Purifying the Six Senses!

[Shi Da Dao]

The six senses are purified through the application of adequate, effective and correct meditative technique. Ch'an Dialogue can re-orientate the thought processes so that it is easier to directly perceive the 'Empty Mind Ground'. This might happen in a second or a lifetime. A difference of opinion exists between the Theravada School and the Mahayana School. In the former, the six senses can only be fully purified by ordained monastics and that if an individual leaves the holy-life - then the once purified senses 'regress' and return to a state inundated by greed, hatred and delusion. This is true despite the Buddha clearly stating in the Pali Suttas that lay-people can and do realise 'enlightenment' despite living within ordinary society. The Theravada School, when asked about this discrepancy state that in the unlikely event of a lay-person (always a 'man' despite the Buddha stating men and women are equal) gaining enlightenment - then that individual must 'ordain' or face a hellish kammic reaction. Within the Mahayana Sutras of the Chinese Ch'an School, men, women, children and even animals can attain 'enlightenment' regardless of their socio-economic conditions, and regardless of whether they are ordained monastics or not. Furthermore, once the six senses are 'purified' within the Mahayana-Ch'an traditions - they remain 'pure' for all time despite any change in living or worldly conditions. Indeed, This is the foundational thinking of the various 'Tantrayana' (Vajrayana) Schools and which is hinted at in the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra and Lankavatara Sutra, etc. Of course, the Theravada School is a good and strong tradition which we can all use to our best Dhamma-advantage. Different lineages of Theravada take slightly different approaches to the general interpretation mentioned above. Certainly, when I trained with Mangala Thero in Sri Lanka, he had nothing to say on this issue. It simply did not matter. From a Ch'an perspective - the Empty Mind Ground is 'unaffected' by any apparent diversity of doctrinal interpretation. Knowing and understanding these differences is simply a matter of 'mind operation' (or 'function') and nothing else. We all take a breath and sit quietly in the Meditation Hall of the Buddhapadipa Temple situated in Wimbledon (South London).