The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.114).

2019 • 09 50 harma Teaching the Four Noble Truths U nder the Bodhi tree, sitting on the Vajra Throne, the Buddha made the great vow to attain Bodhi; only with such unwavering determination can anyone attain the state of a noble being. Ordinary beings remain unenlightened because they lack this firmness of vows. They are unable to endure even the slightest suffering, and their minds waver easily. They are not willing to take on the challenges of the natural state of the universe. Whenever they encounter difficulties in their relationships with others, they retreat quickly—these are weaknesses of ordinary beings. So, if we wish to become a saint, we must first train ourselves to endure being tested by nature and tempered in the furnace of human relationships. When the Buddha realized the wondrous secrets of the universe and true principles of life, he immediately wanted to tell others about this wondrous Dharma. The first people he thought of were the five attendants who had followed him in ascetic practice but left because of a misunderstanding. Therefore, after the prince attained Buddhahood, the first thing he did was to go to Deer Park to expound the Dharma to those five people. When they saw the prince coming from afar, they told each other, “The prince’s spiritual aspirations have diminished. He cannot endure the loneliness and is coming to see us. Let’s ignore him when he comes.” However, at that time, the Buddha had already attained the Thirty-two Marks, the dignified appearance arising from his inner spiritual cultivation. Thus, he very naturally convinced the others. I often say, “If we diligently cultivate ourselves and maintain the tranquility of our minds, we will naturally manifest the virtuous appearances of cultivation, merits and blessings.” Even the way we walk or the way we lift a hand or place our foot can move people and make them feel respectful and joyful. This is the meaning of “virtuous appearances”. Therefore, people who attain virtue can win the affection and respect of others. After the Buddha became enlightened, he taught the Dharma for 49 years, CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION