The world of Tzu Chi December 2020(Vol.129)

2020 • 12 52 * This article is extracted from the book “Reminders under the Sala Trees – A Commentary on the Sutra of the Buddha’s Bequeathed Teachings”. they had to uphold the precepts well. Only by meticulously upholding the precepts themselves could they teach lay disciples to make aspirations and uphold precepts. Therefore, the Buddha required the bhiksus to uphold the pure precepts. “[Do] not break them.” The precepts must be upheld without any violation, otherwise we will be at fault. This is like how, when people buy diamonds, they will always choose those that are pure and flawless; with even a tiny blemish, an otherwise expensive diamond will lose its value. The same is true for jade: if there is even a small impurity in it, even if it looks beautiful on the surface, it will still be without value. If this is how we view material objects, then what about our view of our own minds? If there is even a trace of unwholesome habitual tendencies, views or thoughts, our pure spiritual aspirations will be tainted. As spiritual practitioners, we must be very cautious. Sometimes, if our thoughts deviate even a tiny bit, it will take us far off course. For example, when “one speaks a falsehood, ten thousand will pass it on as truth”. Inadvertently, people will repeat baseless assertions to others without understanding the matter clearly. One person may pass them on to ten others, and those ten will pass them on to a hundred more, etc. Eventually, the original matter is blown out of proportion. In fact, this is all due to one careless thought. Those who know to be ashamed, after they make a mistake, they will think, “I was wrong”, but those who do not know to be ashamed will continue to make mistakes. Therefore, whether speaking or listening, we must be cautious. Otherwise, a single sentence can bring destruction and blemish to our pure precepts and pure thoughts. Before the Buddha attained Buddhahood, he painstakingly engaged in spiritual practice for a countless number of kalpas . He did not necessarily always appear in the form of a human being; he also appeared in the animal realm. The Jataka Sutra says that our karma follows us like our shadow. Creating blessings will earn us blessed retributions, but if we create negative karma, we will suffer retributions of pain. (To be continued in the next issue) REMINDERS UNDER THE SALA TREES