Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Fundamental Responsibilities of a Practitioner (修行者的本分事)
When the wind of karma blows, it stirs up the dust of accumulated afflictions, so we need the moisture of water to settle the dust. Dharma is like water. Without Dharma, the minds of ordinary people like us are awhirl with the dust of afflictions leaving us in a delusional fog.
Every day, I say that we must be mindful and maintain purity of mind. If we fulfill our fundamental responsibilities and follow our principles in daily living then the dust of afflictions will finally settle down.
The Ten Evils will proliferate into the 84,000 of defilements resulting is the rise of immeasurable wrongdoings. In general, they can be classified into three main categories: first is affliction, second is karma, and third is retribution.
Actually, there are numerous afflictions more than just 84,000, as many as grains of dust or sand on the Earth. Such are our afflictions. These 84,000 afflictions can ultimately be attributed to these three.
“First is affliction”. Afflictions, arise from greed, anger and ignorance. Of course, these can be broken down much further, but they all arise from the mind. Worries that unceasingly disturb the mind all fall under this category.
“Second is karma”. Karma is the manifestation of our thoughts it guides the body. We already know the karma created by the body’s 3 acts and speech’s 4 acts. The actions of the body are killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct. These are sources of evil and wrongdoings.
In speech, there are lied, flattery, gossip, we never know what others are thinking. Others don’t know what we are thinking either. Whether good or bad, it is kept in our minds and others have no way to know.
Thoughts of greed, anger and ignorance give rise to afflictions in our minds. These thoughts will manifest and guide the body into action. Such is Karma.
The four acts of speech include lying. It involves concealment, not just speaking falsely. We cover some things up, like covering over the abyss of evil and wrongdoings. We refuse to divulge them. We see that someone is about commit wrongdoing. But we stay silent.
Clearly we know that something is about to happen, but we cover it up for his sake. Whether the reason is a past afflictions or a deviant and erroneous view, we do not say what we plant to do. Though we are not lying, not speaking harshly and not gossiping, we are hiding the truth. Throughout the process of hiding our thoughts, even if we think that it is only one deviant thought, by hiding our thoughts from others, the karma we create as a result can be dangerous.
To summarize, sometimes we commit many wrongs in our speech and thus we create karma. Perhaps we speak ill of other or sow discord, etc.
You have already heard much about this. We often say we cultivate and refine our speech. Not only must we cultivate our actions, we must raise awareness of our speech. Through our action and speech we create all sorts of indefinable karma.
Harsh words, lies, flattery and gossip are the Four Evils of Speech. Killing, stealing and sexual misconduct are the Three Evil of Body. Because we create karma with every action, every word and every thought, we must cultivate our body, speech and mind.
Creating karma is like sowing a seed. As we said yesterday, they are all planted in a field. That is the Field of karma. In Buddhism is called Karmic Consciousness, or Storehouse Consciousness. Whenever we open our mouth, or move our body, whether what we do hurts ourselves or hurts others it all becomes seeds which are plated into our Karmic Consciousness.
Everyone, please pay close attention. Let me tell you why I am repeating myself. I said this yesterday, so why am I bringing it up again today? Because we humans are very forgetful. In our daily living, in our every forward move, we let go of the last step as we take the next one. We think whatever wrongs we’ve said or done are all in the past, so they do not matter. Well, they matter greatly!
These seeds we created are kept in our Storehouse Consciousness. It is like sowing them in soil. If we bury a seed in the soil, as long as conditions like sunlight and water can come together, this seed will sprout and take shape. It will grow branches, flower and bear fruit. Those fruits are retributions.
Creating karma is like sowing a seed in the Field of Karma. When causes and conditions come together the seed will grow, flower and bear fruit. These fruit are retributions.
Who knows how many wrongdoings and evils we have created, not just in this lifetime but in all our past life. These seeds are stored in our karmic consciousness. The seeds continuously manifest. If the causes and conditions are sufficient in this life, (the retribution will manifest).
Those who committed good deeds attain blessings. In this lifetime, we see some people who look very successful. We work hard but we are never as successful. They have built large enterprises. We work harder but we lose money in every venture. We were losing money in a certain business, but once we sold it to someone else, they actually made money off of it. This is because they have created blessings and done good deeds in the past. Those who do good will attain blessings.
Though you may feel, “That’s not true. So-and-so is so stingy and leads such an extravagant and dissolute life. When we ask him to do a good deed, he doesn’t do it. He is not that great.” Although in this life he doesn’t, perhaps he did good in a previous life. So even though we do not see his good actions, ha had already accumulated a great deal of merits.
So in this lifetime, we should focus on creating good karma and blessings. We must quickly accumulate seeds of good karma. There’s a saying, “Do it to accumulate.” Do not think that you can balance out bad luck by doing good deeds. Then we “do it balance.” Do not just balance it out.
If blessed, create even more blessings. When facing difficulties, happily accept them and use time well to focus in creating blessings. Even if we enjoy blessings in this life, we may not necessarily enjoy them next life. Regardless, we can create blessings in this life.
Our TV program, “Grassroots Bodhi,” features many elderly recycling volunteers. I feel so much joy whenever I watch it I respect and admire them from the bottom of my heart.
There was a couple who led a difficult life. They still work very hard now, but they volunteer with Tzu Chi. They are content with their humble lives. Everything they say is excellent, sayings I had not even thought of before. While I watched them, I could not help but say, “How endearing they are. This is true spiritual practice.”
Look at these volunteers. Those who work during the day volunteer at night. They set up lights and vehicles carry recyclables in from all directions. Some push carts, some drive small trucks. They all gather at the recycling station, turn on the lights, and sort the recyclables. I am very moved when I see them.
These people all need to make a living. They need to look after their business or career, but they still make use of their free time, before or after work. They contribute joyfully and are even filled with gratitude. Some say, “where it not for Tzu Chi, I would still be cursing hitting people.” Others have said, “Were it not for Tzu Chi, I might still be drunk every day. Others also said, I might still be hiding from my creditors. Who knows how much I would owe from gambling.”
You see, we should not look down on any small deed. Do not wonder, “What impact can this have on the world?” A big one. As long as we are truly sincere, when we combine our efforts, small good deeds can accumulate. Even with a large water tank, if we fill it drop by drop, with time, it will become full. Do not think small evils are innocuous. They can accumulate to become great evils.
Likewise, do not refuse to do a good deed because it is minor. We must do them. Do not think, “It is just a small bit of evil. If I do it, will it make a difference?” It has a huge impact. So, clearly distinguish good from evil. See the difference between the seeds. Bad deeds will be evil seeds. Good deeds will be good seeds. It is not possible to plant bad seeds and then. Try to wipe them out with good deeds.
It is not possible to plant bad seeds and then try to wipe them out with good deeds That is impossible.
Do not forego good deeds because they are small. Or commit evil because they are trivial. Clearly distinguish good seeds from bad.
So when karmic retributions manifest, let us happy accept them. Only by doing so can we eliminate bad karma. Otherwise, if we are not happy and willing, resentment will accumulate layer by layer. That produces more bad seeds. This is frightening!
Once we create karma, there will definitely be retributions. In the Lotus Sutra, it is written, “As are the causes and conditions. So are the effects and retributions.” Once we create a cause, it becomes a seed. When the seed meets certain karmic conditions, retributions will certainly manifest. Whether they are positive or negative, these retributions will occur. Such effects will impact us spiritually.
Everyone, karmic retribution is frightening. But if we do not commit bad deeds, there will be no such retributions. So if we do not create evil karma, we will not face bad retributions. If we do a great deal of good, we will enjoy blessed effects. Blessings come from doing good.
As are the causes and conditions. So are the effects and retributions. Causes are seeds. When they meet karmic conditions, retributions will manifest.
Afflictions exist in the mind. Karma is created through body and speech. Then that becomes a seed in the mind. These karmic seeds will continuously multiply. This is terrifying. There are three major sources of karma. First is affliction. Afflictions produce ignorance.
Earlier I talked about the Dusts of Delusion. Delusion is ignorance. Ignorance is afflictions. If our minds are not moistened by Dharma-water, dusts will fill our minds. Then with the slightest breeze, or if something passes by, everything will become clouded. So afflictions are truly frightening. They lead us to unknowingly create numerous karmas. The power of karma is tremendous.
As I said yesterday, luck is similar to karma. In Chinese, “luck” is “literally “moving energy.” Saying, “My luck has not been good” has a similar meaning. “Luck” means a movement, the act of transporting something from one place to another, from our past life to this life, and then from this life to the next one.
We cannot take anything with us when we die. Only karma follows us. We’ve already transported mush karma to this life. When conditions come together, an energy will rush out, so there are many things beyond our control. If we do not open the mind, then when the fruits of karma manifest, karmic retributions will further obscure the mind.
Everyone, we must always take good care of our minds. When retributions come, we need to remain optimistic. When retributions manifest, we need to accept them openly and positively. Then they will pass quickly.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
首頁 
