Selected Discourses from the Sutra of the Buddha and His Sons

At that time, the World-Honored One addressed King Śuddhodana, saying: "Great King, regarding the Dharma gate of liberation described above, you should discipline your own mind, observe with right mindfulness, exert courageous diligence, and resolutely cultivate it. All Buddhas of the past, future, and present attained unsurpassed bodhi by relying on this. It can attract all worldly wealth and happiness, eliminate all worldly thirst and craving, subdue all worldly self-conceit, destroy all worldly wrong views, and eradicate all karmic offenses of sentient beings. Even ordinary beings who have not yet reached the first bhūmi can all realize the equal nature of reality through it. Such essential Dharma is not within the practice of śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas; it is solely the domain cultivated by bodhisattvas."

Explanation: The Buddha told King Śuddhodana: "You should observe the Dharma gate of liberation described above by disciplining your mind with right mindfulness, and resolutely cultivate it with courageous diligence. All Buddhas of the past, future, and present attained unsurpassed bodhi through this gate of liberation. Relying on this Dharma gate brings great freedom within worldly phenomena and all karmic rewards of wealth and happiness; it extinguishes all worldly cravings and attachments, subdues all worldly arrogance, destroys all worldly wrong views, and eradicates all karmic offenses of sentient beings. Cultivating this Dharma gate enables even ordinary beings who have not yet entered the first bhūmi to realize the equal nature of reality. Such a practice is not the realm of śrāvakas or pratyekabuddhas; only great bodhisattvas can cultivate and realize it."

The World-Honored One exhorted King Śuddhodana to fix his mind upon the Dharma gate of liberation, relinquish all dharmas, abandon the enjoyments of the five desires, and renounce the illusory phenomena of the five aggregates and eighteen realms. With courageous diligence, he should observe and contemplate all dharmas through right mindfulness and right thought, recognizing that these dharmas are indeed like dreams and illusions—false, impermanent, and suffering. After contemplating them truthfully, one will spontaneously exert courageous diligence and resolute practice. With genuine inner affirmation, liberation will be attained.

Therefore, studying the Buddha-Dharma begins with hearing the true Dharma, followed by right contemplation and reasoned reflection, through which one cultivates with courageous diligence according to the true principles. Practice must be courageous and diligent to succeed, just as boiling water requires continuous fire to reach boiling point. If the fire ceases midway, the water cools again; if one stops and starts repeatedly, the water will never boil. Courageous diligence follows this principle: maintaining vigorous effort without interruption swiftly brings the water to a boil. Sluggish practice leads to regression, wasting much time and energy. Resolute practice embodies samādhi—the mind steadfastly abiding in the Dharma of liberation, continuously cultivating it, inevitably resulting in liberation.

How did all Buddhas of the ten directions and three times attain anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi and accomplish Buddhahood? All relied on the view that all dharmas are like dreams, realizing the three liberation gates of emptiness, signlessness, and wishlessness. First, hear the true Dharma of the dreamlike view; then, contemplate it rightly; finally, cultivate according to the contemplated principles through the four steps of hearing, contemplation, cultivation, and realization. Without hearing the sutras, one lacks right mindfulness for contemplation. Without reasoned contemplation on the true nature of dharmas, there can be no right diligence in practice, no realization of the true nature of dharmas, no attainment of the dreamlike view, no entry into the first bhūmi, and no subsequent liberation.

To realize the emptiness of all dharmas, attain the inherently pure mind, and achieve anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi, one must begin by hearing the sutras. After hearing the Dharma, discipline the mind to contemplate according to its true meaning. Based on the Buddha’s authoritative teachings, gain confidence through personal verification. When faith becomes unshakable, and one knows this Dharma inevitably leads to liberation and Buddhahood, resolute and courageous diligence will arise, ensuring irreversible progress on the bodhi path, ultimately yielding the fruit of bodhi. First, realize the śrāvaka bodhi fruit: recognize the emptiness of the five aggregates and eighteen realms, and the absence of self. Then, comprehend the ālayavijñāna mind, realizing its unborn and undying nature, understanding that all dharmas arise from ālayavijñāna, that the self is illusory, all dharmas are illusory, and all are of ālayavijñāna nature—beyond which nothing exists. Thus, all dharmas are empty, enabling attainment of the first bhūmi. Progressively, realize the second, third, and fourth bhūmis, ultimately accomplishing the Buddha-bhūmi and entering perfect parinirvāṇa. Such is the sequence of practice.