It's me, not me: Teacher Huang's French

Author: Huang Shengchang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-12-01
Features: The essence of Mahayana Buddhism lies in Prajna (wisdom), while the essence of Hinayana Buddhism lies in karma. Prajna and karma are actually empty yet not empty, not empty yet empty, two yet not two, not two yet two – the Middle Way reality. Therefore, the four seals of Hinayana Buddhism – "all phenomena are without self, all actions are impermanent, all things are suffering, and Nirvana is tranquility" – are elevated to the one seal of Mahayana Buddhism – the Seal of One Reality. This is Prajna. All phenomena that align with Prajna are Buddhist teachings, otherwise they are not. This book captures the two fundamental points of Prajna and karma, elucidating the reality, so it is logical and engaging. Speaking of it, this book uses the sharp scalpel of Buddhist teachings to dissect the author's own mind. As a result, some bloody scenes cannot be avoided. If summarized in one sentence, the key point of this book is "to find peace in Prajna while fulfilling one's duties (fulfilling all responsibilities)." This sentence can be said to be a concise, practical, powerful, and beneficial summary of Buddhist practice. The upper half is the mind, and the lower half is the form; the upper half is wisdom, and the lower half is the context; the upper half is dimension, and the lower half is manifestation; the upper half is finding peace, and the lower half is taking action; the upper half is seeking the path, and the lower half is practicing the path; the upper half is inward, and the lower half is outward; the upper half is based on principle, and the lower half is based on action; the upper half is the meaning of emptiness, and the lower half is the meaning of practice; the upper half is the truth, and the lower half is the conventional truth; the upper half is to open wisdom, and the lower half is to cultivate blessings. The beauty of this summary lies particularly in the "while" () in the middle. With this "while," the unity of mind and form, the non-obstruction of principle and action, the non-duality of emptiness and non-emptiness, the integration of truth and convention, and the cultivation of both blessings and wisdom do not fall into extremes or become disjointed. If matched with the Three Views of Tiantai, finding peace in Prajna is the View of Emptiness, fulfilling duties is the View of Illusion, and the "while" in the middle is the View of the Middle Way. If matched with the Three Sections of True Word Buddhism, finding peace in Prajna is the Vajra Section, fulfilling duties is the Womb Section, and the "while" in the middle is the Suryasiddhi. In short, the upper half is Prajna, the lower half is karma, and the "while" in the middle is the unity of Prajna and karma.