Chapter 1 Ir-Won-Sang
Ir-Won is the origin
of all beings in the universe, the mind-seal of all Buddhas and saints, the
Original Nature of all sentient beings, the state in which there is no difference
between the Absolute Unity and its Components or between Being and Non-being,
the state in which there is no change of coming and going, of birth and death,
the state in which Cause and Effect of good and evil cease, and the state in
which words and forms with names are absolutely non-existent. According to the
light of the Divine Wisdom in the Void, the difference between the Absolute
Unity and its Components and between Being and Non-being, appears, and from
this results the difference of Cause and Effect of good and evil; words and
forms with names are apparent, with the result that the whole universe appears
as distinctly as a jewel held in one's palm, and the infinite capacity of the
Mystic Being in the Absolute Void appears and disappears freely through all
beings in the Universe for eons. This is the truth of Ir-Won-Sang.
To believe in Ir-Won-Sang
is to believe that the Truth of Ir-Won-Sang is the origin of all beings in the
universe; that it is the mind-seal of all Buddhas and saints, that it is the
Original Nature of all sentient beings, that it is the state in which there
is no difference between the Absolute Unity and its Components or between Being
and Non-Being, that it is the state in which there is no change in coming and
going or of birth and death, that it is the state in which Cause and Effect
of good and evil cease, and that it is the state in which words and forms with
names absolutely non-existent. It is to believe that from that state of Void,
according to the light of the Divine Wisdom in the Void, the difference between
the Absolute Unity and its Components, and between Being and Non-being appears,
and from this results the difference of Cause and Effect of good and evil. Words
and forms with names are apparent, with the result that the whole universe appears
as distinctly as a jewel held in one's palm, and the infinite capacity of the
Mystic Being in the Absolute Void appears and disappears freely through all
beings in the universe for eons. This is the belief in Ir-Won-Sang.
The practice of
Ir-Won-Sang consists in believing in it and in knowing one's own mind, which,
like Ir-Won-Sang, is absolutely perfect and impartial. One must cultivate one's
mind to be as absolutely perfect and impartial as Ir-Won-Sang.
One must use one's mind perfectly with strict impartiality by believing in the
Truth of Ir-Won-Sang and by keeping Ir-Won-Sang as the standard of practice.
This is the Practice of Ir-Won-Sang.
Ir-Won is the inexpressible
realm of Samadhi, the gate of birth and death that transcends Being and Non-being,
the origin of Heaven and Earth, Parents, Brethren, and Law; it is the Nature
of all Buddhas, patriarchs, ordinary persons, and all sentient beings. Ir-Won
can form both permanence and transience. Viewed as permanent, it exists throughout
eternity in its original state and it has developed infinite worlds. Viewed
as transient, Ir-Won so affects the boundless world as to change the formation,
continuity, decay and void of the Universe, and the birth, old age, illness
and death of all things; it has all the Four Forms of Birth transformed through
the Six Paths according to the conduct of their minds and bodies so that they
either follow the progressive way or fall into a retrogressive maze, or they
are occasionally favored by harm, or harmed by favor. We, as deluded beings,
therefore vow that we shall not cause ourselves to retrogress nor be harmed,
but instead will progress and be favored through our sincere training to keep
our minds and bodies perfect, to know Facts and Principles perfectly, to use
our minds and bodies perfectly, following Ir-Won-Sang, the Dharma-kaya Buddha,
until we at last acquire the great power of Ir-Won and become one with the Reality
of Ir-Won.
When one is enlightened
to the Truth of this Won-Sang, there follows the awareness that the entire universe
is one's own property; that all things in the universe are not two, but one,
although everything has its separate name; that Won-Sang is the Nature of all
Buddhas, patriarchs, ordinary people, and all sentient beings; that the Principle
of birth, old age, illness and death, is like the change of Spring, to Summer,
Fall, and then to Winter; that the principle of Cause and Effect is like the
Principle of the alternation of the negative and positive forces (Yin/Yang
in Chinese) in the universe; that Won-Sang is absolutely perfect and strictly
impartial.
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This
Won-Sang is to be used when one uses one's eyes; it is absolutely
perfect and strictly impartial. |
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This
Won-Sang is to be used when one uses one's ears; it is absolutely
perfect and strictly impartial. |
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This
Won-Sang is to be used when one uses one's nose; it is absolutely
perfect and strictly impartial. |
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This
Won-Sang is to be used when one uses one's mouth; it is absolutely
perfect and. strictly impartial. |
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This
Won-Sang is to be used when one uses one's body; it is absolutely
perfect and strictly impartial. |
|
This
Won-Sang is to be used when one uses one's mind; it is absolutely
perfect and strictly impartial. |
กก
Being changes into
Non-being,
And Non-being into Being,
Turning and turning again;
But in the Ultimate Reality
Being and Non-being are Both Void,
But the Void contains everything and is perfect.
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