Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Sincerely Uphold the Ways of Goodness (虔心持善法)
We must realize that afflictions is like dust, it is very fine and subtle. There are 84,000 types of afflictions. The number is actually countless like grains of dust. So dust is a metaphor for afflictions. The many afflictions fall into just 3 categories. “First id is afflictions. Second is karma.”
Afflictions are what we create in our minds. Karma is the manifestation of thoughts in action. The third is retribution, the consequences of our actions. That is why we interminably go through cycles of rebirth in the Six Realms and cannot extricate ourselves.
Since we cannot save ourselves, we need to rely on the guidance of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and sages. So the Buddha’s teachings are like pure dew, like Dharma-water. If we can receive them into our minds, the dust will settle and not be stirred up. So we need to know the right methods.
However, if we do not mindfully utilize Dharma to subdue our afflictions, then, “these three will obstruct the noble path and obstruct the good deeds that lead to Human or Heavenly Realms.”
“These three” refer to what we mentioned earlier, afflictions, karma and retribution. Evil can block the way to Human or Heavenly Realms. If we commit evil, we give rise to afflictions, create bad karma, and receive retributions which add up layer by layer. There are both good and bad retributions. If we do evil, it will become an obstruction. What does it obstruct? Rebirth in the Human and Heavenly Realms.
The Buddha taught us that there is only one way to guarantee human birth next life. We must abide by Five Precepts. We should be familiar with the Five Precepts. No killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no drinking alcohol. There are the Five Precepts.
If we engage in the five acts, we are committing evil. If we properly uphold the Five Precepts, we are doing good.
This will ensure we will be born again in the Human Realm in our future lives. Beings born in the Human Realm is very good. Only in this realm can we hear Buddha-dharma. Beings in this realm have many afflictions and experience a mix of joy and suffering. The bad show us what to avoid, and the good show us what to emulate. As humans we can see many things and learn many principles of the world. So to attain Buddha-hood, we must be in the human realm. To be here, we must not lose our human form. To ensure that, we must uphold the Five Precepts.
If we can abide and uphold the Five Precepts, no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no drinking alcohol, and sincerely cultivate good ways, we can ensure a positive future life.
We may feel that life is miserable and most things never turn out as we wish, so we would rather be reborn in Heaven. To do so we must practice the 10 Good Deeds. They go beyond refraining from killing stealing, and sexual misconduct.
Besides not killing, we must save lives. There is a Buddhist story about a king who saw some deer. He felt they freshly hunted deer meat was delicious. So he sent out hunters every say. The Deer King felt that the presence of so many hunters every day caused all the creatures of the forest, including the deer, to live in constant fear.
So, the Deer King communicated with the king. Very day he would send one deer to the royal kitchen to be killed. This went on for a period of time. Though a deer was sacrificed every day, it brought peace to the forest. This continued every day.
One day, it was the turn of a pregnant doe. She told the Deer Kind, “I am not afraid to die. I just want to preserve my baby’s life. After my baby is born, I will willingly go to my death.” Hearing this, the Deer King felt that she should be allowed to give birth. But who would go instead? Which deer would willingly die ahead of schedule?
No one was willing. Living for one more day would be one more day of life, so no one was willing to die early. In the end, the Deer King went because no one else volunteered. The Deer King went to the Royal Kitchen.
The chef noticed that this deer looked different. It had a radiant multi-colored coat that glistened. This deer was very colorful. It was so majestic and beautiful the chef could not bear to slaughter it.
He quickly reported to the king, “Today’s deer looks different from the usual deer.” “A deer is a deer” thought the king. “What could possibly be unique?” When he saw it was the Deer King, he asked, “Are there no more deer?” The Deer King replied, “No, I am here because today’s doe is pregnant.” “But these are other deer!” The Deer King replied, “Every living creature wishes to live longer. No living being is willing to die earlier. Death is a great struggle. It is very painful. If I did not come today, no one would be here. I can understand their feelings, so I came.”
Hearing this.” the king was very moved. He felt, “Even though I am a king, I just have a human head and human body. I have never thought about how I am connected to other living creatures. I only care about my own life, my own selfish pleasures and cravings. I have never thought about others’ suffering. I am truly ashamed. I am wasting this human form.”
From then on, the king issued orders not only to stop the killing, but also to protect the forest and all its creatures.
Let us now bring this story into a modern context. We are talking about vegetarian discipline. Even one day, three days, or a month of this can create innumerable merits. It is like issuing great pardon so all animals can freely live linger lives. These merits are so great. Merits are blessings. When we all accrue many blessings, all disasters will come to an end.
Because of this human body, our minds give rise to greed and our bodies create karma by killing. If we can not only refrain from killing but can also save lives, we are doing a good deed. By not killing, we are just observing the precept. That is not enough. We must further engage in good deeds. So aside from not killing, we also need to protect living creatures. That is a good deed of the body.
Perhaps we steal because when greedy thoughts arise, we are dissatisfied with humble living. Or maybe we cannot control ourselves so we gamble, drink alcohol, take drugs, etc. and then are forced to steal and rob to maintain those habits. The act of stealing originates in our bad habits and afflictions. If we have picked up bad habits and these types of afflictions then our bodies will naturally commit such acts.
So as human beings, we must abide by the rules. If we can do so, we can live simple with three meals and a place to stay. How much food, clothing and shelter do we need? Not much. So it is possible to live humbly. Some people even feel rich despite their poverty. They can still give to others. This is another good deed.
Sexual misconduct involves men and women. Families with a husband and a wife are the norm in this world. But some people are lustful. The Chinese character for lust is crowned with a “knife.” It can truly harm our Wisdom-life. So aside from refraining from sexual misconduct, we should faithfully abide by life’s rules. Thus we maintain purity of body and mind. This is also another good deed. So the body can commit Three Good Deeds and eliminate the Three Evil.
Through bad actions we create Three Evils. If our bodies can perform the Three Good Deeds, no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, we can eliminate karma.
With our mouths, aside from not engaging in slander, lies, flattery or gossip, we can also expound Dharma. We can tell people the good things we’re head or serve as a bridge to mend relationships when people do not get along, etc.
Our hospital volunteers say, “We have Four Treasures, we speak sweet words, smile, readily bow, and are quick to help.” Speaking sweet words means saying gentle, kind word, not flattery.
Many who come to the hospital feel much anxiety, fear and worry. If we speak kind words to them and use our wisdom, we can comfort them through our speech. Though speech, we can commit Four Evils. If we can eliminate them and be more diligent, we can perform Four Good Deeds.
Through bad speech we create Four Evils. If in our speech we can uphold Four Good Deeds, no harsh words, no lying, no flattery and no gossip, we can eliminate karma.
These add up to Seven Good Deeds. As for the mind, we must realize that everything arises from afflictions, from the mind. Greed, anger and ignorance are the Three Poisons of the mind.
Everyone, if we can eliminate the Ten Evils, we will not violate life’s rules. If we can go beyond that and be more diligent, we will be performing the Ten Good Deeds. The retribution for the 10 Good Deeds is rebirth in Heavenly & Human Realms. If we violate the 5 Precepts, commit 10 Evils or the Five Rebellious Acts, etc. we obstruct our path to rebirth in Heavenly & Human Realms.
The Ten Good Deeds: Three Good Deeds of the Body: No killing, no stealing, and no sexual misconduct. Four Good Deeds of Speech: No harsh worlds, no lying, no flattery and no gossip. Three Good Deeds of Mind: no greed, no anger and no ignorance.
Everyone, by upholding the Five Precepts we can retain our human form. If we want more blessings, to be born in Heaven, we must perform the Ten Good Deeds. If we can both do good deeds and uphold precepts, and have a stronger resolve, we can transcend the worldly path. This is called the way goodness.
We can transcend the worldly path, however, if we become attached to the good we do, we constantly think, “I am a good person. I uphold the Five Precepts perform the Ten Good Deeds. I can help others.” This can also become an obstruction where Goodness can block our path.
All you Bodhisattvas, don’t I always say we must give unconditionally and also be grateful? Gratitude is recognizing that if it were not for others, we would have no opportunity to do good. So as we do good deeds, we walk forward and let go of the past. Do not cling to it and think, “I am the one who can help others. I have already done many good deeds. So why do l suffer from misfortune? We must not think this way. If we do, we lose the benefit of doing good deeds.
In short, so not allow arrogance to arise, when we do good deeds. Once arrogance arises, it cancels out the merits of the Five Precepts &Ten Good Deeds. It will be an obstruction to our transcendence, to walking the Bodhisattva-path.
Therefore, in learning Buddhism, we should take good care of our minds. There are so many afflictions, so many subtle aspects. So we must safeguard our minds. Aside from that, we must also clear away all the afflictions surrounding us. Only then can we safeguard the mind so afflictions truly have no way to enter and defile it. I hope that no such dusts taint our minds. That is the most crucial part of learning Buddhism.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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