Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Bring Joy to All with Universal Loving-Kindness(同體慈力與眾生樂)
When we are mindful every moment is a time for cultivation. If we understand the purpose of cultivation, we are constantly cultivating our minds.
As long as we know our direction and aim, then every day we are cultivating the way of the Compassionate Water Repentance.
Our thoughts are like seeds, if we plant a good seed in mind, it will sprout and grow into a tree which will blossom and bear fruit. As you sow, so shall you reap. So plant good seeds. But we may have also planted bad seeds in the past. Before knowing the truth, we performed both good and bad deeds and planted such seeds in our minds. Now we must actively plant good seeds.
The fruits of seeds planted in our past lives cannot be altered, so there is no need to be attached. Every present moment is a good opportunity to plant good seeds. Do not let it go to waste.
Now we know how to manage the mind. Besides sowing good seeds, we should also eliminate bad seeds. So we must take good care of our minds. Always hold kind thoughts and give to others. Giving is an outward practice and holding good thoughts is an inner practice.
If we still retain habitual tendencies from our past lives, we must start to understand how to be rid of these habits. So now we will talk about “The Compassionate Water Repentance”.
Dharma is like water and water is Dharma. Any impurity in the mind must be removed by Dharma. Similarly, defiled objects in the world must be cleansed with water. The principle is the same.
Repentance is to repent past wrongdoings, which are our past impurities. Whatever bad karma we have created must be cleansed with Dharma-water.
Out of compassion for sentient beings, all Buddhas spoke the Water Repentance practice. With the Three Elements of Elements of Enlightenment all Buddhas use power of universal loving-kindness to spread joy to sentient beings.
The Water Repentance indicates, “Buddhas spoke the Water Repentance practice”. This preface encapsulates the Repentance text. “All Buddhas” refers to the past, present and future Buddhas of the ten directions. They all share the same mindset---compassion for sentient beings.
We need to know what it means to be “Buddha”. It means “Awakened One”. Only those with the 3 Elements of Enlightenment?
Enlightening the self, enlightening others, and perfect enlightened practice, which is realizing that everyone has Buddha-nature, and that everyone must be saved. The Buddha realized all truths and that everyone possesses pure, innate nature.
Due to one ignorant thought, beings fall into the Six Realms. Unwilling to let sentient beings suffer, the Buddhas take action to liberate them. This is “practice”.
Enlightening the self is to realize that everyone has this innate nature and to understand the truth of the universe. Recently we’ve talked about understanding and attaining the truth, which is enlightening the self.
Enlightening others means that beyond our understanding & awakening we also let everyone understand, just as we do, the truth of the universe. Everyone will understand and attain the truth when we take actions to guide them. This is enlightening others.
Thus, if we can enlighten ourselves and others, we are perfect in our enlightened practice. This is achieving Buddha-hood.
I often say that it is very good to understand the teachings of Buddha, but we must practice them in order to experience the truth. Without physical practice, we can’t realize the truth. Many people say they understand what they have heard, but without personal involvement, they can’t experience the joy.
We often talk about “Dharma-joy”. When we allow the Dharma into our hearts, we can devote ourselves to kind deeds. When Dharma is united with our minds and actions, we will be joyful. Dharma-joy is not joy from obtaining material goods, fame, or profit. These carry the trouble of gain and loss. Dharma-joy has no gain or loss. It is always peacefully present.
To truly obtain Dharma-joy, we need to take action and devote ourselves to benevolence. Yet this requires the 3 Elements of Enlightenment. It means that after understanding, we must truly experience it personally when we know that we can contribute to benefit another, there is a sense of joy.
Only when these 3 elements are perfected can one be called “an enlightened one”. The Great Enlightened One is Buddha.
When one takes Dharma to heart and devotes oneself to putting the sutras into action, one will be filled with Dharma-joy and be peacefully at ease.
The Buddhas of the Three Periods come in succession-past present and future. Each Buddha exercises the same power of universal loving-kindness and follows the same Buddha Path.
Buddhas see the truth and understand that all things in the universe are one. The mind, Buddha and all beings are the same. The Buddha brings joy to all beings through the power of loving-kindness. He bestows happiness, hoping that all sentient beings in the universe attain freedom and peace. This is the vow of every Buddha.
The aspiration of every Buddha is to use the power of compassion to liberate all sentient beings in the universe from their afflictions so that they are peaceful and at ease.
The Buddha said, “Bring Joy to all beings with loving-kindness”. This is the path that all Buddhas follow. Not only do they bestow happiness, they also relieve suffering. Sentient beings are caught in ignorance. They drift aimlessly in the sea of suffering or are mired in the muck. They need someone to swiftly rescue them.
Who can relieve them from their suffering? Who is able to guide the many living beings, each with different afflictions, and lead them to understand the truth? Only Buddhas can do so. Buddhas, with their universal loving-kindness, bring happiness to all sentient beings and help them eliminate suffering.
This is why the Buddha came to this world. Therefore it is called “compassion for all beings”. All Buddhas share this path. They have compassion for all living beings, so “they spoke the Water Repentance practice”. Living beings truly need an enlightened sage to guide them and teach them Dharma.
When Buddha lived in the world, he spent over 40 years establishing many expedient teachings so that sentient beings could learn and understand. Such thoughtful guidance is like water that cleanses.
Those with less afflictions will have 1000 realizations from one simple phrase. After they understand, they change completely and never commit same wrongdoings again. Such are people with share faculties. Once they accept a teaching, they can use it inexhaustibly their whole life.
Buddha opened 84,000 skillful means in the hope of guiding sentient beings to achieve 1000 realization from one understanding and rectify themselves completely, as if cleansing their minds with water.
Everyone should still remember Jing-Huan. This old commissioner, an old Bodhisattvas, came to Tzu Chi at the time of greatest misery when her mind was most afflicted. That year, her son died in a plane crash. She was already in her 70s. she was in tears each day.
Of all her children, this son was closest to her. Before he left, he told her, “I’ll be back tonight”. “I’m going to Kaohsiung on business”. The flight boarded crashed above Sanyi. This elderly woman had survived her own son. We can imagine her deep pain and grief.
Her agony persisted for a long time. When Tzu Chi volunteers saw that she was close to a complete breakdown, they invited her to an activity. In March of that year we held a seven-day Buddhist retreat. She attended the retreat here.
Although she recited the Buddha’s name and listened to the sutras, one could see she was feeling very miserable. One day I asked her, “How come you look so gloomy and low-spirited during the sutra lecture?” “what is the matter?” She started talking of her heartache & deep grief. She did not know how she had passed the days.
I told her, “I can understand you heartache, but much time has passed.” “You are crying every day.” “Your son, being as filial as he was, would certainly be pained to see you this way.” “I know you want your son to be liberated.” “But if you can’t find peace, your son’s spirit will never be at ease.”
She said, “What should I do?” “Does this mean his spirit is not liberated?”
I replied, “It most certainly is not.”
“Master. What should I do then?”
I replied, “If you can be at peace, his spirit will be at peace.”
She said, “I really can’t think of a way to calm my heart.”
I told her, “It is like flying a kite.” “The kite is already torn, so you ought to cut the string and let the kite drift freely to liberation.” “Afflictions in life come from the strings of ‘affection’” “If you still hold onto this string, how can he be free and liberated?”
These words resonated with something in her heart like wonderful medicine. Her eyes lit up. She said “ Master, I understand now.” “I won’t miss him again.”
I said, “Yes, there’s no need to miss him.”
“Where should I devote my attention then?”
I said, “All those who are your son’s age are your children.” “There are so many suffering people who are about the same age as your son.” “Many are handicapped or impoverished.” “You can turn your thoughts toward them and think of them as your son.” “Love them as you loved your son.” “Why don’t you join Tzu Chi?”
She said, “Yes Master, I’m willing to join Tzu Chi.”
That day she got a record book for donations and become a commissioner. She was a very dedicated commissioner who was more diligent than the youngsters. She no longer had other worries. Every day she talked to others about Tzu Chi. She was wholeheartedly on the Bodhisattva Path. This heart of the Bodhisattva is called loving-kindness and compassion.
She had the same universal kindness as Buddha to bring joy to sentient beings. Seeing her, others were filled with joy. Hearing her words, they were freed of afflictions. This is relieving suffering. She taught the wealthy and helped the poor. She also took part in all our activities. She changed in 1000 aspects from one awakening. This simple phrase, This simple phrase. “Cut the kite string. When you’re at peace, your son will be at peace,” truly resonated with her and liberated her.
Resonance comes from the wonderful Dharma. It only works when used. So to liberate the mind, we must internalize Dharma. Only then will we have peace and Dharma joy.
Fellow practitioners, please always be mindful. Do not slacken in external or internal practice. Please always be mindful.
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