Now, karmic propensities, forms, the Source, or the Nature, all
is Empty. This means that if you were to search this momentum, you
cannot find it. Just like the Source, it cannot be found. You can
try to pinpoint any place, any where, you cannot locate it. This is
not the nature that is peculiar to our luminous nature. Karmic
propensities, even atoms, particles, they all exhibit this
Emptiness nature. So if we were to try to understand karmic
propensities as something that is stored somewhere, when it is
stated that it is very deep, we cannot locate it, it is not located
anywhere. Same thing when we talk about karmic propensities, when
we want to understand karmic propensities, we can only understand
by Feeling them, by Experiencing them. You cannot locate them. You
cannot find them. This is the way we must experience the
propensities, and in order to experience this, we have to be clear
and we have to practise. And that is why your senses must be sharp,
clear, in order to feel it. You cannot lie to yourself. Therefore
Propensities, Source, Forms, everything exhibit this Emptiness
nature, but it can be known.
Ok, now, until here, I do not want to formulate any theory. But I
just want to tell people that are sincere in practise, to
experience the bond. The bond is something that is very strong, and
this bond has to be eliminated. Otherwise, it is a waste of time in
practise. And it is this bond that propels you for life after life.
And if you want to understand why this bond can propel life after
life, the first thing you have to do is to Feeeel the presence, and
the strength of this bond. How it can bond you for so many years
from seeing something. You must feel this bond, this is very
important. So, when this bond dissolves, then, your clarity can
increase. Then there is clarity. If this bond is there, there is no
Seeing. So first, you must understand that the Name, Appearance,
Discrimination, and then Knowledge. Now, we must see that it is the
bonds that are actually preventing us from seeing. And therefore, I
kept emphasising that a person has to meditate. Do not listen to
people that says you do not need meditation. You have to meditate
in order to know the truth, because it is so subtle. If your mind
keeps on jumping, it keeps on chattering, it cannot understand, it
cannot see at all. So first, you must be able to calm your mind
down and see this point. This is the bond that prevents you from
experiencing reality as You, as Mind only. This is the bond that
before you can see, they already cover a layer of illusion, a layer
of symbols that prevents you from seeing that everything is the
Mind. So when you buy in to this bond, the best you can do is to
understand that Reality is Perception, that is the Realist point of
view. When you work hard and is able to go beyond this layer, and
dissolve the bond, you will know that everything is the Mind. By
the Mind, I dont mean perception you know, I mean, your True
Nature.
One of the most difficult things to overcome the bond is actually
the body. So in terms of practise, one should understand how the
Mind, when they cannot understand what Reality is all about, they
grasp what is most dearest to them. They grasp the body, they hold
on to the body. So much so that every action that is being taken,
as long as it harms the body, it pretends not to see in the mind,
the mind that tries to observe. Before you say I want to observe,
it prevents you from seeing. Because you fear, you fear to see, you
fear to experience. You fear to go beyond and see oh, what actually
happens if I dont have this. That prevents you. This is the
working of the bond that prevents you from seeing.
This is first... we talk about the symbols and the bonds, how they
work to interact with each other. Now, the next thing which is
important is, I do not understand... in Lankavatara Sutra. Though
it is not stated very clearly. The idea of the transference of
merits. They buy into this idea of the transference of merits. That
is like taking vows and then, not through the practitioners
effort, but through the power of the Buddha, it brings them to the
next understanding, the next stage. This is the part that I think
is in direct contradiction with the Theravadas understanding of
Self-Effort. This is the Parinamana concept. Now, I respect
Lankavatara Sutra, so I will not say anything about it. If we were
to accept this, why Eternal Now ask me why I cant accept the
vows... because if this is the case, that means you can grant
enlightenment. Because it can be transferred. This is the part that
puzzles me. What does it mean? Why is it so? So, it doesnt mean
that... because I read Lankavatara Sutra, I respect the Sutra, but
I have to buy in all things. Because there are also many things
that I do not understand. What that troubles me is if I take in
this, that means Enlightenment can actually be given. I do not
know. Any views? Colin?
Participant 1: Me ah? Actually I
do not think that Theravada thinking do not accept the concept of
vows and the Buddhas contribution in the cultivation, you know.
Because I was reading this autobiography of this monk, this Thai
monk, in his deep meditation he also made a lot of vows and he did
through the vows, he gained in his cultivation, and I think it is
very instrumental in his progress, you know.
Thusness: No, the vows are very
important, because they affect what I call the pre-conscious level.
But what I meant is the transfer of merits.... lets say for
example the Bodhisattva can make a vow. But why does this vow serve
as a condition for bringing them to the next Bhumi stage? This is
through the power of Not their own you know, it is stated in
Lankavatara Sutra, it is by Buddha. Do you get what I mean? There
is a transference of merits, though it is not explicitly stated.
This is what I do not understand. Because if I were to take this as
it is, as what it is being stated, then I have to buy in the idea
that it can be transferred.
Participant 1: I think this
question needs to be experienced, you know.
Thusness: Yup. This is what I
said.
Participant 1: The thing is, when
I gone through the retreat, my progress wasnt as good as compared
to if I made any vows in my deep concentration and my
visualisation. What I observe is the sense of ego, how it grips me,
changed, totally changed.
Thusness: I think the idea is
this. They can only serve as conditions. But why by making vows,
can have that kind of impact? Now, I also realise one thing. When a
person goes into deeper and deeper stages of meditation, and enters
into the different Bhumi stages, they cannot anyhow say
things.
Participant 1: And the vow can
also serve as a cause isnt it?
Thusness: Yeah, it serves as a
cause. So, its something like a person taking moral precepts very
seriously, they dont anyhow say things. Right? Now, therell be
people who have no sense of responsibilities, no sense of morality,
theyll just say out... I dont agree. So when a person takes his
practice very seriously, he will also realise that when he goes
deeper and deeper, his thoughts becomes clearer and also more
powerful. He actually enters into a realm that when he speaks at
that level, it takes place. And therefore vows to some people
cannot be made easily. That is why, I cannot understand, why vows?
Why a person must make the vows in order to go to the next stage?
This is one thing that I have not experienced yet. I do not know
why it is stated so explicitly in the sutras that this is
important. This is one part. The rest, I think, ok.
Participant 1: Doesnt it mean
that for you, you have to take it at faith level, make the vow and
experience it yourself?
Thusness: Ok, uh, taking vows of
course I have taken already lah. It is the implication of, when you
take a vow, what is your mindset, and how should you prepare. I
mean the vows, I have taken quite a few times. But, what is the
implications of the vows, why the vows are needed? This is another
story. Can you see what I mean or not? How people actually
experience it and what does it mean? I mean a vow, we have taken it
what. So this is one thing that I cannot understand. How is it that
a vow at that level brings you to another stage. And you must
understand, it is only at that level, you know. Otherwise I dont
think it serves much purpose.
