Master Zhenlin’s Commentary on Lingmei’s Visit to Manjushri Bodhisattva

Master Zhenlin’s Commentary on Lingmei’s Visit to Manjushri Bodhisattva


All marks are no marks in the state of Manjushri Bodhisattva. It is all unmarked. Manjushri is no Manjushri. The other day, I sent Lingmei to pay a visit to Manjushri Bodhisattva in Mount. Wutai. I sent her the following verse: “The Hiding-the-truth Cave is not a Cave, nor is the Flying Cloud Brook a brook.”
I will soon arrange a trip for her to visit Universal Worthy Bodhisattva (Samantabhadra Bodhisattva) and get His instructions for us. We won’t meet Universal Worthy Bodhisattva in Mount E’Mei, but in the Hiding-the-truth Cave. We won’t meet Manjushri Bodhisattva in Mount. Wutai but by the Flying Cloud Brook. Nevertheless, all marks are no marks. Therefore, the Hiding-the-truth Cave is not a Cave, nor is the Flying Cloud Brook a brook.
Manjushri is the Bodhisattva of wisdom and insight. His teachings to us must be very profound and thought-provoking, and will lead us directly to the Great Vehicle and to the state of the Buddha. At the outset, He enlightened us with beautiful scenery.
Text:
It all felt like a dream when I was sitting in meditation. At the behest of Master, my soul travelled again. The Bodhisattva is not far away from us. It takes but one thought to meet Him.
Commentary:
“It all felt like a dream when I was sitting in meditation. At the behest of Master, my soul travelled again. The Bodhisattva is not far away from us. It takes but one thought to meet Him. ”
This proves what I said just now that the Bodhisattva is not a Bodhisattva. The Dharma manifests to us in accord with conditions. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have never been away from us. They are omnipresent and omnipotent. They appear as long as we show single-minded sincerity. It certainly takes a great condition for us to see them. That is why the marks are no marks. After all, when within the Three Realms and in the Buddhalands of the ten directions, the marks are still marked. Whether it is marked or unmarked depend on our mastery of cultivation when in the state. The mark is no mark if we are really in the state of the Buddha Dharma. There is no mark at all. All is the same. The Bodhisattva is you, is me, and is him. There is no difference whatsoever.
However, when seen from the perspective of ordinary people, the Bodhisattva is marked. It is so because we discriminate. We apply a discriminative mind to think how Manjushri Bodhisattva looks and how Shakyamuni Buddha looks. We are attached to the mark. While we always want to see the Bodhisattvas, they are in truth not far away. As long as we show single-minded sincerity, they manifest before us. It takes a thought that is extremely sincere, which is not easy to have. Master bestowed power on Lingmei and she made it.
Text:
As if in a trance, I arrived at Mount. Wutai. Wow! It was as beautiful as a picture! Incense fragrance and cloud canopy wreathed the temple halls. What a holy land for the immortals! I felt all of sudden refreshed, and was reminded of what Master had told me: I need to first find the Hiding-the-truth Cave to meet Manjushri Bodhisattva. As I was contemplating it, I saw a pair of chopsticks. Thin as they were, they extended upward to the heaven and drilled down the earth so that I could not see the end of them.
Commentary:
“As if in a trance, I arrived at Mount. Wutai. Wow! It was as beautiful as a picture! Incense fragrance and cloud canopy wreathed the temple halls. What a holy land for the immortals.” It was the mark manifested before her. You should understand it well. The state is not a state.
Lingmei then thought of what Master had told her that she need to get to the Hiding-the-truth Cave first before she could meet Manjushri Bodhisattva. I said so to her for fear that she should get lost. Just as she was thinking about it, Manjushri Bodhisattva conjured up first a pair of chopsticks before her. We eat with chopsticks. But the pair before Lingmei was thin and yet penetrated upward through the heaven and drilled down the earth without end. Why such a mark? Manjushri Bodhisattva was trying to enlighten us with the chopsticks. Isn’t eating something so ordinary that we do it everyday? The pair of chopsticks is analogous to our everyday life. He meant to remind us that whatever it is, be it life or cultivation, we need to approach it with a peaceful mind. It is really thought-provoking. Manjushri Bodhisattva is really of great kindness and compassion. He wanted to show to us that we should always apply a peaceful mind to life and cultivation by drawing an analogy about something as ordinary as eating.
What is a peaceful mind about? It is about an unconditioned mind. Refrain from applying a conditioned mind to cultivation or life. Just set our mind at peace. This is the message Manjushri Bodhisattva conveyed to us through the chopsticks. With such a mind, we shall be able to penetrate the Heaven and drill down the earth and acquire numerous benefits!

Text:
By then, a pair of shoes appeared before me. Well, they were not really shoes but shoe-like. As I looked inside them, it was vast and expanded into infinity and provided a different view. Before I could take a closer look, a blob of bright light appeared before me which was growing in size infinitely.
Commentary:
Why a pair of shoes? Shoes are worn to help with walking. Manjushri Bodhisattva, by showing a pair of shoes to Lingmei, means to tell us that we need to be practical and take a step-by-step approach while cultivating in the secular world, no matter how impressive our background may be. Guard against conceit and impetuosity. Do not overlook anything simply because it is insignificant. Position ourselves in where we belong. Don’t complain or grumble. Take whatever we do seriously, whether it is significant or otherwise. Only by staying practical can we possibly enter the state of the Buddha. Such an approach will always take us to our destination. See, this is just how wise Manjushri Bodhisattva is! He emphasized to us the importance of an unconditioned mind by a pair of chopsticks and that we need to be practical by a pair of shoes. This is what the Great Way is about!
Text:
I guess I was too dull to comprehend it. At that time, I saw a pond of clean water, with cloud and mist hovering over it. The water was odd-shaped. Anyway, I did not give it any further thought but just wanted to wash away the five skandas and three poisons in my body with it. As I was in the water, I felt waves of electricity running through my body. It felt like every cell of mine was being cleaned. Slightly painful as it was, I felt refreshed and physically at ease when out of it. I asked, “What water is it?” Someone replied, “Five-angle Liberation.” Though I did not understand what it meant, I suddenly thought of why I was there and did not take any further look.
Commentary:
Never take it slightly! It is the teaching to us from Manjushri Bodhisattva! Though but a few words, the conversation between the Bodhisattva and Lingmei contained and revealed to us the very essence of the twelve divisions of the Tripitaka.
Let’s see what is next. “Before I could take a closer look, a blob of bright light appeared before, and it wast growing in size infinitely. I guess I was too dull to comprehend it. At that time, I saw a pond of clean water…”: Manjushri Bodhisattva led her to the Hiding-the-truth Cave with a pair of shoes. The blob of bright light was a manifestation of mark by the Bodhisattva. Lingmei entered when the blob appeared, and it was growing in size infinitely.
While Lingwei was wondering what it meant, she saw a pond of pure water with cloud and mist hovering over it. The water shape was kind of odd. Certainly it should be odd! It was water of medication with curative effect. Manjushri Bodhisattva, by showing the water, wanted us to wash away the five skandas and three poisons in our body. He gave it a nice name: Five-angle Liberation. Certainly it is but a false name. It sounds like a Chinese medicine. Anyway, it is indeed a medicine. Why the name Five-angle Liberation? It contains deep wisdom. It is meant to liberate us from form, feeling, cognition, formation, or consciousness, to make them empty. If we can make it, that shows we have partaken the Five-angle Liberation. Lingmei had cleaned herself by staying in the water. If they are not yet empty, that means the cleaning was not thorough.
Lingmei described how it was in the text. She did not give any further thought but wanted to wash away the five skandas and three poisons in her body. Manjushri Bodhisattva was trying to enlighten her. She did feel it, as well. She was in the water and felt waves of electricity running through her body. Since it was water of medication, it would penetrate into each and every cell. She felt like every cell of hers was being cleaned. She felt slightly painful. It was but an analogy. We do feel the pain in the mind as we try to remove the form, feeling, cognition, formation, or consciousness from us. She felt refreshed and at ease when out of it. Certainly she would, with the five skandas having been removed! She then asked what water it was and got the reply that it was Five-angle Liberation. As I explained just now, it was to liberate us from the five skandas of form, feeling, cognition, formation, or consciousness. Whey they are emptied, we feel liberated both physically and mentally.
Text:
I hence asked Manjushri Bodhisattva for a bestowal of power. All of a sudden, I saw beams of bright golden light and I was immersed in it, too. I felt so warm. Within the golden light, Manjushri Bodhisattva appeared. Wow! He looked exactly as I had imagined. He had five hair buns on His head, and was sitting on a green lion. I felt Him a close relative whom I had not seen for so long. Overwhelmed with emotions, I knelt down, and bowed to Him, “At the behest of Master, I have come for your teachings.”
Commentary:
Let’ see what is next in the text. “I hence asked Manjushri Bodhisattva for bestowal of power.” When she gave thought to it, Manjushri Bodhisattva appeared in the shape and countenance that we were familiar with.
“All of a sudden, I saw beams of bright golden light…” The golden light was very bright, but not offensive to view.
“I was immersed in it, too. I felt so warm. Within the golden light, Manjushri Bodhisattva appeared. Wow! He looked exactly as I had imagined.” Manjushri Bodhisattvas manifests, especially in Mainland China, with five hair buns, and the countenance of a thirteen-or-fourteen-year-old boy. He is no ordinary child, though. His countenance is well adorned, and wonderful. In fact, all marks are empty. We should not be attached to the marks. We ordinary people feel very very happy if we are able to meet Manjushri Bodhisattva. It takes a supreme condition to have it happen. Manjushri Bodhisattva rides on a green lion. Lingmei was overwhelmed with emotions when she saw the Bodhisattva, as if He were a relative whom she had not met for so long. Immediately she knelt down, and bowed to Him, “At the behest of Master, I have come for your teachings.”
Text:
The Bodhisattva smiled to me and said, “The Heaven and Earth is a barren wilderness of chaos. The solution lies in the word ONE. Difference is the characteristics of life. It depends on who you are. Take a ‘count-me-in’ approach. The Dharma doors are expedient as people are guided through the door by expediency. Use your mind to contemplate it, and the path shall appear before you itself. When all is united in One, all the mist and cloud shall disperse. Once freed from greed, there is no impediment. You shall feel unfettered, and without the self. It is all but empty and unreal. Once awake, you shall realize it is but a dream. The Path is no Path, and the Way no Way. ”

Commentary:
No matter what questions she put, the Bodhisattva was always kind and amiable. He smiled and said to Lingmei, “The Heaven and Earth is a barren wilderness of chaos. The solution lies in the word ONE.”
These lines explain that we have to work on One if we are to enter the state of the Buddha. The One refers to single-mindedness. One is what the state of the Buddha is about. From One, two is derived, and then three,…, and everything.
Taiji (Dao) conceives the two poles of Ying and Yang, and two poles give rise to the four realms, and the four realms to the Eight Diagrams…and the universe. In the final analysis, it boils down to One. When we are in the state of One, we enter Buddhahood, and achieve the bright enlightenment and get back to our true-self. We attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. All of these states are the same. Nothing can be said of them. The One is about single-mindedness, or, the Bodhi Mind.
“Difference is the characteristics of life. It depends on who you are. Take a ‘count-me-in’ approach.”
Life comes in different forms. One person looks different from another, as their eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and consciousness are different. Nothing is the same in the universe. Animals, plants, etc, are all different. It depends on who we are. To find out the truth, we need to reflect within to get to the origin of life and the truth about the universe.
“The Dharma doors are expedient as it guides people through the door by expediency. Use your mind to contemplate it, and the Path shall appear before you itself.” There are eighty-four thousand Dharma doors and all of them are expedient. Why are there so many of them? It is so because people are different from each other. He who wants to strike it rich won’t be interested in listening to you talk about staying single-mindful. Tell him, that out of the Dharma-doors, this or that sutra can help him get rich. Well, by then he will accept and recite it. It complies with his wish. As he recites more, not only will he get more lucky in making money, but his mind shall more and more be at peace. Gradually he is no longer greedy for monetary gains. This is how expedient the Buddha Dharma can be.
People have different wishes. Some want a child, others want health, and still others want spiritual penetrations. Tell them what sutra can help them and that as long as they recite the sutra, their wishes will be granted. This is how expedient the Dharma is. Granting their wishes is not the ultimate end.
While one may want simply to make more money by upholding a sutra at the beginning, it nonetheless gets them into the Buddha Dharma. This is how expedient it is.
“Use your mind to contemplate it, and the Path shall appear before you itself. When all is united in One, all the mist and cloud shall disperse.” Our level of comprehension will be heightened as we cultivate. We should use our mind to contemplate the changes carefully. Try to observe and fathom the rule of changes of the universe, the changes of our body, and of everything. See how it evolves. “The path shall appear before you itself.” What is the path? It is the path leading us to Buddhahood. We shall come to realize it sooner or later.
Keep in mind the next line, “When all is united in One, all the mist and cloud shall disperse.” When our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, consciousness, store-house consciousness, and alaya consciousness are all merged into One, or when they all become one blob, all the mist and cloud shall disperse. The cloud and mist are likened to what blinds us. When they are merged in One, the Buddhalands of ten directions, the marks of the Three Realms, and everything in the universe shall be revealed to us. We shall be crystal clear about them, and know why.
“Once freed from greed, there is no impediment.” After the mist and cloud have dispersed, we shall realize that “once freed from greed, there is no impediment.” Nothing can impede us if we are not greedy. Everything is created by our mind of greed. That is why greed comes first when we talk of the three poisons of greed, hatred, and ignorance. Once we free ourselves from greed, nothing else is left. All the impediment and afflictions result from greed. Will we still feel impeded when the greed is off our mind?
“You shall feel unfettered, and without the self. It is all but empty and unreal.” Everything is empty and illusory. While it may seem both real and illusory, it is in fact empty and unreal. This is in reference to everything within the Three Realms. When we free ourselves from greed, we shall find everything is unreal and illusory. It is non-existent. By then, you shall feel liberated, at ease, and unfettered. You will be in the state of without the self. Everything is empty and unreal.
“Once awake, you shall realize it is but a dream.” When we are advanced in cultivation to such a state, we shall wake up as if from a dream. It just looks like a dream to us. Nothing is left. It is devoid of everything. We shall come to realize that the path is not a path. The Dharma is no dharma. All the Dharma is but a path. After we walk through it, we should let it go. When we are enlightened, we’d realize that Dharma is found in everything. I gave you an instructional talk earlier today and spoke in verse form when Lingyun recited the text for us.
“The path is no path, and the way no way.” When we are in such a state, we get enlightened. There is no Dharma that we cannot talk. We can talk Dharma from anything that happens to us. By then, the path is no path, the Dharma no Dharma, and the way no way. There is nothing to cultivate, as we are applying an unconditioned mind to cultivation.
Text:
As I did not get the point, I asked, “What is the priority for us?”

Manjushri Bodhisattva replied, “Subduing your mind is the key.”

He then went on to say, “Take nothing as real. How can you possibly return if your mind lingers in the secular world? Put it down, stay in accord with conditions, contemplate the mind in concentration, and you will find, by the time you return to your true-self, all that has lingered in your mind is but illusory like mist and cloud. Greed stays in the mind of those who are attached to the form. As a cultivator, you should cherish life with a different focus. Anything conditioned is flawed. Go along the Middle Way, and you shall be at ease. Follow Master’s instructions and reflect within. The weaknesses of others should help to reveal yours. Start from what may be as insignificant as a water drop. Don’t get impatient. Know your own limitations and stay in harmony with others. The eight consciousnesses are originally in one. You should make vows to bring them back to it. Do not be bent on achieving success. Take it as empty. The door to wisdom lies in your mind. You’ll get enlightened if your mind is clearly awakened. You’ll get enlightened if your mind is clearly awakened.You need to not only understand the Way but also practice it. Applying real efforts to cultivation is the key as we practice to certify the Way.”
Commentary:
Lingmei did not quite understand the first passage. So, she asked, “What is the priority for us?” Manjushri Bodhisattva replied, “Subduing your mind is the key.”
Some people are just greedy. Having eaten pheasant, they want swan. Having taken abalone, they want dolphin. It is just how greedy human beings can be! A cultivator, however, should keep the greed under control. We eat just to survive. Do not get too greedy for food.
“Greed stays in the mind of those who are attached to the form. As a cultivator, you should cherish life with a different focus.”
As a cultivator, we should not go for an extravagant material lifestyle. We use something simply for the purpose of using it. For example, we drive to get around more conveniently. In this case, a Xiali will do. Why do we have to have a BMW? It makes it complex if we pursue material enjoyment and fame. A cultivator should refrain from it. If we are attached to the form, it shows greed still stays in our mind. While we also cherish life, the focus is different.
“Anything conditioned is flawed. Going the Middle Way, you shall be at ease.” We cultivators should apply an unconditioned mind to cultivation. Do not go for the conditioned.
Applying an unconditioned mind means that we focus our mind on cultivation instead of on how much we accomplish. Try our best to cultivate, but do not ask what fruit we’d reap. If we can apply an unconditioned mind, there is nothing we cannot achieve. In Taoism, this is referred to as “keep an unconditioned mind, and there is nothing we cannot do.” Remove selfishness, have a big heart, and we get our mind unconditioned.
Manjushri Bodhisattva reminded us that “Anything conditioned is flawed.” We are flawed if we have a conditioned mind. If we set off to ferry others over when we have simply read a few Buddhist scriptures, our mind is conditioned. We do not go out of our way to take others cross. It just won’t work. While it may seem that we are being compassionate and kind trying to ferry others over, it is a manifestation of selfishness. Isn’t it a flaw?
“Go along the Middle Way, and you shall be at ease.” What does the Middle Way refer to? Master has always stressed to you that in no time should we indulge ourselves. Do not get attached to the mark and cling to the superficial form. Take staying vegetarian for example. We are being attached if we always think that this is something I cannot eat and that is something I cannot use. We do not make progress by being attached as it only takes us to a dead end.
Shakyamuni Buddha tells us to choose the Middle Way, which means we live a life as ordinary as possible, be it about eating and sleeping. Whatever we use, it is only for the sake of using it. We eat to fill our stomachs and dress to cover our body and stay warm. Why care whether it is a brand name or not or how good quality it is? Try to free ourselves from selfishness and desires as much as possible. Shakyamuni Buddha does not ask us to be free from them completely, but to minimize them as much as we can. Do not indulge ourselves in desires. We humans have many desires such as the desires for food, for sex, for love, etc. Minimize them as much as possible! This is the Middle Way advocated by Shakyamuni Buddha, and what makes us at ease.
“Follow Master’s instructions and reflect within. The weaknesses of others should help to reveal yours.”
Manjushri Bodhisattva also asks you to follow Master’s instructions and reflect within.
Do not just focus on others’ weaknesses and compare them with your advantages. Refrain from commenting the shortcomings of others, but rather try to find out our own. As the Bodhisattva said, the weaknesses of others should help to reveal ours. If we see something wrong with others, what about ours? Reflect inwardly.
“Start from what may be as insignificant as a water drop”: Take it easy. Do not get impatient. See, the Buddha and Bodhisattva always warned us against being impatient. Manjushri Bodhisattva and Guanyin Bodhisattva know well how anxious and always in a hurry we are. We get impatient in cultivation and in living. How does it help us anyway? No need to be impatient. Remember what Guanyin Bodhisattva said to us? “Rushing water flow takes away everything.” We’d get nothing being impatient. Start from what may be as insignificant as a water drop. Don’t be impatient.
“Know your own limitations and stay in harmony with others.”
The message here is that we should know our limitations well. Always turn the light and reflect inwardly. Philosophers often say that the biggest challenge is to understand ourselves and overcome the ego. Our greatest enemy is none other than ourselves. Therefore, it is important that we know ourselves well, including our strengths and limitations. Try to change ourselves for the better.
Stay in harmony with others. We cultivators should refrain from putting on a unique style as if we were different from others. While he wants to go toward this direction, you want that direction. He says he is the best while you think you are. No harmony can be achieved in this way.
“The eight consciousnesses are originally in one. You should make vows to bring them back to it.” Originally the eight consciousnesses are all in one mind. Why bother to distinguish them? They should be in one. We should get them back to the source, which is the mind.
“Do not be bent on achieving success. Take it as empty.”
As we cultivate, we should not focus our mind on how much we may achieve, nor what a state we may reach through cultivation. Do not do it, but rather take it all as empty. As I have always stressed to you, take cultivation seriously, but do not focus our mind on how much we may achieve.
“The door to wisdom lies in your mind.” The true wisdom lies in our mind. Every Bodhisattva, when giving us the instructional talk, goes to great length on the cultivation of the mind. This is the characteristics of the Great Vehicle, in which cultivation of the mind is prioritized. We can only get through the door to the Buddha Dharma if we place faith in it and get enlightened only if we cultivate our mind.
Earlier today I told you that cultivating our mind is like cutting open a melon.
Lingyun was reciting the text Lingmei’s visit to Manjushri Bodhisattva, and I felt it so supreme as I listened to it. Though it was Lingyun reciting it, I felt like it was Manjushri Bodhisattva talking to me. Thanks to such a condition, I entered the state. I came up with the verse offhand:
“Dharma is found everywhere if we cherish it in our heart.
Listening to you recite the text is like opening a melon.
As the melon is open, the mind is enlightened, and the Buddha nature reveals.
While many people are looking for the Buddha around externally, I prefer to opening the melon.
The melon is not a melon, but rather the mind.
Many ask where they can find the Buddha Dharma.
The Dharma can be found everywhere.
They may think she is merely reciting a text, while I listen to it as the Dharma.”
Lingyun was reciting the text for us and it was like opening a melon. You should all take your time to opening your own melon. I spoke the verse offhand. Hopefully it is thought-provoking to you. You please take your time delving into it.
Many would think she was simply reciting a text because they were not listening with mind. As a result, they failed to evoke any response from it. If we are in tune with the text, we are in tune with Manjushri Bodhisattva. This is why I was able to speak the verse offhand. I had been taken to the state. Lingmei wept tearfully when I was typing the verse. Nobody said anything to her. She was listening with her mind, and entered the state. She was able to feel it keenly. As Manjushri Bodhisattva told us, the door to wisdom lies in our mind.
We’ll get enlightened if our mind is clearly awakened. Do not worry about when we’d get enlightened. Take a practical and step-by-step approach towards cultivation. Always reflect within. We’d attain enlightenment sooner or later. Only when our mind is awakened do we attain it.
We need to not only understand the Way but also practice it. Many of you do get to understand it after reading the Buddhist scripture and listening to Master’s sutra lectures. Lingwen was saying to me happily, “Master, I got it!” Well, yes, you have achieved what Manjushri Bodhisattva described as to “understand the Way”. But, do not neglect the latter part of the message. We need to also practice it. We need to apply it. For example, we are not supposed to lose our temper now that we know getting angry is bad, and it destroys the merits and virtues having accumulated. Next time when someone scolds us, we should ask ourself, “Why bother to be angry? I don’t want to destroy the merits and virtues accumulated.” Our mind will be set at peace if we can think so, and by doing so, we are practicing the Way. Read wholeheartedly the teachings by Manjushri Bodhisattva! In this way, our minds shall be the Bodhisattva’s mind. We shall not only be able to understand it, but also apply it into practice.
Let’s read the next message. “Applying real efforts to cultivation is the key as we practice to certify the Way.” Whether we are practicing the Way or working to certify to it, the key is how we work on it. As what I have always stressed to you that practice is of utmost important in learning the Buddha Dharma! We need to practice it. It won’t help if we can memorize all the scriptures of the twelve divisions of the Tripitaka but do not practice it. We’d remain out of it. Manjushri Bodhisattva therefore exhorted us to practice it. Practice is the key!
Many people are greedy. They are greedy for the Dharma. They hear some say the Mantra of the Great Compassion is good, they recite it. Then they hear others say the Vajra Sutra is efficacious, and they change to Vajra Sutra. Before long they hear still others say that the Sutra of Longevity is great, and they come to uphold the Sutra of Longevity. They have no idea what is the best for them, and therefore simply recite all of them.
Can they digest them all? Why most cultivators fail to reap the fruit? They get lost. There are ten paths before them, and they walk each and every of them. How can they not get lost? Some people have been cultivating for five years, ten years, or even twenty years but still yet to get started, while others, though a novice, make rapid progress. It is not because the latter picks a better Dharma to practice but they know well that only by walking along a single path will they reach the destination. Cultivate with a singular focus! You should know it after you become my disciples. Otherwise, many of you are still walking between the ten paths.
There is a new member to our family today. Before he became my disciple, he said to me, “You are the Master that points the right path to me!” He later explained why. He recited not only the Earth Store Sutra, the Earth Store Mantra, but also the Vajra Sutra, etc. I laughed and told him to take it easy. I asked him to practice what he thought the best for him, either the Earth Store Mantra or the Earth Store Sutra, but there should be only one focus. Others are to be used, not to be cultivated.
Shakyamuni Buddha also tells us to ferry ourselves first before we take others across. Why the sequence? We have to get it across ourselves and certify to it before we can possibly ferry others over. Many of my disciples have yet to be back to the family. They are still walking towards the wrong direction. Anyway, they are planting good roots through cultivation and will eventually return. Still there are many who are not so fortunate. Isn’t it a pity that while they have been cultivating life after life diligently and yet all in vain? They keep cooking with sand instead of rice. They’ll never get to the end. It is really pathetic and pitiable.
Text:
As I did not quite understand it, I asked the Bodhisattva, “What is the best way to cultivate the Way?”
The Bodhisattva replied, “As I said, the focus is to cultivate the mind. When you cultivate to the extent that the self is removed, you reap the fruits. If you certify to it, attain the enlightenment, and your mind shall be characteristics of the Buddha nature. You are possessive even with the knowledge that all is but empty. Broaden your mind to be as wide as the ocean. Lower your position, and do not get more than you want. Take good use of the precious opportunity that you are born as humans. Get to the position that belongs to you, and transcend the self.
Commentary:
Lingmei did not quite get the point of what Manjushri Bodhisattva was talking. She asked, “What is the best way to cultivate the Way?” Don’t think that Lingmei was dull. It was to benefit us that her head was being knocked all the time. We should express sympathetic joy over her merits and virtues. The Bodhisattva went on to say, “As I said, the focus is to cultivate the mind. When you cultivate to the extent that the self is removed, you reap the fruits.” The Bodhisattva again exhorted us to focus cultivating the mind to remove the ego. It can be very rewarding. Do not cultivate while thinking how much we can accomplish. How meritorious can it be if we harbour such a thought?
“When you cultivate to the extent that the self is removed, you reap the fruits. If you certify to it, attain the enlightenment, and your mind shall be characteristics of the Buddha nature.”
Our mind is awakened by the time it is in one with the Buddha nature. Nevertheless, many of us continue to be possessive even when knowing that emptiness is the characteristics of everything. For these people, we cannot say that they do not know the Buddha Dharma. In fact, they understand it well and know well that everything in the world and universe is empty, and yet they continue to be possessive and want to take under control as much as possible. It is a wrong attitude. We need to put it down.
The Bodhisattva exhorted us to broaden our mind as wide as the ocean. How embracing is the ocean? No where can we find it if a ship sinks into it. All the rivers and streams flow to it. The ocean takes them all, whether they are clean or polluted. This is just how embracing the ocean is. We need to broaden our mind and make it accommodating to everything, be it good or bad. Also we should lower our position, and do not get more than we need.
What does mean to lower our position? The more senior-ranking we are, the more we should be able to back up. This is like doing a long jump. We need to back up first to jump to a longer distance. The same applies here. We need to lower our profile and choose to be behind others voluntarily. In fact, we should enjoy being behind others. Do not jump before others by thinking that we have accumulated more merits and virtues than others. We get a better view staying behind, and would get what we need. In fact, we’ll get what we want by giving up. This works in every aspect of our life. It is really not worth it going into fierce fighting for some insignificant things. We could have got more by giving up. Lower our position, and what we need will naturally show up and come to us.
“Take good use of the precious opportunity that you are born as humans. Get to the position that belongs to you, and transcend the self.” The Bodhisattva was exhorting us to take good advantage the opportunity that we are born as humans and get to the position that belongs to us. To transcend the self means to be selfless. Do what we should do. Refrain from commenting the weaknesses of others. We should voluntarily stand behind others, which, in fact, will lead us to greater success. This is what is emphasized in Taoist doctrines as “apply an unconditioned mind, and there is nothing we cannot do.” To be a good leader, one should not assume a leader’s air. One should be the first to bear hardships and the last to enjoy comforts. Whoever can make it will naturally gain the authority and leadership.
Text:
I asked, “What can I do in view of the challenges I have in cultivation at the moment?”
“Be diligent in cultivation, but refrain from impatience. Do not grumble. Customize the prescription to the symptoms. Arrogance is to be subdued by sincerity and patience. As you come and go, the self has got the better of you. Do not force yourself in understanding Master’s instruction to you. Love master as much you love yourself. Love others as much you love yourself. When you are able to show Great Love, the Buddha Dharma is omnipresent. Apply an unconditioned mind to whatever you do. Sincerity is found in an unconditioned mind.”
Commentary:
Lingmei raised yet another question and asked what she should do. She is really good at asking questions (laughter).
The Bodhisattva suggested that we should “Be diligent in cultivation, but refrain from impatience. Do not grumble.” He knows clearly what we are thinking. He suggested that we cultivate diligently but do not get impatient. Do not be anxious to accomplish anything. In Dharma propagation, for example, don’t refuse to do it simply because it looks insignificant and choose only those that sound huge. Whatever it is, as long as it helps to spread the Dharma, we should do it without any grumbling.
“Customize the prescription to the symptoms. Arrogance is to be subdued by sincerity and patience.”
The symptoms refer to our weaknesses. Some of my disciples are always obsessed with emotions, and you should work on it. Others are arrogant and they should work to address it. You have been following Master in cultivation for sometime. You may have noticed that hardships or challenges always surface before us in areas where we are the weakest. One of you, for example, was quite arrogant in personality. I told him, that he had in fact been opposing to me in a previous life when I was lecturing a sutra. I did not blame him for that but treated him with kindness. He took refuge with me in that life. He met me again in the present life. He was sick. He subdued his arrogance after he got sick. The hardship he underwent helped to round off the corners in his character. This is what it means to “customize the prescription to the symptoms.”
“Arrogance is to be subdued by sincerity and patience.” We should show sincerity whatever we do. It takes patience to subdue arrogance.
“As you come and go, the self has got the better of you.”
“As you come and go”: We have been subject to the cycle of life and death as we have yet to remove the ego, which has got the better of us. We always think of the self, and fail to reach the state of no-self, though we have been cultivating life after life.
The Bodhisattva went on to exhort us, “ Do not force yourself in understanding Master’s instruction to you.”
“Love Master as much you love youself. Love others as much you love yourself. “
Love Master, just like how you love yourself. The same with how you love others.
“When we show Great Love, the Buddha Dharma is omnipresent.”
When you are able to show great love, which is free from selfishness, we shall know that the Buddha Dharma manifests everywhere.
“The cause of wisdom lies in a mind of sincerity”: He talked of the mind again. The Bodhisattva expounded on the mind in every passage. This shows how very important the mind is.
“Apply an unconditioned mind to whatever you do. Sincerity is found in an unconditioned mind.”
He again told us to apply an unconditioned mind and that sincerity is found in an unconditioned mind.
To apply an unconditioned mind means that we should focus on the process instead of the end whatever we do. We are not truly cultivator of the Way until our mind is unconditioned. Well, I can only explain it in a simple way. It would take a long time if I were to dwell on it. See, the door to wisdom and the cause of wisdom lie in our mind.
Text:
The Bodhisattva smiled to me, “Your head deserves a knock. No matter how myriad the transformations are, the mind remains unchanged. No matter how challenging it is, your mind should not harbour any fear. It is all up to you how fast time flies and how powerful your vows can be. Since you know why you are here, why not keep working for it? Assist the Master if you are to return to where you belong. If you are never content, false states will manifest. You have to refrain from being greedy and possessive before you attain perfection of wisdom.

Commentary:
Lingmei again asked, “Is it all”? Bodhisattva smiled. Lingmei was too dull having asked so many questions. “Your head deserves a knock. No matter how challenging it is, your mind should not harbour any fear.”
We have gone through so many transformations life after life, sometimes as a dog, others as a cat, or a Bodhisattva, or an Arhat. Nevertheless, no matter how we change, the mind remains unchanged.
No matter how challenging it is, our mind should not harbour any fear.
As long as we put it down, there is no challenge before us. See, it is not that difficult. That is why our head deserves a knock.
“It is all up to you how fast time flies and how powerful your vows can be.”Some of you ask me from time to time, “Master, when can I attain enlightenment?” Well, how long it takes depends on us. We attain it as long as we put it down. Someone asked me earlier today, “Master, when can I fully recover?” I told him, “You’d recover when you are able to recite the Sutra of Longevity without the least trace of doubt.” He said, “I am no longer skeptical of it.” “Are you?” I asked him.” Weren’t you saying that it might be because you recited the mantra that your disease had yet to heal?”
Faith is not built by paying lip services. We have to really believe in it without the least bit of doubt. When we can make it depends on us. If we do not practice it, it can be very long. If we can put it down, well, now is the time. It is all up to us. We have to work on our mind. What we can achieve depends on the vows we make.
Manjushri Bodhisattva knew that I had told you of your missions. He said, “Since you know why you are here, why not keep working for it?” He exhorted us to do our best to work on what is before us, which is to apply an ordinary mind to life and cultivation, and an unconditioned mind to the propagation of the Buddha Dharma. We have come to the secular world to both cultivate ourselves and to ferry others over. This is our mission.
“Assist the Master if you are to return to where you belong.”
Do not mistake it. To return to where you belong is not achieved by relying totally on Master. This is not what He meant. Rather, it means you should assist Master in the propagation of the Buddha Dharma. We all have our own missions. It is not that we are doing the same thing. We should do what we are supposed to do. Assisting Master with propagation of the Dharma is what you as my disciples should do. Many of you are doing it now. Gradually as more disciples join the family, find their positions, we shall all be doing it.
Lingmei’s travelling around is her mission. Lingkong, Lingyun, and Lingzhi are all doing what they should do. The new disciples shall also gradually get to know their missions. There are many missions involved in propagation of the Buddha Dharma. Do not refuse to do it simply it looks insignificant.
“If you are never content, false states will manifest.”
If we are greedy, false states shall appear before us. False states here refer to hardships and challenges. The priority, therefore, is to work to remove the greed.
“You have to refrain from being greedy and possessive before you attain perfection of wisdom.”
The Bodhisattva said the same thing, “You have to refrain from being greedy and possessive before you attain perfection of wisdom.” We have to rid ourselves from the greed for this and that before we reach the state of perfection. In the final analysis, imperfection is always caused by greed. People in the Heaven of Neither Thought Nor Non-Thought have put down everything except the possession to spiritual penetrations. As a result, they are unable to free themselves from the ego. Wisdom reveals naturally when we are without the self. Manjushri Bodhisattva stressed the same principle. In fact, there is nothing to speak when one is in the state.
Text:
Before I could put another question, the Bodhisattva gave a knock to my head, and said, “The knock is on your head, but I hope your mind receives the response. The nature shall manifest when your mind does not give rise to any thought. Do distinguish the right from the wrong when in the state. The demons exist right in your mind. They show up if you are greedy. Go ahead with cultivation, without asking what lies ahead, without wavering your faith, without grumbling or attachment. When the water comes, a channel is formed. As long as you are single-mindful, you always receive a response. If it is to benefit the living beings, you reap good fruits for your kindness and compassion. ”

Commentary:
Lingmei wanted to ask more, but the Bodhisattva knocked her head, and said, “The knock is on your head, but I hope your mind receives the response.” He hoped that our mind could be in tune with His.
“The nature shall manifest when your mind does not give rise to any thought.”
The nature refers to the Buddha nature, which IS our true mind of brightness and permanence. When our mind does not giver rise to any thought, we reach the state where the nature shall manifest. We shall understand what Buddha nature is, and what it means to have a bright mind and to contemplate the nature. The nature is unmarked and invisible. It is formless and tasteless. It does not do anything but can achieve everything. Perhaps what I say beats you. Anyway, by the day your mind is free from the thoughts and in Samadhi, you shall understand what it is like.
“Do distinguish the right from the wrong when in the state.”
We will enter different states as we cultivate. We should be able to tell the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from the Demon. To the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, we give them our heart and mind. The demons exist in our mind. They show up if we are greedy, no matter for what. Even the greed for Dharma can open the door and allow the demons in.
“Go ahead with cultivation, without asking what lies ahead, without wavering your faith, without grumbling or attachment.”
In the final analysis, we should keep our mind ordinary. Do not ask why. Why bother to ask why? Just go ahead with our life and cultivation with an ordinary mind.
“When the water comes, a channel is formed. As long as you are single-mindful, you always receive a response.”
I talked about this sometime ago. When in the state of the Great Vehicle, we can always evoke a response as long as we are single-mindful. Our wishes will be granted. The key is to remove the self. When our mind is free from greed, we shall enter the Great Vehicle State of efficaciousness. Be very careful about the thought we give rise to. It can be deadly enough to kill someone. Sure, when we are really in such a state, we won’t give rise to any evil thought. There is nothing good or bad but our thinking makes it so. How do we distinguish the good from the bad?
“If it is to benefit the living beings, you reap good fruits for your kindness and compassion.”
If it is to serve the public interest, we will be well rewarded. Earlier today, Tianyake told me that Lingxu just freaked out. Why? She had the Buddha Speaks Eight Yang Dharani Sutra of Heaven and Earth printed based on the version popular in Taiwan. I checked it and found it contained many misspelt words. She was fearful to learn it. Word has it that those who make the scriptures wrong commit a big offense. Why should you be fearful, Lingxu? You did not do it on purpose but unwittingly. Your intention was good. You did not try to get it wrong deliberately. You were intent on ferrying over others. You had the sutra printed so that more could benefit from it. Your intention was good. I have often stressed it to you. The Bodhisattva was saying it again to you so that you keep them in mind.

Text:
I was so dull that I wanted to further ask some questions. The Bodhisattva had a knock on my head. I was happy to receive the knock, though. I dared not take a look at with which the Bodhisattva knocked on my head. It felt like a ruler.
Commentary:
Lingmei wrote that “I was so dull that I wanted to further ask some questions. The Bodhisattva had a knock on my head.” Though being knocked, she still felt happy. She dared not get disobedient before the Bodhisattva and did not even take a look at with which the Bodhisattva knocked on her head. It fact, it was with a wish-granting stick.
Text:
I also heard, “I exhort you to be mindful of your master’s instructions. Originally you have been one, and there is no need to be jealous about each other. Do not be anxious. Move on with steady steps. By then, the flowers will blossom in your mind. I reiterate the importance of single-mindfulness to you because you have asked it and I want to make it clear to you. When you rid yourselves of the self with single-mindfulness, the dust in your mind shall be settled. It is meritorious if you are single-mindful of serving the living beings. The empty space shall appear if you are single-mindful. Cling to the single-mindfulness, and the inherent nature shall manifest. Though the fruit shall ripen eventually, you still have to cultivate to certify to it. The true gold has to be extracted in the fire. It has been long since you first came to cultivate. Do not ask when you are going to make it. You have to practice to evoke a response from the Buddha Dharma. Walking, standing, sitting or residing is but a means to facilitate your cultivation. Always remain single-mindful, and you shall awaken to it. By the time the mission is completed, we shall get together joyfully as that’s the appointment made.
Commentary:
Having knocked on her head, the Bodhisattva said, “ I exhort you to be mindful of your master’s instructions. Originally you have been one, and there is no need to be jealous about each other.”
We can be disturbed by all kinds of afflictions, as a result of a mind characterized by jealousy. Jealousy still exists in our subconsciousness. Originally we should be united as one. When we attain it, there is no difference between us. We can be Manjushri as well as Guanyin. Rid ourself of jealousy. Take a step-by-step approach.
Do not be anxious. Move on with steady steps. By then, the flowers will blossom in our mind.
“I reiterate the importance of single-mindfulness to you because you have asked it and I want to make it clear to you.”
As our good roots grow and merits and virtues accrue, we arrive at the destination before we know it. Manjushri Bodhisattva reiterated this point because Lingmei kept asking Him. He explained it to us in different wording to help us understand and make it clear to us. He is never impatient. He won’t get away before making it clear to us. It is all about single-mindfulness and how we should cultivate to achieve it.
“When you rid yourselves of the self with single-mindfulness, the dust in your mind shall be settled.”
The dust in our mind refers to the seven emotions, six desires, and three poisons of greed, hatred, and ignorance. They’d be wiped off by single-mindfulness.
“It is meritorious if you are single-mindful of serving the living beings.” If the single thought we have is for the interest of the public, of the living beings, we shall amass big merits and virtues.
“The empty space shall appear if you are single-mindful.” When the eight consciousnesses are united in one, that is, when we are single-mindful, the empty space shall appear before us. Everything will be clear to us and appear before us, including the Buddhalands of the ten directions.
“Cling to the single-mindfulness, and the inherent nature shall manifest.” As long as we can adhere to single-mindfulness, the inherent nature, which is the Buddha nature, shall appear and is always with us, whether we are walking, living, sitting, or lying down. When it appears, and we are in tune with the Buddha nature, there is nothing we cannot achieve. That is to say, while we seem to be doing nothing, we can do everything. We never think of what we should do, but once a single thought arises, it is done.
“Though the fruit shall ripen eventually you still have to cultivate to certify to it.” We still have to work on it to reap the fruit which will ripen sooner or later.
“Apply real efforts to cultivation and certifying to it. Fine gold must be purified in flaming fire.”
We have to purify the fine gold of Buddha nature with the three magic fires of greed, hatred, and ignorance.
“The true gold has to be extracted in the fire. It has been long since you first came to cultivate. Do not ask when you are going to make it.”
It has been a long time since we first came to purify our mind. Do not ask when we are going to overcome it. While it has been quite a while since we started the cultivation process, we should ask when we are going to pull it through. Don’t ask, and we will make it before we know it.
“You have to practice to evoke a response from the Buddha Dharma.”
We always have to apply real efforts to practice is to get a response. How other peoples are cultivate has nothing to do with us. We’d never feel full to see others eating Mantou (a Chinese bread made of flour).
“Walking, standing, sitting or residing is but a means to facilitate your cultivation. Always remain single-mindful, and you shall awaken to it.”
We talked about walking, standing, sitting and residing. Whatever we do, it is to be used. It should be fine as long as it works. Don’t get possessive to them. We eat to fill our stomach and clothes to stay warm. Don’t ask for more than we need.
Manjushri Bodhisattva therefore reminded us that walking, standing, sitting or residing is but a means to facilitate our cultivation. There is nothing we cannot give up except adherence to the single-mindfulness. Do not cast it away. When our mind is awakened to the Way, it is in tune with the Buddha Dharma.
“By the time the mission is completed, we shall get together joyfully as that’s the appointment made.”
Every Bodhisattva that Lingmei meets would tell us that eventually we shall all get together joyfully. After all, we made the appointment before. I don’t need to explain further this point. Many of the Heavenly Kings also said so.
Text:
I said, “Is it all?”
Commentary:
Lingmei again asked, “Is it all?”
Lingmei had wanted to bring back to us as many teachings as possible. She kept asking for more. In fact, all the sutras of the twelve divisions of the Tripitaka are contained in His brief answers.
Text:
The Bodhisattva smiled and said, “While there are many seeds, the mind remains single. Find the one that suits you the best and the obstacles in the mind will be overcome. A plant has to be deeply rooted to flourish.
Commentary:
What is the seed? Lingmei is a seed, Lingkong is a seed, and I am a seed, too. While there are many seeds, the mind remains single. Our minds are all the same.
Find the one that suits us the best and the obstacles in the mind will be overcome.
Whatever we do, including cultivation, the obstacles of the mind will be overcome as long as we apply the means that suits us the best.
Lingyun has been in a good mood recently. She has found the position that belongs to her and has overcome the obstacles in her mind. She made a vow, and in the same evening the vow was made, the Bodhisattva appeared in her dream.
Lingyun was reciting the text of Lingmei’s trips for us. Wherever Lingmei goes to transmit the Dharma, Lingyun’s voice will follow. She made the vow, and therefore the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas appeared in her dream, too.
This is the message to us. As long as we find the position and the means that suit us the best, we can overcome the mind obstacles.
We have to lay the foundation well before setting off for a new mission. This means we need to keep cultivating, reflecting within, and turning the light within. Look for the weaknesses that stay with us. Rid ourselves of the weaknesses, and the foundation shall be well laid.
We need to apply an unconditioned mind to cultivating the Buddha Dharma. The Bodhisattva stressed this point time and again. He had made the Buddha Dharma very clear to us. After saying it, the Bodhisattva disappeared.
Text:
I kept thinking over it after I was back. I did not quite get the point of the Bodhisattva. I think I’d better leave it to Master to explain. I was blaming myself for not fulfilling the mission very well when I heard a voice speaking to my ears, “As long as you are wholeheartedly devoted, everything is done to perfection.” I am just worried more than necessary. Master often says that everything is created by the mind. We should contemplate it with our mind. When the mind is awakened, all is clear to us.
Commentary:
Lingmei kept pondering over it after she had returned. She did not quite catch the point of the Bodhisattva. “I think I’d better leave it to Master to explain it. I was blaming myself for not fulfilling the mission very well…” Lingmei, you are being attached to the mark if you think so.
Soon Lingmei heard a voice speaking to her, “As long as you are wholeheartedly devoted, everything is done to perfection.” Lingmei, you have been there, and tried your best, why blame yourself for not doing it well enough?
“I am just worried more than necessary.” That’s why her head was knocked.
“I think of what Master has said that everything is created by the mind”. It is great that she could think of what Master had told her. We should contemplate it with our mind. When the mind is awakened, all is clear to us. The Bodhisattva made it clear to us that our mind has yet to be open. It is like a melon yet to be open. When the melon is open, our true mind will naturally manifest. Hopefully, my commentary today on the text as well as the verse could help to open your mind and get your true mind out.
Ok, with this we now come to the end of the lecture.
May the merit and virtue accrued from this work,
Adorn the Buddha’s Pure Lands,
Repaying the four kinds of kindness above,
And aiding those suffering in the paths below.
May those who see and hear of this,
All bring forth the resolve for Bodhi,
And when this retribution body is over,
Be born together in Ultimate Bliss.
Amitabha-Buddha! May we all be filled with the joy of the Dharma!