Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Give Joyously without Attachment (歡喜布施無所著)
Date: July. 18, 2013
We, as Buddhist practitioners, have to first learn “equanimity” to let go. Let go of what? Of afflictions. In life, afflictions arise from desires. Desires can be for tangible or intangible things; they bring us many difficulties and also create many afflictions. So, we must be able to let go. Therefore, it is said,
“If people believe in, understand, and practice giving, they can enter the straight Bodhisattva-path. Giving is the cause and condition for entering the Way.”
To give is to let go. We must be willing to give up the source of the many afflictions in our minds, which is none other than material desires. Material wealth and objects, etc., all entangle our minds and elicit much ignorance. Life’s sufferings come from scarcity. Just think, in this world, how many people lack food and clean water? Yes, some places have these things in abundance. These places of abundance should quickly support places of scarcity. So, if we want harmonious societies and peaceful countries, we must have this perspective of giving extensively to everyone. The Buddha teaches us that we have to give. To give is to let go, to let go of material things, to let go of fame and status. To meet people’s needs, we should be able to give. “Giving is the cause and condition for entering the Way.” By being able to let go and give, we show that our hearts are free of attachments, that we can let go of tangible and intangible afflictions. So, it is said,
“When one internally has a giving heart, one externally has a happy appearance. When one internally has an unwavering mind, one externally has a disciplined appearance.”
In giving, we must give completely; we must give out of a sense of inner joy. Some people say that we must persuade others to give. Persuasion is a form of guidance. But if we force others to give, if they do not give happily, then they are not joyful and that is not true giving. If they feel peaceful and at ease afterwards, that is true giving. So when their hearts are peaceful and at ease, naturally they will manifest a happy appearance. In particular, with giving, “When one internally has an unwavering mind, one externally has a disciplined appearance.” “When one internally has an unwavering mind” means that one has no expectations. When we give unconditionally, not only do we not seek to obtain merits, we also become grateful after giving.This is a heart that is peaceful and at ease.
“One externally has a disciplined appearance.”Aside from giving, we also have to uphold precepts.Giving is not conditional; it is our fundamental responsibility.Not only should we not seek merits, we also have to take good care of our hearts.We give with absolutely no conditions.
If we give conditionally, we may easily make mistakes.So, we must have unwavering minds.
We do not seek to gain merits; we give unconditionally, and we are also grateful!
So, we should have a disciplined mind.Giving is our fundamental responsibility.In learning the Buddha’s Way, giving is a tool for crossing to the other shore, a method of spiritual practice.
Therefore, faith, understanding, practice and patience is the Bodhisattva-way.
Even if one is maliciously insulted or beaten, one gently and patiently endures.
No matter how much suffering there is in life, no matter how many challenges we have undergone, as we learn the Buddha’s Way, we learn patience.It is also one of our practices.
To reach the other shore, we must first know the law of karma.When the conditions are right, we must quickly let go and give.When situations present themselves, we must be vigilant and uphold the precepts.When karmic retributions manifest, we must be patient.This is how we practice the Bodhisattva-path.
In this way, even if we are “maliciously insulted and beaten, we gently and patiently endure,” no matter what happens to us.Do you remember?In the Sutra of Forty-two Sections, one story relates what happened as the Buddha was walking.A cruel Brahmin came in front of Him, yelled at Him, spat at Him, and even grabbed sand to throw at Him.The Buddha remained peaceful and at ease, and He gently endured it.The Buddha recognized that this happened because of causes and conditions; when a past cause encountered present conditions, He would bear the karmic retributions.
To face things with this attitude is how we engage in spiritual practice and learn His Way.
The Buddha could do it, so why can’t we?So, “patience is the cause and condition for entering the Way”.To learn the Buddha’s Way we first learn to let go.We must let go; whether good or bad, we have to let go of everything so our minds will be free of afflictions.In other words, we have to be joyous; to be able to let go is a very joyous thing.
“[Gifts] of diamonds and of other gems, servants and carriages, jeweled hand-drawn carts and palanquins, are all offered up with joy.”
“They are dedicated toward the Buddha-way with a vow to attain the vehicle that is foremost in the Three Realms and praised by all Buddhas.”
Next it says, “They are dedicated toward the Buddha-way, with a vow to attain this vehicle.”
No matter how we give, no matter what we give, it is all done with joy.This joy is “dedicated toward the Buddha-way”.We give as part of our spiritual practice, not because we seek to obtain something, nor for some kind of repayment of our generosity.We hope that everyone, not only those on the Buddha-way, will give.When we give these things, such as mother of pearl, agate or jeweled carriages, we hope that after they receive them, people can also feel our sense of gratitude and our aspiration to learn the Buddha-Dharma.
This is the wish of those who give; in fulfilling our responsibility to give, we also hope the other party can feel our gratitude and also aspire to emulate the Buddha-mind.This is true spiritual practice, to practice and to inspire others to practice.Their wish is “to attain this vehicle” and travel on the Bodhisattva-path,.
Everyone can be dedicated to the Bodhisattva-path.Thus it is said to be, “foremost in the Three Realms and praised by all Buddhas” because these great aspirations and vows are about giving unconditionally and transforming others so they become awakened.
“There are Bodhisattvas who give jeweled carriages draw by four horses, with railings and flowered canopies adorning their top and sides.”
These are all tangible things, or external material objects, that. Bodhisattvas are willing to give. So, in giving internally from our hearts and externally in our actions, we must be “without any attachments”, free of attachments one that follows the Bodhisattva's Six Perfections. The Bodhisattva's Six Perfections are giving, upholding precepts, patience, diligence, Samadhi and wisdom; these are the six principles, “Without any attachments” means we do not hold onto things. So in learning the Buddha's Way, we must always have a loving heart.
Next, it says, “Further, I see Bodhisattvas who give flesh and limbs, hands and feet, even their wives and children, as they seek the unsurpassed way. I also see Bodhisattvas who happily give heads, eyes and bodies as they seek the Buddha's wisdom.”
Giving the body, head and eyes, etc. is internal giving, giving completely from our hearts. We do not only give external material goods; from within, we are willing to give our own flesh and limbs, hands and feet. See how advanced modern medical science is; besides organ donation of the deceased, now there is also organ donation by the living. Some people give their bone marrow, giving others the ability to form blood cells again. To perfect strangers, they willingly donate from their own bodies. See, giving flesh and limbs is not impossible.
The Buddha, in His wisdom, over 2000 years ago already spoke of the medical advancements we have now, 2000 years into His future. If people are willing to make these vows, they can give their flesh and limbs without harm to their bodies. This is called internal giving, giving from our own bodies; this is the heart of a Bodhisattva. Also, “[they give] even their wives and children”. In the past, treasures were not only gold, silver and crystal, children were also treasures that they willingly gave.
The goal of spiritual practice was “to attain the unsurpassed way”. Now, we also often hear of how the wives of some families will say, “Master, let me donate my Dharma-brother [husband] so he can concentrate on the Tzu Chi mission, so he can focus on serving people”. Some husbands also say, “Master, I have donated my wife. She can decide what she will do to be happy. As long as she helps others, then I also rejoice in her merits”. Furthermore, some couples say at the same time, “In the past , we worked together for our family and have given a lot [of ourselves]. Now, we are entering [Tzu Chi] to fully repay the kindness of others and of the Buddha: we have learned the Dharma so we understand that in life it is useless to seek and [acquire] more. In the past, we worked for our family. Now we will work for our wisdom-life”. So, they let go of their comforts and dedicate themselves to give to others. This is also giving with body and mind. Some couples even feel that the two of them are not enough, they even want their children to be transformed. So, the family is full of Bodhisattvas; how blessed and fortunate [they are]! This is called wisdom. We can all do this now, it is not unachievable. If our minds can comprehend the Buddha-Dharma and develop wisdom, there is nothing tangible or intangible in the world that we cannot achieve.
Therefore, “I also see Bodhisattvas who happily give their heads, eyes and bodies as they seek the Buddha’s wisdom.
They give this all to attain the Buddha’s wisdom, whether it is their heads, eyes or bodies, or as we just mentioned, their organs. Now the head and eyes can be given as alms.A while ago, I said to our neurologist, “Can’t the brain be transplanted now?”He said, “Yes, this is being studied now. We can transplant stem cells from brain.”The Buddha had said a long time age, head, eyes, marrow and brain. Now, stem cells from the brain, are starting to be transplanted. And the eyes, the cornea had long been able to be transplanted. So, this is joyful giving of the head, eyes, body. They “happy give,” very joyously give, as they seek the Buddha’s wisdom.” We give unconditionally to attain the Buddha’s wisdom.
There are two kinds of giving: 1. Out of respect. 2. Out of compassion.
Next, let us discuss the kinds of giving. One kind is giving out of respect, such as making offerings all Buddhas or to the Three Treasures or to support our parents and teachers. These all require respect to arise before giving.
The second is out of compassion. That is, we cannot bear to see sentient beings live in poverty and are suffering, so we give. Our giving is dedicated toward the Buddha-way.What does this mean? Earlier, I said to be free of attachments. By giving unconditionally, we hope that our minds will be equal to the Buddha-mind and our wisdom will be the same as Buddha’s wisdom, free of afflictions and attachments. Giving this way is dedicated toward the Buddha-way.
Giving is our fundamental responsibility; it is a tool for spiritual practice. A method of spiritual practice is to give. Because there are people to whom we can give, who provide the opportunity for us to practice, we must be grateful. This is way we are grateful and give without expectations.
One does not see oneself as the giver. One does not see others as the receiver. One does not see what is given as a gift. The three Spheres of Emptiness means that one does not hold on to the appearance of giving and does not seek blessed retributions. Instead, this giving is dedicated toward to the Buddha-way.
“One does not see oneself as the giver.” We are not attached to the fact that we can give. We do not have this kind of mindset. “One does not see as the receiver. No one is actually receiving our help. Those who [seem to] receive our help are actually helping us to complete our spiritual cultivation. So, those who let us help them are those to we must be grateful. We also do not think about how much we give. We also do not think about how much we give. We do not have any attachment to it, no matter how much we give. So, this is the Three Spheres of Emptiness.
When we so not hold on to the appearance of giving we are not attached to giving to obtain blessings. This is then truly great giving.
Fellow Bodhisattvas, in learning the Buddha’s Way, we have to learn to give genuinely. We must not allow attachments and greed to arise. So, our hearts must constantly give and let go. We must not be tainted by expectations.
What we seek is the Buddha-way, so we are dedicated to follow it and attain great wisdom. Therefore, this is what we seek, but we seek it without attachments. So everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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