Please Listen Very Carefully

Several years ago in Singapore, I was listening to a live translation of a talk by my teacher, Ven. Master Chin Kung, on the Infinite Life Sutra. Venerable Wu Ping was translating for me and we were in the temporary Internet broadcasting room. My brother is a lively translator who becomes thoroughly absorbed in the mood of what is being said.

She had been speaking in a normal voice but suddenly her voice became soft as she said in an almost imploring voice, “Fellow practitioners please listen very carefully.”

It was magical—I instantly focused intently on what she was saying.

She continued the translation as Teacher said, “I have been giving lectures for forty years… Who benefited the most? I DID! I have not missed one lecture while the audience missed many.” I could imagine the audience laughing in delight with Teacher.

The underlying point that Teacher was making is daily study and learning. Very few of us have the good fortune to lecture for forty or fifty years but we can dedicate some time every day to the teachings. Find the teaching you like and then stick with it. We don’t need to jump from one book to another, devouring the words as we read because doing that we will quickly forget what we read.

We need to hear the ideas and principles repeated and rephrased. Gradually, the principles will sink in and, with practice, we will act on them naturally.

Releasing the Cows

One day the Buddha was sitting in the wood with thirty or forty monks. They had an excellent lunch and they were enjoying the company of each other. There was a farmer passing by and the farmer was very unhappy. He asked the Buddha and the monks whether they had seen his cows passing by. The Buddha said they had not seen any cows passing by.

The farmer said, "Monks, I'm so unhappy. I have twelve cows and I don't know why they all ran away. I have also a few acres of a sesame seed plantation and the insects have eaten up everything. I suffer so much I think I am going to kill myself.

The Buddha said, "My friend, we have not seen any cows passing by here. You might like to look for them in the other direction."

So the farmer thanked him and ran away, and the Buddha turned to his monks and said, "My dear friends, you are the happiest people in the world. You don't have any cows to lose. If you have too many cows to take care of, you will be very busy.

"That is why, in order to be happy, you have to learn the art of cow releasing (laughter). You release the cows one by one. In the beginning you thought that those cows were essential to your happiness, and you tried to get more and more cows. But now you realize that cows are not really conditions for your happiness; they constitute an obstacle for your happiness. That is why you are determined to release your cows."

~ Told by Master Thich Nhat Hanh

 

Reacting Wisely to External Stimuli

In the Essentials, Master Ouyi’s commentary on the Amitabha Sutra, we read, “One lets go of the phenomena one sees and keeps in mind and never reminisces about them.” Letting go refers to how we are to react to our external environments.

Outside stimuli often tempt us. But, ideally, when we see or hear these stimuli, we should not be attached to them. When they are over, we should not reminisce about them again. Every time we recall them, a seed is planted in our Alaya consciousness, and we create a karmic cause. Our mouths are not creating a karmic cause, neither are our bodies. It is our thoughts that are creating karmic cause.

We should often remember “All phenomena are unreal” and “All functioning phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows.” This is the truth the Buddha taught us. It is very hard for ordinary people to understand and to awaken. Sakyamuni Buddha taught the Dharma for forty-nine years. He repeated the important teachings. We are familiar with them after hearing them so many times but we cannot practice them. As soon as a situation arises, we immediately become deluded and our wandering thoughts, discriminations, and attachments arise.

 ~ Based on Ven. Master Chin Kung's 2003 lecture series on the Amitabha Sutra

Like a Dream, Like a Bubble

When we encounter our foes or unhappy situations, we can remind ourselves that as was said in the Diamond Sutra: “Whatever takes form is illusory” and “All compounded things are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, and a shadow.” If we realize this, our minds will quickly become calm. With our chanting of “Amituofo,” understanding that coming to this world is an excursion and we will be gone in a few days.

Whether the actions of others are good or bad does not relate directly to us, and we do not have to worry about it. If we have an affinity with someone, we can urge him or her to do good deeds. If we do not have an affinity, then we can try to set a good example. If the individual understands, it is his or her good fortune. If not, it is also okay.

We can try to use Buddhas and bodhisattvas as our examples for when they manifest in this world, their every thought, word, and action is to teach all beings. So they never stop lecturing or setting examples. But as they lecture and set examples for the sake of others, it is without any thought of self-interest. In everything they do, their minds remain pure. They are completely at ease.

If one has the slightest thought of self, trouble will follow. Why? Because one makes mistakes when one has a thought of self-interest. Only when one has no thought of self-interest and has truly let go of everything will one’s mind be liberated and one’s wisdom be uncovered.

~ Based on Ven. Master Chin Kung's 2003 lecture series on the Amitabha Sutra

Because I'm Here

An old monk was sweeping the yard in a monastery under the scorching sun.

Another monk passed by and asked him, "How old are you?"

The old monk replied, "I'm seventy-seven."

"You are so old! Why are you still working so hard here?"

"Well, because I'm here."

"But why are you working under the scorching sun?"

"Because the sun is there."

[Act without worrying about the results, and strive for excellence without dwelling on it. If we put all of our hearts into what we do without complaining, we can become one with the "Way."]

~ Source Unknown