Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Learn Buddha-dharma and Cultivate Diligently (聽聞佛法 認真修行)
Every day we are in such a tranquil environment. Our surroundings are so peaceful, but are our minds just as tranquil? This depends on whether we have taken the Dharma to heart. If we allow drops of Dharma-water into our hearts, the various afflictions in our minds and the layers of obstructions slowly fall away.
If we can eliminate afflictions, then the mind will be pure and tranquil. Living beings truly need to quickly repent. Repentance brings purity. Repentance can wash away all defilements of affliction.
Transgressions arise from the Threefold karma of body, speech and mind. Through the Six Roots, wrongs are committed. From the mind, deviant thoughts arise.
As stated in the Water Repentance, “Transgressions arise from the Threefold Karma. Unenlightened, ordinary people, regardless of social status, have erred intentionally or unintentionally. What is done intentionally is a transgression. What is done unintentionally is a mistake.
We mentioned this earlier. The wrongs committed intentionally or mistakes made unwittingly are indeed numerous. They are immeasurable. These incalculable wrongs arise from the Threefold Karma.
As we mentioned before, the Threefold Karma are body, speech and mind: three evils committed by the body, four by speech, and three by the mind.
The first seven evils, four of the body and three of speech, all result from greed, anger and ignorance in the mind. The chaos in the
world, killing, stealing and sexual misconduct, all arise from greed in the mind. As soon as anger and hatred arise in our minds, harsh, abusive words will come from our mouths.
We never realize how many people we hurt through our ill words. We act on momentary impulses. When someone says something that displeases us, we respond with the nastiest words. We never realize that words spoken so easily can be so hurtful. We did not realize that, in truth, as we hurt others, we actually hurt ourselves simultaneously.
First, as we speak this way, a seed of bad karma has been planted in our mind. We damage our relations with others as well as ruin our character. So we add another unwholesome seed to our mind. Besides damaging our relations with others it negatively affects our practice & character. Then there is ignorance.
Ignorance is the state of not knowing truth. As practitioners, we would not purposely err. However we easily commit unintentional mistakes. How could we be so foolish and ignorant as to not walk the right path? Yet we delude our own minds. We don’t do what is right, so that inadvertently we continually injure and harm others.
Meanwhile, we create bad karma for ourselves and damage our spiritual practice. If this isn’t ignorance, what is it? So we should be very vigilant and careful. Do not think that you can do as you please, that your thinking is always correct. Many people are ignorant and often do wrong things. But when others point out their errors, they’re unwilling to change this is not only being ignorant, but also stubborn and obstinate.
Ignorant people tend to be hardheaded. They are truly unable to accept others’ advice or guidance. Although they know what is right, they can’t act accordingly. This is due to their habit. So they run circles in the same place. Such ordinary, afflicted minds are always locked in a perpetual cycle, unable to break out of afflictions. As Buddhist practitioners we must truly look after our minds.
Instead of walking on the right path, we deviate from proper rules. We unconsciously harm others. Thus, we damage our spiritual practice and create bad karma. This is ignorant action.
Actually, we all understand these principles. Everyone says, “I already know the Three Karma. Why do you keep talking about them?” Because when greed, anger and ignorance arise in the mind, the seven evils of body & speech will be committed. Once the seven evils are committed, like radioactive rays shooting out they will lead to countless evils.
Therefore, if we wish to curtail, subdue, and eliminate our transgressions, we need to safeguard our minds. The offenses committed through Threefold Karma are incalculable.
So “Transgressions arise from the Six Roots. The Six Roots are the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind.
The Six Roots are They correspond with the Six Sense Objects of the outside would. Tempted by external states, our six sense organs react accordingly. Our eyes make contact with the forms in the external word. Or there are the sounds that we hear. Those with wisdom are grateful when they hear abusive speech, as it is a condition which allows them to improve.
They are very grateful “Thank goodness that there are people who point out my mistakes to me.” The wise take criticism as a lesson. I often say that. If we take interpersonal matters as conflicts, then we will always be mired in afflictions. This is ignorance.
If we are aware of an interpersonal conflict, we should know that this conflict can be taken as a lesson. Then such adversity benefits our practice. Whether a situation is good or bad, if we approach it with wisdom, it will help us develop wisdom and expand our knowledge & learning. That is wisdom.
Within the same situation and listening to the same remarks, a wise person receives them as wondrous Dharma. While an ignorant person deems them afflictions. This is the ears reacting to external sounds.
Don’t treat harsh words as disputes and create more afflictions. Instead receive them as a lesson and develop wisdom.
There are many kinds of sound. Practitioners must always be highly vigilant when the Six Roots contact the Six Sense Objects Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch or thought, if we know how to use them, they can all become Dharma and wisdom. Yet we often let such good opportunities slip by. Every day we interact with many people and engage in many activities. Having done so much, seen so much, heard so much, and experienced so much, we should have learned a great deal. Yet we are often oblivious to these teachings.
Everyone, we need to seize each moment everything we see or hear, every thought is an opportunity for us to learn and develop our wisdom. If a negative thought arise from the encounter, then we have generated bad karma and increased our afflictions.
The Six Roots and Six Sense Objects all in involve our consciousness. Everything we do ultimately sows seeds in our consciousness. As I said earlier, if our words and expressions are harsh or hurtful, besides harming others, we are also creating bad causes and damaging our character.
Everyone should understand this. They eyes see forms, ears hear sounds, the tongue tastes flavors, the nose smells scents, the body touches all objects and perceives temperature, etc..
Listening with wisdom, words become Dharma. Listening with ignorance, words create afflictions.
To summarize, everything originates from the mind. With the arising of a thought, we react to the outside world with feelings of happiness, anger, sadness, joy. We follow external conditions, and ultimately create karma in our consciousness. So please be mindful.
Transgressions are created by the Threefold Karma or Six Roots. When we inadvertently see something, we will be tempted and bad habits will take over. This is a transgression I believe everyone has a kind intrinsic nature.
We resolve to cultivate spiritually, yet we can’t subdue our habits. If we can do so, every moment that our Six Roots contact the Six Sense Objects can lead to insights. But sadly, we often let these opportunities pass by. Moreover, we create wrongdoings. This is the most regrettable aspect.
We must not allow the Six Roots to cause us to absentmindedly commit many transgressions. “Once lost, it takes kalpas to regain human form”. We are fortunate to be born human in such a wonderful environment. If we don’t seize time well, and cherish our chance to learn Dharma in this lifetime, it may be eons before we receive another chance. So everyone, we should heighten our vigilance.
Within the Six Realms of cyclic existence, only humans can engage in spiritual practice. So we should cherish this life, learn the Dharma and practice diligently. Otherwise, if we continue to create and accumulate karma, in the next life we will lose our human form and the chance to practice.
With deviant thoughts in our minds, even if the correct path is before us, we do not choose it. Even with so many proper Dharma we do not practice them. Instead, we choose to do as we please. We listen to our mistaken mind, and continue to head in the wrong direction. We should truly quiet our minds and deeply reflect.
The problem is that we do not strive to calm our minds. The outside world is noisy and chaotic, and we cannot live apart from other people. We must train our minds to be serene within chaos.
Since we’ve chosen the spiritual path, we have renounced fame, wealth desires and secular family. We have severed the ties with those we love most. So what else is there to trouble us? What is there to dispute over? If we are not caught up in gains and losses, we will not be troubled and our thinking will be proper.
Look at what some people do in the name of love. Normally their thinking is correct, but if they have selfish love and problems occur, afflictions will arise in their minds. They will use any method to obtain what they want. Some desire wealth so much that they risk everything by breaking the law. Some lose their reason over lust and end up harming themselves and others. This is all deviant thinking, when one odes what one should not do.
Everyone, Buddhist practitioners walk the path to wisdom. It is a very straight, direct and simple path. As long as we take good care of our minds, when our 6 Roots connect to the 6 Sense Objects, everything is an opportunity for cultivation. In the Amitabha Sutra, it says even birds can speak Dharma. How much more so between people? When we listen with wisdom, every word becomes a teaching.
But if we listen with ignorance, then our every thought plant an unwholesome seed. Not only do these bad seeds reside in our minds and bear fruit in our future lives, we also damage our own character in this lifetime. This is all done by our actions. So everyone, please look after your thoughts. Apply the sutra teachings in daily life. If we allow every word and every teaching into our hearts, all circumstances we face become pure. So everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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