Through the Eyes of a Buddha-to-be

There is no difference between me and you and they. We are all part of one another: we each have a Buddha-nature waiting to awaken. Every person—every being—we will encounter today is a future Buddha. A Buddha-to-be caught just as we are in our lack of awareness. 

Unaware, they suffer just as we suffer. They too get hooked by their habits and carelessly react from those habits, not from wisdom. Deluded, they suffer just as we suffer. They too take wrong ideas for the truth and view the truth as falsehood. They too act out of ignorance and make many mistakes, not realizing the harm they are doing.

Today, all those we encounter will undergo trials. Take their disappointment and difficulties in as your own. And view them clearly and non-judgmentally through your eyes—the eyes of a Buddha-to-be. 

Finding Time

Sometimes it is difficult to find time to meditate each day. But we always have time to watch TV. We always have time to go shopping. We always have time to get a snack from the refrigerator. Why is it that the 24 hours run out when it is time to meditate? When we understand the value and effect of spiritual practice, then it will become a high priority in our life, and when something is very important, we find time for it.

~ Ven. Thubten Chodron

Harrison

One of the many bonuses in traveling to give Dharma talks is staying with generous people who invite me to stay in their home. One such time in Australia, I had the pleasure of visiting the home of some good friends for a few days. Their son and daughter-in-law came from out-of-town with their two children. After the children were fed the mother was bathing the baby. From the next room, I could hear her talking to her laughing son in a monologue that sparkled with laughter, when at one point I heard her say "I’m sorry."

An adult was apologizing to her 11-month old son as naturally and courteously as someone would have apologized to a an adult they had just disturbed! A lively and healthy boy with an excellent vocal system, Harrison and his sister had kept their parents busy all day. Nonetheless, a mother who had every right to be tired had happily cared for her son and said, "I’m sorry" to him.

She had treated her son as respectfully as she would have a newly-met stranger. Such effortless and caring respect could only serve to improve any relationship.

Life is Like a Soap Opera

 

Real life is very much like a soap opera in which everyone plays a role. We all have the experience of following the emotional swings of the characters of soap operas. However, we rarely sense that the ensuing sentiments of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are but distinctions made by our own minds.

It is much the same in real life. More often than not, we allow our distinctions of circumstances or judgments of people to take charge of our emotions without being conscious about it. Furthermore, it seems we always find it easier to emulate bad examples than good ones.

This is because our delusions accumulated through eons can easily overwhelm us. Hence, we are often swayed by circumstances befitting our sinister desires.

On the other hand, how often have we claimed that “to tolerate the intolerable and practice the impracticable” is the attainment of buddhas and bodhisattvas, thereby excusing ourselves for not following their examples but merely praising them with empty words?

~ Analects of Master Kuang-ch'in

Just be Good

When I first attended the Dallas Buddhist Association, it was as a participant in a meditation group that was started for westerners. Several of us had called at the time a monk arrived from Miami. He was extremely out-going, with an infectious laugh.

One evening, I was helping him carry some supplies to the building the group met in. In Chinese culture, it is very normal to ask someone their age. Since the Chinese respect elders, you quickly realize this is an excellent way to determine how to act properly toward another person and not necessarily a reason to worry about your recent behavior.

As we were walking, the monk asked me how old I was. I told him that I was forty-eight. He carefully considered this for a moment and very sincerely responded, "Too old to learn. Just be good."

Over the years, people have reacted differently to the "Too old to learn" comment. Perhaps it was the way he said it, but I didn't get upset over the first part. I zoomed in on the latter part, "Just be good."

Such a simple instruction—just be good. That's all we have to do. We don't need to complicate our practice. Just recite and learn one sutra. Just chant one Buddha's name. Just focus on this moment. Just be good.