Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Six Practices: Ten Grounds Part 10(六行~十地行十)
“The Buddha-mind is unwavering and without limits. The Bodhisattva-mind is cloud of compassion, universally shading all sentient beings.”
Let us use this verse as words of encouragement. We are on the tenth Stage today. Before this was the Stage of Excellent Wisdom, and before that was the Stage of Stillness. They all depict the teaching of Buddhism, in which the state of our minds progresses, stage by stage. In the realm of the mind, we begin with stillness, which leads to wisdom and an unshaken mind. I have often said that learning Buddhism is about learning the Buddha-mind. By reciting His name, we bring out the Buddha’s mind, which is also our mind. We study Buddhism to study our own minds, which are equal to the Buddha’s mind. When we reach the realm of the Buddha-mind, we must have an unwavering will to practice. When the Buddha-stage is preserved in stillness, the Bodhisattva stage exhibits the positive potential of Excellent Wisdom. What realm does Excellent Wisdom bring us to? We will talk about it now. It is the Stage of Dharma-cloud.
The tenth Stage is the Stage of Dharma-cloud. When reaching the tenth Stage, the cultivation of the Bodhisattva is complete. Their only mission is benefitting sentient beings. Their great compassion is like a cloud that can shade all sentient beings with great benefits and remain unwavering.
Everyone knows “clouds.” On a clear day we can see the blue sky and white clouds. The blue sky is wide open with drift clouds. Once I went to Sanyi Mountain. When we looked up from the foot of the mountain, the clouds seemed to curl around the peak. We drove up the mountain and arrived at the Sanyi tea garden. As we walked in the tea garden, there was mist at our feet. It felt as if we had walked into a foggy realm. We did not block this white mist, nor did this mist block our path. Seeing it from far away, it was like clouds; walking into it, it was like we were on top of the clouds. This is being without obstacles. This describes the beauty of this realm, where nothing blocks our progress. On a clear day, the sky is blue and the sun is scorching. If we are on the ground walking, it is unbearably hot. But if a cloud drifts by and blocks the sun, it becomes quite cool.
We say this is like offering a cloud of incense. A beautiful cloud blocks the blistering hot sun. Although the sun still shines down on the earth, and everything is still bright, we do not feel the oppressive heat. The cloud of compassion can free all beings from suffering and affliction. The Stage of Dharma-cloud states, “The Bodhisattva has arrived at the tenth Stage.” We have already discussed the other nine Stages, and now we are on the tenth Stage. At this Stage, “cultivation is complete.”
If we look at the state of each Stage one by one, we will have a thorough understanding. Our true, innate nature is constantly polluted by worldly habits. The purpose of our practice is to use whatever methods we can to remove this pollution. Once the pollution is removed, out nature slowly becomes more and more clear, until it is completely pure. At this point, the Buddha-mind is manifest, and our cultivation is complete. As we are in the process of practicing, we must put forth effort. How do we put forth effort? With inner humility. It is an inner practice because we are cultivating our minds.
I often speak of “spiritual cultivation, which means to train one’s mind and character, and to correct one’s behavior.” Our practice is within our minds. When we correct our absentmindedness and practice away our arrogance and ego, we have inner humility.
If we see someone very modest, we say, “That person is well-cultivated.” Indeed, his inner skills and abilities have reached the level of true humility, so he always remains humble. That is achievement. Such a practice is already complete.
Not only is there inner humility, there is outward propriety. That is being courteous to everyone, treating others with propriety, and beings upright with a majestic presence.
Then one has inner cultivation and humility, and is “complete in virtue and merit.” Having practiced to this point, one’s inner virtues and outer merits are complete, and it is called Perfected Cultivation.
Spiritual cultivation is about training the mind and correcting behavior. With inner humility and outward propriety, we have inner and outer virtue and merit, and our cultivation is complete and perfect.
Next is “Only to save and benefit beings.” What is our mission for the outside world?
Our minds are already cultivated, and our inner skills are perfect, so how do we apply this cultivation outwardly? What is our mission? “Only to save and benefit sentient beings.” There is only one task, and it is to transform, save, and benefit all beings. We transform this world of affections into a world of wisdom. What separates ordinary men from sages is a boundless river of affliction. I have often said, “1000 foot swells rise in the river of love 10,000 waves surge in the sea of suffering.” Due to desires, waves rise 1000 feet high in the river of love. In these large waves, the mind is tossed about and endures unspeakable suffering. For ordinary people, this river of affliction is very dangerous and vile. It takes wisdom to cross it. Only the Buddha has the world-transcending wisdom. Thus he came to the world to transform the troubled hearts of ordinary people and extinguish their afflictions.
To save and transform sentient beings, there must be 84,000 methods to counter the 84,000 afflictions. This is the compassion of the Buddha. To save and transform, and to benefit all beings. Since there are so many suffering beings to save, He used a metaphor, “Great compassion is like a cloud.”
We often said, “The cloud of compassion covers all.” Under the blistering hot sun, all it takes is a cloud to quell the powerful heat so that the beauty of blue sky and white clouds can be seen. So the Buddha’s mind is like the blue sky, completely open and boundless. The Bodhisattva’s mind is like the cloud of compassion, shielding those under the scorching sun. This is the realm of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the tenth Stage. One can “universally shade all beings, feeling everyone from oppressive afflictions.”
Thus, “while bestowing benefits on all beings, one remains still an unwavering.” The Bodhisattva lives among people and puts in much effort to help troubled sentient beings. But regardless of the situation, his mind remains still and unwavering. Although we strive to save all beings, some are very stubborn and hard to transform. So we must approach them with a parent’s heat. Parents have earnest love for their child. When the child is going astray, the parents must guide their child well, otherwise afflictions emerge. Bodhisattvas see all beings as their children. So everyone is just like their own child. We should use this Bodhisattva-heart to mindfully treat and guide all sentient beings, so that they can transform. Transformation requires them to use the methods we teach them to change themselves. After they transform their minds by using these methods, they will be free from afflictions. In this way we will be very joyous. Thus, among stubborn beings, we must give. Even if they cannot be taught or shown discipline, we still need to be patient with them. So we often say, “Give comfort and company.” It is like an adult who sees a child getting hurt. They quickly help him up, and comfort him by saying, “It’s all right, don’t cry.” After using this kind of love to comfort him, they still need to keep him company. The Bodhisattva-mind is broad in this way. It is “bestowing great benefits.” “Bestowing” means that we fully give our love. While we practice among people, we must benefit all. But our hearts must remain unwavering in all situations. This is the determination of the Bodhisattvas-mind. It is like the unshaken Buddha-mind. There are many methods to save sentient beings. This is called the Stage of Dharma-cloud.
“Bodhisattvas, with infinite wisdom, contemplate and realize enlightenment in the state of Samadhi and attain the Great Dharma.”
Since Bodhisattvas have already obtained the Buddha’s unwavering mind, they experience many Stages of Manifestation, such as the Manifestation of Wisdom. When wisdom is manifest, it is infinite. Using this infinite blazing wisdom to observe all sentient beings leads to clear and definite realizations. Then Samadhi is manifest. Samadhi is Meditation, Right Concentration, and Right Action. When our mental state is unshaken despite the many external disturbances, our state of mind remains in meditation. When no external states can influence our minds, we “attain the Great Dharma.” After we have attained mush Dharma and have reviewed each of the many Dharma-doors given by the Buddha, we must practice them.
The Dharma-body is like a cloud that embraces all sentient beings. It is complete and free. It can eliminate the obstacles to freedom encountered among all things. It realizes the karmic freedom of True Suchness. This is called the Stage of Dharma-could, which eliminates all obstacles and realizes the Truth.
“The Dharma-body is like a cloud.” We should practice to attain this cloud-like Dharma-body. I just told you about my trip to Sanyi Mountain. Looking from the bottom, I saw clouds. At the top, the clouds swirled around me. We could go forward without obstacles. We did not obstruct it, nor did it obstruct us. This is like our Dharma-body, completely purified and not obstructing us in any states . Thus, “Dharma-body is a cloud” is a metaphor. “Embracing all sentient beings, it is complete and free.” We should universally and thoroughly give to all. We must be complete with the power of Samadhi. Then we are peaceful and at ease. I often share with everyone that in all circumstances, we must be peaceful and at ease. Our minds should be tranquil and free. Thus, “While encountering all things, it can eliminate the obstacles to freedom.” Our minds should be completely at ease. Naturally we have many obstacles. Because there are negative conditions, we must practice good teachings. All kinds of evil things appear to block us. If we can remain completely at ease, naturally, it will “eliminate the obstacles to freedom among all phenomena.”
The obstacles to freedom are negative conditions. What we should obtain is the good teaching of freedom, which will not be obstructed by evil “Realize the freedom of True Suchness” and return to our bright innate nature. This is called the Stage of Dharma-cloud, which “eliminates obstacles and realizes the Truth.”
Everyone, learning Buddhism is actually quite simple; we practice it in the world. So long as we do not let the afflictions of people affect our resolve to practice and affirm our resolve in promoting positive potential then this is the correct way. I hope everyone has a broad mind, an unwavering Buddha-mind like the blue sky. We must use our potential, like the cloud of compassion, to protect all sentient beings. So we should always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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