Chapter Two : Doctrine 17 One of his disciples asked about the principle about a response that comes from mental affirmation (simgo).
The Founding Master answered,
“As for the response that comes from mental affirmation, the confessor gains an unimaginable power in a natural and spontaneous manner, which is in accordance with the sincerity of the person making the mental affirmation. It is difficult to prove this in words. But, for example, at the time that one does not have the strength to remove unwholesome mental states that constantly arise, if one offers up mental affirmations sincerely, then those mental states will cease of themselves and wholesome mental states will return. If, due to the force of one’s past habits, a person is unable to stop committing wrongful acts even when the person tries not to, one will naturally repent and lift oneself by offering mental affirmations and sincerely pledging to do good in the future. These are but a few obvious pieces of evidence of the response to mental affirmation. Such past legends as ‘a filial son who found bamboo shoots in winter’ and ‘red bamboo shoots growing from the spot where a loyal subject shed blood,’ as well as the miracle in our own order of ‘the seal of blood from the bare fingers of the nine disciples,’ have all come in response to mental affirmation. Bear in mind, however, the great response and awesome power will ultimately appear only when one continuously and wholeheartedly carries out one’s vow, without violating any vows already made; you must especially keep this point in mind. If in this manner you gain firm power of mind, you will even be able to seize infinite heavenly authority and display awesome power that is like that of heaven and earth.” http://www.wonbuddhism.org/
|