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Three Contemplations toward Buddha Nature

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This book presents the three most renowned genres of contemplation in Mahayana Ch’an Buddhism. They are: Kong-an, Hua-to, and the Seven Enquiries about the Mind.

As for Kong-an, the subject matter employed here are all concerning Master Bodhidharma, the first Patriarch of Chinese Ch’an Buddhism and the 28th Patriarch of in India. These three Kong-ans are:

1. The Mind is Nowhere to be found
2. The Patriarch’s Quatrain for advanced practice
3. Bodhidharma’s Skin, Flesh, Bones, and Marrow

After reading these, you would have a pretty clear picture about Kong-an and how to make contemplation on it, as well as about the over-all quintessence of fountainhead of Ch’an Buddhism.

The second renowned genre of contemplation in Ch’an Buddhism is Hua-to. Hua-to is, as it were, a diminutive of Kong-an. Or to put it this way, Kong-an is a novel, a long story, while Hua-to is a novelette, a short story. But both of them are stories. By the same token, the Kong-an is a long contemplative material, containing a story with a complete plot––the beginning, the middle, and the denouement (ending)––for its body. Whereas the Hua-to would not have a plot; it consists only of a sentence, or a phrase. Therefore, in comparison with Kong-an, it is similar to a Kong-an in miniature, or a compressed Kong-an, for the general effect resulted in contemplating on Hua-to was supposed to be the same in contemplating on Kong-an. The instance of Hua-to scrutinized here is “Who is saying ‘Namo Amito-Fo’ (or 'Namo Amitabha Buddha')?”

The third genre of contemplation in Ch’an Buddhism is one based on the Text of the Sutras. And under this rubric, the one cited and examined here is just a very prestigious one, if not the most renowned; it is called “The Seven Inquiries to locate the Mind,” from The Surangama Sutra. With the knowledge and skills built up in learning to contemplate on the first two genres, the Kong-an and Hua-to, one would then be able to go on to learn and practice the contemplation of this genre. And having learned about the three genres of contemplation presented in this book, one would virtually have covered the most predominant contemplations in Ch’an Buddhism. (Source Accessed Mar 12, 2020)

Citation	Kuan, Cheng. Three Contemplations toward Buddha Nature: Lectures on Buddhism for English Meditation Class at Chuang Yen Monastery, N.Y. Vol. 2 of A Trilogy of Ch'an. 2nd ed. n.p.: Americana Buddhist Temple, 2018.

Table of Contents About the Book Texts Translated Quotes

Contemplation I Bodhidharma's Kong-An

• Chapter 1: The Mind is Nowhere to be Found2
  • (A) A Brief Introduction to Kong-An2
  • (B) Master Huei-ko6
  • (C) Chopping off an Arm for the Dharma8
  • (D) The Kong-An Per se: The Mind is Nowhere to be Found10
  • (E) To Contemplate on the Kong-An11

• Chapter 2: The Patriarch's Quatrain (Gāthā) for Advance Practice15
  • Verse 1. "Cease all the external Quests"17
  • Verse 2. "And Soothe the Mind of its Gasps"22
  • Verse 3. "Uphold your Mind as a Wall"25
  • Verse 4. "So as to embark on the Bodhi Route"28
  • Question and Response29

• Chapter 3: Bodhidharma's Skin, Flesh, Bones, and Marrow33
  • The Skin Kong-An36
  • The Flesh Kong-An38
  • The Bones Kong-An40
  • The Marrow Kong-An41
  • Question and Response44

Contemplation II The Contemplation on "Hua-To"

• Chapter 4: Who is Saying 'Namo Amito-Fo'?46
  • (A) What is a Hua-To?46
  • (B) Where does the voice come from?46
  • (C) Who is chanting 'Namo Amito-Fo'?48
  • (D) To contemplate on the Hua-To about Amitabha Buddha51
  • Question and Response56
  • (1) The Sword of Wisdom56
  • (2)Soul, Cognizances, and the Buddha Nature56
  • (3) What is being reincarnated?61
  • (4) Ālaya does not disappear upon death62
  • (5) The Buddha Nature is real63
  • (6) The Middle Route65

• Chapter 5: Who is Saying 'Namo Amito-Fo'? (contd.)69
  • Question and Resonse71

Contemplation III The Śūraṅgama Enquiries

• Chapter 6: An Overall View of The Śūraṅgama Sūtra78
  • 1. The Māras of Vexation (Kleśa)87
    • (1) Attachment (love)88
    • (2) Aversion (hate)88
    • (3) Ignorance88
    • (4) Arrogance (or Pride)88
    • (5) Doubt (Disbelief)88
      • A. Doubt about oneself89
      • B. Doubt and the Dharma89
      • C. Doubt about the Gurus90
        • 1. Doubt about our "Root Guru"—The Buddha90
        • 2. Doubt about the Holy Saṃgha—Gurus in general90
        • 3. Doubt about the Master who is instructing you—personal Guru91
      • D. Doubt about the Tathāgata Nature or Buddha Nature91
    • (6) Evil Views (Incorrect Concepts)91
      • A. Lateral Views92
        • 1. The View on Constancy92
        • 2. The View of Nihilism (The Views of Nothingness)94
      • B. Vicious Views95
      • C. The View of Corporeality96
      • D. Views of False Precepts97
  • 2. The Māra of "the Five Aggregates"98
  • 3. The Māra of Death98
  • 4. The Celestial Māra102

• Chapter 7: The Seven Positions to Locate the Mind110
  • The Inquiry
    • Where is the Mind?121
  • Proposition 1
    • The Mind is in the body121
  • Proposition 2
    • The Mind is outside of the body124
  • Proposition 3
    • The Mind lies in between—within the Visual Organ125
  • Proposition 4
    • The Mind is on the threshold127
  • Proposition 5
    • The Mind arises at the Rendezvous of Senses and Dusts131
  • Proposition 6
    • The Mind is in the Middle134
  • Proposition 7
    • The Mind is Nowhere136

• Chapter 8: The Epilogue144
  • 1. The Mind of Normalcy and Unfluctuation is the Tao144
  • 2. The Middle Route146
  • 3. About "Auras"149

• About the Author151
• Illustration—Mahayana Guardian Pusa Wei-to157