Mr. Altig’s Overview of the Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Sutra

Source: Excerpts from “Level 3_3_CreateYourWorld_BuddhistCosmology.pdf”

Main Themes:

• The mind creates reality: Buddhist cosmology emphasizes the power of the mind to shape our experience of reality. As the source states, “The mind is like an artist, able to paint the worlds.” (Avatamsaka Sutra) This highlights the concept that our thoughts and actions directly influence the realm of existence we inhabit.
• Interconnectedness of all beings: All sentient beings are interconnected and capable of achieving enlightenment, regardless of their current state. The Ten Dharma Realms represent different levels of awakening. They range from the suffering of hell beings to the ultimate enlightenment of the Buddha.
• Cyclic nature of existence: Buddhist cosmology describes a cyclical “world system.” It constantly goes through stages of formation, continuation, dissolution, and void. This concept, known as a kalpa, suggests that existence is not linear. Instead, it is a continuous process of birth, death, and rebirth.

Key Ideas and Facts:

• The Triple World (三界 san-jie): This is the realm of unenlightened beings. They are categorized by their level of desire, attachment, and delusion. It comprises:
• Realm of Desire (欲界 yu-jie): Inhabited by beings with physical forms driven by sensory cravings and desires.
• Realm of Form (色界 se-jie): Beings here have subdued their desires. They have achieved meditative states (dhyana) and experience joy beyond sensory pleasure. They still possess a genderless physical form.
• Realm of Formlessness (無色界 wu-se-jie): Beings in this realm have no physical form. They have transcended the limitations of form and desire. They have achieved higher levels of samadhi.
• The Ten Dharma Realms (十法界 shi-fa-jie): These represent the ten possible states of existence. They are categorized into four saintly realms and six mundane realms.
• Four Saintly Realms: Represent levels of enlightenment:
• Buddha Realm: The realm of ultimate enlightenment and perfect wisdom and compassion.
• Bodhisattva Realm: Beings striving for enlightenment while compassionately helping others achieve liberation.
• Pratyekabuddha Realm: Beings who achieve nirvana through independent contemplation of Buddhist teachings, often in the absence of a living Buddha.
• Shravaka-Arhat Realm: Beings who attain nirvana by listening to and practicing the Four Noble Truths, extinguishing afflictions and achieving liberation.
• Six Mundane Realms: Realms of unenlightened beings within the Triple World:
• Deva Realm: Beings enjoying heavenly bliss due to past good deeds but still subject to attachment and eventual rebirth.
• Human Realm: A precious realm offering the opportunity to practice the Dharma and progress towards enlightenment.
• Asura Realm: Demigods with power and blessings but plagued by jealousy, anger, and pride.
• Animal Realm: These beings are driven by instinct and basic needs. They experience limitations and suffering due to past actions rooted in greed and ignorance.
• Hungry Ghost Realm: Beings suffering from insatiable hunger and thirst, a result of past greed, stinginess, and denial of causality.
• Hell Realm: The realm of extreme suffering for those who have committed grave offenses, enduring torment as karmic retribution.
• The Ten Dharma Realms in the Mind: The source emphasizes that all ten realms exist within our own minds. Our thoughts and actions determine which realm we experience at any given moment. Cultivating positive qualities like compassion and wisdom lets us experience higher realms. Negative states like anger and greed create lower realms.

Quotes:

• “The mind is like an artist, able to paint the worlds.” (Avatamsaka Sutra)
• “The ten Dharma realms are in this present mind.” (Grand Master Weichueh)

Reflection Questions:

• How can we use the framework of the Ten Dharma Realms to examine our thoughts and behaviors?
• Which realms do we tend to inhabit in different situations (work, school, family, etc.)?

Conclusion:

Understanding Buddhist cosmology and the Ten Dharma Realms provides valuable insights into the nature of reality. It highlights how our thoughts and actions affect us. It also shows that all beings have the potential to achieve enlightenment. By cultivating awareness of our mental states, we can transform our experience of the world. Striving towards positive qualities helps us progress towards higher realms of existence.