Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Torch of Wisdom Expels All Darkness(智慧之炬破諸闇)
Date: October.13.2017
“The principles of the Right Dharma never deviate, so they are called ‘right’. The Buddha is the support of the Right Dharma; He safeguards it and [leads sentient beings] toward the Right Path. Teachings, principles, practices and fruits, these four are the essence of the Right Dharma. The Buddha is the guiding teacher of the Three Realms. He spreads the teachings and advances the Right Dharma.”
As Buddhist practitioners, our direction must be correct. The Buddha came to the world for one great cause, which was to teach us all that our perspectives and direction must be right. When one thought goes astray, our direction will deviate with each step, and we will then easily create karma and accumulate ignorance and afflictions. The Buddha’s aim in coming to the world was [to spread] the Right Dharma. There is no difference between the Right Dharma and the principles. This is why it is called “right”. Everything in the boundless universe is a manifestation of the principles. If everything is in accord with the correct principles, all things in the universe will be peaceful. Even a slight deviation will cause the entire universe to lose its proper order. Then, our lives will become filled with disasters. We have been discussing recently how there are so many disasters in the world. The four elements are out of balance. Why are the four elements out of balance? As we often mention, this is caused by people’s behavior. With deviant perspectives and mistaken lifestyles, our actions lead to the devastation of heaven and earth.
For example, the earth is constantly damaged. We are constantly squandering its resources, constantly depleting them. How big is this planet? Whatever resources it contains, we human beings with our cleverness will discover them and constantly exploit them to use in our lives. For as long as the earth exists, human beings would be able to live. However, human beings have discovered that the earth is rich with resources. As soon as our greed is awakened, whether high in the mountains, in the oceans or deep inside the earth, we have been continuously digging and drilling. See how there are so many resources that are being excavated in excess. Moreover, many of the resources need to be refined, so not only do we continuously consume energy, constantly wasting it, but the manufacturing and extraction processes cause more and more severe pollution and destruction. The more people there are, the more we consume and the more deviant our thoughts become. When all these [negative factors] come together, they create a very powerful force. This is why there are so many disasters in this world. If everyone knew the Right Dharma and understood the principles, we would be content with what we have. In time, space and human relationships, nature and humankind could be united as one, coexisting in peace; this would be such a beautiful state. However, in this space in which we live, unfortunately, people’s mindset has deviated.
So, it was to spread the Right Dharma that the Buddha appeared in this world; He was the support of the Right Dharma. But how could He let people know about the Right Dharma? For the heavens, earth and humanity to coexist, we need to respect the heavens, love the earth, and live peacefully together. How were we to understand this? The Buddha, the Great Enlightened One, had comprehended these principles. He safeguards these principles by opening and revealing the Right Path for us. Protecting the Dharma of the Right Path means leading sentient beings toward the right direction. The Buddha came to the world to teach us, so we sentient beings should follow the principles He taught us. After absorbing, accepting and experiencing them, we need to put them into practice. Teachings, principles, practices and fruits, these are what we must absolutely put into practice. Only then we can see the fruits of the Right Dharma and truly comprehend the Right Dharma. Only by practicing the teachings can we attain the fruits.
Through “teachings, principles, practices and realizations,” what we realize is the fruits. When we accept the Buddha’s teachings, comprehend the principles and put the teachings into practice, then we can truly become one with the universe. This is how we realize the fruits. These four, teachings, principles, practices and realizations, or teachings, principles, practices and fruits, since “realizations” means realizing the fruits, these four are the essence of the Right Dharma. [They encompass] the principles of the Dharma. When we can thoroughly comprehend all principles, [we realize] they are like this. The Buddha is the guiding teacher of the Three Realms. He is also the kind father of the four kinds of beings. He came to the world solely to help us understand the principles of the universe. There are tangible and intangible things. All tangible things arise through convergence. As for intangible principles, all things hold their own principles. Every object is formed through convergence of [different factors], but when [these factors] come apart, nothing remains but its intangible principles. Every kind of material contains its own principles. Metal contains the principles of metal, and wood contains the principles of wood. Metal and wood depend on the earth to be produced; they come from the earth. The earth has its own principles. If we divide it into different parts, each part has its own name, its own characteristics and its own true principles contained within.
The principles of the universe are intangible. However, anything with form requires the convergence of many principles. Only then can something tangible, with appearance and form, [come into being]. We often discuss this, but in the past we did not know about it. [We only know this] because those who came before pass this understanding down to later generation. As human beings, we begin learning when we are young. As we attend kindergarten, elementary school, middle school and university, [we lean] the principles layer by layer. In this process of education, teachers pass on their knowledge as they nurture students through [their lessons]. [They teach us] how we should conduct ourselves. Then, as we grow older and become more mature, depending on what kind of professional skills we want in the future, they will gradually teach us and help us understand things. In our society, this is how we pass on knowledge and teach others. The Buddha [understood] all things in the universe. He knew how we come to this life and where we are going. He knows how to practice the causes and attain the fruits. How to go from causes to fruits is something the Buddha explained to us in detail. This is the law of karma. The Buddha came to the world for this one great cause, to help us deeply experience and thoroughly understand [these things]. His hope was that we will follow this path so that our nature of True Suchness can become one with the universe. Only when our understanding opens up and merges with the principles of the universe can the world be a very safe and happy place. Nature and humanity can be united as one and [all beings] can coexist in peace. If things were like this, naturally wouldn’t this be a very safe and happy world? Out of the Buddha’s teachings, how much can sentient beings accept? Every day, we see news reports. Every day, based on what happens, we engage with the suffering begins in the world.
For the past 50 years, we have, in the spirit of the Buddha’s teachings, followed the teachings, principles and practice in accordance with what He taught. [To know] the Buddha’s teachings and principles, we follow His methods. We go among people in the hope that among people, we will all be able to gain understanding together. In our interactions with others, we need to exercise a spirit of love and humanitarianism. This greater principle of [this spirit] is the Bodhi-path to enlightenment. Over these past 50 years, from our starting point in Taiwan, we have now expanded throughout the world. The footprints of Tzu Chi volunteers’ giving have reached almost 100 countries. We are able to see more and more things, as information spreads more and more quickly. In any country where an imbalance of the elements results in disaster or manmade calamities occur, the news will reach us very quickly. Tzu Chi volunteers are spread throughout many countries. They have accepted the spirit of the Buddha-Dharma of loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. With “unconditional loving-kindness and universal compassion” whether in neighboring countries of far away, [volunteers] exercise the Four Great Vows. “I vow to deliver countless sentient beings”. No matter how far away it is, they are willing to go there to help. For example, right now, at this moment in Ecuador, Tzu Chi volunteers from the US and South America have traveled there. Yesterday, we held a video conference. Thanks to modern advanced technology, I could see the 10 or 20 volunteers from different states in the US and from several countries in South America who had gathered together at that place. They are inspiring love among the people there. Now, the Cash for Relief program has already reached a fourth city, the port city [of Pedernales]. I could hear from their briefing that the people in that place are treating [our volunteers] from afar with sincere love.
Yesterday, I also saw footage of them broadcasted by Dai Ai TV. The streets were already very clean, and small business owners have begun to return. Small vendors and food stands have also come out. One [stand’s] owners, a father and his son, both took part in the Cash for Relief program. [For their participation], each one of them received US$15 for the first day. When they received these US$15 on the first day, the father and son were very happy. Combined, they had made $30. Even $15 alone was already a large amount for them. This allowed them to feel more settled, and with this peace of mind, they began to pursue their dream. With this small capital, they set up a vending booth out of a cart. Little by little, they started their business. They set up pots and bought a table and chairs. By the roadside, they began to do business. They were very grateful. They were very grateful to Tzu Chi’s volunteers for coming from so far away to provide guidance for their hearts and lead them in rebuilding their community. After their community was cleaned up, they could start a small business. Thus, they were very grateful.
There was another person who sold cleaning supplies. He also used a cart to carry cleaning supplies, such as brooms, shovels and other things. His said the same thing, that he could [feel] his confidence returning, how his morale was boosted. Now, when he sold these things, if, for instance, a broom cost three pesos, for anyone purchasing it to assist in the cleanup, he would charge only two. He would sell it to them for just two pesos. He would think of when he had been helped in much the same way! Now, he could operate this small business. He hoped that his community and country would be able to quickly recover from this disaster, that people would regain their livelihood. If people from so far away could care for them and love them, they should be able to help each other as well. Thus, by inspiring the [goodness] of their nature, their strength was also mobilized. The government officials there were also very grateful. During our video conference with them yesterday, they mentioned that some local officials invited Tzu Chi volunteers to attend their flag-lowering ceremony. They have also invited Tzu Chi volunteers to participate in a meeting with them. Originally, we had no relationship with this nation, we had no relationship with this nation, and we did not have any seeds there. But now, after this mission, we mobilized the people there. There is also a seed from Taiwan who lives there. Several years ago, he attended our Tzu Chi Global Entrepreneur Retreat. There, he made a vow that in the future, he hoped to spread the Tzu Chi spirit in Ecuador. However, for several years, he did not have the opportunity to [get started]. This [earthquake] became that opportunity; he thought of Tzu Chi. When we heard the news, we realized how severe this disaster was. We were working out a plan for going there, but we lacked connections in that place. It happened that he thought about us, and we too were ready, so we were able to connect. Tzu Chi volunteers from the US accepted this task and left for Ecuador. South America Tzu Chi volunteers also stepped up, and because they speak the language, they would help with translation. By taking the Right Dharma to heart each day, with the Right Dharma at heart, our Path is naturally free from obstacles.
Thus, “The principles of the Right Dharma never deviate”. This is the Right Dharma. In Ecuador, these causes and conditions originated several years before. But as long as there is a cause, as long as there is a seed in that place, naturally the conditions manifest. In that country, the disaster brought forth this cause; by means of these conditions, this convergence could happen. These [events] are truly inconceivable; this is causes and conditions coming together.
Right now, that country constantly appears in news headlines. We talked about this during yesterday’s video conference. Again, today, the news reported that Txu Chi’s Cash for Relief Program has had very positice effects, and that [that place] is recovering at a fast pace. [To apply] the Right Dharma, we must enter the world. Isn’t this what we have done for these 50 years? With the Buddha’s teachings and principles, as long as we midfully use them to pace our path, paving every inch of our path with love, we can connect with awakened beings on by one. Now, our world is clearly filled with disasters, but many Bodhisattvas have emerged in the world. This is the Right Dharma; the Right Dharma is found in a single thought.
Right now, in Turkey, the world Humanitarian Summit is taking place. More than 100 nations are participating. There are 65 heads of states and representatives from 180 countries that have gathered in Istanbul, Turkey to attend this summit. Since World War ll, this is the first summit held specifically on the spirit of humanitarianism. Tzu Chi was also invited to this meeting as the sole representative of Buddhism at this summit. The summit was held May 23 to 24 (2016). Tzu Chi was among the organizations that were invited to the meeting. During the meeting, there were more than 300 display booths. Tzu Chi had two displays there. One of them introduced the methods we have used in providing relief in different countries. It showed how, in the Philippines, in Malaysia and in many other countries, we have conducted large-scale relief operations and the food and supplies we use to care for disaster survivors. We also introduced how we cherish the earth through our recycling programs and so on, displaying different kinds of products. This [summit] showed how upholding the humanitarian spirit in this world is a growing responsibility. Natural disasters and manmade calamities are leaving more and more people in need of help. Right now, around the world, the people in urgent need of help total more than 120 million. The refugees fleeing manmade calamities alone number more than 70 million. Along with survivors of natural disasters, there is a total of more then 125 million who are in urgent need of help. These people are waiting for people to help them. There is so much suffering! The Buddha came to the world with the goal of coming to teach us. The Buddha is the support of the Right Dharma; He safeguards and leads us toward the right Path. We need to follow what the Buddha taught us and walk the Right Path with a humanistic spirit.
We must bring the teachings, principles, practices and fruits together; this is the essence of the Right Dharma. We must not merely listen or study, no. we need to put the teachings into practice. “The Buddha is the guiding teacher of the Three Realms. He spreads the teachings and advances the Right Dharma. This is the Buddha’s role, and thus, as the Buddha’s disciples, it is our responsibility to advance His teachings and protect and uphold the Dharma of the Right Path. This is our responsibility.
Thys, we need to mindfully comprehend this. with so many disasters, at this moment it is increasingly urgent that we take quick steps toward the humanitarian Bodhi-path. This spirit requires us to be very diligent, very courageous, sharp and nimble. We need to have loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity and make the Four Great Vows. These are our most basic foundation.
Next, let us look at the previous sutra passage. “The Buddhas to whom they will make offerings will be like the dust particles described before. They will safeguard Their Dharma-treasuries and will then achieve perfect enlightenment. In the lands of the ten directions, they will all share the same epithet and simultaneously sit in their places of enlightenment to realize unsurpassed wisdom.
The 2000 disciples at the scene received the Buddha’s predictions of Buddhahood. However, they will still need to make offerings to Buddhas as numerous as dust-particles, listen to the Dharma at Their assemblies and safeguard those Buddhas’ Dharma-treasuries by practicing] their teachings. They need to do this. In our spiritual practice, we must all protect and maintain the Dharma-treasury. This is our basic responsibility. This was the case during the Buddha’s time, and it is still our responsibility today; this is how we can attain Buddhahood in the future. During the Buddha’s era, these were His predictions. in our spiritual practice today, we must likewise anticipate that in the future, we will all be able to encounter the Buddha’s treasury of Right Dharma. By earnestly perpetuating our practice, we can also be protectors of the Dharma-treasury.
Next it says, “They will all be named Treasure Appearance. Their lands and disciples, Right Dharma and Dharma-semblance will all be the same. They will all use their spiritual powers to deliver sentient beings in the ten directions. Their name will be universally known and they will gradually enter Parinirvana.
These disciples of the Buddha, after receiving their predictions, must still spend such a long time mindfully engaging in practice and safeguarding Dharma-treasuries until they can finally attain Buddhahood with the name Treasure Appearance. Their lands and disciples, [their eras of] Right Dharma and Dharma-semblance will all be the same. “They will all use their spiritual powers.” They will all have spiritual powers to deliver sentient beings in the ten directions. They will attain Buddhahood in the ten directions and then go out to teach and transform.
Thus, they will “deliver sentient beings in the ten directions. Their name will be universally known.” This is like how our Tzu Chi volunteers today have used the same teachings in spreading the humanistic spiritual to almost 100 centuries. Isn’t this the same principle? However, we must quickly dedicate ourselves. The suffering sentient beings in the world need living Bodhisattvas. Therefore, we need to be very mindful.
The following sutra passage says, “At that time, those at and beyond learning, 2000 in total, heard the Buddha bestow predictions on them. Joyful and jubilant, they spoke this verse.”
When these people heard the Buddha bestow predictions on them, they were very joyful! Finally, their wish was realized. So, they too had something they wished to say. At the beginning, they did not dare talk. Now, the Buddha had bestowed predictions on them so they were feeling joyful, jubilant. So, they began to speak.
The sutra passage continues, “World-Honored One, Radiant Lamp of Wisdom! Hearing the bestowing of predictions, our hearts become filled with joy as if being anointed with ambrosial dew.
They were very joyful, as if they had been anointed with ambrosial dew. This is how those who just received predictions expressed the joy in their hearts. These 2000 people were filled with joy, as if they had been anointed with ambrosial dew. “World-Honored One, Radiant Lamp of Wisdom! hearing the bestowing of predictions….
World-Honored One, Radiant Lamp of Wisdom! Hearing the bestowing of predictions: In this world, His wisdom is endlessly radiant. Because this lamp continues to shine and illuminate all universally, we are able to hear the bestowing of predictions. the Buddha’s wisdom is ultimate wisdom. it completely illuninates all phenomena and can destroy the hindrances of delusions. Thus, He is called Radiant Lamp of Wisdom.
“We have already heard the Buddha’s compassionate voice bestowing predictions on us all.” The Buddha, the World-Honored One, is the sage of this world. His wisdom is “endlessly radiant”. The endless radiance of this lamp can be passed on continuously, and can thus provide endless light. The world is full of ignorance and darkness. With the lamp of the Buddha’s wisdom, we can continuously teach [sentient beings]. We can constantly pass on this radiant lamp of the principles of the Right Dharma to illuminate every part of the world. This very bright lamp can shine everywhere, eliminating the darkness.
So, “We are able to hear the bestowing of predictions.” the wisdom of the Buddha’s voice is like a bright lamp, illuminating the hearts of all sentient beings. we already know that we will attain Buddhahood in the future. We just need to pass on the Buddha’s wisdom, mindfully accept the Buddha’s teachings and diligently practice along this path. It will be the same for us; it does not matter how long it takes or how many Buddhas will appear in the world. All Buddhas share the same path, and they equally pass on the lamp of wisdom. We will also continue to receive the Buddha’s Dharma-treasury. His storehouse of Right Dharma is what we must continue to pass on. “The Buddha’s wisdom is ultimate wisdom. it completely illuminates all phenomena.” He clearly understands all phenomena and all principles. He does not merely analyze all tangible objects, examining them one by one, but He has now expressed [the principles] of all things in the universe; He has fully expressed His wisdom which includes all principles. It is all completely clear to us. This is the meaning of “It completely illuminates all phenomena.” “The Buddha’s wisdom is ultimate wisdom,” so “It completely illuminates all phenomena.” His enlightened nature is one with the universe. Thus, “It completely illuminates all phenomena.” Once we completely understand all phenomena, we can “destroy the hindrances of delusions”. All our delusions, our ignorance and delusions are obstructing us. As spiritual practitioners, we spend a long time as unenlightened beings, being affected by the worldly hindrances of people, matters, things etc. We constantly reproduce afflictions, ignorance and dust-like delusions, layer upon layer of hindrances. Now, this ultimate wisdom completely disperses all afflictions, ridding us of all our ignorance. Using this pure, clean, radiant lamp of wisdom, we break through each obstructing, deviant thought, completely eliminating our ignorance ways.
So, He is called “Radiance Lamp of Wisdom” due to His deep and radiant wisdom. everyone understands this; the Buddha’s wisdom is a torch that can completely pierce the darkness in a room. The Three Realms are like a big house. The inside of this big house is filled with darkness and ignorance. But no matter how much ignorance there is, we only need to light a single lamp of wisdom to see just how filthy and chaotic thing are in the Three Realms. They are full of danger and traps, but within the Three realms, as long as we can shine a light, we can break through all ignorance. This is calle “wisdom”.
Therefore, everyone was joyous, as if being anointed with ambrosial dew. Their minds were filled with happiness. Their direct retribution in the future will be attaining Buddhahood. In the future, as their direct retribution, they will be able to attain Buddhahood. We already understand this very well. From the ignorance of ordinary people, we enter the Buddha’s door and engage in spiritual practice. drop by drop, we are nurtured by Dharma-water, and we thus move from the limited teachings that we can accept when our capabilities are limited. As we gradually gain experience, we [develop] average capabilities. We clearly understand that all things are a convergence of causes and conditions, which leads to all kinds of suffering in the world. Once we thoroughly understand the Four Noble Truths and the Twelve Links of Cyclic Existence, we form aspirations to take the 37 Practices to Enlightenment as our place of practice. Then we can get rid of the various kind of ignorance inside our minds. With the Fourfold Mindfulness, Four Right Efforts, Four Bases of Fulfilling Power, Five Spiritual Roots, Five Powers, Seven Factors of Bodhi and Eightfold Noble Path, our direction is correct. “We actualize the Six Paramitas in all actions.” From this starting point, our diligence begins to take root and the Right Dharma enters our hearts. Then, our direction will no longer deviate. No matter how long it takes, our direct retribution in the end will be teachings, principles, practices and realizations. We have then attained the fruit. Our pure nature becoming one with the universe is our direct retribution, meaning we can fully attain Buddhahood. We understand and return to our nature of True Suchness. As our nature of True Suchness becomes one with the universe, we will be filled with joy. That kind of joy cannot be described. Therefore, it is like “being anointed with ambrosial dew”.
Our hearts become filled with joy as if being anointed with ambrosial dew: Their hearts were full of joy upon hearing their direct retribution, as if being anointed with ambrosial dew. Those 2000 people joyfully received the Buddha’s predictions. They said that the Buddha bestowing them predictions was like being anointed with ambrosial dew.
These 2000 people were happy at having received the Buddha’s predictions. Thus they said, “the Buddha bestowing predictions”. His predictions of Buddhahood on them all was like being anointed with ambrosial dew. Indeed, the Buddha constantly anoints us with ambrosial dew. It is just that our unenlightened state of mind is like ground paved with concrete. When the ambrosial dew drips on the ground, it simply evaporates without being absorbed. We must earnestly cultivate the field in our minds so that its soil can become loosened and we will be able to accept the Dharma. If our minds are not at ease, if they are not in a loosened state, they will remain stuck behind layers of ignorance. This is like having a layer of concrete covering the ground. Nothing can penetrate the concrete to reach the soil beneath. Therefore, if we want the soil beneath to be able to receive the Dharma-water, we must cultivate the fields of our mind. Everyone, the Chapter on Those at and beyond Learning has now come to an end. Have we reached the point where the Buddha’s torch of wisdom, illuminates and destroys our delusions? Has the darkness of our delusions been expelled by the lamp of wisdom? Has this lamp eliminated the ignorance in our minds? We need to ask ourselves this.
The torch of wisdom illuminates and expels the darkness of all delusions. All sentient beings create Threefold Karma and wander in the darkness of ignorance Bodhisattvas of great compassion feel for them and, with their wisdom accumulated through practice, light up the lamp of wisdom for them. Thus it says, “World-Honored One, Radiant Lamp of Wisdom.”
All sentient beings create Threefold Karma and wander in the darkness of ignorance.” Are we still unenlightened sentient beings? Do we still create Threefold Karma, wandering in ignorance? After listening to so many teachings, have we given rise to a Bodhisattva’s great loving-kindness and compassion? Have we truly absorbed the wisdom of the Four Noble Truths and nurtured our wisdom-life? We should ask ourselves this. As for the Buddha’s lamp of wisdom, the World-Honored One came to the world to light the lamp in every one of our minds. Thus, He came to the world to teach the Dharma and to put it into action. He used His methods of spiritual practice. Have we accepted the Buddha’s teachings? We have completed Chapter Nine, but after studying so many chapters, have we taken the Dharma to heart? We need to ask ourselves this question. It is best if we can always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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