Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Six Practices: Ten Actions Part 2 (六行~十行行二)
Ten Actions:
Joyful Service, Benefiting Others, Never-resenting, Unlimited Service, Non-confusion, Skillful Manifestation, Non-attachment, Respect, Good Teaching, Truth.
We have discussed the Practice of Joyful Service, and how we must always have a joyous heart to walk the Bodhisattva-path. Our goal is to have the ultimate wondrous virtue, which is the state of Buddhahood. We have to nurture our virtues to develop moral character and an aura of integrity that may influence all living beings. That is wondrous virtue. Subtle virtue shows through in our behavior, our speech and our actions. It is another way we benefit others. Through this Practice everyone becomes joyful.
Next is Practice of Benefiting Others. Benefiting others is carrying out kind deeds. All we have talked about are ways to be benevolent by refraining from evil and doing good. That is the simplest explanation. The Buddha taught us to not only nurture our own moral character and kindness, but also foster benevolence until we reach the state of Buddhahood. This is not just for ourselves, but for all living beings. “Promote wondrous virtues to benefit all beings” then “gain the benefits of Dharma”.
We should practice the Dharma and encourage others to practice with us. As we are able to taste the joy of Dharma, we also hope others bodies and minds are nourished by Dharma-joy. The joy of Dharma is the peace and ease. The joy of Dharma is the peace and ease one feels after helping others. People are still troubled by different kinds of afflictions. In Buddhism, what is liberation? It is letting go of the serious afflictions. Then our bodies and minds and feel relived and at peace. If we live every day in peace and ease, we can reap the benefits of the Dharma. We should share our spiritual harvest with all people so that they also want to give, and they too can attain perpetual bliss. That is the true meaning of benefiting others. There are no thoughts of aversion to helping others and they can stride forward without slacking.
Be skillful in attaining wonderful virtue to benefit beings, so they may enjoy and gain from Dharma. This is the Practice of Benefiting Others.
We remember the Chapter of the Practice of the Conjured City, in the Lotus Sutra. The Buddha inspired living beings with parables about what they enjoyed.
People liked to hear of treasures, so Buddha told them a parable about worldly matters. There was a very good teacher who led a group of people. He told them that there was a faraway city of treasures where there were all kinds of precious gems, and anyone could find and take whatever they wanted. Everyone was happy hearing that and wanted to go there with the teacher even though it was far away. After traveling for a long time, they slowed down because they were tired. The teacher told them, “Look, the treasure area is just ahead. Come keep going. Just a bit farther and we’re there.” Everyone saw the city of treasures and it lifted their spirits to march on. Upon arrival, everyone was very happy to reach the treasure area, where they finally took a break, and stopped to rejoice.
At this time, the teacher said, “You have arrived at the city of treasures but this is only stop. If you want real treasures, you have to march onward. This is only a place for us to take a break.” Upon hearing this, they thought that since they had come this far, they might as well continue, because they were almost there. So everyone kept their spirits up. After the break, they felt refreshed enough to march on this was the parable.
Buddha was like a mentor who taught skillfully, conjuring a city of treasure to urge them on in order to grow their Wisdom-life. Without walking this Path, one cannot see the scenery along the way, so our conviction must abide on this path. When we walk the path, we know where the principles lie. The Buddha also told us about Suffering, Accumulation, Cessation and the Way. What is a life of suffering? If you want to know suffering, go to those who are suffering and experience their pain. When so many suffering beings appear before us, they allow us to experience and learn. This is the scenery of our Cultivation-path. Then the truth of suffering is not just a principle to be discussed, it can be witnessed vividly before us. This is part of our spiritual cultivation. Only when we come to Tzu Chi do we have the chance to learn the truth about suffering.
So we should know that the benefit of the Dharma is that it nurtures our kindness, and develops our determination and conviction. We must make resolutions and vows. If we resolve and vow to take action, we naturally do so. Afterwards, our minds and bodies will be at peace. Once we see everything in the world, then when there are afflictions around us, we are able to easily let go instead of taking issue. This is a very simple method. So naturally we’ll be joyous, at ease and without resentment or affliction.
When one truly realizes the truth of suffering, afflictions will not easily enter one’s mind. When one puts the teachings into action, one’s mind can remain at ease and carefree.
Here is an example. There was a very good husband, but his wife loved gambling and was very lazy. Since he was in Tzu Chi, he had to humble himself and submit to insults. When the wife had a bad day of gambling she would scold him when she came home. She would return hungry and yell at him if dinner was already cold. He cooked three hot meals a day. Could such a gentle husband transform his wife? No, he could not. Yet he was extremely patient. He asked his brother-in-law to help him, who was also a Tzu Chi volunteer and was happily married. They all tried to persuade the wife, but to no avail. Then a teacher from our teachers’ association met with her and gave her a book. When she saw the book, she was very happy. The teacher who gave her the book asked her to join future Tzu Chi activities.
Since she accepted the book as a gift, she felt it would be impolite to turn the invitation, so she went to the event. She saw the joy, harmony and mutual love that people had for one another when she participated, joy arose in her heart. After that, it was as if she found a treasure. From that day on, whenever others invited her, she would happily join them. Later, she even asked them to remind her when there was an activity. She wanted to go voluntarily.
She had been a stubborn, young wife who needed three different people to influence her. The person closest to her could not influence her, not even those related to her. It took someone who was not close to her to do so. Once influenced through such affinity, she participated and was very happy. This is walking the path. Once on the Path, she found joy.
Be accommodating when you want to influence and transform others. Once the person is transformed, he or she will partake in activities to benefit other. In so doing, joy will arise.
There was another person whose business faced drastic changes after he joined Tzu Chi. The changing marketplace caused him to lose a lot of money, but he remained very diligent. People said to him, “Do you want to go on like this? Look at your business. It is in crises, and you’re so engrossed in Tzu Chi.” He did not waver. Losing money was due to timing and chance, it had nothing to do with Tzu Chi. When he had time, he would still volunteer. When he was engrossed in Tzu Chi activities, he would forget his worries and find joy. He wanted to work harder with Tzu Chi. The economy was bad, but that only made him want to be diligent so that society could be more harmonious and peaceful. He was not concerned about his own losses.
He did not become weary, or resentful and afflicted. Only when one sees the scenery along the Path can he achieve this. It is also stated the Sutra, “Goodness can benefit all living beings.” This is called True Benefit to all Beings. So in the Sutras, Giving Without Limit, there is a passage that I like very much.
It says, “Be kind to all, be compassionate to the deluded. Be joyous when others transform, help all beings. Cross heaven & earth, nurture rivers & oceans. Give so the hunger can eat, the thirsty drink. Clothe those who are cold, cool those who’re hot. Treat the sick, give transportation when needed.”
It means that we need to have great loving kindness toward everyone regardless of their relation to us. We wish everyone happiness and peace in our society. For the sake of everyone’s happiness we are willing to give constantly. That is to “kindly nurture all.” Compassion means empathy for all beings. Some are pitiable, unable to tell right from wrong. Some are deviant in their beliefs and behavior. These people surely suffer. We cannot bear to see living beings suffer. So compassion is sympathizing with sentient beings when their behavior is deviant. So we feel their suffering as our own.
As for joy, “be joyous when others transform.” When we see others with affinities to learn Buddhism and resolve to walk the Bodhisattva-path, we should rejoice in their merits and virtue. To see their advancement on the Bodhisattva-path, developing altruistic abilities, turning their self-benefiting intentions into that of benefiting others, should bring us joy. When we see other people’s achievement we rejoice for them, for their merit and virtue.
Then we must “help all beings.” When people follow the Bodhisattvas-path, we should not only be joyous, but we should also protect them from losing their resolve to practice. We must protect them in every way.
Next, “cross heaven and earth.” There are many suffering beings around the world. At this time, Tzu Chi volunteers, the living Bodhisattvas, are in countries that have suffering and disasters. They overcome hardships for the sake of suffering sentient beings. Moreover, “nurture rivers and oceans. We not only cross the skies and seas, we must cherish the ocean and land.
Do you remember how our environmental volunteers clean the mountains and the sea? In Shiao Liucho, the environmental volunteers used old fishing boats to collect garbage from the sea. This is “nurturing rivers and oceans” and transforming the fishermen.
These are living Bodhisattvas. Once we have accomplished this, we give to living beings. When they are hungry or thirsty, we provide for them. If they are cold, we give them warm clothing. If it is hot, we help them cool down. For disaster refugees, we try to build houses to shelter them. Those who are sick, we give them medicine. “Treat the sick.” For those who too far away to walk to us, what should we do? We should give them a ride.
In Singapore, Malaysia and also in Taiwan, every month we drive care recipients to our distribution site, then take them home after a day of activities. This is giving without limit, attending even to the smallest detail. That passage gives me great joy. Have we done these deeds to benefit living beings? Yes. We will be joyful, peaceful and at ease. There are suffering people in the world. The Buddha taught us to walk the Bodhisattvas-path and relieve suffering. We are doing all this.
To be Bodhisattvas who benefit living beings, we must first help ourselves. We must have the Ten Faiths and Ten Abiding Conducts before practicing the Ten Actions. So, everyone should always be minds.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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