Shurangama Mantra with Verses and Commentary

by Venerable Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua

36. NOA DA

拏耶

 

Vô hình vô tượng Thuấn Nhã Đa

Thị chi bất kiến văn diệc yết

Thành trụ hoại không nhị thập kiếp

Kim Cang Đại Định vị tằng na.

 

無形無象舜若多

視之不見聞亦歇

成住壞空二十劫

金剛大定未曾挪

 

NA YE

 

Without shape, without appearance is Shunyata.

One looks but does not see it, nor can it be heard.

Creation, dwelling, decay, emptiness--each takes twenty kalpas.

But through it all in Vajra Samadhi, it has not moved an inch.

 

 

COMMENTARY:

 

NA literally means "to grab." NA YE can be translated as "emptiness" or "oblivion." Emptiness here refers to the spirit of emptiness. Some of the heavenly spirits don't have anything to do so they look for something to do. Basically emptiness is nothing at all, so why watch over it? These spirits are just like people who set themselves up as an "Energy Commisioner" or an "Air Control Officer." This is all a case of not having anything to do and finding something to do. Emptiness is just empty, after all, so why have a spirit watch over it? What is a spirit of emptiness like anyway? It doesn't have a likeness--it's empty.

 

Without shape, without appearance is Shunyata. "Shunyata" means emptiness. If you look at emptiness, you can't see it. If you can see it, is it emptiness? If you listen to it, you can't hear anything. One looks but does not see it, not can it be heard.

 

Creation, dwelling, decay, emptiness--each takes twenty kalpas. Each great kalpa is made up of four medium-sized kalpas. There is creation for twenty medium-sized kalpas, dwelling for twenty medium-sized kalpas, decay for twenty medium-sized kalpas, and emptiness for twenty medium-sized kalpas. Altogether this makes one great kalpa--a very long period of time.

 

But through it all in Vajra Samadhi, it has not moved an inch. Those who enter the great Vajra Samadhi are not moved throughout the whole time of the creation, dwelling, decay, and emptiness of worlds. They do not move a muscle. They are not even afraid of earthquakes! So too, is it with the spirit of emptiness. If you certify to the principle of emptiness, then you won't have attachments or obstructions. Then it becomes emptiness without there being any emptiness. There isn't even emptiness. Emptiness is destroyed and attachments to emptiness are also put aside. Emptiness is obliterated. 

NA YE (Shunyata) is the spirit of emptiness. If you try to grab it, however, you can't get at it. If you are certified as having attained the principle of emptiness, then there are no afflictions, there are no people, and there are no Buddhas.

 

The great—thousand worlds, in number like grains of sand, Are but a bubble on the sea.The union of the Creative (chyan) and the Receptive (kun) Is but a lightning flash across the sky. That's the way it is if you become certified as having attained the Samadhi of Emptiness.

Liễu liễu kiến, vô nhất vật,

Diệc vô nhân, diệc vô Phật.

Ðại thiên sa giới hải trung âu,

Nhất thiết thánh hiền như điện phất.

Giả sử thiết luân đỉnh thượng triền,

Ðịnh huệ viên minh chung bất thất.

Nhật khả lãnh, nguyệt khả nhiệt,

Chúng ma bất năng hoại chân thuyết.

Tượng giá tranh vanh mạn tiến đồ,

Thùy kiến đường lang năng cự triệt.

Ðại tượng bất du ư thố kính,

Ðại ngộ bất câu ư tiểu tiết.

Mạc tương quản kiến báng thương thương,

Vị liễu ngô kim vị quân quyết.

Vĩnh Gia Chứng Ðạo Ca

TEXT:

 

IT IS CLEARLY SEEN: THERE IS NOT A SINGLE THING.

NOR ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE; NOR ARE THERE ANY BUDDHAS.

THE GREAT THOUSAND WORLDS ARE BUBBLES IN THE SEA. 

ALL THE WORTHY SAGES ARE LIKE FLASHES OF LIGHTNING.

EVEN IF AN IRON WHEEL WERE ROLLED OVER ONE'S HEAD,

SAMADHI AND WISDOM WOULD BE FULLY BRIGHT AND NEVER LOST.

 

COMMENTARY:

 

IT IS CLEARLY SEEN; THERE IS NOT A SINGLE THING. Once one is in mutual accord with this Dharma, one will be clear and replete with true and proper knowledge and vision, and then not a single thing can be sought after.

NOR ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE; NOR ARE THERE ANY BUDDHAS. Since things are not established, people and Buddhas are empty, also.

THE GREAT THOUSAND WORLDS ARE BUBBLES IN THE SEA. Allthough the great thousand worlds, many as gains of sand, are very vast and extensive, they are yet like a single bubble of form in the ocean.

ALL THE WORTHY SAGES ARE LIKE FLASHES OF LIGHTNING. Since people and Buddhas are empty, dharmas are not established either. Therefore it says that "All the worthy Sages are like flashes of lightning."

EVEN IF AN IRON WHEEL WERE ROLLED OVER ONE'S HEAD. If a hot iron wheel were rolled over one's head, and one's body were burnt to a crisp.

SAMADHI AND WISDOM WOULD BE FULLY BRIGHT AND NEVER LOST. Through the strength of this samadhi and the power of this wisdom, one attains a state of perfect clarity which is absolutely never lost.

 

TEXT:

 

THE SUN MAY GROW COLD, THE MOON MAY GROW HOT;

THE MULTITUDE OF DEMONS CANNOT DESTROY TRUE SPEECH,

THE ELEPHANT'S CARRIAGE SLOWLY AND WITH DIGNITY ADVANCES ALONG THE ROAD.

WHO HAS SEEN A MANTIS THAT COULD DEFLECT IT FROM ITS COURSE?

THE GREAT ELEPHANT DOES NOT TRAVEL IN THE RABBIT'S PATH.

THE GREAT AWAKENING IS NOT CONFINED TO A SMALL SPACE.

DO NOT DETRACT FROM THE AZURE SKY BY LOOKING AT IT THROUGH A REED.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT UNDERSTOOD, I NOW IMPART THE SECRET.

 

COMMENTARY:

 

THE SUN MAY GROW COLD, THE MOON MAY GROW HOT. Even if it were to actually happen that the sun should change from hot to cold, and the moon from cold to hot.

THE MULTITUDE OF DEMONS CANNOT DESTROY TRUE SPEECH. Whatever devilish trickery the multitudes of heavenly demons, adherents of external paths, and so forth, were to use, they still could not break up my true speaking of Dharma--the Dharma door of the Sudden Teaching.

THE ELEPHANT'S CARRIAGE SLOWLY AND WITH DIGNITY ADAVNCES ALONG THE ROAD. The carriage drawn by the great elephant is dignified yet powerful. Although the elephant's pace seems slow, it progresses very swiftly.

WHO HAS SEEN A MANTIS THAT COULD DEFLECT IT FROM ITS COURSE? Who has ever seen a little praying mantis that could deflect from its course the carriage drawn by the great elephant? This is an illustration of how the lofty heights traversed by the great Bodhisattvas cannot be gauged by the heavenly demons or adherents to external paths.

THE GREAT ELEPHANT DOES NOT TRAVEL IN THE RABBIT'S PATH. The Bodhisattva of the Great Vehicle does not condescend to cultivate the Dharma-doors of the Small Vehicle, just as the great elephant does not walk in the rabbit's path.

THE GREAT AWAKENING IS NOT CONFINED TO A SMALL SPACE. By cultivating the great Vehicle Dharma-door of the Sudden Teaching, one will perceive the original source, the inherent nature, one' natural Buddhahood--in other words, the great breakthrough. This referes to great awakening to one's original face. Therefore, it "is not confined to a small space."

DO NO DETRACT FROM THE AZURE SKY BY LOOKING AT IT THROUGH A REED. Don't let your vision be a peek at the sky through a reed; don't measure the ocean of knowledge with a gourd and go on to slander the great Vehicle Dharma-door of the Sudden Teaching.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT UNDERSTOOD, I NOW IMPART THE SECRET. If there are still those who have not been able to comprehend this perfect and Sudden, Dharma-door, I now explain for you the essential secrets for becoming Enlightened and attaining the Way.

 

 

Song of Enlightenment