Chapter 15 - To Learn From The Water

Recorded in the Surangama Sutra is a Moonlight Bodhisattva, who recounted to Buddha Shakyamuni of how he practiced the Water Dhyana Yoga. This Moonlight Bodhisattva obtained Tantric teachings from Water Heaven¹ Tathagata.

If one is successful in the practice of this Water Dhyana Yoga, one can also reach Samyaksamadhi².

Inside our bodies, water is the major component of tears, saliva, blood, lymph, urine, and sweat. Through circulation, these various fluids in our bodies serve to transport nutrients and wastes-this is an important characteristic of water.

On the earth, bodies of water such as oceans, lakes and rivers, differ in their form from the waters inside our bodies. Nevertheless, the nature and functions of such waters remain the same as ours.

From this, one deduces that the water in one's own body comes from the same source as the water in the Fragrant Oceans in the Worlds of Ten Directions; the water simply keeps circulating. In practicing the Water Dhyana Yoga, if one understands the continuous circulation of exterior and interior water, one becomes cognizant of the principle of the nature of Tathagata (which is the nature of all that is living). The principle is the nature of water is Emptiness, and the nature of Emptiness is water. In other words, one's own Buddha nature is forever flowing, reaching out to the Buddha Nature of the Universe's Supreme Consciousness, and there is really no difference between the two.

Thus, from practicing the Water Dhyana Yoga, one realizes Complete Universality and attains Samyaksamadhi. This is what one learns from the water.

I have studied and practiced the Water Heaven Yoga. The Water Heaven of Tantric Buddhism is located by the western gate of the outer Vajradhatu Court in the Garbhadhatu Mandala. While in the Vajradhatu Mandala, it is located to the north of the outer court.

The Image of the Lord of Water Heaven is portrayed as holding in his left hand a lotus flower with a red pearl on top, and in his right hand a precious sword. He wears a Five Dragon Crown, and sits on a giant turtle. The shell of the turtle is light green, symbolizing the water realm.

I know Lake Sammamish's water is very clear and very wonderful.

Its water is feminine, gently swaying and effervescent, a big patch of flawless, pastel green, undulating as with light-footed steps. This glitter of green, is like the sparkle of beautiful eyes! This lake has the innocence of water, the pleasantness of water, the fragrance of water, the serenity of water, and the brilliance of water ....

This lake is surrounded day and night by grasses thick as carpets, trees like green canopies, and mountains resembling screens. Its water is real and not illusory.

Someone said that beauty must fade away. But I know that the water of Lake Sammamish will never vanish. The Water Heaven will exist forever.

To learn from the water-what is there to learn?

The lake is beautiful, its water lightish green.

Yes, this is a very beautiful lake. I often gaze at that great patch of green, and listen carefully to its secret life; hence, I know a great deal, and learn a great deal.

The flowing water itself represents all the experiences that have ever occurred. Included in these experiences are the supreme Tantric Yogas, Great Wisdom, and the knowledge of the cosmos. Not every person can understand what the sound of the flowing water is saying, but I can. I listen to the Dharma teachings of the flowing water and converse with it. The flowing water is my close friend.

This lake harbors a great secret which cannot be transmitted directly. Only Holy-Red-Crown-Vajra-Master can pierce through it, experience it, and understand the secret.

People of the world all think: this lake is so ordinary, what significant meaning can it have?

But, I know, in the midst of Lake Sammamish, there are Tantric Yogas of the supreme kind.

It is time to gaze at the lake now; it is time to listen to the lake. Don't you realize that you must experience it yourself? Every single matter in this cosmos possesses a Divine Self of its own. The God of the Most Supreme imparts a Divine Self to everything. If you have started experiencing the Divine Self, then you can establish a communication between the Ego and the Divine Self, and you can attain Samyaksamadhi, Nirvana, and exist forever.

The water in our bodies is in fact water of the Buddha Nature. The water of Lake Sammamish is also water of the Buddha Nature. The Buddha Nature of the Cosmic Consciousness has expressed itself in the lake water and in the water in all our bodies. Isn't this exactly the same as using our current knowledge as a springboard to explore new ideas?

Listen to the circulation of blood in your own body and listen to the sound of the lake flowing west. Listen to the two voices carefully to understand the ultimate meaning hidden behind them, and to learn the inner voice. Both flow together; both move together; both soar together.

Why should one learn from the water?

In the midst of the water is the wonderful Great Wisdom. There is a voice from the inner world: find the Divine Self of your own self. This inexplicable experience is actually in the water of the lake. The intransmittable is transmitted-this is a tremendous revelation.

This is not an opinion; neither is it a conjecture nor merely an understanding. It is a language of the Mind in the non-dreaming state. There is no need to perform the Great Prostration to Lake Sammamish, no need to make the Mandala Offerings to Lake Sammamish, and no need to take refuge in it or anything else. Just learn from the water and the Water Heaven Tagathata, use the unique voice of the inner world, and listen to the inner voices of both of them.

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