Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Buddha-virtues Pervade Infinite Worlds (佛德善入無量世界)
Date: August. 19, 2013
We learn the Buddha’s Way because we strive to understand everything. But there are many things we do not yet understand. Why don’t we understand them? Because of ignorance, lack of clarity, which causes confusion and unease. So as we learn Buddha’s Way, we need to learn how to understand all people, matters, objects and principles clearly and thoroughly. Then our minds can be peaceful and at ease. So we have to learn to develop clarity, understanding.
Previously, I have discussed the virtues of the Buddha. He is endowed with the ten epithets. We have already discussed. “Perfect in Wisdom and Action,” which means that one can enter and leave this world with clarity and freedom. Once we are replete with the Three Insights, we have virtue. “One who is virtuous attains”. What we attain through spiritual cultivation is virtue. If we do not engage in spiritual practice, we will not attain virtues. In order to know things clearly and thoroughly, we must put our efforts into gaining understanding. Once we understand, everything will be clear. This process requires us to the mindful.
The Buddha already understands everything. Is there anything the Great Enlightened One of the Universe does not understand? So, He is already “perfect in wisdom and action”. “Action” is like what we do with our feet. With tow feet, we can walk very freely. But if one foot is out of step, each step will be very difficult. Walking will be very hard work. So if we are to move toward Buddhahood, and walk the path that the Buddha walked, we need to cultivate both blessings and wisdom. We must cultivate them simultaneously in order for us to walk steadily and easily. So, He who is Perfect in Wisdom and Action is also the Most Honored Among Two-Footed Beings.
[One who is] Perfect in Wisdom and Action is replete with the Three Insights. 1. Insight in to past lives 2. Insight into cyclic existence 3. Insight into ending all Leaks
With “insight into past lives,” the Buddha clearly knew everything about the past. This did not just apply to one previous life, but His countless lifetimes in the past. With “insight into cyclic existence,” He knew clearly how people come into the world and how they leave it. Being born is straightforward. The karmic connections we developed in past lives determine where we are born. Dying is also straightforward. Everyone who is born must die; this is the law of the nature. It is the time between birth and death that is more complex.
We live in this world, but how many of its principles do we understand? When people interact, there are many problems. How well do we understand other people? Not only are we unable to understand others, frankly, how well do we really understand ourselves?Can we really clearly understand the periods between our birth, our childhood and our old age and death?We ordinary people still have not attained understanding or clarity.But the Buddha-Dharma is still here in this world.
We have the karmic conditions to hear the Dharma, so we must learn it.This is called learning the Buddha’s Way we must practice His teachings.We need to learn about how He was born into this world, what kind of thinking and perspective He used to pursue, work hard at, and ultimately realize [the truth].When the Buddha was in this world everything He did is something we can learn from is it enough to just learn?No, we also need to follow His example and practice His teachings.
If we can do this, we can attain wisdom.
This is more than just knowing.The construction of Chinese characters is truly very wondrous.“To know”is just to know of, nothing more.Is just knowing enough?[We also need] clarity.The character for “sun” is placed beneath the character for “to know” to indicate clear and thorough understanding.The creates the character for “wisdom”.With discerning wisdom, He can discern worldly matters and principles.He can clearly understand the past the present and the future, and all the principles they contain.The Buddha can discern them all clearly, not just the wisdom from insight into past lives or into cyclic existence.
Actually, with His penetrating wisdom.He has insight into ending all Leaks.Right now our hearts are full of Leaks.Will we be able to remove all our past afflictions, eliminate all our past ignorance?
Once we have attained pure wisdom, are we able to we retain it in our minds?[Eliminating] one bit of affliction to obtain one bit of the Dharma is not easy.Once we understand this, we will change and repent what we did in the past.After we cleanse [our minds] with repentance, will we continue to protect this purity?If we do, have we taken this Dharma to heart?If we have, we can always be vigilant of our [actions].Then naturally we will not make mistakes again.
Once the mind is cleansed, it remains clean.We will not defile it again.If we can do that, we have “ended all Leaks”.If not, no matter how much Dharma we seek to hear, once we hear it, we know it, but we do not clearly understand it.Or if we do understand, and then self-reflect and repent, we still quickly revert to our unenlightened minds.This is because we have Leaks.So, the Buddha is the Enlightened One who has “insight into ending all Leaks”.So, after all afflictions are eliminated, He will not defile His mind again, because the Dharma has not leaked from His mind.This is the insight into ending all Leaks.
These kinds of insights, the Three Insights, are virtues.If we do not practice spiritual cultivation, if we do not obtain the Dharma, how can we attain insights?So, when we engage in spiritual practice, we naturally attain virtues.With these virtues, we have clarity.With insight, we have discerning wisdom and can clearly discern right and wrong in the world.So, “at this time [of crisis,] we need to discern right from wrong”.To be able to discern right from wrong, we need the insight that ends all Leaks.We have to eliminate afflictions in order to clearly understand what is right and what is wrong during this time [of crisis].So, this is very important.Then, we can “understand one's own and others' causes and conditions from all past lives”. We will know very clearly what causes and conditions were formed between us in past lives. In this world, there are many complex interpersonal matters.
Family members can turn on each other with hatred. The relationship between parent and child should be loving, but instead some kids are unfilial and disobedient. They even commit patricide and matricide. What causes this kind of complicated life? The causes and conditions from past lives. So, we must be very careful in how we conduct ourselves with others. We do not know about the past, but we have to take advantage of the present to create good affinities with everyone. Since everything is related to the law of karma, focusing on the present is very important in our spiritual practice.We must be clear and aware of everything, and we must not be confused. This is “Perfect in Wisdom and Action”. If we are perfect in wisdom and action, not only can we clearly understand past lives, we can also “attain ultimate liberation from all flawed phenomena”. We can also thoroughly eliminate all afflictions and be free of bonds.
People are tied to each other. A family starts with [ a child who has ] parents and siblings; then the child grows up and starts another family. This new family also involves dependents, such as a spouse and children. First his parents and siblings [cause] worries as their good and bad affinities affect each other. Then this continues with the new family, which also creates burdens and concerns. There are so many worries. In addition to concerns for our families, in order to survive, we are constantly creating a lot of karma as we interact with other people. There is no end to this.
So, after we understand the causes and conditions from past lives, how can we fully liberate ourselves from worries and from all flawed phenomena? By having insight. So we must cultivate blessings and wisdom. Cultivate blessings by creating good affinities with everyone. If everyone helps us succeed in our practice, instead of creating obstacles for us, that is a blessing. With wisdom, we can then discern everything. We must have a clear understanding of the past, present and future. With discerning wisdom and impartial wisdom, we will have clear understanding. Only then will we reach “ultimate liberation” and naturally be liberated from all flawed phenomena. All afflictions, worries and entanglements will be removed.
To do so, we must cultivate blessings and wisdom. I hope our life together is a blessing so we can help each other in our spiritual practice. With good affinities, we will not create obstacles for anyone. We cannot live apart from people. Do not believe that [ becoming a monastic] and leaving loved ones means being apart from society. It does not. We need to interact with more people. We leave our immediate families to join the great family of the Tathagata, which is humankind. When we interact with others, they help us succeed. This is the virtue of blessings. Besides that, we also need the virtue of wisdom. So, we must perfect both blessings and wisdom. Then one is called Perfect in Wisdom and Action. When we “attain the fruition of no Leaks, our minds are clear and free from obstacles and afflictions. What a beautiful state of mind this is, pure and tranquil, with everything perfectly clear. This is perfect in wisdom and action.
[One who is] Perfect in Wisdom and Action is replete in Three Virtues and can clearly understand one’s own and others’ causes and conditions from all past lives, can attain ultimate liberation from all flawed phenomena, and can attain the fruition of no Leaks.
If we can arrive at this state of mind, every action is in accord with the right Dharma. Every world is in accord with proper principles.
In the human realm, our every action has to be in accord with worldly principles. So, we often say the Dharma must be in our hearts. Not only must it be in our hearts, as we live within this great universe, we all need to act in accord with the right Dharma. Then, even when we speak, “every word is in accord with proper principles.” This is a guideline for us. We do not speak thoughtlessly. What we say [must be] reasonable, every sentence in accord with proper guidelines. This is a principle. Whatever we do, whatever we say, needs to be in accord with the right Dharma and the proper guidelines. This is a principle.
We live within these rules, which is the path of the Dharma. To become perfect in wisdom and action, we must be even more mindful to comprehend how the Buddha traveled around the world to save all sentient beings.
Next, we will talk about the Well-Gone One, which means one who travels freely.
The Buddha is skillful in entering infinite worlds to expound the Dharma in accord with the desire of sentient beings.
The Buddha’s wisdom is within all sentient beings. Although sentient beings are numerous, with many afflictions and all kinds of obstacles, the Buddha travelled freely among then without hindrance. He had attained liberation without hindrance and can freely enter and exit all conditions. So, He constantly returns out of compassion and is the Well-Gone One.
Why did He come to this world? To “enter infinite worlds to expound the Dharma in accord with the desires of sentient beings”, because they truly have many desire. For them, He manifested and lived in this world.
So, Prince Siddhartha was born in the palace over 2000 years ago. He grew up and was educated in the palace. Then, according to the ways of the world, his father needed him to marry, so he married and had a son. This was a worldly practice and the desire of sentient beings. He understood what desire were, so He manifested the process of spiritual practice. Without engaging in spiritual practice, He would not have had an opportunity to awaken.
Actually, He had already attained Buddhahood countless eons before and could come and go freely without being defiled. So although He came to the world in that particular incarnation and had the burdens of a family, He was a great man so He clearly realized He had to let them go. Thus, He released Himself and left to find a path [to enlightenment.]. After He awakened, He returned to the people to guide them onto the right path. Thus, the Well-Gone One freely came and went.
In summary, if we want to be free and liberated, we need to have both blessings and wisdom, and we must replete with the Three Insights. These are the Buddha’s virtues. So, we all need to clearly understand that wherever we are, whenever it is and whoever we are with, we must always understand this principle and create good affinities with others. Then we will have no burdens and will not be hindered. Then others will help us succeed in our spiritual practice so [our understanding] may be thorough, unobstructed. This is what we must work on. Therefore, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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