Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Transcend the Ordinary (聞法精進離凡入聖)
Date: November. 11. 2013
In our spiritual practice, we must thoroughly understand that “Our intrinsic is pure and radiant. Dharma-nature is everywhere. All past, present Buddhas share the same path and freely carry out their original intent.” We need to understand what practices to follow. Most important is that we want to return to our intrinsic nature. Our intrinsic nature is pure and radiant.
For a very long time, since Beginningless Time, we have always had this pure and radiant nature and were naturally one with the world. Thus, Dharma-nature is everywhere in this world. All Buddhas, past and present, share one path. [This applies to] Buddhas in the past, the present Buddha, Sakyamuni and the countless, infinite Buddhas yet to come. Their intrinsic Dharma-nature is [pure]. It seems that every day, I tell all of you, “The natures of Buddhas and sentient beings are equal.” Thus, as Buddhas appear in the world, They all do so for the same reason. All Buddhas share the same path. They appear in the world to expound the Dharma and to help beings realize and understand true principles. Their one great cause for coming to the world is to freely carry out their original intent.
I have also discussed how Sakyamuni Buddha taught for over 40 years, carefully guiding beings by using many skillful means to help them attain realizations. Yet sentient beings have dull capabilities, so the Buddha had to spend a very long time teaching according to their capacities. Thus, 42 years passed. The Buddha had to follow the laws of nature, so, as He would soon enter Parinirvana, He had to set aside skillful means and reveal true teachings. Thus, He freely carried out His original intent. I also mentioned to everyone that the Buddha radiated light and manifested auspicious signs at the Lotus Dharma-assembly. Maitreya and Manjusri had a discussion and brought up Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha. There were 20,000 Buddhas in the past who had the same name, “Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha”. They each expounded the Dharma, and in the end, gave a great teaching called Infinite Meanings as They expounded the Lotus Sutra. The 20,000 Buddhas of the past also did this, so all Buddhas share the same path.
The last Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha had eight sons. Together the eight sons could have ruled the world. But having seen their father, the king, leave home and attain perfect enlightenment, the eight princes felt that no matter how much power they had in this world and how much pleasure they could enjoy, that would still be inferior to penetrating the principles of life and understanding the Absolute Truth of the universe. So, they also ceded the throne and became monastics.In the time of Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha, there was a Bodhisattva named Wondrous Light.Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha’s eight sons took Wondrous Light Bodhisattva as their teacher, and he guided them to deeply understand the Great Vehicle teachings.
I have spent some time explaining this already.When Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha emerged from Samadhi, He declared to everyone,.“You must all make an effort.”
“It is rare to encounter the Buddha-Dharma and to realize true principles.”“Yet, you must all really understand that the Dharma and the truth have always been in your minds.”“If you are able to grasp this one truth and understand all principles, your intrinsic nature is pure and radiant.You should know that the Buddha is about to enter Parinirvana.Since the opportunity to encounter a Buddha and listen to His teachings is rare, you must make an effort to seize it.”After saying this to everyone, He prepared to enter Parinirvana.When everyone heard that He would enter Parinirvana, they were all worried.
Therefore, “the saintly Lord, the King of Dharma, then comforted countless beings.After My passage into extinction, none of you should worry or fear.The saintly Lord, the King of Dharma.”
What does “Saintly Lord” mean?Among the saints, the Buddha was supreme.He was the leader of all saints.Among the saints, [there were saints of] the Small, Middle and Great Vehicles.Saints of the Small Vehicle are Hearers.They had attained some realizations, but these were not yet complete.Those of the Middle Vehicle are Solitary Realizes.Those of the Great Vehicle aspire to practice the Bodhisattva-path.They were all called saints, but their realizations were still not complete.So, the Buddha was highest among the saints, thus, He was the saintly Lord.If each of us aspires to spiritual practice, we are heading in the direction of becoming sages and saints.
Sages are virtuous and capable, and are good-hearted.Saints have transcended the state of unenlightened beings to enter the auspicious state of saints.This is the goal of spiritual practitioners.Thus, followers of the Buddha began as Solitary Realizes of the Small Vehicle and then aspired to also benefit others and go among people to walk the Bodhisattva-path that leads to Buddhahood, the truly prefect state.So, He is called the saintly Lord.
The saintly Lord refers to the highest among the saints.He had already attained enlightenment.He enlightened Himself, others and had perfect enlightened conduct.
Thus, He was free and at ease, and had no fear.Thus He was called a saint.When this Buddha was about to enter Parinirvana.He felt very free and at ease.This was the law of nature, so He felt a sense of ease.
But when He saw how worried everyone was, He comforted them by saying, “Everyone, there is no need to worry.”“When I enter Parinirvana, you must not fear.”There is no need for worry because afterwards, a Bodhisattva will soon achieve Buddhhood.
“For Virtue Treasury Bodhisattva, completely understood the ultimate truth that is without Leaks, and will be the next Buddha. His name will be Pure Body and He will transform countless beings.”
When a Buddha is about to enter Parinirvana, He has to bestow predictions on future Buddhas, who will be there to pass on [the teachings]. Thus, the Buddha-Dharma will always exist in this world. This Bodhisattva was Virtue Treasury and had fully understood the ultimate truth, which is without Leaks.“Without Leaks” means that principles of the ultimate truth of all things, the basic underlying principles, are undefiled and pure. As the Buddha has told us, “Everyone intrinsically has Buddha-nature”. Buddha-nature is intrinsically pure. The true principles of all things in the universe are likewise pure. All things in the world contain [principles]. These are known as the laws of nature. Just as our minds are pure, all things in our external conditions are pure. But we unenlightened beings are lost. We have been contaminated by many external defilements. We have let various Dharma leak out. We have lost the pure Dharma, so we must return and learn it anew.
We all intrinsically have Buddha-Dharma and wisdom equal to the Buddha’s. Why did the Buddha preach for so long? He wanted to match our capabilities and give us teachings we can understand based on His observation of our knowledge. Indeed, our wisdom is equal to the Buddha’s. But our “wisdom” has disappeared or has become “knowledge,” so we need to develop wisdom again. When it comes to humans, there are different levels of knowledge.
So, when talking about “without Leaks,” we are referring to the teachings that are pure and free of afflictions. This means our our intrinsic nature is not defiled by external afflictions such as greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance or doubt. This is called “without Leaks”. [In this state,] we still have ample wisdom-life; none of it has leaked out. This comes from the Dharma that is pure, undefiled and free of afflictions. This is how saints of the Three Vehicles awaken themselves, others and attain perfect awakened conduct, apply compassion and go among sentient beings to transform them. These are minds completely free of defilements. This leads to perfect awakened conduct. These are the saints of the Great Vehicle.
The Saints of Three Vehicles must being their practice by cultivating precepts, Samadhi and wisdom. We must uphold precepts to guard against wrongs and stop evil. “Guard against wrongs” means we must clearly recognize wrongdoings and avoid committing them. If we do something we should not do, we are breaking a precept. When we break precepts we create karma. We practice because we do not want to create karma so our first step must be to uphold “precepts.” If evil things happen around us, we must stop them right away. So, guarding against wrongs and stopping evil is [upholding] “precepts”.
We clearly understand the principles. In this great era, we must clearly discern right from wrong.” Spiritual practice is a great matter, and we must clearly discern right from wrong. After we practice precepts, we must be in Samadhi. Knowing the direction of life, we must follow this course and make sure it is correct. If we firmly believe the direction is correct, our minds will settle down and will not be influenced by our surroundings.
Some people want to engage in spiritual practice, yet when external phenomena tempt them or distressing things happen, their minds waver. That is a mind without Samadhi.
Spiritual practice requires Samadhi. The karma we created in the past will inevitably ad constantly appear [as difficulties] our present surroundings. We must stabilize and settle our minds, so no matter what temptations manifest, we will not be lured away. Or, if we encounter challenging conditions, we must seize them [as opportunities to practice].our surroundings in the present are created by our actions in the past. Because of certain causes in the past, these are the effects on the present. What I am doing now will be the causes for the future. If our minds are in Samadhi, the principles will be very clear. This is known as wisdom.
People with wisdom can clearly discern right from wrong and understand principles. With a mind in Samadhi, the principles will appear. This is known as “precepts, Samadhi and wisdom.”They come from listening to, thinking about, and practicing the Buddha’s principles. We must listen mindfully, and then contemplate what is the correct course. Then we must diligently [pursue it]. If we can do so, we hold precepts, Samadhi, wisdom in our minds. Then we are without Leaks and are flawless. Having abundant wisdom that does not leak away comes from practicing “world-transcending Flawless Dharma.”
We should know that learning the Dharma means learning to “transcend the world and have no leaks.” As I said before, the Buddha comforted everyone, “After I enter Parinirvana, Virtue Treasury Bodhisattva will still be here. In the future, he will become a Buddha; he will accomplish that with flawless wisdom.” Thus, the ultimate truth in this world is something he was replete with and understood. His mind comprehended everything and all principles completely. Thus, “he will be the next Buddha.”He will soon attain Buddhahood. However, that will not happen for some time, so he will attain Buddhahood in the future. His name will be Pure Body and He “will also transform countless beings.” Here, the Buddha wanted to tell everyone about the law of nature. Even one who has attained Buddhahood must still enter Parinirvana. But after that Buddha entered Parinirvana, other Buddhas will manifest in the world. This happens so that the principles will not fade away in this world.
So when a Buddha enters Parinirvana, He will bestow predictions that another Buddha will come to teach humans. Thus, when Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha told everyone enter Parinirva, He also told everyone that afterwards. Virtue Treasury Bodhisattva would be a Buddha and also teach the ultimate truth of the world and the flawless, undefiled and pure principles.
This section of the sutra describes how Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiant Buddha spoke to everyone in His Dharma-assembly and foreshadowed the fact that after Sakyamuni Buddha expounds the Lotus Sutra, He would prepare to enter Parinirvana as well. This is a hint, a warning, that we must all be reverent, diligent and hardworking. Fellow Bodhisattvas, this is the law of nature. So, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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