Category Archives: Dust Contemplation

Honeycomb Empty Space

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Vajragoni

[5: Conclusion and Recapitulation]

Above, in response [6.22] to the questions of those lacking in faith, when explaining the dust contemplation, the emptiness contemplation, and the quiescent-activity contemplation, I briefly raised one [6.23] or two things about which some people have doubts. There may still be others who blather on in various ways, but who has time to converse with them? For them, I can only [6.24] feel compassion and deep pity. read more

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Reciprocal Quiescence

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Vajragoni

[Section 4: Questions]

Question: The passages you have been citing [5.18] pertain to the attainments reached by the buddhas themselves. Of what relevance could these things be for the mental states reachable by an ordinary being such as yourself? read more

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Quiescence within Activity

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Vajragoni

[Section 4: Quiescence within Activity]

When you have clearly seen emptiness at all times, whether walking, standing, sitting, lying down, and even when eating, [4.26] you must then reflect as follows: “The Dharma is without duality, but if I am now using the mind to see emptiness, this would constitute a duality [between mind and its object]; who, then, [4.27] is able to see emptiness?” In this way turn your gaze back onto the emptiness-[perceiving] mind itself, which is [in truth] entirely devoid of any conceptualization of “emptiness.” Diligently gazing without cease, the mind [4.28] will become still of itself and concerning this stillness you will not even form the idea “stillness.” read more

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The Mind of Emptiness

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Vajragoni

[Section 3: The Emptiness of External Objects]

There are yet other people who, when practicing the contemplation of dust, do not even [3.24] see any dust; from the very beginning they straightaway see the emptiness of all things. This is most excellent. Such people need not [3.25] contemplate things as dust any further. read more

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Scriptural Confirmations

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Vajragoni

[Section 2: Questions]

[2.27] Question: What passages in the sacred teachings [endorse the dust contemplation]? read more

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Dust to Dust

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Vajragoni

Next, having first gazed upon the dust visible in a beam of light [1.12] coming through a window, when walking, standing, sitting, lying down, and even while eating, you must constantly imagine this dust within the beam of light. [1.13] [To meditate thusly] is the greatest form of repentance. [Translator’s note: Sinful actions take place in dependence on the body. If one contemplates that one’s body is nothing but dust, then sin has nothing upon which it can depend. [To meditate thusly] is the greatest form of repentance.] read more

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Introductory Material (Dust Contemplation)

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Vajragoni

[Section 1: Introduction]

The introductory line of the Dust Contemplation is missing some variables and thus has been stitched together: read more

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The Dust Contemplation

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Vajragoni

In keeping with our annual Ash Wednesday tradition, it is time to commence again with an auspicious Dharma-series. This year the offering is quite apropos as it is indicative of those very “ashes” themselves: The Dust Contemplation. During the time period 2009-2013, the renowned Haneda manuscripts were published and are now housed in the Kyo-U Library in Osaka. Indeed, a most momentous occasion for Dunhuang studies: read more

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