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法脈摭實
D HARMA COLLECTION

The Direct Approach to

Buddhadharma II

直達佛法的方法（二）

Translated by Venerable Dharma Master lok To

Part I

Preface by the Author

Perusal through the history of Buddhism since its be- both the substance and function. Delusory thought
ginning two thousand five hundred years ago reveals does not reveal reality, nor is attachment conducive to
the significance of the Buddha’s Teaching; translated Suchness. Most thought-systems available to us are
into more than thirty languages it has influenced most contaminated by personal preferences and subjective
of the nations and cultures worldwide. The textual views and cannot be applied universally for those rea-
foundation of Buddhism known as the Tripitaka con- sons. Buddhism, by contrast, has a fully awakened
sists of three parts, namely, the sutras, the rules of mind for its source, as the term “Buddha” suggests.
discipline or Vinaya, and the commentaries or sas- Since Shakyamuni Buddha’s unsurpassed awakening
tras, Teaching contained in the Tripitaka is profound, more than two thousand five hundred years ago, his
subtle and extensive; the texts are quite voluminous teaching, based on his realization of the most pro-
and make the Tripitaka elude description. Buddhism found kind, has illuminated countless universes and
has attracted scholarly interest in the areas of philos- has provided all without exception with an occasion
ophy, religion, psychology and history, to name only to perceive one’s own original face and to realize the
a few, and continuing interest in Buddhism through- essential truth of existence. Although great many ac-
out the world has generated numerous publications complished thinkers have formulated a world view
internationally; its relevance to education at all lev- that is both brilliant and valid, none could withstand
els is demonstrated by the on-going effort on the part comparison with the Buddha’s teachings in terms
of countless educators to implement its principles in of their universal applicability and clarity. But the
their field of expertise. Buddhism is considered a re- Buddhadharma is at its most powerful when directed
ligion by some, while others feel it is a philosophy. toward the improvement of understanding and action
Whose view is correct? on the part of those who study and practice it seri-
ously.
Buddhadharma is the unsurpassed means to liber-
ation from delusion and attachment. The Buddha’s Two such parallels can be established between Bud-
teaching is the Truth, pure and simple, focused on dhadharma and the system of principles, practices
reality as oneness or Suchness. Dharma represents and procedures as applied in scientific research today:

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