(Six-Volume Series in Traditional Chinese) 

The differences and similarities of the Three-Vehicle Bodhi, as mentioned in Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra (Lion’s Roar of Queen Śrīmālā), are elaborately explained in this discourse, demonstrating that the wisdom of bodhisattvas’ realization of the tathāgatagarbha’s sign of reality is not shared by the Two Vehicles. The correlation between the elimination of ignorance in a single thought (moha) by the Two Vehicles and the elimination of beginningless ignorance (avidyā) by the Mahāyāna, including how the Mahāyāna encompasses the Two Vehicles, is also described in this discourse, enabling practitioners to comprehensively understand the Three-Vehicle Bodhi and thus balance expedient and ultimate teachings in their practices. As such, practitioners will no longer be clinging to biased views to refute the correct ones, and consequently denigrating the Great Vehicles. Only then can they truly cultivate the Path to Buddhahood. 

This sutra explains why the Buddha Bodhi is so difficult to realize—the accumulated false views of countless eons in the past have resulted in karmic obstructions that make it impossible to seek realization in this life. With the ultimate reality of all dharmas as its basis, this sutra provides a detailed explanation of the core essence of all Buddhas and the Dharmas, followed by the chapters “Mindfulness of Buddha,” “Mindfulness of the Dharma,” and “Mindfulness of Sangha,” in which the four assemblies are expected to uphold the pure precepts, thereby transforming the nature of their minds. In addition, illustrations with examples from the “Passage to the Past” chapter teach the four assemblies that they must extirpate false views and turn to correct ones. Finally, through the elucidations in the chapters “Understanding of Precepts” and “The Instructions of Entrustment," it is anticipated that in the Dharma-ending era, the four assemblies will be able to purify their views and personally realize the Bodhi.

The Great Drum Sutra expounds the great Dharma; those who hear it will relinquish their five skandhas lives but will, in turn, resurrect the wisdom life of their dharma bodies. The Tathāgata classified the Buddha Dharma into two categories: the notions of dharma and non-dharma. The dharma encompasses all non-dharma to accomplish the correct principles of Buddhist teachings. All those who hear and accurately understand the Dharma teachings in accordance with their principles will enter the correct Buddha Dharma and directly witness that all non-dharma also comes from the dharma. This will allow practitioners to bring forth the realization that dharma and non-dharma are neither identical nor different, and attain awakening to the ultimate reality pertaining to prajñā, becoming a bodhisattva who has realized the True Mind.

The Three Pure Refuges