Lecturer: Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Benevolent Actions Lead To Blessings(為善得福)
We should look within ourselves every day, and always be vigilant and repentant. I often speak about repentance. In the law of karmic cause and effect, the cause is a seed and the fruition of the seed is an effect. When the effect manifests, it moreover becomes a cause. Which object in this world is not part of the cycle of cause and effect? We all know that a cause is a seed. This seed is stored in our Eighth Consciousness.
Eight Consciousnesses:
1. Eye-consciousness
2. Ear-consciousness
3. Nose-consciousness
4. Tongue-consciousness
5. Body-consciousness
6. Mind-consciousness
7. Manas-consciousness
8. Alaya-consciousness
There are eight consciousnesses, of the first seven, the seventh is what contemplates, while the first six are what connect to the external Six Sense Objects in our environment and bring those perceptions in for the Seventh Consciousness to analyze. If we are kind, when we see so many suffering people in the world, we reach out to offer help to them. When these thoughts arise, we will naturally take action to do good deeds. Afterwards, our hearts experience peace, joy and freedom. Over time, we accumulate blessings by doing good deeds. So, over time we can accumulate good deeds, or we can accumulate unwholesome deeds instead. This is all based on the mind. External conditions connect with our Six Roots. When the Six Roots are tempted by the Six Dusts, the mind gives rise to greed and evil. This prompts the body to create bad karma. Afterwards, these karmic seeds are stored in the Eight Consciousness. The Eight Consciousness continues to accumulate positive and negative seeds. The more time passes, the more actions we take. Whether they are good or bad deeds, once we have done them, the seeds are formed, and then become fruits. These results are also seeds, which are planted in the field of the Eighth Consciousness. This is karma. So, karma is the cause. All our actions, expressions, and so on, all depend on conditions. Based on conditions one does good or evil. We should always remember that doing good and giving generously lead one to heaven. All religions indicate this. Actually, according to many folk beliefs, we should also know that benevolent acts can mitigate disasters. Additionally, doing good can also cleanse one’s mental defilements.
But if we act kindly for the sake of blessings, all we gain are the blessings of ascending to heaven.Actually, these blessings can be exhausted.We know that good deeds lead to the blessing of being born in heaven.But we should also know that being content and understanding leads to freedom and wisdom.
While carrying out good deeds, we should always be understanding.Doing good creates blessings, and being content and understanding leads to wisdom.If we are discontent, we give rise to greed.If we are not understanding, we will always be afflicted, angry or ignorant.
So, we must understand that doing good and giving generously lead to being born in heaven.
However, we must carry out these deeds with contentment and understanding.
Only with contentment and understanding can our minds constantly be free and not afflicted by small conflicts.
We should know that there is more than just gaining blessings by bestowing kindness.
Wisdom is also very important.Wealth must be accompanied by nobility.Wealth without nobility is not what we seek.
What is nobility?It is enlightenment.
To be of benefit to others in their lives is the true goal of learning Buddhism.To lead others onto the Right Path is true wealth and nobility.Blessings without enlightenment are useless.
As Buddhist practitioners, everything we do is to learn how to purify the mind to achieve enlightenment.Wealth and blessings will expire.If we seek wealth and are reborn in heaven, we live with fortune and pleasures.If we want food, food appears.We can eat and wear whatever we desire.Everything is in accord with our wishes.But such blessings eventually come to an end.
So, we should use time well.Over time we accumulate merits and wrongdoings.So, we should always be vigilant and use our time well to cultivate merits.As Buddhist practitioners’, we must have both internal and external practices.
Over time we accumulate merits and wrongdoings.Doing good and giving generously lead to blessings of being born in heaven.Being content and understanding leads to freedom and wisdom.Wealth and heavenly blessings will expire, so we should always remain vigilant.
We have been discussing the importance of understanding karmic cause and effect.
How do we recognize it?
The text says, “How does one know?When Sakrodevanam Indra showed the Five Signs of decay, he was afraid. Sincerely taking refuge with the Three Treasures, the Five Signs were eradicated and his years in heaven prolonged.”
Sakrodevaenam Indre is the ruler of Trayastrimsa Heaven.He had everything and was the leader of heavenly beings.Not only did he have many blessings, his lifespan was very long.
A day in Trayastrimsa Heaven is 100 years in this world. One lifetime in this world ends before one of their days is over.So Sakrodevanam Indra had a long life in the Trayastrimsa Heaven.But, no matter how long a life is, it still ends.With the passing of time, life comes to an end.No matter how blessed one is, the blessings will eventually be exhausted.
No matter how much blessings or longevity one has, it eventually comes to an end. While the Buddha was in this world, Indra realized he was showing the signs of decay, and became very frightened. Since Buddha was in the world, he implored the Buddha to teach him.So, the Buddha spoke the Dharma to him. He was very touched and sincerely took refuge and repented for some subtle, past wrongdoings. He had created more good than bad, there were just some subtle wrongdoings, so he sincerely repented all the evils he committed.
With evils eliminated, his blessings increased. He took refuge and respected the Three Treasures.
What are the Five Signs of Decay?
Five Signs of Decay: 1. Robes becoming dirty 2. Hair-flowers fading 3. Sweating under the arms 4. Body smelling bad 5. Not enjoying one’s original status
For the first sign, though heavenly beings are tall, their clothing is very light and soft.
Their clothes weigh very little, and are very beautiful and dignified. When they wear this clothing, it looks very bright and very clean. Once their blessings come to an end, the same robe starts to look very scruffy. It looks dirty and loses its shine.So, for heavenly beings, when the Five Signs of Decay manifest, the first sign is seen when their clothing beings to lose its shine.
Second is “hair-flowers fading” The crowns that heavenly beings wear are covered with flowers and gems.But when the Five Signs appear, besides their clothes becoming dirty, their precious jeweled crowns loss their radiance and luster. The flowers wilt and fade in color and brilliance.
The third sign is “sweating under the arms”.Heavenly beings normally live very comfortably. The weather is always mild and they never sweat.But suddenly, for some reason, they start to sweat under their arms. They start to emit bad odors. This is the third sign.When their blessings are exhausted, their bodies start to sweat and smell. This is one of the Five Signs.
The fourth is “body smelling bad”. Besides sweating under the arms, the once clean bodies of heavenly beings to emit a bad odor.This is another sign. Usually, the bodies of heavenly beings emits a pleasant fragrance. But instead of giving off a swat smell, their bodies will start to reek.They themselves will sense it. This is also one of the five signs , the fourth.
The fifth is “not enjoying one’s original status”.Affictions begin to arise in their minds.
Sakrodevanam indre’s palace was magnificent,and he was in a position of great enjoyment.
But when the Five Signs appeared ,there was no longer joy in his heart.He was unhappy with his environment. This could be what we now call depression. No matter what kind of environment he was in,he was always unhappy.This is “not enjoying one’s original status”.This is the fifth sign of decay.
We should understand that in learning Buddhism,we are not seeking heavenly blessings.
Even if we attain them ,these blessings eventually end.So ,we should understand that the
body is a vehicle for spiritual practice.Because we have this body,we can engage in spiritual practice.
One cannot cultivate blessings in heaven,where lifespan is long and blessings are abundant.
There are no forms of suffering to witness. So , we often say that only by seeing suffering can we know blessings.Heaven contains no suffering so the truth of suffering does not apply.
With no truth of suffering,there is no way to cultivate blessings.Even if they wanted to cultivate blessings,there would be no opportunity.
When Sakrodevanam lndra’s blessings were ending ,the Five Signs of Decay appeared.
Luckly , the Buddha was still in the world. So ,with much fear ,he implored the Buddha to teach him. Since he was not enjoying his status,he was filled with fear and worry. So , he wner to the Buddha to ask Shakyamuni for guidance ,and the Buddha helped him release his affictions by teaching him to repent to the Three Treasures.
Only with the Buddha , Dharma and Sangha. Can the Buddha - Dharma exist in the world.
As we practice this teaching to seek enlightenment we will be able to be free of affictions.
So Sakrodevanam lndra joyfully repented to the Buddha,and sincerely took refuge.
So ,
“With these and many other examples ,the Sutras show that if we repent we can truly eliminate disasters”.
So now we know. This is the story of Sakrodevanam lndra and the Five Signs of Decay,of how blessings are exhausted.When his blessings came to an end,disasters arrived immediately. There are many such examples in the Sutras.
So ,”with these and other examples” means that there are many similar occurrences
that are recorded in the Sutras.There are many stories in the scriptures. Not only do we read them in the Sutras,there are many real –life stories around us.
So ,in Tzu-Chi today we see many examples of how people have changed , like heavenly beings who see the sings of decay and know their blessings are ending.
Some people had past causes and conditions to meet their benefactors in this world.These people helped them. So ,now many are part of our volunteer team and live each day with joy .
This is wealth and nobility.Which direction should we take?We see examples everywhere in the Sutras,and everywhere in our world. So ,we can extrapolate from these to know
“if one repents ,one can truly eliminate disasters”.We should always repent and remind ourselves to not keep creating wrongdoings and karma.
So , everyone should always be mindful ,otherwise when the Five Signs of Decay appear ,
there is immense suffering.
Merits and mistakes accoumulate with time.
Good deeds and generosity bring heavenly blessings.
If we can be content and understanding and this is important ,we can obtain freedom and wisdom .Heavenly blessings eventually come to an end.
So ,we should always be mindful.