Transcending Duality: AWE Teachings on Enlightenment

Academy of Wisdom & Enlightenment (AWE) UNDV Conference W5 - 17 How to Transcend Duality? Tammy Cheng, CMLTO Toronto, Canada May 9th, 2014

Teachings for Transcending Duality Tripitaka Volumes Where do I begin? 2

Teachings for Transcending Duality 1. Lankavatara Sutra Scroll #1, Chapter 1, Section 1, Lecture on the Heart by All Tathagata ( , ) . 2. In the final chapter of the 6th Patriarch Platform Sutra. 3. In two places in the Avatamsaka Sutra [ ]: a) Enter the dharma realm [ ] Section 12 [ ]. b) Scroll #45, Asamkhya Article, Chapter 30 ( ) the Tathagata s instructions for the Bodhisattva Ruler of Heart ( ). 3

Lets start from the very beginning 4

Sentient Beings are Born to Develop Duality Concepts Sentient beings recognize phenomena by duality. Realities are perceived in contrasting pairs: light/dark, hungry/full, hot/cold, happy/sad, black/white, male/female, life/death, good/evil, yes/no, heaven/hell, positive/negative, Yin/Yang, samsara/nirvana, etc. The 6th Patriarch listed a total of 36 such duality pairs in the final Chapter of the Platform Sutra. 5

Disadvantages of Duality Thinking Mode Habitually thinks in terms of: Opposites Mutually exclusive Conflict Fragmentation Segregation Separation Split/divide The world today! 6

Enlightened Beings Transcended Duality Enlighten Thinking Holistic Wholesome All-inclusive Integration Unification Totality Sentient Being Thinking Fragmented Unhealthy Exclusion Segregation Separation Split/divide Open Mind 7

AWE Teaching Modules Why are these teachings not popular? The Tathagata teachings are too profound to grasp Open your mind first before transcending duality Bridges the gap by introducing the missing prerequisite prior to the Avatamsaka Sutra Module. 1. The Childhood Development Module 2. The 10n+1Module 3. The 102Module 4. The Avatamsaka Sutra Module 8

1. The Childhood Development Module Numerical concept parallels intellectual maturation Baby has no concept of numbers Learn by play Count quantitative concept using numbers Complex mathematics 9

Important points for intellectual maturation Intelligence involves conceptual maturation from qualitative to semi- quantitative to quantitative. Numbers are just numbers, no matter how simple or how complicated . Mathematics, No matter how complex it seems, you can learn it if you choose to. 10

2. The 10n+1Module Unit Log increments Digits 2 Ten 10 Hundred Thousands Millions Billions Trillions 100 1000 1,000,000 1,000,000,000 1,000,000,000,000 3 4 7 10 13 Quadrillion Gazillion 1,000,0000,000,000,000 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 zillion, jillion, and gazillion, are fictitious names Infinity 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 16 19 22

The Thinking Boxes The 10n+1series is a logical progression that has no end. To stop the progression by suddenly introducing the concept of infinity at any step is entirely illogical. By this logic, the entire concept of infinity is invalid. The infinity thinking box can be anywhere depending on the individual. 12

3. The 102Module Units Square Increment Digits Hundred 10 x 10 = 100 3 Ten thousand 100 x 100 = 10,000 5 Hundred million Hundred quadrillion Infinity 10,000 x 10,000 = 100,000,000 100,000,000 x 100,000,000 = 10,000,000,000,000,000 10,000,000,000,000,000 x 10,000,000,000,000,000 = infinity 9 17 33

4. The Avatamsaka Sutra Module Avatamsaka Avatamsaka S tra 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 koti koti x koti = ayuta ayuta x ayuta= niyuta niyuta x niyuta = bimbara bimbara x bimbara = kinkara kinkara x kinkara = agara agara x agara = pravara pravara x pravara = mapara S tra Number of Digits Number of Digits 8 15 29 57 113 225 449 897 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The first column designates every square step; the second column provides a unit of measurement for that product; the third column quantifies each infinitesimal number.

4. The Avatamsaka Sutra Module Avatamsaka Avatamsaka S tra aupamya x aupamya = incalculable 55459713759985036315480765 S tra Number of Digits Number of Digits 97 2353 11091942751997007263096153 04705 22183885503994014526192306 09409 44367771007988029052384612 18817 88735542015976058104769224 37633 17747108403195211620953844 875265 35494216806390423241907689 750529 70988433612780846483815379 501057 incalculable x incalculable incalculable2 incalculable2 incalculable4 incalculable4 x incalculable4= measureless measureless x measureless2 measureless2 x measureless4 measureless4 x measureless4= boundless boundless x boundless2 = 98 x incalculable2 = 99 100 measureless = 101 measureless2 = 102 103 boundless = 104

Mathematic Logic & Expansion of Mind Set Finite = Measurable = unit Infinite = immeasurable = no unit Introduce additional units to measure large numbers, the immeasurable becomes measurable Abstract concepts such as infinity (a qualifier) can be quantified by introducing new units of measurement. Break through duality (finite and infinite are opposites by definition) Opposites are product of small mindset X is inside the box, Y is outside the box, therefore they are opposites. No box, no opposites (think outside box) 16

AWE Method Use counting units to measure one s Zen: 1. Emotional resistance to accomplish a task 2. Ego s resistance to Tathagata s teaching 3. Visualize that infinity is a concept created by the close mind or limited thinking box 4. Focus/concentration/attention span (Samadhi) 5. Life force (Zen serenity power) 17

Summary Turning the Dharma Wheel forward to extract the wisdom from the sutra and elucidates the teachings using modern languages and methods: 1. How to open our minds 2. From qualify to quantify 3. How to transcend duality 4. Resolved opposites/conflicts 5. Attain equanimity by going from relative to absolute 18

Conclusion How to Transcend Duality is AWE s third lecture in Year-1 university curriculum. This talk subscribes to two conference sub- themes: 1. Buddhist Education and University Level Curriculum 2. Peace-building and Post-Conflict Recovery 19

www.AWE-edu.com FIN Thank You for Your Attention 20