The Art Of Meditation 

By Master Sheng-yen Lu
Translated and published by Lei Zang Si Singapore

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 45th book, 坐禪通明法.

CHAPTER 16 - Tantric Practice of Meditation (2)

There is a master in the United States who has renounced home-life to become a monk, practicing Exoteric Buddhism. When I first visualized him, I saw he was a monkey in his previous life, and he looks exactly like a monkey: a narrow-face, pointed ears, a flat nose, and raised lips. I calculated his achievement in cultivation, and found it is zero-- he has really achieved nothing at all.

This master left home when he was very small, so it is amazing that he has done nothing in his cultivation. In his practice, he has just learnt beating drums and gangs, chanting or singing some mantras. Whenever he was invited to lecture on Buddhism, he would tell some boring stories. Once he was invited to Canada by the World Buddhism Assembly, and his lecture was like a lullaby, with everyone in the audience dozing off. What a disgraceful monk! What a shameless cultivator!

What he has done all his life includes: building temples, running schools, asking for alms, running money-making Buddhist services, preaching and chanting, or delivering the souls of the dead-- all very superficial, and no cultivation of self-nature. Such monks have my pity and sympathy because they are businessmen monks.

Some day, I am going to teach and convert him. If he learns earnestly, that is the bloom of a Buddhist seed. If he clings to his old ways, that means he does not have such fortune. As he was reborn from a monkey in the forest, he has to practice "the Secret Dharani of Vipulagrabhe Maniprabhe Tathagata."

This Dharani method had the following origin. There were once three Brahmin celestial beings who lived and practiced in the forests of the Treasure Mountain. Although they learned quite a number of celestial methods and tricks, they had not transcended life and death, that is, had not attained perfect enlightenment. Time passed day by day, all wasted, so the Brahmin beings were perplexed and greatly worried. One day they made the great resolve of Bodhi that if they attained enlightenment, they were willing to teach and convert all living beings in the forests. (That is why the master I mentioned should practice the Dharani.)

Buddha Shakyamuni got to know the Bodhicitta of the three celestial beings and appeared in the sky to preach to them the Secret Dharani of the Great Treasure Attic. Since then the three celestials cultivated accordingly, until in the end, they became three beams of strong white light which went right into the earth. From there, three bamboo shoots came out, which, when ten months old, split open by themselves. Out of the bamboo stems, jumped three gold children looking very handsome and majestic. The children sat in full-lotus position under the bamboos, went into concentrated meditation, and became enlightened. They all attained Buddhahood.

The three bamboos in the forest became three Attics adorned with the seven treasures. At that time, there appeared in the sky the golden text of the mantra of "the Secret Dharani of Vipulagrabhe Maniprabhe Tathagata," with the Buddhas from the ten directions also in the sky, praising the wonderful effect of the mantra.

The three celestial beings transformed into golden children and then became Buddhas. This is how the Secret Dharani of Vipulagrabhe Maniprabhe Tathagata came into being.

Those who want to practice this method have to install the gold statues of these three Buddhas, with Mani Flower Banner Buddha in the middle, Nana Mani Taghata on the right, and the Vajra Super Spring Taghagata on the left. The three statues must be exactly like Shakyamuni, golden color all over, covered by the Buddhist surplice (Kasaya). They are sitting in the full-lotus position amidst a circle of lights, forming mudras with both hands which hold a pagoda made of the seven treasures. The three Buddhas may look exactly the same, and only have different names.

The practitioner, sitting in front of the three Buddhas, radiates light from the syllable "Hum" at his heart.

Then recite the four-syllable wisdom mantra: "Cha, Hom, Bong, He."

Then invoke the three Buddhas by saying: "The seven-treasure attics are in my heart, where dwell secretly the Mandaras. Inconceivable is your power to bestow empowerment, sincerely I request you to embrace me."
At this moment, the practitioner visualizes that the lotus flower at his heart has the golden syllable "Hum" shining. Visualize further that the three Buddhas change into three spots of golden light in response, which go right into the lotus flower at his heart through the crown, to merge with the golden light of his own. Visualize, again and again for a long time, that the three spots of golden light go into your heart to merge with your own light.

After visualization, recite the three Buddhas' root mantra: "Namah sarva tathagatanam, Om, vipula garbhe, mani prabhe, tathagata, nidar 'sane, mani mani, suprabhe, vimale, sagara, gambhire, hum hum, jvala jvala, buddha vilokite, guhya, dhistita, garbhe, svaha" seven or forty-nine or one hundred and eight times:

Then recite the "heart mantras" three times"

The heart mantra: "Om, mani, jari, hum."

The after-heart mantra: "Om, mani dhari, hum phat."

The all-embracing heart mantra: "Om, mani ze-cha, hum."

The verse of Transference of Merit for this practice is:

"May the merit and virtue accrued from this work.
Help me to become Buddha of the Seven-Treasure Attics.
I will deliver all sentient beings from misery without exception,
And get them to live in the Buddha's Land."

For this practice, you can prepare yourself a seven-treasure pagoda, inside which are the mantras written in Sanskrit. During each session of practice, hold the pagoda in your hands; this can speed up yogic responses.

This method not only can help all sentient beings in forests, but also benefit all sentient beings of the four modes of birth. A virtuous person who goes in for it should write in Sanskrit "The Mantra of Vipulagrabhe Maniprabhe Tathagata," and put it on banners, on the wall of the shrine, on paper or silk, on all the ceremonial gateways. If sentient beings see them, touch them with hands or body, or hear of them, or even the dust or ash falls on the passers-by, their grave sins of all kinds may be dispelled.

Besides, you can go to the top of a mountain and recite this Dharani to the four directions of the forests-- all sentient beings you can see, including birds and beasts, can remove their sins; birds and beasts will get away from the four modes of birth and go to live in the Buddah's Land. Even the most serious sinners can have their sins removed: such as those who have committed the five rebellious sins (killing one's father or one's mother, killing an Arhat, causing the Buddha's body to bleed for which one must go to Hell, causing disunity in the Buddhist order, slandering the correct Dharma, or any since serious enough to send one to Hell) and also those who do not support their parents and slander the correct Dharma.

The sutra also says that those who hear their mantras will be immune to diseases in the following parts: teeth, tongue, eyes, ears, head, throat, hands and feet, waist, heart, liver, kidney, lungs, spleen, and diseases such as malaria, paralysis, dysentery, rheumatism, leprosy, and tinea among others. If you have any of them, you will recover from it very soon. This "Secret Dharani of Vipulagrabhe Maniprabhe Tathagata" is inconceivably mysterious and excellent. This Dharani belonged to Mahavairocana and came into the world from the heart of Shakyamuni Buddha to transform the three celestial beings. Later, it has been practiced by cultivators to achieve enlightenment.

According to my research, when Shakyamuni was turning the wheel of Dharma, the Vajrapani broke the ground with the scepter, from where a Seven-Treasure Attic arose with three Tathagatas inside, who were no other than the three celestial beings who had attained perfect enlightenment. This served as a prelude and a turning point for Shakyamuni to preach the Dharma.

I know clearly that the master I mentioned at the beginning of this chapter has left home-life physically but has never renounced it in his mind, as what he has been thinking is nothing but "business." His cultivation only stays on the surface and has never got onto the right track. His god of the eye is weak and he has the characteristics of those who go to Hell. Today, I didn't disclose his Dharma name hoping he will turn a new leaf in his cultivation. He should cultivate his self-nature and refrain from Karma of speech. Don't use abusive language all the time; accumulate some virtue for the sentient creatures, who will also feel happy, fortunate, and satisfied.
I have not renounced home-life physically, but in my mind I have in fact done so. I follow the Bodhisattva practice, also recite Dharanis, and practice any great teachings that suit me. I have realized in my actual practice and know the great secrets. I have got self-mastery both in body and in mind. Now as the king of Dharmas, I spread the Dharma to all corners of the earth.

Source: http://www.padmakumara.org  

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