Śūraṅgama Sūtra: Volume IX, Original Text (Part One)

Furthermore, in that samadhi, virtuous men, seeing the aggregate of form extinguished, perceive the aggregate of sensation clearly. Within this clear perception, they attain an illusory nature of clarity. Suddenly within this, they turn towards eternal annihilation. They deny cause and effect, entering exclusively into emptiness. The mind of emptiness manifests before them, even to the point where their mind gives rise to an understanding of permanent annihilation. If they realize this is an error, it is not a fault, nor is it a sage's realization. But if they take it as a sage's realization, then the demon of emptiness enters their heart and mind. Then they slander the observance of precepts, calling it the practice of the Hinayana. "Since Bodhisattvas realize emptiness," [they say], "why should they observe any precepts?" Such a person often, before faithful donors, drinks alcohol, eats meat, and extensively engages in lewd and defiling acts. Due to the power of the demon, it causes those around them not to give rise to doubt or slander. Once the demon's mind has dwelt within them for a long time, they may even eat feces, urine, wine, and meat, etc., seeing them all as equally empty. They destroy the Buddha's rules of discipline, mistakenly leading others into transgression. They lose the correct samadhi and are destined to fall into perdition.

Explanation: If they take it as a sage's realization, then the demon of emptiness enters their heart and mind. Then they slander the observance of precepts, calling it the practice of the Hinayana. "Since Bodhisattvas realize emptiness," [they say], "why should they observe any precepts?"

The fact that this phenomenon is occurring now shows that demons are constantly watching every Buddhist practitioner, waiting for the slightest opportunity to "bless" them thoroughly.

Many people feel they have attained realization, and then claim there is no need to uphold the Three Refuges, Five Precepts, or Bodhisattva Precepts, saying those are the precepts with form held by ordinary beings, and that Bodhisattvas do not need to observe them in that way. They claim that once a Bodhisattva realizes emptiness, their mind becomes empty and inherently possesses the formless precepts. However, genuine formless precepts can only be partially upheld after reaching the Bodhisattva grounds (Bhūmis), and only Bodhisattvas of the Eighth Ground (Acalā) and above can truly have a formless mind and perform effortless actions. What ability or qualification does an ordinary being, who has not genuinely severed the view of self and is still fully afflicted, have to uphold formless precepts? Even if one has truly realized the mind and attained awakening, without eliminating afflictions, it is impossible to be truly formless, incapable of upholding the formless precepts, and even upholding the precepts with form becomes very difficult.

Why was the Śūraṅgama Sūtra the first to be destroyed? Precisely because the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, everywhere, enables people to realize the mind and attain enlightenment, resolving the great matter of birth and death. Furthermore, it thoroughly exposes the evil deeds of demons. Therefore, we must strive diligently to study the Śūraṅgama Sūtra well, lest we be destroyed prematurely by the demon king.

Some people really need to be careful in their study of the Dharma and practice. Obsessed solely with emptiness, denying the existence of everything without having attained genuine realization, they end up so "empty" that they deny cause and effect, acting recklessly and wildly. In the end, they fall miserably into the three evil destinies of hell – then see who can save you.

How many people study the Dharma for just a short while, grasp only a tiny bit of understanding, then shout and clamor, proclaiming they are enlightened, without even knowing what they have realized. Those who especially love to pose as sages are precisely the most ordinary beings; their ordinary characteristics are glaringly obvious. For such people, the demon king and his minions have an easy time capturing them, using them to destroy the Dharma. Once used up and no longer useful, they will fall into the three evil destinies to receive retribution. Some people cast a net waiting for demons to come. Demons have never left the Sahā world; they fix their gaze intently on these Buddhist practitioners, looking for the slightest gap to slip in. Once they possess them and give a little "blessing," they become so-called sages, going everywhere to expound the sutras and teach the Dharma, breaking the Buddha's rules of discipline and destroying Buddhism.

It is not that those who study shallow Dharma are easily possessed by demons, while those who study profound Dharma are not easily possessed – it is not like that. The Buddha explained in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra that it is those who, having studied Buddhism to a certain level, become fond of various states and feel they have entered sagehood or become immortals, who are easily possessed by demons. Those who constantly proclaim they are enlightened, whose bodily, verbal, and mental actions are even worse than ordinary beings – it is precisely such people who are easily possessed by demons and easily used by them. Others have no value for the demons to exploit, nor do they provide an opportunity for demons to find a foothold.