Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Fulfill Your Duties and Blessings Come Naturally (盡本分福自來)
The mind is the root of all Dharma. Every day we listen to and talk about the teachings. Do they really enter into our minds? Do we put them into practice? We need to remind ourselves to remain vigilant in our daily conduct. This is very important.
During the Buddha’s time, there were two close friends who often spent time together. One day Prasenajit, King of Sravasti, invited Buddha to give a teaching in the crowded streets, so that ordinary citizens would have the chance to hear His Dharma and learn from Him. The Buddha was happy to hear that He agreed, knowing that the king loved his subjects.
On that day, the king and his noble entourage went to the Buddha’s abode to great Him. His teaching took place right in the middle of an intersection of four broad streets. Many people came to listen to the teaching, including the two friends, who stood at the edge of the crowd. One of the two friends, upon seeing the Buddha, hearing His teaching, and witnessing the grand scene, was filled with joy. He kept praising the king for his wisdom and compassion, how he not only cared for people’s livelihood, but also their minds. He continued to give this praise.
Listening to this, and seeing his friend’s reverence and joy, the other friend disagreed. “What’s so special about all this? I think the king is quite ignorant and stupid. What is there to be so revered? Gautama Sramana [Buddha] is like an ox. His followers are like the wagon. It is just an ox pulling a wagon around.” He continued to utter vile words. His friend then advised him, “Do not say such things. The birth of a Buddha is rare and auspicious. Every word He utters is precious and profound and is meant to inspire people to do benevolent deeds and be content and joyful. That is the very root of happiness.”
His friend remained unchanged in his views. Fearing that his friend would continue to create negative speech karma, he pulled him away and left. They entered the downtown area. It was past noon already, and they were hungry. They stopped by a restaurant. The joyful one ate lightly because he had just received the Buddha’s teaching. Filled with sincerity and reverence, he ordered simple, light dishes. The other indulged himself with heavy, meaty food. Then, for unknown reasons, the over-indulgent friend collapsed and died. Witnessing firsthand the impermanence of life, his friend realized the truthfulness of the Buddha’s teachings, and a deep respect for the Buddha-Dharma arose within him. He often talked with others about how approachable the Buddha was, and how wise the king was to invite Him to give teaching on the streets. Everywhere he went, he praised the king’s wisdom and the Buddha’s teachings.
Later, he went to a neighboring country. There he expounded Buddha’s teaching to the people. The king of this nation did not have any children. Aging and ill, he worried about who would succeed him. He considered his entire staff, but who was genuinely loving and caring? The prosperity of a nation and the happiness of its people depends upon loving and benevolent leadership. Thus, one day, the king ordered the entire nation to pick out a person whom they deemed the most loving. After hearing this decree, all the citizens were happy. It was the man from the neighboring country who often spoke kind, meaningful words and taught them to do good.
Everyone was happy to hear his words. They all felt content and thought, “what a blessing it would be to have this man as our leader”. So the people nominated him and the king summoned the man to be interviewed. Satisfied with the depth of the man’s wisdom, the king passed on his reign to him. Without trying, he received such high regard from the king. So the man knelt down, facing east, to express his gratitude to the Buddha. He said, “When I ascend the throne I will lead my people in accordance with the Buddha’s teachings.” After a few days, he began to govern using the teachings, and led his officials back to his own country to prostrate and pay respect to the Buddha. Upon hearing about this man, people in that country asked the Buddha how such an ordinary person could be favored with such wonderful conditions. He smiled and said, “The mind, basis of Dharma, directs all actions. Good thoughts lead to good speech and action. Blessings and happiness follow us like a shadow.”
This means that everything originates from the mind. We often say, “Mind, Buddha, and all living beings are equal.” We all possess the same pure Buddha-nature. This is the root of the Dharma. The root of Dharma is pure. So “the mind is the director of all actions”. If it gives rise to benevolent thoughts, it leads one to act accordingly. We have talked about this before. The mind can direct one to act out of goodness, but it can also motivate one to do evil.
If we have respect for people, and for the Buddha and the Dharma, our behavior reflects that. So the mind is the director of all actions. If our thoughts are always benevolent, they lead to good speech and action; then we are mindful in all our speech and actions. When the Dharma and the Buddha dwell in the mind, it is reflected in our conduct. Blessings and happiness follow such people without those people even trying.
Didn’t the ancient sages once say, “A person has two legs, but blessings have four?” “If you are entitled to them, no matter where you run, blessings chase you.” “If you instead try to chase after blessings, it will be in vain.” All we need is to do our best to fulfill our duties.
A person has two legs, but blessings have four. So it is hard to chase after blessings. When one does one’s best to fulfill one’s duties, with constant good thoughts focused on the Dharma, blessings arise without asking.
In short, one’s mind and speech determine one’s disasters and blessings. As the Buddha’s disciples, we should know this. In the past, did we have an unhappy reaction to seeing other people? When we heard others being praised, did we become jealous and discredit the words? Have we ever been like this? If so, then we have to become more vigilant. We should always be sincere with others. If we have malicious thoughts or harbor a desire to slander or malign others, then we have to make haste and repent, because this is the Three Poisons manifesting.
When are the Three Poisons? They are the source of all afflictions. The three poisons are Greed, Anger and Ignorance. After that, there are Arrogance and Doubt. Greed gives rise to anger as well as an inability to take delight in hearing others beings praised. Seeing others doing kind deeds, not only do we withhold praise, we oppose them just for the sake of opposing them. This is anger and ignorance manifesting. When working among others, arrogance and doubt are also poisons. The Three Poisons are the root of all afflictions. So how do we give rise to merits and virtues? If we do not repent the Three Poisons and eliminate afflictions, then whatever we do is fruitless.
The Three Poisons are the root of all afflictions. If one does not self-reflect, repent and eliminate the Poisons, all the good one does is easily lost.
Repent deeply and sincerely. We need to apologize to people with sincerity. We cannot say we are sorry while still maintaining that the other person is at fault. That is wrong. Apologizing and placing blame on others cancel each other out, so there are no merits. It indicates that our practice has not advanced yet. So we need to repent frequently in a sincere and through manner.
One should repent sincerely and completely. If one allows the mind waver, the inner poison will never be cleared.
These days, when people repent they still tend to waver, so when we are with others, we need to do good deeds. When working with others, we develop good habits by giving unconditionally. Tzu Chi volunteers in Canada usually organize a Christmas party in December. On December 1, 2006, they went to a Salvation Army drug rehabilitation center, where there were 30 people receiving treatment. They were addicted to drugs and had been in rehab before. They wanted to stop but could not.
Tzu Chi volunteers prepared and distributed waterproof jackets. They also provided them other supplies. The director of the facility was really happy to see us because we have had a good relationship with them for over eleven years. We have formed this great partnership. Tzu Chi volunteers cook for them every month, with utmost sincerity and respect. Whenever it is their turn to provide the meal they decorate the room to look like a fancy restaurant. The tables are covered with tablecloths with flower arrangements in the center and fancy place settings all around. They’ve been doing this for a long time.
That is why the Salvation Army is always happy to see Tzu Chi volunteers. They see that the gifts we provide are of good quality. The jackets are made of quality fabric and are both warm and rainproof. The supplies are also abundant and varied. They were all very thankful and the gift recipients were also happy. They value having Tzu Chi volunteers in their lives.
The director’s first moving experience with Tzu Chi came many years ago, actually, when our volunteers performed a sign language song called “Universal Love, Trust and Forgiveness.” They translated it into English, and sang it aloud, “In this world, there is no one I do not love.” “In this world, there is no one I do not trust.” “In this world, there is no one I cannot forgive.” The English translation followed the melody and was very touching. The staff were so moved they forgot their worries. The song lyrics entered deeply into their hearts. In the rehabilitation centers, sometimes it can be rather frustrating.
Sometimes people seem to be cured after much time and effort has been spent educating and encouraging them; but though they leave for a while, they end up coming back. There seems to be no end. One group out, one group in. One person out, another person in. It is very taxing. Sometimes, the staff still feels resentment, but the song says, “There is no one I do not love. Sometimes they can get so mad at these people, but, “There is no one I cannot forgive.” Seeing these people come and go, it is easy to lose confidence in them. But, “There is no one I do not trust.” One of these days, these people will make a clean break from drugs. The director of the center was deeply moved. Whenever a complaint or worry arises in his mind, he just lets it go.
Everyone, our minds have greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt. These are the poisons in our minds. Learning how to eliminate them is being mindful of the Dharma. When the Dharma enters one’s heart, it shows in one’s conduct. We should strive to do this. So please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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