Enlightenment 

By Living Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Lianhua Zhiwei

This was translated from Grandmaster Lu's 200th book, 開悟一片片.

CHAPTER 2 - Pay Attention to "Depart from the Two Extremes"

Pay Attention to "Depart from the Two Extremes"

I like to ask everyone to pay attention. Humanity or sentient beings have a beginning and an end. To put it simply, one is birth and the other is death. Yet, enlightenment is neither birth nor is it death.

We often describe it as:

No-birth and no-cessation
No birth and no death
Neither coming nor going
Did not come and did not leave

Yet, do you understand the genuine meaning of enlightenment?

Sixth Patriarch Hui-neng wrote this verse

Bodhi is no tree,
Nor is the mind a standing mirror bright.
Since all is originally empty,
Where does the dust alight?

Many people think that this verse is extremely profound. It points out that everything is emptiness.
This verse must certainly demonstrate his enlightenment.

But, that is wrong!

This verse shows over-reliance on emptiness and that does not represent enlightenment. Genuine enlightenment is to depart from the two extremes. Remember, you must stay away from the two extremes.

Later, Sixth patriarch changed his explanation: "Do not think that this is good. Do not think that this is evil."

Ha!

Now, that is right.

Those who are enlightened, what they realized are not emptiness or appearance. Therefore, it is neither appearance nor emptiness. But, is enlightenment something in the middle of appearance and emptiness? In reality, that is not true either.

I am a practitioner of Vajrayana teachings. If you are a Vajrayana cultivator, you will understand the four joys.

Joy (ananda) -- Transformation (initiating transformation)
Supreme Joy (paramananda) -- Progress (abiding in Great Bliss)
Extraordinary Joy (viramananda) -- Accomplishment (abiding in Clear Light)
Innate joy (sahajananda) - Emptiness (Perfection)

Through diligent Vajrayana cultivation, you will gradually achieve transformation, progress, accomplishment, and emptiness.

Originally, I thought by achieving the emptiness of innate joy is none-other-than enlightenment. Later, I realize that emptiness of innate joy cannot be considered as enlightenment. Genuine enlightenment is absolutely not just emptiness. It absolutely is not just appearance.

Enlightenment is:

Buddha holding the flower
Zen Master Tian-long holding up one finger
Me standing on one foot

My first Exoteric Buddhist teacher was the Venerable Yin-shun. He was from the Three Treatises School, which emphasizes on doctrines and philosophies. Master Yin-shun was a prolific writer and his teachings on doctrine and philosophies were very influential.

Of course, doctrines are very important and cannot be neglected. Through understanding and validating doctrines, you can recognize which level you have achieved.

My final Vajrayana teacher was Vajra Acharya Thubten Dargye. He was a guru who places great importance on diligent cultivation. He felt that doctrines and diligent cultivation must be mutually complementary, and then you can achieve perfection. They are like the two wings of a bird or the wheels of a car.

Through integration of doctrines and diligent cultivation, I endeavored to achieve the fruition of Buddhahood.

Ultimately, I gradually achieved accomplishment. In both cultivation and doctrine, I achieved siddhi accomplishment.

When I achieved enlightenment, I did not achieve it through doctrine or cultivation. Pay attention to depart from the two extremes. Then, that is enlightenment.

Enlightened one
It is not emptiness
It is not appearance
So, it is neither appearance nor emptiness.

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Last edited September 14, 2008