The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.110)

TZU CHI 110 45 THREE WAYS TO THE PURE LAND timing and conditions. They support and develop the work of the Great Vehicle.” If we wish to transform sentient beings, we must teach according to their capacities and carefully choose the times, places and methods of teaching based on the audience. This is the meaning of “proper timing and conditions”. When we speak, we must take into consideration the audience, time and location. We should say something to someone only when that person is ready to comprehend and accept what is said. But before we speak, the circumstances should also be taken into account. Even if the listener is ready and the timing is good, whether the place is appropriate should still be considered. We can thus see that choosing the “proper timing and conditions” to educate people requires analysing the conditions with wisdom. We must be able to distinguish the best circumstances under which we can teach others—this is wisdom. With “wisdom as brilliant and impartial as the sun and the moon” to illuminate matters, we can analyse the capacity an individual has for understanding the teaching, and we will then know which kind of practice to promote at which occasion. With wisdom, we can then “support and develop the work of the Great Vehicle”. So what does “support and develop” mean?Afarmer knows how to take care of his crops after he sows the seeds. When the seedlings appear, some of them need to be taken out to prevent overcrowding, as this can cause the crop to be of less desirable quality. When does a farmer plant vegetables? Or sow rice seeds? A crop should be cultivated according to its own growing season, so that a bountiful harvest can be reaped. As Buddhist practitioners, we are similar to farmers and gardeners in that we sow good seeds, nurture them with care and manage the seedlings to ensure proper growth. In this way, we help the seeds of awakening grow up strong and healthy. This is what it means to “support and develop the work of the Great Vehicle”. The Buddha guided people with many different methods. His primary purpose in doing this was to inspire the Great Vehicle spirit in us and guide us to do the work of the Great Vehicle. The work of Great Vehicle is to save people, and its spirit is the selfless spirit of the Bodhisattvas. We ourselves should foster such a spirit, and at the same time, lead others to undertake this work. This is the essential spirit of the Lotus Sutra teachings. Make great vows and sustain them forever In the “Chapter on Virtue” of the Sutra of Infinite Meanings , the Bodhisattvas are also described: “With minds tranquil and clear, vows vast as the universe, they remain unwavering for countless eons.” Applied to ordinary people like ourselves, this means that we should, with pure minds, make the great vow to awaken both ourselves and others, and then sustain that resolve in all our subsequent lives to come, without ever retreating. We are blessed to live today in a stable and prosperous environment, so we should cherish this opportunity to improve ourselves and enhance our ability to transform people in the future. We should form good karmic affinities with everyone and work together in exercising our