[One Thousand Characters a Day] The Avatamsaka Sutra for Humanities Readers <4> - 'Sangsuksangip'

Editor's NoteIn the "Tathagata's Appearance Chapter" of the (Avatamsaka Sutra), there is a passage that reads: "There is a great scripture whose volume is as vast as the entire universe, containing all the events within it. However, this scripture is contained within a tiny speck of dust and thus cannot benefit sentient beings. A wise person, upon seeing this, immediately breaks the tiny speck and brings out this great scripture, allowing all sentient beings to benefit." This speaks to the fact that we all possess the Buddha-nature, the essence of the Buddha, but are unable to live as Buddhas due to being covered by worldly afflictions. Just as Bodhisattva Yongsoo transmitted the hidden in the legendary Dragon Palace to the earthly realm, can we find the Buddha hidden within 'myself'? As you read , you will discover the profound meaning and wisdom of the , which at first seems difficult and cryptic. Word count: 782.

From the perspective of mutual interpenetration (Sangjeuksangip, 相卽相入), if you observe 'myself,' this world, and your true nature, 'I' am you, and you are 'I.' You exist within 'I,' and 'I' dwell within you. Therefore, at the very moment, place, and thought called 'I,' you exist, and that moment, place, and thought are precisely you. Furthermore, it is the entire world. For this reason, if it is mutual interpenetration, 'I' can never be a 'me' different from you, and the totality of this world is 'I.'

When you consider a single 'I' in this way, the entire world comes along with it; this is the true nature of this world. No 'I' can ever be alone as 'I,' and this is the principle of dependent origination as viewed in the . To add a footnote out of caution, this 'I' is naturally not a specific individual, such as a monotheistic God, a king, or the ultimate cause, but any event can be 'I.'

(Omitted)

Indeed. If today the delivery person is scheduled to visit with the pencil I ordered, it is not just the pencil that arrives but the delivery person and their entire life, along with their family, the people who made the pencil, the tree that became the pencil's material, the land where that tree lived, the 300-million-year-old Paleozoic fern that became the pencil lead, the atmosphere of that time, and ultimately the entire universe?all arriving in an "immense event." However, the tells us that the pencil, the delivery person, and the entire universe have already arrived within 'I.' If you welcome the delivery person in this way, it will be a truly magnificent "hospitality" toward 'I.'

- Park Boram, , Bulgwang Publishing, 16,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.