Sayings of Tripitaka Dharma Master

[ground]

"When one does not understand, the person pursues dharmas; when one understands, dharmas persue the person. When one understands, consciousness draws in forms; when one is deluded forms draw in consciousness. The non-production of consciousness due to forms is called not seeing forms. Whether there is no-seeking in seeking or seeking in no-seeking, there is still your seeking. Whether there is no-taking in taking or taking in no-taking there is still your taking. When mind is in need of something, we call it the realm of desire. When mind is not mind of itself but is produced due to forms, we call it the realm of form. When forms are not forms of themselves but are forms because of mind, the fact that mind and forms are formless is called the formless realm.



excerpt from The Bodhidharma Anthology, J. L Broughton

[Hanzze]

"When ever formlessness is not formless of it self but is a formlessness of mind, the fact of mind and formlessness is called the realm of desire." Or did I misunderstand something? What is a formless realm good for? To desire for ariya metteyya? *smile*

[ground]

"When ever formlessness is not formless of it self but is a formlessness of mind, the fact of mind and formlessness is called the realm of desire." Or did I misunderstand something?

I don't know. Your verbalization is different.

What is a formless realm good for? To desire for ariya metteyya? *smile*

There is no mention or assertion that formless realm would be "good" for anything. Why do you fabricate all these questions?

[ground]

Question: "What is called Buddha Mind?"

Answer: "Mind's having no mark of variation is called Thusness. Mind's unchangeableness is called Dharma Nature. Mind's not being connected to anything is called liberation. The mind nature's quiescence is called nirvana."



excerpt from The Bodhidharma Anthology, J. L Broughton

[Hanzze]

"When ever formlessness is not formless of it self but is a formlessness of mind, the fact of mind and formlessness is called the realm of desire." Or did I misunderstand something?

I don't know. Your verbalization is different.

What is a formless realm good for? To desire for ariya metteyya? *smile*

There is no mention or assertion that formless realm would be "good" for anything. Why do you fabricate all these questions?

Maybe because a cause has it's effects. Maybe because this are sentences which are just cut of a complex context. Not sure, but you are right, there is no assertion if just taking words as words. But why to talk about it, if both would be not "good" for anything? *smile*

[Hanzze]

Hit it when ever it arises, hit it *smile* but that will be still the realm of desire and back again into the formless realm.

[ground]

Question: "What is called Tathagata?"

Answer: "To understand Thusness and respond to beings is called Tathagata."


Question: "What is called Buddha?"

Answer: "To awaken according to Dharma, to awaken to the fact that there is nothing to be awakened to, is called Buddha."


Question: "What is called Dharma?"

Answer: "Mind does not arise in accordance with Dharma, and mind does not extinguish in accordance with Dharma. This is called Dharma."


Question: "What is called community [sangha]?"

Answer: "Coming together according to Dharma is called community."




excerpt from The Bodhidharma Anthology, J. L Broughton

[ground]

Question: "What is called the voidness samadhi?"

Answer: "Gazing at dharmas and abiding in voidness is called voidness samadhi."


Question: "What is called abiding in Dharma?"

Answer: "Neither abiding in abiding, nor abiding in non-abiding, but abiding according to Dharma - this is called abiding in Dharma."





excerpt from The Bodhidharma Anthology, J. L Broughton

[Hanzze]

"What is called community [sangha]?" -> "Coming together according to Dharma is called community." -> "What is called Dharma?" -> "Mind does not arise in accordance with Dharma, and mind does not extinguish in accordance with Dharma. This is called Dharma."

That would be a wonderful explain why intensive Sangha meetings grow always off topic to Dharma (teachings).   

[ground]

Question: "In cultivating the path and cutting off delusions, what mental attitude is employed?"

Answer: "Use the mental attitude of devices [upaya, means]."



Question: "What is the mental attitude of devices?"

Answer: "When one examines delusion and realizes that from the outset delusion has no place to arise from, and by this device is able to cut off doubt and delusion, we call it mental attitude."



Question: "What delusion does the mind that is in accordance with Dharma cut off?"

Answer: "Delusions of interpretations concerning common men, heretics, hearers, solitary buddhas, bodhisattvas, and so forth".





excerpt from The Bodhidharma Anthology, J. L. Broughton

[ground]

Question: "What kind of mind is called craving?"

Answer: "The mind of the common man."


Question: "What kind of mind is that which is nonarising?"

Answer: "The mind of the hearer."


Question: "What kind of mind is that which understands the essencelessness of dharmas?"

Answer: "It is the mind of the solitary buddha."


Question: "What kind of mind is that which engenders neither understanding nor delusion?"

Answer: "The mind of the bodhisattva."


Question: "What kind of mind is that which is not awakened and does not know?"

No answer.


The reason there is no answer is that Dharma cannot answer. Because Dharma is no-mind, and an answer is having mind. Dharma is speechless, and an answer is having speech. Dharma is without interpretation, and an answer is interpretation. Dharma is without knowledge, and an answer is having knowledge. Dharma is without this and that, and an answer is having this and that. Such minds and words are no more than calculations. Because mind is not a form, it is not connected to forms, and yet mind is not formless and is not connected to formlessness. The mind's not being connected to anything is liberation. If one breaks the prohibitive precepts [samaya], he will turn apprehensive. However if he knows that his mind of anxiety cannot be apprehended, then he will even attain liberation. He will also know that rebirth in a heaven cannot be apprehended. Even though he knows voidness, voidness cannot be apprehended. Even though he knows that nothing can be apprehended, no-apprehension cannot be apprehended.






excerpt from The Bodhidharma Anthology, J. L. Broughton

[Hanzze]

I just googled "samaya" and thought it might be useful in addition to your wonderful quotes. *smile*

The samaya (Tibetan: Tibetan: དམ་ཚིག, Wylie: dam tshig, Japanese and Chinese: 三摩耶戒, sanmaya-kai, Sānmóyéjiè), is a set of vows or precepts given to initiates of an esoteric Vajrayana Buddhist order as part of the abhiṣeka (empowerment or initiation) ceremony that creates a bond between the guru and disciple.

Fourteen root downfalls

Physically harming or slandering the teacher from whom one received the abhiṣeka
Opposing the words of the buddhas
Strong negative emotions towards one’s vajra brothers and sisters
Abandoning loving kindness and compassion for sentient beings
Abandoning the bodhichitta in aspiration or application
Criticizing other Buddhist traditions
Revealing secrets to those who are unworthy
Mistreating one’s body
Abandoning emptiness
Keeping bad company
Failing to reflect on emptinessUpsetting those who have faith in the teachings
Failing to observe the samaya commitments
Denigrating women

[ground]

I just googled "samaya"

This Wiki explanation refers to conventional Tantrayana.

In the context above however the term "samaya" is my addition/amendment, therefore the square brackets [ ...]. It is intended as an indirect allusion to the Dzogchen teachings of Vajra Dharma Master Longchempa. Not being obvious it is secret. Now having been revealed it is no longer secret 

[Hanzze]

So you also would provide us the original precepts "samaya" of the non sectarian mind? *smile*

[ground]

So you also would provide us the original precepts "samaya" of the non sectarian mind? *smile*

Of course not. This would be off topic. This thread is about Sayings of Tripitaka Dharma Master which is a non sectarian no-mind

How could no-mind be sectarian mind?