The world of Tzu Chi June 2020 (Vol.123)

TZU CHI 123 51 REMINDERS UNDER THE SALA TREES have different roles, they can all uphold the precepts and follow the teachings, and can in this way attain liberation and peace. Therefore, it is explained as “liberation by type of precepts”. Another explanation is “liberation in any place”. Upholding precepts needs to be done in accordance with the environment. Each person must make appropriate adjustments and uphold the precepts in his or her environment, only then can one attain liberation. Upholding the precepts without being attached to them is called “liberation in any place”. The precepts established by the Buddha are practical and not inflexible; they were determined in response to mistakes people made during the Buddha’s time. Whether we are monastics or lay practitioners, we should maintain purity in mind and body. In doing so, we will not risk committing transgressions that will leave us troubled and unable to attain liberation. The precepts were set up to prevent us from making mistakes. We must all have a clear understanding of our own mission—with a sincere and determined mindset, we will have no difficulty following the precepts. I hope everyone can respect Pratimoksa ; this is the emphasis of the Sutra of the Buddha’s Bequeathed Teachings , and the fundamental duty of Buddhist practitioners today. Nurture the roots of goodness to eliminate afflictions “As a person in darkness who sees a light or a poor man who attains treasures...” As we start out learning the Buddhadharma, our initial aspiration is to understand how to return to our intrinsic nature and develop our pure innate Dharmakaya . We attain a pure Dharmakaya through the precepts. Precepts can prevent our minds from being defiled by the external environment. So, before we become defiled, we must carefully protect ourselves. Modern medicine is very advanced; when an infectious disease starts to spread, the Department of Health will require everyone to be vaccinated. The precepts have the same function: they help us prevent mistakes before they happen. When precepts are broken, our minds cease to be pure. Therefore, we must diligently uphold precepts and eliminate defilement in our minds and bodies. Only then will we be able to return to our pure intrinsic nature. Our “mind” and our “nature” are actually one and the same. It is just that our “mind” has been contaminated and influenced by our environment. “An ignorant thought creates the Three Subtleties. External states lead to the Six Coarse Marks.” Before it became defiled, the mind was nothing but our pure intrinsic nature. However, an ignorant thought arose, creating three kinds of subtle afflictions: greed, anger and ignorance. As we see external states, we give rise to certain views and understandings in