The Aggregate of Form Is the Product of Solid Delusion

Because of the manas' firm deluded thinking, it regards the aggregate of form as the self, as real and indivisible, as real and indestructible; thus the aggregate of form severely obscures and seals off one's own mind, and the mind's functions are severely constrained and obstructed, unable to break through the constraints, with its functions impeded. Whatever we take as ourselves, as real, that very thing becomes our burden, dragging us down so that we cannot attain liberation, cannot manifest great supernatural powers, and cannot be perfectly unobstructed with regard to all dharmas.

In reality, due to ignorance and due to afflictions, one obscures oneself. One could clearly be a Buddha, could possess boundless supernatural powers and powers of the Way, with no limitations whatsoever; yet everywhere one cannot penetrate, everywhere there are obstructing conditions. So many people are burdened with afflictions all day long, with endless conflicts and gossip, mutually fighting over wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep with "I'm right, you're wrong," competing with one another for power, status, fame, and gain, envying and resenting one another—truly extremely foolish. All of them are everywhere setting up obstacles for themselves, and in the end it is themselves who suffer.

Because sentient beings have deep and heavy afflictions, whenever they gather together—whenever there are three or more people—there will inevitably be disputes and conflicts, there will inevitably be mutual fighting, jealousy, and rivalry, openly or covertly competing with one another, trying to highlight themselves and overpower the other.

In any group, one part will always squeeze out another part; after the split, the remaining part will again fight, envy, and exclude one another, leaving only a small portion, and then the disputes continue on, until only one person is left and things become somewhat quiet. That is why I fear crowds the most, fear people with heavy afflictions the most, fear people full of gossip with impure minds the most, fear people who love to sow discord the most, fear people with heavy resentment and heavy jealousy the most, and also fear the most those foolish people who cannot distinguish right from wrong. Yet such people are everywhere, and there is no escaping them—this is the disposition of sentient beings in the Sāhā world.

No matter how difficult the Śūraṅgama Sūtra may be, we must all study and practice it. As long as the Śūraṅgama Sūtra exists, the Buddha-dharma will not perish; as long as the Śūraṅgama Mantra exists, the Buddha-dharma will not perish either. Every chapter and every section of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra everywhere points out to us how to see the mind and see the nature, to discard the false and behold the true, and to eliminate afflictions, ignorance, and karmic obstructions. Every sentence is a pearl, every paragraph is gold and precious jewels—it is the supreme dharma treasure for attaining the Way and achieving buddhahood.