How Beautiful (poem)

How beautiful is the image
of perfect symmetry and form,
which was made by a camera,
untouched by human hands!
Each of its pixels is
but a tiny dot of light,
one of many dots which
form an image of symmetry.
How beautiful is this image
in its brilliant splendor!
How perfect is its shape!

---

Originally posted on November 24, 2014 at 4:41 PM

Vairochana Buddha in Journey to the West

In the Journey to the West, Vairochana is mentioned in the third book, and is part of the Avatamsaka Sutra. Obviously then, Wu Cheng'en is illumining the Avatamsaka Sutra through the imagined exploits of the Monkey King - by a stretch. :)

Indeed, Buddha Vairochana is represents Pure Awareness, and helps the disciple to center her consciousness in this sphere of Reality.

in the Vajrayana text the Mahavairocana Tantra, Vairochana is an emanation of Adibuddha and represents the cosmic element of form (rupa). He is the primordial (transcendent) wisdom of the sphere of reality. His is in the center of the mandala consisting of the five Transcendental (Dhyani) Buddhas, and his rites pacify negative emotions. He is white and his two hands are held against the chest with his thumbs and forefingers touching. He radiates the light of Buddhahood and his consort is Akashadhateshvari, who is the sovereign lady of infinite space.

So the dance of light and the space for it to radiate through creates the united dance of Dharmadhatu (Emptiness, the realm of truth known as Buddha Nature). It is this dance that is represented by these unions and the sexual imagery depicted in Tantra.

Other names for Akashadhateshvari is Dhatvishvari or White Tara.

Form is Suffering

Form is suffering. The cause and condition for the arising of form is also suffering. As form has originated from what is suffering, how could it be happiness?

-"The Connected Discourses of the Buddha"

This quote is derived from the Dharmacakrapravartana Sutra:

"...Form is suffering, feeling is suffering, perception is suffering, karmic constituents are suffering, consciousness is suffering; in sum, these five agglomerations, which are the basis of clinging to existence, are suffering. This, monks, is the Noble Truth of suffering.

...

"And what is the Noble Truth of the origination of suffering? It is the thirst for further existence, which comes along with pleasure and passion and brings passing enjoyment here and there. This, monks, is the Noble Truth of the origination of suffering." - Commentary on Dharmacakrapravartana Sutra

Originally the Pali Sutra, Dhamma-kakka-ppavattana-sutta (see References) has no entry stating that "form is suffering". Instead it mentions the five aggregates (Skandha) i.e form, feeling, perception, karmic constituents, and consciousness.

"The five Skandhas are a fundamental Buddhist concept and play an important part in Buddhist doctrine. For it is through the five Skandhas that the world (Samsara) is experienced, and nothing is experienced apart from the five Skandha. Furthermore it is through the five Skandha that clinging (Upadana) occur and through the five Skandha that suffering (Duhkha) arises." - Skandha - The Five Aggregates

References:


Commentary on Dharmacakrapravartana Sutra:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/6198/1stsermon.html

The DHAMMA-KAKKA-PPAVATTANA-SUTTA - "Dhamma-kakka-ppavattana-sutta" is another variation of the original Pali title for Dharmacakrapravartana Sutra.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/sbe11/sbe1104.htm

http://www.buddhistinformation.com/ida_b_wells_memorial_sutra_library/dhammakakkappavattana_sutta.htm

Skandha - The Five Aggregates:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skandha