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- Book 146 The Lonely Bird in the Sky
- Written by Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu
- Chapter 36: Who is Who
- Translated by Vajra Root
- Edited by Darrell McLaughlin
- Proofread by Mimosa
- Padmakumara Translation Team
- Website: http://www.padmakumara.org/
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Chapter 36: Who is Who
When I was studying Buddhism, I often pondered, "Who am I?" Sheng-yen
Lu is only a name, a title, a symbol, just like A. B, C, D. Living
Buddha Lian-sheng is only a title, like E, F, G, H. I often look
closely at my face, which is nothing more than an ever-changing
visage. My body? A layer of skin.
My Guru has preached a great deal on the subject of "The Four
Elements," which include:
Earth - hard and soft characteristics
Water - assimilation characteristics
Fire - hot and cold characteristics
Wind - movement characteristics
Based on the above teaching, bone is earth, blood is water, body
temperature is fire,
and breath is wind.
I wonder again, "who exactly am I?"
When I study meditation, I raise the same question, "who am I?"
Among the "Four Elements
" (earth, water, fire, wind), wind is the easiest and most
obvious element to further pursue. I start by observing my own breathing.
The idea is quite simple: "Life resides between inhalation and exhalation.
Therefore if breathing is discontinued, our life comes to an end.
"
Life ceases; Sheng-yen Lu ends; Living Buddha Lian-sheng ends.
The Four Elements will naturally dissipate and the physical body
will be corrupted.
"Who am I? "
"Who is Who?"
My Guru elucidates that the ultimate goal of meditative observation
is not merely to perceive the "Four Elements," but the detailed
observation of the spirit. This is a difficult task. To observe
the thought and spirit requires a great deal of effort. Is the spirit
me? Is the thought me? I therefore continued my search on the thought.
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Thought of Body: Concentrate particularly on the processes
of inhaling and exhaling. This parallels the phenomenon of appearance
and disappearance.
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Thought of Emotions: Concentrate particularly on the beginning
and ending of various emotions. Recognize "happiness," "unhappiness,"
and "unhappiness, but not real unhappiness."
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Thought of Mind: Discern the increasing and decreasing myriad
of thoughts, discreting the real thought.
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Thought of Phenomena: Clearly understand the formation and
destruction of all phenomena in daily life. Concentrate to recognize
the Truth of Dharma but not attach to it.
My conclusion is: the body, emotion, mind and Dharma are all illusions.
None of them are constituted of true entity.
"Who am I?"
"Who is who?"
In the "Four Mindfulness Sutra," Lord Buddha teaches:
"Reverends, there is only path to lead laymen to overcome anguish,
alleviate grief and become purified. Lead them to practice the appropriate
doings and attain nirvana. This path is named the " Four Mindfulness.
"
Lord Buddha further teaches, "Practice diligently and observe
discretely the thought of body, emotion, mind and phenomena. Licentious
desire and suffering will then be eradicated."
When I observed these aspects, I realized that: this body is not
mine, the environment is impermanent, the existence of emotion is
sad, and everything is empty. My wisdom gradually matured and I
am no longer attached to physical or spiritual "me." This is the
realization of Nirvana, Great Bliss, illumination, and emptiness.
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