Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Six Practices: Ten Actions (Part 9)(六行~十行行九)
Ten Actions: The Practice of Joyful Service, Benefiting Others, Never-resenting, Unlimited Service, Non-confusion, Skillful Manifestation, Non-attachment, Respect, Good Teachings, Truth.
The ninth practice of the Ten Actions is the Practice of Good Teachings. There is a saying, “respect the teacher and the teachings.” If a student does not respect his teacher, he is not able to respect the teacher’s teachings.
We have discussed the Practice of Respect, now we will discuss the Practice of Good Teachings. It is only through respect that the Dharma can become the good teachings in our hearts. It is said of Good Teachings that “With Discerning Wisdom, all things appear clearly, showing perfect virtues All the Buddhas of the Ten Directions practice this perfection.”
Having respect for the Dharma in our hearts, we have Discerning Wisdom. If we respect and use the Dharma, all of the teachings are equally important to cultivate in our minds. If we respect these teachings, then it is Discerning Wisdom.
With this Discerning Wisdom, “all things appear clearly.” With all worldly teachings, the most profound truth will naturally emerge from our wisdom. All truth in the universe comes forth from Discerning Wisdom. We should let the teachings develop in our hearts and respect them. In so doing, we can cultivate wisdom and see through all the principles in the universe as they manifest before us. If we can achieve this, we will “manifest the perfect virtues.”
Apply teachings wisely and reverently. In so doing, we can develop our wisdom, see through all the principles in the universe, and manifest the perfect virtues.
We often say, “When we perfect our relationships and actions, then our principles are perfect.” Being in harmony with matters, people, and principles is complete virtue. With complete virtue, our actions are perfect, our relationships are perfect, and our principles are perfect. This is called virtue. All the Buddhas are like this. They abide by this law of harmony, which is what we are striving to learn.
Learning Buddhism is not just a matter of one lifetime, but of many lifetimes. If we can remain unwavering in our conviction, the Path will be broad. Now I will share a story that the Buddha told of his past lives.
In ancient times, there was a seven-year-old child whose family was poor and raised cattle. One day the boy led the cattle to an open prairie. In the distance, he heard the sound of a Sutra recitation, which filled his heart with joy. He looked up ahead and saw a monastery. After he settled the cattle in a grassy area, he quickly ran into the monastery where people were reciting the Sutra. He walked toward one of the bhiksus and bowed in reverence.
After paying his respect, he sat and listened to the lecture attentively. Upon hearing the Dharma, his heart filled with joy. It seemed as if after hearing just one verse, he was able to comprehend many principles. He asked the monk to explain the meaning of the teachings once he finished. He discussed the Dharma with the bhiksu, and the monk was amazed by their discussion. It was incredible that a young child had such questions. It seemed as if he had cultivated the ability to speak of such profound principles over many past lives. Speaking with the child, the monk also gained many insights. So the conversation brought joy to both the bhiksu and the boy.
After bowing in reverence, the child left the monastery and went back to the prairie. The cattle were nowhere to be found, so he rushed to find them and came to a mountainside. The cattle were being chased by a tiger, so the child rushed forward to save them. He was attacked and killed by the tiger. In this way the child died.
After some time passed, the head wife of a wealthy householder became pregnant. Once she was pregnant, for some unknown reason she began constantly reciting Sutras. Every passage she chanted was quite profound, but no one could understand her, so they were all very afraid. The husband was worried, so he asked doctors to examine her. They all shook their heads, not knowing what was wrong with her.
One day, a monk passed by the family’s house and heard the wondrous sound. He stopped in front of the house and listened to the recitation of the Sutras. He was filled with joy to hear such profound principles echoing from the house. At that moment, the husband stepped out and saw the monk, but did not acknowledge him. The monk thought it was strange, since a family reciting such Sutras would be a family that studies the Buddha-Dharma and practices Buddhism. Why did the head of the family not acknowledge the monk when he saw him?
So the monk took the initiative to ask the man, “Pardon me, does anyone in your family practice Buddhism or listen to the Buddha-Dharma?”
The man shook his head and said, “I do not know of Buddha-Dharma, the sound you are hearing is from my wife. I don’t know why, but ever since she became pregnant, she’s been chanting principles that no one understands.”
The monk asked, “Can I meet her?”
“Yes, very well, please come and see what has possessed her.”
When the monk entered the house, the wife bowed to the monk with utmost reverence. She knelt and sat in front of him, and they started to discuss the Dharma. Both were made joyous by the conversation. The husband thought it was very strange that they could converse so joyfully, so he asked the monk about it.
The monk said, “What your wife speaks are true principles of the Dharma. Congratulations, the child she carries will be a person with great wisdom.”
So he asked them to take good care of the child. Upon hearing this, the man was very happy and made offerings to the monk. The monk returned to his abode and told his Sangha-assembly about this inconceivable encounter.
After ten months, the child was born in full-term. The wife delivered the baby while kneeling down with her palms together. It was a smooth delivery. The baby was also born as if kneeling with his palms together. After that, the wife stopped speaking the Dharma and became her old self again.
The monk, who was anticipating the birth of the child, was informed. The husband invited the monk to his home. He said, “After my wife gave birth to the child, she returned to her old self. Please come to my house and see the child.” The monk went to the house with his Sangha-assembly. When the monk saw the boy, he said, “This child will become a teacher of the world. He is one with great wisdom, if the karmic conditions are there, in the future I’ll also seek his guidance.”
The father was very happy and made offerings to the Sangha-assembly. As days went by, the child grew older. Even as a child, he was full of wisdom. His thoughts surpassed those of adults, and his behavior was different from ordinary children. When the boy was seven, the monk visited him again with the Sangha-assembly. When the boy saw the monk, there was a sense of recognition, so he bowed at once. Like old friends, they sat down and started discussing the Dharma. The Sangha-assembly was also joyful as they listened to the discussion of the monk and child. They were amazed that such a young boy could speak the Dharma with the venerable old monk, using words of transcendent wisdom. Afterwards, the monks returned to the monastery.
As this point, the Buddha said to his disciples, “In this story you should know that the monk was Mahakasyapa, who was practicing during the era of the ancient Buddha. This child was me, Shakyamuni Buddha. Thus, in the past I learned of Mahayana teachings from this monk.” Mahayana are the teachings of the Great Vehicle. “When I heard the teachings of the Great Vehicle, I was filled with reverence and realization. I felt they were wholesome Dharma. Thus, Praise goodness, realize truth & maintain joy. This joy remained in my heart until I was reborn as that little boy. I never parted from such joy. Don’t forget to be diligent, and have insight into your past lives.” After realizing the truth, the boy practiced diligently and joyfully. He never forgot the teachings, thus, “he had insight into his past life.” He always remembered the past, even after a lifetime, he remembered the conversation with the monk, which “led him to realize enlightenment.” Because of this, the wisdom of supreme enlightenment continued to grow in him.
“The virtue of hearing truth even once is such, let alone the virtue of full-time practitioners.” He was joyful just by listening, and that joy was always with him. By practicing diligent, one can have the knowledge of his past and present lifetimes. By always remembering, one develops wisdom until realizing supreme enlightenment. The virtue of hearing the Dharma just once and always remembering it is already like this. Moreover, if we listen, practice and respect. The Dharma every day, the merit is even greater.
Listen to the teachings with praise and joy. Understand the teachings and practice diligently. Deeply realize the truth about life. This will enable you to realize supreme enlightenment.
Everyone, truly learning Buddhism requires respect. If we respect the Dharma, all teachings are wholesome. If we apply wholesome Dharma with our hearts, we naturally have Discerning Wisdom and “all things appear clearly, showing perfect virtues.”
If our minds open upon hearing the teachings, and our joy is unwavering, then, as we often say, by maintaining our initial conviction, we will surely attain Buddhahood. By maintaining the initial joy of hearing the Dharma, we will surely attain wisdom. Thus, the Practice of Good Teachings means we should respect the Dharma. This is essential in our cultivation process. So, everyone should be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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