by (all emphasis and inserts by pudgala2)
Our Mind-essence is potential of an infinite number of sentient beings [beliefs, opinions, attitudes, moods, etc.]. We vow to bring them all unto deliverance [disown them].<snip>
We have now vowed to deliver [give up, let go of] an infinite number of sentient beings; but what does that mean? It does not mean that I, Hui-neng is going to deliver them. And who are these sentient beings, potential within our minds? They are the delusive mind, the deceitful mind, the evil mind, and such like—all these are sentient beings. Each of them has to be delivered [dispelled] by oneself by means of his own Essence of Mind; only by his own deliverance, is it genuine.
Now, what does it mean, "delivering oneself by one's own Essence of Mind?' It means the deliverance of the ignorant, delusive, and the vexatious beings that spring up within our own mind, by means of Right Views [Four Noble Truths of Suffering]. With the aid of Right Views and Prajna [perspicacity], the [belief] barriers thrown up by these delusive and ignorant beings may be broken down; so that each of us will be in a position to deliver himself by his own efforts. The false will be delivered by truthfulness; the delusive by enlightenment; the ignorant by wisdom; and the malevolent by benevolence; such is genuine deliverance.
At this point in time Zen split into two schools the Sudden School of Hui-neng for the quick-witted and the more popular Gradual School for the slower or dim-witted.
The Four Great Vows were translated into English and are recited as a regular part of the Zen liturgy at almost all places of practice. I only want to point out the word save in the first vow.
Sentient beings are numberless; I vow to save them all.
Desires are inexhaustible; I vow to put an end to them.
The Dharmas are boundless; I vow to master them.
The Buddha’s Way is unsurpassable; I vow to attain it.
Given the detailed understanding of what sentient beings are in the Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch and their intentional cessation by one's own Essence of Mind the word save is misleading to say the least. How sentient beings are saved and where they are saved to is never mentioned? Christian misunderstanding?
A stupid man's report of what a clever man says can never be accurate, because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand. ~ Bertrand Russell
Posting Pathway of pudgala2:
1st Zen Haiku, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Buddha, 7th Sentience
