Zen Teachings of Daoxin
[Daoxin
taught:] I set forth my teaching for those whose karma and capacities are mature
for them. You should adhere to the Lankavatara Sutra: make the mind of the Buddhas
the primary. And go by the Singular Samadhi Practise in the Prajna Sutra Spoken
by Manjusri. If you are aware of the Buddhamind, you are a Buddha; if you have
false awareness, then you are a common being. In the Prajna Sutra Spoken by Manjusri
it says: "Manjusri said, 'World Honored One, what is Singular Samadhi Practice?'
Buddha said, 'Being connected with the Dharmakaya through its oneness is called
Singular Samadhi Practise.' If men and women want to enter Singular Samadhi Practise,
first they must learn about the Perfection of Wisdom and cultivate their learning
accordingly. Later they will be capable of Singular Samadhi Practise and if they
do not retreat from or ruin their connection to the Dharmakaya, of inconceivable
unobstructed formlessness.
"Good men and good women, if you desire to
enter Singular Samadhi Practise, you must be empty and at ease, and abandon all
deluded notions. Not grasping at forms and images, you bind your heart to one
Buddha, and concentrate on invoking his name. Wherever the Buddha may be, straighten
your body and face toward him. If you can keep continuous awareness of this one
Buddha, in this awareness you can see all the buddhas of past, present, and future.
Why? The merit of awareness of one Buddha is infinite and immeasurable, and one
with the merits accomplished by all the infinite numbers of buddhas. The Inconceivable
Buddha Dharma is everywhere equal and without distinctions: all buddhas ride upon
One Suchness, achieving supreme true enlightenment, endowed with all the immeasurable
accomplished virtues and infinite eloquence. All those who enter Singular Samadhi
Practise like this realise that there is no sign of differentiation in the Dharmakaya
of all the countless buddhas. Whatever they do, their bodies, minds, and inner
hearts are forever at the site of enlightenment. All their actions and conduct
are bodhi."
The Contemplation of Samantabhadra Sutra says: "The sea
of all karmic barriers arises from false forms. If you desire to repent, sit upright
and be aware of Reality." This is called the supreme repentance. Eliminate
the mentality of the three poisons, the mind that clings to objects. If the mind
that is aware and contemplating is continuously aware of Buddha, suddenly there
will be clarity and stillness, and there are no more thoughts linked with objects.
The Great Prajnaparamita Sutra says: "To have thought with no support
is called awareness of Buddha." What is meant by "having thought with
no support"? Being aware of the Buddhamind is called "having thought
with no support." There is no Buddha apart from mind, and no other mind apart
from Buddha. To be aware of Buddha is to be aware of mind. To seek mind is to
seek Buddha. Why? Consciousness has no shape, Buddha has no form. Realising this
truth is calming the mind. With unceasing awareness of Buddha, grasping at objects
does not arise. Then it is totally formless, everywhere equal and nondual. When
you enter this stage, the mind that [actively] recollects Buddha fades away and
no longer has to be stirred. When you witness this kind of mind, this is the true
Dharmakaya of the Tathagata. It is also called the Correct Dharma, buddha-nature,
the true anture of all things, reality itself. It is also called the Pure Land.
It is also called Bodhi, Vajra Samadhi, original enlightenment, and so on. It
is also called the Realm of Nirvana, and Prajna, and such. Though the names are
countless, they all share the same essence. There is no sense of the subject observing
and the object observed.