–Volume4(Part5)
Author: Fafu
Translator : Gemini
Hello everyone! Welcome to this podcast episode provided by the Buddha’s Practice Association of Australia.
Today, we will explore the profound meaning of the “World of Sentient Beings” (Sattva-Loka) and the “Virtues of the Six Roots.” With unsurpassed wisdom, the Buddha reveals that all worldly phenomena are woven by delusion, and although the Six Roots possess virtue, their adherence to the Six Dusts leads to endless Samsara. The Buddha teaches us to counter the current of birth and death (Samsara), awaken to the True Nature, unclasp and subdue inwardly, abandon arising and ceasing, and adhere to the Eternal True Nature, thereby realizing the purity of the Six Roots and moving toward Unsurpassed Awareness.
1. The World of Sentient Beings: Woven by Delusion:
The Buddha teaches that the World of Sentient Beings is constituted by the “Ten Directions” (space) and the “Three Periods” (time). Although seemingly real, it is actually “all sentient beings weaving delusion into reality.” It is an illusory body and mind formed by the interweaving of the Six Roots and the Self-Nature. Its essence is “without fixed direction in the center”, like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, or a shadow.
- Solid Delusion, Inverted Submergence and Change: The constant flow and change of worldly phenomena, the body, mind, and even the Six Roots of sentient beings, are all “solid delusions of inverted submergence and change since beginningless time.”
- Counter the Current and Return to the Root of the Flow: The Buddha instructed Ānanda to “counter the desirous flow of birth and death,” no longer following the stream of love and desire that leads to Samsara. Instead, he must “turn back and exhaust the root of the flow, reaching the non-arising and non-ceasing,” investigate the root of birth and death, turn the light inward, and abide in the Wondrous Bright True Mind that is neither born nor destroyed, no longer pursuing the three continuities: the world, karma, and sentient beings.
- Dissolving Illusions, Transforming Awareness: When the practitioner completely uproots karmic habits, “the inner light shines forth”, and the light of the Self-Nature manifests. At this point, the illusory forms of the Four Floating Dusts (Earth, Water, Fire, Wind) and the changing phases of the World of Vessels dissolve instantly, like ice melting in boiling water. This transforms afflictions into “Unsurpassed Awareness,” uniting with the pure, original nature of the Tathagata.
2. The Virtues of the Six Roots: Unclasping and Subduing Inwardly:
The Buddha explains the virtues of the Six Roots. Each originally possesses “one thousand two hundred virtues.” However, the eye, nose, and body roots are limited, possessing only eight hundred, while the ear, tongue, and mind roots possess the complete one thousand two hundred. Although the Six Roots possess virtue, their adherence to the Six Dusts causes them to sink into the cause of Samsara.
- Adherence to Quiescence Gives Rise to Roots, Flowing Out to the Dust: The Six Roots originate from the “wondrous perfect center, where adherence to quiescence gives rise to seeing (hearing, smelling, tasting, sensing, knowing).” The Self-Nature is fundamentally pure and quiescent, yet due to its adherence to the Six Dusts, it reflects form to form the eye root, reflects sound to roll into the ear root, and flows out to the Six Dusts, forming the “Four Floating Dusts.”
- Do Not Follow Conditioned Phenomena: The Buddha teaches “not to follow the twelve conditioned phenomena”, such as movement and stillness, union and separation, ease and change, penetration and obstruction, arising and ceasing, brightness and darkness. One should no longer conform to these arising and ceasing changes, thereby severing the grasping at the Six Dusts.
- Unclasping and Subduing Inwardly, Returning to the Original Truth: The key to cultivation is to “subdue inwardly, returning to the Original Truth” by “withdrawing one root, unclasping its adherence.” Choose one root (such as the ear root), withdraw it from its adherence to the Six Dusts, and make it submit to the True Nature.
- Deep Penetration Through One Gate, Purity of the Six Roots: Although the Six Roots seem independent, they are fundamentally one entity. “Deep penetration through one gate” means entering the Self-Nature through one root, reaching the state of “entering one without delusion,” such that “the six knowing roots become pure simultaneously.”
3. The Hearing Nature Is Not Extinguished; the Roots and Dusts Dissolve:
The Buddha uses the analogy of striking a bell to reveal the truth that the Hearing Nature is not extinguished:
- The Hearing Nature Is Not Extinguished: The sound of the bell arises and ceases, but the “Hearing Nature” is neither obscured nor extinguished. Even if the body dissolves and life passes away, the Hearing Nature remains eternal.
- Abandon Arising and Ceasing, Adhere to the Eternal True Nature: One should “abandon arising and ceasing and adhere to the Eternal True Nature.” Abandon the mind of the roots, dust, and consciousness, which are subject to arising and ceasing, and abide in the immutable Self-Nature. When this is achieved, “the constant light manifests, and the roots, dust, and consciousness dissolve instantly,” like ice melting in boiling water. Afflictions and karmic habits dissolve instantly, leading to “Unsurpassed Awareness” and the realization of the “Interchangeable Functioning of the Six Roots.”
4. Conclusion:
Recognize the illusion of the world, cut off the grasping at the Six Dusts, penetrate deeply through one gate, adhere to the immutable nature of the Eternal True Nature, eliminate the dust, unite with Awareness, and realize Unsurpassed Bodhi. Thank you.
