Shoyoroku Case 3: The King of East India Invites the Patriarch — Faith Is Action, Not Just Reading Sutras

Prajnatara: Just reading sutras is not the only way of Buddhist faith.

From Shoyoroku, Case 3: The King of East India Invites the Patriarch

The King of East India invited Prajnatara, the 27th Patriarch. The King held a Buddhist memorial service.
The King: “Why do you not read the sutras?”
Prajnatara: “When I breathe in, I do not stay in my mind. When I breathe out, I do not follow many things around me. In this way, I always read thousands of sutras.”From Shoyoroku, Case 3: The King of East India Invites the Patriarch

Introduction: 般若多羅 (Prajnatara) and King Kengo (堅固王)

Key Point: The main characters of this story are Prajnatara and King Kengo. Prajnatara was born in the territory of King Kengo. Prajnatara is a disciple of Punyamitra, and he is the master of Bodhidharma.

The main characters are 般若多羅 (Prajnatara) and King Kengo (堅固王). King Kengo was the king of a small country in East India. He believed in Buddhism very deeply. However, he was not very famous. We do not know much about him.

Prajnatara was the teacher of Bodhidharma. He was born in King Kengo’s country. In ancient India, there were four castes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. Prajnatara was a Brahmin.However, Prajnatara lost his parents when he was very young. He did not know his own name. So, he called himself “Enraku.” He walked from village to village to get food every day.

One day, Punyamitra, the 26th Patriarch, was walking with King Kengo. Then, they found 瓔珞 (Enraku,The necklace) on the road. Enraku did not look like a normal child. So, Punyamitra took him to the palace and made him a student. He gave the name “Prajnatara” to the boy. Later, Prajnatara became the 27th Patriarch and received the teachings of Shakyamuni.

Now, let’s look at the main story.

Dharma Assembly: Prajnatara did not chant sutras

Key Point: King Kengo held a Dharma assembly. Many monks chanted sutras, but Prajnatara practiced Zazen. King Kengo asked Prajnatara why he did not chant. Prajnatara answered, “I am not caught by my breath, and I am not controlled by any conditions. In this way, I always read these sutras millions of times.”

In ancient India, kings often held a big Buddhist event. It happened about once every five years. The king gave food to all people. This event was called 大會斎 (Daiesai) or 無遮大會 (Musha-daie). It was a project to help people in society.

If people hold this event with true faith, everyone must be pure. This includes both the king and the people who receive food. They must follow the Buddhist precepts. However, at that time, a Buddhist event usually meant one thing: people invited monks, gave them food, and the monks read sutras. The King also thought like other people. He invited Prajnatara to the Daiesai. He wanted to hear the holy sutras.

However,  万松行秀 (Wansong Xingxiu) made a comment. He said, “Prajnatara is different from other monks. Other monks think everything is finished if they just read the sutras.” The King invited many monks to the Daiesai. Other monks were reading the sutras, but Prajnatara was different. He did not read. He just did Zazen. So, the King asked a question. “Why do you not read the sutras?” Prajnatara answered, “When I breathe in, I do not stay in my mind. When I breathe out, I do not follow many things around me. In this way, I always read thousands of sutras.”

Silent Dialogue: I am always reading the sutras

Key Point: Prajnatara sees that the six dusts and the five skandhas have no true substance. Because his actions are always in harmony with the truth, he does not need to chant sutras. This is why he said that he is always reading these sutras millions of times.

What is the meaning of this answer? Let’s think about his words.

First, things outside us give us information. We have six senses: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. These are called the Six Sense Organs. Information comes into our mind through them. Then, we feel things with our Six Consciousnesses.

The Workflow of Imagination: How our mind creates thoughts

1. Sensation (Collecting Information): there is a tree stump. We touch it, smell the wood, and taste the air. We hear the sound of the wind. Then, we feel that “there is a tree stump here”.
2. Perception (Making a Concept): “This is a seat”.
3. Volition (Making a Decision): After that, we make a decision: “I will sit and rest,” or “I will work more”.
4. Consciousness (Making a Judgment): Finally, we judge: “I should not rest during work”.

In Buddhism, we believe in Dependent Origination. This means that everything in the world does not exist alone. Everything exists because of other things and conditions.

we say that everything happens because of causes and effects. This is Dependent Origination. The Six Objects and the Five Aggregates also appear because of this. Our suffering starts in the same way.

For example, it is good if we just see the tree stump as it is. However, we usually think too much. We make many small stories in our heads. This is called delusion.

The Workflow of Sunyata: How to see the truth like Prajnatara

But, if we can see that the Five Aggregates are Empty (they have no fixed substance), our “self” disappears. Then, we stop thinking too much. We can see the world directly and clearly. We can act naturally according to each situation. We do not follow our own selfish thoughts.

1. Understanding Dependent Origination: We learn that nothing exists alone. Everything exists because of other things, causes, and conditions.
2. Seeing Emptiness (Sunyata): We see that the Six Objects and the Five Aggregates have no true substance. We see this clearly and quickly.
3. Stopping the Loop: We stop the process of delusion. We do not let our ego add unnecessary stories or interpretations to reality.
4. Embodying the Truth: We act naturally. Because our mind is free from personal desires, our actions become one with the truth.

Prajnatara sees that the Six Objects and the Five Aggregates are all Empty. So, his every action follows the truth. The sutras explain these things. However, Prajnatara already understands and lives this truth. He does not need to read the books. He is walking the great path of truth. That is why he said, “I always read thousands of sutras.”

The Core

• It is important not only to learn the truth with words but also to understand it with your body and practice it in your life.
• The true faith of Buddhism is not just the formal act of reading or listening to sutras.
• True “reading of sutras” means understanding the truth of “The Five Aggregates are all Empty” and acting without being controlled by your own thoughts or things around you.

My Experience: AI monks cannot tell their own experiences

Key Point: A pottery shop owner said, “A cassette tape can chant sutras, so we do not need monks.” I believe that a cassette tape cannot share personal experiences. Likewise, AI cannot share experiences.

In the past, In Japan, many houses had a Buddhist altar. Monks visited these houses to read sutras. I also read sutras in front of Buddhist altars when people asked me.

One day, I talked to a man at a pottery shop. He was very kind to me. He asked a question. “I saw an advertisement in the morning newspaper. It was for cassette tapes of sutras. If we only need to hear sutras, we can just play these tapes. We do not need monks, do we?”

I answered, “You are right.” I strongly agreed with him at that time. Now, if I have a chance to meet him again, I want to say this to him. “A cassette tape cannot talk about its own experiences. Monks had families and jobs before they entered the priesthood. So, each monk can tell unique stories based on their own lives. If you listen to many monks, you will find hints for your own life.”

At that time, it was a cassette tape. Now, it is AI. I also use AI. It is very useful when I want to explain common words or translate sentences. However, AI’s answers are always the same. It is impossible for AI to have a unique personality and tell various personal stories.

Zen Tips for Modern Life: Practice, Don’t Just Chant

Key Point: Many people think that chanting sutras is the only way to practice Zen, but the true practice is to live according to the teachings in the sutras.

In ancient India, people thought that Buddhist events were just for inviting monks and listening to sutras. This is the same today.

The sutras say, “The Five Aggregates are all Empty.” However, it is not enough to just read these words many times. It is important to understand this truth and act in the real world. In the future, monks should do more than just read sutras. They should share their own stories from their ascetic training. This will help and support our faith.