Surangama Sutra Exposition
by Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu
Only when we realize the emptiness of self and the emptiness of all phenomena, including the eighteen sense-fields, can we attain the eighth bodhisattva ground. Then the wondrous luminous true mind—buddhanature—naturally manifests.
Ananda and the great assembly, having received the Buddha’s teaching, attained clear and penetrating wisdom and were freed from all doubts. They joined their palms, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, and said:
“Today, our bodies and minds are clear and radiant, and we have attained joyful freedom without obstruction. Although we now understand the meaning of ‘when the six are released, the one also ceases,’ we still do not understand the fundamental root of perfect penetration.
“World-Honored One, throughout countless kalpas we have wandered helplessly, alone and without refuge. How could we ever have imagined that we would come to share in the Buddha’s own spiritual lineage? We are like orphaned infants who have lost their mother’s milk and suddenly encounter their loving mother again.
“If, through this precious encounter, we can accomplish the Way, yet the secret teaching we have received merely brings us back to what we originally understood, then it would be no different from never having heard the teaching at all.
“We only pray that you will extend your great compassion and bestow upon us the profound and secret teaching, bringing the Tathagata’s final instruction to completion.”
Having spoken these words, they prostrated themselves with all five limbs touching the ground. They then withdrew and silently held the profound intent within their hearts, hoping that the Buddha would secretly transmit the teaching to them.
The sutra now begins the teachings of the twenty-five bodhisattvas, who will each explain their methods for attainment. When we realize the emptiness of self and all dharmas—when neither self nor phenomena are inherently real—the wondrous luminous true mind naturally manifests. When we enter samadhi and attain unborn endurance, we reach the eighth ground of bodhisattvahood and no longer regress.
The Heart Sutra states: “Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, while in deep contemplation…” This means that while abiding in the deepest meditation, Avalokitesvara realized: “Form is emptiness; emptiness is form. Form is no other than emptiness; emptiness is no other than form. The same is true of feeling, perception, intention and consciousness.” The Heart Sutra then teaches that there are no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, nor mind; no forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, nor mental objects; and no realm of the eye up to and including the realm of the mind-consciousness. It also teaches that there is no ignorance or ending of ignorance, no old age and death, and no attainment.
The meaning of the Heart Sutra is the emptiness of self and emptiness of dharmas. If one can only memorize but not comprehend the meaning of the Heart Sutra, one has not been enlightened. Once enlightened, one needs to put their realization into real practice—consistent and honest practice.
The Surangama Sutra also speaks of the emptiness of the eighteen sense-fields: the six roots, six dusts, and six consciousnesses. The Heart Sutra states that one is a bodhisattva upon the realization that “there is nothing to gain.”
Grandmaster gave an analogy of six birds perched on a power line. When one bird is shot, the remaining birds fly away, leaving only the power line—representing the wondrous luminous true mind. The Buddha gave a similar analogy using a khata. When the six knots tied in the khata are untied, the original khata remains. These analogies explain the meaning of: “When the six are released, the one also ceases.”
Ananda requested a secret teaching to attainment from the Buddha. This showed that although he had understood the principles, he still had not reached attainment. Hence, the classic saying, “Practice begins after enlightenment.”
For example, to become a pianist, one must train every day. Understanding musical theory is not enough. Master Lian Yi studied the violin for eight years, but stopped after going abroad to study. As a result, he could no longer produce beautiful music. Similarly, although we may understand the teachings of the Buddha, we will not reach attainment unless we put them into practice.
In sum, the beginning of the Surangama Sutra explained that all eighteen sense-fields are empty. The next part will explain the different methods the twenty-five bodhisattvas used to reach attainment.