Selections from The Sutra of Complete Enlightenment: Practice and Realization, Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with selections from Chapter 6, from The Sutra of Complete Enlightenment, where Bodhisattva Pure-wisdom (vegan) asks the Lord Buddha (vegan) to explain how to overcome illusionary thoughts and the complexities of realization.

“Good man, the Nature of complete Enlightenment is not like the nature (that ordinary beings think) and does not exist (like any nature). It manifests from the nature of all things in the world, and therefore the practicing and proving of this complete Enlightenment do not exist. In Reality, there actually are not Bodhisattvas and beings.

Good man, from long, long ago to now, all beings wrongly consider that ‘I’ exist and attach to the ‘I’; they do not understand that all thoughts extinguish just after they appear; therefore, they give rise to ‘dislike’ and ‘like’ and attach to five kinds of desires. If they meet the friends who can instruct them to be enlightened to the pure complete Enlightenment and realize the appearing and extinguishing (of thoughts), then they will understand that the appearing (of thoughts) is annoyance. And if there are people who have cut off annoyance forever and attain the state of that the whole universe is pure, then because of the understanding of ‘pure,’ the obstacle appears to hinder their practice, and they will not feel free and easy in their enlightenment. This is named ‘ordinary person’s enlightenment.’

Good man, all Bodhisattvas are hindered by realizations and views. Although some of them have cut off the obstacles of realizations, they still attach to the view of enlightenment. Because the obstacle of ‘the view of enlightenment’ hinders their practice, therefore they will not feel free and easy. This is named ‘the enlightenment of the Bodhisattvas who have not entered Bodhisattva’s ten levels.’

The teachings of Sutras are like the finger that points to the moon. If people see where the moon is, then they know that the finger which can point is not the moon ultimately. All Buddha’s (doctrines preached by) various speeches for Bodhisattvas are also like that. This is named ‘the enlightenment of Bodhisattvas who have entered Bodhisattva’s ten levels.’

Good man, suppose there are Bodhisattvas and the beings in the era that Buddhism is going to extinguish who do not give rise to wrong thoughts at any time; they also do not extinguish their illusory minds; when they are in the state of wrong thoughts, they are not aware of it; In the state that they are not aware of, they do not distinguish what the Reality is. If there are beings who hear this way, who can believe, realize, accept, and practice it, and who are not astonished and afraid about it, then this is named ‘Enlightenment in compliance with worldly thoughts.’

Good man, you should know, these beings have ever offered to a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred million, the number of all sands in the Ganges River of Buddhas and great Bodhisattvas and (have ever) cultivated many good roots of merit (beside them). Buddha says that these beings named ‘achieving the wisdom of knowing everything in the universe.’”