Episode 3 – The Power of Skillful Means
>> The thoughts the mind gives rise to and the way it connects to conditions determine if we see things as good or bad. When we uphold and practice all goodness, these thoughts are kept in our minds and manifest externally as our mission.
>> “Sariputra, listen well.”
>> “For the Dharma obtained by all Buddhas, through the power of infinite skillful means, is taught for sentient beings.”
>> The power of infinite skillful means: When we interact with people, we must draw near virtuous and spiritual friends and listen to skillful and suitable teachings that lead us to develop Bodhi-mind. That is the power of skillful means, which is taught for sentient beings.
The moon in the sky is always full. It never changes, but for us here on Earth, depending on location and atmospheric conditions, the moon we see is sometimes full, sometimes crescent-shaped, sometimes obscured by clouds and sometimes bright in the clear sky. When the sky is clear, naturally we can see the moon.
The same principle applies to our minds. The Dharma has always abided in our minds, but some of our minds have more afflictions or thicker layers of ignorance, Then, naturally the Dharma will be covered up. We will covered by ignorance and afflictions. So, we do not understand the Dharma. Whether it is the Great Vehicle or Small Vehicle we do not understand it at all, thus we become deluded.
The thoughts the mind gives rise to and the way it connects to conditions determine if we see things as good or bad. When we uphold and practice all goodness, these thoughts are kept in our minds and manifest externally as our mission.
The Buddha comes to tell us that many things in the world are everlasting and unchanging. Many things, once understood, are everlasting, and are True Dharma that do not arise or cease. But we ordinary beings are very stubborn. So, this is “the thoughts the mind gives rise to and the way it connects to conditions.” Our minds determine whether something is good or bad, whether we want it or not. If we want it, we value and seek it. If we do not want it, we disparage and renounce it. This is how our minds work. A thought arises, abides, changes and ceases. These are the four states of the mind. Bodies undergo birth, aging, illness and death. The mind arises, abides, changes and ceases. All things arise from the mind,
and our thoughts are influenced by the way the mind connects with conditions. These [arising] things are conditioned phenomena. “Conditioned” refers to something that is created. Take the Mid-Autumn Festival for example. Around the beginning of August, news media outlets start publishing articles about barbecuing while admiring the full moon, as if the sole purpose of the Mid-Autumn Festival was barbecuing while admiring the full moon, and nothing more.
When the moon is full, isn’t there anything else we can do? Can’t we plan to do something that benefits humankind and society? Is the festival just about eating and having fun? Isn’t there more to it than that? We tend to go along with what is customary. We are influenced by external conditions to do things. This is the way the mind connects to conditions.
Mid-Autumn Festival does not have to be this way. At Mid-Autumn, our minds become especially drawn to the moon, so it looks a little brighter [than usual]. In fact, a normal full moon is also very bright. But people’s attachment to their ideas [about the Mid-autumn moon] creates many ripple effects. They may end up doing proper or improper things. Take a look at our recycling centers. There is more trash at this time of year because of all the moon-cake packaging.
So, at the recycling centers, we can see how we humans live. In this world, our lives are influenced by the conditions we connect with. This is natural for unenlightened beings. So, we should understand that [our mindset] determines if we see things as good or bad. Deciding to do good deeds also depends on our minds.
At the Jing Si Hall, we also have a direct view of the pure and perfectly round moon. Inside the hall there is a very bright moon. There are people who uphold and practice all goodness, [who are members of]. Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) (In 2012), around the world, a total of 19 countries participate. Doctors and other medical professionals gather at the Jing Si Hall.
Two people who had always been there before had already passed away this year, Asst. Superintendent Lu from the Philippines and. Dr. Cai of Taiwan. The two of them could have enjoyed life as wealthy doctors. But they were willing to give up those comforts to go among the impoverished and the ill. Many people were sad to lose them.
But this was also a precious [opportunity] for us all to gather for Mid-Autumn. This annual get-together for doctors is like a gathering of Bodhisattvas. They wished each other well, celebrated, and were happy to see and interact with one other. They were [materially and spiritually wealthy] so they shared ways with each other for inspiring the spiritually poor among the wealthy. They all had these kinds of experiences and realizations, so the Dharma had deeply penetrated their minds.
Thus, “these thoughts kept in our minds manifest externally as our mission.” These virtuous thoughts can remain in our hearts forever unchanging, so we can continuously encourage, love and cherish each other. When people who share these thoughts converge, their mission is clearly apparent. Everyone can see it and learn from it. Similarly, to learn the Buddha’s teachings, we must manifest them in our daily living.
Although these people come from many countries and hold various religious beliefs, they share a common [mission], which is to help all of those who are suffering. This is the direction provided by their faith [and the reason they have joined] Tzu Chi. So, we can hear them share the joy [that comes from doing this work].
Thus, we Buddhist practitioners must always be reverent and mindful. There are many everlasting things in the world like the moon in the sky. The moon always remains unchanging in the sky. Similarly, the Dharma has always been in everyone’s mind. We should guard our minds and not allow thoughts to arise, abide, change and cease, or to deviate and err when the mind connects to conditions. We must trace worldly things back to True Dharma. So, when we listen to teachings, we must continuously remind ourselves that the Buddha comes to the world all for the purpose of one great cause.
So, the Buddha is always teaching everyone the One Vehicle Dharma. This part of the sutra also states, “Sariputra, listen well.” Again and again, the Buddha called on Sariputra. Calling Sariputra was like calling everyone, because he was their representative. Continuing on, the Buddha said,
“Sariputra, listen well.”
He told him to listen earnestly,
“For the Dharma obtained by all Buddhas, through the power of infinite skillful means, is taught for sentient beings.”
We must know the Buddha appeared in the world with only one goal, to share the True Dharma with everyone and to awaken everyone’s inherent nature of True Suchness. Everyone had different capabilities, so. He had to create opportunities [for them to learn]. So, the Buddha told Sariputra that all Buddhas, not just [Himself,] all Buddhas of the past, the present Sakyamuni and countless Buddhas of the future, all Buddhas of the past, present and future who appear in this world, utilize the same methods and must manifest the process of spiritual practice.
The process of a Buddha’s spiritual practice was manifested by Sakyamuni Buddha, as well as by all Buddhas of the past. In the sutras, the Buddha introduced the process of Amitabha Buddha’s spiritual practice, the vows He made in the world and so on. The Buddha also gave teachings on His own life and how He accumulated merits and virtues, how He studied earnestly and diligently and how He encountered ancient Buddhas and diligently practiced Their Dharma. He did this lifetime after lifetime. So, every Buddha went through the process of [learning] other Buddhas’ teachings and also diligently [practicing] and taking the Dharma of all Buddhas to heart.
Likewise, all Buddhas taught skillful means. All Buddhas took the same path in obtaining the Dharma in the world “for the Dharma obtained by all Buddhas,” They were able to obtain it because They sought it out in the past. Through this process, with a spirit of seeking the Dharma, They were able to seek and obtain it. So in the past, They engaged in spiritual practice and diligently sought the Buddha-Dharma. The Dharma They obtained was the same, so we speak of “the Dharma obtained by all Buddhas.” What else was the same? They had the same intent of going among sentient beings to teach them. To teach sentient beings, they likewise used countless skillful means. Thus, all Buddhas share the same path.
All Buddhas, in Their past lives, diligently engaged in spiritual practice and sought teachings. After attaining Buddhahood, They all went among people and all utilized skillful means. Skillful means are the methods they used. Skillful means wondrous. Provisional skillful means are powerful. When sentient beings are told, “You are a Buddha,” though they are fundamentally Buddhas, when they think, “I am also Buddha,” [causing them] to become haughty and proud. Though they think, “I am also a Buddha,” they may not understand the Dharma at all. So, their unenlightened minds act out of greed and they commit transgressions, thus creating much negative karma.
So, if the Buddha simply said that everyone intrinsically has Buddha-nature, and that everyone is a Buddha, then who would want to learn the Buddha’s teachings? Who would reflect on and repent their faults? Nobody would reflect and repent or be able to understand their intrinsic Buddha-nature. If they lack compassion and goodness, how could we say, “Everyone is a Buddha?”
To help all of us realize that we intrinsically have Buddha-nature, the Buddha had to develop many, countless skillful means. These methods can guide people into deeper and more detailed understandings so they can accept and take the Dharma to heart to wash away their defilements and ignorance.
The power of infinite skillful means: When we interact with people, we must draw near virtuous and spiritual friends and listen to skillful and suitable teachings that lead us to develop Bodhi-mind. That is the power of skillful means, which is taught for sentient beings.
It enables sentient beings to attain [the Dharma], so it is called a power. He could not teach just anything, nor teach things that are insignificant. Every word the Buddha speaks is powerful and can be accepted and applied. This is the power of skillful means, which is truly for teaching sentient beings. So, the power of skillful means is that it can reach all sentient beings. The power of skillful means is that it can [enable us] to understand everything in the world. Everyone in the world is our spiritual friend.
Look around us now. Everyone is our spiritual friend. Haven’t I told you all before that everything is a manifestation of Dharma? Even the buzzing of insects and chirping of birds can also be clearly understood by us; they are also speaking. But we humans only understand human speech. Furthermore, in the world, although we are all human, when people speak different languages, we cannot understand them.
Volunteers from the 19 countries that were here spoke many different languages. When the volunteers shared, they used different languages. Someone fluent in that language had to provide live interpretation. With all these different languages, people who could speak these languages had to listen to the volunteers [and interpret for them] with the help of modern technology. “I hear and understand French. So, when I hear someone speak French. I immediately translate those words into Chinese.” Everyone who speaks Chinese could then understand him.
Some people spoke English. “I hear English and understand it, so I immediately translate it into Portuguese.” Many languages flowed back and forth. At this one event, people spoke many different languages, so interpreters had to mindfully read and study material in many languages [in order] to interpret.
While they were all there, they mingled so they could learn from each other. They are also a kind of Bodhisattva, because they mutually inspired each other and shared ways of benefiting people. This is all Dharma. They were all virtuous and spiritual friends for each other. So, among these people, we “draw near virtuous and spiritual friends to listen to skillful and suitable teachings.” A language that we cannot understand will be interpreted by someone for us. This is how we all listen and learn. “What methods do you use in your country? These are the methods I use in my country.” Through this mutual exchange, their goodness grows and they learn more provisional, skillful means. “Gradually developing Bodhi-mind” means this helps them develop an awakened mind.
Every year at this time (Mid-Autumn), they leave with good methods they learned from many other countries to take home and practice in their own countries, so they can do even more. In this way, they develop Bodhi-mind. This is also the power of skillful means, a powerful force. Everything they hear and see here can be applied. “I can make use of this. Your methods can be applied in my country.” This is the power of skillful means.
So, the Buddha told Sariputra that everyone must listen mindfully. All Buddhas in the past diligently sought and practiced the Dharma until. They attained Buddhahood. Similarly, They went among people to teach them, using various different angles and different methods to guide them. To guide sentient beings, They utilized the power of skillful means. They used many methods to teach the Dharma. So lifetime after lifetime, the Buddha remained in this world. He lived in different countries, with different lifestyles, to be a virtuous friend to sentient beings.
So, when we go among people we need to treat everyone as a Buddha because the virtuous friends around us are all teaching by example. If we all have this mindset, we can pass on the Dharma we learn to others and we can also teach them and guide them to also penetrate this Dharma. So, the Dharma that we obtain is what we seek over the course of our spiritual practice. This is what enables us to exert so much power, which is helpful to many people. This all comes from expounding the Dharma. So everyone, we must always be mindful.