Dharma Gems

Discuss and learn about the traditional Mahayana scriptures, without assuming that any one school ‘owns’ the only correct interpretation.
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by Admin_PC »

Stumbled across this quote the other day on ZFI and I can't get it out of my head...
Zen Dawn, J.C. Cleary wrote:The Great Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra says: “To have no objects of thought is called mindfulness of buddha.” What is meant by “having no objects of thought”? Being mindful of the buddha-mind is called “having no objects of thought.” There is no separate Buddha apart from mind, and no other mind apart from Buddha. To be mindful of Buddha is to be mindful of mind. To seek mind is to seek Buddha. Why? Consciousness has no shape, Buddha has no form. Knowing this truth is pacifying mind. With constant mindfulness of Buddha, grasping at objects does not arise. Then it is totally formless, everywhere equal and without duality. When you enter this station, the mind that [actively] remembers Buddha fades away and no longer has to be summoned. When you witness this type of mind, this is the true reality-nature body of the Thathāgata. It is also called the Correct Dharma, buddha-nature, the real identity of all phenomena, reality itself. It is also called the Pure Land. It is also called bodhi, diamond samādhi, fundamental enlightenment, and so on. It is also called the realm of nirvāna, and prajñā, and the like. Though the names are countless, they all share one and the same essence. There is no sense of the subject observing and the object observed.
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by Rakz »

David N. Snyder wrote:To say "it is" is to grasp for permanence. To say "it is not" is to adopt the view of nihilism. Therefore a wise person does not say "exists" or "does not exist."

(Mūlamadhyamakakārikā 15.10)
:thumbsup:
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Re: Dharma Gems

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[Han Shan:] When we first arrived at the hut, the noise of the roaring wind and running water used to
disturb me. Since it didn'’t seem to bother Miao Feng, I asked him for an explanation. He said, “"The
disturbance you feel is created within your own mind. You have grasped the sound and interpreted it
as noise. You should listen without judgment, concentrating on the act of merely hearing so that no
thoughts of any kind can arise in your mind. the ancients said that whoever hears without grasping,
that is, whoever can listen to sounds without thinking, will soon attain the Bodhisattva
Avalokitesvara'’s All Pervading Wisdom."”
From Han Shan's autobiography
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

This uncomparable affection of the mother can be likened to the endlessness of the sky. Alas! How can we repay our mothers for bringing us up?”
-- Filial Love Sutra
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Re: Dharma Gems

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:thumbsup:

See also: http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.ph ... 40#p232885" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers everywhere!
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Re: Dharma Gems

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THE FIRST BHUMI

O son of the Conqueror, Bodhisattvas in their first bhumi,
ordinary men though they be, win fruition, become worthy
of offerings in the worlds, where they have bright renown.
They are as described in this verse :—

The glorious Bodhisattvas are perfect in liberality and light up
the worlds to make them shine as radiantly as moon and sun.


There are eight rules of conduct for Bodhisattvas when they
are in the first bhumi. What are the eight ? They are liberality,
compassion, indefatigability, humility, study of all the scriptures,
heroism, contempt for the world, and fortitude.
-- Mahavastu
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

When Bodhisattvas determine to seek enlightenment,
This is not without cause, not without conditions;
Engendering pure faith in the Buddha, Teaching, and Community,
By this they produce a broad, magnanimous mind.

Not seeking objects of desire or positions of authority,
Wealth, personal enjoyment, or fame,
It is only to forever annihilate creatures' miseries
And to benefit the world that they rouse their will.

Deep faith, belief, and resolution always pure,
They honor and respect all Buddhas,
As well as their Dharma and Sangha;
Making offerings with ultimate sincerity, they rouse their will.

Deeply believing in the Buddha and the Buddha's teaching,
They also believe in the Way traversed by buddhas-to-be,
And believe in unexcelled great enlightenment:
Thereby do Bodhisattvas first rouse their will.
Avatamsaka Sutra, ch. 12
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Re: Dharma Gems

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“… If you’re able to practice Dharma in the West, it’s a great talent; you are a great hero, wow. Someone who is able to be a monk, able to be a nun, even a lay person practicing pure Dharma – wow, wow, wow – it’s unbelievable, unbelievable, as generally speaking, it’s not easy in the West. Those who are doing practice are heroes. That is the main thing to think about Sangha – they are heroes.

… Sangha, you have to know you are the heroes of the world because you are fighting, preventing the wars of delusion, and protecting peace from delusion. They’re the real heroes as are the lay practitioners who do pure Dharma practice. But that’s what the Sangha are especially - you have to realize!”
Lama Zopa
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Re: Dharma Gems

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All happiness enjoyed by beings:
It is in every case because of the power of Tathāgata’s wondrous virtue.
It is because of agreeing with the Tathāgata’s teachings.
It is because of practicing according to the teachings of the Tathāgata.
It is because of studying the practices of the Tathāgata.
It is because of acquiring the protective power of the Tathāgata.
It is because of cultivating the path that has received the seal of the Tathāgata.
It is because of having good roots like those of the Tathāgata.
It is because of relying upon the Dharma proclaimed by the Tathāgata.
It is because of being illuminated by the Tathāgata’s wisdom sun.
And it is because of being drawn forth by the pure power of the Tathāgata’s karmic works.
Avatamsaka Sutra, ch. 39
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

It is not so much a matter of the Dharma adjusting itself to become adaptable to Americans, but of Americans changing and
transforming themselves sufficiently to become acceptable to the Lord Buddha.
Edward Conze
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by heart »

Will wrote:
It is not so much a matter of the Dharma adjusting itself to become adaptable to Americans, but of Americans changing and
transforming themselves sufficiently to become acceptable to the Lord Buddha.
Edward Conze
:smile:

/magnus
"We are all here to help each other go through this thing, whatever it is."
~Kurt Vonnegut

"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by SeekerNo1000003 »

As though they pass through perils guarded by a hero
Even those weighed down with dreadful wickedness
Will instantly be freed through having bodhichitta
Who then would not place his trust in it?

Bodhicharyavatara, 1.13
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Re: Dharma Gems

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Never forget that the main point is not whether our practice belongs to the sutras or tantras, or whether it is of this or that level, but that it serves as an effective antidote to attachment and the obscuring emotions.
Dilgo Khyentse
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by WuMing »

a clear and lucid summary on the path, straight to the point. notice his smile at the end.

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Re: Dharma Gems

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Mañjuśrī then addressed the Buddha, saying,
“Thusly, Bhagavān, have I come wishing to perceive the Tathāgata. Why? I
delight in correct contemplation for the benefit of sentient beings. I contemplate
the Tathāgata’s appearance of suchness and nothing else: neither moving nor acting,
without birth and without death, neither existing nor void, neither here nor
away, neither in the Three Times nor apart from the Three Times, neither dual
nor non-dual, and neither impure nor pure. Such is the correct contemplation of
the Tathāgata for the benefit of sentient beings.” The Buddha told Mañjuśrī, “If
one is able to perceive the Tathāgata thusly, then the mind has nothing to grasp
nor not grasp, and neither accumulates nor does not accumulate.”
Mahāprajñāpāramitā Mañjuśrīparivarta Sūtra
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Re: Dharma Gems

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Then Universal Wisdom Bodhisattva, knowing that the multitude had
assembled, asked Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, “Buddha-Son, I pray that you
will answer my questions.”
[He asked] “On what kinds of things does a Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva
rely?”

Then Samantabhadra Bodhisattva told Universal Radiance Bodhisattva and
the other Bodhisattvas, “Buddha-Sons, a Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva relies on ten
kinds of things. What are these ten? They are (1) the bodhi mind, because he
never forgets or loses it; (2) his beneficent learned friends, because they unite
with him; (3) his roots of goodness, because he develops and expands them; (4)
the pāramitās, because he fully practices them; (5) all dharmas, because he
eventually transcends them; (6) his great vows, because they strengthen the
bodhi mind; (7) his actions, because he completes them; (8) all other
Bodhisattvas, because he and they have the same wisdom; (9) making offerings
to Buddhas, because he purifies his faith in Them; (10) all Tathāgatas, because,
like loving-kind fathers, They ceaselessly teach him. These are the ten. If a
Bodhisattva relies on these ten kinds of things, he will acquire a Tathāgata’s
unsurpassed great wisdom as his reliance.”
Avatamsaka Sutra, ch. 38, Rulu translation
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

[verse] 12

If one investigates to find the supreme method
for accomplishing the aims of oneself and others,
it comes down to bodhicitta alone.
Being certain of this, develop it with joy.
Khunu Rinpoche - Vast as the Heavens, Deep as the Sea.
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by Schrödinger’s Yidam »

Dilgo Khyentse wrote:Never forget that the main point is not whether our practice belongs to the sutras or tantras, or whether it is of this or that level, but that it serves as an effective antidote to attachment and the obscuring emotions.
I like that quote. I should have made more of an effort to see him while he was alive.
1.The problem isn’t ‘ignorance’. The problem is the mind you have right now. (H.H. Karmapa XVII @NYC 2/4/18)
2. I support Mingyur R and HHDL in their positions against lama abuse.
3. Student: Lama, I thought I might die but then I realized that the 3 Jewels would protect me.
Lama: Even If you had died the 3 Jewels would still have protected you. (DW post by Fortyeightvows)
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by Boomerang »

The Blessed One spoke thus to him: “Sarva-shúra, there is a dharma-paryáya called Sangháta that even now is still active on this planet earth. Whoever hears this Sangháta dharma-paryáya will have their five uninterrupted karmas purified, and they will never turn away from unsurpassed, perfect and complete enlightenment.
—Sanghata Sutra
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Re: Dharma Gems

Post by Admin_PC »

Give up poisonous food
Since all virtuous thoughts and actions motivated by
clinging to a concrete reality or to a self-cherishing atti-
tude are like poisonous food, give them up. Learn not to
cling, but to know the phantomlike nature of experience.
-Jamgon Kongtrul The Great Path of Awakening p.31
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