Shurangama Mantra with Verses and Commentary

by Venerable Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua

 

19. TAM MIỆU GIÀ BA RA 

三藐伽波囉

Bất hoàn dục giới chứng Niết Bàn

Liễu tri vạn pháp triệt để nguyên

Vô thức vô tri thường thanh tịnh

Phi động phi tịnh ly thuyết ngôn.

 

不還欲界證涅槃 

了知萬法徹底源

無識無知常清淨 

非動非靜離說言

SAN MYAU CHYE BE LA

 

Not returning to the Desire Realm, he's certified to Nirvana.

He understands the myriad dharmas and penetrates to the source.

With no consciousness, no knowing, forever is one pure.

In neither movement nor stillness, one is apart from words.

 

COMMENTARY:

 

SAN MYAU here also means "proper and equal." CHYE BE LA means "not returning," that is, not returning to the Desire Realm--the Three Realms of Desire, Form, and Formlessness. Not returning to the Desire Realm, he's certified to Nirvana. / This means these sages do not return to the Desire Realm but certify to the other shore of Nirvana. He understands the myriad dharmas and penetrates to the source. / Why are they able not to return? Because they've understood the ten thousand dharmas at their very source. With no consciousness, no knowing, forever is one pure. / When one arrives at this state, there is no awareness, no discrimination, no knowing, no thinking at all. Without any thinking without any considerations there are no afflictions. So, at that state one is always pure.

 

In neither movement nor stillness, one is apart from, words. / There's nothing to be said when one arrives at this state.