B
J
OF ALL BEINGS
FROM THE WORKS OF
15141312
12345
ISBN: 978-0-9807114-7-9
Printed by:
CONTENTS
Foreword
Pure Land
Buddha-name Chanting
28
Sutra Recitation
41
Principles
46
Cultivation
95
Three Learnings
137
Three Refuges
141
Five Precepts
145
Six Paramitas
150
Amitabha Village
155
157
Education
181
Sources
211
Index
214
FOREWORD
September 2012
PURE LAND
Pure Land
PURE LAND
PURE LAND
PURE LAND
PURE LAND
PURE LAND
PURE LAND
12. Those who can accept the Pure Land method pos
sess great roots of goodness, good fortune, and good
causes and conditions. If we did not already have the
best root nature, it would be impossible for us to ac
cept the Buddha Mindfulness Chanting method.
Those, who can accept it and practice earnestly, can
neutralize the transgressions accumulated over infinite
PURE LAND
13. We should put into practice Great Master Yinguang's teaching of "maintaining the five [human] re
lationships, faithfully fulfilling one's responsibilities,
avoiding being polluted by that which is bad, keeping
a respectful and sincere mindset, believing in and
vowing to practice the Buddha-name chanting
method, and aspiring to attain rebirth in the Western
Pure Land." This is the absolute direction and the
PURE LAND
PURE LAND
10
PURE LAND
11
PURE LAND
PURE LAND
breath, they will fall into the Three Evil Paths. ASC
EILS
PURE LAND
mitted wrongdoings. CD
23. The bodhisattvas of the Western Pure Land have
14
PURE LAND
25. The conditions are mature for some beings but not
for others. If a being does not have the conditions, one
should help the being develop the conditions. If the
conditions of a being are not yet mature, one should
help them mature. If the conditions of a being have
matured, one should guide that being to attain rebirth
in the Western Pure Land. EILS
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PURE LAND
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22
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25
PURE LAND
PURE LAND
27
BUDDHA-NAME CHANTING
Buddha-name Chanting
A3. For a true practitioner who wants to have a fast,
assured success in his practice in this lifetime, the
Buddha-name is all he needs. One chants and reads
the sutras to understand the truth. Once confidence is
28
BUDDHA-NAlVECHANTING
5.AspractitionerswhochanttheBuddIasnameif
weareabletocorrectonebultdailyandbemindfUl
ofAInitabhaBuddhatbeninthreeyearstimewewill
berebornintoeitherthehighormiddlelevelsofthe
PureLand.ThisistbewaJ/tocultivatetobecomea
Buddha.Thequestioniswhetherwearewillingtodo
soearnestly.Weare{bolingourselvesifweareunable
tofindonefaultdai!y.IniIingtolmowtlemwewill
{ailtocorrectthem.Howcanwehopetoimprovein
t}1iswaJ/?W}1enthereisnoimprovementt}1ereisregression.Tbregardourselvesasinllibleandtbat
eveIythingwedoiscorrectistbemostborriblewayto
live.CD
16.Tl1eBuddha-namechantingmethodissuitable{br
eveIyonetolearnandpracticeregardlessofonescapacity.Ot}1ermethodssuchasZenmeditationand
TibetanBuddbismarenotaseaSyfbronetolearnand
practice.TbeBudd}1a-namec}1antingmetbodissimpleandconvenient.Itdoesnotmatterwhetherone
hasaBuddhaimageatbomeorifonehasflowersto
offbrbEveIyonecanlearnandpractice.Thismet}1od
doesnotempbasizeappearancesorlearningenvIronment.Itisthemostconvenientmethod.EILS
29
BUDDHANAECHANTING
17.TIeBuddhasaid:Alldharmasarecreatedytbe
mind.Wbenwethinkaboutamatter[tbatwillbene-
fitotbers>eveIymomentofeveIydaJ)never{brgettingitthent}Iismatterwillbesuccess{Ullyaccomplisbed.IfwetbinkThisissodifBcultIcannotdo
it.Forgetit!thenthismatterwillnotbeaccomplished.Why?Becausewhenwestopt}Iinkingof
benefittingot}Ierswestopgeneratingenergy.
Thoughtswilltru!ygenerateinconceivableenertbis
iscontinualmind{i1lness.
henoneunderstandsthisprincipleonesees
t}1att}1osewhoaremind{i1lofBudd}1awillattain
BuddhaboodApractitionerwhochantstbeBuddhanamewillde6nitelyattainrebirthintheWesternPure
LandthisisalsotIesameprinciple.Wbenone
mindIychantsAmituobandismindUlofthe
WesternPureLandbeingdiligentlymindwithout
anyinterruptionAmitabhaBuddhawillde6nite!y
coInetoone.EILS
i8PurityofmindcansuppressthenegativelKarma
accumulatedoverinBnitepasteons.Howcanweat-
tainpuritJ/ofmindstilInessofthought?Wecandoso
throughtbeunmovedmindthatisindeepconcentra50
BUDDHA-NAMECHANTINC
tion.ThisiscaIedOneMindUndisturbedint}Ie
methodocbantingmindilIbtheBuddasname.
OnceweattainthisstatealIofournegativekarma
willbesuppressed.Howeverwbenanewwandering
thoug}ItarisesournegativeIKarmawillagainmaterializeCD
19.IfwewanttopracticeIaIpietytoperfbctionwe
justneedtosingIe-mindedlychanttheBuddha-name
andseekrebirt}IintheWesternPureLand.Whenwe
meetAmitabbaBuddhaour{iIialpietywiIItbenbe
per{bct.Itisbecause[onceweareinthePureLand>
wewibeabIetorecognizeourparentsandalsoa
ourparentsinpastli{btimesandclearlylmowwbicb
pathstbeyareinsot}IatwhentbeconditionsarematuretbeywiIIlistenandacceptouradvicetomind{UllychanttbeBuddha-namew}Ienweurgethemto.
ThiswaJ)wewilIIavetbeabiIityto}Ielptbem.We
willbeabletobelpour{amiliesffiendsandthose
whohaveananitywitbusomeveIyoneofour
lifbtimestranscendtheSixPathsattainrebirtbin
theesternPureLandandattainBuddbaboodThis
isgreat{ilialpiety!Tbisistruefilialpiety!ElLS
3l
BUDDHA-NAIIECHANTING
50.Single-mindedlycbantingAmituofbdayand
nigbtwillreduceallofourwanderingtboughtsinto
onethoughtofAmituo{bIsAmituofbgoodorbad?
Neither.Ithasnothingtodowithtbedualityofgood
andbad{britaccordswithourtruenatureThedual-
ityofgoodandbadonlyexistsinourconscious
mindsnotinourtrueminds.ithprolongedpracticewewillnaturalbattainenlightenmentifweare
constantlymindfi1lofAmituofb.Amongeighty-fbur
thousandmetl1odsthismethodisunsurpassed.CD
5l.T}1ecultivationmet}1odtbatwepracticeismindfi1llyrecitingthenameofAmitabhaBuddba.W}latis
themeaningofAmitabhaBuddha?Amitabhameans
infiniteandBuddhameanswisdomandawalKening.
TherefbreAmitabhaBuddhameansinfinitewisdom
andinfiniteawalKening.Thisisagoodthought.InfinitewisdomandawakeningisBuddha-natureIntlIe
caseofp}1enomenaitisD}1arma-nature.
WhenwechantAmitabbaBuddhawearechant-
ingDIarma-nature.isdomandawakeningresidein
eveIythingintheuniverse.isdomandawakening
areinnateineveIytl1ingintheuniverseisdomand
awakeningpervadetbewboleuniverse.ThisDharma
32
BUDDHA-NAMECHANTING
doorofmind{UllyrecitingtheBudd}la-nameisabsolutelyperbct.ThisisthestatedescI.ibedinthedlj
hzzcMYz.ASC
52Singleminded!ychantingAmituofbdayand
nightwillreduceallofourwanderingthougl1tsinto
onethoughtofAmituob.IsAInituofbgoodor
bad?Neither.Ithasnothingtodowitbthedualityof
goodandbad{britaccordswit}Iourtruenature.The
dualityofgoodandbadonlyexistsinourconscious
mindsnotinourtrueminds
Withprolongedpracticewewillnaturallyattain
enlightenmentifweareconstantbmindfi1lofAmituofb.Amongeighty-fburthousandmethodsthis
met}1odisunsurpassed.CD
55.Somepeoplemaysayt}1atwhenonec}1antsmantrasonewillalsogetbelpomBuddhasandbodhi
sattvas.Indeedwbencl1antingmantrasaspracticed
}WtheEsotericschooltheBuddhasandbodhisattvas
willalsobetberetohelpbutitisnotasgoodas
chantingthenameofAmitabhaBuddlIa.V/henone
cl1antsmantrasonewillhavethehelpofoneortwo
Buddhasorbodhisattvas.Tbhavetbebelpofthreeto
55
BUDDHA-NAIVECHANTING
6veBuddhasandbod}Iisattvasisincredible.Butwben
onemind{illlychantsthenameofAmitabhaBuddba
onewillhavethebeIpofaItheBuddhasintheten
directionsandinthethreetimeperiods.Tbisiswhy
themeritofthenameofAmitabbaBudd}Iaisinconceivable!ElLS
51Whatdoespropertboughtarisingmean?Itis
Amituo{b:t}1emosttruth{i1}andultimateproper
tbought.T}leonIyimportantissueinourIifbistoconstantlymaintainpropert}lougbtstonotclingtodeviatedorerroneousonesandtobeconstantlymind
ofAInitabhaBuddbadayandnightwitboutinterruption.Ifwecancontinueourcultivationinthisway,
thenintbreemontbswewillreceivewonder{i1lre-
suIts.IfwecanconstantlymaintainmindRlInessof
AmitabhaBuddhawitbtbisonethougbtweareassuredofreducingourwanderingdiscriminatoIy
t}Iougbts
Itisimpossiblefbrustonothaveanywandering
tboughts.Donotbeaaidofthemsolongas
thougbtsofAInitabbaBuddhacanoccupyustbe
most:sucbassixtypercentofourthougbtsof
AmitabhaBuddhawitbonly{brtypercentthatare
51
BUDDHA-NAMECHANTING
wandering.IfwearenotconstantlymindfUlof
AmitabhaBuddbatbenourmindswillbe6lledwitb
wanderingthoughts
Ifwecancontinuethispractice{brthreemonths
increasingtbethougbtsofAInitabhaBuddhaanddecreasingourwanderingtbougbtswewillbeatease
andfTeeinspirit.Ourmindswillbecomemoreserene
andourjOyompracticingtheteachingswillshow
thatourlKarmicobstacleshavebeenreduced.Inthe
pastourmindswere6lledwithaictionsandworriesandourfUtureslookeddarkNowwecanbe
happy)conBdentandwiseasourlivesbecomeinter-
estingandour{i1turesbecomebright.CD
55.Atalltimes>whenonesing>e-mindedlychantst}Ie
Buddhanamethemindwillbeeeofallwandering
thoughtsaictionsworriesandconcerns.Mindfi1Uy
chantingtheBuddha-namewillthustameallofones
{aculties.Onesbodywillbesuppleandonesmind
willbegentle.Onewillbeabletoachievephysical
andmentaIwell-beingEILS
56emaywanttoaslKiWbatisthemethodthattIe
bodhisattvasoftheesternPureLandpracticeto
55
BUDDHA-NAMECHANTING
acbievetamingalltheir{acultiesand}Iavingasupple
bodyandgentlemind?Itismind{illlychantingAmituO{b.
AsMabasthamapraptaBod}IisattvasaidIand
6Bytwobllowpractitioners....iRytworefbrs
tot}Ietenstagesoffaitbtenstagesofabidingten
stagesofpracticetenstagesofdedicationtenstages
ofgroundthestageofequalenlightenmentandthe
stageofwondrousenligbtenment.ellowpractitio
nersrefbrstopractitionerswhosbaredt}1esameaspirationandfbcusedonpracticingthePureLand
metbod.T}1isteIsust}1atfTomMa}Iast}1amaprapta
BodbisattvasinitialgenerationoftbebodhiminduntilattainmentofBuddhahood}IepracticedthechantingofAmituofb/wit}loutanychanges.T}lisistrub
inconceivable!ChantingAInituofbenablesusordinaIybeingstoattainBudd}Iahood.EILS
57.Tbpracticegooddeedswitbonesinceremind
meanstobaveanabsoluteproperandvirtuous
t}Ioughtast}Ie6rstthought.Therearenowandering
secondthoughts.TbchantAInituo{b/istosinglemindedlypracticeConstantMindInessofAmitab}la
Buddhaandwhole}Iearted!yseekrebirtbintotbe
56
BUDDHA-NAMECHANTING
PureLand.Tbemostmarvelouswaytore{brmand
reduceourlKarmicobstacIesistohavenowandering
tboughtsThisdoesnotmeantonotbaveanyproper
thougbts.ithoutpropertboughtswebecomeignorant.anderingthougItsarediscriminatoIytboughts
andattacbments.ItisnoteaSy{braveragepeopleto
achievethestateofnowanderingthought.ButeveIyonecanaclievethisypracticingtheBuddlaMind
fUlnessCbantingmethodCD
58Thisisanunsurpassedprinciple.PuriIofmind
cansuppressthenegativekarmaaccumulatedover
infinitepasteons.Howcanweattainpurityofmind
stillnessoftbought?ecandosothroughtheunmovedmindtlIatisindeepconcentration.Thisis
calledOneIVndUndisturbedinthemetbodof
chantingmindfUllyt}leBudd}Iasname.Onceweat-
taint}Iisstateallofournegativekarmawillbesuppressed.Hovveverwhenanewwanderingthought
arisesournegativelKarmawillagainmaterialize.CD
59.Bysingle-mindedlychantingtheBuddha-name
wewilltasteboundlessmeaningsandflavorbARerwe
tastetheHavoroftbeDharmatherewillbenostop57
BUDDHA-NAECHANTING
pingus.Duringourlearningwewil}trulyfbeljOy
andwiIldeBnitebbemalKingcourageousanddiligent
progress.
NowwhenwecbanttheBuddba-namewedonot
tasteanyavoroftheDharmabecausew1enwe
chantAmituo{bwearethinkingofotherthings.
Tbisisthereasonthatourcultivationhasnotgone
anywbere.WEshoulddiligentlycontinuewit}Iour
cbanting.An;yt}Iingt}IatobstructsusfTomsinglemindedlychantingshouldbediscarded.
Inadditionweshouldcbantwit}Iasincerepure
andrespect{Ulmind.AfterchantinginthiswaJ/{br
halfayearwewilltastetheavoroftIeDbarma.
Whenwedowewillhavecon{idenceinattainingrebirthintIeesternPureLand.Themorewechant
tbe6rmerourcon6dence.Wewillbeabletoknowin
advancethetimeofourrebirthEILS
60Howdoesonesubdueandtransfbrmones
thoughts?henanevilthoughtarisesoneshould
instant!yhavet}lewisdomtobeawareofitandstop
t}1ewanderingt}1ought.Formanykalpasfbrwbic}1
tbereisnobeginningordinaIybeingsbavebeenimmersedinafHictionandhabitssotbeynaturallyhave
38
BUDDHA-NAMECHANTlNG
manywanderingtbougbts.ButasitissaidDonot
{baratbougbtarising;{barrealizingittoolate.When
aneviltbougbtarisesonesbouIdimmediatelydetect
itandtrans{brmitintolAmituo{b.Tbisiscultivation
Int}]eZensc}Iooltbisistbepracticeofenligbtening
illumination.HereiswI]erewepractice:trans{brming
aneviltI]ougbtintoavirtuoustboug}Ittrans{brming
anevilthougbtintoAmituob.ThetboughtoAmi
tuofbisthemostvIrtuous.Thereisnothoug}Itmore
virtuousthantbisEILS
6lTheChapteront}IePerfbctandCompleteReaIizationoflIaastbamapraptaomtbeSz
StesusbowMahasthamapraptaBodbisattva
concentratedonBuddIanameRecitationomthe
timehetookre{i1geuntiIthetimeheattainedenligbtenmentHetaug}Itusthattheproperwaytochantis
t}]ecompIementaIypracticeofconcentratingt}]esix
senseorgansandcontinuouspuremindfi1lnessof
Amitab}]aBuddhaPuremindfU}nessistochantwitb
apuremindandwitboutdoubtoranyintermingling
withotbertbougbtsormethods.Continuousistbe
uninterruptedcbantingwit}Ionewordafferanother
andisthekeytosuccessinthepracticeofBuddha59
BUDDHA-NAIVECHANTING
nameRecitationthatwastaughtyMahasthama
praptaBodhisattvaBACW
10
SUTRARECITWTION
SutraRecitation
62.Single-mindedlychantingasutrawit}Ioutwanderingthoughtsdistractionsordoubttbisiscultivatingmeditativeconcentration.Fromstartto{inisb
enunciatingclearlyeveIywordwithoutmistakeor
omissiontbisiscultivatingwisdom:fUndamental
wisdom.Tbuschantingasutraiscultivatingsimultaneous!ythepreceptsmeditativeconcentrationand
wisdom.Ifonet}1inksaboutt}1emeaningoft}1esutra
whilechantingit,itwillruintbecultivationofprecept
observationmeditativeconcentrationandwisdom
[theThreeLearnings>.Thisistreatingtbesutraasa
worldlybookEILS
65.Myteac}IerLivingBuddbaZhangjiasaid:Buddhismdoesnotemphasizefbrmsorritualsbutrather
truesubstance.Ifwepayattentiononlytotbe{brmalityandbiltopro{bundbcomprehendtbeessence
ofthesutrasteachingwewillnotprogressanyfUrt}Ierthanjustbeingzealousaboutourbithandtbus
beeasilymanipulatedbythosewithbadintentions.
REN
1l
SUTRAREClTATION
61.Chantingthesutrasiscultivatingtbeprecepts
cultivatingmeditativeconcentrationandcultivating
wisdom.Wbencbantingasutraonesimp!yreadst}]e
wordswithouttbinlKingoft}Ieirmeaning.Chanting
sincere!ytbiswayiscultivatingthepreceptsmeditativeconcentrationandwisdom.
Tbesutrasaretobereciteddailybutnotfbrtbe
beneitoftheBuddba.erecitethemasanotberre
minderofhowtocultivateourmindandbowtoproperlyinteractwithothersandcircumstances.Forex-
ampeoudailyconductisanexpressionoftbeIM
LSwhenweemulatetbequaIitiesbund
witbinitEILS
65.Sutrasflowomthepureandquietmindoftbe
BuddhaWbenwedevelopamindaspureandquiet
wewiIunderstanda>Iwereadinasutra.Thereason
wbyasutraissohardtounderstandnowisthatour
mindsarefilledwithwanderingthoughtsHowcan
thismindbein}Iarmonywitbonetbatispureand
quiet?Thisisw}WwedonotunderstandtheBuddhaswordsSoifwewanttolearnomagood
teacberweneedtotrustandbelievetbattbeirmetb-
odsareproperandcorrect.BACW
12
SUTRARECITATION
66.Tbesutrasbelpustounderstandthetruerealityof
li{bandtheuniversesothatwewillknowtbeproper
waytothinkandbehaveaswellastheappropriate
cuItivationmetbodtouse.OnIywhenwetrulyaccord
witbtbeteacbingsofthesutrawiIIwebenefit.BACW
67.Ifwechantoreadindirentlywitboutapplying
t}IeprinciplesthenaIoureffbrtswillbefi1tile.Only
wbenwebecomeawareoftbepurposeandmetbodof
chantingthesutracanweactuaIlyachieveanyresults.
...TbdaJpeoplesimp!yreciteabsentmindedJlike
smallchildrenw}Iosingasongwitht}Ierigbtwordsto
therighttunebutwitboutunderstandingthemeaning.Onlywbenwebecomeawareofthepurposeand
methodofcbantingthesutracanweactuallyachieve
an;yresultsBACW
68.IftheBuddbasteachingsarenotintegratedinto
ourmindsandourmindsarestilldictatedyouraE
Rictionsandhabitswhatistheuseofcbantingthe
sutras?Onlyourverbalkarmaisgood;w}1ereasour
mindsandbehaviorstillremainunimprovedSow}1ile
ourchantingdoesplantaseedinourAlayaconsciousness,t}Ieseedisdormant{brnowButeven
3
SUTRARECITATION
t}1oug}1t}1ebene6tissmallandnotimmediateitis
bettertoc}1antasutrat}1annottochantata}l.
W}1et}Ieryouchantwit}1afbcusedmindorwitba
wanderingmindyouwiIplantaseedinyourAlaya
consciousness.Ifyouchantwitha{bcusedmindand
withsinceritIevitalityoftheseedwillbestrongIf
youchantwithawanderingmindorwit}Ireluctance
tbevitaliIoftheseedwillbeweakASC
69.hatisthefirststepinourlearningBuddbism?
Start{)yrecitingonesutra.Doweneedtounderstand
it?No.Forw}Ienwebavenotendeda{Hictionsour
understandingwillbeerroneous.T}lenwhydowe
reciteonlyt}lissutra?ByrecitingthesutratheThree
Learningsofseldisciplinedeepconcentrationand
wisdomareaccomplishedtogetl1er.BACW
70.MnLiBingnanalwaystoldhisstudentsthatwhen
theylistenedtolectures,theyneededtoconcentrate
onunderstandingtheprinciplesinthesutraandnot
thewordsthemselvesTheseprinciplesarethelaws
governingt}leBuddhasteachingsaswellasworldly
teac}lings.Onewhotboroughlyunderstandsthe
principlesofonesutracanthenusethemtomasterall
11
SUTRARECITTION
sutras.Tbbene6tthestudentmustconscientiously
andwhole}leartedMbllowthemetbodstaughtI)ythe
teac}Ierwithoutbeingdistracted})yan;ythingnewor
diffrent.BACW
15
PRINCIPLES
Pr
n C
le
7lTheteac}1ingsofMabayanaBudd}1ismemp}1asize
per{bctbarmony)per{bctwisdomper{bctundertalK-
ingsandperfbctmerits.PeopIetodayshouldtIyto
appreciatethispointandIearnomtheteacbings
Onlytbesagesteachingofwisdomcanbelpusimproveourselves.Buddbismteacbesustoeliminateour
aictionsandbadhabits.InotIerwordsweareto
correctourwrongtbougbtswrongmindsetswanderingthoughtsdiscriminationandattachmentsand
accordwiththerulesofnatureandtbeorderinw}Iicb
nature{bnctions
eshouldunderstandtberelationshipbetween
tbeentireuniverseandtberuIesofnature:tbeulti-
matetrutbisthateveIytbingisindeedoneentityand
isbarmonious.Weandtbeuniverseandareoneen-
tII.LS
72Thereasonwhyourmeritscannotcomparewith
thoseofBudd}Iasandbodbisattvasistbediffbrences
intbemindsintbeintentions.T}1eenvironment
changesaccordingtothemindAsordinaIypeopIe
weareveIynarrow-minded;thusnomatterbow
16
PRlNCIPLES
muchgoodfbrtuneorbowmanymeritswecultivate
weareboundyourdiscriminationsandattachments.
Butthesenolongerbindbodhisattvasandarhats.
Evenwhentheyper{brmasmalldeed,tbeirmeritsare
in{initeInunderstandingtbisprincipleoureveIy
tboughtwiIlbeper{bct!andourmeritsandvirtues
willbein6nite.CD
75.Whydoesconf>ictarise?Becauseonestbougbts
speec}Iandbebaviordonotaccordwiththeinnate
virtuousnessofonesnature.Whenonest}Ioug}Itsand
behaviordonotaccordwitbonejsnatureconictwill
arise.Whycantonesthoughtsandbehavioraccord
withonesnature?IfwelookcarefMIJwewi6nd
tbattheoriginofconictisgreedTherebreinthe
teac}IingofSal[yamunigreedangerandignorance
areconsideredtberootcausesofconHictandare
calledtheT}IreePoisons.ThemostfimdamentaI
amongtheThreePoisonsisgreed-onesgreedfbr
materialgain.LS
74eseetbattheuniverseisevercbangingandthe
cbangingneverstops{brasecond.BuddbismcaIls
thisinstantaneousarisingandceasingWbentbe
17
PRINCIPLES
tiderisesitisarising;whenthetideebbsitis
ceasing.Weusualyseeonlytheconstant!yc}lang-
ingp}Ienomenabutwedonotseet}1enoumenontbat
manifbststbesechangingpbenomena.
Althougballp}IenomenaariseandceaseinstantaneouslJandareconstantlychangingtlenoumenon
oftbeuniversetbatmani{bstsandmalKeschangespossibledoesnotcbangeatall.It}Iasthequalitiesofneitherarisingnorceasingneitbercomingnorgoing
neithereternalnorimpermanentandneitberonenor
many.Thesearethequalitiesusedtodescribethe
noumenonoftheuniverse.Itisouroriginal{acebefbrebirth.ASC
75.NeedlessworIyingisalsoanindicationofkarmic
obstacles.T}Iepastispastwhatistheuseofdwelling
onit?Tbmorrowisyettocome.Tbwonderaboutitis
tohavewanderingthoughts.SomepeopleareextremelygoodatworIymgandwonderingaboutt}Ie
pastandt}Ie{i1ture.Tbeycandosoalldaylong.This
istomakeamountainoutofamolebillandthisisa
lKarmicobstacle.CD
18
PRlNCIPLES
76.hatkindofmindareweusingnow?Thede
ludedmindnottbetruemind.Tbereisnohindrance
inthetruemind.ithtbedeludedmindwlIenwetIy
toseesomet}1ingwithournakedeyeswecannotsee
itclearly.
ItislikeloolKingtbroughdistortedglassesseeing
theexternalenvironmentthrougbalayerofdelusion.
ThisdelusionistbeEightConsciousnessesand{iRyonemindobjects.WitbtbegIasses}Ieavilycontaminatedwetbeninteractwiththeexternalenvironment
t}Iroughtheseconsciousnessesandmindobjects.
There{bret}Ieenvironmentbascbangedtotbatoftbe
SixDusts.
W}Ientheseconsciousnessesandmindobjectsare
notappliedtoseetheexternalenvironmentthenwe
donotseetheenvironmentoftbeSixDustsbutthat
ofthetruenature.CD
77OureveIythoughtandeveIyactionarerecorded
likethedatainacomputer.OurAlayaConsciousness
recordsallourgoodandevilthougbtsandactions
similartowhatacomputerdoes.Tbisisourdatabase
containingnotonIydataintlislitimebutalsodata
omallpastlibtimes.SpirituaIbeingsandpeople
19
PRINCIPLES
whohavetbeabilicanreadourdata.Therefbrewe
sbouldbecautiouswitbourthoughtseshouldnot
allowanyeviIthoughttoarise.EveIythoughtshouId
beofbene6tingallbeingsandnotbeofbarming
tbem.ThiswaJ/wewiItrulysucceedinattaining
greatvirtue.EILS
78.Greedangerignorancearroganceanddoubtare
tberootsofaIInaturaIdisastersTheyarealsothe
rootcausesofhumandiseases.Whenonehasthe
causesofil}ness-greedangeEignorancearrogance
anddoubtinonesmindonetendstofbelresent
menthatredvexationangerandannOyanceand
tbusgivesrisetot}]ougbtsofkiIingstealingsexual
misconductandIying.Tberetributionswillbethe
malfi1nctionoftbeinterna}organsandt}1eoccurrence
ofdiseasesandepidemicsSC
79.WhenIwantedtostudyBuddhismwithMr.Li
Bingnanandto{brmalIybecomehisstudentheput
brwardthreeconditions:irstomtodayon,you
canonIylistentomylectures.YOuarenotallowedto
listentoanyotherD}]armamastersorlaJ/practitioners.SecondfibmtodaJonyouarenotaIowedto
50
PRINClPLES
readanyboolKbeitasutraoranylKindofbooIK
withoutmypermission.Tbe{irstconditionb>ocked
myearsandtbesecondcoveredmyeyes.Third
wbatyoubaveIearneddoesnotcountwitbmeYOu
areto{brgetitaITbdaJhyoustartanewwithme
ThesetbreeconditionswereveIyIarsb.henI
{irstheardtbemIthoughttMtthisteac}IerwasveIy
autocraticdomineeringandunreasonable.He
soundedsoincredib!yarrogant.Nevertbeessaer
considerationIacceptedhisconditionsandbecame
bisstudentIdidnotknowthenthattheseconditions
werepreceptsmeanttohelpmecutomyaictions.
T}IemoreoneseesandIistensthemoreaIctionsonebas;tbelessoneseesandlistensorw}]en
onedoesnotseeorIistenonewiIbavenoafflictions
Somyteacberusedt}Iismetbodtobelpme{i1lIthe
vowof{AfHictionsareinexhaustibIe;Ivowtoend
t}IemaI.BACW2
80benweasordinaIypeopleloolKarounduswe
seeon!ytheiIusoly)ever-cbangingphenomenanot
tbetruthofthesephenomenaItisIilKeloolKingata
stormJ/sea.Wetendtoseewavesandsur<Wefbrget
5l
PRINCIPLES
thetrutb.batisthetruth?Thetruthisthattbe
wavesandsurfarewaterbASC
8l.hentbeBudd1asaidthatallphenomenaare
emptJ/)}1emeantt}Iattbenoumenonisempty:allt}1e
phenomenadonothaveselnatureandareempin
themselves.EveIytbingisemptyandwitboutsel
Selfimpliesbeingincontrol.EveIJ/thingisempty
andwitboutselfjmeanstbatnoonecontrolstbephenornena
Thenbowdop}Ienomenacomeabout?Tbeyarise
omthecombinationofvariousconditions.Bound-
lessconditionsgatberandgeneratethem.Therefbre
phenomenadonotbaveselnatureorselfidentitJ.
Wbenweareclearaboutt}Iistrutbweshouldab-
solutelynotattac}ltoanyphenomenaorgiveriseto
anyt}1oug}1t.T}1emindshouldalwaysbepure)impartialandawakened.EILS
82IfweseesomeoneinneedandunreservedIygive
himonedollarthentbemeritofthisaccordswithour
truenaturebecauseatthattimewedidnotdiscrimi-
natebetweenot}IersandusWedidnotdistinguis}1
betweenreceiveranddonor.ewerenotattacIedIn
52
PRINCIPLES
t1iswaythemeritsomgivingonedollarareinBnite
fbrtheyaretheuncoveringofourv1rtuousnatures
CD
83.JealouSyandhatredareindeedthougbtsofstealing.Why?Becauseonedoesnotliketoseeot}lersdo-
ingbetterTIismindsetisnotnormal.isIingtIat
othersbeworseoorbecomingdispleasedcritical
orslanderouswhenseeingvirtuouspeopleorgood
deedsbeingdonetheseareallthoughtsofstealing.
Avirtuouspersondeligbtsuponseeingot}Iervir-
tuouspeopleorgooddeedsandwillwholebeartedly
assistthesepeopleandhelptbemaccomplishtbeir
gooddeedsAvirtuouspersonwiIsetagoodexample
fbrwbatevercommunity}]eisinand}Iisgooddeeds
willde6nite!ybene6tthegeneralpublic.
henweIelpotIersachievetheirgoalswewill
succeedinourcultivationofvirtueshenweob
structotherswearecommittingtremendouslygrave
o{fbnses.EILS
81.IfoureveIythoughtisofselbeneitoursel
attachmentwillgrowdaily.Evenasweplantsome
goodcausesourattachmentswillincrease.TheBud55
PRINCIPLES
dhatoldustbatifwewishedtotranscendtbeCycleof
birthanddeathwemustridourselvesofbot}Iself
andlKnowledge-attac}]ment.SelEattacbmentsareaE
nictionsthathinderusomattainingpuriofmind.
Knowledgeattacbmenthindersusomuncovering
ourall-knowingwisdomourtruewisdomBACW
85.W}Iatexactbisnowanderingt}Ioughts?Wbatis
correctthought?Havingnowanderingthoughtsis
beingeeofallwanderingthougbtsalldiscrimina
tionsandallattachments.Correctthoughtisaclear
andcorrectunderstandingofallprinciplesandmatterscausesandresuItsandthenoumenonofanythinganditspbenomenaIexpressions.There{brein
correctthoughttbereiswisdomandtherearevIrtues
andcapabilitiesandauspiciousmarks.Incorrect
thoughttherearenowanderingthougbts,discriminationsandattachmentsASC
86TbeDltzzozJSsaJs:EventbeDharmabasto
belaidasideletaloneworldlyteachings.Dharma
re{brstotheBuddbadbarma.Ones}Iouldnotbeat-
tacbedtotbeBuddhadharmaeit}Ier.Anyattachment
isamistalKe.
51
PRlNCIPLES
TbeBuddbadbarmaisIikeaboatsomet}Iingwe
usefbrcrossingariver.Uponreachingourdestinationweshouldletgoofthetooltbatgotusthere.The
Buddhadarmaistobelpusovercomediculties
WhenwebavedonesoweshouIdnotbeattachedto
theBuddhadharmaandsbouldIetgoofittoo.EILS
87.AsordinaIybeingswitb{artoomaIWwanderings
thoughtsdiscriminationsandattachmentsweview
eveIU/thingduaIistically.WedonotviewaIIpbenomenaasone.Whenourtruewisdommani{bstswewiII
knowthatallp}]enomenaareonenottwo
TaIKetbelidoamugbrexample.Itisconcaveon
onesidebutitisconvexontheotherside.Ifpeople
donotunderstandtbistruth!thentwopeoplestandingondirentsidesofthelidwillquarrelover
wbetberthelidisconcaveorconvex.Thisisbecause
tbeylookattheIidomdirentsidesWbenthey
seebothsidesoftbelid)theywillrealizethatconcave
isnodirentomconvexTheyareonenottwo
ASC
88.Ancientsagessaidthatawiseandvirtuousperson
lKnowstbateveIytbingincludingonesipandone
55
PRINCIPLES
biteisdestined.However{bolishpeoplerelentlessly
pursuethingstbatarealreadydestinedtobetbeirs.
CD
89.Thereisnoneedtobeoverlyseriousortocriticize
eveIJthing.AsweIavelearnedintheDmzoziS:
AllphenomenaareiIlusoIylikedreamsmirages
bubblessbadows.NothingisrealAstbeancients
saidallphenomenaareasHeetingasclouds.Thereis
nothingworthyofangerordispute.Thereisnopoint
indwellingont}IingsfbrtbiswillhinderourcultivationofpuritJ/ofmind.CD
90.InGreatMasterOUyiscommentaIyont}1e
dzSYzwereadOneletsgoofthephenomenaoneseesandkeepsinmindandneverreminisces
abouttbem.Lettinggore{brstohowwearetoreact
toourexternalenvironments.
Outsidestimulioftentemptus.Butidealbnw}Ien
weseeorhearthesestimuliweshouldnotbeat-
tacIedtotbem.entheyareoverweshouldnot
reminisceabouttbemagainEveIytimewerecall
themaseedisplantedinourAlayaconsciousness
andwecreatealKarmiccause.Ourmoutbsarenot
56
PRINCIPLES
creatingalKarmiccauseneitberareourbodies.Itis
ourt}Ioug}Itsthatarecreatingkarmiccause.ASC
9lMahaJ/anabodhisattvascherishthehearttohelp
alIsentientbeings.Theynotonlyknowtbeirownsu
{bringandtIytohelpthemselvesbuttbeyalsowant
tohelpallsentientbeingsJbequallywishtobelpaIl
beingsistbegreatbodhimind.TheMMMM
tellsusthatbodbisattvasbeiendandvoluntarily
helpalllivingbeings.Evenifwedonotrequestit
theycometohelp.Tbvo>untaribintroduceBuddbism
toallisthepurecauseofabodhisattva.
Tbhelpa}lbeingswe6rstneedtoknowhowto
helpourselves.Tbdotbisweeeourselvesomwor
riesandafflictions.BACW
92.Allofourencountersinli{bwbethergoodfbrtune
orbad{brtunegoodluckorbadluckwealthorpovertyallaredestined.OrdinaIypeoplecannotchange
tbisIfwearenotsupposedtobavesomethingno
amountoftIyingtoboldontoitwillsucceed{brlong.
Conversebwewinaturallyreceivewbatweare
supposedtoItisnotworththeeffbrttodowhatis
57
PRINCIPLES
wrongandtoriskallinthebopeofattainingself
satis{action.CD
95ConditionsmaJbevorableoradverse.henan
adverseconditionappearsones}Iouldknowt}Iatit
resultsomabadcauseplantedinthepast.Ifapersondispleasesoneorgoesagainstonethenone
shouldjustlaugbitoastbiswillcancelouttbe
karmicdebtincurredinthepast.IfonebecomesangIy)onewilIincuranotberdebtontopoftbeoIddebt.
InsteadofcancelingouttbeolddebtonevviIhave
evenmoreprob}ems.AsitissaidIfoneowesmoney)
onewiIlrepaJ/wit}Imoney.Ifoneowesli{bonewill
repaJ/withli{b.ReprisalbreedsreprisalItisWclical
andneverending.ElLS
91.ThisprincipIe)itocultivateoneistocultivateall
wasexplainedinthedhIzJSItistbeIearn
ingandcultivationofnon-hindrance.EveIytbing
arisesomourtruenature.Ifthecultivationisinac
cordancewithtbetruenaturet}Ienitcanberegarded
ascu}tivatingalllfwedogooddeedst}Iatarenot
omourtruenatureandbecauseweareseekingwe
wilIonIyreceivewbatweseek-notbingmore.Ifwe
58
PRINCIPLES
seekfibmthetruenaturetbennotonlywillweattain
whatweseekbutalsowewilIgaininBnitebenefits.
CD
95.Manypractitionersbavevoicedtheconcernover
whattheys}Ioulddobecausethey{bundithardto
maintaintheiraspiration{brenlightenmentandt}]ey
oRenretrogressed.Tbesepractitionersstatedt}Ie
trutb.ItisindeedveIyeaSytoretrogress.Itisupto
oneselftothinkofawaytopreventoneselfomret
rogressing.BecausepeopIehavediffbrentcapacities
andkarmastbereisnoonefixedmetbod.Iftbere
wereaspeci{icmetbodsuitab>e{breveIyonedespite
theirdiHbrentcapacitiesthenSal[yamuniBuddha
wouldnot}Iaveneededtoteac}IeightJ/-fburDharma
doorsorcountlessD}]armadoors.Hewouldonly
haveneededtoteachoneDharmadoor!ASC
96.Greedisthecauseoft}IelKarmat}Iatresultsinus
beingbornintothehungIygbostrealm.Byilingto
ridourselvesoftheresentmentandangercausedy
greedwewillbebornintothehellrea>mIgnorance
havingnowisdomresultsinusbeingborninthe
animalrealm.
59
PRINCIPLES
InbothworldlyteachingsandinBuddhismthere
istruthandlsehoodjjusticeandinjusticerightand
wronggoodandbad.Anignorantpersoncannottell
t}IediffbrencebetweenthemIntentiona>oruninten-
tionaIheorsheoftenconi1seslseboodandtruth
badandgoodBACW
97.Wbenweobservealltheworriespainbitterness
angergood{brtunemis{brtunegoodevilconflicts
conontationsandnaturaldisastersaroundthe
worldweseethattheyareduetotbewrongunderstandingofthetruthaboutli{bandtbeuniverse
Fromt}lismisunderstandingweerroneouslygenerateemotionalattacbmentsdirentiatebetween
othersandourselvesandexpandtheconHictsand
conontationswitIinourselvestoallbeingsairs
objectsandthenaturalenvironmentoutsideourselves.ThisiswhywehaveworseningdisasterseveIywhere.
InrealitJ/)naturaldisastersarecaused}Wbuman
minds.TbeBuddhasaid:GreedisthecauseofHood.
Angeristhecauseof6re.Ignoranceistbecauseof
wind.ArroganceandinequaliIarethecauseof
earthqualKes.>REN
60
PRlNCIPLES
98.Onceweunderstandtbe{i1ndamentalprinciples
wewilIunderstandtbateveIytbingint}Iisworldand
beyondarisesomtbemindandchangesaccording
toourperceptions.IfweseektobecomeBuddhaswe
willbecomeBudd}Ias.IfweseelKtobecomebeavenly
beingswewiIbecomeheavenlybeings.Everything
accordswiththemind.Thed!zdStellsus:
esbouldobservetbenatureoftIeDharmaRealm
aseveIythingiscreatedbythemind.Therebrethe
waJ/ofseekingistoaccordwit}Itheprinciplethat
eveIytbingarisesomtIemindandischangedy
ourpercept1onsCD
99.T}1epracticeofpatienceandtoleranceisextremelyimportant.On!ywhenwearecapableofenduringeveIyt}Iingcanourheartscanbepureandunaffbctedyexternalinluences.Whenwecanbeunaf
{bctedourexternaIenvironmentwillbetteraccord
vvitbourthoughts.WPH
l00.WeoenIearaboutrenunciationinBuddhism.
FortbevastmajorityofBudd}listsrenunciationdoes
notmeangivingupaworldlylifbandbecomingamonastic.ItmeanslettinggooonesattacIments.Tbe
6l
PRINCIPLES
Buddhashowedusbowfbrhehadnoattacbmentsto
thisworld.Unfbrtunate!JasordinaIybeingsweare
stillveIymuchattachedtotheworldinoureveIy
tbought.Althoug}ItbeMahaJ/anateachingsemphasize
substancerathertban{brmiftbereissubstanceit
willcertainlyberef>ectedinfbrm.Tbere{breifour
thoughtstranscendtbisworldourbe}IaviorwilIreectthis.ASC
l0l.Itiserroneoustohavethoughtsonotwisbing
{brsomet}IingbecauseonewouldrejectallopportunitiesThoughtsowishingbrsomethingisseeking
anities.Tboughtsonotwishingbrsomethingis
alsoseekinganitiesTberefbre,bodhisattvaspracticetheMiddleay:whentheyteacbbeingstbeyare
accordingwitbconditionsnotseekinganities.EILS
l02.eoftenreadinthesutrasofthefireburning
our{brestofmerits.WhatistbisBre?Itisangerand
hatredhenweloseourtempers,weloseourmerits
asweI}.Ifyouwanttoknowbowmuc}Imerityou
bavethinkofthelasttimeyoubecameangIy.ith
oneangIythoug}IttheBreburnsour{brestofmerits.
62
PRlNClPLES
hatismerit?ItispuritJofmindconcentration
andwisdom.T}IinlKaboutitifweIoseourtempers
bowcanwemaintainourconcentrationandwisdom?
Impossible.As{brgood{brtuneitisourweaIthand
inteIigenceWbenourmindattainsConstantMind{UInessofBuddbaAmitabbaorOnelVndUndis-
turbedwecanaccumuIatemeritsandvirtues.But
wit}ljustoneoutburstoftemperaIislost:nomore
ConstantMindi1lnessoBuddIaAmitabIamuch
lessOneMindUndisturbedThere{breweneedto
remainvigiIantsoasnotto}oseourmeritsCD
l03.TheBuddbatoldusthatifwepracticetheTn
VirtuousKarmaswewiIlnotfaIIintot}]eTbreeBad
Realms.InsteadwewouIdlikelytobebornintbe
IIeavenreaImsifwepracticetbesegoodconductsdiligent!y.Ifweacbievethedeepconcentrationalong
withtbeFourImmeasurableMindsoflovingkindness(givinghappinesstoothers)compassion
(takingawaybitternessofothers)jOy(IiberatingothersomsuringandbeIinghappybrtbemand
lettinggo(ofthefirstthreeminds)wewillrisetoan
evenhigherIevelofthebeavenstbeHeavenofForm
andtbeHeavenofFormIessBACW
63
PRINCIPLES
l01.Thelawofcausalityneverchangeseitherintbis
worldorbeyond;themorewealtbwegivetbemore
wealthwewillgain.edonotevenknowwherethis
wealt}IwillcomefTombutitwillcome.Tbemore
teachingwegivethemorewisdomwewillgainso
wedonotwanttowitbboldanyofourwealthor
knowledge.Povertyistheresultofnotgivingwealth
Ignoranceistheresultofnotgivingteacbingandillnessandshortlivesaretheresultofnotgiving{barlessness.CD
l05.Ifweseektoresolvedisastersandconflictswe
muststartfibmwithinourownbodyandmind.We
needtotrulya{Brmthatallbeingsareone.Allpbenomenonareinharmon[yoriginaUy.Thinkingtbus
wewillnaturalIybesincerecompassionatepeacefi1l
respect{Ul}1umb}eandloving.
IntIeJfMLSitisstated:Whereverthe
BuddhasteacbingsourisheitIerincitiesorcountIysidespeoplewillgaininconceivablebene{its.The
landandpeoplewillbeenvelopedinpeace.Thesun
andmoonwillsbineclearandbright.Windandrain
willappearaccordingIyandtberewillbenodisasters.
NationswilIbeprosperousandtherewillbenoneed
61
PRINClPLES
fbrsoldiersorweapons.Peoplewillabideymorality
andaccordwitblawsTheywillbecourteousand
}lumbleandeveIyonewillbecontentwitboutinjustices.TberewillbenotheffsorviolenceTbestrong
willnotdominatetheweakandeveIyonewillgettheir
fairsbare.REN
l06.TbdaJ)manypeopleareseriouslyillWhydo
t}1eybecomeill?Wberedot}Ieillnessescomeffom?
Therootcauseisouranger.Ifwecancalmdownand
nevergetangIJ/)tberewilIbenomoreiIlness.When
welearnthatwewillbeheaIthy.Althoughthereare
stillman<ypeopleandreasonsouttherethatcanmalKe
usangIJ/)(weBuddhistscallthemourkarmiccredi-
torswedonotbavetobesoobedientandgetang
wl]entheyirritateus.IfwegetangIyoncetbeyirritateusthenweare{bo}ed
Wehavetoknowt}Ietruth.TbeyareberetomalKe
meangIy.IlKnowthatandIwillnotfbllowtheirwill.
Onthecontrary)Iwillsmileattbem.Int}1iswaJ/)no
onecanbarmme.
Whocanbarmus?Actual!Jwecanon!ybe
}larmedbyourselves!Ifwecanlearntbisnomatter
l1owhardpeopIetIytoirritateuswewillbeimpervi65
PRINCIPLES
ous.Ifwecanbeimperviouswewilltrulysee
throughtotbetrutbandletgoofeveIytbing.wPH
l07.Whenbadcausescreatedinthepastencounter
presentadverseconditionstheretributionsfbrt}Iese
wrongdoingsmature.HoweverifwerefTainom
committingfi1rthermisdeedswecansuppresst}Ieadverseconditions.TbebadcausesstiIlexistbutwith-
outtherightconditionstheywiInotmature.The
principleinchangingdestiIWisbasedonthisconditionalaspectoftbelawofcausality.Causeiswhatwas
createdinthepastandisunc}Iangeable;butcondition
ischangeableandcontrollable
Wereapwbatwesow.ecanplantmelonand
beanseeds-thesearecausesWhenwedosowewill
growmelonsandbeanstbesearetbefiuitsthere
sults.Butwecannotgrowbeansommelonseedsor
melonsombeanseeds.Causeisaconstantbere.
hatwevvillbarvestdependsontheconditions.Ifwe
wouldliketoharvestbeanswepIanttbeseeds{br
tbemandputawtIemelonseeds
Foracausetocomeintoectappropriatecondi-
tionsarerequiredForexampIe)seedsneedt}Ierigbt
conditionswbicharegoodsoiI{brtilizersunand
66
PRlNCIPLES
watertogrowwellEvenaftertheseedsareplantedandacausethuscreatedwecanpreventthem
ommaturing.WesimplywitbhoIdtbewaterand
sunligbt.T}IeseedswilInotgrow.Tbeywillnotma-
tureintouitsbecausetheydonothavetherigbt
conditionsCD
l08.InBuddhismwearetaugbtnotonlytolovebut
tIatourlovealsoneedstoariseomamindofsincer-
ipuritJandequaIityWecalItbiskindoflove
compassion.CompassionisrationaIlove.ealso
needtousetruewisdom.isdomistetruemind
andemotionistheillusoIymindLovet}Iatarises
ffomemotionswillcbangewbileIovetbatarisesom
wisdomwiIInevercbange.HenceBudd}1asdonot
uselovebutinsteadusecompassion.
0nappearanceloveandcompassionseemthe
samebuttheirintentionsaredirent.Lovemay
cbangetobatredbutwithwisdomlovewillnever
change.AllBuddhasandbodhisattvaswiIoveusno
matterwhat;whetberweloveorhatethembecome
jealousors}andeI)barmordestrOythem.T}leircompassion{bruswiInevercbange.Thisistruelove.
TVKS
67
PRlNCIPLES
l09.Mostofuswill6ndthatours1xsensesbecome
poIutedwhentheyencounterexternalsurroundings
Whenthesearepleasingwedevelopaheartof
greedthisispollution.WIenthesearedispleasing
wedevelopaheartofresentmentandangerwbic}Iis
pollutionaswell
Weneedtoremembertbatt}IeFiveDesiresof
wealthsexbme{bodandsleepandtbeSevenHumanEmotionsofjOy)angersorrow){barlove}late
anddesireareimpuritiesoftheheart.OriginallJour
truenaturewaspurewit1outimpurities.eneedto
eradicateallimpuritiesandrelyuponourpureheart.
BACW
ll0.Thesutrastellus:CauseandeffbctarelinIKed
throug}Ithepastpresentandfi1ture.Whatweundergointhislifbtimearetbeconsequencesofw}1atwe
haddoneinourpreviouslifbtimeswhilewhatwedo
nowwilldeterminewbatweundergoinour{i1ture
libtimes.IfwecultivateveIydiligentlJweneednot
waituntil{i1tureli{btimestoreapourrewards;in-
steadwemayseeourdeedsbearuitinthislifbtime!
CD
68
PRlNCIPLES
lll.WeshouldbeimpartiaItoaIpeopleinanysituationw}1ethert}1eyaregoodorbad.Animpartialmind
willleadtoapuremind.AttacbmentasweIIasdissatisctionandenmityarewanderingthougbts.hen
oneisfTeeofallwanderingthoughtsalldiscriminationsandaIlattachmentsonewillattainapureand
impartialmindhentbemindispureandimpartial
onewilldeBnitelybeawakenednotdeluded.OnewiII
tbenrealizetbegoalofpuritJhimpartialityandenIightenment.EILS
ll2V/CreadintbeMa}Iayanasutras:AllphenomenaaremanibstedythemindandOurenvlron
mentchangesaccordingtoourmind.Environme
heremeansmountainsriversearthtreesf>owers
andgrass.Theycanallbechanged})yourminds.We
bavetoremembert}Iissentence
IfIcanbeapersonwitbapurevIrtuoussincere
compassionatemindthenthemountainsrivers
earthtreesflowersandgrasswillbecomestrongand
wonderfi1lIfmymindisR1Iofgreed!angerignoranceandarroganceandmytboughtsareconstantly
oftakingadvantageofotherstobenefitmyself;then
theouterworldwillbecomefiagile.WPH
69
PRINCIPLES
ll5Thetruenatureisoftheutmostpurityandvirtu-
ousness.Itisperfbctandradiant.Habitsaretbebad
thoug}Itsandviewsthatoneacquiredafferbirtb.
Simp!yputtbeconflictbetweentbetruenatureand
acquiredhabitsistbecon{lictbetweenaItruismand
selEbenefit.Compassionloving-kindnessandallvirtuesareinnateinthetruenatureofallbeings;selfisbnessandallbadt}Ioughtsarenot.OH
lM.TheBuddbataughtusthatwealthwisdomand
longli{bareaIlKarmicresuIts.Ifwewanttoobtain
tberesultwemust6rstestablisbandnurturethe
cause.Goodcausesbringaboutgoodresults:bad
causesgarnerbadresults.Wherethereisacause
t}1erewiI}bearesultandw}1erethereisaresultt}1ere
wasacause.Tbisisanatura}lawt}]atneverc}1anges
andtbelawaroundwhichaIIot}Ierlawsintbeuniverserevolve
Wheredodisasterscomeom?TIeyarethe
mani{bstationsofourminds.TheJ/occurbecauseour
mindsareimpurewitbtooman5yaberranttbougbts
w}]icbiswhywe}]avesomanydisastersonour
planet.TheSzStesusclearlytbatour
consuminggreedcanresultinRoodsOurconsuming
70
PRINClPLES
angercanresuItinfirecausingvolcaniceruptions
andescalatingtIetemperatureofourpIanethen
ourplanetgetsangIysheshowshertempert}Irough
volcaniceruptionslgnorancebringsaboutdisasters
causedytyphoonsandburricanes.Arroganceresults
ineartbquakes.benwearearrogantourmindisno
longerustandweIoseoursenseoequaIity.Inequal
ityinourmindcauseseart}Iquakes
There{bregreedangerignoranceandarrogance
aretbe{burrootcausesoftbe{burdi{fbrentdisasters
WPH
ll5.WhetherattainingsometI]ingoutsideofourselves
sucbasmateriaIobjectsorinsideourseIvessuchas
vIrtueswestilneedtoseekomwithinomtbe
mind.Seekingomtbeoutsidewouldbeiltile.Why?
Theoutsideactorisaconstantitcannotcbange.
TbemindisavariableitchangesCD
ll6Howdoman-madecalamitieswar{brexample
comeabout?TIeyareomtheconontationaIand
con{lictingthoughtsinourminds.Forexamplewhen
thereisproBtwbodowethinkofbeneHttingfirst?If
wetbinkofourselves6rsttbenitwillbedicultto
7l
PRINCIPLES
avoidconflictsofinterestwithothers.IfeveIyone
thinksofhimor1ersehowcant1iswordbesafb
andsecure?
OntbeotherhandifeveIyonecanputothersbe{brethemselveshowcanthisworldbeindisorder?
WPH
ll7.Man[yscientistsnowbelievethateveIythingin
thisworldiscomposedofelementaIyparticlessucbas
electronsandquarks)andtbattheyareallactually
tinyquantumparticles(pbotons)vibratingatdiffbrent
equencies.TbosequantathatvibrateveIyslowly
{brmrocksandminerals.Thosevibratingfasterfbrm
animalsplantsandbumanbeings.Tbosevibrating
evenfasterbecometelevisionandradiosignals.EveIythinginthisuniverseismadeupofquantathatare
generatedintensivelyandcontinuouslyandthese
quantaoriginateanddieataspeed{astertbanwecan
imagine.MR
ll8.Ifonehastbeslightestthougbtofseltrouble
will{bllow.Why?Becauseonemakesmistakeswhen
onebasevenathoughtofselinterest.OnlywIen
onehasnothoughtofselfLinterestand}Iastrulyletgo
72
PRINCIPLES
ofeveIJ/tbingwiIIonesmindbeliberatedandones
wisdombeuncovered.ASC
ll9.Tbreconcileconflictitisimperativetodecrease
andeventuallyletgoofthedesire{brmaterialgain.
T}leoppositeofmaterialgainisbenevolenceandjusticewhichiscompassion(c/M)astaughtinBuddhism.BenevolenceisciIelpingallbeingsattain
happinessandsacri{icingoneselffbrot}Iers.Justice
refbrstoIeIpingaIlbeingsendsuring.Itisequiva
lenttobei.Tbere{bre,BuddhismadvocatesCompas
sionistheessenceandexpedienWistbemeans
wbileConfUcianismteacbesbenevolenceandjustice.
AltIoughtbewordsusedaredirenttheyconvey
thesamemeaning.Menciusmetbodofsolvinga
problemisexact!ythesameasthatoft}]eBuddba:
theybothstartomtberootcausesLS
l20Matterisaccumulatedomunitsofconscious
ness(tberapidarisingandceasingofthougbts).
T}Iereisnomattertbatexistswitboutconsciousness.
Bothphysicalandmentalpbenomenaarederived
omourthoughtsOnceourtboughtarisesvarious
phenomenaint}IeuniverseappearOnceourthought
73
PRlNCIPLES
ceasestbeuniversedisappearsandatt}Iesametime
ourtruenatureinstant!yemerges.SE
l2l.AllpbenomenaintbeuniverseareoneentiIand
aretbemanistationofthetruenature.Whenone
thoughtarisesalIob)ectsinstant!yappear.Wben
thereisoneexistence)allexist.Whenoneexistence
ceasesallexistenceceases.Tbereisnoorderorbe{breandaRerItismuchliketbeteIevisionscreenthat
changesimagesaIthetimebutaItbechangescome
omonescreenDirentimagesaretIeresutof
diffbrentequenciesoftransmission.TIecIangeof
equenCycanbecomparedtothechangeofthougbts.
WhenonetbougbtarisesaIob)ectsfbllows.Thatis
wWBuddhasaid:Allphenomenonarisesomthe
mind.REN
l22WeneedtoavoidalIthatisevilandembraceall
tbatisgoodWebeginwithourselves.Firstwecannotallowourselvestobeaffbctedyworldlypbenom
ena.Inot}Ierwordswemustnotbeattacbedtot}1e
FiveDesiresandtheSixSenseObjectsbutletgoof
t}1em{braslongasweclingtothemwewillnever
eradicateoursel&s}Iness.Thesetboughtsofself
71
PRlNCIPLES
benetaretberootofaIlnegativekarma.Allgood
deedsthataredoneoutofevilintentionswillbecome
eviI.CD
l25.ApersonwbohasathoroughandcorrectunderstandingofthetruthoIibandtIeuniverseall
principlesandmatterstbenoumenonofanythingand
itsp}IenomenaIexpressionsandcausesandresultsiscaIledaBuddhaAsagealsobasacearunderstandingoftbetruthoflifbandt}]euniversebut
nottborougbly.ThedirencebetweenaBuddbaand
asageistbeextentofunderstandingAL
l21Con{i1cianismandBuddhismbothteachustobe
betterpeopletobevirtuous!andtoacbieveuniversal
barmonyaerweachievepersonalarmony.TIe
BuddbasaidintIeZZzoKZISthat
bod}1isattvasbaveamet}Iodt}]atcanhelpthemenda}I
suffbringsintheThreeEvilPat}Is.Themetbodisbeingmindfi1lofandcontemplatingwbolesomet}Ioughts
oftenandobservingwholesomebehaviorandspeech
nig}ItanddaJ/)witbouthavingeventbeslig}ItestnonvIrtuousthoughtThiswaJ/)onewillendalIevils{br-
75
PRINCIPLES
everandperfbct!yaccomplisbgooddharmaswhole
somethoug}Itsbehaviorandspeech.BC
l25.WbenwecontemplatecarefilllJweseethatall
thecomplexproblemsthrougbouthistoIyandaround
tbeworldariseomcontradictionconictoppositionandinequality.Whenweprobedeeperwesee
thattherootofconictistbeconictbetweenthetrue
natureandt}Ieacquired}1abitsofbumanity.Inot}1er
wordsitistheconlictbetweenaItruismandsel
beneBt.
There{bretheBuddhataughttbisfUndamental
principle:Whenthemindispurethelandwillbe
pure.benthemindisatpeaceallbeingswillbeat
peace.WhenthemindisimpartialtheworldwillenjOyequaIityHetaughtustopuriourselvesenrich
ourspiritualli{breturntoouroriginalgoodnessand
achieveharmonyofbodyandmind.ThiswaJ)alltbe
contradictionsconictsoppositionsandinequalities
intheworldwillnaturalyberesolved.BC
l26IfoureveIyt}IougbtisofourselvesegoattachmentwillworsendaJbydayHowthencanwe
transcendt}leThreeRealms?TbisiswbytheBudd}Ia
76
PRINClPLES
taughtustoalwaysthinkofbene6tingallbeingsThis
waJ/)tbetboughtsofbenefitingourselveswillgradualIydiminishandgoawaJ.OureveIthoughtand
eveIydeedshouldbe{brallbeingsnot{brourselves.
Whenallbeingsbavegoodfbrtunewetoohave
good{brtunebecausewearealsooneoft}Iebeings
Similar!Jwecannotavoidmisfbrtuneifallbeings
havemis{brtuneEILS
l27.Goodnessspringingomourheartsarisesom
truesinceritJ/andistruegoodness.Whatistrue
goodnessandblsegoodness?emustlookintoour
heartstoseeifwearegenuinelypracticinggoodness.
FalsegoodnessissimpMbllowingotberstoactwithoutsinceritJwbilewishingfbrareturn.uegoodnessistowisb{brnothinginreturnCD
l28.LearningandpracticingBuddbismisnothing
otherthanlettinggoofvvanderingtboughts)discriminationsandattachments.Whenonedoessothetrue
mindwillmani{bstItistruetbatinBuddhismeveIy
wishcanbefi1l6lled.EILS
77
PRINCIPLES
l29Weoenreadintbesutrasofthe6reburning
ourfbrestofmerits.Whatisthis5re?Itisangerand
batred.Whenweloseourtempersweloseourmerits
aswell.Ifyouwanttoknowhowmuchmerityou
havethinkoftbelasttimeyoubecameangIyWith
oneangIytboughtthe{ireburnsourfbrestofmerits.
WhydoaIIourmeritsgetdestrOyedwithjusta
Iittleanger?BecauseweloseourpuritJ/ofmind.
Tbere{breaItbeteachingsandattainmentsarebased
onpatienceanddeepconcentration.Theyarenotonly
tbelKeytoourcultivationintranscendingtheCycleof
rebirthbutthekeytoworldlymattersaswell.Tb
remainunmovedyslanderisdeepconcentration
andistberevelationofwisdom.TbbecomeangIydue
toslanderisamanistationofkarmicobstacles.e
canchoosewbet}Iertohaveourwisdomrevealedor
ourkarmicobstaclesmateriaIizeCD
l50.IfoneseelKswisdomonemustachieveapure
mind.Ienonebasapuremindwisdommanifbsts.
Apuremindislikeamirror.Its{i1nctionistoseeeveIytbingclear!yinitsreHection.This[seeingeveIy
thingclearIy>is}]avingwisdomlfonewantstohave
apuremindonesmindmustnotbecontaminated
78
PRINCIPLES
evenintheslightestwaybymundaneteachingste
FiveDesiresandtbeSixDustsorysupramundane
teacbingsthatisMabayanaTeravadaTrueacI
ingsorProvisionalTachings.Thisisveryimpor
tantOnemusttIytohaveamindoftheutmostpuritJ/
andwordsandbehaviorotheutmostvirtuousness.
ElLS
l3l.Noton!ydobumanbeingspossessthebearto
compassionjanimaIsdotoo.Thisistru|ytbevirtuous
originalnature.Tbenatureofanimalsisnodirent
ffomoursbutbecausetheyareevenmoredeeplydeludedthanwearetheyhavebeenbornasanimals.
AltbebeingsintbenDbarmaRealmssbaretbe
sametruenature.ThisiswbytheBuddbaint}]eMahaJ/anasutrasspokeofunconditionalgreatcompassionandtbelKindnessofrealizingthatweareoneentity.CD
l52Oneisjealousbecauseonecannotbeartosee
othersdoweIlApersonreceivessometbinggoodbecausetbispersonhadcultivatedagoodcausethisis
hisorberreward.Whatistheretobejealousof?If
wewantgoodrewardsweonlyneedtopIantgood
79
PRINCIPLES
causes.Weshouldlmowtorejoiceatothersmeritori-
ousdeedsandbelpthemaccomplisbt}IemEILS
l35.WhycanBuddhismresolveallproblems?The
dphzzcM1saJs:Allphenomenaaremanibsted
byt1emind.TbismeansthatalthepWsicalpIe
nomenaandmentalphenomenainlifbandtbeuniverseandevenabstractconceptsarecreatedbyour
ownmindsandhavenot}Iingtodowithotherpeople.
Whenathougbtarisesphenomenawillmanifbst.
W}IenthemindisstilInophenomenawillmani{bst.
ThisisnaturalItisdescribedasitisthewayitisin
Budd}Iism.BC
l31.Humilityenablesustopreserveourgoodrewards.ithoutitwewilllosewhatwehaveaccumulatedandallofourefbrtswillhavebeeninvain.e
needtore!yonhumiIityfbritenablesustopreserve
ourgoodness.CD
l55Peopleoffensaythatonebringsnothingwith
oneatbirthandonetakesnothingwithoneatdeatb.
henwediewecannottakeanythingthatweown
witbus.Wemustclearlyunderstandtbistrutb.Does
80
PRINCIPLES
an;ythingwe}Iavenowbelongtous?No!Ifwethink
tbatwbatwehavebelongstousthisisignorance
WbatwehaveweareiustusingtemporarilJlike
whenwestayinahotelNothingbelongstous.Ifwe
canthorough!yunderstandtbisrealiwewillnot
havegreedWewillbeateaseregardlessofwhatwe
encounterinli{bandwiInotmindortalKean;yt}Iing
seriously.
Whenweunderstandthetruthwewillbave
peaceofmind.Wbenwehavepeaceofmindwewill
surelyseethetrutb.Tbererewesbouldletgoof
eveIytlingthatisirreIevantabsolute!ygivenorise
togreed.Weshouldentbusiasticallydomoregood
deeds{brthesalKeofallbeingsandsociety.EILS
l56PeopleinthisworIddonotunderstandt}Ietrutb
ofIifbandtbeuniverse.TheyareignorantandseIBsb
TheBuddIatoldusthetrutbolifbandtheuniver-
setheentireDIarmaRealmisoneentiandtIe
truenatureofBuddbasandbodbisattvasandtbatof
allbeingsareone.Fromthiswerealizethatweand
alltheotherbeingsintbeentireDharmaRealmare
closelylmitwhenweloveourseIveswewiovealI
8l
PRlNCIPLES
beings;wbenwehelpotberswearehelpingourseIvesEILS
l37.VirtuallyeveIyonewouldpre{brtobegood.Even
theworstpersonwillusuallysaJthatbeorshewould
Iiketopracticegoodness.Fromthiswecanconclude
tbatagoodheartandbehavioristhetruenatureof
bumanitJ/.Buddbismteacbesusthattbisisavirtueof
ourtruenature
IfthisisthecasewhydopeopIeresorttoimmoral
conduct?TWoreasonsFirstpeoplecommitbad
deedsbecauseoftheiraictionsandbadIabitsSec-
ondtbeydosobecauseofbadconditions.biIethey
aecommittingbaddeedsmostarebotheredbytbeir
conscienceun{brtunateIytheydonotbaveanygood
iendstobelpthemtorebrmandsotbeybecome
moredeludedandconfi1sedCD
l58.TheBuddbadividedalIactivitiesintothree
kinds:goodbadandmoraIlyneutralMoralyneutral
meansthattheactivitJ/isneithergoodnorbad.For
examplewipingonesfacewithatowelanddrinking
acupofteaaremora}lyneutralactivities.TVKS
82
PRlNClPLES
l39.InsteadoflosingourtempersandbecomingangIyweshouldsincereIyreectandremindourselves
tlatweareonlyhumanandthateachofusbasults.
Ifwecannotfbrgiveothersjsbortcomingsbowcan
weexpecttbemto{brgiveours?
ThinIKinginthismannerwewillnolongercondemnothersbutwiInsteadfbelempathy<brthem.
Peopleon|ymakemistakesduetotheirignorance.
TheyIacktheabiIitytodistinguishbetweentrueand
falseproperanddeviatedandbetweenbarm{i1land
beneficiaI.TbustbeycannotcorrecttbemseIvesend
tbeirerroneouswaJsorcuItivateIKindness.esIouId
{belSympat}Wfbrtbemandnotbereproachfi1lInsodoing,weblIowtbeBuddIabandbodhisattvaswaJo
relatingtopeopIeandsituations.CD
l10.Ifonecultivatesgoodfbrtunebutlosesones
temperoenharborshatredandjealouSJisarrogant
orlovestooutdootbersonewillbavenomeritsbut
willstiIbavegreatgoodfbrtune.Tbisisbecausegood
{brtunecannotbeburnedaway.WbicbpathwilIt}Iis
kindofpeopleberebornin?TheBudd}Iasaidthat
theywillbereborninthepathofasuras.Asurashave
good{brtunebutnovirtues.Theyarepronetoanger
83
PRINCIPLES
andlosetheirtempereasilyandhurtothers.Butwhen
theyuseuptheirgood{brtunetheywiIallintoabad
realm.Buddhismoftentalksaboutangerandresentmentinthethirdlibtimeonecultivatesgood
fbrtuneinthe6rstli{btimeenjOysitintbesecondlifbtimeand{allsintoabadrealminthetbirdlifbtime.
EILS
Ml.W}Ienafami!ymemberisinacrisisweshould
recitesutrasandaBuddhasnameandthendedicate
themeritstoallbeingsthrougbouttheuniverse.We
sbouldwishthataIivingbeingswillnolongersuffbr
butbebappyandhealthy.Wbenwearesincereinthis
t}1oug}ltour{amilymemberswilIgainasweI.W}U?
Becauseourheartistrubpervasive!CD
l12PeopleoffensaJ/)(Ihavededicatedallmymerits
toothersandgainednothingbrmyselhatisthe
useinpracticinggoodness?Thiscouldonlycome
omanarrowmind.Ifweprostrateinontofthe
Buddhabutdonot{belanyresponseitisbecauseour
heartsareselfishWearetotallyselseekinganddo
notlmowtbatweshouldmagnifyourmeritssothat
t1eyencompasst1eentireuniverse.benwededi81
PRlNCIPLES
catet}IemeritstoaIivingthingsitislikepassingon
alig}ItWeuseourf>ametolightthoseofotbersso
thatthewholeworldisbathedinbrightness.Thisresultsingreatbenefit{brallwithnolosstoourselves
PeoplewhopracticeBuddhismneedtodedicatethe
meritsompracticetoalllivingbeingsintbeuniversetoawakeningandtoreaIitJhinordertouncovertheperfbctcompIetetrueBuddba-nature.CD
l15.Peopleintbisworlddonotunderstandtbetrut}I
oflifbandt}Ieuniverse.TheyareignorantandselBsh.
TbeBuddbatoldusthetruthoflifbandtheuniver-
setheentireDbarmaRealmisoneentityandtbe
truenatureofBuddhasandbodhisattvasandt}Iatof
allbeingsareone.Fromthiswerealizetbatweand
alltheotherbeingsintheentireDharmaRealmare
closelylmitwhenweloveourselveswewiovea
beings;w}]enwebelpotherswearebe}pingourselves.EILS
I1.Tbelawofcauseandeffbctw}IatweoHenre{br
toaslKarmaspansmanylifbtimes.Whensomeone
takesadvantageofyou6nancialIJyouareleaving
bebindmoneythatismeant{br{Utureli{btimeswhen
85
PRINCIPLES
itwillbepaidbackDonotdwellontbismatter.Do
notbesitatetodogooddeedsbecauseoftbeseobstacles.Justasweappreciatematerialthingscomingto
usnowwewiIikewiseappreciatetbemintbefi1ture
w}Iethert}Iat{i1tureiscIoseordistant.ASC
l15.ItismostimportanttbatasBuddhistswelKnovv
exactlywWwearepracticingtoaccumulatetheul
timategood{brtune{brourIastmomentsofli{b.W}Iat
isultimategood{brtune?IttolKnowthatwhenour
timeisupwecanleavetbisworldwithoutiIIness,ina
sittingorastandingpositionandthatweknowexactlywherewewillbegoing.Thisisthegreatestgood
{brtunebutmostpeopleareunawareofthisPractitionerssbouIdconstantlyremindthemselvestosbare
theirgood{brtunewitbothersThatwaythegood{brtunewillbeevengreater.CD
l16Ourviewpointsspeech,andbehavioraIlHow
omourtruenaturewhenweseeourtruenature.
OtberwisetheyHowomouraictionsandresidual
babits
Ourviewpointsspeechandbehaviorarestillsel{L
ishanddictatedbyourgreedangerandignorance.
86
PRlNCIPLES
ThereisnoseI&shnessorgreedangerandignorance
inBuddhasandDharma-bodyMahasattvasviewpointsspeechandbehavioresbouldaskourselves
ifwearestiIlsel{ishorifwestiIIhavegreedanger
ignoranceandarrogance.IfwestiIilKethisordislike
tbatwestiI]aveanegothatIikesanddisIikes.
Wbenwebaveanego>thenwestiIIbaveselfisbness.Eveni{thereisonb/atraceofanyoftboseinus
wearenotyetawalKenedWesti}Ihavenotseentrue
nature.Onewhohasseentruenatureiscompletely
eeofsel6sbnessgreedangerignoranceandarrogance.ASC
M7.l\/Iaitreyaisanexpertontl1econsciousness-onIy
teacbingsHesaidtbatinthearisingofthougbts
t}Ierearel.28xl0l5wavemotionsinonesecond.
WitheveIywavemotionphysicalandmentalphenomenasimuItaneousb/mani{bst.Tbinkabouttbis.
benwewatcbamovietwentyburamesare
flashedpersecondwhicbalreadymakesusfbeItbat
thescenesont}IescreenareveIyreaI.Thepresent
universe-theexternalenvironmentt}]atoursix
sensescomeintocontactwithappeartousatthe
superspeedofl28xl0l5fTamespersecond.Tbisis
87
PRINCIPLES
whyitisstatedintIeDlhmS:Allpbenomena
areiIlusoIy.TIisisthetrutbnotjustadescription
ofal}pbenomena.BC
l18.WhenwearerebornintbeesternPureLand
ourwisdomcapabilitiesv1rtuesandabilitieswiIbe
uncovered.ewilltbenbeabletocomebacktotbe
NineD1armaReamstohelpt1osewIo1aveana
6nitywithus.Whata{finiI?RepayinglKindnesstakingrevengecollectingdebtsandrepayingdebts.
Wehelpthosewhobavethesefburkindsofaniwitbus.AslongasthereisanitJwithwisdom
andexpedientmeanswewillbeabIetohelptbem
enddelusionandattainenlightenmentandtobelp
themtrans{brmfibmordinaIypeopIetosages.W}Ien
webelpothersac}Iievetbesegoalswealsoac}Iievein
ourcultivationofvirtueswisdomandgood{brtune.
ASC
li9hensomeoneondsusfbrnoreasonatallit
ist}Ieirprob}emnotoursIfsomeoneattacksusun{airlJMtdoesnotconcernus.Eveniftheyattackus
physicalJtbereisnoreasontobecomeang.This
bodyisnotme.PuriIofmindwillneverbehurtby
88
PRINClPLES
attaclKsjaspuriIofmindbyitsnaturecontains
nothing.Itisas}]amethatwedonotemplOypurityof
mindwhenweinteractwitbothersorcircumstances
WhatweuseistheillusoIymindnott}1etrueselE
BuddhismteacbesustoseektbeoriginalselEThis
truepureminddoesnotgiverisetoan:ywandering
thoughts.OursurroundingswiIlnotactthepure
mind.Ifsomethingdoesnotconcernusw}Wshould
weworIyaboutit?WhysbouIdwebesoattachedto
it?OnceweseverallwanderingdiscriminatoIy
thoughtsandattachmentswhatistberetoconcern
uS?
Notbing
Byunderstandingthelogicourmindswillbesettledandnolongeractedbyexternalconditions
andwewillachieveperfbctpeaceofmindRegardless
ofw}Iathappensarounduswecanremaincalm
henweencountervorabIeconditionswedonot
giverisetotbeheartofgreed.EncounteringunfavorableconditionswedonotgiverisetotbeheartofangerbRegardlessoft}Iecircumstancesweareableto
maintaintbemindofpuriequalibandcompassion
togenuineIyre{brmourselves.CD
89
PRINClPLES
l50.TbePLzvSsaJs:Ifoneisatruepracti
tioneronewillnotseetIeauItsofothers.WWwill
onenotseethe{auItsofothers?Becauseoneregards
alldbarmasasillusoIy!Tbereisnobult.Thereisno
meritNogoodandnoevil.Onesmindisimpartial:
withoutdiscriminationorattachmenttbereisneitber
goodnorevilneitherrigbtnorwrongandneitber
tuenoralse.OnewilInaturalynotspeakoft1e
bultsofotbersTbere{bregoodorevilrigbtor
wrongandtrueorlsetIeseareunbundeddiscriminations{brmed})ypeopleint}lisworld.ElLS
l5lModernscientistsacknowledgetbatmatterinthe
universeisgeneratedywaves.Thespeedofwavesis
veIyrapid.Thiswaveoriginatesint}Ievibrationof
thoughts
MatterdoesnotexistItisaniIusoIypbenomenonoftheentanglingandaccumulationoft}Iougbts.
Itsfbundationisthoughts.Withoutthoug}Itsthere
willbenomatter.Thisconclusioncoincideswiththe
teac}IingsintheBuddhistsutraswbichsaythatan
unawakenedthougbtisthemarkofkarma.ThemarlK
ofkarmaisap}Ienomenonofthevibrationof
thoughtsFromvibrationmani{bstst}Iespiritualp}]e90
PRINCIPLES
nomenaandthephysicalphenomena.Understanding
thiswewiIlreaIizethatobjectschangeinaccordance
witht}Iemind.SC
l52Tbosewhoacbievethe{burd}Wanasandthe
eigbtconcentrationscannottranscendtheSixPat}Is
becauset}Ieyareattachedtothestateofmeditative
concentrationtbeyareinandwiIInotletgoofit.Attachmentleadstogreedwhichisstillawandering
thougbt
TbisistoremindustoexercisewisdomWecan
enjOytbestateofmeditativeconcentrationbutshould
notbeattachedtoitIfwecanacbievethisnonattacbmenttberewilIbenoadverseeffbcts.
Itistbesamewithourpresentsituation.Wecan
enjOywhateverweareexperiencingbutweshould
notattacbtoit.Ifdiscriminationsandattachments
ariseinustbenwearewrongandwillhavetrouble.
ASC
l55.AsbeingsensnaredintheCycleofrebirtbvveare
allsubecttowhatiscaIledtheEightSurings.Tbe
firstsevenbirtbagingiIlnessdeatbseparation
omIovedonesassociationwiththosewedislike
9l
PRINCIPLES
anduni1leddesiresaresuHbringasretribution.
ThelastonethesuringduetotheBveaggregates
isageneraldescription
heredoessuringcomeom?TIeBuddha
talkedaboutsuringduetotheBveaggregates.
T}IeBveaggregatesarefbrm{belingconceptionimpu}seandconsciousness.Formrefbrstot}1ep}Wsical
body.Feelingconceptionimpulseandconsciousness
refbrtomentalactivities
AlllivingbeingsaremadeupoftheseBveaggregates.Inot}Ierwordslifbisthecombinationofmatter
andmind.Thebodyismatterandtbusissubjectto
birthagingillnessanddeatb.Mentallwearesubjecttotheexperienceofun{illIeddesiresseparation
omlovedonesandassociationwitbt1osewedislike.ASC
l51.Positiveandnegativekarmaaswellast}Ieentire
universearecreatedomourmind.T1eBuddbatold
usintIedpMM:Thenatureoftbe
Dbarmarealmsarisesfi.omtbemind.Natureises-
senceandessenceisthemindHowdoMaha:yana
bod}IisattvasentertbehelIrealmstohelpthebeings
there?T}leseenlightenedbeingsdosobyunderstand92
PRlNClPLES
ingtheprinciplethateveIJtIingarisesomthemind.
WeIearnomtbeKStlattobreak
throught}Iedoorsofthehellsoneneedstounderstandt1ateveIJtbingarisesomt1emindhatis
Hell?Acreationofourminds.Understandingtbis
wewilllearnthattherearenogatestohellwecan
comeandgoeey!CD
l55.Howcanonebetrulyeeofconfilsionordelu
sion?Letusobserveatru!yawakenedperson.This
personbasaclearunderstandingofhim-orberselfas
wellasthelivingenvironment.Understandingis
awalKening.Whatisthestandard{brunderstanding?
TheBuddhawasatru!yawakenedperson.Heis
ourstandardTbeBuddhasaidt}Iattbetruthoft}Iis
worldissuringemptinessandimpermanence.
T}1isisthetrut}1oft}IismundaneworId.Noonecan
escapeomtbis.
T}1isworldisIedwithsuHbringisempIinnatureandisimpermanent.Wemustclearlyunderstand
t}1is.WhenwedowesbouIdabandonsuffbringemptinessandimpermanenceinthisworIdandseelKthe
stateofpermanence]Oy)trueselEandpurity.Acbievingt}Iiswearetru|yawakened.Thestateofperma95
PRINClPLES
nencejOytrueselandpurityistbestateof
BuddhasandbodhisattvasEILS
l56.W}1etherintentionalorunintentionalobstructing
ot}IersorbarmingotherstobenefitourselvesissometIingthatwemustnotdo.Ourlivesareshort.hen
wetIytobene6tourselves!howmuchbenefitcanwe
gainand<brbowlongcanweenjOyit?Andfbrthis
wewillhavetberetributionoffallingintotbeTbree
EviPatbs.TheIengtIoftimewesurtberewilar
exceedtheamountoftimewespendenjOyingthose
f}eetingbene{its.
Whywouldwewanttodosuc}Ia{bolishthing?
ASC
91
CUIjTIVATlON
Cultivation
l57WeshouIdbeasrespectfi1ltonon-sentientbeings
astoBuddbas.Forexample,tablesandcbairsare
non-sentientbeingsOurrespecttothems}Iouldbe
thesameastbattoBuddbaswithoutanydirence
ThisisthepracticeofSamantabbadrahenwesee
tabIesandcbairsweputtbemintheirproperplaces
andkeeptbemclean.Tbisissbowingourrespectto
tbem.Tberespectinourheartsisexactbthesame
tboughhowweexpresstberespectdirs.Practicing
respectbraIlBuddhasstartsomthispointtheimpartialrespect{braIIbeings>.ElLS
l58.Enlightenmentistoknowandcorrectourbults.
BodhisattvasareenIig}Itenedsentientbeings.Weare
alsosentientbeingsbutareunenIightenedsincewe
donotlKnowour{aultsandthusdonotknowtocor-
rectthem.Webelievetbatwearealreadycorrect.
DoIbaveanyfaults?wequestionourselvesand
tbinkingfbraIongw}IiIewecannotfindanyTbusit
issaidthatordinaIypeopledonothaveultswhile
bodbisattvashaveman<y.TheyconstantIywatchover
theireveIytbougbtwordanddeedIKnowingthat
95
CUIjTIVATION
tbeybavemanysbortcomingscontinuouslycorrectingthemanddoingsofbrthreegreateons.Whenwe
tlinkaboutbowmanyultstberecanbehowcan
wepossibbtbinkthatasordinaIypeoplewedonot
haveany!CD
l59.RespecteveIythingshoudstartwithitnotjust
wbenwearelearningtbesupremeBuddhadharma.
Single-mindedrespectweoftenreadthesewords
intherepentancesectiontbatappearsintheBuddhist
practicebookSingle-mindednessisthepracticeof
Samantabhadra.Itsignifiesimpartia}itJ/.Singlemindednessismaintainingthesamemindwhetherwe
encounterBuddhaspeopleanimalsortablesand
chairs.ithtwomindsdirencesanddiscrimina-
tionariseT}Iere{brewithtwomindsortbreeminds
wearenotquiterespectfblandnot{bllowingthepracticeofSamantabbadra.Wemustclearlyunderstand
thisbe{breweknowhowtolearnEILS
l60.TbeBuddbasteachingisthemostwondrousand
v1rtuousteacbinginthisworldandbeyond.W}1erever
theBuddhasteacbingispropagatedwbetherina
countIJ/)acitJ/)oravillageifthepeoplecan{bllowbis
96
CUIJTIVATION
teachingsandpracticediligentlJtberewillbegood
learningresults:transbrmingomanordinaIybeing
intoasagetransbrmingsuringintohappinessand
trans{brminggreedangerandignoranceintoprecept
observationmeditativeconcentrationandwisdom.
hatwillbeshownistbattheworldwouldbein
harmonyandaccordance.Theentireuniversecanbe
inharmon;yandcon{brmity.SC
l6l.Tbac}1ieveinourpracticeweneedtoletgoof
world!yconcerns.Lettinggodoesnotmeantbatwe
donotcareandwillnotbep.ecareextendour
helpandletgosimultaneously.Thisiswisdom.Those
whocarebutcannotletgoarestillruledyemotions.
HowdoBuddbasandbodbisattvasmanageto
carehelpandIetgo?Tbeybavetruewisdom.T}1ey
haveturnedaIltheiremotionsintowisdomw}Iichis
t}Ieultimateper{bctwisdom.Theyhavewondrousand
amazing{lexibilityandskills.Althougbt}Ieybelpall
beingsoutofgreatcompassiont}Iereisnoslightest
attacbmentintI1eirminds.Thisistbewonderfi1l
workingofinnatevirtues.ASC
97
CUIjTIVATION
l62.C}1angingourconductandimprovIngourse}ves
istruecultivation.Itis})ynomeansjusta{brmalityof
recitingsutrasprostratingbe{bretheBuddhaor
chantingmantras.Tb}]avecultivatedanentireli{btime
andstiIlbemiredintheCycleofrebirthistohave
simp!ygonethrougbthe{brmalities.Forothers{br-
malitiesexempli5theteacbingssothattbeymightsee
themandbegintoawalKen.Forust}Ieyserveasremindersoftbeteacbings
Forselcultivationhoweverimportanceisnot
placedonthe{brmalitiesbutratherondiscovering
ourults.Tbisisawakening.Tbcorrectourfaultsis
toimproveinourcultivationThere{bretbemostimportantpointis[brustobecalmintrospectiveand
bewatch{i1lofourconductasweloolKfbrourbad
habitsandbuIts.Whenweknowtbesewewillknow
wheretobeginwbattocorrect,andbowtoproceed.
ecantbenconcentrateanduseallofourenergyto
refbrm.CD
l63Themoreoneac}Iievesinpracticet}IemorewisdomonewiIbaveThemorewisdomonebasthe
deeperisonesbeliefandthustbemoreonewill
achieveinpractice.Asoneacbievesmoreinpractice
98
CUIjrIvATION
onewiIbaveevenmorewisdomThisis}Iowmedita-
tiveconcentrationandwisdomcomplementeacb
otherperpetually.W}lenonepracticesthisway)one
willtranscendallevilpaths.EILS
l61.SakyamuniBuddhaattainedenIigbtenmentand
Buddhaboodattheageofthirty.A{ferhehadattained
BuddbahoodhestartedtopropagatetheDbarmaand
beneBtallbeings.Hedidso{brfbrty-nineyearsuntil
}Ieenterednirvanaateighty.
DuringtbebrtynineyearsSayamunididnot
haveadayoWW?BecausewhatbetaugItend
ingtheCycleofrebirthandtranscendingtheThree
ReaImswasveIyimportantSohecouldnottake
aIWdayo.Hadhedonesobisstudentslearning
wouldbavebeeninterruptedandtbeywouldhave
regressed.LearningislilKegoingupstreaminaboat;if
youdonotmove{brwardyougobackward.Itisthe
sameincultivation;ifonedoesnotmakeprogress
oneimmediate!yregresses.ASC
l65Oncetbemindispureallobstaclesthatprevent
usomobtaininggooduitsomourcultivationwil
beeliminatedandonewistayawayomtbeevil
99
CUIjTIVATION
paths.henoneiseeofangeronewilltranscend
thedoorofhells.Whenoneiseeofignoranceone
willtranscendthedoorofanimals.Whenoneisee
ofgreedandmiserlinessonewilltranscendthedoor
ofbungIyghostsThere{brewbenoneeradicates
greedangerandignoranceonewilltranscendthe
ThreeEvilPaths.Andifonedoesnothavethesligbtestyearning{brt}1egood{brtuneint}1ebumanand
heavenlypathsonewilltranscendtheSixPatbs.
EILS
l66.Virtuemoralikindnessandintegribareon
theinsideandarethecultivationofvirtuousconduct.
Famewealthandprestigeareont}Ieoutsideandare
tbeenjOymentsinli{b.Tbbeabletoreceivebothkinds
ofbene6tsisofgreatvalue.AsissaidintIedj
hzMSznottobehinderedintbematterof
phenomenaorprinciplesistbeultimateandperfbct
enjQyment.Tbisist}Iegreatper{bctionofeveIything
goingaswewishwhenwearesatis6edwitl1eveIythingTbisistobeliberated;itistodoalltbatisbenevolentandnobleaswewishCD
l00
CUIjTlVATION
l67GivingislettinggolettinggoofeveIythingin
tbisworldAlIt}Iea{Hictionsevenillnessesbirthand
deathandtherootcauseoftransmigrationcome
aboutbecauseoneisunwillingtoletgoofwandering
thougbtsandattacbments.Onetrulyreapstbeuitof
onesactions.TbepurposeofgivingistobeIponelet
goofonesconcernsworriesaIictionswandering
thoughtsdiscriminationsandattachmentsEILS
l68.Inre{brmingweneedtohavesbamefbarand
courageousdetermination.Tb}]aveas}1amefi1lbeartis
tobeawakened.Tbhavearespect{i1land{bar{Ulbeart
istobeconscience-stricken.Onlywhenwehavebotb
ofthesedowegiverisetotbecourageousanddeterminedhearttbatenablesustoregretandre{brm.
Realizingtbiswhyareweunabletocorrectour
{auIts?Sincewehaveyettopossessashame{Mand
{bar{i1l}Ieartwedonothavet}Iemotivationtbatgives
risetoacourageousanddeterminedbeart.Ifwedo
notknows}Iamethenwewillnotbeafiaidofbeing
laughedatyotherssotbereislittleincentivebrus
tocultivatekindnessCD
l0l
CUIIIVATlON
l69.Patienceisfbrbearance.TheFzM1says:
Allaccomplishmentsareattributedtopatience.
T}Iere{brepatiencerequiresresoluteenduranceConsiderablepatienceisneededfbranyaccomp}ishment
inworldlyundertalKingsletaloneinlearningBuddhism.Onemustbeabletoexercisepatiencehen
oneispatientonewiIIbeabIetomaintainatranquil
D
mindandadvanceinonescultivation.Ifoneisnot
patientonewillnotbaveanyprogressinone)sculti-
vationnomatterhowdiligentlyonecuItivates.Patiencerequirestrueeffbrt.Itisaprerequisite{br
meditativeconcentrationEILS
l70.TbacknowledgeaofonesonseswitIoutbidingaIWthingistoregretanderadicateoneslKarmic
obstacles.Tbismustbedonesincere!ytobeeffbctive.
AwalKeningisachievedwbenweareabletoidenti6
ourfaults.Cultivationisaccomplisbedwbenwehave
realizedthesefauItsandcorrectedt}]em.Sincemost
peopleareunawareoftheirmistakestheyarenot
trulycultivating.Tbere{brethe6rststepistorecognizeourbad}Iabits.CD
l02
CUIJTIVAT<ON
l7lbenonehasmeditativeconcentrationandwis-
domonebasgreatbeneBtMeditativeconcentration
andwisdomcome{brtbwbent}]etruemindisactive.
AsaresultoneisabIetocontrolonesdestinyanJ/wbereintheuniverse.Wbenonedoesnot}Iavemedi-
tativeconcentrationandwisdomoneiscontolledy
aIictionandtemptation.Thisispitiable.
T}Ierefbre)cultivationisnothingbutthis:inter-
nallJriddingoneselfofgreedangerandignorance;
andexternallycuttingoaIltemptations.ElLS
l72Eventbehighest-leveIBodbisattvasstillhave
{aultsWhatkind?TbeystiIIhaveonedegreeofignoranceyettobebrokentbrough.IfEquaIenlig}1tenmentBodhisattvasstillneedtoregretand
refbrmwecanimaginebowmucl]weneedtodo!
Fromnowonweneedtohavethecompassionate
bearttoelremorseandchangebrthebetterEven
uponreachingthelevelofEquaI-enligbtenment
BodhisattvasjwewiIIstiIlneedtodothis.On|ywben
thereisnotbingleRtocorrectwillwebecome
Buddhas.Wecannotattainsupremeenligbtenmentif
westiIlbaveoneremainingfauIt.CD
l03
CUIIIVATION
l75.TbeTnVirtuousKarmasaremoreprofbund
andextensivethantheFivePreceptsTbeFivePreceptsaretheBuddbasteachingtohisstudentsThe
TnVirtuousKarmasaretheBuddbasteacbingtoall
thebeingsteachingsthatweshouldabideyindaily
li{b>atworkinengaginginataskinteractionwith
peopleanddealingwithasituation.TVKS
l7i.ThebasiceducationalgoalsinConfUcianismare
tosevermaterialdesiresobtainawakeningup}1olda
sinceremindandavirtuousbeartdevelopself
disciplinebaveaharmoniousmiIJgovernacoun
tIJ/)and{bsterworldpeace.TbdaJ/)schoolsdonotemphasizetbeseprinciplesorthehumanitiesbutstress
tecbnolo.Nowonderourthoughtsandbehavior
havenoguidingprinciplesearenottaughttIat
whenweseethemisdeedsofotherswearetotakea
hardlookatourselvesandseeifwel1avefblfilledour
dutiesasleaders.CD
l75.Tbegravestonseofalliskilling;thegreatest
obstacletoonescultivationissexualdesire.Tbeseare
twogreatobstaclesIfinonescuItivationonewisbes
totranscendthisworldonewillnotbeab>etotranl01
CUIjTIVATION
scendtheThreeRealmswitbouteradicatingsexuaI
desire.EILS
l76.InsteadoflosingourtempersandbecomingangIweshouldsincerelyreHectandremindourselves
tlatweareon!ybumanandtbateachofushasults.
Ifwecannotfbrgiveot}Iersshortcomingsbowcan
weexpectthemtofbrgiveours?Tbinkinginthis
mannerwewillnolongercondemnotbersbutwiII
insteadfbeIempathy{brthem.Peopleonlymakemistakesduetotheirignorance.Tbeylacktheabilityto
distinguis}Ibetweentrueandfalseproperanddeviatedandbetweenharmft1landbene{icialTIIust}]ey
cannotcorrectthemselvesendtheirerroneousways
orcultivateIdndness.WeshouldfbelSympathyfbr
themandnotbereproacb{i1lInsodoingwefb>low
theBuddhasandbodhisattvaswaJ/ofrelatingto
peopleandsituations.CD
l77IfoureveIythoug}Itisofourselvesego-
attachmentwillworsendaJbyday.Howthencanwe
transcendtbeT}1reeRealms?Thisisw}Wt}1eBudd}Ia
taugbtustoalwaJstbinlKofbene{itingallbeings.T}Iis
vvay)thetboughtsofbene6tingourselveswillgradul05
CUIJIVATION
allydiminishandgoaway.OureveIthoughtand
eveIydeeds}Iouldbe{braIbeingsnot{brourselves.
WhenaIlbeingshavegood{brtunewetoobavegood
{brtunebecauseweareaIsooneofthebeings.SimiIarlJwecannotavoidmisbrtuneifalIbeingshave
misfbrtuneEILS
l78Con{i1ciustaughtIoving-IKindnessexp}aining
T}Iebenevolentperson}Iasnoenemies.Ifwecannot
acceptan;ythingthatiscontraIytowbatwethink
thenweareneitberlKindnorcompassionate.Conf>ict
simplydoesnotexistwithintbebeartoflovingIKindness.T}1isisalsowhatismeantinBuddhismas
greatcompassionandiswhatweneedtoIearnand
practicetotrulybenefitourselves.CD
l79.Weoftenburtotherswithourcarelessspeech.
Thosewe}IurtmaytakeoHbnseandbeargrudges
andinthe{i1turewillseelKrevenge.ThusmaIWproblemsarecreatedoutofmisunderstandingsandresentmentsarisebecauseofwhatwehavesaid.The
speakerhadnosucbintentiontbeIistenerinterpreted
ittobeso.eneedtobecarefi1landrestrainedin
l06
CUIjrIvATION
ourspeechAndanMytbereisnoneedtotaIkaIot.
IntalkingIess)wewiIIcommit{bwermistalKes.CD
l80.LikeConfi1cianism,Budd}Iismisalsofbundedon
filia}pietytoonesparentsandrespect{bronesteachersCon{i1cianteac}IingHourishedbecauseoftbis
fbundationasdidtbeBuddbasteacbing.FiliaIpiety
istbusveryimportantfbronlywhenoneisBlialwiII
onerespectteachersJfonetrulyrespectsonesteacbersonewireceivetheWaytaughtytheteachers.If
onedoesnotrespectonesteacherstheywiIInotbe
abletoteacboneanyt}Iingnomatterbowgoodtbey
are.W}W?BecauseonewiIInotbeIievetbemnorbe
wiingtoIearnomtem.enonerespectsones
teachersonewiIIistentotheirteachinganddiIigent!ypracticeaccordingly.OnewiI}tbusreceivetbe
meritsandbeneBts.RespectingonesteachersisrespectingtbeWaJandreceivingit.EILS
l8l.WCsbouldnotattachto{brmaIitiesinourpractice.ForexampIet}]osew}]oareolderandlessagile
donotneedtolKneelwhenrecitingasutra.Tbseeka
bondbetweenBuddhaAInitabhaandourselvesiso
theutmostimportance.Wecancontinueourpractice
l07
CUIJTIVATION
evenwhenlyingdown.Theweakoragedcanuset}le
mostcombrtablepositionwbilechantingAmituob
orrecitingthesutrabeitlKneelingsittingorwalking.Ifweakwecanliedownandlistentotbesutra
onatape.LJinginbedlisteningtothesutraorc}lantingAmituofbcanachievetbesamemeritsaswben
wearesittingorwalking.CD
l82.Z}IangjiaLivingBuddbataug}Itthatbecauselifb
isshortandi1llofsuringonemustendwrongdo
ingsandpracticevirtuousconductaccumulatemerits
andcultivatevirtuesandshouldnotcompetewit}1
otbersorcravean;ythingThesearethekeyguidelines
thathetaughtme
There{brewbensomeonecompeteswit}Imefbr
somethingIwillyieldtotbisperson.I}1avebeen
learningtoexercisefbrbearanceandtoallowothersto
takeadvantageofme.WhydoIdothis?Becauseallowingotberstotakeadvantageofmebringsmegood
{brtune.Thisistrue!EveItimeIyieldorallowot}IerstotakeadvantageofmeIenduphavingwonder{i1lconsequencesIhaveaIwaysadvancedtoahigber
levelineveIyaspectandmystateofmind}1asimprovedT}Iere{breIhavebecomemoreandmore
l08
CUIjTIVATlON
confidentintheteachingsofmyteacbersbodhisattvasandBudd}Ias.ASC
l85.InlearningBuddhismoneneedson!ytocuItivateapuremind.WbenonehasapuremindonewilI
naturallybeimpartialandenligbtened.Atalltimesin
allplacesandinaIlsituationswhether{avorabIeor
adverseoneneedstomaintainapureanduncontaminatedmind.ThemindwiInaturallybepurewben(l)
internallJgreedangerignoranceandarrogancedo
notariseinoneand2externallJoneisnotattached
toaIWenvironmentgoodorbadApuremindist}]e
truemindandistruewisdom.henhandlingany
situationonewilIdoitcorrect!yandcomplete!J
withoutaniymistalKesAllmistakesariseomdesire
andthoughtsofgainandloss.EILS
l81.Wecancorrectourbultsbybeginningtoc}lange
omourmindsandpracticinggooddeeds.Ifwe
practiceomourmindsthenevenasmagooddeed
suchasunreservedIygivingapennytoapersonin
needwouldbeofin6nitemeritsandvirtues.Why?
Thisdeedcomesomtbegreatcompassioninour
truenaturethusthebroadmindednessisboundless
l09
CUIJTlVATlON
TbegoodfbrtuneisinBnite{brt}Iegooddeedarises
omourmindsandaccordswitbourtruenature.
Howeverifthegooddeedarisessole!yomourac
tionstbenitisasmaIlmeritbritdidnotariseom
ourtruenatureCD
l85.Inengaginginataskinteractingvvitbpeople
dea>ingwithasituationinda>yli{boratworkrememberthataIIowingotherstotakeadvantageofone
willbringonegood{brtune.Onemustnotbavetbe
thoughtoftalKingadvantageofotbers.Ifonetriesto
takeadvantageofotbersonewiIIsurgreatloss.
V/henonehasthethoughtoftakingadvantageofotbersoneistransgressingthepreceptofnostealing.
TVKS
l86Wes}1ouIddoourbesttoperfbrmdeedstbatwiIl
bene{itotbersMaybethereisalimittowbatwecan
dobutifweper{brmdeedswit}Iasincererespect{i1l
andpuremindandwithpatiencewewillhavethe
supportofBuddhasandbodbisattvasOurwisheswill
surelybefUIled.EILS
ll0
CUIJrIVATlON
l87.AIongtbepathofcultivationtbereareman<yobstacles.AsinaraceweaIstartatthesamestarting
Iinebutsomeprogressa}Ieadofotherssome}agbe}Iindandsomearee>iminated.Why?Becausethere
aremanyobstaclesTbeobstacesmbepeopIeor
situations.TIeymaybeourmilyiendsortIose
wehavehurtintbepastandowekarmicdebtsto.
W}1ocanovercomeaItbeseobstaclesandprogressintbeirpractice?T}losewbosingle-minded!y
concentrateoncuItivationInourpracticewerecite
theBuddbasnameorourselectedsutraeveIydaJ.
WealsostudytheteacbingseveIyday.IweareveIy
buSywitbworkand{ami!yresponsibiIitieswecanat
leastchantandstudy{bra{bwminutes.Tbemain
thingistopracticeandstudyeveIyday.ASC
l88.IndoingaIWdeednomatterbowsmallone
shou}ddedicatethemeritaccruedtoaIIbeingswis}>ingtbatasuHbringbeingscouldleavesuringbebindandattainhappinessThisisafbrmofDharma
oHbrings:ygivingofourselvesbrallbeings.
OnedoesnotpersonalbenjOytbegood{brtune
onebascuItivatedbutsharesitwithaIIbeings.Tbisis
tbemeaningofdedication.Onesharesoneswisdom
lll
CUIjTIVATION
good{brtuneskillsandabilitieswitballbeings
wishingthatallbeingscouldhavepeaceandhappiness.Tbisisabod}Iisattvapractice.
Cantbisbedone?Ybs.Ifonetrulypracticesoth-
erswillbenefit.IftbesepeopIeareabouttoencounter
adisasterandt}Iereissomeonewbobasgreatgood
{brtuneandmeritseitbertheywillnotencounterthe
disasterortheseverityofthedisasterwiIlbereduced
EILS
l89.Ifweconcealourultstbeywillincreaseatan
alarmingrateIfwearesmartwewiIlletthembe
lKnown.Tbenw}Ienwearecriticizedandcorrected
ourkarmicobstacleswillbegraduallyeradicated.If
othersspealKoutaboutourmistakesbegrate{i1leven
ifwehavenotdonewhattheysaidwedidfbrtobe
wronglyaccused{)yot}Ierswillalsoeradicateour
karmicobstacles.Tbereisnoneedtore{i1teordefbnd
ourselvesintheaceofundeservedaccusations.ben
wearede{bnsiveotberswillnotwanttohelpuscorrectour{aultsT}1ent}1eoffbnsewillbecomeeven
moreserious.CD
ll2
CUIJrIVATION
l90Althoughone!sdestinyispredeterminedit
changeseveIydayinaccordancewithonesbebavior
Socanonechangeonesdestiny?YesonecanIf
onesbehavioreveIydaJ/addsaIittletoorsubtractsa
littlefTomgoodfbrtunebyonedoingsmallgood
actsandcommittingsmallbadactsthenoneslifb
willbegoverned})yonesdestiny)andtherewillbeno
cbange.Butifonedoesmajordeedseithergoodor
evilthenonesdestiIWwillbecbanged.
Therefbreonesdestin;yaReroneis{brtJ/yearsold
isgreatlyinHuencedbyonesbe}laviorinthislifbtime.
Onesdestinybe{breoneis{brtyyearsoldispredeterminedgreatIyinluencedyonesgoodandevil
deedsdoneinpastlifbtimes.Ifoneistrulyawakened
anddiligentlyendswrongdoingsandpracticesvirtuousconduct)onesdestiIWwillcbange{brthebetter
aReroneis{brtJ/yearsoldT}1isisveIyimportant.
EILS
l9l.Illnessescomeomtbemindandbe1aviort1at
arenotvirtuous.Itisbrougbtabout}Wnegativekarmascommittedoutofgreedangerignoranceand
afHictionsT}IeancientCbinesesaid:WOrIycanage
aperson.I\/Iedicalsciencebasnow{bundtbatlosing
ll3
CUIjTIVATION
onestemperisthesameasgradualIycommittingsuicide.WhenoneseveIythoughtaccordswit}It}]e
TreePoisonsandteTnEvilKarmas,thewole
bodybloodbonesflesbandcellswillcbangebr
theworse.Thisisthecauseofillnesses.
IfwereceivetheteachingoftheBuddbaandtbe
sageseveIydaJ/andwemaintainasincerepure)impartialcompassionateloving!andjOyousmindeveIy
ceIIinourbodieswillbehealthy.Howtbencanwe
getsick?
Fromthiswecanseet}IatconstantlyhavingcompassionIoveandgratitudeinourbeartistruIythe
mostimportantbctor{brphysicaIandmenta}weI}beingabarmoniousreIationsbipwitbotbersanda
harmoniousenvironment.BC
l92IfoneistrulyawakenedonewilInaturallybe
unperturbedinanysituationandonecanenterveIy
deepmeditativeconcentration-beingunperturbedis
achievingmeditativeconcentration.Whenonesmind
isnotperturbed)onewilItruIyunderstandaIphenomena.Thisunderstandingiswisdom.Beingeeof
discriminationandattachmentismeditativeconcentration.benwebavebothmeditativeconcentration
ll1
CUIJTIVATION
andwisdommeditativeconcentrationandwisdom
areper{bctandcompIete.Tbisist}]ep}acewberewe
starttocultivatemeditativeconcentrationandwisdom.ThisisreaIElLS
l95.MakingoringstoinfinitesagesisaIsoagreat
vIrtuousdeed.ButweIearnomtheMML
tbatitisevenbettertoturnbackomdelusion
andtoconscientious!ycuItivate.CuItivationisto
changeourselves.Tbeancientsagesregardeditasthe
greatvirtueofregrettingandre{brmingCD
l94TIesesituationssomeonesaJscharmingwords
tousbutwedonotattacbtotbewordsorsomeone
triestostiruptroubIebutwe{beInoanger-helpus
tocuItivateandattainmeditativeconcentrationand
wisdom.OneMindUndisturbedandtbeBuddha-
nameCbantingSamadhitaughtinPureLandBuddbismarebotbattainedintbiswaJ/Ifonesmindis
perturbedbyotbersgossipingorpassingrumors
aboutusoneshouldimmediateMbelremorse:Iam
wrongagain.IamactedytheexternaIenviron
mentagain.EILS
ll5
CUIjTIVATION
l95.Cansocietybesaved?Tbeanswerismostdefinite!ypositive.Butsavedbywhom?Webavetotake
tbisasourresponsibilityrightnow.ItismyresponsibilitytosavetheworldTbereisnodiffbrencebe-
tweenmyselfandtbeworldtbeworldandIareone.
On!ywhenIcanletgoofaIlmysel{ishthoughtsmy
thoug}ItsofgreedangeI)ignoranceandarrogance
canIeliminatethedisastersinthisworldandcalmthe
Eart}lscIimateWbenIcantrulyletgoofallconHicts
againstaIpeopleandtheenvironmentwiIourworld
wiIbebarmoniousandpeace{i1l.T}Iere{breweneed
tohaveagreatbodhimindagreatcompassionate
mind.WPH
l96.Anancienteminentmastersaid[Whenwedie>
wecannottakeanythingwithus;on!ylKarmaswillaccompanyusFameandhonorwealthandrankand
moneyandpossessionswecannottakethesewit1
us.AlltbegoodkarmasandbadlKarmascreatedin
ourlifbtimewilIstaywithus.Thosewboaretruly
awakenedknowthattheyshouldcultivatewhatthey
cantalKewitbtbem.hattbeycannottalKeaIong
theyshouldjustignoreandwastenoeneronthem.
EILS
ll6
CUITIVATlON
l97.ecancIoosewhichevermet1odbest6tsour
manneroflivingandleve>ofacbievementandunderstanding.Tbemostimportantpointistoconcentrate
onjustonemethod.TbemoremethodswetIyto{bllow)themoreconfi1sedwewiIIbecome.Themore
confi1sedwearethemoredicuItitistosucceed.
ThisisveIyimportantassamadhiordeepconcentrationist}IelKeytosuccessinourlearningandcultivatIon.BACW
l98.Con{i1ciusoRensaid:IneveIygroupofthree
peoplethereisteacherwecanIearnomWhenwe
inc}udeourselvesinagroupoft}Ireet}1erewillbeone
personwhoismorevirtuousandonewboislessvirtuous.Weemulatethefbrmerandobservetbelatter
toseeifwehavetbesameuIts.Ifsowequicldy
correctthem.IntbiswaJ/)welearnfTombot}Iexamples.AL
l99hatisthedirencebetweenenIigItenedand
unenlightened?OnewholKnowstbattheyhave
manyultsisanenlightenedbeingabodhisattva.
Onewbodoesnotknowtheypossessnumerousfaults
isunenlightenedanordinaIyperson.CD
ll7
CUIIIVATlON
200Wealt}Iisgood{brtuneanditwiIbeusedup
somedayItisstatedinthesutrastbatoneswealtb
belongsto6vemilies.The6rstiswaterwhichcan
{loodonesproperties.Thesecondis{irew}1ichcan
burnonesproperties.Tbetbirdisthegovernment.In
thepastthegovernmentwouldcon6scateaIlthe
propertiesofacriminal.The{burthisrobbersand
thieves.TbeiisspendthriRcbildrenwhoarebard
toguardagainstEILS
20l.T}IeBuddhahastaughtustoIetgoofal}desires
andgreed.Hedidnotaskustoturntonewobjects
{brourgreed.InthepastwesoughtworldIyjOys
nowweseekandattacbtoBuddbistlKnowledge.Tbe
mindofgreedisstiItbere.T}]erefbrewbether{br
wor}dlyli{bor{brBuddbistknowledgewewoulddo
wellnottobegreedy.GreedisthesourceofalImisdeedsandwrongdoingBACW
202.Thesincereandhonestbeartistheessenceof
theeightguidelinestaugbtbyCon{ilcius.Weaccomplishtbisbyseveringourdesiresanduncoveringour
truenature.FaiIingtodotbiswewillbeunableto
accomplisbultimatesinceritJ/Whenseveringdesires
ll8
CUIJTlVATlON
wbatarewecuttingo?TheSixDustsorpolluting
actorsosightbearingsmelltastetoucIand
thougItandtIeFiveDesiresbrweaItIsexme
fbodandsleepIfthesedesirescannotbereduced
ourbeartswiIlbeconstantlyactedyoursur
roundings.Howcansuc}Iaheartremainsincere?CD
205.ChineseBuddhistsprimariIypracticeMahaJana
Buddhismandwis}]todeveIopthebodbimindt}Ie
awaIKenedmindthatisgenuinelyeeomdelusions
andthatrealizesthisworldisedwithsuringIt
isthecompassionateandsinceremindvvitheveIy
thougbttoattainrealization{brselfandothers.The
BuddbatoIdustbatsuringexiststhroughoutthe
sixrealmsincludingthehumanandbeavenrea}ms.
InthehumanrealmcanbesummarizedastbeEight
SuringsofbirtholdagesiclKnessdeatbbardshipstheinabilityto}Iavewhatwewantseparation
omthoseweloveandassociationwiththosewedisIike.BACW
204DeepconcentrationisthestateofconstantIy
maintainingamindofpuriIandequaIity.Cultivating
deepconcentrationdoesnotsoIeIymeansittingin
ll9
CUIJTIVATION
meditationintbecultivationhall.Practicingsitting
meditationissimilartoteachingtheskiIlstoabeginner.ARergraduationomschooltbestudentsneed
topracticewbattbeyhavelearnedinthecultivation
ballyappbingtbeprinciplesintheirdailylives.The
practitionerwiIIhavepracticeddeepconcentratIon
whenleorshecanremamunactedyexternalcir
cuInstancesAL
205.Thefirststage[incultivation>isbelief.Wbenwe
areabletobelievethenourconditionshavematured.
T}lereisasayingtheBuddbaisunabletohelpthose
wbohavenoanibwithIim.Whatisanity?Itis
beingabletobelieveEvenaBuddhacannothelp
someonewboseconditions}Iavenotyetmatured.But
whentbey}Iavematuredt}IepersonwiIhavebeIieE
TIentheBuddbacanhelp.Religionsaredirent
omBuddIisminthatoncethebelieversbaveaith
tbeyaresaved.BeliefinBudd}1ismmeanstbatwebelieveinthebeneBtsofBuddbismandacceptoneof
themanymethods.BACW
206.Inordertogainwemustfirstletgo.Ifweare
reluctanttoletgotbenwewillnotbeabletogainIn
l20
CUIjTlVATI0N
tIesutraswereadthattogiveistogain.e6rstgive
upsometbinginordertogainsomethinginreturn.
ithoutgivingwewillreceivenothing.Sothisles
sononre{brmingourdestiniesisaIlaboutlettinggo.
Whatifweseeksomething?TbseelKalso}Ielpsusto
receive.But}1owdoweaccomplisbtbis?Justletgo
andwewillreceiveeveIythingweareseeking.CD
207.Weneedtoknowthepropersequenceofcultivation:belief)understandingpracticeandattainment.
WhenwespeakofbelieE{irstwebelieveinourselves.
ThisiswhereBuddbismdirsomreligion.InreIig
iont}1emostimportantcriteriaistobelieveinGod.
InBuddbismthemostimportantcriteriaistobelieve
inourselvesnotsometbingoutsideofourselves.We
needtobelievethatwehavethesameBuddhanature
BelievetbatoriginallywewereBuddhas.Be>ievetbat
wearenodirentffomtIeBuddhas.Believethat
ourtruenature}Iasbecomepollutedandtbatoncewe
removethispollutionwewilluncoverourtruenature
BACW
208.Itisessential{brustolearnmodesty{britisthe
IKeytocultivatingandimprovingourvirtue.Weneed
l2l
CUIJTIVATION
torealizet}Iatothersarebetterthanusandthatthey
exceIinwhattheydo.W}Ienweare{aIseandconceitedotherpeoplemaynotseethis;however)
Buddbas,bodbisattvasandthebeingsandspiritso
}Ieavenandearthseeusvelyclearly.Thusourmodestymustbesincereandcomefibmdeepwitbin.
Wearenotbettert}Ianot}IersandiftheyaccumuIatemeritsandwedonottbentheyarebettertIIan
us.Evenwbenwedarenotcommitonsesoters
arestillbetterthanus.Tbisisper{bctmodestJ/andit
istbepracticeoftbeteacbingofhumiityintIed
nMzS.Iamtheon!ystudent;eveIyoneeIseis
myteacher.CD
209.EveIyaspectinoneslisoudbesimpIe.Sim
pIicity>eadstoalongli{b.TbeancientC}Iineseoften
saidIllnessentersthrougbtbemouth.Nowadays
manypeoplecontractstrangeillnesseswbichcome
mostMibmthe{bodconsumed.InthepastinCbina)
therewerepeopleintbecountIysidewhomaintained
asimpledietbutt}Ieywerehealt}Wandlivedalong
li{bThisprovesthatt}1esimplerthe{bod>tbehealth=
ieroneis.Apuremindwithnowanderingthougbtsa
reguarroutineasimpledietwdesiresandcon
l22
CUIjTlVATION
tentmenttbesearetbeessentialsfbrgoodhealtb
EILS
2l0.InthepastpractitionersateonemealadaJ/Mr.
Liateamealbe{brenooneveIydaJ/.HisworlKload
wastbesameasthatof6vepeopIebut}Ieneeded
on!yonemeaIandbeateveIyIittleatthat.W}W?BecausebehadveIywwanderingthougbtsdiscriminationsandattachmentsandtbususedveIylittIeener.ASC
2llAfferwe}IavebeIiefinourseIvesweneedto
havebeliefintbeBuddbasteac}Iings.GreatMaster
OUyidescribedtbisasbelievinginprincipIesandin
matter.heredoesmattercomeom?Fromthe
principletbatisthepuremindofthetruenature.AlI
pbenomenaint1euniverseariseomt1eprinciple.
TheyarereIatedytheendlessCycIeofcauseande
Ct
Acausegivesrisetoanectwhicbinturnbe
comesthecauseofthenextectTbisprocesscon
tinuesceaseless|y.DeveIopingunderstandingandbeliefintruerealitybuildsourconBdenceenabIingusto
seektboroughunderstandingofeveIything.Onlyin
l23
CUIJrIvATIoN
thiswaycanwebeeeomconi1sionanddoubt
wbichareobstaclesinourcu}tivationandobtainen-
jOymentandsmoothadvancement.BACW
2l2.BeinggluttonousandstinresidualIabits
omcountlesskalpasaregreatobstaclestotbe
practiceofgivingandmustbeovercome.Oneshould
IiveathriRyli{bandmaintainthissimpleli{b.Even
w}1enonebecomessuccessR1land}1asgreatwealt}1in
thefUtureoneshouldstiivethrii!y.Thiswayone
willtruIybavegood{brtune.EILS
2l5Howthendowerebrmourselvesomour
minds?Wesincerelycultivatingywantingtocorrect
ouronsespracticinggoodness,andreainingom
wrongdoings.l1enwecorrectomourmindsthere
isnosucht}Iingasshouldorshouldnot.Refbrming
ourselvesyreasoningandrealizingtheprincipleis
conditionalHoweverwhenwerebrmomtIe
minditisunconditionalpureandsincereInthis
waJ/)givingrisetoeventheslightestofkindthoughts
willbeinharmon;ywithourtruenature.Knowing
tbateveIythingarisesomthemindweneedtocorrectourbultsybeginningomtbemind.CD
l21
CUIjTIVATION
2l1.Sincesentientbeingshavenotyet{bundtheir
truenatureweteacbtbemtoendtheirerroneous
waJsandcultivategooddeeds.benwebaveuncov
eredourtruenaturetberewillbenoerroneousways
tobeendedandnogooddeedstobecuItivatedfbr
ourmindswil}beinastateofpurityandequalitytheOneTrueDharmaRealmtbestateofnon
cultivationandnon-attainment.WitlIinsuchstates
westilldowhateverisneeded{brcuItivationandat-
tainmentButwedonotattachtoeitherextremeof
empt1nessorexIstence.CD
2l5TbcbangeIKarmicretributionsandresolveall
disastersIoftenuseatreeasanexample.T}1emindis
therootourthougbtsarethetrunlKourbehavioris
tbebranc}IesandourspeechistheIeaves.IfwetIyto
correcttheproblemofanunhealthytreebyplucking
oeaceafwhilefbrgettingtotreattherootoure
fbrtswillbefUtileButifweweretobeginfibmthe
roottounderstandomtbebasicsourproblems
wouldbeeasilysolved.AL
2l6.Iamgratefi1ltoMsHanYinwhohelpedmefbr
tbirtyyears.Duringtboseyearsshebelpedmebave
l25
CUIJTIVATlON
tbeopportunitytolectureonstageeveIyday.Shewas
atrueDharmaprotector.Iamgratefi1ltoberffomthe
bottomofmyheart{brmypresentacbievement.
Wit}IouttbetbirtJ/yearsoflecturingexperienceon
stageeveIydaJ/)bowcouldIhaveanyachievement?.
S}1et}1enpassedaway.Iwillalwaysremember}Ier
and{belgratitudetoherbHowdoIrepaylIerlKindness?Witbmyac}Iievement.ThisistheonlywayI
canrepay}1erkindnessASC
2l7.Itismucbbettertopracticegoodnesswithout
Iettinganybodylmowandevenbetterifsomepeople
reproacbedus{brthiswiIIheIptoreduceournegativekarmaItwouldbebestifournegativekarmaand
retributionswerereducedandeveneradicatedwbile
ourmeritsandvirtuesremainedunknownCD
2l8.WhydidtheBuddhanotsimplytelIuswithwhat
weneedtolKnow?HedidButwedidnotlistene
weretoldthemethodbutthougbttoourselvesell
thismaynotbeagoodmethod.Iheardtbatanother
oneisbetter.!ehavethusarguedwitItbeBuddbas
andbod}IisattvasSotheybavecbosennottocometo
l26
CUIJrlVATION
us.PleasecarefUllJconsidertMs.Weneedtobeve
patientbe{brewecanattainachievement.Witbout
patiencewecannotadvancetoabigberstage{brpatienceistheprerequisite{brmeditativeconcentration
anddiIigence.BACW
2l9.Whenwe6ndourseIvessub)ectedtobearing
gossipwewouldjustrespondwithAmituo{blfthey
gossipmorethenagainsayAmituo{b)Letthem
heartbisseveraItimesAertheyareinishedtalking
wewiIbaveIistenedbutdisregardedw}]attbeysaid.
Wewillonb/havesaidAmituo{btotI]em.Thisis
goodritisbestnottosaJmucCD
220.benonebasbwdesiresandiscontentones
aIctionswilIreduceandbeligbter.EveIJ/daJ/itis
enougb{broneto}]avea{i1IIstomac}IadequatecIothingandapIacetosieldoneomwindandrain.A
contentpersonisoenbappy.Whenoneiscontent
onewillwant{bwthings.TbeIessonewantstbe
moeateaseandthelappieroneis.Ifonetrulydoes
notcompetewithothersorcraveaIWt}IingonewiIbe
happierthanacelestialbeingElLS
l27
CUIjTIVATION
22l.GreatMasterYinguangaptb/saidt}latwbet}Ier
ornotoneachievesinoneslearningdependson}Iow
sincereandrespectfi1loneis.Ifoneisinsincereordis=
respectH1lonewillachievelittle.ASC
222Whenpeopleverballyabusecriticize>andslanderuswesbouldacceptitwithagrate{Ulheartrather
thanavenge{Ulbeart.Why?Tbeybaveprovidedus
wit}Iinvaluableassistancethatcanhelpusre{lectand
correctourmistalKesimmediate!yifwedohavet}lese
bultsorguardagainstthemifwedonot.Ifweare
notatfaultdonotblamethesepeople;insteadbeencouragedtomake{i1rtberimprovements.CD
225.TherearethreecategoriesofpatienceFirsttol-
eratetheinjuriesofphysicalandverbalabuse.Patienceisavirtue.ithpatiencewewillhaveaquiet
andpuremind;t}1usitwillbeeasiertoattainmeditativeconcentrationandacbievement.Wbenwesuc-
cess{i1Ilypracticepatiencewewillgaintbegreatest
goodfbrtune
Secondbepat1entwithvariationsoft}Ienatural
elementshotandcoldsummerandwinterhunger
andtbirstaswel}asnaturaldisasters.
l28
CUIJrIvATION
Thirdbepatientint}Iearduouscourseofour
practice.Be{breweattainthejOyofcultivationand
ourcultivationbecomesstrongwewilIencounter
manyobstacles.Howeveroncewegetthroughthis
p}IasewewillattainbappinessBACW
221.AfterthesixthPatriarchofZenMaster
Huinengbecameenligbtenedcircumstances{bund
himactingasanattendanttoagroupofl1unters.
Dai!Jhewitnessedtheirhuntingandkilling.He
servedmeatandcared{brtbem.Thebunterswerebis
masters;hewastbeirservantHedidtbisfbrnot]ust
ashorttimebutfbrBfteenyears.
Couldwehaveenduredthis?Henotonlyenduredbutwascontentedanddidnotbavean;ywanderingthougbtsdiscriminationsorattachments.
ThesewereBffeenyearsoftruecultivation.He
reachedenligbtenmentwhenhewasinHuangmeiin
thesouthernpartofChina.Whetherunderfavorable
oradversecircumstanceshecultivatedbismindof
purityequalitygreatcompassionandlovingkindness.Thereisnothingmoreimportanttoourcultivationtbanthesefburvirtuesandtbesewerewbat
hepracticed.CD
129
CUIjTIVATION
225FourkindsofkarmicIinksexistbetweenchil-
drenandparents.T}IeBrstistorepaylKindnessIn
pastli{btimestheyhadagoodandhappyrelations}Iip
withoneanotherbTbecbiIdrencometorepaykindnesssotheyareveIyIal.
Tbesecondistoexactrevenge.Tbec}Iildrenare
IKarmicdebtorsompastlibtimes.Teyareusually
wastreIs.WI1entbeygrowup)theywillcausethe
miliesruin.
ThethirdistocoIIectdebt.ItaIldependson}Iow
muchtbeparentsbadowedtbecbildren.Iftheparentsdidnotowemucb[previously>tbecbildrenwill
dieyoung.Ift}Ieparentsowedtbechildrenalotthe
parentswilIspendalotofmoneyontbecbildrens
educationandtalKeveIygoodcareofthemandthe
cbildrenwiIsudden!ydiewhentbeyareadults.
The{burtbistorepaJ/debt.Thec}Iildrenowedthe
parentsinpastlifbtimes.bentbeamountisalottbe
cbildrenwiIookaRertheirparentsveIyattentively.
IfthecbildrensdebtislittletheywilltalKecareof
tbeirparentsjustenougbtoensurethattbeirparents
IacknothingButthereisnorespect{brtheirparentstlecbildrenon!ytakecareoftheirpWsicaI
needs.
l50
CUIjTIVATION
henthesefburkindsofkarmiclinksexistbe
tweenpeopletheywilIbecome{amily.Peoplewill
becomereIativesoriendswhentbekarmicIinlKis
WeaIKerWhenthelinkisstrongerpeoplewillbecome
mi!y.EILS
226.AstudentonceaskedmeIamconfUsedyso
maIWmethodsbicIonedoyoutIinlKIshould
choose?
Attbetimetberehappenedtobeaballonthe
groundwbichIpointedtoandsaidLooIKatthis
ball.Thesurcehaspointscountlessastbenumber
ofmethodsTheteachingsrequireyoutofindt}IecenterofthebalIYOucanreacMtomanypointonthe
surceaslongasyoubllowastraightline.YOuneed
not6ndasecondorathirdpointfbrasanoldsaJing
goesoIIowtberoadandyouwigethome.Thereis
noneedtocircIearound.
HethenunderstoodtbatBuddhismpursuesthe
truemind.Onceweattainenlightenmentweattain
eveIythingT}Iere{brenomatterwhichmethodwe
choosetbelKeytosuccessisconcentrationonone
method.SoIongasweadheretoourchosenmethod
wewillacbievedeepconcentrationattainwisdom
l5l
CUIJTIVATION
anduncovertheueNatureofGreatPerbction.
BAC
227.Howdoesoneslowyexample?Bypracticing
accordingtotheteacbings.Ifweteachpeopletoact
onewaybutweourselvesactanotherwayanddonot
practicewbatweteac}I>tbenthosew}1olistentous
maynotbelieveourwordsForexampleifItellyou
tomindfUllyc}lanttbeBuddha-nameandIdonotdo
somyselEwouldyoubelievemywords?YOuwould
not
Onemustpracticewhatoneteacbes.Thisis<show
yexample.Oneisnotputtingonasbow;oneun
derstandstheteachingsandprinciplesinthesutras
andactualypracticesthemIly.Onedoeswhatt}Ie
Buddbateachesonetodoanddoesnotdowhattbe
Buddbateacbesnottodo.EILS
228.Itisawanderingt}Ioughttohopefbranearb
}Iarvestofrewards{brourgoodness{brsuchthinking
cancreateobstacIes.Weareonlytoaskaboutthecultivationnottheharvest.AslongaswediIigentlycultivatetheharvestwillnaturalMbllow)whybotberto
constant!yseekit?Tbisisthetruewayofcultivation:
l32
CUIjTIVATION
tonotseelKanything.Justconcentrateonendingimproperbehaviorandcultivatinggoodness;eventuallJ
wewillobtainwhateverwedesire.
henweseekourgainsarelimited,fbrmost
like!ywewil>onlyreceivewhatwerequestasour
cultivationofvirtuesisnotinaccordancewithour
vIrtuousnatures.WitboutseeIKingeveIythingisa
mani{bstationofandinaccordancewithourvirtuous
natures.CD
229.TherearetwoapproachesinlearningBuddhism
TheirstispracticehereonestartswitIcultivatinga
puremind.TIeotberisunderstandinghereone
studiestheteac}Iings.Wbicbapproachismoreadvan-
tageous?Practice.As}ongasone}1asapuremindit
doesnotmatterthatonebasnolKnowledgeofBuddhism.Ifoneeradicatesa{Hictiontbenthemindis
pureandtbeBuddbaLandwiIalsobepure.Onewill
beabletoattainrebirtbint}IeWesternPureLand.
IILS
250IfwewisbtoattainwealthwepracticethegivingofwealthTbattainintelligenceandwisdomwe
practicethegivingofteachingTbattainhealtband
l55
CUIrlvATION
Iongeviwepracticethegivingofbarlessness.Tbis
isthecorrectwaytochangeourdestinies.By{bllowingtherigbtprinciplesandmetbodswecanevenattainSupremeEnligbtenmentmucblessworldIyenjOymentandhappiness.CD
25l.ItissaidAsheepdiesandisrebornahuman;a
humandiesandisrebornasheepInthisli{byouare
thebumanandyouarestrongerthanthesheep;you
lKiIandeatitInt}]enextli{btbes}]eepbecomest}Ie
humanandyoubecomethesheep;hewil}killandeat
you.EachoneinturnpaysbackTbisisalternate!y
barmingandlKillingoneanother.Suchagony!
Tbeweakbeingtbepreyofthestrongisanabnormalpbenomenon.ItisamaliciousreIationshiponeofcontinualreprisals.Inadditionwhen
onetakesrevenge,onewiIlnotdoitint}Ieexact
amountonewilloverdoitalittleTberebrethe
enmitywillcontinueli{btimeafterli{btimewit}Ioutend
andwiIneverbereso}ved.TheretributionswiIIbecomemoreandmoreterrible.EILS
232AllBuddhasSymbolizeourvirtuousnature.All
bod}IisattvasandarbatsSymbolizetbevirtueofpracl31
CUIjIVATlON
tice.WitboutthevirtueofpracticetheinnatevirtuousnaturecannotbereveaIedTbiscompIementaIy
relationsbipiswhytbeBuddhatableincIudesbotb
Budd}1aandbodhisattvaimagesT}]eBuddhasrepresentoriginaInatureandt}Iebod}Iisattvasrepresent
theapplicationofthisnatureandfbrmTbisoriginaI
natureisempasitbasnosetbrm.AIIcreationsor
brmariseomtbisoriginalnatureandoncethereis
{brmthereisappIicationBACW
233.Tblmowour{au}tsdaiIyistoawakendai!y.Once
wediscoverauItwesincerelycorectit;tisishow
wewiIbuiIdourstrengt}IofcuItivationWeneednot
domuch.IweweretoindandcorrectoneauIta
daytbenwewouIdbecomeasageorvirtuousperson
intbreeyears.CD
251.eunderstandthetrutbsowesbouIdelem
pathybraIIbeingswesbouIdIovethemnotbarm
tbem.hatisthecauseowarsinthisworId?The
BuddhatoldustbatitisIKiIIing.Therebreiwarsare
toend{breverbeingsshouIdnoteatmeatElLS
>55
CUIjTIVATION
255.TbeMzMmtellsusthatasincereheart
isacultivationplaceapureheartisacultivation
placeandacompassionate}Ieartisacultivation
place.Apropercultivationplaceiswithinourhearts
Whenourmindsareontbepathtoenlightenment
tbennomatterwherewearetberewillalwaJ/sbea
place{brcultivation.CD
l36
THREELEARNlNGS
TbreeLearnings
236.Inorderfbrustoresolvedisasterstheultimate
met}Iodistocultivatepreceptsmeditativeconcentra-
tionandwisdom;ceasecreatinganddestrOygreed
angerandignoranceAlIbrmsofprayersalthougI
ectivearenottheBnaIsoIution.Onlyyuniver
salyspreadingtheteachingsomoralivirtueand
causalicanweultimateytransbrmpeoplesminds
and}IelptosoIveaIIthecompIexproblemsonEarth
REN
257hentheBuddhataughtallbeingshisaimwas
{brpeop}etoacbievetheT}]reeLearningsofprecepts
meditativeconcentrationandwisdom.Abidingytbe
preceptsleadstotbeachievementofmeditativeconcentration.Andommeditativeconcentrationwis
domarises.Meditativeconcentrationispivotalto
oneslearningandcultivationofBuddhism.Abiding
ythepreceptsisthemeanstoaclievemeditative
concentrationMeditativeconcentrationisthemeans
touncoverwisdomUncoveringwisdomisthetrue
objectivebecauseonlywisdomcanhelpussolvea
problems.EILS
l57
THREELEARNINGS
258.Buddhismteac}IesustoworktoeIiminategreed
hatredandignorance;toabideypreceptspractice
meditativeconcentrationandwisdom;toeliminateaIl
tbeconictswitbinourselvesagainstaIIpeopIeand
environment;toletgoofallsel{is}Ithoughts;andto
onIyconsidertheneedsofothers.Ifwecantruly
learnthisprincipleweareseeingtbroughtothe
truth.Butweneedtostartyputtingtheseteachings
intorealpracticebycomplete!ylettinggoofaIgreed
angeI}ignoranceandarrogance;eradicatingalleviI
andpracticingaIIgooddeeds;andpracticinggiving
andpatience.DoingsowewillaccumuIatemeritand
virtue.WPH
259.WhentheBuddbawasinourworIdhewasjOy-
{i1}andopen-mindedw}Ietbertakingpartindailylifb
orteachinganditwasthisjOyandenergythatattractedpeopleandbelpedtbemtoacceptBuddhadharma.Buddhadbarmaisnotmeanttobindus,butto
benefitaIbeingsbybringingtbem)Oyand}Iappiness.
The{brmationofthepreceptswastoshowustbe
rightpatbtoattainahappyand{i1IIinglifb.BACW
l58
THREELEARN<NGS
210.hatarethesuringsofthesentientbeingsin
ourcurrentage?T}]eBrstiscommittingtbewrongdo-
ingsoft1eTnEvilKarmasTeBuddhataugbtus
tbeFirstLearningofpreceptstoovercometbeseThe
secondsuringistheinabilitytoremainsereneand
atpeaceTheBuddhataughtustbeSecondLearning
ofmeditativeconcentrationtoacbievepuriIofmind
andtranquiIitJ/.Thetbirdsuffbringisignorance.Tbe
BuddhataugbtustbeThirdLearningofwisdomto
overcomeourcurrentstateofignorance.BACW
21l.TheBuddbatoldust}latifwecanabidebythe
preceptsandlawswewouIdhaveatranquilbodyand
mindthatwiIIenableustobeeeomworriesand
bars.Sincedeepconcentrationarisesomtranqui
ityt}]epreceptsareessentiaItoselfcultivation.Ifwe
breaktheIawortbeprecepts,thenourconsciences
wilIbeplaguedyguiltevenwearenotpunished.
MoreovereveniweavoidworId!yretributionstbere
isnowaJtoavoidourlKarmicretributions.hentIe
bodyandmindaredisturbedwecannotconcentrate
onourpracticeandtopracticesuccessfilllyweneed
tobetranquilItissaid,Preceptsorsel{LdiscipIine
l39
THREELEARNINGS
leadtodeepconcentrationomwbicbwisdom
arises.BACW
212Oncewehavedevelopedapureandquietmind
andbaveattainedwisdomwecanbegintobroaden
ourknowledge.ecansee,beaIandlearnofany
thingthatweareinterestedinfbrnowwehaveattainedwisdomandwinotbeactedyoursur
roundingsSincewe}1aveselFcontroltl1emorewe
seeandhearthewiserwewillbecomeandthe
greaterourstrengthomdeepconcentrationwillbe
Howaredeepconcentrationandwisdomincreased?
Remainingunmovedbysurroundingswillenhance
deepconcentrationDevelopingaclearandunder-
standingmindwillenhancewisdom.Thenwecan
learnomotherscIoolstoenhanceourdeepconcentrationandwisdom.First,wepracticepreceptsconcentration>andwisdomtoattainouroriginalwisdom.
Thenwecanlearnextensivelytoper{bctouracquired
wisdom.Thisisthewoflearningomancient
times.BAC
l10
THREEREFUCES
ThreeRefUges
215.WhenwetakerefUgeint}IeThreeJewelswe
6rstreturntoandrelyupontheBuddMForuncountableeonsjwehavebeenwanderingbelplessly
andmiserablyinthesixrealms.Nowwehavemeta
goodteacberwhoshowsusthatweneedtoreturn
ffomourdelusionanderroneousthinkingandtorely
upontheawakeningofourtruenaturethatwasoriginallyawakened.SotheBuddhatbatwerelyuponis
nottobe{bundoutsideofourselvesbutisinnateto
ourtruenature.BACW
211.ThkingreH1geintbeBuddbameansbeingawalKenedandnotdeluded.Takingre{UgeintheDharma
meansbeingproperandnotdeviated.Thkingrefi1ge
intbeSanghameansbeingpureandnotpolluted.
TIesearetheThreeJewelsofueNaturefbrour
practice:awalKeningproperunderstandingandpurityFromnowonweneedto{brgetourpastandreturntoandrelyupontheseThreeJewelsanduse
themtocorrectourthougbts,speechandbehavior.
BAC
l1l
THREEREFUGES
215.OnceweattainenlightenmentweattaineveIy-
thing.Tbere{brenomatterwbicbmethodwec}Ioose
t}Iekeytosuccessisconcentrationononemethod.So
IongasweadheretoourcbosenmethodwewiII
ac}1ievedeepconcentrationattainwisdomanduncovert}IeTfueNatureofGreatPer{bction.
FromaIofthiswecanseehowimportantthe
BipleJeweIsaretousbrmonIKsandnunsarete
treasureoftheSangha.Weneedtorespectallof
tIem.ecanlearnomthegoodonesaswellas
omthosewodonotfbowtberulesandguidelines.
Cemulatethebrmerandusethelattertoserveas
negativeexamples.
IfweiItounderstandtbattakingreUgeintIe
TbreeJeweIsdoesnotmean{bllowingacertainpersonthent}IerewiIlbet}Iemostseriousofconse-
quencesaswewiIallintoAviciHeI.Why?Thereis
onlyoneSangbaintheuniverseandtheSanghain
ourworIdisapartofthiswboIeIfwetakerefi1gein
and{bllowonlyoneindividualmonkornunregard
tbatpersonasouronlyteacherandre{ilsetorespect
otherswewiIIbe!splittingandsowingdiscord
amongtbegroup.ThisistheBftbotbeFiveDeadly
Offbnses.Tbe{irstfburarepatricidematricideintenl12
THREEREFUGES
tionaIycausingaBuddhatobIeedkiIingabodhisattvaoranar}]at.Tbusitwouldbeevenworseto
chooseon!yacertainmonkonunbreUgetbannot
totakere{i1geataII
FurtbermoreweonIyneedtotalKere{Ugeonce.It
doesnotaccompIishaIWt}]ingtotakere{i1gefibmone
personthistimeandtbenomanotberIateremaJ
thinlKtbatwecangetmucbmoreprotectionifwe{bIlowmanymonIKsandnuns.ButasthesaJ/inggoes:|A
claJidolcrossingarivercannotevenprotecthimsel
Nobodycanprotectus.Onlywhenwetakere{ilgein
tbeThreeJeweIsofueNature!canweprotectour
seIvesBACW
216.TbeThreeJeweIsinourtruenatureareawaken-
ingcorrectunderstandingandpurityTbeBuddba
signi{iestheawaIKeningofourtruenaturethe
DharmasigniBesthecorrectunderstandingofour
truenatureandtheSanghasignifiespurityofour
truenatureWeshouldberespect{i1Itothem.EveIy
daJ/inoureveIyt}1oughtwesbouldaskourselvesif
weareawakened?Dowebavecorrectunderstand-
ing?Areourthoughtsandviewscorrect?Areour
mindspure?ThepurposeofdwellinginanduphoIdl13
THREEREFUGES
ingt}IeThreeJewelsistoconstantly remindusofthe
ThreeJewelsofueNature.EILS
FIVEPRECEPTS
FivePrecepts
217.ImetwitbZhangjiaLivingBuddhaonceaweek
HeoftenremindedmeeitherintentionalyorunintentionalJPreceptsareveIyimportant.Afterhe
passedawaJ)IstayedbythecrematoIythatwasbuIt
especiallyhbiscremationfbrthreedays.During
tbosethreedaJ/sandnigbtsIkepttlIinlKingabout
w}Iatbe}Iadtaughtme{brtbetbreeyearsthatIstudiedwithhim.
SurprisinglJwhatmadetbedeepestimpression
wasPreceptsareveIyimportant.Icouldnot6gure
outwhybutthoughtthattberemustbeareason{br
MasterZ}lang)iatokeeptel}ingmetopaJattentionto
precepts.SoIstudiedprecepts.AndtbenIrealized
tbatworld|yrulesneededtobeconstant!yamendedto
suitthepeopleofthattimeperiod.Preceptsaresupramundanerulesnotworldlyrules.Ifyouwantto
transcendthisworldtIeSixPatbsandthen
Realmsyoubavetoabidebyprecepts.AS
218.PreceptsarerulesthatallBuddhasandbodbisattvasabideyintheircultivationovercountlesslifb
timesTheyarerulesfbrtranscendingtheSixPatbs
l5
FIVEPRECEPTS
andtbeTnRealmsnotworld!yrulesfbrdailylifb.
ThatiswhytbeycannotbecbangedtheFivePreceptsinparticuIarbDoyoutbinkt}IattheFivePreceptscanbechanged?IsnokiIlingwrong?How
aboutnostealingnosexualmisconductsnolying
andnodrinlKing?Theycannotbecbanged.Theyare
maorpreceptsyprincipIeandindeedtranscendtime
andspace.AS
219.TbeFivePreceptsarenolKillingstealingcom-
mittingsexualmisconduct!yingandtakingintoxicants.TbeBrst{buroffbnsesarephysicaltransgressionsoftbetruenatureWhetherornotwebave
takenthepreceptsitiswrongtocommittheseacts.
But{bronewhohas{brmallytakentheFivePrecepts
t}IiswiIbeconsideredascommittingadoubIeviolatIon.
TakingintoxicantsisdirentApersonwhobas
nottakenthepreceptsisnotguiltJ/w}IendrinlKing
howeverapersonwbohastakenthepreceptsand
thendrinkswillbavebrokenthisprecept.Thepurposeofreiainingomintoxicantsistopreventus
omcommittingtbeirstburtransgressionswbile
undertbeinfluence;therefbreintoxicantsintheml6
FIVEPRECEPTS
selvesarenotwrong.Thisisanexampleofw}Wwe
needtounderstandthepurposeoftheBuddha}spreceptsettingits{imctionanditsbene{it.BACW
250TheBuddbataughtthebasicFivePreceptsand
the6rstoftheseistbe6rstoftheTnGoodKarmas:
donotkilI.ContinuingtokiIlistocomplete!ydisregardhisteacI1ingsandisanultimateactofdisrespect.
ThisdisrespectistantamounttobeingunfiIialtoour
parents.ConseqUent!JMfweignoretbeseinstructions
andkillweareneithercompassionatenorIaI.
BACW
25l.henwepracticeadberingtotIepreceptsthe
mostimportantpointisto{bI}owt}]eir{i1ndamental
spirit;Donot}Iingthatisbad:doeveIJ/tbingthatis
goodDoingnot}IingbadisaT}Ieravadapreceptdirectedtowardusandistobe{bIIowedconscientious!y
inordertodevelopselfLdisciplineTbeCbineseca
tbisAttendingtoonesownmoraIwellbeingeven
whilealone.WbenwepracticeselfdiscipIinewe
needtoremaintruetotbepreceptsevenwhennoone
isaroundTbdoaIltbatisgoodisfbrthebenefitof
aIlbeingsandisabodhisattvapreceptthatteacbesus
l17
FIVEPRECEPTS
bowtointeractwitbotbers.Preceptsarethecriteria
{brdistinguishingbetweengoodandbad.BACW
252.SomepeoplebavecompIainedt}Iattherearetoo
manypreceptsthatitistooeaSytoviolatethemand
thustheyabandonabidingythem.Thisiswhymost
peoplepre{brreadingorlisteningtotallKsaboutt}Ie
sutraswhileavoidingthoseonprecepts.eneedto
remembertbatpreceptsguideusinourbehaviorand
aretheproperconductofallBuddhas.Iftherewere
nopreceptstherewouldbenoBuddbism.Iftbere
werenocourtesiest}IerewouldbenoConfi1cianism.
Merelyrecitingtbesutraswithoutpracticingtbeir
teachingswillresultinournotreceivinganyoftheir
bene6ts.BACW
255.Agoodillustration[oflivingasimpleli{b>ismy
IateteacberMr.LiBingnanwholivedasimpleyet
happyli{b.Fordecadesheonlyateonemealaday)
butwheneverhewasinvitedout{brdinnerheac-
cepted.Onseveraloccasionsbeinvitedmetoaccompanyhim.SinceIhadbeenpracticingt}Iepreceptof
noteatingafternoontime{bryearsMbltveIyuncom{brtablewbenbeinginvited.
l18
FIVEPRECEPTS
Mr.Lisimplysaidomewithme!ComewitI
me!Laterheexplained:ithtbisattacbmentyou
wil}notbeableto}1elppeoplebecauseifyouintendto
belptbemyoumust}IeIpthemtobebappy.Eating
tbisdinnerisnotvioIatingthepreceptsbutliing
t}Iem.Theyinvitedyouwithgoodintentions.Ifyou
rejectt}Ieirinvitationstheywilltbinkyouareclosed
toreason.Tbentbeywillnoton|yrejectBuddbism;
butwillalsosaythatwepractitionersarearrogant
andlookdownuponotbersT}IeymayalsourgeotberstoavoidBuddhists.So,youcouIdruintbeopportunityofanuntoIdnumberofpeopIetolearnofBuddhismTbiswillresuItinthecreationofnegative
>,
karma{bryou.
Therefbrehewasnotviolatingthepreceptsbut
wasinsteadsimplyliftingtbemfbrthismeantmaking
otbershappJ/)helpingthemtolearnofBuddhismas
wellasaccordingwitbconditions....Wecanseefibm
thistbatBuddhismisf>exible.BACW
l19
PARAMITAS
ParaIitas
251.WhenwearewilIingtoIetgoofourweaIthwe
wigainweaItb.Wbenwegiveteacbingswewi
gainwisdom.henwegivebarIessnesswewiIlgain
heaIt}IandIongIifb.Thelawofcausalityisareality
andasnaturaIastbelawsofheavenandearth.Ifwe
per{brmgoodnesswit}]outexpectationofreward
withoutthewisb{brprestigewealthwisdom}Iealth
orlongli{bwitboutt}Iewisb{bran;ythingtbenwe
areboundtouncovereveIytbingthatisalreadyinour
truenature.Istbisnotbeingeeandhavinggreat
contentment?CD
255.The{irstparamitaisgivingForusthismeans
Iettinggoandhelpingothers.Therearetbreekindsof
giving:thegivingofweaItbthegivingofteachings
andtbegivingof{barlessness.Givingisakarmic
cause.Ifwewanttohavewealthwesbouldpractice
thegivingofwealthIfwewanttobeinteIligentand
wisewesbouIdpracticetbegivingofteachings.Ifwe
wishto}1avegoodbea}tbandaIongIi{b,weshould
practicetbegivingofarIessness
l50
PARAMITS
Intbegivingof{barIessnessthemostimportant
thingisnotto}Iarman<ybeing.InadditiontonotIKiIingbeingswesbouldnotevencauset}]emtohave
aictions.Avegetariandietisafbrmoftbegivingo
{barlessness:Wedonoteatthef>esbofanimaIsor
causethemtohaveaictions.Tbbemoreproactive
weshouldeecapturedanimals.EILS
256.Thesecondparamitaisabidingbytheprecepts.
WesbouIdobservethepreceptsandcodesofbe}Iavior
thattheBuddbalaidout.Tbeteachingsinthesutras
tbattbeBuddbaearnestb/andpatient!ytaughtus
sbouldbeblIowedtoo.Wesbouldalsoabideythe
Iawsandcustomsofourcountries.Ifweabandontbe
preceptsthentbepracticeandupholdingoftbeBuddbasteachingswiIdisappearEILS
257Thethirdparamitaispatience.TbaccompIisb
anyundertakingoneneedstobearanJ/hardshiptbat
oneencounters.Int}IeprocessofcuItivationonewilI
sureyencounterustration.Themorediligentoneis
thegreatertheamountofustrationoneaces.
Whyistlefesomuchustration?Becauseofthe
evilkarmastbatonehascommittedovercountless
l5l
PARAI<ITAS
kalpasobstaclesomkarmicbrcesareunavoidable.
Tbeonlysolutionistotolerateanyhardship.Tbiswill
decreaselKarmas.Ifonehasmeditativeconcentration
itcaneliminatekarmas.Oneshouldfaceobstacles
withwisdomresolvethemwitb{brbearanceacqui-
esceandmakediligentprogress.OnIywiththe
paramitaofpatiencewillonebeabletoimprove.If
oneisnotpatient)onewillencounterobstacles.EILS
258.T}Ie{burthparamitaisdiligence.TheCbinese
termbriidiligenceisJingmeanspureand
unadulteratedandjinmeansmakingprogress.For
bodhisattvasdiligenceistbeonlyvirtuousroot.
Nowadaysman;yBuddhistpractitionersmalKetbe
mistakeoflearningtoomanydirentthingsresultinginam1xture.Alt}1ougbt}IeymakeprogresseveIy
daJ/)tbeirprogressisadulteratedTheyspendalotof
timeandertbuttIeiraccomplis1mentisveIylimited.
TbelittleachievementIbaveintbislifbtimeisdue
tohavingagoodteacher.He{brbademetoproceedin
anunbcusedandrandomwayIlearnedomMILi
BingnaninTaichung{brtenyears
l52
PARAlITS
Histeachingmethodwasthatevenifastudent
wasveIysmartandbadanexceptionalcapabililIe
orshecouldsimultaneouslyon!ylearntwosutrasat
most.Ifthestudentwantedtolearnthreesutras<at
onetime>hewouldnotteachthisstudent.Students
whodidnotbaveagoodcapabilityIearnedon!yone
sutra
OnlywbenMr.Liconsideredthatastudenthad
learnedasutrawellenougbwouldbeteachtbestudentanewone.OtherwisehewouldnotaIowtbe
studenttolearnanewsutra.Duringmytenyears
wit}IMr.LiIlearnedBvesutraswhereasinaBud-
dhistcollegetbestudentsstudymorethanBvesutras
lnonesernesterEILS
259.ThefiHhparamitaismeditativeconcentrationIt
meansbeingincontroIofonesmind.Witbintbe
mindisunmoved;wit}Ioutthemindisnotattachedto
phenomena.OneshouIdnotbeeasi!ytemptedbyany
externalphenomena.Forexamplewhenonelearnsa
sutraoneconcentratesontbissutra.ThiswaJ/)one
wouldbeincontrolofonesmind.EILS
l53
PARAMITAS
260.Tbesixtbparamitaiswisdom.Simp!yputwhen
oneinteractswithpeopleandengagesintasksone
shouIddosobasedonreasonnotonemotions.EILS
26l.Areadverseencountersgood{brus?Forpracti-
tionersyes!Itisgoodtrainingtobavesomeoneconstant|ycausingtroubIe{brusandtonothavetbings
goingourway.Withouttheseadversities}Iowwould
weachieveconcentration?Adverseconditionsand
anitiesprovideuswitbiusttberigItopportunities
todiscipIineourseIvesandtopracticetbeParamitaof
Patience.ecannotbethanki1IenougbbrtIeseopportunitiesmuc}1}esstocomplainaboutt}]emorget
angIyCD
l51
AMlT)\BHAVILLAGE
AIIitabhaVillage
262PresentIJtbereareon!yafbwcountriesthat
providesocialwelrebrtbeirseniorcitizens.Coun
triessuchastbeUnitedStatesandespecialyAustraliabavecompIetesociaIweIbreprogramsandseniors
areveIyweIItakengoodcareof
Butretirementorganizationswhetherrun})ytbe
governmentobytbeprivatesectormostlyempha
sizecaring{brseniors)physicalconditionsandpaJ
lessattentiontoenricbingtheirspirituaIlifbTbose
wbotakecareoftbeseniorsoendosomechanicalb
andmaJ/showlittleIoveorconsideration.Conse-
quentyseniorscaneIempIonelyandIeIpless
waitingdaiMbrdeath
Inviewofthisandinspiredbythe{burlKindsof
mindandpracticeofgreatcompassiontbatwelearn
intbedhzSIhaveanewideabrsenior
retirementIhopepeopIeofvisionandfbresightwill
gladIypromoteandimplementit.Seniorshavede-
votedthemseIvestosocietyandshouldstarten]Oying
goodfbrtuneintheiroIdage.Tbisistherealizationof
aper{bctsociety.MT
l55
AIlITABHAVILLAGE
265EveIyoneofushasparentsandmostofuswill
alsobecomeoldsomeday.Menciussaideshould
respectourparentsandextendthatrespecttoallold
people;wesbouldloveourchildrenandextendtbat
lovetoaIchildren.
Seniorsbavededicatedt1eirivestot1eirmilies
socieandcountries.Itisonlyappropriatethatchil
drenshowBlialpietytotheirnowelderlyparentsand
repaytbeirkindness.Wesbouldtrulyextendthe6lial
pietyfbrourparentstoaItheseniorsintheworld
establis}Iaparadise{brseniorsandshowourlove
andrespect{brthem.
IfwecandosoandadditionallJllelpeligious
groupsandethnicgroupstoworktogether(2)
propagategoodtraditionalculturesintheworldand
5promotethesagesteaclingsoffilialpierespect
fbrtbosewhoareolderandloving-kindnessthenall
peoplewillbehappyandt}Ieywillsupportourundertakingtoget1erwitbtIebeingsomalldimensions.
Aharmoniousworldcanbeexpectedsoon.MT
l56
INTERFAITHHARlVONYANDMUIJTlCUIjTURALISM
InterfaithHarIoIWand
Multiculturalis
261.TheBuddbasteac}Iingtheteachingofallt}Ie
sagesthroughouthistoIyandaroundtheworldand
religiousteac}1ingaIaremulticulturaleducation.In
particulaIthedmMS1whicbisasummaIy
ofBuddbismtru!ycontainsprofbundwisdomom
tbeperbctfi1sionofdirentreligionsandcultures.
Forexamplealltheorgansofabosuchasthe
eyestbeearsthenosetonguehandsand{betmust
dotbeirdutiesandcooperatewitbotherorgans.This
waJ)thebodywiIlbebealthy.
Alloft}Ieet}Inicgroupsculturesreligions
schoolsofthougbtwereoriginaUyasinglelifbcommunib/.T}1erefbre,theysbouldseekcommonground
andputasidediffbrencesexistandlourishsidey
siderespectandbelponeanotbergetalongharmonious!Jandtreatoneanotberequally.Theuniversewas
originaUyharmonious.TheworldwasoriginaUyone
mily.MT
265Religiousrespectandcooperationisthefbunda-
tionfbrglobalbarmon[y.Tbacbieveworldpeace
l57
lNTERFAITHHARIIONYANDMUIjTICUIjTURALISM
t}1eremustbe}1armoIWandequaltreatmentamong
countriesamongpoliticalpartiesorpoiticalctions
amongetbnicgroupsandamongreligiousgroups.
Itisdiculttoachievethisbutitiseasiertostart
witbacbievingharmonyamongreligiousgroups.Re-
ligiousrespectandcooperationmustbebasedon
learningomeachotherinorderbronesownrelig
ionstostayvital.IfeveIyreligiousadherentwereable
topracticetbeteachingsofthesagescompassion
Ioving-lKindnesssincerityrespect{i1lnessbumility
andbarmony-andgetaIongharmoniouslywithothersandtreattbemequalIJthenperfbctbarmonyand
sociaIharmoIWwouIdbenearbMT
266.T}IecoreoftbeteacbingsofaIsagesinthis
worldandbeJ/ondissincereloving-lKindness
Tbroug}Itbeteachingofmoralitytbelawofcause
andeffbctwisdomandsciencethesagesaimtoun-
coverthevirtueoftbeutmostpurityandvirtuousness
innateinallsentientbeings.Thesevirtueswillmani-
{bstwbeninteractingwithothersandengagingin
dai!ytasIKs.MT
l58
lNTERFAlTHHARMONYANDMUIJTlCUIJTURALISM
267.TbdaJ/manyreIigiousscholarsbeIievetbatGod
oradeitybasnophysicaIbody;Heisomnipresent.
ThisstatementaIsoappIiestoDbarma-natureinBuddhism.TberebreweIKnowtbataIthougIdirent
termsareusedaIreIigionsspeakoft}Iesametbing
IhavediscussedthisbasicconceptwitbmanyreIigiousIeadersandwealIagreethattbegodsworshippedinaIlreligionsaretheoneandonlytrueGod
intheuniverse.IaslKedt}IemDoyouagreet}]attbe
trueGodIasperctwisdom?TheyagreedThe
trueGodbasmiracuIouspowers,wbichareinconceivableandcantrans{brmintoanything.Tbeybelievedthis.
AndtbenIsaidHebasturnedintoSal<yamuni
ofBuddhismConR1ciusofChinaJesusChristof
CbristianityandPropbetl\/IubammadofIsIam.A}I
thesepeopIewereincttIetrueGod.Therefbrewe
areaami!y.
Itisadmirableoftbesereligiousleaderstoaccept
tbisideawithopenbearts.Ithoughttbatalotofdiscussionmightberequiredbe{bretheywouldaccept
thisideabutithasbeenwarm!yreceived})ymyreIigiousiends.Thisisquiterareandcommendable.LS
l59
INTERFAITHHARlVONYANDMUIJTICUIjTURALISM
268.Tbresolveconflictandpromotesocialstability
andworldpeacewehavetostopcompetingfbrrec-
ognitionandmaterialgainandactivelypromotethe
teachingofbenevolencejusticeandcompassiona
teachingtbatwiIIelpallbeingsattainenligbtenment.
Thisteac}Iingistbesameastheteachingoflove
taughtinreligion:GodIovespeople.
Throughcare{Mobservationwewillreallyappreciatethatal}thegreatsagesineveIycountIythroughouttimeandt}Ie{bundersofthemajorreligionswho
wereallsagescompletelyrenouncedmaterialgain
andgreedandhadpureminds.Therefbretheypracticedwhattbeytaughtandwereabletoteachotbers
topractice.Theyexertedbr-reachinginf>uenceduringtheirtimesandon{i1turegenerations.LS
269.Thegoalofreligiouseducationistorealizethe
trut}Iofallphenomenawhic}Itheearththeheavens
andIoriginateom.AllthingsandIareonenottwo.
Tbeectofthereligiouseducationistoreach
completevIrtueandultimatewisdomrespectallbeingsandvowtoserveallbeings.
FromthiswecanunderstandtbatreligiouseducationistheguidelinetoreaIizingaharmonioussociety
l60
INTERFAITHHARMONYANDMUITICUIjTURALISM
andahappylifb.Ifwepayattentiononlytorituals
andfailtopro{bundlycomprehendt}Ieessenceofthe
sutrasteachingjwewilInotprogressany{Urtherthan
justbeingzealousaboutour{ait}landthusbeeasily
manipulatedythosewithbadintentions.REN
270.TheQuransaysthatAllabisbenevolent.The
Biblesays:orGodsolovedtheworld...Tbe
fbundationofCon{i1ciusandMenciusteachingis
benevolencerigbteousnesslOyaltJ/)and{brgiveness.
ThegoalofMahaJanaBuddhismissincerityand
compass1on.
Tbere{brewecanunderstandthegoalsofalIreligionsinthisworldarebenevolencecompassion
universallovesincerirespectbumiliandbar
mon[y.ThecontentofallreligionsincludetheseBve
teachings:etbicsmoralicausaliphilosopand
scienceThe{irsttbreecategoriesareuniversalteachings{brallpeopleregardlessofgenderageorsocial
status.Allpeopleshouldlearntheseteachingsinearnest.Tbelattertwocategoriesarefieldsofteacbings
whicharedeepystudiedyabwindividuals.REN
l6l
INTERFAlTHHARlONYANDMUITlCUIJTURALISM
27l.Westartwitbthetrainingofteachersbyestab-
lishinganinstituteofreligionsARertbatweestabIishauniversityofreIigionsoramuIticulturaluniversitywheretbeseteacberscangoontoteachstudents.
Tbtrainoutstandingpropagatorscoursesinmo-
ralityvirtuesreligioustextsthelawofcauseandef
bctsciencepbilosophJandsoonshouldbecon
ducted.EachreligionsbouldestablisbitsowncoIlege.
Eac}IcoIegehasbothcompulsoIycoursesandspecializedcourses.Inadditiontofbcusinginthetextsof
hisorberreligionastudentcanalsostudyt}Ieteachingsofot}Ierreligions.
AHerbeingassessedandendorsedytbegovern
mentasbeingtrulybeneficialtosociaIarmoIWand
stabilitylecturescanbebroadcasttoreligiousadherentsthroughouttheentirecountIyandevenaround
tbeworldviatheInternetandsateIitetelevisionMT
272.Foundersofallreligionswereactuallythedir
ent{brmsandidentitiesthatthetrueGodtoolK{brthe
purposeofteachingdiverseethnicgroupswitbtheir
variedculturalandhistoricalbackgroundsatdirenttimes.Tbougbtbeteacbingmethodsaredirent
l62
lNTERFAITHHARIlONYANDMUIjTICUIjrURALlSM
whenweIookattbemcarelJwewilseethattheir
directionsgoaIsandpurposesaretbesame.
T}1estartingpointofalIreligionsislove.Thatthe
startingpointistbesamemeansthattheysharetbe
samegoalanddirectionTherefbrereligiousgroups
canworktogether.Therewereninereligiousgroups
inSingaporewhiIeIwastbere.TheyreaIlyworked
togetherasoneandgotalongbarmoniouslyIike
brothersandsisters.TbisbeIpedtobringstabilitJ/and
peacetotbecountIyLS
273.OurtruenatueisneitlerphysicalnorspirituaI
noranaturalp}Ienomenon.ItistruepuritJ/)true
goodnesscompassionimpartialitJandpercten
lightenment.uenatureneitherarisesnorceases.lt
isalI-knowingandabletocreateeveIythingwitbout
conontation.
EveIJ/thingnomatterhowinsigniBcantisderived
omtheirownoriginaltruenature.Itisrebrredtoas
tbetruecreatoroftbeuniversethetrueGodinmany
scripturesofdiffbrentbithsandreligionsWeshouId
realizetbatweareunifiedintoGoda}lthetime(not
)ustwitbGod).Weareunifiedintotheuniverseas
l63
INTERFAITHHARIIONYANDMUIJTICUIjrURALISM
oneness.Theworldiscreated{)ytbepowerofconsciousness.RRE
271.ReligiousharmoIWisthelKeytoworldpeaceIf
eachreligioncanpromoteimpartialityandstriveto
attainbarmoniouscoexistencethenharmoniousrela-
tionshipsamongl)countries2)et}micgroupsand3)
politicalbctionscanbeacbievedMoreoverreligious
barmoIWistheeasiesttobeginwitbwhencompared
tot}Ieothertbreerelationshipsbecauseallreligious
textsteachustodogooddeedsandabandonevil
deedstoletgoofselfis}messtoenbanceourspirits
andtoreainompursuingwealtbmeandotIer
selHshdesires.Ifreligiousadherentstrulypractice
wbatthesacredtextsteacbtbeadherentswilllivein
barmonywithallbeingsRRE
275.T}Ieultimategoaloftheteac}1ingofallreligions
istoguidethehumanmindtogoodness.Tberefbrea
religionshouldtakeupthemissionofrightingthe
bumanmindandeliminatingdisasters.Thereare
morepeoplewhohaveafaithtbanthosewhodonot.
IftbosewbobaveaitbcantalKetheleadrestoring
tbesagesteacbingofmoraliv1rtuesandcausali
l61
INTERFAITHHARlONYANDMUITICUIjTURALISM
andstartingfTomthemselvestrulypracticetbe
teacbingofthesagestheywillbeabletomovethose
whodonohavea{aithThroughtbistheycanlead
theircountriespoliticalpartiesandet}micgroupsto
returnto}Iarmon;y-barmonyinhavingthesameunderstandingandinsharingbene{its-andtowbere
peoplegetalongharmonious!Jtreatingoneanother
equally.ThiswaJ/)worldstabilityandMrmonycanbe
achieved.SC
276.Instrivingfbreternalhappinesswemusteradi-
cateallthatisbadandembraceallthatisgoodto
trans{brmdelusionintoenlightenment.Itisimportant
tobevirtuousinourt}Iougbtsandconductandtolive
in}IarmonywitbpeopIeofallracesreligionsandnationalitiesandwithallbeings.Ifweregardallseniors
asourparentsandallcbildrenasourownaswecare
[brprotectandguidethemwewillbesettinggood
examplesThuswewillattainpeaceandhappiness
{brall.AL
277.Allt}Iereligionsintbeworldhoweverdiverse
areofonemilyandoriginallylivedinharmonywith
eachotherAsthenameofthedjIzdSiml65
INTERFAITHHARMONYANDMUIjTICUIJTURALISM
pliesinagardentherearevariousspeciesofmagni{icentnowerseachshowingtheiruniquebeautyand
agrancetogethercreatingabeautifi1lscene.Butif
tbegardenis}imitedtoon!yonespeciesisntitboring?RRE
278.Tbhelppeopledevelopcon6denceinreligious
educationeveIyreligionshouIdestablisht}Ieirown
modelcitiesofharmonyTbrougbconstantteaching
tbeteachingsinthesacredtextswillbepracticedin
daiIyli{b.Tbiswillinspireothercitiesto{bllowsuit.
AsaresultthewbolecountIywillbestableand
peaceIandpeoplewillenjOybappiness.EventuaUy
tbewholeworIdwil}beledtoharmon;yThiswillbe
thegreatestcontributionofreligiouseducationtotodayssocietJ/.IbelievethatthissacredundertalKing
willbavetbeheIpandblessingomthesagesofa
tbereIigions.SC
279.W}WisIoveregardedasthecoreoftbesacred
teachings?Tbereasonistbattbeuniverseiscreated
yanexclusivecreatortbenoumenonoftheuniverse
w}Iodominatesallintheuniverse.Humansarecer-
l66
INTERFAITHHARllONYANDllUIjIICUURALISM
tain|yinc}usive.Tbecreatorthere{breisaIsothenoumenonofhumankind.
SinceweareintegratedintoalIbeingsintbeuniversewesbouIdloveeveIybodyandeveryobjecttbe
sameasweloveourownbodies(externaI|yt}IeBve
senseorgans;intenalbtbeorgansoftbebody.
CatI]oIicsandCbristianscaIthenoumenonoftbe
universeGod/MusIimssaJ/!lAlIahBuddbistssaJ/
truenatureandTaoistssTho.Althougbitis
calledsometbingdirentyeachreIigionthees
senceistbesame.ForexampIe)tbeBiblesays:<Inthe
beginningwastbeWOrdandtheOrdwaswitb
GodandtheWOrdwasGodJoml:lNAB.RRE
280.Particularb/inthisagewbenin{brmationis
readi!yavailablethewboleworIdhasbecomeaviIlage.IreIigiousadberentstru!ylearntheirreligious
textstheywillappreciatethewondrousmeaningof
T}IereisonlyonetrueGodandthetruthiseternaI
andunchanging.)Forexampletheomniscientand
omnipotentGodbashundredsorthousandsofmanifbstationsHeiscaIedAl}abinIslamandGodin
CbristianityandCatbolicism.Hemani{bstedasConfUciusMenciusLaotzuandZhuangtzuinChina.In
l67
INTERFAITHHARMONYANDMUIjrICUIjTURALISM
BuddbismbeiscalIedthetruenatureAllthediffbrenttermswerecreatedtoaccordwitht}Iediffbrent
historicalandculturalbackgroundsoftbebeingsand
tobcilitateteachingBC
28l.ReligiousgroupssbouldworlKtogetherandbelp
eacbotherInadditiontbeyshouldlearnfibmeach
otherandshowtheloveoft}Iesagesthroughthoseof
uswhohaveaaitheshouldstartomthereligion
webelievein.eshouldbroadenourmindsloveour
religionsaswellasallotherreligions.elearnnot
onlythesacredtextsofourreligionbutalsothoseof
otherreligions.WewillfUrtherunderstandthatall
religionsaretru!yonemily.Thecoreoftbeteacbing
ofallreligionsisnothingbutcompassionandlovingkindnessSC
282.TbdaJ/)travelandcommunicationaremorecon-
venientReligionssbouldhavemoreinteractionwith
eachothercooperatewithandlearnomoneanotIer.WesIouldunderstandtheteachingsgiveny
tetrueGodtot1edirentreigionsandtbus
deepenourunderstandingofourownreIigioustexts.
WesbouldbringourselvesclosertotbetrueGod.
l68
INTERFAITHHARMONYANDMUIJICUIJrURALISM
MostimportantlJreligiousadherentsshouldexpress
theloveofGodytheiractionsypropagatingitto
peopleallovertbeworIdandtbussavingtheworld.
RRE
285.Onthebasisofreligiouscooperationwes}Iould
taketbenextsteptopromotemutuallearningamong
religionsinordertostrengtbenthespiritsofunity.
Mutuallearningwillenableustorealizethatthereis
onIyonetrueGodintheuniverse.AlItbeho!yonesof
direntreIigionsarethemanifbstationsoftbeone
trueGod.
Weshouldunderstandtbatallthesacredteacb-
ingsareliteralygivenytbeonetrueGodbutindif
fbrentfbrmsorappearancesTberefbreIrespectall
tbebolyGodsoftbedirentreligions.InrealityI
amrespectingonetrueGod.Bystudyinga>lreligious
textswecandeepenourunderstandingoftbeteachingsoft}1esametrueGod.Bydoingsowecanbring
ourselvesclosertoGodenhanceourspiritsbroaden
ourmindsencompassaIint}Ieuniverseandbring
ever-lastingpeaceand}IarmoIWtoallbeings.RRE
l69
INTERFAITHHARIIONYANDMUIjrICUETuRALISM
281.Allofthedirentreligionsintheworldareone
family.WCshouIdcompIete!yletgoofarrogance
jeaIouSyandgreedtreatoneanotherequaIlyget
alongwitheveIyonebarmoniouslJandworktogether
tohelppeopleawakenSuringarisesomdelusion.
Happinessarisesomawakening.Onlywbenweare
tru!yawakenedwillwenaturallyIeavesuringbe
hindandattainhappiness.OH
285.Ourtruenatureisneitherphysicalnorspiritual.
Itistruepuritruegoodnesscompassionimpartial
itJ/anduniversallove.T\menatureneitherarisesnor
ceasesItisaI-knowingandabletocreateeveIytbing
withoutconontation.InvariousreIigionspeople
re{brtothisast}Ietruecreatoroftheuniversetbe
trueGod.SE
286.ForyearsIhavediligentIylearnedvariousreligioustextssuchastheOldandNewTstamentsand
theOan.WbenIstudytbeBibleIbecomeade
voutCbristianoradevoutCatholic.WbenIstudytbe
QuranIbecomeadevoutMuslim.MJ/sincerityand
respect<brAlIabandGodarepureandimpartiaIjust
likemysincerityandrespect{brBudd}Iasandbodbil70
lNTERFAITHHARlONYANDMUITICUIIURALISM
sattvas.IdeeplyunderstandthatonlywbenIcom-
pIetebputdownthetbreeobstaclesofjea}ouSyanger
andgreedandarmtbataIlsagesaremybestteach
erswiIbene6tomstudyingthetextsandrealIy
understandthetruemeaningsoftbesagesteachings
SE
287.Ideeplybe}ievetbatreligiousteac}1ingsoncau-
salitymoraIiandethicswiIIdeBnitelyturntIebad
inushumanstogoodpoIIutiontopurityanddeIusiontoenlightenment.TbisistbeonbcorrectsoIution
tovariouskindsofconRictsandhumanandnatural
disasters.Ifthead}IerentsofdiversefaithsandreIigionscancooperatesincere|y;observetheruIes;cuItivatetbemselves;practicetheteachingsandinfluence
otIers;learnomoneanother;respectoneanother;
}ovecareaboutandcooperatewithoneanot}Ier;t}]en
societyandtheworIdwiIIbe}Iarmonious.RRE
288.IfwewanttosavetheworIdtodaJ/religions
mustMvesolidarityandmutuallycoexistandcooperateinbotbgoodtimesandbad.Inordertoachieve
religiouscooperationandsoIidaritywemusttalKereligiouseducationastbe{bundationandeveIyreligl7l
INTERFAITHHARlVONYANDMUIjrICUIJTURALISM
iousadherentshouldlearnbisorherownsacredtexts
indepthAlsoweshouldlearnomoneanotIerre
spectourdiffbrencesandseekcommongroundDoingsotbeectofreIigiouscooperationwillbelong
lastingandcontinuousIyvibrant.REN
289.Ifwewanttotrulyachievesocialstabilihar
monJ/)andprosperitJ/)weshouldstartwit}Ieducation.
ReligiouspraJersonbectatemporaIysolutionnot
apermanentcure.Tbectapermanentcurerequires
trans{brmingthehumanmindandhelpingeveIyone
abandonevilandcuItivategoodnessamendt}Ieir
conduct!andsett}Ieirthoug}Itsupright.Wesbould
earnestlyanddiIigentIyimplementreligiouseducation
andpropagateitIfeveIyreligioncanengagecontinuous!yinteaching{bryearsthiswiIlbeofgreat
}Ielptoeliminatedisastersandpromote}1armony.SC
290.Ifonesincereb/{bIowstbeteachingonewill
gainthetruebene6tnomatterwhatteachingitisbe
itConfi1cianismBuddbismorTaoismoranyotber
religion.Itisbecauseallreligionshavetheirownfimdamentalprecepts.Ifanypractitionertrubrealizes
t}lepreceptsofhisreligionindailyli[bbewillnatul72
INTERFAITHHARl0NYANDMUITICUIJTURALISM
rallybepeaceilIandtranquilIfwedontIearnom
tbe{imdamentalteacbingstbew}Iolelearningprocess
wouldbeIikeatreewithoutrootslikewaterwit}Iout
asourcelikeowersinavaselikeabousebuilton
emptyair.WewiIon!ybaveacademicaccomplishments.ThepractitionerwiIIhardlybeapersonwbo
wialleviatesuring!cIangedeIusionintoenlightenmentjandtrans{brmordinaIybeingsintosaintsand
sages.REN
29lFort}1epurposeoffacilitatingteac}1ingBuddhismdividestheentireuniverseintothreeparts:
noumenon)mindandmatter.Theset}Ireepartsare
actuallyoneentity.Noumenonistbeessencewhichis
consideredbyBuddhismtobeabletomani{bstand
alterphenomena.Inthestatement[phenomenaare>
manifbstedythemindandateredytheconscious
ness/t}Iemindisthenoumenonandtheconsciousnessrefbrstodiscriminationandattachmentsbotbof
whichmani{bsteveIytbingintheuniverse.
T}Iatwhic}Icanbemanifbstedandt}1emani{bsted
areonenottwo.FromberewetIytounderstand
tlattheentireuniverseisoneselOurmindsmerge
wit}1Dharma-natureandourbodiesmergewitb
l73
INTERFAITHHARlONYANDMUIIICUITURALISM
Dharma-body.Dbarma-bodyre{brstothephysical
pbenomenaint}IeuniverseandseeingsmellingcognitionandknowingrefbrtothementaIphenomenain
theuniverse.Thesetwokindsofphenomenacome
omtbesameoriginTbisoriginiscalledDharma
natureinBuddbismandiscaIledGodordeitiesin
otherreligions.LS
292.IbavelongadmiredthetraditionalChineseculturesofConH1cianism,Buddhism,andThoismaswell
astbesacredteacbingsofdirentreligionsinthe
worId.EvenwithBRy-nineyearsofIearningIoften
fbelthatIhavemuc}]moretolearn.Inevertireof
learningandImalwaJ/seagertosharewbatIve
Iearntwithotbers.NowIameighty-{buryearsold
andIstil>talKegreatpleasureinlearning.Ineverfbel
thatIamtoooIdtolearnSE
295.Aslongaswebaveapurekindsincereand
compassionatemindst}]ent}]erewillbeworldpeace
andtbesurroundingenvIronmentwillbecomebeauti{i1l.Butifwebaveimpuremindswiththoug}Itsof
bene{itingourseIvesw}Iilebarmingothersandifwe
havemanyilIthoughtsofgreedangeI)ignoranceand
l71
INTERFAITHHARlONYANDMUITICUITURALISM
arrogancewewiIbring{brthman;ydisastersaswhat
ishappeningintheworldrightnow.Inotherwords
wereapexactlywhatwesow.TbecbapterTheInstructionofYiintIeBooqHLDrlstates:Dogood
anda}]undredgoodfbrtuneswiIlmani{bst.Doevil
andahundredmisfbrtuneswiIIensueTbeOuran
~
states:Andwbateverofmis{brtunebefaIsyouitis
becauseofwhatyourlandshaveearned.i2:30
NobIeQuran)TbeBiblestates:Isitnotcalamityto
theunrigbteousAnddisastertotbeworkersofiniquity?(Job3l:5ASV)MC
291.AlltbefbundersofaIIreIigionsvoluntarilytaught
multiculturaIteachings.ForexampIeJesustaughtfbr
threeyearstheProp}IetI\/Iuhammadtaught{br
twenty-sevenyearsandBuddbaShakyamunitaug}]t
brrtynineyears.EveIyday,theyasetperfbct
exampleswitbtheirownconductTbeirbebaviorwas
sincereandcompassionate)evenwhentheywerestiIl
orsilent.
There{brereligiousadberentsshoulddeeplyrealizethatreligiouseducationisnecessaIy{braharmoniousworld.Ifwe{blIourresponsibilitiesinwhateverpositionweareinandputintopracticetbe
l75
INTERFAITHHARMONYANDMUIJTICUIjTURALISM
teacbingsonetbicsmoraliandcausalitJandcultivateourselvestoteachothersIbelieveautopian
worIdcanbeexpectedsoonwithreligionscoexisting
ingoodtimesandbad.REN
295.IwasonceaskedyastudentHowcandif
{brentreligiousgroupsgetalongharmoniouslywitboutconflict?Iansweredt}Iatthemostimportant
tbingistolearnonesownreligiousteachingdiligentIy.
Forexample)IndonesiaaclKnowledges6vereligions:IslamCatboIicismCbristianitJhHinduismand
Buddhism.Tbese6vereligionsarelikeapersons{ive
fingers.Theydirinlengthbutwhenonetraces
thembacktothepalmthewristandtbearmone
willknowthatt}Ie{ingerssbaretbesamerootandthe
sameor1g1n
Tberefbreaslongasonecontinuestodelve
deeplyintoonesreligioustextswhenonegetstoa
certainlevelonewillnatural!ycomprehendtheteaching.Ienoneisexposedtothetextsofotherrelig
ionsonewillalsobeabletounderstandthemAnan-
cientsaylngspeaksofdelvingdeep!yintooneteacbingandimmersingoneselfinit{bralongtime.When
l76
INTERFAITHHARMONYANDMUIjTICUITURALISM
onedelvesdeep!yandreachesacertainlevelonewilI
attainapuremindandwillnaturallybaveat}lorougb
understanding.OH
296.benwepcIoseattentiontotbeteacbingsin
tbesutrasorreligioustextswewillfindtbatthespirit
oftheteachingsandtbeprincipIestaught})ythesages
ofallreligionsareabout80percentsimiIar.Thedi
{brencesariseduetotbesageshavingaccommodated
peopIesIivingbabitsandusingexpedientmeansto
cilitatetbeirteaching
Fromt}Iiswecanseethattbeteacbingoftbe
sagesoriginatedomthetruenatureofaIIbeings.
TbetruenatureoriginaIIycontainseveIygoodquality
andcanmani{bstalIp}Ienomena.EveIythingthataccordswitbt}IetruenaturewiIIouris}I.AIWtbingt}Iat
goesagainstthetruenaturewiIIdecline.Thisisw}W
eveIydynastyinCbinapasseddownthesagesteacbingsT}IiswaysocietybadpeaceR1landstabletimes
andpeoplewerebappy.BC
297.WbenwecarefMlylooIKatbistoIyitiseaSyfbr
ustoseet}IattheteacI]ingofeveIyreligioninthe
worldisaper{bctmu}ticulturaIsociaIteachingoftbe
l77
lNTERFAITHHARIlONYANDMUIIICUIjTURALISM
utmostvirtuousnessThe{bundersofalltbereligions
werevoluntaIymulticuIturalsocialeducators.
Jesustaugbt<brthreeyears.T}IeProphet
Mubammadtaughtfbrtwenty-sevenJ/ears.Con{Ucius
taugItbBveyears.SakyamuniBuddbataugbtfbr
{brty-nineyears.Theyallletgoofprestigewealth
andgreedcompletely.Tbeywerepureinmindand
body.Tbeyengagedincultivationandtaughtpeople
omallwaIksoflifbwithoutdiscrimination.There-
{bretheywereabletoexertprofbundandwidereacbinginuenceonpeopleofteirtimesandlater
generations.OH
298.T}IeBuddhistsutrasstate:iAllphenomenaarise
omourminds;ourenvironmentcanbetransfbrmed
bytbemind.Tbere{breIdeeplybelievetbatamong
aIlthereligiousteacbingstIeteachingsocausality
moraliandvirtuecantrulytransbrmpeopleom
eviltogoodomcontaminatedtopureandomde
IudedtoawaIKened.Theseteacbingsarealsot}leonly
waytheonIyproperpathtoresolveallthecon
ictsdisastersandcaIamitiesintbetwentyfirstcen-
tuIyIfpeopleofalIreIigionscancooperateandworIK
together{bIowthecommandmentsandpreceptscull78
lNTERFAITHHARMONYANDMuIjTlCuIrURALISM
tivatethemselvespracticetheteachingsoftheirown
aithandheIpothersIearnomandrespectandcare
{broneanotbertbenaharmonioussocietyandpeace{UlworIdcanbeper{bctlyrealized.LP/J
299.TbisisamulticuIturalworIdTherearedi{fbrent
reIigionsscbooIsoftboughtetbnicgroupsandnations.WeareaIlpartofabiggermiIy.Howcanwe
figbtwitboneanotber?Weneedtoliveinpeacew}Iile
respectingindividualdirences.Webavetorespect
oneanoter.WedonotaslKbrrespectomothers
butrespectotbers6rst.Evenitbereisnorespectin
returnwestiIIsI]owoursincererespecttoothers.
EventualIyonedayotherswillpaytheirrespectto
us.IpaJ/myrespecttohim,careabouthimcare{br
}]imandhelpbimwit}]aI}mybeartwithoutasking
an<ythinginreturnbecauseIknowweareoneentity.I
knowtbewholeuniveseisoneentityHejustdoesnt
IKnowitJetbecausebeisstillunenlightened.henbe
attainsawarenesshewilltbinkanddothesame.
WPH
500.TbdaJ/sworldemphasizesmulticuIturaIismand
seekscooperationamongdirentreligionsetbnic
l79
INTERFAITHHARlVONYANDMUIjrICUIjTuRALISM
groupsandcountries.eareoneentity.eneedto
respectovecareaboutcarebrandcooperatewit1
oneanotber.eneedtopursuebarmony.How?
Harmonybeginswitbinourselves.Insteadofasking
ot}Ierstorespectandgetalongwitbusweourselves
needtorespectandgetalongwithotbersfirst.Itdoes
notmatterwhet}IerotberspayequaIrespecttousor
tIytogetalongwitbus.Eventuallywewillmove
tbemandinf>uencethemifwepersevereinrespecting
tbem.
IfIbavethemeresttboughtofdemandingthat
otbers{irstgetalongwit}Imebarmonycannever
tru!ybeachieved.ItisbecauseIplacemyselfina
conf>ictingpositionwit}1thetboughtofdemanding
dominatingandpossessingotbers.SoIdomyutmost
toloveot}IerpeopIecareaboutand{brt}1emand
helpthemwholeheaITedIy.Idoallthiswithoutasking
anythinginreturnbecauseIlKnowtbatweareone
andthattbisuniverseisoneIivingentitySE
l80
EDUCATION
Education
50l.Goodteacbersaregenuine!ycompassionate
lKindpatientinteacbingdedicatedandtIytoprotect
theirstudentsomcontaminationofthemind.Itis
cruciaIfbrustobeclosetoagoodteacher;however
beingclosedoesnotmeanbeingnexttot}]eteac}]er
butrathertolistentoand{bIowtheirteachings.Itis
usuaIbveIyhardto{lndt}lerigbtteacherandweonly
meethimorheraffermaIWIi{btimes.Somepeople
havesaidtometbatIwasmost{brtunatetohavemet
goodteachersbutwherecouldtheyfindone?This
teacheristobeencounteredrathertbansougbtand
thechances{brtbisarerareindeedItisamatterof
aHinityandtherightconditionsmaturing.eneedto
nurturethegoodrootandopportunitiesBACW
502.ThereisapassageinDukeWenofTengPartI
inzbzcd:AhumanmustbehaveiIKeabuman.Ifone
iswelIbdandwarm!ycladandlivescom{brtaUybut
doesnotreceivemoraIeducationtbenoneisnodi
fbrentomananimaIandtendstoactonimpulse.
Thesages(tbesagesherere{brtoKingsYaoand
Sbunwbolived1500J/earsago)wereworriedabout
l8l
EDUCATION
thisKingS}]unappointedXieasMinisterofEducationtoteachpeopIeIanaturalIovebetweenparents
andcbildrenmutualobligationsbetweenleadersand
theirpeopIedistinctresponsibiIities{brhusbandsand
wives,anaturalorderbetweentheoIdandtbeyoung
andtrustbetweeniends.Thispassageexplainshow
tbeeducationaISysteminCbinawasfbrmallyestab}isbedBC
503.WbentbeteacherthinlKst}Iatwearegoodstu-
dentshewillrequireusto{bllowtbreerestrictions;
BrsthewiIlcoveroureyesandbIockourearssothat
noworrieswiIlintrude.Wbenwetru!yhaveabandonedalIattachmentsandgainedwisdomwewiIbe
aIlowedtostudyothermethods.Tbere{breextensive
learningiscOnductedintbesecondstagerathertban
atthebeginning.
Dicultiescanariseifweengageinextensive
}earningatt}1eveIybeginningItissimilartohearing
instructionsomoneteacherandbeginningtoblow
himorherandthen}IearinginstructionsfTomasec-
ondteacberandfbelingasifwewere{acingtwopaths
goingindirentdirectionsWitbthreeteacherswe
willbecaughtatathree-wayjunctionandwithfbur;
l82
EDUCATION
wearestuckatacrossroadsnotknowingwbicbwaJ/
togo.
Tbere{breitisimportanttofbIowon!yone
teacberatonetime.BACW
304.TbeBuddhataughtustobelieveinagood
teacber.Wemustbaveconfidenceintbisgood
teac}Ier.Ifnot!hecannotheIpus>nomatterhowgreat
}IiswisdomorabiIitiesare.Dowebe>ievethattbe
BuddhabasuItimateperctwisdomvirtuesand
abilities?ThosewbobeIieveandunderstand}Iave
numerousanddeepgoodrootswhichwereplantedin
pastIi{btimes.
MyconfidenceinBuddbismgrewasIstudiedand
practicedit.henIirststartedIhadmanydoubts
but{brtunate!yIbadgoodteacherswbopatientlyand
skillIb/taugbtme.There{breinteacbing>tbemost
cruciaItbingistheteachersattitudeASC
505.Buddhisteducationisdirentfibmmodern
educationintermsofconceptsandmethods;fbrinstanceinauniversitywemustbeveIycarefi1land
talKeourtimechoosingourmajor.Buddbismhoweverisdirentbecausebereweareexpectedto
l85
EDUCATION
awakentoperbctcompletewisdomrstandthenin
tbe{i1turewewiIbecomeknowledgeableinallotber
departmentsoftheuniversiI.Wheredowestart?We
startomtheintensivestudyofacertainmetbod;as
issaid:awakeninginonesutrameansawalKeningin
allsutras.Whatdoesawakeningmean?AwaIKened
meanswebaveattainedwisdom.BACW
306.TheinnatenatureofhumanityisfiIedwit}1pu-
rityandgoodness.PeopIeseekeager!ytobavea}larmonioussocietyandcommunity.Mostsimplydonot
knowthemethodtoachievethis.Onceawayis
{bundhopeiswithinsigbtmostpeoplearewillingto
dotbeirbesttoseeitrealized.PeopIecanbeeasily
taught.Tbeycanbetaughttobecomebetter.MC
507ModerneducationissimiIartobuildingapyra-
mid.Wereadextensivelyandt}Iennarrowtbescope
of}earningtospecializeinonesubjecttoprogress
omextensivetointensivelearningButnomatter
howtallthepyramidorbowlargeitsbase;thepyramidhasitszenithBuddhismisdirentbritislikea
treewithrootstrunkbrancbesleavesandfinaIly
uitsAnininiteprocessitstartsomonepointthe
l81
EDUCATlON
rootanddevelopsintotbeGreatPer{bctionoftbe
TTueNaturesothateventuallyweunderstandeveIything
WOrldlyImowledgebasitslimitationsaerwhich
tbereisnomoretoIearnbutBuddhismisboundless
T}]ewisdomofBuddhismisbeyondthecompre}]ensionofaveragepeopleBuddbismmaJ/seemordinaIy
atthebeginningbuttbeachievementswemalKelater
areinconceivablewhiIeworldlystudiesinitiaUyappearextensiveandcomprehensivebutintheend
providenoIastingaccompIishment.BACW
308.TherootsofConfi1cianismBuddhism,andTho-
ismareGMMDz.b.BcGboJAt!DZZIG
tIeZbOJKtzJSandthedccoRe
JRJcrespectiveIy.IthinktbeZboJ
KZzwzdMcarriestbesameweigItastbeBuddIist
Canon
Why?Becausetbeo!!JKhw1JSistbe
bundationoSalyamuniBuddhasbrtynineyearsof
learningpracticingandteaching.Itillustrates}Iow
theBuddhistcanonisputintopracticeindailylifbat
worlKandintIeinteractionswitbpeople.AlsoGz
bzcub.Gbo0A0sbouldcarIJthesame
l85
EDUCATION
weightastbeConfUciantextsanddccoqRc7
zJRcUothesameweightastbeTaoistscriptures.
esbouIdvaluetbesetbreerootsandrespectthem
tbiswaJ/.Wes}loulddiligentlyIearnandpracticetbese
threerootsandthenpropagateanden}Iancetbem.
MT
309.The6rsteightsentencesintbec1cB.
CMbaretbeupmostconceptsineducationpassed
onyouancestorsomthousandsofyearsago.
ThenatureofpeopIeatbirtbisinnate!ygood.This
sentencegiveshumannatureapositivedescription.
EveIyoneisbornwitbvirtue.Sal[yamuniBuddha
said:AlIsentientbeingsareoriginallyBuddhas.So
simpleanddirect!YOuareaBuddha!Whybavewe
nowbecomeanimper{bctworldlyperson?Intbe
cycB.ChzMbthereisagreatexplanationthat
explains:Theirnaturesaresimilar;theirhabitsare
vastlydirent.WPH
5l0.Mr.OUyangJingwusaidWeshouldlKnowthat
t}Iereareman[yexpedientmeansinBuddbism.There
isnoset{brm.Ifpositiveteacbingmethodsarebene{icialweusethem.Ifnegativeteacbingmethodshave
l86
EDUCATlON
advantagesweusethemtoo.T}Iere{breteacbing
metbodsinBuddbismaremanyandvaried.T}Ieycan
bepositiveornegativeBotbfavorableandadverse
conditionscanbeused{brteac}Iingpurposes.Tbereis
onlyonegoaIbene6tingaIlsentientbeingsybeIp
ingthembreaktbrougI]deIusionandattainenlightenmentandtoleavesuringbehindandattainbap
pIness.BACW
3ll.Tbecultura}teac}]ingoft}1eancientsagescan
bringpermanentstabiIiIandpeacetotbewbo}e
worId.ThemostimportantthingisthatthepeopIe
themselvesshouldtrulyunderstandtraditionaIcultureendingtbeirdoubtandinitiatingbeIieadi
tionalculturetatcameomtbeteacbingsofsaints
andsageactuaIIyowsomtbetruenatureofaIIbe
ingstranscendingtimeandspace.Suchwisdomis
neveroutoffasbionThelKeytosuccessfi1llearningis
sincerityandrespect.benoneisneithersincerenor
respectfi1ltowardstbeteachingoftheancientsages
evenifonereadsaI}tbebooIKsonewilInotobtainany
truebenefit.AsCon{ilciussaidInarrate[whattbe
ancientssaid>ratherthanwritecreative!y.Ibelievein
andenjOytbeteachingsoftbeancients.SC
l87
EDUCATION
5l2.ThereisnodirencebetweenouroriginaIvir
tueandthatofBuddhasorbodhisattvas.Whyarewe
nowsodirent?Itisbecauseouracquiredhabitsare
dirent.WearepollutedinoureveIydaylivesy
ourenvironmentandycompIicatedairsbetween
people.henwearepollutedweacquirebadhabits.
OnetaIKesthebehaviorofonescompaIW.Ifwestay
cIosetosaintsandsageseveIydaJ/)wewiIbecome
saints.IfwestayclosetoimmoraIpeopleaIItbetime
wewilltakeontheirbehaviorandeventuaUybecome
immoralpeople.Tbere{breourancestorsreaIizedthe
importanceofeducation.Sointbecc,
ChzMbthefbllowingsentencestates:Iftbereisno
teacbingournaturewiIdeteriorateWPH
5l3.MI\Ou;yangJingwuwasagreatBuddhistscboIar
inhistimesHe{bundedChinaInnerLearningCol}egeinNanjingwhe<emanyextraordinaIyBuddhist
practitionersbotbmonasticandlay)werenurtured.
Inl925begaveaspeecbatNanjingNormalUniversitJ/titledTheBuddhadharmaisNeitheraReligion
noraP}Iilosophy.ItisaModern-daJEssentiaI.
BACW2
l88
EDUCATlON
5l1.Tberearefburmaincategoriesineducation.
Tbese{burcategoriescannotbeseparated.Thefirstis
et}IicalrelationseducationThesecondismoraIprincipIeseducation.TbetbirdiscausalitJ/educationand
the{burthistbeeducationtaug}ltbythesaintsand
sagesincludingreIigiouseducationIfthefbureducationscanbecarriedoutcompIetebtbeworldwiIbe
peace{UlsocietJ/wiIlbestabIeandsecureandpeople
wiIbeMppyandfi1lIedIfthe{bureducationsare
ignorednotsurprisingbhtbewor}dwillbec}1aotic.
PH
5l5.ThepropagationofthebenevolenceandcompassionofthesagesmustrelyontbeIearnerhimselfto
putt}Ieseintopracticethroughbisspeechbehavior
andtboughtsw}]eninteractingwithotbersandengagingintasIKsTbesagesteachingsteacbustobegin
withchangingourseIves.(ForexampleCon{i1cius
taughtt}1efburabandonments:abandonwandering
tboug}1ts,abandondiscriminationsabandonattacb-
mentsandabandonsel6shness.)IfoneaspirestobecomeasageonemustbeginwitbresoIving-om
one)sbeart-theconffontationsandconflictswith
othersandtbeexternalenvironment.ThiswaJ/)one
l89
EDUCATION
wiIbeabletounderstandt}Ietruemeaningofthe
Con{UciansayingITblearnandtoconstantlypractice
whatisIearned<andderivebene6t>ispurepIeasure.
MT
3l6>estabIishedTheLu>iangCentreofCultural
EducationinmyhometownthetownshipofThngc}Ii
LujiangCountyAnhuiProvinceCbina.Tbecoreof
thecentresteacbingist}IeCon{i1cianteacbingof
SIdGbojAUoDZG!q.Tbecenter
helpedt}]elocalgovernmenttopropagatemoraleducationtoallpeople.Tbeprojectstartedwitbtbirtyseventeachers.Theyspentthreemontbslearningand
practicingDZGLaterontheyorganizedateacbingteamandwentintoviIlagestoteachtbevillagers
TheteacberspracticedBliaIpietJaternaIlove
kindnessandlove.Wit}Iinashort{bwmonthst}Ie
socialatmospherechangedfbrthebetterprovingthat
bumannatureisoriginalygoodandapersoncan
betaughttobeabetterperson.SC
5l7.TodaytbeworldisingreatturmoiIandpeople
yearn{brwiseleadership.InordertouniversaIly
bene6ttheworldavertimminentdisastersandrel90
EDUCATlON
solveimmoralityandtheensuingangerandconf>icts
eveIyonemustmaintainagoodheartdogooddeeds
saygoodwordsandbeagoodperson.Theonlyway
toachievet}IisistomakeeveIyeffbrttopromotethe
teachingofgreatawakeningandtoreIyontbegolden
maximsandteacbingsotbesagestbroughouttIebis
toIyandaroundtheworId.Itisbopedt}Iataccordcan
thusbereac}Ied.MT
3l8AnideaImoderncultivationcenters}]ouIdbelike
aschoolThescboolitselfwiIIbeliIKeacililKean
AInericancoIlegetown.Tnsucbcultivationcenters
sinceChineseBuddhismhastenscboolsareenough
{brthenation.EachcuItivationcentersbouIdbedi-
videdintotwodivisions:acuItivationcenterwhicbis
fbrpracticeandalearningcollegewhicbisfbrteacbIng.
ThkethePureLandsc}]ool{brexample.APure
LandtowncouIdbeestabIisbedwithaPureLandCuI-
tivationCenterandaPureLandLearningCollege
ThePureLandCultivationCentersbould{bcus
onthepracticeofBuddha-namechanting.There
shouldbemanycultivationballstoaccommodate
practitionerspracticingdirentbrmsofBuddIa
l9l
EDUCATION
RemembrancesucbasBuddhaRemembrance}W
visualizationbycontemplationofanimageandy
Budd}1a-namecbanting.
ThePureLandLearningCollegeshould{bcuson
teachingtbesutrasandtrainingteac}Iers.Tbere
shou>dbeHvetotenlecturehalls{brlecturingonthe
{ivePureLandsutrasandonetreatiseEveIyonewill
bewelcometocomelistentothelecturesMT
3l9Ametbodthathaslongbeenpracticedinthe
Buddhistcommunitytotrainlecturersoft}Iesutrasis
tohavestudentsrepeattbeirteac}Ierslectures.Tbose
withgoodlearningcapabilitiesandgoodmemories
arecIosenbrtrainingisdomtaughtinBuddIism
isdiHbrentomworldlyintelligence.TYuewisdom
mustbebasedonthefbundationofpreceptobservationandmeditativeconcentration.Repeatingt}Ielecturesofonesteacheriscultivatingpreceptsmeditativeconcentrationandwisdom.The6rstpersonin
BuddhistbistoIytorepeatbisteacherslectureswas
theElderAnandaw}Iowasastudentandpersonal
attendantofSal[yamuniBuddha{brmanyyears.MT
l92
EDUCATION
320.Buddhismisalsobasedontbefbundationoffilial
piety.Thustheritualofmakingoffbringstoancestors
andtbeestablishmentofancestralmemoriaIIaIlsare
hig}llyregardedas6lialpietyistbeultimaterootand
fbundationofCbineseculture.IfweareabletobeBl-
ialtowardsparentsandancestorsabletoremember
ourrootstbenwewillnaturallybeabIetothinkand
conductourselvesproper!yandtoreainfTom
wrongdoingsCD
32l.ConfUciussaid:Ifbeldeligbt{i1lwhenIcanconstantlypracticeandrealizewbatIhavelearned.This
delightisnotomtbeoutsidebutomourinnate
virtue.Itissoprecious!Ifonecandosotbisperson
willbe}lealthyandlong-}ivedbappyandsatis6ed.
Chineseancestorsoftensaidt}Iatitispleasanttoread
andstudy.Tbisbappinessbasnotbingtodowithour
materiallifbourwealthstatusorpower.Tbishappinessisffomlearningandpracticingtheteachingsof
theancientsagesandsaints.Thisistbetruebappi-
ness.Therefbre!MahaJ/anaBuddhismoHensays
BodbisattvasarealwayshappyandexperiencejOyin
tbeDharmaWPH
l93
EDUCATlON
522.InancientCbinathosewhotaughtyoungchil-
drenplacedgreatimportanceonbasiceducation.
Theytaug}ItIalpietyrespectandsinceriI{br
thesearetbeoutlinesoftbeteacbings.Thusthecbild
isthetherofthemanbrthecbaracternurturedin
ourchiIdhoodwillbecomeournaturew}Ienweare
grown.T}Iisprovidesthe{bundation{brthenurturing
ofsagesandvirtuouspeoplewhowillprovide{bra
moralsocietyandawise!ygovernedcountIy
Sinceancienttimestbishasbeent}IeCbineseso-
ciaItradition.TheCbinesesaJ/thateducationisessentialinestablishinganewgovernmenttrainingits
leadersandgoverningitspeople.CD
325.TbeteacbingofallreligionsisessentiaIlyabout
thesacredteacbingofloving-kindnessandcompassion.ThewordiireligionwhicbisuoinMandarinChinesebasinspiringimpIications.Zongmeans
primaIyimportantandvenerated.Jiaomeanseducation.There{brezongjiaomeansprimaIyeducationan
impotantteacbingthatisworthyofourveneration.
Religiouseducationincludestbe{bIIowingfive
categories:moralityethicscausalitypIosop}Wand
science.Ifreligiouseducationcanberestoredandif
l91
EDUCATlON
alIreligionscancooperateandworktogetbertopromotetbesacredteachingstotheworldwecande6nitelyacbieveworIdpeace.TbeneveIbodywiIbe
goodandeveIytbingwillbegood.
Educationist}Ieon!ywaJtoreconciIedisasters
andconictsEducationbasbeenandistheimda-
mentalapproacbtomaintainingIong-lastingsociaI
stabilityandpeaceinthepastandpresentintheEast
andt}IeWestRRE
321.SinceancienttimestbeChinesewaJ/oftbinking
hasbeentoaccordwitbonesnatureandinnatevir-
tuesTheCbinesecattheteachingofaozMand
thelawofcauseandeffbct.Wbatisdaode?Intodays
languagedaoistherulesofnaturetheorderin
whichnature{imctionsandnatureisharmoni-
oussupremearmoIW.Deisblowingtberulesof
nature
Forexampleayearisdividedintotbe{burseasonsofspringsummerautumnandwinter.Tbisisa
phenomenonoftberulesofnature.ThisisdaoIf
onesli{bandthinldng(thinkingbelongstot}Iemental
worldandbodytothephysicalworld)accordwith
theseasonalruIesofplantinginspringgrowingin
l95
EDUCATION
summerharvestinginautumn!andstoringinwinter
onewillenjOygoodphysicalandmentalhealtb.
Tl1erefbre{bllowingtherulesofnatureandaccording
withharmon;yarede.
Ifoneviolatestherulesofnatureandbreaches
larmonyonewillcertainlysurfTombadIealtI
andbepronetoiInessSowehavetl1ede6nitionof
daode.LS
525.PeopIearoundtbeworIdneedtoreturntotraditionalvaluesandstrivetoattainpeace.Howdowe
attainpeace?ThrougbeducationThemostimportant
educationisthatoftbefami!yasitisthebasisofall
education.Whenaamilylosesitsenseofuniitaf
bctsthestabilityofsocietybecausemiliesaretIe
bundationofsociety.Thecoreofamilyisthebus
bandandwi{b>andwhenspousesdonotgeta}ong
societywillnotbepeaceRll.TbisiswhyCon{i1cianismBuddhism)andTaoismempbasize{amilyeducation.AL
526Allsageshavet}IeirwaJ/ofdoingtbingsandthey
arecorrectindoingthingstbatwaJ.Weshould
clearlyobserveandconsideralIvieWpoints.Thenwe
l96
EDUCATION
willbeabletouncoverourwisdomandtotrulylearn
thevirtuesandabiIitiesthatwesbouldlearn.Itisin-
appropriatetosaytbatConfi1ciuswaswrongtoseeka
positionatt}leimperialcourtandthatSal[yamuniwas
correcttorenounceworldlyattac}Iments.Bothof
themwerecorrect;tbeysimplyhaddirentwaJsof
doingthings.
emustlearnomdirentpeopletomakeour
learningcomplete.Ifonebaspositionorpowerone
shouldworkconscientious!ywhilemaintainingapure
mindasSal<yamunidid.ThiswaJ/)onewillachieve
per{bctioninhisundertalKings.LS
527.Intodayssocietywhatisthedrivingfbrcebe-
bindhardwork?Wealtb{ameandprestige!I\/Iost
peoplewilldowhateverisnecessaIytoacquiretbese.
Ift}IerewerenoweaIthtogainhowmaIWwouldbe
willingtoworlKsobard?\/CIy{bw!Int}Iepasttbe
drivingfbrcebehindpeoples}IardworkwasfilialpieIntheirmindfi1lnessofancestorsandparents
t}Ieydidtheirbesttoaccumulatemeritsandvirtueson
tbeirbehalf)andtohonorthem.Thisdriving{brceis
muchworthierandnoblerthantbatofwealthme
andprestige!TbishasbeentbetraditionofChinese
l97
EDUCATION
cultureandCon{i1cianteacbing{brseveralthousand
yearsCD
528.ManypractitionersbaveaslKedmeMsHan
Yinhaspassedawymanyyearsagoandyetyoustill
missherIsntthisanattachment?Irepliedt}Iatifmy
missing}Ierisbasedonemotionstbenitisanattacbmentbutifitisbasedonwisdomt}Ienitisateach-
ing.Ibada}IalIbuiltincommemorationofI\/Is.Han
T}Iisisfbreducationalpurpose:teacbingthepublicto
keepinmindt}Iebvorsothersbavedonetot}Iemand
torepaJlKindness.IaIwayskeepinmindalltIevors
MsHan}Iaddone{brmeandtIytorepaJ/berkindness.ASC
529.Educationofchildrenshouldstartompreg-
nanCy.Altboug}1maIWparentsmaynottIytoexert
goodinfluenceontheirchildrenbe{brebirtbthey
ImowtbataRerabayisbornitwillbeinluencedy
whatitseesandlears.Regardlessofwhetherabay
isabIetounderstandassoonasitopensitseyesit
willseeand}Iearanditstartslearningandimitating.
Doingsoisitsnatureandnatureisdao.Att}Iistime,
l98
EDUCATlON
t}Ieparentssbouldexertpositiveinf>uenceonthe
baandthisisteacbingofde.LS
530.PeoplewhotruIybavegood{brtunearekind
beartedbonestandtoIerantTbeirspeecbandmannerarecalmanddignied.ConfUciussaid:itbout
dignitJhoneisunabletoinspireothers/Onlywith
dignitJ/andtheabilitytoinspirerespectareweabIeto
ectivelyinteractwithothers.CD
55l.TheancientCbinesepaidgreatattentiontotbe
teac}Iingoftbesages.ThestartingpointofthisteacbingisBrstoftbeFiveCardinalRelations}Iips:anaturallovebetweenparentsandcbildren.ThelovebetweenparentsandcbiIdrencomesomtbenatureit
isnottaughtorcreatedyan;yone.InBuddhismitis
ca}ledaninnatevIrtueEducationteacheschildrento
maintaintbisnaturallovetbroughoutone}sentireli{b.
Tbisistbebasicgoaloftheteaching.T}Ienextstepis
toenhancethislove
Firstparentslovetbeirchildrenandchildrenare
filialtotbeirparents;eIdersiblingsareiendlyto
youngersiblingsandJ/oungersibIingsrespectelder
sibIings;husbandsareresponsibleandwivesareatl99
EDUCATION
tentive;andrulersarebenevolenttotbeirsubjects
andtbesubjectsarelOyaltot}leirrulers.Nextpeople
sIoudlovetbeiriendstbeirneighborst1eirown
communitiesandtbensocietJ/)theircountIy)andt}1e
humanrace.Humanbeingsregardlessofanydirencessbouldbelovedequalb.SC
352AncientChinesesageswerelKnowledgeable
aboutscienceandtecbnoloandyettbeycl1osenot
tocontinuedeveIopmentofsuchlmowledge.Why?
Theybresawtbatintheendtecmolovvouldde
strOyourworld.Sotheychoseinsteadtoconcentrate
ontbe}1umanitiesto}Ielppeopledevelopwisdom
andtounderstandandpracticemorality)tohelppeopIefullyunderstandtberelationsbipbetweenhumans
amonghumansandspiritsandamonghumansand
natureandtobecomeapersonwhoisfbarlessand
indomitable.OnlyintbiswaJwillindividualsexperiencetruehappinessandwellbeingandwillcitizens
andcountrieshaveagenuine{i1ture.Tbisisgenuine
education.CD
333Astotheimportanceofmoraleducationancient
Chinesesagesparticularlyempbasizedt}latfbrpeople
200
EDUCATION
toenjOyhappiness>bmiliestoenjOyharmony)countriestoenjOystabiliandtheworIdtoenOypeace
selfcultivationis{Undamentalandeducationisessen-
tial.Tbachievetbese{burgoalswemuststartwitb
cultivatingourselvesanda}sopropagatet}]eteac}Iings
ofthesages.BC
354WhatBuddbasandsagesrealizedandgainedis
Iove{brselfWhattheytaughtislovefbrothers.Tbe
teachingofallsagesistheteac}IingofsinceritJ/)love
andt}Iestandardsofbehaviorinli{basenunciatedin
GMctrBco0AMoDZGZandintIe
TnVirtuousKarmasTheteachingofallsagesisthe
inheritanceofhumanwisdomandexperienceasweIl
astheheritageofworldciviIizations.LS
335.SinceancienttimesChineseemperorsandgovernmentsinalldynastiesregardedteachingastheir
firstpriorityOfallthemeasuresadoptedandimplementedythegovernmenteducationwasthemost
importantAllotbermeasuressupportededucation.
BC
20l
EDUCATlON
556.Ifonewis}IestohavegoodsiblingsorchiIdren
milyeducationmustbetaughtinonesami!y.Fora
mytoprospereducationisessential.Whenone
enterssociewbetberonerunsabusinessorengages
inanoccupationifonewishestbebusinesstoprospertbefirstpriorityiseducatingtheemplOyees.BC
357.Chineseeducationisateachingofbenevolence
andjusticeloveandsupremebarmony.Itdoesnot
teacbonetocompete{brmaterialgain.Tbere{bre
childrensbouldbetaugbttogiveprecedencetoothers
atayoungage.
Inadditiontolearningtoreainomcompeting
witbotberstbeysbouldaIsolearntosacrificetbemseves.ItisdirentomtodaJseducationwbich
startsteachingcompetitioninkindergarten.CompetitiondenotesseI{isbnessWhenchiIdrenaretaughtto
compete{brrecognitionandmaterialgainatayoung
ageandareinstilledwitht}Ieconceptofbene{iting
oneselfattbeexpenseofothersasgrownupstbeywill
notrealizethatbene6tingoneselfattheexpenseof
othersiswrong.
TberebretbeteacbingoloveteachespeopIeto
loveothersastbeylovetbemselvesalwaJ/stbinking
202
EDUCATlON
aboutmalKingsacri{icesandaboutservingotherssocietJtbecountIyandallbeingshendoing
sotbeyneverconsidertbeirowninterests.TbeteacbingofthesagesstartsomhereLS
558.MyteacherProFongDongmeiintroduced
Buddhismtomeandsaid:TbeBuddbaisagreatp}]ilosopherareveredpbi}osopberBudd}1ismist}IepinnacleofalIphilosopbiesintbeworldandlearning
BuddhismistbegreatestenjOymentofIifb.
iththescientificadvancementsinrecentJears
especiaIlyinthe6eldofquantumphysicspeopleare
graduallyseeingtbatwhattheBuddhasaid2500
yearsagowasindeedatruedescriptionoftberealitJ/
oftheuniverse.Bycontinuousandprofbundstudyof
tbesutraswebelievetbatnotonIywillBuddhismbe
t}Iepinnac}eofa}lphilosopbiesintheworld/itwiIl
alsoberecognizedasthehighest{brmofmoralitJ/)virtuecausalitJ/)andsciencelntwentJ/tothirtyyears
BuddbismwilIbeacceptedasanadvancedscience
REN
359.Parentsandeldersmustsetanexample{brthe
children.Babiesseeandbearupont}Ieirbirtb.Tbey
203
EDUCATION
starttoimitateot}IersevenbefbretbeycanspealKor
walIK.Thespeecbandconductoftheireldersmust
con{brmtomoralprinciplesandet}Iicssothatw}1at
thebabiesseehearandcomeincontactwithwillin-
Huencethempositive!y.TheC}lineseproverbTbe
behaviorofachildtbreeyearsoldwilIrevealwhat
tbispersonwillbeIilKeattbeageofeightJ/.Tbebehaviorofacbildofsevenwillrevealw}Iatthisperson
willbeliketbroug}1outbisorherwbolelifbmalKesa
lotofsense.LS
510.Ifwearetru!yawakenedweshouldremembertbe
teachingofGreatMasterYinguang:practicevvitha
smallnumberofpractitionersatasmallcuItivation
center;donotseekanities;cbantAInituobsingle
mindedlyandseekrebirtbintheWesternPureLand.
Ifanopportunityarises{brustoteachstudentsthen
dosotopassdowntbeteachingsoftbesages.Itdoes
notmatterhowmanystudentswehave;ittakesonly
onestudenttopassdownt}IeteachingsASC
51lGoodadviceistbeteachingsoft}Iesagesofthis
worldandbeyond.Latergenerationscalledthese
teachingssutras.Tbesutrasspeakoftruthsthatdo
201
EDUCATlON
notchangewitbtime.Thetrutbtbatsurpassestimeis
thesamenowasitwasthousandsofyearsago;it
nevercbangeswbetherintheeastorint}Iewest
Tbewritingsandteachingsofsagesdidnotcome
fibmtheirpersonaIexperiencesandopinionsfbrif
tbeydidtheywouldbebiasedorinappropriate.HistoIyisnotmadeupofopinionsbutofaccumulated
experienceswbereassutrascontainthetrutht}Iat
arisesomtheoriginaltruenature.Thustbeteachingsinthesutrasaretbeabsolutetrut}Ithatsurpasses
timeandspace.
Wewillbene6tandimproveifwebelieveintbe
teachingsbutifwedonottbenwewillmisst}Iese
remarkablebene{its.Thisiswbywesaytbatdoubtis
oneoftIesixfimdamentalaictionsofgreedanger
ignorancearrogancedoubtanddeviatedviews.CD
312.The6rstgoalofancientChineseeducationwas
toensurethattheactionbetweenparentsandcbil
drenwouldremainuncbangedduringtbeirli{btimes.
T}Iesecondgoalwastoenhancethissincereloveand
toexpanditsscopetoincludetbebmi!Jbrotbersand
sisterstbecommunisocietbecountIybuman
lKindandevenallbeings.Oneshouldlovenotonly
205
EDUCATION
}]umankindbutalsoanimals,trees{lowersandgrass.
Tbiswastheconceptanditwastbedesiredgoalof
C}Iineseeducationtoexpandt}Iescopeofthislove.
LS
313.TbeZbzDoKZzwzJSisthefbundation
{brenteringBudd}Iism.Butbe{breoneentersBuddhismonemusthavetbe{bundationoflearning
G!brBcGo0AoDlZI!qanddccoqRM0RoIe.GMM!cM,rBeGbo0
A0zistbeundationofConfUcianmoraleducation.
Itcontainsteacbings{br{amilyeducation.Parents
andeldersteachachild6IialpieIandrespect{br
teacbers.dccoqRc7lJRocisthebunda
tionofoistteachingoftheIawofcauseandect.
BC
511.Wbenonelearnstbeteachingofthelawofcause
andectonewillnotdaretocommitevildeeds.
WhenonereceivesmoraleducationonewiIl{bel
ashamedtocommitevildeedsIfonehassucha{bun-
dationwhenoneentersBuddhismitwillnotbehard
bronetolearntheFivePreceptsandtheTnVirtu
ousKarmas.Wbenonetrulypracticestheteachings
206
EDUCATlON
intheJKhW!JSGMe!cMBe
GboAMoDZIGqanddccoRdJRc
Jpo6onewiIltrubbreakthrougbsuffbringandat
tainhappiness.BC
315.DuringbisIibtimeSayamuniheIdmoretban
300teac}Iingassemblies.HisteachingwasveIyrichin
contentHebeganteac}Iingattheageofthirtyand
passedawaJatseventy-nineHespent{brty-nine
yearsteachingwit}IoutinterruptionWeIKnowthat
Confi1ciustaught{bronlyBveyearsandJesustaug}]t
{brthreeyearsbe{brebewaskiIled.Prophet
Muhammadtaught{brtwenty-sevenyears.Among
tbeancientandcontemporaIysagesofaIlet}]nic
groupsSal[yamuniindeedwastheonewhotaugbt
fbrtbelongestperiodoftimeandtbecontentofhis
teachingwastherichestT}]ere{bretberesultsofbis
teacbingareoutstandingHisIi{bprovidesagoodexample{brus.OnlytbrougbeducationcanwerealIy
reconcileallconictsthatarecOmplicatedandcom
plexLS
316.Tacbingandlearningaretbebundationtat
willIeadtoabarmoniousworld{brallbeings.Re207
EDUCATION
gardlessofthetimeorplacetherootofsocialstability
andhappinessisteachingandlearning.Theyaret}Ie
onIywaydemonstratedbyallthegreatsaintsand
sages0therapproachesarenotthecorrectpaths.
LP/M
317.TheChinesesayt}Iateducationisessentialinestablishinganewgovernmenttrainingitsleadersand
governingitspeople.Ifthebasicqua}ityofeducation
isnotclearlyrecognizedandimplementedincorrect
viewscanbedestrOytheentireculturecountIy)and
evenitspeople!
AllthegovernmentocialsinancientChinastudiedtheworksofwisesagesandvirtuouspeople.Even
ifsomebadselBs}1intentionstbeirwrongdoingswere
probablylimited.Tbeywouldhaveon!ybenttherules
onlysomucbbe{bretbeystarted{belingregret{i1l.
TbdaJ/)sexualmisconductwrongdoingseven
criminalactsareallviewedasmatterofbct.Weno
IongerhaveashameR1lheartorelremorsefUl.e
bavelostoursenseofmoralityandourconscience.
Andt}Iisisdeeplytroublingbecauseallthatseparates
usfTomanimalsisagoodbeart.CD
208
EDUCATION
318.batchildrenseeandhearduringtheirfirst
threeyearswiIeaveadeepimpressiononthemand
theywillbeabIetoteIlrightomwrongandgood
omevilattbeageofthree.Thesecbildrenwilbe
immunetomanyharm{i1lpollutantsint}IecontemporaIyworldThisimmunitywillbewithtIemom
birth
bentheystartattendingprimaIyschoolattIe
ageofsixorsevenifteachersmalKesuret}1attbe
childrenad}IeretomoralprinciplesandetbicseveIy
daJ/)itwillenbanceandextendtbemoraleducation
thatthechildrenhavebeenreceivingsincebirt}I.
ThiswilIIelpthem{brma{bundation{brgood
characterwbichwilIensurevirtuoustboughts
speec}Iandconductfbrt}Ierestoft}IeirlivesThe
cbildrenwillgiveprioritytootherstreatotberswit}I
respectandbumi}ity)engageintaskswitbcaution)
andgetalongharmoniousb/witbothers.Tbere{bre
nodisputewillarise.Aertheyhavefbrmedafbun
dation{brmoralconducttheyshouldbetaughtthe
writingsoft}Iesagestoreceivet}Ieteachingofethics
moralitJtIelawofcauseandectandwisdom.LS
209
EDUCATION
519.IfsocietyistoremainstabIeitsmembersneedto
Iivein}Iarmony.On!yharmonycandrawustoget}ler
intermsofopinionsideasandourwaJ/ofli{b.In
ot}Ierwordsbeingbarmoniouscanminimizetbedif
rencesinhumanrelationsandimproveequality.Af
tertbatpeaceandtben{inal|yhappinesscanbe
achieved.Tbobtainhappinesswemusthaveapeace{il}heartandbody.BothBuddhistandworldlyteachingsemphasizetbeimportanceofbarmonyandrespect.BAC
350.Wemutualyrespectloveandcooperatewitb
oneanot}IersettingourselvesasamodeIofpeaceand
barmonytos}IowthewboleworIdtbatmulti-racia}
multiculturalandmuItiaitbharmonyandpeaceis
achievable.
Tbeidealofthebumanracebecomingone{amily
isattainable.I\/IC
2l0
SOURCES
Sources
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gapore:AmitabhaBuddbistSociety(S)2000
ASC:AzSJCommentaIy.LectureSeriesgivenin
TbowoombaMy2003.TianslatedbythePureLandTansIa
tionTbam.Tbowoomba.ansIationcurrentlyongoing.
BACW:BdJAt:cdcqCdMiz.First
EditionJ\anslatedbySilentVOices.Singapore;AmitabhaBuddhistSociety(S)l999.
BACW2:tz:dlcCbIpMMbidoz.Sec
ondedition.T\anslatedbythePureLandT\ansIationTbam.
Tbowoomba.Tbbepublished.
BC:BuddhistContributionstoResolvingSociaIProblems
AddressgivenatThe21t}>GeneralCon{brenceoftheWOr}d
FeIIowshipofBuddbistsTbkyoJapanNovember2008ans
IatedbytbePureLandT\ansIationTbam.
CD:CDcJ.anslatedbySlIentVOices.Singapore:
AmitabhaBuddhistSocieI(S)l999.
ElLS:cceqcjiMLS.LectureseriesgiveninSan
FranciscoAugustl993.T\ansIatedbyPureLandT\anslation
TamTbowoombaJbbepubIished.
LP/J:LettertoPopeBenedictXVIInPreparation{brMalaJ/sianInterfaitbDelegationsAudiencewithPopeBenedictin
June20l0TlansIatedbyPureLandTanslationTam.
Tbowoomba:20l0
2ll
SOURCES
LP/M:LettertoPopeBenedictXVLT\anslatedbyPureLand
anslationTbam.Tbowoomba:20l0.
LS;LearningomSakyamuni:ReconcilingConHictandPro
motingSocialStabiIityandWOrIdPeaceThrougbTbacbing/
AddressgivenattbeCelebrationofthe2550thBirtbAnniversaIyoftheBuddhaUNESCOHeadquartersParisFrance
October2006.T\anslatedbyPureLandTianslationTbam.
MC:BuildingaModelCityofPeaceandHarmonyin
Tbowoomba.AddressgivenatMoraliVirtues:AFaithPer
spectiveForumatTbowoombaAustraliaMarcb20l2T\ansIatedbyPureLandTTanslationTbam.
MN:ABriefIntroductionofVenerab}eMasterChinKungs
MainThougbts.anslatedbyPureLandTansIationTbam.
Tbowoomba:PureLandLearningCollegeAssociationInc,2008.
MR:<TheMissionofReligionstoSavetheWorldAddress
givenatTheACRPExecutiveCommitteeMeetingKualaLumpurMalaysiaM4y20lLT\anslatedbyPureLandT\anslation
Tbam.
OH:OneHumanity)ManyFaiths.AddressgivenatInterbith
Summit{brPeaceandHarmonyinAustraIiaandtheAsia-
Paci{icRegionBrisbaneAustraIiaFebruaIy2009.T\ans}ated
byPureLandanslationTbam.
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WOrld.AddressgivenatThe2ndInternationaICon{brenceof
Multi-ReligiousandMulti-CuIturalCommunicationDacca!
BangladeslNovember20l0.anslatedbyPureLandTfansla
tionTbam.
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RRE:RestoreReIigiousEducationPmy{brEnduringWorId
Peace.AddressgivenatWOrIdDayofPmyer{brPeaceTbe
VaticanRomeOctober20llT\anslatedbyPureLandIansIationTbam.
SC:EliminatingCrisesThrougbReligiousEducation:Tboughts
OnBuildingaSacredCib/ofReligionsandCulture.Address
givenattheWOrldFellowshipofBuddbistsInter{aithForumj
BangkokThailandMay20l2T\ansIatedbyPureLandTTanslationTbam
SE:ReligiousEducation:SavingtheEarthAddressgivenat
Tbe3rdWOrldPeaceForum,YOgyakartaIndonesiaJune20l0.
anslatedbyPureLandanslationTbam
TVKS:eBcqzJZb!Khmd.TYans
latedbyPueLandTanslationTbamJansIationcurrentyon
goIng.
WPH:WOrIdPeaceandHarmony:AnInspirationomWater
AddressgivenatWater&PeaceGlobalForumShigaJapan
March20l0.T}ansIatedbyPureLandT}ansIationTbam.
2l3
INDEX
INDEX
Re{brencesaretoexcerptnumbersnotpagenumbers.
dccqRc7dc508515
anity233119l1820530l
afHictions2056105568697l79819ll57l16l67
l9l22025531l
AmitabhaBuddhal21!57l8272850515512}1517
195l5551576l90l02)l8l
dmMM92790
ange52511l737889j9697l02l06jl09ll2lMjl29
l10l16M9l60)l65l7ll83l9ljl91l95236238
286293!3lZ51l
animaIs58ll7l3ll59l65!255512517
arrogance367897ll2ll1l16l95258281
attachments
egol26)l77
knowIedge81
seIE81
attainment27)3912,56l29)207)2l1
dl!ns5l98l55l51262261j277
AvaIokitesbvaraBodhisattvall
awakeningl28105lllll12l16l55l62l68l70l90
l92l96203235215)2162812985053l7310
babybabies529339
baddeedsbadkarmasl37l96
belieEl5l627l63205207j2ll3ll
benevo}encell92703l5
birtbanddeath3l181l67
bodhimind3569l205
Buddha-namechantingl3350l915l8
2l1
<NDEX
Buddhanature5lM2
BuddhaMind{ilIness57
causaIitJcauseandeHbctl01l07ll0l,2ll23625i266
27027l2752872912985l1)523j321338313518
chiIdren20022526527630232252933l!556537539
312318
compassionjcoInpassionatel028l03l05l08ll2ll9l3l
l19l6ll72l78l81)l9l22123526827027328l
29329130l3l5523
conditionsl2Ml52125303379!8l93l0ll07l57
l1920525326l26250l3l0
conHict75!97ll5ll6ll9l25l78l95!238268!287295
298!3005l7323315
Coni1ciusConhcianism78!ll9l21!l80l98252267270
2802902922973085ll32l325326350515
consciousness68767790l20l17l5327329l
ConstantMind{ilInessl8275951!57!l02
contentcontentmentl05209220)221>251
deIusion1076M8l55l932032762812873l0
desire31l09ll9l55l71l75!20l202209220]228271
512(a}soseeFiveDesires)
destiny)destinies35!l07l7ll90!206230
Dbarma-bodMl1629l
Dharma-endingAgel7l9
Dbarma-nature5l267
DharmaReaIm725)2898l36l152l1
DhJM8689l17
dignity550
disasters7897l05ll1l952l5225236275287289293
2985l7
2l5
INDEX
discriminatediscriminations2972l828587l28l50l67
2l0)221
D!G508!3l6551515
doubtl5l66l!62782ll5015ll51l
EightConsciousnesses76
EightSuffbringsl55205
enlightenmentl1l95952566ll58l72221255268
2732762903l0
etbics270,287291323359518
emotionsl09l6l260528
empathJl0l59l76251
{aith1927566320526927528l287298
bmelll09l66l96202271527
amilJl1ll71l8722526127728l281299325556512
313
FangDongmeiPro{bssor538
{aultsl39l50l58l62l68l70l72l81l89l982l3222
225
{bar60l09l6821l
{barlessnessl01250251255332
liaMilialpiety!19l802252502653l652052252733l
315
{ire97l02ll1l29200
FiveAggregatesl55
FiveDesiresl0lll22)l30>l55>202
FiveCardinaIRelationships53l
{lood97ll1200
{brbearancel69l82
FourLands
LandofCommonResidenceofOrdinaIyBeingsandSaints7
2l6
INDEX
LandofExpedientLiberation7
LandoRealReward7
LandofEternallyQuiescentLight7
GCZMZl9
greed50521l7578!9697l09ll2ll1l55)l16l19
l52>l60l65l7ll83l9ll9520l256238268281
28629329751l
gooddeedsgoodkarmas5l8578391l22l52l55l11)
l81l90l962l12382502715l7
gooddbarmas1ll21
good{brtunel2729297l02l26l10l15l65l77l82
l81l882002l2225262330
goodnessl2l812l25)l27l31l372l7228251273285
289)306
gossipl912l9
GarBeGb0Ao308551313
babits,60687lll3!l25l5Zl16!296509)3l2
HanYinMs.)2l6328
happinessl03ll9l8825025927627828152l532!511
516}519
harmony65!7l)l05l21l25l602l3500521535519
HuinengMaster221
humilityl51,2082652705i8
ignorancej52511l757896l01ll1159!l16l65l7l
l76l83jl9ljl9523821029351l
iIlness59l01l06M5l55l9l209521
impartialityllll285
fLs279ll05l93
intoxicants219
2l7
INDEX
jealouSy)85281286
jOy)5159l05l09l55l9l20l22523932l
justice96l05ll9268337
karma7l827535155591l121858689596l22
l11l5ll51l9ll962l7255257(alsoseeTbnVirtuous
KarmasandTbnEvilKarmas)
karmicdebts3595l87
kiIing1l78>l75,221)23l231215218!255
kindness37l3ll39l18l66l68l762l6221265266
5l6j525
Ksl26
LandofUItimateBIissl1l5202629
letgoIettinggol528501586)90l00l05l06ll8>l22
l28l35l52l6ll67l9520l!206j25825125527q
281j297
LiBingnanjMrll207079255258
}ovingkindnessl03ll3l7822126526526628l323
Lu)iang3l6
lying1l78218
MahasthamapraptaBodhisattval2566l
materiaIgain>75ll9268357
matterl20
meditativeconcentrationl96265!l52l60l7ll92l912l8
2362372382102573l9
Menciusll9265>280502
meritsandvirtues22262872l02l812l7
misdeedsl07l7120l
modes208
money93ll96255
2l8
lNDEX
moraIitJ/l05l6623626627027l275287291298>5l7
523352358518
muIticuItural-ism27l291297299300550
obstacIes1051!57!75l29l11l65l70l75l87l892ll
223)228257286
OneMindUndisturbed391858l9
OUyangJingwulVIr.3l03l3
OUyiGreatMaste59902ll
parents19l80225250265302320527j52935l!559312
patience99l29l69l86)2l822323825726l
peaceofmindl35!l19
physics338
preceptsl6!l9626179l7325625725921l212j217
21925l2522562903l9(alsoseeFivePrecepts)
pbiosophJ27027l3l3
P&M/b/w!sMV)l5l
PIsl69
pregnanq/529
puremindpurltyofmindl1118586l8189l02llll29
l30l19l83l862092ll223229210268295j326
purityl08lllll3l30l19l55)201)2lq211216266)273
285!287
physics558
rebirth379lll5l6202225>27
re{brm57l37l19jl62l68l72l932l3
relationsbipsl327135l
remorse22jl91317
reprisaI9523l
residuaI
2l9
INDEX
habitsll36l162l2
karmas751
respect-{hll559l05l57l59l68l80l8622l225215
216265265269270j2832862872983003083ll
52255033l315318319550
retribution78l55l562l52l723l21l
retrogress195
revengel1822525l
rootsl2l578290301307)308520
SakyamuniBuddha2129>5l1375l612975085095l9
515
SamantabhadraBodhisattval2l57l59
sciencel57l9l2ql27027l325332358
selRcuItivationl6221l333
selfish,-nessll3l22l56l12l13l16l952582713l5
337317
sexual
desire3l75
misconduct1l78219517
simplel127162092l2255509
simplicity)209
sincerity)5568l08l272022652702865ll322551
singIe-mindedl59
singIe-mindedIJH219j505255575962l87510
SixDustsl0ll76l30202
SixPaths5719l52l65217218
SixSenseObjectsl22
steaIing1l7885!l85218
suring31371l9ll03ll9l2153l55l60l82
l882052102812903l0311alsoseeEightSurings
SupremePer{bctEnlightenment12230
220
INDEX
shZZM6lll1
Thoism290292!308)525s
ccChM309
TbnEviIKarmas1ll9l210
TbnVirtuousKarmas331ll05l21l753313
ZbmKhmsZl21308315511
T}IreeBadRealms27l05
TbreeConditions3579
ThreeEvilPaths2038l21l56l65
tolerancetolerant99330
truenature21l5052,768291l09ll3l20l25l3l)l57
l16l812022072ll2l3226213215216219251
273279280285!2963075ll)51l
vegetarian255
ZMZsZ255
v>ewpointsl16526
vowingi9l5l5l62127355779269
wanderingthougbts2829!10!50525155576062657l
7585llll28l19l672092l0221)5l5
wealthll,92l02l01l09ll1l66l962002022l2250
251)255j27129732l527
wind97l05220
worldpeacel7i265268271295325
worIdbteacbings7096519
worIy)worries!3051759l97l19l67l9l21l503
wrongdoing22l07l82l9020l2l3210520,517
YinguangGreatMasterl5l622lj310
22l
INDEX
ZhangjiaLivingBuddha65182217
ZhongfbngMasteI)2
zongjiao525
222
lIythemeritsandvirtues
accruedomtbisworlK
adorntbeBuddhasPureLand
repaytheFourKindsofKindnessabove
andrelievetIesuringsofthose
intheThreePatl]sbelow
IIaJatbosewhoseeandlearothis
bring{brtl]theheart
ofunderstandingandcompassion
andattheendofthis}i{b
beborntogetI]er
intbeLandoUItimateBIiss
Foralistof
Amitabl1aBuddhistSocieties
and
PureLandCenters
pleasevisit
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Complimentsof
-
Rareitistobebornasahuman
Rareitistobeborn
w}1entheBuddbad}larmaisknown.
RaretobaveawiseMastertoteach
Rareto}]avetbegood{brtune
toIearnomtbeMaster
FoToversIxb/yearsVenerabIeMasterCbinKungba&
beenIearningtbeBuddhadharma.Forover{ifD/witI]skill{hImeans!greatpatlence)andpro{bundcIariI-andtbe
sinceewisbtlataIIbeingsawaIenandindtruehappi
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