The shurangama mantra The shurangama mantra | Page 235

【THE SHURANGAMA SUTRA _ EXTRACTION.】
”Further, in this state of samadhi, the
good person sees the disintegration of
the form skandha and understands the
feeling skandha. In his refined
understanding, he awakens
completely to subtle principles.
Everything is in accord with his
wishes. He may suddenly experience
limitless lightness and ease in his
mind. He may say that he has become
a sage and attained great self-
mastery. 8:71
”Further, in this state of samadhi, the
good person sees the disintegration of
the form skandha and understands the
feeling skandha. He says he is
already satisfied. Suddenly, a feeling
of unreasonable, intense self-
satisfaction may arise in him. It may
include pride, outrageous pride,
haughty pride, overweening pride,
and pride based on inferiority, all of
which occur at once. In his mind, he
even looks down on the Tathagatas of
the ten directions, how much the
more so on the lesser positions of
Hearers and Those Enlightened by
Conditions. 8:68
”This is called ‘attaining lightness
and clarity due to wisdom.’ If he
understands, then there is no error.
This experience does not indicate
sagehood. 8:72
”This is called ‘viewing oneself as
supreme, but lacking the wisdom to
save oneself.’ If he understands, then
there is no error. This experience
does not indicate sagehood. 8:69
”But if he considers himself a sage,
then a demon that likes lightness and
clarity will enter his mind. Claiming
that he is already satisfied, he will not
strive to make further progress. For
the most part, such cultivators will
become like the Unlearned Bhikshu.
He will mislead living beings so that
they will fall into the Avichi Hell.
Lacking proper samadhi, he will
certainly fall. 8:72
”But if he considers himself a sage,
then a demon of intense arrogance
will enter his mind. He will not bow
to stupas or in temples. He will
destroy Sutras and images. He will
say to the Danapatis, ‘These are gold,
bronze, clay, or wood. The Sutras are
just leaves or cloth. The flesh body is
what is real and eternal, but you don’t
revere it; instead you venerate clay
and wood. That is totally absurd.’
Those who have deep faith in him
will follow him to destroy the images
or bury them. He will mislead living
beings so that they fall into the
Relentless Hells. Lacking proper
samadhi, he will certainly fall. 8:70
”Further in this state of samadhi, the
good person sees the disintegration of
the form skandha and understands the
feeling skandha. In that clear
awakening, he experiences an
illusory clarity. Within that, suddenly
he may veer towards the view of
eternal extinction, deny cause and
effect, and take everything as empty.
The thought of emptiness so
predominates that he comes to
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