■Book 200 - Pages of Enlightenment
■Written by Master Sheng-yen Lu
■Chapter forty-nine
For more information, please call +1(510)473-4818 or fax +1(510)437-1987.
Contact Address: 3440 Foothill Blvd. Oakland CA 94601, U.S.A.
Maybe you will let out a big sigh of relief as you come to this last chapter, saying to yourself, “I am finally going to find enlightenment.”
If so, I would ask reader A, “Tell me, what do you think enlightenment is?”
Reader A may respond, “Enlightenment is the eighth consciousness, the tathagatagarbha consciousness, realizing this eighth consciousness.”
To this I would say, “Way off base. There still remains a consciousness.”
Reader B may answer, “Enlightenment is equality of all equality, equality of everything.”
To this I would say, “Wrong realization.”
Reader C may answer, “Enlightenment is nothing to gain, no big deal, not abiding anywhere.”
And I would say, “You are only close.”
Reader D may answer, “Awakening is the Five Buddhas and their corresponding Five Wisdoms.”
I would respond, “That is not enlightenment at all. Any Buddhist would know about the Five Buddhas and their Five Wisdoms. Just as any Buddhist would also know about the eighth, ninth, and tenth consciousness.”
Once again I will ask, “What do you think enlightenment is?”
Reader E may answer, “Madhyamaka [Middle Way] says enlightenment is sublime substantiality within emptiness. Yogacara [Mind-Only] says enlightenment is non-existence of the external world and everything is derived from the mind.”
I would say, “You missed.”
Reader F may answer, “Enlightenment is not attached to anything, no obscuration, and not even a trace of attachment.”
I would say, “No, a trace still remains.”
Reader G may answer, “Enlightenment is only one word,'emptiness.' ”
I would say, “That is also not it. That is clinging to an extreme.”
Reader H may say, “Enlightenment is only one word, 'buddha. ' ”
I would reply, “Garbage.”
Reader I may say, “Enlightenment is only one word, 'heart.'”
I would respond, “Where is this heart? Tell me, where is this heart?”
Reader J may say, “Enlightenment is formless, without expectation, everything is pristine, and pristine purity of self-nature.”
I would say, “Just a bit off.”
Reader K may say, “Enlightenment is nowhere to be found, ineffable, never said a word.”
I would say, “Almost there!”
Reader L may say, “Enlightenment is just non-arising.”
I would say, “Off just ever so slightly.”
Reader M may say, “Enlightenment is not buddha, not heart, and not object.”
I would say, “This answer is barely acceptable.”
Reader N may say, “Enlightenment is like a dream, illusion, bubble, and shadow.”
I would say, “Flashes of lightning and fire sparks are not enlightenment.”
Reader O may say, “Enlightenment is a flower's reflection in the mirror or a moon's image in water.”
I would say, “You also didn't hit it on the mark. You are only treating it as an illusion.”
Reader P may say, “Would Grand Master Lu please answer the question? What is enlightenment?”
I would say, “Enlightenment is, it is, it is… Does everyone understand? Reflect upon it. What is this 'it'?”
Then, I would demonstrate the pose, “golden rooster standing on one leg.”
A wise student may shout, “Enlightenment is the word 'I'.”
I would reply, “Take a hike!”
A wiser student may shout, “Enlightenment is unity of all phenomena.”
I would answer, “Unity my butt.”
With everyone quiet and silent, I would nod my head and say, “This is the time, this is the time.”
I wonder if you understand this chapter on non-arising.
