Book: The Annotated True Buddha Sutra

Day 13

Discourse No. 13:
(January 21st, 1989)

The Holy Revered One further instructed the assembly, saying "If good men or women, on the eighteenth day of the fifth month of each lunar year, make ablution, abstain from flesh, and wear new and clean clothes, or on the eighteenth day of each lunar month, or on their own birthdays, call upon the Two Buddhas and Eight Bodhisattvas before the shrine, and reverently recite this Sutra of Authentic Dharma that Removes Hindrances and Bestows Good Fortune, then their supplications will be answered. Moreover, if incense, flowers, lamps, tea and fruit are offered, along with sincere prayer, then all wishes will be granted."

The Holy Revered One told the assembly, "People of this saha world, be they high officials, nobility, renunciates, householders, yogis, or common folk, who, upon learning of this sutra, uphold, read and recite it, shall prosper above all others, have greater lifespan, obtain either a son or daughter as sought, and be blessed with measureless fortune. This is indeed a great fortune-bestowing sutra for obtaining blessings.

"One may have deceased ancestors, enemies, close ones or creditors who are unable to obtain liberation and remain lost in the nether world. However, by upholding, reciting, printing and propagating this sutra, the deceased will ascend to heaven, enemies will be turned away, and those living will be blessed. If there be man or woman seized by negative forces or afflicted by spirits, or confused and haunted by nightmares, then, by upholding, printing and propagating this sutra, all negative influences shall be banished, thereby restoring peace and ease.

"If one suffers the physical retribution of illness and calamity, whether due to non-virtuous body karma from previous lives or to the afflictions of spirits, then, by holding, reciting, printing and propagating this sutra, ill omens will immediately disappear and the cause of illness will quickly be removed. If one suffers from misfortune, legal entanglement or imprisonment, then, upon holding, reciting, printing and propagating this sutra, all such obstacles will dissolve immediately, and calamity will be vanquished and turned into auspiciousness.

"Should nations enter into war, then whoever holds this sutra and creates an image of Padmakumara, setting up offerings before it, immediately receives extra prowess wherein no battle can be lost. Those who recite, print, or propagate this sutra will receive every good fortune, just as they desire. All hindrances will be removed, and the sufferings of the cycle of birth and death will be extinguished."

Then, in the Western True Buddha Assembly at the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds, White Mahapadmakumara proclaimed this mantra:

"Om, Guru, Lian-sheng Siddhi, Hum."

When the Holy Revered One completed this discourse, Indra and the whole assembly, including devas, nagas, and the rest of the eight classes of supernatural beings, and the Fourfold Sangha all paid reverence. They brought forth faith and upheld the teaching.

Thus ends the Sutra of Authentic Dharma that Removes Hindrances and Bestows Good Fortune.

Basically, up to the section that reads, "that of realizing the Sangha Jewel is refuge in a True Buddha Guru," we have covered the main points of the True Buddha Sutra. The rest is an explanation of the benefits of this True Buddha Sutra. I am going to read it once, and I think you will have a pretty good understanding of it.

(Grand Master reads above passages from True Buddha Sutra.)

Actually this part of the sutra that I just read is very clear and can be understood easily, because the language is very simple. It is mainly a description of the benefits of this sutra. The beginning part states that if one recites this sutra, supplications will be answered and, if accompanied by offerings, things will turn out even more as one wishes.

Many people have had questions regarding one particular passage in this section. One student has said to me that he would not miss this discourse for anything and that he would definitely come to hear this talk. However, he is not here, so I will quickly cover this passage today.

This is the passage of concern. "Should nations enter into war, then whoever holds this sutra and creates an image of Padmakumara, setting up offerings before it, immediately receives extra prowess wherein no battle can be lost" Many students have considered this passage to be an advocacy of warfare. Actually, when two countries are at war, it is the common people who suffer the most. All over the land, wailing sounds can be heard, as lives and households are destroyed. How can the True Buddha Sutra side with the country which possesses the most power? Doesn't this statement that "no battle can be lost?¡§ smack of propaganda? Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are beings who advocate great compassion, so why have they turned into warmongers? Many people have raised this question, and I have told them, "Don't ask, there is a secret in this." It is a question better left unanswered but, then, if I keep silent about it, too many doubts linger in people's minds. However, an explanation would require revealing the secret! Should I or should I not talk about it?

One student said to me, "Do you plan to take this secret with you to the grave?" Since he sounded so serious, I think I must address this issue. When two countries are at war, whichever country chants this sutra and creates an image of Padmakumara and makes offerings, will receive this "extra prowess." This prowess may be interpreted as an increase in the power of good humor and calmness among them. That is, if they are able to create an image of Padmakumara, make offerings, and chant the True Buddha Sutra, then their chanting of the sutra will eventually enable them to gain a new understanding.

"All hindrances will be removed, and the sufferings of the cycle of birth and death will be extinguished." In other words, after those who chant and uphold this sutra receive this extra prowess or blessing, they will find themselves more and more reluctant to go to war. If both countries chant this sutra then, of course, both sides would become calm and even-tempered. By creating an image and making offerings, both sides will receive blessings and calm down. Then, of course, no battles will be lost. When there is no battle, everyone wins.

In the situation wherein only one country chants, and the other does not, then the country that chants will calm down and will not want to go to war. Even if the other country still wants to fight, the battle will not last. Why? It takes two coppers to make noises. If one side is willing to concede to being "number two" and to let the other side be "number one," then no battles will be lost. Most of the time, both countries have to be willing to go fight before there will be a major war. If one of the countries does not want to fight and just yields to the aggressor, then the catastrophe will be quickly contained. Of course, we further hope that by creating an image, making offerings, and chanting this sutra, this country will generate an influential power over the other side, also bringing it calmness and peacefulness. No battles would indeed then be lost.

Therefore, the main point of this passage is wishing that every country would be able to chant this sutra and develop calm and ease, thus staying forever in peacefulness. When everything is auspicious and people are satisfied, there will be no warfare. The "extra prowess" will resolve enmities and battles; therefore, no battle can be lost.

Lastly, I shall explain this mantra: Om, Guru, Lian-sheng Siddhi,Hum.

"Om" is the Universe.

"Guru" is a guide or teacher of the Universe.

"Lian-sheng Siddhi" means that, under the guidance of the teacher, all beings are to be transformed and born as lotuses; siddhi is the Buddha-land.

"Hum" is perfect accomplishment.

As a whole, the mantra means: the great, guiding teacher of the Universe leads all beings to be born, via transformation, into lotuses, accomplishing a Buddha-land at the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds.

This completes our discussion on the True Buddha Sutra.

Om Mani Padme Hum.

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