Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: One Lamp Kindles the Flame of Another (一燈二焰 燈燈相續)
Date: September. 24, 2013
We must constantly tame our minds. We listen to teachings solely to tame our minds. The Buddha taught us the Dharma because He wanted us to return to our intrinsic nature. That intrinsic nature is still within us. If we can tame the mind and keep it pure, that is our intrinsic nature. If our intrinsic nature has been defiled, then it becomes the discriminating mind. Then it is a “mind” and no longer a “nature”. That is why we must work on taming our minds. We walk the right path without straying, so we can return to our intrinsic nature.
So, this passage from the Sutra of Infinite Meanings states,
“As tamers or great tamers, they are disciplined in their conduct. They are like trainers of elephants and horses who can train all.”
When we talk about a tamer, we are using the analogy of a carriage. The cart needs a horse. A horse needs someone to care for it, so it can take the cart to a destination. The cart is like the Buddha-Dharma. The horse is the disciple. On the cart, there are true treasures of Dharma. The driver of the carriage is the Buddha. He wants to train His disciples to carry the Dharma to a destination. He wants to drive this carriage. He knows where to direct the cargo. The horse pulling the carriage forward must not deviate from the path, it must be corrected immediately. This is an analogy.
The Buddha-Dharma is a cart. The disciples are horses. The true Dharma is the treasure and the Buddha is the tamer. If the horse deviates from the course, He immediately commands and tames it.
So, the Sutra of Infinite Meanings uses crazy elephants and wild horses as an analogy for sentient beings. These animals can only be controlled by a tamer. He has to know the nature of the beasts. He knows the kind of method that is needed to tame each kind of beast. We sentient beings are like these wild animals, as we need to tamer to discipline us. The Buddha is the tamer that disciplines us. He is a great tamer.
I recall a story about how Devadatta wanted to kill the Buddha. He intoxicated some elephants and caused them to become out of control. When he saw the Buddha coming in the distance, he let these wild elephants loose.He released these drunken elephants, so their violent energy would cause them to trample the Buddha.But the Buddha is dignified and wise, awe-inspiring and at ease.Though He saw the herd of wild elephants, He remained calm and at ease, advancing steadily.The elephants ran toward the Buddha.But when they came right up to Him, they stopped suddenly, as if bolted to the ground.They stopped moving.The Buddha gestured toward them, and they calmed down.The elephants were then well-behaved and sat down in an orderly fashion.Their minds and bodies were calmed.They become docile and obedient.This is what a tamer, a great tamer, does.He is a great tamer.
A tamer has to know the nature of sentient beings.To do that, he must tame his own mind.Because inside each one of us, there are crazy elephants and wild horses.If we do not pay attention, even for just a moment the elephants in our hearts will get drunk and the horses that are in our minds will not accept our taming.So, these states of mind are signs that we are still unenlightened beings, that we are still sentient beings.
The Buddha appeared in the world to tame sentient beings.
There are so many sentient beings; how does one begin to tame them?
Even though the Buddha manifested extinction over 2000 years ago, His Dharmakaya still remains in the world.We must apply the Buddha’s teachings and methods.We need to spread Buddha-Dharma in the world, so all sentient beings can come in contact with it.This is using the Dharma to tame the mind.
The Dharma of the mind has to be experienced.So, “as tamers and great tamers, they are disciplined in their conduct”.We must be disciplined in our conduct.
Time passes quickly.Life exists in the space of a breath.
Why take issue over things?Being able to accept Buddha-Dharma is precious.We have to be diligent and make progress; that is our great goal as we learn the Buddha’s Way.
At that time, there was a Bodhisattva named Virtue Treasury.Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha, who was bestowing a prediction, announced to the bhiksus, “Virtue treasury Bodhisattva will next become a Buddha called Pure Body, Tathagata, Araha, Samyak Sambuddha.”
The precious passage comes from the Lotus Sutra.“At that time, there was a bodhisattva named Virtue Treasury.”
Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha picked him out of so many people to bestow this prediction [of Buddhahood].He accumulated virtues as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.
That is a very large number.He was replete in all kinds of virtues.Everybody, [doing] a good deed is a virtue.[Saying] a kind word is also a virtue.Helping others is also a virtue.All these small deeds accumulate until there are “virtues as numerous as sands of the Ganges”.
By doing something regularly, it becomes “stored in our treasury”. It said, “if the husband practices, he attains. If the wife practices, she attains. If someone does not practice, they do not attain.” So, he practiced everything, and stored it all in his heart. This is called “virtue”.
I often say that internal cultivation creates “merit”, and external practice creates “virtue”. We have to constantly tame the crazy elephants and wild horses within us. We must constantly tame our minds and take action to help others. The ability to control ourselves is a “merit”. If we can give, that is a “virtue”. These are then stored. In doing this, we benefit ourselves. He was replete with both internal cultivation and external practice.
“At that time, there was a Bodhisattva named Virtue Treasury.”
“Virtue Treasury: Replete with merits and virtues as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. By storing them in his treasury, he benefitted himself. With these virtues, he widely gives to sentient beings to benefit them.”
So, “with these virtues, he widely gives to sentient beings to benefit them”. With these kinds of virtues from internal and external practices, we can also set an example for others and pass along these teachings to them. If we have the virtue to widely give to sentient beings, everybody will listen to and comply with our words. This is called benefiting others.
So, Virtue Treasury Bodhisattva is replete with all these virtues. Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha bestowed the prediction on him to attain Buddhahood out of the many people there.
“Bestowing a prediction: When a Holy One speaks and imparts, He is bestowing. The fruit and His expectation is the prediction”.
Bestowing is when a Holy One speaks and imparts. When a Holy One makes you a promise, that is called bestowing a prediction. A Holy One’s promises never fail. When He tells you that you will become a Buddha, you must believe Him. Everyone else must also believe Him. This is the promise of the Holy One. This is called bestowing a prediction. “The fruit and His expectation is called a prediction”. That he will become a Buddha is what the Buddha wishes for him deep in His heart. His promise is His hope. It is more than hope; Virtue Treasury will certainly become a Buddha.
“Question: In the past, while expounding sutras, the Buddha gave predictions to Bodhisattvas. Now He gives predictions to Hearers. How can we say they are the same?”
“Answer: Those who have perfected their virtues are now called Bodhisattvas. Those who will also practice this path are the Hearers”.
Some people asked, “In the past, Buddhas expounded sutras and bestowed predictions on Bodhisattvas.” But this time ［was different］ as Sakyamuni Buddha expounded the Lotus Sutra. Later there is a Chapter on Bestowing Predictions in which those to whom predictions were bestowed upon were Arhats. So for those who have read sutras, they found this strange. In the past, Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha bestowed predictions on Bodhisattvas that they would become Buddhas. So, why was Sakyamuni Buddha bestowing predictions on Arhats, instead? What is the reason? People asked this question. The answer is, “those who have perfected their virtues are now called Bodhisattvas”. At the time when Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha bestowed predictions on Virtue Treasury Bodhisattva, who had already accumulated merits and virtues as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. After perfecting his virtues, he became a Bodhisattva. Now, the Arhats that Sakyamuni Buddha bestowed predictions on are still at the stage of learning. They are predicted to become Bodhisattvas. The Buddha gave them teachings so they can focus on practicing the Bodhisattva-path. If they practice that path diligently, they can also become Buddhas in the future.
Virtue Treasury Bodhisattva once became a monastic, a bhiksu, then an Arhat. Then he made a great aspiration to practice the Bodhisattva-way, so these predictions were bestowed upon him by. Now, the Buddha bestowed predictions on these bhiksus. These bhiksus have also aspired to practice. Whether they were Pratyekabuddhas or Arhats, they listened to Him teach Mahayana Dharma and formed Bodhisattva-aspirations, so predictions were also bestowed upon them. Now, He was bestowing the predictions earlier, so they would practice the Bodhisattva-path and become Buddhas. So “those who will also practice this path”, had predictions bestowed upon them that they can also become Buddhas in the future.
People also asked, “Why did He give teachings to Wondrous Light and give predictions to Virtue Treasury?”
Didn’t Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant give teachings to Wondrous Light Bodhisattva after emerging from Samadhi? Why did He bestow predictions on Virtue Treasury?The answer is, “Wondrous Light had the capacities. He must have already received a prediction.”
Wondrous Light was the one the teachings suited and had predictions bestowed upon him in the past. This implies that Wondrous Light ［Bodhisattva］ had already attained Buddhahood in the past. This reflected how Buddhas and Bodhisattvas constantly return out of compassion. ［They are those］ who have achieved, have yet to achieve and are achievinghe,he had also attained Buddhahood in the past and had returned to assist at this Dharma-assembly. Virtue Treasury is achieving Buddhahood. And then the Hearers, on whom the Buddha bestows predictions in expounding Lotus Sutra, are those who have not yet achieved Buddhahood. But, they will achieve Buddhahood in the future. Have achieved, is achieving, and yet achieve are the three categories of capabilities. These three are in completely different stages, but they can all achieve Buddhahood.
“From one lamp two flames were kindled. One ［flame］ was passed to Wondrous Light to promote the Dharma and benefit living beings by transforming endlessly, so this path will never vanish. One［ flame］ was passed to Virtue Treasury for humans and heavenly beings to rely on, so the lamps will be passed on.”
So, this was the prediction: You now know that one had become a Buddha and returned as a Bodhisattva. The other is a Bodhisattva about to achieve Buddhahood. This is using “one lamp to kindle two flames”. Once one lamp is lit, another two can be illuminated. All will be bright. I hope we can all understand the Buddha’s wisdom and the wonders of Dharma.
One flame was passed to Wondrous Light to promote Dharma and benefit living beings. This path will continue forever. This path will continue forever. The other lamp was passed to Virtue Treasury for humans and heavenly beings to rely on so that future hamans and heavenly beings will know that there are those who will become. Buddhas, and we can rely on them. The Wisdom of Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha and the wisdom of our Sakyamuni Buddha should be equal.
Everyone, we must really make an effort. After Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant bestowed predictions, He soon entered Nirvana without residue. So when we hear this sutra, we must cherish it. We must use our bodies to practice the Dharma. We must not hear the teachings and then forget it. Without practice, listening to it would be useless. So, I hope that the Dharma will be in your heart and in your actions. Everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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