A little short, isn’t it?! If you want to purify your mind, raise this intention, and try to work at being upright and sincere in how you approach things. Easy, right? 🙂
This section of The Thousand Hands Sutra has a number of these small sections, with just one or two short pieces to them. The title will be in italics, with the mantra itself in regular bold text. The English translations of the titles are from the regular Korean ceremony book, and is Daehaeng Sunim’s explanation of the meaning of the title. We could have translated the original Chinese characters, but her explanations were more interesting, and probably more useful as well.
(Text is from Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of “The Thousand Hands Sutra”)
If I am always aware of and rely upon the great virtue and merit of one mind, no disasters of this world can touch me, and I will receive the blessings of all Buddhas.
한마음의 크신 공덕 적정하게 항상 관하면 이 세상의 모든 재난 침범하지 못하리니, 천상이나 인간이나 부처님의 복덕 받아
While letting go of all wrong behaviors and deluded thoughts if my mind becomes completely empty, this can be called true repentance.
죄와 망심 모두 놓아 마음 모두 공하여야, 이를 일러 이름하여 진실한 참회라 하네.
Repentance doesn’t erase what we did or its consequences, but in returning to our foundation, we start dissolving the chains of thoughts that led us to that action, and the chains of regrets and blame that cripple and distort us. And if, from this completely empty place, we raise an intention for the well-being and growth of those that were harmed, then perhaps, we can truly settle that debt.
There’s a new subtitled video by Daehaeng Kun Sunim on YouTube! It took a while, but there are some really nice points here! I hope you find something that helps you break through wherever you are.
Evil thoughts and actions do not just appear on their own. They emerge according to the thoughts I give rise to. Thus, when those thoughts disappear bad karma also vanishes.
죄는 본래 자성 없고 마음 따라 일어나니, 마음 만일 없어지면 죄업 또한 스러지네.
Literally, the first line says “Evil thoughts and actions do not have self (true) nature.” Well, that’s a little vague in English! The nuance is that they are not separate, independent things just floating around out in the world. Also, perhaps most importantly, they are not permanent things. They don’t have some existence that lasts forever or that exists apart from us.
In a way, you might be able to read this as “They are empty.” This is a description you have to be very careful about, because people lacking wisdom have used it to justify all kinds of harmful actions. While evil actions may not have true, inherent nature, they sure can generate a lot of painful results! And trigger unimaginable chains of causes and effects, so know that your own shortcomings are not permanent, and will change when your thoughts change, but don’t disregard them. You’ll still experience the results of whatever mischief they get up to!
That aside, this is such a hopeful verse! Change the way you’re thinking, start entrusting what you’re feeling and worried about to your foundation, and things will begin to change. It probably won’t happen immediately, but it will change.