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(continued – The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas )

I vow to save all beings.

모든 중생 제도하길 원입니다.

One of the cool things about this image, is that it’s not one person saving all beings. There’s all kinds of “sages” wandering around, each helping out one or two people here and there.

(This text is from Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of “The Thousand Hands Sutra”)

(continued – The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas )

I vow to manifest throughout the entire world.

온 세상에 나투기를 원입니다.

(This text is from Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of “The Thousand Hands Sutra”)

(continued – The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas )

Amita Buddha existing within my mind,
I vow to hurry and meet.

마음 속의 아미타불 속히 뵙기 원입니다.

(This text is from Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of “The Thousand Hands Sutra”)

(continued – The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas )

Paradise is found within my mind,
I vow to attain it.

마음 속의 극락세계 태어나기 원입니다.

This verse proves a slightly annoyed, quiet voice that wants to reply, “Do you mean to say that some wonderful state of being or place, is only to be found within this boring, petty, messy, deficient, ‘me’?! I haven’t found anything that interesting here in all these years, so let’s look somewhere else.” Lol.

This pretty much sums up the way my thinking defaults to. “Whelp, I looked in this corner. Nothing exciting here, so let’s look somewhere else.”

And yet…. All the awakened beings who have gone on to teach have said the same thing. When the turbulent water calms down, the moon will be seen. It didn’t suddenly pop into existence; it was always there shining brightly.

(This text is from Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of “The Thousand Hands Sutra”)

(continued – The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas )

I will know the real and attain enlightenment –
I vow to always sustain and cultivate this determination.

마음에 보리심을 항상 내기 원입니다.

A corollary to this is “I vow to cease being a plaything to the random thoughts and feeling that arise.” Daehaeng Kun Sunim sometimes referred to enlightenment as “stepping outside of the barrel,” in that, until then, it’s as if we are trapped in a barrel, unable to see anything. And not truly knowing why we are being rolled about, which direction we’re going, or to understand what was moving us. We have all kinds of things we “think” we know, but those are nearly all just images projected on the inside wall of barrel.

(This text is from Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of “The Thousand Hands Sutra”)

Here’s a short Dharma talk from Daehaeng Kun Sunim, which appeared in the last issue of Hanmaum Journal (#116). Try to look for what you’ve been struggling with. Try to look back on what you’ve been thinking about lately. It’s those daily worries and concerns that will be helped the most by entrusting them, yet which are so much a part of our lives that we barely even notice them. It’s as if they become background noise. Try to notice and let go of these!

In this ever flowing whole that is called the truth of emptiness,
there is no “pure” or “soiled,”
no “important” or “trivial,”
nor can your intellect and thoughts fathom the reality
of what’s going on or how to go forward.
In this whole, “This is possible” and “That is impossible”
are both wrong.

Instead, just go with “True self! You’re the one that can do this!
You’re the one that can take care of this!”
Just push through whatever confronts you
with this kind of resolute faith and determination.
For this will create the opportunities and energy
with which you can save yourself.

이 무(無)의 공법이란
더러운 것도 깨끗한 것도 없고
크고 작은 것도 없는 까닭에
생각으로 된다 안된다 할 것이 아닙니다.
온갖 것을 따져서 ‘이거는 될 수 있겠다’ 하는 것이나
‘이거는 될 수 없겠다’ 하는 것이나 둘 다 아닙니다.
오직 ‘너만이 할 수 있잖아.’ 하고
밀고 넘어가는 믿음과 그 패기,
그것이 바로 자기를 살리는 계기가 되는 것입니다.  

(continued – The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas )

The truth of non-duality,
taught by all Buddhas.
I vow to ceaselessly learn and practice.

둘 아닌 부처님 법 늘 배우기 원입니다.

(This text is from Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of “The Thousand Hands Sutra”)

(continued – The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas )

Precepts, meditation, and wisdom
are all found within my mind,
I vow to ceaselessly cultivate them.

마음의 계.정.혜를 힘껏 닦기 원입니다.

(This text is from Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of “The Thousand Hands Sutra”)

(continued – The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas )

Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
all live within my mind,
I vow to always listen to them.

마음의 불.법.승을 항상 듣기 원입니다.

(This text is from Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of “The Thousand Hands Sutra”)

(continued – The Ten Vows made by all Tathagatas )

Greed, anger, and ignorance
existing within my mind,
I vow to dissolve without delay.

마음의 탐.진.치를 어서 끊기 원입니다.

(This text is from Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of “The Thousand Hands Sutra”)