實際理地不著一塵，萬行門中不捨一法。
– 禪宗祖師

Ultimate reality is not bounded by any manifestation, yet actual practice embraces all of them.
– Zen Master

Broad minds see goodness, narrow minds see badness.
If don’t acknowledge goodness, one would not feel gratitude, if frequently remember badness, one would not feel serenity.

心寬之人, 常記人善;
心窄之人, 常記人惡;
記不住人善的人, 難有感恩之心;
常記人惡的人, 難有祥和之時.

佛為心、道為骨、儒為表，大度看世界；技在手、能在身、思在腦，從容過生活。

– 南懷瑾老師 (1918-2012)

Buddhist heart, Taoist bones, Confucius persona, compassionately perceive the world;
Skills on hands, abilities in body, thinking via the brain, serenely live life.
– Master Nan-Huai-Chin (1918-2012)

Dear readers,

After 26 months of discussion and exploration, we have finally completed our online discussion on the core teachings of the three great classics in Chinese Civilization.  

With the focus on personal and spiritual cultivation, we first learnt about the transcendental reality and the way towards it from Laozi’s Daodejing.  After understanding our self, and going beyond it, we then learnt the importance of fulfilling our personal, family and social responsibility in the world through practical advises from Confucius’s Analects.  Finally, after mastering the world and the reality beyond it,  we learnt from the Buddhist Diamond Sutra that all teachings and phenomena, no matter how extraordinary and spectacular, are temporary like dreams and bubble and therefore are not to be attached.

If we can gain a throughout understanding of these three classics, and integrate them into our daily life, then a solid foundation is laid on the roadway of personal and spiritual cultivation.  Hopefully these discussions could serve as an opening door and overall guidance for further studies and practice.

This concludes this series of our online classes.  As Laozi said, “excessive speeches exhaust our reason, it’s better to stay centered.” The foundation understanding of cultivation has been laid and it is time for practice and integration into our life.  If you have further question on the topics mentioned, you may contact me for advice or further discussion.  Thank you for your interest and support all along.

Best wishes to you in your life, studies, and practices.    

Regards,

Li Siming

March 2014

In advanced meditative state, one sees the limitless universe. Is this real? Is it the end?  Some arrives there and claim it is so.  The Buddha says in this chapter: despite of its magnificence and splendor, it is not the ultimate, as when we attach ourselves with it, we becomes and limits to it.  Therefore the Buddha merely describes the state, and discern it as a temporary phenomenon just like names.

Having said so, encountering such phenomenon already indicates some achievement in internal work.  We need to remain aware, and keep going in our inner and outer work.

* * *

一合理相分第三十

THE PRINCIPLE OF A UNITY OF APPEARANCES, THIRTY

须菩提！若善男子、善女人，以三千大千世界碎为微尘，于意云何？是微尘众宁为多不？
“Subhuti. what do you think? If a virtuous man or woman reduced to dust all the worlds in the Universe, would those particles of dust many?”

甚多，世尊！何以故？
若是微尘众实有者，佛则（即）不说是微尘众，所以者何？
佛说：微尘众即非微尘众，是名微尘众。
世尊！如来所说三千大千世界，则（即）非世界，是名世界。何以故？
若世界实有者 ，则（即）是一合相。
如来说：一合相，则(即)非一合相，是名一合相。
Subhuti replied: “Many, World Honored One. Why?
Because if they really existed, the Buddha would not say they were particles of dust. And why?
Because when the Buddha speaks of particles of dust, they are not, but are (expediently) called, particles of dust.
World Honoured One, when the Tathagata speaks of worlds, they are not,，but are (expediently) called, worlds. Why?
“Because if they really exist, they are just agglomerations.
“The Tathagata speaks of agglomerations which are not, but are (expediently) called, agglomerations.”

须菩提！一合相者，则（即）是不可说，但凡夫之人贪著其事。
“Subhuti, that which is called an agglomeration cannot be spoken of, but the vulgar man has longing for and attachment to this thing.