Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The One Vehicle Contains Infinite Treasures (一乘大法無量珍寶)
Date: January.12. 2016
“A mind that seeks more is less content, while attaining something unsought brings much joyful satisfaction. Unexpectedly hearing the prediction of attaining Buddhahood, how could they not joyously celebrate?”
We know that, in life, many things leave us feeling unsatisfied. The more people seek, the less content they are. Today, when we look around the world we see many entrepreneurs. If we ask them, “Do you have enough?” [They say,] “No, my business is still expanding. Even if it is ranked number one in the world, I hope it can still grow so no one can overtake it and cause it to fall to number two.” So, they feel they do not have enough. Being number one is not enough. They worry about being overtaken by number two. Number two feels even more discontent, because number one is ahead of them. We do not even need to talk about number three.
The more they seek, the less content they feel, to say nothing of the average person. This is what the suffering in life looks like; there is so much suffering. Those who do not have anything at all live a life of unbearable suffering. Natural disasters and manmade calamities make things even more unbearable for them. This is life!
If we attain something we did not seek, it brings much joyful satisfaction. When we have no expectations but still attain something unsought, we will feel very happy; this is unexpected joy. In the world, there are many people who have few desires and are content. They constantly feel satisfied. Attaining just a little, they feel very happy and satisfied. This is the way they live. If our only thought is of giving, giving is such a joyful thing. Giving is not just the privilege of the wealthy. Those who are physical able can give; those who have the will can give. These people who are able to give, give without expectations. Simply achieving their goal [of giving] brings them great joy and deep satisfaction.
We sentient beings always seek to have more; we are always unsatisfied. In this world, we are constantly seeking more. We seek personal gain; we seek greater recognition and wealth. Then we spend an entire lifetime lost in mundane matters without realizing life is impermanent and short. The bigger a business is, the greater the damage it causes and the more karma it creates.
So, Earth Treasury Bodhisattva remains in hell to transform those with much greed and desire who were never satisfied. Earth Treasury Bodhisattva works so hard at this. He transforms sentient beings unconditionally. As long as they can accept the Dharma and be transformed, he is joyful. His joy is seeing sentient beings leave hell, accept the Buddha-Dharma and purify other beings; this makes him very happy.
As we have discussed in the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha’s disciples gradually opened and broadened their minds and accepted the Great Dharma. They began to feel [repentant] that in the past they only focused on self-awakening. Now they had understood that everyone has the chance to attain Buddhahood, as they formed aspirations. This was because Hearers were also able to receive predictions of Buddhahood; they will also become Buddhas in the future. Upon unexpectedly hearing that Hearers can also attain Buddhahood, this subtle and wondrous Dharma, how could it not bring them joy?
Thus everyone was very happy.This was Subhuti expressing [the joy] they felt upon unexpectedly hearing this prediction of Buddhahood, hearing that Hearers could receive predictions and also attain Buddhahood in the future.
As for Earth Treasury Bodhisattva, he did not care when he would attain Buddhahood.What he took from accepting the Buddha-Dharma was to give for the sake of sentient beings.No matter when or if he would attain Buddhahood, he just focused on giving to help sentient beings.
“Until hell is empty. I will not attain Buddhahood.”
These are great aspirations and great vows.From the beginning, he had these great aspirations and great vows to benefit others.So, he was constantly in a state of joy as be willingly and happily gave to others.
Thus in our spiritual practice, we should look to Earth Treasury Bodhisattva.
The following sutra passage states, “To our surprise, today, we unexpectedly heard this precious Dharma. Thus we profoundly celebrate for ourselves, for we have attained great benefit. Infinite treasures, though unsought, have now been attained.”
This is the sutra passage.“To our surprise” conveys that in their minds, they dared not even think of this before.In their hearts, they had always felt, “This is good enough for me.”But now they knew that if
Hearers form great aspirations and cultivate the Bodhisattva-practice, they can likewise attain Buddhahood.Before they never dared to think this possible; now they declared what was on their minds.
They began to express what they had been thinking.This sense of joy was something they had never felt before; now they were very happy.
They celebrated because they unexpectedly heard this Dharma.
So, “If one seeks something and then attains it, one may not consider it precious.”
In the past, they felt that the Buddha was only speaking to Bodhisattvas so this had to do with them.
Thus they absolutely had no intent to pursue it.Then, all of a sudden, in teaching the Wondrous Lotus Sutra, it Buddha praised everyone for intrinsically having extremely profound wisdom.Everyone has this, and everyone can attain Buddhahood.
Moreover, Sariputra had already received a prediction of Buddhahood from the Buddha.Although they did not expect this in the past, they now likewise hoped that they could also receive a prediction of Buddhahood form Him.
In the past they did not dare seek this, but now though unsought it had been attained.This made them very happy.This joy that arose was indescribable.They were simply joyful.This is what we must further seek to understand.The Buddha had never taught this in over 40 years, and toddy He was beginning to teach it.
The Buddha had never taught this in over 40 years, and today He was beginning to teach it.Truly, hearing it was completely unexpected.That Hearers could attain Buddhahood was something they had never heard before.So hearing it now filled them with a profound joy.
Was this the case?When the Buddha gave the Agama teachings, they already contained subtle, wondrous Dharma.But He could not [directly] say, “Everyone, all of you can attain Buddhahood,” as they would not be able to comprehend this yet.
He had always wanted to say this, but the causes and conditions were not right.Now the conditions were right; He was running out of time so He could not hold back.Thus at this assembly, He began to teach it.
Indeed, “It was completely unexpected.”They unexpectedly heard that.Hearers could also attain Buddhahood.It was “something they had never heard before”.
In the past, they had never heard this, but now they had heard the Buddha bestow a prediction of Buddhahood upon Saripurta.“So, hearing it now” brought joy to their hearts.In this way, “They unexpectedly heard the teaching on opening up the Three to reveal the One.”
They unexpectedly heard the teaching on opening up the Three to reversal the One.There is only this precious Dharma of the One Vehicle.
Having obtained this, they could truly rejoice and celebrate for themselves, for though they had not sought them, they had attained infinite treasures.
The Dharma the Buddha taught in the Lotus Sutra set aside the Small and Middle Vehicles and brought them back to the One Vehicle.This is “opening up the Three to reveal the One”.
In fact, the Buddha never intended to teach three kinds of Dharma.The Buddha wholeheartedly wished to teach only one kind of Dharma,that everyone can attain Buddhahood. But the path everyone must walk to do so is the Bodhi-path.
To walk the Bodhisattva-path, we must go among people and widely transform them. This was the Buddha’s goal; He wanted everyone to understand this. Sadly, not everyone had this capacity. So, the Buddha’s original intent was not to teach the Three but the One.
When He came to this assembly, the Buddha completely set aside skillful means so everyone only had the One Vehicle, one road to walk; this is the Bodhi-path. As it was said, “There is only this precious Dharma of the One Vehicle”. Upon hearing this Dharma, their minds and the Dharma returned to One. Everyone focused on walking this path. So, what they attained was a deep sense of happiness. The joy of their faith and understanding had penetrated every cell in their bodies had penetrated every cell in their bodies. It is a deep, thorough joy. Everyone rejoiced in and celebrated their good fortunes. This joy arose from their hearts, “For though they had not sought them, they had attained infinite treasures.
Worldly people view treasures as valuable; the sutras use this analogy of attaining infinite treasures. How can infinite treasures be a metaphor for all the cells in our body genuinely leaping in joy? Cells can laugh; have you ever heard that? In the past I have also mentioned how all the cells in our body can leap in joy. Why are they so happy they jump about? Why are they so happy that they are so related and feel so free? This comes from a truly thorough, extremely deep sense of celebration; it is that kind of joy.
Hence, “The precious Dharma is the wondrous Dharma”. It is “precious”. It is true that everyone can attain Buddhahood; this is indeed very precious Dharma. This was what the Lotus Sutra taught, that, “The Three Vehicles are in fact One Vehicle”, and all Hearers can attain Buddhahood. This is the most subtle, wondrous Dharma in the Lotus Sutra. So, this is a precious teaching, something they had never heard before. “Thus we profoundly celebrate for ourselves, for we have attained great benefit.
“We profoundly celebrate for ourselves” means that before, they never thought they could attain this. Yet this day they have already attained it.
“We profoundly celebrate for ourselves: Never thinking it possible in the past, today they had already attained it, so they celebrated attaining this benefit. They were glad to awaken and understand, so how could they not celebrate and rejoice for themselves?”
In the past, they thought, “I have no chance of attaining Buddhahood. If I could eliminate all afflictions and enter Nirvana, I would no longer have to transmigrate in the Six Realms”. In the past, this was all they had thought of. Now they had the Buddha’s encouragement and His confirmation that all people can attain Buddhahood; all can make great vows and journey back to this world on these vows. Then they are not driven by karmic forces; they willingly return to go among people to transform them. So, they “celebrated and rejoiced for themselves”. This is what all of us should do. These infinite treasures, though unsought, were attained. Infinite treasures are what worldly people seek. But spiritual practitioners seek something even more precious than any treasure, the Dharma. Treasures are tangible material things. Tangible material things will disappear one day; they cannot be restored nor can they be brought to a future life. Only the true wondrous Dharma can [remain] in our lives and help us develop our wisdom-life. Only with this wisdom-life can we eliminate all afflictions and karma.
But what can we use as an analogy? What is most valuable and brings the greatest joy?
It cannot be described; we can only describe it as “infinite treasures”. This is the cause and effect of the Great Vehicle. This is very important.
In the past, I have always told everyone to have deep faith in the law of karma. Everyone must understand this, particularly the Great Vehicle’s cause and effect. Earlier, we spoke of eliminating all afflictions, forming great aspirations and making great vows. In the past, during the Prajna period, [they learned] that all things are empty. The Great Dharma that they accepted then only said that all things were empty; the Great Dharma they should accept now took the Prajna teaching that all things are empty and added “wondrous existence” to them.
Wondrous existence contains the cause and effect of the Great Vehicle. These principles of wondrous existence had now been accepted, and the teachings turned to the teaching of the Bodhisattva Way.
The Buddha taught the Dharma in this order. Now that people had understood, realized, experienced and comprehended the great path, they were able to awaken their wisdom. At this moment, they formed great aspirations to lead the people harmoniously and go among them with ease. This is the cause and effect of the Great Vehicle.
In the past, during the period, they received and understood the Great Dharma as a teaching to transform Bodhisattvas, so they thought only Bodhisattvas could attain Buddhahood. How could they know that at the present Lotus Dharma-assembly. He would bestow the great cart equally upon all? Thus, it says, “though unsought, it has now been attained.”
They though that only Bodhisattvas were able to attain Buddhahood. One must walk the Bodhisattva-path in order to attain Buddhahood; this is the absolute principle. “How could they know that at [the Lotus Assembly]. He would bestow the great cart equally upon all?” at this time, the Buddha’s one great cause had been fully revealed, allowing everyone to realize His original intent. His one great cause in this world was to help everyone transcend from the unenlightened mindset of the Small Vehicle, that view of cause and effect, the Small Vehicle view of cause and effect to the cause and effect of the Great Vehicle.This is what the Buddha laid out for us to teach and transform us completely.
So, “He would bestow the great cart;” He came to this world for this one great cause. So, “Thought, it has now been attained.” The Dharma we heard today is all part of the Buddha’s original intent; now these teachings were completely laid out for everyone to understand. This is the chance of a thousand lifetimes. This is True Dharma.
True Dharma is rarely encountered. There is no telling how many lifetimes and kalpas will pass before we can encounter a Buddha again.Encountering a Buddha is not easy.
As we have said before, after Sakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya will be the next to attain Buddhahood in the human realm. Right now, he is Maitreya Bodhisattva. For him to attain Buddhahood, another 5.7 Billion years will have to pass. This is a very long time. During order for us to return the Buddha’s kindness we should shoulder the responsibility the Tathagata’s family business.In His later years, He hoped that everyone would shoulder this responsibility. Nowadays, we constantly hear Tzu Chi’s collegiate volunteers say that they vow to take on the responsibility [to make a difference in this world]. We must shoulder the Tathagata’s family business. That means we all share responsibility for all matter in the world.
Moreover, we spiritual practitioners have inherited His mission to teach and transform. We must feel this sense of responsibility. So, we must be mindful.At all times, we can hear the Dharma. In particular, at this assembly, we can realize His one great cause.
The Buddha plainly expressed His original intent for everyone to understand. We must deeply understand this we are so busy in this life; what are we seeking? No matter how much we seek and attain, we are still not satisfied. Even if we get what we want, impermanence can strike in a flash. Can we take anything with us after we die? There is no way. Only if we take the Dharma to heart and have it flow through all of our cells so that every cell in our body is happy and joyful can the Dharma help our wisdom-life develop. So, with no expectations, we have joy; we give without any expectations. Doesn’t this bring the greatest happiness in life?
The Buddha-Dharma is rarely encountered. Now that we can attain this extremely profound, subtle and wondrous Dharma in our lives, how can we not earnestly make an effort to uphold our faith in and understanding of this extremely profound, wondrous Dharma? So, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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