Preface to 2nd Edition

The ultimate way has no direction, and the truth has no words. Since the ultimate way has no direction, all laws arise according to conditions, and since the truth has no words, all sentient beings roll along according to emotions. This is called 'The great function of the true void and wondrous being.' Everyone is a part of this great function of the true void and wondrous being, and one is the main character who rolls the boundless great law wheel in the boundless world without hesitation.

What has happened to human being, the master of all laws and the head of all sentient beings? Because it has long since fallen into the three poisons due to ignorance, it has entangled in the net of birth, aging, sickness, and death, drifting in the sea of ​​suffering.

It is a sad thing! What on earth is a human being? Is it an active force or a passive force? Where did it come from, and where is it heading? Is it a pit of earth or a pit of fire? Or is it heaven or hell? Since one does not know from where one comes, how could one know where one is going; and since one does not know where one is going, how could one know where one dwells?

Truly, when we reflect upon our own selves, if life is merely an empty name contained within a bag of skin, then it is nothing more than a hollow existence, like the play of an unsubstantial puppet; though it is called life, it is a life of death, and what is this if not the life of a scarecrow?

Deluded beings, in the midst of the eighty-four thousand torments brought about by the errors of their own contradictory mental states, only weave the illusory karma of ​​life and death, how can they know the correct outlook on life and establish a genuine perspective on society? Most philosophies do not go beyond the tip of the tongue, so the correct theories fail to reveal their true meaning , and most religions race toward things outside the mind, so the correct path cannot reveal. Where is the path that sentient beings should take? Should we admit that our life is a vain puppet and just wait for it to fade away?

No, No! There is the news before me, a scarecrow, that 'the true self without beginning or end' is right there. It is that creates the three realms. It is that turns the ten thousand dharmas according to conditions. The true self! Why should we speak of the impermanence of life, and regard the life as grass and dew?

Look! The sea is wide and deep. Does it distinguish? Because not, it goes on with all kinds of fish.
Look! This emptiness is boundless and endless. Does it judge? Because not, it is in harmony with all dharma conditions equally.
Our life is not different. When we get away from illusion and sweep away the conflicting judgments will our ‘original true face’ suddenly appear. Then, life is good because it is my life, and the world is good because it is my world. The entire universe is a wonderful garden of joy.

So, to be wise, we must clarify the origin of the mountains, rivers, and earth, and devote our efforts to correctly uncover the origin of being. Why? Because mountains, rivers, earth and human beings, along with the emptiness, are neither one nor two. So the path ahead of us is always boundless and eternal.
Therefore, I declare 'Human Life' as belows;

I reject this life that is full of suffering and toil in order to regain the 'original essence of life'.
I reject this life that is full of birth, aging, illness and death in order to regain the 'original wisdom of life'.
I reject this life that is full of prayers for blessings and salvation in order to regain the 'original equality of life'.

With declaration of life in this way, I make a new start to walk The Great Way with the endless emptiness. Isn't it courageous and joyful life?

This Great Way was revealed in the various sutras, but the Diamond Sutra and this Sutra in particular go straight to the point of 'entering the land of the Tathagata with one leap'.

The main character of this sutra is the great layman Vimalakirti, who is himself a Great Being of Dharmakaya. His attitude of upholding the Dharma of the World-Honored One and taking the lead in saving sentient beings was extremely bold. Without regard for social class, he used various expedients and created connections here and there. As a bodhisattva in the flesh he rolled the inconceivable Dharma in every direction. He was a great spiritual mentor, rare to meet.

Fortunately, he appeared together with the World-Honored One, as the sun and moon shed light together. Isn't it showing that there is no distinction between monks and secular people in the Dharma?
He was extremely concise in his preaching of the law, sparing the listeners any unnecessary effort. He also conveyed his meaning with extreme clarity, allowing the learner to grasp it easily. He was a wise and eloquent speaker, rare in this world. He utilized both the expedient means and the orthodox path in tandem, but transcended the secular world. He used principles and phenomena together, yet transcended the dharmadhātu. He was a great Sage, and a great forerunner we should follow.

An ancient recognized his profound Dharma tools, saying, “He whipped a mud ox into the the gateless gate of Prajna, and rode an iron boat in a sea of no words.” We can only bow our heads to his lofty and pure wisdom.

This sutra is a Mahayana sutra that mainly reveals the essence of all dharmas, including birth and death, nirvana, suffering and Bodhi. The fact that he borrowed even illness in order to expound the dharma shows that his original intention is in the non-duality dharma gate. Therefore, his no-word and silence after the thirty-two bodhisattvas expounded the non-duality dharma gate was an act of revealing the Essence. But borrowing the lion's seat from Lamp King Buddha, requesting incense rice from the Tathagata of Hyangjeok, clearly showing the heavenly palace of King Nagye and the pure land of Achok Buddha, and showing the Wonderful Land while sitting can be said to be an act of great Function.

As a single lamp can illuminate a hundred thousand lamps, he, through this sutra, revealed Directions that are not in the Ultimate Way and conveyed Words that are not in the Truth. Let us use this sutra as a compass and begin our voyage.

Where is, now, the true body of Master Vimalakirti three thousand years ago? If there is a stubborn person who desperately wants to meet him, take a step toward the sky. There, the master with white hair fluttering in the wind will be blinking.