The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.106)

2019 • 01 48 harma Employ all Dharma but cling to none E very person wants to obtain true happiness; those with truly tranquil minds are the most happy. So, what kinds of people have tranquil minds? Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and other noble beings. They are never hard-pressed or knocked off balance by the events that happen in the world around them. They always persevere and have faith. Regardless of the difficulties that lie before them, they are always peaceful and at ease while remaining dignified and striving for self-improvement. They are the most tranquil sages. How do noble beings achieve this tranquillity? By making use of all teachings but not clinging to any one of them. That is the essence of having “the emptiness of all phenomena as our seat.” The noble beings have gained insight into all things in the world and see through life. After all, how long is a lifetime? It lasts only as long as we breathe. So why do we spend time fighting over the tiniest things? The most important thing to do is to seize every opportunity we have to serve others and help to transform them. In addition to sharing teachings with others, we also have to put what we have learned into practice. Moreover, we must not be attached to our accomplishments. We should not consider ourselves better or wiser than other people. Everything we do, we do for the good of others. We give teachings and engage in spiritual cultivation for the sake of all living beings, so they should be the ones who get the credit. Acompassionate life of truth, goodness and beauty A Chinese saying goes: “If we had not endured the bitter cold, how could we smell the sweet fragrance of plum blossoms?” Plum blossoms can bloom in winter because they can withstand the cold weather. We should emulate this spirit of the plum flowers and the evergreen trees and thrive in the face of all the challenges that come our way. We learn the Buddha’s Way to train ourselves to develop loving- kindness and compassion, to be gentle and patient, and to be awakened and benevolent people who bring warmth to others like a current of warm air on a cold winter day. I truly hope that we will do everything we can to connect with and nurture the loving-kindness and compassion within us. When we are filled with loving-kindness and compassion, we will naturally be clothed in gentleness and patience and thoroughly comprehend the truths of all things in the world. We will then realize that there is nothing worth getting attached to, and we will be able to selflessly work to benefit both ourselves and others. Should we be able to accomplish this level of spiritual cultivation, then the life we lead will be a most wonderful life of truth, goodness and beauty THE THIRD PRINCIPLE Give rise to Bodhicitta Believe in the karmic law of cause and effect Read and recite the Great Vehicle Sutra Diligently progress on the Bodhisattva Path