Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Ninety-eight Tempters Part 1(九十八使一)
Have we opened our hearts in our daily life? Do we equally treat all people, matters and objects with respect, love and gratitude?
If we treat everything in this world with these attitudes, there will be no afflictions in our minds. We have talked about a non-discriminating mind. Humans and animals are all living creatures. Respect life; all lives are equal. The human world is complex; animals live in a simpler world. A pet eats whatever its owner provides and never demands anything. It eats whatever is given and stays wherever it is told to stay. It has simplicity of mind, but when its owner is in trouble, it is loyal. Its sense of gratitude is more sincere and pure than that of humans.
There was a ceremony in New Zealand for dogs. Many dogs were recognized at the event. Why were these dogs rewarded? One dog, for example, was raised and trained to guard a home. One night, the first floor of the house caught fire. When the dog saw the fire, it did not run away. Instead, it ran upstairs and barked until the owner of the dog woke up. The owner saw the fire and woke the rest of the family in time to escape from the burning house. So the dog received an award.
There was another dog whose owner’s child is a slow learner and was scared to speak in front of teachers and other students in school. So the dog’s owner trained it to sit in front of the child one day per week while his son practiced speaking aloud. His anxiety disappeared when he was in front of the dog, so the dog helped the young boy with his studies. When the time came, the dog would quietly sit next to him for a few hours. This helped the child calm his mind. As was expected, the child got used to reciting to the dog. He practiced with the dog until he gradually overcame his fear and nervousness. This dog also received an award.
But are such recognitions meaningful to the dogs? Not really. With or without an award, they feel no different. They do not know what it is, and seek nothing. With a mind of simplicity and purity, they accept their environment and the life provided for them by their owners. Their loyalty and spiritual nature are just like humans. But they are more simple and pure than humans. We talked about afflictions and the views and tempters that drive us. We are influenced by these views and tempted by the environment, so we are unable to restrict our desires. We initiate actions that create much negative karma.
Where do these problems originate? From the 84,000 types of mental afflictions. Everyone has different habits, which are our shortcomings. Bad habits fill us with afflictions. So we can say that afflictions arise from complexity of the mind.
We talked about Truth in View and in Thought. View is our understanding. How many Views are there? A lot. They can be divided into over 60 types, or into over 80 types, into over 90 types or into over 100 types of views. In the Dharma, there are many numerical terms to help us find where our afflictions lie. Of course, in our daily life, in our normal spiritual practice, we have afflictions and our Tathagata-nature. We are Tathagatas in Bonds; we are trapped in bonds. We do not know how to escape once we are bound. We know that everyone has a pure nature, equal to that of the Tathagata. But this nature is accompanied by many afflictions. If we listen to the Dharma and allow it into our minds, we will constantly be vigilant. Then we can peacefully coexist with afflictions. To advance further, we must gradually and peacefully eliminate the afflictions, and not be tempted by unwholesome views.
Affliction arise due to habits and the complexities of the mind. When teachings enter the mind, one heightens one’s awareness and is not tempted by external phenomena.
When external states arise, we are in control and can differentiate between them. But do we contemplate the principles before an event takes place? Before events occur, if we can contemplate with a peaceful mindset, then we are able to be reflective when confrontations do occur. This is what we are always training for, just like the little child who recited repeatedly in front of the dog. The first goal of listening to the Dharma is to develop proper views. The second is to have clear thinking. If our thinking is muddled, then we are driven into wrongdoings by tempters. There are Ninety-eight Tempters. We had mentioned the Eleven Universal Agents, which are just one part. There are Ninety-eight Tempters.
“Tempter” means something that drives us it is all a matter of perspective. When our mindset is not tranquil, we are driven by afflictions. Driven by afflictions, we are tempted by them. So we must be very careful. “Tempts” drive us. We become slaves to our afflictions. Instead of using our thoughts, we become slaves, driven by our thoughts and afflictions. All our hard efforts are directed by the Tempter, so we are enslaved by it. So the Tempter orders us around. We are being used by it. These are Delusive Views. If our views are not clear, we are driven by Delusive Views and allow external states to influence us, allow our sense organs to connect with objects. Then our inner consciousness becomes deluded and confused, and is driven into action. Tempters cause us to continue transmigrating in Three Realms. Though there are many external phenomena, they influence us only when we connect to them. If we always hold Truth of View and Thought, if we see the principles and distinguish right from wrong, we will naturally be also to control our minds. We will not be slaves to external conditions.
Every person has a pure nature. If the mind can realize the Truth through analysis of conditions and mental training, one will not be driven by external conditions.
One who is well-cultivated will just smile and not react, regardless of how others insult him. He remains calm and does not act impulsively. This is part of cultivation. What do we cultivate? Our thoughts and thinking. We should often direct our thinking toward reason in order to know what is reasonable and what is not. If someone unreasonably gives you a hard time, whether it is intentional or unintentional, do not respond. We just need to adjust our minds, and it will pass. We can then try to communicate with him. Consciousness controls our sense organs’ interaction with objects.
We can see with our eyes. Although external conditions are tempting, if our minds are calm and thoughts are proper, we will not be impulsive or immediately react afflictions. If we do not properly adjust our views or our thoughts to understand the Truth, then we will be driven by external states every day. Our views connect with external conditions and give rise to afflictions that prompt our actions. We may take irrevocable actions we later regret.
Our character and morality are also influenced by views and thoughts “Faith is the source the Way, mother of virtue.” When we choose the right faith, we choose the path. One slight deviation in our faith, and we are on the wrong path. Not only do we need to choose the right path, we must develop our character and credibility. “Honor your words.” This means that once you promise something, you must fulfill it. When you make an appointment and arrive late, or speak untruthfully, etc. your character is damaged. Others will disparage you, look down on you.
So when a person is not trustworthy others will think less of him because he has lost his credibility. Not only should we make the right choices, we must build character. So we must consciously make clear choices. Once the decision is made, we must be determined and follow through with our actions. If we can see clearly and practice what we preach, we can be “role models for others.”
Learning Buddhism starts from being a good person. So once we see the Truth, our thoughts are tranquil and clear. Then we can see the Way, otherwise, a slight deviation may result in huge divergence. We transmigrate within the Three Realms due to improper views and thoughts. From Delusive Views, differentiation arises in our minds. If our views and thoughts are correct, we can understand. So Tempters start with Views.
What drivers us is our Views. Does everyone still remember the Ten Views, the ten things that drive us? The first is View of Self. View of Self is being attached to the body. In the Five Roots, eyes, ears, nose, and tongue are all on our bodies. They cause us to differentiate external states. Everything is about the “self.” With the body, sense organs and objects interact. We have mentioned the Five Functioning Faculties. Are our bodies healthy? All our physical actions create karma. The View of Self alone encompasses many afflictions of the Roots and Dusts.
There is also extreme View. When our views deviate and evil views arise, we become attached. We attach to external conditions. Being attached is wrong. This is called Extreme View.
Next is Attachment to Views. Attachment to Views is being attached to improper ways. When one decides to follow a certain practice or to do something, he becomes attached to it. Even if the practice deviates, he is still attached to it. many who do not follow the Dharma still insist that they are practicing the Dharma. This is called Attachment to Views.
There is also Attachment to Precepts. Some practices are clearly wrong, but people still get attached to them. Practices involving fire and water, or other ascetic practices, stray from human nature. Such self-torture is not correct either. Some people say they need to cast lots to query the gods before they leave the house, or conduct ceremonies to change their luck. All these are Attachment to Precepts, which is painful.
Then there is Deviant View which is ignorance, or the inability to understand. Though one clearly does not understand, he insists that he knows all and is attached to that principle. This is called Deviant View.
Next is the Greed. Greed, anger and Ignorance are daily afflictions that accompany us. Besides these, there are also Arrogance and Doubt. Everyone, these are Ten Tempters that drive us.
The Ten Tempters: View of self, Extreme View, Attachment to Views, Attachment to Precepts, Deviant View, Greed anger, Ignorance, Arrogance and Doubt.
Everyone these are the Ten Tempters that drive us. They influence how we treat people, situations, things and matters. They give rise to our thoughts and elicit our emotions, feelings, etc., and cause many troubles for us. Ten Tempters do not just exist now, but also in the future. Altogether, there are Eighty-eight Tempters. We will discuss this again tomorrow.
Everyone, if our views and thoughts are proper, the righteous path before us will be broad. If they are improper, then the path will be treacherous, leading us into traps. So everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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