Wake Up and Laugh!

(continued – Having given rise to these great vows,
I return to and rely upon the Three Treasures of one mind)

I take refuge in the place for learning the truth.
Which is every place.

시방세계 항상 계신 도량에 귀의합니다.

This is the last verse of Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of The Thousand Hands Sutra. How do you feel after you recite the lines above? For me, it feels like something within me settles into place. Although my problems, concerns, and limitations don’t magically disappear, it is as if I’m more in tune with something deeper. Like my core has found a rhythm it’s moving along with, and is waiting for the rest of me to catch up. Or perhaps, better to say, waiting for me to let go of enough old thoughts and views and fixed ideas that I can take the next step from here.

I hope you’ve all gotten some benefit from this text. Even if you can’t see it, the lives within you have heard this and responded. With palms together, Chong Go

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

(continued – Having given rise to these great vows,
I return to and rely upon the Three Treasures of one mind)

I take refuge in the truth,
ever-present throughout every realm.

시방세계 항상 계신 진리에 귀의합니다.

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

Having given rise to these great vows,
I return to and rely upon the Three Treasures of one mind

I take refuge in Buddha,
who is one with all,
in every place and dimension.

발원이 귀명례삼보 發願已 歸命禮三寶

시방에 항상 한마음으로 계신 부처님께 귀의합니다.

Well, we now find ourselves at the last verses of The Thousand Hands Sutra! (Two more posts after today.) I had thought of doing the same style of posting for Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of The Heart Sutra, but is there something else that people would like to see? More audio Dharma talks? (There was another option that I’d been thinking of, but have completely forgotten, lol.) Go ahead and post your thoughts in the comments if you have any ideas about this. — Chong Go

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

(continued – Raising the Four Great Vows)

Supreme enlightenment,
inherent within me,
I vow to attain.

마음속의 모든 불도 맹세코 이루오리다.

Sometimes it’s good to remind ourselves about this truth of enlightenment! We still have to do the work, we still have to struggle to let go of our attachments and fixed views, we still need to cultivate good (nondual) actions, but all this is in the service of awakening to our inherent nature and potential.

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

(continued – Raising the Four Great Vows)

All teachings of the Dharma,
ever-present within me,
I vow to learn.

마음속의 모든 법문 맹세코 배우오리다.

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

(continued – Raising the Four Great Vows)

All delusions and defilements existing within me,
I vow to dissolve.

마음속의 모든 번뇌 맹세코 녹이오리다.

The word for “delusions and defilements” doesn’t translate easily, in my opinion. In essence, it means the stuff that causes me to do stupid things. This includes things like attachments and desire, but it also includes misguided views and perceptions of the world. People don’t (usually) choose evil courses of action; they’re usually(!) making what seem to them to be logical choices best suited to the circumstances. But what’s sometimes missing is an awareness of their connection to others, and what this means for the results of their actions.

If they understood karma and our connections with other people, they would probably make different choices. Choices less inclined to cause them and other pain, and choices that would lead towards their growth as well as that of others.

The Korean here has two nuances; one is referring that the stuff that’s in me, but it could also be read as saying that all delusions and defilements exist within mind. For most of us, the first meaning is probably more relevant, but be aware that the second one exists as well. Because *all* of those exist within mind, mind can affect them, even when they “belong” to someone else.

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

(continued – Raising the Four Great Vows)

All unenlightened beings existing within me,
I vow to save.

마음속의 모든 중생 맹세코 건지리다.

“Wait,” I hear you saying, “didn’t we just cover the Four Great Vows?” Indeed we did. But in Daehaeng Kun Sunim’s translation of the Thousand Hands Sutra, she repeats these, adding an interior twist to them. Now, it’s not “I vow to save all beings,” but rather “I vow to save all beings existing with my mind.” This could be translated as “I vow to save all the unenlightened beings within me” (something that needs doing!), or it could be “All beings exist within my fundamental mind, I vow to save them there.” I suspect the second meaning is actually closer, but I can’t say for certain, and the first is also true and important as well.

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

(continued – Raising the Four Great Vows)

Incomparable enlightenment, I will attain.

위없는 불도를 다 이루오리다.

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

(continued – Raising the Four Great Vows)

The infinite teachings of the Dharma, I will learn.

한량없는 법문을 다 배우오리다.

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

(continued – Raising the Four Great Vows)

Continuously arising delusions and defilements, I will dissolve.

끝없는 번뇌를 다 녹이오리다.

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