Surangama Sutra Exposition
by Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu
The Buddha asked Ananda about what he thought he saw through a philosophical dialog of logic. He did not refer to the physicality or biological function of these sense organs or faculties, but delved deeper beyond the surface into the realm of consciousness.
Ananda, I now ask you: When you first resolved to follow the path, drawn by the Tathagata’s thirty-two hallmarks, how were they perceived? And who was it that felt this admiration and joy?
In other words, the Buddha asked Ananda, “What was it, or which part of you, that perceived the thirty-two hallmarks? And what was it that felt the admiration and joy upon noticing these hallmarks?”
Ananda replied to the Buddha, “World-Honored One, this admiration and joy arose through my eyes and mind. It was by seeing the Tathagata’s marvelous hallmarks with my eyes that my mind felt admiration and joy. Thus, I resolved to follow the path and vowed to renounce the cycle of birth and death.
Ananda responded that he used his eyes to perceive them and it was his mind that felt admiration and joy. Thereupon, he wished to be like the Buddha, aspiring to attain the thirty-two marks of perfection. He renounced the mundane world and yearned to transcend life and death.
Different people have different reasons for becoming ordained. Most people who enter monastic life do so out of self-interest or life necessity. It is rare to see someone ordained as a monk or nun due to their bodhicitta.
The Buddha said to Ananda, “As you have said, your admiration and joy arise from your mind and eyes. But if you do not know where your eyes and mind are located, you will not be able to subdue the afflictions of the world. Just as a king, when his kingdom is invaded by robbers, must send out his troops to suppress them, those troops must first know where the robbers are. The reason you are caught in cyclic existence is due to your mind and eyes. Now I ask you: Where, exactly, are your mind and eyes located?
The Buddha explained to Ananda that in order to subdue his afflictions, he must first understand where his mind and eyes actually are located. This mind and eyes that the Buddha refer to do not refer to physical organs, or to the mind that generates thoughts, but this is a philosophical question.
Chinese YouTube: https://youtu.be/vzMwDHit3tE