Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Bodhisattvas Bestow Happiness and Benefit (隨彼所需與樂饒益)
Date: February.16. 2017
“Loving-kindness is thoughts of love, which is the resolve to bring happiness. It is Bodhisattvas’ great love for all sentient beings. They always seek out joyful matters to meet whatever those beings need. Bestowing happiness and benefit is called great loving-kindness.”
Recently, we have been reading about Brahma kings. Whether they were from the east, southeast or south, all the Brahma kings followed the light they saw and went in the same direction to seek it out. They wanted to know the source of the light.
This is similar to how we humans long to attain the light of glory. Actually, the light is the principles; the true principles are the light. If we are on the path going toward the light, we are on the path to attaining the truth. What is this path to the true principles? It is everything that the Buddha taught. Everything He taught was to help us understand that if it is the wrong thing to do, we must be sure to not do it. If it is the right thing to do, that path will be wide open and bright. He encouraged us to advance forward on this bright and smooth path. This is what we often say, “The Bodhi-path is direct.” The principles of attaining enlightenment are a broad and open path that is furthermore very direct. If we walk in this direction, we will be very safe and secure.
If we deviate from this direction, from amidst the darkness, we continue to walk toward the darkness. Thus, we continue to remain in darkness and furthermore are on a path filled with traps. This is very dangerous.
For Buddhas who came to this world, whether the present Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha, who is our fundamental teacher, or those of the past, from beginningless dust-inked kalpas ago, such as Great Unhindered Wisdom Superior Buddha, all Buddhas share the same path, and the principles are the same. So, the path They teach is this great and direct Bodhi-path.
What is this great and direct Bodhi-path? It is inseparable from loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. This great and direct path is just that simple. So, “Loving-kindness is thoughts of love.” These thoughts of loving-kindness are truly inherent in everyone’s mind, because we all intrinsically have Buddha-nature. We all have this heart of loving-kindness and goodness. Loving-kindness is the hope for all sentient beings to be happy, for them to transcend ignorance and afflictions so that they can be free of suffering and worries.
This is how the Buddha and all Buddhas of the past, present and future are the same; Their nature of True Suchness is nothing but kindness, love and protecting sentient beings, so they can all attain happiness and transcend afflictions and ignorance, so all they create are the seeds of happiness and all they attain is the fruition of happiness. Thus, this is “the resolve to bring happiness,” the hope that everyone is able to attain everlasting happiness. This is loving-kindness. Loving-kindness is called love, sincere love; it is selfness and undefiled great love. So, the word “loving-kindness” is the thought of undefiled great love. He never, in any thought, forgets about the sentient beings of the Five Realms; this is the Buddha-mind; He cannot bear to let sentient beings suffer. He hopes for everyone to transcend suffering and attain joy.
This is thoughts of love; it is loving-kindness, the love for all sentient beings in the world, not just those in the human realm. It includes all in the four forms of birth and the Five Realms. So, “Loving-kindness is thoughts of love,” which is the “resolve of bring happiness,” in other words, the great love of Bodhisattvas the love for all sentient beings. The Bodhisattva-mind is a mind of great love, the love for all sentient beings. So, “They always seek out joyful matters.” How do they help all sentient beings attain joy and a state of peace and freedom? This is what all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas intend to do for sentient beings and is everything that they teach. They find ways to help them attain happiness, to make sure their needs are met, so those who seek longevity attain longevity, those who seek wealth attain wealth. In the [Lotus Sutra’s] chapter on Guanyin, or in the Medicine Buddha Sutra, isn’t this what it says?
Whatever sentient beings need and ask for, these [great beings] are willing to give it. They do everything for sentient begins, in the hopes that sentient beings can attain peace and freedom. This is how they “always seek out joyful matters to meet whatever those begins need.” We hope to respond to sentient beings’ needs and give what is needed accordingly. Sentient beings are lacking many things, so all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are like compassionate parents, hoping sentient beings have what they need. However, tangible materials are limited, so they need to use principles and education to teach them how to attain abundance. It is not just, “Whatever you ask for, I will keep on giving it to you. Actually, you all already possess it. You fundamentally have countless treasures.” Doesn’t the Chapter on Faith and Understanding explain this? The wealthy elder recognized his own son, brought him into the house and slowly taught him, beginning with household chores. Whether hard labor or tedious tasks, he earnestly and carefully taught him and guided him until he had an understanding of the place where the wealth and treasures were. He also helped him understand the content of this treasury, the ways they were arranged and so on. He did so until this poor son, under the guidance of his wealthy father, opened his mind and said, “Ah, if only I had these things…” The elder said to him, “During this time, I saw your hard work. So, you are just like my son, and I am just like your father. Everything that I have is yours. Let me show you how these things are also yours.”
In the same way, we all originally had this infinite treasure. But, because of one thought of ignorance, we created many defilements. So, with layers of defilements, layers of turbidity and ignorance, the door to our treasury is locked tightly. We are unable to open it. If we do not clear away the defilements and ignorance, if they are not cleaned up, we will be unable to unlock our pure and undefiled intrinsic nature.
Everyone inherently has this intrinsic nature. In the United States, for instance, a newspaper reported about a man who was raising a dog. This dog would always be beside him, whether he was on top of a mountain or on a beach. He would follow him everywhere. This dog was his very best companion.
One day, the man got stuck in a lake. He tried to walk out of it, to climb up the bank, but with every step, the bed of the lake turned out to be soft. It was a quagmire; there was no real ground. So, the more he walked, the more deeply he sank into the quagmire. At that time, he tried to pull his feet up, but it was already too late. He sank deeper and deeper into the thick mud. In that place, he could not free his body. So, one or two hours [passed], and the temperature was five degrees, five degrees below zero. Being in this kind of wealthier, in the quagmire of this lake, he became colder and colder. His whole body was becoming stiff. Suddenly, he remembered that he had his phone. From his phone he called 911; in the United States it is 911, so he called the emergency number, 911. The first responders arrived, but when they went down to try to save him, the boats could not reach him. Since it was very shallow there, the boats could not be driven over. Because it was full of mud there, the boat was unable to go through the quagmire. What could be done? The man was already becoming stiff from the cold, so what was to be done?
They saw a dog there that was very anxious. The firefighters came up with an idea. They took the rescue rope and tied it around the dog. This dog was quite smart. With the rope that was tied around him, he went down to the quagmire. He kept pulling the rope to where his master was. Dogs have this kind of ability; they can swim and do not fear the mud. He could run and swim with his four legs. Although it was half mud and half water, the dog was able to get the rope close to his master’s body. The man was able to get the escape rope and tie it around his own body. Then step by step, the rescuers on the shore pulled hard, and he himself took step after step forward. The dog had saved his master. This news was published in the newspaper, and everyone felt that, indeed, dogs are man’s best and most loyal friend. The phots and articles were also published. The photos and articles were also published.
So, we often say that “All living, moving beings have Buddha-nature.” Animals are the same; they have that innate, latent potential, the intrinsic Buddha-nature. So, we cannot look down on them, cannot take the lives of sentient beings lightly. We must have respect for all. Sentient beings cannot help themselves as they follow karma they created in past lives. Among the Five Realms, other than heaven realm and the human realm, there are also the hell, animal and hungry ghost realms. The animal realm can be seen in this world; it coexists with us. We are able to see all of them. There are many animals who truly become people’s treasured pets. Actually, their masters’ adoration, for the animals, is the same as being trapped and controlled. The master loves the bird, but uses a small birdcage to keep him enclosed, so he is unable to be free. Birds are most happy when in the open sky, where they can be carefree and unfettered. In the sky, they can fly wherever they want. So, for them to be happy, we must allow them to have their way of life. This should be the love we humans have for them. We must not hurt them, as they have their own world. Because we love our dogs and cats, we should not place restrictions on them. Some people love their dogs and cats so much that, though these animals do not require clothing, they make clothing for them to wear. Actually, we must know, under their fur [is skin]. If we cover them, it would be the same as if our skin was sealed by a plastic film. Their lives used to be so natural, but humans created something unnatural that does not match their way of life. This is all conditioned phenomena. According to our liking, we add to the suffering of others, those who cannot express themselves to us. This is the same principle.
This is how deluded we sentient beings are. We want to express our love, but it is not love that accords with nature. This kind of love causes other beings to be troubled and confused. We create difficulties for them, while they do not know what it is we want to do or why we restrict them in such small spaces. So, we sentient beings ought to open our minds and understand the states of all living beings and what all these living beings need.
All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas explain these kinds of principles for us to hear. We wish to seek liberation, but actually, all living things also want to seek liberation. We wish to seek happiness; all living beings hope to attain happiness. Yet, we do not know any of these principles. So, we must earnestly be mindful and seek these principles ourselves.
It is as if our minds are in darkness, but then we discover a beam of light. These are ultimate principles, so we must immediately seek the origin of these principles. The principles ae inseparable from loving-kindness and compassion. So, “Bestowing happiness and benefit is called great loving-kindness.” If we can understand the principles, we will “always seek out joyful matters.” We know what sentient beings want, so we can “meet whatever those beings need.” We [give] according to what it is they need; a natural environment is what they like best, is what makes them happy. This is the meaning of “Bestowing happiness and benefit is called great loving-kindness.”
If sentient beings are suffering and in need, we can put effort into eliminating their suffering. If they are at peace, we find ways to, “having relieved them from suffering, then expound the Dharma for them.” We hope to spread the Dharma more universally to allow everyone to understand the Dharma. When they can think clearly, their minds will not be bound by many afflictions and ignorance. Life has always been full of suffering. Who can avoid birth, again, illness and death? This is the natural state of the world. in daily life, we respect each other with love. When we suffer from pain and illness, we must ask for treatment from doctors. When the doctors have done their best, then we must be grateful.
In the same way, when we are healthy, we need to know how to protect our health. When we are sick, we have to find doctors and follow their prescriptions. If we can get better, we must be grateful. When our time is up, our affinities are exhausted and karma is set, then we can only follow our karma and affinities. This is a principle that we need to understand. Life has always been this way, to say nothing of parting from loved ones, meeting those we hate, not getting what we want and the suffering of the raging Five Aggregates. All these are suffering. These are the principles. When we do not understand the principles, naturally we will be entangled by “birth, aging, illness and death.” We will continue to be entangled. Because we do not understand the Five Aggregates, even with just birth, aging, illness and death, we are helplessly entangled. So, we must seek the Dharma in order to gain thorough understanding.
The previous sutra passage reads, “A World-Honored One is extremely rare to see. He is able to destroy all afflictions 130 kalpas have passed, and only now do we encounter one. All hungry and thirsty sentient beings are filled with the Dharma-rain. We have never before seen one with infinite wisdom.”
This is when the Brahma kings had already arrived from the south. At the place of enlightenment, they finally understood. They saw this assembly, with the 16 princes asking the Buddha to turn the Dharma-wheel. Heavenly beings expressed their reverence for Him, saying how rare it is to encounter a Buddha in the world. They also expressed that sentient beings had lacked the nourishment to Dharma-water, as if they were very thirsty and hungry. Since the Buddha had manifested in the world, they “[were] dilled with the Dharma-rain, He had been able to bring the Dharma that those in the world sought. He brought to a world in the darkness of ignorance a ray of light. So, in the same way, this light was “never before seen, because for such a long time in the past, 130 kalpas, they had not seen that ray of light. Now they had seen it. They saw the Buddha sitting at His place of enlightenment, turning the Dharma-wheel. He is the one with infinite wisdom. they had already found this assembly; this was the source of the light. The light meant that this was the time that He was about to turn the Great Dharma-wheel.
The next sutra passage states, “He is like the udumbara flower. Only today were we able to encounter Him. All of our palaces were magnificently adorned by the radiance. World-Honored One of great loving-kindness, we only pray You honor us by accepting them.”
“He is like the udumbara flower,” and an unumbara flower is difficult to encounter, but now they had encountered it. An udumbara flower, as we should call it here, means “an auspicious response.” In the Nirvana Sutra, it says, “In Jambudvipa there is a great king of trees called the udumbara. It bears fruits but no flowers.” This is to say, in the Saha World there is this kind of rare king of trees, a very valuable and noble tree. the name of this tree is udumbara. This tree will bears fruit, but it usually does not blossom. The udumbara tree had golden flowers, that is, if it blooms. Normally, it does not flower. But if this tree does flower, the flowers are the color of gold. When these flowers bloom, it is when a Buddha appears in the world. It is when a Buddha or a spiritual practitioner has attained enlightenment that the udumbara flower will bloom. Its flowers are golden. Normally, it has fruit but not flowers. It will be like this for a long time.
But if a Buddha is in the world, it blooms. When one reaches enlightenment, it will flower. When the Dharma-wheel is turned, it will bloom. This is the udumbara flower that blooms for the Buddha. It means “an auspicious response.” So, “A Buddha is as rare to see as this flower of auspicious response.” As “He is like the udumbara flower, only today were we able to encounter Him.” This udumbara flower is normally so rare to encounter. They had not seen it fir 130 kalpas. But now they had seen the Buddha and the blooming of the udumbara flower.
He is like the udumbara flower. Only today were we able to encounter Him: It means auspicious response. The Nirvana Sutra states: In Jambudvipa there is a great king of trees called the udumbara. It bears fruit but no flowers. When the udumbara tree grows golden flowers, a Buddha appears in the world. A Buddha is as rare to see as this flower of auspicious response. Beginning on this day, they were able to encounter one.”
“All our palaces were magnificently adorned by the radiance.” All the Brahma kings had reverence for the Buddha. After making offerings, they asked the Buddha to turn the Dharma-wheel. Then they spoke in verse, saying, “All our palaces, because of this light, were magnificently adorned. Brahma kings’ palaces are already magnificent, but with the radiance of this light, the entire palace would have this gentle and auspicious sign of radiance. This was different from normal. So, they were “magnificently adorned by the radiance,” and that adornment made them even more magnificent.
Now, when people are decorating their houses, they do not only decorate with woodwork and designs, they also look at how the lighting will illuminate. For the whole furnishing to be magnificent, the lights need to be just right. This radiance had brightened up these palaces, their treasures and the furnishing. This radiance allowed them all to be even brighter. Because of this, the Brahma kings sought the light. They investigated, tried to seek out this light. Which direction did it come from? They went to find the source of the light, the origin of this appearance of radiance.
So, “They saw the favorable omen of the rare auspicious sign.” They saw this very auspicious sign. This light was not the blinding light of the sun. it was a very gentle and auspicious light. So, “The favorable omen of the rare auspicious sign made them joyful. They were willing to give up their most beloved and adorned palaces. They brought all the things in their palaces, these many treasures, to the Dharma-assembly and offered them to the Buddha. So, they “relinquished these as offerings.” This was to show their reverence.
All our palaces were magnificently adorned by the radiance: The Brahma kings sought out the source of the radiance. They saw the favorable omen of the rare auspicious sign and relinquished these as offerings.
So, “World-Honored One of great loving-kindness, we only pray You honor us by accepting them.” They gave offerings but were worried that the Buddha would not accept. So, they used their utmost reverence to pray, “World-Honored One of great loving-kindness, if You accept these; we will be happy. If You accept these; we will be very joyful.” So, “World-Honored One of great loving-kindness, we only pray that You honor us by accepting them.” They hoped that, out of loving-kindness, He would accept the palaces which they had offered.
This is similar to how a couple came and expressed to me that they wished to offer an education foundation [to Tzu Chi]. This was Mr. and Mrs. Wu. Their business is very successful. When I lightly mention something, they listen carefully. For many years, I have been promoting environmentalism and caring for Earth. One day, he said to me, “Although I was silent and did not speak, now I have achieved something. I would like to let you know about this. For the sake of Earth, I’ve done research on many kinds of garbage, and I’ve been able to develop building materials from garbage.” He had a group dedicated to researching this. I said, “What kind of building materials?” He said, “When you are travelling around Taiwan, I will take you there to see.” I said, “You do not have to take me there, because I do not have the time. I hope that when we meet again, you can show me the finished product.” He said, “Yes, I will take videos to show you how an entire mountain of landfill can be transformed into materials that can really be used for construction.”
When I heard this, I was very happy. He said, “I did this quietly.” Furthermore he said, “Master, did you forget that I told you that all that I have now will be yours in the future?” [I said,] “Is that so?” He said, “Yes. Now, this foundation is something that I have already waited a long time to offer to you, Master. I have waited many years, and now you have finally agreed [to accept] it. I am very grateful.” He came with his lawyer, Mr. Lin, to offer this foundation to Tzu Chi as a foundation for community education.
He also said, “As for me, Master, please give me your blessing.” I said, “What for?” He said, “My big house that my wife and I live in is 400 to 500 ping in space, and it is hard to clean and maintain. I am going to buy a house that is 100 ping, and I wish to sell my current house.” I said, “What will you do after selling it?” He said, “I do not know. Master, you can tell me. After all, it is also yours.” I felt that he was truly very sincere. Then I told him, “I would have no use for it.” He said, “No, Master, with your spirit, there are many things you want to accomplish. How could you not have use for it? Everything that I donate is for your use.” This is true. Although I cannot make use of it, it is still useful to sentient beings of the world.
The people beside me said, “Isn’t this like what you said in the morning, how the Brahma kings made offerings?” Indeed, in this world, there are things like that. He is also doing so to seed principles. As he took the principles to heart, he had been quietly taking action and constantly doing research. He has dedicated researchers for environmentalism. When he heard that I was worried about the environmental problems of this world, he quietly gathered a team of people. This group of people continued researching and have gradually been making progress. This is all very helpful for our Earth. He had the same thought, that in the future, this would be of benefit to Tzu Chi. I am truly grateful. Those by my side reminded me saying, “Oh Master, Isn’t he like the Brahma kings making offerings that you spoke of?”
Indeed! In this world, he is wealthy, one of the rich among the rich, willing to give everything completely. His body, mind, efforts and tangible things, he is willing to give them all.
Now that he has retired, he said to me, “Master, I come here less frequently than before. Do you know that I went to China?” I asked, “Why did you go to China again?” He said, “To help Tzu Chi and help pass on the Jing Si Dharma-lineage. The Dharma-lineage must be extended. Now, I’m very engaged in promoting Jing Si [publications]. I went to Dalian City and Mongolia.” “To what places did you go?” “ I went to book fairs.” He said, “Right now, what makes me most happy is for the Jing Si Dharma-lineage to be extended.”
Only then did I know that, truly, he has been quietly working. I am very grateful. But he said, “I am the one who is grateful, as now, ‘My mind is without hindrances, therefore there are no hindrances.’ My wife and I are free and at ease.We are able to do what we enjoy doing. If it were not for you opening this path, I would be, as in the past, running around lost. Now everything is clear to me regarding what I should do. So, I am grateful.”
In conclusion, this great loving-kindness is something we all intrinsically have. It is “thoughts of love;” it is love, selfless great love. “It means with love, joy and the wondrous Dharma.” He takes joy in the Buddha-Dharma, so he is willing to give to others in this way. The Brahma kings also did this because they took joy in the Buddha-Dharma. Thus, from such a great distance, they were willing to seek this light. So, “They were able to give others Dharma-joy.” They applied the Dharma to bring others joy. This is loving-kindness.
How about great compassion? It is “thoughts of empathy for sentient beings with delusion and ignorance.” Along with great loving-kindness, we also need great compassion. Sentient beings have delusions and ignorance; they have ignorance and delusions which are as subtle as dust. So, if we help them brush off this ignorance, bit by bit, then, just like what Mr. Wu said, “The mind is without hindrances, therefore there are no hindrances.” For he and his wife, traveling the world to promote and extend the Jing Si Dharma-lineage is what they enjoy most.
In this way, their mind have no obstructions or afflictions. In the past, they were running around in delusion. Now, they already have a path that they walk joyfully. So, these are the principles. The principles themselves are “great loving-kindness.” These are the principles. “They asked the Buddha to accept the [offerings], hoping they could attain these kinds of principles. “I give up all that I love. I am willing to give. But I pray the Buddha gives me an abundance of principles. To attain Dharma-joy is more fulfilling than worldly joy to me.” This is the power of love.
World-Honored One of great loving-kindness, we only pray You Honor us by accepting them: Great loving-kindness is thoughts of love. It means with love, joy and the wondrous Dharma they are able to give others Dharma-joy. Great compassion is thoughts of sympathy. Sentient beings have delusions and ignorance. To free them is called great loving-kindness. They asked the Buddha to accept the [offerings], for they wished to grow their blessings.
So, for love to [spread] in this world, people must mindfully listen to the Dharma. After listening, we need to mindfully pave a path. If we pave this path with love, everyone can walk on it groundedly and steadfastly. The Dharma is not something abstract, the Dharma is an actual, true path. So, ”The sutras are a path; this path is a road to follow.” This path, this road, is one that we can take to our destination. Take Mr. Wu for example. He and his wife practice together and share the same resolve and vows. He regards people around the world who listened to my teaching as his children. So, he was willing to take all that he had and offer it to those whom he could trust. Then love can continue to be spread with education, and with this love people can continue to give, extending the Dharma on into the future. This is a path we can all walk on, it is not a dead end. So we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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