Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Diligent Practice of the Three Flawless Studies (至念宏遠 勤修三學)
Date: July.03.2017
“Purna’s resolve was great and far-reaching. He strove to have courageous wisdom and compassionate thoughts. He was also diligent like a dedicated warrior. He came and went peacefully and freely. He could always reach throughout the universe. His ring of light and manifested appearance were dignified.”
This is about Purna Maitrayaniputra. For this long period of time, [the Buddha] has continued to admire Purna. Look, his “resolve was great and far-reaching,” especially the way he always strove diligently. His “courageous wisdom and compassionate thoughts” were second to none. Of the Buddha’s disciples, he was the one who was closest to the Buddha’s mind. He did the thigs the Buddha wanted to do and taught the Dharma the Buddha wanted to teach. In particular, for many decades he maintained the same spirit he initially had, striving to have courageous wisdom and compassionate thoughts for sentient beings; he has never stopped doing this. No wonder the Buddha praised Purna Maitrayaniputra the way He did. “He was also diligent like a dedicated warrior. He came and went peacefully and freely.” No matter where he went, even to the most difficult and savage of places, he always went out of his own resolve and volition. Once there, regardless of the adversity he faced or the savage way he was treated, he was able to remain soft and gentle. With very firm, substantial strength and reverent great love, even those in the most savage of places were moved and transformed by him. Everyone there faithfully practiced the Dharma.
Moreover, many became monastics. These were Purna Maitrayaniputra’s virtues. He could come and go peacefully and freely. In those savage places, he overcame many difficulties. He was able to overcome them one by one, just like a dedicated warrior. He himself volunteered to go there. He was a courageous and powerful person. This kind of diligence was indeed praiseworthy. “He could always reach throughout the universe.” Exercising both compassion and wisdom, he came and went peacefully and freely. In this way, over this long time he continually accumulated [virtue]. This is reaching throughout the universe. His virtue had already extended very far and wide. His virtue was as expansive as the entire world. His virtue was expressed as a radiance. That ring of light was how he manifested this dignified appearance. This was the virtue he had cultivated.
The Buddha’s analogy for his concentration of virtue was that of light concentrated on his person. This light radiates in all directions so that every place is illuminated. We often praise others by saying, “You did a very good job.” [They respond,] “I am just basking in someone’s reflected glory.” This shows their virtue. Not only did they do the work, they also widely extend this virtue to others and mutually praise each other. Thus, in our relationships, we must know that Living Bodhisattvas need to have this kind of spirit. In the world right now, of the people whom we recognize, whom we know, whom we understand, there are so many Bodhisattvas who formed aspirations and made vows to practice the Bodhisattva-path, to care for those without any connection to them. They give to help them. They do not know them at all, yet they are willing to give to them.
Guanyin Bodhisattva hears people’s cries and reaches out to save them. “When I hear the news from afar that there are suffering people in a distant place, I’m willing to go.” This is how Bodhisattvas are. No matter how far it is, they go there willingly. They do not just go by themselves, but in a big group of people. They do not come just from one place, but from all directions. They gather from all directions to go to help one place.
For example, right now there are refugees in Serbia. They came from Syria, a country south of Serbia. Wave after wave of refugees are feeling from Syria. What after wave of refugees are fleeing from Syria. The direction they are fleeing is north. Where do they want to go? Europe. Which countries in Europe? The destination they hope for most is Germany, but they must cross through Serbia along the way. This is the route they must take. So, over the last few years, the number of refugees taking this route and passing through Serbia has been very great. There have been so many. The Serbians, in the spirit of humanitarianism, allow them to pass through. But there are so many of them, and they are all refuges. That has been a great burden on this country for many years now. Last year (2015) in November, they sent a letter requesting Taiwan’s help. As causes and conditions would have it, it was just at this time that Europe’s Tzu Chi volunteers had returned for training and the Year-End Blessing Ceremony. A very important special guest among them was the speaker of a municipal assembly from Bosnia. He had come to Taiwan with Tzu Chi volunteers to express his gratitude at Tzu Chi’s headquarters. This was because when they suffered a disaster, when there was a flood, Tzu Chi volunteers from eight countries had devoted themselves to help. They went there three times to help. He was touched by this. They had not only provided material things, but had given their hearts as well. The material goods, their sincerity and their vast, boundless love gave [the survivors] the feeling that, “You didn’t come as our savior. You came as a friend who is caring for and supporting us.” This attitude moved people in the government, including the president and this municipal speaker. They were all moved.
So, two years ago (2014), when the president had a layover in Taiwan, he spent two hours of his time to come here and express his gratitude to Tzu Chi. Now, in November [2015], this municipals speaker came with Tzu Chi volunteers to thank us one more time. Most importantly, he wanted to understand how Tzu Chi volunteers from those eight countries had that spirit, how they had worked together so well with unity, harmony, love and concerted effort. How could so many people, all living in different countries, have the same spirit and ideals. This had come from Taiwan. Moreover, this spirit from Taiwan led them to help others, to support [the speaker’s] countrymen as if they were good friends. This deeply moved them.
So, during the five days they were here, the letter [from Serbia] happened to arrive. When I saw this letter, [I wondered,] “Where is Serbia anyway?” Fortunately, this group of people, including the municipal speaker, was just telling me that morning that he hoped people in his country would in the future be able to wear the blue and white Tzu Chi uniforms. I had just received the letter at noon and brought it up to them in the afternoon. “It just happens that I have received this letter. Serbia is also in Europe. Which country closer to it?” The municipal speaker said, “Serbia is our neighboring country.” I asked, “If this is the case, can you help? When you go back, can you help us to assess the situation in that country?” The Tzu Chi volunteers from Europe said, “No problem, Master. When we go back, we will immediately assess the situation there.” The municipal speaker also told us, “No problem. If they wish to go, then I will go with them.” It was that simple. We talked about it here, and they went into action quickly upon their return. They took action by going to Serbia to first understand what the conditions in that country were like Tzu Chi volunteers from Germany, from France, from England and many other countries began coming together to assess this country for us, to go and understand. There were truly many difficulties! The language, the people and the place were all unfamiliar.
Fortunately, this municipal speaker from Bosnia was with them. Geographically, these countries are close, and he also had status in his own country, so in all of our interactions with people there, he made everything a lot easier. Of course, the efforts of our Tzu Chi volunteers must not go unnoticed. They had a spirit of determined perseverance, especially those from Germany. Traveling from Germany to Serbia is quite a distance. Some Tzu Chi volunteers always traveled by car. It takes more than ten hours by car [each way], and they would go back and forth. After they went back [home] in November, they continued to work on the Serbia [situation], to help these Syrian refugees. These people are not connected to them in any way, and they were suffering so much. Just from hearing about how there were suffering people there, [they wished to help]. For four or five years they had been fleeing. They had to walk through cold winds and snow; the elderly and frail, women and children, had to travel such a long road. This was truly unbearable suffering!
The volunteers were willing [to help]. Because they were willing, they dedicated themselves to this effort. With the spirit of dedicated warriors, they came and went with ease. Although there were many obstacles, like not speaking the language, being unfamiliar with the people and place, having to clear many bureaucratic hurdles etc., they kept on going nevertheless, They used their “courageous wisdom and compassionate thought.” Inwardly, they had “courageous wisdom and compassionate thoughts”. Outwardly, they diligently “came and went peacefully and freely”, with the more setbacks, the more setbacks they suffered, the more courage they mustered up as they kept moving forward. But at the same time their compassion continued to grow. Once they began the distributions, the third day of relief distributions happened to be the day that many countries in the United Nations felt they could not take in any more refugees. They felt if they continued to allow them in, it would create problems with the way of life in their own countries. So, within the United Nations, many countries began closing their borders. Each country began closing. So, by the time we arrived, many refugees were already locked outside of Serbia’s borders. They were mostly stuck in Macedonia. As they went from Greece to Macedonia, the border [to Serbia] was closed. The refugees had no way to pass through, for barbed wire had been strung across the border. Many refugees stood outside the barbed wire. “Right in front of me is the place I need to pass through. Unfortunately, I have no way to do so”. However, there was an enthusiastic group with courageous wisdom, compassionate thoughts and an expansive heart that had already prepared 10,000 sets of clothing and awaited them in that country, in Serbia. If those refugees could enter, they would be able to receive what we prepared, 10,000 sets of clothing, and food as well. But, we had to wait for them. These couple of days, very few people were able to accept these goods. This was because people were unable to enter. There were only those few refugees who were unable to move forward and thus lingered in Serbia. However, we were also willing to go to the waystation or areas around the train stations, to those who were sheltered there. If they could enter Serbia, they could then board a train to get to their destination. Yet, the trains carrying refugees these few days, which originally ran five or six times a day now only ran one or two times a day. The numbers of refugees had already decreased because they were blocked at the borders.
So, right now all we could do is hover around the train station, and wait for refugees who were moving ahead. By the third day there were 500 or 600 people who received the things we were distributing. We saw how there were two groups there. One group remained at the train station. The other went into the waystation. Upon entering the waystation, they had a place where they could rest and wait. At the train station, they were preparing to board a train to leave. So, at the Serbian border, one group was at the end; they were waiting to leave on a train. The other group had just entered the country. So, [the volunteers] split into two group. One went to the waystation. At the Adasevci Waystation, we saw that when children and adults received these material things from Tzu Chi, they were so happy. The other group was led by the municipal speaker. They encountered no refugees. Nevertheless, while they were in that environment, they began tidying up. They found brooms and began sweeping. There were portable restrooms there, so they began cleaning those toilets as well as their surroundings. When I saw the information they went back, I was truly very moved.
If they are not Bodhisattvas, what are they? They have such impartial minds! This municipal speaker from a neighboring country, along with Tzu Chi volunteers from 11 countries, the Tzu Chi volunteers from Europe formed this disaster relief team. They brought 16 people from Bosnia as well, who had once been helped by Tzu Chi. They brought them to Serbia. As they were waiting there, they actually swept the floor, cleaned the bathrooms and so on. It was truly very moving. Tzu Chi volunteers also led another group to a place where they could have contact with the refugees. When the refugees received things, there was such joy. The children were so pure and innocent. They were very adorable. But this was where life had led them. Which place was their home? Fortunately, a group that did not know them at all had “great and far-reaching [resolve]”. They came from far away, some had to travel there on airplanes. Those from England and France had to travel by plane. From Germany, they had to drive from more than ten hours. They came from such faraway places. Doesn’t this group have “Purna’s resolve, great and far-reaching”? Their hearts are filled with compassion. Everyone there was striving [to help]. They have great courage wisdom; they have both wisdom and courage. With thoughts of compassion, they went to that place to dedicate themselves. It has been so many days already, yet they are still so diligent. They have no thoughts of retreat. With “courageous wisdom, compassionate thoughts” they are diligent, never retreating. They “come and go peacefully and freely”, and they never complain. They waited there but no one showed up for them to help. 10,000 sets of clothing were sitting there, yet not once did they complain. They remained peaceful and free there. Think about it, aren’t they Bodhisattvas?
They have the virtue of Bodhisattvas, like that ring of light. Just thinking about this, I feel that they are truly bright and nimble Bodhisattvas of great compassion. Their actions in that place are truly very moving. This group of people were very orderly, very dignified. All wore the blue and white uniforms. Even those from Bosnia wore the same clothes as our Tzu Chi volunteers. They formed a very dignified procession. I am very grateful to them, and there are so many moving stories.
Come, let us look at the previous passage, which says, “All heavenly palaces are close by, floating in space. The human and heavenly intersect, and they are able to meet each other. There are no evil realms of any kind nor any women. All sentient beings are transformation-born without lustful desires.
If we think of that group of people in that place, isn’t it like the human and heavenly intersecting? Their minds were like those of heavenly beings, rich in love; they had come down from the heavens, from faraway places. That place is like an evil realm. They knew it would be like this. Which place was their home? As they were fleeting, they felt as if they were in hell. Who could save them? If was Bodhisattvas who came to save them, giving without expectations. [The refugees] had to keep waiting painfully. This was the kind of misery they experienced. It was very painful, being trapped there in that place. Whether outside or inside the border, they were in the process of fleeing. This is just like an evil path, very bumpy and difficult to walk. But there was a group of people waiting to save them from that bumpy and difficult path, who were going to pave a path for them. Of course, this group also had to wait mindfully.
The next sutra passage says, “They will attain great spiritual powers, and their bodies will emit radiance. They will be able to fly about freely. Their resolve and thought are firm, and they advance diligently with wisdom. the bodies of all will be golden in color. They will be dignified with the 32 Marks.”
Purna was already engaged in spiritual practice in that place. 2000-plus years ago. The Buddha said that in the very distant future, Purna will attain Buddhahood and be capped Dharma Clarity Tathagata. His future land will have very many people like this. everyone there will be equally virtuous. This will be tha place where Dharma Clarity Tathagata will teach and transform. Where is that place? That land, that place, is where, in the future, after people are taught and transformed by him, humans and heavenly beings can meet. Humans and heavenly beings will be so close. Thus “They will attain great spiritual powers.” Attaining great spiritual powers means their minds are pure and undefiled. So, “They will attain great spiritual powers, and their bodies will emit radiance. They will be able to fly about freely.” They will come and go freely.
This is like that group of Tzu Chi volunteers. By driving 10-plus hours they were able to reach their destination. They passed through five countries to reach Serbia. Those flying had to fly through the skies of many different countries to land in Serbia. This is just like “flying about freely.” “Their resolve and thoughts are firm.” Everyone was the same; they had the same resolve and thoughts. Their resolve and thoughts are very firm. “They advance diligently with wisdom. The bodies of all will be golden in color. This kind of wisdom is very precious. So, they are dignified with the 32 Marks; everyone in that place will be very dignified. When I read this sutra passage, I think of that group in Serbia. Isn’t this group Bodhisattvas just like this?
It is as if they have great spiritual powers. Everyone is so orderly and so dignified. They are so bright and beautiful there in that place.
The text says, “They will attain great spiritual powers, and their bodies will emit radiance. They will be able to fly about freely.” This is the power of Samadhi. “Due to their power of Samadhi, they will attain great spiritual powers. Their bodies emitting radiance arises from the Three studies of Precepts, Samadhi and Wisdom.” Naturally “They will be able to fly about freely,” as they have attained spiritual powers.
All of us should have these extensive spiritual powers, but because our afflictions are coarse and heavy, because we have so many afflictions that are so coarse and so heavy, we have severe karmic obstructions. With these karmic forces and many afflictions, our karmic obstructions will be severe. So, we are unable to attain the power of Samadhi, unable to attain spiritual powers. We are still unenlightened beings.
So, we should make put in great efforts. If we can attain spiritual powers, our “bodies will emit radiance.” This comes from virtue, from “accumulating surplus karma”. then our bodies and minds will be bright and agile. “This arises from the Three Studies of Precepts, Samadhi and Wisdom.” For our “bodies to emit radiance, we start with precepts, Samadhi and wisdom, by putting effort into the Three Flawless Studies. This is how we attain the power of Samadhi, how we attain spiritual powers we begin by learning the Three Flawless Studies, precepts, Samadhi and wisdom.
So, if we can do this naturally we will be able to fly freely and attain spiritual powers. Thus, spiritual powers comes from the mind and spirit being focused and unhindered.
Spiritual powers: It means the mind and spirit are focused and unhindered. A tranquil mind is said to reflect all things so one can remember everything from previous lives clearly distinctly. Everything follows from the power of Samadhi and thus is without obstruction. This is called spiritual powers.
Spiritual powers are not about flying through the sky or tunneling underground. I will tell everyone that according to the true teachings, spiritual powers are intrinsically in all of us. Where are they? In our mind. “The mind and spirit are focused and unhindered. When our mind is focused, when our spirit is not scattered, we can completely understand matters and principles. To do so, our minds must be tranquil and reflect objects. If our minds could quiet down, what matter would remain unclear to us?
Our mind is like a great perfect mirror. All of us have a great perfect mirror. When there is no filth on the mirror, naturally it can reflect things and naturally external conditions appear clearly. So, “He remembers everything from previous lives.” What were we in our past lives? A veil darkness separates our lives. So, in the past, were we humans, or animals, or did we exhaust our heavenly blessings and descend to the human realm? We have no idea. If we had the power of Samadhi, our minds would be very pure. [Our past lives] would be clear as yesterday. After a night of sleep, if you asked me what I did yesterday, I would be able to tell you, “I remember. I had a meeting on this, a meeting on that. I would remember what the meeting was about and what I said. This is because my mind is not scattered but still. Even after a night of sleep, I still remember. Though our past lives [are separated] from our present life, as long as our minds are tranquil, [we remember]. If “mind and spirit are focused and unhindered,” we will remember what we were in our past life. As unenlightened beings, we forget; this proves that we have many afflictions and much ignorance. We have forgotten. If we wish to remember our past lives, then we must put great effort into taking good care of our minds. This can happen to some people even in this life. Suddenly, something happens to them. Perhaps they get into a car accident or they suddenly pass out. When they come to, they ask, “Who are you? Why don’t I recognize you? Where am I? Where is my home? I’ve forgotten everything.” This happens too. The principle is the same. So, if our “mind and spirit are focused and unhindered, a tranquil mind will reflect all things.” Then naturally, we “remember everything from previous lives clearly and distinctly.” Every matter will be clear and distinct. So, “Everything follows from the power of Samadhi and thus is without obstruction.” These are spiritual powers.
People want to know about “spiritual powers”. Where do spiritual powers come from? From [cultivating] the Three Studies. The Three Studies, as I have mentioned before, are the Three Flawless Studies. The Three Flawless Studies are precepts, Samadhi and wisdom. We need to flawlessly uphold the precepts. We must learn to have flawless precepts, flawless Samadhi and flawless wisdom. When we learn in this way, after we hear the Dharma and take it to heart, we do not let it leak away. This is called the Three Flawless Studies, or the Three Studies.
The Three Studies: All Buddhist practitioners have three things that can be universally studied: 1. The study of precepts. 2. The study of Samadhi. 3. The study of wisdom. The Three Studies: First, the study of precepts. These are prohibitions. They can guard against evil karma created by our body, speech and mind.
So, “All Buddhist practitioners have three things that can be universally studied.” The first is “the study of precepts.” These are prohibitions. “You can do this. You cannot do that. You can eat this. You cannot eat that.” We must do our best to control our craving for taste. We must not continue to kill living beings. The world’s climate and the four elements are already out of balance. People’s minds are already in chaos. Can we stop creating more karma? Please do not create karma! The worst karma is that every second of every day, 1776 lives are devoured by people through their mouths. This is in one second! How many would that be in a day? There are 86,400seconds in a day, so how many are being devoured? Before they are devoured, they must first be killed. Innocent lives are taken to satisfy our craving for taste. We should not be doing this! As Buddhist practitioners, we must begin by upholding precepts. The first one to uphold has to do with our craving for taste. If everyone could control this, we could save many lives and furthermore nurture our compassion. So, we must control our craving for taste. Of course, then we must control our bodies. Our bodies should not kill, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, drink alcohol and so on. These all have to do with the body. Regarding the mouth, besides craving for taste, there is the karma of speech. If we gossip or say bad things about others, if we keep something on our mind and never let it go so that we badmouth that person to everyone we meet, then we are creating karma. Where does all this come from? From the mind. So, we often say, our body must do good deeds, our mouth must speak good words, our mind must think good thoughts. This is the threefold Kindness. In the past, I have been constantly advocating for everyone to stop creating all kinds of evil karma. This is the “study of precepts”. We must stop creating all kinds of evil karma. This is what we must learn; we study “precepts”.
The Three Studies: Second, the study of Samadhi. Samadhi is cultivating contemplation. It is what enables us to calmly concentrate and purify our minds.
The second is “the study of Samadhi”. “Samadhi is cultivating contemplation”. We should constantly contemplate what is right and what is wrong. If it is wrong, we absolutely must not do it. If it is right, we should do it. All of our actions should stem from our contemplation. In all things, we must understand the principles. Since everything is empty, why take issue with each other? There is wondrous existence in emptiness; how do we experience it? Through the study of Samadhi; our minds must be in Samadhi.
The Three Studies: Third, the study of wisdom. This refers to our wisdom, which is what contemplates and penetrates the truth and what eliminates delusion and confusion.
The third is “the study of wisdom”. How do we cultivate wisdom? “[By] contemplating and penetrating the truth and [by] eliminating delusion and confusion.” With the true principles, we must be mindful in order to comprehend them. The idea is the same. In our daily living, every object in the world contains principles; every matter contains principles. They can all be found in our daily living. This is the study of wisdom. We should be mindful and attentively observe all things in the world. Then naturally we will come to thoroughly understand the true principles and eliminate delusion and confusion. These are precepts, Samadhi and wisdom.
The study of precepts belongs to the vinaya treasury. The study of Samadhi comes from the sutra treasury. The study of wisdom comes from the abhidharma treasury. These are called the “Tripitaka,”(three baskets) which has 12 divisions of teachings.
Next it says, “With precepts, we can nourish Samadhi. With Samadhi, we can arouse our wisdom. With wisdom we can realize truth and end evils.”
With precepts, we can nourish Samadhi. With Samadhi, we can arouse our wisdom. With wisdom we can realize truth and end evils. By cultivating the Studies, we can advance in stages. After going through the Three Studies, the fruition is to advance to the stage beyond learning.
Because we keep the precepts, our minds are able to be in Samadhi; this helps our minds concentrate. With the precepts, “we can nourish Samadhi”. They help our minds be in Samadhi. Nourishment for the power of Samadhi comes from upholding precepts. “With Samadhi, we can arouse our wisdom.” If our mind is in Samadhi, naturally our wisdom be awakened. When our wisdom is awakened, we can thoroughly understand the principles. Then naturally, we can end evils, all evil thoughts and evil conduct. So, “By cultivating the Studies, we can advance in stages.” By cultivating the Studies, we can continually advance. After passing through the Three Studies, the fruition is “the stage beyond learning.” The stage if learning means we must keep studying, learning all we can, until we have studied all that we should. So, among the Buddha’s disciples were those at and those beyond the stage of learning. The sutras often mention those at and beyond the stage of learning. “Beyond the stage of learning” means they have progressed to a higher level. So, “Their resolve and thoughts are firm.” If we are like this, we have the power of Samadhi. With precepts, Samadhi and wisdom, naturally our “resolve and thoughts are firm.” If we “advance diligently with wisdom, “ [it helps] our “established resolve, actions and thoughts.” We have established our resolve, so in all if our actions and in all of our thoughts we can remain firm. We must always be determined to do the right thing. “Thus, they constantly advance diligently and possess great wisdom.” This is precepts, Samadhi and wisdom. If we can cultivate them, naturally we will be determined like this. “The bodies of all will be golden in color.” This is describing the people there. When Dharma Clarity Tathagata attains Buddhahood in the future, not just Dharma Clarity Tathagata, but everyone else will be like this.
“The bodies of all will be golden in color.” That is, “The bodies of people in that land are all golden in color. The color of gold is yellowish, which is the color of the middle direction.” This color is “because they have cultivated the superior purifying practices of the Middle Way. In response their reward-bodies are therefore truly golden in color.”
[Their bodies] are the yellowish color of gold. “[They have] the 32 Marks”. These 32 Marks are the 32 Marks of a great person; they comprise the dignified appearance of a Buddha. When one has attained the 32 Marks, one has because a Buddha. This appearance, no matter how it is viewed, will seem perfect and complete to everyone. It is a wonderful appearance. So, as Buddhist practitioners, for our spiritual practice, the Three Flawless Studies are so important.
Dear Bodhisattvas, the Buddha’s teachings are inseparable from the Three Studies So, let us always be mindful!
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
首頁 
