Episode 451 – Cherish the Wondrous Dharma
>> “We must vow to maintain our reverence and respect. When we have a Buddha-mind, our mind is a place for spiritual cultivation. The Dharma pervades the world and we share its teachings. The Dharma is taught through provisional and skillful means.”
>> “All of you should have no doubts.”
>> “For I am the Dharma King. I declare to the assembly, ‘I use only the path of One Vehicle to teach and transform Bodhisattvas I have no disciples who are Hearers.'”
>> “All of you, Sariputra, Hearers and Bodhisattvas, should know that this wondrous Dharma is the secret of all Buddhas.”
>> All of you, Sariputra, Hearers and Bodhisattvas: This includes the Hearer Vehicle and the disciples labeled as Hearers. Buddhas use this convenient and temporary label to guide sentient beings to enter all Buddhas’ understanding and views with these provisional teachings.
>> [You] should know that this wondrous Dharma is the secret of all Buddhas: The Buddha reminded those listening to the Dharma that they should know that in the wondrous Dharma, the teachings He gave the Hearer, Pratyekabuddha and other vehicles are actually included in the secret of all Buddhas.
“We must vow to maintain our reverence and respect.
When we have a Buddha-mind, our mind is a place for spiritual cultivation.
The Dharma pervades the world and we share its teachings.
The Dharma is taught through provisional and skillful means.”
As spiritual practitioners, we must hold on to these vows and sustain our original aspirations forever. Since we made this resolve, we must constantly maintain our reverence and our respect.
The mind is where spiritual cultivation happens. If the Buddha is in our minds, our place of spiritual cultivation will be filled with our intrinsic nature’s ocean of enlightenment. If we reverently safeguard this place of cultivation, “the Dharma [will naturally] pervade the world and we share its teachings.” No matter where we are, every encounter with people and matters will be a chance for us to give teachings or accept teachings. I often mention to everyone that “infinite Dharma-doors will readily appear before us.” The principles of the Sutra of Infinite Meanings describe a state of tranquility and clarity, where there are infinite Dharma-doors. As long as the Dharma is in our hearts, there is an abundance of Dharma around us. Every person is a teaching for us. Everyone is a great treasury of teachings. Everyone is a stupa of treasures in our minds. This is how the Dharma permeates this world. We can find the Dharma anywhere, as long as we have a firm resolve.
For instance, countless kalpas ago, Universal Sound Buddha appeared in this world, and taught many Bodhisattvas, Hearers and Solitary Realizers. At that time, the world was very pure and the Buddha-Dharma was pervasive; everyone aspired to engage in spiritual practice and protect the Dharma. After this Buddha entered Parinirvana, all those who accepted the Dharma became Dharma teachers. They also spread the Buddha-Dharma to every corner of the world. In a small kingdom in a remote part of the world, there was a young man. He knew that the Buddha-Dharma existed, but what was its true essence? Where could he go to engage in spiritual practice? Where could he find the Buddha-Dharma?
This young man was named Very-Steady. He was very mindful. One day, as he sat quietly in meditation, he seemed to hear a subtle and wondrous voice from the sky. It said to him, “You are so reverent, and you have the aspiration to seek teachings. The Buddha-Dharma still exists in the world. This Dharma exists because a long ago, Universal Sound Buddha already spread it throughout the world. Then His disciples also advanced the Dharma.” Very-Steady was very happy to hear this.
“But Universal Sound Buddha has already entered Parinirvana. Not only have His Disciples become scattered, many have also passed away. This all happened a long, long time ago.” When Very-Steady heard this, he became worried. He said, “I heard that a Buddha had appeared, and even though He already entered Parinirvana, there were still Dharma teachers. But then you said that their numbers have gradually declined as they likewise passed away. My hopes of finding the Dharma seem very bleak.”
This voice then responded, “The Dharma is still here! About 300 kilometers from here, there is a Dharma master named Clear-Sound. He is still alive and preaching the Dharma there.” When Very-Steady heard this, he became joyful again. He gathered his friends, his family and many treasures and then followed the voice’s instructions to travel those 300 kilometers. When he arrived, and saw the Dharma master, he asked Master Clear-Sound for teachings.
This Dharma master began to give teachings with simple and clear words. He talked about the truth of suffering, causation, cessation and the path. Very-Steady heard this and became filled with joy, so he vowed, “I will not leave this spiritual practice center. I will wholeheartedly serve you in the hopes that in this lifetime I can attain even more profound principles.” The Dharma master happily accepted his offer.
A very long time passed, but Master Clear-Voice never gave him another teaching. He earnestly requested the Dharma again, but he received the same teaching. He continued to earnestly request the Dharma. Even though he asked many times, he did not learn any more profound Dharma.
So, one day when he was meditating, some maras wondered how this man’s spiritual aspirations could be so firm. He faced such difficulty in seeking the Dharma; how had he not lost his spiritual aspirations? So, these maras intentionally came to disrupt his practice. One of them took the form of a beautiful girl, another took the form of. Dharma Master Clear-Voice. The two appeared before him, flirting with each other. Then the mara king said, “See, your master has not actually eliminated lust from his heart. How is he qualified to be given your respect?”
Though this group had come to incite him, Very-Steady thought, “I don’t believe this. I do not believe that my master would give up his spiritual aspiration. That wondrous voice I heard clearly told me that Dharma Master Clear-Voice was renowned for his virtue. How could he now have this kind of desire?” So, he made a vow and thought to himself, “If this is an illusion, may this image I see immediately disappear.” This was the thought that arose in his mind. He had firm faith in his master and that this was an illusion that would disappear right away. The mara king could not withstand the power of his faith, so he disappeared. The illusion in front of him also disappeared.
In that moment, he thought to himself, “If I do not strengthen my spiritual aspirations, and something like this happens again, I may lose my spiritual aspirations and easily fall into the evil realms or end up on a deviant path, in the state of maras. I must strengthen my spiritual aspirations.” This was the spiritual journey of
that young spiritual practitioner. Actually, in our spiritual practice, doesn’t this happen to us as well? Sometimes our faith is strong, but then sometimes we hear [troubling] things from our surroundings. Also, we sometimes seem to diligently advance in our quest for the Dharma, but then once we think we have reached it, we stop and remain in that place forever. We may also lose our spiritual aspiration or see illusory things that cause our minds to waver. But this young man, Very-Steady, was in such a tranquil and focused state of mind, wholeheartedly maintaining reverence and respect, that he was not influenced by his surroundings. This is the Buddha-mind, and our inner place of spiritual cultivation.
If we firmly believe in the. Three Treasures, the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, because of our faith, our inner spiritual practice center will be very stable. Then, “the Dharma pervades the world and we share its teachings.” With a strong resolve, we can apply the Dharma we hear in our lives and share it from our hearts. These “provisional and skillful means” can all be applied.
The previous sutra passage states,
“All of you should have no doubts.” Do not doubt it,
“For I am the Dharma King. I declare to the assembly, ‘I use only the path of One Vehicle to teach and transform Bodhisattvas I have no disciples who are Hearers.'”
Though the Buddha spent more than 40 years patiently guiding them according to their dispositions and capabilities and giving teachings they could understand, He was actually teaching only one thing, the Bodhisattva Way. So, “[He had] no disciples who are Hearers.”
He hoped everyone who accepted the Buddha-Dharma could benefit and awaken themselves, and benefit and awaken others. This was the Buddha’s intent. So, there should be no. Hearers and Pratyekabuddhas. Those were just labels from the process of the Buddha’s provisional and skillful teachings. Indeed, after listening to the Dharma, people should set their sights on the Bodhisattva-path, on cultivating the Bodhisattva Way.
The next sutra passage states,
“All of you, Sariputra, Hearers and Bodhisattvas, should know that this wondrous Dharma is the secret of all Buddhas.”
Everyone should know Sariputra because he was the recipient of these teachings. So, when the Buddha wanted everyone to pay more attention, He called out, “Sariputra.” This signified that everyone must listen carefully. Everyone must listen carefully!
“Hearers and Bodhisattvas, should know that [this is the] wondrous Dharma.” We should know that this wondrous Dharma is the secret of all Buddhas. “Secret” refers to something that is hidden. I constantly mention the Buddha’s original intent. After the Buddha attained enlightenment, He wanted to fully share this Dharma. But knowing that sentient beings did not have the capabilities to accept it, He retracted this Dharma and safeguarded it in His heart. So, this was a “secret”; this Dharma was a secret. Actually, it isn’t that the Buddha has any secrets. He had just been carefully safeguarding these important teachings. So, it was called a secret.
Therefore, [He said,]. “All of you, Sariputra, Hearers and Bodhisattvas…. Hearers” refers to that vehicle and the disciples who cultivated by listening to the Dharma. They thought that listening to teachings was the most important thing. What is the purpose of listening to the Dharma? They did not try to figure out the purpose. They only wanted to listen and understand. For these people, “Buddhas use this convenient and temporary label. Hearers” is the Buddha’s convenient and temporary label for these disciples. Whatever He taught, they just listened. So, they are the “assembly of listeners.”
All of you, Sariputra, Hearers and Bodhisattvas: This includes the Hearer Vehicle and the disciples labeled as Hearers. Buddhas use this convenient and temporary label to guide sentient beings to enter all Buddhas’ understanding and views with these provisional teachings.
Speaking of a group of listeners, (2013) Tzu Chi volunteers everywhere came here to hold their board meetings. The listeners included not just board members, but also officers responsible for reporting on how, in all these different countries, they applied Tzu Chi’s teachings to widely help others and relieve their suffering. These officers who mobilized others were listening, and those who lead Tzu Chi in these countries were also there to listen. Actually, the audience was also engaged in doing volunteer work. They may not have a title, or they may not have officially registered [Tzu Chi] as an organization or set up a board of directors in their country. But in their respective countries, they are also in charge of branch offices and service centers and are making contributions to their local community. So, they sat in the audience and happily listened to the presentations.
Everyone has his own purpose for listening to the Dharma. If a person says, “I just want to listen and learn,” they are still missing the next part, “I will put it into practice.” Thus I have heard, thus I have comprehended, and thus I have realized. Is this all we want to do? When we comprehend something, we must share our comprehension. When we realize something, we must share those realizations. This is the only way for the Buddha-Dharma to become widespread in this world. So, the Buddha called certain disciples “Hearers.”
Actually, Hearers is a temporary label; everyone should be walking in the direction of the Bodhisattva-path. So, to guide sentient beings toward. His understanding and views, He skillfully used convenient labels. For example, after the board meetings, volunteers from countries without official boards said, “When we go back, let’s do what they do.” This is one way of walking the Bodhisattva-path.
Next we will discuss, “[You] should know that this wondrous Dharma is the secret of all Buddhas.”
[You] should know that this wondrous Dharma is the secret of all Buddhas: The Buddha reminded those listening to the Dharma that they should know that in the wondrous Dharma, the teachings He gave the Hearer, Pratyekabuddha and other vehicles are actually included in the secret of all Buddhas.
Everyone should know that this Dharma comes from all Buddhas, from the ocean of enlightenment filling Their minds. They want to tell everyone, “You can also become a Buddha. It is possible for you, too, because your mind contains so many enlightened principles.” They hoped everyone could perceive this, but no one could accept this. So, They retracted these teachings and kept them in Their hearts. This is the wondrous Dharma. “Secret” means that it is dearly cherished. It was still retained in the Buddha’s mind. It is His most important teaching and what He really wants sentient beings to know.
The Buddha gave this reminder to help everyone understand. He was now on Vulture Peak, holding this Lotus Dharma-assembly, to help people return to their intrinsic nature. After teaching for so long, He was afraid that people were tired from listening. So, the Buddha continued to remind the listeners “that they should know this is wondrous Dharma.” Everyone should understand that this Dharma is very precious.
So, the Buddha’s Three Vehicles, the teachings for Hearers and Pratyekabuddhas, actually encompass and include the secret of all Buddhas. Regardless of whether we are Hearers, if we do not listen with our ears, how will the Dharma enter our minds? The ear is the doorway that we use to take the Dharma into our hearts. The Dharma must be heard through our ears.
What about Solitary Realizers? Solitary Realizers are a level higher than Hearers. Because Solitary Realizers’ capabilities for attaining realizations are higher, when the Buddha said one thing, they realized ten. If the Buddha spoke of impermanence, they could understand the four seasons, the blooming and wilting of flowers. They could [connect] the changing of the seasons with the cycle of birth, aging, illness and death, these laws of nature. When the Buddha said one word, “impermanence,” they were able to understand so many things.
Is it enough to hear one and realize ten? No, it is not enough. The Buddha’s true principles [are so profound], even if we hear 1 thing and realize 1000, we cannot realize them all. The universe is so vast, filled with billions of things, many forms and appearances. Moreover, the minds of sentient beings are covered by so much ignorance. If we hear 1 thing and realize 100 or 1000, will that be enough? It will not be. So, although His state of realization [was so profound], the Buddha still brought together all the principles He realized, which remain the ultimate truth. [To attain] these true principles, that secret path, we must still go through the paths of listening and attaining realizations. We must bring all these paths together to truly enter the Bodhisattva-path.
Dear Bodhisattvas, we learn the Buddha’s teachings in hope of attaining the Buddha-mind. The Buddha-mind and our own minds are where we engage in spiritual cultivation. In this place of practice, we must first strengthen our resolve and make sure we are on the right course, which is the “great, direct Bodhi-path.” Our minds must be settled, and on this path to enlightenment, we must diligently move forward. Then the Dharma can pervade the world and we can share its teachings. It is not enough if only we understand. Now is the time that we must recruit Living Bodhisattvas. But there are multitudes of sentient beings, so we must devise many skillful means to share these teachings. There is so much suffering right now, and. “Bodhisattvas arise because of suffering beings,” so we must apply various methods to spread [the Dharma] throughout the world and teach, save and transform sentient beings. These are the Buddha’s goals in coming to this world. So, as we learn and listen to the Dharma, we must put it into practice and always be mindful.