Chapter 32: Infinite Lifespan and Joy (12)

“What is within their mind is reflected in their outward behaviors. Naturally well-disciplined, they have an awe-inspiring bearing.” 

“What is within their mind is reflected in their outward behavior.” The bodhisattvas in the Pure Land all have minds and behavior that naturally correspond with the Middle Way. Having realized the Middle Way, they are at ease and happy.

“Naturally well-disciplined, they have an awe-inspiring bearing.” The bodhisattvas do everything naturally, not intentionally. Nothing is forced. “Well-disciplined” is neat and proper, in perfect order. “Awe-inspiring” is magnificent. Externally, the bodhisattvas are naturally well-disciplined and awe-inspiring. There is no need to plan or think about what to do. As it is said, “Within, the mind is unmoved; without, the mind is not attached to phenomena.”

Why are we ordinary beings not natural? Readily affected by the external world, we are constantly distracted by current trends, always wanting to grasp what is deemed popular. This is not natural. Those who have achieved a certain level in their cultivation are no longer influenced by the external world. They have truly achieved. 

From "Commentary on the Infinite Life Sutra" Volume 3

Pure Land Translation Team

Self-sacrifice and selfless behavior aren’t just for the big things in life.

Just as time is needed  

for a perfume bottle’s fragrance to fade away, 

time is also needed 

for the scent of our habits to wane.

An empty bottle of perfume, even after washing, will still exude its original fragrance. Although the perfume is long since gone, its scent or “habit energy” remains and will need considerable time to dissipate. 

In a similar manner, our bad habits also need time to be eliminated. Even after we curtail an action its habit energy remains, like that scent of the perfume. Lured by the habit energy’s lingering presence, we find it difficult to break the energy’s hold. And so, we are unable to cease the action. 

Consider the countless lifetimes we have spent perpetuating and reinforcing our habits, committing misdeed after misdeed. The time the perfume stays in its bottle is minuscule compared to our time committing misdeeds in samsara. And so, our habit energy will take a long time of diligent hard work to dispel, to finally be extinguished.