眾生無邊誓願度
煩惱無盡誓願斷
法門無量誓願學
佛道無上誓願成

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Dharma Teachings

18 Apr 2018    Wednesday     4th Teach Total 378

All dharmas are tools of the manas

How to prove that all dharmas are tools of manas, that manas needs all dharmas, and resolves all dharmas?

In the Surangama Sutra, the World-Honored One explains this issue. When heaven and earth were not yet born, there were only manas and the eighth consciousness. Manas was in a state of chaos and desired to understand the dharma realm, so it reached out to explore. Then the eighth consciousness gave birth to the heaven, earth, universe, and the world of vessels. Subsequently, it gave birth to the five skandhas and six consciousnesses, thus the eighteen dhatus were complete. Then, manas frolicked within these dharmas, unable to get out, tightly bound by these dharmas, unable to attain freedom and liberation. Finally, when good roots, merit, and causes and conditions were complete, led by consciousness, it explored the reality of the dharmas in the three realms, explored the meaning of life, found the path to transcend birth and death, eradicated all ignorance, returned to reality, attained great liberation, returned home and sat steadily, yet there is no home to return to. Only then did the world become peaceful, all dharmas returned to stillness, all matters are auspicious, yet there are no matters.

Manas leads the eighth consciousness to create all dharmas of the world of five skandhas, and uses the five skandhas and six consciousnesses to seek the truth and eradicate the darkness of ignorance. Actually, this entire process is still accomplished by utilizing the eighth consciousness. It can be seen that the eighth consciousness is tamed by manas; like a great person with magnanimity, what harm is there in playing with the child. When the manas child gradually grows up and becomes sensible, it no longer causes mischief, does not burden the eighth consciousness to do bad things, no longer indulges in play, no longer stirs up trouble without cause, and also learns the magnanimity of the eighth consciousness like a great person, with a vast mind. Thus it becomes still, and the three realms become quiet. Again learning the magnanimity of the eighth consciousness, helping other children to grow up, all worlds will become peaceful.

——Master Sheng-Ru's Teachings
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The Perceptual Faculties of the Eighth Consciousness Are Truly Remarkable

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