Surangama Sutra Exposition
by Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu
As the Buddha’s heart-son, one must uphold and transmit buddhadharma so it can continue to flourish in the saha world to deliver sentient beings.
These sons of the Buddha upheld and transmitted the teachings, were adept in transcending all existences, and accomplished in dignified demeanor throughout the lands. Following the Buddha’s turning of the wheel of dharma, they were entrusted with his wondrous teachings. They strictly upheld the precepts with purity and served as great exemplars across the three realms. Their manifested bodies were immeasurable, liberating sentient beings, rescuing future generations, and transcending all attachments and burdens.
Among them, the foremost were: the greatly wise Sariputra, Maha Maudgalyayana, Maha Kausthila, Purna Maitrayaniputra, Subhuti, Upanishad, and others. Additionally, countless pratyekabuddhas beyond learning, along with those newly aspiring, gathered before the Buddha.
It was during the Self-Reflection Ritual at the end of their summer retreat. Bodhisattvas from the ten directions came to seek resolution for their doubts, reverently embracing the Buddha’s compassionate and majestic presence, desiring to understand the secret meaning of the dharma.
These sons of the Buddha upheld and transmitted the teachings…
Grandmaster Lu explained that the Buddha’s heart-sons bear the responsibility of carrying on the dharma. They must practice buddhadharma and propagate it.
…were adept in transcending all existences…
All existences refer to the realm of desire (including the six rebirth realms), realm of form, and realm of formlessness. They have transcended “all these existences” and attained the four sagely realms. Yet, even in the non-returning heavens where one does not have to reincarnate in samsara again, one is still bound by karma—the imminent law of cause and effect due to the existence of consciousness—albeit it is extremely subtle. The realm of desire is named as such because desire is prominent in this realm. There is light radiance in the realm of form—bright and beautiful. The Four Dhyana Heavens are in the realm of form. In the realm of formlessness, even at its highest level, there is still consciousness—existence—albeit it is the subtlest.
…accomplished in dignified demeanor throughout the lands.
Dignified demeanor applies to both individuals as well as the whole nation. Applied to a nation, it can bring great order.
Following the Buddha’s turning of the wheel of dharma, they were entrusted with his wondrous teachings.
As such the Buddha’s teaching can continue to flourish throughout generations, following the authentic teachings of the Buddha, speaking on the ultimate truth.
They strictly upheld the precepts with purity and served as great exemplars across the three realms.
Only by keeping precepts can one be dignified and pure; they become an exemplar for all realms.
Their manifested bodies were immeasurable, liberating sentient beings…
Countless emanation (dharma) bodies manifest to deliver sentient beings. When one has truly achieved fruition in their spiritual cultivation, one can become ten, ten to a hundred, a thousand and more to deliver all beings.
…rescuing future generations, and transcending all attachments and burdens.
Bringing sentient beings to a better realm, transcending all afflictions of the dusty world.
Among them, the foremost were: the greatly wise Sariputra, Maha Maudgalyayana, Maha Kausthila, Purna Maitrayaniputra, Subhuti, Upanishad, and others.
The great disciples of the Buddha are:
- Sariputra— foremost in wisdom according to the Hinayana tradition (Manjusri is foremost in Mahayana). He is the protagonist of the Amitabha Sutra.
- Maha Maudgalyayana—foremost in supernatural powers
- Maha Kausthila— foremost in eloquence/debates; an uncle of Sariputra
- Purna Maitrayaniputra— foremost in teaching the dharma; painted the Buddha’s image
- Subhuti—foremost in understanding emptiness; the protagonist of the Vajra Sutra
- Upanishad, who attained enlightenment by understanding the nature of “dusts”
They are all great bhiksus or elders who have been ordained for more than twenty years.
Additionally, countless pratyekabuddhas beyond learning…
Pratyekabuddhas become enlightened without teachers through the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. They have sudden realization of the empty nature such as by seeing a swirling flower or a leaf falling from the tree, a bowl breaking in the case of the Venerable Elder Xu Yun, a slip and so on. Because they have been enlightened, there is no more need to learn. The dharma is likened to a raft who brings us to the other shore. Once arriving at the other shore, there is no more need for the raft.
By maintaining such a realization, one gains liberation through understanding “emptiness.” When one attains buddhahood through such a method [by perfectly synchronizing conduct and realization], one is called a pratyekabuddha. As such, one is a “non-learner.”
…along with those newly aspiring, gathered before the Buddha.
There were also “learners” referring to the newly aspiring bodhisattvas. They all attended this supreme dharma assembly to hear the Buddha teach.
It was during the Self-Reflection Ritual at the end of their summer retreat.
It was a special tradition during the Buddha’s era that the sangha went into summer retreat to avoid killing insects that were prevalent in the hot weather. At the end of the retreat, the sangha members were asked to honestly share their experiences and insights, as well as acknowledge their faults and shortcomings.
Bodhisattvas from the ten directions came to seek resolution for their doubts…
Bodhisattvas, too, gathered to ask the Buddha to resolve their questions and doubts.
…reverently embracing the Buddha’s compassionate and majestic presence, desiring to understand the secret meaning of the dharma.
Paying homage with great reverence and making offering to the Buddha, they sought the most profound and ultimate meaning of buddhadharma. In sum, this was a grand dharma assembly.
Chinese YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaRY9Fhi_WA