25 applications of the Buddha’s answer to Voice of Discernment
Buddha responded to Voice of Discernment by saying that the three expedient methods can be used in twenty-five ways.
The scripture states that, “The Perfect Enlightenment of all tathāgatas is naturally pure, with no need for practice or practitioners.
When they do practice, bodhisattvas and sentient beings in the degenerate age rely on the power of unenlightened illusion. In this instance, there are twenty-five kinds of pure meditation applications.”
The essence of the 25 practices outlined by Buddha is illusory. To eliminate this illusion, one must meditate on it in the realm of illusion.
This is the secret meaning of Buddha’s teachings. The scripture states that these practices are dependent on the power of unenlightened illusion, which is the mental state of a practitioner before enlightenment.
This power of illusion is the force from the practice of meditating on the illusion in the realm of illusion, making the expedient practices themselves illusory. It is crucial for readers to understand this concept.
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Below is a listing of the 25 expedient practices. They will be discussed after.
śamatha only
Exclusively grasp ultimate quiescence, and through the power of quiescence permanently sever affliction absolutely and perfectly, and directly enter nirvana without rising from their seats.
samāpatti only
Exclusively contemplate all-as-illusion, and by means of Buddha-power transform the world and carry out various activities, thoroughly putting into operation all the marvelous pure bodhisattva practices. In all continuous concentrations they do not fail in cessation of thought and quiescent wisdom.
dhyāna only
Exclusively extinguish all illusions, and without activity in the world resolutely sever affliction. Affliction completely severed, they directly actualize the marks of reality.
śamatha first and samāpatti next
First attain perfect quiescence, and through the mind of quiescent wisdom shed light on all illusions and directly within these illusions arise the bodhisattva practices.
śamatha first and dhyāna next
Actualize the perfectly quiescent nature through quiescent wisdom, and then directly sever affliction and permanently escape from birth and death.
śamatha first, samāpatti next, and dhyāna last
Use cessation-quiescent wisdom to re-manifest illusion-power and establish all kinds of transformations to save sentient beings. Subsequently they sever affliction and enter cessation-extinction.
śamatha first, dhyāna next and samāpatti last
Use the power of perfect quiescence to sever all affliction. They then arise the pure, marvelous practices of the bodhisattvas and save all sentient beings.
śamatha first and subsequent simultaneous samāpatti and dhyāna
Use the mind empowered by perfect quiescence to sever affliction and then save sentient beings and establish objective realms.
simultaneous śamatha and samāpatti, followed by the practice of dhyāna
Use the power of perfect quiescence to aid in the initiation of transformations, then subsequently sever afflictions
simultaneous śamatha and dhyāna, who subsequently practice samāpatti
Use perfect quiescence to aid in extinction, and subsequently carry out activities to transform the world.
samāpatti first and śamatha next
Use transformation power to make various kinds of accordance, and thereby attain perfect quiescence.
samāpatti first and dhyāna next
Use transformation power to create various realms, and thereby attain cessation-extinction.
samāpatti first, śamatha next and dhyāna last
Use transformation power to carry out Buddha-works. Then, abiding in cessation-quiescence, they sever affliction.
samāpatti first, dhyāna next and śamatha last
Use transformation power’s unhindered function to sever affliction, and are therefore able to abide in perfect quiescence.
samāpatti first, followed by simultaneous śamatha and dhyāna
Use transformation power for the activity of expedient teaching and then practice within both perfect quiescence and extinction together.
simultaneous samāpatti and śamatha, followed by dhyāna
Use the various arising functions of transformation power to aid in the attainment of perfect quiescence and subsequently sever affliction.
simultaneous samāpatti and dhyāna followed by śamatha
Use transformation power to aid in extinction, and subsequently abide in pure uncreated quiescence of thought.
dhyāna first and śamatha next
Use the power of extinction to arise perfect quiescence and abide in purity.
dhyāna first and samāpatti next
Use the power of extinction, yet enter activity, and this quiescent function is practiced within all realms.
dhyāna first, śamatha next and samāpatti last
Use the various self natures of extinction power, and abiding in mental quiescence, produce transformations.
dhyāna first, samāpatti next and śamatha last
Use the effortless self-nature of extinction power to engage in activity, then purify the objective realm and return to quiescence.
dhyāna first, followed by simultaneous śamatha and samāpatti
Use the various purity of extinction power, then, abiding in mental equipoise, they produce transformations.
simultaneous dhyāna and śamatha, followed by samāpatti
Use extinction power to aid in the attainment of quiescence, and then give rise to transformations.
simultaneous practice of dhyāna and samāpatti, followed by śamatha
Use extinction power to aid in transformation, producing perfect quiescence which purifies and illuminates the world.
Practice of the three kinds of accordance with the purity of the self-nature
Using the wisdom of Perfect Enlightenment, harmoniously combine all of these, and in connection with all natures and characteristics, never separate from the enlightened nature.