Shurangama Sutra (with commentary) (English)

by Hsuan Hua | 596,738 words

Buddhism Mahayana

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Summary: This is the English translation of the Shurangama Sutra with Commentary By The Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua. The Shurangamasutra is an influential Mahayana Buddhist text affecting Korean and Chinese Buddhism, especially Zen/Chan. It includes teachings on Buddha-nature, Yogacara, and Tantric or esoteric Buddhism (such as Vajrayana). Topics discussed in the Shurangama Sutra include the necessity of moral precepts for enlightenment, combating delusions in meditation, and distinguishing between the true mind and the worldly mind. It further emphasizes strict dietary practices and ethical conduct.

Copyright:
Copyright © Buddhist Text Translation Society.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: cttbusa.org

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Shurangama Sutra (with commentary) (English) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Exhortation To Protect And Propagate

+ Volume 1

+ Chapter 1 - The Ten Doors of Discrimination

. Overview and classification of sutra titles

. The general explanation of the title

. The causes and conditions for the arising of the teaching

. The division in which the Sutra is included

. The examination of the depth of the meaning and the principle

. The expression of the teaching-substance

. The appropriate individuals able to receive the teaching

. The similarities and differences between the principle

. The determination of the time

+ Chapter 2 - The History of the Transmission and Translation

. The history of the transmission and translation

. The translator (Shramana Paramiti)

. The reviewer (Shramana Meghashikara)

. The certifier (Shramana Huai Di)

. The editor (Fang Yong)

+ Chapter 3 - The Testimony of Faith

. An explanation of the six fulfillments

. A broad explanation of the fulfillment of an audience

. The pravarana assembly gathers.

. The assembly that arrived later after hearing the Buddha’s voice

+ Chapter 4 - Ananda’s Fall

. The king and officials prepare offerings

. The Buddha and Sangha go to accept the invitation

. Ananda’s fall is revealed

. The Tathagata compassionately rescues Ananda

. Ananda regrets excessive learning and requests samadhi

+ Chapter 5 - The Way to Shamatha

. The Tathagata explains the general name of the Buddha’s samadhi

. The Tathagata asks Ananda about his resolve

. The Tathagata points out that all living beings have a misconception

. The Tathagata instructs that Ananda

. The Tathagata asks Ananda about his ability to see

. The Tathagata asks Ananda where his mind and eyes are

. Ananda attaches to the mind as being in the body

. Ananda attaches to the mind as being outside the body

. Ananda attaches to the mind’s being hidden in the eyes

. Ananda attaches to the mind as being divided between light and dark

. Ananda attaches to the mind as being that which exists in response

. Ananda attaches to the mind as being in the middle

. Ananda attaches to the mind as being non-attachment

. The Tathagata admonishes that the false consciousness is not the mind

. The display of light destroys the manifestation of all appearances

. The two roots of true and false are revealed

. The false consciousness is not the mind

. Determining that the false consciousness is without a substance

. The Tathagata bestows the profound meaning of the teaching

. The Tathagata often speaks of the wonderful mind

. The Tathagata confirms that the true mind has substance

. The Tathagata shows that the false consciousness has no substance

. Conclusion: the Tathagata reiterates the reason

+ Chapter 6 - Ananda Repents and Seeks the Truth

. Ananda Renounces The False And Seeks The True

. The Tathagata manifests the ultimate true substance

+ Volume 2

+ Chapter 1 - The Seeing Nature

. The Tathagata shows that the seeing is the mind

. The Tathagata shows that the seeing does not move

. The Tathagata shows that the seeing does not become extinct

. King Prasenajit tells his situation and makes a special request

. The Tathagata shows that the body changes

. The Tathagata points out that the seeing is not produced or extinguished

. The Tathagata shows that the seeing is not lost

. The Tathagata shows that seeing does not return

. The Tathagata refutes that the conditioned mind has a place it returns to

. The Tathagata reveals that the nature of seeing does not return to anything

. The Tathagata shows that the seeing does not intermingle

. The Tathagata shows that the seeing is not obstructed

. The Tathagata shows that the nature is not obstructed

. The Tathagata shows that the seeing is not separate

. The Tathagata explains that the myriad dharmas are a single substance

. The Tathagata shows that the seeing transcends the ordinary

. The Tathagata shows seeing is apart from seeing

+ Chapter 2 - The Two False Views

. The Buddha destroys the false and reveals the true

. The Buddha describes two views

. The false view of individual karma

. The False view of the collective share

. The Buddha compares the two views to clarify the meaning

+ Chapter 3 - Mixing and Uniting

. The Buddha traces Ananda’s former awakening

. The Buddha’s refutation: both mixing and uniting are false

+ Volume 3

+ Chapter 1 - False is Just True

. The Tathagata explains that illusory, ephemeral characteristics are true

+ Chapter 2 - The Five Skandhas

. The five skandhas are the treasury of the Tathagata

. The form skandha

. The feeling skandha

. The thinking skandha

. The skandha of activity

. The consciousness skandha

+ Chapter 3 - The Six Entrances

. The six entrances are the treasury of the Tathagata

. The eye entrance

. The ear entrance

. The nose entrance

. The tongue entrance

. The body entrance

. The mind entrance

+ Chapter 4 - The Twelve Places

. The twelve places are the treasury of the Tathagata

. The place of the eye and form

. The place of the ear and sound

. The place of the nose and smells

. The place of the tongue and tastes

. The place of the body and touches

. The place of the mind and dharmas

+ Chapter 5 - The Eighteen Realms

. The eighteen realms are the treasury of the Tathagata

. The realm of eye, form, and consciousness

. The realm of ear, sound, and consciousness

. The realm of nose, smell, and consciousness

. The realm of tongue, flavors, and consciousness

. The realm of body consciousness, objects of touch

. The realm of mind, dharmas, and consciousness

+ Chapter 6 - The Seven Elements Are All-Pervasive

. The nature of the seven elements is all pervasive

. The nature of the earth element

. The nature of the fire element

. The nature of the water element

. The nature of the wind element

. The nature of the emptiness element

. The nature of the element of seeing

. The nature of the element of consciousness

+ Chapter 7 - Ananda Gives Rise to Faith

. Ananda understands his mind and gives rise to faith

. Ananda gratefully praises the benefit he has received

. Ananda brings forth a vast, great mind

+ Volume 4

+ Chapter 1 - The Reason for Continual Arisal

. The Tathagata casts out the subtle delusions

. The Tathagata sequentially casts out the two doubts

+ Chapter 2 - The Reason for Perfect Penetration

. The Buddha reiterates the doubt about the elements

. Based on the arising of defiled conditions there is obstructive existence

. Based on the arising of pure conditions, there is unobstructed fusion

. In the perfection of the empty treasury, everything is non-existent

. In the non-empty treasury everything exists

. In the empty-not-empty treasury is perfect fusion

. Conclusion: an analogy for the seeming loss

. Purna asks about the cause for falseness

. The Tathagata uses an analogy to show there is no cause

+ Chapter 3 - Ananda Attaches to Causes and Conditions

. Ananda traces the Buddha's words and attaches to causes a conditions

. The Tathagata expels Ananda’s deep emotion

. The great assembly is led to enlightenment

. Ananda expresses an analogy of seeking the door so he can enter

+ Chapter 4 - The Two Decisive Doctrines

. The Tathagata shows the wonderful path of cultivation

. The Tathagata explains the two decisive doctrines

. The Tathagata describes the five turbidities

. The Tathagata teaches Ananda to untie the knot from within the organ

. An analogy to show that Ananda must know where the knot is

. The Tathagata tells Ananda that the organ is actually the knot

. The Tathagata shows the efficacy of the six organs

. The Tathagata teaches Ananda to enlighten and perfectly enter

. Ananda restates the Buddha’s words and asks for benefit

. The knot of delusion is deep

. The one and the six are due to falseness

. The Tathagata uses an analogy to clarify the dharma

. The knot of the organs is because of the defiling objects

. When the defiling objects disappear, the organ is gone

+ Chapter 5 - Hearing is Not Sound

. Ananda sees cause and fruition as opposites

. The Tathagata uses an immediate incident to investigate permanence

. The Tathagata strikes a bell to investigate permanence

. The Tathagata invents a dream to investigate impermanence

. The Tathagata reveals the confusion and teaches Ananda to be on guard

+ Chapter 6 - The Source of the Knot

. Ananda specifically asks about the source of the knot

. The Tathagata certifies that there is no other source

. Ananda has not yet awakened and so asks a question

. Mention of the verses

. The explanatory gatha

. Specific passage about the supreme meanings

+ Volume 5

+ Chapter 1 - The Six Knots

. The Buddha ties a strip of cloth to explain the principle

. The Buddha answers two questions

. The Buddha shows that the untying is done in sequence

+ Chapter 2 - Twenty-five Means to Enlightenment

. Ananda traces his enlightenment and makes grateful obeisance

. Ananda asks for instruction in the perfect penetration of the organ

. The Buddha instructs all the sages to speak

. Ajnatakaundinya: the object of sound

. Upanishad: the object of form

. Adorned Fragrance: the object of smells

. Physician King: the object of taste

. Bhadrapala: the object of touch

. Kashyapa: the object of dharmas

. Aniruddha: the eye organ

. Kshudrapanthaka: the nose organ

. Gavampati: the tongue organ

. Pilindavatsa: the body organ

. “Born Into Emptiness”: the mind organ

. Shariputra: the eye consciousness

. Samantabhadra: the ear consciousness

. Sundarananda: the nose consciousness

. Purnamaitreyaniputra: the tongue consciousness

. Upali: the body consciousness

. Mahamaudgalyayana: the mind consciousness

. Ucchushma : the fire element

. Maintaining the Ground Bodhisattva: the earth element

. Moonlight Bodhisattva: the water element

. Vaidurya Bodhisattva: the wind element

. Treasury of Emptiness Bodhisattva: the emptiness element

. Maitreya Bodhisattva: the element consciousness

. Great Strength Bodhisattva: the element of perception

. Guan Yin explains how he received a prediction from a former Buddha

. Guan Yin gradually unties the knot, cultivates, and is certified

. Guan Yin lists the two sources

. Thirty-two response bodies

. Fourteen fearlessnesses

. Four inconceivables

. Guan Yin concludes his answer

. The Buddha manifests portents in response

+ Chapter 3 - Manjushri Selects the Organ of Entry

. The Buddha instructs Manjushri to select one practice

. Manjushri brings the source up to introduce his selection

. Manjushri examines the six defiling objects

. Manjushri examines the five organs

. Manjushri examines the six consciousnesses

. Manjushri examines the seven elements

. Manjushri selects only the ear organ

. Manjushri urges everyone to diligently cultivate and certify

. Manjushri concludes his answer

. Manjushri seeks aid and generally concludes

+ Volume 6

+ Chapter 1 - The Three Non-Outflow Studies

. Aiding practices of the bodhimanda

. One must Cut off Lust

. One must Cut off Killing

. One must Cut off Stealing

. One must Cut off False Speech

. General conclusion: stay distant from demons

+ Chapter 2 - Establishing the Bodhimanda

. Establishing the bodhimanda

. Stages of cultivation and accomplishment

+ Chapter 3 - The Spiritual Mantra

. The entire assembly asks again

. An appearance of light

. The great assembly respectfully listens

. The five sections of the Spiritual Mantra, the Shurangama Mantra

. The important tool of all Buddhas

. A beneficial reliance for living beings

. The host of the eight divisions

. The ruling assembly of illumining bodies

. The deities and spirits of the earth

. The inner sages protect and hold it (the Shurangama Mantra)

+ Chapter 4 - The Two Upside-down Causes

. Ananda is grateful for the instruction and asks about the position

. The Tathagata offers to speak and the great assembly waits to hear

. The true suchness which is relied upon is the source of the dharma

. Defiled conditions arise and become the turning wheel

. The Buddha clarified the two causes for being upside down, in detail

. The Buddha explains the meaning of the word world

. The Buddha shows its characteristic is constant flux

+ Chapter 5 - The Twelve Categories of Living Beings

. The names of the categories of beings

. Living beings that are Egg-born

. Living beings that are Womb-born

. Living beings that are Moisture-born

. Living beings that are Transformation-born

. Living beings that have form

. Living beings without form

. Living beings that have thought

. Living beings without thought

. Living beings not totally having form

. Living beings not totally without form

. Living beings not totally with thought

. Living beings not totally without thought

+ Volume 7

+ Chapter 1 - The Three Gradual Stages

. The Buddha explains the pure conditions

. Caution in eating

. Lust and Killing

. Counter the manifestations of karma

+ Chapter 2 - The Bodhisattva Stages

. The single position of dry-wisdom

. The mind that resides in faith

. The mind that resides in mindfulness

. The mind that resides in vigor

. The mind that resides in wisdom

. The mind that resides in samadhi

. The mind that resides in irreversibility

. The mind that resides in protecting the dharma

. The mind that resides in making transferences

. The mind that resides in precepts

. The mind that resides in vows

. Dwelling of bringing forth the resolve

. Dwelling of the ground of regulation

. Dwelling of cultivation

. Dwelling of noble birth

. Dwelling of endowment with skill-in-means

. Dwelling of rectification of the mind

. Dwelling of irreversibility

. Dwelling of a pure youth

. Dwelling of a dharma prince

. Dwelling of anointing the crown of the head

. The conduct of happiness

. The conduct of benefiting

. The conduct of non-opposition

. The conduct of endlessness

. The conduct of freedom from deluded confusion

. The conduct of wholesome manifestation

. The conduct of non-attachment

. The conduct of veneration

. The conduct of wholesome dharma

. The conduct of true actuality

. Transference apart from appearances

. Transference of indestructibility

. Transference of sameness with all Buddhas

. Transference of reaching all places

. Transference of the treasury of inexhaustible merit and virtue

. Transference of the identity of all good roots

. Transference of contemplating all living beings equally

. Transference of the appearance of true suchness

. Transference of liberation

. Transference of the limitlessness of the dharma realm

. The Four Positions of Additional Practices

. The level of heat

. The level of the summit

. The level of patience

. The level of being first in the world

. The ground of happiness

. The ground of leaving filth

. The ground of emitting light

. The ground of blazing wisdom

. The ground of invincibility

. The ground of manifestation

. The ground of traveling far

. The ground of immovability

. The ground of good wisdom

. The ground of the dharma cloud

. The position of equal enlightenment

. The position of wonderful enlightenment

. Conclusion: manifestation of pure dharmas

. The importance of vigor in the initial resolve

. The division of proper and deviant

+ Chapter 3 - The Names of the Sutra

. Manjushri asks the sutra's name

. The Tathagata answers with five names

. Those whose conditions are opportune obtain benefit

+ Chapter 4 - The Seven Destinies

. Ananda requests abou the seven destinies (and separation from them)

. The accumulated habits that divide emotion and thought

. The internal aspect belongs to emotion and so causes one to fall

. The external aspect belongs to thought and so one is able to ascend

. The appearances that manifest at the time of death

. Ascent with no fall

. The Seven Destinies (introduction)

. Destiny of Hells

. Destiny of Ghosts

. Destiny of Animals

. Destiny of People

. Destiny of Immortals

+ Volume 8

+ Chapter 1 - The Origin of Demonic States

. Final true and unending compassion

. Specific indication of the subtle demonic events

. Emphasizing the significance of the dual aspects

. Explaining that Great Samadhi causes demons to manifest

. Explanation by analogy of how “the guests” cannot bring harm

. Conclusion that the confusion is on the part of the cultivator

. Once enlightened, one surely will transcend their disturbance

. Confusion will certainly bring a fall

. The prior incident in the house of prostitution brought only slight harm

. Joining the ranks of demons would bring great harm

+ Chapter 2 - The Form Skandha

. The characteristics of the demons of the form skandha

. His body can transcend obstructions

. Internally the light pervades and he can extract intestinal worms

. His essence and souls alternately separate and unite

. The state changes and Buddhas appear

. Space takes on the color of precious things

. He can see things in the dark

. His body becomes like grass or wood

. He can see everywhere without obstruction

. He sees and hears distant things

. False visions and false words

. Showing how the states come about from interaction

. Confusion will bring harm

. Command to offer protection

+ Chapter 3 - The Feeling Skandha

. The characteristics of demons of the feeling

. Suppression of the self leads to sadness

. He praises himself as being equal to the Buddhas

. Samadhi out of balance brings much reverie

. Wisdom out of balance brings much arrogance

. Passing through danger leads to anxiety

. Experiencing ease leads to joy

. Seeing the sublime and becoming proud

. With wisdom comes lightness and ease, which leads to complacency

. Becoming attached to emptiness and slandering precepts

. Becoming attached to existence and indulging in lust

. Conclusion on the harm, and command to offer protection

+ Chapter 4 - The Thinking Skandha

. The characteristics of the demons of the thinking skandha

. Greed for clever skill

. Greedy for adventure

. Greed for union

. Greed to analyze things

. Greed for spiritual responses

. Greed for peace and quiet

. Greed to know past lives

. Greed for spiritual powers

. Greed for profound emptiness

. Greed for immortality

. Buddha exhorts those in the Dharma-ending Age

. Conclusion on the harm, and command to offer protection

+ Chapter 5 - The Formations Skandha

. The characteristics of the demons of the formations skandha

. Two theories on the absence of cause

. Four theories regarding pervasive permanence

. Four upside-down theories

. Four theories regarding finiteness

. Four kinds of sophistry

. The sixteen ways in which form can exist after death

. Eight ideas about the non-existence of form

. Eight kinds of negation

. Seven theories on the cessation of existence

. Five kinds of immediate nirvana

. Conclusion on the harm, and command to offer protection

+ Chapter 6 - The Consciousness Skandha

. The characteristics of the demons of the consciousness skandha

. Attachment to causes and that which is caused

. Attachment to an ability that is not actually an ability

. Attachment to a wrong idea of permanence

. Attachment to an awareness that is not actually awareness

. Attachment to birth that is not actually birth

. Attachment to a refuge that is not actually a refuge

. Attachment to an unattainable craving

. Attachment to truth that is not actually truth

. Fixed-nature hearers

. Fixed-nature pratyekas

. Conclusion on the harm and command to offer protection

+ Chapter 7 - Concluding Instructions

. All Buddhas' former certification

. The end of consciousness is transcendence

. Perfect realization of the ultimate fruition

. The honored ones of the past

. To protect and uphold the samadhi

. An example from the past

+ Chapter 8 - The Arising and Cessation of the Five Skandhas

. Ananda repeats the former teaching and makes a request

. Pursuing the source and finding it empty

. Judges the upside-down speculations to be wrong

. Concluding with reiteration that the cause is false thinking

. The false thinking of the form skandha

. The false thinking of the feeling skandha

. The false thinking of the thinking skandha

. The false thinking of the formations skandha

. The false thinking of the consciousness skandha

. Answers about the depth of the realms of the skandhas

. Answers about the suddenness or gradualness of cessation

. Concluding exhortation to transmit this teaching

+ Chapter 9 - Exhortation to Propagate the Sutra

. Compares to blessings of offering to Buddhas

. Praising the merit of extinguishing evil

. Brings up the supremacy of two benefits

. The dharma bliss experienced by the great assembly

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Last Updated: 30 November, 2024

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