The shurangama mantra The shurangama mantra | Page 242

【THE SHURANGAMA SUTRA _ EXTRACTION.】
mouthpiece to expound the Sutras
and the Dharma. 8:127 and do not understand, you will fall
into the Relentless Hells. 8:133
”This person, unaware that he is
possessed by a demon, claims he has
reached unsurpassed Nirvana. When
he comes to see that good person who
seeks seclusion, he arranges a seat
and speaks the Dharma. He causes all
of his listeners to think they know
their karma from the past. Or he may
say to someone there, ‘You haven’t
died yet, but you have already
become an animal.’ Then he instructs
another person to step on the first
person’s ‘tail’ and suddenly the first
person cannot stand up. At that point,
all in the assembly pour out their
hearts in respect and admiration for
him. If someone has a thought, the
demon detects it immediately. He
establishes intense ascetic practices
that exceed the Buddha’s moral
precepts. He slanders Bhikshus,
scolds his assembly of disciples, and
exposes people’s private affairs
without fear of ridicule or rejection.
He is fond of foretelling calamities
and auspicious events, and when they
come to pass, he is not wrong in the
slightest. 8:127 ”Further, in the unhindered clarity
and wonder that ensues after the
feeling skandha is gone, this good
person is untroubled by any deviant
mental state and experiences perfect,
bright concentration. Within samadhi,
his mind craves more knowledge and
understanding, so he diligently toils
at examining and probing as he
greedily seeks to know past lives.
8:134
”At that time a demon from the
heavens seizes the opportunity it has
been waiting for. Its spirit possesses
another person and uses him as a
mouthpiece to expound the Sutras
and the Dharma. This person,
unaware that he is possessed by a
demon, claims he has reached
unsurpassed Nirvana. When he
comes to see that good person who
seeks knowledge, he arranges a seat
and speaks the Dharma. 8:135
”There in the Dharma Assembly,
inexplicably, that person may obtain
an enormous precious pearl. The
demon may sometimes change into
an animal that holds the pearl or other
jewels, bamboo tablets, tallies,
talismans, letters, and other unusual
things in its mouth. The demon first
gives the objects to the person and
afterwards possesses him. Or he may
fool his audience by burying the
objects underground and then saying
that a ‘moonlight pearl’ is
illuminating the place. Thereupon the
audience feels they have obtained
”This is a ghost with great powers
that in its old age has become a
demon. It disturbs and confuses the
good person. But when it tires of
doing so, it will leave the other
person’s body. Then both the
disciples and the teacher will get in
trouble with the law. You should be
aware of this in advance and not get
caught up in the cycle of
transmigration. If you are confused
_ 242 _