Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Path to Enlightenment of Buddha’s Teachings (入佛門中 學正覺道)
Date: June. 17, 2013
Let us learn and practice the Buddha’s teachings. Learn the path to perfect enlightenment by following the Buddha’s teachings. Internally safeguard, externally promote [them]. Sovereign Sakra and all heavenly beings protect the true Dharma in the Three Periods of Time, across ten directions.
This tells everyone that since we have become Buddhists, we must pursue the path to perfect enlightenment. Every day we hear about perfect enlightenment and how “the great Bodhi-path leads to perfect and universal enlightenment”. When we practice the Buddha-Dharma, we must progress diligently, step by step and never stop. This is the path to perfect enlightenment. The Buddha-Dharma is like the ocean; its teachings are boundless. In daily living, all matters, major or minor, are encompassed within the Buddha-Dharma. So in our daily living, we should not deviate from the path to perfect enlightenment. We must carefully cultivate our minds, that is how we “internally safeguard”. What are we guarding? We need to guard our minds so that our thoughts never deviate from perfect enlightenment. So, “Internally safeguard, externally promote”. Externally, we must promote the Buddha-Dharma. If we have the right mind, thoughts and path, then in our daily interactions, we are inevitably promoting the Buddha-Dharma. When we teach by example and apply the teachings, we can captivate sentient beings and guide their minds. This depends on our usual behavior and actions, which are also part of promoting the Dharma. The promotion of the Dharma does not only happen in a lecture hall or in a great public assembly. Not necessarily. It happens through our way of living. That is how we “Internally safeguard, externally promote”.
If we can all have right mind, speech and action, this religion [will flourish] because of you, me and all of us. This is how we promote the Dharma to benefit all beings. I often say, when people and matters are in harmony, we are in harmony with principles. Harmony means we are united and of the same mind. Then [the Dharma] will last forever. This is the mark of a true Dharma-protector. The human realm needs to be like this. Harmony can move the heavens so that “Sovereign Sakra and all heavenly beings protect the true Dharma in the Three Periods of Time, across ten directions.” The Three Periods of Time directly refer to the past, present and future. Several decades have passed since we were born. Do we realize that we have a past in this life and also a past in previous lives? We have infinite and countless pasts. As we have endless pasts, we have endless presents and endless futures. Every day we live in these Three Periods of Time. The “present” I just spoke of has become the “past” as the seconds went by. What I am now calling the “present” was also once the “future,” in the past.
These Three Periods of Time can exist within a short time frame, within-minutes and seconds or between thoughts.In all moments, at all times, we exist in these Three Periods of Time, past, present and future.Since time is always passing by, there is continuously a present, so this creates innumerable futures.When we are in the Three Periods of Time, we must seize every moment.To seize the present is to seize the future.When we accidentally do something we should not have done, this results in bad effects for the future.We must also be very vigilant of this.
If we take good care of our minds and maintain spacious and open hearts, we can travel “across tem directions”.I often say, “broaden your mind to encompass the universe”.This means that with one thought, we can embrace all things in the world.
Every day, we aim to know more about things in the world.Is it useful to only know things?
We truly need to also take action.If we really want to do something, there is nothing we cannot do.
So, I often talk about time, space and relationships.Whether across space or across time, we should always strive to comprehend principles.If we can comprehend them, then we can act on them.This is “in Three Periods of Time, across ten directions”.
I just said, “Sovereign Sakra and all heavenly beings protect he true Dharma”.Indeed, we can intuitively realize that in our lives, this world and our relationships,Sovereign Sakra and all heavenly beings are present.Now I often say, “In this world, the spirits protect our minds.”Do they?They do.After the Buddha attained enlightenment, Sovereign Sakra often came to hear the Dharma.He also took refuge with the Buddha and became His disciple.We call the Buddha, “Teacher of the Three Realms, Father of Four Forms of Birth.”
The Three Realms are the desire realm, form realm and formless realm.So, He is the Teacher of the Three Realms and the Great Enlightened One of the universe.He is not only the Enlightened One of this world, but of the universe.Furthermore, Sovereign Sakra constantly comes to protect the Buddha-Dharma.Exactly what form does Sovereign Sakra take?We can now take a look.
“At that time” refers to the time when the Buddha was on Vulture Peak, at that spiritual training ground.Aside from those I mentioned previously, the monastics, Arhats and those at or beyond the level of learning, there were also Bodhisattvas.We have discussed all of these already among the many people at that assembly, aside from Bodhisattvas, there were heavenly beings.
Sacra-devanan Indra was present with his retinue of 20,000 heavenly princes.
The heaven realm is closely related to our world.I also often talk about the Lord of Heaven, also known as Sovereign Sakra or Sakra-devanan Indra His retinue of deities was comprised of 20,000 heavenly princes.“He was also called Sovereign Sakra;” this is another of Sakra-devanan Indra’s names.Where was his place of residence?It was in the Trayastrimsa Heaven, so he was the Lord of the Trayastrimsa Heaven.
Sacra-devanan Indra was also called Sovereign Sakra and the Lord of the Traustrimsa Heaven.He was the Lord of the 33 Heavens.
When we discuss teachings in the sutras, you will often hear “Trayastrimsa Heaven”.In the Trayastrimsa Heaven, the Bdudha expounded the Earth Treasury Sutra.In the Trayastrimsa Heaven, the Buddha expounded the Earth Treasury Sutra. During a period of summer retreat for the Sangha, the Buddha went to the Trayastrimsa Heaven to expound the Earth Treasury Sutra. Everybody knows that the Earth Treasury Sutra is the Buddhist sutra on filial piety. The Buddha, at that time, wanted to repay His mother's grace. Seven days after giving birth to Him, Lady Maya passed away. The child she gave birth to became the Great Enlightened One of the world; because of this achievement, she was reborn in heaven. Though the Buddha had attained enlightenment, in His later years there was still one matter. He considered unresolved. He still had to repay His mother's grace so. He specially went to Trayastrimsa Heaven to expound the Dharma for His mother. Trayastrimsa Heaven has a total of 33 heavens. These 33 heavens have their own story. The 33 heavens are divided into four directions, east, west, north and south. In each direction, there are eight cities. So when multiplied by four directions, there are 32 cities. In the middle of these 32 cities is one more city. Therefore, altogether there are 33 cities.
In each of these 33 cities there is one ruler. Since this is the heaven realm, they are referred to as heavenly lords. So, [Sakra] is also the Lord of 33 Heavens. At the center of these 33 heavens City of Good Views was where the Buddha expounded Earth Treasury Sutra. The ruler of City of Good Views ruled over the lords of the 32 cities. Therefore because Sakra-devanan Indra, or Sovereign Sakra, was at the center of Trayastrimsa Heaven, he was called the Lord of 33 Heavens. Within the 33 heavens, he was the heavenly lord in the center.
Trayastrimsa means 33. With eight cities in each of the four directions, and City of Good Views in the center, there are 33 cities total. The one who lives at the peak of Mt. Sumeru is the heavenly lord of the desire realm. Therefore he is listed first .
Actually, one day in Trayastrimsa Heaven is equal to 100 years in the human realm. Why is it these 33 cities, when grouped together, are called 33 heavens? This is a reference to a story long time ago during the time of Kasyapa Buddha. This was an incalculable number of years ago. During Kasyapa's Era of Dharma- semblance, there were temples and stupas that had fallen into disrepair and were run down. At that time, a woman went to pay respect to the Buddha and had almost fallen to state of complete neglect. She could not bear it. When she saw the Buddha's statue, she was joyous. But when she saw that the temple and stupa were in disrepair, she found it unbearable. She aspired to do good and donated all her assets to repair the temple and stupa. It was not enough. She vowed to encourage her good friends to help . So, she gathered 32 good friends who shared her ideals. They witnessed her dedication and saw her donate all her assets. The repairs to the stupa and temple were nearly complete. Therefore, they supported her by contributing and donating money to complete the repairs. Because of these causes and conditions, there 33 people, including the woman who initiated this project, were reborn based on the merits of their offering to Kasyapa Buddha's stupa and temple. So, they were born in Trayastrimsa Heaven and in the 33 cities spread out in the four directions.So, they were born in Trayastrimsa Heaven and in the 33 cities spread out in the four directions. At the city in the center was the kind woman with the original aspiration. She later became the leader of the 33 heavens. This was how things came about.
Next, among them were Heavenly Prince Moon, Heavenly Prince Pervading Fragrance, Heavenly Prince Jeweled Light, and the Four Great Heavenly Kings with their retinue, 10,000 heavenly princes in all.
These heavenly princes—Heavenly Prince Moon, Heavenly Prince Pervading Fragrance, Heavenly Prince Jeweled Light, and the Four Great Heavenly Kings all reside in the same heaven. The Four Great Heavenly Kings are in the heavens on the top of Mt. Sumeru. This is closer to our world. One day there us equal 50 years in our world. According t stories in Buddhist sutras, it extends in four directions from Mt. Sumeru. The center of it is the closest to our world so it is also called the heaven closest to the world. Within this realm are the Sun, the Moon and the stars. So, this is the Heaven of Four Heavenly Kings. It is not far from the earth. The Four Heavenly Kings rule the constellations of this universe. The Moon and Sun fall under their rule. There are four heavenly kings because they represent the four directions. In the east there is King Dhrtarastra, and in the south there is King Virudhaka. In the west there is King Virupaksa. In the north there is King Dhanada. The Heaven of Four Heavenly Kings is ruled by these four heavenly kings. So, in our world, there are different heavenly kings who rule.
Ministers who live in the center of these heavens are called the Assembly of the Four Kings. The heavens of the Sun, Moon, Stars and plants are controlled by the Four Heavenly Kings.
Next there were Heavenly Price Freedom, Heavenly Price Great Freedom and their retinue, 30,000 heavenly prince in all.
They dwell in the heavens of space and are the heavenly assembly of the desire realm.
Next is “the ruler of the Saha World,” King Brahma, the great Brahma Sikhin, and the great Brahma Brilliance, and others, with their retinue, 12,000 heavenly princes in all.
They are the heavenly assembly of the from realm, who reside in the heavens of space. The form realm is very far from the early realm. [King Brahma] is respected by all. We often ask why the Buddha had to overcome demons right before he attained enlightenment. That is because the king of demons in the Saha World. If someone wants to leave the three realms, he becomes menacing. He therefore disturbs the person’s mind. But he could still be subdued by the Buddha’s true Dharma. These 12,000 heavenly princes in all were fewer in number [than other retinues].
To summarize, the Buddha-Dharma is in the world. Both the desire realm and the form realm are place where the true Dharma must pervade. As we learn the Buddha’s way, we must be mindful and head toward perfect enlightenment. We have to make an effort to practice them in our daily living. In our living, we cannot only consider ourselves and do as we please. We cannot. When we become Buddhists, we must remember to “internally safeguard, externally promote,” so our practice can be lasting. Then “Sovereign Sakra and all heavenly kings protect the true Dharma." Together, heavenly and human beings must protect and uphold the Buddha-Dharma in last forever in this world. Thus, people must promote the Dharma. The Dharma cannot promote itself. Thus everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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