The shurangama mantra The shurangama mantra | Page 251

【THE SHURANGAMA SUTRA _ EXTRACTION.】
knows and sees, he could fall into
error with four distorted, false
theories, which are total speculation
based on the sophistry of
immortality. 8:205
everything is existent. He has a
realization based on existence. When
anyone comes to ask him questions,
he replies with only one word. He
only says ‘Yes.’ Aside from saying
‘yes,’ he does not speak. 8:211
”First, this person contemplates the
source of transformations. Seeing the
movement and flow, he says there is
change. Seeing the continuity, he
says there is constancy. Where he can
perceive something, he says there is
production. Where he cannot
perceive anything, he says there is
destruction. He says that the
unbroken continuity of causes is
increasing and that the pauses within
the continuity are decreasing. He says
that the arising of all things is
existence and that the perishing of all
things is nonexistence. The light of
reason shows that his application of
mind has led to inconsistent views. If
someone comes to seek the Dharma,
asking about its meaning, he replies,
‘I am both alive and dead, both
existent and nonexistent, both
increasing and decreasing.’ He
always speaks in a confusing way,
causing that person to forget what he
was going to say. 8:208
”Fourth, this person perceives both
existence and nonexistence.
Experiencing this branching, his
mind becomes confused. When
anyone comes to ask questions, he
tells them, ‘Existence is also
nonexistence. But within
nonexistence there is no existence.’ It
is all sophistry and does not stand up
under scrutiny. 8:213
”Because of these speculations,
which are empty sophistries, he will
fall into externalism and become
confused about the Bodhi nature.
This is the fifth external teaching,
which postulates four distorted, false
theories that are total speculation
based on the sophistry of
immortality. 8:214
”Second, this person attentively
contemplates his mind and finds that
everything is nonexistent. He has a
realization based on nonexistence.
When anyone comes to ask him
questions, he replies with only one
word. He only says ‘No.’ Aside from
saying ‘no,’ he does not speak. 8:210 ”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 the
endless flow, he could fall into error
with the confused idea that forms
exist after death. 8:217
”Third, this person attentively
contemplates his mind and finds that ”He may strongly identify with his
body and say that form is himself; or
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