Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Cultivate Blessings and Wisdom with Compassion (以慈悲心修福慧)
We should always be humble. Do not be conceited or arrogant and take advantage of the weak. In the Sutra of Infinite Meanings, the section on the first merit tells us, “Loving-kindness arises in those without kindness. Compassion arises in those who enjoy killing. Joy arises in those who are very jealous. Equanimity arises in those defiled by attachment.”
In that passage, the Buddha taught us that we must always be vigilant of ourselves and not be arrogant or conceited. Then we will have more opportunities to seek teachings and use the Dharma in our daily living. Let us nurture loving-kindness.
Some people still do not know what loving-kindness is. In the Sutra of Infinite Meanings, staring with the Chapter on Virtues and the Chapter on Expounding the Dharma, we are taught to transform disasters into blessings and ignorance into wisdom. This is how to cultivate blessings and wisdom. How can a person without kindness and compassion create blessings? “Loving-kindness arises in those without kindness.”
This means the teachings enter their minds. They had to kindness toward sentient beings, but after they learned Buddhism, the Dharma slowly dripped into their hearts. Naturally, the kindness that existed in our hearts now manifests when we react to our surroundings. One with great kindness hopes that the entire world is peaceful and that all beings lead fortunate lives. That is loving-kindness.
It is already deeply etched in our minds. So we have those hopes for the world when we give; thus, “compassion arises in those who enjoy killing.” Since we hope that sentient beings will be happy and the world will be peaceful, we will control our desire to kill, and even slowly eliminate it. Then we can nurture our compassion. With compassion, everyone is a part of us. We feel their pain, and grieve for their suffering. Great compassion extends to all sentient beings. Aren’t we one with all sentient beings? How can we bear to hurt or kill them? When we nurture compassion as part of our mindset, we cannot bear to hurt or kill sentient beings.
So, “joy arises in those who are very jealous.” We are jealous of the skilled and able. We may hear someone praise another, “That person is so great! They are so nice, so well-cultivated and so accommodating!” When we hear those praises, we become jealous. Having a jealous mindset is very taxing. We should nurture our sense of sympathetic joy and see others’ success as our own success. If they are very capable, let us be respectful and joyful. This is sharing in other’s joy.
“Equanimity arises in those defiled by attachment.” If we deeply crave something, we may tarnish our character for its sake. It is not easy to have great character and be a model to others. If we fall prey to cravings, to sexual desire, or to desire for fame and wealth, etc., what character do we have to speak of? So when we practice, we must make our minds pure. We must have sincerity and integrity. Then we can eliminate external cravings. Then we can help others succeed, protect them and rejoice in their success.
If we can do achieve these four virtues, kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity, the Four Immeasurables, if we can do this, our Bodhisattva-path will be wide open. We will be successful at everything and nothing will stand in our way.
So the repentance text continues by saying, “From Beginningless Time until now, we may have whipped, beat or shackled others, pressed or pulled them with devices, flogged them, threw them and crushed their hands and feet.”
This section is giving us an explanation. Starting at some unknown time in the past, since Beginningless Time, we brought this arrogant tendency with us into each lifetime. This habit was planted in our Eighth Consciousness. So from Beginningless Time until now, arrogance has driven us. Conceit and arrogance have motivated us.
So, in our daily living we are arrogant in dealing with people and matters. Arrogance leads us to commit transgressions. It is a basic evil.
Many of the innately evil things we do come from arrogance. So we must always pay attention to this. We may have whipped, beat or shackled others, used sticks to beat them. Think about it. Sometimes we are conceited and arrogant toward livestock and other animals. When dogs or other animals approach, we hit them at will. We hit them with bats, tie them with ropes, or bind them with chains. This is arrogance, to think that humans can control all animals. This is truly wrong.
Or we “press and pull with devices.” We do this to animals, livestock or even other people. We often hear about kidnappings. Those people are tied up and tortured so they will sign checks or reveal bank account information. Sometimes the stories we see in the news are truly frightening. Why would someone do this? This cruelty is motivated by arrogance. They use various instruments of torture to “flog them and throw them.” They use devices to push against them or pick them up to throw them. Whether they beat others with their hands or kick them with their feet, it is all human cruelty. We torture other people, animals, and all sentient beings in many ways. Not only do we lack mercy, we are inclined to slaughter, to kill and abuse.
So, we should nurture compassion. First we must tame our arrogance, then kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity can arise. We must be very mindful in our daily living.
Next it is said, “We restrained, bound, caged them, tied them up, or denied them food and water. Such various evil methods bring pain and afflictions to sentient beings. Today, we sincerely repent these transgressions to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha of the Ten Directions.”
The meaning of this passage is very obvious. Restraining someone means we limit their freedom. Jails and cages also constrain them. Sometimes we even cut off their water. We deny them water to drink or food to eat. “Such various evil methods bring” great pain and suffering to sentient beings. These are all evil behaviors.
So starting today, we must repent them with deep sincerity and reverence in front of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha of the Ten Directions. How much evil have we done in our past lives? When we encounter obstacles in this life, we hold grudges and blame it on others.
But who should we blame? If we want to cast blame let us blame ourselves. Who knows how much evil we have done yet remain unaware of in this life? We have created bad karma of all sorts. But we are unaware of it. Let me tell a story to help everyone understand.
In the Ming Dynasty, there was poor scholar name Liang-Chen. He was very knowledgeable, but his family was poor. At that time, there were imperial exams that tested one’s abilities, academic knowledge, and writing skills. When it was time for the imperial exams, one could participate. This man was very knowledgeable, but no matter how many times he took the exam he kept failing. He thought his essays were good enough to pass. But he kept failing.
He had nine children, but seven died and one went missing and one went missing. So, he was left with a daughter. She shut herself off from others, never leaving the house. This poor scholar failed each time he took the exams, and he kept losing his family members. His children kept dying.
He thought that his life was unfair and he was very resentful. Because he could write essays, every year he wrote prayers on yellow paper for the Kitchen God, who was very powerful for the Kitchen God, who was highly revered. He poured all his hatred and complaints onto the yellow paper and burned it for the kitchen God. He reported his circumstances and complained that someone with his talent should not have to suffer so much, that life was unfair. This went on for many years.
One night, he dreamt that the Kitchen God came to talk with him. He knew this was the Kitchen God, so he began complaining. “I’ve studied hard since I was young. I know everything now. My essays are great. My friends and I set up a literacy center. I voluntarily teach there and also write letters at others’ request. Why is my life full of bad luck? Why is it so difficult?”
The Kitchen God told him, “This is because of your evil intent. On the surface you seem very knowledgeable and courteous. You seem well read and very polite. You know books and etiquette, but your thoughts are full of suspicion and jealousy. You feel so much resentment and hate. You are angry at everything. You also love to eat meat. You’ve eaten so many sentient beings. You do not know to cherish small animals. You also love to go fishing with others. So you have done many evil deeds. If you want to change you luck, you must put your talents and pen to good use. Write some good essays honestly depicting your life and your experience. Then you can put all your resentments and evils on paper.”
He heard this, woke up, and began to self-reflect. “Indeed, I have never had good thoughts in my mind. On the surface I seem to know many things. I am logical and very polite. But I tried to go behind people’s backs.” Since he was jealous of the skilled and capable, all the essays he wrote were negative. So, he began to change. He even became vegetarian. When bad thoughts emerged, he repented in front of the Buddha. After a few years, when he was old, he placed first in the imperial exam with the essay he wrote.
But by that time, he had already adjusted his thinking. Although he placed first, he did not think mush of fame and wealth. He was already old. He was happy with the recognition of his talent. That was enough. So he gave up his high position and went home to live with his wife and daughter. His daughter gave him seven grandchildren. They were healthy. He also kept his foster mother company. He lost his parents when he was young. Another woman raised him so he stayed with her until she died.
From this story we know that even if someone appears very talented, it does not matter. We must truly cultivate kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity in our hearts. We cannot be egotistical and arrogant. We must take good care of our minds. So, we should always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)