Bodhidharma’s Discourse on Pure Meditation.
Hubert Nearman, Master P.t.n.h. Jiyu-Kennett, Daizui Macphillamy
Routledge eBooks October 24, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9781315619927-14 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that the three poisons are the root and source of all defilement, and that sentient beings confused by them and acting through the "six thieves" cycle through the six pathways of existence in misery. Describes the Buddha's disciples offering "priceless Incenses" through the fire of wise understanding to all Buddhas in the ten quarters. |
Abstract
Bodhidharma replied, “Although the mind of ignorance has eighty-four thousand passions and cravings which defile it, as well as evils as immeasurable and unbounded as the sands of the Ganges, ultimately all depend on the three poisons and have them as their root and source. All sentient beings throw their bodies and minds into confusion and disorder as a result of the three poisons and through the employment of the six thieves, thus these beings sink down into birth and death, spinning through the six pathways of existence as they experience misery and woe. “In the days when the Buddha was in the world, He had His disciples set just such priceless Incenses burning by means of the fire of their wise understanding and discernment as an offering to all the Buddhas in the ten quarters. The descriptions, which follow, of what the ‘thieves’ occupy themselves with carry both literal and figurative meaning.