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

Subject: Detailed Analysis of the Sensory Qualities of Hearing Attributed to Satatasamitabhiyukta (Ever and Constantly Strenuous) within the Context of a Sacred Teaching.

Executive Summary:

This excerpt details the extraordinary auditory capacity possessed by Satatasamitabhiyukta, a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, who dedicates themselves to teaching a Sacred Teaching. This individual is characterized as possessing not a divine ear, but rather a refined, natural sense of hearing capable of perceiving and understanding the entire spectrum of sounds within the universe. The text emphasizes the sheer volume and variety of sounds the individual can hear, the clarity with which they discern them, and the profound detachment they maintain even in the face of cacophony.

Key Themes and Ideas:

1. The Twelve Hundred Fine Qualities of the Ear: The text introduces the concept of a dedicated individual possessing “twelve hundred fine qualities of the ear.” This is not a literal count, but rather a symbolic representation of the extraordinary breadth and depth of their hearing ability. It signifies a highly developed sense of audition that goes far beyond the ordinary.
2. Ubiquitous Hearing: Satatasamitabhiyukta can hear “all the sounds produced in the universe, from the depths of the great hell known as Avici to the furthest reaches of existence, inwardly and outwardly.” This highlights the expansive nature of their auditory perception. There is no sound, regardless of origin or frequency, that escapes their awareness. The breadth encompasses:

• Diverse Sources: The text lists an incredible range of sound sources including animals (horses, elephants, cows, etc.), humans (peasants, women, children, etc.), musical instruments (conch trumpets, bells, lutes, etc), and a variety of other sounds including natural noises, and speech.
• Qualities of Sound: The individual can discern sounds associated with both positive and negative qualities—righteousness and unrighteousness, pleasure and pain, wisdom and ignorance. This implies not just hearing, but comprehending the nature and implications of the sounds.
• Cosmic Range: The sounds are sourced from “the three realms of existence,” from the lowest hell to the highest heavenly realms.

1. Natural Yet Extraordinary Hearing: Importantly, the text emphasizes that this ability is based on a highly refined natural sense of hearing, not a supernatural or divine ear. The speaker “doesn’t possess the divine ear,” but still achieves a superhuman auditory capacity through their discipline and dedication. It’s the refinement and clarity that make it special.
2. Discernment and Non-Overwhelment: While the individual can perceive all sounds, they are not overwhelmed by them. They can “comprehend and discern the sounds of these different creatures,” and their hearing remains “clear, without disguise.” This highlights a state of equanimity and mental stability. Despite the sensory overload, they maintain clarity of perception, a hallmark of advanced spiritual development.
3. The Bodhisattva as an Example: Satatasamitabhiyukta is identified as a “Bodhisattva Mahasattva”, an enlightened being dedicated to assisting others, which frames the sensory abilities as not an end in themselves, but as a facet of their larger spiritual path. The capacity to hear all sounds is linked to the ability to comprehend and respond compassionately to the needs of all beings.
4. Poetic Description and Sensory Immersion: The text also employs vivid, poetic language to further convey the vastness and diversity of the sounds perceived. The poetic portion details many of the sources as an immersive experience, giving weight to the scope of sounds the individual has access to, using descriptive language to illustrate what’s being heard. Examples include:

• “The trumpets of elephants, horses’ hooves beat, The cows, the goats, and sheep, their voices sweet”
• “The cries from mountains, glens, the birds’ sweet call, Kalavinkas, cuckoos, peafowls, pheasants all”
• “The hells’ heart-rending cries, the Spirits’ yell, Vexed by hunger, in torment where they dwell”
• “The monks on earth, their reading, preaching sound…Engaged in law, their voices rise and blend.”
• “The perfect law, announced by Buddha’s grace, The tamer of men, in assembly’s embrace”
• “The triple world’s sounds, within, without, they ring, From Avici’s depths to existence’s furthest wing”

1. Six Senses and Universal Reach: The final verses bring together how the power of hearing relates to a larger system, where it says “Six senses keen, each source he’ll rightly hear,” indicating this ability is a part of a larger system of perfected perception of all the six senses. The text implies there’s a coherence and interconnectedness between all the sensory inputs that this individual can access.

Key Quotes:

• “They will hear all the sounds produced in the universe, from the depths of the great hell known as Avici to the furthest reaches of existence, inwardly and outwardly.”
• “They can comprehend and discern the sounds of these different creatures, and their hearing is not overwhelmed by any of these sounds.”
• “The organ of hearing in one so wise, Though natural, is clear, without disguise, Perceives the varied sounds that fill the earth…”
• “Stationed here on earth, he hears the brute realm’s speech, Conversations wild, within his clear ear’s reach…A world of voices, none he shall refuse.”
• “The triple world’s sounds, within, without, they ring, From Avici’s depths to existence’s furthest wing, He hears them all, each cry, each laugh, each call, A universe of voices, he knows them all.”

Conclusion:

This excerpt presents a powerful illustration of the transformative potential of spiritual practice. Through dedicated effort, it is possible for an individual to refine their natural senses to extraordinary levels, gaining profound insight and understanding of the universe and the beings within it. The ability to hear all sounds clearly and without being overwhelmed is a key aspect of Satatasamitabhiyukta’s role as a Bodhisattva, demonstrating the importance of perception and equanimity in the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. The individual’s capacity for sensory immersion without being swayed signifies a high degree of spiritual mastery.

Chapter 19–Hearing the Universe: The Twelve Hundred Sensory Qualities