Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Nine Bonds Part 5(九結五)
We develop many worldly views because we have this physical body. Because so many different views exist, the world is chaotic. Let us now discuss the Nine Bonds. We have already discussed four of the Nine Bonds, the fifth is the Bond of View.
Nine Bonds: Craving, Anger, Arrogance, Ignorance, View, Grasping, Doubt, Jealousy, Stinginess.
How many kinds of views are there? Three. They arise because we have this body. These three basic views give rise to many other complicated views. What are the three Views? View of Self, Extreme View, and Deviant View. The development of these three Views begins at birth. After birth, we become egotistical. Because we are egocentric, we think we are always right and others are wrong. Are we truly always right? Because we have Extreme View we see only one side. We do not see the big picture so we become biased. Our biases create many afflictions.
Then there is Deviant View, which is incorrect. We often say that a slight deviation results in a huge divergence. If we are strongly attached to Deviant Views, even small deviations lead us far astray. That is Deviant View. With these Views, “delusions thrive as we become attached.” We are deluded in thinking that we are the greatest, that our perspective is the best, and that we are going the right way. When we are adamant and strongly attached to our views, we “commit a wide range of bad deeds.”
When an evil thought arises, we cling to our views and do as we please. From then on we will “invite the suffering of future births and deaths.” Why do we suffer so much? We suffer because of our attachments. Because we have this body, we cling to the delusions that constantly arise in our minds.
All sentient beings, in delusion, are attached to a View of Self, Extreme View, and Deviant View. They commit a wide range of bad deeds, causing themselves to continuously transmigrate in the Three Realms with no way out. That is the Bond of Views.
What is the View of Self? The body is composed of the Five Skandhas. We are attached to the body’s experiences of form, sensation, perception, action, consciousness. Earlier we discussed how our Six Sense Organs interact with the external Six Sense Objects. We “sense” everything with form. We relentlessly crave and grasp them. Before we begin grasping, our thoughts and perceptions stray wildly. We do not care if we are right or wrong. When we see something, all we think about is how to get it. Then we take action and thoroughly lose our way. That is how problems and unrest arise in our society. Our actions are then stored in our Eighth Consciousness; it all goes into our Store-house Consciousness.
The body acts, feels and grasps. Our actions create everything, attract karma and are stored in our Eighth Consciousness. This is the source of our wrongdoings. The Five Skandhas lead us to be “attached to the View of ‘I’, of a permanent self”. Because we are attached to the self, we feel, think about, act on, and grasp external forms and objects. This is because we are attached to the existence of this body. This is the View of Self.
View of Self: Attachment to the view of “I”, to the belief that the body which is composed of the Five. Skandhas, contains the real and permanent self.
Next is Extreme View, which means we are completely biased. We spoke about the View of Self, which means we believe in a permanent “self”. If we feel that nothing is permanent, we will do anything for a moment of gratification regardless of consequences; we even deny the laws of karma. This is the mindset of Nihilism. Eternalists think they can enjoy something forever. Is anything permanent in this world? Is the body permanent? Is life permanent? Are material objects, people, and situations permanent? They are impermanent. People refuse to see impermanence in the world and plan on permanence; that is their bias. Some say they will enjoy themselves because there is no such thing as cause and effect. They deny the laws of karma and do as they please. That is Nihilism. If they are Eternalists, they believe in a permanent “self” and permanent possession of wealth, beauty, fame, etc. What is permanent about those?
Only the true nature of reality, True Suchness, our pure innate nature, is truly eternal. But what ordinary people cling to as permanent is all related to our physical body. So people cling to all they have. If we adhere to either Nihilism of Eternalism, then we do not thoroughly understand or see the Truth. These are Extreme Views Nihilists and Eternalists adhere to their beliefs, and thus cause unrest in society. Who is right? Who is wrong? One thinks, “I’m right, you’re wrong.” But the other thinks, “I’m right, you’re wrong.” Their attachment to their bias causes chaos and is the source of society’s unrest.
Extreme View: A perspective on the View of Self, based on Nihilism or Eternalism with a strong attachment to one side or the other.
The third is Deviant View. As we mentioned earlier, deviant view is incorrect. Everyone’s views arise from delusional thinking and actions, so these views cannot be correct. Our practice is actually the same. We practice to develop proper conduct. Our behavior and the purpose of our life must be correct, otherwise how can we cultivate our minds and our character? If we stray, then we act improperly. Religion is also like this. If we do not make proper choices, we descend into extreme deviance, so those with Deviant Views also adhere to either Eternalism or Nihilism.
Deviant View: Attachment to Nihilism or Eternalism and denial of the laws of karma.
In summary, those three Views arise together because we have a physical body in this world, and thus are seduced by external conditions. When people are incapable of controlling and taking good care of their minds, these three Views arise. These three views are not exclusive to adults, children have them too.
In December of 2005, there was a major story in the United States about a family looking for their missing 16-year-old boy. It was all over the news. Where did he go? He was a high school student, who had heard one of his teachers talking about war, specifically the war in Iraq. Why are the United States and Iraq fighting in such a terrible war? The boy was curious, so he felt he had to go to that country and see for himself. He wanted to be an embedded reporter who reports on everything he hears and sees. He wanted to be a war correspondent. He was only 16, but he was inquisitive; he just wanted to know. Yet this is not what he should have been doing. As a student, he should just focus on his studies. After hearing his teacher’s lecture, he crossed the line. He left his family with a backpack and went to Iraq.
Was it that easy to travel to Iraq? Not at all, especially since Iraq was a war zone and the border was heavily guarded. He was clever enough to dodge the border patrol. He stayed at a Baghdad hotel and contacted the Associated Press to tell them he came there to be a correspondent. The reporters already knew about him because they had covered his missing-person story. His family and the media were looking for him, so the news agency knew about him. When he turned up [in Iraq], they were shocked and contacted the U.S. Embassy, who sent soldiers to take him into custody. They were planning to send him home the next day, one day after he contacted the reporters. He was about to be sent home when a suicide bombing killed and injured many people. He witnessed this bloody scene in a society that has been shattered, where people live in poverty. There were so many problems.
After he left Iraq, arrived home and settled down, he thought about the chaos in Iraq. The images replayed in his mind. At home, he saw all the luxury and realized he had a great life in a peaceful society with a lavish house and a fancy car 16-year-olds could drive luxury cars to and from school and drag race everywhere. He felt guilty. He enjoyed so many comforts while other people suffered in the chaos of Iraq. Gradually, he was able to calm down. In the beginning, he felt guilty. Gradually, he came to understand that he should cherish his peaceful life. So this boy was able to calm down.
Indeed the boy should be considered lucky. Otherwise he would contribute to turmoil in his family and in society. We need to maintain a calm mind and do our duties. Students should be good students. Workers should do their jobs well. Practitioners should focus on their practice. Wouldn’t society be at peace then? The teenager initially had the three views, a View of Self, Extreme View, and Deviant View. He had all those views, so a strong desire emerged and led to his actions.
We all have these thoughts in our minds. That is why we have to take care of our minds and our views, so we are not entrenched in opposition. We have to contemplate whether we are right or wrong, and whether others are right or wrong. We need to analyze carefully, and not oppose things just for the sake of opposition. If everyone clings to their side, it leads to chaos. Everyone be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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