The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.112)

TZU CHI 112 55 only three. “Three? That’s easy. I can do that.” “Now I want you to listen carefully,” Buddha said. “I just want you to be mindful of your actions, words and thoughts. If these three are pure and clean, then you can keep all the precepts.” The monk heard this and was quite delighted. He bowed to Buddha and vowed to abide by the three precepts for the rest of his life. Buddha turned to the senior monk. “Now I’m entrusting this young monk back to you. You must teach him well.” So the young monk abided by the precepts every day, and because his actions, words and thoughts were pure, he was happy every day. After a while, he attained the arhathood . Many monks who heard about this praised the wisdom of Buddha, because he could enlighten a person with a few simple words. He was able to simplify the complex precepts and make them easy for the young monk to follow. Simplicity is beauty. Learning Buddhism is not so complicated. If we can have a simple life, then is there anything we cannot accomplish? And why can’t we be happy at everything? Whenever I go to Taichung, some little children always come to visit me with their piggy banks. One child started this when he was only two years old, and now he is almost four. He has not started kindergarten yet and he is really adorable. Last time, he came to see me with his piggy bank as always. When he saw me, he said, “Master, this is for you to build the medical college. I bow three times before your picture every day. Do you see me? And do you hear what I tell you every day?” “What do you say?” I asked. “I hope that I can say nice words, do good deeds, and think good thoughts. I say that to you every day.” Do you hear that? A little child can make this wish every day! If we can be innocent, say good words, do good deeds, and think good thoughts like this child, is there any precept that we cannot follow? * This article is extracted from the book “The Master Tells Stories”.