Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Take Refuge in Pure Tathagata-nature(皈依如來清淨性)
Date: November. 07 2013
The Buddha-Dharma is always in the world. In every moment, minute and second, it is in our minds. As the wheels of our minds turn, the Dharma-wheel turns. Who can turn the wheels of our minds? Only we can. We must learn to take pleasure in and pursue the Buddha’s teachings, as well as constantly bathe ourselves in Dharma-water. If we cleanse our minds of afflictions and filth such as greed, anger and ignorance, then naturally we will have pure minds. When we seek Buddha-Dharma with a pure mind, the Dharma is subtle, wondrous and inconceivable. So everyone, please always remember that if we want the Dharma-wheel to turn, we must first turn the wheel in our minds. Only then will the Dharma-wheel turn.
Next we will talk about, “Again we all prostrate together and take refuge in the Dharma-wheel that turns at the right time.”
At this moment, you and I, “again, we all, together, ” take refuge and prostrate with great reverence. “Prostrating” is the most reverent way to pay our respect. We can express the reverence from our hearts through respectful and courteous actions. This is called “prostrating”. We “prostrate and take refuge”. With great willingness and joy, we respectfully prostrate to the Buddha as we reverently ask to take refuge with Him. Taking refuge means turning the Dharma-wheel. We must start to transform our minds from the ignorant mind of ordinary beings to a pure and undefiled mind of the sages.
So, to take refuge means to respectfully turn to and rely on [something]. A passage in the Srimala Sutra states, “All Dharma is ever-abiding. Therefore, I take refuge with it all.”
As deluded ordinary beings, where did we come from, where do we go? Do we know where to go? If there is a guide who shines a bright lamp to point out a path for us, we should rely on this guide. This is what we are relying on. When we believe and affirm that this is the path we want to take, then we will say, “All Dharma is ever-abiding”. So, what we are taking refuge with is the Buddha’s pure Tathagata-nature, the ever-abiding true principles of all things. The Dharma is ever-abiding and Dharma-nature is equal. We all take refuge in the same Buddha-nature. I often emphasize that all sentient beings have the same Dharma-nature.
However, during the Buddha’s lifetime, the four castes were very clearly divided.
The four castes were very clearly divided.In order to break down this unjust system, the Buddha left home.After He attained enlightenment, He began to teach that all sentient beings have the same intrinsic Buddha-nature.The Buddha was very certain of this true principle.As He traveled around to teach sentient beings, He came to the kingdom of Sravasti, where the four-caste system was also prevalent.
In the city, [He encountered] an untouchable.Among the four castes, the untouchables were the lowest.This untouchable was called Sunita.Sunita cleaned human waste within the city.When the Buddha saw him, He felt that he could accept His Dharma and that the karmic conditions for him to take refuge were present.So, the Buddha intentionally came to this city.As He was approaching the city from afar, Sunita saw Him, and felt a deep sense of respect.
When he saw the Buddha’s dignified appearance, he felt very low and abject in comparison and quickly tried to get out of the way.
Unexpectedly, after the Buddha went into the city, He took another route so He emerged from an alley in front of Sunita.At that moment, Sunita felt very anxious.
He was holding a bucket of human waste and when he ran into a wall, it shattered and splashed all over him.In that moment, Sunita was very flustered and as he looked up at the Buddha, the Buddha asked.“Do you want to become a monastic?”Sunita responded by saying, “Venerable Buddha!You are a Ksatriya a member of a noble caste.I am an untouchable.How am I qualified to be your disciple?”The Buddha said, “Everyone intrinsically has Buddha-nature regardless of wealth, status or gender.Anyone who willingly aspires to learn life’s true principles is qualified to become a monastic and take refuge as my disciple.”
As this was happening, Sunita was dubious.Was this possible?
So, the Buddha told Ananda, “Take Sunita to the river for a bath.Then bring him back to the abode.”Then the Buddha returned to the abode.Sunita arrived with a clean body and came in front of the Buddha to bow and prostrate before Him.Then the Buddha gave him teachings.As [he listened], Sunita suddenly had a great realization and attained the fourth fruit of Arhatship.Once the wheel of his mind turned, he quickly accepted all of the Buddha’s teachings and understood all principles.
However, people in the city of Sravasti began to complain indignantly and asked why the Buddha transformed this lowly slave, an untouchable, into a monastic.
This lowly slave, an untouchable, into a monastic. They really could not understand this. The king saw that his people were displeased with the Buddha's Sangha, so he personally visited the Buddha. By the door of the abode, he saw a monk sitting on a rock, looking very dignified and seemingly surrounded by heavenly beings. When the king walked past and saw this monk who seemed so refined and dignified, he approached him respectfully and said, “I would like to see the Buddha. Venerable One, can you please announce my arrival?”. After the monk had seen the king approach and ask to see the Buddha, he turned around and seemed to disappear into the rock he sat on.
Actually, he had gone to appear in front of the Buddha. He respectfully reported to the Buddha, “The king has asked to see You”. The Buddha said, “Very well. Whatever means you used to come here, use the same means to go back and invite the king to come in”. The monk understood what He meant. So, he appeared suddenly again on the rock, still looking very dignified, and said to the king, “The Buddha invites you to come in and see Him”. The king was very shocked. After he went inside to see the Buddha and respectfully pay his respects, his first question was, “Venerable Buddha, how can that practitioner I just saw be so magnificent and have such great spiritual powers? I feel so much respect for him”.
The Buddha smiled and responded, “Your Majesty, this monk is the person you have come to ask me about. His name is Sunita”. The king said, “Sunita was originally an untouchable. How is it that after he became a monastic...”? The Buddha began to teach the king the Dharma. He explained that the Buddha-nature is the same in everyone and does not differ between [castes]. The king opened his mind and understood. He recognized that all sentient beings are equal and have Buddha-nature. Therefore, those taking refuge are not divided by [castes]. This is a story of the Buddha transforming sentient beings during His lifetime.
So, we should know that taking refuge is a very exceptional event. When we take refuge, the Dharma- wheel will naturally begin to turn at this moment. So, taking refuge requires resolve, aspiration and vows.Since we have made aspirations and vows, brought forth this mind, it is like the Dharma-wheel has been set in motion. Since we have made aspiration, we must always keep the wheels in our minds turning along with the Dharma- wheel. This is the only way to make progress. Therefore, we must work hard.
In the text of the Lotus Sutra, Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha declared to all, “I have taught you the ultimate truth of all things. I will enter Parinirvana tonight at midnight”. Thus, He announced that His period of transforming [sentient beings] had come to a perfect end. So, He told them that this was the time for Him to enter Parinirvana. Then He said, “You should wholeheartedly advance with vigor and avoid becoming lax. Everyone must be diligent. We must transcend this lack of restraint.” So, “Buddhas are indeed difficult to meet, encountered but once in millions of kalpas.” This was the previous passage.
Next, we will look at, “All the disciples of the World-Honored One heard of the Buddha entering into Parinivana. Each harbored grief; why must the Buddha enter extinction so soon?
“All the disciples of the World-Honored One became very worried. They “heard of the Buddha entering Parinivana. Each harbored grief; why must the Buddha enter extinction so soon?” How could He enter Parinivana so soon? Everyone grieved and was anguished. It should be said that the Buddha’s entry into Parinivana a warning for all of us.
It is warning us that human life is limited, so we must all cherish our time and our causes and conditions for spiritual practice. We cannot rely on the Buddha to remain in this world forever. There will still be a time when He will past with us He does not remain here forever.
So, “they cannot rely on the Buddha to stay long.” Do not count on the Buddha always having time for more teachings. If [we think] this way, we will be lax.
The Buddha entering Parinivana was also a warning for everyone to awaken. They cannot rely on the Buddha to stay long and thus forever remain lax.
So, everyone harbored grief. The Buddha is the light of world. If the Buddha entered Parinivana, wouldn’t everyone be immersed in the darkness of the night? This is what everyone was worried about. In the evening, we need lamps when it gets dark. If the lamps were turned off, how would people know where to go? When “sentient beings lose their guide, lose sight of the guide with the lamp, where do they go?So, everyone harbored grief.
Grief: This is not grief for worldly matters. The Buddha is the light of the world. Once He enters Parinirvana, it will be like night, without the sun; like the darkness, without a lamp. Sentient beings are losing their guide, so they feel grief.
This was why they asked, “Why must the Buddha enter extinction so soon?” why did the Buddha enter Parinirvana so early? this was what everyone worried about. They were afraid that if they lose the light. The world would be very dark in the future.
In summary, we need to know that the Buddha in this world is like a kindled lamp. If we have a candle and touch it to the lamp, the candle in each person’s heart will be lit. So, why would we worry about being in the dark?
When principles enter the heart, there will always be light. When the Dharma-wheel turns in our minds, this path will be very clear. How could we take the wrong path? So, if the lamp in our heart is unlit we need to quickly light it. If we have not understood the teachings we must quickly resolve to turn the wheel in our minds so the Dharma can enter our hearts. There is a Buddha in all our hearts, so we need to always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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