http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:32 EST Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:32 EST Zorpia.com http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1887127 回顧歷史上對人類有重大貢獻的人物，有許多都是提倡素食非常賣力的，像佛教的釋迦牟尼佛、基督教的耶穌、回教的穆罕默德、儒家的孔子和孟子、道家的老子、印度耆那教教主、中國的國父孫中山、印度國父甘地、美國總統富蘭克林、天才科學家牛頓和愛因斯坦、英國大文學家莎士比亞和蕭伯納、俄國大文學家托爾斯泰、印度大詩人泰戈爾、德國大慈善家史懷哲、法國大政治家盧梭、希臘大哲學家柏拉圖和蘇格拉底、進化論的創始人達爾文等等，不勝枚舉 毛澤東83歲去世，他的長壽與他的健康身體有關；而他的健康身體又和年輕時堅持體育鍛鍊有直接的關係。一九五一年十一月，毛澤東在中南海接見年輕時一起奮鬥的老同學周世釗等人時，他講了防老的養生之道：「基本吃素，堅持走路，心情舒暢，勞逸適度。」十六字訣，後來又根據自己的親身經驗，修改成為「基本吃素，飯後百步，遇事不怒，勞逸適度。」 一個國家偉不偉大、道德水準高不高，可以從它對待動物的方式評斷出來。 —甘地　印度國父 人類謀生的方法進步之後，才知道吃植物。中國是文化很老的國家，所以中國人多是吃植物，至於野蠻人多是吃動物。 —孫中山 我對人權和動物權益一樣重視，這也應是全體人類該有的共識 —林肯　美國總統 勤吃素，戒殺生。 —孔子 只要人們持續無情摧毀低等動物的生命，他就永遠不能體會健康或和平的真諦。因為人們右不能停止屠殺動物，那麼他們就會互相殘殺。的確，播下謀殺及痛苦的種子的人是不可能收成快樂及愛心的果實的 —畢達哥斯 我個人認為，單憑素食對人類的影響，就足以證明吃素對全人類有非常正面的感化作用。 —愛因斯坦 動物是我的朋友，我不會去吃我的朋友。 —蕭伯納　英國劇作家 我的朋友們，不要讓罪惡的食物玷污你們的身體…只有畜生才用肉來滿足自己的胃口。甚至不是所有的畜生都這樣啊！牛、馬、羊等都吃草維生。 —畢達哥斯 禁絕肉食就是遠離罪惡，重拾純真。 —塞尼加　著名文學家 Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1887127 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:07 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1887126 <div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: 宋体"><strong>為何要學佛？　為何要求生西方極樂世界？</strong></span><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><br /><br /></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: 宋体">佛曰：欲使世間無戰爭，需是眾生不食肉</span><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> <br /><br /></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: 宋体">眾生如果不求往生西方極樂世界，將來投胎一定會遇到戰爭，因為現代人物質生活充裕，餐餐必有大魚大肉，每天每年要殺食的眾生數量太大，很快就可以累積到一次戰爭需要死亡的人數，所以年歲一久，被殺食的大眾轉世為人，他們就會聚集起來報仇，這時候就是戰爭開始的時候了</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: 宋体">。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><br /><br /></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: 宋体">如果不求生西方極樂世界，生生世世輪迴只有等戰爭的份，到時能不能逃過劫難就只能各憑造化了</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: 宋体">。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><br /><br /></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: 宋体">冤冤相報沒完沒了，五濁惡世就是這樣苦難不堪，眾生不曉的自己在造業受業，災難來的時候怨天怨地怨別人，殊不知這都是自己生生世世累世造作的罪業。三世因果經云：「若問前世因，今生受者是；若問來世果，今生做者是。萬般自作還自受，地獄受苦怨何人？」</span><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> <br /><br /></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: 宋体">但是六道輪迴也是幻相，你如果看不破世間是假、不能夠放下，就永遠無法出離六道輪迴，生生世世都是要依業受報，一旦你看破、放下了，這一切對你來說就像是戲一樣，你就不會再迷了，這時候你就成佛了，就能夠再提起眾生，幫助眾生也破迷開悟了</span><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><br /><br /></span></div> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1887126 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:04 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1887123 萬般皆空，因果不空 因果轉變不空，因果相續不空 因會變成果，果會變成因 因果相續不空，所以十法界裡面冤冤相報沒完沒了 如果沒有明心見性，超出十法界，就會受阿賴耶識業力種子的牽引，不停的造業還債，明心見性了以後，就到達一真法界，証得了宇宙萬物是自己的法身，就能夠轉業力為願力，不再受業力牽引造作罪業，這時候是用願力幫助一切眾生破迷開悟。相假非有，重點在離一切相，修一切善。 事實上因=果　果=因　因為時間是幻覺，因和果是重疊在一起的，也是同時發生的 淨空法師：現代的科學家專攻量子力學的，實在上講就是研究這樁事情，這是我們現代尖端的科技。可是他有沒有方法來解決？究竟圓滿的解決是不可能的，他的認知、他的研究只能達到一定的範圍，這個範圍他沒有辦法突破，這個範圍就是佛經裡講的阿賴耶。真正究竟的圓滿是真如本性，阿賴耶是一個範圍。這個範圍大到什麼程度？佛經裡面講大到十法界。十法界跟一真法界的界限就是阿賴耶識，突破阿賴耶識，轉識成智就捨十法界，就入一真法界了。 娑婆世界五濁惡世，冤冤相報沒完沒了!! 定業是可以轉的，但是轉的人是要造業的人本身自己轉、自己覺悟!! 否則就算是釋迦牟尼佛也沒辦法幫他們轉他們的定業.. 解鈴還需繫鈴人.. 念佛就是最好的法門，念佛念到理一心不亂，就能夠轉惡緣為善緣，將這些念佛的功德回向給累劫的冤親債主，回向偈裡的二句「上報四重恩、下濟三途苦」就是這個意思，把功德回向給他們 時間是幻覺不只是愛因斯坦証明，美國太空總署最新的三個發現，第一、時間跟空間不是真的，空間跟時間在某種狀況之下等於零。第二、物質到底從哪兒來的？　科學家發現「無中生有」，確實從無中發現的。物質是無中生有。第三、宇宙有原點，那是最小的物質，宇宙原點多大？用人的一根頭髮的切面的直徑可以排宇宙的原點排一百萬億億億個原點。 Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1887123 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:57 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1887122 <p>願雲大師云：『千百年來碗裹羹，怨深似海恨難平；欲知世上刀兵劫，但聽屠門夜半聲。』 </p> <p>宋陸游放生詩云：『血肉淋漓味足珍，一般苦痛怨難伸；設身處地捫心想，誰肯將刀割自身。』 </p> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1887122 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:54 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1887116 基督是愛、上帝是愛，愛宇宙中的一切人、事、物，絕對不要去傷害他(牠、它)們 宇宙中的萬事萬物，不管是任何宗教，任何生命，都像是大海中的一滴水泡，而上帝就是大海，我們都是大海中的一滴水泡，也是上帝的一部份，殺生吃肉，就是吃掉上帝的一部份，你說上帝能不討債嗎？？ Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1887116 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:35 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885199 <p class="px12">Tian-Qi, the teachings of Master Yun-Gu are truly the most worthy, profound, real and proper teachings, and I hope that you will be well-versed in them and practice them diligently. You must use your time wisely and not let it slip by in vain. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">Mr. Liao-Fan carefully wrote down the principles and methods that the Master had taught him in changing his destiny and passed them on to his son, hoping that he too would cultivate following this method. Mr. Liao-Fan had received remarkable results from this practice and thus firmly believed in all the principles and methods that the master had taught. </p> <p class="px12">We need to be very familiar with Master Yun-Gu’s teachings, to ponder them deeply to carefully appreciate the meanings within. When we are constantly mindful of the teachings, we will savor them, then use them as the basis for our own behavior and practice them diligently. We should not waste this lifetime or allow it to pass pointlessly. </p> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885199 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:47 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885198 <p class="px12">One needs to be able to find one’s faults everyday and to correct them everyday. If one is unable to detect any faults in oneself then one will think that everything he or she does is all right. Then, they will be unable to correct their faults and improve-ment will be out of the question. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">Awakening is being able to detect our faults daily. It is the perfect complete enlightenment. The beginning of enlightenment is to detect our faults daily. We start this process when we first bring forth our vow to become an Equal Enlightenment Bodhisattva. Once we discover our faults daily, we need to correct them. This is cultivation. It is to correct our thoughts and behavior daily. It is the true achievement in the cultivation of great sages and virtuous people. </p> <p class="px12">This is the key to changing our destiny, to leaving suffering behind and to attaining happiness. When most people are unable to become virtuous and sages in one lifetime and are unable to achieve in their cultivation, they will find that the problem lies here. To know our own faults daily is to awaken daily. Once we discover a fault, we would do well to correct it. In this way, we will build our strength of cultivation to sincerely reform. We gain strength from our cultivation. We need not do much. If we were to find and correct just one fault a day then we would become a sage or a virtuous person in three years. </p> <p class="px12">As practitioners who chant the Buddha’s name, if we are able to correct one fault daily and be mindful of Buddha Amitabha then in three years time we would achieve birth into either the high or middle birth levels of the Pure Land. This is the way to cultivate to become Buddhas. The question is whether we are willing to do so earnestly. We are deluded if we are unable to daily find one fault in ourselves. If we do not know them, then of course we cannot correct them. How can we hope to improve in this way? When there is no improvement, there is regression. Naturally, we would then fall behind. To regard ourselves as infallible, to be convinced that everything we do is correct is the most horrible way for us to live. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">There are many intelligent people in the world who cannot make improve-ments in cultivating morality and virtue. Nor can they make improvements in their work. Their failures in this life are owed to a single word. Laziness. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">If we live for the present, are lethargic and lazy then we will be bound by our fate. How we are born and die, where we will go after we die all accords with our destinies. Master Yun-Gu addressed people like this as ordinary people, as philistines who completely follow what has been destined. They are what the Buddha called “pitiful creatures”. These principles, which Mr. Liao-Fan taught his son are the principles for both worldly education as well as Buddhism and must not be ignored. </p> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885198 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:46 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885197 <p class="px12">“When thinking of the country, we can think of how we can repay its kindness to us”. Above us, the country or government has the mission of being a responsible leader, parent and teacher to its citizens, of providing a place where people can live and work in peace and contentment. In return, the citizens should be loyal, patriotic and dedicate themselves to their country. </p> <p class="px12">“When thinking of the family, we can think of how to bring about our families' good fortune”. Below us is the family. Being mindful of the family does not just refer to the nuclear family, but to the extended family as it was thought of in the past, the immediate family as well as all relatives. As a member, we need to be mindful in creating family good fortune for the whole, not just for the immediate part. Therefore, when one person achieves good fortune, the extended family can also benefit from it. </p> <p class="px12">“When thinking of the outside, think of how to help those in need around us”. Always bear in mind the interests of society. We need to do all we can to serve society and to create good fortune for all others. In today’s society, the most urgent need is reviving and developing the education of morality and ethics. </p> <p class="px12">“When thinking of within, think of how to prevent improper thoughts and actions from arising”. We need to prevent wandering and deviated thoughts from arising. We need to be mindful of what we are supposed to be doing and to let go of excessive ambitions. If all of us were able to do so, were able to fulfill our responsibilities, society would be fortunate and harmonious and the world would be at peace. Mencius explained that “If people of noble character and integrity can be loyal to their responsibility, then in this way the truth can be revealed”. </p> <p class="px12">In Confucian teaching, this responsibility refers to the five human relationships including those between husband and wife, parent and child, siblings, friends, political leaders and the public. He also spoke of the Ten Moral Responsibilities. All this means that we need to fulfill our responsibilities towards society and others. Whatever we have responsibility for, we need to accomplish earnestly and diligently in order to create good fortune for our family and society. </p> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885197 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:46 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885196 <p class="px12">Being humble and feeling that we are not knowledgeable enough are sufficient methods for eradicating our arrogance. Arrogance is one of the five major afflictions and is related to the other four afflictions of greed, anger, ignorance and doubt. Indeed, this was a very good place and a good way for him to start eradicating afflictions. In doing so completely, we will be able to uncover our virtuous nature, to truly achieve in our cultivation of merit. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">When thinking of the past, we can advocate the virtues of our ancestors. When thinking of the present, we can conceal the faults of our own parents. When thinking of the country, we can think of how we can repay its kindness to us and when thinking of the family we can think of how to bring about our families’ good fortune. When thinking of the outside, think of how to help those in need around us and when thinking of within think of how to prevent improper thoughts and actions from arising. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">The following summarizes this chapter, which is very important for within it lies the key to creating destiny. What we are thinking inside will be the guidelines for increasing our virtue and morality and for developing good deeds. In the past, Chinese education taught of the relationships between humans, between humans and spirits, and between humans and nature. It taught to be constantly thinking far into the past, to honor and make known the virtues of our ancestors. If we were respected by society for our moral principles and ethics, knowledge and profession, we would honor our ancestors. </p> <p class="px12">In today’s society, what is the driving force behind hard work? Wealth, fame, prestige. Most people will do whatever is necessary to acquire these. Why? The attainment of wealth urges people, drives them forward. If there were no wealth to gain, who would be willing to work so hard? Very few! In the past, the driving force behind people’s hard work was filial piety. In their mindfulness of their ancestors and parents, they did their best in cultivating and accumulating merits and virtues on their behalf and to honor them. This driving force is much worthier and nobler than that of wealth, fame and prestige. This has been the tradition of Chinese culture and Confucian teaching for several thousands of years. </p> <p class="px12">Buddhism is also based on the foundation of filial piety. Thus, the ritual of making offerings to ancestors and the establishment of ancestral memorial halls is highly regarded, as it is the ultimate root and foundation of Chinese culture. If we are able to be filial towards parents and ancestors, able to remember our root, then we will naturally be able to think and conduct ourselves properly and to refrain from wrongdoings. </p> <p class="px12">“When we are thinking of the present, we can conceal the faults of our own parents”. (This discusses those who are) close to us. If the children are filial, have contributed to society then even if their parents have committed minor offenses, people will overlook and forget them. People will praise the parents for having raised such filial children. </p> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885196 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:45 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885195 <p class="px12">Right now, even when we have more than enough food and clothing, we need to be thrifty. If we are able to constantly do this when we have wealth and prestige, then we will be able to improve in both moral conduct and benevolent behavior. </p> <p class="px12">A good example in Chinese history was Mr. Zhong-Yan Fan. Mr. Fan was from a very poor family background. When he was young and studying at way places, he had little to eat. Everyday he would cook a pot of porridge, divide it into four portions and eat one portion a meal. In this manner, he passed the days in a state of impoverishment. When he prospered later in life and became a Prime Minister (during the Song Dynasty, eight hundred years ago), he was under the supervision of the emperor and was in a higher position than everyone else. But he still maintained his simple manner of living and changed very little. When he earned more, he would think of those who were poverty-stricken and used his earnings to help them. </p> <p class="px12">By reading his biography, we know that he supported over three hundred families. With the income of one person helping to provide for three hundred families, we know that he would also be living in impoverished conditions. If he had lived affluently, how would he have been able to provide for all those families? </p> <p class="px12">He was truly one of China’s great sages. The esteem that Master Yin-Guang had for him was second only to Confucius. Mr. Fan’s descendants continued until the early part of this century. This is because he had fostered merits and virtues to last over one hundred generations. The family of Confucius is foremost as an old and well-known family, followed by that of Mr. Zhong-Yan Fan. Mr. Fan’s family lineage remained strong through eight hundred years due to his exceptional cultivation and accumulation of merits. </p> <p class="px12">Great good fortune is when we are able to share it with others for in this way our ensuing good fortune will become inexhaustible. The descendants of Mr. Fan continued this family tradition of helping others until the early part of this century. Throughout Chinese history, there were not many families who had accumulated this much great virtue. In his commentary, Master Yin-Guang told of another person, a Mr. Ye, the premier scholar of the Qing Dynasty. His family lineage remained strong for three hundred years, until the later years of the Qing Dynasty. It is thus obvious that the utmost priority of life is for us to refrain from wrongdoings, to cultivate good deeds and accumulate merits and virtues. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">And when loved and respected by all, remain careful, apprehensive and conservative. When the family is greatly respected and revered, carry yourself humbly. When your learning is extensive and profound, always think that the more that you learn the less you feel that you know. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">We would do well to avoid “Being overwhelmed by an unexpected favor”. It is good for others to love and be protective towards us. However, we need to think, what is it about us that is worthy of this love and care? Is deserving of the respect of others? We need to be constantly apprehensive of the deficiencies in our virtuous abilities. It is good to think this way, to constantly reflect upon ourselves, to progress in our cultivation of virtue and not to disappoint the expectations of others. </p> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885195 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:44 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885193 <strong> <p class="px12">Reform, Cultivate and Accumulate Merit </p> <p class="px12">and Good Fortune </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">I came to understand that both good fortune and misfortune are incurred by our own actions. These are truly the words of sages and virtuous people! If one were to say that good fortune and adversity are all determined by the heavens, then I would consider that person to be ordinary. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">These are Mr. Liao-Fan’s true words of awakening. Great sages and virtuous people have true wisdom and are able to clearly see the true reality. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are unsurpassed sages. </p> <p class="px12">This talks about a constant. What Mr. Kong foretold of Mr. Liao-Fan's destiny was common theories. What Master Yun-Gu taught him for changing his destiny were the teachings of sages and virtuous people. Knowing this, why would we need to have our fortune told? Do we need to ask fortune-tellers how to situate our house? Of course not! We need to believe in the teachings of sages and virtuous people, know that our destiny is within our control and that we can create our own bright and magnificent future. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">Tian-Qi, my son, I wonder how your life will be? In any case of destiny we should always prepare for the worst. Therefore, even in times of prosperity, act as if you were not. When things are going your way, be mindful of adversity. And when you have enough food and clothing, be mindful of poverty. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">Mr. Liao-Fan had his destiny accurately foretold. His son did not and thus did not know what would happen in his life. In actuality, there really was no need to know. Mr. Liao-Fan taught him that it was important to remember that even in times of prosperity, he was to act as if he was not prosperous. That even if he attained great wealth and social position, became a high ranking official with power and influence, he still needed to remember the times when he was not. Why was there a need to remember this? Because in the future, even if we become prosperous, we would do well to remain humble and courteous, not giving rise to arrogant thoughts or a haughty attitude that we have wealth and prestige while others do not. If we can remain humble then we will nurture true virtue and good fortune. </p> <p class="px12">Even when everything is going very smoothly, we also need to remember when times were difficult. In this way, even when things are going our way we will remain cautious and not become careless. Ge-Liang Zhu was a famous Prime Minister (in the Shu Han Period of the Three Kingdoms, seventeen hundred years ago). He was able to remain successful throughout his life because he was careful and discreet. </p></strong> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885193 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:43 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885192 <p class="px12">“Destiny is not set, but is only created and determined by ourselves”. These are all true. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">This is also from the Book of History and stresses the importance of virtuous cultivation, of how variables can surpass constants. The teachings of ancient sages and virtuous ones are the truth and therefore are unchangeable. Thus, then as now, we call them “sutras”. When we apply the teachings to modern society, they are still true. If we do not believe in them and choose instead to continue to follow our own ideas and thus commit wrongdoings, we will only increase our offenses. Even if we were to gain some benefit at that moment, we would only gain something that we were destined to have. If we do not know how to cultivate virtues, then we will not be able to keep what we attained. Not only can we not hold on to our wealth, we cannot even hold on to our lives. And if we cannot hold on to our lives, then what would be the use of having all that wealth? </p> <p class="px12">This world may be beset with disasters anytime. We may lose our lives any moment. Think about it, what would be the real value of having anything else? It would all be useless, even if we had owned them. It is clearly expressed in the “Chapter of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva’s Conduct and Vows” from the Flower Adornment Sutra. At the moment of our last breath, we are unable to take anything with us to the next life, whether it is family members, friends, prestige, wealth, nothing! What we are able to take with us are the Ten Great Vows, to constantly keep them with us, never abandoning us, but guiding us to be born into the Pure Land. </p> <p class="px12">It is also said in Buddhism that “Nothing can be carried over to the next life except our karma.” These are very important words of caution. Since we know that our karma will follow us like a shadow, we need to be diligent in cultivating good deeds, not to carry our negative karma with us. For to do so will lead us to the Three Bad Realms. Good karma will lead us to be born into the Three Good Realms. And pure karma from Constant Mindfulness of Buddha Amitabha will lead us to be born into the Western Pure Land. From this, it should be clear what we need to do in this life. We need to broaden our perception, expand our thinking, instead of being concerned with trivialities or calculating the gains and losses in this life. Life is very short. It would be of tremendous merit, if in this life we were to do more good acts, to benefit more people. </p> <p class="px12">If after reading the teachings of ancient sages and virtuous people, we are able to believe, accept and abide by them, then we will receive inexhaustible merits and benefits. If we are unable to believe in the teachings, thinking them unreliable fairy tales, this is due to our karmic obstacles. Because of them, we will miss this unsurpassable and outstanding opportunity. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">To Teach Children to Know Their Faults, </p> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885192 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:43 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885191 <p class="px12">Mr. Liao-Fan wrote his book at the age of sixty-nine. He had not sought to live beyond fifty-three. However, he passed the year in good health without encountering any severe misfortune. It is obvious that the issue of birth and death, of long life, is of utmost importance in our lives. If long life can be sought, what is there that we cannot seek? Without long life, it will be difficult to seek the attainment and enjoyment of fame, wealth, prestige and children. This seeking has to be done properly, in accordance with the teachings, from our mind and heart of utmost sincerity. In this way, there is nothing that cannot be attained. </p> <p class="px12">If we were seek from the outside, then as Master Yun-Gu said, we would lose both inside and outside. There is nothing that cannot be attained, whether we are Buddhists seeking good fortune, wisdom and birth into the Pure Land or the Chinese seeking good fortune, long lives and children. Indeed, we can seek to attain more good fortune, an even longer life, more children and grandchildren. Nothing is unattainable. We have seen that Mr. Liao-Fan gained good fortune, long life and children to totally surpass the constant in his destiny. These were what he gained through cultivation, not because they were destined. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">The Book of History explains that “Destiny exists but is difficult to be believed by most people because it is very changeable”. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">The Book of History is one of the Five Classics. It is China’s oldest historical record of the systems of decrees and regulations in ancient times. Our destiny has been accurately foretold, falling within the calculation of the numbers. The constant, predestination, does exist, but it is very difficult to believe. Why? There are variables due to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. </p> <p class="px12">Mr. Liao-Fan had refrained from committing wrongdoings and began to cultivate good deeds, thereby decreasing his bad deeds daily and gradually increasing his good ones. His act of reducing taxes became an act of multiplication, no longer one of simple addition. With this multiplication, ten thousand good deeds were perfectly completed in a matter of days. </p> <p class="px12">If however, he had done much evil, then in an instant, it would have become an act of division no longer one of simple subtraction. Therefore, there are indeed actions resulting in addition and subtraction as well as those resulting in multiplication and division that result from our thoughts and actions and it is these that create considerable variance. There are constants, but they are not fixed, they change. </p> <p class="px12">The Book of History explains that destiny exists but is difficult to be believed by most people because it is very changeable. The Treatise on Response and Retribution further explains that “Neither misfortune nor good fortune will come without reasons and conditions, we incur them”. In other words, they are the retributions and rewards from our past actions. </p> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885191 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:42 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885189 <p class="px12">If we see a beggar on the street and freely give him one dollar, then the merit of this accords with our self-nature. Why? Because at that time we did not have discriminatory thoughts of others and we, of beggar and giver. We did not differentiate between receiver and giver. We were not attached. In this way, the merits from giving one dollar are infinite for they are the uncovering of our virtuous nature. </p> <p class="px12">The merit from giving millions of dollars may be less than that of one dollar sincerely given. Why? We may have given this money from our Eight Consciousness Minds. This mind has discriminatory thoughts and attachments. It is limited and therefore, we are unable to break through this obstruction. </p> <p class="px12">The reason why our merits cannot compare with those of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is the differences in our minds, in our intentions. The environment changes according to our minds. We as ordinary people are very narrow-minded, no matter how much good fortune or merit we cultivate, we will always be bound by our discriminatory thoughts and attachments. These thoughts and attachments no longer bind Bodhisattvas and Arhats. Even when they perform a small deed, their merits are infinite. In understanding this principle, our every thought will be perfect and our merits and virtues will be infinite. Mr. Liao-Fan could not yet even imagine this state of mind. So, he practiced from the aspect of phenomena and thus he benefited only ten thousand people. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">Upon hearing his words, I immediately gave all my savings for him to take back to the Wutai Mountain. I asked the Master to use the money for a food offering for ten thousand monks and to dedicate the merits for me. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">It was rare to see a person like Mr. Liao-Fan who would, without having to think it over, give his savings to the Wutai Way Places to provide meals for ten thousand monks. Usually, when laypeople wished to be generous they would provide meals for one thousand monks or nuns, but Mr. Liao-Fan wanted to do so for ten thousand, to fulfill his great vow of ten thousand good deeds. </p> <p class="px12">Buddhism flourished during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There were several thousand monks and nuns who lived on the four great Buddhist mountains in China. The ten thousand who lived in Wutai (Five Plateau) Mountain was actually not an especially large number. (Wutai Mountain symbolizes Great Wisdom Bodhisattva.) The mountain with the most people was Putuo, (symbolizing Great Compassion Bodhisattva) with around thirty to forty thousand monks and nuns in residence. And there were over ten thousand monks and nuns living on Emei and Jiuhua (Nine Flower) Mountain, (symbolizing Great Conduct Bodhisattva and Earth Treasure Bodhisattva respectively). </p> <p class="px12">Mr. Yu explained in his commentary that “Someone who makes such a quick decision to give generously, without the slightest thought of reluctance or miserliness, will gain infinite good fortune in return”. This generous giving without the slightest doubt showed that Mr. Liao-Fan was an honest official, not at all corrupt. He gave all of his savings to provide food for ten thousand people. How much money could he have? He came from a poor but honest family. And he was very rare in that he deeply understood and believed in the Law of Cause and Effect. He would never have taken anything that was not his, something not readily achieved by most people. While we do good deeds, most of us will only do the minimum. In this case, we might give one hundred dollars to a good cause and feel very pleased with ourselves for having done so, unlike Mr. Liao-Fan, who gave everything he had. A very rare person. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">Mr. Kong had predicted that I would die at the age of fifty-three. However, I survived that year without illnesses although I did not ask the heavens for a longer life. Now I am sixty-nine. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">Mr. Liao-Fan was destined to die at the age of fifty-three. It was an extremely accurate prediction. He would die in his home on August 14th between one to three o’clock in the morning. It was in this year that he would undergo a severe misfortune and not live through it. </p> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885189 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:40 EST http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885187 <p class="px12">Average people do not have this kind of opportunity. There is a limit to the extent of good or bad we can do. If we hold the position and the status, and thus have the opportunity, we would do well to be cautious in our every action. By cultivating good deeds, we will have a bright future. To do otherwise will ensure that we will fall into the Three Bad Realms to suffer there. Why? The results from our actions are more extensive and inclusive compared to those of average citizens. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="px12">Coincidentally, the Zen Master Huan-Yu was traveling from Wutai Mountain and stopped in Baodi. I invited him to the government residence, told him of my dream and asked whether it was believable. Master Huan-Yu said, “If one does a good deed with such a true and sincere heart without expectation of reward, then one deed can indeed be worth the merits from ten thousand good deeds. Besides, your act of reducing the taxes in this county benefits more than ten thousand people. ” </p> <p class="px12">Not long after he had his dream, by chance he met the Zen Master Huan-Yu from Wutai (Five Plateau) Mountain and asked him about what had happened. He wanted to know if it was indeed possible. It would be wonderful if something like this was true, that the pledge of ten thousand good deeds was already completed! If it were not true then he would gradually work to accomplish these deeds. Master Huan-Yu then told him that yes, one deed done with the heart of sincerity can be worth the merits from ten thousand good deeds. </p> <p class="px12">This principle, “To cultivate one is to cultivate all” was explained in the Flower Adornment Sutra. It is the learning and cultivation of “non-hindrance”. Why? Everything arises from our self-nature. If the cultivation corresponded with the self-nature, then it can be regarded as cultivating all. If we do good deeds that are not from our self-nature but because we are seeking then we will only receive what we seek and nothing more. If we seek from the self-nature then not only will we attain what we seek but also we will gain infinite benefits. </p> <p class="px12">What is the nature of the mind? An example, which is easy to understand, is called purity of mind in the Pure Land School. When our mind is pure, all of our deeds will be kind. Thus, we will accumulate far more than just ten thousand good deeds. “Amitabha” is a name of millions of virtues. As we gradually come to understand the true reality, we will realize that what Master Ou-Yi said was logical, that “Amitabha” encompasses all the infinite ways of practice. He said, “How would we know that if we were able to be mindful of Buddha Amitabha then we would understand all the wisdom of the Great Buddhist Canon. Also, we could attain awakening with the guidance of the seventeen hundred stories of the Zen school”. </p> <p class="px12">The practice of Zen Buddhism and the other schools all are encompassed within “Amitabha”. Three thousand kinds of dignified manners, eighty thousand minute courtesies and three divisions of precepts are also within “Amitabha”. All the precepts, all the Buddhist teachings, all worldly teachings are also included within “Amitabha”. All methods, all ways of practice are within this name for “One is all, all is one”. When we have achieved purity of mind, then we will have perfectly achieved innumerable methods. There are still many people who do not yet know the infinite advantages found in the name “Amitabha”. </p> <p class="px12">When we give rise to thoughts, all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and spirits of heaven and earth know them. This one thought arises from our true self-nature. The true mind has no limit, no boundary. When we do even the slightest good deed, if it corresponds with the true mind, then no matter how small, it is still infinite. Mr. Liao-Fan had yet to reach this state of mind. He had only benefited the public in the phenomenal aspect. </p> <p class="px12">When we do a good deed with a sincere heart, then this deed can indeed be worth the merits of ten thousand. Master Huan-Yu told Mr. Liao-Fan that yes, his act of reducing the taxes in this county had relieved the suffering of heavy taxes on all the farmers and had benefited more than ten thousand people. However, Mr. Liao-Fan had yet to understand this, as his completion of the ten thousand good deeds was done from the phenomenal aspect. If he had done so from his self-nature, if he had cultivated from his true mind, then that one good deed would not have been worth just the merits of ten thousand good deeds but of innumerable good deeds. </p> Personal http://www.zorpia.cn/YYYYA/journal/1885187 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:39 EST