Selected Discourses on the Sutra of the Father and Son Compilation

Sentient beings lack wisdom due to their limited hearing and understanding of the Dharma. They hear little, fail to comprehend the true meaning of the Buddha's teachings, and do not understand the truths of the world; thus, they lack wisdom and intelligence. If we wish to possess wisdom, we must diligently study the Dharma, frequently listen to sutras and Dharma teachings, and delve deeply into the scriptural treasury. Only then can wisdom arise, and wisdom can become as vast as the ocean. By faithfully accepting the Buddha's words, listening to sutras, and hearing the Dharma extensively, understanding one principle dispels one instance of ignorance, reduces one aspect of delusion, and purifies body, speech, and mind. The inner heart will then be joyful and free from afflictions.

Ordinary beings, lacking in hearing and wisdom, give rise to fondness and pleasure towards agreeable contact. Agreeable contact refers to bodily contact sensations that bring great delight and joy to the mental consciousness, known as "wonderful contact" (miào chù). For example, the body contacts soft clothes, warm sunlight, or a comfortable bed. The most significant among these is contact between men and women, as the Desire Realm is primarily a world built upon this kind of contact. What the body faculty (body sense) and body consciousness come into contact with is called "contact objects" (chù chén). For instance, warm, comfortable sunlight touches the body; cold or hot wind touches the body; soft or hard clothes touch the body—when the body consciousness perceives a sensation, it is called "contact," and the object contacted is called a "contact object." Additionally, feeling hungry or thirsty, the sensation in the stomach, is also contact—these are all contact objects. Furthermore, for example, sitting for a long time and feeling fatigued—fatigue is also a contact object. During meditation, if the body feels light and at ease, experiencing extreme comfort—these are all contact objects.

Ordinary sentient beings are most attached to agreeable contact sensations, primarily centered on contact between men and women. When men and women make contact, the mind gives rise to feelings of fondness, pleasure, and craving. Consequently, the mind becomes defiled. This craving is primarily centered on the mental consciousness (the sixth consciousness), though it also involves the eye consciousness and body consciousness, with the experience of the sixth consciousness being dominant. Once the mental consciousness gives rise to defilement and attachment, it creates karma. The next step after the mind gives rise to fondness and pleasure is inevitably to create karma, and karmic actions will manifest. Those who do not cultivate will manifest foolish karmic actions of body, speech, and mind. Some practitioners may sometimes have defilement within their minds but refrain from committing actions of body or speech. The most accomplished practitioners are not even defiled in their minds. The karmic actions created by the body can be of three kinds: killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct. Karmic actions of speech are of four kinds: false speech, frivolous speech, divisive speech, and harsh speech. Karmic actions of the mind are of three kinds: greed, hatred, and delusion.