Choose Habits Carefully

Some years ago, I was told about a woman who had been very ill and periodically needed to be hospitalized and the friends who visited her. It seemed that when they all went shopping together, this woman would habitually say that she had forgotten her money and would ask to borrow some from the others. Then she would forget to repay what she had borrowed. The friends were understandably concerned about this.

When she would have to go to the hospital, the friends would visit her and talk to her about trying to be a kinder, more forgiving and honest person, but she would explain that she did not have the energy right then and would do so when she returned home. When they then visited her at home and spoke to her again, she would say that she was healthier now and would get around to such things later.

One day, when the woman was again in the hospital, one of the friends visited her. As she was lying there, the woman began to tell her visitor about a time when she had loaned another person some money and jewelry. As she was angrily complaining that this person had failed to return the jewelry, the woman suddenly died.

The friend, who had been with her, told us that the woman’s face was contorted with anger when she died. And within thirty minutes, her face turned dark gray.

When this woman died, she was not thinking of the kindness of the friend who had come to visit her or of the hospital staff who were trying to help her. She was not thinking of any of that. She was thinking of her missing jewelry and she was very angry. She had not expected to die at that moment. She was simply reacting from habit.

Since our thoughts, which so often arise from habit, create our futures and lead us to our next rebirth, it logically follows that our dying thoughts lead us to our next lifetime. 

Aware of the potential seriousness of the form our habits take, we need to be careful of what habits we develop. 

The Giving of Teaching

One of the ways we can give to others is by teaching. We may not have many things to give. But many people are good at doing things that others are not, or may know things that others do not know. We can impart to others whatever skills and knowledge we have. We do not need to have exceptional skills or special knowledge. We just teach others who wish to learn, so that they too will acquire those skills or understanding.

When we see someone who is in need, perhaps, of food or other basic necessities, we can first give them what they need to meet their immediate needs, but then we can go a step further by finding ways to teach them what they need to know to become self sufficient. This way they, too, can care for those they love and are responsible for.

In our teaching, however, we should not withhold any information, but continue teaching all that we know, as long as the person wishes to learn. If, due to our selfishness, we decide to not teach the other person to the best of our ability by sharing all that we know, or perhaps due to self-interest, we decide that we have done enough and that the other person can figure out the rest himself, then we are not sincerely teaching. Sincerity is the key. We may not know a lot, but as long as we know something that others do not, then we should openly and honestly share our skills and knowledge with them.

Even if we do not have possessions or knowledge to give, we can still be kind. We can still be respectful to others. We can still be considerate of all beings around us. We can help others to feel safe around us.

Free From Worries and Fears

The Buddha told us that if we abide by the precepts and laws, we will enjoy physical and mental well-being, and will be free from worries and fears. Since meditative concentration arises from tranquility, observation of the precepts is essential to cultivation.

If we commit a crime and manage to get away without worldly punishment, we will still be pricked by our conscience and will thus be disturbed physically and mentally. As a result, we cannot achieve concentration. One must have a calm mind to cultivate concentration. Therefore, physical and mental tranquility is the foundation of concentration.

This is why it is said, “Discipline leads to meditative concentration, from which arises wisdom.”

~ Master Chin Kung, Buddhism: The Awakening of Compassion and Wisdom 

Master Dixian's Student

In the beginning of the twentieth century, the well-known Master Dixian, was visited by a childhood friend who wished to become a monk. The master initially de­nied the request because of the rigorous training and study at the temple. But as his friend persisted, the mas­ter agreed saying, “I will find you a deserted temple in the countryside.”

The Master then arranged for some practitioners to provide meals for the new monk and then taught his old friend to chant “Amituofo.” The master said, “When tired, rest; when rested, resume chanting. I am sure that you will greatly benefit from this.” And so, the new monk isolated him­self in the small temple and as instructed, concentrated solely on his chanting.

Three years later, he told the woman who had been doing his cooking that there was no need to pre­pare the next day’s food. The following day, she went to the tem­ple and found him standing in the temple with his recitation beads in his hand. She called out his name but re­ceived no response. Upon moving closer to him, she realized that he was dead!

Not knowing what to do, she rushed off to tell the others, and they sent the master a message. Due to difficulties in traveling, it took Master Dixian three days to arrive at the temple. He immedi­ately understood that his old friend had been reborn into the Pure Land.

He said admiringly, “You have proved that your deci­sion three years ago to become a monk was a fruit­ful one. Not one of the Dharma masters or abbots at all the famous temples can match your achieve­ment.” For three years, the uneducated monk had done nothing but recite “Amituofo.” His singleminded, ceaseless recitation had resulted in his being freed from the cycle of birth and death and of being reborn into the Pure Land.

What are Discriminatory Thoughts?

Discriminatory thoughts and attachments are the root cause of why we are still mired in samsara, the cycle of rebirth. Discrimination occurs when we see others and ourselves as two, when we still have ideas of favor­ing and disfavoring, and self and other. With such thoughts, we will help people we like but not those we dislike. This differ­entiation, which arises from our ignorance, results in our automati­cally reacting in a judgmental manner.

When we use discriminatory thoughts, our speech and deeds will be limited. However, when we speak and act from minds and hearts that no longer differenti­ate between others and ourselves, the deeds can be infinite because we will no longer be attached.

Our discriminatory minds are limited. But our true nature is infinite because everything in the universe is one. As we learn in the Flower Adornment Sutra, “One is all, all is one.” When we speak and act from this non-discriminatory mind, the mind of the Buddhas, we are in harmony with the true nature and are one with the uni­verse.

The key to suppressing and eradicat­ing our discrimi­natory thoughts is to chant “Amituofo.” This single-minded chanting is speaking and acting from the non-discriminatory mind. One instant of chanting “Amituofo” puts one in harmony with the true nature and for that instant, we will be one with the Buddhas.