Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Recalling Distant Causes from Past Lives (憶念宿命 遠因深緣)
Date: September.25.2017
“Due to his great vow to safeguard the Dharma-treasury, [Ananda] had now received the Buddha’s prediction. When he heard of those distant causes and deep affinities, he recalled the past era of Emptiness King. Upon receiving a reminder from the Buddha that he had listened to the teachings in the past, he attained the power of knowing past lives. By following the provisional teachings and entering the Buddha’s Dharma-treasury, he will reach the ultimate, the other shore.”
We must be mindful. Learning from the Buddha is all about the mind. What we need to do is cultivate our minds. Once a single thought deviates, we may stray far away from the Buddha. We must train our minds; we must quickly adjust our unenlightened minds and correct our direction to draw near the Buddha’s mind. There is a familiar saying, “Human nature is inherently good; we are similar in our nature, but differ due to our habits.” The Dharma has actually always been very close to us; it is just that we have habitual tendencies. I seem to speak of this every day, “habitual tendencies”. Habitual tendencies are formed [over time]; that is why they are called “habits”. By constantly being in a certain environment, we are constantly being permeated.
For example, in the past, a toilet was called a “latrine pit”. If we would stay near such a toilet for a while, once we emerge, other people would say, “Hmm…your body has this smell.” “What kind of smell?” “It smells like you just came from a latrine pit.” Indeed! The smell on us when we emerge comes from staying in that space for a long time. When we come out we have this smell. If we are in a room full of orchids of a kind that is very fragrant, and we stay in that room for a long time, when we leave, even without bringing any flowers, naturally the fragrance of the orchids will be on our body. This is an unchanging principle. So, we now often hear about “being permeated by the fragrance of the Dharma.” We need to frequently listen to the Dharma. We should be very mindful.
Ananda safeguards the Buddha-Dharma in hopes that it will remain in the world forever. The principles are inherently everlasting. After the Buddha taught them, these everlasting principles are in people’s minds. The Dharma of the universe and all Dharma-realms, all the principles, can be taken into the human mind and be applied by us. These are the principles.
We can take the Dharma inside our minds and apply it in our actions. When we are among people, we can apply the teachings to people, matters and objects. Although the Dharma pervades the universe, although it is naturally available, people do not know how to apply it. People lack clarity, so they keep continuously permeating their minds with greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt. They are unable to be genuinely trusting, do not know how to make full use of their life. If we seize these principles among people, matters and objects, we can use the Dharma to guide everyone to return to Right Dharma. This is the way our life works. When we lack clarity, we do not understand. So, the Buddha called on us to awaken in hopes that we can tap into our intrinsic nature of True Suchness, which are the natural principles. Every one of us must open the door of our minds, earnestly take in these principles and apply them in the world. This is all that the Dharma is about. So, He hopes that we will be able to do this.
This year is Tzu Chi’s 50th anniversary. At this time, many senior volunteers have started to recall how, in the early days, they diligently practiced, listened to the Dharma and put it into action. [Back then], they returned to the Abode, participated in bowing pilgrimages and drew near the Dharma. After drawing near it, they put it into practice. Several decades have passed in a flash. With time, Tzu Chi’s Four Missions, including charity, have spread from Taiwan, their place of origin, to dozens of countries. We have traveled to nearly 100 countries to do relief work. See how time has enabled us to accomplished our missions. Yet, as time passes, people are aging. This is a law of nature. When these senior Tzu Chi commissioners and Faith Corps members come back, everyone has such deep feelings in their heart. For the people closer to middle-age, they may not have had the chance to do this kind of bowing pilgrimage. So, thinking back to how the senior volunteers have guided them and described their own diligent practice, this time, they started to plan for participating in such a bowing pilgrimage. The even younger ones could also experience this sense of faith and put the teachings into practice. By prostrating in a bowing pilgrimage, they gave rise to faith. At the same time, they could experience such reverence in their direction. They were very happy!
This time, many young and middle-aged people learned how to plan this so that everyone could be joyful. Yesterday, young people from our Department of Religious Affairs said that many Tzu Chi commissioners, Faith Corp members and Tzu Chi volunteers asked if the pilgrimages can continue. Although the anniversary celebration has passed, they hope this can continue. Their donating members and newer [volunteers] have not yet experienced this; many have not been able to come here to participate in a bowing pilgrimage. This is their hope; can this continue? I said that recently engaging in a bowing pilgrimage is not limited to a specific time. It can be done at any time! This demonstrates their faith. This is how they put it into practice. They express it through their bodies through the way they reverently prostrate.
Take the Philippines, for example. Every week, or twice a month, they hold a bowing pilgrimage. They have been doing this for years. From the gates, they prostrate all the way to the Buddha Hall. This is how the Philippines’ senior commissioners put the teachings into action. This time, people did this all over the world, including in Malaysia and the Philippines. The Malaysian [volunteers], for the Buddha Bathing Ceremony this year, made a vow to safeguard the Dharma-treasury. This meant they had to go among people. Thus, they went door to door with invitations, sharing the spirit of the bamboo bank era. They also prepared Jing Is Aphorisms and shared with each family that people of any religion are welcome to attend Buddha Bathing Ceremony. They told them that the Buddha’s spirit is one of wisdom and compassion, that it is about caring for all sentient beings in the world. So, we do not discriminate between religions. They also encouraged everyone to protect the environment. They connected all of this together. In this way, they invited every household. This was truly a great success. Whether Hindu, Catholic, Protestant or Muslim etc, [our volunteers] visited every household.
It turned out that on the day of the Buddha Bathing ceremony, we could see priests, nuns and Hindu [religious leaders]. They all came to participate. Some even brought back filled bamboo banks. We can see how [our volunteers] regularly connect with them with love, paving [this path] inch by inch with love, inch by inch extending their affection. We saw how, whether in Penang, Kuala Lumpur or Malacca, each ceremony had 6000 to 7000 attendees. In particular, in Kuala Lumpur, there were multiple ceremonies that were all very dignified. This took place in an Muslim country. At Buddha Bathing Day every year, we can see such dignified scenes. There are Dharma Masters. There are also priests as well as ministers and nuns. This is a grand gathering of religions.
The volunteers shared, “Master Cheng Yen said that this is also safeguarding the Buddha-Dharma.” Truly to find the Dharma-treasury we must go among people and walk the Bodhisattva-path. The Dharma needs to be practiced among people. They listen to the Dharma every day and can experience it every day. We also see this in the Philippines in the city of Ormoc. In the Tzu Chi village, not only was their formation very magnificent, they also performed. “Children’s Wrongdoings” from the Sutra of Profound Gratitude toward Parents. They performed this sutra adaptation there. They also performed “From Vow to Action”. With “From Vow to Action,” the spirit of Venerable Jian Zhen that led him to cross the sea to Japan to spread the Dharma was demonstrated in Ormoc. This was really not an easy thing to do. The pattern they formed and the Buddha bathing were also very dignified. So, this all showed everyone’s reverence. It all begins with a single thought. In this way, they showed their gratitude to the Buddha, to their parents, and to all sentient beings. To demonstrate such gratitude to the Buddha, to parents and to sentient beings in such a magnificent way in that place is truly not easy. This is safeguarding the Dharma-treasury. Spreading the Dharma is so simple. When people have the will, when everyone has the same aspiration and can create such a beautiful scene, they can spread seeds of goodness which can grow into a Bodhi-forest of merits and virtues. Think about it; this is not impossible to achieve. We just need to take the Dharma to heart and safeguard it. Keeping the Dharma we hear in our minds and protecting it well is not only Amanda’s responsibility; it is everyone’s responsibility. Who are we responsible to? To ourselves. This is because we are Buddhist practitioners, because we are practicing the teachings. When we take the Dharma into our hearts, put it into practice and engage in spiritual practice among people, we are safeguarding the Dharma-treasury for ourselves. We must store the Dharma within us and practice it among people. Time can bring all things to fruitions. The Buddha-Dharma can spread to every continent in this world. [In every place], on the same day, we can demonstrate that in the universe, the Dharma of the Great Enlightened One is found in the world.
This all depends on everyone’s minds. The human mind is not limited by distance. The Buddha was born in the kingdom of Kapilavastu, now known as Nepal. When we make use of the Dharma in our times, the teachings we share right here can be taken in by people all over the world. They put the teachings into practice, going among people to spread the seeds of love and goodness door to door. Regardless of nationality or religion, everyone can share the same direction the [same] principles. The principles do not discriminate between ethnicities or religions. Taking the true principles and applying them to everyone’s daily living is truly a great vow. We can form great aspirations and vows. Ananda is not the only one who can vow to safeguard the Dharma-treasury; everyone should safeguard the Dharma-treasury. We all need to make this great vow. In the era of the Buddha, Ananda received such affectionate and deeply felt praise from the Buddha. So, “Due to his great vow to safeguard the Dharma-treasury, [Ananda] had now received the Buddha’s prediction”. Ananda had already received the Buddha’s prediction. In addition to the prediction, we also heard the Buddha tell Ananda about their distant causes and deep affinities. These causes were from a very long time ago and the affinities were very deep. Ananda heard what the Buddha said and then recalled the past. He seemed to recall that in the distant past, the time of Emptiness King Buddha, The Buddha gave him a small reminder and he immediately awakened. He attained such a realization. We intrinsically have a nature of True Suchness. It pervades the universe. A very long time, many kalpas, trillions of kalpas, a period of time that long, can be shortened into this present moment, into a single thought, when we recall this memory. This is just like how, if we now talk about what happened a long time ago, it now appears before our eyes. Indeed, when I think about my childhood, that was 60 or 70, or 80 years ago. Something 70 or 80 years ago can immediately come back to me. Think about it; this is recalling. For us ordinary people, what we are able to recall is from our current lifetime. We are able to recall what happened into our past. However, the Buddha, as an awakened person, is not limited by time nor by separation in space. With one enlightened thought, Ananda recalled the era of Emptiness King Buddha. The Buddha gave Ananda a reminder, and Ananda awakened. That is right! [This happened] in that moment. So, “Receiving a reminder from the Buddha that he had listened to the teachings in the past, he attained the power of knowing past lives”. Thus, in an instant he could understand. He could reach across countless kalpas. At that moment, “By following the provisional teachings and entering the Buddha’s Dharma-treasury, he will reach the ultimate, the other shore”. In this way, since that era so long ago, the time of Emptiness King Buddha or of Great Unhindered Wisdom Superior Buddha or of the Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddhas, since countless kalpas ago, all Buddhas have shared the same path and have given the same teachings. So, Ananda kept following the provisional teachings. This is because when each Buddha wants to widely transform sentient beings, they must use such skillful means, such provisional teachings, just like Sakyamuni Buddha. He used the Small and gradually transitioned to the Great. This is “following the provisional teachings and entering the Buddha’s Dharma-treasury”. This is what Ananda did.
So, Ananda truly and completely understood the Buddha-Dharma. He went from the shore of unenlightened beings to the shore of noble beings. This was what was in Ananda’s heart; these were his own thoughts. For this reason, with one reminder from the Buddha, he was able to recall the past, this past life from countless kalpas ago, reaching across a vast expanse of time and space. We too can quickly reach across time and space. Our minds often become scattered. When we reach across time and space, we do so with scattered minds. Right now, you are focused on listening to the Dharma. If you are not focused, you are constantly reaching across time and space, to what happened yesterday or to what happened decades ago. “There was this person; there was that person”. We have the minds of unenlightened beings; our minds are constantly wandering. When the minds of noble beings reach across time and space, it is with the power of knowing past lives. In the past time and space, [Ananda] practiced in the presence of Buddhas. He thoroughly understood the principles and went from an ordinary to a noble state. [He reached] that time and space. This is what we should train ourselves to do. We should train our scattered minds so when our scattered thoughts reach across time and space we can constantly pull them back. Everything is created by the mind. We must take good care of our minds. If our minds cannot focus now, how can we develop this power? With this power, in the midst of confusion, we can thoroughly understand all true principles. When we comprehend the true principles which are without substance or appearance, naturally time will become boundless. These are the principles. Time is also a principle. So, principles have no substance or appearance; they are without bounds. This is what we need to learn. We must be mindful.
Let us look at the previous sutra passage, “Ananda safeguards my teachings and will also protect the Dharma-treasuries of all future Buddhas. He will teach, transform and enable all to become Bodhisattvas. His original vow was such, so he received such predictions.”
This was what Ananda did. Now, he was by Sakyamuni Buddha’s side, but this was not the only time he was an attendant and uphold the Dharma-treasure.
Actually Ananda did this in the past and will do this in the future too. In the future, he will be able to safeguard Dharma-treasuries in the same way. [As he learned] infinite Dharma in the past, He safeguarded these Dharma-treasuries. Moreover, in the future he will safeguard them too. At the same time, he will likewise teach and transform many people. Everyone will turn from the Small to the Great they turn from the Small to the Great [Vehicle]. Everyone will turn toward the Great Vehicle Dharma and become Bodhisattvas with a Bodhisattva’s mind. These are the sentient beings Ananda will teach and transform in the future. This was what happened in the past, and the same will also happen in the future. He will follow many more Buddhas and safeguard the teachings of many Buddhas.
The next passage states, “When Ananda, facing the Buddha, heard this prediction besrowed on him and heard of the magnificence of his land, his wishes were all fulfilled and he greatly rejoiced in his heart for he attained what he never had before.
Ananda had already, in front of the Buddha, received the Buddha’s prediction for him as well as for his land. This very magnificent land will be as clear as crystal. This was the prediction Ananda, at this assembly, as he stood in front of Sakyamuni Buddha, personally heard from the Buddha. he also heard that his land in the future will be exceptionally pure and magnificent.
When Ananda, facing the Buddha, heard this prediction bestowed on him and heard of the magnificence of his land: In that assembly, Ananda, facing th Buddha, was able to personally hear the Buddha bestow upon him a prediction of Buddhahood and a prediction of how pure and magnificent his reward-land will be.
After hearing this prediction of Buddhahood, Ananda rejoiced. What was he so happy about? There were two reasons. One was happiness for his deep causes. He had at the same time as Sakyamuni Buddha, formed aspirations in the presence of Emptiness King Buddha. He was Sakyamuni Buddha’s fellow practitioner. So, of course he was very happy. “It turns out you and I were fellow students. I was the Buddha’s fellow student before!” Of course this made him happy. In the presence of Emptiness King Buddha, they learned the Dharma and practiced together. They only [differed] in which practice they were interested in Sakyamubi Buddha not only listened to the Buddha and upheld the teachings. He also went among people to actualize the Six Paramitas in all actions. Because of this, He attained Buddhahood earlier. Ananda only upheld one [practice], to earnestly listen to and safeguard the Dharma. He did not get involved among people to form affinities with sentient beings. that was the only difference. However, he practiced and made vows at the same time as the Buddha. So, he was happy.
He rejoiced upon hearing the prediction: First, he was joyful for having deep causes of forming aspirations together with the Tathagata in the presence of Emptiness King Buddha. Second, he was joyful because his supreme fruit was magnificent and surpassed that of his fellow practitioners. Not only was his long-held wish fulfilled, he also felt fortunate to attain what he had not expected.
The second reason he was happy was because of his supreme fruit, because it turned out that the fruit he will attain in the future will be so exceptional. It will be so magnificent that it surpasses [that of] all of His fellow practitioners. Earlier, when the Buddha bestowed a prediction on Sariputra, even though his lifespan will be very long, it will still be limited. Among all the predictions that Buddha bestowed, no mater how long a lifespan we heard about, it will still be limited.
When Ananda received a prediction of Buddhahood, it was said his lifespan will be limitless. Moreover, his land will be very magnificent. No one else had received such a prediction, but Ananda had received this. “Not only was his long-held wish fulfilled….” His long-held wish was simple focusing on his mission; this was his wish. But he had now gone beyond this. this wish had been fulfilled, and he further “felt fortunate to attain what he had not expected”. He had now attained this. he had received a prediction of Buddhahood, but it seems what he got was beyond his expectations. Not only will he have a long lifespan, but also a magnificent land. Moreover, the sentient beings that he will teach will all be Bodhisattvas; they will all be Great Vehicle practitioners. This prediction was truly different from that of other people. So, he had not dated hope for this much, but now he has attained so much. Such an exceptional fruit is the effect he will attain in the future. So, listening to the Dharma, learning the Dharma and safeguarding the Dharma-treasury creates such great merits and virtues. They will pervade the universe and his time will be as limitless as that of heaven and earth. this [fruition] is truly great.
His wishes were all fulfilled and he greatly rejoiced in his heart for he attained what he never had before: He felt fortunate that his original aspirations would be fulfilled. His heart opened and gave rise to joy because he was able to attain what he never had before.
His wishes were all fulfilled and he greatly rejoiced in his heart for he attained what he never had before. His original aspirations had already been fulfilled and attained. So, “His heart opened.” His heart was completely open. Originally, he was worried “Everyone else has received a prediction, so why haven’t I?” noe he had received a prediction, and it was far beyond what he had expected. So, his heart opened completely. Thus, he “gave rise to joy.” His heart was full of joy. He was able to attain what he never had before. All he received now, he had never dared hope for in the past, yet now he had attained it. This was Ananda’s state of mind. He must have been full of joy. I too feel very happy for Ananda. In the beginning, how could he have expected to attain so much? Yet the Buddha [predicted] so much for him, including a limitless lifespan, a magnificent Buddha-land and sentient beings so easy to teach and transform. They will all form great aspirations upon hearing [the Dharma]. I truly admire Ananda. I truly feel very joyful.
The sutra passage continues, “He immediately recalled the Dharma-treasuries of infinite trillions of Buddhas in the past. He fully comprehended them without hindrance, as if listening to them today. He also became aware of his original vow. At that time, Ananda spoke in verse.”
He had now heard the Buddha’s prediction. At that moment, “He immediately recalled the Dharma-treasuries of infinite trillions of Buddhas in the past.” It was not just the Dharma-treasury of Sakyamuni Buddha. In this way, he instantly recalled the past when he instantly recalled the past when he had practiced under so many Buddhas, [safeguarding] Their Dharma-treasuries.
He immediately recalled the Dharma-treasuries of infinite trillions of Buddhas in the past: He recalled lifetimes in the long and distant past and all the Dharma-treasuries that he had listened to in the presence of all Buddha. The Dharma-treasuries of trillions of Buddhas are also known as the Tathagata-garbha. These are the principles of the Dharma-nature, because the Dharma-nature contains infinite virtues.
Now [Ananda] recalled how the Dharma he heard in long past, distant lifetimes, so long ago that it is impossible to measure, in the presence of all [past] Buddhas, and the Dharma he now heard from Sakyamuni Buddha [was the same]. It was the path that all Buddhas shared. The teachings seemed to all be the same. “The Dharma-treasuries of trillions of Buddhas” are also called the “Tathagata-garbha”.
Here it is emphasized for us again that “the Dharma-treasuries of trillions of Buddhas” can actually also be called the “Tathagata-garbha”. We all intrinsically have Buddha-nature; we intrinsically have the Tathagata-garbha. The nature of True Suchness, the Tathagata-nature, the intrinsic nature of the Tathagata, is the source of the principles of all Dharma. True Suchness and the Tathagata-garbha [refer to how] all the true principles, the true principles of everything in the universe, are stored in our minds. In our minds, we have always had [a nature] equal to the Buddha’s. So, Ananda understood that sentient beings’ minds have the same awakened [nature] as the Buddha-mind. “These are the principles of the Dharma-nature because the Dharma-nature contains infinite virtues”. This is the Tathagata-garbha. To attain virtues, we need to take action, need to give. We all intrinsically have Buddha-nature, but although everybody has it, because of our habitual tendencies, we are unable to take action and are reluctant to help others. Our minds cannot b accommodating. We are unwilling to open up our hearts. We are unwilling to open up our hearts, are unwilling to accommodate others. Because of this, we can only [learn from] one or two [people] at a time. We cannot thoroughly realize the teachings of trillions of Buddhas and take them all together. Actually, all Buddhas share the same path. Actually, everyone is a Buddha. The principles that pervade the universe can all be taken in by us at the same time. We can be completely clear on and thoroughly understand them all. This is “comprehending them without hindrance, as if listening to them today.” Even with the Dharma-treasuries of infinite trillions of past Buddhas, we can absorb them all in a single moment. No matter how long the time, no matter how may enlightened Buddhas there are, the true principles that pervade the universe can all be thoroughly comprehended.
He fully comprehended them without hindrance, as if listening to them today: He fully comprehended all without hindrance, just as if listening to it today.
That is like how now, as Ananda stood in front of the Buddha, with a single reminder from the Buddha, he “fully comprehended all without hindrance”. There was no hindrance at all. He thoroughly understood every principle without being stuck anywhere. This is like how, when we drive, if there are many cars, there will be a traffic jam. If we had the means, we could avoid driving and instead float up and glide over the traffic, in this way reaching our destination. Then, no matter what obstacles were on the road, our minds would not get stuck. [We think,] “I am in a hurry, I need to get there” and we are there. “Someone is waiting for me there” Our thoughts, our minds, can travel there in this way. Though conditioned phenomena face obstacles, the unconditioned Dharma of our minds has already passed through and arrived. The principle is the same, so “He fully comprehended all without hindrance, just as if listening to it today.” This was the Dharma that Ananda heard standing before the Buddha. Thus, “He also became aware of his original vow.”
He also became aware of his original vow. At that time Ananda spoke in verse: He also became aware of the great aspirations that he had originally made. This path is the straight path of the One Reality of his original vow.
Ananda and was able to completely understand all the teachings he heard the Buddha give. He even recalled his original vow. His original vow was made countless kalpas ago. How long ago was it? He had unceasingly made vows, vows to take in the Dharma and go among sentient beings with the Buddha’s mind to transform them. It is because we are among people that we need the Dharma. This is an absolute principle. It is because there are people that we have afflictions and ignorance. It is due to afflictions and ignorance that all sentient beings experience many disasters and there are many suffering people. Thus, all Buddhas, in their compassion, want to save and transform sentient beings. spiritual practitioners all share this same vow. Ananda also had this vow. He hoped that when all sentient beings have severe ignorance and turbidities, the Dharma can cleanse them, can wash away their defilements of ignorance. This was the reason why he vowed to safeguard the Dharma-treasury.
So, he had now recovered this vow, understood it. However, storing the Dharma [is not enough]. He had to put into practice. so, he now started to dedicate himself to applying it among people. However, this will still take a very long time. This is Ananda’s understanding of his past vow. Actually, from the beginning he did this for the sake of transforming sentient beings, but for a very long time, he delighted in listening to the Dharma. All he did was listen. Not one phrase leaked from his mind; the principles are in his mind forever. Life after life, he drew near the Buddha this way, but he did not realize that he had to quickly go among people. Now, Sakyamuni Buddha had bestowed this prediction on him. In the future, he will naturally go among people and constantly counsel and guide everybody to practice the Great Vehicle Dharma and plant the seeds of the Great Vehicle. So, when he attain Buddhahood in the future, his Dharma-assembly will all be Bodhisattvas that are very easy to teach. With a single teaching, they open their minds and understand. This is in his future. However, there is still so much to do; over a long time, with so many sentient beings, he needs to develop the conditions. Therefore, Ananda thought this was very important.
“At that time Ananda spoke in verse.” This is awareness; this is talking about our consciousness. In the past we have said that when we reach the eighth consciousness, our karmic consciousness, the karma that we create, good and evil, will all be stored there, in the eighth consciousness. If we can transcend the eight consciousness, we can reach the ninth consciousness, which is completely pure. It is pure and without any obstacles. With it we can transcend time and space and permeate the universe so that we can recognize our original vow from the past. “This path is the straight path of the One Reality of his original vow. His path is like this, the straight path of the One Reality.
“When Ananda heard the Buddha speak of causes and conditions from their previous lives, he could immediately recall….” After hearing it, he recalled being able to recall is very important.
When Ananda heard the Buddha speak of causes and conditions form their previous lives, he could immediately recall, from past kalpas, the Dharma-treasuries of all Buddha that he had safeguarded as well as his original vow to safeguard the Dharma. He then realized that serving as the Buddha’s attendant now wasin fact a skillful means to safeguard the Dharma. Thus, he abided even more peacefully on the path to Buddhahood without further doubt.
A long time ago in the past, he had already done this he had safeguarded the Dharma-treasuries of all Buddhas, upheld his original vow of safeguarding the Dharma. This is was Ananda’s vow. So, he realized that “serving as the Buddha’s attendant now was in fact a skillful means to safeguard the Dharma.” Because he needed to safeguard the Dharma, he was by the Buddha’s side and become his attendant. This was a kind of skillful means. If he did not draw near the Buddha, how could he learn so much Dharma and receive a prediction of Buddhahood? He originally knew this, but he had to go through this process. With a single reminder he knew. So, his mind was at peace; with these benefits to his mind, he was even more at peace. “He abided on the path to Buddhahood without future doubt.” There was no longer any doubt in Ananda’s mind.
As Buddhist practitioners, we must be mindful of the present moment. We must not allow our minds. If our minds can return to one thought, naturally our strength, the power of our minds and our energy will come together, and nothing else can hinder us. All in all, to protect and uphold the Dharma, we must put it into practice. we must always be mindful!
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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