The Main Sutras of the Taego Order
In the Taego Order Constitution’s fourth paragraph “this order’s main sutras are the Diamond Sutra (Prjana-Paramita Sutra) and the Flower Ornament Sutra (Avatamsaka Sutra)”.
Individuals as well as the Order as a whole rely on these sutras for guidance on faithful actions as well as for Dharma study. This notion of selecting one or two sutras to focus on is unique to Buddhism, for unlike other main, world religions that only have a handful of sacred texts, Buddhism has over 600 sacred texts. As a result, only one or two main texts can be completely committed to the minds of the faithful in any given school.
And, in fact, no Buddhist was ever meant to understand or embrace every sutra, for each teaching of Shakymuni Buddha was dedicated to a different mind set and was specific to the person with whom he was talking. Therefore, a Buddhist need only search out that which applies to himself or herself and that which resonates with his or her being.
The Diamond Sutra teaches a bold wisdom (Prajna) that aims at the attainment of enlightenment and states that whoever passes beyond the threshold of emptiness (Sunyata) can approach the boundary of Bodhisattvahood. Many Patriarchs and Zen Masters use the Diamond Sutra in order to educate mundane people on how to avoid excessive attachment.
The Flower Ornament Sutra (Buddhaavatamsaka Maha Vaipulya Sutra) teaches that the whole is selfless (Sarva-Anatman). Therefore, whoever understands the notion that all existence has no self, is in tune to the law of Pratitya-Samutpada and the continuous cycle of rebirth in which nothing is permanent. Despite this apparent focus on immaterialism, however, the true focus of this sutra is on the Dharma-Dhatu (our universe) and it underscores the unhindered nature of all things. Ultimately, it attempts to teach the individual how to incorporate this unhindered existence into his or her everyday life in this world.
The Taego Order depends upon these utmost sutras as guidance for obtaining the ultimate stage (nirvana).
