Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Repay the Buddha’s Grace (報如來恩)
As I said previously, we must “repay the Buddha’s grace, dedicate ourselves with vigor & diligence, labor, endure suffering, give ourselves fully,” We must even “establish the Three Treasures in the world and spread the teachings of the Great Vehicle.”
Whether we are monastic or lay practitioners, as long as we are Buddha’s disciples, we must vow to establish the 3 Treasures and spread the teachings of the Great Vehicle. Everyone knows that my Master instructed me to “work for Buddhism and for all sentient beings” This is to establish the 3 Treasures in the world. As we promote Buddha-Dharma, we should spread the spirit of Mahayana, the Great Vehicle which is about benefiting self and others. As we nurture our Wisdom-life, we can help myriads of suffering sentient beings.
Let us look at our current charity work. Around the world, wherever there is suffering, regardless of location and country, local Tzu Chi volunteers are reaching out. They all talk about Buddhism and Tzu Chi. So when people talk about Tzu Chi, they know that it is a Buddhist organization. This is how we spread Mahayana teachings regardless of nationality, race of religion others regardless of nationality, race of religion, This is how we “extensively transform all sentient beings.”
We hope they benefit physically and spiritually. Physically, we strive to fulfill their immediate needs, and relieve their suffering. Spiritually, if they feel lost or confused, we accompany and teach them. By doing this, we “extensively transform sentient beings so that we may all attain enlightenment.” Thus everyone will know the Buddha’s compassion. The way He taught was that of giving, relieving the suffering of sentient beings. This is how we can “spread Mahayana teachings” and “extensively transform sentient beings so that we may all attain enlightenment.”
Next we talk about, “Seventh, contemplate the Empty nature of evil. This means that evil has no inherent nature. It does not truly exist. Evil arises from causes and conditions; it comes into existence from inverted views.”
Let us try to understand this passage by carefully reflection on its meaning. As I often say, we must keep our minds focused. In our daily living, we must carefully analyze external phenomena without being confused or deluded by them. Moreover, we must self-reflect and contemplate where our evils originate. Actually, we must look inside ourselves. As I often say, “all beings have a nature equal to the Buddha’s.” Since we have pure Buddha-nature, how can we have an evil nature? “Everyone is born with a good nature.” Since our nature is inherently pure, and equal to the Buddha’s, why do so many people commit wrongdoings? It is because of habits.
We are all influenced by habitual tendencies. The fields of our minds were originally pure. As we continued to encounter external phenomena, we did not act accord to our nature, so we gradually developed negative tendencies. So “evil has no inherent nature. It does not truly exist.”
Since evil has no inherent nature, how can we find it within us? We cannot, thus all phenomena. good or evil, arise out of causes and conditions. Whether we do good or evil depends on the karmic cases and conditions. This is why it says “evil does not truly exist” but it “arises from causes and conditions.” Due to cause & conditions, various wrongdoings arise from inverted views. These are the inverted views we have mentioned.
Ordinary people hold the inverted view of “attachment to existence. “They are attached to viewing Impurity as Purity, No-Self as Self, the Not-blissful as Blissful, Impemanence as Permanence, etc. In the Two Vehicles, Sravakas & Pratyekabuddhas, practitioners are attached to Emptiness. Is the practice of Emptiness everything? Actually, We should travel the Middle Way. If we cling Emptiness, we do not believe in the existence of anything and will easily deny the Law of Cause and Effect. A slight deviation makes a huge difference. Therefore, as we practice the Bodhisattva-path, we must follow the Middle Way.
In the Lotus Sutra, it is said that “As are the causes, so are the conditions, so are the efforts and so are the retributions.”
We shall reap what we sow. Therefore, we must take karmic retributions very seriously.
Since everything arises from causes & conditions, everything also ceases with causes & conditions. When evil arises from causes & conditions, we draw close to bad friends & commit endless wrongs. Evil ceases with cause and conditions when we cleanse our minds and repent.
“Since everything arises from causes & conditions every also ceases with causes & conditions. When there is any opportunity, we must seize the chance to do good right away if we miss the opportunity, we will not be able to perform the good deed. Thus, that opportunity is eliminated. If we seize the moment and good deeds, we will create blessed causes & conditions that will result in blessed effects and retributions.
The same principle applies to evil. When causes & conditions come together, if we are engaged in spiritual practice, we know that the causes were already there and can interact with any conditions. When evil causes and evil conditions converge, we will then take action. Once we act, we will receive retribution. If we are always vigilant in our practice, even if we had certain conditions in our past lives, we can avoid these conditions now. If the conditions are avoided, the seeds will not ripen into fruit. Therefore we must recognize cause & conditions.
Seize good conditions to walk the Middle Way. Heighten your vigilance to avoid evil conditions. When evil causes do not meet with evil conditions, then there will be no evil effects.
“When evil arises from causes & conditions, we draw close to bad friends, commit endless wrongs.” Due to the influence of bad friends, and because our minds aren’t firm, (evil arises despite our goodness.) Because we are ordinary people, we have made very good karmic connections in the past. However, we also have made some bad connections. If we have good karmic connections with someone, when we come to this world, in this lifetime, the person can be our beneficial friend.
Take Tzu Chi Bodhisattvas, for example. We have all resolved to help and guide others to transform. With those who have misguided lives, we are keen to share a good phrase, a correct teaching that may inspire them to change and may guide them to the right path. This requires good connections. Good connections and good causes need to meet. We may have the intent to help others, but they need to have the connections to accept us.
Conversely, there are also bad connections. Some people do everything they can to influence others. Take drug dealers, for example. Selling drugs benefits them, so they must quickly recruit drug addicts. We often hear stories about drug dealers. Why do they sell drugs? Dealing drugs is very risky. It is a serious criminal offense and leads to a very heavy sentence. They know the dangers of drug trafficking. But since they themselves are taking drugs and cannot control their addiction, they need a lot of money to support their drug habit. With drugs in their bodies, they cannot calm their minds and do not have the physical endurance to handle any form of work. Their only option is to sell drugs, which is easy and very profitable. But they need customers, so they will try anything to get people to use drugs. Many people are curious to see what if feels like to use drugs. Once they do it out of curiosity, it will be very hard for them to stop. From there, the vicious cycle continues.
These are bad connections. Most of us do not know what drugs look like. We just know that they are bad for us. But if we meet a drug dealer or a drug addict, he may be able to entice us to get addicted. These are bad friends. If we grow close to them, we many form many negative tendencies such as gambling, drinking, etc. many people lose themselves in such places. We see them everywhere. Those with wavering minds are easily led astray by wayward friends to gambling dens or nightclubs. These bad friends are not beneficial.
We are harmed by these relationships. Yet, we are not always vigilant about this. A moment of confusion lands us on the wrong path. Then we will “commit endless wrongs.” We will keep doing wrong without an end in sight. One misstep can take us 1000 steps away from the right way. Once we make a mistake, we commit irreparable wrongs and cannot free ourselves. So we will commit end wrongs because we cannot find a way to stop.
Always be vigilant so that you will remain apart from evil conditions. Otherwise, one misstep can take us 1000 steps away from the path and it will be hard to break free.
Many people know they have made a mistake. Yet they do not see a future because they cannot change their ways. They know they are wrong but cannot reform. They no longer have the inner strength or energy to break their habits. Indeed, getting them to change is difficult. However, nothing is difficult if we make a firm resolution. With great determination and resolve we can change. We say this because the Buddha said that evil no inherent nature. So those who commit wrongdoings will not carry that evil burden forever. If they are willing to change, evil will cease. So the repentance text states, “Evil ceases with causes & conditions, when we cleanse our minds and repent.” If we quickly realize that we were wrong, even though it is difficult to change, we can firmly resolve to quickly and completely cleanse our minds and turn over a new leaf. Indeed. In Tzu Chi, there are many who have committed all sorts of wrongdoings. But they have changed their ways and started new lives. When we comforted those in prisons, some took our words to heart and were willing to change. After their sentences ended and they were released from jail, they got involved in Tzu Chi. With the support of Tzu Chi volunteers, and with their own sense of self-respect, they tirelessly worked to change their bad habits. They constantly repented and often shared their stories with others. This is indeed the best place to repent.
If we are to repent, let us do so openly. We must cleanse our minds. If we try to cover up our past mistakes, then we do not have a repentant mind. If we can understand how we have erred, today will be the start of a new life. If we understand this, we will always be vigilant of our actions.
When we make a mistake, if we can recognize our wrongs and then immediately and openly repent, we will cleanse our minds and begin a new life in that moment.
As we learn Buddhism, we must understand causes, conditions, and karmic retributions. Evil has no inherent nature, it arise with the convergence of causes & conditions. Once we know this fact we can always remain vigilant and stay away from bad affinities so that our bad karmic seeds will not converge with bad karmic conditions. Practice is about increasing our vigilance. This will remind us to constantly repent. We all makes mistakes. Therefore, we must constantly repent. So everyone, contemplate the Empty nature of evil. Always raise your self-awareness and reflect before you act. Everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水).
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