Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Four Conditions (四緣)
The minds of ordinary people are unsettled, not at ease and mostly influenced by external conditions. This karmic connection is in our minds. If we can absorb something to our liking, we will continuously think about it. Thus we are ordinary people.
We have mentioned the Four Attachments. Everyone has attachments. From what do they arise? Due to the existence of “conditions”, attachment arises. So we tend to get attached.
There are four types of Conditions. The Four Conditions may cause all Wrongdoings. The Four Conditions: Causal Conditions, Continuous Conditions, Connected Conditions, and Assisting Conditions.
The first is Causal Conditions. Causes and conditions can combine. We all know and speak of this everyday. When we speak of Causal Conditions, the Six Sense Organs are the causes and the external environment is the condition. It is through our eyes that we see the world. The external world is just one kind of condition. But when it influences our cognition, our minds begin to function and we absorb external engagements into our minds.
The internal causes are the Six Sense Organs, They give rise to “consciousness.” Our eyes observe a condition and create an impression in our minds. After the condition has passed, the image will remain in our minds. Some people say that although our eyes follow external conditions, our vision is limited. We hear with our ears. At this time, we cannot see the source of sounds. Where are the birds? But from experience we know what the birds here look like. When we hear them we can picture them. Then our minds connect to that condition.
Our mind is the cause and the external states are the conditions. When cause and condition combine, our consciousness will retain it, it will resurface when the moment is right. So in our daily lives, when the Six Sense Organs and the Six Sense Objects connect, what type of mentality do we have as we engage with external conditions? The how do our consciousnesses function?
The Six Sense Organs are the causes. The Six Sense Objects are the conditions. When causes and conditions connect, consciousness begins to react.
Next is the nose and sense of smell. Smell is the condition, nose is the cause.
We have “likes” and “dislikes”. The tongue connects with food. We now use a phrase: “Taste and texture.” When we eat, it is either sweet, salty, sour, tart, hard, soft, etc.
We use our tongues to taste the food. When the sense organs, sense objects and consciousness unite, we seek what w like.
It I soften said that just one mouth crease a lot of karma. We unknowingly speak harsh words that deeply hurt others, or we kill countless living beings just to satisfy our tastes. So the mouth is the cause, and the external object is the condition. When we’re cold, we put on more clothes; when hot, we turn on the fan or air conditioning. This is our sense of touch experienced by the body.
Some people have created a lot of karma-killing, stealing and sexual misconduct-for the sake of their body. So the body is the cause and the external object is the condition that initiates the cognitions in our minds to create more karma. Therefore, cause and condition follow our past ignorance and affliction. Those habitual tendencies act on the perception of our sense organs towards the sense objects. Those are our reinforced habitual tendencies. I often speak of ignorance and affliction. They can easily allow the seed of cause to arise and let our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind be driven by our habits to grasp.
Just observe how each individual has different ways of walking. These are our habitual tendencies. Our style and carriage are unique because of our habitual tendencies. We all speak differently, these are also our habits. Thus, why do we get educated? It is to change our habits. If we correct out negative habits then the interaction of our six sense organs and objects will improve. When our minds are gentle toward the sense world, the world of the Tathagata will manifest itself.
When learning Buddhism, we must remember to attend to our minds. If we take care of our minds, blessings arise when causes and conditions connect. We can be understanding, forgiving, content, and grateful. If we can do this, each second is the moment to be thankful, and each affinity is positive and joyful. So when we learn Buddhism, we must be mindful of causes and conditions, because they result in karmic retributions. So whatever causes and conditions we create now will lead to retributions in the future. Everyone must always be cautious and mindful.
Habitual tendencies, the accumulation of ignorance and afflictions, will affect our perceptions when sense organs and objects connect. Therefore, we must watch our thoughts and correct bad habits. If we take good care of our minds and correct our bad habits, blessings will arise whenever causes and conditions converge.
Second is Continuous Conditions. After a condition has passed, our thoughts about it still arise continuously. This is called Continuous Conditions. Why can’t our minds calm down? Because thoughts arise unceasingly. This is called Continuous Conditions.
We ordinary people have the habitual tendency to crave things. We spoke previously of the clinging to desires. Attachment to desires will cause our minds to continuously connect to them. If we like or love someone, their image, even though he or she may be far away or in another place, will always stay in our minds. This type of longing or love is continuous. It is called Continuous Conditions.
Some people work earnestly. When they study one thing, they are attentive and meticulous. Their minds contemplate inventing new things or solving mysteries. They mindfully invest all their attention. Even as they are speaking to other people, their minds are still clinging to their work and research. This is also called Continuous Conditions.
In brief, regardless of good or bad, when our minds become attached to our passion, interests, craving, attachment, grasping, etc., they will always be on our minds. So ordinary people cannot quiet their minds. It is like this. Causes and conditions lead to how we function, and because of them, our minds will continue to produce complicated thoughts. These are the mindsets of ordinary people. Since such states of cause and condition continue in our minds, we are unable to calm our minds.
Thought after thought arises continuously, without pause or break, this is Continuous Conditions.
The third is Connected Conditions. The word “Connected” means that the mind is grasping the connection. This is Forced Connection. Forced Connection is when an event passes, but our minds continue to replay it. This is called Forced Connection.
Actually, there is no need to force affinities. Sometimes one uncontrollably seeks affinities. Some seek the affinities of sceneries, others seek the affinities of people. Some people say, “Why do you love to seek affinities?” Even though it’s none of their business, they still intervene. This is called Forced Connection.
It is unnecessary, but because of our habits and interests, we like to listen in when others are talking. We like to hear about other’s gossip and disputes. This is also Forced Connection. Many interpersonal conflicts arise from forced affinities. We don’t necessarily need to be there, but we like to be.
This is like people who enjoy sightseeing. Is it necessary to waste time, energy, and money to do so? But they like to seek affinities and sightsee. So they seek such affinities with effort. The word ”forced” means it is not what we need to do, but what we enjoy doing due to our interests. This is called habitual tendency. The next word, “Condition” is the external environment we mentioned earlier. Our mind-consciousness clings to the outside world. In our daily lives we follow our sense organs and sense objects to continuously create mind-consciousness. Thus, we engage the external world.
I often say, “An ignorance thought causes the Three Subtleties. External states lead to the Six Coarse Marks.” The cause of all of this is our thoughts of ignorance and affliction. People’s habits have accumulated for a long time. When the phenomena appear, whether form, sensation, perception, action, consciousness, or eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body or mind, these things often surround us in daily life.
Actually, as we sit here together, if our sense organs, objects and consciousness combine, we can focus on listening to the Dharma. If we sit here, our minds wander and follow our cravings and interests, even though our sense organs and objects are here, our consciousness is elsewhere. When the sense organs and objects connect, our consciousness will develop, grasp, and distinguish between likes and dislikes. Consciousness is “able to connect” and external conditions are the “object of connection”.
The mind will connect to external conditions. The phrase “physical and mental functions” refers to the functions of our mind. The mental functions work by clinging to external conditions, the mind gives rise to such effects. This is Connected Conditions, when our consciousness connects and grasps. We should be very mindful of how our sense organs and sense objects impact our consciousness.
Connected Conditions: “Connected” means to grasp the connection. Conditions” means to cling to external conditions. It refers to all the things that the mind creates.
Alas, time still passes with external conditions. However, our consciousness always remains. If we can thoroughly clear our minds of scattered thoughts and replace them with wholesome ones, then our mental state will be beautiful. Therefore, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水).
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