Wisdom from the Master

• Reciting the sutra and chanting the Buddha's name daily is not enough. We need to change our incorrect viewpoints and erroneous ways. We need to interact with everything and everyone in a proper manner. Otherwise, recitation of the Buddha's name to the point of losing our voice will not accomplish anything. Neither does bruising our head from prostrating to the Buddha remove our bad karma!

• If we can accept all sentient beings as future Buddhas then we will see Buddhas all around us, all the time.

• When our six senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and thought encounter the environment, thoughts of like and dislike arise. This brings about reincarnation and is an obstacle for us on our path towards the Pure Land.

• Living in the world as we do, we need to learn how to cultivate stillness even in the midst of noise.

• It is more important to have a cup of water where we practice than either flowers or incense. The water represents the stillness, the purity that is the mind of the Buddha.

• Our mind is like water. When calm, without motion, it is like a mirror clearly reflecting images. This is the state of true happiness. But when the water becomes agitated, the images become blurred and disappear. This is the loss of happiness.

• Our eye is very small, our optic nerves are minute. But we can see rivers, mountains, sky, sun with our small eye. It does not need to get larger to see them. Nor do they need to get smaller. The true reality of life and the universe is that there is no difference; no bigger, no smaller, no front, no behind, no former, no later.

• Duality is not equality. Oneness is equality. A wandering thought arising in one’s mind dis­turbs this oneness and renders everything une­qual.

• When we commit bad deeds, stop. When we see the bad deeds of others, remember not to commit them. When we practice good deeds, do more. And when we see the good deeds of others, remember to practice those as well.

• The Dharma expounded by the Buddha is neither elusive nor mystical. It is inherent in every aspect of our lives and is therefore visible and real. Why then are we unable to perceive this reality? Because we are obstructed by our own negative karma. Unable to see what is right before our eyes.

• If we fall into the hell realms, the Buddhas will follow us there. If we slander or kill them they will follow us with one thought—to help us. They will not lose one sentient being, no matter how long it takes.

• Confidence and belief are the origin of attaining achievement. If we lack confidence in our teacher we are wasting our time, even if they are a Buddha or Bodhisattva. But, if we are filled with confidence in a teacher who knows only a little but we learn from them, then we will generate infinite benefits.

~ Based on the teachings of Venerable Master Chin Kung