Episode 447 – Those Who Hear the Dharma Are Rare
>> “Time is a long river that keeps flowing. Our journey in this world is far and long, yet the connections of affections are brief. To be able to encounter the Dharma is rare.”
>> “When all Buddhas appear in the world, it is rare and hard to encounter them. Even when They appear in the world, it is hard for Them to teach this Dharma.”
>> “Throughout incalculable, innumerable kalpas, it is also rare that one may hear this Dharma. A person capable of listening to this Dharma is likewise rare.”
>> Although it was rare to hear the Dharma, today the sound of the Dharma fills our ears. The Buddha, for more than 40 years, taught suitable, provisional teachings. Now that people’s capabilities were mature, He was about to freely express His original intent and open the provisional to reveal the true. When He taught the Sutra of Infinite Meanings, some had not eliminated their obstructions or awakened their capabilities, so 5000 people paid their respects and left. Thus isn’t it hard to listen to the Dharma?
>> Those who can listen to this Dharma have sharp capabilities and great wisdom. Others who can listen to this Dharma have eliminated their impurities and obstructions, but their capabilities have not been awakened, so understanding the Dharma is hard for them.
>> In the Dharma-assembly, those similar to Sariputra were the wisest among the Buddha-children. Those with average and limited capabilities could listen to the Dharma but not understand, so [the Buddha] had to wait for the right time. Thus, it is said, “A person capable of listening to this Dharma is likewise rare.”
“Time is a long river that keeps flowing.
Our journey in this world is far and long,
yet the connections of affections are brief.
To be able to encounter the Dharma is rare.”
This is what I want to share with everyone. To attain human form, to hear the Buddha-Dharma, then to understand it, take it to heart and put it into practice is not easy at all. This is because the time that the Buddha spends in the world is so very short. Yet the time between one Buddha and another is so very long. It takes a very long period of time for a Buddha to appear in the world. Time moves like a river; it keeps flowing endlessly from its distant source. But what are our odds of actually attaining the Dharma?
For instance, heavenly beings enjoy longer lives and greater happiness. However, when it comes to the Buddha-Dharma, they really do not have the opportunity to realize that it is what they need. Similarly, because they live in a heaven on earth, the wealthy are less likely to feel a need to delve into these principles. So, among the. Twenty Difficulties on the way to Buddhahood is, “It is difficult for the wealthy to learn the Way.” This applies to ordinary beings, which includes heavenly beings.
Because we live in the human realm, the things we encounter lead us to question, “Why is there so much suffering in this world? When people gather together, they feel very blessed. But why is that time so short? Parting from those we love is suffering. Some people, since birth, have lived in poverty and experienced much sorrow. Not only are they poor, some impoverished families have members with physical disabilities or those who keep falling ill. Life is full of such tremendous suffering! As we quickly try to escape this suffering, we instead suffer from meeting those we hate. Not only do we face suffering within our families from poverty and illness, in addition to that, when we meet certain people, we face the suffering of meeting those we hate. From the Tzu Chi volunteers at our hospitals, we hear so much about illness and suffering.
Why is there this suffering? Because “the connections of affections are brief.” What kind of affections are these? Deluded affections, desires and so on. These complicated affections can be good or bad. This world is filled with love, hate, passion and animosity, which bind and defile us; our brief connections continue to entangle us. We are not aware of the passing of each day, so we remain deluded by our affections. In this brief lifetime, we endlessly create more entanglements.
Think about this kind of life. Even if we encounter the Buddha-Dharma, to still our minds so we can carefully listen to and realize the Dharma, take it to heart and put it into practice is truly not easy. So, “To be able to encounter the Dharma is rare.”
It takes a very long time for a Buddha to appear in the world, and when He appears, His time here is very short. For the Buddha-Dharma to remain in the world and for sentient beings to truly attain, accept, listen to and practice the Dharma is truly not easy. However, when we look at the world [we can see] the Buddha’s ideal Bodhisattvas that. He mentioned over 2000 years ago, going among people to alleviate their suffering. We see these Living Bodhisattvas right now.
Consider [the events of] the past few days (2013). Over ten countries held their. Tzu Chi board meetings here at the same time. Including the audience, there were around 200 to 300 people. The board members from each country shared their experiences. On the first day, we heard about how, amidst the suffering and hardships in Africa, there are people who are materially poor, but who have developed open hearts and pure thoughts. Under those difficult conditions, they received from Taiwan the seeds to become Living Bodhisattvas. These seeds were brought there, were mindfully cultivated in that place and then were mindfully spread from there.
Local volunteers are like bamboo shoots after the spring rain. Currently, in South Africa alone, there are 5000 to 6000 local volunteers. With much difficulty, over the past few years, a few have been chosen each year to travel from that faraway place to come to Taiwan. This requires the help of many people, or else they would not be able to afford the travel costs.
On that continent, they have led so many to feel Dharma-joy, to be happy when they listen to teachings and to take the Dharma to heart. They themselves paved and are walking on the Bodhisattva-path. They realized ways they could help others and experienced the joy of giving. So, though they are materially poor, they are content and free of desires. Without the hindrance of desires, they can easily unlock their great capabilities and awaken their enlightened nature. They comprehend the suffering of life because they themselves live in suffering, and those around them suffer also. Thus, when they learn the Buddha-Dharma, they are inspired to help more people understand that though they are poor, they can still be very happy. Doesn’t this show the radiance of their awakened nature?
Similarly, the Buddha walked through this world and saw all the suffering in life. By mindfully engaging in spiritual practice, everything he experienced while living in this world brought Him to great realizations; when His enlightened nature appeared, this sea of enlightenment was full, and the infinite true principles of the universe all manifested in His mind. He felt joy, tranquility, clarity and a state of mind that was as pure as crystal. That feeling was what He hoped that all sentient beings could experience. This was His genuine hope for everyone.
Looking at South Africa, I often think about how their lives are filled with such suffering and how they are lacking so many material things. With their physical conditions and way of living, they still climb up and down mountains, hiking such rocky and uneven paths. They are caring for over 5000 AIDs patients currently whom they visit each month, traveling all across the countryside. Some patients live in the mountains. Even though they are heavyset, the volunteers sing as they walk and seem to be very free and at ease.
They found the joy of helping others. Once they took this Dharma to heart, their minds became free and at ease. When I mention our South African volunteers, I always feel that they are [exemplary] Living Bodhisattvas, for they teach the Bodhisattva Way that the Buddha taught. He hoped everyone could enter such harsh and difficult conditions to relieve sentient beings of their suffering. Only after we attain the Buddha-Dharma can our minds resonate with this aspiration and put the teachings into practice.
We have mentioned before,
“When all Buddhas appear in the world, it is rare and hard to encounter them. Even when They appear in the world, it is hard for Them to teach this Dharma.”
It takes a long time for a Buddha to appear in this world. Even when Sakyamuni Buddha appeared, He only had a lifespan of 80 years before. He entered Parinirvana. However, the teachings are still being transmitted and His Dharma-body still exists. The Dharmakaya is the true principles, and these principles will remain in this world forever. Now, with our modern technology, we can easily encounter the Buddha-Dharma. Even though the Dharma is widespread today, there are not many who want to seek it. So, “even when They appear in the world,” even when Buddhas appear before us, for Them to “teach this Dharma….” What is this Dharma? The One Vehicle. Again, this is hard
because sentient beings did not have the capability to accept this kind of Great Dharma. Because they did not truly believe it, He was afraid they might slander it and create karma of speech. Therefore, the Buddha had to patiently and slowly guide them.
The next sutra passage states,
“Throughout incalculable, innumerable kalpas, it is also rare that one may hear this Dharma. A person capable of listening to this Dharma is likewise rare.”
Truly, though the Buddha was already in the world it was still hard for Him to expound this Dharma. “Incalculable, innumerable kalpas” is the long period of time for a Buddha to make a rare appearance. But hearing this Dharma is also difficult; True Dharma of the One Vehicle is [rare]. “A person capable of listening to this Dharma is likewise rare.” Finding people who can listen to, realize and put the Dharma into practice is also very difficult.
Although it was rare to hear the Dharma, today the sound of the Dharma fills our ears. The Buddha, for more than 40 years, taught suitable, provisional teachings. Now that people’s capabilities were mature, He was about to freely express His original intent and open the provisional to reveal the true. When He taught the Sutra of Infinite Meanings, some had not eliminated their obstructions or awakened their capabilities, so 5000 people paid their respects and left. Thus isn’t it hard to listen to the Dharma?
Even if the teachings of True Dharma were broadcast everywhere, only a few people would earnestly listen. In our modern time, when the Dharma is being taught, the use of loudspeakers is very prevalent. When someone is teaching, the whole area becomes a place of spiritual practice. However, as the teaching is being broadcast, people may still be conversing with each other, talking and laughing and so on.
Remember the story I told a few days ago? The Buddha scolded seven old bhiksus for talking like this. Though they were engaging in spiritual practice, they could not focus their minds on the Buddha’s teachings. After departing from where the Dharma was taught, they returned to their hovels to talk and laugh. What they discussed was only worldly matters, so the Buddha criticized and scolded them. “What you are doing is wrong. How long do you have to live? What are you still relying on? Why can’t you focus your minds on your spiritual practice?”
If this happened during the Buddha’s lifetime, of course, it is also happening right now. No wonder the Buddha spent over 40 years giving provisional teachings to transform people according to their capabilities. Now the Buddha was almost 80, so the opportunity was probably ripe. This meant He had to teach it at that time. “Now that people’s capabilities were mature, the Buddha was about to freely express His original intent and open the provisional to reveal the true.”
When He taught the Sutra of Infinite Meanings, some people, after learning the Bodhisattva Way, became inspired and motivated. However, there were still many who had not yet eliminated the obstructions in their minds. Therefore, they still could not develop their full capabilities. So, at the Lotus Dharma-assembly, when the Buddha was about to give the teaching, 5000 people paid their respects and left. Is it easy to listen to the Dharma? Truly, listening to the Dharma is not easy.
So, “A person capable of listening to this Dharma is likewise rare.” Do you remember this? At that point, 5000 people prostrated and left. The Buddha did not stop them. After they left, the Buddha said. “It is better that they left.” At this place, He was about to expound the Great Dharma. If they did not have the capability to accept it, they might as well not listen because once they listened, they might even damage their capabilities because they might slander the Right Dharma. Therefore, when those 5000 people began to leave, the Buddha did not stop them.
Next, “A person capable of listening to this Dharma is likewise rare.” To listen to True Dharma, people must have sharp capabilities and superior wisdom.
Those who can listen to this Dharma have sharp capabilities and great wisdom. Others who can listen to this Dharma have eliminated their impurities and obstructions, but their capabilities have not been awakened, so understanding the Dharma is hard for them.
The people who are able to accept this Dharma have begun to gradually eliminate their impurities. These impurities are their ignorance, which must be eliminated. “But their capabilities have not been awakened, so understanding the Dharma is hard for them.” Even if people have great capabilities and great wisdom, if they have not eliminated their impurities, if they still have the slightest bit of ignorance, they will still be hindered and their capacities will not resonate with the Dharma. Although everyone intrinsically has Buddha-nature, although some people are already considered very intelligent and wise, those who are clever and have sharp capabilities may still have minds filled with ignorance and defilements. If these have not been eliminated, it will still be very difficult for these people to penetrate the One Vehicle Dharma.
So, during this Dharma-assembly at Vulture Peak, Sariputra, a person of great capability and wisdom, understood that the Buddha still needed to teach the True Dharma in His heart. However, some people who were present were still not capable of understanding the Buddha’s original intent. Because his capabilities were suitable, Sariputra invited the Buddha [to share the True Dharma]. Sariputra requested this teaching three times, and the Buddha stopped him three times. Clearly, Sariputra’s mind had gradually realized the Buddha’s intent. Because Sariputra was the wisest among the Buddha’s disciples, he gradually came to resonate with His intentions. Therefore, he requested the teachings three times.
In the Dharma-assembly, those similar to Sariputra were the wisest among the Buddha-children. Those with average and limited capabilities could listen to the Dharma but not understand, so [the Buddha] had to wait for the right time. Thus, it is said, “A person capable of listening to this Dharma is likewise rare.”
Luckily, Sariputra made the request three times; thus the Buddha began to expound this One Vehicle Dharma. At this Dharma-assembly, there were still those with average and limited capabilities. The Buddha had started teaching the Lotus Sutra, but they still could not understand it, so they still had to wait for the right time. As the Buddha began to expound the Lotus Sutra, these people had to listen patiently. The Buddha also had to mindfully find a way to inspire them. Therefore, during the Lotus Dharma-assembly, some people still had to wait for the Buddha to patiently guide them to penetrate the One Vehicle Dharma. Therefore, it is said that, “A person capable of listening to this Dharma is likewise rare.”
Dear Bodhisattvas, we must promptly seize every opportunity to listen to the Dharma. We must, without hesitation, bring it into to our hearts bit by bit and apply it to our daily living. That group of Bodhisattvas from South Africa has already taken the Dharma to heart, so they can be free and at ease as they travel through four or five countries in Africa to sow seeds and cultivate them in that land. Doesn’t this come from taking the Dharma to heart?
Time is a long river that keeps flowing. Our journey through this world is also long, yet the connections of affections are brief. After listening to the Dharma, being able to understand it is still very difficult. Thus we have to put it into practice; the Dharma can only be realized when we put it into action. Therefore, we must learn to apply the Dharma in our daily living. So, we must always be mindful.