Issue 273

In America, there are many very good systems in place, especially in the field of education. The proliferation of education in America is well-done, much better than other nations. Education is widespread and flourishing in America, making it an example for the world. In addition to education, it would be even better if each person can learn to be filial to his/her parents, as stated here:

A superior person tends to the fundamentals.
When the fundamentals are established,
the Way comes forth.
Aren’t filial piety and fraternity
the basis to being humane?

A superior person needs to look for the fundamentals. Then, being able to stand firm on the fundamentals, the Way will come forth.

What are the fundamentals? Filial piety and fraternity are the fundamentals. Everyone should be filial toward one’s parents. Everyone should regard siblings with fraternity and courtesy, i.e. no fighting. If everyone in America can ascertain his fundamentals and practice filial piety, this country will definitely be even better. Why is that the case? People who are filial to their parents do not do anything contrary to the law; they abide by the law. Being law-abiding, they are good citizens of the country. As good citizens of the country, they also serve as good citizens of the whole world, leading all of humanity onto the right track.

Hence, the first order of business for everyone is to be filial to his/her parents. Otherwise, what is the point of parents to have children? After giving birth to them, parents have to take care of them. When the children turn 18 years old, they take off, leaving their aging parents behind without any regard. Sure, the parents can move into retirement homes and the government will support them, but there is no kindred affection, so to speak. Left on their own, they feel very lonely and with no one to rely on. It would be best if children can practice filial devotion and take care of their aged parents, providing them support and peace of mind. When grown children abandon their parents, they are just like birds who leave their nest, taking off to who-knows-where.

A Chinese saying goes:

The lamb kneels to nurse;
the crow returns to feed its parents.

When a young crow grows up, it finds food for its parents, and nourishes them until the old crows are strong enough to fly again—only then will the young crow’s duties end. For this reason, the Chinese people call the crow “the filial bird.” When a suckling lamb takes milk from its mom, it kneels down on its forelegs. Humans who fail to be filial to their parents do not even measure up to lambs or crows—that is not intended as a put-down, but rather a principle that everyone should be aware of. It is especially efficacious when people are filial to their parents. How is that so?

In China, there is a parable of ‘Guoju Burying His Baby’. Guoju was a very poor man—the poorest of the poor. He had an old mother. Then, his wife delivered a baby. Due to old age, his mother had lost all her teeth and could not eat any solid food. So she would take the milk of her daughter-in-law—that is, until the baby came along. Now with two mouths to feed, there was not enough milk, and both grandma and baby were still hungry.

Guoju started thinking on how to resolve this dilemma. If the milk were to go to grandma, the baby would starve to death; if the milk were to go to baby, grandma would starve to death. Since Guoju was most filial, he had a discussion with his wife, “Mother is very old and her days are numbered. Since we are still young, we can have many more children in the future. Can we dispose of the baby now in order to keep mom alive?” Although it was tough for his wife to give up the baby – in order to fulfill their filial duties, she bore the pain and agreed, “Ok. We can do that.”

After their discussion, the couple prepared to bury their baby on the outskirts of town. What had been their living treasure, they were now going to bury. No sooner had they started digging when they hit the pot of gold and silver –a huge trove of gold and silver ingots, all inscribed with the words’ Heaven’s Gift to Filial Son Guoju’! The reason they were going to bury the baby was because of extreme poverty. Now with lots of gold and silver, they did not have to bury the baby. Everyone in China knows of this parable. Hence, many people in China willingly practice filial piety, not out of greed for riches but rather because they recognize the importance of filial piety.

V. Its Transmission and Translators

Fifth, the Translators. According to some editions, a Chinese Tripitaka Master, Dharma Master Fa Deng (Dharma Lamp), of the late Chen Dynasty in China, translated the Earth Store Sutra. Some other editions list the translator as follows: Translated by Tripitaka Master Shramana Shikshananda of Udyana during the Tang Dynasty.

During the Tang Dynasty, there was a kingdom named Udyana, which is currently along the borders of China’s Yunnan Province. The name ‘Udyana’ had a mythical origin. Legend has it that the kingdom’s former name was ‘Beyond Recall’. Its emperor was heirless and prayed to a deity of a local temple for a son. Out came a baby boy from the forehead of the deity’s image. Isn’t that incredible? However, this baby boy refused to drink either human milk or cow’s milk. Then, from the earth sprung an udder-like form, and the baby boy would nurse on the milk produced from it. That was how the country got the name Udyana, a Sanskrit term for ‘Earth Milk’— hence, the name “Earth Milk Kingdom.”

A Tripitaka Shramana hailed from Earth Milk Kingdom. ‘Shramana’ is a Sanskrit term. It is transliterated into Chinese as sha(沙)men(門). Literally in the Chinese language, sha(沙)is sand, and men(門)is door. Some Dharma Masters poorly versed in the lecturing of Sutras would explain it like this, “Sand, river sand; sand door, a door made of river sand, and this monk goes in and out of that door, thus shamen, ‘sand door’ “.That is wrong. “Shramana,” means:

Diligently cultivating precepts,
samadhi and wisdom;
Putting an end to greed,
hatred and ignorance.

The phrase holds the same meaning for “shamen”. Diligently cultivating precepts, samadhi and wisdom means not being lazy. Do not think getting more sleep does you good. It might feel natural for your physical body to sleep more, but it is unnatural for your Dharma-body. So, diligently cultivate precepts, Samadhi and wisdom, and put an end to greed, hatred and ignorance. “Shikshananda,” also Sanskrit, translated into Chinese means “Study with Delight.” This Shramana was never lazy and was most delighted in learning the Buddhadharma — learning the Shurangama Mantra, the Great Compassion Mantra, and all the areas of Buddhist studies. It gave him great joy – hence, his name Shikshananda.

Translated: To translate is to render the Sanskrit texts into Chinese. It refers to an exchange—exchanging the identical texts in Sanskrit for Chinese. The Chinese character for “to translate” is yi (譯). During the Zhou Dynasty in China, an official was assigned to oversee languages used in the four directions of the land. The official assigned in the north was called “yi,”(譯), and this word has since been used to mean “to translate.”

VI. Discerning and Explaining the Meaning of the Text

Sixth, Discerning and Explaining the Meaning of the Text. To discern is to distinguish, and to explain is to elucidate. “Meaning of the Text” refers to meaning of the Sutra text proper.

Spiritual Penetrations in the Palace
of the Trayastrimsha Heaven

This is the start of the sutra text. “Trayastrimsha Heaven” is Sanskrit for Heaven of Thirty-Three. Heaven of Thirty-Three is not counted from the bottom, 1st level, going upwards in succession, i.e. 2nd level, 3rd level, etc. This is not the 33rd level of heaven from the bottom up. It is in the center, surrounded by eight heavens in the east, eight heavens in the west, eight heavens in the south, and eight heavens in the north. Four times of eight makes 32. Thirty-two heavens dispersed along the four sides of the centrally located 33rd heaven, resulting in this heaven called the Heaven of Thirty-Three. The Lord of the Heaven of Thirty-Three is Shakra. Shakra is a god. In Buddhism, he is a Dharma protector.

‘Lord Indra’ in the Amitabha Sutra refers to Shakra the god. “Na mo yin tuo la ye” in the Shurangama Mantra also refers to Shakra the god. Though a heavenly lord, he is merely a Dharma protector in Buddhism. He cannot preside over. He does not even have a seat; he stands by the door. People know this heavenly lord as the omnipotent God.

Right, he is omnipotent; he can govern matters in the heavens and in the human realm. However, he is not too different from human beings because he still has desires for sex, food and sleep. His desires are lighter, though, unlike the heavy desires of humans. Going without food for a few days, humans are extremely hungry; without sex for a few days, very uncomfortable; without sleep for a few days, very lethargic. Lord Shakra, however, can go without food for 100 days, 200 days, 300 days, or even a year without any problem; he can go without sleep or sex for a year without any problem. Nevertheless, he has not severed his desires.

Beings in the Trayastrimsha Heaven live for 1000 years, of which one day and one night is equivalent to 100 human years. Think about it, how much longer is his 1000 years in human years? The Trayastrimsha Heaven is 80,000 yojanas in expanse; just the city mote alone spans 60,000 yojanas. The city walls are constructed with the seven gems. The city of the Trayastrimsha god is called the ‘City of Fine Views’. His palace is built with the most valuable gems. This is why he refuses to leave after being reborn there as the heavenly lord. All the structures around are constructed with gems. No wonder he cannot sever his desires.

Dwelling in such a beautiful place, in a beautiful palace, he thinks he is contented and he can peacefully enjoy his heavenly blessings there. Considering the place as most delightful, he tells all beings to come to his heavenly kingdom. He welcomes anyone who wants to come to his world, a joyous world. He thinks he is being generous that way. Nevertheless, he does not realize that he cannot end his own birth-and-death because of his greed for such happiness.