Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Seven States of Mind to Eliminate Obstructions (興七心得滅障)
In the past few day, we have continued to talk about how to eliminate the Three Obstructions. To do so, what mindset do we need to use? The Water Repentance states, “First and foremost, develop the Seven States of Mind as skillful means, then these obstructions can be eliminated”.
We must first develop Seven States of Mind. These are the skillful means and Dharma paths the Buddha and Bodhisattvas established for us.
Sentient beings have cycled through the 6 Realms for so long their aptitudes have dulled. So Buddha and Bodhisattvas must patiently teach us many types of skillful means. However the 84,000 Dharma paths originate with these Seven States of Mind.
If we can constantly utilize them in our daily living, we can resolve afflictions and obstacles, layer by layer, as we encounter them. So we must always keep these Seven States of Mind. The first is a sense of shame. This means we have a conscience and feel guilt towards other. Let us constantly self-reflect. Why can’t we accomplish what we set out to do? Why are other better? Some people are so diligent, why can’t we be as diligent as they are?
There are various ways to create afflictions. Why can other people change their ways while we still repeat the same mistakes? Why am I like this? Shame leads to self-reflection. So we need to feel shame.
Only those who feel shame can produce fear. If we have no shame, we do not know to be afraid. Then our attitude would be “As long as I am happy, I can do as I please”. When we do as we please, we will not be able to learn from others.
If we see someone who is better than we are, we must quickly learn to see him as a teacher.
If we see someone who does evil, we must quickly become alert not to do the same. Thus, we also treat such a person as our teacher. We must be vigilant and know to be afraid of becoming someone who constantly makes mistakes and is shunned by others. Will we be like this person? Will we intentionally commit transgressions and unintentionally make mistakes? Knowing that in doing so, we will face retributions, we become terrified.
So we need a sense of shame to have fear. We need to know that retributions can lead us into the Three Lower Realms. This is the fearful mind.
To have a sense of shame is to be repentant and willing to practice. To have a sense of fear is to be vigilant and aware of impermanence. A sense of shame begins with the fear of falling into Lower Realms. A sense of fear arises from the shame of making mistakes. They are two sides of the same coin.
In the Buddha’s time, among His disciples was his half-brother, Nanda. His wife was considered the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. After they were married, Nanda become immersed in the pleasures of the senses indulging in sights and sounds. The Buddha felt that if Nanda continued like this, he would sink into ruin. So the Buddha wished to save him.
One day, while the Buddha was asking for alms, Nanda and his wife were on a balcony enjoying the pleasures of song and dance as well as marital pleasure. Because they were out on the balcony, Nanda saw the Buddha pass below them and felt a brotherly affection toward Him.
When Nanda saw that the Buddha’s bowl was empty as he looked down from above, he quickly came downstairs. He paid respect to the Buddha and said, “Come, give me your bowl. I’ll fill it for you.” He quickly went inside with the bowl and filled it with many fine foods. But the Buddha had already moved on. So he carried this bowl of wonderful food and chased after the Buddha.
Without realizing it, he arrived at the Buddha’s monastery. When the Buddha saw Nanda in front of him, he said, “Nanda, life is impermanent. Worldly love is an illusion. Once human form is lost, it is hard to regain. As the Buddha spoke, Nanda listened. He heard the Buddha explain the Truths of life. He knew everything to be impermanent and illusory. As Nanda pondered the Buddha’s words, the Buddha said, “Nanda, renounce the lay life.” Look at how carefree the monastic life is. If you can become a monk and cut off your desires, you can attain liberation.
So Nanda was half-coaxed and half-forced into a monastic life. After Nanda become a monk, he knew the Buddha’s teachings were wholesome and deeply respected Him. But he could not let go of his love. He still thought about his wife all day long. So every day, he felt agitated.
One day when the Buddha was leaving to ask for alms, Nanda was overjoyed. He secretly planned to snake out of the monastery to see his wife after everyone had left. The Buddha knew what he was thinking, so He said, “Where are you going? Today you have a great opportunity I will show you something you will seldom see in this lifetime. This is our chance. While everyone is away begging for alms and our surroundings are very quiet. Come, sit down. As Nanda and the Buddha sat down it felt as if the Buddha took him to a place far away.
That place was very beautiful. There were many beautiful women. People were working hard to build a house. He asked the Buddha, “How can there be such a beautiful place with such a magnificent house?”
The Buddha said, "You can ask them who owns this house.”
Nanda went forward to ask the man who appeared to be the foreman. He said, “This is such a beautiful house. Who are you building it for?”
The foreman said to him, “it is for a sage named Nanda. He was born a prince and is the Buddha’s half-brother. He has already become a monk so he can enjoy the comforts of Heaven in the future. We are building this house for him.”
Nanda was very happy and asked, “Who are those women?”
The foreman told him, “They are rehearsing heavenly music and dancing. When the owner of this house comes, they will serve him.”
Nanda was overjoyed and grateful.
Then the Buddha said, “Come, follow me. There are still many things to see.” They went to another distant place. From afar, they could hear people wailing. What kind of a place was this? Why were so many people screaming and crying in agony? The bronze and iron walls were searing. These conditions were frightening.
“What kind of a place is this?” Nanda asked the Buddha.
The Buddha replied, “Come! Let us get a closer look at this place.”
They walked into the city. As it turned out, there were many people. It not crowded like a street in our world, full of people doing business. No. it was a terrifying scene. There were various torture devices that do not exist the human world. Such vicious devices can only be found in Hell. There were ox-headed and horse-faced demons, many Yakshas and evil spirits punishing the many wrongdoers. In the midst of this was a pot of oil. Someone fanned the fire beneath the pot. The pot of oil was about to start steaming.
Nanda pointed to it and asked the Buddha, “Buddha, all the other torture devices are being used by demons to punish wrongdoers, so why is this pot of oil just being heated now?”
The Buddha replied, “Why don’t you go ask?”
So Nanda approached the person tending the fire. He asked, “What are you going to do with this pot of oil?” The man replied, “It is truly regrettable. All these people being punished here committed evil acts in the Human Realm. Some of it was intentional some of it. Many were unable to change their ways, so they kept violating precepts & creating karma. After accumulating a lot bad karma, they leave the Human Realm and they descend into this Hell. Different torture devices mete out different kinds of punishment.”
Nanda pointed to the pot of oil and asked, “What about this pot here?”
The man replied, “This pot awaits someone from the Human Realm. He had the chance to practice but he was attached to human desires. He will leave a pure monastic community and violate the precepts with his actions. His mind will revert to a turbid defiled state. He will attain high status and power, and cling to them, so he will create a lot evil. After he passes away, he will come here. This pot of oil will be awaiting him.”
Nanda asked, “Who is this person?”
The man replied, “I think it is Nanda, the Buddha’s half-brother. He is a monk now but his mind still has many lustful desires. When he returns to lay life, he will take over the throne and become powerful. He will lose his pure and innocent nature, then create a lot of heavy karma.”
N,anda was very scared. He quickly ran back to the Buddha and told him, “Venerable Buddha, I understand now. Let us go back.” The Buddha smiled.
Suddenly, Nanda woke up and found that he was still sitting across from the Buddha. The Buddha smiled and asked, “Nanda, how do you feel about the journey you just had?”
Nanda replied, “I dare not indulge in worldly pleasures again. As great as Heaven is, some day when I exhaust my blessings. I will fall again. I cannot do that I am very scared of that pot boiling oil in Hell. I still want to follow you and practice. I want to end the suffering of rebirth in the 6 Realms. Human life is truly painful. I recognize that now.”
He recognized the impurities of the body. So naturally he renounced and feared sensual pleasures. Momentary pleasures bring such long and torturous retribution, so he was terrified. He cut off his desire for sensual pleasures and peacefully focused on his spiritual practice.
Everyone, good and evil intermixed. If we have no sense of shame, we will easily be seduced by external phenomena. Won’t we be like Nanda? We all need to have a sense of shame to give rise to a sense of fear. Only when we are fearful can we remain on our guard. So we must always look within. Have our minds been nourished by Dharma-water today? We must always ask ourselves this. Everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
首頁 
