The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.112)

2019 • 07 50 The Diamond Sutra teaches the principles of emptiness; however, worldly matters and appearances do exist. Just because the Buddha said that all is empty and that we must not be attached to how things appear, we cannot consider Sariputra or Maudgalyayana as Sakyamuni Buddha, claiming that all people are just people and all matters are just matters! There is an order for people and matters. When we work with people, we must bring principles and matters together. Emptiness and existence are one, so we must not become attached to emptiness and ignore what happens around us. In order to attain Buddhahood, we need to achieve three kinds of harmony: “harmony with principles”, “harmony with people”, and “perfect harmony between principles and matters”. “Harmony with principles” refers to awakening ourselves, “harmony with people” refers to awakening others, and “perfect harmony between principles and matters” refers to attaining perfect awakened conduct. If we become attached to emptiness, then we will only attain harmony with principles. In studying Buddhist teachings, we need not only to understand the principles thoroughly, but must also have harmony in our interpersonal relationships. This is the correct path for spiritual practice and learning. The prince’s perseverance in ascetic practice We mentioned earlier that a part of Sakyamuni Buddha’s name means “tranquil extinction”. Why is this? If one can calm one’s mind, one’s spirit naturally becomes tranquil. With a tranquil spirit, one will be at ease. The reason why people have so many afflictions and cannot be at ease is because their minds are not quiet. The ancients said, “In the midst of change, let the mind be steady. When the mind is steady, one can act amid change.” In other words, we need to stay calm and avoid panicking—even when there is turmoil all around us, if we can still retain a tranquil spirit, then that is a settled state of wisdom. This is the meaning of “tranquil extinction” in our minds. Spiritual practice is about calming our minds.We must first distance ourselves from desirous thoughts and eliminate defiled emotions. Doing so requires a focus on reason; we must not be attached to conditioned appearances.With attachment to appearances, therewill be discrimination and bias based on feelings of like or dislike. Two Vehicle practitioners, Hearers and Pratyekabuddhas, have completely seen through everything. They do not desire anything, but instead they wish to remain in a state of being unconditioned, and are therefore hesitant to engage with sentient beings. As for the Buddha, for the sake of saving sentient beings, he would not shun engaging with beings in this world, neither was he affected by conditioned appearances. He acted in accordance with what was needed by the world, and while he was never attached to worldly love, in all his actions he applied unconditional loving-kindness and universal compassion to all. This is why the Buddha’s virtue transcends that of the Two Vehicle practitioners. (To be continued in the next issue) * This article is extracted from the book “Reminders under the Sala Trees – A Commentary on the Sutra of the Buddha’s Bequeathed Teachings”. REMINDERS UNDER THE SALA TREES