Transforming neutral actions into virtue

[kirtu]

As taught by Sakya Pandita and the other eminent Sakya masters, neutral deeds have no good or bad results because they do not performed under the influence of negativity nor the absence of negativity. Most of our actions are neutral actions: sitting, standing, sleeping,eating, riding in vehicles, etc. So a method was taught to transform neutral actions into virtue for the purpose of accumulation virtue for oneself but especially for the fulfillment of one's Bodhisattva bows. This method is creating an appropriate aspiration when performing the neutral action. Examples in the "Three Visions" include: when in one's house wish "May all beings attain the city of liberation", when sitting wish "May all beings attain the seat of enlightenment", when laying down to sleep wish "May all beings attain the Dharmakaya", when waking wish "May all beings attain the Nirmanakaya (the body of the Buddha), when putting on clothes wish "May all beings be clothes in piety and modesty", when bathing wish "May all beings be cleansed of the dirt of the afflictions", when eating wish "May all beings attain the food of meditation", when leaving the house wish "May all beings be freed from samsara", when walking on a path wish "May all beings enter the path of the Buddhas", when working wish "May all beings complete the two purposes", when entering a house wish "May all beings enter the city of liberation", when arriving wish "May all beings attain Buddhahood",.

And of course you can make your own up and also make these aspirations along with other practices.

Kirt

[Matylda]

Yes it is great method of mahayana exposed in Avatamsaka sutra. Chapter 11, on pure practice.. the same method is taught at soto monasteries in Japan when common action is turned into the bodhicitta vow for liberation of all sentient beings. This include waking, washing, toilet, wc, etc. and they are taken from Avatamsaka.. this method which Sapan advocated and other great sakyapas, specially in mentioned Three Visions, may greatly change once mind set, and turns it from self concerned fixation into board awakened mind saving all.

But the method is used daily also in other traditions.

[justsit]

Excellent, thanks!

[Matylda]

Sorry there were mistakes in my post, should be:

This method turns mind from self concerned fixation into broad awakened mind saving all.

[kirtu]

Yes it is great method of mahayana exposed in Avatamsaka sutra. Chapter 11, on pure practice..

Thanks Matylda! I had forgotten that the origin of this teaching is the Avatamsaka Sutra. I'll re-examine the "Three Visions" and see if it makes the attribution.

Kirt

[Matylda]

Yes, now I wonder myself if the origin of this teaching sakyapas drew from Avatamsaka or other source.. but I think it was not unknown generally in mahayana teachings of India which reached Tibet and China. Anyway Three visions are mainly sutra base teachings.

[kirtu]

Yes, now I wonder myself if the origin of this teaching sakyapas drew from Avatamsaka or other source.. but I think it was not unknown generally in mahayana teachings of India which reached Tibet and China. Anyway Three visions are mainly sutra base teachings.

Thw "Three Visions" cites two text's but the name of only one is given in Sanskrit in the notes: this is the Arya boddhisattva gocara upaya vishaya vikurvana nirdesa nama mahayana sutra by Acharya Jnanagarbha, who is mentioned in Taranatha's history. The other text given is the rGyal.sras lam bzang (which appears to be something like "The Excellent Path of the Bodhisattva" ["The Excellent Path of the Child of the Conqueror"]).

Kirt

[kirtu]

Thw "Three Visions" cites two text's but the name of only one is given in Sanskrit in the notes: this is the Arya boddhisattva gocara upaya vishaya vikurvana nirdesa nama mahayana sutra by Acharya Jnanagarbha, who is mentioned in Taranatha's history. The other text given is the rGyal.sras lam bzang (which appears to be something like "The Excellent Path of the Bodhisattva" ["The Excellent Path of the Child of the Conqueror"]).

The "Three Visions" actually says to follow the instructions in the two text's mentioned above. Then if that isn't possible, apply wishes as mentioned in the text. This method of wishing "are an elaboration of the meaning of the words" found in the "Arya prajnaparamita sancaya gatha".

Kirt

[Matylda]

Thw "Three Visions" cites two text's but the name of only one is given in Sanskrit in the notes: this is the Arya boddhisattva gocara upaya vishaya vikurvana nirdesa nama mahayana sutra by Acharya Jnanagarbha, who is mentioned in Taranatha's history. The other text given is the rGyal.sras lam bzang (which appears to be something like "The Excellent Path of the Bodhisattva" ["The Excellent Path of the Child of the Conqueror"]).

The "Three Visions" actually says to follow the instructions in the two text's mentioned above. Then if that isn't possible, apply wishes as mentioned in the text. This method of wishing "are an elaboration of the meaning of the words" found in the "Arya prajnaparamita sancaya gatha".

Kirt

It is interesting the way it is expressed in English - ''wish''.. in Japanese-Chinese dharma terms it is more like ''vow'' meaning also very strong wish...