM THE LAND OF BARBARIANS. They were two and yet
not two. Not two and yet two. The Chinese people call people from the
borderlands, who are illiterate, country folk, "barbarians." But
you should not look down on people just because they haven't any
education, for some may have a sword of wisdom. THEIR WISDOM SWORD PIERCED
THROUGH TEN THOUSAND YEARS OF STRANGE CREATURES. All the strange creatures
in Canton were saying, "Believe in me, believe in me." Strange
creatures do not necessarily refer to supernatural beings, but to strange
people. But the fact that it says ten thousand years indicates that the
strange creatures had a little spiritual penetration. However, the Sixth
Patriarch had a sword of wisdom, which he used to slice through all of
them. THE LIANG FAMILY HAD A SON WHO REACHED THE OTHER SHORE. This can be
explained two ways: in the Liang Dynasty one son was Ta-an, i.e. one who
has "Reached the Other Shore." Or, the Liang family had a son
who had already reached the other shore, that is, he had perfected all the
paramitas. We, however, have not.
IN
THE LU FAMILY WITHOUT THE PATRIARCH NONE WOULD HAVE BEEN LOFTY AND
TRANSCENDENT. This line also can be explained in two ways: Lu is the
family name of the Sixth Patriarch. In that family, if it had not been for
the Patriarch, the rest of the family would not have been able to be lofty
and transcendent. They would not have been able to come out very high. But
because of the Patriarch, everyone thinks highly of that family. Another
explanation is that in the Lu family there is not a "single member
who, because of the Sixth Patriarch's virtue, was not able to transcend
the world. All have gone to the Land of Eternal Still Bright Light.
They all made it over the top. Later you can find four, or eight, or
limitless meanings. It just depends upon how much you want to look into
it. THE WAY HE LEFT WAS THE WAY WE TOO SHOULD GO. He's already gone to the
other shore. We who are not barbarians should really be ashamed. He was a
country hick and became a Patriarch. Why haven't we also gone that way? If
you want to, you can. Just follow him. OUR COMING SHOULD, LIKE HIS, BE
FREE OF TOIL. Coming here, we should think ourselves equal to the
Patriarch and not fear any toil. Where did he go? To the place he was
supposed to go. We have not gone there yet. Coming here, we should be
here: at Gold Mountain Monastery in San Francisco, America, the Dharma
Realm. You've come to the Dharma Realm, so you should think of yourself as
equal to the task. Study to be a Patriarch. Think of yourself as his
equal. Don't fear toil, don't fear exhaustion. The harder the better!
Don't fear bitterness or demonic obstacles. The more demonic obstructions
the better!
SHOULDERING
OUR BUDDHA'S GREAT ANCESTRAL TRADE. We should take up the burden of the
responsibility for spreading the Buddha's teaching. Hold it on your
shoulders. If it is a little heavy, exert yourself.
The goal is to save all living
beings. HOW CAN ONE FEAR A
BATTERING BY WIND, RAIN, AND SUN? If some want to be self-ending Arhats,
that is their business. We have the responsibility to save all living
beings. So don't fear the wind, rain, and sun. Don't fear being battered
around all day. When the demons come, fight with them. Have a contest and
see who cores out on top!
AVAILABLE IN FEBRUARY 1976
RECORDS
OF THE LIFE OF CH'AN MASTER HUA, VOLUME TWO. This volume traces the
Master's pilgrimage south from Manchuria and describes events pertaining
to his decade of teaching in Hong Kong. Photographs, letters, documents,
portraits, humor, tragedy, prophecy, healing, Dharma talks, and more are
found within.
AVAILABLE NOW
A
GENERAL EXPLANATION OF THE ESSENTIALS OF THE SRAMANERA VINAYA AND RULES OF
DEPORTMENT, by Tripitaka Master Hua. A thorough discussion of the conduct
expected of. a novice in the Buddhist tradition. Detailed explanation of
the ten novice precepts.
 -March
12, 1976 begins a one week meditation session honoring Kuan Yin
Bodhisattva. Walking and chanting, sitting in silence, two vegetarian
meals, instructional talks, dress warmly, apply in advance, everyone
welcome. Evenings the Abbot of Gold Mountain will explain the Avatamsaka,
the King of Buddhist writings.
-March
21, 1976 is the anniversary of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva's birth. Arrive at 9
am. Call in advance for reservations for vegetarian feast.
-April
9, 1976 begins a weeklong session of recitation of the Great Compassion
Mantra. Walking and chanting, sitting in silence, questions & answers,
the Great Compassion Repentance Ceremony for dissolving bad karma, two
vegetarian meals, apply in advance, all welcome. Avatamsaka Sutra
lectures every evening.
-April
13, 14, 15 ceremonies honoring Great Master Ch'ang-chih, Great Master
Ch'ang-jen, and the Venerable Abbot of Gold Mountain. Begins at 9 am.
Call, for reservations for vegetarian meal.
SOON
TO BE PUBLISHED: THE THOUSAND HANDED THOUSAND EYED, GREAT COMPASSION HEART
DHARANI SUTRA.
Secret school sutra explaining the function of the Great Compassion
Mantra. Phrases of the mantra illustrated with finely detailed drawings of
spiritual and ghostly beings connected with the mantra. Also illustrations
of the forty-two mudras. Commentary by the Venerable Tripitaka Master
Hsuan-hua explains how the Mantra counteracts witchcraft, demonic forces,
epidemics, illness, natural disasters, and helps put the mad mind to rest.
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