A Commentary Literature on ‘Song of Enlightenment’

By Paramartha

Chapter 2. Illusions of Multiplicity

Awakened to realize the Dharmabody
All objects vanishing
Essence of all phenomena
Originating from the Buddha-nature
Five aggregates akin to floating clouds
Aimlessly coming and going
The three poisons
Like bubbles appearing and disappearing

The extract above is second portion of the Chan poem ‘ Song of Enlightenment’ composed by Chan master Huan Chuen Yung Chia (665-713 C.E).Yung Chia was the Dharma successor of the 6th Chan patriarch, Hui-neng. Hui-neng was the precursor of the modern Chan or Zen Buddhism celebrated in modern Japan, Korea and the west. Currently, there seems to be a resurgence of interest of Chan Buddhism in modern mainland China in parallel with the contemporary resurrection of Chinese Buddhism today. Yung Chia had discerned the profound message of Non-duality expounded in the Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra. His master, Hui-neng had personally certified the Chan actualization of Yung Chia. Therefore, the Song of Enlightenment mirrors the actual Chan or Zen experience of an enlightened one.

Commentary:

When the wise is self-awakened to the ultimate Truth of Emptiness, his or her Dharmabody (Buddha-nature) is manifest. Dharmabody is the pure consciousness or the Buddha-mind of an enlightened one. All phenomena of the multiplicity of the empirical world perceived by the ordinary worldlings are, in actuality, illusionary and therefore are unreal. The illusions of all phenomena disappear immediately upon self-enlightenment. All illusive conditioned phenomena of the empirical world or myriad beings of he cosmos come from the same origin – Buddha-nature. The five aggregates of form, feelings, perceptions, volitions or dispositions and consciousness are impermanent like the floating clouds in the sky. As various types of karmas are committed from time to time, the direction of next and future rebirths are uncertain . The three poisons of life, namely, greed, hatred and delusion are impermanent. They arise and cease; cease and arise in response to the uncertain environmental stimuli which impinge upon their six sense faculties.