Episode 887 – Upholding Precepts for Future Lifetimes
>> Sentient beings of the Five Vehicles who are able to hear the Dharma can be freed from suffering and attain peace and joy in this lifetime. They will also know the true causes and conditions of effects and retributions. By understanding the true principles, they attain peace and stability in this life.
>> “At the time, the Tathagata observed whether these sentient beings had sharp or dull capabilities, whether they were diligent or lax. In accordance with what they could accept, He taught them the Dharma in all its infinite varieties, enabling them all to be joyful and quickly attain benefits.” [Lotus Sutra, Chapter 5 – The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs]
>> “These sentient beings, having heard this Dharma, attained peace in this life and in future lives will be born in a good place, will receive joy from the Path and will also be able to hear the Dharma.” [Lotus Sutra, Chapter 5 – The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs]
>> These sentient beings, having heard this Dharma: These sentient beings are from all over; there are infinite varieties of sentient beings. They listened to the Tathagata expound all of this Dharma. The sentient beings of the Five Vehicles could each hear the Dharma, and each gained Dharma-benefits.
>> They attained peace in this life and in future lives will be born in a good place and will receive joy from the Path: Here in this world now, they diligently practice according to the Dharma, and thus they all attain peace. By walking the Path today, they will receive joy in the future.
>> If those in the Three Evil Destinies hear Dharma, they can cease their suffering and sadness, and thus attain peace in this life. Or they will be born as humans or heavenly beings, meaning that in future lives, they will be born in a good place. In the heaven or human realm, they will cultivate and uphold the teachings of good deeds and precepts. Thus, they will receive joy from the Path.
>> [They] will also be able to hear the Dharma: They will be able to listen to the Right Dharma that the Buddha teaches. The Two Vehicle practitioners hear the teachings and attain Nirvana with remainder. Thus they attain peace in this life.
>> Being born in a land of skillful means, in future lives they will be born in a good place. Being born in a land of skillful means is the good place in which Two Vehicle practitioners and Bodhisattvas who have not yet realized the Dharma-body abide
>> As these beings listened to the teachings, they received joy from the Path and are born as Bodhisattvas. They achieve non-arising patience and attain peace in this life.
>> Being born in the land of the true reward, they achieve the corresponding retribution of unobstructed, dignified wisdom. This is the land of the true reward, meaning in future lives they will be born in a good place and will receive joy.
>> The seeds we cultivate in this life will bring about our fruits in the future. Humans and heavenly beings hear the teachings and uphold the precepts. Their blessings and virtues help them to attain peace in this life. Heavenly beings are born in the heavens, and humans are born in this world, or they may be born in each other’s worlds. Thus, they are born in good places in future lives. Once born, they are able to awaken and thus can receive joy from the Path
“Sentient beings of the Five Vehicles who are able to hear the Dharma
can be freed from suffering and attain peace and joy in this lifetime.
They will also know the true causes and conditions of effects and retributions.
By understanding the true principles, they attain peace and stability in this life.”
The sentient beings of the Five Vehicles are those in the Heavenly Being Vehicle, those in the Human Vehicle and those in the Hearer, Solitary Realizer and Bodhisattva Vehicles. These are called the Five Vehicles. A “vehicle” is a method, and by accepting this method, we can reach the principles. This is what we call a vehicle. Those in the Heavenly Being Vehicle practice the Ten Good Deeds the Buddha taught and thus attain heavenly blessings. As for the teachings of worldly Dharma, the Buddha first taught people to uphold the Five Precepts.
The Ten Good Deeds and Five Precepts are for “outside commoners,” people who are not spiritual practitioners. These were people in society wth faith for whom the Buddha expounded the Dharma. When it comes to lay practitioners, they should at least practice the Ten Good Deeds and Five Precepts. If people aspire to engage in spiritual practice, then they are no longer “outsiders.” Spiritual practitioners, whether they are. Hearers, Solitary Realizers or Bodhisattvas, all have their teachings; we accept the Dharma according to our capacities and follow our direction of practice to our goal. These are the Five Vehicles.
Through the Five Vehicles, people hear the Dharma. These people can all hear the Dharma and “can be freed from suffering and attain peace and joy in this lifetime.” If we can hear the Dharma, then we can be freed from suffering in this life. Life is filled with suffering; aside from suffering due to a lack of material things, the worst suffering comes from our mind, from its ignorance and afflictions. Having unresolved afflictions causes suffering.
Being “freed from suffering in this lifetime” means that once we have learned the Dharma and understood the law of karma, we can see through things and open up our mind. Though still in the midst of suffering, if we can broaden our minds and willingly accept it, we are thus freed from suffering. Time will eventually pass, and this karmic retribution will come to an end. Once we understand this principle, naturally our hearts will be at peace. Then, in our daily living, we will not torment ourselves with suffering. That suffering will be resolved, and the pain will turn to joy.
When we suffer, we must be willing to exhaust it and earnestly do what is good. We must quickly cultivate for the future. Once our minds are at peace, we are happy. We often see how among recycling Bodhisattvas, there are those who are not well-off but are still at peace with their poverty and take joy in the Path. Though they suffered through life in the past, they now abide in a peaceful state. Though their circumstances are not very good, they are still at peace. Every day they are very happy, and they act for the sake of the earth and humanity. They find great joy in their recycling work.
So, by listening to the Dharma, naturally we “can be freed from suffering and attain peace and joy in this lifetime.” We “will also know the true causes and conditions of effects and retributions.” Immersed in the Buddha-Dharma, we will better understand the suffering we are currently experiencing and be able to turn suffering into joy. We can more deeply comprehend the true causes and conditions of these retributions. This extends beyond just this life; we can trace them back to all our previous lives. So, only if we are clear about this now will we be able to act for the future. After eating the fruits of suffering, we must not create more seeds of suffering. Once we have finished the fruits of suffering, we must not plant more of their seeds. If we do not plant these seeds, naturally our suffering will not continue.
So, we need to know that when we plant seeds, we must mindfully plant the correct causes. In our past lives, we put our minds into creating causes. What was in our minds? Was it goodness or evil? Causes planted with a mind of goodness are positive causes; causes planted with a mind of evil are negative causes. With negative causes we encounter negative conditions, while positive causes bring positive conditions. We must be very clear on karmic cause and effect. These are the principles. “By understanding the true principles, they attain peace and stability in this life.” We can understand the true principles, can completely understand these principles. The true principles are referring to the truth. If we thoroughly understand the principles, naturally we can open our hearts and minds; naturally we will not suffer so badly. By letting go, we can broaden our minds, and our thoughts will become pure. If we can do this, we are “freed from suffering and attain peace and joy in this lifetime.” We should be very mindful of this.
The previous sutra passage says, ․”At the time, the Tathagata observed whether these sentient beings had sharp or dull capabilities, whether they were diligent or lax. In accordance with what they could accept, He taught them the Dharma in all its infinite varieties, enabling them all to be joyful and quickly attain benefits.”
The Buddha, for the sake of sentient beings, observed the timing; according to the time, the place and sentient beings’ capabilities, He expounded the Dharma and gave teachings. He adapted to what sentient beings could accept. Would sentient beings practice diligently? Or would they be lax? All He could do was wholeheartedly teach us. The amount we can accept determines how much our roots of goodness will grow.
The following sutra passage states, “These sentient beings, having heard this Dharma, attained peace in this life and in future lives will be born in a good place, will receive joy from the Path and will also be able to hear the Dharma.”
According to their capabilities, the Buddha opened the Dharma-doors of the Five Vehicles to help sentient beings accept the teachings. These sentient beings “heard this Dharma.” They already accepted the Buddha-Dharma “[They] attained peace in this life and in future lives will be born in a good place.” In this life we already understandd that we must turn evil into goodness. We must willingly accept what happened in the past and now actively listen to the Dharma in order to develop our wisdom-life. We must earnestly give to help others and walk a path of goodness. “In future lives we will be born in a good place [and] will receive joy from the Path.” By staying on this road, on this smooth path, not only will we be born human again, we will also be able to hear the Buddha-Dharma. We will be guaranteed to hear the Dharma again in our future lives.
These sentient beings, having heard this Dharma: These sentient beings are from all over; there are infinite varieties of sentient beings. They listened to the Tathagata expound all of this Dharma. The sentient beings of the Five Vehicles could each hear the Dharma, and each gained Dharma-benefits.
The sentient beings [listening] are from all over; there are infinite varieties of sentient beings ․These sentient beings, having heard this Dharma: These sentient beings are from all over; there are infinite varieties of sentient beings. They listened to the Tathagata expound all of this Dharma. The sentient beings of the Five Vehicles could each hear the Dharma, and each gained Dharma-benefits. Every time the Buddha taught, sentient beings came from the ten directions to listen to the Dharma. There must have been a lot of them, in particular when, in His old age, He taught at the Lotus Dharma-assembly on Vulture Peak. Everyone truly cherished that opportunity. Infinite varities of sentient beings from Dharma-realms of the ten directions listened to the Tathagata expound all Dharma. They all came to this spiritual training ground, to the Lotus Dharma-assembly on Vulture Peak. As they listened to the Dharma at this assembly,
what teachings did they hear? The Dharma of the Five Vehicles, the Dharma for the human realm, for heavenly beings and for asuras, the Two Vehicles for transcending the world and the Great Vehicle, the Bodhisattva Way; they heard all of this. Thus, each sentient being gained Dharma-benefits. They attained more Dharma and gained benefits. This did not only apply to people in this world; sentient beings from the ten directions all gained Dharma-benefits
They attained peace in this life and in future lives will be born in a good place and will receive joy from the Path: Here in this world now, they diligently practice according to the Dharma, and thus they all attain peace. By walking the Path today, they will receive joy in the future.
“[They] attained peace in this life and in future lives will be born in a good place and will receive joy from the Path.” Having come from the ten directions after after listening to the Dharma, now, in this lifetime, we all practice according to the Dharma, so naturally we will attain peace
We must quickly settle our minds; our minds must stay focused. We must not allow troubles created by others to disturb our minds. So, we must diligently practice according to the Dharma. We must continuously advance in our practice. As we are in the midst of chaos, we have even greater need for clarity and wisdom. So, we must put extra effort into our practice.
“Thus, they all attain peace.” After understanding principles, naturally we will be at peace with all things. “By walking the Path today, they will receive joy in the future.” As long as we practice earnestly and peacefully and walk the great, direct Bodhi-path, our spiritial scenery will naturally be one of peace, our conscience clear. We will be in a peaceful state.
If those in the Three Evil Destinies hear Dharma, they can cease their suffering and sadness, and thus attain peace in this life. Or they will be born as humans or heavenly beings, meaning that in future lives, they will be born in a good place. In the heaven or human realm, they will cultivate and uphold the teachings of good deeds and precepts. Thus, they will receive joy from the Path.
“If those in the Three Evil Destinies hear Dharma they can cease their suffering and sadness” ․If those in the Three Evil Destinies hear Dharma, they can cease their suffering and sadness, and thus attain peace in this life. Or they will be born as humans or heavenly beings, meaning that in future lives, they will be born in a good place. In the heaven or human realm, they will cultivate and uphold the teachings of good deeds and precepts. Thus, they will receive joy from the Path. If we are presently suffering in the Three Evil Destinies, the hell, hungry ghost and animal realms, and we have the chance to hear the Dharma…. In fact, even in the human realm there are many who live in a kind of hell on earth. Their suffering is unbearable. The imbalance and discord in people’s minds causes manmade calamities and endless fighting, and [refugees] are left with no place to call home. Some people are impoverished, are poor and hungry; they are so starved that they are close to death. With people like this, or those suffering in the Three Evil Destinies, if the Buddha-Dharma can reach them, naturally they can listen to the teachings and put an end to their suffering and sadness. When people suffer like that, if they have the Dharma, they can do good deeds, and in doing so, they create blessings. By benefiting the world and giving to others, they can resolve their difficulties. So, they “attain peace in this life.” When they begin to create positive causes and do good deeds, they will attain happiness in this life, or perhaps in subsequent lifetimes, they will be reborn in the human or heaven realm. So, “In future lives, they will be born in a good place.”
This is what the Dharma can do in the human realm. “In the heaven or human realms, they will cultivate and uphold…good deeds and precepts.” They will be able to come to the human realm, be born into a rich family and have the wisdom, the wisdom-life, to again accept the Dharma and delve deeply into it, cultivate good deeds and uphold precepts. This is “receiving joy from the Path” and “also being able to hear the Dharma.” They are also able to hear the Dharma continuously and what they hear is the Right Dharma. Not only will they enjoy the blessings of being in the human realm, they will also aspire to become monastics and put an end to the afflictions of cyclic existence. Those who practice the Two Vehicles, the Hearer and Solitary Realizer Vehicles, “hear the teachings and attain Nirvana with remainder”
[They] will also be able to hear the Dharma: They will be able to listen to the Right Dharma that the Buddha teaches. The Two Vehicle practitioners hear the teachings and attain Nirvana with remainder. Thus they attain peace in this life.
Since we have the chance to listen to the Dharma, we need to move up to the next level. Instead of enjoying worldly blessings, we must eliminate afflictions. As we exist in the Six Realms, we must end the afflictions of cyclic existence. This is “attaining Nirvana with remainder.” Having eliminated afflictions, we can transcend the Three Evil Destinies and come to the human realm to enjoy peace, happiness and wealth. We can also listen to the Dharma and advance in our practice by aspiring to be Hearers and Solitary Realizers who earnestly practice the world-transcending Dharma. Then, we will have peace in this lifetime and stability in our spiritual practice.
Being born in a land of skillful means, in future lives they will be born in a good place. Being born in a land of skillful means is the good place in which Two Vehicle practitioners and Bodhisattvas who have not yet realized the Dharma-body abide
So, they are “born in a land of skillful means. In future lives they will be born in a good place.” We are able to be born in a land of skillful means. The Buddha teaches us with skillful means. If we can practice according to these teachings, we can return to the human realm. Not only will we return again to enjoy the blessings of the human realm, we can also delve more deeply into the Dharma. In the Two Vehicles, we practice as Hearers, then attain realizations as Solitary Realizers. By understanding the true principles of the world and the law of karma, we gradually enter the Great Vehicle Dharma and reach the good place where Bodhisattvas abide. This is “being born in a land of skillful means.”
We began with practicing worldly teachings, then we penetrate the world-transcending Dharma. Thus, by practicing the Two Vehicles, we will gradually enter the Bodhisattva state of forming great aspirations.
As these beings listened to the teachings, they received joy from the Path and are born as Bodhisattvas. They achieve non-arising patience and attain peace in this life.
“As these beings listened to the teachings,” because these people heard the teachings, “they received joy from the Path and are born as Bodhisattvas” and reach non-arising patience. Thus they “attain peace in this life.” Gradually, they began to advance in their practice. Life after life, they continuously practiced; eventually, as soon as they are born they know they need to practice earnestly in order to benefit everyone. Not only do they practice themselves, but they also lead other people to engage in this practice. Walking the Bodhisattva-path, we must achieve non-arising patience; this requires great mastery. Regardless of what we encounter, when we no longer give rise to afflictions, we have attained non-arising patience. This is “attaining peace in this life.”
Being born in the land of the true reward, they achieve the corresponding retribution of unobstructed, dignified wisdom. This is the land of the true reward, meaning in future lives they will be born in a good place and will receive joy.
“Being born in the land of the true reward,” we still need to advance. After being born in the land of true reward, we “achieve…unobstructed, dignified wisdom” ․Being born in the land of the true reward, they achieve the corresponding retribution of unobstructed, dignified wisdom. This is the land of the true reward, meaning in future lives they will be born in a good place and will receive joy. Our wisdom will be completely unobstructed. Right now, we ordinary people are often obstructed. We may think we clearly know what is right, but people say things that influence us, so we lose that confidence. Thus, we need to strengthen our spiritual aspirations and achieve unobstructed, dignified wisdom. This is the land of the true reward. This corresponding retribution is stability in our body and mind. In this way, “In future lives we will be born in a good place.” In this life, if our minds are not stable or steadfast enough, when circumstances arise we will be easily influenced by them. Then, we will always be stuck in the same place. We should continue to move forward. Our capabilities must be firmly rooted, and our faith and understanding must be clear. Only then can we be born in the land of the true reward, where illusory states will no longer influence us. This way, we will be very grounded. We will “be born in a good place in future lives.” The land of the true reward is the place in which we want to be reborn in the future. Then in the future, we can remain steadfast in the Dharma.
The seeds we cultivate in this life will bring about our fruits in the future. Humans and heavenly beings hear the teachings and uphold the precepts. Their blessings and virtues help them to attain peace in this life. Heavenly beings are born in the heavens, and humans are born in this world, or they may be born in each other’s worlds. Thus, they are born in good places in future lives. Once born, they are able to awaken and thus can receive joy from the Path
“The seeds we cultivate in this life will bring about our fruits in the future.” The causes we are cultivating in this life will determine the effects we face in the future. “Humans and heavenly beings hear the teachings and uphold the precepts.” Blessings and virtues will help us. In the human and heaven realms, we hear teachings about the Five Precepts and the Ten Good Deeds and about creating blessings for the world. This helps us put the Dharma into practice and create blessed karma in the human realm, ․The seeds we cultivate in this life will bring about our fruits in the future. Humans and heavenly beings hear the teachings and uphold the precepts. Their blessings and virtues help them to attain peace in this life. Heavenly beings are born in the heavens, and humans are born in this world, or they may be born in each other’s worlds. Thus, they are born in good places in future lives. Once born, they are able to awaken and thus can receive joy from the Path “[They] attained peace in this life” means we will feel peaceful in this lifetime and in a future life we will be reborn in the heaven or human realm. Whether we are born in the human realm or in the heaven realm, we are “born in a good place in future lives.” “Once born, they are able to awaken.” We can attain awakening and understanding; then this lifetime of spirtiual practice will not have been in vain. Otherwise, if all we do is listen, our capabilities will be very limited and what we are able to accept will be very shallow. When circumstances arise, we may allow ourselves to waver. Because of this, we should be earnestly mindful. Whether the teachings are for heavenly beings or humans, we must absorb them and then go further to genuinely practice them. When the sound of the teachings enters our minds, we must put our hearts into accepting it and realize all things in the world are impermanent. Moreover, we must form aspirations to understand the Dharma and extensively create good karmic connections. We must earnestly spread the Dharma so that those in places with many hardships have the opportunity to accept the Dharma. If we continue to do good deeds, regardless what kind of good deeds we do, we will have blessings in our future lives. Then, we “receive joy from the Path.” The teachings we practice now will determine the [state] that we attain. Then, naturally our minds will be happy and at peace, and we will be able to remain in that state. So everyone, we must always be mindful.