Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Six Practices: Ten Actions Part 3 (六行~十行行三)
Yesterday we discussed how the Practice of Benefiting Others is imperative. Besides doing joyful service, we have to practice benefiting living beings. Today we continue discussing the Ten Actions.
The third is the Practice of Never-resenting. We should embrace the joy of benefiting others. If an angry thought surfaces in our minds, our joy disappears. Opposing thoughts cannot exist simultaneously; when one thought emerges, another disappears. The mind cannot maintain both thoughts. So when angry arises, joy naturally dissipates. Resentment is something that originates from acts of disregard and denial. Disregard is when we go against something. When we are resentful, we disregard the principles, and even when others wish to teach us the most wholesome Buddha-Dharma, we do not accept it. That is the disregard and rejection that develops from resentment.
When anger arises in the heart, no matter how good the teaching are, one will reject them. When one cannot accept the teachings with joy, one’s behavior easily deviates from the Right Path.
We must ensure that we have no anger and practice without a trace of it. That is the purpose of our practice. If we train our minds to be calm and peaceful, we naturally have no anger. We have listened to so many teachings, and we should reflect on ourselves. We have discussed how the Buddha’s mind and our minds were originally equal. But one deviant thought gave rise to ignorance, which contaminated our minds, in turn creating karma, causing us to fall into the realm of ordinary beings.
We should be awakened now. If we can reflect on ourselves and follow the Path that the Buddha has shown us, then we will not be lost.
The human mind is equal to the Buddha’s. But due to a deviant though, ignorance developed, which created negative karma, causing us to fall into the realm of ordinary being. If we can be awakened, we can return to the Right Path.
We must take care of our minds and attain self-realization. If we become awakened, we can awaken others. Since we are lost, we should follow the Path that was pointed out to us by those who are ahead. Once we know the Path, we can be at peace and point the way to those behind us, so they can follow us in the right direction. “Attain self-realization and awaken others, benefit oneself and others.” To do this we need to have good affinities. To have good relations with others requires the Practice of Never-resenting. When we practice Never-resenting, there is no anger or resentment in our minds. We should never lose our temper. If something causes us to lose our temper, we have to resolve it quickly.
When we have anger, hatred naturally follows. The more we think about it, the more angry we become. So we begin to resent others. When interacting with other people, different viewpoints are inevitable. But this is a good opportunity to learn to communicate with each other peacefully. If we are not communicating our differences and opinions clearly, conflicts arise that lead to bad mouthing or disputes over who is right or wrong. From a single thought, we can create conflict with others. This creates karma.
But if our minds area calm, we can eliminate many conflicts. Disputes begin from expressing our views in an angry or spiteful manner. Using unwholesome words will bring unnecessary conflict and controversy.
When views differ and communication is conducted in anger and resentment, conflict and controversy easily arise. If communication is done peacefully, conflict and controversy can naturally be eliminated.
Therefore, the Practice of Never-resenting is very important for practitioners, especially toward family members. If a child has anger and resentment, he is violating one of the moral principles and rejecting the teachings of his elders.
Such anger causes upheaval in the family. In our society, if everyone had no anger and practiced Never-resenting, then our society would be peaceful and harmonious. It would be Pure Land on Earth, with no disasters.
Therefore, we must mindfully comprehend these words and this teaching. Some may say that only a Bodhisattva can accomplish this. Can a person achieve this? I want you to know that it is possible. There is a group of living Bodhisattvas who are willing to give and “repay enmity with kindness.”
There was a group of living Bodhisattvas in Indonesia who organized a big charity event to distribute rice. They gave rice to nearly 70.000 families. The predominant religion in Indonesia is Islam. In this country, one month is dedicated to Ramadan. During Ramadan, they do not eat or drink during the day. They only eat supper after the sun sets. A sunrise, they begin fasting again. Since they do not eat during the day, they do not have energy to do much work.
The way they live during this time, since they do not go out and work, creates great hardship for the poor. After Ramadan, they celebrate similar to how we celebrate the new year. When the fasting ends, festivities begin.
Friends and family visit and treat each other to sumptuous feasts just like when we invite people over to celebrate the new year. One year a hurricane in the United States affected oil production. The war in the middle East also devastated oil supply. When this occurred, oil prices increased and caused inflation.
The Indonesia economy because unstable. During Ramadan, people were not working because it was also their holiday season. If the country’s economy were to collapse, there could be riots, like several years before. Considering this, they asked Tzu Chi volunteers to purchase goods and materials at low prices, then sell it to the people at a price lower than cost. This would lessen their burden and provide sufficient goods for the people.
When this news traveled to Taiwan, I told them that we do charity work, and since this was their time of difficulty, we should help stabilize their society. However, we do not do business, so this should not be a business deal. We should donate the goods to them instead. I am very grateful to the local Tzu Chi volunteers who organized the big charity event. Their governor was very grateful as well, as the recipients were the poor and less fortunate. I am also grateful to local businesses that sent over 3000 staff members to help at the different distribution centers operating simultaneously. Entrepreneurs, business owners and CEOs all contributed by carrying rice to the people.
During the initiation ceremony at the largest distribution site the governor was present to give a speech. It was a very touching speech. The governor said, “Do you remember? In 1998, we committed a very disgraceful act. Does anyone remember it? There was a riot in our country, many people robbed houses and shops, and burned down homes, banks and stores. A lot of bad deeds were committed. Do you still remember that? In that year, the properties that were robbed and burned belonged to the Chinese who stand before us today to give us rice and help resolve the problems of so many people. They have done so much for our country.”
He made a very long speech and appealed to the local people to be grateful for all the Chinese. Moreover, he reminded them that regardless of religion or ethnicity, they should have gratitude towards those who had done so much for their country through projects like the Angke River and Great Love Housing Project. “They have no resentment towards us, you should be grateful. Moreover, you must thank Master Cheng-Yen in Taiwan and all the Tzu Chi volunteers around the globe.”
Throughout his speech, the governor repeated the phrases, “be grateful” and “praise.” He praised the local Chinese his country. Through they were discriminated against, rejected, threatened, robbed and targeted by the locals, they had no hatred. They did not hold resentment over the past. That is an example of unconditional love, hoping for everyone to be happy. That is great compassion, finding others’ suffering and bad conducts heartbreaking. These Buddhist practitioners were sympathetic those suffering from spiritual catastrophes and spiritual poverty, which required love to heal and restore. They inspired people’s generosity so that they could live in contentment and gratitude. That is teaching by example.
Buddhist practitioners who are broad-minded quickly eliminate resentment and hatred to evoke great kindness and compassion for all. Then they take action to alleviate others’ difficulties. The governor often said to this people, that he was grateful. When he finished his speech, he joined everyone on carrying rice and helping with the distribution. Among the volunteers carrying rice was Mr. Peng. It was his first time joining an organization. Mr. Peng was a very influential person in that country. He was very dedicated. Besides sending his staff, he also participated himself. He stood next to the governor to distribute rice to the people, and even carried sacks of rice to their homes. Everyone praised him. We asked the governor, “Are you tired? Not at all. I never realized that it’s such a joy to do good deeds.”
We asked Mr. Peng, “You have not done this before, are you tired? No. Although my body aches a little, I am very happy. I have never been this happy before. It’s a joy seeing everyone happy with the goods. I am joyful.” Everyone was happy. That’s the Dharma-joy, the joy of giving. True happiness lies in eliminating the obstacles of anger and hatred. People often create problems for themselves with their anger and hatred. If one cannot be at peace with himself, how can he be at peace with others?
These Chinese residents, just like Me. Peng, were victims during the 1989 riot. But on this day they still stood there and helped carry rice and contribute. This distribution had a great impact on local Indonesians and Muslims.
Therefore, is there any task that we cannot accomplish? No, there is none how is the Practice of Never-resenting difficult? It is very easy. Everyone, if we want to practice, but fail to eliminate resentment and hatred, our effort is in vain.
Therefore, we must constantly work on overcoming resentful thoughts. We must follow the Practice of Never-resenting. Only then can we achieve purity in our minds. I hope everyone can achieve this. Everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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