Tag Archives: Lankavatara Sutra

The Lanka and the no-soul

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Vajragoni

In order to have the best overall comprehension of Unborn Mind Zen’s notion of a soul, one first needs to turn to the best foundational source, the Lankavatara Sutra. As we do so keep in mind this question: Does a … Continue reading →

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The untrapped Mind

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Tozen

The untrapped Mind is the Mind of Nirvana. Where defiled minds dwell in countless positions of their own making, the untrapped Mind remains free in the shining reality of its own uncreatedness. Any mind given to the most minute desire for resistance against … Continue reading →

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Avīci Hell

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Vajragoni

Perhaps the best known hell-realm within Buddhism is Avīci Hell. It’s the most ferocious and unrelenting dominion that houses the most grievous perpetrators such as those who commit matricide and patricide, rapists, in particular one Ananda (not to be confused … Continue reading →

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Seng Ts’an

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Vajragoni

Perhaps the tale that intrigues me the most about Seng Ts’an was his early encounter with his Lankavatarian teacher, Huike, who exclaimed to him, “You are riddled with leprosy, and yet you come to me?” Seng Ts’an’s classic response was, … Continue reading →

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Riding the head of the Black Dragon

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Tozen

Zen Buddhism strives, to get you the fastest possible way, to the undivided light of the Unborn Mind. Your own true nature. From there on, the true path of the ariyan Mind begins, and the light of Mahayana, shining with … Continue reading →

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Tozen: Facing the dilemma of the fourth noble truth

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Tozen

  “Master, please tell me. What is the difference between the material body-mind and the spiritual one? I know I am supposed to cut through the dialectical mind with your koans, directly seeing for myself what truth is, but I … Continue reading →

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That’s a Wrap!

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Vajragoni

This past month studying and commentating on the new Red Pine edition of the Lankavatara Sutra has truly been an auspicious time for me; my hope is that this may prove of some benefit for present and future students of … Continue reading →

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The Long and Winding Road

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Vajragoni

As the Lanka winds-down, we are left with some very constructive impressions. Red Pine masterfully translates the great malady that affects all sentient beings—the diurnal wheel of samsara and its accompanying dependent origination: “Fools let their thoughts wander among the … Continue reading →

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The Other

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Vajragoni

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 … Continue reading →

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Mind Games

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Vajragoni

Sections LXXX-XC entitled “Final Questions” by Red Pine actually combines the former Suzuki chapters 4-9 into one chapter, 4. At the beginning of this Lanka series mention was made concerning the various stages that comprise the Bodhisattva path, and that … Continue reading →

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