Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: All Are Equally Given the Vehicle to Nirvana (如來滅度等與大乘)
Date:July.15. 2015
“Bodhisattvas practice the Great Dharma to transform all sentient beings. With compassion, wisdom, fearlessness and powers they exercise their sympathy. They adapt to sentient beings circumstantial and direct retributions. They benefit others, bring them peace and joy and abide in the state of fearlessness.”
Bodhisattvas form great aspirations and make great vows. By accepting the Buddha’s teachings, they have chosen the cart drawn by the white ox and the Great Vehicle Dharma of transforming themselves and others. They have only one goal, “to transform all sentient beings.” This is the vow of Bodhisattvas. Their vows come from “compassion, wisdom, fearlessness and powers,” so they “exercise their sympathy.” Once they form this aspiration, what they learn is the Great Vehicle Dharma. The Great Vehicle Dharma nurtures the compassion and wisdom in their hearts. This is the vow of Bodhisattvas, to exercise both compassion and wisdom.
As part of this process, since they have formed this aspiration, they must put it into practice. Putting it into practice requires fearlessness and powers, perseverance and courage. This is the power of a Bodhisattva’s vow, which allows them to exercise their sympathy.
Everyone possesses sympathy, but the sympathy of the average person is buried under their afflictions and desires. We may feel sad for someone, but think we are not connected to them. However, Bodhisattvas have already awakened their wisdom and compassion, so they can put their power of fearlessness toward exercising their sympathy.
With what methods can they enable sentient beings to be transformed, transform themselves and also transform others? What methods can be used? Bodhisattvas exercise compassion and wisdom to “adapt to sentient beings.”
For sentient beings to accept teachings, there must be [the right] causes and conditions. What are the causes and conditions that can be used to draw them in? First, we must adapt to [their capabilities]; we must give teachings to sentient beings according to their capabilities and adapt to their causes and conditions as well. Their causes and conditions are none other than their circumstantial and direct retributions. These circumstantial and direct retributions come from karma they created in past lifetimes. They follow their karmic affinities to whatever place they will be born in.
Nowadays, we can see and hear real-life examples of this. Last year (2013), Typhoon Haiyan struck. This was an incredibly powerful storm that hit the Philippines on November 8. Tzu Chi volunteers all over the world began fundraising and gathering love.
South Africa was one of these countries, and they also have a “Tzu Ching Volunteer Day”. Local Tzu Ching (collegiate volunteers) established certain Sundays as days for gathering together and dedicating themselves to volunteer activities. Normally on these days, they would follow Bodhisattva[-volunteers] to visit the poor. They would go along with the local volunteers to help poor, sick and suffering people.
This time, however, they mobilized themselves to gather goodwill and fundraise. This was not limited to the collegiate volunteers. They also recruited people in physical rehab whom they had been helping. Those aid recipients were willing to pitch in, even those in wheelchairs. The Tzu Ching pushed them in their wheelchairs onto the streets to help fundraise. At the start, there were nearly 100 people there, all of whom were there to join the fundraising to send disaster relief to the Philippines.
These volunteers were divided into two teams, each comprising of 40 of 50 people.Everyone was so full of joy.They sang as they walked and were very happy.Holding the donation box in their arms, whenever they met someone, they talked about the situation on the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan and asked them for donations.
South Africa has never experienced a typhoon, so our volunteers used photos, videos, etc., to patiently explain it to everyone.With a deep sense of reverence, they held a prayer ceremony next to the road to pray for the Philippines and the world.This is how they began this activity in that poor community, they reverently prepared themselves mentally and physically before they began fundraising.It was quite a beautiful scene to behold.
As this happened, a young wife walked toward our volunteers and said, “I donated last time and when I see you again today, I am so happy. However, I have no money on me, so I’m willing to donate my child.”Her child was five years old.
Startled, our volunteers asked, “If you donate him, what shall we do with him?”
She said, “I donate him to you to help with your fundraising.”And so, this child followed the volunteers to ask for donations.
After this child had joined them, many other young children followed suit.So, the procession included not only Tzu Chings and not only the local volunteers, but also a group of adorable children, all of them, four, five, six or seven years old.They kept joining the procession until there was a big group of them, all singing and dancing as they walked.
Some people on the streets driving by in cars, upon seeing this group of people from far away, stopped to ask, “What are you doing?”The volunteers then explained, “We’re raising money to help the Philippines. ”Everyone pulled out their wallets to donate.Even people who had driven past reversed their cars [to see what was happening].They likewise made donations.
Stories like these truly give us hope.
“I have no money to give, but I will, with great reverence, wish them well and pray for them.”
In this way, the volunteers did indeed raise funds and inspire love.Everyone has love in their hearts.Though they were too poor to give, they created this very heart-warming scene.
Among the young people who went there were two Tzu Chi collegiate volunteers from Taiwan.
They felt that this fundraiser helped them realize the truth of “having faith in their own selflessness and having faith in other people’s love.”This gave them a boost in their morale.
Isn’t this how they “adapt to sentient beings circumstantial or direct retributions”?
See, though they are Taiwanese children born to Taiwanese parents, they went to South Africa to spread the spirit of Tzu Chi in that country.Many people in South Africa live in deep poverty.Their circumstantial retribution is there, as is their direct retribution.But they had the causes and conditions to come in contact with Living Bodhisattvas, with Tzu Chi volunteers who mobilized them [to help others].
As they gave to others with their actions and their reverence, they manifested an ability to save others locally.
At the same time, they were also willing to give to all those suffering around the world.
Regardless of the color of their skin, they have the same heart; they all intrinsically have Buddha-nature.They all have the same Buddha-nature, so they all have this love in their hearts.
This is how “They benefit others, bringing them peace and joy.”Giving to others makes them very happy, so, “They have faith in their own selflessness and faith in other people’s love.”
Thus they “abide in the state of fearlessness”.
With this kind of faith, naturally we can benefit others, bringing peace and joy.If we can benefit suffering sentient beings, we can also bring ourselves peace and joy.Furthermore, our minds will abide in this state of fearlessness.
This is wisdom; we must exercise both compassion and wisdom.
The previous sutra passage states, “The Tathagata is just like this. Acting as the father of all sentient beings, He sees countless billions of sentient beings using the door of the Buddha’s teachings to leave the suffering of the Three Realms, that fearsome and dangerous path, and attain the joy of Nirvana.”
Through the door of the Buddha’s teachings, people can leave the Three Realms’ suffering.
Once they have eliminated their afflictions and ignorance, they have nothing to fear.They can walk this path peacefully and with ease “and attain the joy of Nirvana”.
When we walk the Bodhi-path, our body and mind become calm. Because we exercise both compassion and wisdom, we can be fearless.
The next passage states, “The Tathagata, at that time, had his thought, I have infinite, unlimited, wisdom, powers, fearlessness and so on, the Dharma-treasures of all Buddha”.
The Buddha was referring to Himself, to how He had this thought at that time, “I have infinite, unlimited, wisdom, powers, fearlessness and so on, the Dharma-treasures of all Buddhas”. These [treasures] were so abundant.
This led the Tathagata to think that, with so much wealth, “I should not give inferior carts to my children”.
This was just like the elder. The elder is an analogy for the Tathagata, who also has an abundance of wealth. “Inexhaustible” means his wealth is boundless. [Therefore, he thought] he should not give such small carts to his children. Instead, he should give them all great carts which contain an abundance of treasures. This wealth is the treasure of the Dharma, the teachings of wisdom that He hopes everyone will receive.
Therefore, “with the power of wisdom”, we are able to “faithfully accept the True Dharma” and, “with a fierceness in our thought and actions, cultivate purifying practices”.
This is what happens when our wisdom is unlocked. This what happens when our wisdom is unlocked. With this power of wisdom, one can indeed exercise “faith” and believe in the Buddha’s teachings. I often say, “Faith is the source of the Way, mother of merits”. It can “nurture all roots of goodness”. If we can develop deep faith, our roots of goodness will extend deeply like those of a tree. Then if we can absorb the karmic conditions aboveground, like sunlight, rainwater, air, etc., these roots beneath the ground will naturally extend outward and dig more deeply into the soil. This requires faith; faith fosters our roots of goodness.
“With a fierceness in our thoughts and actions we can cultivate purifying practices”. Purifying practices are cleansing. If we have, naturally we will be able to accept the Buddha’s teachings. When we accept the teachings, our wisdom-life will grow. If we can put the teachings into practice, we can continue to open up and broaden our minds and eliminate ignorance. This is how the power of our wisdom expands.
“Wisdom” includes discerning wisdom, with which we can clearly discern the appearances of all things and clearly distinguish right from wrong. What about the other kind of wisdom? There is also “impartial wisdom”, with which we “can understand the principles of all things”. This means we can comprehend the appearances of all worldly matters. “Being able to connect without obstruction to the principles and natures of things” is called “impartial wisdom”.
This is “impartial wisdom”. Discerning wisdom helps us make distinctions. With impartial wisdom, we treat everything equally. To achieve this state of equality, we must nourish our compassion. Only when we awaken our compassion can we treat all people, matters, objects and principles impartially.
First, we distinguish everything with “discerning wisdom”. Next, we awaken our compassion with “impartial wisdom”. Only then can we regard everything impartially and exercise the great love that is within us.
So, “Fearlessness and so on [are] the Dharma-treasures of all Buddhas”. By exercising our wisdom, we set in motion compassion and wisdom and are naturally fearless. Then we can deeply penetrate the Dharma-treasures of all Buddhas. Not only can we penetrate them, we can also apply them among sentient beings.
We learn to be like the Buddha, who is replete with the power of fearlessness. Thus, He can teach the Dharma among the people with composure and fearlessness; these virtues are already perfect.
Right now, we are learning to be like the Buddha. I hope we will accept the Buddha’s teachings, clearly understand them, then go among people to expound the Dharma to others.
The Buddha’s Dharma-treasures are numerous, and all sentient beings are Buddha-children. Therefore He impartially offers this knowledge to all sentient beings. This is compassion.
With his wisdom and compassion, He views all sentient beings as His only child, so He is “the kind father of the four kinds of beings”. Therefore, as we are all Buddha-children, everyone on earth is part of one family. We must view everyone equally and practice mutual gratitude and respect. The Buddha-Dharma is found among the people.
So, the next passage states, “All these sentient beings are my children.” “I give them the Great Vehicle equally so that attaining Nirvana is not exclusive to certain individuals. I help them all cross into extinction with the Tathagata’s Nirvana.”
See how impartial He is! The Buddha said, “All of these sentient beings are my children, so I should impartially give them all equally great carts.” He showed no favoritism. He was not giving the cart to just one person or to a small group of individuals. He hoped to selflessly teach the truths that He understood fully to all sentient beings, so that they might all become equal to Him. What an amazing [aspiration]!
So, “The Tathagata’s Nirvana is the perfect Dharma-nature”.
The Tathagata’s Nirvana is the perfect Dharma-nature, which He attains completely. The Dharma-nature is permanently tranquil. It has no appearances of arising and ceasing. This is the Tathagata’s permanence, joy, greater self and purity.
When we awaken our intrinsic nature of True Suchness, we can realize the working of the world and the methods for transcending it and being one with the universe. The Tathagata has already attained “cessation.” Having put an end to all afflictions, He freely comes and goes in this world. He is called the “Thus Come One”. He exercises Tathagata-wisdom to interact with people in this world. So, He has already attained Nirvana, yet He freely comes and goes in this world.This is because “[His Nirvana] is the perfect Dharma-nature, which He attains completely.” He has attained it completely. The Dharma-nature is permanently tranquil It will always be free of fluctuations. This state is so tranquil and clear; it “has no appearances of arising and ceasing.” This is the Tathagata’s “permanence, joy, greater self and purity.”
The Tathagata is permanent, or everlasting, as is the Buddha-nature. Although the Tathagata manifested in the world for only about 80 years, the Tathagata’s Dharma-nature has always been permanent. Since Beginningless Time, He has been liberated from the sufferings of this world and works from within a state of Dharma-joy.
Yesterday we discussed the “joy of the Four Noble Truths.” As we learn and practice the teachings, if we can understand these four principles, we can naturally be peaceful and at ease. This is to say nothing of the Buddha, who has understood the principles of all things in the universe; they are all contained within His mind. This is “permanence, joy, self and purity.”
“Self” refers to the greater self, which is one with the universe. This is the greater self of true principles, so it will always be pure, like the endless void [of the universe].
Although we often discuss pollution in the sky, it is not the sky that is polluted, but the air Neither the sky nor the universe can be contaminated. The Buddha’s mind has already become one with the universe, so He understands “permanence, joy, greater self and purity.”
So, “I hope them all cross into extinction with the Tathagata’s Nirvana.”
I help them all cross into extinction with the Tatagata’s Nirvana, so I give them the Great Vehicle equally.
The Buddha hoped that sentient beings could all be like Him, that they could attain a state in which they have completely eliminated their afflictions and are able to cross from the state of unenlightened beings to that of noble beings. If we can be united with the universe like He is, we can also experience “permanence, joy, greater self and purity.” Our mind will be open and expansive; “Our mind encompasses the universe and embraces the boundless worlds within it.” Then what is there to feel afflicted about?
Therefore, we are all “[give] the Great Vehicle equally.” We humans and all sentient beings receive the Great Vehicle equally. So, this is what we must learn now. “Bodhisattvas practice the Great Dharma to transform all sentient beings.” We must make this kind of vow in order to “benefit others, bring them peace and joy and abide in the state of fearlessness.” So everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
首頁 
