Living This Moment in Purity 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Janny Chow

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 145th book, 當下的清涼心.

CHAPTER 15 - The Authentic Great Bliss

I, Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu, have studied Buddhism for many years. From my own experiences and observations, I have realized that, of the five Buddhist precepts, prohibition against sexual misconduct is the one most easily transgressed. Why is this the case? This is because human beings are born with the seeds of sexual desire and it is not easy to resist a natural human instinct. Therefore, the initial stage in the cultivation of a pure mind poses the greatest challenge!

Humans have desires and passions primarily because we have the ability to feel and perceive pleasure. Analysis of the mechanisms involved in the perception of pleasure reveals the following relationships (between the organs that perceive and the objects being perceived)

"The eyes covet beautiful objects, the ears covet melodious sounds, the nose covets fragrant smells, the body covets touch and caress, and the mind covets sensuality."

There is also coveting of transient pleasure that is generated by movements of light drops discharged from the body at the height of sexual excitement.

These are the driving forces behind passion and sexual desire. These desires exist not only in young people. The middle aged and elderly are just as unsatiated in their search for passion and pleasure. Why? In my opinion, this is because sexual desire can give rise to a kind of pleasure that tops all other pleasures in life.

Sexual pleasure encompasses the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and consciousness. It is thus an amalgamation of the pleasures associated with the six senses and perception. Therefore, it is understandable why so many humans expend so much energy to seek out what they consider to be the greatest of all pleasures.

But, when we give the matter some thought, we realize that once the thought of sexual desire is aroused, these other thoughts follow:

1. Even if the conditions for the acting out of one's sexual desires are not met, one already fantasizes about the act.
2. In seeking to consummate the desire, one engenders numerous scheming thoughts to reach the goal.
3. When the object of desire is unattainable, one engenders thoughts of hatred.
4. When overwhelmed by passion, one engenders thoughts of possessiveness.
5. When the object of desire belongs to someone else, one engenders thoughts of jealousy and envy.
6. When one schemes to take away an object of desire from another, harmful and murderous thoughts arise.

Sexual misconduct not only leads one down the fast track to debauchery and moral corruption, but it also creates an endless chain of disasters. When transgressions of sexual misconduct are committed, one's principles are compromised, and one's dignity and honor suffer. Numerous evils will follow, and all virtues will be discarded. There is an ancient Chinese saying that declares sexual misconduct "the leader of all evils."

"Money, sex, fame, food, and sleep" are the major temptations for human beings. In my opinion, whether one is male or female, sexual desire is the one most easily aroused. A few flirtatious looks can move the heart and send one's emotions spinning. When one succumbs to these unbridled desires, all innate virtues are disregarded.

It is extremely difficult to eradicate this affliction! Studying the Buddhadharma has led me to understand that human desire, if given free rein, will continually seek out stimulation and never be satisfied. And, once a sexual thought is stirred, all kinds of evil thoughts often follow. Once a spiritual practitioner heads down the path of debauchery, he will not cultivate noble thoughts; instead, he will find himself struggling between his baser instincts and divine aspirations.

After studying Buddhist Tantrayana, I discovered an authentic Tantric practice that eradicates sexual desires. In general, the exoteric scriptural schools resort to the following methods to suppress sexual desire:

1. Viewing the body as impure
2. Viewing the body as a skeleton
3. Viewing the body as emptiness

Tantrayana also advocates the practices of "chi, channels, and light drops." In these practices, "the movement of chi opens one's channels, fire and light are engendered inside the channels, and one can attain the accomplishment of 'the non-leakage of light drops'." Throughout the process of these Energy Yoga practices, a kind of "pleasure" is engendered when chi moves through the channels, and an even greater pleasure is engendered when the light drops move through the channels. These pleasures far surpass the ordinary pleasures produced by sexual orgasms.

After experiencing the authentic greater pleasures engendered by Energy Yoga practices, the carnal pleasures engendered between man and woman pale in comparison. Therefore, the practice of Energy Yoga can be used as an antidote for the arousal of sexual desires.

I have realized that:

1. The circulation of chi throughout the body is associated with great bliss and pleasure.
2. When the channels are filled with light, one attains a supreme pure awareness.
3. The practice of light drops leads to a realization of the indestructible, unperturbed Buddha Nature.

I finally was able to liberate myself from the snares of human instinct, realize the true nature of Buddhahood, and attain Great Bliss, Light, and Emptiness.

I have also realized how pitiful and foolish it is for humans to remain trapped by their baser instincts. Out of sexual desire, man is born; out of sexual desire, man also perishes.

In the process of seeking an insignificant pleasure that is itself transient, numerous evils arise. The risks are not worth the trouble!

I would like to tell everyone that I have, through my practices, arrived at the above-mentioned realizations and attained the authentic Great Bliss!

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