Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Liberation through the Realization of impermanence (知無常得自在)
The Four Bonds may cause all wrongdoings. The Four Bonds: Bond of Greed, Bond of Anger, Bond of Precept, Bond of Egoism.
How much can one consume during one is lifetime? How much can one eat, and how many flavors can one sample at the same time? We have to taste flavors one at a time to know whether they are bitter or sweet. Regardless of the flavor we chose, we only have one mouth. The amount of food we can consume is also limited. How much can we consume?
There is a limit to what we actually need. How much clothing can we put on at one time? Even if it is cold, we only need a few layers. How many colors can we wear? How many styles and accessories can we wear? We cannot sensibly wear many colors simultaneously. With only one body, we have a lot of clothes and have to rotate them. Why be greedy? The purpose of clothing is just to cover our bodies.
With one body, we only need a 3- to 4-foot-wide bed, wide enough for us to change positions. Why do we need more than that? Why do we desire more? A gold- or silver-plated faucet does the same job as one made of iron or tin. They fulfill the same purpose. But with excessive wealth, some even decorate elevators with gold, or bathrooms with gold and silver. I have been to places like this.
When I saw these places, I sighed with pity: people are confused and deluded. In life, if things function adequately, and we have adjusted well, then we should be content. Anything beyond that is excessive. Many have suffered in their quest for these excessive worldly materials. These pursuits can ruin their life and reputation.
The Buddha taught us to let go of all attachments. If we have delusions over material things, we become attached to them, and cannot escape from these bonds. Be it wealth, gain or fame, it can confuse and seduce us. Buddhist sutras repeatedly teach us impermanence. Like water bubbles, all things are illusory. Why take material goods so seriously? When we are in pursuit of ownership, dye to greed and selfishness, problems arise. The Buddha taught us to be pragmatic. In favorable circumstances, don’t be so joyful that you become bound by it. Unknowingly, a moment of joy and satisfaction can cause us to be tied down and lose our freedom. This would be a pity.
A mind desirous of material things is easily tempted by wealth, lust, fame and gain, and is bound with no way of liberation. Only when one truly knows impermanence can one remain unattached under adverse and beneficial conditions, and be liberated and at ease.
Some who are blessed continue to create blessings. I saw a piece of news on how people in Thailand celebrated the 71st birthday of their Queen. Her birthday coincided with Mother’s Day in Thailand. So they celebrated Mother’s Day and the Queen’s birthday on the same day. A group of young people in Thailand came up with a suggestion to celebrate the day in honor of the Queen. They suggested setting free some of the poorest people, who had violated the law through fraud or illegal street vending. When caught, the government fined them, and imprisoned them if they could not pay.
The same went for those with speeding tickets. If they did not pay the fine in time, they would be thrown in jail. Using drugs is also illegal. In Thailand, those caught doing drugs are required to enter drug rehab. If they still cannot quit, they are jailed. There were 309 such cases of imprisonment. During that month, these youths paid the fines for these prisoners, so they could be released and return home, to work, do business, and support their families.
The drug users, who received lighter sentences, had repented and begun rehabilitation. There were over 2,000 of them. They were pardoned by the Thai government and set free to start a new life. You see, one person’s birthday caused more than 2,000 people to be set free. This shows that the Queen of Thailand must have cultivated a lot of blessings, and is well loved by her subjects. So on her birthday, in her honor, over 2,000 people were liberated.
To learn Buddhism, we must cultivate blessings and wisdom. When we do good deeds, we accumulate blessings. If we commit to benefiting others in this life, we will carry the blessings with us. Wherever we go, we will create more blessings, like the Queen who, because of her birthday, caused so many to regain freedom. This is the reward of her blessings.
Therefore, we must do good deeds to benefit others. When we are capable, we must not be selfish. Contributing to society with unconditional love will prevent problems from arising. On a large scale, this can influence a society, on a small scale, a family or one’s own character. Actually, a person’s character is very important.
We must not think lightly of our character, just because we are ordinary people. Never look down on yourself. Instead, respect your integrity. When we respect ourselves, others will naturally respect us. People need mutual respect and love. When we love and respect others, we naturally gain their love and respect. This is a mutually beneficial cycle that we should practice carefully.
The second is Bond of Anger. First was greed. Greed can cause us to lose freedom, binding our body and mind with many afflictions. “Anger” is losing one’s temper easily. Most people habitually lose their temper. A group of volunteers just returned. Among them was a very devoted volunteer who has helped the sick and the poor abroad. He was very devoted. However, some have told me that while he is very mice sometimes, many have been unhappy with him. So when he suggests something, even if it is correct, others respond negatively.
I asked why? If it was right, why would they object? They said that he had a bad temper. It was necessary to work with him, as they all enjoy working for Tzu Chi. But sometimes he would be unhappy, and refuse to work with certain people, or request to work with someone else. Although others felt his suggestions were not good or feasible, he would still insist. I often say that all lives are equal. With a group of kind-hearted people, we should do our best to take care of and work with each other. If we do as we please and insist on way, we tarnish a wonderful organization that benefits the community. If he could correct this habit, I believe he would find more joy and less resentment with his work. Most people work willingly and joyfully. But one person may easily lose his temper.
Everyone, this person could be you or me. Working in an organization, even though he is a good person with a kind heart, he cannot control his temper, if he cannot control his temper,he will cause hardship for those around him. It is like tying oneself up with a rope, binding oneself. One may not want to be angry, but may still lose it momentarily.
The rise of an angry thought leads one into foolish delusions, just like tying oneself up with a rope, preventing one's liberation.
In today's world, love, hate, affection and enmity are all intertwined. For some people, minor inflictions can cause them to hold grudges and retaliate, regardless of how much care and love they have received. There is a story in the Sutra about a very unhappy man. Why was he unhappy? Because he was angry at a person. Each day, with a heart full of hatred and anger, he would think of ways to destroy that person. One day, he met a sorcerer who could cast spells. He asked the sorcerer, "Is there a spell to hurt this person? I will pay any price. Teach me, I want to learn."
The sorcerer told him, "Learn the incantation of Vetala. It is very effective, but I must warn you, if you use it to hurt someone, that person will certainly be harmed. However, I must tell you, if you learn it, before hurting others, it will harm you first." Upon hearing this, the man felt that as long as he could fulfill his wish to torture and harm that person, he was willing to accept the consequences.
Isn't this ignorance? Nowadays, there are many incidents in society involving such passion and hatred. Doesn't conflict between people often occur in our society? What is its cause? It is Bond of Anger, which arises in adverse situations, when things don't go our way. For example, why do we meet people we dislike? This is an adverse situation. In such moments, our anger, resentment and hatred arise to entangle our minds.
So, if we let one selfish thought emerge, the aggregation of greed will make us suffer, causing unspeakable agony. An angry thought leads to losing our temper. Tying ourselves up with a rope, imprisoning our minds from ease and freedom is such suffering. Moreover, we cause discomfort to those around us. It is merely a habit of losing one's temper, yet it causes us so much suffering. The only remedy is to remove afflictions from our minds.
So, we should constantly clear our minds of ignorance. Please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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