Leaving All Delusions Behind
Teachings from Bodhisattva Ashvaghosha
Recorded on February 27, 2019
The Harmony of Worldly and Transcendental
The Dharma that appears in the world and the worldly Dharma are meant to resonate with one another. We practise the Dharma that appears in the world to cultivate our inner state, and then we re-enter the worldly realm to share these teachings. By doing so, we help all beings break through their deep-seated confusion and ignorance. If we truly wish for all beings to leave suffering behind and gain happiness, we must guide them to break through delusion and attain . We must help them understand the root cause of all suffering in this world.
Where does this suffering originate? It arises entirely from our delusion, discrimination, and attachment. We mistake the false for the real. Without a pure heart, we allow our delusions to become the master of our lives, and we become obstructed by our own confusion. When you chant Buddha's name, you must be mindful. Do not cling to the person who is chanting, and do not cling to the Buddha whose name you are reciting. Instead, use the act of chanting Buddha's name to subdue your delusions and messy thoughts.
The Two Aspects of the Heart
Within our character, there are two distinct aspects. One is the True Suchness of the heart, and the other is the heart of arising and ceasing. This heart of arising and ceasing is what we call our delusions. Because we encounter so many external conditions, we allow our hearts to become agitated, which gives rise to delusions. These delusions then lead to afflictions, dissatisfaction, and the tendency to make life difficult for ourselves for no reason at all. We must realise that these are merely delusions, born from our own intense attachments. Throughout a single day, the heart of a sentient being gives rise to countless thoughts. All of these thoughts are empty and illusory. Because we cling so tightly to the external conditions we encounter, these mental notes take root and grow.
The Path to True Liberation
In your daily life, you may hear a word from someone, or perhaps you observe a particular expression or a glance. If you allow that external condition to cause you affliction, you must recognise that this is merely the arising and ceasing of the heart. It is entirely illusory. If you can simply let go, the suffering will vanish, and you will no longer be bound by it. Why is it that some people find it so difficult to let go or to leave behind these illusions? It is because they do not know that every person possesses an inherent Buddha-nature. That Buddha-nature is True Suchness. They do not realise that all external conditions are merely projections of their own delusions. If you truly understand that everything is a product of your own delusions, you will know that, in essence, these things do not exist.
Returning to the True Nature
Our inherent Buddha-nature is beyond words, yet it is not a hollow concept. To return to the truth, one must learn to transcend the three types of appearances:
- The appearance of words: Do not cling to the language or the labels we use to describe reality.
- The appearance of names: Do not cling to the concepts of good or bad, right or wrong.
- The appearance of mental associations: Do not cling to the internal attachments and cravings that arise in your heart.
When you leave these behind, you reach True Suchness, which is ultimately equal and impartial. Equality is the essence of True Suchness; to possess the quality of equality is to manifest True Suchness. If you do not leave behind your delusions, the truth cannot be revealed. Therefore, the sequence of your practice depends entirely on your ability to detach from these appearances. Your attachments are the barriers in your thinking. You must realise that for every degree you let go, you are that much closer to the truth. Do not cling to the idea that this is right or that is wrong. The original, true heart is True Suchness—it is free from words, free from names, free from mental associations, and free from all delusions.
To all the Bodhisattvas and virtuous ones in the Dharma-Nature Land, only by truly letting go of your own thoughts and attachments can you leave delusion behind and return to the truth.
Ashvaghosha
Chief writer: Shi Haiyuan
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