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RESERVATIONS LANKAVATARA SUTRA CONTENTS BUDDHIST TERMS

A: Answer   —  DA: Deep answer   —  E: Expounding   —  F: Further, furthermore   —  FS: Further still   —  P: Profession(s), assertion(s)   —  Q: Query or question

Chapter 1. Discrimination

Pinus contorta Murrayana

Buddha, knowing of the mental agitations going on in the minds of those assembled (like the surface of the ocean stirred into waves by the passing winds), and his great heart moved by compassion, smiled and said [effortlessly? without action: without saying anything at all?]:

All that is seen in the world is devoid of effort and action because all things in the world are like a dream, or like an image miraculously projected. This is not comprehended by the philosophers and the ignorant.

Comment: Smell a rat. Many teachings are invented to some degree, products of old imagination only. Focus on the best teachings; they do not necessarily contain heaps of self-contradicitons. Some say the world and self are unreal because they figure it - in the world, in or by themselves. Get a good point now and save you future trouble, uh? F (Further): People go on forever discriminating and thus never attain tranquillity. By tranquillity is meant Oneness, which is gained by entering into the realm of Noble Wisdom of subtle, inside consciousness.

Praise:

You are free and clear from the hindrances of learningThose who see you thus, serene and beyond conception, will be emancipated from [assiduity of learning teachings etc.].

There is place for praise and blame, but in the ultimate Reality of Dharmakaya which is far beyond the senses and the discriminating mind, what is there to praise?

Q (Query): Those who have nothing to do with generality, nor false-imagination, will be enabled deep inside."

A (Answer): Well done, well done, [but by whom?]! And again, well done. Therefore, listen and reflect carefully on what I instruct you.

F. Natta gave devout attention to the teaching of the Blessed One as it appeared in the world, not knowing that the world and what is in it - teachings and so on - are only something . . .

Comment: And most persons have a self-nature of their own, and also the possibility of imagining up a lot of things, including teachings, which according to some sakis must be false and full of errors.).

FS (Further still): It is all like a mirage in which springs of water are seen as if they were real. They are thus imagined - In the same way there are people today being brought up under the influence of erroneous views of oneness and otherness and the more excellent things. But the "Basic Thing" is like a wheel of fire realisable within yourselves.

Q: Why is it that the wise are not given up to discrimination a lot?

A: As the accumulation of karma goes on they become imprisoned -- Because of folly they do not understand what exists and Deep Mind itself. But it is not so with the Sai-wise.

Chapter 2. False-Imagination and Knowledge of Appearances

Q: You speak of the erroneous views of the philosophers, will you please tell us of them, that we may be on our guard against them?

DA (Deep Answer): Erroneous teachings do not recognise that the world-mind-system also includes the mind itself. Deep Mind is as real as anything and anyone. The simple-minded cherish dualist thinking of this and that, not aware of one common Essence.

Many a view otherwise is based on erroneous discrimination; not on true perception and a suitable, corollary conception.

P (Profession, assertion): Their demonstration must conform to logic and their textbooks, but the way of instruction presented by the Tathagatas is not based on assertions and refutations by means of words and logic.

Comment. Go beyond logic.

Q. How?

A. Try deep meditation.

F (Further): The assertion about objects that are non-existent is an assertion that rises from attachment to ideas. Ideas may be false and wrong, like notions. What pays is to penetrate into the truth of Deep Mind itself and Its echoes throughout universes since beginningless time.

Yet I say that if words are not different, they could not carry significant new meanings, which rise from discriminating forms and signs. We do have the words. And specialised beings make a living by specialised words and approaches, by the way.

Yet, basically, the validity of things is independent of the validity of words.

Man and woman should be on their guard against the seductions of words and illusive meanings, for dull-witted ones become entangled and helpless as an elephant floundering about in the deep mud.

Words and sentences cannot express highest Reality - Highest Reality is an exalted state of bliss. The Tathagatas have a better way, namely, self-realisation.

Q: Is there gradual or simultaneous appearance of all things?

A: There are external and internal factors, desire, purpose, external world, and asserting oneself. The Existence is asserted, likewise the mind itself.

Get rid of notions of gradation and simultaneity in the combination of causal activities.

Q: To what kind of discrimination and to what kind of thoughts should the term false-imagination be applied?

A: A deep-set mind-system goes on functioning, in part producing false-imaginations.

The true nature of mind is stage self-realisation. Thoroughly understand the meaning of Reality as that as well.

False-imagination teaches as follows: Ties a knot and loosens one by the charm of the inner magician. You and all the Bodhisattvas should discipline yourselves. Seek for this inner self-realisation, and be not captivated by word-teaching.

LANKAVATARA SUTRA CONTENTS
Lankavatara Sutra chapter extracts, Mahayana, END MATTER

Lankavatara Sutra chapter extracts, Mahayana, LITERATURE  

Goddard, Dwight, ed. A Buddhist Bible. Thetford, VT.: Dwight Goddard, 1932.

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