Surangama Sutra Exposition
by Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu
Spiritual cultivation of the eyes is to cut the “flowing and rushing toward form,” and to look inward, observing one’s own thoughts to eventually see the wondrous luminous true mind.
“By the two appearances of light and darkness, attached to the lucid wondrous perfection, seeing arises. The essence of seeing reflects forms; together with form, it becomes the root. The source of the root is called the pure four great elements. Thus it is called the physical eye, shaped like a grape. The floating root and four dusts flow and rush toward form.”
This excerpt talks about how to cultivate the six roots. Our eyes can see because of light. Because there is light, we see brightness and forms. However, when we allow external appearances to lead us and let our eyes chase after what they see, our minds become affected. As a result, delusion and false thoughts arise. In darkness, the eyes cannot see and seem useless. Yet when the eyes no longer perceive anything, one naturally turns inward. By observing inwardly, one can realize the wondrous luminous true mind (buddhanature). In Chan buddhism, this is the practice of “Inner Observation.”
Because we can see light, we tend to observe the outside. For example, when we see a row of women, each looks different. Their six sense roots differ, yet they are still one body. Everyone’s face has the same basic features—eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, ears. Yet when these features are combined, every face is unique, even among twins.
From a person’s facial features, Grandmaster can tell:
- whether they can be reborn in Sukhavati,
- whether they need to be bardo delivered multiple times,
- what they did in past lives,
- and their character and life circumstances.
For example:
- the eyes reveal fierceness or gentleness,
- the harmony between the eyes and eyebrows shows wisdom,
- the nose shows fortune,
- the ears show longevity,
- the hair and the color behind the eyebrows show fidelity,
- the chin reveals authority,
- the eyebrows shows the number of siblings and whether they get along.
A person also emits a certain aura.
The phrase “…attached to the lucid wondrous perfection…” means that within the wondrous luminous true mind, eye consciousness attaches to what is seen, and seeing arises. This becomes the eye root. Originally the eyes are pure, but they become deluded due to contact with the four kinds of dust, causing the mind to flow and rush toward form. The Buddha’s use of the word “attached” is very accurate. Nowadays, people’s eyes are attached to cellphones and computers, which constantly influence their thoughts and minds. We become deluded by them. This is what is meant by “flowing and rushing toward form.”
We must cut off this pursuit of external forms and return to seeing darkness—where nothing is seen outwardly. Grandmaster does not use or look at cellphones, so he is not deluded by them.
Spiritual cultivation means cutting off the tendency to chase after external forms and turning inward to observe one’s own thoughts. Through this, meditation and wisdom arise, and eventually one sees the wondrous luminous true mind. This is the most important point the Buddha taught.
The Buddha explained that the six roots involve these phenomena. Light and darkness refer specifically to the eyes. Because of light, the eyes become attached to what they see. The impressions then enter the mind and give rise to thoughts, forming the eye root.
The eyes are originally pure but become defiled through contact with the four elements and the external world. For example, if someone is chanting “Homage to Amitabha Buddha” and a beautiful woman walks by, yet they are affected by her appearance, they are “flowing and rushing toward form.” Even elderly monks can feel lust. Desire arises from rushing toward form through the eyes. Our saha world belongs to the Desire Realm, so desire is naturally present. That’s why the Buddha said that desire is closely related to the eyes.
In the heavenly realms, when a sage sees a celestial maiden and they smile at each other, she becomes pregnant through joy alone. Simply holding hands can result in the birth of many children. In the Heavenly Realm of Desire, male and female deities still embrace each other. That’s why the Heavenly Emperor is attracted to asura women.
However, when one reaches the Realm of Form, there is only light. The Formless Realm is even more pure and there is almost nothing remaining. That’s why it is called the Heaven of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception. Beyond that lie the Four Sagely Realms.