How We Work Best

Understanding Ourselves Through Buddhism:

The Wisdom of Xuanzang’s Eight-Sense Law Song

Albert Einstein once said:
“If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism.”

In this blog, we’ll delve into one of Buddhism’s most profound texts: the Eight-Sense Law Song by Xuanzang. Though it’s made up of just 48 sentences, each one is like a golden nugget, rich with wisdom waiting to transform our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. This ancient work has been a beacon of light, guiding those in search of truth and enlightenment.

But before we dive into the teachings, let’s take a moment to reflect on the man who brought these insights to the world—Xuanzang.

Who Was Xuanzang?

Here is a bit outline of XuanZang from Wikipedia.

Here is a fun way to see how we work through one of the most famous Chinese show: Journey to the West.

Here is a Journey to West, I outlined.

Xuanzang was a scholar and traveler who lived in the 7th century. From an early age, he was driven by a profound curiosity about the universe. Raised in a Daoist family, he was instilled with a thirst for knowledge, but tragedy struck early when he lost both of his parents. Raised by monks, Xuanzang’s path led him to Buddhism, where his sharp intellect and photographic memory set him apart.

Though he mastered many texts and teachings, Xuanzang still felt something was missing. One pressing question haunted him: Did humans have six senses or nine? Despite seeking answers from the best scholars in China, he found himself dissatisfied and unfulfilled. Determined to uncover the truth, he traveled far and wide, seeking wisdom in the temples of China. But it was not until he met a wise Indian traveler that he discovered the answer lay in India—the birthplace of Buddha.

This sparked a legendary journey, where Xuanzang risked everything, defying the Emperor’s ban on leaving China, to find answers in the land of the Buddha. Divine forces are said to have protected him as he journeyed through dangerous terrain, eventually reaching Nalanda, India, where the revered teacher Jie Xie awaited him.

The Legendary Debate

Xuanzang’s time in India was transformative. He studied under Jie Xie at the Nalanda Monastery for 15 months and traveled the country for 14 years, gathering insights. But the most famous event in his journey was a monumental 18-day debate defending Buddhism against its critics. Xuanzang’s unwavering dedication and brilliant mind led him to triumph, securing his place as one of Buddhism’s greatest intellectuals.

After his victory, Xuanzang returned to China, bringing with him an invaluable wealth of Buddhist teachings. He devoted 19 years to translating these sacred texts, ensuring that the wisdom of India would never be lost. His translations, including the Eight-Sense Law Song, became a treasure for China and the world.

The Eight-Sense Law Song

Now, let’s explore the profound teachings of Xuanzang’s Eight-Sense Law Song, a brief yet powerful text that offers a deep understanding of the human condition.

Our Five Senses: The Gateway to the World

We are all familiar with our five senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching. These senses connect us with the world, but they don’t judge—it’s just what is. Imagine for a moment living purely through your five senses. No pain, just the pure experience of life. You’d see mountains, oceans, birds singing, flowers blooming, rain falling, and snow gently covering the ground.

It sounds beautiful, doesn’t it?

Qigong masters, deeply connected with nature, often speak of the gratitude they feel for the way nature takes care of them. But there’s a catch: Our sixth sense, the ability to transcend space and time, brings us into more complex territory.

The Sixth Sense: A Traveler Beyond Time and Space

Our sixth sense can travel faster than light, instantly spanning the globe. It allows us to experience the world beyond our immediate surroundings. When we align our sixth sense with the five senses, we experience things as they are—no judgment, no preference. A flower is simply a flower, neither good nor bad, beautiful nor ugly. It just is, and there’s peace in that simplicity.

But this is where the complications arise: the seventh sense.

The Seventh Sense: The Source of Judgment and Suffering

The seventh sense brings judgment. It’s the sense that labels everything: “This is good, this is bad,” “I like this, I don’t like that.” It creates separations, distinguishing “me” from “you,” “right” from “wrong.” It’s where suffering begins. When we allow the seventh sense to dominate, we’re caught up in judgments, comparisons, and desires.

What Xuanzang teaches us is that it’s not our sixth sense that’s the problem—it’s the seventh. The seventh sense assigns labels that weigh down the heart, creating unnecessary suffering.

The Seventh Sense’s Fear: A Constant Struggle

The seventh sense feeds on fear, always seeking control over the ever-changing world. It can never be satisfied, always trying to hold on to something permanent in a world where everything is fluid. Fear grips us. The seventh sense looks at a snake and says, “It bites, it’s dangerous.” Even if the snake is harmless, fear still lingers.

This constant fear creates anxiety, making us afraid to try new things, preventing us from embracing life fully.

The Eighth Sense: The Origin of All Things

Now, the eighth sense is the most powerful of all. Xuanzang describes it as the origin of everything. It’s the essence of the universe, the interconnectedness of all things. The eighth sense is boundless, encompassing everything, and allowing the other senses to experience life fully without limitation.

To illustrate the eighth sense, Xuanzang used a story from the famous Chinese epic Journey to the West. In the story, a monkey (symbolizing the seventh sense) is restless, always seeking something more. But the Buddha, representing the eighth sense, invites the Monkey to jump into His hand. No matter how far the Monkey jumps, He will always be held by Buddha’s hand.

This story shows us that while the mind (the Monkey) may seek endlessly, it is the eighth sense—the Buddha—that holds all things together, with infinite wisdom and compassion.

Realizing Our True Power

Many of us live in ignorance of the power we possess. Our true nature is the eighth sense—the essence of the universe itself. Everything we think, feel, and experience is an extension of this boundless energy.

As the great astrophysicist Sir James Jeans once said:
“On this planet, man cannot raise his hand without disturbing the farthest star.”

This is a humbling realization. We are interconnected with the entire universe. Yet, many of us live in suffering because we are not in tune with our true nature. We let the seventh sense—the fear, judgment, and separations—control our lives.

The Path to Awareness: Embracing the Eighth Sense

To find peace, we must first learn to observe the world through our five senses. We must discipline our sixth sense and focus on the present moment, free from distractions. Let go of the judgments created by the seventh sense. Smile, embrace positive affirmations, and allow yourself to simply be.

In doing so, we reconnect with the magic of life—the vast, interconnected dance of energy flowing through all things.

Conclusion

The teachings of Xuanzang and the Eight-Sense Law Song remind us of the power within us to choose our path. We can transform our experiences, release fear, and align with the essence of the universe. By understanding and practicing the wisdom of the Eight Senses, we can live a life full of peace, awareness, and boundless potential.

So, let us embrace this journey, not just with our minds, but with our hearts, as we reconnect with the infinite power within us. 🌟

Journey to the West Drama

There is a wonderful Chinese drama has been repeated on screen for many than any other dramas, I remember when I was first watching it, my heart burst for joy and liberating, after so many years searching of who we are, i think I finally understand why. Because the drama is who we are, how human functions. This is how I see it.