Following yesterday’s post, here’s another example of
Chinese Master Hsuan Hua’s perspective. Here he explains the “expedient” employed by the rich man to entice his poor son to come to him in Chapter 4.

SUTRA

“Then the elder, wishing to entice his son, contrived an expedient. He secretly sent two people, haggard and wretched in appearance and lacking dignity, saying to them, ‘You may go there and gently tell the poor fellow that you can take him to a place where he can work and earn twice as much. If he agrees, bring him back and put him to work. If he asks what work he is to do, you may tell him, ‘You are being hired to sweep away dung, and the two of us will work along with you.”

COMMENTARY

Then the elder, wishing to entice his son, contrived an expedient. In this context, “then” refers to a time when those of the Two Vehicles were cultivating the position of the path of insight and the position of the path of cultivation – that is, the realization of the first, second, and third fruition of Arhatship. These stages are referred to as being in a “poor village.” The Buddha was just about to contemplate the potentials of living beings in order to develop a plan to teach them using an expedient method.

He secretly sent two people. “Two people” refers to Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas who were transformation bodies of Bodhisattvas. The Buddha had instructed the Bodhisattvas to transform themselves into Śrāvakas or Pratyekabuddhas.

To explain it in terms of the Dharma, “two people” refers to the four noble truths and the twelve links of dependent arising that the Buddha uses to teach living beings.

To explain it in terms of the teaching, “secretly” and “sent” refer to the complete-word teaching and the half-word teaching respectively, which are two classifications of the Buddha’s teaching. The complete-word teaching is the perfect teaching, which is exemplified in the Dharma Flower Sūtra. The Tripiṭaka teaching, the inter-related teaching, and the distinct teaching are classified as the half-word teaching.

To explain it in terms of people, “secretly” refers to one who secretly practices as a Bodhisattva, and “sent” refers to one who assumes the appearance of a Śrāvaka.

To explain it in terms of the provisional and the ultimate, “secretly” refers to the ultimate teaching and “sent” refers to the provisional teaching. Therefore, Bodhisattvas are represented by “secretly,” and Śrāvakas are represented by “sent.” “Secretly sent two people” means the Bodhisattvas transformed themselves and manifested as Śrāvakas.

Haggard and wretched in appearance. Those of the Lesser Vehicle do not cultivate wholesome physical characteristics. They are concerned about suffering, emptiness, impermanence, non-self, and impurity. They think everything is really just suffering, an incredible amount of suffering, so they are motivated to cultivate. They find nothing worth being attached to; it is all empty and meaningless, which also motivates them to cultivate.

Furthermore, observing the twelve links of dependent arising, they realize that all phenomena are impermanent and that there is nothing to cling to, so they want to cultivate. They also cultivate the contemplation of non-self in order to be free from attachments.

Additionally, they cultivate the contemplation on impurity, seeing everything as being impure. They think, “Oh! The troubled world of the five turbidities is impure, and the body is impure; everything is impure.” Seeing everything as being impure, they seek purity.

Seeing everything as impermanent, they wish to attain permanence, joy, true self, and purity. They cultivate the principle of the one-sided view of emptiness that perceives only the empty character of existence. Because they have not awakened to the principle of the Middle Way, they have no desire to cultivate wholesome physical characteristics such as the thirty-two hallmarks and the eighty subsidiary characteristics of a Buddha. Hence, they are “haggard and wretched in appearance.” If the Buddha manifested the ten-thousand-foot Nişyanda Buddha body, those of the Lesser Vehicle would not believe in him, so the Buddha instructs the Bodhisattvas to disguise themselves as Śrāvakas or Pratyekabuddhas, haggard and wretched in appearance.

And lacking dignity. “Dignity” is a metaphor for the ten powers and the four kinds of fearlessness. In disguise, the Bodhisattvas appear to lose the ten powers and the four kinds of fearlessness; thus, they now look the same as those of the Two Vehicles.

The elder had the attendants disguise themselves as penniless people and sent them to the impoverished village where the poor son stayed, saying to them, “You may go there and gently tell the poor fellow that you can take him to a place where he can work and earn twice as much.” Likewise, the Buddha sent the Bodhisattvas, disguised as Śrāvakas, to those of the Two Vehicles, telling them not to chase after those of the Two Vehicles and hurriedly explain the Great Vehicle Dharma to them in the manner they had before. He told them to speak slowly, telling those of the Two Vehicles that they would take them to a place where they could cultivate to the position of the Path of insight and the position of the path of cultivation – that is, the first, second, and third stages of Arhatship.

Followers of non-Buddhist religions can quell delusions through the cultivation of ascetic practices. However, quelling delusions doesn’t mean that one severs them. Those delusions still remain; they have not yet been cut off. There are coarse delusions, subtle delusions, delusions as innumerable as dust and sand, delusions arising from incorrect views, delusions arising from incorrect thoughts, and delusions of ignorance. “Gently tell the poor fellow” means slowly explaining to them the four noble truths – suffering, the aggregation of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the Path. “A place where he can work” refers to severing delusions arising from incorrect views and delusions arising from incorrect thoughts. “Take him to a place where he can work” means taking him to a place where he can cultivate and attain the position of the path of insight.

The ascetic practices that non-Buddhists cultivate can quell delusions but cannot cut them off. Once delusions are quelled, one thereby gains birth in the heavens of the realm of form or the realm of the formless. Those non-Buddhists who say, “Let’s ascend to heavenly paradise!” are of this type. One who has quelled delusions but has not yet cut them off can still ascend to the heavens. Being born in the heavens does not mean ending birth and death; one still remains within the three realms, which is the same as being in the burning house.

“And earn twice as much” represents the realization of the fourth stage of Arhatship. If you teach them the four noble truths and the twelve links of dependent arising and they cultivate accordingly, they can end birth and death and realize the fourth stage of Arhatship, thereby:

Transcending the three realms
And breaking the constraints of the five elements.

This is to “earn twice as much.”

If he agrees, bring him back and put him to work represents the readiness of those of the Two Vehicles to be saved.

If there are living beings with such potential, then save them; if there are no such living beings, then stop. “If he agrees, bring him back and put him to work” represents making those of the Two Vehicles walk the Path. If he asks what work he is to do, you may tell him, “You are being hired to sweep away dung.” To sweep away dung can be likened to cleaning out toilets. It is a metaphor for cultivating the first two of the four noble truths: suffering and the aggregation of suffering. It also means to cast out delusions arising from incorrect views and delusions arising from incorrect thoughts. When cultivating the position of the path of insight and the position of the path of cultivation, one needs to sever delusions arising from incorrect views and delusions arising from incorrect thoughts – that is, to cut off ignorance. Originally, those of the Two Vehicles focused on cultivation concerning suffering and emptiness and did not care about purifying the Buddhalands, bringing living beings to perfection, or practicing the Bodhisattva Path. Because of that, they can simply do the work of sweeping away dung.

And the two of us will work along with you means those of the Great Vehicle will work side by side with those of the Lesser Vehicle. Those of the Great Vehicle will lead those of the Lesser Vehicle toward the Great Vehicle. “Work along with” represents those with potential for the provisional teaching and those with potential for the ultimate teaching cultivating together, exemplified here by Bodhisattvas and Śrāvakas working together.

Chinese Master Hsuan Hua’s 14-volume commentary on the Lotus Sutra offers a number of what are for me “new” perspectives. Here’s an example where Hsuan Hua explains the meaning of the rich man’s visible wealth in Chapter 4.

SUTRA

“His father, from the first, had set out seeking his son, but in vain. He settled midway in a city. His household was one of immense wealth, with limitless fortune and treasures of gold, silver, vaiḍūrya, coral, amber, crystal beads, and other such things. His granaries and storehouses were overflowing, and he had many servants, vassals, and assistants as well as numerous elephants, horses, carriages, cattle, and sheep. Не profited from trade with other countries; he had business transactions with many, many merchants and vendors.”

COMMENTARY

His father, from the first, had set out seeking his son, but in vain. “His father” is an analogy for the Buddha. The Buddha taught living beings the Great Vehicle, but living beings preferred the Lesser Vehicle, as if they had run far, far away to another country. Therefore, the Buddha set out searching for his sons, his disciples. However, they did not have the potential for the Great Vehicle, so they did not meet up with the Buddha. Having sought his son, the Buddha’s Great Vehicle disciples, in vain, he settled midway in a city. “Midway” refers to being in between the realm with residue, attained through skillful means, and the realm adorned with true rewards. The Buddha stopped there, no longer teaching the Dharma or teaching living beings, and was considering entering nirvāṇa.

His household was one of immense wealth, with limitless fortune and treasures. Although the Buddha wanted to enter nirvāṇa, he thought, “I have so many Dharma treasures, yet I have no one to pass them on to, that is, to continue the work of teaching living beings. Who am I going to bequeath my family property to?” “Immense wealth” refers to the twelve literary categories of the Tripiṭaka, and “limitless fortune” refers to the countless Dharma treasures.

Of gold, silver, vaiḍūrya, coral, amber, crystal beads, and other such things. There are gold, silver, vaiḍūrya, and coral. Coral is a treasure from the ocean. There are also amber and crystal beads. Crystal beads are like wish-fulfilling pearls with which one can obtain everything one wishes. There are also all kinds of other treasures. These refer to the Buddha’s thirty-seven factors of awakening: the seven factors of awakening, the eightfold path, the five roots, the five powers, the four foundations of mindfulness, the four kinds of right effort, and the four steps to spiritual powers. There are also the four noble truths, the twelve links of dependent arising, the six pāramitās, and other Dharma treasures.

His granaries and storehouses were overflowing. Granaries are where grain is stored, and storehouses are where other valuables and precious objects are stored. Overflowing granaries and storehouses are metaphors for the Buddha’s possession of countless Dharma treasures.

And he had many servants, vassals, and assistants. Not only does the Buddha have many storehouses for his Dharma treasures, he also has many servants, vassals, and assistants. “Servants, vassals, and assistants” is a metaphor for expedient Dharmas. Servants can do all kinds of work, such as sweeping the floor or cooking, among other things. In the same way, expedient Dharmas can be used in any way. All of these represent the many skillful means of a Buddha.

As well as numerous elephants and horses. “Elephants” is a metaphor for the three contemplations in a single thought in the Great Vehicle: the contemplation of emptiness, the contemplation of the provisional, and the contemplation of the Middle Way. Emptiness is the provisional as well as the Middle Way; these three do not differ from one another. These are represented by “elephants.”

“Horses” represents the three contemplations in succession. First one contemplates the empty, then the provisional, and finally the Middle Way. The contemplation is performed in sequential order, step by step, bringing Bodhisattvas of the distinct teaching to the fruition of the Great Vehicle.

The aforementioned three contemplations in a single thought indicate that the three aspects – the empty, the provisional, and the middle – of any phenomenon are present within the same instant without sequence, in that, within the same thought, emptiness is the provisional and is also the middle. Followers of the perfect teaching possess the seeds of the Great Vehicle. With sharp faculties, they reach attainment suddenly, without having to cultivate step by step. This is called the three contemplations in a single thought, whereas “horses” is a metaphor for the three contemplations in succession, which require step-by-step cultivation. There are also carriages of all kinds.

Cattle and sheep. “Cattle” represents the realization of emptiness through analyzing phenomena into their component elements and the realization that all phenomena are intrinsically empty. These two realizations bring living beings of the interrelated teaching to the Great Vehicle. “Sheep” represents bringing Śrāvakas to the fruition of the Great Vehicle. The Vehicle of Pratyekabuddhas is not mentioned here because, when the Buddha was in the world, Pratyekabuddhas were Śrāvakas and Śrāvakas were Pratyekabuddhas. “Numerous” cattle and sheep represent those with dispositions toward the Lesser Vehicle, who are countless.

He profited from trade with other countries. What does “trade” represent? It implies that our mind gives rise to the myriad phenomena, and the myriad phenomena will eventually return to the mind. “Profited” refers to the benefits attained through teaching and transforming living beings. It is like earning interest on a savings account. When the Buddha saves living beings and brings them to the fruition of the Great Vehicle, it is like earning interest. “Other countries” means the interest earned extends everywhere throughout the three realms.

He had business transactions with many, many merchants and vendors. The price of merchandise is set during business transactions. “Merchants” are businessmen who travel around. “Vendors” refer to those who stay in one place to do business. The vendors and merchants represent those with Great Vehicle and Lesser Vehicle dispositions – the Bodhisattvas and Śrāvakas respectively – who were many in number.

Yesterday’s post on The Troubled World of the Five Turbidities mentions the “five sharp afflictions,” which arise much faster than the dull afflictions – greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt. Here is Master Hsuan Hua’s explanation of the Five Sharp Afflictions from his commentary on Chapter 3, A Parable.

What do yakṣas and evil ghosts represent? Starting from “Chi, mei, and wangliang / Were everywhere” onward, these lines of verse represent the five sharp afflictions. Previously, we talked about the five dull afflictions, which act slowly. Sharp afflictions are keen, fast, and intense. The five sharp afflictions also turn people upside down, causing them to form attachments and do deluded things.

The five sharp afflictions are as follows:

1. Views of individual identity. One is always attached to one’s body. You work for your body all day long, buying it some candy to eat, some perfume to wear, some nice clothes and delicious food, as well as finding it a nice place to live. You think, “My body is just me!” Actually, that’s wrong. How is it wrong? The body can only be said to belong to you. You can say, “It is mine.” But you can’t say, “It’s me.” Why not? The body is like a house. When you are living in a house, you cannot tell people, “My house is me.” You can just say, “This house is mine.” Ultimately, your body is not you. It is not your master. If you cling to your body and take it as the basis of your identity, you are making a mistake. … Your mind is the true master; the body is merely a house. You are the master who lives in a particular body. This everlasting, true mind and pure, brilliant inherent nature is the true self. It Is also called the tathāgatagarbha as well as the Buddha nature. So do not think that your body is you. It’s yours, but it’s not you. The real you neither comes into being nor ceases to be, is neither defiled nor pure, and neither increases nor diminishes. However, instead of recognizing the real you, you recognize the “false self” and think that the body is you. …
2. Extreme views. What is an extreme view? The view of annihilationism and the view of eternalism are the two extreme views held by non-Buddhists. Those who believe in annihilationism believe that when you die, it is like a lamp going out. It’s all over. You will not undergo any retribution for good or evil. Regardless of whether you have been good or bad, everything ends with death. There is no rebirth. They do not believe in cause and effect. They do not believe that you can become a Buddha if you do good deeds or that you can become a ghost if you do bad deeds. They do not believe in the existence of Buddhas and ghosts. In fact, they do not believe in the notion of people either. They feel that people are no different from grass and trees that grow and die. When one dies, another is born, but the same being is not reborn again. One dies and another takes its place. Those who die are forever dead; those who come into being are born anew. That’s the view of annihilationism. Because they do not believe in the cycle of cause and effect, they do not accept the concept of transmigration in the six destinies. … For example, some religions say that there is only one supreme deity in the heavens. That is an example of the extreme view of eternalism. Eternalism and annihilationism are two non-Buddhist views. In these teachings, no matter how good you are, you can never become that supreme deity. As long as you believe in that deity, you can go to the heavens even if you committed crimes. But if you don’t believe in that deity, then you are bound for the hells regardless of your virtuous behavior. This does not seem quite fair. It almost appears as if the deity would accept bribes and likes to be revered and worshipped. Annihilationism and eternalism are both extreme views. They are not in accord with the Middle Way. …
3. Erroneous views regarding moral practices and austerities. These erroneous views refer to the disciplines cultivated by non-Buddhist sects. They take what is not a cause as a cause and what is not an effect as an effect. What does that mean? They cultivate futile ascetic practices through which they think they can attain nirvāṇa and ultimate bliss. For example, some of these groups may open the heavenly eye by cultivating these ascetic practices and see cows, dogs, pigs, and chickens that have been reborn in the heavens. Then they imitate those animals. They eat grass along with the cow instead of eating regular food. They think that the cow was reborn in the heavens because it ate grass. They imagine that eating grass is the purest form of vegetarianism-purer than just abstaining from meat. They consider it the optimal vegetarian diet. They assume that eating only grass is true cultivation; otherwise, how could cows be born in the heavens? Therefore, they take up the discipline of eating grass and living like a cow. … These ascetics hold erroneous views regarding moral practices and austerities. The ascetic practices in these examples are futile. Although they do not lead to any spiritual attainment, there are people who like to practice them.
4. Wrong views. This refers to improper views. For example, people who cultivate the Path should be filial to their parents, but those with wrong views don’t think this is necessary. “What’s the point of being filial to your parents? It’s their job to have children. You don’t have to be filial to them.” Killing is wrong, but they say, “The more you kill the better.” The [first of the] five precepts prohibits killing, yet they instruct people to kill. Wouldn’t you say that this is a wrong view? Stealing is against the law, yet they use all kinds of methods to teach people how to steal. Sexual misconduct is wrong, but they encourage people to engage in it. One shouldn’t lie either, but they condone lying. They say, “Don’t listen to that person who is telling you not to lie; he himself is a liar! He’s just deceiving you. How could he not be lying? Don’t believe in that.” This is a wrong view. Taking intoxicants is against our precepts, but they think that it doesn’t matter. Some people like to smoke and claim that, in the five precepts, the precept against taking intoxicants doesn’t include tobacco. “Smoking isn’t breaking the precepts,” they say. These are all wrong views. Some people are against being vegetarian, saying, “You are vegetarian and do not eat any meat? But all those cows and sheep are raised to be eaten. If you don’t eat them, what use are they?” In general, they will oppose what is right and come up with plausible reasons to persuade you to accept their wrong views.
5. Views of attachment to personal views. People with such views want to take whatever they see and make it their own. They will use any means necessary to benefit themselves. They are very selfish.

These five sharp afflictions obscure your genuine wisdom. They are like five servants surrounding you, preventing you from acting naturally. You are controlled and made to listen to these five servants, who encourage you to make bad choices. Students of the Buddhadharma, now that you recognize these five sharp afflictions, you must wield your sword of wisdom and slay them all. Only after that can you transcend the three realms.

This has been a general explanation of the five sharp afflictions. If one were to explain them in detail, one could talk for eons but never finish.