The Touch of Brightness

"Oh World Honored One! What do you mean when you say that 'touch of brightness' is the cause?"

"Oh good man! The Tathagata speaks about brightness at times and says that it is Wisdom, and at times (he means) 'Faith'. Oh good man! Through the causal relation of faith, a person draws near to a Good Teacher of the Way. This is touch [contact]. The causal relation of befriending leads the person to give ear to Wonderful Dharma. This is 'touch'. When someone hears the Wonderful Dharma, the body, mouth and mind of that person becomes pure. This is 'touch'. Through the purity of the three actions, one gains right living. This is 'touch'. Through right living, one gains the sila (precepts) that purifies the organic senses. On account of the precepts that purify the organic senses, one comes to seek a quiet place. In quietude, one thinks about the good. Through good thoughts, one thinks about a life in accordance with the Dharma. Through right living (in accordance with the Dharma), one gains the 37 elements of Enlightenment. Thus, a person thoroughly crushes out the innumerable evil defilements.

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 44 - On Bodhisattva Kasyapa 5.

touch of brightness.mp3