Book 246 Chatting with Oneself:The Quadrillion Blinking Stars

‧Written by Sheng-yen Lu‧
A US Daden Culture Publication

　　It happened that year during meditation.
　　As usual I moved from the first stage of dhyana to the second stage of dhyana, then to the third stage of dhyana, and from the third stage to the fourth stage of dhyana.
　　I entered the void.
　　Not a thought stirred.
　　Forgotten, everything was forgotten.
　　Spaciousness, spaciousness, spaciousness, spaciousness, spaciousness.
　　Nothingness, nothingness, nothingness, nothingness, nothingness.
　　In the empty space a quadrillion blinking stars appeared. Sitting amidst the light were trillions of buddhas.
　　One buddha said:
　　“This man is enlightened!”
　　The group of buddhas said:
　　“This man is enlightened!”
　　The soft sound reverberated throughout the ten directions of the universe, reaching all corners.
　　Who was this man?
　　“Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu!”
　　“Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu!”
　　“Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu!”
　　One buddha said:
　　“Let me ask him what enlightenment is about?”
　　I replied:
　　“I understood!”
　　The group of buddhas said:
　　“Well, well, well!”
　　“Ha, ha, ha!”
　　“Hee, hee, hee!”
　　Amidst the blinking stars in the void, the sounds of the buddhas rose and fell loudly throughout spaciousness.
　　But after a while, all returned to a deathly stillness, silence, with only a slight wind blowing.
　　Question:
　　“What have you understood?”
　　My reply:
　　“It is not something you, he, I, or most people can imagine. It is beyond imagination, something most people cannot think of.”
　　Question:
　　“Once enlightened, are you forever enlightened?”
　　My reply:
　　“Yes, this is the only answer.”
　　Question:
　　“Why don’t you disclose the answer?”
　　My reply:
　　“No one will believe it.”
　　Question:
　　“Is it the difference between reason and irrationality, the highest nobility and abject vulgarity, and sacredness and profanity?”
　　My reply:
　　“No. These are not included! Ha ha! Hee hee! Well well!”
　　Question:
　　“Does it have something to do with the six roots of perceptions?”
　　My reply:
　　“It is also not the six roots of perceptions. It has absolutely nothing to do with the six roots of perceptions.”
　　Question:
　　“What happens after enlightenment?”
　　My reply:
　　“The same. Just nirvana and quiescence!”
　　Question:
　　“What are the benefits of achieving enlightenment?”
　　My reply:
　　“There is neither gain nor loss. There is also no benefit. Simply, you are no longer human.” (Key words.)