Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Wondrous Dharma Arises from Clarity of Mind(心明妙法生)
The Compassionate Water repentance indicates, “Out of compassion for sentient beings, all Buddhas spoke the Water Repentance practice.”
As we know, the mind, Buddha and all beings are undifferentiated. Everyone has the Buddha-nature. The Buddhas inspire each other, they are all teachers. We all have the potential to attain Buddha-hood and everyone is capable of learning the same great compassion of the Buddha.
The Buddha has “Universal loving-kindness and compassion for all” “Universal locing-kindness” is something we should mindfully experience. All Buddhas of the ten directions in the past, present, and future share the same heart of loving-kindness.
I often talk about transforming the ordinary mind into that of all Buddhas. This is mastery in being mindful of the Buddha.
Our mind and thoughts should always focus on our intrinsic nature, the Buddha-mind, so that we can realize universal loving-kindness and have compassion for all sentient beings. This is mastery in beong mindful of the Buddha.
Do we all possess this mind? Yes, but it is obscured by our ignorance. The Buddha taught us to master cleansing the mind. We need Dharma to cleanse the filth of ignorance and affliction. Dharma id like water, which is needs to clean dirty objects. One with mental afflictions needs the guidance of Dharma teachings. The Water Repentance is a method to cleanse afflictions and impurities in our minds.
The Buddha expounded the Water Repentance so we can cleanse our minds with Dharma-water to eliminate afflictions and defilements.
Repentance means cleansing. We repent when there are afflictions in our minds. Our afflictions are our past transgressions. When we cover up and hide our wrongdoings or afflictions, it is like burying the seeds of affliction and ignorance.
Many people who were once poor, who previously engaged in wrongdoings, or whose parents lived in humble conditions, try to hide these truths from others. This is covering up past mistakes.
When we hide our mistakes, we cover up the seeds of ignorance and affliction layer by layer. This creates deep defilements that are difficult to clean.
Repentance is about facing past mistakes, disreputable or dishonorable affairs. We must be brave in opening our hearts to bring all afflictions and impurities into the light. I often say, “After revealing one’s mistakes, one will improve.” Many people have led misguided lives. We should not hide our past mistakes. We must bravely uncover them and take the initiative to confess. This is repentance.
Only by repenting our past afflictions and impurities can we be reborn and lead a fresh new life. People often say, “I am reborn.” “The ‘me’ of yesterday id now dead.” “I’m a brand-new person today.” This is the meaning of repentance.
It is like the computers we use today. When the hard drive is full, we will clear it and delete useless files. Then the hard drive functions well again, allowing us to input new, useful files. Repentance is like this. Repentance is to repent or cleanse the past. We must use the Dharma-water of Buddha’s wisdom to cleanse the impurities from our minds. This is spiritual cultivation.
Repenting past afflictions and mistakes leads to a refreshing, new start.
The Buddha said, Sentient beings are steeped in defilement. Who is without transgression? Who is without fault? Sentient beings are steeped in defilement.
The Buddha said, “Sentient beings are steeped in defilement.” “Who is without transgression?” “Who is without fault?” “Sentient beings are steeped in defilement.” We all know this. All Buddhists can quote the verse, “Sentient beings are steeped in defilement.” But what are defilements? They are impurities and filth that have accumulated over time. We all have a pure, intrinsic nature that is unpolluted. It is also called innocent, intrinsic nature.
Everyone has a pure, intrinsic nature. The rise of an ignorant thought lead to afflictions of greed. Anger and ignorance which obscure one’s innocent, intrinsic nature.
The accumulated defilements obscure our capacity to perceive true principles, so afflictions develop. We should be aware of each unenlightened thought. I’ve said before, “An ignorant thought causes the Three Subtleties, external conditions cause the 6 Coarse Marks.”
I often share about the rise of an ignorant thought in our bright, intrinsic nature that leads to greed, anger and ignorance. With greed, anger and ignorance external states such as sights, sounds, smells, tastes etc, start to drive our minds to react.
When our eyes. Ears, nose, tongue & body contact the outside world they give rise to many unwholesome activities. “External conditions cause the 6 Coarse Marks.” With the six coarse afflictions, one continues to commit wrongdoings. Then one’s original, pure and clear mind is obstructed.
If our minds are clear, we can discern wondrous. Dharma from everything in this world, be it good or bad. These wonderful principles can be found in our daily life, they are all around us. We should look within &thoroughly self-reflect. I’d our brilliance within is covered by afflictions we become more deluded. With the rise of one deluded thought, delusions will constantly accumulate. Deluded and confused sentient beings arise in the midst of unenlightened thoughts. As a result, they are constantly reborn in the Six Realms.
With clarity of mind, wondrous Dharma arises. One is joyfully at ease everywhere. With a deluded thought, affliction arises. One falls into rebirth in the Six Realms.
What is wondrous brilliance? It is the intrinsic nature within everyone. What is ignorance? It is confusion, not knowing, delirium. It causes our endless rebirths. Sentient beings already have very heavy defilements from afflictions. Various afflictions, ignorance and impurities have been built up layer by layer. So the light of our pure, intrinsic nature no longer shines. The brightness of our intrinsic nature has been completely concealed.
Consequently, it’s said, “Who is without fault? Who is without wrongdoing?” Everyone has committed transgressions. We shouldn’t think, I haven’t made any mistakes, why is my karma so heavy?” “Why do I constantly encounter unfavorable circumstances? Actually this is due to our past actions. Layers upon layers of ignorance have accumulated from the wrongs we have created.
Now we are uncovering them layer by layer. When our karmic retributions manifest, we need to use our wisdom to be understanding. That’s the only way. After enduring a difficult situation, we must be grateful to be freed of this difficulty. We must have a grateful heart, so that when the karmic retributions appear, ignorance does not arise in our minds. Otherwise, not only will this karma not be exhausted, we will add another layer of ignorance.
When encountering difficulties, use wisdom to be understanding, and be grateful for the chance to eliminate karmic obstructions.
If we are not careful and a car accident occurs, some of us might say, “I haven’t done anything wrong, why is this happening to me?” “I’ve been a good person, so why am I sick?” This is wrong. Car accidents do not occur without cause. What so many people on the road, why were we hit and not others?” It’s due to the seed of a cause which has matured into this effect.
So when we encounter these conditions, we should say, “Luckily, after emergency rescue and treatment, I am reborn again.” “I am grateful to have exhausted this heavy.” “Karma by suffering lightly,” “I am truly grateful.” What should we do next? We should be more diligent. The human body is very fragile. It can easily be damages or broken. So life is very delicate. We must joyful accept the retributions of ignorance that we have already accumulated. In this way, we can eliminate karma.
There is a cause for every effect. If we accept everything joyfully, without affliction, karma will be eliminated.
Although some people do not complain, they are still not correct. When they become ill, they say that it was because they made great vow and are being tested by demons. This is an improper view. If this were the case, who would dare to make vows to practice? It is incorrect to believe that one’s vow will be tested by demons. Without a karmic seed, there would be no fruition of such an effect it’s not true that demons and afflictions manifest when one makes a resolve. Instead, we should think, “Luckily I made a resolve, and learned the Dharma and principles for a period of time.” “I truly gave for the benefit of others.” “I am so grateful that I was able to discover such wonderful truths before I was ill.” “I was able to understand so many principles and finally practice them.” “Thank goodness.” This is how we should think.
Take every condition we face, as a way to exhaust our past karma. Do not ever create new seeds.
Sentient beings are steeped in defilement. Everyone is born with karmic seeds. With karma, everyone commits wrongdoings. Who can say they don’t? When the Buddha was alive, He also had residual karmic retributions. Buddha suffered headaches, back pains & illnesses. He also stepped on thorns and had tetanus. This was the unexhausted karma from His past lives. The Buddha willingly accepted it. We should understand that no one is without transgressions. Some have awakened earlier, when negative karma ceaselessly manifests, they joyfully accept it with understanding & gratitude.
Consequently, Dharma, like pure water, cleanses them. When one faces karmic retribution with joy, it is cleansing. It cleanses one’s ignorance and exhausts one’s negative karma.
We carry karmic seeds into the Six Realms. Constantly repent and cleanse wrongdoings with Dharma-water. Eventually we can rediscover our pure, intrinsic nature.
Fellow practitioners, if there are defilements we must constantly repent and cleanse our impurities with the pure waters of Dharma. This is also based on our mindset. We must always be mindful, and look after our minds. Cleansing defilements with Dharma-water is repentance. Use the Dharma to repent and remove afflictions. Thus, complicated difficulties can be overcome with very simple Dharma.
Everyone, we must safeguard our minds. Everything arises from the mind. So everyone please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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