Wake Up and Laugh!

“But Sunim,” some of you might be saying, “why all this stuff on repentance?” In part, because this is just the section in the sutra, lol. This text was gradually compiled around The Great Compassion Dharani, with people occasionally adding sections fore and aft. These extra sections were things that great teachers of the day thought people needed to know. Given that they weren’t cut out or dropped, I’d guess that centuries of people found them helpful.

The other reason is that we as growing, developing beings can’t move forward until we acknowledge that the harmful things we did were mistakes. Otherwise, we aren’t looking for new ways forward, and may even be hanging back, defending the way we did things.

The interesting, and truly odd thing about this section (which concludes tomorrow), is that nowhere aside from the title does it actually mention “repentance.” The contents are 100% about trying to find a new way forward. And that is also apparently a form of repentance.

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.
Whether a heavenly being or a human being,
anyone who meets this treasure,
this one mind,
obtains the supreme Dharma.

There’s a bit more of this section, but nothing bad will come from reciting just this one line and letting it sink down within you. Truly.

The Mantra of Repentance

Let me awaken to how I should live. (repeated 3 times)

So, “Why repentance,” you may be wondering. On the one hand, that’s just this section of The Thousand Hands Sutra. But it’s an interesting text because it is, in my opinion, a complete manual for spiritual practice and growth. While the earlier parts talked about relying upon our inherent nature and foundation, the later part has pieces aimed at overcoming the things that are holding us back, things that pull us back down into the same old ruts.

Repenting of the Ten Evil Actions (part 5 of 5)

While letting go of all wrong behaviors and deluded thoughts
if my mind becomes completely empty,
this can be called true repentance.

Repenting of the Ten Evil Actions (part 4 of 5)

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.

As with all of these, try to recite these a few times each day, whenever you have a chance to. It really does help dissolve the momentum and fixed ideas we get stuck in.

Repenting of the Ten Evil Actions (part 3 of 5)

With one thought,
evil karma accumulated over endless eons disappears,
leaving nothing behind,
like dry grass in a fire.

Repenting of the Ten Evil Actions (part 2 of 5)

I now deeply repent of having spoken ill of others and caused discord among people.
I now deeply repent of having spoken harshly.
I now deeply repent of having been overcome with desire and attachments.
I now deeply repent of having been angry.
I now deeply repent of having been ignorant and deluded.

Most of the time, it isn’t enough to just regret something. That tend to end up vague, and although well-intentioned, doesn’t have much power in our lives. But when we clearly state it out loud, then, somehow, it has much more power to affect us. Likewise, clearly stating a positive intention, and then letting that sink down within, has much more power than just vaguely wishing things were different.
I personally don’t see the “why” behind this. I can speculate, but I’d get a bit far out ahead of my own practice and experience, and don’t want to accidently mislead someone. Instead, let me say that I just sense the effect. I put ‘A’ into the machine, and then ‘C’ comes out.” I can only guess what ‘B’ might be, but in a way, I don’t need to know. If I reliably know that if I start with ‘A’, I’ll end up with ‘C’, then that’s enough to go with.
The best analogy I can come up with is sitting at a table with someone else and being thirsty. I can sit there all evening, wishing someone would give me some more water (and likely go thirsty all evening!), or I can just say out loud, “could I have some more water?” Once I do that, the people around me, the energy around me responds.

Repenting of the Ten Evil Actions

I now deeply repent of having killed.
I now deeply repent of having stolen.
I now deeply repent of sexually improper thoughts and behavior.
I now deeply repent of having lied.
I now deeply repent of having spoken manipulating words.

Thoughts are such strange things. Perhaps it’s my own leanings towards the material world, but thoughts seem like almost nothing. Yet, they are so subversive. They put things in motion that will hold us tighter than a vise. All from something no more substantial than smoke.
And if we change a thought around, so much becomes unstuck. Think about the example of “I’m sorry.” We feel so different once we stop rationalizing and just say, “I’m sorry.”
This is also why there’s so much power when we give rise to a positive intention, a positive thought, and entrust it inwardly to our foundation. Now that harmonious energy begins working in the same way. This also applies to finding our own direction, overcoming hardships, and learning what we need to do, as well as any type of investigation or growth.
And, what we can do for ourselves, we can also do for other people. There are some limitations to this because you can’t overrule another person’s own path, and it needs to connect with your foundation. You can, however, give them light and warmth and energy to help find their own way.

When we raise a thought for someone’s well-being, and entrust that to our foundation, that underlying intention never disappears and is never used up. This is different from helping people through material things. This is the unconditional love that Bodhisattvas have for all beings. This mind is the compassion that rises when all beings and myself are one, when the suffering of others is my suffering. This is the power that leads us to the truth.
— Daehaeng Kun Sunim, No River to Cross, page 34

Experience what happens when you recite these verses out loud. 🙂

Homage to the Twelve Buddhas who Dissolve All Karma (conclusion)

The Supreme Buddha
one with everything
who applies the treasure of one mind to all things
without the least discrimination.

Homage to the Twelve Buddhas who Dissolve All Karma (part 4 of 5)

The Buddha who is infused with the fragrance
of limitless and omnipresent mind.

The Buddha who thoroughly knows
all states of existence and nonexistence.

The Supreme Buddha
who takes bright and bright mind as his center,
and so is never entangled by anything.