mingjiao sutras excerpts for meditation first edition

8/3/2019 Mingjiao Sutras Excerpts for Meditation First Edition

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The MingJiao Sutras

Extracts from the Sacred Texts

of the

MingJiao Canon for Meditation

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The MingJiao Sutras

Extracts from the Sacred Texts

of the

MingJiao Canon for Meditation

1st Edition. Edited by Shen Chang.

Published and Copyright 2012 by Ming-jiao Tsung-hui.

All Rights Reserved.

www.PureTeaching.org

Ming-jiao Tsung-hui

BEIJING

NEW YORK

RALEIGH

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The MingJiao Sutras

Namo Amitabha Buddhaya.



ShangDi, the eternal source of goodness, shining from

tian, beams going forth from tian to earth, shown to us

in the circle above the square, with beams coming

down and touching the earth with his eternal

goodness he receives our offerings of incense and

our prayers as we ascend the steps to his presence,

through the Three Pure Ones and in their avatar theJade Emperor.

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The superior position on the altar is on the highest level

in the middle, where the presence of the Highest

Being is represented. By having single minded focus

and single hearted devotion, one may come closer

and closer to that central part of the altar occupied

by the Highest Being. In this way one should envision

sitting next to the Highest Teacher, next to His Blessed

Lotus Feet, taking in the knowledge in which He

imparts through the Three Pure Ones and in turnthrough Amitabha Buddha to the devotee.

Amitabha Buddha teaches all those devotees who

have single minded focus and single hearted

devotion, regardless of whether they are elders

(teachers) or householders (laity).

No matter how sincere one's prayers and mantras

may be before an altar, if that one is not actively

seeking purification from the darkness that resides

within the human heart and mind, his prayers are like

dust falling from a shelf to the floor.

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Do not think that the Great Teacher, the Highest Guru

Amitabha Buddha, will ever forsake those whom He

considers as His friends. To become a friend of Lord

Amitabha is to accept His teaching, His grace and His

provisions and to act upon that which He instructs in

all things.

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Faith is the friend of the man who seeks to do the will

of Lord Amitabha. Doubt is the enemy of the man

who lacks in cultivating proper faith in ShangDi. Faith

is like a strong ladder over a wide and raging river,

which enables one to reach the Other Shore. Doubt is

like an old wooden boat full of holes which will cause

one to sink to the depths of the river. Amitabha

Buddha upholds those who uphold their faith in Him

and in His teaching.

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If you have doubt, you sink to the bottom.

If you have faith, you rise to the top.

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Embellish the altar of Lord Amitabha, daily, with the

flowers of your single minded focus and single hearted

devotion that originate from the inner depths of your

heart. When reciting "Namo Amitabha Buddhaya,"

envision the petals of your love and devotion as if they

are flowing from your heart and softly resting upon the

sacred image of the Most Blessed One

and upon His Lotus Feet.

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Like the wind that is always invisible, but felt upon the

flesh of your face, Ming ShangDi (the Supreme God of

Heaven), although not physically visible, is always

present and can be felt within your soul.

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Amitabha Buddha, among his many names,

he is also known in the universe as Jinghuofeng.

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The initial purification of the heart, mind, eyes and

hands first comes through wisdom generated by true

prayer, study of the sutras and perseverance in the

removal of attachments. The true purification from

matter, which is the separation of light from darkness,

comes through unity in Amitabha Buddha.

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If the offerings bowls in your heart are not clean, then

the offerings bowls on your altar are putrid and of no

value. Go and purify your heart before standing

before the altar of Amitabha ShangDi.

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Seek to transform yourself to the Way of Perfection.

Become what you were in the beginning. In this way

you shall return to the Divine Source

from which you originated.

Having firmly established your faith and trust in

Amitabha Buddha, having abandoned wrongful

desires and attachments, having removed all darkness

from your soul - you shall eventually go to abide in thePure Land of the Celestial Masters which is beyond the

realm of darkness and matter, where the Pure

Teaching abounds, where all manners of enlightened

being walk in the Way of Perfection, learning the

Dharma and the Dao unobstructed.

The beginning of this process of transformation to the

Way of Perfection is the cultivation of the virtues and

the inner and outward change of the

various characteristics.

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The Three Jade Pillars consist of: 1. Sutra, 2. Tantra,

3. Dzogchen

The First Jade Pillar is Sutra which is the collection of

sacred texts of Mingjiao. The sutras provide a basis for

which the devotee is able to study the ancient history

and honored precepts of the Faith.

The Second Jade Pillar is Tantra which consists of theexternal and inner practices of the Faith. Tantric

practices assist the devotee in building up a hedge

around the Dharma to protect it from abuse and to

raise it up as the standard of the Faith. Tantra helps

the devotee to seek liberation from darkness and

samsara.

The Third Jade Pillar is Dzogchen which contains the

various revelations, including terma. Dzogchen assists

the devotee in developing the root of compassion

and leads one to liberation or Great Perfection and

true awareness. Dzogchen also contains the sum of

the First and Second Jade Pillars.

The Three Jade Pillars lead the devotee to the

harmonious cultivation of the Five Diamonds of

Perfection which consist of: 1. Proper Reason, 2. Proper

Mind, 3. Proper Intelligence, 4. Proper Thought,

5. Proper Understanding

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The Three Jade Pillars along with the Five Diamonds of

Perfection, are embodied in the Three Treasures which

consist of: 1. Buddha (the Teacher), 2. Dharma (the sum

of the teaching of the Faith), 3. Sangha (the body of

devotees)

The Three Jade Pillars, the Five Diamonds of Perfection

and the Three Treasures is part of the Great Temple of

Amitabha in Sukhavati (the Pure Land) which ispromised to all who call upon Lord Amitabha

in faith and practice.

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Without stain,

When the Samadhi Buddha looks over

the great ocean

Through the cloud of Light,

Mani Guangfa appears in the world.

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There are three genders in your world. There is the First Gender,

the Second Gender and the Third Gender. The First Gender is

a male who produces children with one from the SecondGender. The Second Gender is a female who produces

children with one from the First Gender. Those of the First and

Second Genders are attracted to one another. The Third

Gender consists of both males and females who find

themselves attracted to each other in different ways. For

example, a female of the Third Gender is attracted to another

female also of the Third Gender. A male of the Third Gender isattracted to another male also of the Third Gender.

It is against divine nature for humans to teach others the view

that it is sinful for two people of the same gender to be

attracted to one another. Those teach against divine nature

are destined to be reborn in the lower levels of matter until

such a time they return to the divine teaching concerning all

things. In such ones there is no light and their lot is with the

wild beasts of the fields. By Shangdi and His Great Compassion

were three genders brought into existence for manifesting

both compassion and love for all humanity.

In modern times people of the Third Gender are unable to

bring about children in the world of matter. Only in Sukhavati is

it now possible to bring forth spiritual children in the higherlevels of existence between persons of the Third Gender. These

spiritual offspring are brought forth and raised in Sukhavati and

sent forth in other forms for the benefit of all sentient beings in

the lower levels of existence, such as your world. These are the

purest of all children since their origin is in Sukhavati (the Pure

Land). They are the true teachers of all humanity. It is they who

bring for the Great Message of Liberation of Light from matter,from the highest levels of Sukhavati, from the deepest depths

of the heart of the Great Buddha of Infinite Light.

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It is your solemn duty, whether you be of the laity or

the teachers, to emphasize that which is divine,

originating from the Light over that which is profane,originating from the darkness.

In all you do, always put Shang Di before your eyes.

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Remain steadfast in action.

Strive to maintain harmony with all sentient beings

and the earth.

Practice selflessness without partiality.

Be merciful to all sentient beings

striving to save them.

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The anger within a man who continues dwelling on

the evil done to him by others will grow like

a wild vine out of control.

Hatred and raging anger never benefits anyone. This

only causes confusion to the one holding on to such

thoughts, barring the liberation of Light from darkness.

One way of living a happy life is to learn how to let goof anger and hatred, having the ability to forgive the

faults of others around you.

If a man is unable to let go of hatred and anger, and

unable to forgive the wrong done to him by others, he

will never enter into the Land of Light.

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All who call upon Lord Amitabha with faith in him and

his Way (teachings) and practice of the Five Diamonds

of Perfection are assured a happy existence in

Sukhavati the Pure Land of Lord Amitabha.

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Sutra on the Lotus of Awakening

Thus I have heard, at one time the Lord Amitabha was

teaching His emissaries together with a gathering of

numberless great multitudes from all the heavens. At

that time the Lord of Heaven said:

"People are in bondage, because they have not yet

removed doubt from their hearts. As long as they havedoubt within their hearts, they will continue to ask

deeply speculative questions that go beyond what is

written in the plain words of the sutras. Better is it for

the devotee to take the simple road of understanding,

thereby removing all doubts from his heart."

"The very search for enlightening truth is not wrong;

but after finding truth, one should drink from its wells in

a slow manner so as not to choke; it is wrong to start

doubting and questioning with deep speculation, for it

will lead you in a false direction, away from the

Dharma and the Dao."

"How much confusion of thought comes from man's

interest in those things that do not belong to him, and

from your vanity you say in your heart, 'I am so great,'

or 'I have knowledge "' or 'I have done this wonderful

deed?' These thoughts stand between you and truth

and you arrogance blinds you from the simple truth of

the sutras; banish it, and then you will see things

as they are.

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"He who thinks correctly will rid himself of ignorance

and acquire true wisdom."

When we provide water to plants and flowers we must

use moderation. Some flowers can be choked and

killed by providing too much water. Take for example,

a lotus. A lotus grows on the water and gradually

soaks in the water for its benefit. Eventually its roots

become deep within the bed of the lake in which itresides. People are like lotuses.

They must be watered with the well-spring of Ming

ShangDi's life giving truth. But just like a flower, a

person can receive too much water at one time.

Amitabha Buddha said, "one should drink from its wells

in a slow manner so as not to choke."

Lord Amitabha taught a gradual approach to the

learning and practicing of the Abhidharma. A lotus

must be permitted to grow gradually, while it slowly

soaks in the water to sustain its life. After a time the

lotus then begins to shed its outer "skin" and then itbegins to open up, layer by layer, revealing young,

tender areas where it will soon transform into beautiful,

colorful petals. But if the lotus is forced open or is

watered too much, it will die and the transformation

never comes to fruition. Just like the lotus, people must

gradually take in the knowledge of the Great

Abhidharma and how to practice it.

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This is the manner in which the Enlightened Ones have

taught. Once a person is able to take in just the right

amount of water from the living well-springs of

Sukhavati, they are then able to transform into a

beautiful creation of Ming ShangDi with its petals

spread wide in honor, glory and praise

to its Ultimate Source.

It is then that the lotus realizes that it has become

awakened in both the Great Dharma and the Great

Dao, both being deeply embedded within its heart. Its

roots are strong and are deeply planted in the right

soil -- in the heart of the Lord Amitabha.

This is the Abhidharma.

If one's roots are not firmly embedded in the soils of

the Pure Land of Lord Amitabha and His Pure

Teaching, that one's mind can become filled with

speculative questions, and their heart can become

filled with doubt, eventually leading to the

deterioration of their soul.

Be firmly established in the Abhidharma. Trust in

Amitabha Buddha and the Blessed Teaching in which

He provides to His people. In this way you are able to

shine forth to others with the beauty of the Pure

Teaching in which ShangDi is gradually

building within you.

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At one time Amitabha said: "Abhidharma remains

forever. I teach the sincere that a gradual learning of

the Pure Teaching leads one to perfection."

"It is difficult for some men to realize the essentials of

this simple truth; the Pure Teaching is not easily

perceived by all men; perfection in the Abhidharma is

mastered by the one who knows, and to the one whoaspires to walk in the Five Diamonds of Perfection:

Proper Reason, Proper Mind, Proper Intelligence,

Proper Thought and Proper Understanding."

The best way to combat this confusion is through

clarity. Complete openness about what is and what is

not an essential of this world. And these essentials were

taught among the people: That Amitabha Buddha is

of the reflection of Ming ShangDi, the All-Supreme

Lord of the Universe; That the sincere, one minded

practice of the Abhidharma, the Dharma and the

Dao, is the Noble Path of the One who is the pure

reflection of Ming ShangDi and that it leads toperfection and life in Sukhavati; that the sutras

presented in this world that should be studies consist of

the Sutra on the Divine Decrees, Sutra on MingJiao,

Sutra on the Lower Part Chant, Sutra on the Teaching

Plan of the Buddha of Light MoNi, Sutra on Amitabha

Buddha, Larger Sutra on the Buddha of Eternal Life,

Sutra on the Contemplation of Buddha Amitayus, and

the various Jade Emperor Sutras, the Dao Te Ching

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and various other sutras and texts referred to in the

Divine Decrees, including this sutra, the Sutra of the

Lotus of Awakening; That there are Five Diamonds of

Perfection (Proper Reason, Proper Mind, Proper

Intelligence, Proper Thought and Proper

Understanding) taught to us by the Buddhas of Light;

That we must all bow our heads to the Great Lotus

Throne established in Sukhavati; That all of the sons of

Light are one family of Buddha Amitabha, eventuallybecoming one with Him.

Thus I have heard, at one time Amitabha Buddha was

teaching His devotees together with a gathering of

numberless great multitudes from all the heavens.

At that time Amitabha Buddha, the reflection of the

Three Pure Ones, said: "Everything that exists needs

Abhidharma, and every kind of person can find what

is just below the surface- buried deeper than your

eyes.

"The Pure Teaching is like looking at the white of themoon in water. If the water is cloudy, you can not see

it clearly. It is like burning straw in a fire - if the straw is

moist, the fire can not burn brightly."

"The truth of the Pure Teaching can be hidden and

moist like this. So if anyone wants to follow this path

they must clear their minds, and set aside all things

that hamper their ability to walk along

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the path of perfection.

"To be pure and still means to be open to purity and

stillness - as a result you will begin to develop

perfection. This means that the divine light can shine

so as to reveal the workings of cause and effect and

leading to blessed peace. Know this: The words given

to me by Ming ShangDi who resides above the great

mountains of the Pure Land,

reach out into all directions.

"People struggle trying to learn too much at one time.

This struggle, however, creates the desire to do

something. Doing creates movement which can result

in anxiety: Then it is impossible to find rest and

contentment. This is why I teach patience and a

gradual learning of the Abhidharma, for in patience

there is no disturbance. Then you can enter

into the Pure Land.

"Remove yourself from what disturbs and distracts you,

and be as pure as one who breathes in purity and

emptiness trusting in ShangDi. This is the beginning ofknowledge - it is the path of the true peace

and happiness.

May every reader of this sutra be inspired to learn

more about the Abhidharma, to teach, protect and

maintain the Dharma and the Dao throughout the

world without bias to any sentient being."

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT

THIS BOOK AND MINGJIAO OR TO OBTAIN FREE

LITERATURE, PLEASE FEEL

FREE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITES AT

www.PureTeaching.org

www.ReligionOfLight.org

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NOTES

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NOTES

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NOTES

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