Surangama Sutra Exposition
by Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu
Everything in life arises and eventually passes away. Know this, and free yourself from all afflictions.
“It is like clarifying muddy water: place it in a still vessel; when it remains deeply quiet and unmoving, the sand and silt naturally settle, and clear water appears. This is called the initial subduing of the guest-dust afflictions.
“When the mud is removed and only pure water remains, this is called the eternal severing of fundamental ignorance. When the clarity becomes utterly pure, all transformations no longer give rise to afflictions, and all accord with the pure, wondrous virtues of nirvana.
When a mixture of sand and water is left to settle in a container, the sand gradually sinks to the bottom while the water above becomes clear. This illustrates the calming and subduing of initial afflictions.
Meditation teaches us to do this.
Observe and guard your mind. What you see, hear, feel, and know, as well as all beings and phenomena, arise and pass. Do not be affected by them, for they do not last. When you truly understand that everything has a beginning and an end, you are no longer troubled and can let go completely. Let things arise without being affected by them.
Our body too is subject to birth and death—where there is birth, there is death; where there is gathering, there is separation. You may be healthy now, but decline will come, bringing illness, fading sight, hearing, and smell. You may be youthful and radiant today, but age will change your appearance. The physical body inevitably deteriorates.
As you age, your diet must become more disciplined, and foods you once enjoyed may need to be reduced or avoided. For example, Grandmaster no longer drinks tea as it affects sleep, avoids MSG, sugar, and carbohydrates, and limits salt, fat, and meat intake. Fried and reused oils can clog blood vessels and lead to clots, even becoming fatal. Excess salt raises blood pressure, while carbohydrates and sugar increase blood sugar—so all must be carefully limited. That said, there are still many foods you can enjoy.
When afflictions are cleared—like mud settling and water becoming clear—you see that all things simply arise and cease. So don’t be afflicted by them. Let go of attachment to wealth and possessions; having enough for basic needs is sufficient. As for what happens to them after we die, just let them be—whoever has the affinity will receive them.
In this clarity, bodhicitta naturally arises and courage on the bodhisattva path grows. Realizing that all phenomena in the saha world are impermanent, you become free from all afflictions and align with nirvana’s pure virtues—permanence, bliss, true self, and purity.
The purpose of meditation and learning Buddhism is to cut off afflictions and return to purity.
Grandmaster shared that, according to Dr. Li, many patients experience depression for about six months after surgery. For the first two months, he went through this as well—losing interest, joy, and meaning in daily life. He once slept easily through the night, but afterward struggled to sleep, sit, walk, or exercise due to pain and discomfort. Only teaching on the dharma throne brought some relief. Still, he started working again only after two weeks and was able to recover much faster than expected.
Golden Mother reminded him to cherish each moment, as time is limited. By focusing on what brings joy—even small things like writing a little each day—he gradually overcame the depression and found meaning in life again.
Master Lian Yi wrote an article to encourage Grandmaster to move beyond this listlessness, and Grandmaster was deeply moved. He said that Grandmaster must step out of this heaviness and recognize that what he does has benefited countless beings. Finding joy in doing what is joyful and meaningful can free one from the black hole of depression—this is essential.