Chapter 4 - The Secrets of Meditation

There have been many people, for example Hu Shi and Suzuki Osetsu, talking about meditation (Zen) But all of their talks are devoid of substance, because they had little to talk about as they have not attained a high enough realm.

I will only use two words to sum up meditation (Zen):

1. Tranquility (Stop - Khregs-chod).
2. Observation (Visualize - Thod-rgal).

Long, long ago, Sakyamuni lifted the flower and Mahakasyapa showed a smile.

Lifting the flower is tranquility (Khregs-chod).

Smiling is observation (Thod-rgal).

Lifting the flower means to reveal the truth without any verbal action, while smiling means to disclose the secret of the Tathagata.

No words were used.
But the point was driven home.

Today I have come to convert sentient beings and make a travel through the human world all in order to,

Understand the hearts of all sentient beings.
Satisfy the wishes of all sentient beings.
Fill up the mind of all sentient beings,
Make happy all sentient beings.
I make a tour in this Saha world with no intention to gain fame or wealth.
I have got no secrets of meditation (Zen) either.
I come to the world only for the reason mentioned above, which can be summarized as for
sentient beings.
I don't have the walking stick of Master Deshan Xuanjian, nor the roaring of Master Lini
Yixuan, nor the blowing of feather by Monk Yuanxiu (nicknamed Bird's Nest), nor the killing
of the cat by Master Nanquan Puyuan. (These are all peculiar methods of teaching by various
Zhan (Zen) masters in history.)

These secrets of meditation (Zen) are full of unimportant details and even trifles such that they caused the later masters to grumble away and set petty people worrying their heads off about useless matters.

All those are nothing but a game and a dream, which can only dazzle one's eyes.

I understand the secrets of meditation (Zen), but I do not feel like talking about them.

This is because the secrets of meditation (Zen) are beyond words. They were once described by an action of lifting the flower or a smile. The secret will become too long with one word added, too short with one word taken out, too red if painted with some slight brown and too white if brushed with a little powder.

Why do I now cast the Padmakumara body of the Grand Master Shengyen Lu and make the disciples enshrine and worship it? I tell the readers with great honesty that the real answer lies in the lifting of the flower for sentient beings. There is nothing else to it.

Somebody asked Living Buddha Jigong,

"What is the secret of meditation (Zen)?"

Living Buddha Jigong answered,

"Meditation is 'greed' and the secret is 'hunger'. (They have the same pronunciation in Chinese.) The secret of meditation is the state of your being hungry and wanting to eat.

Very well said!

Somebody asked Maitreya (the monk with a big belly),

"What is the secret of meditation?"

Maitreya, who carried a cloth bag, did not answer, but put his bag on the ground.

"Is that the secret?" the person asked again.

Without answering, Maitreya lifted his bag to his shoulder again and walked away.

There can be no better action than this.
Putting down is tranquility.
Lifting up is observation.
There is another way of explanation,
Putting down is independence.
Lifting up is conversion of sentient beings.

In my whole life, I always admire Avalokitesvara. His thirty-two corresponding bodies, his fame for his infinite compassion and his Six-worded Mantra of Great Brightness are well known to many people in so many places!

In the early days, Avalokitesvara once appeared as an old lady who gave me medicine to treat my sore eyes.

Immediately my eyes became clear and cool with the illness completely cured.

Avalokitesvara has made many appearances in Esoteric (Tantric) Buddhism in Tibet, such as, the White Tara and the Green Tara transformed by his compassionate tears, the Avalokitesvara with a Thousand Hands and Eyes and the Avalokitesvara with Eleven Faces transformed by his power, the Vidyaraja with a Horse Head (HayagrivaTamdin) and the Mahakala with Six Arms transformed into his Dharma protectors, etc.

Why do I admire Avalokitesvara and his secrets of meditation?
Even sound can be observed (Visualized).
Because his powers
Neither increase nor decrease;
Neither come into being nor go into destruction;
Neither get defiled nor get purified.
That kind of Prajna is supreme wisdom.

Now let me talk about my own secrets of meditation (Zen).

On my birthday or when I was being tonsured or when I was conducting some service there was always bright light of a rainbow in the sky.

In a great football field in Hong Kong, when I was doing some Buddhist service of treating illness with great intention to save sentient beings, there appeared white, red and blue lights in the sky.

When I was setting up a stone lion at the gate of the Rainbow Villa, a great thunder grumbled in the distance and a hailstorm followed.

In the whole world, when a horizontal inscribed board is hoisted up over the gate of a Leizang Temple, there will be some sort of thunder even in a clear sky accompanied by deafening bell-ringing and drum-beating.

What secret of meditation is it?
My answer is, "The indication of the True Buddha descending upon the world!"

The Four Mudras of Esoteric Buddhism in Tibet are:

1. The Great Mudra.
2. The Wisdom Mudra.
3. The Career Mudra.
4. The Dharma Mudra.

I know the Four Mudras by heart. Usually a Living Buddha keeps the Career Mudra a secret and will not teach it.

However, Grand Master Saga Zhengkong from Sakyapa lineage went out of his way to teach me the Mudra with all the sutras that go with it. That is very exceptional.

Why did he do so?

This is the secret of meditation (Zen).

One of the verses Grand master Saga Zhengkong wrote to me reads:

The rainbow, brightness, thunder and hailstorm all appearing,
Indicate you are the Root Guru of great virtue and empowerment.
I hereby present you the four Esoteric Mudras as Dharma milk. (Ambrosia Nectar)
To become yourself the great Vajra master hitherto unknown. (Vajradhara-Dorje Chang)
I tell the readers with great honesty that for me, Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu,
The secret of meditation (Zen) and the secret of conversion reside in
"The supreme master of all masters."

In my opinion, the real secrets of meditation should reveal:

1. The true colour. (Face-Identity)
2. The present form of the Dharma.
3. The unrestrained nature.
4. The boundless joy and pleasure.
5. The proper grandeur.
6. The clarity, purity, and commonness

I listed the six points, however, I feel I failed to express myself in these words. Who can understand the truth in my mind? If there is anyone who can understand it, he has attained the position of Samantabhadra.

The revelation of the secrets of meditation (Zen) has a double-character. On the one hand they are merciless, pretentious, naked and straightforward; on the other hand, they are affectionate, plain, covered and oblique. They even can kill and save at the same time. They have boundless powers.

I know myself,
The human body has its secrets,
Greed, anger, ignorance, conceit and doubt,
Form, sound, fragrance, smell and touch.

I also think the characteristics of the secrets of meditation (Zen) should be:

• Liberation - The understanding of emptiness.
• Dharma Ketu - The incarnation of various Dharma-gates.
• Equality - The infinite extension and depth.
• Proper causation - The appropriateness for time and place.
• Doubtlessness - Being just right.

When Sakyamuni was here in this world, sometimes he said existence, and sometimes he said emptiness; sometimes he said low, and sometimes he said high; sometimes he used slow, and sometimes fast; sometimes he used one, and sometimes many ....

That is because the revelation of secrets varies along with different people, at different times and in different places.

Because I have such an understanding, I have attained firm stay, purity of self-nature, manifestation of the Buddha nature, supreme pleasure, extensive equality, all achievements, supreme wisdom, and independence in body and mind.

Towards the final stage of realization, the Dharma flow turns round and round, the Dharma light changes without end, and the ten directions and the three times are connected. I, Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu, turn out to a Buddha with perfection.

When the Buddha was here in the world, he showed the Six Kinds of Recollection (Remembrance):

1. Recollection (Remembrance) of the virtues of the Buddha.
2. Recollection (Remembrance) of the virtues of the Dharma.
3. Recollection (Remembrance) of the virtues of Sangha.
4. Recollection (Remembrance) of one's own precepts.
5. Recollection (Remembrance) of the dana given out.
6. Recollection (Remembrance) of the virtues which make people become devas.

In my opinion, there is secret of meditation in the recollection (Remembrance) of the virtues which make people become devas. Among today's monks, some recollect (Remember) the virtues of the Buddha, some recollect (Remember) the virtues of the Dharma, some recollect (Remember) the virtues of Sangha, some recollect (Remember) their own precepts, and some recollect (remember) the dana given out. However, there are few monks who recollect (remember) the virtues which make people become devas.

Because they think the virtues which makes people become devas are too insignificant (low). A Buddhist verse reads "commit no evil, practise various good acts, purify one's thoughts, that is Buddhism". In fact, the first two clauses refer to the recollection of the virtues which make people become devas.

Devas are included in Buddhist teachings.

The Five Precepts and the Ten Kinds of Meritorious Paths of Action are just the virtues which make people become devas.

To purify one's thoughts is to keep one's thought undisturbed.

I deeply feel that the various devas are protectors of the Buddha Dharma, who also protect the Buddhist teachings. They deserve our respect. That is why Sakyamuni asked us to recollect (remember) them.

The secret I get from the recollection (remembrance) of virtues which make people become devas include:

• Rapid progress.
• Attaining supernatural changes.
• Ability to cast aside various doubts.
• Protecting our True Buddha.
• Turning the miraculous Dharma-wheel.

I tell the readers with great honesty that from the recollection (remembrance) of virtues which make people become devas, we can please the devas, get their protection, money and food and the ability to defeat the army of devils (Maras). We can achieve for the quick association with living beings and follow the right Buddha Dharma.

I hope monks also pay respect to the virtues which make people become devas and never neglect them. Monks who neglect them seldom get responses (feedback). There is secret of meditation in the recollection (Remembrance) of the virtues which make people become devas. He who does so will get their support and they will come to protect him to attain the highest stage of Buddhahood. That is also a key to becoming a Buddha.

Toolbox

Back Top Print Bookmark Tell a friend:

© 2008 Padmakumara. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright & Terms of Use.