Surangama Sutra Exposition
by Living Buddha Lian Sheng, Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu
The Buddha spoke of the Three Dharma Seals: everything is impermanent, the absence of self (essence) in everything, and nirvana is bliss. We use convenient methods to cultivate, enter deepest samadhi, and realize the Way.
At that time, the World-Honored One addressed all the great bodhisattvas and all the great arhats in the assembly who had exhausted all outflows:
“You bodhisattvas and arhats, born within my dharma, have attained the state beyond learning. I now ask you: when you first brought forth the resolve and awakened through the eighteen sense-fields, which faculty led you to perfect penetration, and through which methods did you enter samadhi?”
According to the text, the state beyond learning is when one has become [at least] an arhat. “Exhausted all outflows” means there are no more afflictions, and nothing really matters anymore. Exhausting all outflows and the state beyond learning go hand in hand. Once we are enlightened and truly grasp buddhadharma, we should no longer have afflictions. Amitabha Buddha, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva became a buddha and bodhisattvas because they exhausted all outflows, were without afflictions, and were completely liberated.
Everyone worries about making a living, health, family, siblings, karmic enemies, interpersonal relationships, or even what to wear. However, once we stop caring about these things, there will be no afflictions. When we have no more afflictions, we are great arhats and bodhisattvas in the state beyond learning.
We understand the Heart Sutra, Vajra Sutra, and Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra: nothing should matter because there is nothing to gain. If we still have something to wish for, we still have afflictions. If we understand “no seeking,” “nothing to gain,” “nothing to be concerned about,” “no interference,” and “nothingness,” we will not be afflicted. Life is ultimately just a dream.
If we comprehend Buddhist teachings and the Heart Sutra, we know there is nothing: no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, nor mind; no forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, nor mental objects; no ignorance nor the ending of ignorance, up to and including no decay and death, nor the ending of decay and death. The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination and the eighteen sense-fields are gone too.
This is the state of deep samadhi where we comprehend there is nothing to gain. We cannot hold onto beauty or wealth forever. We will all pass away and cannot bring anything with us. Everything, including the Earth, will cease to exist. Ultimately, there is nothing.
Only Sakyamuni Buddha and those who have realized their wondrous luminous true mind exist eternally across space and all dharma realms. Otherwise, we keep cycling within the six rebirth realms due to our karma.
The three lower realms are like nightmares; the human realm is like a dream that is half-good and half-bad; the asura realm has more good than bad; while heaven is mostly pleasant. However, if we have realized the Way, we are eternally blissful in the state beyond learning, without outflows and afflictions.
Nothing except the ultimate truth is worth cherishing. We need to eradicate the eighteen sense-fields to realize the Way. Letting them manipulate us will harm us and trap us in the rebirth cycle within the six realms.
The Buddha spoke of the Three Dharma Seals: everything is impermanent, the absence of self (essence) in everything, and nirvana is bliss. Transcendental Buddhist sutras align with these principles. Those that do not align with the Three Dharma Seals are convenient worldly sutras.
The best thing in the saha world is freedom, while for the Tao, it is liberation. Liberation from afflictions is the state beyond learning and no-outflows.
During the Grand Fall Ceremony of Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, Grandmaster will explain human bliss, heavenly bliss, and eternal bliss. Once we are enlightened, we can attain eternal bliss. Human life is impermanent, and illnesses can suddenly strike us. If we truly understand human life, we will know that all phenomena are impermanent.