Contemplating the Merits of the Three Bodies

In the central region of ancient India, there was a monk named Duo Luo. By nature, he was lazy and negligent. Although he had received full ordination, he did not understand the precepts or how to keep or break them, nor did he recite scriptures or mantras. He accepted offerings from the faithful yet wasted his days and nights idly. His three actions—body, speech, and mind—were filled with transgressions, and he committed wrongdoings throughout the six periods of the day. He felt no shame or remorse and had no fear of future lives. The monks in his monastery, both senior and junior, seeing his broken precepts, would not allow him to sit with them. Eventually, they drove him out of the temple entirely.

Yet this monk possessed a small measure of wisdom. He understood the marks of the Three Bodies’ virtues. Night and day, he constantly contemplated true reality. In a single thought, his mind spontaneously fulfilled the Dharma’s Suchness and the wisdom of Suchness, along with the realm of Suchness—adorned with myriad virtues. But because of his clinging to delusion, he remained submerged in birth and death. Nonetheless, with every step, every thought, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, he was within the Dharma-nature. He always observed the Dharma-nature and sought no other practice.

As the monk grew old and became ill for months, everyone who saw him criticized and slandered him. But at the moment of his death, transformed Buddhas and Bodhisattvas came to his side and taught him the reality of the Dharma-nature. The monk rejoiced, his complexion became bright and radiant. With right mindfulness, he sat calmly and was reborn in the Tusita Heaven. A brilliant light and an extraordinary fragrance spread throughout the land.

Seeing the monk’s extraordinary merit, the assembly of monks and laypeople wept with joy. They apologized for their earlier slander, repented their faults, and felt deep shame. They then resolved to cultivate the practice of observing the Three Bodies’ virtues. Many others followed this path.

Therefore, you should know: the mind, the Buddha, and all beings are three yet without distinction. You should contemplate the Dharma-nature, which is serene and true thusness. For all dharmas are inconceivable.