Episode 879 – Rainfall Nourishes All Things Equally
>> The macrocosm is made up of heaven and earth, and the things it contains are immeasurable. It creates countless billions [of resources] in the mountains, rivers and lands. This one earth gives life to all things, and no resources are lacking. Space and the four elements respond to time, and the land benefits all living things.
>> The clouds rain down on the earth, so the plants and trees receive nourishment according to their own measure. With the virtuous Dharma that is in accord with the two causes of the habitual tendencies and the retributions of sentient beings, all receive and are nourished by the Dharma-rain. Then with their two effects of habitual tendencies and retributions, each will grow.
>> “All trees, big and small, according to their great, average or small size, each receive something. From the rain of one cloud, each, according to its seed-nature, is given life, grows, blossoms and bears fruit.” [Lotus Sutra, Chapter 5 – The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs]
>> “Though born of one earth and nourished by one rain, all the plants and trees each have their differences.” [Lotus Sutra, Chapter 5 – The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs]
>> So, we say, though born of one earth. The one earth is an analogy for intrinsic nature. It is inherently equal in all. The varieties of life are like people’s minds; what is desired differs in each. The one earth is the earth of this great trichiliocosm.
>> Nourished by one rain, all the plants and trees each have their differences:. The one rain is an analogy for the Dharma which universally benefits all things. The natures and capabilities of sentient beings all differ. Like the plants and the trees, each is endowed differently.
>> The rain is all the same, but what we each receive differs. This is an analogy for how the teachings given do not differ, yet sentient beings’ capacities and the benefits they receive differ. Dharma is given equally to all sentient beings, yet we do not know this.
“The macrocosm is made up of heaven and earth, and the things it contains are immeasurable.
It creates countless billions [of resources] in the mountains, rivers and lands.
This one earth gives life to all things, and no resources are lacking. Space and the four elements respond to time, and the land benefits all living things.”
We humans live here between heaven and earth. We must be grateful for heaven’s virtue above and for the earth’s support below. When we are grateful, we will naturally cherish all things in the world. We also must have mutual love. When we cherish and love each other like this, we repay the grace of heaven and earth. It is same for the Buddha, who taught in the world. To repay His grace, there is only one way, teaching and transforming sentient beings and going among the people to help them be able to understand the principles and purify their minds. This is how we repay the Buddha’s grace.
As we talk every day, every day we encourage each other to do this. In fact, the Dharma exists naturally in the universe. It is just that our minds are in a state of confusion. Since Beginningless Time, how much time have we spent being influenced by this evil world of Five Turbidities?. The true principles and the fragrance of the Dharma have not permeated us. Yet, we bring with us a lot of ignorance and a contaminated state of mind to this lifetime. With these karmic affinities, when we face our current causes and conditions, this modern society, modern people and all things in this modern era, it is as if this evil world of Five Turbidities has become even more defiled. These turbidities are so strong that to maintain a pure mind and see things clearly and thoroughly seems truly difficult!. This is what worries the Buddha most. The future as seen from the Buddha’s era, our present time, is an evil world of Five Turbidities. Thus, so many sentient beings suffer greatly.
We lack the principles of heaven and earth as well as the principle of [living] between them because we have been buried beneath our ignorance. Otherwise, [we would see that] the macrocosm is made up of heaven and earth; the number of things contained within them is truly immeasurable. These things are all available to humans for us to make good use of them, but when it comes to the world’s resources, if we develop and use them in excess, we harm the macrocosm, which is heaven and earth. The land is damaged and the air is polluted.
So we say, the things this world contains are immeasurable; there are so many resources. “It creates countless billions [of resources] in the mountains, rivers, and lands”. This creation is so complete. This is heaven’s virtue, the grace of heaven and earth. The things created are in the countless billions. Where are the countless billions [of resources]?. In the mountains, rivers and lands. So, “This one earth gives life to all things, and no resources are lacking”. In fact, this is the nature of the earth. It provides for humankind so that we do not lack any resources. If we can properly utilize what the earth has provided us, we will not lack anything. Yet, we are simply not content; we are too greedy, so we use resources in excess.
“Space and the four elements respond to time, and the land benefits all living things”. Fundamentally this world is so harmonious, encompassed by emptiness, by empty space, all within the vast open space of the universe. Within space are earth, water, fire, and air, the four elements. “Space and the four elements” respond to time. Following each second, each day, each month and each year, the four seasons cycle. In this world, the four elements cycle like this within “space,”. In this natural cycle of the world people and nature are in harmony with each other. Following the cycles of heaven and earth, we can all exercise our abilities in our lives.
In the past, people of all walks of life lived like this. Now, times have changed and we no longer understand these principles. We even wantonly waste [water] and do not know how to conserve it. The resources the universe provides us are so rich and plentiful; the mountains, rivers and land contain countless things, more than we could ever make use of. This is because “This one earth gives life to all things, and no resources are lacking”. We lack absolutely nothing.
The four elements in space respond to the flow of time. The four seasons continue to cycle in turn. “The land benefits all living things”. This earth benefits us and all living things. Whether plants, humans, animals, etc., all things exist between heaven and earth [The earth] contains countless resources, so we must always be mindful. We must cherish all of the world’s creations.
The clouds rain down on the earth, so the plants and trees receive nourishment according to their own measure. With the virtuous Dharma that is in accord with the two causes of the habitual tendencies and the retributions of sentient beings, all receive and are nourished by the Dharma-rain. Then with their two effects of habitual tendencies and retributions, each will grow.
So, we are speaking of clouds. “The clouds rain on the earth, so the plants and trees receive nourishment “according to their own measure”. When we look up, we ask, “Will it rain?”. When it rains, we are happy because the rain nourishes the land. In this world, we use clouds and rain as analogies in the Chapter on Medicinal Plants In fact, rain, dew, clouds and so on are very important to human beings. Like all things between heaven and earth, the clouds and rain follow the habitual tendencies of sentient beings and their karmic causes and effects. These causes, conditions, effects and retributions are a law; if we apply virtuous teachings, we earnestly make good use of all our resources. While we are in this world, we must live according to the principles. If we can do this, the rain will bring nourishment. The rain will nourish the earth. When the earth’s weather is balanced, people are safe.
Speaking of people, if we accept the Dharma,. “All are covered and nourished by the Dharma-rain”. We have all already heard the Buddha-Dharma, so we can take the teachings to heart. Our habitual tendencies formed in past lifetimes and the karmic causes and conditions we created are now things that we understand. Yet, how much do we really understand?. So it says, “Each will grow…”. The Dharma-rain nourishes our mind,. Which teachings we accept and how we apply them in the world depends on our own capabilities.
The following sutra passage says, “All trees, big and small, according to their great, average or small size, each receive something.. From the rain of one cloud, each, according to its seed-nature, is given life, grows, blossoms and bears fruit”.
Whether we have great, average or small roots, the amount of water we take in will be that much. Yet, how much of the Dharma we have learned has been applied to our own minds?. “Only the person who drinks the water knows its temperature”. So, “Each, according to its seed-nature, is given life, grows, blossoms and bears fruit”. How big will it be, how many flowers will bloom and how much fruit it will bear?.
The next sutra passage continues, “Though born of one earth and nourished by one rain, all the plants and trees each have their differences”.
Even thought they are all on the same land, once we have sown the seeds, “nourished by one rain,” the different vegetables in the garden will grow accordingly. Chinese cabbage, Napa cabbage, white cabbage etc., all grow differently. “All the plants and trees each have their differences”. Depending on the species, what grows will be different
So, we say, “though born of one earth.. The one earth is an analogy for intrinsic nature.. It is inherently equal in all.. The varieties of life are like people’s minds; what is desired differs in each.. The one earth is the earth of this great trichiliocosm”.
The “one earth” is an analogy for intrinsic nature. We are now listening to the Dharma, [so we know] we are all equal in our nature. Everyone has the nature of True Suchness and the potential to attain Buddhahood. So, “one earth” means equality; it is talking about the land “[Intrinsic nature] is inherently equal in all.. The varieties of things” refers to the many different things in the world. It is also an analogy for our minds.
We each intrinsically have Buddha-nature. From the past until now, from Beginningless Time, we are born with our nature of True Suchness. The Buddha continues to remind us that we each intrinsically have Buddha-nature. However, everyone has different habitual tendencies. The habitual tendencies are our states of mind. We all have different states of mind. I often say,. “When a mother gives birth to ten children, including her they are of 11 different minds”. In other words, a mother gives birth to a child, but what that child is thinking is something even the mother does not know. Even siblings from the same womb have different personalities. Each of our habitual tendencies, our personalities and our states of mind are different. So,. “The varieties of life are like people’s minds”. People’s minds and habitual tendencies are all different. “What is desired differs in each”.
What each of us desires is [different]. Some people desire very little and are content. “I am content with what I have.. I do not need a lot”. They form great aspirations and are willing to help others. There are some people of this mindset. However, there are others who want to own everything in the world. They want the highest social status and fame. They wish for everything to belong to them. Yet, when asked to give of themselves, they are unable to let go. This mindset is the result of acquired tendencies. Thus, each person’s mind is different, because the tendencies we have acquired differ. “What is desired differs in each”.
So, on the “one earth,” on this same piece of land, there are truly many different things. This is “the earth of the great trichiliocosm”. Within the great universe, countless numbers of worlds are contained. All planets in this universe are contained within this great space. All these living things are found on the earth. Because there is water here, many kinds of animals and plants can live here. This is called the “one earth.. Born of one earth,”
Nourished by one rain, all the plants and trees each have their differences:. The one rain is an analogy for the Dharma which universally benefits all things. The natures and capabilities of sentient beings all differ. Like the plants and the trees, each is endowed differently.
“and nourished by one rain, all the plants and trees each have their differences”. Although all are born on the same land and are nourished by the same rain, the plants and trees on the earth are different.
The one rain is an analogy for the Dharma. The Dharma can “benefit all things”; all sentient beings can benefit from the Dharma Just as the same water rains down [on all plants], the Dharma is used to benefit all. However, “the natures and capabilities,” sentient beings’ capacities and natures, [differ]. If we have great roots, branches and leaves, we can absorb a lot of water. If our roots, branches and leaves are small, naturally we can only absorb a little water. So, “The natures and capabilities of sentient beings all differ”. This is like growing vegetables. Some vegetables require more arid soil, whereas others cannot be at all lacking water. Their roots and natures differ; they are all different. “Like the plants and the trees, each is endowed differently”. The needs of the plants and trees are different.
The rain is all the same, but what we each receive differs. This is an analogy for how the teachings given do not differ, yet sentient beings’ capacities and the benefits they receive differ. Dharma is given equally to all sentient beings, yet we do not know this.
However, “The rain is all the same”. The rain is no different, “but what each receives differs.. I am only able to take in so much.. It is the same water, but I can only take in so much”. This is because we all have different capacities. This is an analogy for how “the teachings given do not differ”. The Buddha’s teachings, given to all sentient beings, do not differ. “Yet, sentient beings’ capacities and the benefits they receive differ”. Our capacities differ, so the benefits we receive also differ.
When we try to teach people, some cannot understand [the Dharma] and cannot tell right from wrong. They take something they hear and spread and share it with others. “A slight deviation leads us far off course”. Therefore, when giving these teachings to sentient beings, we must give them based on the person, time, place and the person’s capacity. The kind of Dharma they can accept determines what we can teach them to avoid their carelessly spreading [rumors]. Spreading the wrong message may cause disturbances with people, matters and things. So, we must be careful when giving teachings.
“It is given equally to all sentient beings, yet, they do not know it themselves”. When the Buddha taught sentient beings, how much of what we received were we able to understand?. Sometimes, even after we receive the Dharma, not only do we not apply it in the world, on the contrary, we use one teaching to dispute another, pitting [the Dharma against itself]. This creates many conflicts. When the Dharma is misused like this,
it is like [what we have seen] in modern times, these terrifying kinds of thinking. People destroy nature, criticize their parents, or judge others and so on, all types of unwholesome [mindsets]. We might be [well-educated], yet we lack virtuous thoughts. If we lack virtuous thoughts, this will lead to evil ways that destroy our world
In summary, we need to understand that every day, when we see the spacious sky, we must think of all things in the world that exist because of the sky’s protection, providing us with the harmony of the four elements. We must be grateful! We must earnestly cherish it. The earth can sustain and give life to all things. All things are born of the earth. As the water in the air unites with the earth, they together nourish us based on our capacities and allow all seeds to grow. So, in the grounds of our minds, what kind of seeds will we plant?. How much water do they need?. “Only the person who drinks the water knows its temperature”. Therefore, we must always be mindful