kjasdpoif jasa sdf

At that time the World Honored One, through Medicine King Bodhisattva, spoke to the
eighty thousand great lords saying, Medicine King, do you see within this great assembly
the limitless gods, dragon kings, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras,
mahoragas, and beings both human and non human, as well as the Bhikshus, Bhikshunis,
Upasakas, Upasikas, those seeking to be Hearers, those seeking to be Pratyekabuddhas,
and those seeking the Buddha Path? Upon such ones as these, all in the presence of the
Buddha, who hear but one verse or one sentence of The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower
Sutra, or who have even one thought of rejoicing in it, I bestow predictions of their future
attainment of anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
Outline:

Chapter 10: Masters of the Dharma

With Commentary by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
There are five types of Dharma Masters. The first is the Dharma Master who receives and holds
(the teaching). He receives the Dharma into his mind. To receive means that the mind receives
the Dharma. To hold means that the body holds the Dharma. With his mind, he understands the
Dharma, and with his body he puts the Dharma into actual practice. The second type of Dharma
Master is one who reads the texts. The third type of Dharma Master recites the texts from
memory. The fourth type of Dharma Master copies out the Sutras. The fifth type of Dharma
Master explains the Sutras to others, lectures on the Sutras and explains their meaning.
The first four types of Dharma Masters practice self-benefit. The fifth type practices benefiting
others, they teach and transform other people. When you receive and uphold the Sutras, read,
recite and copy them out, you are benefiting yourself. To explain the Sutras to others is to benefit
them. A Dharma Master is defined as one who takes the Dharma as Master. One takes the
Buddhadharma as ones teacher. A Dharma Master is also defined as one who bestows the
Dharma on others. In this chapter, Dharma Masters receive predictions from the Buddha and so
this is titled MASTERS OF THE DHARMA.
Sutra:
At that time the World Honored One, through Medicine King Bodhisattva, spoke to the
eighty thousand great lords saying, Medicine King, do you see within this great assembly
the limitless gods, dragon kings, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras,
mahoragas, and beings both human and non human, as well as the Bhikshus, Bhikshunis,
Upasakas, Upasikas, those seeking to be Hearers, those seeking to be Pratyekabuddhas,
and those seeking the Buddha Path? Upon such ones as these, all in the presence of the
Buddha, who hear but one verse or one sentence of The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower
Sutra, or who have even one thought of rejoicing in it, I bestow predictions of their future
attainment of anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
Outline:
C3. Section of propagation.

D1. Dharma Master Chapter.

E1. Praising those who uphold the Dharma.
F1. Showing the disciples deep merit and the blessings of those who uphold the Dharma.
G1. Disciples during the Buddhas time.
Commentary:
At that time, the World Honored One, Shakyamuni Buddha, through Medicine King
Bodhisattva, spoke to the eighty thousand great lords, Great Bodhisattvas, saying, Medicine
King Bodhisattva, do you see within this great assembly the limitless gods, dragon kings,
yakshas, the speedy ghosts who fly through space, ghandharvas, the musical spirits in the court
of the Jade Emperor, asuras, garudas, the golden winged peng birds. Kinnaras, another class
of musical spirit in the Jade Emperors Court. Mahoragas, the big snakes, and beings both
human and non human, as well as the Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, Upasikas, those
seeking to be Hearers, those seeking to be Pratyekabuddhas, and those seeking the Buddha
path? Upon such ones as these, all in the presence of the Buddha, who hear but one verse or
one sentence of The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, or who have even one thought
of rejoicing in it, I bestow predictions of their future attainment of
anuttarasamyaksambodhi. They shall all obtain the unsurpassed enlightenment, the position of
Buddhahood.
Sutra:
The Buddha told the Medicine King: Furthermore, after the extinction of the Thus Come
One, should there be one who hears but a single verse or a single sentence of The Wonderful
Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra or who has even one thought of rejoicing in it, I bestow upon
him as well a prediction of anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
Outline:
G2. Disciples after the Buddhas extinction.
Commentary:
The Buddha told Medicine King: Furthermore, after the extinction of the Thus Come
One, after the Buddha has entered Nirvana. Should there be one who hears but a single verse
or a single sentence of The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, or who has even one
thought of rejoicing in it. But one thought of rejoicing. Rejoicing includes praising the Sutra,
receiving and upholding it, reading and reciting it, writing it out as well. I bestow upon him as
well a prediction of anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
Sutra:
Further, should there be one who receives and upholds, reads and recites, explains and
teaches, or copies out The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, be it even a single verse,
looking upon the Sutra text with reverence as he would the Buddha himself, making

various kinds of offerings of flowers, incense, beads, powdered incense, paste incense,
burning incense, silk canopies, banners, clothing and music, or who even join his palms in
reverence, O Medicine King, you should know that such a person has in the past already
made offerings to tens of myriads of millions of Buddhas, in the presence of those Buddhas,
accomplishing great vows. It is out of pity for living beings that he is born among human
beings.
O Medicine King, if someone should ask you what type of living beings shall in the future
become Buddhas, you should point out to him that these very people in the future certainly
shall become Buddhas, Why is this? If a good man or good woman receives and upholds,
reads, recites, explains and teaches, or writes out even a single sentence of The Wonderful
Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, or makes various offerings to the Sutra text of flowers,
incense, beads, powdered incense, paste incense, burning incense, silk canopies, banners,
clothing, music, or reverently joined palms, that person should be looked up to in reverence
by those in all worlds and should receive offerings befitting the Thus Come One. You
should know that this person is a great Bodhisattva, one who has accomplished
anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Out of pity for living beings, he has vowed to be born here and to
expound upon The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra broadly and in detail.
Outline:
F2. Showing categories of disciples.
G1. Prose.
H1. Specific explanation.
I1. Present.
J1. Lower classification of masters.
Commentary:
Further, should there be one who receives and upholds, reads and recites, explains and
teaches, or copies out The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra. Be it even a single verse,
looking upon the Sutra text with reverence as he would the Buddha himself. Making
various kinds of offerings of flowers, incense, beads, powdered incense, paste incense,
burning incense, silk canopies, banners, clothing and music, singing praises or who even
joins his palms in reverence, O Medicine King, you should know that such a person has in
the past already made offerings to tens of myriads of millions of Buddhas, in the presence
of those Buddhas, accomplishing great vows. It is out of pity for living beings. These
Bodhisattva Dharma Masters have compassion for living beings. That he is born among
human beings.
O Medicine King, if someone should ask you what type of living beings shall in the future
become Buddhas, you should point out to him that these very people in the future certainly
shall become Buddhas. Those Dharma Masters who receive and uphold, copy out, read and
recite, and explain the Sutra to others, or those who hear but a single sentence or verse of The
Lotus Sutrathese people will become Buddhas. Why is this? If a good man or good woman
receives, upholds, reads, recites, explains and teaches or writes out even a single sentence of

The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, or makes various offerings to the Sutra text of
flowers, incense, beads, powdered incense, paste incense, burning incense, silk canopies,
banners, clothing, music or reverently joined palms.
Why should one make offerings to the Sutras? It is because the Sutras are just the Dharma body
of the Buddha. That person should be looked up to in reverence by those in all worlds and
should receive offerings befitting the Thus Come One. You should make offerings to these
Dharma Masters as you would make offerings to the Buddha. You should know that this
person is a great Bodhisattva. Those who lecture upon The Dharma Flower Sutra after the
Buddhas extinction are great Bodhisattvas. One who has accomplished
anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Why did he come into this world? Out of pity for living beings he
has vowed to be born here and to expound upon The Wonderful Dharma Flower Sutra
broadly and in detail.
Sutra:
How much the more does this apply to one who can receive and uphold it in its entirety
and make various kinds of offerings to it.
Medicine King, you should know that this person has renounced his own pure karmic
reward and, after my extinction, out of pity for living beings, has been born in the evil
world to vastly proclaim this Sutra.
Outline:
J2. Praising the higher class of masters.
Commentary:
How much the more does this apply to one who can receive and uphold it in its entirety and
make various kinds of offerings to it.
Medicine King, you should know that this person has renounced his own pure karmic
reward and, having already attained anuttarasamyaksambodhi, after my extinction, out of pity
for living beings, has been born in the evil world of the five turbidities to vastly proclaim this
Sutra. This Dharma Master, after I enter Nirvana, will take pity on living beings and be reborn
in the realm of the five turbidities to propagate The Lotus Sutra. So if you study The Dharma
Flower Sutra and learn how to explain it to others, you do not have to ask to know that you are a
Bodhisattva who has returned to save living beings. If this were not the case you would have no
opportunity to meet up with The Dharma Flower Sutra, or, if you did have the chance to meet up
with it, you surely would not be able to explain it to other people.
If you lecture The Dharma Flower Sutra, several thousands of years ago Shakyamuni Buddha
already gave you a prediction. We who are investigating the Sutras now should each take one of
them and investigate it in great detail until you understand it very well. Penetrate its meaning
from beginning to end. Then you will be able to explain it, because you will have some
foundation in the Buddhadharma. It is not enough just to listen to the Sutras being lectured. You
must really understand their meaning well enough to explain them to others. Otherwise you are

just wasting your time. Pick a Sutra you like and really get into it so that you understand it
completely. Then that counts for something.
Sutra:
If this good man or good woman after my extinction can secretly explain even so much as
a single sentence of The Dharma Flower Sutra for a single person, you should know that
this person is a messenger of the Thus Come One. This person is sent by the Thus Come
One to do the Thus Come Ones work.
Outline:
I2. Future.
J1. Lower class of Masters.
Commentary:
If this good man or good woman, should it be the case, that after my extinction can secretly
explain even so much as a single sentence of The Dharma Flower Sutra for a single person.
Secretly means not openly. Perhaps the person does not dare lecture to groups of people
because he is afraid of the awesome virtue of the great assembly. He refused to speak for the
great assembly because he is fearful of the awesome virtue of the large assembly. So he secretly
explains the Sutra to just one person. Perhaps he is afraid people will ask him questions he
cannot answer. Let us say he does not even lecture the whole Sutra, but just a single sentence.
Which sentence? It does not matter. Any sentence will do. You should know that this person is
a messenger of the Thus Come One, the Buddha sent him. This person is sent by the Thus
Come One to the world to explain The Lotus Sutra, to do the Thus Come Ones work.
Lecturing on The Dharma Flower Sutra is just doing the Buddhas work. The Buddhas work is
just The Dharma Flower Sutra.
Sutra:
How much the more so is that the case for one who can in the midst of a great assembly
extensively explain it to people.
Outline:
J2. Higher class of Masters.
Commentary:
How much the more so is that the case for one who can, in the midst of a great assembly,
extensively explain it to people. Any of you who can study The Dharma Flower Sutra,
understand it and then explain it for a gathering of people, will be praised by the Buddha.
You say, Well, Dharma Master, you are up there lecturing it for us right now. Is the Thus Come
One praising you?

Not only is he praising me now, he did so in the past and he will do so in the future. That is why I
like to lecture it so much! If the Thus Come One did not praise this activity; I would not be
undertaking it. I like praise! Ha!
In the past I used to lecture on The Dharma Flower Sutra all the time, I also always used to go to
lectures and listen. No matter what was going on, I always liked to go to lectures and listen.
Sutra:
O Medicine King, should an evil person with unwholesome mind appear before the
Buddha, slandering and scolding him constantly for the length of an eon, his offenses would
be relatively light compared to the offenses of a person who speaks even a single evil word
reviling any Sanghan or layperson who reads or recites The Dharma Flower Sutra. That
persons offense would be very grave.
O Medicine King, you should know that one who reads and recites The Dharma Flower
Sutra takes the Buddhas adornments as his own adornments. He shall carry the Thus
Come One on his shoulders. Wherever he goes, he should be welcomed with obeisance.
Singlemindedly, and with palms joined, one should pay reverence, make offerings, honor,
and praise him. He should receive the finest offerings among people, offerings of flowers,
incense, beads, powdered incense, paste incense, burning incense, silk canopies, banners,
clothing, fine food, and music. Heavenly jewels should be scattered over him, and clusters
of the finest heavenly jewels offered to him.
What is the reason? When this person joyfully speaks the Dharma, those who hear it for
but an instant shall directly achieve ultimate anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
Outline:
H2. General explanation.
Commentary:
O Medicine King, should an evil person. How evil is this person? Not only does he scold his
teacher, he even scolds the Buddha! Would you say he was evil or not? With unwholesome
mind, evil mind, appear before the Buddha, slandering and scolding him constantly for the
length of an eon. Let us just say it is a small eon, that is 139,600 years. This is like Devadatta
who always scolded the Buddha. As a result, he fell, alive into hell. His offenses would be
relatively light. You should not think this phrase means that scolding the Buddha brings only
light offenses. It only means that the offense is lighter than the offense of slandering any
Sanghan or layperson who recites The Dharma Flower Sutra. Compared to the offenses of a
person who speaks even a single evil word reviling any Sanghan or layperson who reads or
recites The Dharma Flower Sutra. Be they at-home or left home, that persons offense would
be very grave. They say things about the reciter of The Dharma Flower Sutra, things like, He
recites The Dharma Flower Sutra? Are you kidding? He kills, steals, fools around, and drinks

and everything! It does not matter whether the one who recites is a left home person or a lay
person.
As to receiving and upholding the Sutra, some do it outwardly and some do it inwardly.
Inwardly means that it is done in secret. This is like Rahula who was first in secret practices.
He recited Sutras and mantras but nobody knew. He did not run up in front of everyone holding a
copy of the Sutra and making a display of himself, See me? I am upholding The Dharma
Flower Sutra! To uphold it inwardly means that, silently, at all times, one is cultivating, and
people do not necessarily know.
The same applies to reading and reciting. Rahula recite whether there were people there or not.
Some people in Buddhism exclusively cheat people. If they see someone coming, they pick up a
Sutra and start reciting like crazy. When the person leaves, they put it down and forget it. They
just do it for show. Some people do the same thing with bowing to the Buddha, writing out
Sutras, etc. Those who truly write out the Sutras do so whether anyone is there to watch them or
not. A Dharma Master in Hong Kong was like this. When he wrote out the Sutra he always sat in
full lotus and wrote it out with utmost respect in every word and every brush stroke. He had
extremely fine handwriting, too.
The person who slanders one who recites this Sutra has created a heavier offense than one who
slanders the Buddha himself. Slandering the Buddha is a tremendously heavy offense, too, but
the Buddha is very compassionate. It does not phase him in the least whether you praise him or
scold him, and so the offense is less than the offense of slandering the Sutra. Why is slandering
the Sutra such a heavy offense? This is because the reciter of the Sutra has not yet certified to the
unproduced Dharma patience. If he hears you slander him he is likely to get mad and quit
reciting. So see what you have done? Not reciting the Sutra, he will not become a Buddha. Sutras
are just the Dharma body of the Buddha, and therefore you must not slander them. The Vajra
Sutra says, Wherever this Sutra is, there is the Buddha and his reverent disciples. If this
applies to The Vajra Sutra, it certainly applies to The Dharma Flower Sutra. The Dharma
Flower is the true body of the Buddha. If you want to now see what the Buddha is like, well,
then just read The Dharma Flower Sutra.
O Medicine King, you should know that one who reads and recites The Dharma Flower
Sutra takes the Buddhas adornments as his own adornments. That means that, in the future,
this person will certainly become a Buddha. He shall carry the Thus Come One on his
shoulders. He is a messenger of the Buddha, teaching living beings, leading them to proper
views. He carries on his back, as it were, the Thus Come Ones Dharma. Wherever he goes, he
should be welcomed with obeisance. People should bow to him.
Singlemindedly, and with palms joined, one should pay reverence, make offerings, honor,
and praise him. He should receive the finest offerings among people, offerings of flowers,
incense, beads, powdered incense, paste incense, burning incense, silk canopies, banners,
clothing, fine food, and music, the finest offerings among people. Heavenly jewels should be
scattered over him, and clusters of the finest heavenly jewels offered to him.
What is the reason? Why does he deserve these offerings? When this person joyfully speaks

the Dharma, those who hear it for but an instant shall directly achieve ultimate
anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Those who hear the Sutra can very quickly attain Buddhahood. It
will not take them very long at all.
Sutra:
At that time, the World Honored One, wishing to restate these principles, spoke verses,
saying:
One wishing to dwell in the Buddha Path
And to accomplish spontaneous wisdom
Should diligently make offerings
To those who receive and uphold The Dharma Flower
One wishing quickly to gain
The Wisdom of All Modes
Should receive and uphold this Sutra
And make offerings to those who uphold it.
Outline:
G2. Verse.
H1. Exhortation to self-practice and benefiting others.
Commentary:
At that time, the World Honored One, wishing to restate these principles, spoke verses
saying: He wanted to make it easier for living beings to understand the principles, so he spoke in
verses.
Basically, the time is up for this lecture, but I still have something to say. Someone has some
questions about the different kinds of Dharma Masters and about inward and outward cultivation.
Some people only work on the superficialities while others cultivate for themselves.
I told you before, when I was in Guan Yin Cave in Hong Kong, my next-door neighbor
performed the ceremony of the flaming mouths every day for a thousand days. Everyday about
three oclock he started his ceremony. He would put on his ceremonial robes and then go out on
the front porch and look up and down the street to see if any guests were coming. If some guests
were coming he would run in and grab the bells and ring them like mad, making an unholy
racket. When the people walked by they would see him and think, This Dharma Master really
works hard, and offer him some money. That is how it went.
Someone is thinking, Dharma Master, you always wait until we all arrive in the evening before
you write out The Shurangama Sutra. Isnt that outward cultivation? I do not face out or face
in.
That is different. I write out the Sutra to teach you Chinese. Basically, I am incredibly lazy. I
would not be interested in writing out the Sutra or lecturing, reading, or reciting it. I like it best
when there is nothing going on at all.

But you just said that you liked to lecture on the Sutras! you say.
That is because the Buddha praises those who lecture on it. So, I end up liking what I do not like
to do!
One wishing to dwell in the Buddha Path. Should there be someone who wants to become a
Buddha. If you want to become a Buddha, you must first dwell in the Buddha Path. If you do not
then you have no way to become a Buddha.
What is meant by dwell in the Buddha Path? It means that you stand firmly without moving
from that position. It means that you would not change your persuasions and turn to an outside
Way. Originally one has already taken refuge with the Triple Jewel, and dwells in the Buddha
Path. But many people stray from the Buddha Path to study other doctrines. They no longer
dwell in the Buddha path. Since coming to America, I have seen many such people. There was
one disciple who had a lot of faith in his teacher. He said, No matter what my teacher tells me to
do, I will do it. He heard that once a disciple had knelt for five hours asking forgiveness from
me, and he said, I could do that too. I could kneel for ten hours, and I would not retreat! I used
an expedient to test him out, and needless to say, he flunked. Not only that, he ran off to some
other religion. He was not really dwelling in the Buddha Path.
Dwelling in the Buddha Path means that you can bear up under any circumstances. If things are
going well, you can take it. If bad things happen, you can take that, too. You are not attached to
or turned by favorable situations. Disliking bad situations means that you are not dwelling in the
Buddha Path. One who dwells in the Buddha Path cultivates patience. You must be so firm in
your resolve that you can bear up under any adverse circumstance. Then you can be said to dwell
in the Buddha Path.
And to accomplish spontaneous wisdom. In order to dwell in the Buddha Path, you must first
have spontaneous wisdom. Spontaneous wisdom is also called wisdom gained without a
teacher. This does not mean that it is obtained without a teacher, however. It means that after the
teacher has crossed you over and led you to understanding, you will then have spontaneous
wisdom and do not rely upon a teacher.
For example as they were about to cross the river, the Fifth Patriarch said to the Sixth Patriarch,
It is fitting that I take you across. The Sixth Patriarch replied, When one is confused, the
teacher takes one across, but when one is enlightened, one takes oneself across. Before you
have crossed the river, you definitely need a boat to cross it, but once you reach the other side,
you do not put the boat on your back and carry it around with you everywhere! Your burden
would be too heavy; you would get tired quickly! Once across the river, you must put the boat
down. Spontaneous wisdom means that you naturally have wisdom. It is said,
If the demon comes, slay the demon.
If the Buddha comes, slay the Buddha.
How does one obtain spontaneous wisdom? How can one come to dwell in the Buddha Path?
Should diligently make offerings to those who receive and uphold The Dharma Flower. One

should constantly make offerings towhom? To the Buddha? No. Then who, you? No. Me? No.
To those who receive and uphold The Dharma Flower Sutra. You should make offerings to those
who can read, recite, receive, uphold, write out, and lecture upon The Dharma Flower Sutra.
Those who make offerings to such Dharma Masters will be able to dwell in the Buddha Path and
accomplish spontaneous wisdom.
One wishing quickly to gain the Wisdom of All Modes. Suppose someone else wants to obtain
this wisdom very quickly. The Wisdom of All Modes is not easy to attain. Spontaneous wisdom
is not the same as the Wisdom of All Modes. The Wisdom of All Modes includes all of existence
in its scope as well as all kinds of wisdom. It is the perfect wisdom. To realize Buddhahood, one
must obtain the Wisdom of All Modes. How does one attain it? Do not be nervous. I will teach
you the method.
Should receive and uphold this Sutra. If you constantly receive and uphold this Sutra, you will
attain the Wisdom of All Modes very quickly. Do you see how wonderful this Sutra is? Why is it
titled The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra? This is where the Wonderful Dharma is. You
need only receive and uphold it to attain that Wonderful Dharma, the Wisdom of All Modes. So
you should receive and uphold and also recite it constantly. You recite it with your mouth and
ponder it with your mind, thinking upon its wonderful principles. With your body put those
principles into action, practicing them in your daily life. This is called receiving, upholding, and
actually practicing The Dharma Flower Sutra. In this way you can obtain the Wisdom of All
Modes.
And make offerings to those who uphold it. It is not enough just to receive and uphold it
yourself. You have to make offerings to others who receive and uphold it. If you receive
offerings from others for your work with the Sutra, you must pass those offerings on to others
that also work with it. If you can do this you will attain the Wisdom of All Modes, and you will
not be confused any more. If you obtain spontaneous wisdom, you will not be stupid any more.
Why are you unclear about the principles? Why is it you do not know what is going on? It is
because you have not attained genuine wisdom. Without spontaneous wisdom or the Wisdom of
All Modes, your thoughts will be a mixed bag. One thought will be awakened and the next
confused. With one confused thought you have been bumped off the Buddha Path. With one
awakened thought, you are back on it again. If every thought is awakened, then in every thought
you are on the Buddha Path. If every thought is confused, then in every thought you are a
confused living being. There is nothing strange about it. It all depends on whether or not you are
confused or awakened.
Who is confused? It is you, yourself. Then who is awake? It is also just you. Since it is you who
wake yourself up, you should not rely upon anything external for your awakening.
What is meant by, relying on something? It is like the poet Li Tai Bai who relied upon wine.
Unless he had had a few drinks, he could not remember anything at all. He could not write poetry
or compose essays. But once he had had a few, the muse would visit, and the poems would flow
and the essays spill forth. Ha! Words flowed like a bubbling spring. But first, he had to have the
wine. It would not work any other way. He had to have that crutch. Without it, he was helpless.
That is relying.

Some people claim that when they take drugs they can melt into the void. They say drugs give
them samadhi. But just take the drugs away and see how far into the void they get. They cannot
go anywhere then. They are just confusing themselves. Confusing themselves, they are just
living beings. Waking themselves up, they are on the Buddha Path. Confusion and awakening are
up to you. Nobody can do it for you.
To say nothing of us common folk, even the Buddhas cousin Ananda could not rely upon the
Buddha for his enlightenment. The Buddha had no way to get enlightenment for him. This makes
it obvious that you must apply effort yourself. If you just fritter your time away, day after day,
that is really pathetic. We say,
An inch of time is an inch of life.
An inch of time is an inch of your life. You must not waste your life. If you waste all
your time, you will accomplish nothing. If you use it up entirely, your life will just go
down the drain. Everyone should dwell in the Buddha Path everyday. How? Just do
not be confused! If you are confused, you run off the Path.
But how can I avoid confusion? you ask.
Do not ask how you can get out of confusion. Ask yourself how you got confused in
the first place. If you know how and why it is that you are confused, then you will
know how to get unconfused.
I do not know, though, you say. Since you do not know, I will tell you. If you knew,
then I would not tell you. Why? It is because your self-nature would have taken itself
across, and you would not need me to wake you up. But since you have not
awakened, I will teach you a little somethingjust a little.
You are confused because of ignorance, because of your not understanding. If you
understood, there would be no problems. If you understood, then the heavens
would be empty and the earth lay bare, and the entire universe would be yours!
Ignorance is the worst thing going. It is also the best thing going. Why? It is just
ignorance that helps you to become a Buddha. Understanding only comes from not
understanding. Unless there was something you did not understand, then there
would be no way for you eventually to understand it! Without darkness there is no
light. You see? If you can understand precisely this point, you can get enlightened. If
you do not understand, you will just have to approach it graduallywait a few more
days.