Attaining Enlightenment in This Very Existence - Kukai

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MAJOR WORKS OF KUKAI 225

TT INING ENLIGHTENMENT

IN THIS VERY EXISTEN E

(Sokushin jobutsu gi)

QUESTION: In sutras and shastras it is explained that after three aeons one

can attain enlightenment. Is there evidence for the assertion that onecan attain enlightenment in this very existence?

ANSWER: The Tathagata has explained it in the Esoteric Buddhist

texts.

QUESTION: How is it explained?

ANSWER: I t is said in the Vajrasekhara Sutra that He who practices

this samadhi can immediately realize the enlightenment of the Buddha.

Also: If the sentient beings who have come across this teaching prac

tice it diligently four times day and night, they will realize the stageof joy in this life and perfect enlightenment in their subsequent sixteen

lives. 2

REMARKS: This teaching in the foregoing quotation refers to the

king of teachings, the teaching of samadhi realized by the Dharmakaya

Buddha himself. The stage of joy is not the first stage of Bodhisattva

hood as defined in the Exoteric Buddhist teachings, but the first stage

of Buddhahood of our Buddha Vehicle, the details of which are ex-

1 Chin-kang-ting (vajrasekhara) i-tzu-ting-lun-wang-yii-ch ieh i-kuei, T19, p. 320c.

After the quotation there is a parenthetic comment which reads, This samadhi

is the samadhi of Mahavairocana Buddha in the form of a universal monarch,

represented by a seed mantra [bhrii??z].

2 Chin-kang-ting-yii-ch ieh-san-mo-ti-fa. T18 p. Bib.



6 PART THREE

plained in the chapter discussing stages. 3 By sixteen lives is meant

that one is to realize the attainments of the sixteen great Bodhisattvas,4

the details of which are also explained in the chapter discussing the

stages.5

Again it is said: I f a man disciplines himself according to this su

perior doctrine, he will be able to attain in this life unsurpassed enlight

enment. 6 Furthermore: It should be known that he himself turns into

the Diamond Realm; since he becomes identical with the Diamond, he

is firm and indestructible. An awareness will emerge that he is of the

Diamond Body.7

Theahiivairocana

Sutra states: Without forsakinghis body, he obtains supernatural power, wanders on the ground of

great space, and p r f ~ t s the Mystery of Body. 8 Also: If he wishes

to gain the perfection of religious discipline in his lifetime, he must

select a certain method of meditation that suits his inclinations and con

centrate on it. For this, he must personally receive instruction in mantra

recitation from an authentic master. f he observes the mantras and

masters yoga, he will gain perfection. 9

REMARKS: The perfection of religious discipline mentioned in thesutra refers to the perfection of yoga which uses recitation of and

meditation on mantras and to the perfection of yoga of the Dharmakaya

Buddha. The ground of great space is the Dharmakaya Buddha. He is

analogous to great space; he is eternal, being unobstructed, and em

braces in himself all phenomena. That is why he is compared to great

space. Grounded on him, all things exist; therefore, the term ground

is used. The term Mystery of Body is introduced because the Three

Mysteries of the Dharmakaya Buddha are imperceptible, even by the

3 Kukai seems to be referring to the discussion of the ten stages of the develop

ment of the religious mind in the first chapter of the Mahiivairocana Sutra. T18

p. 3b. .

4 Kukai interprets sixteen lives as realizing the samadhi of the sixteen Bo

dhisattvas surrounding the Four Buddhas in the inner circle of the Diamond

Mandala, not as repeating the cycle of birth and death sixteen times.5 This reference is ambiguous. Kiikai may well be referring to the section on the

emergence of the sixteen Bodhisattvas of the Diamond Mandala in the Mindof Mah:i.vairoeana while in samadhi. Cf. Fen-pieh-sheng-wei ching, Tl8, pp. 288c-290c.

6 Kuan-chih i-kuei. Tl9, p. 594a.

7 Chin-kang-ting-yu-ch ieh-san-rno-ti-fa. Tl8, p. 329a.

9 Tl8, p. 45c.s TIS p. 2la.




bodhisattvas in the Ten Stages of Bodhisattvahood, let alone by other

bodhisattvas lower than they.

In the Aspiration to Enlightenment of Nagarjuna it is explained: It

is through the teachings of Mantrayana that we can attain enlighten

ment in this very existence; this teaching explains the way of samadhi

which is either neglected or totally ignored in other teachings. 10

REMARKS: By samadhi in this quotation is meant the samadhi real

ized by the Dharmakaya Buddha himself. The other teachings desig

nate the Exoteric Buddhist teachings expounded by the Buddha [Sha

kyamuni] for the sake of saving others.It is also said: If, seeking after the Buddha Wisdom, a man pene

trates into the enlightened mind bodhicitta), he will quickly realize

great Buddhahood in the very body given him by his parents. 11 This

doctrinal evidence establishes the assertion.

QUESTION: How do you analyze the meaning of the words [attaining

enlightenment in this very existence] given in these sutras and shastras?

A summary in verse:

The Six Great Elements are interfused and are in a state of eternalharmony;

The Four Mandalas are inseparably related to one another:When the grace of the Three Mysteries is retained, [our inborn

three mysteries will] quickly be manifested.Infinitely interrelated like the meshes of Indra's net are those which

we call existences.

Thereis

the One whois

naturally equipped with all-embracing wisdom.

More numerous than particles of sand are those who have the Kingof Mind and the consciousnesses;

Each of them is endowed with the Fivefold Wisdom, with infinitewisdom.

All beings can truly attain enlightenment because of the force of

mirrorlilce wisdom.

Interpretation: These two stanzas consisting of eight lines express theconcept of attaining enlightenment in this very existence. These

words contain infinite meanings. In fact, the goal of all the teachings of

Buddhism is no more than what this one phrase represents. The two

10 T32, p. 572c. 11 T32, p. 574c.



228 PART THREE

stanzas were composed in an attempt to express concisely the immea-

surable value of this concept.

The first stanza expresses the meaning of in this very existence ; the

second, of attaining enlightenment. In the first stanza, the first line

stands for the essence ( tai); the second, for the attributes (so); the

third, for the functions yu); and the fourth, for the state of interpene-

tration (muge . In the second stanza, the first line stands for the en-

lightenment of the Dharmakaya Buddha; the second, for the infinite

number [of his attributes, that is, beings]; the third, for the perfect en-

dowment [of the element of enlightenment in all beings] ; and thefourth, for the reason [why any being can attain enlightenment] .

As to the first line, The Six Great Elements are interfused and are

in a state of eternal harmony, the Six Great Elements are earth, water,

fire, wind, space, and consciousness. The definition of these elements

is contained in the following verse given in the Mahiivairocana Sutra:

I have realized that which is unborn;It is that which language cannot communicate;It is free from all defilements;It transcends causality.

know that it is void like space.12

The seed (bija) mantras for these words are: A, Va, Ra, Ha, Kha,

Hzt1fl. A stands for that which is unborn (anutpiida), which is the

earth element; Va, for that which language (vile) cannot communi-

cate, which is the water element; Rtl for free from all defilements,

which is the fire element (rajas); Ha, for transcends causality (hetva),which is the wind element; Kha, for void like space (kha), which is

the space element; and Hit1 Z, for I have realized, which represents

the consciousness element. As long as a man has not gained the Buddha

Wisdom, he is called consciousness (vijiiiina) being; but once he attains

enlightenment, he is called wisdom (jiiiina) being. The Sanskrit words

buddha and bodhi are derived from the same root budh; buddha means

the enlightened one, bodhi means wisdom. . . . The verse of the sutra

was formed from the viewpoint of the samadhi of the Five BuddhasP

2 Tl8, P· 9b.13 The Five Buddhas are Mahavairocana and the Four Buddhas surrounding

him in the inner circle of the Diamond Mandala. The idea is that the seed mantras

A, Va, Ra, Ha, Kha symbolize the state of samadhi of Mahavairocana, A k ~ o b h y aRatnasambhava, Amitabha, and Amoghasiddhi respectively.




In the Vajrasekhara Sutra it is said: All things are originally un-

born; their intrinsic nature is beyond any verbal expression; it is pure

and clean, being free from defilements and causality; it is equal toempty space. 14 Again, in the Mahiivairocana Sutra it is said: I am

Consciousness. I am omnipresent. I pervade all among the myriad sen-

tient and nonsentient beings. A is Life (earth); Va water; Ra, fire;

Hiitf 'l, the wind; and Kha is identical with space. The first clause

I am Consciousness stands for the Consciousness Element which s

the [Fivefold] Wisdom [in the case of the Enlightened Ones]. The

last five clauses stand for the Five Great Elements. The clauses located

in the middle express the attributes of freedom and nonobstruction of

the Six Great Elements. The meanings of the Six Great Elements are

given in the Mahiiprajnapiiramitii Sutra 1 6 Ying-lo ching,17 and other

texts.

These Six Great Elements create all the Buddhas, all sentient beings,

and the material worlds, that is the Dharmakaya in Four Forms and

the threefold world.18 The Six Great Elements are the creating;

and the Dharmakaya in Four Forms and the threefold world are thecreated. The created ranges from the Dharmakaya Buddha to the

beings in the Six Transmigratory Paths. Although there are d i f f e r ~ n e ssuch as coarse or subde, large or small among the created, they are

not external to the Six Great Elements. The Buddha [Mahavairocana],

therefore, preached that the Six Great Elements are the essence of the

World of Dharma. In Exoteric Buddhist . teachings, the four great

elements [earth, water, fire, and wind] are considered to be nonsentient

beings, but in Esoteric Buddhist teaching they are regarded as the

samaya-body 19 of the Tathagata. The four great elements are not

independent of the mind. Differences exist between matter and mind,

but in their essential nature they remain the same. Matter is no other

than mind; mind, no other than matter. Without any obstruction, they

are interrelated. The subject s the object; the object, the subject. The

seeing is the seen, and the seen is the seeing. Nothing differentiates

14 Cbin-kang-ting-yu-ch ieh-san-mo-ti-fa. Tl8, p. 33la. 15 TlB p. 38b.16 T5, p. 979c. 17 T16 p. 19c.

18 For the Dharmakaya in Four Forms, see discussion n Part Two, p. 83. The

threefold world s the world of perfectly enlightened ones, that of sentient beings,and that of nonsentient beings.

19 See Part Two, p. 89 n. 26.



230 PART THREE

them. Although we speak of the creating and the created, there is in

reality neither the creating nor the created. What kind of intellectual

determinations can be made of the eternal Order that is naturally so

honi o dori)? Such terms as the creating and the created are sym

bolic expressions of Esoteric Buddhism, and we should not indulge

in senseless speculation while clinging to the ordinary and superficial

meanings of these words. The Existence consisting of the Six Great

Elements, the essence of the World of Dharma, is free without any ob

stacle and is in a state of eternal harmony. He is perpetual, immutable,

andis

equally abiding inthe

apexof

Reality.In

the verse, therefore,it

is said, The Six Great Elements are interfused and are in a state of

eternal harmony.

Concerning The Four Mandalas are inseparably related to one an

other, it is explained in the Mahiivairocana Sutra that there are three

esoteric forms of expression for all the Tathagatas. They are k ~ r[Sanskrit letters], mudrii [signs], and bimba [images]. 20 By k ~ r the

Dharma-mandala is meant; by mudrii, various religious symbols, that

is the Samaya-mandala; and by bimba, the physical forms of Buddhawith major and minor characteristic marks, that is the Maha-mandala.

Implicit in each of these three kinds of mandala are the departments

and activities which we call the Karma-mandala The four kinds

of mandala are numberless, and each of them can be as large as space.

One is inseparably related to another, just as the sky and rays of light

do not resist each other. Hence, The Four Mandalas are inseparably

related to one another.

Concerning the third line When the grace of the Three Mysteries

is retained, [our inborn three mysteries will] quickly be manifested,

the Three Mysteries are the mysteries of body, speech, and mind. The

Three Mysteries of the Dharmakaya Buddha are so profound and subtle

that the bodhisattvas who are in the Ten Stages of Bodhisattvahood

or even those who are nearly equal to the Buddha fail to see or hear

them; this is the reason the term mystery is used. Each of His mani

festations is equally endowed with the boundless Three Mysteries andis related and interfused with others so that they embrace and sustain

each other. It is the same with respect to the three mysteries of all

sentient beings. f there is a Shingon student who reflects well upon

20 Tl8, P· 44a.




the meaning of the Three Mysteries, makes mudras, recites mantras,

and allows his mind to abide in the state of samadhi, then, through

grace, his three mysteries will be united with the Three Mysteries; thus,the great perfection of his religious discipline will be realized. A

sutra therefore states: The three mystic letters [o J hit kha ? ] of

Mahavairocana Buddha are, singly or collectively, of immeasurable

effect. f [a student of samadhi] consecrates his heart with these mystic

letters accompanied by proper mudras, he will perfect the mirrorlike

wisdom and obtain quickly the enlightened Mind and the adamantine

Body. f he thus consecrates his forehead, he will certainly perfect the

wisdom of equality and quickly obtain the anointed, meritorious and

glorified Body. f he consecrates his mouth with these mystic letters,

he will perfect the wisdom of observation; then, he will be able to turn

the wheel of the dharma and to gain the Body of Wisdom of the

Buddha. f he consecrates the crown of his head, he will perfect the

wisdom of actions, witness the transformed bodies of the Buddha, and

be able to subdue those who are difficult to control. f he consecrates

his entire body with these mystic letters accompanied by propermudras, he will realize the wisdom that perceives the essential nature

of the World of Dharma and the Body of Mahavairocana, the World

of Dharma whose infinity can be compared to space. 21

Also it is stated: If [a student of samadhi] enters the meditation

called the 'observation of Suchness, the Dharmakaya,' he will have a

vision that all is undifferentiated oneness like infinite space. f he con

centrates on practicing this meditation continually, he will in his pres

ent life enter the first stage of Bodhisattvahood and quickly accumulate

the merits and provisions which would otherwise take immeasurable

aeons. Being embraced by the grace of all the Tathagatas, he will reach

the final stage and be equipped with the all-embracing wisdom; then,

he will realize the unity of himself and others and be integrated in the

Dharmakaya of all the Tathagatas. With the great compassion that

pours forth unconditionally, he will benefit limitless sentient beings

and thus engage in the great activities of the Buddha.These Esoteric Buddhist texts explain the methods of the samadhi

of swift effect and suprarational action. f there is a man who whole-

21 Chin-kang-ting i-tzu-ting-lun-wang-yii-ch ieh i-kuei. T19, p. 322c.

22 Kuan-chih i-kuei. T19, p 602a.



3 PART THREE

heartedly disciplines himself day and night according to the prescribed

methods of discipline, he will obtain in his corporeal existence the Five

Supernatural Powers.23 And if he keeps training himself, he will, with

out abandoning his body, advance to the stage of the Buddha. The

details are as explained in the sutras. For this reason it is said, When

the grace of the Three Mysteries is retained, [our inborn three mys

teries will] quickly be manifested. The expression the grace is

retained (kaji; a d h i ~ t h i i n a ) indicates great compassion on the part of

the T athagata and faith (shinjin on the part of sentient beings. The

compassion of the Buddha pouring forth on the heart of sentient beings,like the rays of the sun on water, is called k [adding], and the heart of

sentient beings which keeps hold of the compassion of the Buddha, as

water retains the rays of the sun, is called ji [retaining]. f the devotee

understands this principle thoroughly and devotes himself to the prac

tice of samadhi, his three mysteries will be united with the Three

Mysteries, and therefore in his present existence, he will quickly mani

fest his inherent three mysteries. This is the meaning of the words,

[our inborn three mysteries will] quickly be manifested.Infinitely interrelated like the meshes of Indra's net are those which

we call existences. This line explains in simile the state of perfect

interfusion and interpenetration of the infinite Three Mysteries of the

manifestations [of Mahavairocana J Existence is my existence, the

existences of the Buddhas, and the existences of all sentient beings. Also

designated by this word is the Mahavairocana Buddha in Four Forms,

which represent his absolute state, his state of bliss, his manifesting

bodies, and his emanating bodies. The three kinds of symbol-letters,

signs, and images-are also included in this category. All of these

existences are interrelated horizontally and vertically without end, like

images in mirrors, or like the rays of lamps. This existence is in that

one, and that one is in this. The Existence of the Buddha [Mahavairo

cana] is the existences of the sentient beings and vice versa. They are

not identical but are nevertheless identical; they are not different but

are nevertheless different. t is therefore said in a mantra: Asame trisame samaye sviihii. 4 Asame means non-sameness; tri-same, sameness of

23 Supernatural action, vision, hearing; ability to read the minds of others; and

knowledge of former states of existences.

4 This mantra appears in the Mahiivairocana Sutra. Tl8, pp. 12c, 24b.



MAJOR WORKS OF KUJCAI 33

the three; samaye sameness. The three stand for Buddha, Dharma,

and Sangha, and for the Mind, the Buddha, and sentient beings as well.

These three are identical; they are identical and one. One is withinmany, and many are in one, yet no confusion arises. That is why the

verse says: Infinitely interrelated like the meshes of Indra's net are

those which we call existences.

Concerning the line There is the One who is naturally equipped

with all-embracing wisdom, in the Mahiivairocana utra it is said: I

am the origin of all I am called the One on whom the world depends.

Myteachings are peerless. I am in the state of quiescence, and thereare none who surpass me. 25 I in the quotation refers to Mahavairo

cana, and all, to innumerable existences. The origin means the

primary one who realized naturally from the very beginning all the

states of being characterized by the great freedom as suggested above.

The Dharmakaya of the Tathagatas and the essential nature of sentient

beings are identical; both are in possession of the principle of primordial

quiescence. Yet, sentient beings are unaware of this and remain igno

rant. The Buddha preaches this message and causes sentient beings toawaken to enlightenment Each of the Buddhas [actual or poten

tial Buddhas, that is, all sentient beings] is endowed with the Fivefold

Wisdom, wit the Thirty-sevenfold Wisdom,26 with infinite wisdom.

This meaning is expressed in the following two lines [ More numerous

than particles of sand are those who have the King of Mind and the

consciousnesses;jEach of them is endowed with the Fivefold Wisdom,

with infinite wisdom ] The King of Mind is the Wisdom

that perceives the essential nature of the World of Dharma, and

consciousness is a collective name for the manifold levels of con-• 27scwusness. . . .

The last line [ All beings can truly attain enlightenment because of

25 Tl8, p 22b.

26 The Thirty-sevenfold Wisdom stands for the Thirty-seven Buddhas and

Bodhisattvas in the inner circle of the Diamond Mandala, of which the center is

Mahavairocana. Since the thirty-six deities represent aspects of Mahavairocana, the

Thirty-sevenfold Wisdom is a synonym for the Fivefold Wisdom and for infinite

wisdom, which represent the totality and the parts of the wisdom of Mahavairo

cana.

27 The Wisdom that perceives the essential nature of the World of Dharma

corresponds to Pure Consciousness amala-vijilaua), and consciousnesses, to the

eightfold consciousness (aiaya-consciousness, ego-consciousness, etc.).



34 P RT THREE

the force of mirrorlike wisdom ] gives the reason why [one can

attain enlightenment here and now]. The reason why all the Buddhas

are said to have realized enlightenment is that their mirrorlike mind

functions like a bright mirror set on a high stand, reflecting all images.

The faultless, bright Mind-mirror [of Mahavairocana], being placed

on the summit of the World of Dharma, illumines calmly all beings

without any distortion or error. Which Buddha [sentient being with

Buddha nature] does not possess such perfect, mirrorlike wisdom? It is

therefore said in the last line: All beings can truly attain enlightenment

because of the force of mirrorlike wisdom.

THE MEANINGS OF SOUND

WORD AND REALITY

Shoji jisso gi)

INTRODUCTION

The Tathagata reveals his teachings by means of expressive symbols.1

These expressive symbols have their constituent elements in the six

kinds of objects. These objects have their origin in the Three Mys-

1 Here the Tathagata is the Dharmakaya Mahiivairocana Buddha. The original

of expressive symbols is monji which normally means a letter, character, or

ideograph. Kiikai's use of monj in this treatise is not restricted to these ordinary

meanings; objects of sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste, and thought are regarded

as monji.

2 The totality of the world of objects objects of sight, hearing, smell, taste,

touch, and thought.

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