Posts
Those who can read Chinese should read through the two pdfs/documents. You can use phone read to text to read for you (that's what I do when I am driving, etc).
Here's the link to my compilation of Zen Master Hong Wen Liang: https://app.box.com/s/ceb9i7wsk0lkfl2sjex97ai56l1k52pf
I really like his teachings. As John tan said, "There
r too many insightful pointers, really worth reading it multiple times.
Teacher Hong Wen Liang is 89 years old this year, glad u treasure his
articles. Difficult to find a teacher with such intimacy with one's
empty clarity. 
"
- Reply
- 4h
- Edited
- Reply
- 4h
- Reply
- 3h
- Edited
- Reply
- 3h
- Reply
- 3h
- Edited
- Reply
- 3h
- Edited
- Reply
- 3h
- Reply
- 3h
- Edited
- Reply
- 2h
- Reply
- 32m
- Reply
- 32m
- Reply
- 27m
- Reply
- 27m
- (ChatGPT translation: 那么这么样子‘显’是什么道理？
So, what is the principle of "manifestation"?
小蜡烛点了，点起来的火焰是不是小点？
When a small candle is lit, isn't the flame small?
我拿一个大的蜡烛点了，这个火焰会不会再大点？
If I light a larger candle, will the flame be larger?
我拿个大木头把他烧成火焰，一团火。
If I burn a large piece of wood, there is a big fire.
火统统都是一样的火，小蜡烛小，大蜡烛大，大火柴呢，就大火聚，每一个人每一个人都是像火一样的显。
All fires are the same fire, small candles are small, large candles are large, and large matches are large fires; every person manifests like fire.
我小火，朱老大火，我笨一点，朱老聪明一点，我丑一点，朱老呢是帅一点。
I'm a small fire, Zhu is a big fire, I'm a bit foolish, Zhu is smarter, I'm uglier, and Zhu is more handsome.
火焰的那个材料，蜡烛的材料，跟那个点的那个样子，每一个材料跟那个遇缘显得那个样子个个不一样这样显，其实统统都是火焰的样子。
The material of the flame, the material of the candle, and the appearance of the ignition, each material displays a different appearance based on the encountered conditions, but in reality, they are all appearances of the flame.
木头墙壁天空，太阳地球星星，都是这个整个看不见摸不到的那个法性海，给他摩擦了才会生火，没有摩擦那个木材会不会有火？
Wood, walls, sky, sun, earth, and stars are all this entire unseeable, untouchable ocean of Dharma Nature. Only with friction will fire be produced; without friction, would there be fire in the wood?
遇到缘就火出来了，火躲在哪里？
When the conditions are met, the fire comes out. Where is the fire hiding?
火躲在木材里吗？
Is the fire hiding in the wood?
没有。
No.
躲在那个fiction，动的那个，动的fiction（摩擦）那个里头吗？
Is it hiding in the fiction of motion, the fiction of friction?
动能里头有火吗？
Is there fire in kinetic energy?
在空气里头有火吗？
Is there fire in the air?
没有，氧是氧，它不是火焰，对不对？
No, oxygen is oxygen, it's not fire, right?
但是这些东西凑起来呢，我们讲缘起，释迦牟尼佛常常讲缘起，costa，缘起就这样火往南方跑，火到北方跑，火到净土，火到秽土，火到地狱，火到哪里去？
Fire runs to the south, fire runs to the north, fire goes to the Pure Land, fire goes to the Impure Land, fire goes to hell, where does the fire go?
所以，《金刚经》不是大家都讲吗，无所从来，这个火从哪里来？火躲在哪里跑出来，不知道，你去找火没有呀。这个火相的那个来源的种子看不见摸不见，但遍处，只要条件对了他就冒出来，不管欧洲美国大海上天空上，只要是缘对了，氧气够了，有材料了，摩擦他就出来了。你看，烧完了就火灭了，火灭了到哪里去，亦无所去。
So, isn't the Diamond Sutra always talking about it, coming from nowhere? Where does this fire come from? Where does the fire hide and run out, we don't know, have you looked for the fire? The source of the fire's appearance, the seed, is unseen and untouchable, but it is everywhere. As long as the conditions are right, it will emerge, no matter in Europe, America, on the ocean, or in the sky. As long as the cause is right, there is enough oxygen, and there are materials, it will come out with friction. You see, when it is burned out, the fire is extinguished, and when the fire is extinguished, where does it go? There is nowhere to go.
《金刚经》不是念嘛念嘛，那你各位都是相信《金刚经》，还是相信那个轮回的这个一时的方便的说法，你要死了的时候，那个西藏的慈祥，我在台湾讲了半天，讲了生死轮回讲了一百，讲了六十几场吧，在台湾六十几场，在台湾巡回演讲，头一次我讲生死，介绍西藏的生死学，后来他们就跟着讲了。
The Diamond Sutra is not just about reciting, so do you all believe in the Diamond Sutra, or do you believe in the temporary, expedient teachings (Soh: should be 'expedient expression of that specific instant') of reincarnation? When you are about to die, the Tibetan compassion, I talked about it in Taiwan for a long time, talked about the cycle of life and death a hundred times, about sixty-something lectures, sixty-something lectures in Taiwan, on a tour in Taiwan, the first time I talked about life and death, introduced the Tibetan life and death studies, and then they followed and talked about it.
好了，我就请问各位，你讲无所从来，就是像火啊，看到火吗，很简单的，打火机一打就出来，我说火从哪里来？打火机的油里头吗？油是油不是火嘛，那火石嘛？火石是火石啊，不是火焰啊。哪里来？你说没有空气氧气不行，但是氧气不是火呀，但是火在哪里，只要这些条件对了，他就升起来，懂吗？没有条件了它就消失了。
Alright, let me ask you all, when you say "coming from nowhere," it's like fire, right? You can see fire, it's simple, a lighter can produce it with a flick. Where does the fire come from? From the oil inside the lighter? Oil is oil, not fire, right? And the flint? Flint is flint, not the flame. Where does it come from? You say it can't exist without air, without oxygen, but oxygen isn't fire. However, where there is fire, as long as the conditions are right, it rises, understand? Without the conditions, it disappears.
所以说“我们的存在就是像火焰一样，缘对了，就显这个样子。”你大块头大木材烧的是大一点的火焰，小木材烧的是小小的火焰，小火焰，是这样而已，去也无所去，到哪里去，消失在何方，找不到，这个是我们的样子，这个发现是释迦牟尼佛的发现。
So, "Our existence is like a flame; when the conditions are right, it manifests in this way." A large piece of wood produces a larger flame, and a small piece of wood produces a smaller flame, just like that. There is nowhere to go, where does it go, where does it disappear, it can't be found, this is our nature, and this discovery is the Buddha Shakyamuni's discovery.
所以，他的与大地有情同时，大地有情同时成道，就是，原来统统是火焰，各种不一样的样子，有的显有的不显而已啊，都是一样的那个火，火的样子是各个不同，我现在悉达多我认到这个你们叫我佛，其实你们也是那个不同的火在那里烧，石头也是石头那样子烧，同时都是，都是法性海各个缘起不一样的显嘛，是这个意思。
Therefore, when he and all sentient beings on earth achieve enlightenment together, it means that everything was originally a flame with various different appearances. Some are visible, some are not, but they are all the same fire. The appearance of the fire is different for each. I am now Siddhartha, and you call me Buddha, but actually, you are also those different fires burning. Even stones burn like stones, and at the same time, they are all different manifestations of the ocean of Dharma Nature arising from different conditions, that's the meaning.
你这个不懂的话，奇怪，你成道了我们也就成道了，我跟你跟他分开来那么想佛法，这不是对不起他吗？他讲的话不是这个意思。
If you don't understand this, it's strange. If you achieve enlightenment, so do we. If I think of the Buddha's teachings separately from you and him, am I not letting him down? That's not what he meant.
好啦，时间可能也太久了，喉咙可能也要休息了，所以，怕大家坐久了再讲下去，讲到明天天亮还讲不完。因为道理是随便你讲，但是真正的东西每一位坐的太累了，脚麻了，有一点精神支持不了受不了，各个火焰不同的样子在那里燃烧，但是都是火焰，缘对了所以升起来而已，升起来有他的火焰这个东西吗？没有，没有自性，所以叫做诸法无我。
Alright, it's probably been too long, my throat might need a rest. So, I'm afraid if I keep talking, it won't end even when the sun rises tomorrow. Because the principle can be talked about casually, but the real thing is that everyone sitting here is too tired, their legs are numb, and they can't bear it with a little bit of mental support. Different flames burn in different ways, but they are all flames. They rise only because the conditions are right. When they rise, is there something like their own flame? No, there is no inherent nature, so it is called the non-self of all phenomena.
所以呢，缘尽了就没有，所以诸行无常，一定是无常。风吹了火就动，风停了就静一点，材料大一点油多了火焰大一点，有钱一下没有钱一下，生病一下好一下，长寿一点短寿一点，都是这个缘起的道理在那里，都是火焰。所以“一堆猛焰亘天红，”就是这个意思。
So, when the conditions are exhausted, it ceases to exist. Hence, all things are impermanent, and impermanence is certain. When the wind blows, the fire moves; when the wind stops, it becomes calmer. If the material is larger and the oil is more, the flame is bigger. Having money for a while, not having money for a while, being sick for a while, and recovering for a while, having a longer life or a shorter one, all of these are the principles of dependent origination, and they are all flames. So, "A heap of fierce flames stretches across the sky," that's the meaning.
从这里去了解，我与大地有情同时成道，你就了然于心，而且不会在自己身心上在那里搞鬼，弄神弄鬼，一天到晚给迷信骗掉了，或者是给人带错路。释迦牟尼佛讲，你本来就和我一样，每一个都是佛性遇缘显的不同，你不要抓住这个火焰的大小，去希望这个火焰永远燃烧，希望这个火焰永远大永远亮，那就是你那个缘已经是在那里，除非你能够处处不偏，处处不失去我们本来不是这个小我的存在，这个念不要偏离的话，那应该怎么烧就是怎么烧，应该怎么熄就怎么熄，不会说自己长一点不希望短一点，不会说希望不要，我要自杀，不会这么想，这是一个平常心是道的道理。
From understanding this, when I and all sentient beings on earth achieve enlightenment together, you will have clarity in your heart and will not engage in deceit or superstition, nor will you be misled or lead others astray. Buddha Shakyamuni said, you are originally just like me, each one is the manifestation of Buddha-nature encountering different conditions. You should not grasp onto the size of the flame, hoping for it to burn eternally or to be forever big and bright. That's because your conditions are already there. Unless you can be impartial everywhere, not losing our original selflessness (Soh: more accurately: original selfless existence), if your thoughts do not deviate, then you should let the flame burn as it should and extinguish as it should. You won't hope for a longer life or wish to end your life; you won't think this way. This is the principle of an ordinary mind, the Way. (Soh: should instead be "Ordinary Mind is the Way")) - Reply
- 8h
- Reply
- 8h
- Reply
- 7h
- Reply
- 7h
- Reply
- 7h
Soh Wei YuMaster hong:那么这么样子‘显’是什么道理？小蜡烛点了，点起来的火焰是不是小点？我拿一个大的蜡烛点了，这个火焰会不会再大点？我拿个大木头把他烧成火焰，一团火。火统统都是一样的火，小蜡烛小，大蜡烛大，大火柴呢，就大火聚，每一个人每一个人都是像火一样的显。我小火，朱老大火，我笨一点，朱老聪明一点，我丑一点，朱老呢是帅一点。火焰的那个材料，蜡烛的材料，跟那个点的那个样子，每一个材料跟那个遇缘显得那个样子个个不一样这样显，其实统统都是火焰的样子。木头墙壁天空，太阳地球星星，都是这个整个看不见摸不到的那个法性海，给他摩擦了才会生火，没有摩擦那个木材会不会有火？遇到缘就火出来了，火躲在哪里？火躲在木材里吗？没有。躲在那个fiction，动的那个，动的fiction（摩擦）那个里头吗？动能里头有火吗？在空气里头有火吗？没有，氧是氧，它不是火焰，对不对？但是这些东西凑起来呢，我们讲缘起，释迦牟尼佛常常讲缘起，costa，缘起就这样，你不能找到什么东西制造火焰，但是这些东西碰在一起的时候，optimal，optimal的costa，optimal的地点，它就有火出来。火是有光，有热噢，会烧噢，会有亮噢，但是没有出来以前，火躲在哪里？你去给我找火出来，能不能找到火？找不到啊。但是我们人知道啊，这样凑凑起来一弄一下，火柴也是这样发明的啊，对不对？那个火石，石头和石头相碰的火花出来，都知道这个道理，但是这个火花哪里出来，谁制造？不知道啊。这个火呢，看得见，有光有热，我们的身体，你的存在。聪明的笨的，老的少的，或者是健康的，有钱没有钱，火焰的样子不一样，但是这个不一样的各种样子是从哪里跑出来？谁也不知道。但是会跑出来，知道吗？所以我们的存在就像火焰一样，各个各个不同，佛也一样那样的火焰，我们也是这样的火焰。但是，从哪里跑出来，那个火性，火的原来的还没有变成火以前的那个种子呢，遍满，它没有形象，没有一个地方是他躲得，只要你这个缘对了，条件对了就跳出来，弥漫宇宙。所以说佛性遍满宇宙，普贤世界，普贤就是讲这个道理，我们用普贤讲大家就觉得，噢，普贤菩萨的行愿到处遍满法界。随时缘对了，condition对了，就有火焰出来，但是这个火变成火以前呢，火变成火的相以前呢，在哪里？找得到吗？找不到，大的呢，小的呢？重呢轻呢？什么行色呢？都没有。但是遇缘，就光热跑出来，那么缘呢，这一块木材把他烧完烧完烧完，这一块木材没有了，火要不要熄灭掉，火熄掉，缘尽，火就没有了，我们的缘没有了我们就当然是走啦，到哪里？火灭了火到哪里去，蜡烛烧了，火到哪里去？火往东方，火到西方走，火往南方跑，火到北方跑，火到净土，火到秽土，火到地狱，火到哪里去？所以，《金刚经》不是大家都讲吗，无所从来，这个火从哪里来？火躲在哪里跑出来，不知道，你去找火没有呀。这个火相的那个来源的种子看不见摸不见，但遍处，只要条件对了他就冒出来，不管欧洲美国大海上天空上，只要是缘对了，氧气够了，有材料了，摩擦他就出来了。你看，烧完了就火灭了，火灭了到哪里去，亦无所去。《金刚经》不是念嘛念嘛，那你各位都是相信《金刚经》，还是相信那个轮回的这个一时的方便的说法，你要死了的时候，那个西藏的慈祥，我在台湾讲了半天，讲了生死轮回讲了一百，讲了六十几场吧，在台湾六十几场，在台湾巡回演讲，头一次我讲生死，介绍西藏的生死学，后来他们就跟着讲了。好了，我就请问各位，你讲无所从来，就是像火啊，看到火吗，很简单的，打火机一打就出来，我说火从哪里来？打火机的油里头吗？油是油不是火嘛，那火石嘛？火石是火石啊，不是火焰啊。哪里来？你说没有空气氧气不行，但是氧气不是火呀，但是火在哪里，只要这些条件对了，他就升起来，懂吗？没有条件了它就消失了。所以说“我们的存在就是像火焰一样，缘对了，就显这个样子。”你大块头大木材烧的是大一点的火焰，小木材烧的是小小的火焰，小火焰，是这样而已，去也无所去，到哪里去，消失在何方，找不到，这个是我们的样子，这个发现是释迦牟尼佛的发现。所以，他的与大地有情同时，大地有情同时成道，就是，原来统统是火焰，各种不一样的样子，有的显有的不显而已啊，都是一样的那个火，火的样子是各个不同，我现在悉达多我认到这个你们叫我佛，其实你们也是那个不同的火在那里烧，石头也是石头那样子烧，同时都是，都是法性海各个缘起不一样的显嘛，是这个意思。你这个不懂的话，奇怪，你成道了我们也就成道了，我跟你跟他分开来那么想佛法，这不是对不起他吗？他讲的话不是这个意思。好啦，时间可能也太久了，喉咙可能也要休息了，所以，怕大家坐久了再讲下去，讲到明天天亮还讲不完。因为道理是随便你讲，但是真正的东西每一位坐的太累了，脚麻了，有一点精神支持不了受不了，各个火焰不同的样子在那里燃烧，但是都是火焰，缘对了所以升起来而已，升起来有他的火焰这个东西吗？没有，没有自性，所以叫做诸法无我。所以呢，缘尽了就没有，所以诸行无常，一定是无常。风吹了火就动，风停了就静一点，材料大一点油多了火焰大一点，有钱一下没有钱一下，生病一下好一下，长寿一点短寿一点，都是这个缘起的道理在那里，都是火焰。所以“一堆猛焰亘天红，”就是这个意思。从这里去了解，我与大地有情同时成道，你就了然于心，而且不会在自己身心上在那里搞鬼，弄神弄鬼，一天到晚给迷信骗掉了，或者是给人带错路。释迦牟尼佛讲，你本来就和我一样，每一个都是佛性遇缘显的不同，你不要抓住这个火焰的大小，去希望这个火焰永远燃烧，希望这个火焰永远大永远亮，那就是你那个缘已经是在那里，除非你能够处处不偏，处处不失去我们本来不是这个小我的存在，这个念不要偏离的话，那应该怎么烧就是怎么烧，应该怎么熄就怎么熄，不会说自己长一点不希望短一点，不会说希望不要，我要自杀，不会这么想，这是一个平常心是道的道理。Yin LingSoh Wei Yu oh this is very good.This is like MMK cause and condition. If MmK speak like that I probably will have less headache
Yin LingSoh Wei Yu where did you find this? This is not in the document you compile right ?Soh Wei YuYin Ling it is in the second document. The zip file has twoYin LingSoh Wei Yu oic! What a treat, gonna check it out thanks!- Reply
- 5h
- Reply
- 5h
no time to translate but gist is: The whole world is none other than your innate clarity. There is no other. There is no separate you. 
(I’m just translating)
(Soh: here's ChatGPT translation, I have not verified its accuracy:
Before parents are born
Alright, let's talk a bit more. Those who usually work hard, listen carefully, and you will understand this: there is a bit of a shadow. You meditate on your own, feeling very comfortable. There are sounds, like the sound of a car outside now. The sound comes in, resonating steadily. Whether you want to hear it or not, it appears when present and disappears when it's gone. It's so peaceful, right? If you have a thought like "Ah, sound." This is your recognition function, right? Before this recognition function arises, is there a sound? I say "yes"! It's not about whether you recognize it or hear it. Is there a presence of sound first? You recognize it, then say I hear, I heard. You can only speak when you recognize it. Before you recognize the sound, does it move together with the realm? The sound you can hear and the sound heard are originally indistinguishable! (Soh: should be this instead - the hearer and the sound being heard are originally indistinguishable) The entire Dharma realm moves like that! The movement of the Dharma realm! The function of Dharma nature itself, acting according to the function of Dharma nature, does it rely on your recognition? Sometimes when meditating, you will temporarily enter this realm, temporarily leaving the realm of humans and gods. Do you understand? It's very subtle. If you don't usually work hard, then just listen to the theory; it's useless! Just grasp the principle and think hard. Because you don't usually meditate, listening to these words is basically useless.
Alright, before recognition arises, there is the function of Dharma nature, moving according to the function of Dharma nature, right? But you haven't recognized it yet. In that instant, when you haven't recognized it, you are temporarily taken to a realm beyond humans and gods. It's such a pity that at this time, although you have personally experienced this realm, you are utterly baffled and have no idea what's going on. Ah... it's right here, but you have no idea what's going on. So, in an instant, you fall back into the realm of "consciousness."
Those who truly understand the teachings of Master Yao Shan on non-thinking, the non-reliance and non-abiding taught by Manjusri, and the practice methods of the Buddha's orthodox teachings will always temporarily leave the world of humans and gods during meditation, entering other realms. Have you experienced it? Yes, everyone has, especially those who meditate often. Their experiences may be deeper than those of ordinary people. It's a pity that no one guides them; they just sit there blankly, only able to sit for a long time. Normally, when you encounter this, you still don't understand what's going on. What a pity! You don't know what's happening, and you have no idea what's going on. So in an instant, you return to the realm of "consciousness" once more.
So when you encounter a good teacher, whether they are monastic or lay, they have had this experience. When they speak of this level and the matters within, they understand more clearly than others. Ah, they will know! They will know!! But it's almost impossible to find such experienced teachers, and it's difficult to find diligent students who can understand. Everyone is just criticizing opinions, making a mess of things, like "ministerial views." I hope that one day, those in the audience will move beyond "ministerial views." A noisy teacher is a "minister." You are very clear about this; once you have it, you have it, very clear. Because it is your true face! You know yourself best! It's absolutely unshakable, where would it waver? This is the Dharma. No matter what others say, no matter what kind of reasoning they use, you won't be deceived. Because you have found your true, real self. Pay attention, this self. You want to cleanse this body and mind, sweep away afflictions, and become the real self. Ah, if you misunderstand again, my words would have been in vain.
The metaphor of burning
To make this real self... Let me use a metaphor, be careful, I'm using a metaphor! When you see a red rose in front of you, your real self, the whole, burns into that red rose, understand? When you see the red rose across from you, that's your true self burning into that red rose! Is there any ash? Is it burnt to ash? No! When you shift your eyes elsewhere and see a piece of bread, your real self, true nature, and true self are formless and have no fixed appearance! It instantly burns into a white piece of bread. The entire white piece of bread is your real self, burned into that form. What about the red rose just now? There's no trace of it, vanished without a trace. Now, when you see the white piece of bread, the bread is the result of your true nature burning, your entire body and mind burning into that white piece of bread. Look up at the stars in the night sky, where is the bread now? It's burned and vanished without a trace. A star in the distant sky becomes your true nature burning into that star. An ordinary Zen master would say, "You're talking nonsense, that star was already hanging in the sky when you weren't looking! How come when you turned to look, you burned into it? If you don't look, would that star not exist?" Isn't that what people usually say? This is human thinking, this is delusion and confusion. If that star doesn't manifest in your body and mind, what significance does it have to you? So, no matter what conditions you encounter, what you see, hear, touch, or think, as soon as you make contact, conditions arise, and that condition becomes your true nature, which is itself that condition. So our existence is an absolute existence, not subject to the constraints of time and space, without limits. Understand? How to prove it? That state is "just sitting," and there's no reasoning behind it!
Dr. Luo is compassionate, asking me to talk about some tips for sitting. I said that my old friends have heard it several times before, and their ears are worn out, but their buttocks haven't sat well. I said, fine, for the sake of new friends, let's talk more about these. Don't hold on, don't remember, please remember this principle. Always pay attention to your body and mind, like a ball of fire, burning, emitting light, emitting heat, encountering any condition, that condition becomes your true nature burning into it, boom, boom, boom, without interruption. That's all.
I often say that the awakened nature is the formless body of perfect illumination, so people think of it as something spiritual. This is completely wrong, a misunderstanding. The meaning of perfect illumination is that it can become clouds, and it can become stones.
It can also become love, and it can become hate. It can become emptiness, and it can become time. So, it is called the awakened nature of perfect illumination. It has no fixed form or appearance. The so-called spiritual and material are distinctions made by humans themselves, which is a realm of illusion, a concept. The concepts of having life or not having life are also something we don't know. So when someone dies, people think there is no life left, and they are terrified. Why?
You always use our cognitive spirit, which we call alaya consciousness, to understand Buddhism and life and death. So, of course, you are afraid of life and death. Some people are so afraid of life that they commit suicide, which is also inexplicable.)
1 Comments
- Reply
- 4h
- Reply
- 12m
- Reply
- 11m
- Reply
- 10m
