All appearances have fallen away. All appearances are still there, but they have nothing to do with you. That appearance is no longer an attachment. You no longer make distinctions over whether it is real or illusory—not even this distinction—and you have returned to Buddha-nature.
Ultimately, your Cognition of this world and of everything has become correct. Right now, you are in illusion, unaware; you perceive this world incorrectly, mistake it, get it wrong, and so you suffer and worry. In the end, it is simply a return: life returning to its source.
So whenever this “I” no longer clings to appearances, then it is done—it is that simple. For some people, this “I” persists longer, and they simply cannot recognize it clearly. Some people may not see through it enough today; they see it a little more clearly, but become muddled again two days later. That is not thorough. It really is this simple.
So in the past, One-hundred day foundation building and practicing those meditative concentrations were cleansing, helping you see more thoroughly and recognize yourself more fully. Recognizing yourself does not mean recognizing “I am A-Qing”; it means recognizing “you are a Buddha.”
What practice does this come from? This is the Never Disparaging Bodhisattva in the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Blossom Sutra. It is not sitting here saying, “I am a Buddha, and all of you are sentient beings,” but saying, “They are all Buddhas,” you know? Practice this way, and you realize Buddhahood.
When they are all Buddhas, you are a Buddha. If they are not Buddhas in your eyes, then you certainly are not; you are making distinctions, that is all. This is a method of practice.
(Do Bodhisattvas of the Ten Grounds rely on this view to ultimately realize Buddhahood? Is the view of the Never Disparaging Bodhisattva the key to Bodhisattvas of the Ten Grounds ultimately breaking through the Ten Grounds and attaining Fruition as Buddhas? Can we put it this way?)
There are no Grounds. In the highest teaching, not even the Ten Grounds exist; even the First Ground can break through this attachment. There is no Ground after Ground after Ground—none. That is why the Buddha said that everyone who has heard one sentence or verse of the Lotus Sutra is given a prediction that they will realize Buddhahood.
If you have to cultivate the Grounds, then why not first give the Ten Grounds a prediction? Should you study first before being given the First Ground? You have not even studied yet; you have just begun listening to the Dharma, and you are given a prediction that you will realize Buddhahood? Everything is equal—equal. In the Dharma and Buddha-nature, everyone is equal. You can break through directly; even if you have not studied for a single day, hearing the Lotus Sutra is enough, because you have heard the highest teaching.
So with this view of the Lotus Sutra, you increasingly know how important it is, how… When you hear this, no one else has ever said it; if no Buddha had appeared in the world, this would not exist, and you would never know it.
Moreover, among all the religions in this world, not one person from any religion has stated this view. No one from any religion says, “You and I are equal; you are me.” Who has said this? Either I created you, or I gave birth to you; otherwise, you have to become one with me, relying on the blessing of my power.
Who told you that you are me? Only Shakyamuni Buddha. By nature, we are equal, exactly alike. You are merely deluded and attached; you do not know this, while I do, so you think I am different from you.
Know this view, and you realize Buddhahood—it is that simple. Know this view; you have to know it, and you realize Buddhahood, actually. It is just that you do not know this; you still do not know this—you need to know this view.
This is because you are made up of countless views, and the highest view appears at the level of your consciousness. Right now, you think about this view while clinging to appearances, so you have not seen it clearly. The highest view is already there with you. So you still need to practice the Bodhisattva Path and struggle a little. Struggle a little; then everyone will know how important this view is.
In the Dharma Realm, we are all the same, exactly alike.
Note: This text was prepared from a teaching video by Yang Ning. If it differs from the video, the video takes precedence. Watch the video.
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