When Funyomitta was a crown prince, Bashashita asked him, “Since you wish to leave home to become a monk, what activities would you undertake to do?” Funyomitta said, “Were I to leave home to become a monk, it would not be to do anything in particular.” Bashashita then asked, “What would you refrain from doing?”… Continue reading 26. Funyomitta
Shishibodai said to Bashashita, “I am now Transmitting the EYE AND TREASURY OF THE TATHAGATA’S TRUE LAW to you; guard IT well that you may be able to make IT flourish everywhere in the future.” Having had his inherent karmic cause from a past life revealed to him, Bashashita received, unseen, the SEAL. Bashashita was a Brahman from Kashmir; his father… Continue reading 25. Bashashita
Shishibodai asked Kakurokuna, “As I wish to pursue the Way to enlightenment, how should I exert my mind in order to do it?” Kakurokuna answered, “If you would pursue the Way, there is no situation where you need to exert your mind.” Shishibodai asked, “If I do not exert myself, who will perform the work… Continue reading 24. Shishibodai
One day Manura observed, “Here is the UNSURPASSED TREASURE OF THE GREAT LAW, hearken to IT, accept IT and in the future teach IT.” Upon hearing this, Kakurokuna realized enlightenment. Kakurokuna (S. Haklena) was a Brahman from the kingdom of Kushana; his father was Senshá which means ‘A Thousand Victories’ and his mother was Kinká… Continue reading 23. Kakurokuna
When Manura asked Bashubanzu, “Just what is the enlightenment of the Buddhas?” Bashubanzu answered, “It is none other than your ORIGINAL NATURE.” Manura then asked, “What is ORIGINAL NATURE like?” Bashubanzu replied, “The eighteen realms of the senses (i.e., all experiences) are void, unstained and pure.” When Manura heard this, he understood enlightenment. Manura (S.… Continue reading 22. Manura
One day Shayata said to Bashubanzu, “Even though I may not seek after enlightenment, I do not act contrary to it; even though I may not be doing prostrations before the Buddha, I am not spiritually negligent; even though I may not be sitting in meditation, I am not lazy; even though I may not… Continue reading 21. Bashubanzu
One day Kumorata pointed out to Shayata, “Although you already believe in the three types of karma, you still have not awakened to the fact that karma is born from confusion, that confusion results from consciousness, that consciousness depends on the sleep of ignorance and that the sleep of ignorance depends on ORIGINAL MIND. ORIGINAL MIND is naturally… Continue reading 20. Shayata
Kayashata pointed out the following to Kumorata, “Long ago the World-honoured One prophesied that, a thousand years after His entry into nirvana, a great scholar would appear in Tokhara who would pass on the Marvellous Transmission. Your meeting me at the present time fulfills this most propitiously.” As a result of hearing this, Kumorata awakened… Continue reading 19. Kumorata
Once, whilst Kayashata was serving as a jisha to Ságyanandai, they heard a sound as the wind blew a temple bell. Ságyanandai asked Kayashata, “Is that the sound of the bell or the sound of the wind?” Kayashata answered, “Neither the wind nor the bell, merely the sound of the TRUE NATURE.” Ságyanandai asked, “And… Continue reading 18. Kayashata
One day Ragorata gave instruction to Ságyanandai in verse,“Because I am already beyond self,You should see the WEFor, if you take me as your master,You will know that ‘I’ is not this WE .”As a result of hearing this, Ságyanandai’s heart suddenly opened to a determination to be liberated and he sought to cross to… Continue reading 17. Ságyanandai
Ragorata was attending on Kanadaiba when, upon hearing about karmic cause from a past life, he experienced his ORIGINAL NATURE. Ragorata was a man from Kapilavastu; the issue of the karmic cause from a past life arose in the following manner. Kanadaiba, after realizing enlightenment, was travelling about converting others when he arrived at Kapilavastu.… Continue reading 16. Ragorata
This is what happened when Kanadaiba had his first audience with Nagyaarajuna, the Noble One. No sooner had Kanadaiba entered the gate than Nagyaarajuna realized what an astute person he was so he dispatched his jisha to fetch a bowl filled to the brim with water and place it in front of where they were… Continue reading 15. Kanadaiba
One day, when Kabimora paid a visit to the Lord of the Naga-dragons at the latter’s invitation, he received the wish-fulfilling Nyoi Pearl. Nagyaarajuna said to him, “This Pearl is the most treasured thing in the world; does it have a form or is it formless?” Kabimora replied, “You only know what ‘having form’ or… Continue reading 14. Nagyaarajuna
One day Anabotei was speaking about the OCEAN OF BUDDHA NATURE, saying, “Mountains, rivers and the great earth all arise in accordance with IT; the three forms of clarity and the six spiritual powers manifest themselves by proceeding from IT.” Kabimora, upon hearing this, awoke to the TRUTH. Kabimora (S. Kapimala, ‘He Who Is as… Continue reading 13. Kabimora
Anabotei asked Funayasha, “I want to know Buddha but what precisely is Buddha?” Funayasha said, “So you want to know what BUDDHA is; THAT which does not know is BUDDHA.” Anabotei asked, “Since Buddha does not know, what knows what Buddha is?” Funayasha responded, “Since you do not know BUDDHA, what knows that it does… Continue reading 12. Anabotei
Whilst Funayasha stood in gasshá before Barishiba, the latter asked, “Where do you come from?” Funayasha answered, “My mind travels nowhere.” Barishiba then asked, “Where do you reside?” Funayasha replied, “My mind resides nowhere.” Barishiba asked, “Then things are not settled for you?” Funayasha said, “It is just as it was for all the Buddhas.”… Continue reading 11. Funayasha
Barishiba faithfully attended on Fudamitta for three years without ever resting. One day Fudamitta was reciting a Scripture and lecturing on the UNBORN; upon hearing this, Barishiba realized enlightenment. Barishiba (S. Parsva, ‘He Whose Ribs Remain Upright’) was from Central India; his name was originally Nanshá (S. Durjata, ‘He Whose Birth Was Difficult’); just before… Continue reading 10. Barishiba
Fudamitta heard Butsudanandai say in verse,“When your speech is congenial with the LORD of your heart,Even the tender affection of parents cannot begin to compare with it;When your actions are in accord with the WAY,The hearts and minds of all the Buddhas will be so also.Should you seek outside yourself for some flesh-and-blood Buddha,He will… Continue reading 9. Fudamitta
Upon meeting Bashumitsu, Butsudanandai said, “My reason for coming here today is to debate with you as to what ‘Truth’ is.” Bashumitsu responded, “Good sir, when there is a debate, then there is no TRUTH; when there is TRUTH, then there is nothing to debate. If you propose to debate as to what TRUTH is,… Continue reading 8. Butsudanandai
Bashumitsu placed his wine cup before Mishaka, prostrated himself and then arose where upon Mishaka asked him, “Is this VESSEL yours or mine?” Whilst Bashumitsu was reflecting on this, Mishaka said, “If you consider the cup to be mine, it is your Original Nature; if, on the other hand, the vessel is yours, it is… Continue reading 7. Bashumitsu
