Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Six Practices: Ten Actions Part 4 (六行~十住行四)
We often talk about action. Due to the Aggregate of Mental Action, we are unaware of time and days passing by, so we must constantly be vigilant. In our physical and mental actions, we are always engaged in spiritual practice.
That is why in the Practice of the Ten Actions, the fourth is the Practice of Unlimited Service. What is the Practice of Unlimited Service? It means to “Manifest skillfully according to the needs of all living beings in the Three Periods and the Ten Directions to benefit them endlessly.”
We must work for the benefit of all living beings. The Buddha said that He came into this world to save all “living beings.” “Living beings” does not only mean human beings. According to the Buddha, everything with life no matter how small, possesses Buddha-nature, but His teachings are centered on the Human Realm. One who wished to be born in heaven must practice the Ten Good Deeds. One who does good deeds creates blessings and can enjoy heavenly blessings in the future. If you want to maintain human form, you must at least uphold the Five Precepts. By following the precepts, you can retain human form in your next incarnation.
Sometimes the Buddha appeared in the heavens to teach Dharma to heavenly beings. Buddhahood cannot be achieved in heaven, but they must still maintain their original nature, the pure intrinsic nature. Those in heaven only know enjoyment and often lose their pure nature. So the Buddha appeared to transform them.
There are many such stories in the Jataka Sutras. Let us talk about people in the Human Realm. We see the co-existence of beings in the Five Realms. There are those who are kindhearted, the rich among the rich, who are like heavenly beings in this world. They can enjoy whatever they wish. They also have the ability to help those in need. Greater than the rich among the rich are those who are practicing to attain the state of Sravaka, Pratyekabuddha, Bodhisattva or Buddha. They all practice in this world as well. There are people as pure and untainted as Buddha, embracing all sentient beings, and teaching them with wisdom and love.
There are many such beings in the world. They are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. There are many Bodhisattvas among us, in Tzu Chi and in other charitable organizations. We see many kind people working not for themselves, but for the sake of others. We call them living Bodhisattvas. Regardless of their religion, from a Buddhist point of view, these kind individuals who benefit others and not themselves are considered Bodhisattvas. So Bodhisattvas exist in this world.
In spiritual cultivation, whether we want to attain the level of Buddha, Budhisattva, Pratyekabuddha or Sravaka, etc., we must start from human form. The human world is part of the ten Dharma-realms, with mixed dwellers from all Five Realms. It is a mixed group of good and bad. So who exists in this world? Heavenly beings, humans, hell beings, hungry ghosts and animals are all considered ordinary beings. Deities are ordinary beings, and so are humans, hell, hungry ghosts and animals, are all ordinary beings too. Since we live in the world of mixed dwellers, we must “manifest skillfully according to the needs of all living beings.” We should interact with and transform, wise individuals through wisdom.
We must transform those who are suffering with a heart of compassion, according to their capabilities and dispositions.
Transform those with wisdom through wisdom. Transform those with suffering with a heart of compassion. That is the meaning of transforming sentient beings according to their capabilities.
“Span 3 Periods equally, reach all 10 Directions.” The Three Periods refer to the past, present and future. In our spiritual cultivation, we should always resolve to take action for the benefit of others. We vows do we take? The same as Bodhisattvas. What vows do they take? The vow to practice the Six Paramitas.
The Six Paramitas include all actions. We must use all means necessary to transform living beings. That is why our efforts must span the past, present and future equally with equal resolve. “Reach all Ten Directions.” The 10 directions are the eight compass directions, plus up and down. It encompasses the entire universe.
Earth is our focal point. There are so many creatures on this vast Earth, not to mention in the great Trichiliocosm. They are all within the Ten Directions. We must reach through the vastness. So I often speak of time space, and the relationship between people. These simple words encompass everything.
In the dimensions of time and space, and among people, one should use any and all effective means to transform sentient beings in the Three Periods of past, present and future.
We must teach sentient beings according to their various dispositions, capabilities, types and forms. We are present to teach them wherever it is needed. For how long? Through the past, present, and the infinite future. That is how long we must maintain our resolve. Only with sustained will can we truly cultivate ourselves. We must fulfill our vow to benefit others everywhere. That is the Practice of Unlimited Service. It may sound easy to perform, but there are many subtleties. These subtleties require us to be constantly mindful.
In the Sutras, there is a passage called the infinite Lamps. It is a parable to teach us not to disparage ourselves. I have told this story about a candle. If one person lights a candle and many people borrow the flame from that candle, then many dark places will be illuminated.
So the passage says, “When one person spreads the Dharma, millions of people are taught.” We should continue to spread inspirational words to teach and guide millions of people. For instance, phrases in the Jing Si Aphorisms are short and easy to memorize, teach and accept.
Many peoples’ lives have changed by hearing these simple words. That is why we must pass on the Dharma to teach and guide millions of people, even an infinite number of people. If countless people pass it on to others, “as if lighting on lamp, millions of lamps will be lit. “Countless lamps bring unending light.”
I once told you a story. More than 100years ago, in an ancient temple in Japan, lived a Buddhist nun. The nun was getting old, and she hoped to pass on the teachings and her position as the abbess. In the same village lived a family with a teenage girl who had been regularly coming to the temple since a very young age. She became a close companion of the old abbess. One day she heard the abbess wailing in grief. The devoted girl discussed it with her parents. Since she had been in the temple all her life, they allowed her to become a nun.
After a few years, the old abbess was feeling ill. She called for the novice nun and told her, “I know my time is limited. You must be more mindful. Remember to light a lamp in your heart each day.” She took those words to heart. She lit a lamp for the Buddha, and another lamp every day thereafter.
After some time had passed, her master passed away. The young nun followed what her master had told her about lighting a lamp each day, and lit actual lamps every day. Later, more young women joined the nunnery until she had seven or eight disciples. As the years went by, she kept lighting a lamp each day. So around the temple, lamps lined all the way to the outside. Time passed, and soon it was soon it was 50 years later. Her health started to deteriorate.
So one day she summoned her disciples and said to them, “You know that I light a lamp each day, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know the meaning behind it?”
“No. Is it to show our devotion to the Buddha?”
“Yes, it shows our devotion to the Buddha. When my master told me to light a lamp in my heart, I too thought it was to show devotion to Buddha. But as I grew older, I often thought about the purpose of my cultivation. Was it just to offer a lamp each day? Was it just to bow to Buddha with reverence? Was that all? I thought about that every day. How does it benefit my spiritual practice and how does it benefit the villagers? I keep thinking. Now I finally have some understanding I recall that my master told me to light a lamps in my heart each day. But I lit actual lamps. A lamp needs constant replenishing of oil, and can be extinguished. My heart is just like that. Sometimes it’s full of Dharma-joy and sincerity. But sometimes it’s filled with afflictions, just like a lamp that is being extinguished. I have never really lit the lamp of my heart. A true internal heart-lamp will never go out. Go out there and count how many lamps there are in total.”
The disciples hurriedly counted, and there were a total of 18.080 lamps. Knowing that, the old abbess wept, “That’s not much of an accomplishment. After more than 50 years, I lit all those lamps. But when I leave this world, the lamps will go out. Now the lamps are bright but the lamp in my heart remains unlit.” She left a lot of regret and soon passed away.
Although it was more than 100 years ago in a Japanese nunnery, when we hear the story today, we still feel regret for her. Therefore, in our spiritual cultivation it is most important to light our heart-lamps. We should promote the Dharma. When we learn wholesome teachings, we must pass them along to others. Good words are as radiant as the Spring. If we often say good words, it is like bringing Spring into peoples’ hearts. A wholesome phrase can bring joy to someone for a long time. That is how to instill the joy of Dharma in people.
So we must pass on the Dharma to teach and guide millions of people. Not just millions, but more than we can count. They are the “infinite lamps.”
Light the lamp in your heart. Let the teachings be passed on from person to person. Genuine good words can instill the joy of Spring in someone’s mind for a long time.
Remember, we must follow the Practice of Unlimited Service. Unlimited Service comes when we constantly reflect on our minds. If we do not do so, we may even be unaware of our own breathing. Are we exhaling or inhaling now? We usually do not pay attention our breath, let alone our own thoughts. Everyone please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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