Purnamaitreyaniputra: the tongue consciousness

N4 Purnamaitreyaniputra: the tongue consciousness.

Sutra:

Purnamaitreyaniputra arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, "For vast kalpas I have possessed unobstructed eloquence. When I discuss suffering and emptiness I penetrate deeply into the actual appearance, and in the same way, I give subtle, wonderful instruction to the assembly concerning the secret dharma doors of as many Tathagatas as there are sands in the Ganges. I have also obtained fearlessness."

Commentary:

Purnamaitreyaniputra is named after his father and mother. "Purna," which means "completeness" (man) was his father's name. "Maitreyani," which means "compassion" (ci), was his mother's name. "Putra" means "son" (zi). So he was the "son of completeness and compassion." He arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, "For vast kalpas I have possessed unobstructed eloquence." There are four kinds of eloquence:

1) Unobstructed eloquence with dharmas.
2) Unobstructed eloquence in meaning.
3) Unobstructed eloquence in phrasing.
4) Unobstructed eloquence with delight in speaking.

No matter what dharma he discussed, he could explain it very clearly. Not only that, but he brought forth the meaning in just a sentence or two. His skill in phrasing was such that he could say a few words that would encompass infinitely many meanings. He was brief and to the point. No matter what you wanted explained, he thoroughly enjoyed doing it. He was not like Kshudrapanthaka, who refused to speak the dharma when he was a dharma master, and as a result ended up being terribly stupid. Purna liked to speak the dharma. When I discuss suffering and emptiness I penetrate deeply into the actual appearance. He would tell how all things are suffering, are empty, are impermanent, and lack self. But when he did so, his explanation of this doctrine reached all the way through to the doctrine of the actual appearance, where there is no appearance, and yet there is nothing which does not have an appearance. And in the same way, I give subtle, wonderful instruction to the assembly concerning the secret dharma doors of as many Tathagatas as there are sands in the Ganges. He was able to discuss the most esoteric doctrines and reveal them to living beings by means of subtle principles. I have also obtained fearlessness. I have obtained unobstructed eloquence and the
power of fearlessness.

Sutra:

The World Honored One knew that I had great eloquence, and so he made use of my voice in turning the wheel of the dharma. He taught me how to disseminate it. I joined the Buddha to help him turn the wheel. I accomplished arhatship through the lion's roar. The World Honored One certified me as being foremost in speaking dharma.

Commentary:

Purna accomplished the Way by means of the tongue-consciousness. He did it by speaking dharma. So you see, it is possible to become enlightened and to be certified to the fruition by speaking the dharma. All you need to do is to deeply enter one door in your cultivation. Decide on one and then cultivate it. Don't be scattered in your practice, doing one dharma today, switching to another one tomorrow, and changing your mind again the day after. When you change around like that you waste your time, and you never master any dharma. You have to choose one and vigorously develop your skill in it.

The World Honored One knew that I had great eloquence, and so he made use of my voice in turning the wheel of the dharma. He taught me how to disseminate it. No one could outdebate Purna. When he spoke the dharma, his voice was full and resonant and powerful. In a gathering of a thousand or even ten thousand people, there would have been no need for him to use a microphone or amplifying system. He could be heard easily. "The Buddha taught me to lecture the sutras and speak dharma. I joined the Buddha to help him turn the wheel. I accomplished arhatship through the lion's roar. I would represent the Buddha in speaking the dharma, and my voice became like the lion's roar." When the lion roars, the myriad creatures cower. When the heavenly demons and adherents of external paths heard his voice, they were subdued. The World Honored One certified me as being foremost in speaking dharma.

Sutra:

The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. I used the sound of dharma to subdue demons and adversaries and melt away my outflows. This is the foremost method.

Commentary:

The Buddha asks about perfect penetration. With my tongue I proclaimed the sound of dharma to subdue demons and adversaries. I tamed the heavenly demons and controlled the five adversary desires: wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep. These five desires are hostile thieves that steal people's treasures. In this way I was able to melt away my outflows. This is the foremost method. I used the tongue-consciousness and proclaimed the wonderful dharma. This is the best method.