Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Six Practices: Ten Actions (Part 10)(六行~十行行十)
Although our surroundings are tranquil, our minds keep running about and cannot stay still. This is why we must engage in spiritual practice and let our minds be one with our surroundings. We are in such a peaceful environment, our minds should be just as serene. Wherever the body is, so should the mind be. That is the true state of spiritual practice.
Only when we settle our minds will our contemplation be on the right path. If our thinking is not correct, our actions will also deviate. The Buddha’s teachings are intended to align our minds with our actions. Thus, He tirelessly and comprehensively uncovered many layers to help guide us step by step, hoping to open our minds to the proper path. As Buddhist practitioners, that is something we must experience.
Ten Actions: The Practices of Joyful Service, Benefiting Others, Never-resenting, Unlimited Service, Non-confusion, Skillful Manifestation, Non-attachment, Respect, Good Teachings, Truth.
The tenth of the Ten Actions is Practice of Truth. Truth is that which is not false. Truth is steadfast and concrete. We often talk about the nature of Ultimate Reality. We must put our practice into action every day. This is the Practice of Truth and also the Practice of Good Teachings. We speak of the “appearance of complete virtue” and have discussed the Practice of Good Teachings. We can use our wisdom to bring harmony and perfection to the various conditions that we face. The Practice of Truth comes from the aforementioned Practice of Good Teachings.
This is the “appearance of complete virtue.” Therefore, “Everything has a true and unconditioned nature.” If we are diligent in following, the Practice of Good Teachings step by step, all things reveal their true nature. There is no falsehood in true nature. It is on the path of Good Teachings that we find our innate nature.
I often share the saying, “All people are born with a good nature.” The nature of the Buddha is the pure nature that we all inherently possess. This is called the true nature of the Tathagata. As long as our minds are pure and undefiled, and our behavior is benevolent and uncorrupted, then our innate nature will be realized. The saying “abide by innate nature to practice” means we should abide by our true nature when we engage in our practice.
Everyone inherently has this true nature, but people are corrupted by their surroundings. We must re-start our spiritual practice. During this process, we must abide by our true nature in order to practice. For example, we know that “A running track is round.” We return to the same point from which we begin running. In the same way an ignorant thought can create complications that pollute our minds and cause us to behave badly.
We must eliminate all bad thoughts and deeds and return to our true nature in order to continue our practice. Without having benevolent thoughts, would we still taken the vows? Without a pure and benevolent nature, how would we have aspirations? Aspiration comes from pour true nature. Although our true nature has manifested, we have gone too far down the wrong path. We should abide by our pure, true nature, and begin our practice once more. Thus, “abide by true nature in our practice.”
We should follow our innate, pure heart to begin cultivating once again. “That which is practiced is true and real.” We should find our true nature once again, and abide by it in our practice. By following this path, we can return to our innate, pure nature. This is what the Buddha taught us. We should follow this teaching. By doing so, our practice will be true and real.
The Practice of Truth is about being perfect in one’s actions. Everything has a true and unconditioned nature. When one practices accordingly, one’s practice is nothing but truthful.
The Practice of Truth leads us to our innate nature, and then we move forward with true nature. So we say, “True nature abides eternally in humility.” I often say, “Do not be self-aggrandizing.” Rather, we should practice shrinking our ego and humbling ourselves. This is not an easy skill. We should resolve to embrace our innate true nature to thoroughly understand what it is. Actually, it is all about benevolence. Therefore, there is no reason why we should not be humble. So to travel on this path, we must first diminish our ego.
Our True Nature is found in a life of humility. If we resolve to realize our true nature, we will find that it is all about benevolence.
We have enlisted many great healers as part of our Mission of Medicine. Physicians typically enjoy a relatively high social status, but we have a group of doctors who can let go of their ego and be humble. Whenever we speak of them and how they are humble in their way of life, I am filled with admiration and respect. These great healers are very busy.
Besides performing routine house calls, they also look for senior citizens who live alone and those who have limited mobility to identify who needs aid the most.
They evaluate ways to help them. These great healers love others as they love their own family. They know that to care for others requires giving the same love they give to those they love most.
The Lotus Sutra depicts a poor homeless youth who was separated from his family when he was young. His father thought about him every day. He wondered how his son was coping and where he was. He hoped that his son could live a good life, or return home to his side. The love that this father had for his child was wholehearted.
One day his child was found. He asked someone to quickly bring him home. The people who went to get the child did not know this homeless youth was related to the older man. As a result, they hastily said to him, “Come, my master wants to see you.”
The child was intimidated by the sudden approach of these powerful strangers who wished to take him somewhere. He was very afraid, so he ran away.
His father realized that moving too quickly would cause problems, so he humbled himself and dressed as a commoner. He even intentionally dirtied his clothes to match his son’s living environment so that he could get close to him, and slowly ask him to return home. He said, “Come, let’s go work for this household.” So at first the child thought that the old man was just like him. He grew very close to him, and listened to whatever he said.
One day the old man fell ill. He gathered all of his relatives and said to them, “I have found my son.”
“Where is your son?”
“It is this boy who stands before you.”
Everyone was shocked, even the child was startled. So the old man shared the story of what happened.
The Buddha shared the same mindset as the elder in teaching his disciples, and doctor have this mindset when caring for patients. When a physician sees his patient, he advises them to care for their bodies, to quit smoking, quit drinking, refrain from salty and greasy foods, and eat healthy food instead. For those who have trouble moving around, he prescribes physical therapy. This is a type of educational counseling.
Some patients are unable to go the clinic, so the physicians make house calls. For those who cannot walk, the doctors make special arrangements. These great healers, our physicians of the medical association and hospitals, regularly make special arrangements for patients. If someone cannot come, the doctor will go to him. By making house calls, the doctors see the patients’ living conditions. If the conditions are poor or difficult, they open a new case.
Our doctors sometimes accompany volunteers to care for and clean the homes of care recipients. During the holidays, time is especially precious, but the doctors still make time for them. They treat all seniors as their elders, the younger handicapped patents as their own siblings, and the children as their own children. They also treat their patients’ houses as they would their own home. These great healers humbly travel the path, loving others as they would their own children, spouses, siblings or parents. Family are usually who we love the most. If one can treat the poor and suffering as he would his own family, it is like Buddha’s love for sentient beings. The Buddha loved all sentient beings as. He would His own children. Love others as if they were your own family, the way the old man loved his son, and the way our doctors make house calls for their patients.
They visit them in the winter to check on their health, living conditions, etc. Around the New Year, they also help clean their homes. Besides physically caring patients, our doctors also bring their relatives to help clean. Love is radiant. It is a warm and soft light, like that of the old man who gently guided his son. Gently approach others in order to be accepted.
Compassion is the source of Great Love. We see these people give their love. A family with unconditional love begins with compassion.
Gentle light shines on the darkness of life. Inner and sincere love comes from great compassion.
The Practice of Truth that the Buddha taught us is to put principles into action. As Buddhists, we should apply Dharma in daily life. Instead of talking about it, we should put it into action. Use a sincere heart to give and practice. That is how we find the source of our true nature, which is compassion. Compassion is the origin of Great- Love which is the cultivation method of the Bodhisattva. Putting principles into practice is the Practice of Truth.
Tzu Chi volunteers all over the world are doing this, and for doctors to be humble is not easy. If we see how others can succeed, then we should also be able to do so. Everyone we should sincere be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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