Chapter 19 - The Three Doors of Liberation Flashcards
1
Q
enumerate:
Three Doors of Liberation
A
- Emptiness
- Signlessness
- Aimlessness
2
Q
Emptiness
1st Door of Liberation
6
A
- has to have an object, always means empty of something
- we are empty of a separate, independent self, we cannot be by ourselves alone, we can only inter-be with everything else in the cosmos
- emptiness does not mean non-existence
- = interbeing, interdependent co-arising, impermanence and non-self
- = Middle Way between existent and non-existent
- things, flowers etc don’t become empty, they are already empty
3
Q
Signlessness
2nd Door of Liberation
6
A
- signs are to be broken free of to touch reality
- as long as we are caught in them (round, square, solid, liquid, gas) we will suffer
- nothing can be described in terms of one sign, yet without signs we feel anxious
- our fear/attachment come from being caught in signs
- signs are instruments for our use, but not absolute truth and they can mislead us
- free from signs, we enter the heart of reality
4
Q
Aimlessness
3rd Door of Liberation
9
A
- nothing to do, nothing to realise, no program, no agenda, not running after things, not grasping
- spirit of aimlessness is freedom and happiness in the present moment
- purpose of a rose is to be a rose, therefore my purpose is to be myself
- Buddha’s teaching is to enjoy refreshing, healing things on offer in present moment
- we are already what we want to become
- conditions for happiness are already here, no running, just be
- Heart Sutra: nothing to attain, no need to meditate for enlightenment, it’s already in us
- we don’t lack anything, stop striving
- aimlessness and nirvana are one
5
Q
enumerate:
Four Signs
in Diamond Sutra
A
- self
- person
- living being
- life span
6
Q
Self
as sign in Diamond Sutra
2
A
- we think there are things that are not “self”
- looking deeply, there’s no separate, independent self, so we become free of this sign
7
Q
Person
as sign in Diamond Sutra
3
A
- separation of humans from animals, trees, rocks, etc and imagining these exist for exploitation
- humans contain non-human elements
- concentration on signlessness = living in harmony with all other species
8
Q
Living Being
as sign in Diamond Sutra
3
A
- wrong view: sentient beings are different from insentient beings
- polluting “non’living” beings (ex: air, rivers) we pollute living beings as well
- looking deeply, we know we need to stop acting this way
9
Q
Life Span
as sign in Diamond Sutra
3
A
- period of time between birth and death
- idea that life has a beginning and an end
- looking deeply we see we have never been born and we will never die, so our fear dissolves - a relief!
10
Q
Where should we look for the world of signlessness?
6
A
- Right here, in the world of signs!
- If we throw away the water, we can no longer touch its suchness
- To see the Tathagatha = Wondrous Nature of Reality
- Seeing the non-self elements of flowers etc, one can realise awakening
- Beyond signs —> world of Non-fear and No-blame
- Caught by signs we are afraid of losing their particular manifestation
11
Q
How can emptiness help us understand mindful eating?
3
A
- “I am this food. This food is me.”
- “I nourish you/others by eating”
- The one who eats the food and the food that is eaten are both, by nature, empty; therefore, communication between them is perfect
12
Q
How can emptiness help us understand sickness and death?
3
A
- these are overwhelming without practising emptiness
- we can stay in touch with life as it is, but practise and not just talk about it
- we can go beyond time/space, me/mine, to taste true liberation
13
Q
Why should we not feel anxiety, looking at the state of the world?
6
A
- more important not to allow anxiety about world’s occurrences fill our heart
- a heart full of anxiety gets sick and cannot help
- anxiety = illness of our age
- worrying accomplishes nothing, even intense worrying still does the same amount of nothing!
- things may not be as we like yet we can still be content
- do not expect additonal happiness or favourable conditions for more happiness —> enjoy present moment, not asking for more (aimlessness)
14
Q
According to the Diamond Sutra, what can also be found wherever there is a sign?
2
A
- deception
- illusion
15
Q
What do perceptions often tell us?
A
- as much about the perceiver as the object of perception
(and appearances can deceive)
