Gui-Zhen Philo-Cultural Society :: View topic - Shurangama Sutra. A beginner's approach ?

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:31 pm

Hi Lin

I've decided I'd like to study the Shurangama Sutra and try to integrate it into my life. I can see from a brief glimpse that it is a very long text, but the benefits of it's study seem to be endless.
What suggestions can you make as to how I could approach learning it and embodying it's teachings.

Metta

Mark

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:03 pm

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:53 pm

Hi Lin
Thanks for the help. So it would be more beneficial if I learned to memorize and recite the mantra as well as studying the sutra and it's commentaries ?
That indeed would be a great undertaking. I think I will have to set aside maybe an hour or two a day to immerse myself in these teachings.
The resources on your website are fabulous. I have downloaded the entire 8 volumes of the sutra and commentaries. I have to thank you for sharing all of these.
I also have the full length mantra which is 554 lines in length and in Chinese.
This is going to be quite some task !

Metta

Mark

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:50 pm

Do you have the mantra with pinyin?

I have it, but part of the first assembly of the mantra isn't with pinyin, and I began some time ago to add it in. If you need it, I have it and will get to finishing the pinyin transliteration...lol

Afterwards, I will post it in the Sutra and Mantra Resource section.

Basically, you want to memorize the mantra and Sutra..HAHAHA All because the Sutra was spoken because of the mantra. But start with memorizing the mantra and reading the Sutra. Once the mantra is down, work on memorizing the sutra, which I am in the process of doing.

I have memorized the mantra some time ago, and I am preparing to memorize the sutra. So study the mantra, read the sutra and commentary.

Good Stuff!

Peace and Blessings,
Lin

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:09 pm

Hi Lin

Thanks for explaining that very clearly. Yeah, I have the whole mantra in pinyin with accompanying Chinese characters, including the first assembly.
I don't read Chinese but this will help deepen my understanding of the language and the way that the characters are written.
I think it will take many months of daily study just to memorize the mantra.
I've managed to find some audio resources which will aid me also.

Metta

Mark

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:03 am

And as a last piece of study advice, though I know reading other sutras would be quite a temptation, if you really want to open your wisdom, cultivate it and perfect it, so that any other sutra read would be fully understood, only read one sutra for atleast 5yrs.

The reason, you would know the sutra in and out, allow the function of the sutra to actually cultivate within your mind, thus allowing your eyes to brighten, and you would be able to see all truth in any sutra that was spoken by the Buddha.

At least, keep reading the Shurangama Sutra as long as you can..lol

Peace,
Lin

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:32 am

Thanks for all the advice. I had already decided that I was only going to concentrate on this sutra and mantra before you advised it. Five years is a long time without the temptation of other teachings but I wil sincerely try.
Is there an English translation of the mantra? Not for memorisation or recitation, but just to help me understand what I am actually learning.

Metta

Mark

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:15 pm

Yes, i have it and i wil prepare it to be sent to you and posted on the forum.
Its a lot. You can go to my website to the sutra and mantra resources there and find it... even in the upholding the dharma section you can find it on my website:

http://www.freewebs.com/jingxinyuanmgc/index.htm

Of course 5 yrs is a long time on one sutra..of course you will read others..lol I just offer the traditional manner of study, but be my guest and investigate the sutras you have affinities with Very Happy

Peace,
Lin

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:44 pm

I like the traditional manner of study. In my martial arts practice I prefer this approach also. Therefore, I'll stick to this one teaching only and immerse myself fully into it.
Thanks for all your help.

Metta

Mark

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:02 pm

No Problem.

And just to let you know, if you awaken to one Dharma Door, you awaken to all Dharma Doors. There are no exclusive Dharmas in Buddhism. The Shurangama Sutra is too great to describe, yet describing it would never end.

It is truly a wonderful Dharma. If you have any questions, please feel free to post them as they arise in your own cultivation of the Shurangama Dharma thread..lol

Peace and Blessings,
Lin

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:08 am

This discussion has answered most of the questions i was giong to ask about this sutra Laughing

Just a couple of others:

- Lin, do you recite the mantra in the chinese form only, or do you also learn/know the sanskrit version? for me, the feeling of sanskrit is more natural, that's all.

- Is this sutra & mantra is the key for being able to identify and discern afflictions - defiled states of any sort, internal and external (if there is a difference)? See through them, & to be free of them?
If so, then it would be the 'bread and butter' sutra & mantra, the basis, to help us to develop wisdom, right?

- Last night, i woke up for a brief moment and the thought that i should really learn the Shurangama Mantra came to my mind. In that instant, a light illumed inside my head(?) so bright that i had to open my eyes.
The light went, and i went back to sleep Confused

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:05 am

Lin, do you recite the mantra in the chinese form only, or do you also learn/know the sanskrit version? for me, the feeling of sanskrit is more natural, that's all.

I recite the Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit Mantra. Meaning, it still is the Sanksrit Mantra, only with the words that sound similar in Chinese. Either way, it is still the Shurangama Mantra, no more no less.

- Is this sutra & mantra is the key for being able to identify and discern afflictions - defiled states of any sort, internal and external (if there is a difference)? See through them, & to be free of them?
If so, then it would be the 'bread and butter' sutra & mantra, the basis, to help us to develop wisdom, right?

The Shurangama Sutra and Mantra is indeed the bread and butter, so to say.
It is a Demon spotting mirror, helps one to recognize their habits, defilements, and mind. Internal/external influences are shined upon by the mind of pure bright wisdom.

The sutra and mantra, in general, uphold a language which causes the light to turn back on the mind, develop wisdom and concentration.

Learn the mantra, read the sutra...learn to recite both!

hahaha

Peace,
Lin

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:55 am

I recite the Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit Mantra. Meaning, it still is the Sanksrit Mantra, only with the words that sound similar in Chinese. Either way, it is still the Shurangama Mantra, no more no less.

OK. Do you know of a source for the sanskrit text?

The Shurangama Sutra and Mantra is indeed the bread and butter, so to say.
It is a Demon spotting mirror, helps one to recognize their habits, defilements, and mind. Internal/external influences are shined upon by the mind of pure bright wisdom.

The sutra and mantra, in general, uphold a language which causes the light to turn back on the mind, develop wisdom and concentration.

Good good good. This is very encouraging.

Just to clarify. With anything really 'profound'. Most say that one requires to learn 'in person' from one who is able to transmit essential meanings, & guide the student in their learning etc.
In this case, of the Shurangama Mantra and Sutra, does this also apply? Or, do you regard the Sutra as the authority, the Mantra itself as the source of transmission and the text and it's meaning as the teacher, the guide?
Hope that makes sense? Thanks.

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:25 am

Just to clarify. With anything really 'profound'. Most say that one requires to learn 'in person' from one who is able to transmit essential meanings, & guide the student in their learning etc.
In this case, of the Shurangama Mantra and Sutra, does this also apply? Or, do you regard the Sutra as the authority, the Mantra itself as the source of transmission and the text and it's meaning as the teacher, the guide?
Hope that makes sense? Thanks.

If your mind is sincere, your practice is wholesome, and your resolve great, then that is a clear and unmoved mind, and thus is enough.The Shurangama mantra and sutra, as witrh all sutras of Buddhsim are of the Dharma, and the Dharma is the only authority.

I haven't been able to find the whole sanskrit text, but I do have a resource I will put together, and make available for you and any one who wants to cultivate the Shurangama Dharma Door.

Peace,
Lin

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:42 am

Awesome, 10,000 thanks.