Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Careful Words and Actions Lead to the True Path (慎言敏事就正道)
In life, honesty is the basis of character. We should not use flowery and deceptive words. If we do that, we will damage our character and virtue. As humans, we want to take good care of our character and our virtue. We remain virtuous by walking on this broad path.
Yesterday I shared this with everyone. The Buddha already unveiled this eight-lane path for us. When we walk on the Eightfold Noble Path, we begin the journey as ordinary people but become sages by the end. Of course, this road is very long and far, so we must not cross the boundaries or go astray. If we often disguise our evil words, or verbally destroy the good and able, falsely implying someone is evil, harming those who are kind, we create tremendous karma of speech.
Previously, we talked about lies, flattery and gossip. These are all karma of speech. They can truly corrupt others, causing people to lose their freedom or be ruined for life.
Honesty is the basis of character. If we use flowery language to hide falsehoods, not only do we damage our character and virtue, we may also hurt others.
I saw this news story from England. There was a young girl. At the time, she was 15 years old. Her family was very poor so she had to work. She became a nurse at a very small clinic. She worked very hard. As a nurse, she did all kinds of different work. One day a prescription drug went missing after she took inventory. It was not a very expensive drug, but others falsely accused her of stealing it. She insisted that she did not, but her accusers claimed that she did. Eventually, they took her to the police station.
The police wondered, “Would this girl really steal? It is just an insignificant item. How should we sentence her?” So, they locked her up in a mental hospital. Then 70 years passed with her committed there. How long does 70 years feel? She was so pure. She worked because her family was poor. She did not steal, but others said she did, so of course she felt miserable. Once she was locked in the mental hospital, she stopped speaking. In the process of taking a census, they discovered this 70-year-old case at the mental institution.
They began an extensive search and eventually found her relatives, who spoke about how she was wronged 70 years ago. After 70 years, her parents and most of her relatives were dead. Only two younger brothers remained. When they were young, they heard that their sister was a victim of a false allegation when she worked at a clinic, so she had been sent to a mental institution.
They family was very poor, so they were helpless. And thus, 70 years passed. Once they knew she was still alive, they asked to visit her they asked to visit her. The siblings finally reunited with each other.
When they last saw her she was only around 15 years old. At that time, they were all very young. Seventy years later, she would be over 80. A person’s appearance would be totally different. Would they even recognize each other? But once the two brothers started speaking, the old woman listened and slowly recognized them as her family. She realized they were here brothers. Her sadness erupted and she began sobbing.
She said, “It’s been 70 years. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know anything about the outside world. I have been isolated for such a long time.”
Back then, she worked to support her family, to help raise her brothers. Now her brothers were very old too. Think about it, isn’t this a very tragic story?
The newspapers and magazines in England widely reported this story. They described these tragic circumstances. Indeed, theirs is a tragic world. Those were 70 terrible years for her.
Sometimes if we speak just a single falsehood, since no one saw, and no one knows the truth, we can frame someone in this way, causing her to be filled with hate for the rest of her life.
This is caused by speech karma. A section of the Dharma As Water text states, “Though they may be loyal ministers, filial sons, or people with integrity and benevolence, we fabricate stories to portray them as evil. Later generations will tell that story and accept it as truth. We cause them to die with resentment, and the truth will never be understood.”
Some individuals are really good people. They are loyal ministers or filial sons. These ministers are devoted to their country and are ethical in administering affairs. Though such people are ethical, they may be wronged by others.
Even filial sons and people with integrity may also be victims of false accusations or gossips. Others may generate many rumors or write essays about their supposed evil nature and bad deeds.
This goes beyond the present life. If someone is wronged he may live the rest of the his life in resentment, with no way to set things right. This is done with slander, lies and flattery. Flattery is untruthful speech. To attain fame and fortune, some go to any lengths, disregard their virtue and constantly praise and flatter others. To curry favor with others, they will frame people. To make themselves stand out, they wrong the innocent.
This is karma created by flowery words. So, “These transgressions are countless and boundless.” We truly need to “repent today with utmost sincerity.”
This is not only about today, we must self-reflect every second and minute of every day. Have we done anything like what was described? If we have, let us be earnestly vigilant and quickly repent.
Look at the actions of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Look at how they give to sentient beings. I often say to everyone that we all have the Buddha in our minds, and in our actions we are all Bodhisattvas. We learn and follow in the footsteps of Buddhas. We watch and emulate their actions. This is the mind of a Buddhist practitioner.
We do not know what we did in the past. Perhaps we spoke harshly, lied or flattered. So we must quickly reflect and repent. Once we find the path, let us walk it correctly. The path forged by the Buddha is broad and straight road. It is the proper path. We have to follow this right path and correct our past inappropriate behaviors.
We just talked about flattery. Now we will discuss gossip. It also crates bad karma.
The Four Karma of Speech: Harsh Words, Lies, Flattery, Gossip.
Gossip creates conflict and distance between people. It tears apart families and turns good feelings into bad ones. This is caused by speech. So, besides repenting for flattery, we must also repent any gossip that we used to create conflicts.
The next section says, “From Beginningless Time until today, we have committed many transgressions with gossip.”
With the karma of gossip, we create transgressions. We just talked about creating conflict. Gossip is hearing something and spreading it without caring whether it is true or not. It is often said, “One person lies, 10,000 repeat it as truth.” They make something out of nothing and pass it on. Or they only hear half of the story, but spread it anyways. With their three-inch tongues, people pass on stories. Until the lies cannot be contained. People change the story they are told. If we tell about something good, they pass it on as something bad. This is done with the tongue.
It the same way, I need my tongue
in order to talk to you the way I am doing now. Should we speak good words or bad words? Of course we should speak good words. It is not enough for me to sit here talking and you to sit there listening. After we hear good things, we should pass them on.
So, when volunteers come here, they often speak with the nuns at the Abode. Based on their connections, the nuns may ask, “Did you hear what the Master said ?”
“Yes, I did”
Or the nuns may gather some volunteers together.
“Come, we have some time tonight, let’s talk!”
This is another way to use our tongues. “People must spread the teachings, not use them to promote themselves.” Here I use my tongue to share with you. You can also use your tongue to share with others. We share the things we have heard clearly. We have to truly hear to understand this Dharma. And I have only spoken a small part of it.
It is like what the Buddha said to Ananda.
“Ananda, come. Life a bit of sand with your fingernail.”
Ananda obeyed Him and used his fingernail to lift some sand.
The Buddha asked, “Is there more sand on your fingernail or on the ground?”
Ananda looked up at the Buddha and respectfully replied, “Buddha, of course there is more sand on the ground. How can the amount of sand on my fingernail compare to the sand on the ground?”
The Buddha said, “Correct. There are many truths. Even though you have been by my side, the Dharma you have heard me expound is like the amount of sand on your fingernail. The true Dharma is like the sand on the ground. So much remains unsaid. Since you have heard this analogy, you will now know you have not heard much of the Dharma.” But just where is the Dharma?
Where are these truths as numerous as grains of sand on the ground? In each of our minds “If we understand one truth, we can understand 10,000.” As long as our minds are pure and undefiled, we can return to our Buddha-nature and attain wisdom equal to that of the Buddha. So, all the Dharma that the Buddha did not expound is already in our minds, in our Buddha-nature.
So, let us listen mindfully. Listen to good words and make good vows.
We should always share with others. This also requires our tongue. We can use our tongue in two ways. If we say good things, it is the Dharma. If we say bad things, it creates conflict. Most ordinary people speak bad things. Sometimes people hear bad things and keep passing them along.
They do not care if it is true or not. They will keep spreading it. Irresponsible words and language create karma through gossip. If we do not distinguish between spreading good or bad things, we will create tremendous karma. So, when we speak, it is easy to open our mouths and wag our tongues.
But sometimes, we will create tremendous karma. We cannot take it back even if we want to. So, in every moment we have to remind ourselves, since we are born in the Human Realm and have this ability to speak, we must use our tongues for good. So everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)