Asweallknow,KukaienteredintotheTangDynastyin804,andthenhelearnedthegreatdharmasofGarbhaworldandVajraWorldfromAcaryaHuiGuo.AfterhereturnedtoJapan,hefoundedtheShingonSchool,generallyknownastheEastAsianEsotericBuddhism.
KukaimovedfromJingojiTempleinTakaoMountaintoKoyasanonNov.,A.D.832,thenhewentonfastingandsettleddowntodhyanapractice(1).BeforeKukaicamebackfromKoyasanfromKyotoonMayofthefirstyearofChengheperiod(A.D.835),hetoldhisdisciples,“IwillreturntoKoyasanforever”(2).HechosentheplaceofdhyanaonSept.ofthatyearandtrustedKoyasantoShinnen(3),oneofhisdisciples.HeenteredintoSamadhionthemorningofnextyear’sMay21st(4).Kukai’sSamadhiindicatessurpassinglifeanddeathandwaitingforMaitreya’sdescendingfromtheTushitaHeavenPalace.
KukaiwrotethreetestamentsonMay15（５）,thenhepreparedtoenterintoSamadhiandpracticeddhyanaforfourtimeseveryday.AfterheannouncedtheTestaments，KukaicametoKyotoforthelasttimetoprepareforthefuturedevelopmentoftheShingonschool（６）.NowadayssomescholarsdoubtwhetheritwasKukai’sownwriting(7).AfterKukaienteredintoserenity,hisdisciplescontinuouslydedicatedtoworshipingpracticesfor49days,thentheycarriedKukai’sbodytogetherwithhisdhyanachairtoOkunoinandplacedhiminthestoneroom2metersbelowtheenshrinedtemple.
Manyyearslater,PresbyterKangen,atertiarydiscipleofShinnen,theninthsuccessorofTojiTemple,thoughtitnecessarytomakeclearaboutKukai’sbody.KangenaskedEmperorGo-DaigotobestowagrandnametoKukai,whileEmperorGo-DaigoalsodreamedofMonkKukai,sohebestowedKukaitheposthumousnameof“Kobo-Daishi”aswellasakasaya.87yearspassedsinceKukaienteredintosamadhi,MonkKangenandhistwodiscipleswentonapilgrimagetoKoyasanwiththekasaya,theyenteredintoKobo-Daishi’sstoneroom.Buttheycouldn’tseeanythingatfirst;theybelieveditwascausedbytheirsin,sotheyexertedthemselvestorepent.Afterawhile,theyregainedtheirvision,andsawKobo-Dashi’sraggedclothes,longnailsandhair.Thebeadsscatteredeverywheresincethestringwasdecayed.Kobo-Dashi’sbodywasaslimberasalive.SotheydressedupKobo-Dashiwiththenewgarment,gavetonsuretohim,trimmedhisnails,andthenclosedthestoneroomagain(8).
NomatterKukai’sbodyisaliveornot,wecanstillcontinuetheinvestigation.
Ⅰ.Kukai’sBodyinSamadhi
Kobo-DashiKukaienteredintosamadhiatsixty-three,hisbodyremainsincorruptibleeventonowadays,andreceivesdisciples’worshipseveryday.AlotofresearchershavepresentedperfectliteraryexplanationtoKukai’ssamadhibasedonBuddhistandEsotericBuddhisttheories.
TheLargeSutraonPrajnaparamita,Vol.53,DifferentiateMahayanaforTheFirstTime3/15Sec.says,
“Shanxian,whenaBodhisattvaispracticingprajnaparamita,hemustbefreefromthebeguilementofanygains.Hemusttakeadesolateroadandseeadiscardedbody,afteroneortwodaysorsevendays,thebodywillswellandbecomeblackandbluewithrottenfleshandulcerateddarkblood,andgiveoffbadsmell.(9)”
Herewecanseethatahumanbodywillperishafterdeath,thesameistrueinModernMedicalScience.
Thenhowcomestoanincorruptiblebody?Accordingtomodernmedicalscience,coligroupwilldecomposethecellssoonafterone’sdeath,thenthebodywillperish.HowtoexplainthefactthatKukaiandmanyothereminentmonks’bodiesremainincorruptible?Seeminglyaverysimplequestion,howeveritisnoteasytoelucidateitclearly.Maybewecansay,itisthedifferencebetweenaBuddhistpracticerandordinarypeople,afterall,anincorruptiblebodyisagainstwithwhatwehavelearnedinmodernmedicalscience.
WhyaBuddhistpracticercanleaveanincorruptiblebody?Ifwefailtogiveasoundexplanation,thenBuddhistpracticemayfallintotheabyssofagnosticism.Buddhistdharmaistheultimatetruth,andthereissometruthinmodernscienceandphilosophy,soitisreasonabletoexplaintruthinanotherway.MostoftheBuddhistresearchesinmodernandprevioustimesemphasizedinvestigationsbasedonwordsandtexts,veryfewpeoplethoughtaboutapplyingscienceandphilosophytointerpretBuddhisttheory.TherewerenowrittenrecordsofBuddhistdharmaatthebeginning.Wordsareonlyusedtoexpressmeanings.Ifweclingtowords,thenenlightenmentismoredifficultthantoflyintothesky.
DidKobo-DashialreadyattainBuddhahood?Ifyes,thenitseemslikeadilemmabecauseoftheMaitreyaworshipofShingonBuddhism.MaitreyaworshipisobviouslyanexotericBuddhistview,whileinesotericBuddhism,onecouldreachBuddhahoodduringlifetime,thusKukai’senteringintoSamadhiconflictswiththebeliefofwaitingforMaitreya’sdescending,however,wecanacceptitasakindofexpediencyofBuddhistteaching(10).
AccordingtoBuddhism,thepast,thepresentandthefutureactuallycoincideatthesamepoint.Ifweaccepttheidea,thenthere’renoconflictsbetweentheesoterictheoryof“reachingBuddhahoodduringlifetime”andKobo-Dashi’sMaitreyaworship.Modernphysicstellsus,whenanobjectmovesatthevelocityoflight,thentimeisstill;whenitmovesfasterthanlight,thentimeflowsinreversedirectionandgoesbacktothepast;ifanobjectmovesslowerthanlight,thentimeflowsforward.Westilldon’tknowwhethertherearesomesubstancesthatcouldmovefasterthanlight,butwedoknowthathuman’sthoughtorideacouldoutreachthelimitoflightspeed.Althoughitisdifficulttobetestedwiththehelpofinstruments,wecanstillunderstanditeasily.Meanwhile,onecouldalsothinkback,recallwhathappenedinthepast,suchasthingshappenedyesterdayorthedaybefore.“ThreeRealmsareonlyvisionsofconsciousness”isthemainviewpointoftheConsciousness-OnlySchool,substances,thevisibleentities,areonlyillusories,justlikeflamesoremptyflowers.Human“idea”isakindofspiritualoverflow,thuswecouldalsounderstand“thethreetimesareonlyvisionsofconsciousness”,thepast,thepresentandthefutureshiftinthelightofourfaith(11).
Let'sleavetheBuddhistmeaningasideforthemoment,“emptiness”isalsoarelativeconcept,generallyspeaking,emptinessisnothing.Ahumancellisrelativelynothinginthewholebody,onemanisrelativelynegligibleinthewholehumanbeing,theearthistinyinthesolarsystem,thesolarsystemisonlyapaltrypartoftheMilkyWayGalaxy,theMilkyWayGalaxyis“empty”intheboundlessuniverse.Ifallthegalaxiesgathertogether,theyare“void”inthevast,boundlessspace.
Ifwecan’texplaintheconceptwithmodernscienceandphilosophy,itmaybedifficulttounderstand.Afterall,sermonisdifferentfromreasoning,sowemustexplainBuddhistconceptfromtheviewofmodernscienceandphilosophy.
ThenwhataretheexplanationstoincorruptiblebodyinBuddhistscriptures?
Itisdifficulttounderstandifwecannotexplainitwithmodernscienceandphilosophy,afterall,thereisagreatdistinctionbetweensermonandreasoning,sowemusttrytoexplainitwithmodernscienceandphilosophy.
ThenhowitisexplainedinBuddhistscripturesaboutincorruptiblebody?
Whosettheearliestrecordofanincorruptiblebodyinhistory?MaybeMasterHuiNengwillappearinourmindssimultaneously.MasterHuiNeng,thesixthpatriarchofChanSchool,enteredintoparinirvanaat76yearsoldatGuoenTemple,Xinzhou,andhisbodyispreservedwelleventonowadays.
RelativeRecordsofChanSchoolsays,“LuinXinxingCountychoppedandsoldfirewoodtosupporthismother.OnedayhecarriedfirewoodtothemarketandheardsomeonerecitingtheDiamondSutra.Thenheaskedtheman,“Whotaughtyouthesutra?”Themanreplied,“MasterHongRenatHuangmeiHill,JizhoupersuadedmetoreadthesutrainordertolookinsightthetruenatureandattainBuddhahood.Luwentbacktohishomeandbadehismotherfarewell,thensentouttoShaoyu,wherehemetabosomfriendcalledLiuZhilue.Zhilue’sauntwasaBuddhistnun,calledEndlessTreasure(Wujinzang).SheoncereadtheNirvanaSutra,Lulistenedforawhile,thenhetoldherthemeaningofthesutra.Whenthenunaskedthemeaningofaword,Luanswered,“IcannotreadthewordsbutIknowthemeaning.”Thenunsaid,“Howcouldyouunderstandthemeaningifyoucan’treadthewords?”Luanswered,“Buddhas’smoksahasnothingtodowithwords.”ThenunwasastonishedandcalledhimaBuddhistpracticer.Localresidentsadmiredhiswisdomandmadeofferingstohim.ThenhearrivedatHuangmeiduringXianxiangperiod,MasterHongRenwasverysatisfiedwithhimandtoldhimtohullrice.ThenHuiNengheldthestoneandhulledriceforeightmonths.Oneday,HongRendemandedhisdisciplestotellaBuddhisthymn.Thechiefmonk,Shenxiu,wroteaBuddhisthymnonthewall.HuiNengsecretlyaskedaladtowriteaBuddhisthymnbesideShenxiu’shymn.MasterHongRencalledhimin,handedhimthekasayaandsaid,“Itisnotanordinaryrobe,butapricelesstokenpassedonfromourpatriarchs.”ThenMasterHuiNengcametothesouthwithit.
ItwasthefirstyearofYifengperiod,whenMasterYinZongofNanhaigavethetonsuretohimon15thofthefirstlunarmonth.Hewasinitiatedintofullmonkhoodon8th,FebbyMasterZhiGuangoftheVinayaSchoolatFaxingTemple,afterthathebegancarryingonandpromotingtheDongshanDharma-Gate.(MasterDaoXinandMasterHongRenalllivedatDongshanHill.)ThenhereturnedtoBaolinTemple,theearldormenofShaozhouaskedhimtotakechargeofalargetemple.Overonethousandfollowersgathered,andMasterHuiNengpreacheddharmatothemonanearthplatform.HiswordswasrecordedandcompiledintothePlatformSutra.
MasterHuiNengenteredintonirvanaat76yearsold,onAug3rd,thesecondyearofXiantianperiod,andwasburiedatCaoxi.XianZongoftheTangDynastybestowedhimaposthumoustitle,“GreatReflection(DaJian)”.Hispagodawasengravedwiththewords,“Perfect,Peaceful,UprightandGenuine”(Yuan,He,Zheng,Zhen”).HeisthesixthpatriarchoftheChanSchoolsincethefirstpatriarchBodhidharma.MasterHuiNengpromotedtheChanSchoolatShaoyang,whileShenXiuatLuoxia,thuspeoplecalledthem“SouthNengandNorthXiu”.MasterDaoXin,theforthpatriarchoncelookedintothedistanceandsawpurplecloudshangingovertheShuangfengHillandsixwhitelightsspreadingout.ThenheaskedHongRen,“Couldyoureadthesign?”HongRenanswered,“ItsuggeststhatMasterwillhaveabranchanditwilllastforsixthgenerations.”Justashesaid,FaRong,adiscipleofMasterDaoXin,preachedatNiutouHillinJinling,andthebranchlastedforsixgenerations.Thesixthpatriarch,MasterHuiZhongofNanyangwasalsocalled“thesixthpatriarchofNiutou”.MasterPujiatMountSongrespectedMasterShenXiuasthesixthpatriarch,andcalledhimselftheseventhpatriarchofChanSchool.SoDuFu,thegreatpoetoncesaidhevisitedtheseventhpatriarchandaskedfortheChandharma(Figurea).
MasterHuiNeng（638～713）wasamonkintheTangDynasty,alsoknownasMasterLiuzu,MasterDaJian.HeisthesixthpatriarchofChineseChanSchool.HisancestralhomeisFanyang(inHebei),hisfamilynameisLu.HewasbornatXinxin,Nanhai(Guangdong).Heoncedonatedhishome,andmadeitintoGuoenTemple,hedemandedhisdisciplestobuildBaoenPagodainthetempleinthefirstyearofXiantianperiod(712).HereturnedtoGuoenTempleonJulyofnextyear,thenheenteredintonirvanaat76yearsoldonAugust.Hisbodydidn’tdecayandhasbeenpreservedwelleventonowadays;itisstillenshrinedatCaoxi.EmperorXianzongoftheTangDynastybestowedhimaposthumoustitle,“ChanMasterDaJian”.EmperorTazongofSongDynastybestowedhimaposthumoustitle,“ChanMasterZhenZong”duringtheTapingXingguoperiod(976～983);laterEmperorRenZongofSongDynastybestowedhimaposthumoustitle,“ChanMasterPuJue”;EmperorShenZongofSongDynastybestowedhimaposthumoustitle,“ChanMasterYuanMing”(12).ThefollowingisrecordedinGeneralBuddhistChronicles,Vol.13:
The33thpatriarchMasterHuiNengenteredintonirvana.HisfamilynamewasLu,hisfamilycamefromFanyan.Hisfather,Xingtao,wasdemotedtoXingzhou,NanhaiduringtheWudeperiod,thenhisfamilylivedthere.Hisfatherpassedawaywhenhewasthreeyearsold,hismotherbroughthimup.Whenhegrownup,hisfamilywaspoor,hehadtoworkasawoodcutter.Oneday,whenhecarriedfirewoodtothemarket,heheardsomeonereadingtheDiamondSutra;hewassurprisedandaskedtheman,“Whatareyoureadingnow?Whotaughtyouthis?”Themananswered,“ItistheDiamondSutra,andIgotitfromMasterHongRenatHuangmei.Whenhereturnedhome,hetoldhismotherthathehopedtofindthemasteratHuangmei.MasterHongRenrealizedhisabilityatthefirstsight.LaterMasterHongRenpassedonthedharmaaswellasthekasayatohim,andtoldhimtoretreatbetweenHuaijiandSihui.MasterHuiNengarrivedatNanhaionJan8th,thefirstyearofYifengperiod.
Afterhecameback,hepreacheddharmatothepublic.Oneday,hetoldmanypeople,“Allthevirtuousandlearnedfriends,pleasepurifyyourmindandlisten.YourownnatureisBuddha,pleasedon’tdoubtit,nothingcanbeestablishedwithoutit.Itisyourownnaturethatcreateseverything.Soitissaidinsutras,“Ideascreatevariousworlds,whentheideasareextinguished,theworldwillvanishtoo.Ifyouwanttoattainthefundamentalwisdom,youmustenterintotheSamadhiofOneBehaviorandtheSamadhiofOneAppearance.Ifyoucouldkeepapeacefulmindonanyconditions,freefromgreedandhatred,desireandrepulsion;leavetheideasofgoodandbadbehind,bealwaysleisurelyandquietlywithaclearconscious,thenthisiscalled‘theSamadhiofOneAppearance’.Ifyoucouldalwayskeeparighteousheartunderanyconditionsatanywhere,yourheartsarenevermovedbyenvironments,thenyourheartshavebecomethePureLand,thisiscalled‘theSamadhiofOneBehavior’.ThesetwokindsofSamadhiarejustlikeseedsinsoilwhichcangrowintofruits.Today,likeatimelyrainpouringdownandnourishingseeds,mydiscourseiswateringyourBuddhanature.ThosewholistenmywordsareboundtoattainBodhi,thosewhofollowmywordsaresuretogetthewonderfulfruit.”
MasterHuiNengpreacheddharmaandenlightenedpeople,oncetherewereoveronethousandlearnersgatheringatthesametime.HetookhisleaveandreturnedtoGuoenTemple,hisformerresidenceatXinzhouonJulyofthenextyear.Hisdisciplessaidwithtears,“Master,wouldyoucomehereagain?”MasterHuiNenganswered,“Leavesfalldowntotherootsilently.”Hisdisciplesaskedagain,“WhowillgetMaster’struedharma?”Masteranswered,“ThosewhoattainBodhihaveaclearidea.”
WhenhecametoGuoenTemple,hetoldhisdisciplesonAug3rd,“IattainedthedharmaandthekasayafromMasterHongRen,nowIpreachthedharmatoyoubutwillnotpassonthekasaya.YourfaithsarenowmatureandyouaresuretoattaintheBodhi,listen,‘variousseedshavebeenburiedinthespiritualsoil,andthey’renowsproutingastheDharmarainisfalling,andwhenyouperceivethebloomingflower,theBodhifruitwillripensoon.’”
MasterHuiNengsaid,“There’renotwodharmasornatures.TheDharmaisclearwithoutanyvisions.Thereisnoneedtomeditatesincetheheartisintrinsicallypure,selectingandrejectingarelikeholdingacandletothesun.Pleasetryyourbesttobeharmoniouswithconditions.Itisthetimeformetoenterintonirvana,takecareofyourselves.”Withthesewords,MasterHuiNengtookthelotuspositionandthenpassedaway.Themountainforestturnedintowhite,birdsandanimalscriedwithgrief;iridescentcloudsandscentedmistwerehangingoverforseveraldays.Mr.Weiju,thegovernorofGuangzhou,ledalltheofficialsofShaoyuandXinxingandcarriedMaster’sbodytoBaolinTempleatCaoxi,thenbuiltthepagoda.MasterHuiNeng’sbodyhasbeenpreservedwelleventonowadays.
TheearliestrecordabouttheSamadhiofTotalCessation(nirodha-samapatti)wassetbyMahakasyapa,theprincipaldiscipleofSakyamuniBuddha.ItgoeslikethisintheFiveLightsHarmonizedinPerfection:
Mahakasyapa,thefirstpatriarch,wasaBrahmanatMagadha.Heusedtoworkasagoldsmith.Hewasfamiliarwiththeknow-howofgoldandcouldmakethegoldflexible.BiographyofDharma-Transmissionsays:
Inthepast,manykalpasago,whenBuddhaVipassienteredintonirvana,thefourgroupsofdisciplesbuiltapagoda.Astimewentby,thefaceofthegoldBuddhaimageenshrinedinthepagodabecameimperfect.Apoorgirlheldapieceofgoldpearl,thenwenttothegoldsmith,andaskedhimtodecoratethefaceofBuddhaimage.Afterthegoldsmithfinishedthetask,theymadeavowtogether,“Wetwomakethevowthatwe’llbecomehusbandandwife.”Thusthegoldsmithhadagoldenbodyin91kalpasandlaterhewasbornintheBrahmaHeaven.Afterthat,hewasborninabrahmafamilyatMagadhainthemiddleofIndia.HisnamewasMahakasyapa,whichmeansGreatBrilliance,thisisbecausethegoldenglossonhisbody.Hewishedtoleavehome,becomeamonkandenlightenall.
AsBuddhaShakyamunisaid,“Wellcome,Bhiksu”,hisairfelltothegroundspontaneously,andakasayawasdrapedoverhisshoulders.BuddhaShakyamunioftenpraisedhimasthefirstoneamonghisdisciples.Buddhaalsosaid,“Ishallimpartthecleardharmaeyetoyou,youmustpassonthedharmaandcouldn’tbreakoffthesuccession.”
NirvanaSutrasays,“WhenBhagavawantedtoenterintonirvana,Kasyapawasn’tthere,Bhagavatoldhischiefdisciples,‘WhenKasyapacomes,lethimpreachthetreasuryoftruedharmaeye.’”
Atthattime,KasyapawasinthePippalaCaveonMountGrdhrakutaandwatchedtherarebright,soheenteredintoSamadhi,andsawwithhiscleardivineeyethatBhagavawasgoingintonirvanabesideHelemRiver.Hesaidtohisdisciples,“HowfastthatBuddhawentintonirvana!”Thenhecametothesalandweptwoefully.Buddhastretchedouthislegsfromthegoldcoffin.
Kasyapasaidtothosebhiksus,“Bhagavawascremated;itisnotourtasktoenshrineBuddha’ssarirabuttocompileacollectionofBuddha’sdharmateachingsandcarryforward.”ThenhetoldaBuddhisthymn,“Buddha’sdisciples,pleasedon’tenterintonirvana,thosewhohaveattaineddivinepowersshouldcomehereandcompileBuddha’sdharmateachingstogether.”ThusallthosewithdivinepowersconvenedatthePippalaCaveonMountGrdhrakuta.”
Atthattime,Anandadidn’textinguishalltheafflictions,andwerenotallowedtoparticipate,laterheattainedarhatship,andcouldtakepartintheconvention.Kasyapasaidtoothers,“Anandaownsthedharanioferudite;he’samanofgreatwisdom.HeoftenaccompaniedBuddha,andhispracticewaspure.TheBuddhistdharmateachingsthathehasheardarekeptinhismindwithoutanyoblivion.Buddhapraisedhimashissmartestdisciple.WeshouldinvitehimtocompiletheSuttaPitakat.”Themultitudewasinsilence.
KasyapasaidtoAnanda,“NowyoucouldpreachtheDharmateachings.”Anandafollowedhissuggestion;heobservedothersandsaid,“Bhiksusandotherretinuescouldn’tkeeptheirsublimitywithoutBuddha,justlikestarsintheheavenwithoutthemoon.”Withthishymn,hebowedhisheadtothemonks’feet,thenascendedthedharmaseatandsaid,“ThushaveIheard.OncetheBuddhaabidedatsomewhereandpreachedasutra,allthegods,humans,andasuras,andothersfromalltheworlds,madeobeisancetoBuddha,andfollowedBuddha’steachings.Atthattime,Kasyapaaskedthesebhiksus,“ArethereanymistakesinAnanda’srecitation?”Theyanswered,“NotdifferentfromtheWorldHonoredOne’steachings.”ThenKasyapatoldAnanda,“Ishallleavetheworldsoon,nowIentrustthetrueDharmatoyou.Youmustguarditwell,listentomyhymn:Variousdharmasfollowtheoriginaldharma;dharmaandnon-dharmaareallempty.Whytherearedifferencesbetweendharmaandnon-dharmainanintegralwhole?”WhenhefinishedtheBuddhisthymn,hewenttoMountKukkutapadawiththesanghati,waitingforMaitreya’sbirthinthisworld.ItwastheyearBing-chen,thefifthyearofKingXiaoofZhou.
AryaKasyapaaskedanon-Buddhist,“Whatismy‘ego’?”Aryaanswered,“Theonelookingfor‘ego’isyourown‘ego’.”Thenon-Buddhistasked,“Thisoneismy‘ego’,thenwhereismaster’sego?”Aryaanswered,“Theoneyouaskabout,andI’mseekingfor.”Oneday,asamanerasawAryatrampingtheearth,andthenasked,“WhyAryadoityourself?”Aryaanswered,“WhocoulddoitformeifIdon’t?”(13)
Accordingtothehistoricalrecords,AryaKasyapaenteredintoSamadhiatMountKukkutapadaafterhepassedonthedharmatoAryaAnanda.AryaKasyapamustbethefirstonewhoenteredintonirvanainmeditation.ItissaidthatAryaKasyapahasbeeninSamadhiatMountKukkutapada,waitingforMaitreya’sdescendingfromtheTustaHeavenPalaceandattainingBuddhahood.
Everyfewyears,therehavebeenBhiksusorBhiksuniswhoenteredintonirvanaandleftincorruptiblebodiesinChinasincetheTangDynasty.Forexample,tensofBuddhistmonks’incorruptiblebodiesarewellpreservedatChina’sJiuhuaMountain,BodhisattvaKsitigarbha’sbodhiplace,whilesomeincorruptiblebodiesweredestroyedduringtheCultureRevolution.AccordingtotherecordsofJiuhuaMountain,KsitigarbhaJin,Renyi,HuaDe,LongShan,FaLong,ChangEn,MingJing,DaXing,CiMing,DeFeng,DingHui,ShengChuan,WuXiaandothersallleftincorruptiblebodies.(Jiuhuashanwebsite:http://www.fo365.cn/gsgl_list.asp?action=more&c_id=43).Besidesthemainland,Buddhistmonkornun’sincorruptiblebodieswerealsorecordedinTaiwanandotherplaces(14).
CanweviewanincorruptiblebodyasthesignorproofofBuddhahood?Althoughtherearetensofthousandsofdharmagates,incorruptiblebodiesandsarirasmaywellillustratetheeffects.Ofcourseanincorruptiblebodyandsarirasshouldnotbereckonedasthecriteriaofone’sBuddhistachievement,fortherearenon-Buddhistincorruptibles,forexample,Bernadette,aFrenchnun(Figure2,1977,fromTheIncorruptibles(15)writtenbyanAmericanCatholic,JoanCarrollCruz)andanoldwomannamedZhouFengchenatXiangheCounty,HebeiProvince.
IttakesthreeincalculablelongeonstoattainBuddhahoodinexotericBuddhism,whileonecouldattainBuddhahoodduringalifetimeinesotericBuddhism.ThescripturesofShingonBuddhismandpatriarchs’workshaveelaboratedit;anesotericBuddhistshouldbefamiliarwithit.
AretheconceptofincorruptiblebodyandtheSamadhiofTotalCessationthesame?Arethereanydifferences?Infact,KoboDaishiandabove-mentionedmanyothersonlyenteredintonirvana,notSamadhi.Thereshouldbegreatdistinctionsbetweenthem.
TheformingprincipleofincorruptiblebodiesforBuddhistandnon-Buddhistshouldbethesame.AccordingtotheinterpretationofesotericBuddhism,allsentientbeingsaretheco-equalbodiesofBuddhaVairochana.TheyhavethesameBuddhanature,butindifferentnamesandforms.However,itmaygotoofarifweconsideranincorruptiblebodyasthesignofBuddhahood.Nevertheless,onemustacquirethesixdivinepowersbeforeattainingBuddhahood.Properlyspeaking,attainingBuddhahoodincludesattainingBuddhahoodactuallyoronlyinthesenseofinnernature.ActuallyattainingBuddhahoodrequirestheachievementofthesixdivinepowers(16).
Ⅱ.AssumptionsofIncorruptibleBodyfromtheViewofModernScienceandPhilosophy
A. BuddhistPracticeCanChangetheStructureofMaterialBodies
Firstly,wemustmakeitclearthatifwedon’tfollowBuddhistteachings,thenourbodywillundergobirth,aging,sickness,anddeathlikealltheotherlivingbeings.Onthepartof“death”,aBuddhistpraticer’sdeathdiffersfromthoseofordinarypeople.Itisobviouslydemonstratedbythesarirasofthosegreatvirtuesandeminentmonks(17).Somesaintsevenleftincorruptiblebodies,orenteredintotheSamadhiofSpiritualLight,namelyrainbowbody.“Sarira”,“IncorruptibleBody”,and“RainbowBody”couldaccountforthematerialtransformationofthebodystructure;practicecanevenchangeone’sappearance.Theoreticalassumptionsofthesetransformationswillbeillustratedinthefollowingpassages.
Theconceptof“RainbowBody”:“RainbowBody”,namely“theSamadhiofSpiritualLight”,thatistosay,theBuddhistpracticerenteredintonirvanawhilehisbodydissolvedintocolorfullightsanddisappeared(likerainbow).AccordingtotheesotericBuddhistdoctrineofsixelements,whenapracticeattainsBuddhistachievement,hewillreachthetruenatureofthesixelements:earth,water,fire,air,spaceandconsciousness.Consciousnessisthespiritualformofone’ssoul;infact,consciousnessistheaggregationofspiritualinformation.Thuswecanview“rainbowbody”asthespiritualizationofone’smaterialbody.
TheFiveLightsHarmonizedinPerfection,Vol.1says:
BuddhaShakyamuniwasthefourthBuddhaofBhadraKalpa(blessedkalpaage).HewasborninaKsatriyafamily;hisfatherwasKingSuddhodhana,hismotherwasMahamaya.HebecametheheirbodhisattvatotheBuddha,andwasbornintheTusitaHeavenPalace.HisnamewasDeityofSuperiorVirtue,orBodhisattvaofLightGuard.Heenlightenedthedeitiesanddemonstratedthepracticeofheirbodhisattva.HeappearedintheworldsoftendirectionsandpreachedtheDharma.LalitavistaraSutrasays,“WhenBuddhawasbornintheKsatriyafamilyofKingShuddhodana,hewasshininggreatlightofwisdomandilluminatedworldsintendirections.Goldlotusesemergedoutoftheground,carryinghisbothfeetnaturally.Thenhewalkedsevenstepstowardseachdirection,namelytheeast,thewest,thesouthandthenorth.Hepointedattheheavenwithonehandandattheearthwithanotherhand,thenmadealionroar,“Intheheavenlyandearthrealmaswellasworldsinthefourdirections,Iamthesupremehonoredone.”ItwasApril8th,theyearofJiaYin,namely,the24thyearofKingZhaoofZhou.
Hereachedtheageof19onFeb.8th,andhopedtoleavehome.Hesaidtohimself,“WhatelseshallIencounter?”Thenhecamearoundthefourgates,andsawthefourthings,hewasdeeplymovedandthought,“Iwanttogetfreefrombirth,aging,sicknessanddeath.”Inmidnight,adeitynamedJingjuappearedathiswindowandsaidtohimwithjoinedpalms,“It’sthetimetoleavethehome,andyoucandepartnow.”ThePrincebecamejoyfulwhenheheardit,thenheleftthecityandmeditatedattheDandaka.
AtfirsthelearnedthemeditationoftherealmofnothingnessatArankaranforthreeyears,andthenherealizeditwasnotrightandgaveup.ThenhecametoUdrakaandlearnedthemeditationofneitherperceptionnornon-perception,andabandoneditwhenherealizeditwasnotright.Hereafter,hecametoGayasisa,andatehempandwheatwiththosehereticsforthreeyears.ThusBuddhistscripturessaid,“Buddha’smindwasclearandfreefromthefluxofthoughtsandfeelings,thussubduedallthoseheretics.”Buddhatriedthemistakendharmas,thusrevealedtheexpedientmeans.HeenlightenedthosehereticsandledthemtotheBodhi.
TheSutraofGeneralCollectionsaid,“TheBodhisattvaattainedenlightenmentonFeb8thwhenabrightstarrose,andbecamethemasterofcelestialandhumanbeings.Atthattime,hewas30yearsold.”ItwastheyearofGuiWei,orthe3rdyearofKingMuofZhou.LaterheturnedthedharmawheeloftheFourNobleTruthforKaundinyaandtheotherfourpersons,thentheyallattainedenlightenment.AfterBuddhapreachedthedharmafor49years,hesaidtohisdiscipleMahakasyapa,“Iwillimpartthecleardharmaeyetoyou,marvelousnirvana,formlessdharmataorthewonderfulProperDharma.Youmustprotectthedharma.”HealsotoldAnanda,“Helphimpreachthedharma,andshouldnotletthedharmabebrokenoff.”Thenhesaidahymn,“Thedharmaoriginallyfollowsemptinessandemptinessflowsoutthedharma.NowIimpartthedharmaofemptiness,isthereanemptydharma?”Whenhefinishedthehymn,hetoldMahakasyapa,“Iwillbestowthesanghatisewnwithgoldthreadtoyou,andyoumustgiveittoBodhisattvaMaitreyawhenheisborninthisworld.”KasyapabowedhisheadtotheBuddha'sfeetandsaid,“Verynice,IshallfollowBuddha’sinstructiontoshowmyrespectandsubmissiontotheworldhonoredone.”
AtthattimetheworldhonoredonewenttoKusinagaraandsaidtothemasses,“NowIfeelbackache,andwillgointonirvana.”ThenhecametothesideofHelemRiver,sleepingontherightsideofthebodyundertheSaltree.Laterherosefromthecoffin,andpreacheddharmaforhismother.HeshowedhisfeetoutofthecoffininordertoenlightenJivakajiva,andtoldthehymnofimpermanence,“Allphenomenaareimpermanent;thisisthewayofbirthanddeath.Afterbirthanddeath,I’llenjoythenirvana.”Atthattime,hisdisciplesalltriedtocrematehisbodywithscentedfirewood,whilethegoldcoffinremainedintact.SotheysangahymnbeforetheBuddha,“Mundaneflamescannotsetfire,theworldhonoredone,pleasecremateyourgoldenbodywiththefireofSamadhi.”Thenthecoffinroseashighasseventalatrees,flyingtotheskyandback,thenheburnedhisownbodywiththefireofSamadhi.Afterawhile,thedisciplesgotBuddha’sholyrelicsfor8hu(adrymeasureusedinformertimes,originallyequalto10dou)andfourdou.ItwasonFeb.15th,theyearofRenYin,orthe52rdyearofKingMuofZhou(18).
WecanconcludethatnaturalfirecannotcrematetheBuddha’sbody;onlythefireofSamadhicansetfire.Firecanburnallmaterialthings,whyitcannotburnBuddha’sbody?Maybewecanunderstanditinthisway,thematerialfire,ornaturalfirecannotburnthespiritualbody,becausetheworldhonoredone’smaterialbodyhasbeenchangedsubstantiallythroughBuddhistpractice.
However,Ananda,thesecondpatriarchinancientIndia,attainedtheSamadhiofMovingAir.
TheFiveLightsHarmonizedinPerfection,Vol.1says:
AryaAnanda,thesecondpatriarch,wasborninRajagaha,hisfatherwasDronodanawhowasthebrotherofSuddhodana,thusAnandawastheBuddha’scousin.Anandameansjubilationormerriment,becausehewasbornonthenightthatBuddhaattainedtheBodhi.Hewaseruditeandintelligentwithexcellentmemory.Theworldhonoredonepraisedhimasthefirstdiscipleatdharani.Hehadsomanygreatmeritsandvirtuesinhispastlivesthathecouldkeepthedharmajustlikewaterpouredintoapot.ThustheBuddhaappointedhimashisacolyte.
Oneday,AnandasaidtoBuddha,“TodaywhenIcametothetown,Isawastrangething.”Buddhaasked,“Whatdidyousee?”Anandasaid,“WhenIenteredintothetown,Isawagroupofmusiciansdancing,andwhenIgotout,Isaweverythingwereimpermanent.”Buddhasaid,“Yesterday,whenIcametothetown,Ialsosawsomethingstrange.”Anandaasked,“Oh,what’sthestrangething?”Buddhaanswered,“WhenIenteredintothetown,Isawagroupofmusiciansdancing,andwhenIwentout,Ialsosawagroupofmusiciansdancing.”
Oneday,AnandaaskedKasyapa,“SeniorBrother,didtheworldhonoredonepassonanythingelsebesidesthekasayasewnwithgoldthread?”KasyapacalledAnanda’sname,andAnandareplied.Kasyapasaid,“Youshouldturnupsidedownyourtimerodandlookinsideyourself!”
LaterKingAjatasattusaidtoAnanda,“Manofvirtue!TheBuddhaandKasyapaallenteredintonirvana;howeverIcouldn’tpaymyrespectstothembecauseofthemiscellaneousbusiness.IhopeAryacanbidfarewelltomebeforeyouenteredintonirvana.”Anandapromised.Afterwards,Anandathought,“Mybodyisasfragileasfoam,andnowI’maging,howcanthisbodylastlong?IhavemadeapromisewithKingAjatasattu.”Thenhecametothepalace,andtoldthegatekeeper,“Iwanttoenterintonirvana,soIcomehereandbidfarewelltoKingAjatasattu.”Thegatekeeperanswered,“Thekingissleeping,Icannottellhimnow.”Anandasaid,“WhentheKingwakes,pleasetellhim.”
Atthattime,KingAjatasattudreamedofaceremonialcanopydecoratedwithseventreasureswithcountlesspeoplesurroundingandadmiring.Afterawhile,gustandrainstormsweptandbrokethehandle,thusthejewelsandrucakafellontotheground.Thekingwasastonished.Whenhewoke,thegatekeepertoldhimaboutAnanda.Thekingcriedwithgreatsorrow,andcametoVaishali.HesawAnandaseatinginlotuspositioninthestreamoftheGangesRiver.Thekingmadeobeisancetohimandsaid,“Ibowtothehonoredoneofthethreerealms,whydoyouleavemelikethis.Pleasebemerciful,andwaitforawhile.”AtthattimethekingofVaishaliwastheretoo,hesaid,“HowfastthatAryaleavethisworld,andwillenterintonirvana;pleasewaitforawhileandacceptmyofferings.”
Anandathensaidahymn,“Pleasekeepsublimity,anddon’tcryforme.Iwillenterintoserenityandleaveeverything.”Anandaaslosaid,“IfIampartialtoonekingdom,thenotherkingdomswillcontend,itisnotright.Imustenlightenallsentientbeingsequally.SoheenteredintonirvanainthemiddleoftheGangesRiver.Atthattime,mountains,riversandtheearthhadsixkindsofvibration.500immortalsinthesnow-cappedmountainssawtheauspiciousresponse,andfliedthere.TheybowedtheirheadstoArya'sfeet,andsaid,“WeshallattainBuddhistdharmaunderPresbyter’sinstruction.Pleaseshowgreatmercyandenlightenus.”Aryaacceptedtheirrequestsilently,andturnedtheGangesRiverintogoldground,andpreacheddharmatothem.
Aryathought,“ThoseenlighteneddisciplesofBuddhashouldgatherhere.Afterawhile,thefivehundredarhatscamefromtheskyandmadethetonsuretothoseimmortals.Thereweretwoarhatsamongtheimmortals,onewasShangnavasu,andanotherwasMadhyantika.Aryaknewtheyhadoutstandingdharmatalent,sohesaidtothem,“Inthepast,theBuddhaimpartedthedharmaeyetoMahakasyapa,andKasyapaimpartedtomewhenheenteredintonirvana.NowIwillenterintonirvana,andpassonthedharmaeyetoyou.Youacceptmyteaching,andlistentomyhymn,“AtfirstIimpartedthedharmatoyou,andsaynodharmaatallafterthetransmission.Youmustenlightenyourselves,andknowno-dharmaisalsonottrue.”Afterhepassedonthetreasureofdharmaeye,AryaAnandafliedtothesky,showing18transformations,andthenheenteredintotheSamadhiofMovingAir.Hisbodyturnedintofour:onebodywasenshrinedintheHeavenofTrayastrimsha,onewasenshrinedintheSagaraPalace,onewasenshrinedbyKingVaishali,andthelastonewasenshrinedbyKingAjatasattu.Theybuiltpagodasandenshrinedhisholybodies.ItwastheyearofGuiSi,the12ndyearofKingLiofZhou(19).
AccordingtotherecordsoftheFiveLightsHarmonizedinPerfection,Vol.1,mostofthepatriarchsinancientIndiaattainedtheSamadhiofLightafterBuddhaenteredintonirvana.
(1)The3rdpatriarch,AryaShangnavasuwasbornatMotulo.HissurnamewasVesadu,hisfatherwasLinshenhismotherwasChiaosheyeh.Hismothergavebirthtohimaftersixyearsofpregnancy.Shangnavasuwasthenameofakindofnine-stemelegantgrassinancientIndia.Whenasagewasborn,thenthisgrassappearedinacleanplace.WhenShangnavasuwasborn,theauspiciousgrassappeared.OnceBuddhawanderedandpreachedatMotulo,hesawaflourishinggreenforest,hesaidtoAnanda,“ThisforestiscalledUrutu.AfterIenteredintonirvana,onehundredyearslater,abhiksucalledShangnavasuwillturntheDharmaWheelathere.”
Onehundredyearslater,Shangnavasuwasborn,helefthomeandbecameamonk,thenheattainedenlightenment,andacceptedAryaAnanda’sdharmaeye,hereafterhebeganenlighteningthesentientbeings.Hestayedattheforest,andmadetwofiredrakespledgeallegiancetoBuddhism.ThedragonsthenofferedthelandtobuildBuddhisttemple.Aryapreacheddharmaforalongtime,andthoughtoverthetruedharma.LaterhemetUpaguptaatTali,Upaguptathenfollowedhimashisacolyte.AryaaskedUpagupta,“Howoldareyou?”Upaguptaanswered,“I’mseventeen.”Aryaasked,“Whichoneis17yearsold,yourbodyoryournature?”Upaguptaanswered,“Master’shairiswhite,whichoneiswhite,yourhairoryourheart?”Aryaanswered,“Myhairiswhite,notmyheart.”Upagutasaid,“Mybodyis17yearsold,notmynature.”Aryathenknewhehasexcellentdharmatalent.
Threeyearslater,Aryagavethetonsureandthecompleteordinationtohim.Aryatoldhim,“Inthepast,TathagataimpartedthesupremedharmaeyetoKasyapa.Thepatriarchsimpartedtome,nowI’llbestowtoyou,youmustn’tbreakoffthelegacy.Youlearnmyteachingsandlistentomyhymn,“Notdharmaormind,notmindordharma.WhenIsaythedharmaofmind,thedharmaisnotadharmaofmind.”Afterhesaidthehymn,heretreatedatMountElephant-WhiteinKashmir.LaterhesawinSamadhithatUpagutahadfive-hundreddiscipleswhooftenslackedoff.AryathencametoseethemandshowedtheSamadhiofFierceDragontoregulatethem.Hesaidahymn,“Understandingisnotbuiltonyouandme,thesupremeisbeyondrightandwrong.Getridofyourvanity,andyou’llsoonattaintheachievementofarhat.”ThefivehundredBhiksusfollowedBuddhistteachingsandallattainedthestageofnoaffliction.AryathenshowedeighteenchangesandtheSamadhiofLight,andburnedhisownbodywithspiritualfire.UpaguptacollectedhisholyrelicsandburiedatMountSankal.Eachofthefive-hundredbhiksusheldalongnarrowflag,arrivedatthemountain,andbuiltapagoda.ItwastheyearofYiWei,the22ndyearofKingXuanofZhou(20).
(2)ThefifthpatriarchAryaDhritakawasbornatMagadha.Whenhewasborn,hisfatherdreamedofagoldensunrisingfromhishouseandshiningheavenandearth.Beforehim,therewasagreatmountaindecoratedwithallkindsofjewels.Aspringwaspouringdownfromthesummit,andspreadingtothefourdirections.Later,hemetAryaUpagupta,Upaguptaexplained,“Thetreasuremountainsymbolizesme.Thegushingspringistheendlessdharma.Risingsunfromthehouseindicatesthatyou’llreachBodhi.Shiningheavenandearthsuggeststhatyouhaveextraordinarywisdom.”Dhritakawasgladtohearwhathismasterhadsaid,andsangahymn,“LoftyMountainisdecoratedwithseventreasures,andthespringofwisdomispouringdown.Thetruedharmacanenlightenalltherelatives.”AryaUpaguptaalsosaidahymn,“Ipassonthedharmatoyou,andyou’llshowgreatwisdom.Goldensunrisesfromthehouseandwilllightenheavenandearth.”Dhritakaheardhismaster’swonderfulhymn,thenmadeobeisancetohismasterandfollowedhisteachings.
LaterhecametothemiddleofIndia;therewereeightthousandgreatimmortalsandMichakawastheirhead.MichakaheardArya’sarrivingandcametomakeobeisancetoAryatogetherwithotherimmortals.HesaidtoArya,“Inthepast,MasterandIwerebornintheBrahmaHeaven,ImetanAsitarsiwhotaughtmethewaytobecomeanimmortal;andMastermetaBuddhistdiscipleandpracticeddhyana.Sincethen,wehavebeenseparatedfromeachotherindifferentfortunesforsixkalpas.”Aryasaid,“Yes,wehavebeenseparatedforseveralkalpas.NowyoucanleavefalsewaysandcomebacktothetruedharmaofBuddhahood.”Michakasaid,“Inthepast,theAsitarsiforetold,‘you’llmetyourcompanionaftersixkalpas,andattainthestageofnoaffliction.’Nowwetwometagain,itisbecauseofthepastkarma,isn’tit?Mayyoushowmeyourgreatmercy,Master,andletmefreefromalltheafflictions.”Aryathengavethetonsuretohimandletthesaintedinitiatedhimtothefullmonkhood.Atfirstotherimmortalswerearrogant,soAryashowedgreatdivinepowerstoinspiretheirbodhicitta.Alltheimmortalsbecamemonksatthattime.AryathentoldMichaka,“Inthepast,BuddhasecretlyimpartedthegreatdharmaeyetoKasyapa,andthosepatriarchspassediton.NowIimpartedittoyou,youmustprotectthedharma.Thenhesaidahymn,“Understandingtheheartofdharma,therearenodharmaandnon-dharma.Awakeningisthesamewithnon-awakening,therearenoheartaswellasdharma.”Withthishymn,hefliedtotheskyandmadeeighteenchanges,thenenteredintotheSamadhiofLightandburnedhisownbodywithspiritualfire.MichakaandtheeightthousandBhiksuscollectedhissariras,andbuiltpagodaattheBanTuMountain.ItwastheyearofYiChou,the5thyearofKingZhuangofZhou(21).
(3)ThesixthpatriarchAryaMichakawasborninthemiddleofIndia.HewanderedtotheNorthIndiaafteryearsofpreaching,andwatchedgoldencloudsabovethebattlements;hesighed,andsaid“itisthesignofaholyman,abodhisattvawhocaninheritmydharmamuststayhere.”Soheenteredthetown,andmetamanholdingadrinkingvesselinthemarket.ThemanwalkedtowardsArya,andasked,“Whereareyoufrom,Master?Andwhereareyougoing?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Iamfrommyownheart,andaregoingtonowhere.”Themanasked,“Doyouknowthevesselinmyhand?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Thisisadirtyvesselcontainingcleanthings.”Themanasked,“Master,doyourecognizeme?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Idon’tknowyou,ifIknowyou,thenItisnotme.”Heasked,“Pleasetellmeyouname,I’lltellyouthecauselater.”Themansaid,“Ihavebeenalwaysborninthiskingdomsincemeasurelesskalpasago.MynameisVasumitraHarada.”Thepatriarchsaid,“MymasterDhritakatoldme,inthepast,theworldhonoredonevisitedtheNorthIndia,andtoldAnanda,‘Threehundredyearslatersincemynirvana,aholymancalledVasumitraHaradainthekingdomwillbecometheseventhpatriarchoftheChanSchool.’Theworldhonoredoneforetoldthatyouwillbecomeamonk.”
Vasumitrathenputdownthevesselandmadeobeisancetothemaster.Hestoodbesidethemasterandsaid,“Irememberthatmanykalpasago,IwasasupporterofBuddhism,andofferedathronetotheBuddha.TheBuddhathenforetold,‘You’llpreachthesupremedharmaduringBuddhaShakyamuni’steachingsinthegoodeon.’NowitaccordswithMaster’swords,IhopeMasterwillgivethetonsuretome.”Thepatriarchthengavethetonsuretohimandinitiatedhimtofullmonkhood.Thenthepatriarchtoldhim,“Thetreasuryoftruedharmaisnowimpartedtoyou,pleasedon’tletitbreakoff.”Thenthepatriarchtoldahymn,“Nomindandnogains,ifsomeoneacclaimshehasacquiredthedharma,itisnotthetruedharma.Ifsomeoneknowsthathisheartisnotthetrueheart,thenhestartstoknowthedharmaofequalhearts.”Afterthis,thepatriarchenteredintotheSamadhiofSwiftLion,fliedtotheskyabovetheheightofseventalatreesandcamebacktohisownseat,thenburnedhimselfwithhisspiritualfire.Vasumitracollectedhisholyrelicsandenshrinedatthetopofapagodawithinacasedecoratedwithseventreasures.ItwastheyearofJiaShen,the15thyearofKingXiangofZhou.(22)
(4)ThetenthpatriarchAryaParsvawasbornatthemiddleofIndia.Whenhewasborn,hisfatherdreamedofawhiteelephantcarryingathronewithabrightpearlonit.Theelephantcameintothedoor,andthebrightnessshiningthefourgroupsofBuddhistdisciples.Hisfatherwokewhenhewasborn.Hefollowedandservedtheninthpatriarchandseldomfellasleep.SopeoplecalledhimAryaParsva.Atfirst,hearrivedatPataliputtaandrestedunderatree.Hepointedatthegroundwithhisrighthand,“Thegroundwillturngoldenandaholymanwillcome.”Withthesewords,thegroundturnedgolden.Punyayasas,thesonofavenerableeldercameandjoinedhispalmsbeforehim.Thepatriarchasked,“Whereareyoufrom?”Heanswered,“Myheartisnotgoing.”Thepatriarchasked,“Wheredoyoulive?”Heanswered,“Myheartisnotstill.”Thepatriarchasked,“You’renotconstant?”Heanswered,“ThesamewithBuddhas.”Thepatriarchsaid,“You’renotBuddhas.”Heanswered,“Buddhasarenotrighttoo.”Thenthepatriarchtoldahymn,“Thegroundturnsgolden,andIknowaholymanwillcome.HewillseatundertheBodhitree,theflowerofenlightenmentwillbloom.”Punyayasasalsotoldahymn,“Masterseatsonthegoldenground,andoftentellsmethetruemeaning.HeReflectsthebrightlightandshinesonme,letmeenterintotheSamadhi.”
Thepatriarchunderstoodhisintention,andinitiatedhimintofullmonkhood.Thepatriarchtoldhim,“Tathagata’sgreatdharmatreasureisnowimpartedtoyou,youmustprotectit.”Thepatriarchthentoldahymn,“Thetruebodyisnaturallytrue,itisreasonablebecauseofthetruth.Ifyouunderstandthegenuinetruth,you’llgonowhereandstopnowhere.”Afterheimpartedthedharma,thepatriarchshoweddivinetransformations,thenenteredintonirvana,andburnedhimselfwithhisspiritualfire.Thefourgroupsofdisciplescarriedhissariraswithflowerbaskets,andbuiltapagodatoenshrinetheholyrelics.ItwastheyearofJiHai,the27thyearofKingZhenofZhou.(23)
(5)ThethirteenthpatriarchAryaKapimalawasbornatPataliputta.Atfirst,hewasanon-Buddhist,familiarwiththosedifferingtheoriesandhadthreethousanddisciples.LaterheattainedthedharmafromAsvaghosa,andledhisdisciplestoWestIndia.Theprince’snamewasFreeCloud.HeadmiredArya’sreputation,andinvitedhimtothepalaceandmadeofferingstohim.Thepatriarchsaid,“Tathagatasaid,sramanacan’tbeclosetothepowerfulfamilyofkingorminister.”Theprincesaid,“Atpresent,thereisagreatmountaininthenorthofthecity.Andthereisagrottointhemountain,Master,canyoumeditatethere?”Thepatriarchsaid,“Yes.”Thentheyenteredthemountain,afterseveralmiles,theymetapython.Thepatriarchwentstraightforward;thepythoncoiledhisbody,thenheimpartedthetri-saranatothepython.Thepythonlistened,andthenleft.Whenthepatriarchisnearingthegrotto,anoldmanwearingplainclothescameout;hejoinedhispalmsandextendedgreetingstothepatriarch.Thepatriarchasked,“Wheredoyoulive?”Theoldmananswered,“Inthepast,Iwasabhiksuandlikedquietness.Anovicebhiksucameandaskedmequestionsforseveraltimes,Ididn’tlikehisdisturbingandwasannoyed,thuswhenIdied,Iwasbornasapython.Ihavelivedinthegrottoforoverthousandyears.Justnow,ImetAryaandheardtheprecepts,thankyou.”
Thepatriarchasked,“Isthereanyoneelsewholivesinthemountain?”Theoldmananswered,“Gonorthwardforabouttenmiles,thereisabigtreeshelteringfivehundreddragons,thekingofthetreewasNagarjuna,whooftenpreacheddharmatothedragons.Ioftenlistenedtohispreachingstoo.”
Thepatriarchwenttothebigtreetogetherwithhisdisciples.Nagarjunagreetedhimandsaid,“Theisolatedmountainisthedwellingofdragonsandpythons.Whyareyoucominghere,SupremeMaster?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Iamnotasuprememaster,andI’mheretocallonasage.”Nagarjunathoughtsilently,“Hasthemasterattainedthedefinitivecleardharmaeye?Ishetherealsuccessorofthetruedharma?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Althoughyouthoughtinyourmind,Ihavegotit.Ifyoubecomeamonk,itdoesn’tmatterwhetherI’maholymanornot.”Nagarjunaheardhiswordsandmadeanapology.Thenthepatriarchinitiatedhimintothefullmonkhoodtogetherwiththefivehundreddragons.Thepatriarchthentoldhim,“NowTathagata’sgreattreasuryofdharmaeyeisimpartedtoyou.Listentomyhymn,‘Notdisappearorappear;itisthegenuinetruth.Whounderstandsthedharmaofdisappearingandappearing,isnotstupidorwise.’Afterheimpartedthedharma,heshowedthedivinetransformationsandburnedhisownbodywithspiritualfires.Nagarjunacollectedthefive-colorsarirasandbuiltapagoda.ItwastheyearofRenChen,orthe46thyearofKingNanofZhou(24).
(6)ThefifthpatriarchKanadevawasbornatSouthernIndia.HissurnamewasBishara.Atfirst,hepursuedmeritoriousbehaviorandlikeddebate.LaterhecalledonNagarjuna.Whenhewasnearingthedoor,Nagarjunaknewhewasawiseman,andorderedhisattendanttoplaceafullbowlofwaterbeforetheseat.Kanadevanoticedthebowlandputaneedleintothewater,andtheysmiledsimultaneously.ThenNagarjunapreacheddharmatohim.Nagarjunaseatedandappearedtheformofthemoon.Onlyhisvoicecouldbeheard,whilehewasinvisible.Kanadevasaidtothemass,“TodayMastershowstheBuddhistnature,dharmapreachingisnotvoiceorappearance.”
LaterhewenttoKapilaafterheattainedthedharma.TherelivedavenerableeldercalledBrahmaChingte.Oneday,agaricslikefungusgrewonatreeinthegardenandthetastewasdelicious.Onlytheelderandhissecondson,Rahula,couldtakeandeattheagarics.Theagaricsgrewafterpicking,whilealltheotherrelativescouldn’tseetheagarics.Thepatriarchknewthereason,andcametothehouse.Theelderaskedthereason,thepatriarchanswered,“Inthepast,yourfamilymadeofferingstoabhiksu,whilethebhiksudidn’tenlightenhisdharmaeye.Sohewasbornastheagarics.Youandyoursonsincerelytreatedhim,soyoutwocouldenjoythetaste,whileotherscouldn’t.”Thepatriarchaskedtheelder,“Howoldareyou?”Theelderanswered,“Seventy-nine.”Thepatriarchtoldahymn,“Thebhikubecameamonkbutcouldn’tunderstandBuddhistteachings,soherepaidtheofferingswithhisownbody.Whenyouare81yearsold,thetreewillgrowagaricsnolonger.”Theelderheardthehymn,andadmiredthepatriarchmuchmore.Sohesaid,“I’moldandcannotserveMaster,IhopemysecondsoncanfollowMasterandleavehome.”Thepatriarchsaid,“Buddhaonceforetold,‘ThechildwillbecomeagreatBuddhistmasterinthesecondfivehundredyearsafterBuddha’snirvana.’NowImethim,itcoincideswithBuddha’spastwords.”Thenpatriarchgavethetonsuretohim,andthechildfollowedhimashisattendant.
TheycametoPataliputra,andheardthosenon-BuddhistsweregoingtocreateobstaclestoBuddhism.Theydiscussedforalongtime,thenthepatriarchholdalongstreamerintothem.Theyaskedthepatriarch,“Whydon’tyoustepforward?”Thepatriarchsaid,“Whydon’tyouretreat?”Theysaid,“Youlooklikeabadman.”Thepatriarchanswered,“Youlooklikegoodmen.”Theyasked,“Whathaveyoulearn?”Thepatriarchanswered,“You’velearntnothing.”Theysaid,“WewanttoattainBuddhahood.”Thepatriarchsaid,“I’vealreadyenlightenedmyBuddhistnature.”Theysaid,“Youdon’tdeserveit.”Thepatriarchanswered,“Ireallyattainthedharma,notyou.”Theysaid,“‘Youhavenotattainedthedharma,whyyousayyoudo?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Youhaveegocentrism,soyoucannot;Idon’thaveegocentrism,soIattainthedharmanaturally.”Theycouldreply,sotheyasked,“What’syourname?”Thepatriarchanswered,“MynameisKanadeva.”Theyhadheardhisnamebefore,sotheyapologized.Atthattime,someonestillquestionedthepatriarch;hesubduedthemwithhispowerfultongue.Thenhetoldahymntohissatisfieddisciple,Rahula,andimpartedthedharmaeye.Thehymngoeslikethis,“Itellmysuccessorthedharmaofmoksha.Ihaveattainednothing,noendandnobeginning.”Withthishymn,hecameintotheSwiftSamadhi,releasingeightlights,andthenenteredintonirvana.Hisdisciplesbuiltapagodatoenshrinehisholyrelics.ItwastheyearofGengChen,orthe19thyearofEmperorWenoftheHanDynasty(25).
(7)TheeighteenthpatriarchAryaGayasataUdrakawasbornatMati.HisfatherwasTiangai,hismotherwasFangsheng.Oncetheydreamedofagreatsageholdingamirror,andthenhadpregnancy.Aftersevendays,hewasborn.Hisbodywastransparentlikecoloredglaze,aromaticandcleanwithoutwashing.Helikedsilenceinhischildhood,whathesaidweredifferentformordinarychildren.Whenhetravelledwithamirror,hemetAryaSanghanandi.Afterheattainedthedharma,heledhisdisciplesandarrivedattheKushans.
HewatchedthecuriousairinaBrahman’shouse.Hewantedtoenterthehouse,thehouse-ownerKumarataasked,“Whoareyou?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Buddha’sdisciples.”KumaratabecameworriedwhenheheardBuddha’sname,andclosedthedoor.Thepatriarchknockedatthedoorforalongtime.Kumaratasaid,“Nooneisinthehouse.”Thepatriarchasked,“Whosaidnoone?”Kumarataheardhisword,andknewhewasanunusualperson,soheopenedthedoor.
Thepatriarchsaid,“Inthepast,theworldhonoredoneforetold,‘OnethousandyearslatersinceIenteredintonirvana,abodhisattvawasbornattheKushanswhowillcarryforwardtheBuddhistteachings.’NowImetyou,itcoincideswiththeprediction.”ThenKumaratarecalledhispreviouslives,andhopedtoleavehomeearnestly.Afterheattainedthefullmonkhood,thepatriarchtoldhimahymnandimpartedthedharma,“Thereareseedandmindground,thebudwillsproutunderpredestinedconditions.Theconditionscannothinderitsgrowth;thestageofnogrowthisnearingwhenthebudisgrowing.”Afterthepatriarchimpartedthedharma,hefliedtotheskyandshowedeighteendivinetransformations,heenteredintotheSamadhiofLight,andburnedhisownbodywithspiritualfire.Hisdisciplesbuiltapagodatoenshrinehissariras.ItwastheyearofWuShen,orthe20thyearofEmperorChenoftheHanDynasty(26).
(8)ThenineteenthpatriarchAryaKumaratawasthesonofaBrahmanattheKushans.Inthepast,hewasanisvara(liveinthesixthheavenofthedesirerealm).HesawBodhisattva’sjadestringsandadoredthem,thushefelltotheTrayastrimsha(Thesecondheavenofthedesirerealm),whereheheardKausikapreachedprajnaparamita.HeascendedtotheBrahmaHeavenbecauseoftheextraordinarydharma.Hewascleverandgoodatpreachingthedharma,soothersreckonedhimastheirmaster.Itwasthetimetosucceedthepatriarch’sdharma,sohewasbornattheKushans.LaterhecametotheMiddleIndia,aBodhisattvanamedJayataaskedhim,“MyparentsbelieveinBuddhism,whiletheyalwayssufferillnessandfrustrations;myneighboralwayskillsotherlives,butheisstrong,healthyandsuccessful.WhyheissoluckyandI’msounlucky?”Thepatriarchsaid,“Thereisnodoubtaboutit.Theretributionsconnectsthepast,thepresentandthefuture,ordinarypeopleonlyseethatthebenevolentonediesearlywhilethecruelonelivelong,thebadoneisluckywhilethekindoneencountersmisfortunes.Thentheysaytherearenocausesandeffects,orretributionsofgoodandevil.Infact,theresultsfollowapersonwithoutanymistakesjustlikeone’sshadow,andcannotvanisheventhroughmillionsofkalpas.”
Jayataheardthesewordsandrelieved.Thepatriarchsaid,“Althoughyoubelieveinthethreekarmas,youdon’tunderstandthatkarmasderivefromconfusions,confusionsderivefromconsciousness,consciousnessderivesfromnon-enlightenment,non-enlightenmentderivesfromyournature.Yourtruenatureisclean,quietandinspiringwithoutfabrication,birthanddeath,retributionandsuccessorfailure.Ifyouenterintothisdharmagate,thenyou’renotdifferentfromBuddha.Goodandevil,actionandinactionarejustdreams.”
Jayataacceptedwhatthepatriarchhadsaid,andrecalledhispastlives,soheentreatedthepatriarchtogivethetonsuretohim.
Afterheattainedthefullmonkhood,thepatriarchtoldhim,“Nowitisthetimeformetoenterintonirvana,youmustcarryforwardthedharma.”Thepatriarchimpartedthedharmaeyetohim,andsaidahymn,“Thereisnobirthinnature,anditissaidtofitincertainkindsofperson.Nogainsindharma,nodoubtsonresolution.”Healsosaid,“ItisthepuresentencethatBuddhaBrahmasvaraenlightenedthenature,youmaypassontoposterity.”Withthesewords,heseatedandscrapedhisfacewithhisfingers,thengreatlightswereshiningonthefourgroupsofdiscipleslikebloomingredlotus,thusheenteredintonirvana.Jayatabuiltapagoda.ItwastheyearofRenWu,the14thyearofXinshi(27).
(9)The25thpatriarchAryaBasiasitawasborninaBrahmafamilyatKashmir.HisfatherwasSilentDeeds,andhismother,AlwaysEase.Atfirst,hismotherdreamedofadivinesword,andthenwaspregnant.Heclenchedhislefthandwhenhewasborn.LaterhemetAryaSimhawhomadehimrecallhispastlivesandgavehimsecretlytheheartsealofdharma.LaterhecametotheSouthernIndia.Theking’snamewasKyashen;hemadeofferingstoAryaBasiasita.Atthattime,anon-BuddhistcalledVenerableAnatman,whowasrespectedbythekingbefore.Heenviesthepatriarch’sarrival,andhopetodebateagainstthepatriarchinordertostrengthenhisstatus.Sohesaidtothepatriarchbeforetheking,“Iknewthesilentdebatewithoutspeeches.”Thepatriarchasked,“Howtoknowwhothewinneris?”Hesaid,“Wedon’tstriveforvictory,butseekthemeaning.”Thepatriarchasked,“What’sthemeaningyouareseekingfor?”Hesaid,“Mindless.”Thepatriarchsaid,“Howcanyougetthemeaningifyouaremindless?”Hesaid,“Isaymindless,whichisnotthemeaning.”Thepatriarchsaid,“Yousaymindless,whichisnotthemeaning.Isaynon-mind,whichisthemeaning.”Heasked,“Whocandistinguishthemeaning?”Thepatriarchsaid,“Yourtermisnotthemeaning,thenwhatkindoftermitis?”Hesaid,“Itisnottheproperterminordertodistinguishunreasonablemeaning.”Thepatriarchsaid,“Thetermisnotproper,themeaningisunreasonable,whoisdistinguishing?Anddistinguishingwhat?”Theydebatedlikethisfor59times,thenon-Buddhistcannotreplyfor9times,soheshutupandgavein.
Atthattimethepatriarchsuddenlyturnedtowardsthenorth,hejoinedhispalmsandsighed,“I’mgrievedthatmymasterAryaSimhawaskilledtoday.”
Thenhebidfarewelltotheking,andarrivedattheSouthernIndia,andretreatedatthemountainvalleys.Theking’snamewasHeavenlyVirtue;heinvitedthepatriarchandmadeofferingstohim.Thekinghadtwosons.OnewasVirtueVictory,whowasbrutalandstrong.TheotherwasPunyamitra,whowasgentlebutalwayssufferedillness.Thepatriarchtoldthereason,andtheking’sdoubtdissolved.
Awizardenviedthepatriarch,andputpoisonintohisfoodsecretly;thepatriarchdetectedandatethefood,whilethewizardwaspoisonedbyhimself.Thenthewizardcametothepatriarchandlefthome.Thepatriarchimpartedhimthecompleteprecepts.
Sixtyyearslater,VirtueVictoryascendedthethrone,hebelievedintheheretics,andarrestedthepatriarch.Punyamitrawasalsoprisonedbecauseheadmonishedtheking.
Thekingaskedthepatriarchabruptly,“Therearenoevilenchantersinmycountry,whatisyourschool?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Therearenoblackmagicinthecountry.WhatIhavelearnedisBuddhistdharma.”Thekingsaid,“TheBuddhaenteredintonirvanaovertwothousandyearsago.Whoisyourmaster?”Thepatriarchanswered,“MahakasyapaacceptedthedharmafromtheBuddha,andpasseditontothe24thpatriarch,AryaSimha,Iattainedthedharmafromhim.”
Thekingsaid,“IheardthatbhiksuSimhacannotescapefromkilling,howcanheimpartthedharmatoposterity?”Thepatriarchsaid,“Mymastergavemehiskasayaaswellasthedharmahymnsoastomanifesttheheritage.”“Whereisthekasaya?”thekingasked.Thepatriarchtookoutthekasayafromabag,andshowedtotheking.Thekingorderedtosetfiretoit,whenthefirewoodgoneout,thekasayawasstillbrightwithfivecolorslikeanewone.Thekingfeltregret,andmadeobeisancetothepatriarch.Sincetheheritagewasclear,thekingreleasedPunyamitra.
Punyamitraentreatedthepatriarchtogivethetonsuretohim.Thepatriarchasked,“Whydoyouwanttobecomeamonk?”Punyamitraanswered,“Notforworldlyaffairs.”Thepatriarchasked,“Forwhat?”Punyamitraanswered,“ForBuddhistcareer.”Thepatriarchsaid,“YourHighnessissowisethatyoumustbeaholymanwhowasbornintothisworld.”Thushepermittedtheprincetobecomeamonk.
Punyamitraservedthepatriarchforsixyears,andattainedthefullmonkhoodatthepalace.Duringthepreceptritual,theearthwasshakingwithvariousauspicioussigns.Thepatriarchtoldhim,“I’moldnow,howcanIstaylong?Youmustprotectthetreasuryoftruedharmaeye,andenlightenallsentientbeings.Listentomyhymn,‘Theholyonetoldthedoctrines,norightorwronginthefaceofsituations.NowIunderstandthetruenature,nowayandnoreason.’”
Punyamitraheardthehymnandaskedthepatriarchagain,“Couldyoupassonthekasaya,Master?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Thekasayaisusedtoprovetheheritagebecauseofthedisaster.Ifthereisnodisaster,thekasayaisnouse.Preachingdharmainthetendirections,andpeoplewillnaturallybelieveyou.”Punyamitraheardthewords;hemadeobeisancetohismasterandthendrewback.
Thenthepatriarchshoweddivinechanges,burnedhisownbodywiththefireofSamadhi.Thesariraspileduponthegroundashighasonefoot.ThekingofVirtueVictorybuiltapagodatoenshrinethesariras.ItwastheyearofYiYou,thethirdyearofTaningduringEmperorMingofEasternJinDynasty(28).
(10)The26thpatriarchPunyamitrawasthesecondsonofthekingofHeavenlyVirtueatSouthernIndia.Afterheattainedthedharma,hewenttotheEasternIndia.Theking’snamewasFirmness;hereckonedtheBrahmacarin,Dirghanakha,ashismaster.WhenAryawasnearing,thekingandtheBrahmacarinwatchedawhiteairrisingfromtheearthtothesky.Thekingasked,“Whatistheomen?”TheBrahmacarinknewthepatriarchwillgointothecity;hewasafraidthatthekingwillchangehisbelief,sohesaid,“Itistheomenthatadevilwillcome!”Hediscussedwithhisdisciples,“Punyamitrawillenterintothecapital,whocandefeathim?”Hisdisciplessaid,“Wehavemagicspellsandcanchangetheheavenandearthorenterintowaterandfire,whatdoyouworryabout?”Thepatriarcharrived,andwatchedtheblackairhoveringabovethepalace,hesaid,“It’sonlyasmallmishap.”
Thenhewenttothepalacedirectly.Thekingasked,“Whydoyoucomehere?”Thepatriarchsaid,“Iamgoingtoenlightenthesentientbeings.”Thekingasked,“Howtoenlightenthesentientbeings?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Iwillenlightenthemaccordingtotheirdispositions.”
HeBrahmacarinheardhiswordsangrily,sohemovedamountainabovethepatriarch’sheadwithmagic.Thepatriarchpointedatit,themountainsuddenlyappearedabovethenon-Buddhists.TheBrahmacarinandhisdisciplesfeared,andpaidallegiancetothepatriarch.Thepatriarchwasmercifultohim,hepointedatthemountainagain,andthentheillusorymountaindisappeared.
Thenhepreachedtheessenceofthedharmasoastoguidethekingtowardthetruth.Hetoldtheking,“Aholymaninyourkingdomwillsucceedme.”
AyoungBrahmanwasover20yearsold,hisparentspassedawaywhenhewasachild.Nooneknewhisname.Hecalledhimself“JadeString”,sopeoplecalledhim“JadeStringBoy”.HewanderedonthestreetandbeggedforalivingliketheBodhisattvaofNeverDespise.Someoneaskedhim,“Whyareyougoinginahurry?”Heanswered,“Whyareyougoingslowly?”Someoneasked,“What’syoursurname?”Hesaid,“Thesamewithyou.”Nooneknewthereasonwhyhesaidso.
Later,thekingandAryacameoutonthesamevehicle.JadeStringBoybowedhisheadbeforethem.Thepatriarchasked,“Canyourememberthepast?”Theboyanswered,“Irememberthatmanykalpasago,IlivedtogetherwithMaster.MasterpreachedMahaprajna,andIpreachedthedeepSutra.NowImetMaster,maybeitcoincideswiththepast.”Thepatriarchtoldtheking,“TheboyisnotanyoneelsebutBodhisattvaofGreatPower.Afterthisbodhisattva,therearestilltwoholymen,onewillpreachatsouthernIndia;anotherwillpassonthedharmaintheCentralNation.TheywillbeborninIndianwithinfourorfiveyears.
ThepatriarchnamedtheboyPrajnataraduetothepast,andimpartedhimthetreasuryofdharmaeye.Thepatriarchtoldahymn,“Thetruenatureishiddeninyourmindground,whichhasnoheadortail.Itcanchangeintoeverythingwhenconditionsaremet,thuswecallitprajnaforthetimebeing.”
Afterheimpartedthedharma,thepatriarchbidfarewelltotheking,“Ihavefinishedmypreaching,andwillenterintonirvana.IhopeYourMajestycanalwaysprotectthesupremedharma.”Thenhereturnedtohisseatandpassedawayinthelotusposition.HeburnedhisownbodywiththefireofSamadhi.Thekingcollectedhissarirasandbuiltapagoda.ItwastheyearofWuZi,the13thyearofTaiyuanperiodduringthereignofEmperorXiaowuofEasternJinDynasty(29).
(11)The27thpatriarchAryaPrajnatarawasbornatEasternIndia.Afterheattainedthedharma,hewenttoSouthernIndia.
Theking’snamewasAromaNear,whobelievedinBuddhismandmadegreatofferingsrespectfully.Hispietyexceededordinarypeopleandbestowedthepatriarchapricelesspearlashisofferings.
Atthattime,thekinghadthreesons,Sunmoonpuredharma,SunmeritdharmaandBodhidharma.Thethirdsonwasabodhisattva.Thepatriarchwantedtotestthem,soheaskedthethreeprinces,“Thepearlisperfectandbright,isthereanythingthatcancomparetoit?”Thefirstandsecondprincessaid,“Thepearlissupremeamongseventreasures,andnothingcanexceed.NoonebutArya’svirtuecanmatchthepearl.”
Thethirdprincesaid,“Itisonlyaworldlytreasure,whichisnotthehighest.Thehighestoneamongtreasuresisthetreasureofdharma.Theworldlybrightnessisnotthehighest.Thehighestoneamongbrightnessisthebrightnessofwisdom.Thelightisworldlylight,whichisnotthehighest.Thehighestoneamonglightsisthelightofheart.Thelightofthepearlcannotilluminateitself,andmustmakeuseofthelightofwisdom.Aswedistinguishthelight,weknowitisthepearl.Asweknowitisthepearl,weareclearofthetreasure.Ifwewanttomakeclearofthetreasure,thetreasurecannotappreciateitself.Ifwewanttodistinguishthepearl,thepearlcannotappreciateitself.Asapearlcannotappreciateitself,wemustmakeuseofthepearofwisdomtodifferentiateworldlypearl.Atreasurecannotappreciateitself,sowemustmakeuseofthetreasureofwisdomtodifferentiatethetreasureofdharma.WhileAryaisamasterwithvirtues,sothetreasureappears.Ifallthelivingbeingshavevirtues,themind’streasurewillappeartoo.”
Thepatriarchhighlypraisedhiswisdom,andasked,“Whichoneisformlessamongallsubstances?”Heanswered,“Nothingisformlessamongsubstances.”Thepatriarchasked,“Whichoneisthehighestamongallsubstances?”Heanswered,“Egotismanddiscriminationofothersarethehighest.”Thepatriarchasked,“Whichoneisthelargestamongallthings?”Heanswered,“Dharmanatureisthelargestamongallthings.”
Thepatriarchknewhewasthedharmaheir,buthesaidnothingaboutitbecauseitwasnotthetime.
WhenthekingofAromaNearlefttheworld,alltheotherswerewailing,whilethethirdprinceBodhidharmaenteredintodhyanabeforethecoffin.Hearosefromdhyanaaftersevendays,andaskedtobecomeamonk.Afterheattainedthefullmonkhood,thepatriarchtoldhim,“TathagataimpartedthetruedharmaeyetoMahakasyapa,thepatriarchspasseditonandnowtome.I’lltellyou,listentomyhymn,‘Themindgroundgrowsallkindsofseed,thetruthisrevealedthroughvariousthings.ThefruitsripenandtheBodhiisperfect,variousworldsemergedastheflowerisblooming.’”
Afterheimpartedthedharma,theAryastoodupfromhisseat,stretchedoutbothhands,andeachhandreleasedtwenty-sevenfive-colorlights.Thenhefliedtotheskyashighasseventalatrees,burnedhisownbodywiththefireofSamadhi.Sariarasraineddownfromtheskyandwascollected,thenenshrinedinapagoda.ItwastheyearofDingYou,thefirstyearofDamingperiodduringthereignofEmperorXiaowuofSongintheSouthernDynasties.ThekingofEasternIndiainvitedthepatriarch,afterthemeal,thekingasked,“Alltheothermasterspreachthesutras,whyMasterdon’tpreachthesutras?”Thepatriarchanswered,“Myexhalationsarenotpulledbytheexteriors,andmyinhalationsdon’tabideintheskandharealm,Ioftenpreachsuchsutrasforbillionsofvolumes,notjustoneortwovolumes.”(30)
Theaboverecordsaccountsforthestructuraltransformationoftheirmaterialbodiesandmaterialscanbechangedintospirits.
B.Buddhistpracticecanchangethestructureofthebody,andcanprotectthebodyfromthedecompositionofcoligroup,inotherwords,thecoligroupmayidentifywiththebody,thusthebodyavoidsantigen-antibody’srejection.
ThereisafamoussayingamongancientBuddhists,“Freefromthethreerealmsaswellasthefiveelements.”Inanutshell,thethreerealmsarethethreeintoxications,namely,covetousness,hatredandstupidity.ThefiveelementsderivedfromTaoism.Allthingsareclassifiedintothefiveelements,“earth,wood,water,fire,metal”,whicharesimilartothefivegreatelementsinBuddhism,“earth,water,fire,airandspace”.Thesayingcanbeputinanotherway,“Freefromthethreerealmsaswellasthefivegreatelements.”Onemustpracticeproperlyandabstainfromthethreeintoxications,thusonecanbreakawayfromtherestrainsofthethreerealms,namely,“freefromthethreerealms”.Astheresultofpractice,“thefiveelements”containedinthematerialbodycanbechanged,thusonecangetfreefromthelimitationsof“thefiveelements”.Theimprovementofthefiveelementsinthematerialbodycannotbeaccomplishedatonestroke;however,step-by-steppracticeisnecessary.OnemustfollowtheteachingsinTripitaka,keeponlearning,thinkingandfulfillingthefourunlimitedheartsaswellasthesixparamitas,soastofulfilltheprecepts,dhyana,andprajna.Atleast,wecanassumethatpracticecanmakethestructureofthebody’sfiveelementstendtoharmonyandperfectness.Aperfectfieldoffiveelementscanresisttheoutsidechangesoffiveelementsandavoidviolentvariations.Thatistosay,thepracticer’sbodycannotberestrainedbythefiveelements;theholo-meaningisto“freefrom”thethreerealms.
EsotericBuddhistsrecitetheHymnofBugFeedingbeforebreakfastandlunch,“Thereareeighteenthousanddwellingswithinmybody,andthereare900millionbugsineachdwelling.Iacceptbelievers’offeringsinordertosustaintheirlives,andwillenlightenthemfirstwhenIattainBuddhahood.”I,livingbeingsandBuddhaareallequal.Thefourunlimitedhearts,“benevolence,compassion,rejoicingandfreedom”,thesixparamitasaswellastenthousandsofgooddeeds,canmakethecoligroupwithinourintestinaltract“equal”withthecellsintheorganism.Wecanevenreckonthatthebacteriahavebecomepartoftheorganism.Themercifulidentificationcanavoidtherejectionofimmuneresponsebetweenthebacteriaandtheorganism,ofcourse,exceptthattheimmunesystemhasbeendisorderedseriously.
Theimmunesystemisthemostimportantdefensivesysteminthebody,andcanprotectthebodyfromtheinvasionofpathogenicbacteria.Thesystemconsistsofimmuneorgans(Bonemarrow,thymus,spleen,lymphnodes,tonsils,peyerpatches,appendix,etc.),immunecells(lymphocytes,monocytes,neutrophils,basophils,eosinophils,mastcells,platelets,etc.),andimmunemolecules(complement,immunoglobulin,interferon,interleukin,tumornecrosisfactorandothercytokines,etc.).Theimmunesystemisthebody'sdefensiveorganismtoprotectthebody,mainlyconsistsoflymphoidorgans(thymus,lymphnodes,spleen,tonsils),thelymphoidtissuesinotherorgansandthelymphocytesalthoughthebody,andtheantigen-antibody-cellsetc.;inbroadsense,italsoincludesotherwhitebloodcellsinthebloodandtheplasmacellsandmastcellsinconnectivetissues.Lymphocytesconstitutethecoreoftheimmunesystem,andequiptheimmunesystemwiththepowersofdiscriminationandmemory.Lymphocytestravelaroundthebodythroughbloodandlymph,fromonelymphoidorganorlymphtissuetoanother,sothatthescatteredlymphoidorgansandtissuesareconnectedintoawholefunctionalsystem.Theimmunesystemgrowsupthroughlongtimesofevolutionandbattleswithvariousdisease-causingfactors,inthecaseofindividualdevelopment,thestimulationofantigensisalsoneededtoimprovethesystem.
Inshort,thebody'simmunesystemisageneraltermfortheoverallcellularreactionofidentificationandeliminationof"non-autologousmaterial(usuallyforeignbacteria).Theimmunesystemcandifferentiateforeignnon-autologousmaterialcomposition(assmallasviruses,andasbigasparasites)fromtheirownorganism.Oneofthedifficultiesofdifferentiatingforeignsubstancesisthatbacteriacangetwith,thengenerateanewformandreinfectthehost(31).
However,theoutcomesofpracticewillcertainlybedifferentbecauseoftheindividualdifferences,suchasgenetics,gender,ageaswellaskarmaofindividual"soul"inthesamsara.Thusitisnotthecasethateverypracticerwillleavesarirasoranincorruptiblebody.Infact,genesand“karma”aredifferentformsofthesameconcept,namely,thematerializedandspiritualizedformsofthesamefactors.
C.Sariras,incorruptiblebody,andrainbowbodyisthespiritualizationofsubstance&thematerializationofspirit.
Ourbodycanberoughlydividedintotwoparts:thematerializedbodyandspiritualizedsoul.Thetwopartsareanintegratedwhole.However,substanceorcorporealbodyaredifferentfromspiritorpsyche.Sincethey’reanintegratedwhole,wecanassumethatthereisa"criticalstate"betweenthem.
Whatis"criticalstate"?Forexample,whenwaterfreezesfromliquidintosolid,0℃isthecriticalstate;whenwaterchangefromliquidintosteam,100℃isalsoacriticalstate.Oneofthecharacteristicsofcriticalstateisthattwo-phasephysicalandchemicalpropertiesexistatthesametime.
Intheassumption,bodyandsoul,ormaterialandspiritcanrealizemutualtransformation,themomentandsiteoftransformationarethecriticalstatebetweenmaterialandspirit.Thiscriticalstateisnotamaterializedstructurethatcanbemeasured,itcannotbesimplyunderstoodasthebipartitionofawhole,nottosayapoint,alineorasection,becausebodyandsoulareinseparablewhenthebodyisalive.
Thehumanbodyhastworegulationsystemsaccordingtomodernmedicine:thenervoussystemandendocrinesystem,howeverthetraditionalChinesemedicinealwaysinsistontheexistenceofmeridiansysteminhumanbody,thousandsofyearsofmedicalhistoryalsoprovestheundoubtedexistenceofmeridiansystem.However,modernwesternscientistsmadethematerialpositivismmistakewhentheyqueriedthemeridiantheory,andconcluded"Meridianisakindoftinycrystal",whichindicatestheycannotprovewhatmeridianis.
Meridiantheory:“jing”(channels)containsthemeaningof“passage”,jingconnectsdifferentpartsofthebodydirectly;“luo”(subsidiarychannels)hasthemeaningof“web”,luoistheextensionofjing.Jingandluocanconnectthefunctionsofdifferentorgansaroundthehumanbody,andinturnconnectthefiveinternalorgans(heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney),thesixholloworgans(gallbladder,stomach,largeintestine,smallintestine,bladderandsanjiao),head,face,trunkandlimbsetc.,andacceleratethephysiologicalroleofthebodycellswithgenuineQi(intrinsicenergy),thusrealizevitalfunctionsandlifeprocesses.Thesocalled“jingluo”isagenerictermincludesthe12meridians,eightextrachannels,branchesoftwelvemeridians,fifteenlargestcollateralsaswellasmanyothercollateralsandtertiarycollateralsetc.
Theroleofjingluo:Jingluocirculateqiandblood,keepupthenutrition.Thedefensiveqirunninginthemeridiansatthebodysurfacecansafeguardhumanhealth,andresisttheinvasionofdisease.Meridianshavethefunctionsofresistingtheinvasionofexternalvirulencefactorsundernormalcircumstances.Meridiansconnectedbothinsideandoutsideofthehumanbodyasawhole,whichensurestheunityandbalanceofinternalandexternalenvironment.
Unobstructedqiensuressmoothmeridians,andobstructedqiresultsinvariousdiseases,itisaneternaltruth.Thecirculationofqiandblooddependsonthestateofmeridians.PeoplewhoarefamiliarwithChinesemedicineareawarethatalthoughmeridiansareintangible,buttheyreallyexistinhumanbody.Thesedays,massageandacupuncturearepopularintheworld;theyareallbasedonthetheory.
Infact,meridiansregulatetheinternalandsurfaceorgansinhumanbody.Ifjingluoissmooth,thenqiandbloodcancirculatealloverthebody,andsupplyenergiestoneededorgans.Ifjingluoisobstructed,exogenouspathogenicfactorscaneasilyenterintothevitalorgansofhumanbodythroughthesurface,thusvariousdiseaseswillcomeintobeing(32).
SkeletonMapofMeridians(Figurec)
Twelvechannelsconstitutethemainchannelsforqi-bloodcirculation.Thefifteenlargecollateralscirclearoundthechannel,andconnecttheyinandyangchannelsaswellasthetwelvechannelsinthefourlimbs.Theeightextrachannelsdonotbelongtothevitalinnerorgansandhasnomaterialcounterpart,whiletheyhaveextrafunctions,sotheyarecalled“theeightextrachannels."Besides,theRenchannelandGovernormeridianoftheeightextrachannelsaswellasthetwelvechannelsareknownasthefourteenchannels.
Eachchannelofthetwelvechannelsbelongstoavitalinnerorgan,andisnamedaccordingtoitaswellasthetri-yinchannelsandtri-yangchannelsinthelimbs.Thosebelongtothefiveinternalorgansconstitutetheyinchannels,andthosebelongtothesixholloworgansconstitutetheyangchannels.
Threeyinchannelsofhand:lungchannelofhandTaiYin,heartchannelofhandShaoYin,thepericardiumchannelofhandJueYin;
Threeyangchannelsofhand:thelargeintestinechannelofhandYangMing,thesmallintestinechannelofhandTaiYang;theSanJiaochannelofhandShaoYang;
Threeyinchannelsoffoot:thespleenchanneloffootTaiYin,thekidneychanneloffootShaoYin,theliverchanneloffootJueYin;
Threeyangchannelsoffoot:thestomachchanneloffootYangMing,thebladderchanneloffootTaiYang;
Governormeridian:runsalongtheposteriorcentralline.AlltheyangchannelsconvergeattheGovernormeridian.SincetheGovernormeridiangovernsalltheyangchannelsandyangqiinthebody,itisalsocalledtheseaofyangchannels.
Renchannel:runsalongthecentrallineofthoraxandabdomen.AlltheyinqiareconvergedinRenchannel.SinceRenchannelconceivesalltheyinqiinthebody,itisalsocalledtheseaofyinchannels.
Innormalconditions,thefunctionandroleofmeridiansareregular.InnerCanonoftheYellowEmperorsays,“Theoperationofhumanorganism,thecauseofdiseaseandthetreatmentareallcloselyrelatedtothetwelvechannels.Ahealerstartshisstudyfromthetwelvechannels,andendsupwiththem.”Ifpathologicalchangeshappen,thetwelvechannelscanreflectthecorrespondingsymptoms,thusmasteringtheregularpatternandobservingthechangescanprovidebasisfortheoverallanalysisofphysiology,pathology,diagnosis,treatment,andsoon.
InnerCanonoftheYellowEmperorsays,“Meridianscancirculateqiandblood,carryyinqiandyangqi,relaxmusclesandbones,andlimberthejoints.(33)”Meridianslikeanetsystem,transportqiandbloodinthewholebody,andconnectthevitalorgans,limbs,joints,musclesandbones,fleshesetc,thustheorganismandorganscancarryoutactivitiesasanorganicwhole.Qiandbloodarethematerialbasisofhumanlifeactivities;theydependonjingluo’soperationtorunthroughthewholebody,nourishthevitalorgans,maintainthenormalfunctions,andensurenormalphysicalactivities.Generallyspeaking,meridianshavethefunctionsofcirculatingqiandblood,nourishingthewholebody,regulatingthefunctionsoftheorganismandenhancingthedefensiveabilityagainstexogenouspathogens.
Hereby,wecanassumethatthemeridiansystemisthecriticalstatebetweenthecorporealandthespiritualformsofhumanbody.Thecriticalstatemusthavethecharacteristicsoftwostates,inotherwords,themeridiansystemmusthavematerializedandspiritualizedperformances.Infact,meridiansactuallyhavesuchfeatures,thustheycanregulateourcorporealbody,however,anditishardtoprovetheirexistence(thematerialbasis).
ThreenadisandsevenchakrasinYogahavesimilareffects.Thetheoryoftigle(sparkleofdivineconsciousness),nadisandchakrasoriginatedfromtheancientcivilizationsofIndia.EsotericBuddhismisalsocalledyogaofTri-guhya,thepracticeofesotericBuddhismhassomelinkswithyoga.
Threenadisinhumanbody:
ThecentralcannelbeginsfromMuladharaChakra(theendofsacrococcyx),runsalongthecentralofthebackintothehead,rounduptotheCrownChakra,curvestowardtheBrowChakra,throughwhichvariousuniversalenergyenterintohumanbody.Thepassageatthecrowncanbeopenedupthroughpractice,thusuniversalenergycanenterintothehumanbody,andthespiritcanrushout.
Onthepartofphysiologicalfunctions,thecentralchannellocatesaheadofthevertebration,anduptothehead.Thusthepracticeofthecentralchannelcanexercisethevertbrationandthebrain,andenhancethefunctions.Brainandvertbrationbelongtotheneuralsystem;thebrainandthespinalcordwithinthespineconstitutethecentralnervoussystem.Thereare12pairsofcranialnervesattachedonthesurfaceofthebrain.Twoflanksofthespinalcordconnect31pairsofspinalnerves,whichdivideintovisceralnerves.Theabovethreekindsofnervesconstitutetheperipheralnervoussystem.
Theleftandrightchannelsconnectleftandrightnostrils,ascendtothebrainandgodownalongthetwoflanksofthecentralchannel,thenjoinwiththecentralchannelattheDharma-producingChakrafourfingersbelowthenavel.Theleftchannelisachannelofwater,belongtoyin,thusalsoiscalledthemoonchannel;therightchannelisthechanneloffire,belongtoyang,andisalsocalledthesunchannel.
Theleftandrightchannelslocatebesidethecentralchannel,andcorrespondwiththetwovisceralnerves,namely,sympatheticandparasympatheticnerves.
Thethreechannelsregulatethewholenervoussystemofthebody.Thefunctionofbodysystemcanbeenhancedthroughyogapractice.
Sevenchakras:Thefollowingchakrasarelistedfrombottomtotop:
（1）MoodadharaChakra
（2）SwadisthanChakra
（3）NabhiorManipuraChakra3aVoidorOceanofIllusion
（4）HeartorAnahataChakra
（5）VishuddhiChakra
（6）AgnyaorAjnaChakra
（7）SahasraraChakra)（34）
(Figured)
Althoughthethreechannelsandsevenchrakashavenotbeenprovedbymodernmedicalscience,wecanstillassumethemasacriticalstatebetweenmaterialandspiritsimilartomeridians.
Ifweassumemeridiansorthethreechannelsandsevenchrakasinyogaconstitutethecriticalstatebetweenhumanbodyandspirit,thenwecancometoaconclusion:Althoughwecannotprovethematerialbasisoftheirexistenceatlaboratory,infacttheyactuallyplayawonderfulregulatingroleinhumanbody,thenwecanconcludethatourmindcanchangethematerialbody.Iftheassumptioniscorrectintheory,thenwecaneasilyunderstandthevisualizationoftheholyoneinyogaofTri-guhya.Throughthepracticeofvisualizingtheholyone’sperfectappearance,thebodywillgraduallyaccordswiththeholyoneduetothefunctionofspiritualenergies.
D.Practiceproperlyinthelightofpreceptscangenerate“spiritualinformationfield”aswellasmaterializedactions,whichcanensurehealthybody,andcontinuouslypreventthebodyfrombeingdecomposedbythecoligroupevenaftertheendoflife,ortransformthebodyintosirirasduringcremation,orcausethephenomenaofLightSamadhi.
Spiritualenergyisdifferentfrommaterialenergy,andhasspiritualproperties,althoughitishardtobetestedbyphysicalmeans,spiritualenergyiscloselylinkedwithourminds.Ideasfallintotwocategories,positiveonesandnegativeones.Thespiritualenergyfieldformedbypositiveideasisalsopositive,andcanimprovethephysique.Whilenegativeideascanformnegativeenergyfield,andweakenthephysique.SincetheessenceofBuddhistpracticeispositiveideasandactions,suchasbenevolence,compassion,rejoicingandfreedom,thusthespiritualenergyfieldispositiveandcanimprovethephysiqueandhealth,thisisalsotheholo-meaningof“BuddhasandBodhisattvas’sblessing”.
Ⅲ.TheSignificanceofDivinePowersinBuddhistPractice&theAssumptionsofModernScienceandPhilosophy
A.Questions
BuddhistorEsotericBuddhisttheoryisaperfectcombinationofmaterialismandidealism.WelearnfromscripturesandBuddhistpracticethatdivinepowersincludedivineeye,divineear,awarenessofother’sthoughts,knowledgeofexistencesinalltimes,divinefeetandthedivinepowerofnoaffliction.Whatkindofpowersaretheyactually?Ifdivinepowersareconsideredasincrediblephenomena,thenitishardtoexplainvariousexperiencesinesotericBuddhistpracticing.We’llfallintothemireofagnosticism.Aredivinepowersourintrinsicpotentials?Canweexplainthemwiththecelltheoryandgenetictheoriesinmodernmedicalscience？
B.ExplanationsinBuddhistScriptures
TheLargeSutraonPrajnaparamita，Vol.9,theFirstPart,Reincarnation3/4,Taisho,says,“Shariputra,whenabodhisattvaispracticingprajnaparamita,hecanarousethesixdivineparamitas,namely,wisdomofdivinefeet,wisdomofdivineear,awarenessofother’sthoughts,knowledgeofexistencesinalltimes,wisdomofdivineeyeandthedivinepowerofnoaffliction(35).”
Thecontextisveryclearthatabodhisattvamayarousethesixdivinepowerswhenhepracticesparamitas,hencesixdivinepowersaretheresultofsixparamitas.Thesixdivinepowersaredivinefeet,divineear,awarenessofother’sthoughts,knowledgeofexistencesinalltimes,divineeyeandthedivinepowerofnoaffliction.Thesixparamitasareeasytosaybutnoteasytopractice,thatis,Dona(giving),Sila(precepts),Ksanti(patience),Virya(perseverance),Dhyana(concentration),Prajna(wisdom).Actuallyhowmanyofuscanliveupto?However,ifexotericoresotericBuddhistscannotliveuptothesixparamitas,thenattainingBuddhahoodisjustgabs.Thesixparamitasmustberootedinourminds,speeches,actionsatanywhereinanytimes.IfaBuddhistcannotfollowpreceptsandpracticeproperly,heisonlya“speaker”ofBuddhism.
C.TheHolo-meaningofSixParamitasfromtheOutlookofModernScienceandPhilosophy
Itisnecessarytobefamiliarwithmodernastrophysicsandquantumphysics.
BigBangTheoryisatheoryabouttheoriginoftheuniverseinastrophysics.AccordingtotheBigBangtheory,theuniverseevolvedfromthestateofhightemperatureanddensityabout14billionyearsago.Thetemperatureanddensityoftheuniverse’ssubstancesandenergyareextremelyhighatbeginning.Physicistshavevariousopinionsonwhathappenedbefore,whileinthegeneraltheoryofrelativity,thereisagravitationalsingularity.
Inthenarrowsense,“BigBang”referstotheviolentchangewhentheuniverseisformingatthebeginning,andtheperiodiscalculatedasabout13.7billionyearsago;however,inthebroadsense,itreferstothepopulartheorythatrevealstheoriginandexpansionofthecosmos.Accordingtothistheory,theformerSovietphysicistGeorge•Gamowpredictedtheexistenceofcosmicmicrowavebackgroundradiationin1948.Atthesixtiesoflastcentury,theradiationwasdetected,whichstronglysupportsthebigbangtheory.
Thus"singularity"theoryand"blackhole"theorywerealsodeveloped.Inshort,theso-called"singularity"isa“point”withinfinitequalityandinfinitesimalvolume,theuniverseistheresultofthesingularity’sconstantexpansion;whilethe"blackhole"isconstantlyabsorbingstars,andthenevolvesintonew"singularity."Infact,itissimilartothetheoryof“thebeginningisthereverseofending”intraditionalChineseTaoistphilosophy,theuniverseoriginatesfromnil,andnilevolvesintomaterials,andmaterialsagainreturnstonil(mypersonalopinion).“Yin”and“yang”inTaoismandConfucianismactuallyreferto“materiality”and“immateriality”.
AppendedCommentariestotheBookofChange,PartⅠ,“Loftyheavenandthelowearthformtheuniverse.Thehigheroneandtheloweronestaywheretheyare,thustheordercomesintobeing.Themovementandstillnesshaveregularpatterns;theweakandstrongaredifferentiated.Thoseofsimilarattributionscongregateingroups,thusgoodorillluckaredivided.Variousphasesintheheavenanddifferentlandformsontheearthemerge,thuschangesappear.Therefore,theweakandstrongclash,andEightDiagramsvaryindifferentforms.Athunderboltflashed,accompaniedbywindandrain.Thesunandthemoonaremoving,thusheatandcoldweatheralternate.Masculinitycreatesman,whilefemininityshapeswoman.Yangqistartstheprocessofcreation,whileyinqinurtureseverything.”(36)Fromtheviewofholo-scienceandholo-philosophy,theaboveparagraphanalyzesthecomplementarydialecticalrelationshipbetween“materialityandimmateriality”,“yinandyang”or“materialandspirit”.
BigBangtheoryhasbeengenerallyaccepted,althoughtherearemanynewproblemsin"singularity"and"blackhole"theories,forexample,thefamousBritishphysicistStephenWilliamHawkinghasdifferentassumptions,butthesewillnotaffectthestudyinthisarticle.
However,modernscienceemphasizesthematerialpositivismresearch,andneglectsthe"spiritual"research,whichisthelimitationofmodernscienceandphilosophy.Inthesameway,modernBuddhiststudyisalsoledtoabranchroadsimilartothoseofarchaeologicalliterature.TaoTeChing,atraditionalTaoistclassic,the47thchaptergoeslikethis,“Withoutgoingoutsidehisdoor,oneunderstands(allthattakesplace)underthesky;withoutlookingoutfromhiswindow,oneseestheTaoofHeaven.Thefartherthatonegoesout(fromhimself),thelessheknows.Thereforethesagesgottheirknowledgewithouttravelling;kneweverythingwithoutseeingthem;andaccomplishedtheirendswithoutanypurposeofdoingso.”(37)Thesubstanceofthechaptercanbeexplainedsimplylikethis,“Ascholarkneweverythingundertheskywithoutgoingoutsidehisdoor.”ModernBuddhistpositivismresearcheshavemisledBuddhismfrompracticingwaytoBodhiintoonesubject.Suchresearchescanonlyimmerseusintheseaofknowledge,andthedisadvantagesoutweightheadvantagesasfaraswisdomdevelopmentisconcerned,andhasnobenefittoBuddhistpractice.SoBuddhistswithrightfaithwillnotfollowsuchresearches,furthermore,someofthespeechesandviewsarenotdifferentfromslanderingtheThreeJewels.
Easternandwesternphilosophiescanbegenerallydividedintotwoschools:materialismandidealism.Basicphilosophiesfallinto“thematerial”and“thespiritual”,whilethemaindifferenceliesinwhichoneisfirst,decisivefactor.Inmaterialism,materialisthefirst,andspirit,thesecond,materialsgenerateanddeterminespirits;whileinidealism,spiritisthefirst,andmaterial,thesecond,spiritscreateanddeterminematerials.Infact,theyarebothimperfect,andthebestshouldbetheperfectcombinationofthetwo.Infact,Buddhismistherealperfectcombinationofthetwotheories.
DiamondSutrasays,“WorldHonoredOne,thethreethousandgreatthousandworldsystemsarespokenofbytheTathagataasnoworldsystems,thereforetheyarecalledworldsystems.Andwhy?Ifworldsystemsactuallyexisted,thatwouldconstituteaunityofappearances.WhattheTathagataspeaksofasaunityofappearancesisnotaunityofappearances.Thereforeitiscalledaunityofappearances."(38)(39)
Heretheso-called“unityofappearances“canbeunderstoodastheunityof"material"and"spirit".Inotherwords,"material"and"spirit"withdifferentappearancesderivefromthesameorigin.Insimplewords,materialisspirit,andspiritismaterial,materialcanbechangeintospirit,andviceversa.Forexample,ifweremovetheobjectbeforeus,whatisthespacewheretheobjectoccupiedamomentago?Atleastintheorywecansaythatitistheobject’sinsubstantialbody,or“spirit”oftheobject,however,infact,nothingexiststhereaftertheobjectwasmoved(exceptair).Thatistosay,whenanobjectismoved,theinsubstantialbodyismovedsimultaneously,inotherwords,materialandspiritmovetogether,they’reaunityofappearance.Materialistsonlyseematerial,whileidealistsonlyseespirit;bothofthemarebiased,theircognitionoftheworldarejustlikeablindmanfeelsanelephant.TheinexplicableunityofappearanceistheworldoutlookofBuddhism.AnotherimportantconnotationofBuddhistworldviewis"threethousandworlds"is"adustmote","adustmote"is"threethousandworlds".Therefore,thedharmarealmexistsintheheart,thosebeyondthebodyaretheappearance,andthosewithintheheartarethenature.Theappearanceandthenatureisaunitedwhole,theyarethesameforanenlightenedperson,butdifferentforabewilderedperson.Providedthatthe"bigbang"andthesingularitytheoryareacceptable,thentheuniversecanbeseenasconstantlycirculatingfrom“Singularity”into“blackhole”,andthenfrom“blackhole”into“Singularity”inthelongcourseofhistory.Thusthereisnobeginningorendingoftheuniverse,whichresemblestheproblemofchickenandegg’ssequence.Therearenofirstandlast,buttheyappearinanorder.Aretherestraightlineandflatsurfaceintheuniverse?Supposethe“bigbang”oftheuniverseformed10nofsmallparticles(herenisinfinity),theparticlesarestillwithusnowthroughtheuniverse’sevolution,andconstitutemyriadphenomenaintheboundlessuniverse.Ifwehavekepttrackofthe10nofelementaryparticlescontinuouslysincethebeginningoftheuniverse,thenitisquitereasonableintheorytoconcludetheentirehistoryofanyotherparticlesaswellasthewholeuniversebasedonthedataofanyparticle,thuswecanalsoexplainwhy“adustmote”cancontain“thethreethousandgreatthousandworldsystems”,and“thethreethousandgreatthousandworldsystems”canbeenvelopedin“adustmote”.Thuswecanconcludethat“knowledgeofother’sthoughts”isunderstandableandbelievable.
Thephilosophicalrelationshipbetweenmaterialandspiritismentionedabove.Herematerialcanbeseenasthecorporealbodyobtainedfromourparents,andthespiritisour"soul".Inotherwords,therelationshipbetweenmaterialandspiritcanbesimplifiedastherelationshipbetweenbodyandsoul.Materialsfollowthelawofconservationofmatter,emergeanddisappear,transformandchange;whilethesoulreincarnatesinthesixrealmsofexistenceuntilonerealizesandfreesfromthesamsara.Mostofmodernistsdon’tbelievetheexistenceofsamsarabecauseoftheimpactofmodernscienceandtechnology.However,spiritsarewanderingagainandagaininthesixdestiniesofcelestialbeings,human,asura,hellbeings,hungryghostsandanimalsasaresultofvariouskarmas.
D.AssumptionsforSixDivinePowersfromtheViewofModernScienceandPhilosophy
ThePowerofDivineFeet:Theabilityofarrivingatanywhereorbymeansofavatars.
Thepowerofdivinefeetisactuallytheabilityofcreatingavatars.ManyBuddhistscripturesrecordBuddhasandbodhisattvascouldcreatemillionsofavatars,forexample,WonderfulDharmaLotusSutra,theChapteroftheUniversalDoorofAvalokitesvaraBodhisattva,descriptsvariousavatarsofAvalokitesvaraBodhisattva(GwanShrYin):
TheBuddhatoldBodhisattvaInfiniteResolve,"Goodman,ifthereisalivingbeinginsomecountrywhocanbeenlightenedbyaBuddha,GwanShrYinBodhisattvaappearsasaBuddhaandteacheshimtheDharma.IfsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyaPratyekaBuddha,heappearsasaPratyekaBuddhaandteacheshimtheDharma.IfsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyaDharma-listener,heappearsasaDharma-listenerandteacheshimtheDharma.IfsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyaBrahma-heavenKing,heappearsasaBrahma-heavenKingandteacheshimtheDharma.
IfsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyShakra,heappearsasShakraandteacheshimtheDharma.Ifsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyanisvara,heappearsasanisvaraandteacheshimtheDharma.IfsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyMahesvara,heappearsasMahesvaraandteacheshimtheDharma.IfsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyamightyGeneraloftheGods,heappearsasamightyGeneraloftheGodsandteacheshimtheDharma.IfsomeonecanbeenlightenedbytheGodVaisravana,heappearsasVaisravanaandteacheshimtheDharma.
Ifsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyaminorking,heappearsasaminorkingandteacheshimtheDharma.Ifsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyanelder,heappearsasanelderandteacheshimtheDharma.Ifsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyalay-person,heappearsasalay-personandteacheshimtheDharma.Ifsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyaministerofstate,heappearsasaministerofstateandteacheshimtheDharma.
IfsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyaBrahman,heappearsasaBrahmanandteacheshimtheDharma.Ifsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyamonkornun,alaymanoralaywoman,heappearsasamonkornun,alaymanorlaywomanandteacheshimtheDharma.Ifsomeonecanbeenlightenedbythewifeofanelder,layman,ministerofstate,orBrahman,heappearsasawifeandteacheshimtheDharma.
Ifsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyaladormaiden,heappearsasaladormaidenandteacheshimtheDharma.Ifsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyagod,dragon,yaksha,organdharva,anasura,garuda,kinnara,ormahoraga,ahuman,nonhuman,andsoforth,heappearsaccordinglyandteacheshimtheDharma.AndifsomeonecanbeenlightenedbyaVajra-wieldingSpirit,heappearsasaVajra-wieldingSpiritandteacheshimtheDharma.
InfiniteResolve!SucharethemeritoriousdeedsdonebyGwanShrYin,theBodhisattvawhoroamsthroughouttheworldandappearsinvariousformstorescuelivingbeings.ThereforeyoushouldallwholeheartedlymakeofferingstotheBodhisattvawholistenstothesoundsofalltheworlds.Intimesofterror,crisis,andtrouble,theGreatBodhisattvaGwanShrYincanbestowcourageanddispelallfears.Therefore,allthroughouttheSahaworldwecallhimGiverofCourage.(40)
HerewecanviewtheavatarsofBodhisattvaastransformationsorduplicates.ThesocalledtransformationsaredifferentappearancesoftheBodhisattva,whileduplicatesarebodiesduplicatefromtheoriginalbody.Theappearancesinourchildhood,teenage,middleage,andoldagecanbeconsideredasourtransformations;ifwecanchangeourappearancesintothoseofothers,thesearealsotransformations;ifonebodycreatesmanynewbodies,thesenewonesareduplicates.Infactonepersonhasonlyonebody,whytheBuddhacanhavemanytransformationsandduplicates?“Immeasurablemeritoriousdeeds”isimperativetoattaintheabilityaccordingtoBuddhistsutras,fromhereweseetheimportanceofpractice.“Samsara”isaveryimportantconceptinBuddhism,ifitreallyexists,thenweinthepast,thepresentandthefutureareourtransformations.Similarly,intheyogaofTri-guhya,theholyonecanbereckonedasthetransformationoftheesotericBuddhistpracticer.ThetheoryofDuplicationwillbeelaboratedlater.Ifwecanexplainthetransformationofourownbodytheoretically,thenwecanbeinanyplacesatanytimesintheory.However,ifwewanttoattainthepowerofdivinefeet,wemustdevelopallthepotentialsofeachcell.Itisnotathingofmerepapertalk.InexotericBuddhism,onecanaccomplishthepracticethroughceaselesseffortinthreegreatkalpas;inesotericBuddhism,onecanattainBuddhahoodduringlifetime,butonemustpracticeyogaofTri-guhyastrictlyaccordingtotheprecepts.Modernistswhohaveacceptedwesternphilosophyandsciencereckondivinepowersasfabrications,evenlesspeoplecanpracticeproperly.However,thehistoricalrecordsofBuddhismandscripturestellushumanbeingscanattaindivinepowers.
Forexample,TheBiographyofDivineMonks,vol.3,records:
“MonkBeidu,nooneknewhisrealname,heoftenferriedriverswithawoodentub,thuspeopleknewhim.Atfirst,helivedatJizhouandwasn’tstrictwithminuteprecepts,nooneknewhisremarkabledivinepowers……Aftersometime,heroamedhereandthere;heacceptedsomeone’sinvitationsbutrejectedsomeoneelse.
Atthattime,helivedinawell-offChenfamilyatNanzhou,andreceivedwarmtreats.ItwassaidthattherewasanotherBeiduatDuxia,theChenfatherandhisfoursonsdidn’tbelieve,sotheywenttoDuxiatogether.TherewasreallyaBeiduwholookedjustlikeBeiduattheirhome.Theyofferedhimaboxofsweetginger,aknife,pistacialentiscus,handtowelsandsoon,thenBeiduatethesweetgingerbutleftotherthingsbeforehisknees.TheywereafraidthathewasBeiduattheirhome,sotwosonsstayedatDuxiatowatchtheman,theotherthreereturnedhome.Beiduathomewastherewithincenseandknifeandsoonbeforehiskneestoo,buthedidn’teatingsweetginger.HesaidtoChen,“Theknifeisblunt;Icansharpenitforyou.”WhenthetwosonsreturnedfromDuxia,theysaid,thatBeiduhadgototheLingjuTemple.TheBeiduathomeunexpectedlydemandedtwopiecesofyellowpaper,andwrotesomethingunlikecharacters.Thecharactersononepaperwerethesamewiththoseonthebackofanotherpaper.Chenaskedhim,“Whatisthesymbol?”Beidudidn’tanswer.…Later,itwassaidthathewasbeheldattimes.(41)
ThePowerofDivineEye:Thecapabilityofdiscerningthingsclearlybothfarandnear.
Asweallknow,humaneyeshavelimitations,forexample,infraredandultravioletraysarebeyondhumaneyesight.However,withmodernscientificinstruments,wecanseeinfraredandultravioletrays;withradioastronomytelescope,wecanknowfarawaystars,whichprovedivineeyeisreasonableintheory.However,mostofusthinkwemustmakeuseofscientificinstruments.MaydivineeyeinBuddhismcomeintoreality?MaybeonlyBuddhasorbodhisattvascananswerthequestion,yetBuddhasandbodhisattvasoncepracticedashumanbeings,thushumanbeingshavethepotentialtoanswerthequestiontheoretically.Herethedivineeyecanseenotonlythematerialuniverse,butalso“thespiritualuniverse”,namely,thetendharmarealms.Inotherwords,thedivineeyeshouldalsosee"thespiritualuniverse",soitmusthavethevisionofconsciousness.Iflimitationofhumanvisionis10km,wemuststandattheplace10kmawayfromtheobjective20kmawayfromus,butifwereallystandattheplace,thenthereisnodivineeyeatall.Thereisonlyoneconditionthatourconsciousnessputourvisionattheplace.Sincethepowerofconsciousnessisspiritualpower,ifwehavethepowerofdivinefeet,thenwehavethepowerofdivineeyenaturally.Actuallyalltheanswersarehiddenwithinourbodyandsoul.Astheholo-meaningsofthetendharmarealmsarehiddeninourownheart,thepowerofdivineeyeisakindofspiritualability.
Theachievementsofmodernmoleculargeneticstellus,ourbodieshavenumerouscells,eachcellcancloneanewindividualintheory,thusnumerousnewindividualscanbecloned,andthenewindividualscanclonenumerousnewonesagain.Thisisthematerialbasisofthetheoreticalassumptionsfordivineeyeandears.
Letuscontinuetoassumethattheuniverseisaholo-informationsystem,theso-calledholo-informationmeanswecangettheinformationofallthingsformonething,orlearnthewholefromthepart.ECIWOBiologydatesbacktothetheorypublishedbyProfessorZhangYingqingatShandongUniversity,Chinain1973.Insimplewords,somepartsofthebodyororganismwithindependentfunctionsandstructurecanreflectalltheinformationofthehumanbody.(42)Forexample,wecanlearnthewholetreebyasingleleave,learnthewholehumanbodybyonefinger,orinferthewholelivingorganismbyonecell.Inthesameway,wecaninfertheearthbyadustmote,inferthewholesolarsystemthoughtheearth,andinferthewholeMilkyWaygalaxythroughthesolarsystem.Inferringisaprocessofthinkingortheactionofthemind.Supposetheuniverseofholo-informationisreal,thenhumanmindcanlearnthewholecosmos,inotherwords,humaneyecanseethewholeuniverse,andhumanearscanhearthewholesoundsintheuniverse.Infact,thefamousancientChineseclassic,BookofChanges,isaworkofphilosophyandscienceanalyzingtheholo-informationuniverse.TheviewsinthebookaswellasthephilosophicalandscientificthoughtsinLaoTzu'sTaoTeChing,aclassicofTaoism,arecompletelycontainedinBuddhistholo-informationideas.
TheSutraoftheSecretWholeBodies’RelicsCasketSealDharaniofAllBuddhas’heartsgoeslikethis:
TheBuddhasaid:“Listen,Vajrapani.IftherearefaithfulmenorfaithfulladiesandthefourgroupsofdisciplesofmineinthefuturemakeawishandthenwritethisSutra,itisequaltowriteallSutrasspokenbyninetyninehundredthousandkotisBuddhas.TheyhaveplantedtherootsofgoodnessinfrontofninetyninehundredthousandkotisBuddhas.AlltheBuddhastakecareofthemjustlikeprotectingtheireyes,orlikeamercymothertakingcareofherchildren.Ifanybodyreadthissutra,itisequaltoreadingallsutrasspokenbyallBuddhasfromthepast,thepresentandthefuture.”Moreover,TheBuddhatoldVajrapani:“IfanybodywritesthisSutraandputitintoastupa.ItwillbeastupaofallBuddhas’VarjraStore.ItisalsoastupaofallBuddhas’DharaniHeartSecreteBlessing.ItisastupaofninetyninehundredthousandkotisBuddhas.ItisalsoastupaofallBuddhas’topsandeyes.ItwillbeprotectedbyallBuddhas’spiritualpower.”(43)
Thispassageofthescripturetellstheholo-informationcharacterofBuddhisttruth.ThecapabilityofrecitingtheTripitakaisnotequalwiththeexperienceandunderstandingofBuddhistdharma,indulginginthetextsisevenfartherfromtheDharma.ThereisasayingofKoboDaishi,“BuddhistdharmaisnotfarawayifwecherishtheDharmainourheart;bhuta-tathataisnotbeyondus,howcanwefinditoutsidethebody?(44)”IfsomeoneconsidershimselfaBuddhistmasterwhenhehasreadafewscriptures,andstudiedthehistoryofBuddhism.
Themostbasiclawsofphysicsisthelawofconservationofmatterandthelawofconservationofenergy,whicharealsosimilartoBuddhistoutlookofmaterial,theonlydifferenceis,inBuddhism,materialandspiritcantransformintoeachother,thustherearesomequestionsaboutthetwobasiclaws:Ifamattertransformsintospirit,thenhowcanthematterkeepconservation?Ifmaterialenergytransformintospiritualenergy,thenhowcantheenergykeepconservation?Fromthebasicviewofphilosophy,therelationshipbetweenmaterialandspiritismutualdependenceforexistenceandmutualtransformation,soBuddhistresearchcannotbecarriedoutinthewayofhistoricalresearch,itisnecessarytoresearchthe“spirit”,andshouldstudynotonlythebiologicalaspect,butalsothespiritualaspect,inotherwords,wemuststudytheessenceofhumanspirit.Accordingtotheconservationlaw,ifweconsiderfromtheoutlookofholo-information,allthemattersandspiritsintheuniversemustkeepconservation,allthesoulscirculatinginthesixdestiniesshouldfollowthelawtoo.Sincethematerialuniverseisasystemofholo-information,thenthespiritualuniversemustbeasystemofholo-informationtoo,inotherwords,wecaninferallthesoulsintheuniverseaccordingtoasinglesoul.Asoulisthespiritual“body”correspondingtotherelativecorporealbody.Similarly,modernsciencemustcontainspiritualcontentsoastoperfectthetheory.
ThePowerofDivineEars:theabilitytodifferentiateallthesoundsandspeechesinthematerialandspiritualworlds.
Thetheoreticalassumptionisthesamewithdivineeye.
Awarenessofother’sthoughts:theabilitytolearnother’sthoughtsinmind.
Westillanalyzewiththetheoryofholo-informationandtheBigBangtheory.Providedthatallthingsintheuniversebeganinthebigbang,atthebeginningofthebigbangallthematerialcomponentswereproducedbytheexplosion,weassumethatwefollowthetracksofallthematerialcomponents,theninthelongcourseofhistory,wecanknowthemovementtracksandchangesofallthemattersintheuniversethroughtheobserveddata.Similarly,thereareonehundredandthreekindsofbasicelementsintheuniversealreadyknowntous,morenewelementswillbefoundwiththedevelopmentofscienceandtechnology.Thebasicandlargestelementsthatconstitutevitalbodiesarecarbon,hydrogen,oxygenandnitrogen.Asfarashumanbeingsareconcerned,theconstituentelementsarebasicallyidentical,andthesebasicelementsweregeneratedspontaneouslybytheBigBang.Soitispossibletoinferthehistoricaldataofcarbon,hydrogen,oxygen,nitrogeninalltheothers’organismsaccordingtoallthedataofcarbon,hydrogen,oxygen,nitrogeninmybodyinthelonghistory.Inthisway,Icaninferanyotherindividualattheothersideoftheearthalthoughwedon’tknoweachother.Thisisthetheoreticalbasisofawarenessofother’sthoughtsinmaterialsscience.Afterall,humanbeingshavesouls,ifwecaninferalltheinformationofothersoulsaccordingtotheholo-informationdataofonesoul,thenwecanknowallthespiritualmovementofalltheotherhumanbeings.Itisthesamewithalltheotherlivingbeings.
KnowledgeofExistencesinAllTimes:theabilitytoknowtheexistencesofoneself,otherpeopleandotherlivingcreaturesinthepast,thepresentandthefuture.
Knowledgeofexistencesinalltimesistoreappearandappearallthemovementinformationofthespiritsaswellasthecorrespondinghistoricalenvironmentsinone’smind.Theessenceistheholo-informationcharacterofspiritualinformation.
TheDivinePowerofNoAffliction:theabilitytoextinguishalltheafflictionsandaccomplishone’spractice.
Herewemustintroducethenewconceptof“absorption.”Absorptionhasthemeaningofintake,ingestionanddigestionliterally.Here“absorption”referstoabsorbmaterialsaswellasspiritualenergy.FiveConfessionsoftheVajraWorldandNineExpedientMethodsoftheGarbhaWorldarebothexchangesofspiritualenergyaswellastheinterplaybetweenthespiritualenergiesofthepracticerandtheBuddha.Ifwearepleasedastheresultofbeingpraised,thisisbecausepraisescontainpositiveagreeablespiritualenergies.Similarly,conversion,confession,appeal,rejoicinginother’sgood,sharingandsooncanbeallassumedasexchangesofspiritualenergies.
Buddhasandbodhisattvasarespiritualholo-unitiesofappearances.WhenapracticermakesofferingstoBuddhasorBodhisattvas,theofferingsarespiritualenergies,BuddhasorBodhisattvas’sacceptanceoftheofferingsiscalled“absorption”.Wehavediscussedmattersandspiritscanchangeintoeachotherintheabovepassage,ifwecanabsorbspiritualenergies,thentheenergiescantransformintomaterialenergies.RefrainingfromeatinggrainisanimportantTaoistpracticethatistorefrainfromeatingforseveraldaysandsustainthenormalfunctionoftheorganism.Theflowers,incense,lampsandpasteincenseonthealtararenotusedjusttoshowourpiety,itismoreimportanttoexchangeinformationenergieswiththeBuddha’sspirit.
Thedivinepowerofnoafflictionistoextinguishalltheafflictions,inshort,tostopmetabolism.Ifwecanabsorbspiritualenergies,thenmetabolismisunnecessary.
E.ExamplesofDivinePowers:
(1)KumarajivawasafamousBuddhisttranslatorinthehistory.TheBiographyofDivineMonks,Vol.2,Taisho,records:
“Beforelong,Kumarajivafeltoutofsorts,andrecitedadharaniforthreetimesandorderedforeigndisciplestorecitethedharani.Howeverthediseasewentworsebeforethedharanitookeffects.Sohebadefarewelltothemonks,‘WemeeteachotherbecauseoftheDharma,I’msorrythatIhaven’tmadeallmyeffortsinthislife,maybewewillmeetagainlater.I’vetranslatedBuddhistsutrasregardlessofmyignorance.Thetranslatedscripturesexceed300volumes,onlyTenRecitationsVinayahasnotbeeneditedinterselanguage.Mistakescanbeavoidediftherealmeaningiskept.Ihopethetranslatedsutrascanbepassedontotheposteritiesanddisseminatedwidely.NowImakeasincerevowbeforeallofyou,iftherearenomistakesinmytranslation,mytongueshallnotbeburnedaftercremation.’HediedatChan’anonAug20th,the11thyearofHongshiperiod.Itwasthe5thyearofYixiperiodintheJinDynasty.ThenhisbodywascrematedaccordingtoBuddhiststipulation,hisbodywasburnedintoasheswhenthewoodfirewentout,onlyhistonguewasintact.”(45)
MasterKumarajivamadeavowbeforeheenteredintonirvana,iftherewerenomistakesinthetranslatedscriptures,histonguewillbeincorruptibleaftercremation.Anditwasthefactactually.
(2)Vajrabodhi
TheBiographyofDivineMonks,Vol.7,Taisho,records:
“(VajrabodhiarrivedatGuangzhouduringtheKaiyuanperiod,andthenaccompaniedtheemperortoLuoyang.TherewerenorainsfromJanuarytoMayinthatyearalthoughpeopleprayedtoSpiritsofgreatmountainsandrivers.Theemperororderedhimtobuildanaltarandprayforrain.HeusedthedharmaofAmoghankusaBodhisattva(GuanyinoftheUnerringHook),andpaintedaportraitofthebodhisattva,hesaiditmustrainwithinonedayaftertheceremonyof'openingtheeyes'oftheimage.TheemperororderedChanmasterYiXingtowaitoncloselyandcautiously.Itwascloudlessuntiltheseventhday.NorthwestwindwasrisingassoonastheOpenEyesceremony,thewindblewawaythetiles,uprootedthetreesandtoreuptheclouds;stormpoureddownceaselessly,peoplefarandnearwasfrightened.TheheavyrainpenetratedtheroofandtheplaceofBuddhistritewasflooded.InthenextmorningpeopleinthecapitalallsaidthatMasterVajrabodhigotadragon,thedragonpiercedthroughtheroofandfliedoff.Eachday,therewerethousandsofpeoplewhohopedtovisittheplace.”
“Theemperorwasveryfondofhis25thprincess,whogotadiseaseforalongtimeandcouldn’tbecured.SoshewasmovedtotheXianyiVilla,andshecouldn’tspeakwitheyesclosedformorethantendays.TheemperororderedVajrabodhitoimpartpreceptstotheprincesssincehewasafraidthatshewasonthevergeofdeath.Vajrabodhiaskedtochoosetwoseven-year-oldgirls,andtoldthemtoliedownonthegroundwithdarkredsilkwrappedontheirfaces.ThenhetoldFairchildNiutowriteapaperandburnthepaperatanotherplace.Vajrabodhitoldthedharani,thetwogirlsrecitedcompletely.ThenheenteredintoSamadhi,andorderedthetwogirlstocarrytheedicttoYamaraja.Afterawhile,Yamarajaorderedtheprincess’sdeadnursetoprotecther.Theyfollowedthetwogirlsandreturned.Theprincessthensatupandspokeasnormal.Theemperorcouldn’twaitfortheguardsandrodetothevilla.Theprincesssaid,‘Thedestinycannotbechanged,nowI’msentbacktoseeYourMajestyforamoment.’Afterhalfofaday,shepassedawayagain.Fromthenon,theemperorbegantoworshipVajrabodhi.”
“VajrabodhitoldhisdisciplesatLuoyangGuangfuTempleinthebeginningofthelunarAugust,the20thyear(RenYin)ofKaiyuanperiod,‘Iwillleaveyouwhenthemoonisfull.’ThenhemovedaroundVairochanaBuddhaforseventimesandreturnedtohisownhouse,burningincenseandpraying.HeheldBuddhistsutrasandthenewlytranslatedscripturesabovehishead,toldhistestamentandthenenteredintonirvana.”(46)
(3)Subhakarasimha
“MasterSubhakarasimhadrunkandatemeat,hisspeechandbehaviorwerecareless.Heoftenclamorednoisily,messedupthefeastwhenhewasintoxicated.ThevinayamasterDaoXuancouldn’tputupwithhim.Onemidnight,DaoXuanseizedalouseandwasgoingtothrowitontotheground.Masterwashalfdrunkandcriedout,‘Vinayamaster,vinayamasterwillthrowaBuddhistdiscipleintodeath.’Thevinayamasterthenknewhewasanunusualperson;headjustedhisclothesandmakeobeisancetohim,andrespectedMasterSubhakarasimhaashismaster.”
“AnuglyserpentwasovertensofmeterslongatLuoyang,wriggledatthefootofthemountain,manypeoplesawit.Mastersaid,‘theserpentwantstofloodthecity.’HepreachedBuddhistteachingstotheserpent.Theserpentarrivedwithwindanddewsatnight,andlookedlikelistening.Masterreproachedit,‘You’reaserpent,andshouldliveinthemountain,whyyoucamehere?Doyouwanttohurtpeoplewithyourpoison?Leavehereanddon’thurtanypeople.’Theserpentfeltashamed,thenlieddownanddied.”
“DroughtwascontinuingtoplagueonJuly,thetenthyearofKaiyuanperiod,theemperorsentaheraldandorderedmastertoprayforrain.Masterheldabowlofwater,andstirredwithaknife,herecitedthedharaniforseveraltimes.Thenasmalldragonlikeatadpoleraiseditsheadoutofthewater.Masterdispatchedthedragonindharani,andthenawhiteairrosefromthebowl.Hetoldtheherald,‘Hurryupandgoback!Itisgoingtorain.’Theheraldgallopedout,inamoment,windwasrisingandthunderboltflashed.Whentheheraldwentbacktothepalace,hisclotheswerealldrenched.Theheavyraincontinuedforawholeday.Anothertime,itwasrainingceaselessly,theemperororderedMastertostopit.MastermadeupfiveclayoldwomenandscoldedthemwithSanskrit,andthenitclearedupimmediately.”(47)
(4)YiXing
TheBiographyofDivineMonks,Vol.7,Taisho,records:
“YiXingtravelledthousandsofmilestolookforteachersinordertostudycalendar.OncehearrivedattheGuoqingTempleatTiantaiMountain,wherehesawayardwithtensofancientpinetrees,andastreamflewinfrontofthetemple’sgate.YiXingstoodatthescreendoor,heardamonkcalculatingintheyard.Afteramoment,themonktoldhisdisciples,‘Todayadisciplewillcomeandaskformyalgorithm.Heoughttoarriveatthedoornow,thereisnooneguidinghimhere?’Thenhecalculatedagain,andsaid,‘Whenthestreamflowstowardthewest,thedisciplewillcome.’YiXingheardhiswordsandcamein.Hebowedhisheadstothemonkandaskedhimtoteachhimthealgorithm.Thenthestreamflowedtowardtheeastagain.Fromthenon,YiXing’snamewaswellknownfarandnear.”
“WhenYiXingwasachild,hisfamilywaspoor.HisneighborGrandmaWanggavehisfamilymoneyovertensofthousands.YiXingwantedtopayback.DuringtheKaiyuanperiod,YiXingwasrespectedbyEmperorXuanzong,andhisadviceswerealwaysadoptedbytheemperor.Later,GrandmaWang’ssonkilledsomeoneandwasprisoned.GrandmaWangcametoYiXingandaskedforhishelp.YiXinganswered,‘IfGrandmaneedsmoney,Icangiveyoutentimesofreward.ButIcannotaskhisMajestytobendthelaw.’Grandmastoodwitharmsakimbo,andsworelikeapirate,‘Itisnousetobeacquaintedwiththismonk!’YiXingfollowedherandmadeanapology,whileGrandmaleftanddidn’tlookback.
YiXingthoughtofthehundredsofworkersatHuntianTemple.Heorderedtheworkerstoemptyaroom,andmoveinavat.Hechosetwolong-termworkerssecretly,gavethembagsandsaid,‘Insomeplacethereisadesertedgarden,andyoumusthidetherefromnoontodusk,andsomethingwillcomeatthattime.Thenumberisseven;youmustcaptureallofthem.Ifyoulostanyofthem,I’llflogyouwithstick.’Theworkerswenttothegardenandwaited.Agroupofpigsarrivedatdusk;theycapturedallofthemandcarriedthemback.YiXingwasglad,andorderedtoplacethepigsintothevat,andclosedthevatwithawoodencover.Thenhesealedthecoverwithmud,andwrotedozensofSanskritcharacterswitharedbrush.Theworkersdidn’tknowwhyhedidso.Onthemorning,acourteunuchknockedathisdoorandsaidtheemperorcalledhimtocometothepalaceassoonaspossible.Whenhearrivedattheinformalpalacehall,theemperorgreetedhimandasked,‘Taishi(thecourtofficialinchargeofastronomy)toldme,theBigDipperdisappearedlastnight.Whatisthesign?Master,haveyouanymethodtopreventit?’YiXinganswered,‘TheMarsdisappearedatthelatterWeiDynasty,andthestarofDichestillcannotbeseeneventonowadays.TheunprecedentedsignisthewarningofHeaven.Ifordinarypeoplelivelikefishoutofwater,thenfrostsanddroughtwillappear,whilegreatvirtuescandispelthem,andthemostaffectingbenevolencewastoburythedead,andreleasethecondemned.Hatredcandestroyallthemerits,andbenevolentcansubduealldevils.Inmyopinion,itisbesttodecreeanamnesty.Theemperoradoptedhisadvice.Atnight,Taishireported,oneofthesevenstarsoftheBigDipperappeared,andaftersevendays,allthesevenstarsappearedagain.”(48)
(5)Amoghavajra
TheBiographyofDivineMonks,Vol.8,Taisho,records:
“WhenAmghavajraarrivedatSimhala,thekingsentenvoystomeetthemandmadeabundantofferings.Onedaythekingtamedelephants,allthepeopleascendheightstowatchindistance,noonecandrawnear.Amoghavajrareciteddharani,madeamudrawithhishands,andstoodinthemiddleofthestreetintheSamadhiofBenevolence.Severalwildelephantsrantohim,thenallstoppedandcalmeddownwhentheywerenearingAmoghavajra.Thewholekingdomwassurprised.”
“HecamebacktotheCapitalonthefifthyearofTianbaoperiod.Theblazingsunwasalwaysshininginthesummerofthatyear.Sotheemperororderedhimtoprayforrain,andstipulated,‘Theraincannotexceedthescheduledtimeandcannotbeastorm.’AmghavajraaskedtobuildthealtarofSubramanya.Moderaterainfelldownwithinthreedays.Theemperorwasverypleased.
“Anothertime,itdidn’trainfromspringtosummer.Theemperororderedhimtoprayforrain,andsaid,‘ItisMaster’sdharmapowerifitwillrainwithinthreedays;itisnotMaster’sdharmapowerifitwillrainafterthreedays.’Amghavajraacceptedtherequirementandbuiltanaltar.Onthesecondday,itwaspouringdownandrelievedthedrought.Anotheryear,itwasaridagain.YinXiaoxin,theprefecturalmagistrateoftheCapitalvisitedthetempleandaskedhimtoprayforrain.Amoghavajraorderedhisdisciplestofetchaone-foot-longbirchbark,andthendrewasmalldragononit.Heplacedanincenseburnerandabowlofwaterbeforethedragon.Heorderedthedragonindharani.Halfanhourlater,hegavethedragontoXiaoxinandsaid,‘YoucanthrowitintotheQuRiver,andmustcomebacksoon,oryou’llcatchtherain.’Xiaoxinthrewthedragonintotheriver,thenaone-foot-longwhitedragonrosefromtheriver,andgrewintoseveralmeterslonglikeawhiteribbon.Suddenly,thedragonfliedtothesky.Xiaoxinwhippedthehorseandgallopedfornomorethantenpaces,heavycloudswererollingandstormwaspouringdown.WaterinthecanalhadbreachedthebankwhenhearrivedatYongchongli.”
“DuringtheYongtaiperiod,Amoghavajrawashedhimselfwithscentedwater,andliedtowardtheeast，hewatchedandsalutedtowardsthenortherncourt,andmadetheMahavairocana’sdharmarealmmudra,thenenteredintonirvana.Hundredsofsariraswerecollectedaftercremation.Hiscraniumwasnotburnedandasarirawashalfconcealedwithinit.Theemperormadeanedicttobuildapagodatoenshrinetheholyrelics.”(49)
TherearetoomanyexamplesofdivinepowersinBuddhistsutrasandBuddhistrecords.Fromtheaboveexamples,wecanseethatBuddhistpracticecanrevealdivinepowers.
ExotericandesotericBuddhismallbelongtothesystemoftruth,manyideasinmodernsciencealsoaretruths.Truthcanbeexplainedbytruth,inotherwords,Buddhistdharmashouldbeexplainedbythewidelyacceptedtheoriesinmodernscienceandphilosophy.ThetraditionalwaytoilluminateBuddhistsutraistoillustrateonesutrawithothersutras.Althoughitisright,todayweliveinasocietywithhighlydevelopedscience,wemustletmorepeoplelearntheholo-informationcharacterofBuddhistdharma,thusthetraditionalmethodisnotenoughtoconvincepeople.Ifthingsgoonlikethis,Buddhismwilldegenerateintosheerdiscourses,whichwillleadtoanignorantreligionwithoutreason.Ofcourse,Buddhismisaphilosophicandscientificsystemofpractice;withoutpractice,we’reonlyengageinidletheorizing.ManymodernBuddhistresearcheshavegrownintoemptytalks.Buddhistresearchersindulgeinverbiageallday,whichhasnobenefittoBuddhistpractice.
ThenBuddhistscriptureshowtoexplaindivinepowers?
TheLargeSutraonPrajnaparamita，Vol.3,theFirstPart,LearnVipassana1/2,Taisho,says:
“IfabodhisattvawantstobringpeacetoallthesentientbeingsinBuddhistworldsasmanyasthenumberofsandsintheGangesRiverinthetendirections,andletthemlearnthefourdnyanas,fourformlessconcentrations,andattainthefivedivinepowers,hemuststudyprajnaparamita.”
“Furthermore,Sariputra,ifaBodhisattvapracticeprajnaparamitaandreallyknowssuchdonationcanattaingreatrewards,thenitiscalledrealknowledge.SuchdonationresultsinreincarnationingreatfamilyofKsatriya,Brahman,venerableelderandlayman,suchdonationresultsinreincarnationintheheavensofthefourheavenlykings,orthethirty-threecelestials,ortheYama,ortheTusita,ortheSunirmita,orintheheavenwhereonecanpartakeofthepleasurescreatedinotherheavens.Hemayattainthefirstdhyana,ortheseconddhyana,orthethirddhyana,ortheforthdhyanabecauseofsuchdonation.Hecanattainthemeditationofinfinitespace,orthemeditationofinfiniteconsciousness,orthemeditationofrealmofnothingness,ormeditationofneitherperceptionnornon-perceptionbecauseofsuchdonation.Hecanattainbodhipakkhiyadhamma,thethreegatesofliberation,ortheeightkindsofliberation,ortheeightextraordinarystages,ortheSamadhioftheninedegrees,ortentotallypervasiveconcentrationsbecauseofthedonation.Owingtothedonation,hecanenterthedharmagateofdharaniorSamadhi.Owingtothedonation,hecanenterthepurenatureofbodhisattvaandbefreefromsamsara.Owingtothedonationhecanreachthestageofjoy,orthestageoffreedomfromdefilement,orthestageoflightening,orthestageofflamingwisdom,orthestageofinvincible,orthestageofvisiblewisdom,orthestageoffar-reaching,orthestageofimmovability,orthestageofexcellentwisdom,orthestageofdharmaclouds.Owingtothedonation,hecanattainthetenpowersofaBuddha,orthefourformsoffearlessness,orthefourunimpededunderstandings,ortheeighteendistinctivecharacteristicsoftheBuddha,orgreatcompassion,greatmercy,greatjoyandgreatfreedom.Owingtothedonation,hecanhavethethirtytwomarksofagreatpersonage,oreightyminormarks.Owingtothedonation,hecanattainthedharmaofnoforgetfulness,oralwaysabideinfreedom.Owingtothedonation,hecanattainthewisdomofomniscience,orthewisdomofdharmacharacter,ortheomniscientmind.Owingtothedonation,hecanconsummatethestageofenteringtheholyclass,orthestageofonce-returner,orthestageofnon-returner,orthestageofArhatship,orthestageofPaccekaBuddha,orthesupremeunsurpassedperfectenlightenment.Ifabodhisattvareallyknowssuchprecepts,patience,perseverance,dhyanaandprajna,hecanattaingreatrewardsinthesameway.”
“Ifabodhisattvawantstohavethefiveeyes,namely,theearthlyvision,thedivinevision,thewisdomeye,thedharmaeyeandtheBuddha-eye,hemustlearnPrajnaParamita.Furthermore,Sariputra,ifabodhisattvawantstoseeBuddhasasmanyasthenumberofsandsintheGangesRiverinthetendirectionswiththedivineeye,hemustlearnPrajnaParamita.IfabodhisattvawantstolistentotheproperdharmapreachedbyBuddhasasmanyasthenumberofsandsintheGangesRiverinthetendirectionswithdivineear,hemustlearnPrajnaParamita.”(50)
TheLargeSutraonPrajnaparamita，Vol.346,Taisho,says,
“GoodManifestation,ifthebodhisattvacanpracticesuchdeepPrajnaParamitas,thenhecanconsummatetheFourNobleTruthsofSuffering,Accumulation,ExtinctionandBodhiinashorttime.“GoodManifestation,ifthebodhisattvacanpracticesuchdeepPrajnaParamitas,thenhecanconsummatethefourdhyanas,thefourunlimitedheartsandthefourformlessdhyanasinashorttime.GoodManifestation,ifthebodhisattvacanpracticesuchdeepPrajnaParamitas,thenhecanconsummatetheeightkindsofliberation,theeightextraordinarystages,thesamdhioftheninedegrees,andthetentotallypervasiveconcentrationsinashorttime.GoodManifestation,ifthebodhisattvacanpracticesuchdeepPrajnaParamitas,thenhecanconsummatethefourstationsofmindfulness,thefourkindsofcorrectelimination,thefourbasesofdivinepower,thefiverootsofgoodness,thefivepowers,thesevenbranchesofenlightenment,andtheeightfoldholypathinashorttime.”(51)
Theabovetextstellus,practicingthesixparamitascanattaindivinepowersordevelopthepotentialpowers.WhythesixparamitasareemphasizedagainandagaininmanyBuddhistsutras?Buddhistsutrashavegivenusthereason.Ithinkthatthesixparamitasandmyriadpracticesareexchangeprocessofspiritualenergiesbetweenourspiritsandalltheotherspiritsaroundus.Justasthebodygrowsfromafertilizedovumintoamaturelivingbeing,thespiritiskeptgrowingtoo.Hereadulthooddoesnotmeanafullydevelopedspirit,butthebeginningofunificationwithgreaterspiritsofBuddhasandBodhisattvas.
Whatarethemanifestationsofdivinepowers?Aredivinepowerskindsofsupernaturalpowersorthepotentialsofourcells?AllsentientbeingshaveBuddha-nature,inotherwords,weallhavethepotentialtoattainBuddhahood.Thenarethereanypotentialpowerswithinourbody?WillthepowersbeboundtobearousedthroughesotericandexotericBuddhistpractices?
Ifwehavesuchpotentials,thenwecanattaintheresultthroughproperpractice.Butwhysuchpotentialpowersarelatentamongmostofthepracticersnowadays?Itrelatestothewatchingofprecepts.PreceptisthemostproperaidtotransformafflictionsintoBodhiandthenecessarywaytodiscoverthepotentialswithinus.
TheBuddhaattainedBuddhahoodthroughthepracticeinhumanworld,andhumanbodyisthefoundationofpractice.Sowemustgivethoughttohumanphysiology,anatomy,geneticsandothertheoriestolearnthestructureofhumanbody,moreover,thesetheoriescanexplainBuddhistdharmainaway.
Modernbiologygeneticstechnologyhasmadeconsiderableprogress,accordingtorecentbiologicalclonetechnology,asingleindividualcellcanbeclonedintoanentireneworganisms.Wecaninferfromthistheoryeverycellcanbeclonedintoanewlife,thusthereareimmeasurablelives,andthenewlivescanbeclonedtoo.Soitiseasytounderstand“Buddhasandbodhisattvaspermeateinthespacelikedensesesameseeds”.Takesinglecellasanexample,allthefunctionsofsinglecellmustbecarriedoutbythecellindependently.Accordingtotheoryofembryodevelopment,asinglefertilizedovumreproducesintoanewcellbydivision;allthecellsaregeneticallyidentical,nomatteracelldividesintowhatkindoffunctions,thehomogenyofgeneticgenesdecidethesimilarityofthecells’function.Thiscanbeunderstoodasthetheoreticalfoundationfordivinepowers.
F.AssumptionsforDivinePowersfromtheViewofModernScienceandPhilosophy
Accordingtonaturalscienceresearchonbiologicalphenomena,wecanadopttheviewthatlifeevolvedfromsinglecells.Asinglecellmustcompleteallthelifefunctionsindependently,suchasvision,sound,smell,taste,touch,ormovementandsoon.Alongwiththeprocessfromsinglecellintomulti-cell,organsbegantodifferentiate;functionalactivitiesoflifearedifferentiatedamongcells.Someofthecellsresponsibleforcolor(senseofsight),someofthecellsresponsibleforsound(senseofhearing),someofthecellsresponsibleforscent(senseofsmell),someofthecellsresponsiblefortaste(senseoftaste),someofthecellsresponsiblefortouch(senseoffeeling),thereareothercellsareresponsibleformovement.Ofcourse,itisalonghistorytocompletetheprocess.Toamulti-cellstage,owingtothefunctiondifferentiationofcells,thecellsresponsibleforcolor"forget"thefunctionsofhearing,smell,taste,feelingandmovement,thecellsresponsibleforhearing"forget"thefunctionsofcolor,smell,taste,feelingandmovement,thecellsresponsibleforsmell"forget"thefunctionsofcolor,hearing,taste,feelingandmovement,thecellsresponsiblefortaste"forget"thefunctionsofcolor,hearing,smell,feelingandmovement,thecellsresponsibleforfeeling"forget"thefunctionsofcolor,hearing,smell,tasteandmovement,thecellsresponsibleforfeeling"forget"thefunctionsofcolor,hearing,smell,feelingandmovement.However,thecellsoriginatefromthesameprogenitorcell,justlikeallourbodycellsdevelopfromanindependentfertilizedovum,althoughthefunctionshavebeendifferentiated,thegeneticgenesarethesame.Therefore,wecanassumethatallthefunctionsexistequallyineachcell’sgeneticgene,butsomeirrelevantfunctionsofthegenesworknolonger,orhavebeenforgotten.Intoday’sadvancedlifestage,colorcellsarejustresponsibleforthesenseofcolor,hearingcellsarejustresponsibleforthesenseofhearing,smellcellsarejustresponsibleforthesenseofsmell,tastecellsarejustresponsibleforthesenseoftaste,feelingcellsarejustresponsibleforthesenseoffeeling,motorcellsarejustresponsibleforthesenseofmovement,andsoon.However,colorcells"forget"thefunctionsofhearing,smell,taste,feelingandmovement,hearingcells"forget"thefunctionsofcolor,smell,taste,feelingandmovement,smellcells"forget"thefunctionsofcolor,hearing,taste,feelingandmovement,tastecells"forget"thefunctionsofcolor,hearing,smell,feelingandmovement,feelingcells"forget"thefunctionsofcolor,hearing,smell,tasteandmovement,motorcells"forget"thefunctionsofcolor,hearing,smell,tasteandfeeling.
Althoughthefunctionsofacellhavereducedintosinglefunction,butthegeneticgenesinanycellsstillcontainthesecret“memory”ofotherfunctions.Forexample,colorcellsdifferentiatecolor,buttheystillhavetheforgottenfunctions,ifthememoryisaroused,thecolorcellscanstillhavethefunctionsofhearing,smelling,tasting,feelingandmovement;bonecellshavethefunctionoffixing,ifthememoryisaroused,theycanstillhavethefunctionsofmovementandalltheother“forgotten”functions;motorcellscanhavethefunctionsoffixing,feeling,andtransmissionofneuralinformation;similarly,othercellscanrestorethe“forgotten”functionscausedbydifferentiation.
Nevertheless,theassumptionisreasonableintheory.Iftheassumptionistrue,thendivinepowersshouldbelatentabilities.Sinceordinarypeopledon’thavedivinepowers,wecansaythatnotallofthepotentialsofhumancellshavebeenrevealed.Allactivitiesofdailylifeareonlyaverysmallpartofhumanpotentials.Theunrevealedinstinctsarecalled“potentials”.So,divinepowersarethe“potentials”ofhumanbeingaswellasalltheotherlivingbeings,inotherwords,“potentials”ofallsentientbeings.
Divinepowersareonlypotentials,thegenes’holo-informationinvariouscellsareequal,whichdecidestheholo-informationcharacterofdivinepowers.
Thus,divinepowersarenot“supernatural”power,thedivinepowersrecordedinBuddhistsutrasarenotfables.Divinepowersarenolongermysterious,orreckonedassupernaturalpowers,butpotentials.
However,whywedon’thavedivinepowers,orshowthelatentabilities?
Thisisbecauseignorantillusions,orthethreeintoxications,namely,covetousness,hatredandstupidityhavecoveredupourclearnature,butwedon’trealizeit.Whyourancientancestorscanpredictthecomingdisastersinadvance?Whyanimalscanhaveprecautionsbeforeearthquake?Infact,itisallthesame.Divinepowersarenotsupernaturalpowersbutpotentials;thisistheself-originatedcharacterofdivinepower.Buddhistsutrasemphasizeprecepts,thesixparamitasandmyriadpractices,thefourimmeasurablesofbenevolence,compassion,rejoicingandfreedom,andsoon.Inotherwords,wemustexchangepositiveandkindinformationwiththeoutsideenvironmentinordertodiscoverourpotentials.Itisjustlikeanatom:theelectronicsaroundthenucleusmustacceptextraenergytorealizethehighup-conversion.Treasureburiedunderthegroundmustbeexcavatedtoberevealed,andmustbesiftedandrefinedtoshowallthepeculiaritiesofthetreasure.Itissimilartothedevelopmentofhumanpotentials.
Moderngenetictechnologycandevelopsinglecellintoanewindividual,hereweleaveethicsoutofaccount,andthenwecanclonea“newman”outofahumansomaticcellintheory.Thenumberofhumanbody'scellsshouldbeanastronomicalfigure,supposethereare1020humancells,thenwecanclone1020newindividuals,eachnewindividualcanclone1020newindividuals……Accordingmodernscientifictheory,itisreasonablethattheavatarsofBuddhasandBodhisattvascanappearinthethreethousandgreatthousandworldsystems.Thisisalsothemanifestationofholo-informationofhumanbodyaswellas“adustmotecontainsthethreethousandgreatthousandworldsystems,andathreethousandgreatthousandworldsystemsentersintoadustmote”.
However,theoriesarenotpractices;Buddha’sdharmateachingsaretheguideforthepracticeoftruthandtheproperwaytodevelopsentientbeings’potentials.Apracticercancompletehisknowledgeandpracticeof“precepts,dhyanaandwisdom”andattaindivinepowersthroughlearning,thinkingandpracticingtheTripitakaofSutra,VinayaandAbhidhamma.
Buddhismisaprofoundsystemofholo-information.Basedonathoroughunderstandingandknowledgeofthetruthintheuniverse,BuddhaSakyamuniattainedBuddhahood.
Howcanweletcellsremembertheforgottenfunctions?Canwerestoretheforgottenfunctionsofcells?Theanswerisyes,wecan.BuddhaSakyamunirepliedthetwoquestionsthroughhispractice.
BuddhaSakyamunimadeallhisefforts,developedallthepotentialsofthecells,andattainedallkindsofdivinepowers.Practicesseemlikemonotonousarduousactivities,suchasrecitingsutras,meditationandsoon,buttheseareonlysurfacephenomena.Thesignificanceofpracticeliesinaccumulationofpositiveandhealthyspiritualenergies.Whentheaccumulationreachestocertainlevels,thepotentialsordivinepowersarerevealed.PreceptsareemphasizedinBuddhistpractice,iftherearenoprecepts,Buddhadharmawillalsovanish.(Buddhistrecordsarenotfictionalhistoricalstories.)Inthesameway,wecanexplainwhyhumanbodycanhave“superfunctions”.Infact,theyarenot“superfunctions”,butthepotentialsofhumanbody.
Wecanalsoconclude,everythingcanbechangedandalllivingbeingscanattainBuddhahood.Thewayistopractice.IfwereadalotofBuddhistsutrasandpracticeproperly,maybewecanreapabundantbenefits.
Ⅳ.Holo-MeaningofPrecepts
ThereisapreceptofnotkillingbeingsinBuddhistvinaya,whichhasbeenexpoundedinsutrasandsastras.Thepreceptisoutofsympathy.SinceallsentientbeingscanattainBuddhahood,killingbeingsandeatingthemarenotdifferentfromkillingtheBuddhaorwoundingtheBuddha’sbody.Nottokillbeingsistocultivateourcompassionandbenevolence.
Wecanalsoexplaintheprecepttheoreticallyfromtheviewthatalllivingbeingsaresentient;manymodernbiologyexperimentshaveproveditbasically.Wemustknowtheconnotationof“life”containstwomeaning:oneisbody,antherisspirit.Spiritcanbeseenasthespiritualbody.Canthekilledoneowngratefulorgladfeelingstowardsthekiller?Ofcoursenot.Thekilledanimalsaresuretobefilledwithfear,anger,hatredandsoon.Thesenegativespiritualenergiesareaccumulatedintheeater’sbody.
Thebasicpropositionsofphilosophyhaveconfirmedtheinteractionbetweenmattersandspirits.Whenthenegativespiritualenergiesareaccumulatedtoacertainlevel,theinformationenergieswillcertainlyretroacttotheeater’sbody.Thedamageinthebodyresultsinbehaviordisorder,andthendisasters.Examplesinourlifecanbeseeneverywhere.Themorebenevolentpartswehaveonourminds,themoreopportunitieswehavetoreceivepositivespiritualenergies,viceversa.Totreatallsentientbeingswithabenevolentheartisthebestwaytoprotectourselvesandthebasicwaytoprotectourlifeofwisdom.Thereisawell-doneancientcouplet,“Sincerityisthesupremegoodandcannotbeusedup;sowingkindnessintheheartlandwillsupportusinthewholelife”.Ineverydaylife,peopleoftensay,“Wineandmeatspassthroughtheintestines,butBuddharemainsintheheart."Infact,wineandmeatcannotpassthroughtheintestineseasily,andwillleadtoafflictionsintheend.
TheMitsugoninConfessionsays,“Weconfessallthesinscausebydelusionssincethebeginninglesspast,thebody,speechandmindhaveoftenbeeninperversivestates,anddonemeasurelessunwholesomeactions.”Thesewordscanbeeasilyunderstoodliterally.“We”experiencebirth,age,illnessanddeathinlife,thenwhatis“thebeginninglesspast”?Here“thebeginninglesspast”referstothebeginninglesskalpa,ortheendlesspasttime,theconceptisinrelationtothespiritualbody,thesoul,notjustthecorporealbody.Thesoulcarriesallthe“sins”inthepast;inotherwords,thesoulcarriesallthespiritualinformationenergiesaccumulatedinthesixdestines.Thosenegativeenergiesconstitute“theignorance”,“extinguishingtheignorance”istorefinealltheseenergies.Nowthatwecarrymeasurelessnegativespiritualenergiesinthislife,itisourstrenuoustasktorefinethem.Wemustrefineoroffsetthenegativeenergies,andstrengthenthepositiveenergiessoastodevelopour“potentials”.Thisisjusttheholo-meaningofprecepts,sixparamitasandmyriadpractices.
Theholo-meaningofpreceptisthesamewiththereasonofnotkilling.Sokeepingpreceptsiscrucialtoapracticer.Thosewhodespiseorbreachthepreceptscanbarelyaccomplishachievements.Evenifthereareafewextremecases,thepracticershaveenteredintotheevilrealm,notBodhiyana.Onemustpracticethesixparamitasandmyriadpracticesinordertoattainaclearheart.Onlywhenapracticer’sheartisclear,caneverythingbecomeexpedientdharmagate.Withoutaclearheart,itisnodifferentfromtalkingfantasticnonsense.
Ⅴ.AssumptionsforDivineBlessingsofTri-guhya
PracticingstrictlyaccordingtotherequirementsofesotericBuddhismwillcertainlydevelopthepracticer’slatentabilities;yogaofTri-guhyaisthenecessarymeanstodevelopthesixdivinepowers.IfapracticerconfineshimselftounderstandingthedoctrinesandpracticesofesotericBuddhism,itisapparentlynotenough.PracticingisthemajorissueofesotericBuddhistlearning.Asfaraspracticingisconcerned,everydayBuddhistactivitiesarenotenough,onemustcarryoutthefourimmeasurablepracticesineveryquartersoflifeandusewisdomeveryday,thusweareprogressingonthewaytoBuddhahood.AccordingtoyogapracticeofTri-guhya,therunningofjingluoisaproperdharmagate.
Whatistheholo-meaningofjingluo(ortheholo-meaningofyoga)?BasedonEuropeanandAmericanscientists’studies,someresearchersconcludejingluoarejusttinycrystals.Itishardforapracticernurturedbyeasternphilosophytoaccepttheconclusion.Ifwedivideourbodiesintotwoparts,corporealbodiesandspirits,inotherwords,materialandspiritualparts,andassumejingluoisthecriticalstatebetweenthematerialandspiritualpartsofhumanlife,thustheholo-meaningofmudraiseasytounderstand.Yogavisualisationcanbeunderstoodasawaytorealizethetransformationbetweenmaterialsandspirits.
Thuswecanseethatifwepracticediligently,thenattainingBuddhahoodinthislifeisnotfaroff.
JapanesefamousDr.MasaruEmothasdevotedhimselftothestudyofcrystallizationofwatermolecules;hisresearchfindingsareverysignificant.Whenwaterdropletsarestimulatedbyvariousstimulisuchasaudio,images,wordsandeventhestimulationofideas,thefrozencrystalsareveryinteresting.Perhapswecanusetheresearchresultstoexplainthephenomenaofdivinepowersandincorruptiblebodies.
SanskritdharaniisBuddha'slanguage.WhatkindsofeffectcanSanskritwordsbringtous?Buddhapreachedthedharmawithoneperfectsound,andlivingbeingscouldbeenlightenedaccordingtotheirdifferentvarieties.Buddha’slanguagesarefullofcompassion,ifwerecitethemproperly,willthewatermoleculeswithinourbodybechanged?AccordingtotheresearchfindingsofDr.MasaruEmot,theanswerispositive.Similarlyalltheotherorganismsinourbodiescanbetransformedpositively.
WhatkindofimpactscandivineblessingsofTri-guhyahaveonanesotericpracticer?Whatkindofimpactscansuchpracticeshaveoncells,nerves,meridiansandsoon?Ifwecannotexplainthesequestionsproperly,thentoday’sBuddhismisreducedtototallydiscoursewithoutreasonedandadequateexplanations.
AsfarasesotericBuddhistresearchisconcerned,howtogetalongtheresearches?Sheerarchaeologicalorbibliographicstudiesmayhavesomesignificance;however,mostoftheseconclusionsareaccumulationofhistoricalandBuddhistknowledge.IftheseresearchfindingsarelackofBuddhistwisdom,thentheyarenobetterthanproducingwastes.ThefruitofesotericBuddhismcanonlybeattainedbypractice,notemptytalks.
DivineblessingofTri-guhyacontainstwomeanings,first,“yogaofTri-guhya”,second,“blessingofthreepowers”.“YogaofTri-guhya”referstothemysteriousconcordancebetweenthebody,speechandmindofthepracticerandthoseoftheholyone.Threepowersrefertothepowerofthedharmarealm,Buddha,andthepracticer.
Mr.MasaruEmot’sserialsofresearchonwatercrystalsareimportantforesotericBuddhistpracticer.Variousstimuliaredirectedatwaterdroplets,thesestimulicanberoughlyclassifiedintopositiveandnegative.Theso-calledpositivestimuliinclude"love","care","happiness,""gratitude”,"praise";thenegativestimuliinclude"hate,""unconcerned,""sad,""treachery,""curse",etc.Thestructuresofwatercrystalsstimulatedbypositiveinformationareregularandbeautiful;onthecontrary,thosestimulatedbynegativeinformationareirregularanddisorderly(figure5).
In1987,theFrenchscientistJacquesBenveniste,M.D.publishedanastonishingresearchpaperinNature,whichindicatedthatwaterhasmemory;hisfindingscausedsubstantialoppositionsinthescientificcommunity.JapaneseMasaruEmotofoundtheuniquenessofsnowflakes(Therewasnotwoidenticalsnowflakesamongbillionofsnowflakesappearedaroundtheworld),sohebegantostudywatercrystalsofdifferentsources.
Heplacedwatersintoordinaryrefrigerators,thenphotographedthecrystalswithpowerfulmicroscope(refertohiswork,WaterKnowstheAnswers).Thephotographsshowthatnaturalwater’scrystalsareverybeautiful,whilethecrystalsofcitywaterandpollutedwaterareugly,someevencannotformcrystals.
ThecrystalsofcitywatersfetchedfromParis,London,Tokyo,Rome,Venice,BangkokandMacaowereallobscure,dim,distortedandirregular,andtheseimagescannotmakepeoplefeelgood.
ItwasthesamewiththewaterfetchedfromHongkong.WhilethecrystalsofcitywatersfetchedfromWashington,Vancouver,Bern(Switzerland'scapital)weresymmetricalandbeautifulwithclearlines.
ThecrystalsofwatersfetchedfromAntarctica,springsinvariouscontinentsandundergroundwatersinthewildernessareasfascinatingasjewels,givingoffdelightfulinformation.
Furtherstudyfoundthatthewaterbecamebeautifulafterlisteningbeautifulmusic,andbecamedistortedanduglyafterlisteningnoisyandwearymusic.Watersblessedbymastersbecamebeautiful.Placepicturesofbeautifulsceneryorblessingwordsbeforewater,thecrystalsbecamebeautiful.Placecursedwordsbeforewater,thecrystalsbecamedistortedandugly.
WatersthathadheardBeethoven's"PastoralSymphony"hadbeautifulandorderlycrystalsjustlikethebrightmelody.WatersthathadheardKoreanfolksong"Arirang",hadcrystalsthatseemlikeverysad(thesongdescribesthesorrowsofdepartinglovers).WatersthathadheardElvisPresley’s"HeartbreakHotel"hadcrystalswiththeshapeofabrokenheart,somepartsevendroppeddown.AfterhearingthestrongrhythmofBrazilianmusic,thecrystalsformeddelicateshapesofstars.AfterhearingAustrianfolksong,"Tyrol'sLullaby",thecrystalsseemlikeembracingababy.AfterhearingTibetanchanting,thecomplicatedcrystalstangledwitheachotherandformedastrongshapejustlikemandalas(patternswithenergies)depictedinTibetanscriptures.Themostinterestingtwophotosarecrystalsthatseemlikedancinginpairsandcouples,thewaterhadheardArgentinetangomusic.Onthecontrary,waterthathadheardsomeheavymetalmusichadscatteredcrystalslikechaos,whichwereunbearablejustliketheoutrageousandvulgarwordsofthesong.
Whatwouldhappenifthewaterreadwords?Theyputthesameamountofwaterintobottles,thenwrotedifferentwordsonpapersandpastedthemonbottleswiththewordsinward,thusletthewaters“read”them,theresultsareasfollows:
Waterswithwordsof“thanks”formedbeautifulhexagons,whilewaterspastedwithwordsof“bastard”seemedlikechaosjustlikethosecrystalsthathadheardheavymetalmusic.Thecrystalspastedwith“Let’sdoittogether”weresymmetrical,whilewaterpastedwith“Doit”werescatteredandcannotformcrystals.Waterspastedwith“thanks”indifferentforeignlanguagesformeddifferentcrystals,butallseemedtranslucent,symmetricalandbeautiful;whilewaterspastedwith“bastard”,“fool”andsooncannotformcrystals.Thecrystalspastedwith“flyintoarage,killyou”evenappearedachildbeingbullied.Crystalspastedwith“wisdom”inJapanese,EnglishandGermanwerealluprightandhollowinthecenter,presentedtheshapeofhexagons.Waterpastedwith“angel”formedabeautifulsmallhalo;whilewaterpastedwith“devil”formedablackprotuberancefullofoffensive.
Howarethewaterslikeafterbeingpraisedorcursed?Theresearchgroupinvitedsomepupilstospeaktowatersinbottles.Astheresult,watersheard“socute”formedlovelypatterns;watersheard“bastard”weredimandobscure,andcouldn’tformcrystals.Watersheard“You’resobeautiful”foronetimehaddelicatecrystals;thoseconstantlyheardthesentencehadmoresymmetricalcrystals.However,watersthatwereputasideandlackedcareshadscatteredpoorcrystals.
Dr.MasaruEmotobelievesthesocalledlifelessthingarenot“dead”,theyhave“sense”(abletosee,hearandread),“thought”(abletoanalyze),and“memory”,althoughordinarypeoplereckonwateras“deadthing”.Hencewecanseeallthingsareexchangingenergiesineachsecond.Composerandperformerthrewtheirenergiesintothemusic,thenmusicworkedascarrierandtransmittedtheenergiestothewater,thewatercouldreceive,decodeandkeeptheinformation(52).
Ideasareenergiesandcanbetransmittedandreceived,andwillcertainlyimpactthereceiversofallkinds(including“dead”things).Inthepast,themetaphysics(metaphysical)theorywasregardedasabstractconceptsorreligiousbeliefs,nowitisprovedbyspecificandobjectivemeansandrevealed.
Anypositiveideascangiveoffinformationoftruth,goodnessandbeauty,andmakethingsbetter.Fromtheseexperiments,wecanseethatlove("Iloveyou")andgratitude("I’mgrateful")arethemostpowerfulpositiveforces(positiveenergies)intheworld.
Ifsoforwater,theneverythingintheuniverseincludingthelifelessthingsallhavesuchnatureaccordingtoouruniversalholo-informationtheory.Asfarashumanlifeisconcerned,humanlifeincludesnotonlymaterialstructuresbutalsospirit,thechangesofmaterialenergiesarenotenoughtoexplainDr.MasaruEmoto’sresearch.Toexplainhisstudycompletely,wemustintroducetheconceptofspiritualinformationenergy”.
DharanisarethelanguageofBuddhaandbodhisattvainyogaofTri-guhya,representthespiritualenergiesofbenevolence,compassion,rejoicing,freedomandsixparamitas.MudrasaremotionsofBuddhaandbodhisattva,andrepresentBuddha’scause.VisualizingtheholyoneistoaccordthepracticerwithBuddhaandbodhisattvas.Practicingcontinuouslyinthisway,positivechangeswillhappenonthecorporealorganism.Likecarbonatoms,disorderedatomsconstitutecarbon,seniororderlyarrangementsconstitutegraphite,andthemostperfectcrystalstructureofcarbonwillproducediamonds.Similarly,apracticer’sbodyorganismbeforepracticingisthesamewithordinarypeople,andcanattainthestateofpratyeka-buddha,arhat,andatlastBuddhahood.ItissonotonlyforesotericBuddhistpracticebutalsoforexotericBuddhistpractice.TheaboveresearchesalsoproveesotericBuddhismissuperiortoexotericBuddhism.However,ifapracticeonlyknowsesotericBuddhism’stranscendenceoverexotericBuddhism,butdoesnotpracticesixparamitasandmyriadpractices,orbenevolence,compassion,rejoicingandfreedom,thenhecannothaveaclearheart.Withoutaclearheart,therearenoexpedientdharmagatesatall.EvenifhepracticesesotericBuddhismeveryday,hecanachievenothing.Withaclearheart,alldharmagatesareexpedientdharmagates;withaclearheart,onecanaccomplishachievementsthroughesotericBuddhistpracticesmoreeasily.TalkingbigaboutBuddhistteachingswithoutpreceptsandproperpractice,attainingBuddhahoodisameredream.