Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Six Practices: Ten Dedications Part 4(六行~十回向行四)
In the Practice of Ten Dedications, we are now at the fourth. But everyone should remember, the first starts with “transforming all sentient beings.” The second starts with “expressing the Middle Path.” We also spoke of the Truth of Innate Enlightenment. Today we’ll discuss the passage: “Enlightenment and wisdom are all-encompassing.” We already know that we intrinsically possess enlightenment and wisdom. Not only are they innate, they are all-encompassing and perfect. This applies not only to Buddha, but to all of us. This awareness and enlightened wisdom is perfect and all-encompassing. So there is not place it cannot reach. This is “Dedication that reaches all places.” That is “Dedication that reaches all places.” This wisdom is perfect and all-encompassing; there is no place it cannot reach. It can reach anywhere and exist everywhere.
Fourth is the Practice of Ten Dedications: Enlightened wisdom is all-encompassing and perfect. There is no place that they do not reach. This is Dedication that reaches all places.
The Sutra explains why it is called Dedication that reaches all places. Our Innate Enlightenment is truly all-encompassing and perfect. Wisdom and enlightenment are also perfect and can extend to all places. If we can dedicate our minds to all places, and if we become aware and resolve to practice, our minds can perfectly encompass all places. Thus, “the wisdom of Innate enlightenment is universal.” With the wisdom of enlightenment, there is no place we cannot reach, nothing we do not understand, and no vow we cannot fulfill.
Thus, with resolve, we can achieve our aspirations. Our minds and vows arise from our enlightened wisdom. Therefore, they are ubiquitous. “With enlightenment like the Buddha’s, we realize the Truth of the Ultimate Reality.” If we can understand that we already possess an enlightened nature like the Buddha’s, if we can truly and firmly experience this, we “realize the Truth of Ultimate Reality.” Once we realize, truly comprehend and believe it, we will never doubt it again because we have proved to ourselves that our enlightened nature is the same as the Buddha’s.
If all of us can develop such perceptive wisdom and convince ourselves, then that is the Truth of the Ultimate Reality. As such, we have already arrived at the Truth of Ultimate Reality. The truth is that we are equal to Tathagata and no different from the Buddha. If we can verify this truth, we realize that “we are no different from Buddha.”
The wisdom of Innate Enlightenment is universal and equal to that of the Buddha. The realization of the Truth of Ultimate Reality is that we are the same as the Buddha.
However, our minds are still murky so we cannot yet express this brilliance. If we understand, we know this is like cleaning the mirror of our minds. The more effort we expend, the more it shines. After much work, the quality of the mirror appears, and it reflects everything accurately and clearly.
Thus, there is such a passage in the text, “The ground of pure truth is like that of Buddha. It is the Dedication that reaches all places.”
Purity is wisdom; truth is the Ultimate Reality. If we are wise and pure, the Ultimate Reality will radiate out. It is uncovered and brilliant. This is the Buddha-ground, it is the Dedication that reaches all places. So our minds can attain this state. As ordinary people, we work hard, starting with Initial Enlightenment. Then we can progress by Dedicating Merit from Small to Large. Doing so, our minds can be like that of the Buddha. The Buddha also began His practice in the Human Realm. If we wish to attain enlightenment, we can only do so in this world.
Master Yin-Shun also said that Buddhahood is attained in the Human Realm. Since there are many types of suffering and so much misery, sentient beings can practice and become Bodhisattvas of wisdom and love. Bodhisattva minds express pure wisdom and selfless Great Love. It is like the tremendous disaster in Pakistan. The earth shook, the mountains and the ground literally split apart. When our first disaster relief team returned, they brought back pictures of devastation that surpassed our imagination. The mountains were bare, as if they were stripped of their outermost layer. They were barren, with not a single road in sight. After the rockslides, the mountains looked like walls of rocks. To do any medical outreach, they required guides. The images we saw were disturbing. In another picture, the ground was split open. The locals said the ground was originally flat and used as farmland. After the earthquake, not only was it split open, there was a fissure several meters deep. The power of nature is enormous, destroying everything, including human lives, buildings, homes, etc. Everything was obliterated in an instant. Mountain roads were destroyed, preventing us from reaching those who needed care.
There was a group of doctors in our second relief team. They continued the mission of the first team. They ventured further into the mountains. They saw many suffering, without food and medicine. There were many stories, especially of great doctors who demonstrated great love through their amazing skills. The interpreter for our teams was also a victim of the disaster. He asked if our doctors could visit his wife. His wife had been severely ill for many days. She had diarrhea and showed signs of dehydration. Thus, Asst. Director Chien and Dr. Yeh packed their supplies and followed him home. Their interpreter was named Alishan. They thought the outlook for his wife was grim. She was completely dehydrated. Besides giving her medicine, they had to rehydrate her. It sounds very easy, but it was a challenging task.
Although they brought an intravenous drip, they lacked the tube to administer it. They only brought medicine and not the rubber tube. What could they do? They had the few hundred CCs of medicine that she really needed but lacked the means to administer it. It was a challenge at that moment, they relied on their resolve and wisdom. What did they do? These two doctors, without speaking to each other, knelt on the ground and began using 10cc syringes to administer the medication. One extracted the medicine, the other injected it. The IV bag held 300-500cc. At 10cc per injection, do you know how many times they had to do this? How long it took?
The two doctors knelt by her for 45 minutes. They had to hold the syringe very still. When they retracted the syringe, it was inevitable that they drew some blood from the veins along with drops of medicine. Both doctors knelt in their white pants. They held their hands close to the veins and their legs were close to here so the mix of blood and medicine splattered onto their pants. After we minutes, their white pants were dyed pink.
This image is truly moving. Think about it, normally it is very easy to administer liquid through an intravenous drip. Once it is set up, the medication slowly and automatically flows into the body. However, the lack of one single tube caused them so much trouble. Only one with compassion would work so hard. It required skill and the right medication, but also love. They humbled themselves and traveled to treat her. They had lacked something essential but found a way around it. The patient’s family was very grateful and touched.
Actually, many people here in Taiwan sent their love with the relief team. They brought so many people’s love along with their own sincerity. This is the undefiled, selfless innate nature of the Buddha, the great love of the Great Healer King. Without it they would not have saved them. Our medical outreach was very difficult at that time. Their actions touched the locals.
They typically segregate men and women. However, the translator allowed our volunteers to enter his home and have contact with his wife. I was very touched. Mr. Lin Yen-huan, our reporting volunteer, said he was very moved and wanted to take pictures. However, he had traveled to Muslim countries and knew of the gender segregation, so he dared not take photographs. But Alishan took his hand and motioned for him to take pictures. He was so deeply moved that he expressed his gratitude through action. He was willing to overlook traditional Muslim restrictions and allow the volunteer to take pictures. He hoped that the moving moment and sincere love could be shared with those in Taiwan.
It was a very touching experience. So one can reach and place. Although they could work easily and happily in good medical facilities in Taiwan, they chose that difficult path. The disaster area lacked resources, had extreme temperatures and many obstacles to overcome. But they went willingly. See, isn’t this reaching all places? They could be here, but they are willing to go there. As long as you have love, you can reach all places.
With intention, one can accomplish what one has vowed to do. Intention and vows arise from enlightened wisdom, which is perfect, all-encompassing, and can reach all places.
In learning Buddhism, we must learn to start walking the path when realization arises. No matter how far it is, if we do not deviate, it will not be hard to reach the stage of Buddha. Thus, if we can maintain our initial resolve, we will not be far from enlightenment. Everyone only be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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