From: wong@rkna50.riken.go.jp (Wong Weng Fai)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Who is enlightened ?
Date: 25 Dec 1992 16:16:32 -0800
Organization: ----
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: sandman.caltech.edu

Hi Folks,

	A perennial theme in this discussion group is "Who is enlightened ?" - 
a favourite battlecry against "scholaticism" and the lesser enlightened - I 
have been "slapped" with this for more than once. In my recent trip to Taiwan, 
I got hold of the "Sutra on Perfect Enlightenment" (Yuen Jue Jin). In 
section 1 of Chapter 2, I found something which may be 
relevant to this "question". Since it is quite short, I bravely made 
a translation of it. It is based more on the modern Chinese 
translation done by one Bhikkhu Jie Chung Shin than the original 
(and also unreadable to me) classical Chinese.

	First, some background and a warning. This "Sutra on Perfect 
Enlightenment" is one of the most influential sutra in China. It is held in 
very high regards especially by the Chan schools. However, modern historians 
have considered its origins dubious and in fact may be a spurious sutra. 
Indeed, Dogen, even though he was Chan (Zen) by training, rejected it because 
he found parts of it to be contradictory to the general teachings 
of the Mahayana (as he saw it). In China, it is seen as representative 
of the Mind-only school.

	As usual, my Chinese is not good and also since I don't understand
a lot of the teaching, the translation is very poor in quality but I hope
you will be able to make something useful out of it.

	Merry Christmas (to all Christians tuning in ;-) and a Happy
New Year to all !!!

with Metta,

W.F. Wong.

Note: Stuff in "()" are text extrapolations while those in "[]" are my
      comments.

PS : If people find this interesting, then in the future I will venture with
more extracts from this sutra.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

		The Sutra on Perfect Enlightenment
		-------------------------------------------

	Chapter 2, Section 1 - The question of Samantabhadra

	At this time, the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra [In Chapter 1 Manjusri
questioned the Buddha about the nature of Enlightenment. The baton is now
passed to Samantabhadra.] rose from his seat amongst the masses, paid his 
respect to the Buddha, circumambulated him three times, went down on his knees, 
held his hands in gassho and spoke :

"Most Compassionate Bhagavat, I wish all Bodhisattvas gathered here and beings 
yet to be borned who may wish to practice the Mahayana, after hearing about 
the Perfect Enlightenment will practice it. (But) Bhagavat, if all beings and 
all of the universe, including the mind, is an illusion, how does one use 
illusions to contemplate on illusions ? If all illusions are eliminated and 
there is no such a thing as a mind, then who is it that is practicing ? Why 
then is practice itself an illusion ? If one claims that there had never been 
any being who practiced and are therefore always in this cycle of birth and 
death, forever entrapped in this illusion, without ever knowing that the 
universe is an illusion, how then can one ever be freed from the delusive 
mind ? For the sake of all future beings, pray tell the step-by-step way by 
which one can be freed from all delusions."

Having spoken such, he bowed with all his five pertrusions [head, two hands 
and legs - the "standard" Tibetan deep bow] touching the floor. In this 
same way, he repeated his questions three times. After this, the Bhagavat 
told Samantabhadra Bodhisattva :

"Sadhu ! Sadhu ! Good Son ! You have asked for the sake of all bodhisattvas 
and future beings, the way to practice the illusionary samadhi [since all is 
illusionary so too must be samadhi] in a step-by-step manner so that they may 
be freed from all delusions. Listen well and I will tell you."

At this, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva became overjoyed and with all bodhisattvas 
paid careful attention to what was said.

"Good Son ! All beings and all delusions are from the thus-came Perfect 
Enlightenment Subtle Mind [this is the "Mind" in the "Mind-only" theory] just 
like an illusionary flower is borned from empty space; although the illusionary 
flower is destroyed, the space is not destroyed. Even though the delusions of 
all beings are eliminated by practice, the destruction of all delusions does 
not affect the Perfect Enlightenment. (But) to describe Enlightenment in terms 
of delusions is itself a delusion. [Answers the question of why practice is 
itself an illusion.] To say that there is such a thing as Enlightenment is 
itself delusive. To say there is no such a thing as Enlightenment is the 
same because the destruction of all delusions results in the Unmovable."
[Because both "is" and "is not" are delusive.]

"Good Son ! All bodhisattvas and future beings should distance themselves from 
all states of delusions because of their determination to do so. [Answers the 
question about "why practice" - "just because !"] This determination is itself 
a delusion and should be distanced. This distancing is itself delusive and so 
should be distanced. This "distancing from the distancing" is itself delusive 
and should be distanced, (and so on) until one reach the stage where there is 
nothing to distance from, that is the detruction of all delusions. An example 
is the creation of fire from rubbing wood. Two pieces of wood are brought 
together but the fire so created will completely consume the wood. (With) the 
flying ashes and the thinning smoke (the woods are no more). Using illusions 
to practice an illusion is like this. [Answers the question of "who practices" 
and "how one illusion can overcome another" - the "person" who practice is an 
illusion but it is possible for two illusions to "mutually annihilate" each 
other with the "fire" of Truth.] The destruction of all delusions does not end 
one in a state of annihilation." [Assures that the Teachings is not nihilistic.]

"Good Son ! The instance one knows of a delusion, one is already distanced from 
it. There is no need for further methods. The instance one is distanced from a 
delusion, one is dwelling in Perfect Enlightenment; there is no need for a 
step-by-step way. [This is the most important point of the whole sutra. It 
forms the basis of "sudden enlightenment" and "practice-enlightenment". The 
explanation is brief and wonderful !] All bodhisattva and future beings should 
practice such. Constantly practicing as such, one can forever distance oneself 
from all delusion. [This, paradoxically, includes the delusion of "self".]"

At this time, because of the importance of this teaching, the Bhagavat repeated 
what he said in verses :

	Samantabhadra, you should know that all beings
	All beginless delusions, are from thusness,
	Built on Perfectly Enlightened Mind, 
	Just like an illusive flower,
	Dwelling in empty space, 
	The annihiliation of this illusionary flower,
	Leave space unmoved;
	All delusions are formed from the various consciences,
	The destruction of all delusions,
	Leave the Enlightenment unmoved.
	If all bodhisattvas, and all future beings
	Should constantly distance themselves from delusions;
	all forms of delusions, just like creating fire from wood,
	when the wood is completely consumed,
	the fire will cease,
	there are no stages to Enlightenment,
	the teachings are but such.

-------------------- End of Chapter 2, section 1 ----------------