Month: December 2023

Prajna / Wisdom

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Prajna / Wisdom

The concept of wisdom, represented by the Chinese characters “zhi-hui” and expressed in Buddhism as “prajna,” goes beyond mere problem-solving ability. In Buddhism, prajna signifies the profound wisdom of a Buddha, crucial for attaining Buddhahood alongside the accumulation of merit. It is the key to possessing a Buddha’s mind and gaining the extraordinary abilities needed to aid living beings.

To achieve prajna, a sequence of morality, concentration, and then wisdom must be followed. Without moral conduct, concentration becomes unattainable, and without concentration, the profound prajna wisdom cannot be realized. Additionally, developing wisdom is vital in applying precepts correctly.

There exist three types of prajna: acquired through written teachings and contemplation, they pave the way for the ultimate understanding of reality. Shakyamuni Buddha regarded prajna as unparalleled, the pinnacle of Buddha’s teachings, unveiling the true nature of Tathagatas and all living beings—the very truth of the universe. Realizing prajna is fundamental for liberation from the cycle of birth and death, requiring a deep comprehension of the inherent emptiness and impermanence of all phenomena.

Prajna, also known as understanding, knowledge, or insight, transcends mere conceptual conveyance. It embodies an intuitive grasp of emptiness, the fundamental essence of reality—a Sanskrit term denoting the wisdom that reveals the purified insight into emptiness, the core of existence.

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/12/22/prajna-wisdom/

Parable Sutra

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Parable Sutra

(Translated from Sanskrit into Chinese by I-ching; translated into English by Charles Patton)

Once upon a time, in the serene Jetàvana grove near the city of Shràvastã, the Bhagavat resided. Amidst a vast congregation, the World Honored One addressed King Brilliance, saying, “Great king, let me briefly share a parable about the beings trapped in samsàra, entangled in feelings, attachments, mistakes, and troubles. Pay close attention, your majesty, and contemplate it deeply.”

“In a bygone age, stretching across immeasurable aeons, there was an individual who ventured into the wilderness, pursued by a malevolent elephant. Overwhelmed by fear and devoid of refuge, he stumbled upon an empty well. A tree’s root dangled into the well, offering a precarious escape. Swiftly, he descended the root, seeking shelter inside the well. Above him, two rats, one dark and one light, gnawed incessantly at the tree root. Meanwhile, four sides of the well housed poisonous snakes eager to strike the person, and below, a venomous serpent lurked. The person’s mind was tormented by the impending threat of snakes and the fragility of the tree root. Miraculously, drops of honey from bees residing in the tree roots fell into his mouth. When the tree shook, swarming bees descended, inflicting stings. To add to the perils, brush fires repeatedly threatened to consume the tree.”

The king inquired, “How is it that this person endures such ceaseless distress for so little satisfaction?”

The World Honored One replied, “The wilderness symbolizes the vast and distant night of ignorance. The term ‘that person’ metaphorically refers to a being in another life. The elephant represents impermanence, the well signifies samsàra, and navigating the perilous tree roots mirrors the journey of life. The pair of rats, light and dark, symbolizes day and night, their constant gnawing a metaphor for the relentless stream of thoughts until death. The four snakes represent existence in the four elements, while the honey embodies the five desires, and the bees signify false thinking. The fire serves as a metaphor for aging and illness, and the poisonous serpent represents death.”

“Great king,” continued the Buddha, “recognize that birth, aging, illness, and death are formidable challenges. Contemplate them mindfully, freeing yourself from the enslavement of desires.”

In solemn verse, the World Honored One expressed:

“The wilderness: the path of ignorance, Fleeing person: the ordinary man’s plight, Great elephant: the metaphor for impermanence, Well: a symbol for the shore of samsàra.

Tree roots: a metaphor for life’s journey, Two rats: akin to night and day’s cycle, Gnawed root: the decay of thoughts to death, Four snakes: existence in the four elements.

Dripping honey: metaphor for the five desires, Bee stings: a simile for false thinking, Fire: akin to aging and illness, Poisonous serpent: the path to death’s suffering.

The wise perceive thus: Elephant wearies one’s passage, Five desires lead the mind to detachment, And the path is that of the liberated.

The ocean of ignorance: an oppressive place, Death, the relentless pursuer, Recognize the fleeting joy of sound and form, Not a pleasure once the ordinary departs.”

Upon hearing this discourse on the travails of birth and death, King Brilliance experienced an unprecedented disillusionment with the world. With palms joined in reverence, he addressed the Buddha, “World Honored One, your compassionate elucidation on the profound meaning of Dharma is truly remarkable. I am now awakened.”

The Buddha responded, “Excellent, excellent. Great king, adhere to the teachings and avoid unrestrained pursuits.”

King Brilliance and the assembled congregation were filled with joy. They faithfully received, transmitted, and upheld the teachings.

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/12/15/parable-sutra/

Ullambana Sutra

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Ullambana Sutra

Once upon a time, it is said that the Buddha resided in Shravasti, specifically in the Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Solitary.

Mahamaudgalyayana, having recently attained the six penetrations, felt a deep desire to repay the kindness of his parents for raising him. Utilizing his divine vision, he surveyed the world and discovered that his departed mother was reborn among the hungry ghosts, emaciated and without sustenance.

Touched by compassion and sadness, Mahamaudgalyayana filled a bowl with food and approached his mother to provide nourishment. However, as she attempted to consume the food, it inexplicably transformed into burning coals, rendering it inedible.

In anguish, Mahamaudgalyayana hurried back to the Buddha to recount this sorrowful experience.

The Buddha, acknowledging the profound and entrenched offenses of Mahamaudgalyayana’s mother, explained that individual efforts alone were insufficient to liberate her. Even though filial sentiments could move heaven and earth, the combined spiritual power of the Sangha from the ten directions was necessary for her liberation.

The Buddha proceeded to impart a salvific teaching, a method to alleviate the suffering and remove obstacles from accumulated offenses. He instructed Mahamaudgalyayana to make offerings to the assembled Sangha on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, known as Pravarana day. These offerings included clean basins filled with diverse flavors, the five fruits, incense, oil, lamps, candles, beds, and bedding – the best of worldly offerings. The entire virtuous Sangha, regardless of their location or spiritual accomplishments, was to gather on that day and partake in the pravarana food.

By making such offerings, Mahamaudgalyayana’s parents, as well as ancestors of seven generations, could escape the paths of suffering and attain liberation. The Buddha directed the assembled Sangha to recite mantras and vows for the benefit of the donor’s family.

Delighted by this guidance, Mahamaudgalyayana and the great Bodhisattvas followed the Buddha’s instructions. As a result, Mahamaudgalyayana’s mother found liberation from the prolonged suffering of the hungry ghosts.

Expressing gratitude, Mahamaudgalyayana inquired if future disciples, by offering Ullambana basins, could similarly assist their present and past parents. The Buddha affirmed this, emphasizing the importance of practicing compassionate filial conduct on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.

He urged disciples to place diverse foods in Ullambana basins and offer them to the Pravarana Sangha of the ten directions. The practitioners should vow to ensure their parents’ longevity and happiness, as well as the liberation of seven generations of ancestors from the realm of hungry ghosts.

In conclusion, the Buddha encouraged all disciples to consistently recall their parents and ancestors, offering Ullambana basins on the fifteenth day of the seventh month as a gesture of filial compassion. This practice, he emphasized, was a respectful way to repay the boundless kindness bestowed by one’s parents. The bhikshu Maudgalyayana and the entire assembly, inspired by the Buddha’s teachings, joyfully embraced this compassionate practice. And thus, the Buddha spoke of the Ullambana Sutra, providing a timeless guide for repaying the kindness of parents.

Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2023/12/07/ullambana-sutra/