The shurangama mantra devanagari Shurangama Mantra devanagari | Page 255

【THE SHURANGAMA SUTRA _ EXTRACTION.】
This is the ninth external teaching,
which postulates confused theories of
the cessation of existence after death
in the realm of the five skandhas.
8:231
”Because of these speculations about
five kinds of immediate Nirvana, he
will fall into externalism and become
confused about the Bodhi nature.
This is the tenth external teaching,
which postulates confused theories of
five kinds of immediate Nirvana in
the realm of the five skandhas. 8:234
”Further, in his practice of samadhi,
the good person’s mind is firm,
unmoving, and proper and can no
longer be disturbed by demons. He
can thoroughly investigate the origin
of all categories of beings and
contemplate the source of the subtle,
fleeting, and constant fluctuation. But
if he begins to speculate on existence
after death, he could fall into error
with five theories of Nirvana. 8:232
”Ananda, all ten of these crazy
explanations may occur in dhyana as
one’s mental effort interacts with the
formations skandha. That is why
these ‘insights’ appear. 8:235
”Dull and confused living beings do
not evaluate themselves.
Encountering such situations, they
mistake their confusion for
understanding and say that they have
become sages, thereby uttering a
great lie. They will fall into the
Relentless Hells. 8:235
”He may consider the heavens of the
Desire Realm a true refuge, because
he contemplates their extensive
brightness and longs for it; or he may
take refuge in the First Dhyana,
because there his nature is free from
worry; or he may take refuge in the
Second Dhyana, because there his
mind is free from suffering; or he
may take refuge in the Third Dhyana,
because he delights in its extreme
joy; or he may take refuge in the
Fourth Dhyana, reasoning that
suffering and bliss are both ended
there and that he will no longer
undergo transmigration. 8:232
”After my Nirvana, all of you should
pass on the Tathagata’s teachings,
transmitting and revealing them to
those in the Dharma-ending Age, so
that living beings everywhere can
awaken to these truths. Do not let
demons arise in their minds and
cause them to commit grave offenses.
Offer protection so that wrong views
will be eradicated. 8:236
”These heavens are subject to
outflows, but in his confusion he
thinks that they are unconditioned;
and he takes these five states of
tranquility to be refuges of supreme
purity. Considering back and forth in
this way, he decides that these five
states are ultimate. 8:234
”Teach them to awaken to true
principles in body and mind, so that
they do not stray off the Unsurpassed
Path. Do not let them aspire to and be
content with small attainments. You
should become kings of great
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