Surangama Sutra Exposition
by Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu
Ananda believed that anytime he used his mind—whether to serve the buddhas, learn the dharma, or even slander it, that is his mind. It was rebuffed by the Buddha.
Ananda said to the Buddha, “World-Honored One, you have always shown me great kindness. Out of love and reverence for the Buddha, I left home and became a monk. My heart is not only to serve the Tathagata, but also all buddhas and spiritual mentors across all buddhaverses. I have brought forth great courage to undertake even the most difficult dharma work, all relying on this very mind. Even if I were to slander the dharma and fall forever from wholesome roots, it would still be through this mind.”
Spiritual mentors refer to beings with attainments. Ananda was the Buddha’s beloved paternal younger cousin, and both were princes. Ananda said that he uses his mind to serve the buddhas, bodhisattvas, and spiritual mentors, to learn dharma, or even if he were to slander it.
“If this awareness is not called the mind, then I would be no different from earth and wood, utterly without consciousness. Apart from this awareness, there is nothing else. How could the Tathagata say this is not the mind? I am truly frightened, and this entire great assembly is filled with doubt. May the World-Honored One, with great compassion, reveal and clarify this for all who have not yet awakened.”
Ananda said that if this “mind” that he uses is not the mind, then he would be without a mind. Utterly baffled, he requested the Buddha to enlighten everyone in the assembly.
The next section of the sutra is very difficult to understand, so please review it before next week’s discourse.