This discussion will be a parallel which the one hand will be on
the sequence of the Platform Sutra and another runs from some of
the visits by bhikkhu and bhikshuni to 6th Patriach
The purpose of this discussion is hope all here will "see" ones
Buddha nature and extinguished 84,000 Kalpa of Karmic Offense and
"light " up ones lamp of wisdom within
Repentance Chapter 6
Transmission of the Formless Repentance
I have a 'Formless' stanza, the reciting and practicing of which
will at once dispel the delusions and expiate the sins accumulated
in numerous Kalpas. This is the stanza:--
People under delusion accumulate tainted merits but do not tread
the Path.
They are under the impression that to accumulate merits and to
tread the Path are one and the same thing.
Though their merits for alms-giving and offerings are
infinite,
(They do not realize that) the ultimate source of sin lies in the
three poisonous elements (i.e., greed, anger and illusion) within
their own mind.
They expect to expiate their sins by accumulating merit
Without knowing that felicities obtained in future lives have
nothing to do with the expiation of sins.
Why not get rid of the sin within our own mind,
For this is true repentance (within our Essence of Mind)?
(A sinner) who realizes suddenly what constitutes true repentance
according to the Mahayana School,
And who ceases from doing evil and practices righteousness is free
from sin.
A treader of the Path who keeps a constant watch on his Essence of
Mind
May be classified in the same group as the various Buddhas.
Our Patriarchs transmitted no other system of Law but this 'Sudden'
one.
May all followers of it see face to face their Essence of Mind and
be at once with the Buddhas.
If you are going to look for Dharmakaya
See it above Dharmalaksana (phenomena), and then your Mind will be
pure.
Exert yourself in order to see face to face the Essence of Mind and
relax not,
For death may come suddenly and put an abrupt end to your earthly
existence.
Those who understand the Mahayana teaching and are thus able to
realize the Essence of Mind
Should reverently put their palms together (as a sign of respect)
and fervently seek for the Dharmakaya.
The Patriarch then added:--
http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/huineng/huineng6.html
the formless repentance stanza
belongs to the repentance of matter ,which one should view the true
nature of karmic offense as void and empty
As Formless Repentance is itself formless ,so what is the mention
of repentance ?
Since the 3fold of karmic offense(body,speech and mind) can be
extinguished and 3fold of karmic offenses can be purified ,so what
is the mention of formless .
practitioner should sincerely cleanse ones karmic offense ,and no
longer polluted by the various karmic offense .
One should also not deluded by circumstance/encounters .Which is
both devoid of its real nature.
Repentance which mainly is to "extinguish" the past, present and
future which made up of the 3 periods of karmic offense ,which is
the purpose to attain the purification of Body ,speech and
mind
Thus is the purpose of repentance
As Virlmakirti Sutra mentions which is the true nature of karmic
offense is not inner , not outer and not in-between .....
Translated from Commentary by venerable Master yanpei
(to be continued)