Divine Mantra
This is the second treasure of I Kuan Tao. It consists of sounds without words, so it is also known as the Wordless Sutra. It is a mantra of power that resonates at a level beyond the sound waves and writings of the material world.
The Divine Mantra should not be said aloud or written down for a very specific reason. Sages observe the typical process of reading sutra and notice that it goes through many transitions. First, the sutra starts in the eyes as the reader looks at a page. Then, it comes out of the mouth as the reader reads it aloud. Next, the sound from the reading goes into the ears as the reader hears his or her own voice. Only after all this does the sutra finally reach the heart.
Many people are not aware of the True Sutra, but it’s not a new idea. The concept goes back at least 2,500 years. The Tao Te Ching tells us that “The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao.” Similarly, when the Sakyamuni Buddha wanted to pass on his true teachings, he chose to do so without words. He specifically told his disciples that his transmission of the spiritual essence would be totally apart from written scripture. Instead, it would pass directly from one heart to another.
Sound energy is the intermediary between the metaphysical realm and the solid matter of the material world. The True Sutra, as the soundless sound, is a particularly powerful way to invoke the Buddha nature that exists in all of us.
We can use the True Sutra when we encounter challenges in life. Perhaps you see an obstacle that seems too difficult to overcome; perhaps there is a temptation that seems too strong to resist; perhaps you find yourself in a confrontational situation and it is becoming harder and harder to remain polite. Whenever you feel you need extra assistance from a source outside of yourself, repeat the mantra silently to yourself. A wellspring of strength will emerge for you.
This strength seems to come from an external source, but in fact originates from the Buddha within. The essence of Buddha nature is compassion, and as Lao Tzu points out in chapter 67 of Tao Te Ching, compassion is the source of courage. Courage is the source of strength – not the false strength of brute force, but the true strength of character and heart.
The True Sutra will allow you to achieve more than you ever thought possible. If obstacles and temptations in life are like the morning fog, then the True Sutra is like the sun. When the sun comes out, the fog dissipates into nothingness. This is the second treasure of I-Kuan Tao.
yikuantao 