I have sent this e-mail to a number of people, and if you think
someone you know might be interested to hear, please forward this
to them as well:
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Hi all,
Thusness (John), an experienced practitioner/meditator with deep
insights and clarity is willing to share on how Lankavatara Sutra
can help and serve as a guide for an individual like himself in
understanding more about our true nature. He takes Lankavatara
Sutra as one of his main sutra guide.
Lankavatara Sutra is a very important doctrinal text that is the
basis of the viewpoints of the Yogacara school. The sutra was also
foundational in establishing the central tenets of Mahayana
Buddhism, and especially Zen. Prior to the growing attention on the
Diamond Sutra after 6th Patriarch Hui Neng, Lankvatara Sutra served
as the prominent Sutra in the Ch'an (Zen) tradition.
The Lankavatara Sutra also belongs to what is known as the 'Third
Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma'. To the first turning, it
ascribes the Agamas of the
Shravakas, to the second turning the lower Mahayana sutras
including the Prajna-paramita
Sutras, and finally sutras like Lankavatara, which primarily
teach the doctrine of vijnapti-matra or
'representation-only', associated with the Yogacara school, are
deemed to comprise the third turning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lankavatara_Sutra
The Lankavatara Sutra is one of the most important sutras (sacred
texts) of Mahayana Buddhism. According to tradition, these are the
actual words of the Buddha as he entered Sri Lanka (formerly called
Ceylon). This sutra figured prominently in the development of
Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese Buddhism. It is the cornerstone of
Chinese Chan and its Japanese version, Zen, and was translated from
Sanskrit into Japanese and English by the foremost exponent of Zen,
Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki.
The most important doctrine issuing from the Lanka is that of the
primacy of consciousness, often called simply "Mind Only", meaning
that consciousness is the only reality. The sutra asserts that all
the objects of the world, and the names and forms of experience,
are merely manifestations of the mind. It is the erroneous concept
of subject/object that ties us to the wheel of rebirth.
The Lanka also suggests another important Mahayana doctrine,
developed in later Buddhism, and that is the three bodies of
Buddhahood, in effect the three levels of enlightened
reality:
* transcendental dimension ( = Sanskrit dharmakaya) - the ultimate
level of enlightenment, which is beyond names and forms
* celestial dimension, (= Sanskrit sambhogakaya) - expression of
the symbolic and archetypal dimension of Buddhahood, to which only
the spiritually developed have access
* terrestrial or transformational dimension, ( = Sanskrit
nirmanakaya) - The dimension of Buddhahood to which the
unenlightened have access, and where the phenomena of the world
exist.
However, as John has said, what is taught in Lankavatara Sutra
can be mapped to meditative experiences. It is not meant to be
philosophical. It would certainly be a rare
opportunity to hear from someone experienced to share about this
sutra.
As this is an online Skype discussion, one can also raise questions
pertaining to the teachings of Lankavatara Sutra and its practises,
and we can discuss about it online.
It's a bit early but I thought making an early announcement to you
all will allow more time for people to plan their schedule
ahead.
I will be leaving for China between 24/12/06 to 2/1/07 so if there
are any queries you can ask them in the forum and others can reply
or I will reply when I am back.
Hope you can join, more info including time and date can be found
at http://buddhism.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=226722
And to all: if there is any friend who might be interested pls help
me forward this to them as well.
Regards,
An Eternal Now
