INTRODUCTION TO THE MYSTERY RECORD

Dear Readers:

Few people who research or practice Buddhism have heard of the two words, “Mystery Record” taught by the Buddha.

Why is this?

Because the Buddha taught this Mystery Record in the last year before He entered Nirvana.

The Buddha only taught it privately to 15 of His disciples who had achieved “The Essential Point of Pure Zen” or higher enlightenment.

Finally, the Buddha entrusted the Mystery Record to Mahakasyapa, the First Patriarch of the Zen Lineage, requesting this Patriarch to transmit it through the Zen lineage. Therefore, this Mystery Record is not found in the common Buddhist sutras.

Why did the Buddha not allow it to be transmitted through the common sutras?

We would like to quote a small part of the reason the Buddha gave in the Mystery Record:

In ancient times, the beliefs of the Indian people were divided into two main groups:

The First Group: Ordinary People

They believed that:

• The Earth was created by the Supreme God.
• Humans and all things were also created by the Supreme God.
• On the shoulders of every person, there are two “Score-Keeping Deities” who record their good or bad deeds.
• When a person dies, the “Judges” assess the level of their good or bad deeds and report it to “King Yama”.
• If they did many good deeds, King Yama would report to the Supreme God and allow them to go to Heaven to enjoy eternal bliss.
• If they did many evil deeds, King Yama would order the “Ox-Head and Horse-Face” demons to imprison them in the layers of Hell for punishment.

The Second Group: Ascetics/Practitioners

They believed that:

• The Earth was created by the “Creator”.
• Humankind and all things were also created by the Creator.
• They believed that people living on Earth had two paths after death:

1. Doing good deeds leads them to the Heavens to enjoy blessings.
2. Doing evil deeds leads them to be banished to Hell to suffer the bad consequences they created.

Therefore:

Type 1 Practitioners:

They focused on two things:

1. They had to repent of their wrongdoings every day.
2. They would pray to the Creator to bring them to the “Kingdom of Heaven” to live, so they would no longer suffer in this world.

Type 2 Practitioners:

They believed that:

• To erase the sins they had committed, the only way was to bathe in the Ganges River to cleanse themselves of all sins.
• and many other beliefs.

The above represents the beliefs and practices of the ancient people in India.

In ancient India, each region was governed by a king.

In the country of Kapilavastu, there was a king named Suddhodana and his wife, Queen Maya.

Queen Maya gave birth to a son, Prince Siddhartha, who was destined to succeed the throne of Kapilavastu.

When Prince Siddhartha grew up, he had a wife and children like everyone else, but the Prince did not believe the teachings of the people and the practicing ascetics.

The Prince had four deep questions:

• Where does a person come from to this world?
• They come to this world only to experience Birth – Aging – Sickness – Death.
• While alive, they compete, strive, and kill one another, but in the end, they must abandon everything.
• Where do they go after death?

No one—not the highly educated in the royal court, nor the common people, nor even the famous ascetics—could give the Prince a satisfactory explanation for these four questions.

The Prince was a man of high resolve, determined to find the answers to his four questions. Because of this determination, the Prince eventually found the truth.

How did the Prince find the truth?

The Prince practiced Pure Zen and attained the “Threefold Knowledge, Six Supernatural Powers” and the “Five Eyes”, as follows:

Threefold Knowledge – Three kinds of brightness

• Knowledge of the Divine Eye: Seeing everything within a single Three Realms, which we now call a Solar System.
• Knowledge of Former Lives: Knowing fully the past lives of humans and all things within a Three Realms.
• Knowledge of the Extinction of Taints: Knowing the ultimate nature of matter and mind of a person on Earth or within a Three Realms.

Five Eyes – Five eyes the Buddha used to see

• Flesh Eye: His normal physical eye.
• Heaven Eye: His Divine Eye, which sees and knows the Heavens within a Three Realms.
• It sees and knows 33 Heavens.
• It sees and knows 6 Pure Lands.
• It sees and knows 5 planets similar to Earth.
• It sees and knows Innumerable “material planets” made of Metal – Wood – Water – Fire – Earth – Air and Yin-Yang electromagnetism.
• Wisdom Eye: His Wisdom Eye, which sees and knows the formless realms composed of colored and colorless Yin-Yang electromagnetism.
• Dharma Eye: His Dharma Eye, which sees and knows the arising and perishing of a “ksana” of a dust particle, as well as the arising and perishing of every planet in a Three Realms.
• (Ksana is what we currently call 1/10 of a second).
• Buddha Eye: His all-encompassing eye, which sees and knows everything throughout the Cosmic Universe, such as:
• The smallest thing is a “dust mote”, which we call an atom, and even smaller, an electron.
• The largest thing is a planet.

Using the Buddha Eye, He saw and knew the following:

• One Solar System: He called it a Three Realms.
• One thousand Three Realms: He called it a Minor Thousand-World System.
• One million Three Realms: He called it a Medium Thousand-World System.
• One billion Three Realms: He called it a Major Thousand-World System.

He taught:

If you multiply the Major Thousand-World System by 1000 three times, the resulting is one quintillion which He called the One thousand cubed Great Thousand-World System.

His Buddha Eye sees Innumerable One thousand cubed Great Thousand-World Systems throughout the Cosmic Universe.

The Buddha wanted to share His understanding with the people of His country, but when He spoke, everyone called Him a madman!

Why did people say this?

The Buddha clearly explained:

Because the people of His country believed that:

• The Earth was created by the Supreme God.
• Humankind was created by the Supreme God as well.
• Wealth was also granted by the Supreme God.
• In short, the Earth and all life on Earth were decided entirely by the Supreme God.

When Prince Siddhartha practiced Pure Zen and attained the “Threefold Knowledge, Six Supernatural Powers” and had the “Five Eyes,” He saw and knew the truths mentioned above, but there was no way to make the people of His country accept them.

When the Buddha returned to the royal palace to visit His father, the King, He intended to enlighten the people in the palace, but when the Buddha spoke, no one accepted it.

In the royal court, His royal uncle named Tịnh Thanh sharply questioned Him:

“You said you left the royal palace to practice and have now achieved enlightenment. So, what evidence do you have?”

The Buddha respectfully answered His uncle:

“Reverend Uncle, I left the royal palace and practiced Pure Zen, attaining the Threefold Knowledge, Six Supernatural Powers, and the Five Eyes.”

Royal Uncle Tịnh Thanh asked:

“Then, please demonstrate what you know to me and the people of the royal palace?”

The Buddha presented to Royal Uncle Tịnh Thanh:

“I humbly present the seeing and knowing of my Buddha Eye as follows:

1. On Earth, nothing can escape the law of Formation – Dwelling – Decay – Emptiness.
2. All animals and plants reproduce through the Yin-Yang physical formula.
3. Nothing remains static; it must cycle to exist.

As for you, Uncle, and the people of the royal court and the country of Kapilavastu, who believe that the Earth, humans, and all things were created by the Supreme God, I wish to let you know:

In every Three Realms, there is a Supreme God who governs the Supreme God Heaven. In the Cosmic Universe, there are Innumerable Supreme Gods. I use the Buddha Eye to see that the Supreme God is merely a Heavenly Being who rules the Supreme God Heaven; He is also subject to reincarnation like all other Heavenly Beings. He is like my Father, the King. Though my Father is the King of Kapilavastu, He is still subject to Birth – Old Age – Sickness – Death like an ordinary person; He cannot lie outside this law.”

Royal Uncle Tịnh Thanh, hearing Prince Siddhartha’s entirely reasonable explanation, was deeply impressed and praised Him:

“Truly, you possess understanding beyond others. You are worthy of being a ‘Greatly Enlightened’ person.”

“Therefore, I dedicate these few words to you:

Siddhartha, your understanding surpasses all,

Your uncle, convinced, offers his praise.

My heart is now clear, without a doubt,

Thanks to your teaching, the Divine I no longer trust.

The Divine Beings I misunderstood,

Now you illuminate, I see this world understood.

I speak for the family, your nearest and dear,

Thank you for your teaching, my mind is now clear.

Now you are Sakyamuni Buddha known,

Teaching your uncle, the clear truth is shown.

The mortal world is a place of endless ties,

Physical cycles bring countless cries.

Your uncle is speechless, what words can convey,

Thank you for teaching the unborn way.

Your uncle states clearly, the truth is plain to see,

Siddhartha has become the Buddha, truly.”

Royal Uncle Tịnh Thanh recited these 16 verses to Prince Siddhartha, expressing that he now understood that Prince Siddhartha had become the Buddha.

The Buddha immediately offered Royal Uncle Tịnh Thanh 12 verses in return:

The first time teaching the royal hall,

My uncle accepted, I am happy with it all.

Humans, because of the concept of I,

Because I is the Ego, delusion will never die.

Glad that to the palace I have returned,

My uncle understood the path to the old homeland learned.

I wish my uncle, day and night,

To live with the Buddha Nature, and to end rebirth’s plight.

I gift my uncle the word “Enough”,

Let go of all rebirth, do not follow its decoy.

Pure and Serene Zen is hard to pursue,

May my uncle say “Enough,” and escape suffering through.

Royal Uncle Tịnh Thanh, upon hearing his nephew offer these 12 verses confirming his understanding of Pure Zen, naturally shed tears and said to his nephew:

“I sincerely thank you, my nephew. I will strive to implement your teaching.”

He spoke with a choked voice, which moved everyone in the royal court, making them all want to cry.

In this dialogue, the Master of Ceremonies, Thiện An, humbly asked Prince Siddhartha:

“Venerable Gotama, the ‘Greatly Aware and Greatly Enlightened One’! We find your presentation entirely correct. Therefore, how do you intend to popularize the Pure Zen Dharma door?”

The Buddha replied:

“The majority of the people all:

• Pray to the Supreme God:
• To grant blessings.
• To ask to become the children of the Supreme God.
• To ask to dwell in the Supreme God’s land.”

The Buddha continued:

“And another segment of the population spends all day:

• Pleading to Spirits and Deities,
• Worshiping this god and that saint,
• To ask for good fortune.
• They even erect shrines to worship animals like Buffaloes, Cows, Tigers, and so on. They are truly foolish, so how can I tell them the real truth?”

Master of Ceremonies Thiện An said:

“It is truly difficult!”

The Buddha added:

“Because it is too difficult, I will popularize it in two ways:

1. I will teach them five Dharma doors of practice that yield achievements in the physical realm so they become eager to come and study.

These five Dharma doors are:

1. Contemplation, Visualization, and Prayer Meditation: to make small things big or few things many.
2. Debate: to be superior to others.
3. Doubt, Seeking, or Searching Meditation: to find the smallest or largest useful material thing.
4. Buddha Recitation: to see the illusory image of a Buddha.
5. Mantra Recitation: to see the transformation of matter, so that those around them consider it sacred.

I will observe among this large group. If there is anyone who truly desires to know the truth and transcend the cycle of birth and death, I will find a way to teach them privately to return to the Buddha Realm.

Thanks to these five methods of practice that achieve results in the physical realm, my teachings will be able to be transmitted even into the Dharma-Ending Age.”

Master of Ceremonies Thiện An then asked:

“Venerable Gotama, why must you wait until the Dharma-Ending Age to let humankind know this?”

The Buddha taught:

“Because the minds of the people in the Dharma-Ending Age will be very intelligent. Specifically, they will possess nine aspects of intelligence as follows:

1. They will invent means of observation that clearly see almost the entirety of a Three Realms, which I see with the Heaven Eye. They will see the Innumerable Five-Element planets in the Three Realms.
2. They will create weapons for mass killing.
3. They will invent means of air travel faster than birds, capable of carrying many people.
4. They will invent means of surface water travel that are very fast, easily carrying thousands of people across oceans. They will also invent means of underwater travel.
5. On land: They will create vehicles that travel very quickly, a hundred times faster than the fastest running animals on Earth now.
6. Speech: A person standing on one side of the Earth can speak to a person on the other side as if they were standing close together.
7. Life-saving tools: They will create highly sophisticated tools that can replace parts of the human body when an organ is damaged.
8. Medicine: They will create medicine that can easily save people with serious illnesses.
9. They will invent bombs and ammunition that can destroy this Earth as easily as demolishing a small hill!

Because when human civilization is highly advanced, there will be someone who publishes the Mystery Record. Thanks to this, some of those civilized people will accept and practice according to my teachings.

I will also make it clear to you all:

When I am older, I will preach the Lotus Sutra, fully teaching what I saw and knew using the Five Eyes. In this sutra, I will mention a “Dragon Daughter Attaining Buddhahood” —meaning a female person from the “Land of the Dragon” who receives my Mystery Record and propagates the formula for liberation.

Thanks to this formula for liberation, a small portion of humankind will be saved to return to the Buddha Realm, so they will no longer have to:

• Go through Birth – Aging – Sickness – Death.
• Be reincarnated in the Three Realms.
• Become an Intermediate Existence Body to endure hunger and thirst.

I also want to say this about the Mystery Record:

When the Mystery Record is published, many people will try to obstruct it.

Why is that?

Because there are 16 kinds of afflictions in the Human Nature, and among them, Imagination is the strongest. Because of this Consciousness/Imagination, people imagine all sorts of things in life, primarily for the purpose of money and fame, and nothing else.

Because people are strongly attached to these two things, no one is willing to listen when liberation is mentioned, let alone practice it. This human craving is truly the “Demon King”.

In the Dharma-Ending Age, the published Mystery Record will dismantle all human craving. Therefore, for practitioners:

• Those with much craving will see the Mystery Record and immediately tear it up.
• Those with moderate craving will see the Mystery Record and try to obstruct its circulation.
• Those with little craving will see the Mystery Record and immediately curse it.

This is the basic reaction of practitioners upon seeing the Mystery Record.”

THE EDITOR’S WORDS

As for myself, I am only publishing about 60% of the Mystery Record, and I dare not reveal it in full.

Why is this?

Because if I were to record it completely, it would reverse many things that people have done from the past until now.

My earnest intention in writing this Mystery Record has three main goals:

1. To help those who practice Buddhism know what Enlightenment is.
2. To help those who practice Buddhism know where Liberation leads them.
3. To help those who practice Buddhism know the formula for returning to the Buddha Realm.

Finally, I have three requests for the reader:

1. The Buddha taught this Mystery Record nearly 2,600 years ago. It has passed through many translators, and I do not know if this version is exactly the same as the original.
2. Readers, please read the Mystery Record with your own pure and clear mind.
3. Do not believe it immediately, but consider it very carefully.

The Mystery Record has 12 chapters, with each chapter teaching a different topic.

Some fundamentals about human life and the universe are included.

Also included are some questions the Buddha answered for His disciples.

Therefore, dear readers, I invite you to read the chapters in the Mystery Record of the Buddha Transmitted through the Zen Sect Lineage.

Editor Nguyễn Nhân

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION TO THE MYSTERY RECORD

EXPLANATION OF THE COSMIC UNIVERSE

The vast, all-encompassing, and boundless Space contains two parts:

1. The Buddha Realm
2. The Three Realms

Structure of the Buddha Realm

The Buddha Realm contains two kinds of existence:

1. The Buddha Nature
2. The Buddhas

Within the Buddha Realm

The space of the Buddha Realm encompasses the entire Cosmic Universe but is extremely pure and serene. Therefore, the Tathagata calls this immensity the “Pure Buddha.” Since this Pure Buddha space is vast like an ocean, the Tathagata calls it the “Ocean of Pure Nature.”

Within the Ocean of Pure Nature, there naturally exists:

• Natural Luminous Electromagnetism which is all-encompassing.
• Naturally, there are Innumerable Intents, and within each Intent, there are naturally four things:

1. The natural seeing, called Constant Seeing.
2. The natural hearing, called Constant Hearing.
3. The natural vibration; if it intends to utter a sound, there is sound, called Constant Uttering.
4. The natural knowing, called Constant Knowing.

These four things—Seeing, Hearing, Uttering, and Knowing—are carried far or gathered near by the Natural Luminous Electromagnetism.

These four things are enveloped by the Luminous Electrical Energy to form a very small casing, which the Tathagata calls the “Nature.”

This casing of Nature is fully present throughout the Ocean of Pure Nature, which the Tathagata collectively calls the “Buddha Nature,” meaning the Nature within the Buddha.

The reason the Tathagata uses the term “Innumerable as the sands of the Ganges River” to describe the quantity of Buddha Nature is because the number of Buddha Natures cannot be fully counted using the physical arithmetic of humankind. The Tathagata must therefore use the unit of the grains of sand in the Ganges River as an example.

CHAPTER I

The Reason the Buddha Nature Enters the World of Humans

Initially, the Buddha Nature was curious: Why are there so many Buddha Natures and so many Buddhas in the Ocean of Pure Nature?

A few Buddhas, appearing in smaller manifestation bodies, said to the Buddha Nature:

“If any Buddha Nature wishes to become a Buddha, that Buddha Nature must do the following:

1. It must find a way to enter the world of humans to be reborn in that world and to be reborn throughout a Three Realms.
2. When the Buddha Nature is weary of living in the human world and in the Three Realms, and wishes to return to the Ocean of Pure Nature, a Buddha within the Ocean of Pure Nature will project a manifestation body or an applied body into the world of humans to teach the formula for returning to the Buddha Realm.”

“However, any Buddha Nature that remains forever in the Ocean of Pure Nature will remain a Buddha Nature for countless eons and lifetimes.”

Thus, many Buddha Natures sought a path to enter the human world to undergo reincarnation in the Three Realms.

This is the reason the Buddha Nature enters the world of humans to subject itself to the law of reincarnation on Earth and within the Three Realms.

STRUCTURE OF ONE Three Realms (SOLAR SYSTEM)

Regions of the Three Realms

Region 1: Contains 6 planets composed of Earth – Water – Wind – Fire and Yin-Yang electromagnetism.

Region 2: Contains 11 Sense-Desire Heaven planets composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism in 5 very dense colors.

Region 3A: Contains 11 Form Heaven planets composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism in 12 brilliant and cheerful colors.

Region 3B: Contains 6 Pure Land planets composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism in 12 brilliant but serene colors.

Region 4: Contains 11 Formless Heaven planets composed of colorless and very pure Yin-Yang electromagnetism.

Special Protective Zone for a Three Realms

• The Black Ring (Yin Electromagnetism): Pulls the planets, preventing them from flying out of the Three Realms.
• The Red Ring (Yang Electromagnetism): Pushes the planets, preventing them from colliding with planets from other Three Realms.

NAMES OF THE 6 EARTH-PLANETS IN 1 Three Realms

• Purvavideha
• Aparagodaniya
• Uttarakuru
• Jambudvipa (The Earth)
• Upper Sumeru Continent
• Lower Jvalanaprabha Continent

NAMES OF THE 6 PURE LANDS

• The East, belonging to Aksobhya Buddha
• The West, belonging to Amitabha Buddha
• The South, belonging to Candrapradipa Buddha
• The North, belonging to Jvalanaskandha Buddha
• The Above, belonging to Brahmaghosa Buddha
• The Below, belonging to Simha Buddha

In one Three Realms, there is one Sun that warms 45 living planets and Innumerable material planets—among which the five types of planets (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth) are prominent. Every planet is maintained in operation and protected by Yin-Yang electromagnetism.

CHAPTER II

LIVING PLANETS SURROUNDING THE SUN

RING 1

There are 6 planets composed of Earth – Water – Air – Warmth and Yin-Yang electromagnetism.

These are where 5 types of sentient beings live together: Deities, Humans, Hungry Ghosts, Animals, and Hells.

Although these five types live together, each has its own distinct collective karma.

Each species possesses its own unique Yin-Yang electromagnetic frequency.

The names of the six planets are:

1. Purvavideha (Located East of the Sun)
2. Aparagodaniya (Located West of the Sun)
3. Uttarakuru (Located North of the Sun)
4. Jambudvipa (also called The Southern Continent, or The Earth) (Located South of the Sun)
5. Upper Sumeru Continent (Located Above the Sun)
6. Lower Jvalanaprabha Continent (Located Below the Sun)

In addition to these 6 Earth-like planets, a single Three Realms also contains Innumerable material planets composed of the Five Elements — Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—and Yin-Yang electromagnetism.

RING 2

There are 11 planets composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism in 5 very dense colors, known as the Sense-Desire Heavens:

1. Heaven of the Four Great Kings
2. Heaven of the Supreme God/Jade Emperor
3. Heaven of the Lords of the Gods
4. Heaven of Sakra
5. Heaven of the Thirty-three
6. Heaven of Yama
7. Tusita Heaven
8. Heaven of Enjoyment of the Emanated
9. Heaven of the Control of Others’ Emanations
10. Heaven of Brahma’s Retinue
11. Heaven of Brahma’s Ministers

RING 3

There are 17 planets composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism in 12 brilliant colors with radiant light, known as the Form Heavens and the Pure Lands.

11 Form Heaven Planets:

1. Heaven of the Great Brahma
2. Heaven of Minor Light
3. Heaven of Immeasurable Light
4. Heaven of Light Sound
5. Heaven of Minor Purity
6. Heaven of Immeasurable Purity
7. Heaven of Universal Purity
8. Heaven of Birth with Karmic Merit
9. Heaven of Love of Karmic Merit
10. Heaven of Great Reward
11. Heaven of Strict Adornment

6 Pure Land Planets:

1. The Pure Land of Aksobhya Buddha, located East of the Sun.
2. The Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha, located West of the Sun.
3. The Pure Land of Candrapradipa Buddha, located South of the Sun.
4. The Pure Land of Jvalanaskandha Buddha, located North of the Sun.
5. The Pure Land of Brahmaghosa Buddha, located Above the Sun.
6. The Pure Land of Simha Buddha, located Below the Sun.

RING 4

There are 11 planets composed of colorless Yin-Yang electromagnetism, known as the Formless Heavens:

1. Heaven of Immeasurable Strict Adornment
2. Heaven of the Result of Strict Adornment
3. Heaven of No Thought
4. Heaven of No Vexation
5. Heaven of No Heat
6. Heaven of Good Vision
7. Heaven of Good Manifestation
8. Heaven of the Limit of Form
9. Heaven of Mahesvara
10. Heaven of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception
11. Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception

CHAPTER III

THE LAW OF REINCARNATION ON EARTH

The Earth is a place of cyclical change according to the periods of Formation – Dwelling – Decay – Emptiness, known as the Causal Reincarnation cycle, driven by the pull of Yin-Yang electromagnetism.

Consequently, humans, animals, and plants living on Earth must all cycle according to the law of the Earth. Therefore, no individual can escape this law, and humankind plays the role of the “Center of Reincarnation” traveling within the Three Realms.

THE LAW OF CAUSAL REINCARNATION ON EARTH

Whoever wishes to enjoy Yang Karmic Merit must practice as follows:

1. Reaching the Formless Heavens

Whoever wishes to reach the Formless Heavens to enjoy Pure Serenity Karmic Merit must do two things daily:

First:

• Constantly perform many good deeds to create Yang Karmic Merit.

Second:

• Diligently practice meditation every day.
• Force the body and mind to be pure and serene.
• To create the force for rebirth in the pure and serene Heavens.
• To store the experience of purity in their Store Consciousness.

This means they self-create an extremely strong Yang electromagnetic wave to act as the propelling force.

When their karmic affinity to live in the human world ends, the two karmic forces mentioned above carry their Intermediate Existence Body to one of the 11 Formless Heaven planets to be born and live there.

The environment and bodies of the Heavenly Beings in the Formless Heavens are composed of colorless Yin-Yang electromagnetism.

In the Formless Heavens:

• They do not work.
• They only enjoy the Pure Serenity Karmic Merit they created while in the human world.
• Diet: Fruits, flowers, leaves, and water composed of colorless Yin-Yang electromagnetism, which is abundant on these planets, and are readily available for consumption.
• Relationship between Heavenly males and females:
• It is free according to preference, not bound by lineage or rituals.
• Intercourse is for receiving Intermediate Existence Bodies reincarnated from the human world.
• When a Heavenly female is pregnant, she gives birth to a Heavenly child after 280,000 days (calculated according to Earth time).
• The Heavenly child is born and grows up automatically.
• They can travel anywhere they wish.
• The maximum lifespan in the Formless Heavens is 100,000 years compared to Earth time.

If their karmic merit are immeasurable, they live for the full 100,000 years; otherwise, they only live according to the amount of karmic merit they created.

When their lifespan ends, they must return to the human world to live, create new karma, and be reborn elsewhere.

2. Reaching the Form Heavens

Whoever wishes to reach the Form Heavens to enjoy joyful and brilliant karmic merit, must do two things daily:

First:

• Constantly perform many good deeds to create Yang Karmic Merit.

Second:

• Constantly pray and prostrate, wishing to be reborn in a joyful and brilliant environment.
• To store this environment in their Store Consciousness, which means they self-create an extremely strong Yang electromagnetic wave to act as the propelling force.

When their karmic affinity to live in the human world ends, the two karmic forces mentioned above carry their Intermediate Existence Body to one of the 11 Form Heaven planets to be born and live there.

The environment and bodies of the Heavenly Beings in the Form Heavens are composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism in 12 brilliant colors.

In this Form Heaven:

• They do not work.
• They only enjoy the Yang Karmic Merit they created while in the human world.
• Diet: Fruits, flowers, leaves, and water composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism in 12 brilliant colors, which is abundant on these planets.
• Relationship between Heavenly males and females:
• It is free according to preference, not bound by lineage or rituals.
• Intercourse is for receiving Intermediate Existence Bodies reincarnated from the human world.
• When a Heavenly female is pregnant, she gives birth to a Heavenly child after 28,000 days (calculated according to Earth time).
• The Heavenly child is born and grows up automatically.
• They can travel anywhere they wish.
• The maximum lifespan in the Form Heavens is 10,000 years compared to Earth time.

If their karmic merit are immeasurable, they live for the full 10,000 years; otherwise, they only live according to the amount of karmic merit they created.

When their lifespan ends, they must return to the human world to live, create new karma, and be reborn elsewhere.

3. Reaching the Pure Land

Whoever wishes to reach the Pure Land to enjoy joyful and serene karmic merit must do two things daily:

First:

• Constantly perform many good deeds to create Yang Karmic Merit.

Second:

• Constantly pray and prostrate to Amitabha Buddha, wishing for Him to bring them to His Pure Land.

To ensure success, one must continuously recite “Namo Amitabha Buddha.” Success is achieved when one’s own spoken recitation ceases, but the sound of recitation continues to flow naturally.

This means that a continuous flow, created by a strong Yin-Yang electromagnetic wave, has been firmly established in their Store Consciousness. When their karmic affinity to live on Earth ends, this Yin-Yang electromagnetic wave will automatically pull them to live in the land of Amitabha Buddha.

The scenery and the bodies of the male fairies and female fairies are composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism in 12 brilliant colors.

Diet: Fruits, flowers, leaves, and water composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism in 12 brilliant colors, which is abundant on these planets.

Relationship between males fairy and females fairy:

• It is free according to preference, not bound by lineage or rituals.
• Intercourse is for receiving Intermediate Existence Bodies reincarnated from the human world.

When a female fairy is pregnant, she flies to the Lotus Pond and lays a fairy ovum inside a lotus flower, where it is preserved. On the correct day and month, the fairy child is born.

A Heavenly child is born according to which of the nine grades of the lotus the ovum belongs to:

1. High Grade, Upper Birth: Born after 1 year.
2. High Grade, Middle Birth: Born after 2 years.
3. High Grade, Lower Birth: Born after 3 years.
4. Middle Grade, Upper Birth: Born after 4 years.
5. Middle Grade, Middle Birth: Born after 5 years.
6. Middle Grade, Lower Birth: Born after 6 years.
7. Low Grade, Upper Birth: Born after 7 years.
8. Low Grade, Middle Birth: Born after 8 years.
9. Low Grade, Lower Birth: Born after 9 years.

A fairy being is born and grows up automatically.

If their karmic merit are sufficient, their lifespan is 10,000 years; otherwise, the lifespan corresponds to the amount of karmic merit the Heavenly Being created.

Life in the Pure Land is as follows:

• Every morning, they go to make offerings at the places where past Buddhas are worshiped.
• When the task is done, they are free to travel anywhere they wish.
• One day a month is dedicated to learning the formula for liberation.
• The activities of Heavenly males and females are free according to preference, not bound by lineage or rituals.
• Intercourse is for receiving Intermediate Existence Bodies reincarnated from the human world.
• Diet consists of fruits, flowers, leaves, and water, which are abundant throughout the Pure Land.

When their lifespan ends, they must return to the human world, create new karma, and be reborn elsewhere.

Special Path from the Pure Land

Importantly, in the Pure Land: When the fairy being’s lifespan ends, Amitabha Buddha leads that fairy being out to the Lotus Pond for a Zen examination. He plucks a lotus branch and shows it to the Heavenly Being. If the Heavenly Being awakens to their own pure Buddha Nature, Amitabha Buddha confirms it with the verse:

“The flower opens, the Buddha is seen, realizing the un-born!”

Amitabha Buddha then guides the Heavenly Being near the place where the Zen Lineage Dharma door is being propagated, allowing them to enter a womb in that region. When this person grows up, upon hearing the two words “Zen Lineage,” they will immediately seek to study, understand the formula for liberation, and know how to create transcendental merit to return to the Buddha Realm.

Any fairy being who does not awaken must return to the human world on their own, create new karma, and be reborn elsewhere.

Furthermore, for those who practice the Pure Land Dharma door, the Tathagata has opened a path to return to the Buddha Realm. Anyone who wishes to return to the Buddha Realm must possess five qualities as follows:

1. Must have a realistic mind, not be superstitious.
2. Do not believe in miraculous or mystical matters.
3. Do not pray or prostrate to anyone.
4. Do not use the body and mind to practice.
5. Always crave liberation.

Anyone who possesses all five qualities mentioned above will be guided by a Buddha in the Buddha Realm, using the Luminous Electrical Energy light within the Buddha Eye, to reach the place where the Dharma door of liberation is being propagated. After a period of time, this person will fully understand everything the Tathagata taught about liberation through the Zen Sect Dharma door.

4. Reaching the Heaven of the Four Great Kings

Whoever wishes to reach the Heaven of the Four Great Kings to enjoy karmic merit and perform work must do two things daily:

1. Constantly perform many good deeds to create Yang Fortune karma. (blessings,  Good Fortune)
2. Always desire to manage the planets within the Three Realms.

When their karmic affinity to live in the human world ends, the two karmic forces mentioned above carry their Intermediate Existence Body to the Heaven of the Four Great Kings to be born and live there.

The environment and bodies of the Heavenly Beings of the Four Great Kings are composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism in 5 very dense colors.

In the Heaven of the Four Great Kings, they are constantly performing duties as follows:

• Monitoring to see if any planet is rotating off-center, and adjusting it back to the correct orbit.
• Managing space dust to pass through the “Cosmic Black Hole to create other planets, when a planet is disintegrating because humanity has extracted all its resources.
• When humans fight and cause a planet to shatter into space dust, the Administration of the Four Great Kings must collect the space dust, send it through the “Cosmic Black Hole” to form a new planet.
• It takes 1,000 years for a planet to be fully formed, and another 1,000 years for its temperature to stabilize.
• After that, humans from other planets, also within this Three Realms, use spaceships to transport people, animals, and plants to settle. These are the progenitors of humankind and all things.

The Tathagata concisely teaches about the planet and life on Earth:

1. The Earth’s life cycle is 10 billion years, after which it disintegrates once.

• Why? Because humankind extracts all resources and engages in warfare, causing it to disintegrate.

1. When this planet disintegrates, the Administration of the Four Great Kings performs the following tasks to put a new planet in its place:
2. First: Control Yin-Yang electromagnetism to pass through the “Cosmic Black Hole” into the “Planet Production Center.” This creates a rotation called the “Yin-Yang electromagnetic attractive force.” When this rotation meets the standard, the Administration of the Four Great Kings next:
3. Controls the Fire planet to pass through the “Cosmic Black Hole” into the “Planet Production Center,” rotating into a Fire planet. When the Fire planet’s rotation meets the standard, the Administration of the Four Great Kings:
4. Controls the Heat-resistant Earth planet to pass through the “Cosmic Black Hole” and cover this Fire planet, creating a Heat-resistant Earth planet with a colossal fire mass inside. When the Heat-resistant Earth planet fully covers the colossal fire mass and its rotation meets the standard, the Administration of the Four Great Kings:
5. Controls the Earth and Sand planet to pass through the “Cosmic Black Hole,” covering the layer of Heat-resistant Earth, to form the surface soil for all species to live on. When the Earth planet adheres to the Heat-resistant Earth layer and meets the standard, the Administration of the Four Great Kings:
6. Controls the Rock planet to pass through the “Cosmic Black Hole” and spread it in many places on this Earth to form mountains. When the rock layer has been spread according to the desire of the Four Great Kings and meets the distribution standard, the Administration of the Four Great Kings:
7. Controls the Water and Salt planet to pass through the “Cosmic Black Hole” to cover this Earth and Rock planet.
8. Next, the Administration of the Four Great Kings controls the Air planet to pass through the “Cosmic Black Hole” to envelop the Fire, Earth, and Rock planet. When it meets the standard, a Four-Element planet is formed.
9. Then, the Administration of the Four Great Kings checks if the Four-Element planet meets the standard for physical attraction. If it does:
10. The Administration of the Four Great Kings controls this planet out of the “Planet Production Center” and into the Ecliptic Ring 1 of the solar system, replacing the previous Four-Element and Yin-Yang electromagnetic planet destroyed by humankind.
11. When the Four-Element and Yin-Yang electromagnetic planet has stabilized its temperature, weather, Yin-Yang electromagnetic attractive force, and physical rain perfectly, the Administration of the Four Great Kings:
12. Observes the space dust for fragments that still have living plants on them, brings them to this planet, and spreads them on the ground to create plant life.
13. Finally, the Administration of the Four Great Kings observes neighboring planets to see which one is about to be destroyed by humanity and has people wishing to move to another planet. The Administration of the Four Great Kings immediately controls the Yin Electromagnetism to assist the spaceships carrying people to this new planet to live and become the progenitors of humankind.

This sequence of 12 steps takes billions of years to complete, but the lifespan of each planet is only 10 billion years before it is destroyed by humankind again.

Regarding Human Life

In the beginning, humans live joyfully and harmoniously with each other. Gradually, as they reproduce more, they fight over land and benefits, repeating the law of “The strong prevail, the weak fail,” and finally destroying the planet.

Each time humankind fights to the death, this planet “becomes sick.” It takes 7,000 years to stabilize again. At that time, a Buddha appears and teaches the formula for escaping the cycle of rebirth of the Earth and the Three Realms. The “Liberation” Dharma lasts for 3,000 years. After that, humankind fights to the death again, and the Earth “becomes sick” again! The Earth’s sickness cycle is 10,000 years. When the Earth has been sick 1 million times, it completely disintegrates into space dust.

The Tathagata also makes it clear to you all:

Before the Tathagata taught the Dharma of Liberation, no one on this Earth, from East to West, knew the true nature of life on this Earth. Therefore, the wise deceived the foolish, and the foolish absolutely believed the wise, thus planting karmic causes and effects with no end.

The duty of every Buddha is to teach the truth to humankind. But when the Tathagata speaks the truth, He is cursed by these two types of people (the wise and the foolish). Therefore, the Tathagata teaches you and future generations that if you wish to spread the Liberation Dharma door, you must adhere to two conditions:

1. Do not propagate it in crowded places.
2. Only teach those who sincerely desire liberation, and you must wait until they plead earnestly. If anyone does not heed the Tathagata’s words, that person’s life is considered lost.

The Tathagata adds:

On Earth, humankind is most fond of three things:

1. They like to beg and prostrate to others.
2. They like others to grant them blessings.
3. They like to be the child or servant of others.

The Liberation Dharma must wait until humankind reaches a high level of civilization before they will accept it. When many people accept it, that is also the time when the Earth “becomes sick.” At that time, there will not be many people left on Earth!

Why is that?

Because humans use the Imagination, Greed, and Fear of their Human Nature, they:

1. Like to beg and prostrate to those who make empty promises.
2. Like to listen to deceivers.
3. Like people with beautiful appearances.
4. Fear the threats of the wise.
5. Fear the miraculous and mysterious.
6. Fear Deities, Saints, Demons, and Ghosts.

Humankind has three ‘cannot’s’:

• They cannot bear to seek out the truth.
• They cannot bear to be the master of their own lives.
• They cannot bear to let go of fame and gain.

Humankind has three foolish things:

• They listen to whatever anyone says.
• They do whatever anyone suggests.
• They die when anyone tells them to.

The Tathagata clearly teaches that the Dharma of Liberation has four main periods:

• Period 1: The Highest Dharma Age: from the beginning to 500 years.
• Period 2: The Middle Dharma Age: from 500 to 1,000 years.
• Period 3: The Lower Dharma Age: from 1,000 to 2,000 years.
• Period 4: The Dharma-Ending Age: from 2,000 to 2,500 years.

The stage from 2,500 to 3,000 years is divided into 5 sub-stages:

• Stage 1: End of the Highest Dharma: 2,500 to 2,600 years.
• Stage 2: End of the Middle Dharma: 2,600 to 2,700 years.
• Stage 3: End of the Lower Dharma: 2,700 to 2,800 years.
• Stage 4: End of the Ending Dharma: 2,800 to 2,900 years.
• Stage 5: End of the Curtain of Dharma: 2,900 to 3,000 years.

After Stage 5 is the exact cycle when the Earth “becomes severely sick” again!

The Earth must be sick exactly 1 million times before it completely disintegrates into space dust, meaning the Earth’s lifespan is 10 billion years.

5. Reaching the Heaven of the Jade Emperor / Supreme God

Whoever wishes to reach the Heaven of the Jade Emperor / Supreme God to enjoy karmic merit within a solemn and dignified framework must do two things daily:

First:

• Must perform many good deeds to create Yang blessings karma.
• Second:
• Must consistently and earnestly desire:
• To become the child of the Supreme God.
• To voluntarily do whatever He commands.
• To absolutely vow to obey the Supreme God.

When their karmic affinity to live in the human world ends, the two karmic forces mentioned above carry their Intermediate Existence Body to the Heaven of the Supreme God to be born and live there.

The Heaven of the Supreme God is considered the most standardized and solemn realm within the Three Realms.

Why is it given such a reputation?

Because in the Heaven of the Supreme God, they:

• Implement discipline rigorously.
• Offer rewards very fairly.

Therefore, everyone living on Earth, from kings and officials to common people, wishes to go and live in the Heaven of the Supreme God to enjoy two things:

• To be made a child of the Supreme God.
• To be close to and serve the Supreme God.

Because of these two great honors, everyone on Earth wishes to be reborn in the Heaven of the Supreme God.

To be 100% certain, one must:

• Absolutely believe the Supreme God is the most high and supreme being with ultimate power.
• Never betray Him.
• Help the poor and obey the representatives of the Supreme God.
• Pray at least six times day and night to go and live with Him.

Any individual who correctly fulfills the conditions mentioned above is guaranteed to be reborn in the Heaven of the Supreme God when their lifespan in the human world ends.

The Supreme God teaches four points as follows:

• The Heaven of the Supreme God is a place for eternal life.
• There is no suffering, provided one does not violate the divine laws there.
• The Supreme God clearly teaches:
• The Heaven of the Supreme God is outside the law of causal reincarnation in the Three Realms.
• Diet consists of fruits, flowers, leaves, and water that are readily available on this planet.
• They can travel anywhere they wish.
• Relationship between Heavenly males and females:
• It is arranged by the administrators of the Heaven of the Supreme God within a very standardized framework of propriety and ritual.
• Intercourse is for receiving Intermediate Existence Bodies reincarnated from the human world.
• The Heavenly child is born and grows up automatically, without needing help from the Heavenly parents.

6. Reaching the Sense-Desire Heavens

Whoever wishes to reach the Sense-Desire Heavens to enjoy very strong Yang Karmic Merit must do two things daily:

First:

• Must perform many good deeds to create Yang Karmic Merit.

Second:

• When performing good deeds, must solely desire to live a life of strong sensations and all kinds of pleasure.

When their lifespan in the human world ends, the two karmic forces mentioned above carry this person’s Intermediate Existence Body to be reborn and live in the Sense-Desire Heavens.

Enjoying blessings in the Sense-Desire Heavens is free; one can have whatever one desires.

The lifespan in the Sense-Desire Heavens is 1,000 years.

When the lifespan ends, they must return to the human world, create new karma, and be reborn elsewhere.

7. The Five Coexisting Species on Earth

The Earth is where 5 types of sentient beings live together: Deities, Humans, Hungry Ghosts, Animals, and Hells.

The Deity

Whoever wishes to be reborn in the Deity Realm to enjoy Yin Karmic Merit must do two things:

• Create a lot of Yin Karmic Merit.
• When creating karmic merit:
• Must be the leader of the group to develop the capacity for leadership.
• To create Yin Karmic Merit.
• To create a pulling force.

When their karmic affinity to live in the human world ends, they are guaranteed to be reborn and live in the Deity Realm.

The Deity Species has 4 levels as follows:

1. World-Governing Deity
2. Chief Deity of each Nation
3. Regional Deity of each Nation
4. Ordinary Deity of each Nation

Power of the World-Governing Deity

This Deity, when still a human, was:

• The richest person in the world.
• The one who performed the most charity/giving in the world.
• The one with the greatest power and authority in the world.
• The one with the most disciples in the world.

Thanks to the karmic merit of being the “most” in everything, when reborn as a Deity, this Deity uses their karmic merit and power to do whatever they want.

They can easily “borrow the body” of any person in this world who harbors a desire for the miraculous and mysterious.

Once the body is borrowed, the Deity will declare five things:

1. I am the Deity who created the Cosmic Universe.
2. I am the Deity who created humankind and all things.
3. I am the Deity with the utmost power and authority.
4. I bestow blessings upon anyone who comes to pray and prostrate to Me.
5. Follow Me and never betray Me.

Why can the World-Governing Deity speak like this?

Because this Deity possesses immeasurable karmic merit, they can say anything they wish, just as on Earth, when the wealthiest person speaks, everyone listens.

Therefore, the world has a saying:

The one with silver jangling near,

Spouts nonsense, yet all stop to hear.

Thus, people with an organized mind take advantage of this untruthful speaker, organizing and fabricating stories to lure foolish people to prostrate and pray to them.

Authority of the Chief Deity of each Nation

This Deity, when still in the human world, was the richest person in their own nation. Thanks to being the richest, they performed charity to enjoy blessings in the next life. While giving, they saw themselves as the greatest giver, unmatched by anyone.

Because of such a great attachment to the Ego, when their karmic affinity to live in the human world ends, they are reborn as a Deity. Thanks to immeasurable karmic merit, when they become a Deity, they can say anything they wish. The authority of this Deity is limited only to the scope of their own nation.

Each nation has one Chief Deity.

There are as many Chief Deities as there are nations on Earth.

Powers of the Chief Deity:

1. Can “borrow the body” of anyone, provided that person loves superstition.
2. Can establish anything and say anything they wish.
3. Whatever they ask people to offer/worship, many people will believe and follow.
4. Whatever they are prayed to for, people will come to ask for help.

Authority of the Regional Deity of each Nation

This Deity has less karmic merit than the Chief Deity, so their scope of activity is limited only to their region.

Ordinary Deity

They cannot perform great deeds like the Chief Deity and Regional Deity, but only create strange phenomena to attract superstitious people to pray, prostrate, and offer ritual objects.

The Human Species

• To be reborn as a wealthy human in the next life: In this life, one must:
• Perform many good deeds.
• Desire wealth in the next life.
• When their lifespan ends, they are guaranteed to be reborn in favorable conditions as a wealthy person.
• To remain within the same lineage/family:
• Do not create merit.
• Do not create evil.
• Desire to remain within the same lineage.
• When their lifespan ends, they simply linger within the lineage to repay minor causes and effects with each other.

The Hungry Ghost Species

• To be reborn as a Hungry Ghost: One must:
• Wrestle away things from others.
• Deceive others.
• When their lifespan ends, they are immediately reborn as a Hungry Ghost.

The Animal Species

• To be reborn as an Animal: One must kill the species of animal they wish to become.

The Hell Species

• To be reborn in Hell: One must commit serious crimes.

Paths of Spiritual Attainment (within the Three Realms)

• To attain Enlightenment: Seek a Virtuous Friend (Kalyana-mitta) and learn.
• To attain Liberation: Seek a Virtuous Friend (Kalyana-mitta) to learn the formula of liberation.
• To become a Buddha: Create transcendental merit (merit for liberation).
• To become a Bodhisattva: Successfully practice one of the six senses.
• To become an Arhat: Diligently practice to achieve the Four Fruition of the Sravaka (Hearer).

CLASSIFICATION TABLE OF YIN-YANG FREQUENCIES IN THE REALMS

Name of Species in the Three Realms	Gender	Male		Female
	Electromagnetism Percentage (%)	Yang %	Yin %	Yang %	Yin %
Formless Heavens		95	5	90	10
Form Heavens		85	15	80	20
Sense-Desire Heavens		75	25	70	30
Deity		65	35	60	40
Human		55	45	50	50
Hungry Ghost		45	55	40	60
Animal		35	65	30	70
Hells
Level 1		22.5	77.5	22	78
Level 2		21.5	78.5	21	79
Level 3		20.5	79.5	20	80
Level 4		19.5	80.5	19	81
Level 5		18.5	81.5	18	82
Level 6		17.5	82.5	17	83
Level 7		16.5	83.5	16	84
Level 8		15.5	84.5	15	85
Level 9		14.5	85.5	14	86
Level 10		13.5	86.5	13	87
Level 11		12.5	87.5	12	88
Level 12		11.5	88.5	11	89
Level 13		10.5	89.5	10	90
Level 14		9.5	90.5	9	91
Level 15		8.5	91.5	8	92
Level 16		7.5	92.5	7	93
Level 17		6.5	93.5	6	94
Level 18		5.5	94.5	5	95

CHAPTER IV

FORMATION OF AN INTERMEDIATE EXISTENCE BODY

The Buddha taught:

The casing of Human Nature is a large casing containing 16 elements: Feeling, Perception, Volition, Consciousness, Wealth, Form, Fame, Food, Sleep, Greed, Anger, Delusion, Conceit (Arrogance), Doubt, Malice, and Clinging to Views (Attachment to Drsti).

Each of these 16 elements has its own small casing, which originally contained no life—it was just an empty shell.

Primarily, the casing of Human Nature only receives the Buddha Nature from the Ocean of Pure Nature in the Buddha Realm to become life in the world of humans.

The Buddha Nature is first pulled through the Yin Ocean-Tide Gate of the Three Realms, and then enters the Yin Ocean-Tide Gate of the human world. After that, the Buddha Nature is pulled into the womb of the female and sleeps there for nine months and ten days.

The female womb has three functions:

1. It is the sleeping place for the Buddha Nature.
2. It is where the Buddha Nature forgets everything it previously: Saw, Heard, Spoke, and Knew.
3. It is the place that nurtures the male sperm and female egg into a fetus, which later becomes a human being.

When the Buddha Nature enters the female womb to sleep, it is hidden in the central brain of the fetus and blends with the flesh of the fetus to become life.

When the fetus is nine months and ten days old, it must exit the female womb to become a baby.

As the baby passes through the narrow passage of the female, it is squeezed, shaking the sleeping Buddha Nature. Instantly, the Buddha Nature automatically cries out, causing its Seeing, Hearing, Speaking, and Knowing to also awaken.

When the Buddha Nature awakens:

• It cannot see.
• It cannot hear.
• It cannot speak.
• It cannot know.

The Buddha Nature then looks around and sees 5 openings:

1. The two eye openings.
2. The one mouth opening.
3. The two ear openings.

The Buddha Nature immediately looks through the two eye openings, sees many images outside, but knows nothing.

External sounds enter the two ear holes; the Buddha Nature hears, but knows nothing.

The Buddha Nature then emits a sound, but cannot speak clearly.

Afterward, the Buddha Nature begins to:

• Practice Seeing.
• Practice Hearing.
• Practice Speaking.
• Practice Knowing.

Previously, the Buddha Nature was Constantly Seeing, Constantly Hearing, Constantly vibrating to Speak, and Constantly Knowing.

Now, all is forgotten!

Therefore, it must practice Seeing, Hearing, Speaking, and Knowing again.

Due to this practice of Seeing, Hearing, Speaking, and Knowing, if the Buddha Nature does not repeat it many times, it will forget.

Why does the Buddha Nature forget?

The Buddha Nature is enveloped by the casing of Human Nature, which causes it to forget. The casing of Human Nature is composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism. Yin-Yang electromagnetism is a type of electricity that is constantly cycling and moving very fast. As soon as the Buddha Nature perceives Seeing, Hearing, Speaking, and Knowing, it is instantly swept away and thus forgets everything.

Because of this forgetting, the casing of Human Nature contains a very large storage area called the Total Storehouse. Within this Total Storehouse are many small storehouses called the Separate Storehouses. The Separate Storehouses hold the individual parts of the Buddha Nature’s Seeing, Hearing, Speaking, and Knowing as they are brought in.

Precisely because the Buddha Nature brings these experiences into the Separate Storehouses, there must be keepers.

The keepers of this storehouse are the Volition and Consciousness of Human Nature. These two parts are collectively called “The Function of Admittance, Emission, and Transmission of Consciousness”.

These two keepers have the following duties:

1. Whatever the Buddha Nature Sees, Hears, Speaks, or Knows, Volition is responsible for bringing it in.
2. Whatever the Buddha Nature needs to remember, Volition is responsible for bringing it out.

The Consciousness is responsible for always remembering the things that Volition brings into the storehouse.

This storehouse is called the “Total Karma Storehouse” of a human being. This storehouse is precisely what leads the human being to 6 destinations and 1 path:

The Six Destinations:

• The Heavens or the Pure Land.
• The Deity Realm, which is the Asura Realm.
• The Human Realm.
• The Hungry Ghost Realm.
• The Animal Realm.
• The Hell Realm.

The One Path: Becoming a plant.

FORMATION OF THE INTERMEDIATE EXISTENCE BODY

The Intermediate Existence Body (Antarabhava/ Intermediate State Body) is formed as follows:

When a human dies, the Yin-Yang electromagnetism no longer preserves the Four-Element body (The Body of the Four Great Elements/ Mahaˉbhuˉtas), so:

• The casing of Human Nature also disintegrates.
• The Buddha Nature is released from the Four-Element body and the casing of Human Nature.
• What remains after escaping the casing of Human Nature is the Total Storehouse of Karma, which the Buddha Nature created using the 16 elements of Human Nature. Its drags us through the cycle of reincarnation according to the desires of Buddha nature.

This Total Storehouse of Karma is called the Intermediate Existence Body.

Why is it called the Intermediate Existence Body?

Because the Total Storehouse of Karma contains either good or bad deeds, which are pulled by the Yin-Yang electromagnetism to be drawn into another body. Therefore, it is called the Intermediate Existence Body.

This is the law of reincarnation on Earth!

The Buddha used His Five Eyes, so He clearly saw and knew the cause of the cycle of birth and death, as well as the way to escape the pulling force of the Yin-Yang electromagnetism. Therefore, the Buddha taught the Tathagata Pure Zen Dharma door to help humankind know how to escape the gravitational pull of causal reincarnation. However, as soon as the Buddha taught this Dharma door, everyone considered His teaching to be heretical.

The Buddha spoke a verse titled “The Foolish Man” for His disciples and for future generations of humankind to hear:

The Foolish Man

There was a foolish man,

Who used a rope to bind,

Bound himself to the rope,

And tightened it down hard.

He cried that he suffered,

Begging someone to undo,

The binding for him.

An outsider saw this,

And said to the man,

“You just let go of your hands,

The rope will come undone,

You won’t be bound anymore.”

The outsider spoke thus,

The man cursed the speaker,

“I asked you to unbind,

You talk nonsense and air.

What profound Dharma is that?

I’ll chant a sacred spell,

Diligently practice Zen,

The Buddhas will come save,

The Bodhisattvas appear,

To save me and unbind.”

“You talk utter rubbish,

Let me sit in my meditation,

I’m sure to escape this,

You’re a madman I say,

Get out of my sight.

I’ll do as I please.”

The Tathagata clearly teaches,

Humankind is like this,

The way out is clearly shown,

But they refuse to hear,

They think they are right.

Day and night, bright or dark,

They prostrate and beg,

To help them gain liberation,

Refusing to study,

The wisdom of the true man,

But learning spells and charms,

Chanting this and that.

The man is too foolish,

Everyone faces birth and death,

If they cannot save themselves,

Who can they save now?

The Tathagata only teaches,

Just simply Stop and End,

The binding lets go at once,

Naturally, you’re liberated.

CHAPTER V

THE REPENTANCE VERSE EXCLUSIVELY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE INADVERTENTLY SLIGHTED OR DESTROYED THE ZEN SECT DHARMA DOOR

This Mystery Record possesses an extremely strong Yang force.

It dismantles all superstition and false beliefs in the Yin-Yang physical world.

It is difficult for those living in the Yin-Yang physical world to escape the gravitational law of Yin-Yang physics.

Therefore, as soon as the Zen Sect Dharma door is announced, many people slight and destroy it, and consequently suffer from illness due to the counter-force of the Vajra Deity.

To help those who have slighted or destroyed it, the Buddha included the repentance verse below. This verse is for those who sincerely repent. Those who do not sincerely repent must face the consequences of the karma they themselves have created.

THE REPENTANCE SUTRA EXCLUSIVELY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE INADVERTENTLY SLIGHTED OR DESTROYED THE ZEN SECT DHARMA DOOR

Namo the Honored Master of the Saha World, Our Root Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha. (Homage to Our Root Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha, the Master of the Saha World.)

Respectfully to the World-Honored One:

My name is [Insert Name]

Age [Insert Age]

Residing at [House Number], [Street Name]

I am living in the world of cause, effect, and reincarnation, pulled by Yin-Yang physics. I am completely stuck within it, and it drags me endlessly through the six paths of transmigration.

Therefore, as soon as I heard the Dharma door of Liberation taught by the Tathagata, the Demon King instigated me to slight and destroy the Tathagata Pure Zen Dharma door. Because I was met with the counter-force of the Vajra Deity, I fell ill.

Thanks to my great auspicious affinity, I have read the entire Mystery Record of the Tathagata, which includes this repentance sutra. Today, I sincerely repent and feel remorse for my foolish words.

The World-Honored One taught:

Whoever inadvertently slights or destroys the Zen Sect Dharma door and falls ill must repent within 30 days; if delayed, it cannot be undone.

Therefore, today I sincerely repent. I respectfully ask the World-Honored One and the Buddhas of the Ten Directions to bear witness.

Namo the Honored Master of the Saha World, Our Root Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha!

BEFORE RECITING THE REPENTANCE SUTRA

I humbly offer INCENSE

Smoke rises and fills the azure sky,

My heart’s deep vow, my good intent,

Upon this smoke, may the Buddha alight,

Witness my repentance, with sincere heart sent.

I humbly PROSTRATE TO THE BUDDHA

I respectfully prostrate to the merciful Buddha, the Savior,

Who brings Pure Zen to save us, your poor believers.

We did not know, yet still we remained,

Refusing to practice, and thus we disdained.

Our disdain has returned to us now,

Making our bodies so heavily sick, O Buddha, how!

Today, I finally know Zen’s way,

Pure Zen liberation will save my day.

I vow to repent, to never again,

Slight the precious words the Buddha ordained.

I make a sacred promise and swear,

To follow the Zen teachings the Buddha did share.

From now on, I make up my mind,

To practice Zen, leaving transmigration behind.

I respectfully ask the Buddha to witness my plea,

Witness my heart knowing the great “Stop” technique.

I now respectfully prostrate to the Buddha, my Lord,

Pouring Pure Zen into this body’s accord,

To shatter the Yin force of the pestle’s blow,

So my sickness may vanish—this debt I owe.

I vow to follow the Zen Sect’s single path,

To keep the Pure Mind and end rebirth’s wrath.

Hearing the Buddha, I practice the word “Stop”,

I “Stop” all attachment, and rebirth is done.

With sincere heart, I vow to follow the way,

The Pure Zen Dharma, no longer led astray.

Hearing the Buddha, I practice the word “Enough”,

“Enough” to all, and rebirth leaves me with joy.

From now on, I vow I will never more,

Slight the Zen teachings, but practice at my core.

I respectfully prostrate to the Holy Buddha so high,

Witness my vow to practice Zen from this day.

May I attain Enlightenment through these words I’ve heard,

Recognizing Buddha Nature, my heart is assured.

Though life be hard, with suffering and woe,

I vow my devotion to Sakya’s Zen flow.

The Zen Sect the Buddha has clearly revealed,

The path to Enlightenment, the return way sealed.

Zen the Buddha taught as the way to return,

Back to the Ocean of Nature, the homeland to learn.

The Tathagata sees and feels deep compassion,

Pitying mankind, searching for liberation.

But the Human Nature holds onto the Self so tight,

Claiming to be wisest, boasting of might.

Using the perception of the common man,

Talking lies and nonsense to win public fan.

Saying that the words of Sakyamuni Buddha,

Teaching the Zen Dharma, came from the Demon further.

They boast and they laugh together in glee,

“The teaching of Gotama, what a mockery!

Practicing Zen without diligent labor,

Is mad, crazy Zen, a foolish neighbor!”

“Don’t you dare come close to this way,

You’ll go mad following Pure Zen today!”

All the people standing near by,

Left and stayed away, with a worried sigh.

The Vajra Deity saw those who laughed and mocked,

Raised his pestle and struck the words that blocked.

The words of disdain returned in a flash,

Back to the speaker, in a sickening crash.

My body trembles, feeling a chill inside,

I feel discomfort, O, I cannot hide the pain I bear!

The Buddha said: “Do you know why this is so?

You slighted the Zen that leads to the un-born flow.”

“The Pure Zen I teach is crystal clear,

For liberation only, to those I hold dear.

If you scorn it, don’t utter a word,

Just leave, and let samsara’s law be heard.”

“Reincarnating throughout the Mortal and Heavenly realms,

Until you’re weary, then practice this Zen that calms.”

“Whoever violates this, finds themselves in despair,

Must seek this repentance sutra for peace to repair.”

I teach very clearly today,

If you seek liberation, Pure Zen is the way.

Competing in the physical realm’s race,

Leads to endless birth and death in that space.

Pulling you to all corners of the dust of the world,

The suffering of the dust of the world is never furled.

The Pure Zen I teach is just one phrase,

One phrase, “Stop, End,” and the cycle is gone in a haze.

Namo the Honored Master of the Saha World, Our Root Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha!

Bear witness for me (3 times with 3 bell sounds)

I HUMBLY ANNOUNCE MY REPENTANCE

The words of the Buddha are profoundly deep and vast,

I have searched for millions of lifetimes past.

Today I hear the Master’s teaching true,

The Tathagata’s meaning, so wondrous and new.

REPENTANCE VERSE FOR SLIGHTING THE ZEN SECT DHARMA DOOR

I bow my head to the Buddha, great and true,

I repent from this day, remorseful and new.

Before, I spoke the terrible word:

The Pure Zen Dharma is foolish and absurd!

“Whoever practices Zen is mad and insane!”

So the counterforce struck me with pain.

The Vajra Deity repaid my words with might,

Bringing sickness upon me, filling my heart with fright.

Zen is the Dharma of miraculous grace,

But I did not know it, and slighted its place.

The Vajra Deity struck back at my scorn,

The words of contempt, deep inside me were worn.

My body senses clearly the blow,

The counterforce struck me, making me know.

My body clearly felt and heard the return,

A painful striking, a lesson to learn.

The Vajra Deity protects Zen’s light,

So He strikes back at those who speak in spite.

The Buddha said: “Do not slight the Zen way,

If you slight it, you’re struck, and sent to the dark realm astray!”

Refusing to practice, but showing disdain,

The law of physics dictates the resulting pain.

The Buddha taught Zen with a single word,

To escape birth and death—a word left unheard.

Unheard, but replaced with slanders and lies,

Against Zen, believing the worldly unwise.

The Buddha taught Zen: no need to implore,

No need for prostration to escape death and the door.

People living in physics struggle and strive,

If they don’t seek freedom, they shouldn’t undermine the alive (Zen).

The Tathagata only saves the chosen few,

Those who seek liberation, must learn this Zen anew.

The Pure Zen I teach is simple and plain,

Only Purity is needed to break the rebirth chain.

The Pure Zen I have already expressed,

Yet you did not practice, but scornfully repressed.

The Vajra Deity strikes back at the words of disdain,

Returning the speaker to the deepest Hell’s pain.

Whoever knows this, should pray and appeal,

For the Tathagata to pour Zen and quickly heal.

The slanderer repents and is anxious now,

Daring not to repeat, making a Zen practice vow.

And helping many people to practice Zen too,

Pure Zen, a “single word,” for escape is true.

Transcend the matter of the Saha World’s might,

Return to the Buddha Realm, escaping the cycle’s blight.

Pure Zen’s single word is “Enough”,

Practice “one word”, and rebirth will destroy.

Pure Zen is supremely precious; strive to follow its way,

If you cannot follow, you follow reincarnation’s sway.

Pure Zen, once lost, will not be told,

Until a myriad lifetimes, the story unfolds.

In the world of mortals, the Saha World so vast,

Why are you not fearful, clinging to suffering fast?

The Tathagata only taught the word “Stop”,

Practice just one word, can you not let the struggle be flung?

Why do you plunge headlong and never retreat,

Into matter, which leads to birth and defeat?

The Tathagata taught it clearly and well,

You refuse to seek truth, chasing money’s dark spell.

Silver and money are chains that bind,

Dragging people to endless sorrow, yet they’re delighted to find!

I taught one word, which is “Stop,” I repeat,

It is so simple, can you not manage that feat?

Boasting and arguing, talking so high,

No matter how high, you’ll still enter the dust of the sky.

The dust of the world is a place of disaster and trial,

Why crave its illusions and follow the cycle awhile?

You must try hard to “Stop,” I implore,

The Tathagata will help you, just “Stop” and listen for sure.

Zen is the realization of Nature, which is Hearing to abide,

Hearing in serenity is Nirvana inside.

The eyes see, just let them clearly behold,

Clearly seeing the True Nature, stories untold.

Humankind only yearns for the word “More,” I attest,

Why strive for that “More” which brings no true rest?

The Tathagata taught you to let go, for what end?

To be unattached, to the Source to ascend.

Return to the Pure Source forever and forever,

Helping others be free, splitting the body’s endeavor.

The manifestation body, whether far or near it may roam,

Returns to the Ocean of Nature, regardless of home.

The Tathagata taught Zen, for what is its goal?

To grant true Liberation, ceasing the wheel of control.

Practicing Zen is simply this way,

If you cannot practice, you wander forever and a day.

Wandering in the dust of the world, never to cease,

Wandering in suffering—why crave such unease?

Wandering to all corners of the world’s dust,

Wandering endlessly, still fueling the lust.

Zen taught the path to escape the mortal domain,

Return to the Ocean of Nature, and Buddha-hood attain.

The Buddhas of the Ten Directions say “Enough!” now be told,

The Tathagata continues the teachings of the Buddhas of old.

Humankind likes the word “Craving” in their deed,

Craving for matter, planting reincarnation’s seed.

Because of this craving, suffering lasts for eons and years,

Endless suffering is caused by this craving that steers.

Heed my words, morning, noon, and night’s hour,

Only Purity is needed to escape this life’s power.

Escaping the body from the Yang dust’s sway,

You’ll become a Buddha, contributing to peace every day.

The Buddha Realm has only one path to take,

Return to the old homeland, for eternal peace sake.

Namo the Honored Master of the Saha World, Our Root Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha!

I sincerely repent to the World-Honored One and the Buddhas of the Ten Directions. (3 times with 3 bell sounds)

CHAPTER VI

THE VERSE TRANSMITTING THE ‘SECRET OF PURE ZEN’ TO MAHAKASYAPA FOR SUCCESSIVE PATRIARCHS TO USE AS THE STANDARD FOR TRANSMISSION

Zen’s flower blossoms on Grdhrakuta peak,

Pure Zen, more precious than gold or antique.

Enduring all trials, enduring all strife,

Traveling to many lands, bringing peace to life.

You listen now to the teaching of the Master,

Find many ways to let this Zen flow faster,

Today, the one called Kasyapa has the affinity to see,

Receiving the Zen Source, uniquely for thee.

Kasyapa knows this, remaining in silence profound,

With only a smile, acknowledging the truth he has found.

The Tathagata confirms, “It is so, indeed,”

You must abandon the physical and samsara’s creed.

All those who awaken and clearly perceive,

It is the Pure Mind that I pass on, believe.

Today, you have the great affinity’s grace,

Receiving the True Dharma Zen Source in this place.

According to the teaching I give you today,

Whoever receives the meaning of Zen that I display,

That person is worthy, the affinity is complete,

Must be given the Zen Transmission, as a trusting feat.

Today, on this sacred, manifesting mountain’s ground,

The Zen Transmission is officially given, a certification profound.

You must hold this secret deep in your soul,

Transmit it to Ananda, the next Patriarch to enroll.

To pass beyond this perilous sea of woe,

Only Purity is needed, for wealth or poor, do not let your mind go.

You must strive hard to spread this Dharma afar,

Ananda receives it, its span will transcend the bar.

Pure Zen requires no vows and no pleas,

Only Purity is needed, disregarding all life’s decrees.

If one’s mind is Pure and peaceful and roam,

They will pass the sea of suffering, returning to the ancient home.

Pure Zen does not require morning or noon,

Only Purity is needed, without craving Nirvana soon.

To achieve this, peace is already won,

I clearly show you there is this path alone, my son.

You have understood this now, that is the way,

I grant you the certification of Pure Zen today.

You need not struggle or compete in any endeavor,

The Pure Zen Dharma is for those who awaken forever.

Today, I, Sakyamuni Buddha, who has come,

Officially transmit Zen, Mahakasyapa has overcome.

You must strive hard to keep this truth as your own,

Your Pure Mind is the Zen, to be passed to each one shown.

Today’s ceremony is filled with joy and delight,

The Buddhas of the Ten Directions smile, blessing the light.

The physical world is now peaceful and calm,

Because of the repose granted by the Pure Zen balm.

The Buddhas of the Ten Directions gather around,

Congratulating Kasyapa, who the True Zen has found.

This Pure Zen I transmit is only for a special few,

I officially transmit Zen, certifying you.

 CHAPTER VII

THE TATAGATA’S VERSES AND COMPOSITIONS

TRANSMITTED ALONG THE LINEAGE OF PURE ZEN

92-LINE VERSE TAUGHT BY THE BUDDHA ABOUT THE FLOW OF THE SOURCE OF PURE ZEN

Zen’s flower blooms on Grdhrakuta peak,

From one, two, to fifty, only one man will speak.

Kasyapa sees the flower, fresh and so bright,

As soon as he sees, he smiles at its light.

Kasyapa beholds the flower’s graceful form,

Recognizing the Seeing Nature, his smile comes forth from the storm.

Zen’s flower is beautiful, excellent, and new,

The Seeing Nature uniquely grasps the flower’s hue.

Today, this is the teaching that I impart,

If Seeing stacks upon Seeing, you fall into the start (samsara’s art).

When you See, just see, and let it be so,

Living with the Seeing Nature, reincarnation holds no woe.

As soon as the Zen flower you instantly see,

Receive the Seeing Nature, what more outside is for thee?

Though you search throughout all the world’s dust and pain,

The things you seek cannot be used again.

See, and let the seeing be, asking for naught,

Just seeing the lotus bloom, peace is wrought.

The true homeland is not found by seeking or lure,

No contemplation or imagining—that is the ancient pure.

In practicing Zen, do not choose morning or noon,

Just knowing Silence is the ancient you, coming soon.

Not sitting there in complete and silent thought,

But Seeing remains Seeing, the gaze is not caught.

In practicing Zen, do not speak of rich or of poor,

If you wish to return home, follow rebirth no more.

The practitioner sees, and that is enough,

Transmitting through myriad eons, many lifetimes of rough.

The compassion of Sakyamuni Buddha is real,

After thirty centuries, no flowers left to reveal.

Stepping into the twenty-fifth century’s ray,

A Master receives it, bringing the Zen flower to display.

Saying that the Mystery Record of Sakya will arrive,

In the twenty-fifth century, in the “Land of the Dragon” to thrive.

People in the corrupt age greatly desire,

But when the corrupt age ends, they cannot see the flower’s fire.

Because this is the Mystery Record of Sakya’s great sway,

In the twenty-fifth century, in the “Land of the Dragon” to display.

The thirtieth century, all hope shall cease,

The Zen flower concludes, here ends all peace.

My children, remember the words of your Master,

The most precious Zen flower ends its transmission faster.

Those who have great fortune and special affinity’s aid,

The flow of the Zen Source concludes, here, where it was made.

THE FLOW OF THE ZEN SECT SOURCE, ALSO THE METHOD OF ZEN PRACTICE

The Zen flower the Master taught on Vulture Mountain’s face,

Jade, gold, jewels cannot surpass Zen’s grace.

You look and let be, the truth is near,

Seeing and just seeing is your ancient home, held dear.

In practicing Zen, do not choose day or night’s plight,

Always Seeing is your ancient self, bathed in the light.

Seeing like this, remaining silent and still,

If you conceive of more seeing, transmigration your life will fill.

The Master teaches you only to Stop all that strife,

Compelling you to See what remains in Nirvana’s life.

The mortal world refuses peace and calm to take,

Because seeing follows seeing, hardship and rebirth wake.

The Master teaches you to say “Enough” to the urge,

Recognizing the Seeing Nature, where peace can emerge.

So many years of hardship, grievance, and lament,

Today, the Zen flower, the Master has sent.

Though rivers run dry and mountains wear down,

The light of the Zen flower will grow on this crown.

Followed by twenty-eight Masters, the lineage will flow,

Bringing the Zen Source’s current to the East, letting the seed grow.

First, crossing the sea, traversing the river’s shore,

Passing the Pink strait, avoiding Kunlun’s roar.

Entering the land of Viet, receiving its grace,

Receiving much sustenance to move to the Northern space.

Following the current up the Yangtze River’s might,

Offering comfort to Wu Emperor, passing the Zen Source’s light.

The Emperor declared: “This Master is insane!”

The Patriarch descended the ship and sailed the ocean’s rain.

Hidden in a large forest, in a solitary spot he lay,

In the land of Northern Wei, Zen rested at Shaolin that day.

In the silent stone cave, he sat alone in deep thought,

Nine years of Zen meditation, waiting for one who sought.

One hand frail, all by himself,

Grasping the Zen Source, nurturing it far from the shelf.

Then came the Mystery Record of Sakya’s decree,

For those with great affinity to recognize the Zen Source to see.

The East is free from folly, free from the insane,

Thanks to the Zen Source flowing in every domain.

That Patriarch, when free and leisurely he was found,

Was poisoned by people, ending his life on the ground!

Here, the Zen current flowed without stop or rest,

Flowing through the Northeast, spreading Zen to Goryeo’s crest.

Crossing the Eastern sea for one great trip,

Entering the “Land of the Rising Sun,” to finally grip.

The affinity of Heaven was not great with Zen’s hold,

The bright current of the Zen Source had to return South, we are told.

Crossing rivers and myriad mountains in its path’s thread,

Meeting endless hardships, Zen arrived at Thăng Long (Ascending Dragon) ahead.

The King and people of Việt waited with care,

For the flow of the Zen Source of Sakyamuni to share.

Today, Zen arrives in our nation, so bright,

The Lac King Hong Bang era descendants recognize the Source’s light.

The King and his subjects received it, letting it stay in peace,

Defeating the Northern invaders, letting the Zen flow increase.

The beautiful homeland, peaceful and calm,

The flow of the Zen Source ascended to Yen Tu realm.

The King and people were free from sorrow and all lament,

Establishing two more Patriarchs, in peaceful practice spent.

Yen mountant is beautiful, like a painting so fine,

The King of the Land of the Dragon rested, his heart at its shrine.

A hundred years Zen flowed throughout the land’s sphere,

Staying peacefully in Huế through many lifetimes here.

Because the people of Việt were divided in strife,

The Zen Source had to leave that place of life.

In the twentieth century, a Master received the flow’s sign,

Intending to build a Zen pagoda, its structure to define.

The land was not yet peaceful, harmony was late,

The Master transmitted the Mystery, passing it to the future’s gate.

When the people gather, near and far they meet,

The flow of the Zen Source will burst forth complete.

Knowing that the Mystery Record of Sakya must come to its right,

In the twenty-fifth century, appearing in the “Land of the Dragon’s” light.

Joining forces with one mind, together they stand,

Establishing many means, hoping for the Zen current at hand.

So the world receives peace and calm for all to see,

Assisting the Zen practitioners to receive Zen Sect’s key.

The Treasury of the True Dharma Eye in the heart is found,

The Wondrous Nirvana is swelling on this ground.

The Zen Sect is officially here today, you hear,

Those with a great heart will propagate it near and far, year by year.

The Zen current has gained all the necessary affinity’s store,

Flowing to all regions, all continents, and every shore.

Whoever receives it is free from all sorrow and strife,

For Zen possesses the mysterious nature of joyous life.

The Tathagata’s wish is fulfilled, His heart is content and serene,

Recording Transcendental merits of that person in the place where peace has been.

From “Land of the Dragon” flows throughout the world’s space,

Whoever receives it finds peace and leisure and grace.

The Zen Sect is firmly established in every spot,

The Hồng-Lạc descendants are proud of the Zen they’ve got.

The Tathagata recorded the Mystery: the “Land of the Dragon”‘s great name,

Has a person with a great heart to continue the Tathagata’s flame.

THE BUDDHA’S 60-LINE VERSE ON BUDDHA NATURE

The Buddha is present, enveloping every space,

The True Nature follows the Buddha, acting in every place.

Within the Nature, the Buddha teaches clearly and plain,

The Seeing is pure, giving rise to no pain.

The Hearing is pure, once it is heard,

When Knowing, just Know—no other word.

The Dharma Nature covers all space,

If a sound is emitted, the sound leaves no trace (of decrease).

The sound travels to every corner and sphere,

Yet in the Dharma Nature, it will never disappear.

If the sound should emit once again,

The sound is as pure as it was back then.

Do not think the sound spoke at the start,

In this place, it never loses its part.

The Master now instructs you, my children, today,

Like the sea’s surface, where water is suddenly at play.

The water’s form, when it rises so high,

Reaches the peak, then falls back to the Source from the sky.

The Master teaches you, you must always be keen,

Remembering this principle, let its meaning be seen.

The Dharma Nature is not distant, not far,

It is in Purity, flowing out from the Source’s star.

All Four Great Elements are always there,

In the Source Nature, running everywhere.

When you enter the Three Realms to roam,

You are pulled by physics, passed on from your home (rebirth).

Do not ponder over the how or the why,

The Pure Seeing Nature is Nirvana on high.

If you wish to leave the world’s attractive hold,

Just “Enough, End,” and Nirvana will unfold.

The Tathagata speaks clearly from His heart’s desire,

Practicing the Buddha’s way is leaving rebirth’s fire.

Whoever acts like this will find the release,

The birth-and-death cycle with them will cease.

You sit there in silence, a wasted endeavor,

It is useless labor; the truth you find never.

Heed my words for once, do as I command,

Act upon them, and peace will fill your hand.

The Tathagata leaves joy for all who are pure,

Enjoying the peace that Nirvana ensures.

Instantly ending all suffering and strife,

The Tathagata shows you this way to life.

You thought you had found the path’s end,

This is the road of suffering, leaving the ancient friend (home).

Even if you sit in serenity, morning and noon,

You won’t know the path back to your ancient room.

You must strive hard to protect what is true,

Recognize the Seeing Nature, know that Hearing is you.

The essence of these Natures is the raft that can save,

Bringing the pure person back to the ancient wave (home).

In practicing Zen, do not choose day or the dark,

No sitting, no standing, no craving Nirvana’s mark.

Your mind should not wander, aimlessly sent,

Following physics, the path home is spent.

You must resolutely swear to this vow,

Until you know the truth, you will not leave now.

The mind must be resolute once the truth is known,

Only then can you save those you have grown (known).

Standing before the lamp’s light, shining and clear,

Ask the lamp to bear witness to the heart held dear.

AND 20 VERSES OF ZEN NUN Đức Thảo

I first thank the Master once again,

For using skillful means to teach this Zen.

Naturally, the madness and the chaos cease,

Thank you, Master, for this wonderful peace.

Once more, I offer thanks to the Enlightened One,

For the Pure Tranquility Zen transmitted here and done.

I speak now to those who have the karmic bond,

This Zen Dharma taught by the Master, I shall respond.

I vow to fully uphold this Zen teaching,

Helping all humanity find inner peaceful reaching.

From now on, no more longing, no more wait,

For the pure mind resides within, it is not too late.

Again, my gratitude to the Master, my dear Guide,

Who helped me realize this Zen deep inside.

My confusion and distress now are past,

Thanks to the Buddha’s transmission that forever will last.

Once more, with a resolute and faithful heart,

I will show the way to all who wish to start.

I humbly ask the Buddha not to fret,

I vow to repay your great favor, I have not forgot, yet.

THE TATHAGATA TEACHES ABOUT BUDDHA NATURE

The Buddha Nature is neither now nor of old,

The Buddha Nature is neither adding nor subtraction’s fold.

Humans see birth and death intertwined and long,

These two things do not touch the ancient place where they belong (Nirvana).

AND CONFIRMATION OF ZEN ENLIGHTENMENT

First, the Tathagata preached the wondrous Way,

You have completely awakened to the depth of the day.

The Tathagata rejoices that you clearly understand,

The Wish-Fulfilling Pearl is not sought in any land.

THE BUDDHA TEACHES HOW TO CROSS THE YANG OCEAN-TIDAL GATE TO RETURN TO THE BUDDHA REALM

Rumbling, the False Consciousness rises,

Surging, the False Nature overflows.

Forming a separating boundary,

Between Birth and Death and the Unborn (State).

Knowing that this boundary is illusory,

Crossing over it is very easy.

To escape the cycle of Birth and Death,

And enter the Ocean of the Unborn.

If unknowingly, False Perception begins,

Karma and the cycle of Reincarnation arrive,

Pulling you into the Six Paths immediately,

Yin and Yang attract and pull you in.

You cannot return to the Source’s Root,

The Demon King manages (you) tightly,

You must become a life of servitude,

Being servants for eternity,

For all the Ghosts and all the Demons.

The act of returning to the Source’s Root,

Surely, you cannot return to it.

Even if there are ten thousand Buddhas,

All of them come to this world to liberate/save.

They still might not be able to save (you).

If someone says they will save you,

That is a great deceiver.

You must stand up yourself,

And cross the shore of Birth and Death.

If you cannot cross over,

Forever you will sink into transmigration!

THE GATHA OF THE TATHAGATA’S ENLIGHTENMENT IN TUSHITA HEAVEN, PRESENTED TO DIPANKARA BUDDHA.

Buddha-Nature ready, ages past in store.

My ignorance chose to love Samsara’s core.

Through all my life, I searched for years untold.

Nothing was found, Samsara took its hold.

Dipankara taught no thing that is perceived.

Just pure Stillness to end what is conceived.

I first applied effort, sat in solemn grace.

Entered Pure Heaven, sat ages in that space.

Dwelling long in Purity, it felt insane.

When karma ceased, I instantly came again.

Continued living in this Saha, earthly sphere.

Dreaming of beauty to leave the cycle here.

Good merits done, in every manner known.

I reached a realm, alas, of form divine.

Entering here, the colors are supreme.

Cannot be told, known only by my dream.

Staying here, until that lifespan’s fading light.

Ten thousand years passed, without a single thought.

Returned to the world to walk the way I sought.

Entered the Desire Realm, stayed a thousand years.

Living out my silent time, devoid of fears.

Back to the human world, reborn a deity for the offerings’ taste.

Sat and ate for five hundred years each day.

Fabricated threats to feed on foolish men.

Life ended, back to defiled earth again.

Killing all, I fell to prison’s harsh domain.

The prison is to cleanse the self from stain.

To repay all sin, then only one is free.

I came back to the Saha world, to be.

Dared not speak out, but lamented in my heart.

Must I stay here, and nevermore depart?

Just spoke these words, my eyes then fell asleep.

Dipankara Buddha then did me instruct.

To cease rebirth, hold constant kindness true.

Good deeds must be done in silence, deep and low.

Must not be told for mortals to then know.

Maintain pure Stillness, and in that state hear.

Hear Buddha’s words, hear in Tushita near.

When the teaching in Heaven I did hear.

In Tushita’s sky, knowing then did birth appear.

Sudden enlightenment, birth and death forsaken.

Returning to earth, reborn a royal heir.

Lived nobly in the palace, high and fair.

My task is to save a thousand living souls.

Past thirty years, I must practice what controls.

Left the world, worked hard to practice Dhyana’s way.

At first, applying effort to the sitting.

Forced my body, thin and weak I lay.

Next, I sat beneath the shade of some great tree.

Reasoned to be a teacher for those who listen to me.

The listeners then went out to boast and praise.

Gotama is a master, his speech of heaven’s ways.

Many folks desired to draw near and know.

I taught them the ultimate, beyond the world’s show.

The worldly life is where one is constrained.

Who seeks the peace of Nirvana here obtained?

Come here, and I will teach you of this truth.

If miracles are wished, the Master will impart.

Teaching the mantra of freedom, set apart.

Freely changing great things that stand before the eye.

Tantric Dhyana, of power supremely high.

A few magic words, incredibly divine.

Mortals enjoy the strange and wonderful design.

Thus, they came to learn, easily gaining gold.

Finally, I taught of peace that will console.

Which is Pure Stillness Zen, ending birth and death’s control.

When people heard of Zen of the Pure.

They left at once, few people would endure.

It turns out the world loves what brings delight.

They love to beg and bow for others’ praise.

They love to act the fool, the humble soul.

To be a child of God, for grace to make them whole.

Now I know the ways of those of dust.

They use the mundane thought (Perception) in which they trust.

Therefore, they work from morning until night.

Only when tired does the common will feel rest.

They call Pure Stillness Zen practice mad and wild.

Many say this, how shall I advise my child?

Well then, let the mundane world their path begin.

When they are weary, I will quickly teach the Zen therein.

This part I pray to offer just to You.

Dipankara Buddha then gave me witness true.

In Tushita, I have understood it all.

What my heart resolves regarding birth and death’s thrall.

Thank you, Miraculous Buddha, great and deep.

I bow three times, my words to you I keep.

Now I am fixed with a pure, faithful soul.

To spread this Zen study for the generations’ final goal.

Having heard the Tathagata present the 88-verse gatha, Dipankara Buddha knew that the Tathagata had attained the ‘secret of Pure Stillness Zen’. Therefore, he made a prophecy that the Tathagata would, in a future life, attain Buddhahood with the title Shakyamuni in this Saha World.

CHAPTER VIII

VENERABLE ANANDA PRESENTS THE MYSTERY RECORD TO THE WORLD-HONORED ONE FOR THE FINAL REVIEW BEFORE TRANSMISSION TO THE ZEN SECT LINEAGE

Venerable Ananda presented to the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One:

I and 14 of my fellow disciples have completed writing this Mystery Record. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to review it again.”

The World-Honored One said to Ananda:

“Read the entire Mystery Record to the Tathagata. Wherever there are errors, the Tathagata will correct them for you.”

Ananda read the entire Mystery Record. The World-Honored One revised up to one-quarter of the text. When the revisions were complete, the World-Honored One instructed Ananda to rewrite it with great care, so that the Tathagata could hand it over to Mahakasyapa to be transmitted through the Pure Zen lineage.

Upon completing the rewrite, Ananda presented it to the World-Honored One and asked the following question:

“Respected World-Honored One:

One week ago, the World-Honored One performed the ceremony to transmit the ‘Secret of Pure Zen’ to my elder brother, Mahakasyapa, to take on the position of the First Patriarch of the Pure Zen lineage. The World-Honored One also taught brother Mahakasyapa:

‘Later, you must hand over the Patriarchal position to you (Ananda), who will be the Second Patriarch, and the lineage must be renamed the Zen Sect Lineage.’ But currently, I have no verse or prose in my mind. How can I possibly take on the Patriarchal position? I respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct me.”

As Ananda presented his query, he began to weep!

The World-Honored One taught:

“My dear Ananda:

Do not worry about this matter. Everyone knows the past of their current lifetime, but only an Omniscient One knows the past and future of all their past and future lives. The Tathagata instructed Mahakasyapa to transmit the lineage to you because the Tathagata knows not only your future lifetime but also the future of this Zen Sect lineage: how many Patriarchs there will be, what their names will be, and how each one will attain Zen Enlightenment. Therefore, this Mystery Record has only 12 chapters, but the Tathagata has taught everything fully, from humans to the Three Realms , the Buddha Realm, the Cosmic Universe, reincarnation, and liberation.”

The Tathagata admonished him a second time:

“When the Tathagata enters Nirvana:

The Tathagata’s Golden Body will only be placed into the Golden Coffin after one day. Another day later, Mahakasyapa will arrive. You must open the lid of the Golden Coffin so the Tathagata can transmit the ‘Secret of Pure Zen’ to Mahakasyapa a second time. On the third day, the cremation will take place.”

When Ananda heard the World-Honored One instruct him thus, he could not hold back his tears and burst out crying.

The World-Honored One immediately taught Ananda:

“My dear Ananda:

The world of cause, effect, and Yin-Yang physics is simply like this. Why do you cry? You should rejoice that the Tathagata has fulfilled the duty of a Greatly Enlightened Being. Today, the Tathagata has created immeasurable transcendental merit by transmitting the Zen Sect Dharma to future generations, so that anyone who desires liberation will know the path to practice. Now, withdraw and inform everyone:

In two days, the Tathagata will give His final teaching in the Sala Grove to the friend who practiced alongside the Tathagata for immeasurable eons before. On that day, anyone who wishes to ask a question should come forth and ask it.”

Venerable Ananda obeyed the World-Honored One’s instruction and withdrew.

THE VULTURE PEAK CAVE

The place where the Buddha taught the Mystery Record.

The place where Venerable Ananda presented the Mystery Record to the Buddha for the final review.

THE VULTURE PEAK CAVE

The place where the Buddha handed over the Mystery Record to Venerable Mahakasyapa for transmission through the Zen Sect Lineage.

CHAPTER IX

VENERABLE MAHAKASYAPA RECEIVES THE MYSTERY RECORD FROM THE WORLD-HONORED ONE FOR TRANSMISSION ALONG THE ZEN SECT LINEAGE

The World-Honored One taught:

“Hear me, Mahakasyapa and My excellent disciples.

Today, at Vulture Peak Cave, the Tathagata officially hands over this Mystery Record to you, Mahakasyapa, for transmission along the Pure Zen lineage.”

“Why does the Tathagata not transmit this through the general Sutras but must transmit it privately?”

“The Tathagata tells you there are two reasons:”

“First:

Because the Pure Zen Dharma is reserved only for those who follow the Tathagata’s path and truly desire Enlightenment and Liberation”

“Second:

The six types of people listed below, although they follow the Tathagata’s path, would not dare even look at the Mystery Record, let alone practice it:”

1. They crave fame and are obsessed with money.
2. They love to possess psychic powers (supernatural).
3. They enjoy praying and prostrating to others.
4. They like to be slaves to others.
5. They enjoy relying on others.
6. They love making offerings.

“Because of these six reasons, the Tathagata does not teach the Pure Zen Dharma in large gatherings. Today is the full moon day of the first month, in the 245th year of the Kapilavastu country. Only a short time remains before the Tathagata will return to the Buddha Realm, where the Buddhas of the Ten Directions live—the ancient homeland of the Tathagata, as well as of all humans and sentient beings.”

“Look, throughout the Tathagata’s life of teaching the Dharma, the fundamental essence taught in this world is to help humankind attain Enlightenment and Liberation so they can return to their own ancient homeland. But because humankind lives in the world of Yin-Yang physics, everyone loves material possessions and money. When the Tathagata teaches them to return home, they do not want to go; they prefer to stay in this world.”

“This world contains two types of people: the cunning and the foolish.”

• The Cunning: They like to fabricate untrue stories to deceive the foolish.
• The Foolish: They enjoy being deceived by the cunning.

Upon hearing this, everyone wept, prostrated themselves before the Buddha, and withdrew.

THE VERSE OF THE TATHAGATA HANDING OVER THE MYSTERY RECORD TO VENERABLE MAHAKASYAPA FOR TRANSMISSION ALONG THE ZEN SECT LINEAGE

Liberation is the Dharma of Sakyamuni,

Praying and prostrating are teachings of Demons, you see.

Liberation helps many people to rise,

Returning to the Buddha Realm, enjoying peace in the skies.

Liberation means abandoning the Ego/Self’s plight,

Living with the Buddha Nature means stopping the cycle’s might.

Liberation, when practiced correctly and true,

Ends the birth-and-death cycle, forever escaping you.

Liberation means getting out of the World of Dust,

No more bondage to the world’s suffering span.

Liberation, a Dharma door that needs no asking’s plea,

Living with the Buddha Nature is the single word of Zen, you see.

This Pure Zen I transmit privately, I’m clear,

For Mahakasyapa to transmit this Dharma right here.

The Pure Zen I teach is simple and plain,

Only Purity is needed to break the rebirth chain.

Pure Zen practiced correctly, the true way to find,

Birth and death and rebirth stop looking for the mind.

Kasyapa, you must strive hard and maintain,

Transmitting this Zen Source for those who come again.

The “Dragon Girl” who receives it, will be in a future time,

The Pure Zen Dharma will spread in a later, grand chime.

Transmitting it privately at the Zen Pagoda’s door,

Helping people find liberation, returning to the “Ancient Home” evermore.

The Five Continents will clearly know what was taught of old,

The Tathagata taught this ancient Zen, stories untold.

Today, at Vulture Peak Cave, I declare,

I establish and hand over this Mystery Record to your care.

Your duty, for the sake of the world’s plight,

Is to transmit this Zen teaching, helping all find the light.

The Mystery Record I hand over, complete and whole,

Go and receive your mission, it’s for your soul.

People in future times are waiting to see,

The Dharma of Liberation is now held by thee.

Today, many people witness this scene,

You must take and transmit it to the future keen.

Pure Zen is one and only, nothing compares,

The Dharma of Liberation, the Tathagata completes and shares.

My mission is now completely achieved,

The Pure Zen Dharma is saved for those who have believed.

In later days, when human wisdom is high,

They will receive this Zen teaching, the most supreme beneath the sky.

The Tathagata teaches you only in part,

You must strive to uphold it and pass on the heart.

When Ananda receives this Zen with its true form,

He will hand over the Mystery Record, transmitting it to the next Patriarch from the storm.

The Zen Sect teaching, you must declare and tell:

Practicing Contemplation and Imagination will not escape this Hell.

The Pure Zen Sect only requires a must,

“Let Go – Stop – Enough – End”, and the world’s dust leaves us at last.

I, the Sakyamuni Buddha, am done with My deed,

Having transmitted the Mystery Record, I complete the seed.

You all remain here in peace and in light,

In twenty-four days, I shall return to My home, the true right.

CHAPTER X

PERSONS PERMITTED TO PROPAGATE THE ZEN SECT DHARMA DOOR, ISSUE CERTIFICATES, AND CONFER TITLES

ARTICLE ONE

The person must receive the Mystery Record transmitted through the Zen Sect lineage of the Tathagata.

They must understand very clearly the profound and wonderful meaning taught by the Tathagata in the Mystery Record.

They must realize their own Pure Buddha Nature.

Any person who achieves these three points is called a teacher of the Zen Sect Dharma.

ARTICLE TWO

The person must personally establish a Zen Sect Pagoda in accordance with the Tathagata teaching in lotus sutra, but they are only permitted to propagate the Pure Zen Dharma discreetly.

ARTICLE THREE

Once a Zen Sect Pagoda is completed, the person is permitted to perform the following three tasks:

1. Issue a certificate to the person who has attained Enlightenment of the “Core Principles of Zen Sect”.
2. Issue a diploma to the person who has attained the “Secret of Zen Sect”.
3. Be permitted to perform the ceremony to transmit the “Secret of Zen Sect” to the person who has attained it.

ARTICLE FOUR

The person is permitted to confer the titles of Zen Sect Master and Lay Zen Sect Master upon three types of people:

Type 1:

A person who has:

• Attained Enlightenment of the “Core Principles of Zen Sect.”
• Attained the “Secret of Zen Sect.”
• A fervent commitment to the Zen Sect Dharma, helping 30 people attain Enlightenment of the “Core Principles of Zen Sect” and 15 people attain the “Secret of Zen Sect.”
• This person is conferred the title Zen Sect Master, abbreviated to Zen Master, if a monastic; if a layperson, they are conferred the title Lay Zen Sect Master, abbreviated to Lay Zen Master.

Type 2:

A person who has only attained Enlightenment of the “Core Principles of Zen Sect,” but possesses a very high resolve to ensure the Zen Sect Dharma endures forever.

• This person is also conferred the title Zen Sect Master or Lay Zen Sect Master.

Type 3:

A special case: A person who has already understood the Zen Sect Dharma but does not yet hold a certificate or diploma, yet has high enthusiasm and is willing to sacrifice their life for the Zen Sect Dharma.

• This person is also conferred the title Zen Sect Master or Lay Zen Sect Master, without needing to pass any sequential grades or conditions.

The three types of people mentioned above, who wish to build a Zen Sect Pagoda to propagate the Tathagata’s Pure Zen Dharma, must also possess three additional qualities: Heart – Wealth – Power.

• Heart: Must have a pure heart, not pursuing Fame, Profit, or Status.
• Wealth: Must possess more wealth than others to serve the Zen Sect Dharma. This is because the Zen Sect Dharma is unattached to matter or money.
• Power: Must have abundant energy/strength to serve the Zen Sect Dharma, no matter where they are.

GUIDELINES FOR ZEN SECT PRACTITIONERS AND TEACHERS

A person who practices the Zen Sect Dharma does not interfere with other Dharma doors, such as:

• Those practicing to go to the Heavens.
• Those practicing to become fairy.
• Those practicing to become Saints.
• Those practicing to become Deities.
• Those practicing to become wealthy people.
• Those practicing to become the child of someone.
• Those practicing to become a servant to someone.
• …

A person who follows the Zen Sect Dharma door is solely dedicated to helping the following two types of people:

1. Those who desire Enlightenment: Wholeheartedly help them so they know:

• What the Buddha Nature is.
• What the Human Nature is like.
• What the Law of this World is like.
• How to practice for Liberation.
• How to practice for Reincarnation.

Those who desire Liberation: Clearly teach them two parts:

• How to create transcendental merit.
• Clearly teach them the formula for Liberation.

A person who builds a Zen Sect Pagoda and teaches the Pure Zen Dharma must understand six guidelines:

1. Do not teach the five Dharma doors that the Tathagata taught for attainment within the physical world.
2. Do not bring superstition into the Zen Sect Pagoda.
3. Do not gather large crowds to teach and boast of fame.
4. Use the fundamental words taught by the Tathagata in the Mystery Record to answer people’s questions.
5. Do not organize any offerings or rituals within the Zen Sect Pagoda.
6. The Main Hall and the Patriarch Hall of the Zen Sect Pagoda must always be clean and have incense and lamps—that is enough.

The above conditions must be strictly followed by a person conferred the title of Zen Sect Master or Lay Zen Sect Master.

If these conditions are not strictly followed, the certificate or diploma of Zen Sect Master or Lay Zen Sect Master must not be displayed for others to see.

Anyone who violates these rules will endure a very long “Flower Retribution” (turned into plants to pay off karmic debt.)!

A person who is not a Zen Sect Master or Lay Zen Sect Master, but falsely claims the title for the sake of fame and profit—with the aim of luring the foolish to prostrate and offer money—will receive a retribution 100 times greater than an ordinary deceiver.

ZEN SECT AFTER OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The above sections are for those practicing the Zen Sect Dharma discreetly.

When the Mystery Record is officially announced, the following must be observed sequentially:

1. Material Basis: There must be a true Zen Sect Pagoda as described in the Lotus Sutra.
2. Tenet: The practice of the Zen Sect Dharma taught by the Tathagata is to not see oneself as having attained or realized anything within the world of cause, effect, and Yin-Yang physics.

• Why? Because all attainments or realizations in the world of cause, effect, and Yin-Yang physics are phenomena created by the power of a Deity. The Tathagata taught this so you all would know.

3. Purpose: The primary goal of practicing the Zen Sect Dharma is to attain Enlightenment and Liberation, in order to return to each person’s true homeland.

ORGANIZATION

A Zen Sect Pagoda must be organized as follows:

• One Head of the Administrative Board to oversee general operations.
• Four Deputy Heads:
• One Standing Deputy Head, responsible for replacing the Head, communication, and coordinating all work related to the Pagoda.
• One Deputy Head managing the Pagoda’s assets.
• One Deputy Head responsible for answering questions about Zen Sect Dharma.
• One Deputy Head responsible for issuing all types of certificates and conferring the titles of Zen Sect Master or Lay Zen Sect Master.
• One Commissioner of Ceremony and Guest Reception.
• One Commissioner of Financial Management.
• Two or three Commissioners of Financial Inspection.
• A large number of Members to assist the aforementioned Boards.

The above titles can be slightly modified but must remain within this framework.

CONDITIONS FOR THOSE WISHING TO RECEIVE THE CERTIFICATE OF ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE “CORE PRINCIPLES OF ZEN SECT”

The person must meet the following conditions:

1. Understand that the Zen Sect Dharma is a method of practice that does not require intentional Effort (diligent effort, diligent labor).
2. Not crave fame, profit, or status.

If requested, the person shall be issued the Certificate of Enlightenment of the “Core Principles of Zen Sect” according to the form below:

The Certificate of Enlightenment of the “Core Principles of Zen Sect” as redesigned by Tân Diệu Zen Sect Pagoda is exactly the same as the original transmitted by the Tathagata along the Zen Sect lineage to be issued to those who attain Enlightenment of the “Core Principles of Zen Sect.”

CONDITIONS FOR THOSE WISHING TO RECEIVE THE DIPLOMA FOR ATTAINING THE “SECRET OF ZEN SECT”

The person must meet the following conditions:

1. Must be able to explain all the words taught by the Tathagata, whether they are implied or not implied.
2. Must realize the Pure Buddha Nature of their true self.
3. Must compose a verse of at least 12 lines that expresses the profound wonder of the Zen Sect Dharma.
4. Must explain the reason for their attainment/receipt (of the Secret).

The Diploma for Attaining the “Secret of Zen Sect” as redesigned by Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda is exactly the same as the original transmitted by the Tathagata along the Zen Sect lineage to be issued to those who attain the “Secret of Zen Sect.”

CONDITIONS FOR THOSE WISHING TO BE CONFERRED THE TITLE OF “ZEN SECT MASTER” OR “LAY ZEN SECT MASTER”

The person must meet the following conditions:

1. Must have been issued the “Core Principles of Zen Sect” Certificate.
2. Must have been transmitted the “Secret of Zen Sect”.
3. Must have helped over 30 people attain Enlightenment of the “Core Principles of Zen Sect.”
4. Must have helped 15 people attain the “Secret of Zen Sect,” and must be genuinely fervently committed to the Zen Sect Dharma.

Two Special Circumstances:

Special Circumstance 1:

Any person who has only been issued the “Core Principles of Zen Sect” Certificate but is deeply committed to the Zen Sect Dharma may be exceptionally conferred the title of “Zen Sect Master” or “Lay Zen Sect Master.”

Special Circumstance 2:

Any person who, immediately upon reading the Zen Sect texts, realizes the Pure Buddha Nature of their true self and possesses a very high level of fervent commitment may also be conferred the title of “Zen Sect Master” or “Lay Zen Sect Master.”

Why are these exceptions made?

Because the Tathagata has clearly foreseen these two circumstances. These two types of people are those with the highest commitment and are willing to sacrifice themselves for the Zen Sect Dharma, so the Tathagata established these exceptions. Only people with such high fervor can ensure the long-lasting transmission of the Zen Sect Dharma.

The Diploma for Conferring the Title of “Lay Zen Sect Master” as redesigned by Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda is exactly the same as the original transmitted by the Tathagata along the Zen Sect lineage to be issued to those who are conferred the title of “Zen Sect Master” or “Lay Zen Sect Master.”

ATTIRE OF THE LAY ZEN SECT MASTER

ATTIRE OF THE BUDDHIST OF SECRET ZEN

ATTIRE OF THE BUDDHIST OF ESSENTIAL ZEN

CHAPTER XI

THE BUDDHA TEACHES THE MYSTERY RECORD

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Ananda and disciples:

The Tathagata will hand over this Mystery Record to Mahakasyapa to be transmitted through the Pure Zen lineage.”

“Why is this so?”

“So that at the End of the Highest Dharma, when the ‘Dragon Girl’ attains Buddhahood—that is, when the ‘Dragon Girl’ receives this Mystery Record and clearly understands everything the Tathagata has taught within it. After that, she will transmit it to her disciples to be officially announced throughout the Five Continents.”

“Why must we wait until that time?”

“Because by that era, humankind will have achieved a high level of civilization and science. They will then know that all strange phenomena are caused by the transformation of matter, and are not created by Deities, Sages, Demons, or Ghosts.”

“Because they know this clearly, they will then accept the Zen Sect Dharma as the ultimate truth on this Earth.”

“For this reason, this Mystery Record will be suitable for the people living from the End of the Highest Dharma onward.”

Sakyamuni

Kapilavastu Country, Year 245

CHAPTER XII

QUESTIONS

THE FIRST QUERY

Venerable Mahakasyapa came forward to the Buddha, bared his right shoulder, knelt, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: We have grasped everything that the World-Honored One has taught us. However, there is one part that we do not yet understand. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

“How should we go about building a monastery? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“There are two types of monastery construction:

1. Monastics building a monastery to practice the five Dharma doors of physical attainment: These include:

• Hinayana
• Madhyamayana (the philosophy of Buddha Shakyamuni)
• Mahayana
• Buddha Recitation
• Mantra Recitation

Once the monastery is built, an Administrative Board must be established to manage and oversee six roles and duties:

• The Bhikkhu Abbot
• The Bhikkhu Head of the Board
• Three Deputy Heads:
• Standing Deputy Head
• Deputy Head of Ceremony
• Deputy Head for explaining their monastery’s specific Dharma

2. Laypeople establishing a monastery to practice Pure Zen. Monastics cannot lead this construction. This is because this world is a world of cause and effect, dragged by the attractive force of Yin-Yang electromagnetism. Therefore, a person who has already donned monastic robes certainly cannot withstand the destructive force of the Pure Zen Dharma. It must be a layperson.

However, this layperson must meet the following conditions before they can build it:

1. They must possess the Mystery Record taught by the Tathagata.
2. They must possess abundant Heart – Wealth – Power:

• Heart: Must be pure, and must have been conferred the title of Lay Zen Sect Master.
• Wealth: Must be capable of building the Zen Sect Pagoda without accepting money from people who do not know the Zen Sect Dharma.
• Power: Must possess the physical strength to manage the responsibility for over 20 years.

Once the monastery is built, three parts must be announced: TENET – PRINCIPLES – REGULATIONS

I. TENET – 4 Parts

1. Practice only the Pure Zen Dharma, and no other Dharmas.
2. Do not bring superstition into the pagoda.
3. Do not plead, petition, or prostrate to anyone.
4. STRENGTHEN YOUR RESOLVE: Only the Pure Zen Dharma can help humans attain liberation.

II. PRINCIPLES – 7 Parts

1. Explain to people what the word Enlightenment means.
2. Point out the formula for Liberation.
3. Clearly explain that a Superstitious Person suffers 4 types of loss:

• One: Loss of their true value as a human being.
• Two: Loss of clarity and wisdom in their mind.
• Three: Loss of happiness in their family.
• Four: Any nation with many superstitious people loses its strength and prosperity.

1. Clearly explain the Zen Sect Dharma taught by the Tathagata to those who come to the pagoda seeking understanding.
2. Wholeheartedly help those who come to the pagoda seeking understanding with a pure heart, not for fame, profit, or anything else.
3. Clearly explain the Tathagata’s teaching: Within the Three Realms, everyone must live according to the law of cause-and-effect reincarnation; therefore, everyone is the same, no one can bestow blessings upon another, and thus one should not ask for help or prostrate to anyone.
4. Clearly explain the Tathagata’s teachings (in general).

III. REGULATIONS – 9 Rules

1. Everyone is equal.
2. No discrimination between friends and strangers.
3. No forming factions.
4. No slandering others.
5. No fabricating stories to sue or accuse others.
6. Everyone attends to their own duties and does not interfere with the work of others.
7. Anyone who violates the rules for the first time will be criticized.
8. The second time, they will be criticized and warned.
9. The third time, they will be asked to leave the pagoda.

The conditions above are the “Law” applied to all practitioners in the Zen Sect Pagoda. No one is exempt, including the Abbot or the Head of the Board.

Mahakasyapa listened to the Buddha’s clear teaching, rejoiced greatly, prostrated himself before the Buddha, and withdrew.

THE SECOND QUERY

Venerable Katyayana came forward to the Buddha, knelt, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: We have grasped everything that the World-Honored One has taught us. However, there is one part that we do not yet understand. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us:”

“The practitioners of the Ascetic Path aim to use diligent effort to force the physical mind to be pure. Therefore, when the mind achieves this purity, what is it called? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“A person who practices the Ascetic Path is called a practitioner of severe asceticism. The goal of their practice is to force the physical body and mind to be pure. When purity is attained through this diligent effort, that purity—which is attained by effort—is called Stillness. It is also called Silence or Solitude.

“The person who uses diligent effort to force their body and mind to be still and resides within that state is said to be abiding in the ‘Nirvana of Stillness’. The duration of this abiding depends on their diligent effort in forcing their physical body and mind. If they apply effort for one hour, the Nirvana lasts for one hour; if they apply effort for one day, the Nirvana lasts for one day, or even longer.

“During the time they abide in this Stillness Nirvana, the cycle of reincarnation on Earth cannot pull them in. When their diligent effort ends, they return to normal and once again submit to the law of reincarnation on this Earth.

“A person who uses diligent effort to force their body and mind into purity is called an Arhat, which means a person living in Solitude. While alive, if they live near people, they do not contact anyone. They usually build a grass hut separately or go into a secluded cave to live alone.”

Venerable Katyayana rejoiced, prostrated himself before the Buddha, and withdrew.

THE THIRD QUERY

Venerable Purna Maitrayaniputra stood up from his seat, came before the Tathagata, knelt, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Tathagata:

“Respected World-Honored One: I have the following question, and I respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

“How does one practice to become a Bodhisattva? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Purna:

A person who wishes to become a Bodhisattva must practice as follows:

• Cultivate the Hearing Nature to be completely unimpeded, which is called ‘Hearing Root Perfect Penetration’.
• Cultivate the Seeing Nature to see far, which is called ‘Seeing Root Perfect Penetration’.

“When successful in cultivating these two roots, the practitioner naturally attains psychic powers. A person who achieves these two parts must make a vow: ‘I will seek voices throughout this Saha World to rescue anyone suffering injustice who calls upon me.’“

Purna then addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: Previously, I heard the World-Honored One recite a verse about Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to repeat it for us to hear—first, so we may know, and second, so that brother Ananda may record it for transmission to future generations. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to consent to my plea.”

The Buddha immediately looked toward Ananda and said:

“My dear Ananda, listen clearly and record it fully for transmission in the Mystery Record.”

The Buddha recited:

She is Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva so grand,

Cultivating the Hearing Root profound and high in this land.

Seeking voices to rescue the suffering in all regions wide,

Humankind calls Her Zen Avalokitesvara, where truth does abide.

She is Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva true,

Seeking voices to save the people who pray to Her anew.

Whoever has disaster, hearing Her call,

Instantly She appears to help those who fall.

She manifests throughout the Five Continents to see,

Helping those who Vow and Plead when suffering calamity.

She manifests across the world of dust and pain,

To help humankind overcome disaster’s rain.

The Bodhisattva manifests in the Mortal Sphere (Saha world),

Saving suffering and disaster for those who Plead and Ask’s span.

The Bodhisattva is greatly efficacious and divine,

Manifesting everywhere to look upon the World’s design.

Looking to see who is suffering woe,

And suffers injustice, to solve their dilemma and let them go.

The Bodhisattva is beautiful, joyous, and bright,

Manifesting everywhere to help people find peace and light.

The Mortal World suffers due to the Self’s curse,

Giving rise to jealousy and harming the righteous, making things worse.

The Bodhisattva’s small vow is one of great love,

Helping the gentle-hearted enter the path of serenity above.

The Bodhisattva needs no rest or repose’s plea,

But helps the world diminish suffering and injustice’s decree.

The Bodhisattva manifests in the Mortal Sphere,

Helping the virtuous to be safe in many ways clear.

Humankind should respectfully invite Her to abide,

At home in their dwelling, where She will reside.

When the Bodhisattva resides in this place’s heart,

She teaches people to practice the Hearing Root, passing on this art.

Whoever has great fortunate affinity’s gain,

Invites Her to reside, letting peace in their house remain.

The Bodhisattva spreads the words of Sakyamuni’s sound,

Which is the Zen of “One Word”, rebirth is unbound.

The Bodhisattva also teaches the word “Stop’s” embrace,

Stopping everything, and reincarnation leaves the space.

The Bodhisattva prevents disaster and harm’s dread,

Helping the pure person enter Nirvana instead.

The Bodhisattva also clearly teaches the truth’s key,

Recitation but “no-recitation” is the beginning, you see.

The Bodhisattva’s vow is truly this way:

To save people from suffering, escaping the rebirth fray.

The Bodhisattva’s vow is only this, and no more,

Not teaching superstition, not asking Her to be miraculous before.

Humankind should See and Know and remain silent and still,

Recognizing their Buddha Nature is done, achieving the will.

Venerable Purna Maitrayaniputra, having heard the Buddha recite the verse on Avalokitesvara’s vow, asked the Buddha two more questions:

“Respected World-Honored One: We respectfully request the World-Honored One to allow us to ask two more questions:

1. How does Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva return to the Buddha Realm?
2. A person who practices the Stillness Meditation becomes an Arhat. How must this person practice if they wish to enter the Buddha Realm? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“Regarding Question 1: My dear Purna, a Bodhisattva previously only achieved two roots—the Seeing Root and the Hearing Root Perfect Penetration—and naturally gained psychic powers to seek out and rescue those suffering injustice.”

“If a Bodhisattva wishes to enter the Buddha Realm, they must cultivate all ten stages of Enlightenment. After that, they must check if their ten parts of Enlightenment have reached 100%. If they are fully achieved, the Bodhisattva is called ‘Equal Enlightenment’, which is entering the High Enlightenment rank. Finally, the Bodhisattva must also realize ‘Miraculous Enlightenment’. If they achieve all 12 parts mentioned above, this Bodhisattva can return to the Buddha Realm very easily.”

Purna interrupted the Buddha’s answer and asked for clarification:

“Respected World-Honored One: I understand Equal Enlightenment. But what is Wonderful Enlightenment? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“The term Wonderful Enlightenment is ‘Wonderful Knowing’. Knowing what is wonderful? It is knowing how to create transcendental merit (merit for liberation). It is thanks to transcendental merit that the Bodhisattva can return to the Buddha Realm.”

“The function of transcendental merit is as follows:

1. Emit light, breaking through the ‘Yang Tidal Ocean Gate’ barrier so the Bodhisattva’s Buddha Nature can pass through.
2. When the transcendental merit enter the Buddha Realm, they are illuminated by the Light of Natural Luminous Electromagnetism in the Buddha Realm. This mass of transcendental merit becomes the Pure Dharma Body House.
3. From the Pure Dharma Body House, a Golden Body Buddha is shaped.

“Thanks to these three factors, the Buddha Nature hides within the Golden Body Buddha, and a Buddha is born.”

“Regarding Question 2: As for an Arhat wishing to enter the Buddha Realm, this person must abandon the diligent effort of practicing to live in Stillness and return to practicing the Tathagata’s Pure Zen Dharma. Only by knowing how to create transcendental merit can the Arhat return to the Buddha Realm. There is no other path.”

Venerable Purna Maitrayaniputra, having received answers to all his questions from the Buddha, rejoiced greatly, prostrated himself, and withdrew.

THE FOURTH QUERY

Venerable Ananda came before the Buddha again, knelt, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: I respectfully request to ask one more question regarding the pagoda and the church. Therefore, we respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us clearly?”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Ananda, the Tathagata analyzes the pagoda and the church/temple as follows:

Pagoda:

It has a broad, all-encompassing meaning, for worshipping the one who teaches humankind Enlightenment and Liberation, outside the gravitational pull of Yin-Yang physical cause-and-effect reincarnation on this Earth.

Church/Temple:

A small, narrow place, only for:

• Worshipping the religious Founder whose teachings are still within the pull of Yin-Yang physics.
• Worshipping only ancestors, grandparents, parents, or relatives.

Venerable Ananda continued to ask:

“Respectfully, throughout 49 years, the World-Honored One has taught us six Dharma doors for practice. When we establish a pagoda, how should we write the signboard? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us?”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Ananda, the Tathagata teaches that in this world there are six Dharma doors for practice. Five Dharma doors use the physically composed body and mind, applying diligent effort to practice, and achieve attainment within physics. You must write the signboard as follows:

• If practicing the Dharma door of Contemplation, Imagination, and Wishing, the signboard should read:
• Pagoda (Name)
• Practice the Hinayana/Original Dharma door
• Address of the Pagoda
• If practicing the Dharma door of Buddha Recitation, the signboard should read:
• Pagoda (Name)
• Practice the Pure Land Sect Dharma door
• Address of the Pagoda
• If practicing the Dharma door of Mantra Recitation, the signboard should read:
• Pagoda (Name)
• Practice the Esoteric Mantra Sect Dharma door
• Address of the Pagoda
• If practicing the Dharma door of the Tathagata’s Pure Zen, which later generations call the Zen Sect, the signboard should read:
• Zen Sect Pagoda (Name)
• Practice the Zen Sect Dharma door
• Address of the Pagoda

Any pagoda built without clearly listing the signboard does not follow the Tathagata’s teaching correctly.

The Tathagata also instructs you about the places for cultivation and practice as follows:

• Meditation Institute: A place for conce ntrating and using diligent effort to practice and attain achievement within physics; this is called having realization and attainment, and still being subject to reincarnation within the Three Realms.
• Monastery/Convent: A place for gathering to pray for blessings and fortune.

The Tathagata cautions you:

The Zen Sect Dharma door must not be brought into a Meditation Institute or a Monastery/Convent. If you bring it into these two places, you are opening the path of Flower Retribution (turned into plants to pay off karmic debt.) for yourselves to enter and become a plant.

While I am at it, the Tathagata also instructs on places of worship on Earth:

• Temple: Worshiping national heroes and individuals who have rendered great service to the nation.
• Village Temple (Communal House): Worshiping the Guardian Spirit of the Village (i.e., the Sacred Spirit of the Mountains and Rivers) and individuals who have rendered great service to the nation or local area.
• Shrine (Small Temple): Worshiping people or animals that the populace believes have helped them.
• Mausoleum: Worshiping respected Kings and individuals who have rendered great service to the nation.

Additionally, there are two places of worship that are truly magnificent and solemn, called “Holy See”, which worship the Saints that humankind deems sacred, such as:

• Holy See 1: Worshiping the founder of a religion. Those who follow and die will enjoy one of two outcomes:
• Followers who are great leaders will be “Canonized as Saints” upon death.
• Followers who are minor leaders or regular adherents will ascend to “Heaven” to live upon death.
• Holy See 2: Worshiping the Jade Emperor, the one who governs this Heavenly Realm. Those who follow this religion will be reborn into 9 different heavenly levels upon death.
• The Holy See is a colossal and magnificent building, the residence and workplace of the highest religious leaders, who are responsible for their religion worldwide, wherever their religion exists, much like a national governing body.

The Buddha taught further:

A person who practices the Tathagata’s Dharma, if they wish to build a pagoda to teach Enlightenment and Liberation to others, must at least be conferred the title of “Lay Zen Sect Master” to hope to help others. If they are not a Lay Zen Sect Master, that person will certainly build the pagoda to bring in superstition.

Venerable Ananda, having received answers to all his questions from the Tathagata, rejoiced greatly and offered thanks.

THE FIFTH QUERY

The Bhikkhu Phất Trần Thi rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: We understand everything the World-Honored One has taught. However, all beings—humans, inhabitants of the Heavens, and other realms—have a lifespan. Does this Earth also have a lifespan? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Bhikkhu Phất Trần Thi, within the world and within the Three Realms, every species has a lifespan:

• The average human lifespan is 100 years.
• The maximum lifespan of beings in the Desire Realm Heavens is 1,000 years.
• The maximum lifespan of beings in the Form Realm Heavens and the Pure Land is 10,000 years.
• The maximum lifespan of beings in the Formless Realm Heavens is 100,000 years.
• As for the Earth, its lifespan is 10 billion years, but every 10,000 years, it suffers a ‘severe illness’.”

The Bhikkhu Phất Trần Thi asked in astonishment:

“Respected World-Honored One: It is natural for humans and all plants and animals to become ill, but why would the Earth, which does nothing, also fall ill? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Bhikkhu Phất Trần Thi, humans and all plants and animals get sick due to flies, mosquitoes, insects, and bacteria.

“But the Earth falls ill due to things that humans do, such as:

• Destroying trees and burning forests.
• As humans advance in civilization, they extract oil from the Earth’s core to support their needs.

“Do you know? The oil in the Earth’s core is like the blood in a human body. If someone among you had a little blood drawn out every day by others, what would happen to your body when it no longer had enough blood to sustain itself?”

All the people present replied:

“Respected World-Honored One: That person’s body will become sick.”

The Buddha taught:

“Exactly! The Earth will fall ill once every 10,000 years. I tell you clearly:

Every 10,000 years, humans wage war and destroy life on Earth once. Humankind, animals, and plants will be almost completely wiped out. When humankind, animals, and plants gradually recover, then a Buddha will appear to teach about cause-and-effect reincarnation on this Earth. From that moment, 3,000 years later, life on Earth will be destroyed again. This cycle repeats continuously.”

The Bhikkhu Phất Trần Thi then asked:

“Respected World-Honored One: Why doesn’t a Buddha teach people this principle so they may live in harmony? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Phất Trần Thi, I tell you clearly, there are five types of beings coexisting on Earth:

• Humans are the main source that leads to reincarnation within the Three Realms.

“Why is that? Because the human nature has Imagination (Perception) as its strongest element. This very Imagination imagines as follows:

• It created the Cosmic Universe.
• It created humankind and all things.

“Think about it: Humankind is as small as a grain of dust compared to the Cosmic Universe, yet they make such claims.

“Do you know why human nature speaks this way? Because humans possess the Four Great Elements body. This body survives thanks to matter. Everyone has Greed. Due to this greed, they want to gather all the matter on Earth exclusively for themselves.

“Think about it: How much does each person need every day? They want everything to belong to them, which leads to struggle, and then slaughter and mutual destruction.”

The Bhikkhu Phất Trần Thi asked again:

“Why doesn’t the World-Honored One teach humankind about this matter?”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Bhikkhu Phất Trần Thi:

Does humankind listen to the Tathagata’s teaching? I will give you a small example:

The Tathagata established the Dharma with two main purposes:

1. To teach Enlightenment, which means helping humankind understand the cycle of life and the law of reincarnation on this Earth. But who is willing to listen? Instead, they blindly prostrate to this Master and plead with that Deity to help them understand.

They refuse to seek out the Tathagata’s teachings, instead using the Human Nature to imagine this and fabricate that.

2. The Tathagata teaches Liberation with a clear formula. They refuse to learn the formula, instead seeking out people who do not speak the truth.

“Humans living on Earth refuse to seek out these two truly important things.

“When the Tathagata taught this formula, almost all of them abandoned me. And those who remained to listen said the Tathagata was possessed by a demon!“

Upon hearing the Buddha speak this, the Bhikkhu Phất Trần Thi burst into tears and addressed the Buddha:

“We are the sinners! We refuse to listen to the teachings of an Omniscient One and instead listen to those who know nothing.”

The Bhikkhu Phất Trần Thi continued:

“Through the World-Honored One’s teaching, we now understand that the attractive force of Yin-Yang physics on Earth is too strong, so neither the cunning nor the foolish can escape its pull.”

“I recall that one month ago, even a King listened to the deceiving words of a lazy teacher. I don’t know what that lazy teacher said, but the King spent a vast amount of gold to build him a magnificent place of worship. I think to myself: If a King can be deceived, how can ordinary people escape it?”

Having spoken, he prostrated himself before the Buddha and withdrew.

THE SIXTH QUERY

The Bhikkhu A Lac De rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: My brothers and I understand what the World-Honored One has taught, but I still have one question. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us:

What are The 37 Contemplation Methods to Support Entering the Path, and what do they mean? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Bhikkhu A Lac De, the following are the 37 Contemplation Methods to Support Entering the Path, which means they help the practitioner know the beginning of the path leading back to the Buddha realm.”

I. Contemplation to Eradicate the 16 elements of Human Nature

1. Contemplation to Eradicate Feeling (Receiving): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy the act of Receiving. They do not allow it to receive anything, whether right or wrong, so that their Human Nature becomes empty. Because of this, the shell of their Human Nature becomes pure, which is called ‘Concentration’ (meditative state).
2. Contemplation to Eradicate Imagination (Perception): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy Imagination. They do not allow it to imagine anything, whether true or false, so the practitioner achieves ‘Concentration’.
3. Contemplation to Eradicate Volition (Mental Formations): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their Volitional Action. They do not allow it to act upon anything, whether right or wrong, so the practitioner achieves ‘Concentration’.
4. Contemplation to Eradicate Consciousness (Vijnana): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their Consciousness. They do not allow it to know irrelevant things, so the practitioner achieves ‘Concentration’.
5. Contemplation to Eradicate Wealth: The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their craving for Wealth. They do not allow themselves to crave wealth, so the practitioner achieves ‘Concentration’.
6. Contemplation to Eradicate Form (Beauty): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their craving for the Beauty of Form (of people and matter), so the practitioner achieves ‘Concentration’.
7. Contemplation to Eradicate Fame: The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their craving for Fame, whether small or large, not allowing it to attach, so the practitioner achieves ‘Concentration’.
8. Contemplation to Eradicate Food (Eating): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their craving for delicious Food. They eat whatever is available without demand, so the practitioner achieves ‘Concentration’.
9. Contemplation to Eradicate Sleep (Slumber): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their craving for Luxury/High Status in sleeping places; having a place to sleep is enough, so they achieve ‘Concentration’.
10. Contemplation to Eradicate Greed: The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their Greed. They do not allow themselves to covet unrighteous things, so they achieve ‘Concentration’.
11. Contemplation to Eradicate Anger (Hatred): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their Anger. They do not allow their nature to become angry under any circumstance, so their nature achieves ‘Concentration’.
12. Contemplation to Eradicate Delusion (Ignorance): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their Delusion. They do not allow themselves to be infatuated with anything, so they achieve ‘Concentration’.
13. Contemplation to Eradicate Arrogance (Pride): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy their Arrogance. They do not allow their Egotism to manifest, so they achieve ‘Concentration’.
14. Contemplation to Eradicate Doubt: The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy Doubt towards others, so they achieve ‘Concentration’.
15. Contemplation to Eradicate Evil: The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy the Evil mind, so they achieve ‘Concentration’.
16. Contemplation to Eradicate Views (View-attachment): The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy Stubborn Views, so they achieve ‘Concentration’.

“The practitioner uses diligent effort in Contemplation to destroy the 16 aforementioned aspects of Human Nature so that they achieve ‘Concentration’. It is thanks to this Concentration that they can discern the beginning of the path leading back to the Buddha realm.”

“To destroy the 16 things mentioned above, the Tathagata teaches a simplified method of Contemplation as follows, which requires no strenuous diligent practice. You only need to ‘not allow delusion/false thoughts to arise’ and you are already in Concentration. This is briefly called ‘Concentration of Ultimate Extinction’ (Concentration of Cessation).”

II. The Remaining 21 Contemplations

“To fulfill the complete 37 Contemplation Methods to Support Entering the Path—meaning assistance in seeing the beginning of the path leading back to the Buddha Realm—the Tathagata teaches 21 more methods of Contemplation as follows:

1. Contemplation of Hearing Root Perfect Penetration: The constantly Hearing Nature continues to hear—this is correct. By cultivating this, when perfected, the Hearing Nature achieves Perfect Penetration.
2. Contemplation of Seeing Root Perfect Penetration: The constantly Seeing Nature continues to see—this is correct. By cultivating this, when perfected, the Seeing Nature achieves Perfect Penetration.
3. Contemplation of Knowing Nature Perfect Penetration: The constantly Knowing Nature is naturally knowing; do not add any further knowing. By cultivating this, when perfected, the Knowing Nature achieves Perfect Penetration.
4. Contemplation of Impermanence: Impermanence is birth and death on this Earth. Knowing this is knowing Impermanence.
5. Contemplation of Non-Self: On this Earth, there is nothing that is a true Self. Knowing this allows one to discard their attachment to Self-View.
6. Contemplation of Impurity: The human body is impure. Knowing this prevents clinging to the Self.
7. Contemplation of One expanding into the Immeasurable: There is a very strong Imagination in human nature. Where does this power come from? It is assisted by the divine power of a Deity who resides on this Earth. Why does the Deity assist human Imagination? To make humans follow the Deity’s bidding to do the following:

A person claims to have psychic powers to lure many people to offer money and food. The person takes the money, while the Deity eats the food first, and the person eats second. Therefore, the successful Contemplation of One expanding into the Immeasurable has this origin.

8. Contemplation of Loving-Kindness and Compassion: When a practitioner uses effort to extend loving-kindness and compassion, the success has the following origin:

1. When the Contemplation to extend loving-kindness arises, countless Deities stand nearby. When the person contemplates, a Deity immediately directs the Yin Electromagnetic Light into the person’s body. The Yin Electromagnetism is cool and cold, making the person feel cool, leading them to believe it is a miraculous result of extending loving-kindness.

Why does the Deity help with this part? Also because of food.

9. Contemplation of Joy: The person who uses diligent effort in Contemplation of Joy hears boundless joy arising in their heart. This is also due to the Deity’s assistance, so that people will make offerings for the Deity to consume.
10. Contemplation of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness: Contemplating the Four Foundations of Mindfulness is to know that one’s body is formed by the conditions of the Four Great Elements. Knowing this allows one to find the path to escape.
11. Contemplation of light of enlightenment kills intelligence (Vipassana): This is the Contemplation of a fool! Why does the Tathagata say this? Because this person uses the Light of Natural Luminous Electromagnetism to kill the knowing function (consciousness) in their Human Nature. This person is extremely foolish to do such a thing.

Humans live in the world of cause-and-effect reincarnation and must use the knowing function of a human. This person attempts to use the Buddha Nature to kill the Human Nature. How can this person not be foolish?

Therefore, the Tathagata teaches:

Any human who fears cause-and-effect reincarnation should seek the formula for escape. While you are in this world, using one thing to kill another is a waste of effort. The Tathagata teaches:

Only give up the world’s endless strife,

When the world is “Let Go”, Nirvana will arise in life.

12. Contemplation of light of enlightenment kills Yin: This is the second fool. Listen to this verse and you will know:

Electromagnetic Light shines in the world of our day,

Losing the Yin Force, the world sinks to sorrow’s fray.

Gazing upon the world of sorrow and despair,

Dragging beings into birth-and-death, reincarnation everywhere.

The world struggles endlessly, that is the plight,

Killing each other until death, and even death brings no quiet night.

Rebirth involves endless killing and pain,

Losing all life, yet peace they cannot gain.

Human Nature is like a spider’s web so fine,

Tangled up, not knowing the way to unwind.

I am Sakyamuni Buddha, who gives you the key,

Teaching humankind to escape from rivalry.

Rivalry leads to birth and death and rebirth’s hold,

But they do not seek understanding, birth and death for ages untold.

13. Contemplation of the Four Supreme Wonders (Four Noble Truths): Since one bears the Four Great Elements body, one suffers everywhere one lives. Therefore, the Tathagata teaches 4 fundamentals:

• The human body suffers everywhere it lives, called the supreme suffering (the Truth of Suffering).
• To escape the “Ocean of Suffering”, a person must cultivate to escape Suffering. Practice asceticismcan never escape Suffering. This is called The Supreme Accumulation (the Truth of Accumulation).
• When cultivation is successful, Suffering ceases. This is called The Supreme Cessation (The Truth of Cessation).
• When one receives the Pure Zen Dharma door and understands the formula for Liberation, this is called The Supreme Path (the Truth of the Path).

1. Contemplation of the Six Wonderful Breaths: These are 6 ways of using the breath to cure illnesses very effectively, called the Six Wonders. The use of breath is as follows:

• Inhale deeply, filling the two lungs, feeling the pores open up.
• Exhale, flattening the two lungs, feeling the air exit the pores.
• This method is mainly used by those practicing Qigong and Yoga; stretching the joints is only a supplementary part.

The Tathagata sits in meditation every day using this method, thus:

• I get few diseases.
• I eat one meal per day.

Because it is so wonderful, the Tathagata calls it the “Six Wonderful Methods of Breathing”:

• One: Counting the breath, called ‘Counting’. When proficient, move to:
• Two: Following the breath, called ‘Following’. When proficient, move to:
• Three: Stopping the breath, called ‘Stopping’. When proficient, move to:
• Four: Observing the breath, called ‘Observing’. When proficient, move to:
• Five: Returning the breath to normal, called ‘Returning’. These five breathing methods keep the body healthy to practice liberation.
• Six: There are two clear paths at this sixth stage. You must listen very clearly to these 12 lines of verse:

Here is the fork in the road, one must choose the way,

One follows the Six Realms, one returns to the Unborn day.

Practicing Zen must be clearly understood, without attachment’s snare,

No clinging, no entanglement, from rebirth’s cycle of despair.

Contemplation and Imagination Meditation, you should cease to embrace,

Living with the Buddha Nature, why worry about reincarnation’s chase?

Pure Zen must understand the path to follow’s lead,

Entering the Buddha Realm ends the cycle of turning seed.

Pure Zen only requires the word “Stop” mighty will,

If one can “Stop” all, reincarnation leaves and stands still.

I am Prince Siddhartha, the one who is true,

Teaching humankind to overcome the Tidal Gate Ocean anew.

1. Contemplation of The Eight Direct Paths (the Eight-fold Path): Contemplating the Eight-fold Path is to know the 8 main ways that lead to the destination. The Eight-fold Path is the Dharma door that guides humans to cultivate one of the 8 paths. The easiest path for a person to enter the Buddha Realm is usually the ‘Eye Root’ path.

Please note regarding the Eight-fold Path Dharma door: This Dharma door only guides the practitioner to reach the beginning of the Liberation path. To achieve Liberation, one must cultivate the ‘Wonderful Enlightenment’ part as well, to overcome the the Yang ocean tidal gate and enter the Buddha Realm.

2. Contemplation of Brightness (insight): Using diligent effort to Contemplate the Six Roots to become bright. A person who practices this Dharma door will have a very clear and agile physical, conditional mind, and they will be quick in doing anything. The Contemplation of Brightness is very suitable for those with large businesses or holding high positions.
3. Contemplation of the Six Roots: Using diligent effort to Contemplate the Six Roots, not letting the Six Roots cling to the Six Dusts. A person who successfully practices this Dharma door will have known the first door to the Buddha Realm.
4. Contemplation of Cause and Effect: Practitioners of the Contemplation of Cause and Effect, when successful, know their cause and effect from many lives. Due to this, no matter what circumstance comes their way, they neither resent nor rejoice—they are simply normal. The Tathagata taught this Contemplation in the Surangama Sutra: “The normal mind is the Path.”
5. Contemplation of Knowing Delusion: When using diligent effort in Contemplation of knowing delusion without following it, this practitioner does not follow their own deluded thoughts. According to the Eight-fold Path, this person achieves the “First Stage Bodhisattva” level.

If this person wishes to return to the Buddha Realm, they must not follow any of their arising delusions. If they achieve this completely, they attain “Equal Enlightenment”, which is the highest level of Enlightenment. Finally, this person must learn the formula for Liberation. When they know the formula and practice it correctly, they attain the fruit of “Wonderful Enlightenment” (Miraculous enlightenment), and they return to the Buddha Realm very easily.

6. Contemplation of Flower Retribution (turned into plants to pay off karmic debt.): The Contemplation of Flower Retribution is reserved only for the following 5 types of practitioners:

• One: A person who does not know what Enlightenment is but stands up to teach, luring many people to listen so they offer money.
• Two: A person who does not know the formula for Liberation but stands up to teach, luring many people to listen so they offer money.
• Three: A person who is not a Zen Master but falsely proclaims themselves a Zen Master to gain two things: great fame and many people bringing them benefits.
• Four: A person who is not a Zen Patriarch. Hearing the great prestige of a Zen Patriarch, they falsely proclaim themselves a “Zen Patriarch” so that others will kneel and prostrate, offering them money.
• Five: A lecturer should be deeply learned in Buddhist studies to truly deserve the name “Lecturer.” Yet, someone who only knows a few popular sutras, but for the sake of fame and profit, proclaims themselves a Lecturer. This is intentionally walking deep into the path of “Flower Retribution.”

The Tathagata clearly teaches: “Flower Retribution” is called path number 7, and it only pulls the 5 types of people mentioned above into a place of “peace and joy” for a few tens of billions of years.

1. Contemplation of True Suchness: This is the Contemplation to see what one’s own True Suchness is. If clearly known, it is one’s Buddha Nature. This person only needs to do two things:

• One: Must gradually cultivate to realize their own Buddha Nature and constantly live with that Buddha Nature.
• Two: Create Transcendental merit through some means, so that when their worldly affinity ends, they can return to the Buddha Realm.

“The Buddha taught the 37 Contemplation Methods to Support Entering the Path (the 37 aids to Enlightenment) to help anyone who follows His Dharma and likes to use diligent effort in Contemplation and Imagination.”

“In the Tathagata’s Zen Enlightenment Verse presented to the Dipamkara Buddha in the Tusita Heaven, the nature of humankind was described as follows:

Humankind is unwilling to rest and stay still,

Only by diligent effort do they feel peaceful’s thrill.

They use effort to gain psychic powers to display,

Going to boast to the world, hoping for money that way.

Human Nature loves the miraculous and the awe,

Pleading and prostrating, and the miracle is poured into their core.

The law of physics flows to their soul’s domain,

Making the body feel joyful, the mind serene again.

Humankind suffers because of the “I/Self” tight hand,

The “I/Self” is the Ego, wandering in reincarnation’s land.

Pure Zen only needs the word “End” to be taught,

If anyone can “End” all, their suffering is naught.“

The Bhikkhu A Lạc Đề, having received the answer to his question from the Buddha, rejoiced greatly and offered thanks.

THE SEVENTH QUERY

The Bhikkhu Trường An Thịnh rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: I have one question concerning the origin of the Cosmic Universe, humankind, and all things. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Bhikkhu Trường An Thịnh, before the Tathagata achieved Complete Enlightenment, I also had the same question as you. When the Tathagata attained Complete Enlightenment and possessed the Five Eyes, I used the Buddha Eye to observe.

“I tried to find the boundary of the Cosmic Universe, but no matter how long I looked, I could not find its boundary. Therefore, the Tathagata sees and knows that ‘The Universe is without Boundary’.

“The Tathagata used the Buddha Eye to search for the first human being. I kept looking and searching but could not find the first human being. Therefore, the Tathagata sees that humankind and all things are ‘Without Beginning’.”

The Bhikkhu Trường An Thịnh, having received the Buddha’s answer, greatly rejoiced, prostrated himself, and withdrew.

THE EIGHTH QUERY

The Bhikkhu Lễ Thành An rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: I have a question. The Tathagata teaches that within the Three Realms there are the following life forms:

• Heavenly beings in the Heavenly Realms.
• Fairies in the Pure Land.
• Deities, Humans, Hungry Ghosts, Animals, and Hell beings on Earth.

“But we have not heard the World-Honored One teach which realm Bodhisattvas and Arhats are reborn into when their affinity in this world ends. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Bhikkhu Lễ Thành An, the Tathagata teaches you:

I. BODHISATTVAS

A person who practices the Bodhisattva Way must cultivate 4 parts:

1. Must cultivate karmic merit to become immeasurable.
2. Must successfully cultivate the Two Roots—the Eye and Ear—to achieve Perfect Penetration, meaning achieving two parts of Enlightenment.
3. Must have the great vow: ‘To seek voices throughout this Saha World to rescue anyone suffering injustice or distress who calls upon them.’

“When their affinity for living in this world ends, the Bodhisattva enters the Pure Land and hides within a lotus flower for one day and one night, and is then born as a Bodhisattva.”

“Why does the Bodhisattva achieve this? Because the Bodhisattva possesses all four things:

• Immeasurable karmic merit.
• Heavenly Eye.
• Hearing Root Perfect Penetration.
• The vow to ‘seek voices throughout this Saha World to rescue anyone who calls upon them.’

“Therefore, when the Bodhisattva’s affinity as a human ends, they are allowed to enter the Pure Land, hide within the largest lotus flower, and after one day and one night, they are born—without going through the Yin-Yang physical process of male and female fairies. When the Bodhisattva is born from the lotus, they immediately carry out their work and bear the title Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (The World-Sound-Observing Bodhisattva), meaning one who hears the cry for help of the humans in the world where the Bodhisattva used to live.”

II. ARHATS

The Tathagata teaches you about the person who attains the Arhat stage (The Taste of the Arhat-Fruit State):

“After death, they will go to live with the Deity* Realm on this Earth, for the following reasons:

“A practitioner who wishes to realize the Four Fruits of the Sravaka must practice as follows:

“Every day, they use diligent effort to force their physical mind to be pure and abide in that state, which is called entering the Nirvana of Stillness, to enjoy the purity achieved through their diligent practice.

“A person abiding in purity has the wonderful use of their desires and actions, which is called possessing psychic powers. This person is called an Arhat, meaning one who lives in the Nirvana of Stillness.”

“When they were human, this person did not cultivate karmic merit, so after death, they cannot be reborn into the Heavenly Realms to live.

“Because they possess psychic powers, they cannot enter a human womb to forget (their previous life).

“Therefore, on this Earth, the most suitable place for a person with psychic powers like an Arhat is only the Deity Realm.”

“Thus, a practitioner who attains the Arhat stage, when their affinity as a human ends, must enter the Deity Realm. However, the standard for those who live in the Deity Realm requires two things:

1. Must possess immeasurable karmic merit.
2. Must possess very high psychic powers.

“But the Arhat only possesses low-level psychic powers and no karmic merit. Therefore, they must request residence in the Deity Realm. An Arhat who wishes to live in the Deity Realm must commit to two things:

1. Use whatever is available and not compare themselves with the official Deities. In short, Arhats who live in the Deity Realm are classified as ‘Deputy Citizens of the Deity Realm’, also called ‘Second-class Deity Citizens’, or, in the language of this world, ‘Deputy Commoners’.
2. “Because they have no place to live, the Arhats agree to whatever the Head Deity says. Only then are they allowed to enter the womb of a Female Deity for temporary residence to be born as a ‘Deputy Citizen of the Deity Realm.’”

“In the beginning, they promise everything, but once they are born as a Deputy Citizen, they see that the official Deity Citizens have full rights, while they have none, which leads to conflict with the official Deity Citizens.”

“For this reason, Deities and Arhats often clash and fight with each other.”

The Bhikkhu Lễ Thành An, having heard the Buddha’s instruction, greatly rejoiced, prostrated himself before the Buddha, and withdrew.

THE NINTH QUERY

The Layperson Liên Trường Phát rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: I have the following question, and I respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct me:

The World-Honored One teaches that a person who follows the World-Honored One’s Dharma must first achieve Realization of the Nature to know the way back to the Buddha Realm. Is there any method that does not require Realization of the Nature but can still lead to the Buddha Realm? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“A person who practices the Tathagata’s Dharma, if they can enter the Buddha Realm without Realization of the Nature, the only way is to be able to read the Mystery Record transmitted by the Tathagata through the Pure Zen lineage.”

“Why is this so? Because in the Mystery Record, the Tathagata has clearly stated the formula for returning to the Buddha Realm. Apart from this, no other Dharma door can lead back to the Buddha Realm.”

The Layperson Liên Trường Phát, having heard the Buddha’s instruction, greatly rejoiced, prostrated himself before the Buddha, and withdrew.

THE TENTH QUERY

The Bhikkhu Katyayana rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: I have the following question: My older brother, Sariputra, was able to see the Ocean of Pure Nature. So, what must I do to be able to see it? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct me.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Katyayana, if you wish to see the Ocean of Pure Nature, first and foremost, you must create a great deal of transcendental merit. When this transcendental merit fills the shell of your Buddha Nature, you will naturally be able to see it.”

“The Tathagata also tells you clearly:

Seeing the Ocean of Pure Nature is not the most important thing. The most important thing is whether you accept to practice the Pure Zen Dharma door or whether you wish to practice to achieve attainments and realizations.”

“A person who practices Pure Zen gains 8 benefits:

1. They focus intently on whatever they are doing daily, without thinking of other things.
2. They do not waste time listening to people talking about birth-and-death reincarnation.
3. They know that miraculous occurrences are things created by Deities to satisfy human desire.
4. They do not plead, petition, or kneel to anyone, saving their energy.
5. They know what their Buddha Nature is.
6. They know what their Human Nature is.
7. They know how to practice for Liberation and how to practice for reincarnation.
8. They know the formula for Liberation.

These are 8 benefits gained by a Pure Zen practitioner, among many others.”

The Bhikkhu Katyayana, having received such a clear instruction from the Buddha, greatly rejoiced, prostrated himself before the Buddha, and withdrew.

THE ELEVENTH QUERY

The Layperson Luong Khanh Hoang rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: If I know the formula for practicing Pure Zen, can I cultivate it myself and enter the Buddha Realm? I respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct me.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Layperson Lương Khánh Hoàng, if you wish to practice Pure Zen, you must understand the following:

The Pure Zen Dharma door is an extremely Yang Dharma door. It is not easy to bring a person living within the Yin-Yang physical gravitational pull of this world back to live in the Buddha Realm. Therefore, you or anyone else who wishes to practice Pure Zen must have a Buddha from the Buddha Realm closely following and assisting them to successfully return to the Buddha Realm. A prime example is the Tathagata, who needed the assistance of Dipamkara Buddha to return to the Buddha Realm.”

The Layperson Lương Khánh Hoàng, having received the answer to his question from the Buddha, greatly rejoiced, offered thanks, prostrated himself, and withdrew.

THE TWELFTH QUERY

The Layperson Uất Phương Lam rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: I do not understand the following: Currently, there are many religious groups in our country. Every teacher organizes rituals of offering, prostration, and asking God to forgive their sins and grant them blessings. Is this practice by these teachers and adherents based on the truth? I respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct me.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Layperson Uất Phương Lam, on this Earth, speaking narrowly, or in the Three Realms, speaking small, anyone living in the world of Yin-Yang physical cause and effect must obey its laws:

1. Doing good deeds creates good karma.
2. Doing wicked deeds creates bad karma.
3. To achieve Liberation outside the physical pull of this Earth, one must not create karma but must know the formula for Liberation.

“The reason you currently see teachers organizing rituals of offering, prostration, and asking God to forgive sins and grant blessings is as follows:

1. Everyone surrounding these teachers wants this, so the teachers are forced to do it to satisfy those people. As stated earlier, by The Law of Seed and Fruit, if you do good deeds, you naturally have karmic merit that is stored in your Storehouse Consciousness to pull you to enjoy blessings. The same applies if you do wicked deeds. No one can interfere with the actions of another.

“The reason teachers claim that God grants blessings is because so many people surrounding them desire it. So the teacher organizes the rituals and speaks and acts according to the desires of these people. First, to satisfy their craving. Second, the teacher has money to spend and does not have to toil laboriously.

“Think about it: In this world of Yin-Yang physics on Earth, there are only five life forms living together: Deities, Humans, Hungry Ghosts, Animals, and Hell beings.

“As for God, He is the ruler of the Heaven of God. God’s Yin-Yang electromagnetic frequency is extremely strong; He cannot come to this world. In the Heaven of God, one has food even without labor, and whatever one wishes for is granted. Even if God wanted to descend here, He would not dare to.

“Why is this so? Because the nature of human beings is truly strange:

• They curse the very parents who gave birth to them.
• Husbands and wives, whose relationship is one of a hundred years of devotion, can still hate each other, and when they hate, they use every kind of trickery.
• Siblings, bound by deep blood ties, still dislike each other.
• The Tathagata teaches humans the way to Liberation, yet they still curse the Tathagata as a master of heresy.
• Humans living together on this one planet seek ways to kill and harm each other.

“…God is not one of their relatives to give them wealth. Moreover, there are sands of Ganges rivers of Gods in the Cosmic Universe. Even if a God were brave enough to descend here, He would not dare to go near humans.

“Why is this so? Because human nature is truly strange: When they ask someone for a gift, they sometimes don’t even say thank you. If they ask and are not given, they curse immediately, sometimes even chasing and beating the person who refused. Ask yourselves, would any God dare to descend here?”

The Layperson Uất Phương Lam, having received the Buddha’s answer to his question, greatly rejoiced, prostrated himself before the Buddha, and returned to his seat.

THE THIRTEENTH QUERY

The Layperson Lương Hành Tuyền rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: We have clearly understood the World-Honored One’s teachings, but there remains one small question that I do not understand. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us:

Before, whenever I went to places of worship like the Village Temple, National Shrine, etc., and lit incense to make a vow or request something, I naturally felt a strange sense of peace and joy. What exactly was that? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Layperson Lương Hành Tuyền, on this Earth, the Deity Realm possesses the highest psychic power and immeasurable karmic merit. The places of worship like the Village Temple, Small Shrine, and later the pagodas that worship the Tathagata, are all very sacred for the following reasons:

“Any statue enshrined in a Village Temple, Shrine, or Pagoda is considered very sacred if the place adheres to the law of Yin-Yang physical gravity:

• When consecrating the statue, the master must successfully invite a Deity to ‘enter the statue’.
• They hold lavish rituals and offerings so that the minor Deities and Hungry Ghost come to eat. Then, the Village Temple, Shrine, or Pagoda becomes very sacred.

“It is thanks to this sacredness that the Village Temples, Shrines, and Pagodas can collect boundless offerings at will.”

The Layperson Lương Hành Tuyền, having received a very clear explanation from the Buddha regarding his question, greatly rejoiced, prostrated himself, and returned to his original seat.

THE FOURTEENTH QUERY

The Bhikkhu Katyayana rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: The World-Honored One teaches that the first request to announce this Mystery Record will be very smooth, but the second request to announce it will encounter boundless difficulty. Why is there such a strangeness? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Katyayana, the first time the Mystery Record was requested for announcement was by a Zen Patriarch. This Patriarch was the master of the King, and the King had also attained the ‘Secret of the Zen Sect’. Therefore, when the Patriarch requested to announce it, the King consented immediately and even ordered the court officials and local authorities to attend and create the best conditions for the Mystery Record to be publicly announced.”

“The request to announce the Mystery Record the second time encountering boundless difficulty is due to the following reasons:

• The Mystery Record is held by a layperson, so no one agrees with the announcement.
• Humankind living in that era is completely dependent on matter, seeing matter as supreme. Enlightenment and Liberation are only secondary, so they do not need them.

“Do you know the most important point? The Buddha asked, but no one knew what it was, so the Buddha reminded them of the Demon King’s vow when the Demon King failed to defeat the Tathagata.

“The Demon King had said:

‘Hear me, Gautama: At present, I cannot harm you. You must remember that when you return to the Buddha Realm, those who practice and dress like you are actually following my teachings. The longer the time passes since you left, the more completely your disciples will follow my teachings.’

“For the reasons mentioned above, the Mystery Record will be difficult to disseminate.”

Katyayana and everyone present understood the reason, and they felt compassion for the people who would live from the era of the End of the Highest Dharma onward.

THE FIFTEENTH QUERY

The Layperson Lễ Trân Châu rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: I have comprehended the World-Honored One’s teachings, but there remains one question that I do not understand. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us:

When a person dies, they are reborn elsewhere according to their Total Karma. Yang Karmic Merit leads to the Heavens or the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha. Yin Karmic Merit leads to becoming a Deity or a wealthy and prosperous human in this world. Doing evil leads to retribution. Practicing the World-Honored One’s Dharma but deceiving others leads to Flower Retribution (turned into plants to pay off karmic debt.). Therefore, when a person dies, where does the block (mass) of karma they created go, and how does it move? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Layperson Lễ Trân Châu, the Tathagata teaches you and everyone present clearly about this:

When a person dies, they must be transferred according to the law of reincarnation on this Earth and within the Three Realms. Except for those who are Enlightened and Liberated, everyone must reincarnate as follows:

1. A person carrying the Yang Karma mass will be reborn into the Heavenly Realms or the Pure Land to enjoy the blessings they created.

(This Karma mass is called the ‘Asset of Yang Karmic Merit’ created by that person. It is like the money created by humans in this world. This asset is called ‘Traveling Karmic Merit’, which in the Tathagata’s Dharma is called ‘Rebirth Karmic Merit’.)

2. A person with this Yang Karmic Merit must also have an extreme desire to go to the place they wish for.

(This desire part is precisely the ‘Pushing Force’ that sends them to the place they desire.)

“A person with this Yang Karmic Merit follows this sequence:

For example: A person has a very large mass of Yang Karmic Merit and desires to be reborn into the Formless Heaven to enjoy pure blessings. This person experiences the following:

• The Yin-Yang electromagnetism ceases to sustain this person’s physical body, and the physical body gradually disintegrates.
• The person’s Human Nature Shell, composed of Yin-Yang electromagnetism, also disintegrates to merge with the Yin-Yang electromagnetism on Earth.
• Throughout their life, they cultivated a mass of Yang Karmic Merit into their Storehouse Consciousness, which was inside their Human Nature Shell. When the Human Nature Shell ceases to embrace this Yang Karmic Merit mass, the Yang Karmic Merit mass automatically flies up and out to the edge of the Three Realms, where it is attracted into the Formless Planet. This mass of good Yang Karma is called the ‘Yang Intermediate State Body’.

“If this person created a mass of Yang Karmic Merit and desires:

• To be born into the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha, they are attracted there.
• To enter the Form Realm Heaven, they are attracted there. To enter the Heaven of God, they are attracted there…

“As for a person who creates Yin Karmic Merit and desires:

• To become a Deity, they are attracted to the Deity Realm.
• To become a wealthy person, their wish is fulfilled.

“A person who commits serious sins goes directly to Hell.

“And a person who does neither good nor evil, does not believe in anything, and only knows how to worship ancestors, grandparents, and parents, will forever reincarnate within their lineage to pay off minor karmic debts to one another.

“This is the law of reincarnation on Earth, where humans actively participate in two ways:

1. Creating karma.
2. Having desires, to be transferred.”

The Layperson Lễ Trân Châu then asked the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: I understand how the human Four Great Elements body is formed, but how is the Human Nature Shell formed? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct me.”

The Buddha taught:

“The formation of the Human Nature Shell is as follows:

When the sperm and egg firmly attract and begin to move to form the first tiny mass of the fetus. As the fetus is forming and moving, the movement draws in a current of Yin-Yang electromagnetism to form a shell. When this shell begins to move, it has a very strong gravitational pull, attracting any Buddha Nature or any Intermediate State Body that comes near the shell. This is the Human Nature Shell.”

The Layperson Lễ Trân Châu, having received the answers to all his questions from the Buddha, greatly rejoiced, offered thanks to the Buddha, prostrated himself, and withdrew.

THE SIXTEENTH QUERY

The Bhikkhu Anuruddha rose from his seat, came before the Buddha, knelt, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Respected World-Honored One: After hearing the World-Honored One’s teachings, I have firmly grasped the World-Honored One’s words, but there are four more points that I do not clearly understand. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct me:

1. If Mr. A’s physical body disintegrates, how do his Human Nature and Buddha Nature transfer? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct me.
2. The World-Honored One gained knowledge of the formula for returning to the Buddha Realm through the teaching of the ancient Dipamkara Buddha. Besides this, is there any other path? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct me.
3. The World-Honored One teaches that when life on Earth is almost completely destroyed by humans, the Intermediate State Bodies and Hungry Ghosts suffer immensely. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to explain this clearly to us.
4. When the World-Honored One returns to the Buddha Realm, will there be a Buddha on this Earth to teach the Dharma of Liberation? We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct me.”

The Buddha taught:

“My dear Bhikkhu Anuruddha, the Tathagata answers your four questions:

Question 1: When Mr. A’s physical body ceases to function, his Human Nature Shell immediately exits the body and is transferred within the Three Realms according to the Total Karma he created.

Question 2: For a person to escape the Yin-Yang physical gravitational pull and return to the Buddha Realm, they must have an emanation of a Buddha from the Buddha Realm assisting them. There is no other path.

Question 3: When life on Earth is almost completely destroyed by humans, the Intermediate State Bodies and Hungry Ghosts suffer as follows:

The Intermediate State Bodies cannot reincarnate normally because the Yin-Yang electromagnetic waves that maintain the planet are severely disrupted, thus:

• They cannot attract the Yang Karmic Merit Intermediate State Bodies into the Heavenly Planets or the Pure Land to enjoy blessings.
• They cannot attract the Intermediate State Bodies to reincarnate into the life forms on Earth.
• As for the Hungry Ghosts, because there are so few people left alive on Earth, there is not much smell of human cooking. The Intermediate State Bodies and Hungry Ghosts must fight each other for the little resources, so these beings suffer immensely!

Question 4: When the Tathagata returns to the Buddha Realm, no Buddha will live on this Earth. Because the Buddhas live by the Natural Luminous Electromagnetism, they cannot enter the planet. They only use the Buddha Eye to observe the Earth and assist only those who desire Liberation.

After the Tathagata returns to the Buddha Realm, only two forms of the Tathagata’s Dharma will remain:

1. Transmitted by the Zen Patriarchs through the Zen Sect lineage, to help those who seek Enlightenment and Liberation.
2. Transmitted by the masters through the popular sutras, to help those who practice to achieve realizations and attainments.”

The Bhikkhu Anuruddha, having received the answers to all his questions from the Buddha, greatly rejoiced, prostrated himself before the Buddha, and withdrew.

THE SEVENTEENTH QUERY

The Buddha’s attendant, Venerable Ananda, came before the Buddha again, performing all the proper rituals, and respectfully presented a series of five questions:

Question 1: “Respected World-Honored One, when I was in trouble, the sorceress Matangi used black magic to compel me into sexual contact with her. The World-Honored One used a mantra to help me. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to teach us this mantra so we may protect ourselves. We respectfully request the World-Honored One to instruct us?”

Question 2: “When the World-Honored One returns to the Buddha Realm, will the World-Honored One return to this world again?”

Question 3: “Does the World-Honored One, while in the Buddha Realm, do anything further to create transcendental merit?”

Question 4: “Why must humankind destroy life on Earth?”

Question 5: “Before entering Nirvana, does the World-Honored One have any final instruction for us?”

The Buddha taught:

Answer 1: “My dear Ananda and the great assembly, when you were being lured by the sorceress Matangi into intimacy, the Tathagata used the Heavenly Eye to see what was happening. I then asked a Deity to come. As soon as the Deity arrived, the Hungry Ghosts that Matangi had commanded to confuse you immediately fled. This rendered Matangi’s command ineffective. The Tathagata possesses no charms, mantras, or psychic powers to teach you. Think about it: if the Tathagata possessed psychic powers, then the Tathagata would be a Deity, not a Greatly Enlightened One.”

Answer 2: “My dear Ananda, in the Buddha Realm, the Dharma Body and the Golden Body of every Buddha are composed of Natural Luminous Electromagnetism and transcendental merit. This place is naturally pure, so life in the Buddha Realm is completely different from this world bound by the gravitational pull of Yin-Yang electromagnetic physics on Earth. Therefore, the Buddhas and the Tathagata cannot return to this world.”

“However, the Tathagata, as well as the other Buddhas, has the duty to use the Buddha Eye to observe this world, as well as sands of Ganges rivers of other worlds where humans live. If anyone desires Enlightenment or Liberation, the Tathagata and the Buddhas will send an Emanation Body, Response Body, or Transformation Body to assist them. When the assistance is complete, they return to the Buddha Realm and do not remain long in the human world.”

Answer 3: “Every Buddha in the Buddha Realm still gains more transcendental merit if that Buddha sends an Emanation, Response, or Transformation Body to assist someone in the human world.”

Answer 4: “The reason humankind likes to destroy one another is as follows:

The Human Nature contains Imagination, Greed, and Wickedness, which gives rise to a large Ego. On Earth, when the number of large Egos reaches 10 billion, it naturally exceeds the capacity of the planet, so they must destroy each other. This is the principle of Formation—Existence—Degeneration—Extinction of the Earth!”

Answer 5: “The Tathagata’s final words instruct you on 4 points to be recorded in the Mystery Record, so that you and the people of future generations will know:

1. Enlightenment means clearly understanding The Law of Seed and Fruit, the law of reincarnation on this Earth and within the Three Realms.
2. Clearly knowing the formula for Liberation outside the gravitational pull of Yin-Yang electromagnetic physics on Earth.
3. On Earth, there are 5 species living together:

• The Deity Realm: Has the duty to establish religions to satisfy the Imagination and desires of humans—that is, to give the human Imagination and desires a place to abide within the religion.
• Humankind: Has the duty to Imagine and fantasize to lead humans on the six paths of reincarnation and the one path to becoming a plant.

1. You must understand worship on this Earth as follows:

Currently, there are places on Earth that build Churches/Temples, Village Temples, and Shrines to worship the Deities on Earth. When humans have such places of worship, they feel relieved, handing over their Imagination and desires to the Deities to keep. This gives the human Imagination and desires a place of refuge, so they are calmed down.

“Later, after the Tathagata enters Nirvana, you will establish pagodas to worship the Tathagata, to remember the Tathagata’s teaching of Enlightenment and Liberation, knowing the law of reincarnation, as well as the formula for returning to the Buddha Realm. But the people of later generations will do wrong to this teaching. They will exploit the Tathagata’s Dharma and fabricate the following:

• The Tathagata grants blessings (karmic merit).
• The Tathagata has psychic powers.
• The Tathagata is very sacred.

“In later generations, out of 10,000 people who follow the Tathagata’s Dharma, only 1 or 2 will practice correctly. The rest will exploit the Tathagata’s Dharma to seek fame and profit. They wear monk’s robes as a facade to lure ignorant people to prostrate and offer money. These are the very people who fulfill the Demon King’s vow.

“Listen closely to the Tathagata’s final important words:

“The 5 species living together on Earth—the Deity Realm have the duty to create strange phenomena to make humans believe in the existence of Deities, so they dare not do wrong.

“They ‘borrow the body’ of a person with a beautiful countenance and eloquent speech to establish religions so that any human who likes that religion will bring their Imagination and Greed to abide there.

“The Tathagata cannot come to this world because this world cannot withstand a large amount of Natural Luminous Electromagnetism.

“The Tathagata has lived in this Three Realms for nearly 8 billion years—that is shocking enough!

“I clearly teach you: The Tathagata does not visit pagodas that involve praying and chanting.

“Why? Because the Tathagata is not a Deity to come to these pagodas to grant blessings and eat offerings.

“The Tathagata only sends an Emanation, Response, or Transformation Body to Zen Sect Pagodas to assist in the transmission of this Dharma door through the Zen lineage.”

The Buddha continued to teach Ananda:

“My dear Ananda, once again, you must clearly record the Tathagata’s teaching in this Mystery Record in 5 main parts, so that later generations understand:

1. Any person who practices the Tathagata’s Dharma for the sake of Enlightenment and Liberation is practicing correctly according to the Tathagata’s teaching.
2. Any pagoda established that teaches diligent practice—the organizer is teaching according to the Tathagata’s teachings for the Dharma that is still within reincarnation.
3. Any pagoda established that teaches chanting and recitation—that pagoda teaches practice to find joy with the Deities.
4. Any pagoda established that teaches offering rituals—that pagoda teaches practice to become friends with the hungry ghosts.
5. Any pagoda established that practices fortune-telling and divination—that pagoda teaches practice to become friends with various wandering spirits.”

Ananda, having heard the Buddha’s instruction, wept and addressed the Buddha:

“I vow to obey the World-Honored One’s teachings.”

Having spoken, he prostrated himself before the Buddha and withdrew.

THE BUDDHA’S FINAL TEACHINGS (8 PARTS)

PART 1

In The Dharma-Ending Age (The Era of the Degenerate Dharma), among those who follow the Tathagata’s Dharma:

• Only 1 person in a million understands Enlightenment.
• Only 1 person in ten million knows the formula for Liberation.
• Among those ten million who know the formula for Liberation, only 1 person will successfully return to the Buddha Realm.

PART 2

Only 3 types of people are permitted to answer questions about Zen Learning:

• Zen Sect Masters/ Zen Masters
• Lay Zen Sect Masters/ Lay Zen Masters
• Enlightened Zen Householder

They are permitted to answer questions from 3 types of people:

• Those who wholeheartedly desire Enlightenment and Liberation.
• Those who accept that this Earth is transferred according to the law of cause-and-effect reincarnation, driven by the pull of Yin-Yang electromagnetism.
• Those who understand that every human lives according to their Total Karma.

They are permitted to diligently explain everything to the 3 types of people above, but must not answer even a single word to the following 3 types of people:

• Those who believe anything they encounter.
• Those who plead and prostrate to others.
• Those who do not use practical intellect to seek understanding.

PART 3

When standing up to answer, one must be properly dressed as a Zen Master, Lay Zen Master, or Enlightened Zen Householder.

PART 4

There are 7 types of people who practice the Tathagata’s Dharma:

1. Practicing for Enlightenment and Liberation.
2. Practicing to gain psychic powers.
3. Practicing for eloquent argumentation.
4. Practicing to enjoy pleasure and happiness.
5. Practicing to become wealthy and prosperous.
6. Practicing to receive praise from the world.
7. Practicing to attain great fame.

PART 5

Regarding Cause and Effect and Reincarnation: Anyone living anywhere on Earth must be subject to the law of reincarnation that pulls them away, such as:

Even a person who has achieved Great Enlightenment, if they live on this Earth using their Human Nature, will still be subject to reincarnation like everyone else.

PART 6

Humans are the active agents in:

• Liberation
• Rebirth
• Reincarnation
• Receiving the karmic fruit

If a human wants to achieve Liberation and return to the Buddha Realm:They must learn the formula and create transcendental merit.

If a human wants to become a Citizen of Heaven: They must practice giving and desire to live in the Heavenly Realm.

If a human wants to become a fairy: They must practice giving and desire to become a fairy.

If a human wants to become a Deity: They must practice giving and desire to become a Deity.

… (and so on)

PART 7

The Deity Realm is a species that possesses psychic powers and great karmic merit, so they actively perform the following acts:

• They “borrow the body of another person” and can say anything they want, such as:
• Falsely claiming to be whomever they wish.
• Claiming to grant blessings or inflict calamity, and people will listen.
• Creating any strange phenomenon they desire.
• Borrowing a person’s body to speak of the past and future, and many people will believe them.

These are the 7 fundamental aspects of the world of Yin-Yang physical cause-and-effect reincarnation on this Earth.

PART 8

A special point that the Tathagata has not yet taught you concerns what Pure Zen practitioners often encounter:

1. When a person is determined to practice for Liberation, two phenomena occur:

• A Buddha constantly follows and assists this person. When this person achieves purity, their Buddha Nature manifests: they see far, become transparent, and their Four Great Elements body feels like nothing…

But you must pay attention here: These phenomena flow out from their own Pure Buddha Nature. This is their Buddha Nature: Seeing, Hearing, Knowing, sometimes feeling like one has lost oneself, and experiencing miraculous peace and joy.

“Such instances are normal for a Pure Zen practitioner.”

The most important advantages of a Pure Zen practitioner are 4:

• First Advantage: They no longer believe falsehoods.
• Second Advantage: They realize that previously, they would listen to anyone who spoke well, prostrate and pray at any sacred place, and offer anything they were told, without knowing whether such offerings brought karmic merit or demerit.
• Third Advantage: When practicing Pure Zen, they clearly understand these matters, are no longer mistaken, and Enlightenment and Liberation become as clear as the palm of their hand.
• Fourth Advantage: Their daily work and business become very stable.

When a person is determined to practice Pure Zen, they will encounter the following:

There will be many Deities around them. Some Deities will come to help them. Some Deities will come to disrupt them.

These situations are as follows:

Deities who come to help:

• They speak, encourage, and praise to make the practitioner cheerful. These Deities lead the person into the realm of the Deities, to bright and magnificent scenes.

Deities who come to disrupt:

They manifest as demons or ghosts, intimidate, curse, slander, and show horrific scenes or the suffering of their own parents…

Most notably, the moment one feels one’s Pure Buddha Nature, the Deity pulls them back, preventing them from entering that state.

The most crucial caution: Deities will set traps, causing the practitioner to fall into the worlds of the various Buddhas (not the true Buddha Realm)…

“To prevent you from getting lost in these scenes, the Tathagata taught you and future generations in the Diamond Sutra:

No matter what you encounter, do not cling to it, by saying:

‘If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet the Demon, kill the Demon.’

Or the saying:

‘All compounded phenomena in this world are false and illusory.’

“You must take the Tathagata’s teachings in the Diamond Sutra as your guiding torch. Practicing the Pure Zen Dharma door in this way will prevent you from being misled. This is the fundamental path for you to return to the Buddha Realm.“

THE TATHAGATA’S AFFIRMATION TO THE DISCIPLES

“My dear disciples!

No one living in this world of cause and effect, driven by Yin-Yang electromagnetic pull, can escape its law, including the Tathagata.

“A person living in this world, no matter how much effort they put into practice to achieve high psychic powers, is merely a speck of dust floating in space.

“Humans, do not use a little illusory fame and shadowy gain to falsely proclaim yourselves as this Master or that Deity, deceiving others for fame and profit, for that person is opening the path of Flower Retribution for themselves to enter.

“The Tathagata also lets you know: Each time one enters Flower Retribution, it lasts for at least 3 billion years!

“So, do not deceive others for a small amount of fame and little profit.”

Sakyamuni

THE BUDDHA’S FURTHER TEACHING ON THE MYSTERY RECORD

“My dear Bhikkhus,

Today, the Tathagata entrusts the Mystery Record to Mahakasyapa, the First Patriarch of the Pure Zen lineage, for him to transmit through the Pure Zen lineage.

“Why does the Tathagata not transmit it through the popular sutras?

Because this Mystery Record clearly teaches about human beings, the Earth, the Three Realms, the Buddha Realm, the Cosmic Universe, reincarnation, and the formula for Liberation. It possesses an extremely powerful force, called Extreme Yang. It destroys all the mistaken understanding and delusion of human beings, which is why the Tathagata must transmit it outside of the popular sutras.

“Human beings live completely dependent on matter and their Human Nature. The Human Nature has 4 functions that operate most strongly: Feeling, Imagination, Greed, and Fear. Therefore, they cannot withstand the destructive power of the Mystery Record. For this reason, the Tathagata must transmit it privately to the Patriarchs, waiting until the End of the Highest Dharmaonward, when humankind has advanced to a very high level of civilization. Only then will they accept the Mystery Record, as the Tathagata’s teaching is very practical and scientific. Thanks to this, superstition will be reduced by 50%, and eccentricity (false practices) will be completely eradicated.

“Why, in the beginning years, did the Tathagata teach 5 Dharma doors that achieve success within the physical world?

The Tathagata tells you clearly:

In the beginning, the Tathagata did teach it, but no one was willing to listen, and they even said the Tathagata was possessed by a demon! Therefore, the Tathagata had to use an expedient means to teach the 5 Dharma doors of attainment and realization to lure many people to come, to see if anyone among the crowd desired Liberation. If there were any, the Tathagata would teach them privately.

“Thus, today the Tathagata entrusts the Mystery Record to Mahakasyapa. You must diligently transmit it through the Pure Zen lineage and be extremely cautious when disseminating this Pure Zen Dharma door.”

The Zen Patriarchs:

Indian Patriarchs: Among the 28 Zen Patriarchs in India, only the 12th Patriarch, Patriarch Asvaghosha, left behind a verse celebrating the Buddha’s Birthday, which speaks of the Buddha’s life of practice and teaching the Dharma.

The verse is as follows:

In ancient times, in Kapilavastu’s land,

King Suddhodana ruled with sovereign hand.

His virtue and justice were renowned far and wide,

Queen Maya was revered, with honor and pride.

The eighth of the fourth month, her labor did come,

A Prince was born, perfectly handsome.

Siddhartha was the name they then gave,

His brilliance unmatched, no soul could excel.

He grew, a manifest genius bright,

In the Royal Clan, none surpassed His might.

While the royal kin lived lives of sheer delight,

The common folk suffered in darkness and blight!

Their woes were countless, their sorrow profound!

Many utterly poor, on unsettled ground!

He asked the Royal kin, those near and those far,

“How can we lift those trapped beneath the star?”

The Royal Clan replied, “In this world of men,”

“This destiny is fixed for everyone.”

Hearing this, the Prince’s joy was denied,

His heart was moved, with sorrow inside!

He brought His questions to His Royal Sire,

“Pray, Father, resolve the doubts that inspire.”

The King was silent, knowing not what to say,

Then summoned the Clan to teach the Prince the way.

The Royal kin, the high and the low,

None could answer the seeds of doubt He did sow.

“In the world there are ascetics, men of great mind,”

“Who can worldly puzzles surely unbind.”

The King heard this, and an invitation He sent,

To Uddaka, the wisest, most eminent.

When the ascetic reached the Royal Hall,

The King spoke the concerns of the palace to all.

“If the Master can answer, my heart shall rejoice!”

“Rewards shall be yours, heed my Royal voice!”

“But if You know not, instantly, then,”

“Please leave the great Hall, and depart from My ken.”

The ascetic spoke, “This is simple to do,”

“I beg Your Majesty to present the view.”

The King replied, “The question is not mine own,”

“But from the Prince whose name is Datta (Siddhartha) known.”

The Sage then declared his intent clear and bold,

“Whoever may ask, My answer is told.”

“Though the inquiry be high as the Heaven’s dome,”

“I am ready right now to bring the truth home!”

The Prince then presented His puzzle to share:

“In this wide world, are there but two types of men?”

“The wise and the foolish, divided by then?”

“The wealthy, the poor, pray give the divide?”

“Why is Heaven unjust, why does fortune not ride?”

“One has plenty to spare, one struggles for bread?”

“If You know, speak the answer I ask to be fed?”

“If You know not the truth, please leave and retire!”

The ascetic’s mind grew heavy with strain!

“How can I solve this? I must practice again.”

The King was constrained to remain standing still,

To let the Prince seek the answers at will.

He then left His father, bidding farewell,

With wife and son left, His practice to tell.

He began austere practice, His skin turning green!

Till exhausted, no marvelous Path was seen!

He changed His course swiftly, seeking nothing more,

Accepting the milk of the shepherdess poor.

Suddenly, His strength began to grow,

He used contemplation to find what to know.

Success in Contemplation was still far,

The matters of doubt offered not a star.

He sought to learn the supreme reasoning,

The ultimate logic, none more discerning.

The things He had doubted, the questions He bore,

He exerted more effort to know them for sure.

He gazed afar to the Ten Directions’ reach,

Yet the Four Doubts were still beyond His speech.

He instantly entered the State of Purity,

His mind shone, revealing the Four Doubts’ surety.

He tested and re-tested, with no trace of doubt,

Falling into the Ocean of Essence, all questions went out.

He rose to seek out His virtuous companions,

Showing the Zen Path to return to ‘old mansions.’

The nine friends who practiced meditation ere this day,

He taught those Sages the practice of ‘Dust’s Way.’

The nine attained complete enlightenment’s grace,

They presented their insight to Siddhartha in place.

The Prince then spoke out the complete truth to say,

“Ancient Dipankara confirms My Way.”

“You all assist Me in building Our cause,”

“The Sangha here established for Zen’s high laws.”

The old friends then spoke, their agreement was sound:

“We agree, but the Devas must vouch for this ground.”

The Prince then relied on a deity guide,

To confirm His perfect Three Insights abide.

The nine old practitioners gained firm belief,

Establishing the Sangha for Pure Zen’s relief.

The Prince clearly taught the method of Zen,

The nine received it, perceiving the holy Ken!

The Sages then voiced their realization’s deep call:

“The Pure Mind itself is the root of all.”

The nine received this, and their tears began streaming!

Tears flowed forth: neither sorrow nor dreaming.

All nine were profoundly moved by the sight!

Unaware they’d attained the supreme Pure Zen’s light.

Looking at the Three Realms, they are “like a painted scene,”

Whoever delights in gazing is Samsara’s Queen!

Therefore, the Buddha taught the word Stop,

Pureness alone is Nirvana, where all fears are hung.

So that the people of this world may see,

The Zen Path of Shakyamuni, free.

“You all repeat the words that I state,”

“Do not follow the physical, exit Samsara’s gate!”

Zen practice is simply this easy a task,

To search or to seek: is in the cycle to bask!

Once more I teach the single word Stop,

The Pure Mind itself is the highest top.

Pure Zen is called “madness” by those on the street,

He taught Zen of viewing, thought, and entreat.

Practice viewing, practice thinking within the heart’s sphere,

Achieve this, and magical powers appear.

The Sages received it, in ease and in grace,

And traveled abroad, teaching this Dharma and trace.

Next He taught the power of deep discussion’s art,

Speaking truths the world cannot set apart.

Whatever is said in the world, be it grand,

Cannot compare to the words from His hand.

Because this is the philosophy of Shakyamuni, true,

Heaven above and earth below point out this view.

Next, He taught the practice of searching deep and low,

Exerting effort to doubt and search where thoughts do flow.

When the mind achieves its boundless stillness,

One sees the universe is simply this.

With these three methods, the world was not yet content,

They prayed the Buddha teach peace to be sent.

The Buddha said, “You all be silent, still and deep,”

“When pure, recite the name ‘A’ to keep.”

“That ‘A’ is Amitabha Buddha so bright,”

“With power divine to help those who seek light.”

To return to the Pure Land is joy without end,

Birds sing, flowers shine like jewels, a trusted friend.

The ground is like gold, smooth and warm,

Supporting each step, safe from any harm.

In the morning, no need for toil or hard work,

Just worship the Buddhas of the past, with no smirk.

Many people heard this and were greatly fond,

Reciting the Buddha’s name, forgetting morn and beyond.

Achieving this brings many fruits to be gained,

Many yearned, but were still not constrained.

“How can we obtain supernatural might,”

“Truly wondrous in the mountains and night?”

Therefore, He taught the secret to transmit,

Reciting a supremely sacred Mantra with wit.

The one who recites sees things strange and unknown,

When reciting continuously, the profound spirit is shown.

The five methods He taught to the very last line,

All must be abandoned, for Samsara’s decline.

In the end, He taught the method of Stopping,

Only needing purity in the mind, is true joy.

The Zen the Buddha taught at Vulture Peak high,

Is the supremely spiritual Pure Zen under the sky.

Pure Zen the Buddha taught, hear Him say,

When seeing, just see, see only this way.

Pure Zen is neither standing nor taking a seat,

No viewing, no thought, Samsara you defeat.

Pure Zen the Buddha clearly made known,

Only purity is needed for Nirvana’s home.

All worldly affairs, that come and then go,

Do not cling, do not attach, let the feelings not grow.

In the past, the Buddha clearly would teach,

Your Pure Mind itself is Nirvana’s high reach.

He taught this truth with clarity and might,

Living with Knowing-Nature is eternal light.

Directly receiving the Seeing-Nature that lies,

How can countless Samsara follow your cries?

Zen practice is not merely being mute,

Just see and keep seeing, do not chase the pursuit.

Zen practice fears not poverty or wealth,

No karma is sown, so it cannot follow by stealth.

Pure Zen is not merely being quiet and slow,

But see and keep seeing, letting the vision bestow.

Troubles and vexations that ceaselessly stream,

Not clinging, not attaching, brings peace like a dream.

Pure Zen the Buddha taught, private and clear,

Those with great fortune receive Pure Zen near.

Nirvana is right here, within the deep heart,

Not following the physical is Samsara’s depart.

The Thirtieth Century now has arrived,

The flower of Zen has ceased, no longer survived.

We, Your disciples, have heard the Master’s deep teaching,

We bow three times, Your affirmation beseeching.

Dedication (Transference)!

Our reverence for the Buddha’s Birth is done,

May transcendental merit into our lives be spun.

We, Your disciples, vow with deepest heart,

To practice Purity, from Samsara depart.

The Buddha taught us only to Stop,

Our Pure Mind immediately makes rebirth drop.

Today, at the Small Spiritual Platform,

We respectfully ask the Buddha to accept this form.

We humbly pray right here, in this sacred place,

May the threads of birth and death lose all their trace.

The hardships of our lives are now fully past,

Thanks to the Buddha, who showed the Zen Path fast.

Our mind is presently settled in “Emptiness,”

With one heart, we pursue the Zen Path’s caress.

Even if this world should cease and then break,

And space itself crumbles, our devotion won’t shake.

Thanks to the Buddha, we have managed to rise,

Overcoming rebirth and death before our eyes.

Our life holds great fortune, O Buddha high!

Today, birth and death cease for us, we deny.

Namo Sakyamuni Buddha, the Fundamental Teacher of the Saha World!

Chinese Patriarchs,

In China, among the five patriarchs, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng is the only one who was designated by the Buddha to publicly announce this Mystery Record for the first time.

We would like to present the ceremony of the first public announcement of the Buddha’s Mystery Record, as authorized by the Sixth Patriarch Huineng:

THE FIRST PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BUDDHA’S MYSTERY RECORD

THE SIXTH PATRIARCH HUINENG IS THE ONE PROPHESIED BY THE BUDDHA GRANTED PERMISSION TO ANNOUNCE THE MYSTERY RECORD FOR THE FIRST TIME

Precisely at 8:00 AM on the 10th day of the 5th lunar month in the The Year of the Water Rat, during the Taiji Yanhe Reign, corresponding to June 25, 712 AD, the Sixth Patriarch Hui-neng solemnly rose and spoke:

“To the honorable Cultural Official, Sir Tieh-Chien, representative of the Wise King Empress Wu Zetian.

To the honorable Governor of Guǎngzhōu Province, Mr. Lin Zhongqing (Lâm Trọng Khánh).

To the honorable District Chief of Xinzhou District, Sir Zhou Chengjun.

And to all dignitaries present today.

“I am Dajian Huineng, the 33rd Zen Patriarch in the lineage, acting upon the words of Sakyamuni Buddha. Today, the 10th day of the 5th lunar month in the The Year of the Water Rat, or June 25, 712, according to the Western calendar.

“On the 10th day of the 1st lunar month this year, I submitted a letter to the Wise King Empress Wu Zetian regarding the request to publicly announce the entire Mystery Record, which Sakyamuni Buddha instructed me to disseminate.

“The Wise King Empress Wu Zetian has appointed three esteemed individuals:

• The Cultural Official, Sir Tieh-Chien
• The honorable Governor of Guǎngzhōu Province, Mr. Lin Zhongqing
• The District Chief of Xinzhou District, Sir Zhou Chengjun.

“Over 60 pagodas in the surrounding area and many who practice according to the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha are present. The number of attendees today is approximately 700 people.

“I respectfully speak about the origin of the ‘Zen Source Lineage’ as follows:

“This Zen Source Lineage was not transmitted by the Tathagata through the common sutras, but was transmitted by the World-Honored One through the Zen lineage.

“Initially, at the Grdhrakuta Mountain Cave in distant India, the World-Honored One passed on the following sacred objects to Mahakasyapa, the First Zen Patriarch, for transmission through the Zen lineage:

• The bowl the World-Honored One used for eating and drinking water.
• The outer robe the World-Honored One wore when leaving his dwelling.
• This Mystery Record.

“Today, I solemnly announce the Mystery Record transmitted by the World-Honored One through the Zen lineage for 3 main purposes:

1. To inform those who practice the Buddhist Dharma.
2. To enlighten people of future generations.
3. So that in the Era of the Degenerate Dharma, in the ‘Dragon Land’, a woman will receive this Mystery Record and distribute it across the Five Continents.

“Over the past 8 months, my disciples have copied 600 volumes of the Mystery Record, which will be distributed to one representative from each group present at today’s ceremony.”

At this point, the Sixth Patriarch ceased speaking while the organizing committee distributed a volume of the Mystery Record to each representative.

When the disciples of the Sixth Patriarch finished distributing the Mystery Record, the Sixth Patriarch continued:

“Distinguished guests, this Mystery Record was taught by the Buddha Himself to His 15 disciples and those laypersons who had attained the ‘Secret of Pure Zen’, who recorded it and entrusted it to Patriarch Mahakasyapa to be transmitted through the Zen lineage.

“The final Zen Patriarch in India, Bodhidharma, transmitted it to China. I am the fifth person in China to achieve the ‘Secret of Zen’ and thus received the Patriarchal position, becoming the 33rd Patriarch in the Zen lineage. The reason everyone calls me the Sixth Patriarch is as follows:

“When Patriarch Bodhidharma arrived in China, everyone called him the First Zen Patriarch. Therefore, Patriarch Bodhidharma is considered by our people as the First Patriarch in China, and I am thus ranked as the Sixth Zen Patriarch.”

“In the Mystery Record, Sakyamuni Buddha specifically instructed me:

“When I was near my own parinirvana, this Mystery Record must be publicly announced so that many people would know it. This year, I am 74 years old, and I have only one year left until my passing. For nearly a year, I have had my disciples copy out 600 volumes to be distributed today. This signifies that the absolutely secret Zen Dharma door is no longer absolutely secret with this public announcement.”

“Why? Because the entire Mystery Record has now been announced, so the secrets within the Mystery Record are no longer secrets.”

“For those who receive this Mystery Record, if anyone has the ability, please copy it as much as possible to transmit it to more people, as well as to future generations, to destroy the delusions and misunderstandings that humankind holds regarding Human Life and the Universe.”

The Sixth Patriarch Hui-neng continued:

“My great disciple, Heze Shenhui, has been assigned by the senior disciples to read this Mystery Record aloud, so that many people can hear and copy it.

“Today, there are only 600 volumes of the Mystery Record, which are insufficient for everyone. Those who have not yet received a volume, please register your name with the organizing committee so we can copy additional volumes to present to you.”

The Sixth Patriarch Huineng added:

“In the Mystery Record, Sakyamuni Buddha taught: When humankind becomes highly civilized, all superstitions and false beliefs will be eradicated.

“Thanks to this, the number of people who: Attain Enlightenment of the Zen Essence will be countless. Achieve the Secret of Zen will be numerous. Return to the Ocean of Pure Nature will be the highest number since the World-Honored One taught the Pure Zen Dharma door.

“In the Lotus Sutra, in Chapter 12, Sakyamuni Buddha taught:

“In the Era of The End of the Highest Dharma in the ‘Dragon Land,’ a woman will receive this Mystery Record, and later disseminate it across all continents. This is also thanks to the Wise King Empress Wu Zetian granting me permission to announce it today.

“Due to this, in future generations, the number of people who:

• Attain Enlightenment of the Zen Essence.
• Achieve the Secret of Zen.
• Enter the Buddha Realm will be very great.”

The Sixth Patriarch Hui-neng explained the concept of transcendental merit:

• Helping a person attain Enlightenment of the Zen Essence gains a portion of transcendental merit.
• Helping a person achieve the Secret of Zen gains much of transcendental merit.
• Helping another person return to the Buddha Realm gains immeasurable transcendental merit.”

The Sixth Patriarch Huineng expressed gratitude to King Wu Zetian:

“The public announcement of this Mystery Record today is due to the grace of the Wise King Wu Zetian, who permitted me to announce it and appointed the three leading officials:

• The Official of Culture and Religion
• The Governor of Guǎngzhōu province
• The District Chief of Xinzhou

“I sincerely thank the King and the three officials on behalf of Sakyamuni Buddha.

“Also, from this moment forward, the 33rd Zen Patriarch, as well as all of you present here, anyone who reads the Mystery Record and:

• Recognizes their own Pure Buddha Nature.
• Constantly lives with that Buddha Nature.
• Is equal to the Zen Patriarchs.

“However, because the Zen Patriarchal position is no longer transmitted in my generation, those who understand the Zen Dharma door are divided into 3 categories:

1. One who understands the general principles of the Zen Dharma door is called one who has ‘Attained Enlightenment of the Zen Essence’. If they request certification, our Zen Pagoda will grant it to confirm their understanding, and they will be granted a ‘Zen Buddhist’ certificate.
2. One who reads the Mystery Record and understands everything the Buddha taught, and has a poem or verse flow out from their own Pure Buddha Nature, with at least 12 lines expressing the profound mystery of Zen Learning. If they request certification of having ‘Achieved the Secret of Zen’, the Guó’ēn Zen Pagoda will issue the certificate and perform the ceremony of transmitting the ‘Secret of Zen,’ providing everything the Tathagata transmitted through the Zen lineage. This person is known as a ‘Enlightened Zen Buddhist Householder’. The first person in China to receive the title of Enlightened Zen Buddhist Householder is the Wise King Wu Zetian.
3. One who has been certified as having Attained Enlightenment of the Zen Essence and Achieved the Secret of Zen, and has helped over 30 people attain the Zen Essence and over 15 people achieve the Secret of Zen, is qualified to be designated a ‘Zen Sect Master’ (or simply Zen Master for monk) or a ‘Lay Zen SectMaster‘ (or simply Lay Zen Master for laypersons), if they so request.

“Specifically, there are 2 exceptional cases below who may also be designated a Zen Master or Zen Householder:

1. A person who has just been certified with the Zen Essence but has a very high aspiration to make the Zen Learning Dharma door known to many people, may also be designated a Zen Master or Zen Householder so they are qualified to help others.
2. A person who has just read a Zen book or the Buddha’s Mystery Record and has a burning passion for the Zen Learning Dharma door may also be designated a Lay Zen Master without needing to go through the customary ranks.

The Sixth Patriarch said:

“I have only one year left before I leave this world of Yin-Yang physical cause and effect. All of you present today, in the future, if anyone reads the Mystery Record and achieves the 3 things mentioned above, and requests a certificate, a diploma, or a Zen designation, the Guó’ēn Zen Pagoda will carry it out. You will not lose a single penny.”

The Sixth Patriarch spoke his final words:

“Distinguished guests, when the Mystery Record is distributed:

• The number of people who attain Enlightenment of the Zen Essence will be countless.
• The number of people who achieve the Secret of Zen will also be very numerous.
• The number of people designated as Zen Masters or Zen Householders will also be very large.

“Therefore, my disciples, you must prepare for 3 things:

• Issuing certificates and diplomas to those who request them.
• Answering questions regarding the Zen Learning Dharma door.
• Starting today, the disciples must concentrate on copying the Mystery Record to supply anyone who needs it.

“Distinguished guests:

The ceremony for the public announcement of the Buddha’s Mystery Record, transmitted through the Zen lineage, now comes to a close.

“Once again, I sincerely thank:

• The Wise King Empress Wu Zetian
• Sir Tieh-Chien
• Ngài Sir Lin Zhongqing
• Ngài Sir Zhou Chengjun

“For attending today’s ceremony. Before you depart, our Guó’ēn Zen Pagoda has prepared a vegetarian meal for you. Please kindly join us for the meal.

“My sincere invitation!”

Vietnamese Patriarchs

In Vietnam, we are fortunate to have three Zen Patriarchs who contributed to this line of Zen Buddhism (Zen Studies).

The greatest fortune of Vietnam is having a King who practiced the Zen method and attained Buddhahood, known as King-Emperor Buddha Trần Nhân Tông.

He left behind a 204-line verse that speaks of the flow of this Zen studies lineage, as follows:

First, the Buddha taught the practice of Zen,

Mahakasyapa received the lotus then.

The lotus shone brighter than any lamp’s gleam,

Shattering the dark veil, finding the ancient home.

The Zen lineage the Buddha transmitted long ago,

Kasyapa received his own home, which he came to know.

Seeing this truth, the Venerable remained still,

The Buddha transmitted it with only a smile’s will.

The transmission caused the illusory dream to cease,

Stepping over the fence of the tidal sound’s peace.

Kasyapa received it silently, in his heart’s hold,

Successively transmitting it, to be the Second Patriarch bold.

The Second Patriarch received the root of the ear,

He laughed forever, for Samsara was not near.

Ananda knew the Dharma of “Stopping”,

“Birth and death’s cycle, you should not be running.”

His Patriarchal position He then did pass,

To Sanavasa, the Third Patriarch at last.

The Third Patriarch knew and could realize the way,

Next, Upagupta recognized the Zen Dharma’s sway.

The Fifth, Dhitaka, held the great affinity,

Officially receiving the Patriarchal dignity.

Dhitaka, silent and holding deep accord,

Transmitted the Zen Dharma to Micchaka adored.

The Sixth Patriarch, Micchaka, did then perceive,

Vasumitra, understood the Zen source to achieve.

The Zen lineage was officially passed with grace,

To Buddhanandi, to hold the next place.

Buddhanandi heard the ancient Buddha’s mystery,

He sought Buddhamitra, transmitting Zen’s history.

The Ninth Patriarch received it, waiting to be sent,

To find the Tenth, Venerable Parsva was the name meant.

The ancient Prophecy of Shakyamuni had foretold,

The Eleventh, Punyayasas, the story to unfold.

Punyayasas sought the one with affinity’s sign,

Asvaghosa longed for the Buddha’s Zen design.

The Twelfth Patriarch then openly did state,

The Thirteenth, Kapimala, would continue his fate.

Kapimala received it and remained in deep quiet,

Awaiting Nagarjuna to transmit it privately.

The Fifteenth, Kanadeva, a skilled debate’s sight,

With literature and skill, perceived the Zen light.

Saying he had received sufficient affinity’s tide,

Nagarjuna transmitted Zen, the Fifteenth Guide.

Old in age, alone and silent, in a secret way,

He sought one who understood the path to give Zen away.

In the land of Pila, there was a man of renown,

Rahulata was his authentic name shown.

The Fifteenth Patriarch came and instantly knew,

That man was worthy to receive the Zen source true.

The Sixteenth knew the ultimate mystery’s call,

Officially transmitted the Zen Patriarchal role to all.

Going south, he met Sanghanandi,

Prince Nan Di knew the Zen core instantly.

The Seventeenth Patriarch was he,

Traveling everywhere, longing for Zen transmission to be.

He met Gayasata with great affinity’s stream,

Who was then transmitted Zen, the next guiding beam.

The Nineteenth was Kumaralata, bright,

From the noble Brahmana family of might.

The Venerable Lata (Kumaralata) again had affinity’s key,

Understanding the root of Shakyamuni’s Zen to be.

The Eighteenth Patriarch remembered in his heart,

It was written in the Prophecy of the Buddha’s chart.

The Nineteenth was Kumaralata, the next name in line,

The Patriarchal position continuing Shakyamuni’s sign.

When old in age, his worldly ties diminished and gone,

Officially transmitting Zen to the Twentieth to carry on.

Seeing Jayata was superior to all men’s might,

Clearly unmatched in the study of the Zen light.

The previous Patriarch prophesied the name in his heed,

Vasubandhu would become the next seed.

Therefore, the former Patriarch listened to the decree,

Transmitting Zen to Vasubandhu, the Zen Patriarch to be.

The Twenty-First Patriarchate was then complete and clear,

Vasubandhu sought one to continue Zen near.

Seeking one with the right manner for private decree,

The miraculous and sacred Zen of this country.

Manorhita desired to then build and found,

The Dharma Gate of Zen studies to be passed around.

Haklenayasas officially held the affinity’s great chance,

Manorhita gave him the full Zen transmission’s expanse.

The Secret True Dharma held deep within the heart,

With Venerable Simha (Aryasimha) awaiting the Zen source to start.

This Brahmin had the greatest affinity’s hand,

Officially receiving Zen, the Twenty-Fourth in the land.

His mind had achieved the state of “Thusness” deep,

Patriarch Simha received it just as the vows to keep.

He sought one with enough merit and affinity’s gleam,

Officially transmitting Zen, the Twenty-Fifth’s dream.

Basiasita in Kanishka’s kingdom,

Vowed to follow Simha, praying for Zen within.

Simha saw the man held the sufficient affinity’s might,

Handing over the Zen Dharma, the Twenty-Fifth’s light.

The Twenty-Sixth, Punyamitra so bold,

From the Kshatriya lineage, longed for the Buddha’s fold.

The Buddha is of Shakyamuni’s own kind,

Due to his longing, the King agreed to his mind.

When he received the Dharma, his practice was done,

Prajnatara greatly desired to see this one.

Reflecting upon lifetimes, past and present’s sway,

He had predetermined affinity, receiving Zen right away.

The Zen lineage in India was deemed insane,

Therefore, the Zen Dharma had to the East attain.

Crossing rivers and seas, traveling around and afar,

Following the Red River’s mouth, reaching Vietnam’s sea star.

Bodhidharma, the Twenty-Eighth, with hardships untold,

Sought one with great affinity to transfer Zen’s hold.

He met Emperor Wu and presented his view privately,

The Emperor instantly said, “Master, you must be crazy!”

The Patriarch stepped onto a boat, forced to leave the coast,

In the land of Northern Wei, he rested at ease, his host.

Dongyue then informed Shénguang the way,

When Shenguang received it, his tears flowed without delay.

Presenting to the world the Patriarchal role of the East,

Sengcan was ill, not daring to pray or to feast.

He prayed to Huike to cure his sickness and strain,

His painful illness, desiring no other gain.

In the Prophecy, it was clearly recorded to see,

Sengcan would receive the Thirtieth Patriarch’s decree.

When he received the Patriarchal position, he smiled with delight,

Spreading happiness everywhere, bringing people peace and light.

When old in age, he sought the one who would lead,

To entrust the Patriarchal role to the next succeeding seed.

Regardless if one was rich or poor in the world’s eye,

As long as one received Shakyamuni’s profound path high.

Daoxin sought the Master and asked him the way,

“How can I transcend the cycle of rebirth today?”

Sengcan taught Daoxin the word “Stop”,

“Many lives of birth and death are now done for you, my boy.”

Daoxin received it with ease and freedom’s hand,

“My heart only serves the Zen of Shakyamuni in this land.”

Old age then revealed itself bit by bit,

Seeking the one to continue Shakyamuni’s wit.

Hongren, the Master with affinity’s sign,

Was brought and raised, transmitting Zen to be divine.

Hongren, having just received the Dharma’s power,

Sought in the world who longed to practice Zen in that hour.

Therefore, he spread the word to all regions far and wide,

Seeking the one with great affinity for the next Zen tide.

There was a poor woodcutter, with no great name,

Hearing someone chanting, he followed and asked in his game.

“What Sutra is this, whose verse is so sacred and sound?”

“The moment I heard it, I instantly grasped ‘Emptiness’ ground.”

Hongren spread the word throughout the mountains and streams,

“The Sutra I read is the Vajra Zen of your dreams.”

Alone with hardships and countless suffering’s might,

Eastern Zen was too far, he set off on the path of light.

When he arrived, the Patriarch asked, “What do you seek?”

“I ask to be a Buddha, seeking nothing meek!”

The Patriarch said, “There is no Buddha for you to implore,”

Huineng instantly said, “The Buddha is not outside the door.”

The Fifth Patriarch saw Huineng’s superior talent and gift,

Fearing harm, he immediately pointed to the kitchen’s rift.

For eight months, he toiled, busy and worn,

Pounding rice, carrying water, without coin or fee born.

His Zen realization was only known to him alone,

The Fifth Patriarch transmitted Zen, the Thirty-Third on the throne.

At this point, the Prophecy of Shakyamuni was clear,

The Pure Zen Dharma must move far away from here.

The transmission of the robe and bowl ceases at this date,

The flow of the Zen Source continues without fail’s gate.

It flows forth to all places of dust and of sorrow,

Flowing to the Southern land, stopping right at Thăng Long.

Today, I clearly and distinctly receive and understand,

The Pure Zen Dharma resides in Thăng Long’s grand stand.

Zen is not a practice requiring exerted striving and power,

Only needing purity, Samsara ends in this hour.

Zen is simply like that, easy to attain and know,

If you seek or search, you enter the cycle of woe.

Therefore, the Buddha taught the word “Stop”,

Do not follow the physical, rebirth instantly becomes numb.

Today, at the Yên Tử Platform,

I now spread the meaning of the Venerable Shakyamuni’s high.

If anyone with great affinity can perceive and see,

The Zen True Dharma that Shakyamuni passed on for thee.

Whichever person holds this great affinity’s thread,

I shall transmit Zen to be the next Patriarch ahead.

Zen crossed streams, traversed passes, rough and steep,

Following the perilous path down to the Southern deep.

The Vietnamese land met times of hardship and pain,

Residing safely in Central Vietnam, awaiting peace again.

The Zen lineage officially burst forth with all its might,

In the Dragon Land (Vietnam), spreading across the Five Continents bright.

The time for Zen to begin its rightful place,

Erasing the paths of Prayer, Viewing, Thought, and Request’s chase.

Here, the supreme sacred teaching we state,

Spreading Shakyamuni’s Zen studies beyond the gate.

You all listen to this verse I have clearly laid,

Writing out the Mystery Record that Shakyamuni conveyed.

Helping those with fortune and great affinity to be found,

Receiving the Zen Source means Samsara is unbound.

Teaching later generations the knowledge of “Stopping”,

For this is the mission, remember, never to shun.

The Vietnamese people, knowing how to repay the cost,

Do not forget the Buddha’s teachings in the heart’s lost.

Spreading to all places, mountains and streams high,

For those with great affinity, praying for the Zen path nigh.

The one who receives it loses all confusion and strife,

Knowing how to practice Shakyamuni’s Zen way of life.

The Zen lineage of Vietnam bursts out with all its glory,

Five continents, four seas, every home finds joy and story.

Whoever receives it smiles with inner delight,

For they have returned to their own home, fresh and bright.

TÂN DIỆU ZEN LINEAGE PAGODA (NEW MIRACULOUS CHANZONG PAGODA)

In our country of Vietnam, the Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda is the only place that possesses the Mystery Record transmitted by the Buddha through the Zen lineage. Currently, the person holding the Mystery Record is Compiler Nguyễn Nhân, the Abbot of Tân Diệu Zen Pagoda and also the Head of the Pagoda’s Governing Board.

Zen Master Nun Đức Thảo, the founder of Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda, taught the following about the Zen Learning Dharma Door:

Part 1

The Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda is the only place to disseminate the Zen Learning Dharma Door that the Tathagata transmitted through the Zen lineage.

Part 2

The Zen Dharma Door is an extremely Yang Dharma Door, which is the only way to lead practitioners to Enlightenment and Liberation.

Part 3

When the Zen Dharma Door is quietly disseminated to many people, one must seek permission from the government for its public dissemination to comply with the law.

Part 4

Superstition and false beliefs must not be brought into the Zen Lineage Pagoda.

Why? Because superstition and false beliefs prevent people from being clear-headed. Correspondingly, if one cannot master one’s own body and mind, how can one protect one’s home, village, and nation?

Part 5

The Zen Learning Dharma Door was taught by the Tathagata for all of humankind, not for just one person or family. Therefore, once the Zen Learning Dharma Door has been publicly disseminated, any person who attains the profound essence of the Buddha’s teachings in the Mystery Record is considered a teacher of the Zen Learning Dharma Door. If this person wishes to step forward to help many others gain this knowledge, the person holding the Mystery Record has the following duties:

• To officially designate and issue a certificate recognizing them as a Zen Master, if they are a monk.
• To officially designate and issue a certificate recognizing them as a Zen Householder (Lay Zen Master), if they are a layperson or ordinary person.

At this point, the person holding the Mystery Record is considered to have completed their duty and transfers the responsibility to others.

Before transferring the responsibility, this person must complete 2 final tasks:

1. Establish the Pagoda’s Governing Board, clearly recording the Tenets, Cultivation Platform, and Internal Regulations, so that the Governing Board has a direction for activity and can be continued by subsequent generations.
2. Construct a Grdhrakuta Mountain, depicting two events:

• First: Recording all the Buddha’s teachings regarding the Zen Learning Dharma Door.
• Second: Sculpting the images of the Buddha and the 15 disciples who wrote the Mystery Record, and the scene of the Buddha handing the Mystery Record to Mahakasyapa for transmission to later generations.

The person designated as a Zen Master or Zen Householder must meet 3 standards and perform 2 tasks:

Standard 1: This person must have a clear mind, have recognized their own Pure Buddha Nature, and constantly live with that Buddha Nature.

Standard 2: Must possess greater financial means than others to help those who wish to practice the Zen Dharma Door later.

Standard 3: Must have robust health to perform the duties for a long period, at least 20 years.

Two Tasks:

1. Develop a Zen Lineage Pagoda in any location where over 500 people request it.
2. Must strictly adhere to the Tenets, Cultivation Platform, and Internal Regulations of the Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda (Patriarchal pagoda), but must be located at least 100 kilometers away from the Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda.

Zen Master Nun Đức Thảo

Founder of Tân Diệu Zen Zong Pagoda

Following the teachings of Zen Master Nun Đức Thảo, we (her successors/disciples) propose the following management board structure for Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda and call for volunteers to join:

The Board is comprised of 20 people in total, including:

• Head of the Board
• Vice Head of the Board
• Permanent Vice Head (External Communications)
• Permanent Vice Head (Pagoda Asset Management)
• Vice Head (Zen Studies Q&A)
• Vice Head (Certification and Zen Transmission 1)
• Vice Head (Certification and Zen Transmission 2)
• Commissioners:
• Commissioner of Finance
• Commissioner of Financial Control 1
• Commissioner of Financial Control 2
• Supporting Members

TENETS AND PRINCIPLES OF PRACTICE AT TÂN DIỆU ZEN LINEAGE PAGODA

I. TENETS – 4 PARTS

Part 1:

To re-explain the meaning of the 6 Dharma Doors of practice taught by the Buddha, to help His followers understand clearly.

Part 2:

To clearly analyze the 6 Dharma Doors of practice and the results/achievements of each path.

Part 3:

To clearly explain why human beings are subject to reincarnation.

Part 4:

To state what must be done to escape the cycle of birth and death.

II. PRINCIPLES – 4 PARTS

Part 1:

To explain the term Enlightenment to anyone who wishes to understand it.

Part 2:

To explain the term Liberation—what it means and where one goes—to anyone who wishes to understand it.

Part 3:

To explain the word Superstition, as taught by the Buddha, to anyone who comes seeking knowledge.

Part 4:

The Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda absolutely does not advocate offerings, prostration, or supplication.

III. INTERNAL REGULATIONS – 6 ARTICLES

Article 1:

The Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda exclusively practices the Zen Dharma Door and does not permit any other Dharma Door to be brought into the pagoda.

Article 2:

Superstition and false beliefs must not be brought into the Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda.

Article 3:

The Zen Dharma Door was taught by the Buddha for all humankind; no individual, family, or nation is allowed to claim it as private property.

Article 4:

The management of the Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda is decided by a collective body.

• The Governing Board is elected once every 5 years.
• Anyone joining the Governing Board must take an oath before these internal regulations. If they act for personal reasons or private gain, they must automatically resign from the Governing Board and not wait for others to ask them to leave.

Article 5:

Money donated to the Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda is intended for the creation of transcendental merit. After being used for expenses such as:

• Utilities (Electricity and water)
• Travel expenses for the Governing Board and members
• Assistance for members facing difficulties
• Other expenses proposed by the Governing Board

Any surplus must be used for the following purposes:

• Development within the Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda.
• Support for other localities where Zen Lineage Pagodas have been developed by the Tân Diệu Ancestral Pagoda.
• Contacting local authorities to assist people in difficult circumstances and contribute to public works for the locality when requested.

Article 6:

All members of the Governing Board, as well as those practicing at the Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda, must strictly abide by these internal regulations. Anyone who fails to strictly abide must automatically withdraw.

These six articles of internal regulations are the Law that applies to all pagodas practicing the Zen Dharma Door transmitted by the Tathagata to future generations.

Zen Master Nun Đức Thảo recorded the words of Sakyamuni Buddha.

THE EXPLANATION OF THE CURRENT ABBOT OF TÂN DIỆU ZEN PAGODA

Dear Readers,

The reason I received the Mystery Record, which the Buddha transmitted through the Zen lineage, is as follows:

1. In 1952, the Water Dragon year, I was given a copy by Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Huỳnh Thạch, owner of the Hoa Nam Chinese medicine shop, located at 82 Trần Quý Street, District 11, Sài Gòn, next to Thiếc Market.
2. On Sunday, October 15, 1958 (the 3rd day of the 9th lunar month in the Earth Dog year), I was given a copy by Zen Master Nun Đức Thảo, the Abbot of Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda, located at 273 Chánh Hội Hamlet, Tân Mỹ Commune, Đức Hòa District, Long An Province.

Thus, I came to possess the Mystery Record transmitted by the Buddha through the Zen lineage thanks to the two individuals mentioned above.

Based on these two copies of the Mystery Record, I traveled throughout the country, searching to see if any pagoda knew of this Zen Learning Dharma Door, but I could not find any, nor did I find any master teaching the Zen Learning Dharma Door.

To allow more people to know about this Zen Dharma Door, I secretly wrote nine books discussing the Zen Dharma Door taught by the Buddha. First, to thank the Buddha for teaching this Zen Dharma Door to humankind. Second, to thank Mr. Huỳnh Thạch, the practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Zen Master Nun Đức Thảo for handing over the Buddha’s most precious Mystery Record to me. More specifically, I thank Lay Zen Master Chánh Huệ Phong for assisting and allowing me to record all the questions posed by visitors to the pagoda regarding this Zen Dharma Door.

Today, I would like to publish the Buddha’s Mystery Record transmitted through the Zen lineage with two main objectives: One, to help anyone who wants to understand the path to know what the term Enlightenment means. Two, to let Buddhist practitioners who desire Liberation know the formula for practice.

We would like to offer the following advice. Readers of this book should examine it very carefully. If it seems logical and coherent, believe it; if it is not logical, do not believe the words we have written.

Why? Because the Buddha taught that those who wish to follow His path should use Prajna Paramita Wisdom to examine things; do not immediately believe. Only believe if it seems logical and coherent; believing without understanding is superstition.

The Buddha taught that this Mystery Record has two fundamental parts. One, anyone who teaches asceticism (cultivation) cannot achieve Liberation. Two, anyone who teaches practice may be 50% correct. However, anyone who recognizes their own pure Buddha Nature, lives constantly with that Buddha Nature, and knows how to accumulate Transcendental Merits will definitely attain Liberation.

Therefore, today, we publish this Mystery Record to contribute to the treasury of Buddhist scriptures for many people to consult.

We read and understand the Buddha’s Mystery Record as having six fundamental parts. One, anyone who wants to enjoy blessings in the heavenly realms and the Pure Land should perform a great deal of good deeds and have an extreme desire. When their lifespan in this world ends, they will certainly be reborn in the heavenly realms or the Pure Land to enjoy blessings. Two, anyone who wants to become a deity or become rich and noble in this world must perform many good deeds and have an extreme desire. When their lifespan in this world ends, they will surely be drawn to one of the two destinations mentioned above. Three, those who commit evil will be pulled along by the Law of karma and reincarnation to pay for their actions. Four, anyone who wishes to remain indefinitely in the cycle of their lineage should not cling to either good deeds or evil deeds. Five, anyone who wants Enlightenment should study the true words taught by the Buddha. Six, anyone who wants Liberation should seek the formula and create Transcendental Merits. Seven, anyone who wants to be a plant being does neither good nor evil. They don’t know what Liberation is, but claim they do, and lure many people to listen to their teachings.

When this Mystery Record is published, there will be three benefits for many people. One, the superstitious will no longer be superstitious. Two, those who desire Enlightenment will become enlightened immediately upon reading the entire book. Three, those who desire Liberation will know the clear formula, and practicing it will lead to Liberation.

The above are the teachings of the Buddha written in His Mystery Record. However, because the Mystery Record has been translated by many people over many generations, we do not know if it still precisely matches the Buddha’s original teachings. We ask that you examine it carefully before believing.

We recall the day Zen Master Nun Đức Thảo handed this Mystery Record to me. That day was exactly 8:00 AM on Sunday, October 15, 1958, which was the 3rd day of the 9th lunar month in the year of the Earth Dog. Zen Master Nun Đức Thảo and my two elder Dharma brothers, Lay Zen Master Chánh Huệ Luân and Chánh Huệ Phong, and we, the disciples, knelt before the main hall of Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda.

Our master spoke to us as follows. The Zen Dharma Door taught and transmitted by the World-Honored One through the Zen lineage has passed through 36 generations of Zen Patriarchs. Today, I have received this Mystery Record gifted to me by an elder. After six months of reading it, I realized my own pure Buddha Nature, and thus I have understood very clearly the teachings of the Buddha in this Mystery Record. Today, in the main hall of Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda, I want to entrust this Mystery Record, which the Tathagata transmitted to future generations, to you. So, which of you will take on this great responsibility?

Upon the question from our master, Đức Thảo, none of the three of us dared to raise our hands to accept. Our master said, since none of the three of you dare to raise your hand to accept, the master will ask the opinion of the Buddhas by marking three coins, putting them into the bell, and each of you will reach into the bell to take out one coin. The one who receives the coin marked with the letters HK will receive this Mystery Record. Given the situation, the three of us had to obey. I, being the youngest, drew the coin last. My two elder brothers, Chánh Huệ Luân and Chánh Huệ Phong, drew coins that did not have the HK mark. And so, I had to accept the Buddha’s Mystery Record transmitted through the Zen lineage. Afterward, the ceremony of handing over the Mystery Record was conducted. And from that moment, my master officially designated me as Lay Zen Master Nguyễn Nhân and performed the Lay Zen Master designation ceremony for me just like for my two elder brothers.

My master read the Lay Zen Master designation for me as follows:

Namo to our Original Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha, the Founder of the Saha World.

Respectfully addressing the World-Honored One, today, October 15, 1958, which is the 3rd day of the 9th lunar month in the year of the Earth Dog, here in the main hall of Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda, we are conducting the Lay Zen Master designation ceremony for my nephew, Author Nguyễn Nhân, born on September 17, 1938, in Cholon, residing at House No. 72 Hung Vuong Street, Thanh My Tay Commune, Gia Dinh Province.

We have offered incense, lamps, flowers, tea, fruits, and many other offerings during this ceremony. We respectfully ask the World-Honored One and the Buddhas of the ten directions to bear witness.

According to the Mystery Record of the World-Honored One, the Zen lineage will flourish in the “Land of the Dragon” (Vietnam) in the 20th century. According to the World-Honored One’s teaching, the Mystery Record transmitted by the World-Honored One through the Zen lineage is received by the Dragon Maiden, that is me. The World-Honored One instructed that this Zen Dharma Door must wait until the age of wisdom and clarity to begin spreading. Following the World-Honored One’s instruction, today in the main hall of Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda, I officially designate my nephew, Author Nguyễn Nhân, as a Lay Zen Master, and entrust this Mystery Record to him, so that Nguyễn Nhân may carry out the teachings of the World-Honored One.

In today’s ceremony, we have offered incense, lamps, flowers, tea, fruits, and many offerings. We respectfully ask the World-Honored One and the Buddhas of the ten directions to bear witness.

Before proceeding with the ceremony, we respectfully offer,

INCENSE OFFERING

Incense smoke pervades the azure sphere,

My mind’s sincere and primal vow is clear.

May the Buddha grace this sacred fume,

To witness this disciple’s Zen-lineage bloom.

HOMAGE TO THE BUDDHA

Humbly we bow to the Buddha, compassionate world-saver,

Spreading the Zen Path to redeem every soul.

The mortal realm finds the way to Zen practice,

Guided by the pure, bright mind that makes us whole.

HOMAGE TO THE DHARMA

We bow to the Dharma, the means of liberation,

The root of Zen practice, the true ancient way.

Many find Enlightenment in vast concentration,

For they have known where their true homeland lay.

HOMAGE TO THE MONK

We bow to Monks who hold the precepts fast,

Their virtue: poverty, no possessions cast.

They grasp the truth within their silent mind,

Aiding others full Zen Enlightenment to find.

VENERATION OF THE BUDDHA JEWEL

The Buddha, the Supreme Enlightened One,

Established the Zen Path to save all beings.

Strict laws and precepts are promulgated,

A guide who clearly shows the way to practice brings.

This mortal world is enveloped in deep gloom,

Unknowing where the way to freedom lies.

First, a person of great transcendence bloomed,

Rising above the mundane, taking leave of life’s demise.

Here, the disciple is a person who yearns,

Severing worldly ties to follow and learn.

Respectfully offering a sincere and truthful heart,

Serving the Buddha, the sublime Zen art.

VENERATION OF THE DHARMA JEWEL

The Buddha’s Dharma teaches the ultimate truth,

Following the Zen lineage to practice pure Zen’s way.

Three robes, one hut, according to one’s youth,

The pure Dharma Door is spoken to those who know Zen’s sway.

The Dharma of freedom from the world’s affair,

We fall into the tranquil, peaceful ocean of nature.

Living in purity is easily there,

Pure Zen opens the gateway to the mystic future.

The Dharma’s powerful words awaken and warn,

Helping sentient beings from the sickness of deep delusion.

How precious is this profound Dharma, newly born,

We sincerely practice Zen with pure devotion.

VENERATION OF THE SANGHA JEWEL

The Monks are practitioners of utmost purity,

Their mind-essence is empty, untouched by earthly dust.

Leaving home, severing ties with worldly security,

They conquer ego to fulfill the saving trust.

The Monks are those who carry out the Dharma’s way,

Spreading the Zen Path throughout the mortal sphere.

When the Red Dust flames ignite and hold their sway,

The rain of Zen knowledge instantly quenches every fear.

The holy Monks’ merit is boundless and deep,

Saving beings regardless of the hardships they face.

Our gratitude for their virtue we endlessly keep,

We revere them always, never leaving our sacred space.

OFFERING TO THE TRIPLE JEWEL

We bow to the Triple Gem: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha,

Witnessing our filial heart in this sincere offering.

This wealth originated from virtuous karma,

We prepared it by means of wholesome acting.

Now we sincerely vow to present this offering,

May the High Ones accept it and graciously witness.

We pray that all sentient beings, in their sojourning,

Practice Zen and cease the cycle of wretchedness.

The Zen lineage the Buddha taught brings great joy,

Joy that samsara’s hold no longer applies.

With an unwavering, determined heart we employ,

Pure practice, never again to be reborn.

Now we currently know the principle of stopping,

Non-attachment to objects stops the cycle at once.

Today, before this magnificent Buddha offering,

We ask the Buddha to accept these words as our promise.

We respectfully make a great vow in this place,

At Tân Diệu Zen Sect Pagoda, our solemn pledge is made.

We now cut off all karmic ties and worldly embrace,

Practicing Zen, the cycle of rebirth is stayed.

We have already understood the way to stop,

To let the mind be pure, and rebirth ceases fast.

Today, before this magnificent Buddha drop,

We perform this ritual and ask You to witness us past.

We diligently strive to safeguard and keep,

This Zen Dharma Door to remain among us here.

With an unwavering, determined heart we deep,

The Zen Dharma Door shall banish all worldly fear.

Helping many people find relief from hardship,

The Zen Dharma Door will endure forever in the world.

Transmitted across the dust, like a sailing ship,

Aiding liberation for all to be unfurled.

We take a solemn vow in this sacred location,

The Zen Dharma Door shall be transmitted onward from here.

We strive to assist with every favorable situation,

Helping those with great fortune instantly hold the Zen dear.

We take a silent vow deep within our inner core,

Helping people attain Zen Enlightenment in this place.

Tân Diệu Zen Sect Pagoda will henceforth implore,

We strive here to universally propagate the Zen grace.

Helping those who have sufficient merit and destiny’s call,

To practice Zen and immediately end the cycle’s pain.

The Zen the Buddha taught is simply to “stop” all,

The endless cycle of rebirth will immediately wane.

In the main hall of the Venerable One’s domain,

We perform this ritual and ask You to kindly attest.

We dedicate all our strength to obtain,

The broad, bright transmission of Zen to put life to the test.

We respectfully ask the Buddha to lend us aid,

Helping us teach the Dharma and assist those in need.

Even if it involves endless hardship and shade,

We are determined to help seekers clearly succeed.

Zen shall be spread across all mountains and streams,

Helping people find deliverance within this very existence.

Tân Diệu Zen Sect Pagoda, fulfilling all of our dreams,

Will immediately assist those desiring deliverance.

We make this most sacred and heavenly pledge,

The Zen Dharma Door shall be passed down the ages.

We swear this covenant right upon this edge,

The Zen Dharma Door shall be transmitted through future stages.

THE VERSE (GATHA) FOR THE LAY ZEN MASTER DESIGNATION OF AUTHOR NGUYỄN NHÂN

Long ago, the Lotus bloomed at Vulture Peak’s height,

The Tathagata taught Zen, more precious than gold or light.

Transmitted through many lands with sorrow and strife,

It traveled far and now rests here, safe and for life.

We, your disciples, heed the master’s instruction,

Seeking means for this Zen lineage’s preservation.

Today, the one surnamed Nguyễn has the great connection,

We designate him Zen Master, granting his certification.

“Nhân” understands he must not yearn or crave,

But let his Buddha Nature be the one to pave the way.

Our action is righteous, as we bravely save,

We do not interfere with what the Buddha Nature will say.

The honored who become Lay Zen Masters,

Must follow the teachings transmitted by Shakyamuni’s will.

Today, Nhân possesses destiny’s grand petitions,

Receiving the Zen source that Shakyamuni passed still.

According to the instructions of our own dear master,

The Lay Zen Master who receives the power,

Is a person with great destiny, acting even faster,

Must safeguard this Zen Dharma for the later hour.

Today, before the Supreme and Highest Being,

We officially designate and grant the certificate to you.

You must keep this mandate deep inside your feeling,

Helping people end suffering to return to the home that is true.

From now on, whether morning light or the day’s peak,

If someone needs help, do not hesitate at any time.

Sincerely assist the people the peace they seek,

The enlightened return peacefully to their native clime.

Teach them that they must strive to clearly realize,

That living with Buddha Nature is the only way out of rebirth.

One who practices purity simply must stop and rise,

Stop searching, stop seeking, and end all mortal dearth.

Therefore, the Buddha taught the word “stop” to proclaim,

Non-attachment to objects stops the cycle immediately.

The Zen lineage only teaches the one who can claim,

The fierce resolve for freedom, teaching this Dharma promptly.

Today, here at Tân Diệu Zen Pagoda,

We officially designate and certify “Nhân” as the Lay Zen Master.

WE RESPECTFULLY DEDICATE THE MERITS

The Zen designation ceremony is now complete,

We vow to dedicate the transcendent merit to our life’s feat.

With an unwavering, determined heart we hold,

Determined to practice purity, no more rebirth’s cold.

The Buddha taught us simply to stop the mind’s drift,

When the mind is pure, the cycle of rebirth ends swift.

Today, before the magnificent Buddha Altar,

We ask the Buddha to immediately accept this promise far.

We respectfully take a sacred vow in this place,

The chain of life and death is broken and unbound.

Our lives are free from hardship and suffering’s chase,

Thanks to the Buddha, the Zen Path we have found.

Our current mind is empty, void of all cling,

Single-mindedly determined to realize the way of Zen.

Even if the world is destined to perish and bring,

Even if space dissolves, our hearts remain strong then.

Thanks to the Buddha, we have risen and overcome,

The cycle of birth and death is transcended and passed.

Our lives are of great fortune, O Buddha, You have come,

Today, the wheel of life and death is ended at last.

Namo to our Original Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha, the Founder of the Saha World.

Namo to our Original Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha, the Founder of the Saha World.

Namo to our Original Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha, the Founder of the Saha World.

THE BUDDHA’S PRIVATE TEACHING TO THE ONE DESIGNATED AS LAY ZEN MASTER

This Zen Dharma Door is only permitted to be taught to two types of people: One, those who constantly seek Enlightenment and Liberation, so various means should be used to teach them. Two, those who constantly seek to understand the essence of what the Tathagata taught in this world—they must be diligently helped.

The following five types of people should not be spoken to with a single word or sentence: Those who constantly live with their human nature, those who like to praise others, those who like to be servants or subordinates to others, those who like to be teachers to the masses, and those who like fame, profit, and position.

Six Duties of a Lay Zen Master: One, constantly live with their own Buddha Nature. Two, human nature is also used when necessary, but only sparingly. Three, regarding material things, what one has should be maintained and not wasted, used reasonably because one still possesses the four great elements body. One’s previous way of life should remain the same today. But avoid doing anything harmful to others, and avoid arguing with others. Four, be humble towards everyone. Five, do not boast about being a Lay Zen Master. Six, everything mentioned in the Tathagata’s Mystery Record should be studied and memorized; if there is anything misunderstood, ask the person who conferred the Lay Zen Master title.

Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda, October 15, 1958, the 3rd day of the 9th lunar month in the year of the Earth Dog. Proposed by Lay Zen Master Chánh Huệ Phong (Signed). Conferred by The Abbot of Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda, Zen Master Nun Đức Thảo (Signed).

Subsequently, my master read the 24-line gatha to us as follows:

The Zen Flower blossomed on Vulture Peak of old,

The Master found this Zen, more precious than pure gold;

The homeland could not find peace or unity,

So Zen could not yet be spread in this locality.

My disciples, you must remember the Master’s teaching,

That Zen is to be spread when unification is won.

For all the people to gather in peaceful reaching,

The wellspring of Zen must emerge from this station.

The great compassion of Shakyamuni’s heart,

Is manifest here after twenty-five centuries’ span.

My children, remember the Master’s guiding part,

In the wise era, build the pagoda’s true plan.

Though trouble may greet you at the very beginning,

Do not fret though many seek to destroy the way.

The Vajra Protectors will come quickly intervening,

The Master’s money is left, so fear no cost today.

No matter if the pagoda is small or great,

Just ensure the records are kept for all to see.

The Zen lineage benefits every single state,

Many will smile, awakened by Zen’s decree.

The Treasury of the True Dharma Eye rests deep within the heart,

The Wondrous Nirvana truly manifests right here.

The Master’s funds are hidden at the tree’s root to start,

For the age of bright wisdom to build the Buddha Altar clear.

My two elder brothers and I cried upon hearing our master read the 24-line gatha. We cried not because we feared the responsibility, but because we did not know if we could bear and fulfill this duty.

Before I could stop crying, my elder brother, Zen Practitioner Chánh Huệ Luân, also cried and knelt down to present a 20-line gatha to our master, his voice choked with emotion:

We, your disciples, remember the Master’s word,

We vow that Zen here will surely be heard.

Please, Master, rest assured and sleep in peace,

We swear to fulfill the vow, and never will cease.

Those who come to this little Vulture Peak shrine,

Will see the Lotus bloom and know the Zen light divine.

We are resolved to complete our solemn oath,

Fulfilling the great wish that Zen may grow in growth.

Before the great Shakyamuni, here we vow,

To help the deluded know the Zen source right now.

From this time forth, no confusion will remain,

We shall fulfill the vow before the Buddha again.

We swear that we shall clearly display and show,

And work together to spread the Master’s words we know.

We make this promise, a testament we shall make,

Creating many means, for the Master’s own dear sake.

Whether the Zen gathering is small, now and then,

All who reach Vulture Peak must diligently practice Zen.

We pray that all Buddhas grant us favorable ties,

Our pledge and vow shall last as time forever flies.

After I was designated as a Lay Zen Master and received the Mystery Record, I did not know what to do next. I kept searching everywhere, hoping to hand it over to virtuous masters. However, I traveled all over the country, and no one knew what this Zen Dharma Door was, so I could not entrust the Mystery Record to anyone.

It wasn’t until 2006 that we rebuilt Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda. The monastery was completed in 2009, and the Zen Buddha Altar was completed in 2012.

My elder Dharma brother, Lay Zen Master Chánh Huệ Phong, reached the time when he had to withdraw and no longer contact anyone, leaving behind a 16-line farewell gatha:

On Vulture Peak, the Zen Lotus did bloom and become,

In this “Dragon Land,” Vulture Peak has now come.

It journeyed alone, across rivers and seas,

Flowing through many lands until resting in ease.

We, your disciples, heed the Master’s call,

Finding means to let this Dharma flow for all.

The Zen Dharma has traveled through the weary land,

Reaching this “Dragon Land,” where Zen takes its stand.

We vow deeply within our hearts to ensure,

That the source in “Dragon Land” flows afar and is pure.

The ancient Prophecy of Shakyamuni is known,

After twenty-five centuries, in this “Dragon Land” it is shown.

We make this sincere vow, held deep in our breast,

To create many means for the “Dragon Source” to travel best.

We pray to the Merciful One, our wish we shall tell,

To help those of great fate attain awakening as well.

From then on, I took on the responsibility alone, not knowing what better to do than to spread this Dharma Door through books. Today, we have completed nine books.

According to the Buddha’s Mystery Record, to help humanity escape superstition, this Mystery Record must be found and publicly announced, so that whoever reads it will no longer be superstitious.

Therefore, I sought ways to widely publish this Mystery Record. To date, nearly 6,000 individuals have attained the Zen Essence of Enlightenment, nearly 600 have attained the Zen Secret, and nearly 60 have been designated as Zen Practitioners.

I also want to be clear:

When I received this Mystery Record, I could not sleep due to three worries: One, what to do with this Mystery Record; two, whom to entrust it to; and three, where to search. These three concerns gradually caused me insomnia, but eventually, I was able to sleep again.

For the past few years, I have been searching for someone online (thientong.com). If anyone clearly understands this Zen Dharma Door, I will hand over Tân Diệu Zen Lineage Pagoda and this Mystery Record to them for flexible use. However, for the past three years, many people have come to present their method of practicing Zen. I have asked these Zen masters, “How do you practice Zen?” Each master answered differently. This means that these masters do not even know the concept of the Zen Dharma Door, let alone how to practice it.

Fortunately for me, on May 14, 2017, the government and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha allowed me to publicly announce this Mystery Record so that many people could know about it.

Now, the Buddha’s Mystery Record transmitted through the Zen lineage has been announced. I hope for three things:

The Buddha taught six clearly defined Dharma Doors of Practice; Anyone is free to follow whichever Dharma Door they wish.

For each Dharma Door for practice, the Buddha analyzed every detail very clearly, logically, and scientifically.

Notably, the Mystery Record was announced by us on May 14, 2017. This is the sixth Dharma Door that the Buddha secretly transmitted through the Zen lineage. In this sixth Dharma Door, the Buddha taught very clearly and in detail about humans, all things, the Earth, the Three Realms, the Buddha Realm, the vast universe, the law of cause and effect and and reincarnation, and the formula for escaping it to return to the Buddha Realm.

Lay Zen Master, Author NGUYỄN NHÂN

Respectfully,