Let us continue with selections from “Bodhisattva Development into Buddhahood,” a section of the Surangama Sutra translated by Upsaka Lu K’uan Yu, in which Shakyamuni Buddha (vegan) explains this illusionary world and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, as well as the twelve groups of living beings in it.
Bodhisattva Development into Buddhahood The Twelve Groups of Living Beings
“Ananda, because of the turning wheel of illusion in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) stirring minds, both subject and object are in harmony and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 rising and sinking confused thoughts which form the embryos (kalala) in eggs for incarnation as fishes, birds, turtles, snakes, etcetera: they are found in plenty all over the world. (This is birth from eggs.)
Because of the turning wheel of moral infection in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) sensual minds, both subject and object sustain each other and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 confusing divergent thoughts which become fetuses (arbuda) in the wombs for incarnation as men, animals, dragons, immortal beings, etcetera; they are found in plenty all over the world. (This is birth from wombs.)
Because of the turning wheel of attachment in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) craving minds, both subject and object inflame each other and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 vacillating, confused thoughts which become damp embryos in humidity for incarnation as crawling insects and wriggling worms; they are found in plenty all over the world. (This is birth from humidity.)
Because of the turning wheel of change in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) deceitful minds, both subject and object stimulate each other and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 changing confused thoughts taking the shape of solid lumps (ghana) for incarnation as beings which shed their skins, change their forms and fly; they are found in plenty all over the world. (This is birth by transformation.)
Because of the turning wheel of stiff dispositions in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) hindering minds, both subject and object adhere and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 mystical, translucent and confused thoughts which take solid form to incarnate as people whose luminous quality forebodes good and evil; they are found in plenty all over the world. (These are heretics and mystics having forms.)
Because of the turning wheel of dissipating dispositions in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) deluded minds, both subject and object unite with dullness and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 confusing mysterious thoughts for formless rebirth as beings (whose bodies and minds) are dissolved in the great emptiness; they are found in plenty all over the world. (These are formless beings.)
Because of the turning wheel of fanciful dispositions in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) imaginative minds, both subject and object unite with recollection and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 latent and firmly confused thoughts to be reborn as ghosts or spirits of thoughtful beings; they are found in plenty all over the world. (These are thoughtful beings.)
Because of the turning wheel of dull dispositions in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) stupid minds, both subject and object cling to intractableness and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 confusing lifeless thoughts for rebirth as spirits dwelling in earth, trees, metals and stones, they are thoughtless beings that are found in plenty all over the world. (These are thoughtless beings.)
Because of the turning wheel of parasitic dispositions in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) guileful minds, subject and object infect each other and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 confusing commensal thoughts for rebirth as beings who are formless, yet have form, such as jellyfish which use shrimps as their eyes; they are found in plenty all over the world. (These are beings which are beyond, yet have, form.)
Because of the turning wheel of seductive dispositions in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) artful minds, both subject and object rely on (magic and) spells and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 entreating confused thoughts for rebirth as beings with form, yet formless, who grow weary of witchcraft; they are found in plenty all over the world. (These are beings with form, yet beyond form.)
Because of the turning wheel of deceitful dispositions in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) tricky minds, both subject and object combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 interchanging confused thoughts to be reborn as thoughtful yet thoughtless beings, such as wasps which mistake larvae of other insects for their own; they are found in plenty all over the world. (These are thoughtful, yet thoughtless beings.)
Because of the turning wheel of revengeful dispositions in (objective) samsara as a result of inversion caused by (subjective) murderous minds, both subject and object unite in whimsy and combine to produce favorable conditions for 84,000 fantastic thoughts of parricide and matricide to be reborn as beings who are thoughtless, yet thoughtful, such as certain owls and tigers which respectively devour their mothers and fathers; they are found in plenty all over the world. (These are thoughtless, yet thoughtful, beings.)”
Transmutation of Samsara into Nirvana
“Thus, Ananda, each of these species has its twelve kinds of inversion which, like dancing flowers seen when one rubs one’s eyes, overturn the perfect and pure Enlightened Mind and cause wrong thinking. As you now practice the Buddha Samadhi, you should take three gradual steps to deal with the basic causes of stirring thoughts in order to wipe them out. This is like removing poisonous nectar from a pot by using hot water mixed with ashes to cleanse the container; only when the latter is completely clean can it be used to hold ambrosia.”
