Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Diligently Cultivate Discipline, Samadhi, Wisdom (勤修戒定慧 息滅貪瞋癡)
Afflictions are very frightening. Are we vigilant and constantly on our guard? When afflictions arise in our minds, do we immediately eliminate them? If we do we are being diligent in our practice. If we do not, we must begin doing so immediately, for we do not have much time in life. We cannot afford to let our diligence appear, only to let it quickly disappear again. We should diligently strive to move upstream. Although it is very hard to go against the current if we can swim forward with great effort, we can still attain deliverance. Our life grows shorter as time passes, but our Wisdom-life must grow over time. So we must always be mindful.
As I said earlier, we have learned that in the past, afflictions arise from our interactions with people and things. Since we know the source of our many afflictions, we should eliminate them at their roots. Once we realize this, we must be deeply repentant. We should know that we must start today. We cannot pit this off till tomorrow. If we keep putting it off until the next day or some other time, then we will be waiting forever. We must always be aware of impermanence, and live as if there is no tomorrow. Therefore, we must start today, right now.
When afflictions arise, if we can detect them immediately and do all we can to eliminate them, then we are being diligent in our practice.
Today we may be in the Heaven or Human Realm, or facing retribution in any of the Six Realm. We can see these realms in this world. We can see Heaven on earth. Those who are wealthy and enjoy a good life are in Heaven today. Those who suffer from illnesses and hardships are in Hell today. Today, not only can we experience Heaven or Hell, we can even see Hungry Ghosts and Animals. In the same day, in the same world. All five or six realms are present. The Six Realms include an additional realm. As we know, it is the Asura Realm. Those in the Asura Realm are unreasonable and have bad tempers. They are contentious and greedy. They think only of themselves. As long as it makes them happy, there is nothing they won’t do. So where are the Six Realms? We can see them all in this world. Much of the joy and suffering we see. Originates with the Asura mindset.
With this consciousness, the mind is constantly filled with foolishness and delusions. The Three Poisonous Roots may cause all wrongdoings.
That angry and ignorant mindset results in a consciousness that is “constantly filled with foolishness and delusions.” Foolishness means we lack wisdom. Most people are confused by foolishness and delusions.
For instance, in many underdeveloped countries, there are still superstitions and traditions which seem inconceivable to us. In the Indian province of West Bengal, an ancient legend and superstitious belief is passed down in their culture. It is said that when children lose their teeth, if their two upper front teeth grow in first, they are destined to live a life of misfortune. How can they change their fate? If it is a girl, when she is eight-years-old, she must be married to a dog first. So they perform a marriage ceremony for the girl and the dog in order to change her fate. Of course, when she turns eighteen, she can remarry a human being. She marries a dog to change her fortunes. It’s called “overcoming fate.” Isn’t this preposterous?
It is an inconceivable superstition. Indeed, this is foolishness, ignorance and delusion.
Those who lead an ignorant and deluded life are truly pitiful. That is why we must be wise in our faith and must not be superstitious. Fortune and misfortune come from our conduct and the karma we create. Our behavior, actions, and our thoughts create the karmic seeds we accumulate. Our fate in this life depends on our past lives. Can the way our teeth grow determine our destiny? Can marrying a dog truly change one’s fate? This is ridiculous, and quite inconceivable. This is called superstition.
The conscious minds of ordinary people are often filled with afflictions and ignorance.
We were born with the foolishness and delusion that we have accumulated since Beginningless Time over our many cycles of rebirth in the Six Realms. Just in this Human Realm, there are many cultures with all kinds of superstitions and taboos, not to mention all the Six Realms. This is how our habitual tendencies have developed.
Thus the text says, “constantly filled with foolishness and delusion.” This means our minds are filled with ignorance and afflictions. Afflictions constantly arise in our minds when we encounter sense objects in the external world and attempt to control the situation.
Right now we see many people who try to find unorthodox remedies or shortcuts to deal with any distress in life. They cannot settle their minds. No matter what appears before us, if we can remain calm and stable, we are practicing discipline, Samadhi, and wisdom.
Discipline, Samadhi, and wisdom are the Three Flawless Studies. In diligently practicing the three Studies, we can eliminate delusions and afflictions.
If we can fulfill our fundamental responsibilities by upholding precepts and abiding by the rules, then our minds can be stable. If we cannot fulfill our duties, minor setbacks will prompt us to seek unorthodox or superstitious remedies. Then our minds will often be in disarray. When our minds are confused, as we come in confused, as we come in contact with external conditions more things will trouble us. Therefore, we must be careful to not allow delusion, foolishness, and ignorance to enter our minds.
If we fulfill our fundamental responsibilities, follow the precepts and rules, our minds will be stable. Then wisdom will arise and we will not be confused by delusion, foolishness, ignorance.
Next let us speak of the 3 Poisonous Roots. “The 3 Poisonous Roots may cause all wrongdoings.” We have talked about the Three Poisons before. They are greed, anger, and ignorance. I keep bringing up these terms because we tend to get lost and forget them. Even the teachings we heard only yesterday can be completely forgotten by today. External conditions constantly affect us. They lead us to forget the teachings we heard in the morning, not to mention the teachings we heard yesterday or a month ago or even before that.
Time can easily make us forgetful and confused, so the compassionate Buddha and the ancient and diligent sages constantly reminded us about the origins of evil and all afflictions over and over again. Therefore, the Sutras are also repetitious, as a way to remind us. Here it states, “The 3 Poisonous Roots may cause all wrongdoings.” Greed, anger, and ignorance are the source of all wrongdoings. Ignorance originates from the mind, as do greed and anger. Ignorance truly blinds us, so we speak harshly and cruelly. Ignorance prevents us from thinking clearly, and when we add anger to that, our words become abusive.
With regards to our physical body, if we are ignorant and unreasonable, and we add anger to that, when something displeases us, we will easily attack or rob people, etc. our bodies will take these actions.
Greed also arises from ignorance. If we are ignorant, our greed will never be satisfied. Everything begins with ignorance. In summary, ignorance in the mind will lead the body and mouth to create bad karma. So greed, hatred, and ignorance are poisons. Ignorance is just like a virus in our minds. Whatever it touches will begin to have problems and then the virus will spread from there. Therefore, it is evil and toxic. Of the greed, anger and ignorance in our mind, the most poisonous is ignorance.
Ignorance is a lack of understanding. Ignorance is a lack of wisdom Ignorance is like delusion. Without wisdom, everything we do will lead to hundreds and thousands of mistakes. It all starts with ignorance. Therefore, ignorance is quite frightening. We are also greedy for money, fame, and wealth. Greed for wealth leads to robbery and theft. When we talk to people in prison, we learn that most are there because of greed. Greed led them to steal, rob, mug, lie, and cheat. It all starts with greed. When people lust after and desire others, they become immoral and destroy other families as well as themselves. They may also commit homicide, suicide etc. This is all because of greed. Greed also has its roots in ignorance. If we have wisdom, we will abide by our duties, rules, & regulations. We will not cross these lines out of greed. If we are wise, we will not be greedy.
It is the same with anger. When anger arises, it causes so many manmade calamities. Anger leads people to lose their temper, become aggressive, or attack others, etc. This is all because of ignorance. When ignorance arises and our anger is provoked, we will destroy others and ourselves at the same time. Aren’t these thoughts poisonous? Greed, anger, ignorance are the 3 Poisonous Roots. The 3 Poisonous Roots may cause all wrongdoings.
Greed, anger, ignorance are the Three Poisons. Among them, ignorance is the most frightening. Ignorance is delusion, a lack of knowledge, that increases the toxicity of anger and greed and causes countless bad karma.
Therefore, everyone, we must constantly examine our minds and reflect on our ignorance and afflictions. Today, at this moment of time, how can we realize the extent of the damage caused by ignorance and afflictions? How do we eliminate afflictions & produce wisdom? How long can we maintain this kind of mindset?
It all depends on whether we are truly dedicated and mindful, and whether we truly respect Dharma. When we hear Dharma, we must absorb it, like the soil absorbs water before it can nurture seeds. The seeds of goodness in the field of our minds require moisture.
Dharma is as water. Have we absorbed this Dharma-water into the field of our minds every day? Although we have wisdom and goodness in all of our minds, have we attracted the conditions that help their growth? Time continuously passes by, and our life grows shorter as each day ends. Is our Wisdom-life being nurtured by the absorption of Dharma-water? This depends on whether we are mindful. Therefore, everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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