There are two kinds of meaning in the Dharma: the Dharma of
secondary meaning, and the Dharma of ultimate meaning. Whatever can
be spoken, heard, understood or learned refers to the Dharma of
secondary meaning. The Dharma of ultimate meaning is beyond words
and language, phrases, and names. To directly understand the Dharma
of ultimate meaning is to be enlightened. In ancient Chan
monasteries, before the master spoke, the assembly gathered, and
the chanting leader chanted a verse that begins something like
this: "This assembly of great elephants and dragons gather to hear
the Dharma King's Dharma," and concluded with: "The Dharma King's
Dharma is just thus. This is the Dharma of ultimate meaning."
Usually the first part was chanted before the master spoke, the
last part after the talk. The Dharma King is of course the Buddha.
Nowadays they just do this as a sort of ritual, so they chant the
whole four verses. Actually it is much better, because the Dharma
of first meaning is ineffable, so they chant: "The dragons and
elephants gather together to hear the Dharma King's Dharma," then
before anyone can speak any Dharma, they chant: "The Dharma is just
thus." This "thus" is the ultimate Dharma.
- Master Sheng Yen,
westernchanfellowship.org/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Chan_Magazine_Summer_1999.pdf
