UnbornMind Zen

Posts Tagged ‘Alaya vijnana’

Our next chapter in question for this present sutra is Number Five in the Tibetan Translation and Number Three for the Chinese. We have been following John Keenan’s numbering sequence. Basically the difference between the translations is that the Tibetan breaks-down the chapters according to the individual Bodhisattvas, whereas the Chinese bundles them together. Chapter Three: Ventures into Consciousness (JK) At that time the Bodhisattva Viśālamati addressed the Buddha and said: "World-honored Read more [...]

The Sagathakam posits numerous statements concerning the Vijñānas, as does the Lanka as a whole. Doing a search here at Unborn Mind Zen you will discover a rich source of connotations concerning the vijnanic system. This blog offers a further observation through the lens of hermeneutics. Florin Giripescu Sutton in his monumental work, Existence and Enlightenment in the Lankavatara Sutra, makes reference to a paper by Edward Hamlin entitled, Discourse in the Laṅkāvatāra-Sūtra, Journal of Read more [...]

The advent of Mahāyāna Buddhism that coincided with the beginning of the Christian-era gave birth to the most sublime innovations in Buddhist-thought that have not been surpassed even to this day. Colorful, dynamic and transcendent in scope, resplendent with rich metaphorical language founded in the rich soil of sūtra and śāstra laden literature, the Mahāyāna shaped a new and indefatigable-direction for the nature of the karma-effect. According to the Sarvāstivādin and Theravādin doctrine, Read more [...]

Question: In Shoden Session #2 you refer to the Dhyana Technique as Binzuru- Ho. What is the significance of that? Vajragoni: Binzuru is the Japanese name for Pindola Bharadvaja, who is a healing Arhat in Buddhist lore. The Arhats are beings of great transcendent wisdom and their role within Mahayana Buddhism is also to protect and maintain the Dharma; there are many stories in the early Buddhist Canon concerning this particular arhat’s magical healing abilities and his aid is often invoked. Read more [...]

ii. 33-45 Positive Exchange of the Mind-stuff 2.33 Destructive negative thoughts can be deterred through positive reinforcement. When the alaya-vijñana overflows with negative regularity, positive imprints from the Amala-recepticle (Pure-Thought Realm of the Tathagatas) can make for Right Cultivation of Mind. This Tathatic-Exchange ought to be managed on a consistent basis thereby eradicating the automatic-flow of the negative mind-stuff from the Alaya-vijñana. This is uniquely a Lankavatarian Read more [...]

One of Mind’s Revelations, by virtue of its Wordless Transmission, as expounded in the Dharmakaya Sutra is that all six realms within the samsaric order of creation are mere skandhic-apparitions. For instance, gods and demi-gods “dream” just as much as humans do and even those lowly inhabitants of the hell and hungry-ghost realms dream of eventually transcending their hellish existence; all are linked through skandhic-apparati that perceive avenues of desire that left to themselves are Read more [...]

The Black Dragon Eye Mandala is an auspicious medium in which to navigate through the turbulent and erratic seas (the Moving Principle). The black background of the Black Dragon-Eye Mandala depicts the infinite universal realm of the Dharmakaya that always pervades and transcends the phenomenal realm. The outer bands of the mandala represent the moving-phenomenal aspects of the Body consciousness: The outer-grayish hue is indicative of ordinary consciousness that is the lens through which Read more [...]

Mardi Gras is fast approaching with its vast array of spectacular shapes and colors all manifesting into one great orgy, indulging and gorging (Fat Tuesday) oneself before the solemn season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. After studying the Lanka, it’s apparent that this event serves as a metaphor to the greatest movable feast of them all—the Alaya vijnana. You will find in the archive here numerous references to two contrasting principles: The Unmoving Principle and the Moving Principle. Read more [...]

Section LXXXII of the Lanka delineates the nature of the Tathagata-garbha and the Alaya vijnana (repository consciousness). This can be quite confusing because although apparently different—one pure, one defiled—they are also essentially synonymous in nature. A good analogy to break this down is the nature of “twins”; while they may be different in temperament and personality, they are a product of the same seed-bed, or womb. In UnbornMind Zen the bodhichild is the developing light-bearer, Read more [...]