June 22nd, 1967 2nd talk
Thursday, June 22nd, 1967Rev S. Suzuki
June 22, 1967
Los Altos
Tonight, perhaps I was supposed to explain the chapter in the Platform Sutra of the thirty-two pairs of opposites; right and wrong, there he points out thirty-two pairs of opposites. This is very interesting points. Originally in this sutra, what is essence of mind is the point of the sutra, and the various pairs of opposites are the two sides of the one essence of mind. So that is why he referred to various idea…opposites ideas. Because of the opposite idea we have our study do not result in anything. When your understanding is always in realm of good or bad there is no end in your study. But when your understanding reach the point where there is no opposites, where you find oneness of the two opposites when you are in perfect renunciations. And the characteristic of Buddhism is to attain oneness within this kind of opposite idea. So in opposite idea we should find the oneness of the opposites. Without rejecting bad to attain oneness is to attain the goal, is our purpose. Usually rejecting flesh under ( ? ) spiritual attainment, or rejecting bad nature resume good pure nature is the purpose of religious effort, but ours is quite different. We find both good and bad in oneness. So the essence of mind or original mind is actually something, sometime which is…which looks like good and sometime looks like bad is the original nature. (more…)