Lecturer: Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Six Points of Unity (六和敬)
People need to respect each other. If we always respect others, we will always be respected by others. If we can always maintain a mindset of gratitude and respect, we will respect ourselves and others. If we know to respect ourselves, we definitely know to respect others. That is because we need to have gratitude in our hearts before we can respect others. When we respect others, we are actually respecting ourselves. Life is basically about mutual respect and love.
Those who respect others are respected by others. Be grateful and respect yourself and others, then everyone will have mutual love and respect.
So we always say, “Speak good words with your mouths, make good vows with your thoughts, do good deeds with your bodies.” Open your heart, respect others, and be grateful. These are things the Tzu Chi volunteers do in their daily living. We know that on December 25, Catholics and Protestants go caroling. Tzu Chi does not discriminate based on religion. For many years we have helped nuns in a Southern California church go caroling and deliver presents in their town. Two of the nuns were over 80, and they could not go door-to-door to seek donations for presents. So, Tzu Chi volunteers played Santa Claus and brought some presents. The nuns accompanied Santa Claus to deliver presents and go caroling. They went to see over 200 families in the town. See, this demonstrates open-mindedness. Everyone knows we are Buddhists. But we do not discriminate and say, “You are Protestant. He is Catholic. I am Buddhist. He is Muslim.” No, we do not discriminate. We go wherever there is the need, to offer help, to comfort and to give. This is how we respect others. With this kind of selfless love, we constantly give and show respect. Think about it, aren’t we then respected and loved back? Life is basically about having mutual gratitude, and respecting ourselves and others. If everyone does this, everyone in the world will have love and respect. When we learn Buddhism, one thing we need to learn is to open our minds. Furthermore, we need to be constantly grateful and respectful, this is what we need to learn. So the next section of the repentance text states, “In monastic communities we will practice the Six Points of Unity. We will attain the power of freedom, help the Three Treasures thrive, promote Buddha’s Way and transform sentient beings.”
We live in a monastic community, among many people.
Since we are engaged in spiritual practice, and have entered a monastery to do so, we truly need to lead by example.We need to practice the Six Points of Unity.If we can do so, we can attain true freedom.
In life, our minds waver.When we are happy we vow to practice.In the monastery, in the Sangharama, we do not discriminate between people, as long as they have good intentions, make good vows, and want to practice, they can come do so.This was the case when the Buddha was alive, and it still today.Since we resolved to come here, we need to be at ease.
If we cannot feel free among others, it will be very taxing.
How can we feel free?
By getting along with and respecting others.We do not tell others to respect us, to get along with us.No. We need to proactively get along with and respect others.
Then others will respect and get along with us.Then we can be free.Freedom comes from eliminating mental hindrances.
If we have no mental hindrances, we are free no matter what happens to us.We let things pass.Let us be understanding, accommodating and content.Then we have the power of freedom.
Since we are part of this spiritual community, we are considered one of the Three Treasures.
How do we promote the Buddha-Dharma?We need to learn from the Buddha’s example.
We need to use the Buddha’s teachings in out daily living.We need to dignify our bodies and minds, our appearance, our behavior, and our actions, speech and thoughts.If we do not earnestly establish a good mindset, our behavior will go astray.Then others will see and think, “There’s nothing special about monastic.”
“Even monastic’s lack harmony.”
“Even monastics lack harmony, have many interpersonal disputes, and are not understanding or accommodating.”
Think about it, if we do this, how can we promote the Buddha-Dharma in society?
When we want to “help the Three Treasures thrive, promote Buddha’s Way, transform sentient beings, how can we attract and help transform others if we do not have a solid foundation ourselves?”
So, we must practice the Six Points of Unity in the monastic community.
First, live together harmoniously.
Second, speak without discord.
Third, feel mutual joy.
Fourth, practice the same precepts.
Fifth, share views and insights.
Sixth, share benefits equally.
Everyone should be able to understand this.First we need unity with our bodies.Our bodies are for doing things.In a monastery, everyone is assigned a task.Since we each have a task, we must act in harmony.
I often say that unity of mind cannot be seen, but harmony in our actions is visible.If we have unity in body, it is apparent in the expressions and actions of our bodies.If our actions are harmonious we respect and admire each other.If we are not united with people, in our behavior, or in our deeds, how can we live together?If we want to live together, we have to be in harmony through our tangible actions, as well as have intangible unity of mind.
We need united minds and harmony in order to “live together harmoniously.”
We also need to “speak without discord.”
We need to speak carefully. Do not be impulsive “I say whatever I want to say” .That is my habit Yes, but we practice to get rid of these habits. So, we must speak carefully, even with the slightest remarks Four of the Ten Evils are speech-related
So, in our practice, how can we not be careful when speaking? If we respect each other, disputes will not arise when we speak If we love and respect each other, how can arguments arise from speaking? They will not.
We “feel shared joy” Our minds are all aligned in the direction of opening our minds We are all practicing .Our goal is to eliminate our selfish ego and fulfill our greater self. Thus, we “promote Buddha’s Way, transform sentient beings”.
We need to promote the Buddha’s teachings because sentient beings are suffering, the world is in conflict, and society is chaotic and unsafe. This all comes from the mind. We have already obtained the Buddha’s teachings.
With moisture from the dew of Dharma-rain, the good seeds in our minds will always flourish. We need to harvest the fruits of Dharma so we can understand principles and relationships Then we can teach and transform sentient beings from this understanding.
So, we promote Dharma, the Buddha’s teachings which we have received. Don’t the collegiate volunteers often say this? Shoulder responsibility from above, pass it down .This means the same thing We promote Dharma, then transform sentient beings.
Promoting Dharma is shouldering, or taking on the mission of the Tathagata. To do this we eliminate selfishness and embrace Great Love .So, we need to have open minds and “feel share joy”. We have started the Tzu Chi School of Buddhism.
There are so many people around the world who have joined Tzu Chi and are very devoted Tzu Chi volunteers are active in so many countries realizing the great potential of love. As I just said, we do not discriminate between religions
See, this is part of getting along with others. We have to respect all religions. If it is a good religion, not only do we respect it, we make contributions to and help promote it .These are good deeds. After we see this, don’t we become happy?
As for me, I am very happy. This is “feeling shared joy”. Next we “practice the same precepts” In our monastery, we organize with precepts and manage with love. This is the Jing Si Dharma-lineage. How do we encourage the Six Points of Unity to arise in everyone?
If we abide by precepts, we practice the same precepts in unity. Thus we establish a system of organization .Everyone practices according to this system. Our monastery has its own rules. If everyone upholds the precepts, rules and etiquette, then we practice the same precepts upholds the precepts , rules and etiquette ,then we practice the same precepts.
We also “share views and insights “.Views are our understanding.
Since we share the same mission with the same vows and aspirations ,we have chosen to be in this practice center ,where the principle of our lifestyle has always been self-sufficiency.
Our spiritual training ground is our Tzu Chi family all around the world.
This is our system .So we should have a common understanding ,to open up our hearts and
embrace all sentient beings in the world.
We need to have this mutual understanding so we will have unity in views. Then ,if we practice together , it will be easy. So , we share views and insights. Everyone should understand that.
Our spiritual traning ground is just like this. So opening the door to our minds and
embracing all living beings repuires everyone to have unity in understanding.
We need to always be greateful for
Living Bodhisattavas all over the world.
When they returm to the Abode ,
We treat them with respect because they are Living Bodhisattavas who spread the seeds of love to all corners of the globe. They are truly spiritual farmers who Spread and sow seeds of love. Think about it , when these Living Bodhisattavas ,farmers of the Fields of Blessings ,
return to our family ,how can we not great and respect them ?
So, we need to share our views and insights.We all need to affirm and recognize that Living Bodhisattavas are worldly treasures.
Next we “share benefits equally “
In our daily living ,we practice and work together.
We treat everyone the same.
We are all one family ;If something need to be done ; we do it together
Some promote our School of Buddhism.
So , we also have Lay Priests
They each have their talents which they use to enter into society and guide others.
They also eliminate selfish love and leave their loved ones to enter this larger family.
Though they do not share the work of the monastics who live here , they also
make contributions to our school of Buddhism.They are within this big family ,
So whenever they have free time in their work,they also returm to help. This is the closeness of a family.
Outwardly ,they promote ; imwardly ,they work.
Outwardly ,they promote our school of Buddhism.
Internally ,they focus on practice and work. So , we need to have unity in sharing benefits equally.
That means , we do our best in our jobs and are not petty.
We do everything for this big family ,
Our resident medical volunteers leave early and return late.
They work to uphold one of the Four Mission of the Mission of Medicine ,by saving lives with love. They are usually out , and very busy ,and we also love them as part of our family.
So we need to “share benefits equally “.
We each stand at our post to practice and work together. Those who work inside or outside [of the Abode] are all part of this big family.
These are the Six Points of Unity.
These are our rules ,
So we practice the same precepts in unity. We organize with precepts , manage with love.
If everyone in our monastery clearly understands that we “organize with precepts , manage with love,”we can fully achieve the Six Points of Unity if we can do so ,we help “the Three Treasures thrive, “and we can“ promote Buddha’s Way , transform sentient beings “.
So in monastic community we must practice the Six Points of Unity so we can always be free and truly attain the goals of our practice.
I hope everyone will always be mindful.
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