..續本文上一頁p a theory, such as “pure mind, pure land”, it is so profound and especially needs patient and diligent study. It is not only repeated in Tibetan Buddhism, but also in Chinese Buddhism. As described in the chapter of Buddha Land in Vimalakirti Sutra, Sariputra had thought the land of Sakyamuni Buddha was impure, and filled with the five turbidities. However, the Brahma Sikhin from the East Land said, “In my eyes, the land of Sakyamuni Buddha is as pure as the heavenly palace of Isvara.” Sariputra would not believe it, as he saw only hills and hollows, brambles and gravel, and rocks and mountains. During the argument, the Buddha pressed the earth with his toe, and instantly the trimegachiliocosm appeared so pure and with immeasurable merits, as if ornamented with a hundred thousand jewels. Sariputra was so amazed by the Buddha land. Then the Buddha told him, “My Buddha land is always pure like this, it is just that you could not see it.”
Another Chinese Buddhism sutra, The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment, says that, “Sentient beings and their lands are the same as the one Dharma-nature. The dungeons of hell and the palaces of heaven are all Pure Land.” Therefore, if we want to really understand the theory of “pure mind, pure land”, we must study Vimalakirti Sutra and The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment. It would be even better to study the conceptions of the great web of magical illusion and primordial purity in perfect enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism. If one follows a qualified master”s guidance and observe his own mind, he can gradually feel that “pure mind, pure land” is not just a theory, but a practical way that will lead one to perceive incredible pure realms.
II. Impure Mind, Impure Land
The teaching is too profound to reveal its essence with just one lesson. Therefore, I want to talk about the key message, which is “impure mind, impure land”.
Why
For example, there is a white sea shell. Healthy people see white; but for a jaundice patient, it is yellow; or even worse, for a blind person, he can see nothing but darkness. So you see, the purity of environment completely depends on our own mind”s perception.
Today, the five turbidities are rampant. One”s mind is filled with greed, anger, and ignorance. Therefore, the bad karma created in this age is incredible, and it will in turn cause external environment a series of imbalances. It is hard to imagine what the most beautiful cities and enjoyable islands will turn out to be in the near future. The previous Vice President of USA, Al Gore Jr., warned people in one of his reports, by investigating the global warming for many years, that if mankind continue to destroy the nature immoderately, many coastal cities will be under the sea level in the near future. Gore didn”t reveal the true cause behind this phenomenon, the Greek philosopher Plato, however, had explained all the details in his accounts of the disappearance of the wonder nation – Atlantis.
In two of his famous dialogue works, Critias and Timaeus, Plato clearly described the existence of Atlantis. In his accounts, more than ten thousand years ago, the current Atlantic ocean was a beautiful and well-developed continent, known as Atlantis. With mild weather and dense forest, the nation was flourishing and wealthy, its people led a stable and happy life. The locals worshiped the Sea God, treated him as the highest Master, by providing him with regular offerings. As time went on, the Atlantians became corrupt. The evil replaced kindness, and greed and wickedness supplanted the natural virtues. The Sea God was angered, decided to punish them with a fatal disaster. In a great earthquake and flood, the whole continent sank into the sea within just one day and one night, and completely vanished under the waves.
Some thi…
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