Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Beginning of the Sangha (僧寶之始)
Date: May. 13, 2013
We should all contemplate our initial intentions and make great aspirations and vows. It is often said, “Maintain your initial spiritual practice; that is sufficient to attain Buddhahood.” Are we all constantly reflecting on our initial aspiration for spiritual practice? At that time, we make great aspirations and vows. We were determined not to engage in spiritual practice just for ourselves; we wanted to eliminate afflictions and transform all sentient beings. We should maintain this resolve and practice according to the Buddha’s teachings. In the Buddha’s lifetime, many resolved to be monastic practitioners. How many? 12,000 people. They gathered at the Lotus Sutra Assembly and [some of] their names were listed. Indeed, in every sutra that we recite, oftentimes we will see these same names. Think about it, out of over 10,000 people, these few people were known and recognized. So, they each had a specialty. They had hidden abilities but were known for a particular virtue. These people were not merely “the foremost among those who heard much” or “the foremost in wisdom”. They had many abilities, but they hid them in order to highlight their special talent.
For example, if we were to create a book, the first thing is to get someone who has a talent in writing. His talent is in writing and editing. But someone who can write and edit may not be capable of artistic design. Someone who can do artistic designs may not be capable of doing layouts. The layout person may not know about printing. So no one can do everything, but everyone knows that it takes such a process to publish a book. Each person only has one true specialty. So they each had a particular virtue. This means that each of them is great in all aspects of spiritual practice, but each is outstanding in one specialty. So the Buddha specifically mentioned, “So-and-so is foremost in something”. In the following passages, we can start to understand which virtues they cultivated and attained and what their special talents were. So, “they diligently cultivated their specialties” depending on their interests. They each manifested a specialty according to their interests and talents and were mentioned to illustrate that virtue.
Contemplate your initial intentions. Make great aspirations and great vows. Accept and practice the Buddha’s teachings. They had many hidden abilities but were known for a particular virtue. They diligently cultivated their specialties. They were mentioned to illustrate that virtue.
There are also other reasons for which we know and recognize specific. Hearers and bhiksus. For example, the first is how bhiksus emulate the Buddha’s demeanor.When they are ordained as monastics, they wear monastic clothing; they receive three garments and one alms bowl.Back when the Buddha was alive, after monks shaved their heads, they put on monastic garb, so they receive three garments and one alms bowl.The Buddha had the same things.Every day the Sangha went out to beg for alms and form connections with the community so people knew this was the awakened monastic community of the Enlightened One.
The disciples looked similar to the Buddha.Whether in the clothes they wore, the way they walked, stood, sat or slept, they practiced to be like the Buddha.So, they lived like the Buddha and their demeanor was like the Buddha’s.To learn His teachings is to emulate His demeanor.
Second is to follow the Buddha and abide wherever He stayed.The disciples who often accompanied the Buddha were called “those followed the Buddha”.They always stayed where the Buddha did.These people followed the Buddha wherever He went.So they abided where the Buddha did.
Third is to help [lay] Bodhisattvas, and Hearers shed their ego and pride.The Buddha’s disciples can fall into four or seven categories.Basically there were two kinds of monastics and two kinds of lay practitioners.Hearers or bhiksus were considered monastics.A Hearer made the initial aspiration to seek enlightenment by listening to the teachings.After they became monastics, bhiksus attained realization by practicing the Buddha’s teachings.
Whether they were Hearers or bhiksus, as long as they attained understanding, they achieved the fruit of Arhatship.So no matter which state of the Four Fruitions they had attained, they had to cultivate and discipline themselves.They had to constantly cultivate their minds and virtues and keep taking good care of their hearts.This is called self-discipline and is the reason monastics abide by the precepts.
But for Bodhisattvas, besides monastics, there are also lay Bodhisattvas.Bodhisattvas are those who made great aspirations.Aside from being pure of mind, they made great vows and went among people to transform them.However, when lay Bodhisattvas interacted with others, some were prone to arrogance whereas monastic Bodhisattvas were not because of the great aspirations they made.They tamed the afflictions, ego and pride in their minds at all times.
They severed all bonds of existence and their minds had attained freedom and remained pure whether they were alone or among others.So, the assembly knew and recognized that these great Arhats could help these lay Bodhisattvas shed their ego and pride.Because both Hearers and bhiksus manifested the appearance of monastics, they were pure in mind and exercised great resolve.
Even lay people who aspired to be bodhisattvas, still needed to respect monastics.This helped to tame the ego and pride of lay Bodhisattvas.So in the preface of the Lotus Sutra, before the Buddha started to expound His teachings.He listed these names from among those who followed Him.They were virtuous practitioners who had already cultivated their minds and actions.They had already purified their minds and made great vows, so they could tame lay practitioners’ egos and pride.
1. When bhiksus became monastics, they emulated the Buddha’s demeanor.
2.Those who followed the Buddha abided where the Buddha did.
3. They helped [lay] Bodhisattvas and Hearers shed their ego and pride.
So, those who were listed were the presiding elders, just like. Just like now, every class has a class president; in the same way, a Sangha needed leaders. So the leaders’ names were listed according to rank.For example Ajnata Kaundinya was listed in the beginning for others to know and recognize. Among the Arhats who were named, Ajnata Kaundinya was the first one.In the Lotus Sutra, why was Ajnata Kaundina listed first? Because he was the start of th Snagha treasure. After the Buddha attained enlightenmwnt, He wanted to expounded His teachings for all to understand. Where did He start? He thought about the five people who followed Him when He became a monastic but left Him after a period of time. “The five people should be the first ones I transform.”
At the beginning of His teachings, He turned the Dharma-wheel of the four Noble Truths of suffering. He had to explain it three times for these five people. After the first time, [only] one person said, “I understand. This teaching begins with the body. Living is suffering. Because we suffer, we must investigate the cause of suffering to understand the Truth of Suffering.” He completely understood how to realize the Truth of Suffering. He knew that out of the Four Noble Truths, the most important was to practice the Path to the cessation of suffering.
Ajnata Kaundina was the first to understand.What about the rest of them? The rest of them did not really understand. Then the Buddha explained it a second time, the same Four Noble Truths. Again, “Do you understand?” two more understand and so two were left. “Do you understand?”
“A little bit, not completely.” Then the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths for a third time.So, the Four Noble Truths alone needed to be taught three times for five people. This was the three turnings of the Dharma-wheel. In Deer Park, He taught these five people.So, when they accepted the Buddha’s teachings and became awakened, the Sangha and Dharma treasures came into being. The Great Enlightened one had already come to be. These were the Three Treasures. In Deer Park, the Buddha expounded the Dharma to five bhiksus.The First person who accepted the Buddha-Dharma and thoroughly understood it was Ajnata Kaundinya. Ajnata Kaundinya means “to understand.”
The leaders’ names were listed in such a sequence for a special reason. Take Ajnata Kaundinya for example, He was the first in the Sangha, the first five disciples, “Ajnata Kaundinya” means “to understand.” He was the first to realize the Buddha-Dharma.
So in the Lotus Sutra, he was listed first. The most important purpose of the Lotus Sutra was to allow everyone to have a deep and complete understanding. Only then can we purify our minds and make a great vow to return to the Saha World to transform others. So, hopefully everyone can attain this understanding through this sutra Ajnata Kaundinya’s name was given as the first example.
Actually, Ajnata Kaundinya was Queen Maya’s younger brother. He was the Buddha’s maternal relative. When Prince Siddhartha left the palace, his father, the king, was worried, so he sent people to follow him. He hoped they could convince him to come home. He sent some older relatives such as his uncles, two of Queen Maya’s younger brothers, Ajnata Kaundinya and Dasabala-Kasyapa. There were also three from his father’s side, Asvajit, Bhadrika, and Mahanama-Kulika. These three were his paternal relatives. So, these five elders were all close relatives of Prince Siddhartha. Although they pursued the prince in the hopes that he would return, nothing they said convinced him. His resolve to be a monastic was firm. All these five people could do was follow him. On one hand, they protected him. On the other, they engaged in spiritual practice with him.
Ajnata Kaundinya was the younger brother of Lady Maya. He and Dasabala-Kasyapa were his maternal relatives. The other three were his paternal relatives. Asvajit, Bhadrika, Mahanama Kulika. Five people were commanded to follow the prince. When they thought he could not bear suffering, they left for Deer Park to practice another path. When the Buddha attained enlightenment, he went to transform them first. One was awakened with the first turn.
For a period of time, the five engaged in ascetic practices with the prince. When they saw him accept the shepherdess’ offering [of food], they misunderstood and thought his will to practice had wavered. So, these five abandoned the crown prince and went to Deer Park to engage in other spiritual practice. Meanwhile the prince felt the teaching he had found were still not complete. Once these five people left, he felt free in body and mind.So,he stayed in the Uruvilva Forest to
engage in spiritual practice beneath the Bodhi tree.During three weeks of contemplation,he subdued demons,engaged in spiritual reflection, reflected on his past lives,and so on.With his spiritual practice of reflection,his mind was exceptionally,thoroughly serene.So he subdued all kinds of demons which surged through his mind.After he subdued all these reflections,he suddenly saw a bright star in the night.He let go of all his afflictions,and his spirit was completely
radiant.This happened when the Buddha was away from these five others and truly applied his
mind to spiritual practice and self-discipline.He destroyed all of the demon armies,which were
afflictions.
So at the beginning,I talked about killing thieves,destroying demons ,and so on.This refers to the afflictions in our minds. The calmer we are,the more apparent afflictions become.
They are like great waves surging in our minds,constantly gushing forth.All the concerns and
throughs of the mind burst forth,one after another,He subdued them one by one.This is call destroying demons.So,When demons are destroyed,Bodhi arises.This is why we often say that
afflictions are Bodhi.Without many afflictions, Without experience,how would we grow in wisdom？So,we must know that when afflictions appear,we need to rely on our wisdom and perseverance and focus on contemplation.Therefor,I hope that everyone will always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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