Episode 381 – Relieve Suffering through the One Vehicle
>> The Buddha-nature and Dharmakaya are ever-abiding. The path to enlightenment and the true principles do not change. With these, [the Buddha] gave teachings according to the people, time and place to transform and return our minds to true nature.
>> All of those World-Honored Ones gave teachings of the One Vehicle Dharma to transform countless sentient beings and lead them to the path to Buddhahood.
>> All of those World-Honored Ones: All Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, of the past, present and future manifested in this world for sentient beings. They felt compassion for those who were drowning in the sea of afflictions and could not save themselves.
>> [They] gave teachings of the One Vehicle Dharma: To relieve the suffering of sentient beings, They taught the principles that pervade all Dharma-realms, that are harmonious and all-encompassing, that are applicable to all places. This is the complete, One Vehicle doctrine.
>> [This] leads them to the path to Buddhahood: This path is the Bodhi-path. All Buddhas verbally gave provisional or true teachings according to capabilities. Sentient beings who take the Dharma they hear to heart will diligently practice and enter the path to Buddhahood.
The Buddha-nature and Dharmakaya are ever-abiding.
The path to enlightenment and the true principles do not change.
With these, [the Buddha] gave teachings according to the people, time and place
to transform and return our minds to true nature.
Within our minds, the “the Buddha-nature and. Dharmakaya are ever-abiding.” We must trust that we all intrinsically have Buddha-nature and our Dharmakaya is ever-abiding.
Don’t we constantly talk about this? The Sutra of Infinite Meanings begins, “With tranquility and clarity, and vows as vast as the endless void.” This describes the state of our pure nature. It is not created in any way; it has existed from the beginning. So, it is considered “Dharmakaya.” It is as pure as the endless void, and just as tranquil and clear. It is non-arising and non-ceasing. Since it does not cease, it does not need to arise. So, this nature is pure in that it is non-arising and non-ceasing. This is a true principle we must realize.
The path to enlightenment is understanding; it is the Bodhi-path. It is the path to attaining Bodhi. We must really understand that this road is the true path. We need to reverently and diligently walk this Bodhi-path to be able to truly realize the truth, the unconditioned true principles of.
Here “true” refers to ultimate truth and “principles” are the workings of things. The true principles of Bodhi “do not change.” The “Dharmakaya” of the mind was originally clear and awakened. We were originally on the Path, but one [ignorant] thought led us astray. So, we have deviated from that course. Now we need to return to the path to enlightenment in our minds. The Dharmakaya is composed of true principles, and if we can really understand them, we will be in this ever-abiding and unchanging state. We are all equal to the Buddha; we have the same pure intrinsic nature of True Suchness. This is ever-abiding and unchanging.
The Buddha used this principle and His own realizations to awaken others. With this principle, He taught and transformed. But we are ordinary people, not easy to teach because we have different habitual tendencies. Since we each have different habitual tendencies, the Buddha gave teachings according to the people, time and place.
He teaches according to their capabilities for the sole [purpose of] helping them return to their nature of True Suchness. This is the only reason. For a very long and incalculable period of time, which goes back into the past without end and goes into the future without end, He has been in this world, transforming sentient beings and hoping they will all return to True Suchness. This is the compassion of the Buddha.
As we have discussed earlier, “World-Honored Ones such as these utilized various conditions and analogies.” They used causes and conditions as analogies, because in the past, infinite Buddhas have crossed into Parinirvana. They were born and then entered Parinirvana according to the needs of the people at the time. [Since Beginningless Time,]. He learned from the countless. Buddhas who have come into this world and entered Parinirvana. So, it says They used various causes, conditions, analogies and the infinite power of skillful means to explain the various appearances of things. Actually, everything has the same nature of True Suchness, but ordinary people have different habitual tendencies. So, He taught the Dharma according to capabilities and conditions. This is what we discussed earlier.
All of those World-Honored Ones gave teachings of the One Vehicle Dharma to transform countless sentient beings and lead them to the path to Buddhahood.
Let us discuss, “all of those World-Honored Ones.” In the past, countless Buddhas have come to this world. Then based on those times and the way people of that ethnicity lived, They gave Their teachings accordingly. They taught in different ways, but always taught the same One Vehicle Dharma. So, this was to “transform countless sentient beings and lead them to the path to Buddhahood.” For example, right now, to teach the Dharma, we need to use more than one language. Sakyamuni Buddha was born in India. There were many languages and dialects in India. No matter what language was used to explain, I trust that though the language was different, the principles were the same.
For example, right now (2012), every morning during our Volunteer Assembly, we are connected to Suzhou via videoconference. In our Suzhou Preventive Health Center, there are people from Nanjing and Suzhou. These doctors and technicians come from various places, so when they speak to us via videoconference, sometimes they speak their own dialect. When they speak, I have to listen very carefully. It can be quite challenging to understand them clearly.
So, the languages are different, but the Buddha-Dharma is the same. This is how Buddhas “gave teachings of the One Vehicle Dharma.” No matter where They were born, They still taught the One Vehicle Dharma, the same principles.
So, to “transform countless sentient beings,” these principles cannot only be [taught or] written in Chinese. If we go to the US or UK, not only would the spoken language be a barrier, writing would be, too. In Africa, even if we speak English, there may still be a language barrier. Across this world, in many places and countries the spoken and written language may be barriers. But if we know that particular language and can translate the Dharma, this will still lead us back to the One Vehicle Dharma.
All Dharma [performs the same function]. For example, to clean something, we need to use water. Wherever we go in this world, water is a necessity. Water cleanses dirty and filthy things. Water nourishes the land to grow crops. For humans, everything, from our greater environment to our bodies, is all dependent on water. So, “water” can be translated into different written words or into different spoken languages, but water is still water. The Dharma is like water. When Buddhas came to this world in the past, They wanted to teach what we humans needed most, something that could cleanse and bring harmony to our minds. Furthermore, these principles already exist; they are not newly-created principles.
“All of those World-Honored Ones gave teachings of the One Vehicle Dharma.” They used various methods to teach the Dharma. So, to “transform countless sentient beings,” there is only one Dharma. They hoped countless sentient beings
could realize and understand it. Therefore, at this time, we must unceasingly spread the Dharma. In different nations and in different languages, we must do everything we can to translate it.
For example, when global Tzu Chi volunteers came to Taiwan to be certified [as Commissioners], we had to have a place for people who could translate whenever needed. They had to speak another language well enough to provide simultaneous interpretation. Sometimes [the Dharma] had to be translated by two or three translators for people to understand. No matter how many translators it went through, it was still the same Dharma [taught by] all of those World-Honored Ones who came to this world. Nowadays, if we want to spread the Buddha-Dharma, we must translate it into various languages. This is “giving teachings of One Vehicle Dharma.” Only these principles can “transform countless sentient beings and lead them to the path to Buddhahood.” We can all enter the path to Buddhahood and return to our pure intrinsic Buddha-nature.
Who are “all of those World-Honored ones?” Let us understand Them better.
All of those World-Honored Ones: All Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, of the past, present and future manifested in this world for sentient beings. They felt compassion for those who were drowning in the sea of afflictions and could not save themselves.
When we talk about all Buddhas of the past, present and future, [what we are saying is that,] in addition to those called. Great Enlightened Ones, we all actually have the Three Treasures in us. We should look at all people with this mindset.
We are all Buddhas by nature, but we are “Tathagata-in-bonds.” Currently, we are Tathagatas who have been entangled by afflictions. Of these myriad sentient beings of the past, the present and future, with regards to the Dharma that the Buddha taught, some have had very profound realizations, while others have had very simple realizations. For those with profound realizations, they are able to draw near the Buddha’s principles and gradually approach the Bodhi-path. Through true principles they clearly understand. This was the case in the past, it is the case now and will still be the case in the future. So, they [may become] “World-Honored Ones.”
Those we now call World-Honored Ones have already attained enlightenment. For the sake of sentient beings, They manifest in this world because sentient beings have covered up [their pure intrinsic nature]. All Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, manifest in this world out of compassion because they see that sentient beings are drowning in the sea of afflictions. So, these Buddhas are not afraid of hard work. They leave and come back to this world, solely for the purpose of teaching sentient beings. This is why all the awakened ones come to this world and “give teachings of the One Vehicle Dharma.”
[They] gave teachings of the One Vehicle Dharma: To relieve the suffering of sentient beings, They taught the principles that pervade all Dharma-realms, that are harmonious and all-encompassing, that are applicable to all places. This is the complete, One Vehicle doctrine.
The Great Enlightened One wanted to save sentient beings, so He used their suffering to teach the principles that pervade the Dharma-realms. “Pervading all Dharma-realms” means He wanted all of us to know that we all intrinsically have Buddha-nature. The embodiment of Buddha-nature and the nature of True Suchness is the Dharma-realm; it pervades all Dharma-realms. If we all unlock our wisdom, we can encompass the universe and pervade all Dharma-realms. Our intrinsic nature is just so free and at ease.
So, we have always said that the Buddha is the Great Enlightened One of the Universe. Thus He can encompass the universe and pervade all Dharma-realms. But we are always constraining ourselves with our own afflictions. We know how to love, but if we only love ourselves, this limited love will constrain our great love. If we can transcend this limited love, then we will be able to develop and extend compassionate great love so we can encompass the universe.
Take the Buddha’s compassion for the countless sentient beings in the Six Realms. The Buddha spreads His love and compassion across all the beings in the Six Realms. So, to relieve the suffering of sentient beings, He teaches the principles that encompass the universe and pervade all Dharma-realms. He uses various analogies and causes and conditions to teach the Dharma solely to help people understand it.
Perhaps people feel that every day is the same. Indeed, every day passes in the same way. How much do we really know? Every day, we need to eat. Every day, we say we are hungry. The same applies to teachings. How can we completely take in these principles so they can fill our minds? Every day is the same; we ourselves must attain the wisdom that can encompass the universe and pervade all Dharma-realms, that does not grow or diminish in our living, and is always free and at ease. The principles of Dharma-realms are harmonious and all-encompassing, applicable to all places. Regardless of the country, language or dialect, the principles are always the same. The principles are the same wherever we go, like water is to our bodies and our environment.
Thus, this is known as the “One Vehicle doctrine.” It is a complete teaching. The One Vehicle Dharma is a complete teaching. The greater can encompass the smaller. The smaller cannot encompass the greater. So, if our nature is still unenlightened, it is very small and we are attached to selfish desires. If we are awakened, we will let go of selfish desires and open up our hearts and minds so we can encompass the universe and all Dharma-realms, be harmonious and all-encompassing, in all places. This is how we can completely transcend selfish love, and broaden it into great love.
So, “[This] leads them to the path to Buddhahood.” The Buddha hoped everyone could eliminate selfish and small desires, open up their ignorant minds, and enter the path to Buddhahood. That is the great awakening.
[This] leads them to the path to Buddhahood: This path is the Bodhi-path. All Buddhas verbally gave provisional or true teachings according to capabilities. Sentient beings who take the Dharma they hear to heart will diligently practice and enter the path to Buddhahood.
The principles that lead to great awakening are the “path.” This “path” is the Bodhi-path; “Bodhi” means awakening. All Buddhas verbally gave provisional or true teachings according to capabilities. The Buddha taught [in the same way]. These principles have always been in us, but we have not been able to understand them. So, He had to verbally teach these principles. This is why He gave teachings. It required time and various methods to teach the provisional and the true. The Buddha continuously and patiently guided us all without departing from the Dharma and true principles.
In Taiwan, there is a child who watched Da Ai TV when he was two years old. At that time, Master Yin Shun had just passed away. While the child was watching [the program about Master Yin Shun,] he just kept crying. His grandma thought he did not like the program, so she quickly changed the channel. Not only did he keep crying, he cried even louder and jumped up and down, until his grandma changed the channel back. He then put his palms together. After this, he watched Da Ai TV every day.
This began when he was two or three. When he was four, he started kindergarten. One day, his teacher gave him fish porridge. He ate some, but then he spit it out. He just refused to eat it, he kept spitting it out. From then on, his grandma realized this child would not eat meat, so she began to cook him vegetarian food.
He kept watching Da Ai TV every day. One day, when he was four, he told his grandma, “Grandma, Grandmaster is working hard to save people. Why don’t you go and help her save people?” His grandmother actually came to join us. Now his grandma has been certified [as a Commissioner]. She says, “I was transformed by my grandson.”
As we can clearly see, Buddha-nature is something we are born with. Is this “provisional” or “true”? It is really “true.” Everyone is born with Buddha-nature. So, when the Buddha comes to this world, He uses all kinds of verbal teachings to explain the provisional and the true. If sentient beings can hear the Dharma and have the affinity to take it to heart, they can diligently practice the path to Buddhahood. If they can understand and take it to heart, then they can enter the path to Buddhahood.
For all sentient beings, these various methods are simply ways to make it easier to reveal True Dharma. This helps us all enter the state of the Buddha, our intrinsic Buddha-nature. So, I hope everyone can really understand that the profound Buddha-Dharma is actually very simple. We just need to take the Dharma to heart. So, we must always be mindful.