Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Kindness and Good Thoughts Nurture Wisdom-Life (以善心好念增長慧命)
As I said earlier, the Saha World is one of endurance & suffering. Why do we need to endure? Because there is suffering. So we must endure and be patient in order to live peacefully in this world. If we cannot endure it, we may easily destroy ourselves. We learn Buddhism to take good care of our hearts. If our mindset is one of constant dissatisfaction with people & things, mental problems will easily arise. We may develop a psychological disorder. If we develop depression or bipolar disorder, we may often uncontrollably hurt others and destroy ourselves. Such illnesses start in the mind and manifest in our actions. When we harm ourselves or others, we are being unfilial and committing evil. Our suffering in life is the result of our actions. We have talked about the Suffering of Suffering and the Suffering of Decay.
Last is Suffering of Action. We say that in Five Aggregates have no intrinsic existence. Among them is the Aggregate of Action. The Five Aggregates are from, sensation, perception, action, and consciousness. The Aggregate of Action is very subtle, like the change occurring in all things. Nothing in this world, as long as we can see it, remains unmoving or static forever. Nothing. Everything is in constant motion. Look at the universe. Every star is continuously orbiting. The Earth and Moon that we know, as well as planets such as Mars, Jupiter, etc. are all orbiting. So no matter what world we are talking about, be it the Moon, the Sun, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, or the Earth, they are constantly moving and orbiting. This is called action.
Although we live on the Earth, we are not aware that it is moving. But imbalance of the Four Elements can cause an earthquake. The movement of the tectonic plates in an earthquake is quite obvious. This is also the result of an imbalance. We can feel it when something goes wrong and creates a disaster. Most of the time, we see action in the turning of seasons, or the change from day to night. When the actions are in balance, we will not feel the movement or the changes. It is the same with humans. We do not feel the growth of our hair. When our nails are long, we cannot tell when they grew. Was it day or night? Which minute, which second or which day was it? We do not know. The body is constantly metabolizing; cells are forming and dying. So our bodies continually age. From childhood we grow into our teenage years. Then our bodies enter middle age, and finally old age. We are unaware of this gradual aging, it happens, unconsciously. We only know suffering when the imbalance of the Four Elements in our bodies causes an illness.
This is true of all things on Earth. For instance, when we plant a peanut, we bury a seed in the dirt. But after two days, we see a crack in the soil. The next day, we see a sprout. When we look at it every day, we can see these definite changes. But when did the change occur? This is the workings of the Aggregate of Action. The plant produces the vine aboveground, but actually everything begins underground. The flowers bloom on top, then the vine extends underground, where it grows peanuts. Nature is truly wondrous. Incredible things like this happen, and they are all related to the Aggregate of Action. Earlier I talked about formation, existence, decay, disappearance. Decay occurs because of the workings of the Aggregate of Action over time. All substances area constantly in the process of deterioration.
It is the same even with the Earth. The world forms, exists, decays, disappears. People go through birth, aging, illness and death. This is all the Aggregate of Action. This Aggregate undergoes very small, subtle changes. Though things are changing, we do not feel it. Even if things are deteriorating, we do not sense those very subtle changes. Therefore, one of the Three Sufferings is the Suffering of Action.
Action refers to a constant flow of changes. Everything in the universe is undergoing very subtle changes in every moment. If things are in balance, there is peace. If things are imbalanced, disasters will occur in the world. Illnesses will flourish in our bodies. This suffering from a constant flow of changes is called the Suffering of Action.
As we undergo changes, we can say that we are fine, we are not suffering. But do we have a 1000-year or 10,000-year plan? Can we make long-range plans for ourselves? Is that possible? No, it’s impossible, because the “self” is impermanent. Yet we can work for the good of humankind. Though the Earth will decay and disappear, its lifespan is calculated in Kalpas, which are very long periods of time. In this world, if we all have a good heart, harbor good intentions, do good deeds, cherish our plant, country, society and family, and take care to conduct ourselves well, then making a 100- or 1000-year plan for the world is worthwhile. It is also possible.
Those who came before us blazed a trail for the future. This was their mission. Wasn’t Confucius teaching for the sake of future societies? Wasn’t Sakyamuni Buddha expounding Dharma for beings in the future? Therefore, if we develop our Greater Self, it can last forever. Attachment to a small ‘self’ traps us physically, biologically, and mentally in the 4 Stages of Existence. Physically, objects form, exist, decay, disappear. Biologically, bodies go through birth, aging, illness, death. Mentally, thoughts arise, abide, change, cease.
The Aggregate of Actions is intangible. We cannot see the changes and deterioration. This is life, or what we call the Laws of Nature. So, we should strive to understand the Truth and know that the small, limited ‘self’ is not everlasting, it is impermanent.
In a life full of suffering, if we can develop our Greater Self, cherish the planet and protect the country, society, family, and individuals, we can accomplish our mission, and nurture our Wisdom-life.
Next, the text states, “The Three Confusions may cause all wrongdoings.” Three Confusions are delusions. Among them is saying what is impermanent is permanent. As I previously explained, nothing in this world exists forever. There is no Permanence. Some are attached to joy where there is none. What in this world can give us true joy? Is there a joy that lasts forever?
There is a saying, “Extreme joy brings sorrow.” Sometimes people are so happy, they lose themselves in joy. For the sake of joy, they create many wrongdoings, and then suffer. Extreme joy brings sorrow because they get carried away. Such are the delusions of sentient beings. In this world, what is true happiness? Even if there are happy moments, they are as fleeting as smoke, and pass away quickly. However, for the sake of momentary happiness, people will do things that cause so much regret and suffering. So people mistake impermanence for Permanence, and unhappiness for happiness.
Look at our current society. There are many people who are creating chaos. Some take drugs. Why do they do that? Once they are addicted to drugs it is very painful. Everyone knows this. But some people still indulge in them. Others may want to quit. They go in and out of rehabilitation many times, because they cannot control themselves. Aside from suffering physical pain and ailments, addicts also lose their willpower. When their determination weakens and disappears, it is hard for them to quit and remain drug free. After they leave the rehabilitation center, they cannot resist the slightest invitations of their addicted friends. They cannot control themselves. They suffer so much and are so deluded! Drug users are not the only ones who suffer.
Drinking is also a chronic addiction. Look at how so many people destroy their lungs, liver, heart, kidneys & stomach as alcohol infiltrates and damages their internal organs. This is a very gradual addiction. It is hard for them to quit, too. The liquor sits in a bottle, unmoving. Yet people are moved by it, and cannot control themselves. Alcohol will damage their bodies and ruin their character. Yet they remain deluded and cannot save themselves so they claim that they are happy. Do you think that is true happiness?
Gambling is another type of addiction. Once they start, they lose track of time. Just think about this. In addition to wasting away their time and exhausting their health and spirit, they lose money. Gambling losses have ruined many families, reputations and relationships. Gamblers are well aware of these consequences. Yet when they are gambling, they say they are very happy. They cannot stop themselves either. They fall to the temptation of gambling. This is indeed a deluded lifestyle. But people choose to be like this because they think, "I am happy." It is all about “I”, the “self”. They do not realize that the "self" is impermanent.
Many people mistake Impermanence for Permanence and unhappiness for happiness. They show an attitude of "as long I am happy, what can't I do?" They have a strong attachment to "self". Aren't these people confused? They cling to Impermanence as Permanence, not joyful as joyful, "no-self" as "self". They do not understand true principles. The everlasting, eternal Truth is a state of ultimate purity. They cannot attain such a state because they do not understand principles. Therefore, they will continually struggle and suffer because of impermanence.
Because of the Three Confusions, sentient beings cling to Impermanence as Permanence, Not-Blissful as Bliss, No-self as Self, Impurity as Purity, and are submerged in the Sea of Suffering.
Thus, life is full of suffering. Either the 3 Sufferings or the 3 Confusions may create all wrongdoings. Everyone, these are all terms for affliction and ignorance. We can see that ignorance and afflictions are very damaging, and not just to humans. Everything in the world is damaged, and it all originates from human ignorance and affliction.
So everyone, please always be mindful. Watch out for ignorance and affliction and do not allow them to arise. Everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水).
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