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Changing Destiny_A Commentary on Liaofan's Four Lessons

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A commentary on Liaofan's Four Lessons, this book tells how Yuan Liaofan, destined to be heirless and to die young, learned from a Zen master how to change destiny. Following the master’s advice, Mr. Yuan attained all that he sought, and more. The life-changing principles in his book are as important today as they were 500 years ago.

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  • NAMOAMITABHA

    PrintedanddonatedfbrfTeedistributionbyTheC00rati0Repblic0fHwaDzaS0ciety

    2F,No333-l,Sec4,HsinYiRoad,Taipei,Taiwan,R.OCTel:886-2-2754-7l78Fax:886-2-2754-7262

    Website:www.hwadzan.org.twE-mail:[email protected]

    Thisb00kisf0rfIeedistribti0nItis0trsalePrintedinTaiwan

    2000Copies;20l2OctoberHZ50-07-0l

  • Contents

    Introduction

    FirstLesson:LearningtoCreateDestiny

    Mr.KongIsAccuratePredictionsMasterYunguIsAdviceonChangingDestiny

    ThePrincipleofChangingDestinyTheWaysofChangingDestinyToSurpassDestiny

    SecondLesson:TheWaystoRefOrmTheReasonstoRefOrm

    ASignfOrGoodFortuneandMisfOrtuneTheWaystoRefOrm

    AShamefUlHeart

    AFearfulHeart

    ADeterminedCourageousHeartTbreeMethodsofPracticeinRefOrming

    CbangingthroughBe}IaviorCbangingthroughReasoning

    ChangingffomtheHeartandMindTheDesiredResultofRefOrm

    TbirdLesson:TheWaystoCultivateGoodnessAPamilyThatAccumulatesGoodDeedsWillAbundantProsperity

    TenAccountsofVirtuousPeople

    Have

    l

    5

    I5

    26

    69

    l29

    I35

    l50

    l67

    l73

    l75

    200

    223

    234

  • UnderstandingGoodnessHowtoRecognizeGoodnessTheDefinitionofGoodness

    PracticingtheTenGoodDeedsWhenConditionsArise

    FourtbLesson:BenefitsoftheVirtueofHumilityArroganceInvitesAdversityWhileHumilityGainsBenefit

    HumilityandModestyAretheFoundationfbrGoodFortune

    Appendix:Liaofan>sFourLessonsTheTen-recitationMethod

    Notes

    Glossary

    263

    266

    305

    36

    377

    382

    447

    448

    459

  • Translator)sNotes

    InCaI1gmgDesKm;VenerableMasterChinKungspeaksofrecitingMrXiaLianjuscompilationofthe

    hirLibStJrMasterCbinKunghassaidtlIatrecitingtl1eAmiaaSmrHofwhichseveraltranslationsareavailableontbeInternet,isanexcellentalternative.

    WeareusingtlIeC}Iineseconventionofplacingthefamilynamefirst,tobefOllowedbythegivennamecourtesyname,orsobriquet.Thesetermsareex-plainedonpage86.

    WeapologizefOranyerrorsandwouldbemostap-preciativeifyouwouldbringthemtoourattention.PleaseemailusatsilentvoicesOO@lIotmail.comorfaxusatl-8l5-927-O359

    Respectfully>SilentVoices

    l5February2OO2

  • Introduction

    Tl1ebookLonfbJrLessoIswaswritteninthesixteentlIcenturyinChinabyYuanLiaofanwithtbehopethatitwouldteachhisson,YuanTianqi,aboutdestiny,howtodifferentiategoodfrombad,howtocorrecthisfaults>andhowtopracticegooddeedstocultivatebothvirtueandhumilityAsanembodimentofhisteacl1ings)Liaofanwaslivingproofoftheirbenefits)fOrhehadchangedhisdestiny.

    Learningtore-createdestinyhaslongbeenofin-teresttothosewhobelievethatwealthorpoverty)longlifeorshortlife-everytbingisdestinedPeoplewlIoaccomplishedgooddeedsintheirpastliveswillnatu-rallyen]oywealthyandlonglivesnow,whilethosewhocommittedbaddeedsintbeirpastliveswillun-dergodeprivationsandshortlives.HoweverthereareexceptionsDestinycanbechanged

    Ifwewereoriginallysupposedtoen}oywealtl1andlongevityinthislifetime,buthavecommittedexces-sivebaddeedsthenwithoutwaitinguntilthenextlifewewillbecomepoorandhaveshortenedlives.Ifwewereoriginallysupposedtoundergopovertyandhavesl1ortlives,buthaveaccomplishedexemplarydeedswewillbecomewealthyandhavelonglives.HistoryprovidesmanyexamplesoftlIis.

    AltlIougbeverytbingtlIatwehavetogotlIroughinthislifeistlIeresultofourthoughtsandbehaviorinourpastlivesandhasbeenpredetermined,itisnot

    l

  • rigidWecanstillmodifyitwithourcuITentthouglItsandbehavior

    AsBuddhistswearetauglIttorefrainfromevil,todogood,andtopuriourminds.TlIisistbeDlarmaSeal>ourcriteriatodeterminethegenuinenessofBuddhistteachingsortruths.BuddhistsutrasaddressprinciplesandlogicandarespokenbyfivetypesofpeopleTlIeyarel)BuddhasinourcaseBuddha

    ShalWamuni,2hisstudents,3heavenlybeingsimmortalsand5)manifestedbeings

    AslongaswhathasbeensaidconfOrmstotheBud-dlIasteachingsanddoesnotcontradictthem,theBuddl1aswiththeirgreatbroad-mindednesswillrec-ognizetbemassutras.Tlms,weslIouldregardandrespectasasutra,anyworktl1atconfOrmstoBuddl1istprinciples

    Tl1isappliestoLjonFbzrLessonsfOraltl1oughitisnotaBuddhistsutra)weneedtorespectandpraiseitasoneTl>isisespeciallysofOrtl1isbookfOritwascertifiedandadvocatedbyMasterYinGuangthethirteenthPatriarchoftlIePureLandscl1oolInthe

    earlypartofthetwentiethcenturyhededicatedhislifetoitspropagationandwasresponsiblefOrprintingmillionsofcopiesasweIasstudying)practicing>andlecturingonit.NotonlycanithelptoserveasafOun-dationinourlearning,butmoreimportantlyitcanalsoserveasafOundationfOrnon-Buddbistsinhelp-ingtlIemlearnhowtocbangetheirdestinies

    Tl1ereismuchtolearn,includingprinciplesand

    2

  • metl1ods)allofwhicharecoveredinthisbookAl-thoughitisrelativelyshort)itsimpactcanbesignifi-cant.Tl1erefOreifwewishtochangeourdestiniesortotrulyachieveattainmentthrouglIthepracticeofBuddbism,wewoulddowelltoaccordwithitsguid-anCeo

    Tl1erearefourchaptersorlessonsinthisbookTlIefirstlessonof

  • TheFirstLesson:

    LearningtoCbangeDestiny

    Inthislesson)Liaofantoldbisson)Tianqi,aboutlIispersonalexperiencesandthoseofotl1ers.WantingTianqitodohisbestinpracticinggoodnessandend-inglIisincorrectbehavior,tore-createandcontroll1isdestinyandnolongerbeboundbyit,LiaofantauglIthimtheprinciplesofwhythingslIappenandhowtoclIangethem.Forexample,asPureLandpractitioners,ifweareabletofOllowtlIismethod,weareassuredofattaininghappy)fUlfillinglivesandofbeingrebornintotheWesternPureLand

    Mr.Kong>sAccuratePredictions

    MyfatherpassedawaywhenIwasyoung.MymotherpersuadedmetolearnmedicineinsteadofstudyingandpassingtbeimperialexaminationsbecauseitwouldbeagoodwaytosupportmyselfwlIilehelpingothers.Per-haps,Icouldevenbecomefamoustl>roughmymedicalskills;tlIusfulIingmyfather)saspirationfOrme

    InancientChinathepurposeofstudyingandpassingtheimperialexaminationswastobecomeagovern-mentofficial.Thus,tostopstudyingfbrtheexamina-tionswastogiveupanychancetoworkinthegov-ernment.Acareerinmedicinewouldenableoneto

    5

  • lIaveaskillthatwouldprovideagoodlivinginaddi-tiontolIelpingotlIers

    Atthattimeteachersdidnotchargeafeebutac-ceptedwhateverwasofferedWealtlWfamiliesgavemore;poorfamiliesgaveless.Aslongastl1estudentwassincereinl1onoringtheteacherandrespectingtheteachingstheamountgivenwasunimportant.Tbesameappliedtophysicians.Theirgoalwastosavelives)todotl1eirverybesttomakeotl1erswellTl1epaymentfOrtheserVcesrenderedwasatthediscre-tionoftl1epatient.BothteachersandphysicianswerededicatedtolIelpingothersandwerel1iglIlyrespected.

    Oneday>ImetanelderlybutdistinguishedlookinggentlemanattheCompassionateCloudTemple.Hehadalongbeardandthelookofasage.Iimmediatelypaidmyre-spectstol1imHetoldme:

  • turehelmewthatLiaofanshouldhavebeenstudyingandneededtodosoassoonaspossible.l

    IaskedtheelderlygentlemanfOrhisnameandwlIerehewasom.Hereplied:MyfamilynameisKongandIamfTomYunnanprov1nce.Ihaveinl1eritedaverysacredandaccuratetextonastrologyandprediction.Tbetext,writtenbySlIaoziiscalledtlIeh-peIr5ramGIymgebIKBymycalculations)Iamsupposedtopassitontoyouandteachyouhowtouseit>)

    ShaoziwasasclIolaromtheSongdynasty2Hewasawell-knownandhig}Ily-respectedintellectualofhistimeTlIesacredtextonastrologyisanin-deptl1booktl1atbasbeencompiledwitl1othersintotl1e

    CbmpbIFeraSIIs.3ThecontentofShaozi)sbookiscompletelyinac-cordancewiththeprinciplesinJCmaeBDoAof

    CaJ1gandpredictstlIefuturethrougl1mathemati-calcalculations.Thepredictionsintl1ebookcovernumeroussubjectsincludingchangesincountriesandtlIeworldTheprosperityordeclineofadynasty,thegoodfOrtuneormisfOrtuneofanindividualcouldallbecompletelyextrapolatedommathematicalcalculations.ThisbookofprofOundknowledgeisbasedonaprecisescienceandisbothlogicalandcredible.

    EverybodyandeverythinghasasetdestinyBuddlIa7

  • Shalq/amunitauglltusthattl1isisduetotl1elawofcausalityAslongaswegiverisetoacause,beitathought,word,oract,aresulttbatisasetdestinywillfOllow.OnlywlIenthemindisdevoidofthoughtcanwetranscendtl1epredeterminationoftbemathemat-ics.Whyarepractitionerswitl1highlevelsofacl1ieve-mentoftenabletotranscend?HavingattainedthelevelofOneMindUndisturbed>theirmindsdonotgiverisetoanythoughts.Aslongaswehavethoughts)ourfateswillremainboundbythemathematics.Ahigl1lysldlledpersonisabletoaccuratelypredictourfuturestl1rougbcalculations.

    OurlivesaredestinedArhatsorotlIersageswitl1ahigherlevelofspiritualenlightenment,wholIavealreadytranscendedsamsam>thesixpathsofexis-tence)areabletotranscendtheirdestiny

    Arethel1eavenlybeingsintheRealmofFormandRealmofFormlessnessabletotranscendtheirfate?

    Yes>fOrintlIeirstateofdeepconcentration,themathematicscannotaffecttl1em.But)tbistranscen-denceisonlytemporary.OncetheylosetlIeirstateofdeepconcentrationandgiverisetothoughts)theyareagainboundbymatl1ematics.TlIisiswhytheyhaveneverbeenabletotranscendsamsara.

    Iftl1estrengthoftl1eirconcentrationenabledtlIemtotranscendsamsaraandadvancetotbeninthcon-

    centrationleveltobecomenon-regressiveArl1ats,thentl1eywouldnolongerbeboundbytbematl1ematics.OnceweunderstandtlIeseprinciplesandlmowtl1at

    8

  • everythingisfated)wewilllookattlIisworldwithanon-discriminatorymind.Wewillnotfeell1appyinfavorablecircumstancesorunl1appyinunfavorablecircumstances

    IinvitedMr.Kongtomyl1omeandtoldmymotheraboutl1im.ShesaidtotreatlIim

    wellAswetestedMr.KongIsabilityatpre-diction,wefOundthathewasalwayscorrectwbetheritwasfOrbigeventsorfOrminoreverydaymatters.Ibecameconvincedofwl1athehadsaidandagainbegantothinkofstudyingfOrtheexaminationsIconsultedmycousinwhorecommendedMr.YuHaigu,wlIowasteachingatthehoIeofafriend5andbecameMrYu)sstudent.

    LiaofaninvitedMr.KongtohishouseandbeingafilialsontoldlIismotlIeraboutlIimShesaidtotakegoodcareofMr.Kongandrecommendedthattheytesthim.Whensomeonetellsussomething,wewouldusuallywanttochecldtsvaliditybefOrebelievingit.WhenLiaofandidsoandfOundMrKong)spredic-tionstobeaccurate,hebecamenaturallyconvincedandheededhisadvice.

    Mr.KongthendidsomemorecalculationsfOrme.Hetoldmethatasascholar)IwouldbeplacedfOurteenthinthecountyexamina-tion,seventy-firstintheregionalexamina-

    9

  • tion,andnintl1intheprovincialexamina-tion.TlIefOllowingyear,IplacedexactlywhereMr.KonghadsaidfOrallthreeex-aminations

    MrKongtoldLiaofanthathewouldrisethroughseveralstagesofexaminationstobecomeascl1olar.Inthesecondyear,theresultsoftheexaminationswereexactlyasexpected

    FromMr.KongIspredictionsfOrMr.Liaofan,wecanseetbateverythingisdestined.Everyday,everymonthwhenandhowwewilllive,wl1enandhowwewilldie.Regardlessofhowwetrytoplanoreven

    scheme,ordinarypeoplecannotescapeomthisreality.

    Itl1enaskedlIimtomakepredictionsfOrtlIerestofmylifeMr.Kongscalculationssl1owedthatIwouldpasssuchandsuchatestinsucl>andsuchayear,theyearthatIwouldbecomeacivilscholar,andtheyearthatIwouldreceiveapromotiontobecomeanImperialScholar6Andlastly,IwouldbeappointedasamagistrateinSichuanprov-Ince

    AfterholdingthatpositionfOrthreeandahalfyears,Iwouldthenretireandreturnhome.Iwoulddieattheageoffifty-three

    onthelthdayoftlIeeighthmonthbel0

  • tweenonetothreeo)clockinthemorning.UnfOrtunately>Iwouldnothaveason.IcarefUllyrecordedandrememberedevery-tbingtbatbeSaid

    TheoutcomeofeveryexaminationturnedoutexactlyaspredictedMrKonghadalsopredictedthatIwouldonlybepromotedafterreceivingarationoftwohundredfifty-ninebuslIelsofrice.7However)IlIadre-ceivedonlytwentybushelsofricewlIentheCommissionerofEducation,MrTu,rec-ommendedmefOrapromotion.IsecretlybegantodouI)tthepredictionNevertl1elessitturnedouttobecorrectafterall,becauseMr.Tu>sreplacementturneddownthepro-motion

    ItwasnotuntilsomeyearslaterthatanewEducationCommissionerMr.YinreVewedmyoldexaminationpapersandexclaimed,ssalaryreac}1edalmosttwentybusl1-ofrice.Mr.TuaDDrovedisDromotionaonelsofrice>MrTuapprovedlIispromotion.Liaofan

    begantodoubtthepredictions.Howevereitherduetoapromotionoratransfer,Mr.Tuwasreplacedbyanotl1erpersonwhodisagreedwitbLiaofan>spromo-

    ll

  • tionandoverruledit.

    ItwasafewyearslatertbatanotherofficialMr.Yin,wentthrougl1thepapersofthosewholIadfailedtlIeexamination.Thesepaperswerekeptandre-readoccasionallywiththel1opeoffindingtalentedindi-vidualswhol1adbeenoverlookedHereadLiaofan)spapersandwasveryimpressedwithtbem,sayingtbeywereaswellwrittenasofficialrecommendationsfrom

    governmentofficialstotheemperor.ObviouslyLiao-fanwasverylmowledgeableandhispaperswereex-tremelywellwritten.

    Tl1enewcommissionerwantedtl1emagis-tratetoissueanorderfOrmetobecomea

    candidatefOrImperialScholar8underhisauthority.Afterundergoingthiseventfulpromotion,mycalculationssbowedtl1atIhadreceivedexactlytwobundredfifty-ninebushelsofrice.Fromtl1enon)Ideeplybe-lievedtl1atpromotionordemotionwealtl1orpovertyallcameaboutinduetimeandthateventl1elengthofone)slifeispre-aITangedIbegantovieweverythinginadetacl1edmannerandceasedtoseekgainorprofit

    Wecanseetl1atMr.TuwasanexceptionalpersonfOrhel1adwantedtopromoteLiaofanassoonashereadtheexaminationpapers.However,l1isreplace-mentoveITuledthepromotion.Itwasbecausetl1esetwopeoplehaddifferentopinions

    l2

  • Liaofanwasobviouslyveryta>entedFromthiswelearnthatevenatalentedpersonisstillboundbydestinyWhetherdestiny>time,orcauseandcondi-tion,everythingispredeterminedLiaofan}Iadtowaituntilanothergovernmentofficialreadhispapersfortheproperconditionstomatureinordertoreceivehispromotion

    Fromt}]enon,LiaofanwasawakenedandhetrulyunderstoodAllofourencountersinlifC)whetbergoodfortuneorbadfOrtune>goodluckorbadluck,wealthorpovertyallaredestinedOrdinarypeoplecannotchangetbis.Ifwearenotsupposedtohavesomething,noamountoftryingtoholdontoitwillsucceedfOrlongConversely,wewillnaturallyreceivewhatwearesupposedtoItisnotworththeeffOrttodow}Iatiswrongandtoriskallinthehopeofattain-ingself-satisfaction

    UnderstandingthisLiaofannoIongerhadanythoughtsofdemandorofgainandloss.Hewastrulyatpeace.Wecansaythatatthispointhewasa

  • tbeirs.

    OrdinarypeopleareboundbytheirfateAttbistimeLiaofanonlyknewthatlifewasdestined.HedidnotyetknowthattherewasavariableandtlIatbypracticinginaccordancewithtrueprinciplesandmethodshecouldchangel1isdestiny.Inthisway>l1ecouldattainwhateverhewishedfOr,ashebecamethemasterofhisfuture.

    Forexample,ifwewisbtoattainwealth,weprac-ticethegivingofwealthToattainintelligenceandwisdomwepracticetlIegivingofteaching.ToattainlIealthandlongevity,wepracticetlIegivingoffear-lessness.Tl1isisthecorrectwaytochangeourdesti-nies.ByfOllowingtherig}1tprinciplesandmetlIodswecanevenattainSupremeEnlightenmentmucl1lessworldlyenjoymentandbappiness.

    AfterbeingselectedasanImperialScbolarIwastoattendtheUniversityatBeijing.Dur-ingmyyearlongstayintlIecapitalmyinter-estinmeditationgrewandIoftensatinsi-lence,withoutgivingrisetoasinglethoughtIlostinterestinbooksandstoppedstudying.

    Liaofanwasnowmeditatingdaily.Fromtbiswecanseel]owpeacefulandquietl1ismindlIadbecome.Wbenthemindistranquil,wisdomwillnaturallyariseTl1ewisdomofmostpeopleisnon-functionalbecausetheirmindsarenotpure.LiaofanwasabletoremaincalmbecauseheknewlIisentirefutureHe

    l

  • thinkaboutitWitb

    naturallybecameset-lmewthatitwasuselessevento

    outwis}1fUlthouglIts)}1ismindtled.

    D

    AVntSeD5n5nahCrIOelPcnrPehT

    ThefO

  • LiaofanandMasterYungusatfacetofaceintbemeditationl1allfOrtlIreedayswithoutfatigueorsleep.How?Becausetheydidnotbaveanywanderingtboughts,theywereabletoconservealloftlIeiren-

    ergyMasterYunguthoughtLiaofantobeextremelyyoungtohaveacl1ievedthisdifficultandrarelevelofcultivation.

    OrdinarypeopleareunabletobecomeArhatsorat-tainbig}Ierlevelsofachievementbecausetl1eyhave

    toomanywanderingt1oughts.TheAmsa5mrHtellsus:AllsentientbeingshavethesamewisdomandvirtuousabilitiesastheBuddha;but,becauseofwanderingt}IoughtsandattaclIments,sentientbeingsareunabletouncovertheseabilities.>)Sothecauseofnotbeingabletobecomeasageisourwanderingthoughts

    Feelingconfi1sedbywhatMasterYunguhadsaid,Iaskedl1imtoelain.HetoldmethatanordinarypersonsmindisfOreveroccu-piedbywanderingandimaginarytlIoughtssonaturallylIisorherlifeisboundbythematl1ematicsofdestiny.WecannotdenytlIefacttl1atdestinyexists,butonlyordinarypeopleareboundbyit.

    DestinycannotbindthosewhocultivategreatldndnessorthosewhohavecommittedflagrantwrongdoingsSinceIbadlivedmylifejustasMrKonghadpredictedanddone

    l6

  • nothingtochangeit>Ihadbeenboundbydestiny.Thus,Iwasatypicalordinaryper-son

    Takenaback,IaskedMasterYunguifwecouldchangeourdestinies.Heanswered:Wecanre-createourowndestinyandseekgoodfOrtune.Itisthetrueteachingandis

    fOundintlIeBSmgBandtheBooASmU9

    MasterYunguexplainedthatifonehasnotyetat-tainedthestatewitlIoutwanderingthoughts,tlIenoneisstillatthemercyoffateWhy?IfapersonlIadreachedthestateofnowanderingthoughtheorsbewouldbavetranscendedtbecontroloffateDidLiao-

    fanreac}IthisstateofnowanderingtlIought?No.Hesimplydidnotwishtotbinkaboutanythingbecausel1erealizedthefUtilityofdoingso!Buthestilll1adwanderingthoughts.Hestillthought:((Idonotneedtothinkaboutanything.MydestinyhasbeenfOretold;thus)Iclearlyknowmywl1olelife.Havingyettoreac}Itl1estateofnowanderingtboughtwearestillboundbyourfates.

    ProfOundlydeepconcentrationisnotachievablebyordinarypeopleinourworldW}IentheZenPatriarcl1MasterHuangBiwasinthisstateofdeepconcentra-tion,hewasabletobreakthrought}Iedimensionsoftimeandspace.Atthispoint,thepastpresent,andfi1tureallbecomeone;thus>everytlIingisperfectly

    l7

  • visible.UsingmatlIematicstodeducethefl1tureisachievablebyordinarypeopleinthisworldHowever>theyareunabletoactuallyseethepast,present,andfUture.ItrequiresdeepconcentrationtoreaclIthestateofbeingabletoseetlIefuture.ThisisonlyachievablebybeingswithdeepconcentrationbeyondthethirdstageofsagehoodinTlIeravadaBuddlIism.

    MasterYungutoldLiaofanthatalthoughordinarypeopleareboundbydestiny>itcannotcontroltlIosew}1ohaveaccomplislIednumerousexemplarydeeds.Neithercanitcontrolthosewhohavecommitted

    manyflagrantoffenses.LiaofanhadbeenboundbyMr.Kong,spredictionsfOrtwentyyears.Hel1addonenotlIingtocbangethemandsohewasindeedanordinarypersonApersonofgreatvirtuealsohadasetdestinybutlIeorshehaschangedit.T}1esameappliestothosewbohavecommittedexcessiveoffenses,fOrtheytoohavecl1angedtheirdestinies.WecanseethatLiaofandidnotcultivateeitherextremelygoodorbaddeedssincehislifeaccordedsocompletelywitlIwhatlIadbeenpredicted

    Canfatebechanged?Canweescapeit?Yes.Toes-capeistotranscendAltlIoughtherearevariablesinthesetnumbersMr.Kong,eitliernotlmowingaboutthevariablesornotknowinghowtocalculatetl1emhadpredictedjustt}IesetnumbersSincetl>evariablesarewithinourcontrol,wecanre-createourowndes-tinies.WecanseekourgoodfOrtune.

    BefOremeetingwitlIthemaster,Liaofandidnot

    l8

  • lmowabouttlIesevariables.DidtlIemasterbelieve

    thattlIesetnumbersensfed,thatthefuturecouldbecalculated?Yes.BefbreapersonachievesthestateofnowanderingthoughtheorslIeisboundbydestiny/)MasterYungucompletelyacknowledgedtherealityofpredestination.However,Buddhismisnotaboutpre-destination;itisaboutre-creatingdestinyWecanonlydependonourselvestodotlIis>tobecomeawak-ened;nooneelsecandothisfOrus.

    (Were-createourowndestiniesandseekourgoodfOrtune.),SinceLiaofanwasascholarhelmewtlIeteacl1ingsofConfuciusandsotl1emastercitedprinci-plesfromtheBofSmg3andtheBooksmIytoawakenhimMasterYunguunderstoodtheseteaclI-ings,andconfirmedtlIattlIeywereimportantand

    true

    IntheBuddhistteachingsitiswrittenthatifwewishfOrandseekwealth,ahighposi-tionasonadaughterorlonglifewecanattainitSincetheBuddhatoldusthatlyingisoneofthegreatesttransgressionswecanbeassuredtlIatBuddhasandBodlIisattvaswouldnotdeceiveus.

    AsBuddl1ists,welearnthatinseekingwealthonewillattainwealthandinseekingclIildrenonewillattainchildren.Evenifwewerenotmeantto}Iavechildrenintl1islife)uponpracticinggoodnesswecan

    haveaclIildWelearnedomthetextthatLiaofanl9

  • wasnotmeanttohavealonglife;lIewassupposedtodieatfifty-threeBycultivatingaccordingtotheteachings,wewillattainwl1ateverweseekBuddhismencouragesustore-createourdestiniesratherthanbeconstrained

    bytlIem.ZhangjiaLivingBuddhal0said,(TherefOre,thewayofseeldngistoaccordwitlItlIeprinciplethat

    20

  • everytlIingarisesomthemindandiscbangedbyourperceptions

    Tbeteac}Iingsoftl1eBuddhaareappropriateandperfect.Tl]enifweseekyoutlI,health,eternallifeinaccordancewitl1theseteachings,canweattainthem?Certain>y!Intl>iscase,MasterYunguonlytaughtLiaofansomeoftherelatedprinciplesandmethodsbecauseLiaofanwasnotveryambitiousandonlysoughtfame,wealth,andprestige.

    MasterYungutoldlIimtlIatlyingisoneoftheworsttransgressionsinBuddlIism.TlIerearefOurfUndamentalprecepts:nokilling)nostealing,nolying,andnosexualmisconduct.Since,nolyingisoneoftlIeseprecepts,bowcouldtlIeBudd}Iaeverdeceiveus?T}Ius,themasterspokethetrutbwhen}Iesaidtl1atwlIetherapersonsoughtchildrenwealth,orlonglifeallcouldbeobtainedWewillseethatasLiaofanlIadstrictlypracticedaccordingtothemaster>sguid-anceheobtainedwhathesought.

    ItoldMasterYunguthatIl1adlIeardthatMenciusoncesaid:(howcanweseektoat-tainthem?Tl1emasterrepliedtlIatMencius

    2l

  • wasright>buttl1atIhadmisunderstoodlIis

    meanmg

    Enhancingourintrinsicqualitiestobecomesagesandvirtuouspeopleiswithinourcontrol.ButhowdoweseelKfame)wealthandprestige?AlthouglItl1eseareexternalbenefits>theyarealsoattainablethroughseeking.ItwouldseemtlIattheyweredestinedbe-causeifwearenotsupposedtolIavesometlIing,howcouldweseekit.Thisistbegeneralunderstandingofdestiny,aconstantinpredestination.TlIeconstantisthecausethatwehavecreatedinourpastlivesandtberesulttlIatweshouldreceiveintbislife.Most

    peopledonotknowtlIattherearevariableswitlIintheconstantsandtbattheresultswillchangewitl>theadditionofvariables.Fame,wealth,andprestigeareindeedattainable.

    MasterYungusaidthatMasterHuineng)llthesixthPatriarchoftlIeZenschooltaught:AlltlIefieldsofmeritarewithinonesownlIeart.IfoneseeksfiFomthetruemind

    withinonecanbeintouchwithallthatonewishesfOr/>Byseekingwithinourselves,wewillnotonlyattaintheinnerqualitiesofvir-tue,integrity,andkindness;wewillalsoat-tainwealthfameandprestige.Tobeabletoattainbothinnerqualitiesandexternalbenefitsisinvaluable.

    22

  • Whetberattainingsomethingoutsideofourselvessucbasmaterialobjectsorinsideourselvessuchasvirtues,westillneedtoseekfromwithin,omthemindSeekingfTomtbeoutsidewouldbefUtile.Why?Tbeoutsidefactorisaconstant;itcannotchange.Themindisavariable;itchangesFortwentyyearswhencomparedtoordinarypeopleLiaofan)smindwaspure.Notlmowingofthevariables,}Iismindaccordedcom-pletelywithtbeconstantsandhislifelIadunfOldedexactlyaspredicted>withouttheslightestdeviation.

    MasterYunguelainedthattheseekingisinour-selvesVirtue,morality,kindness)andintegrityareontl1einsideandarethecultivationofvirtuousconduct.

    Pame,wealt}I,andprestigeareontbeoutsideandaretlIeenjoymentsinlife.TobeabletoreceivebotlIkindsofbenefitsisofgreatvalue.AsissaidintheApaZam-

    saaStJZrHnottobehinderedintlIematterofplIenomenaorprinciples)istl1eultimateandperfecten>oymentTlIisisthegreatperfectionofeverytlIinggoingaswewish,whenwearesatisfiedwitlIevery-thing.Thisistobeliberated;itistodoallt}Iatisbe-nevolentandnobleaswewishIfwecannotattain

    suchwonderfUlresults,tlIerewouldbenopointinourpracticing

    BuddhismisneitlIernegativenorpassive;itisemi-nentlyrealisticandpracticalToday)manypeopletalkaboutpracticality.Well,tlIereisnothingmoresotlIanBuddl1ismfOritaddressesreality)sometl1ingtrulyattainableItiscrucialthatweunderstanditsimpor-

    23

  • tancesoastoderiveitsbenefits.Thetruthisthat

    peoplelIavemisunderstoodBuddhism,andthuspeo-plehavemisseditsbenefitsIfweareabletoperson-

    allyeenencetbebenefitswewilllmowthatofallteachings,Buddhismisanunsurpassed)profOund,andcompleteeducation.ItisdefinitelynotoutdatedItisasappropriatenowasitwasthreethousandyearsagoanditisfittingfOrallpeoplewlIetherintlIeeastorinthewest.

    MasterYunguthentoldmethatifonedoesnotrefIectinsideonesownheart;but,in-steadblindlyseeksfame>fOrtune)andlonglifeomoutsidesources,nomatterl1owonescl1emestopursuethem,onecanonlyat-tainatmost)whatbadbeendestinedSeek-ingfTomtheoutside,onemightlosebotl1innerpurityandwhatonewasdestinedtohave;thus)theseekingwouldl1avebeeninvaIn

    As

  • receivedwlIattlIeyweresupposedtohave.OtherswlIoarenotdestinedtomakemoneywilleventuallyloseitintbestockmarket.Noteveryoneprofitsfromit.

    Likewise,moneywonomgamblingissometlIingthegamblerwasmeanttohave.EventlIethiefwasmeanttohavewhatwasstolen.Ifhewasnotsupposedtohaveit,bewouldhavefailedinbisattempttostealit.

    TlIeancientssaidthatapersonofnoblecharacterandintegrityisbappytobesucl1,butitisnotworthtl1eeffortfOrafOoltobeso.Why?Becauseeachwillnotbeabletoescapetl1eirowndestiny,tl1econstant.Ifwecouldjustunderstandtheprinciples,wewouldallbecontentwitlIwlIatwel1aveInthisway>wewouldenjoyfulfillinglives,societywouldbestabletheworldwouldbepeaceful,andtherewouldbenomoreconHictsorwars

    Buddhismteachesustoseeksomethingnotdes-tinedinourlivesnotwithintlIeconstant.Wl1atweattainfromseekingcomesfromtlIevariable.Howdoweseek?FromwitlIin!Wehavenotbeenabletoseek

    awakeningandtodevelopgreatvirtuefromwithinbecausewedonotyetunderstandtheprinciple.WehavebeenseekingfTomwitl1out:worldngandevenschemingeveryday.Butinseeking,weneedtofOllowtherigl1tpatb,fOrevenifwel1avetlIemetlIod)t}Ieplan,andtl]emeans,wewillmerelyattainw}1atwearedestinedto.Ifwearenotsupposedtohaveit)wewill

    25

  • notgetitAllthatweattainedwasdestined,ourconstants

    Liaofanunderstoodthattberewereconstants;so,hedidnotworryorseeldnanimproperway.He>mewl1isdestinyHelmewthattogiverisetowanderingthoughtsortousewhatevermeanspossiblewasdoomedtofailureifitwasnotsupposedtobe.Seeking

    omwithout,wewillbetotallyatalossbecauseourmindswillbeimpureandwewillonlyobtainwhatisdestinedHowcouldwenotgiverisetoafflictionswhensucl1seekingisfrustrated?Fortwentyyears,LiaofanconfOrmedtoMr.KongIspredictions.Hemaintainedastateofcontentmentandamindof

    purity.HelIadnowishtoseekanytl1ingfOrhefeltthateverythingwasdestined

    Ordinarypeoplewl1odoeverythingpossibleinseelK-ingthingsfTomwithoutwillfindtbattheirlmowledge

    andeenencesareincomparabletotl1oseofLiaofanbecausehehadacl1ievedpeaceofmindOrdinarypeoplewillenduplivingwithafflictionsandunsettledminds.Wl>atevertl1eyattainissometlIingtheyaresupposedtohave;thus,theysadlylosefrombotlIwitl1inandwithout.

    VntSeDngnahCfOSVaWehT

    ToAcknowledgeourFaults

    MasterYungunextaskedaboutMr.Kong)s

    26

  • IpredictionsfOrtlIerestofmylife.IlIonestlytold}IimeverythingHeaskedifIfeltthatIdeservedimperialappointmentsorason.Re-flectingonmypastdeedsandattitudes,Ian-swerednoIdidnot.TlIosewhoreceivedim-

    perialappointmentsal>badtheappearanceofgoodfOrtunebutIdidnot.

    IalsodidnotworktowardsaccumulatingvIr-tuestobuildupmygoodfOrtune.Iwasveryimpatientandnarrow-minded,andwouldshowoffmyintelligenceandabilitiesbyput-tingothersdown.IbehavedasIpleasedandspokewithoutrestraintThesewereallsignsofscantgoodfortuneandvirtue.HowcouldIpossiblyreceiveanimperialappointment?

    MasterYungudidnotdirectlyanswerthequestion.Ratber,heaskedLiaofanaquestiontoteachhimtoreHectandtofindthecauseofhisfaultsandsuffer-

    ings;todeterminewhetherl1edeservedanimperialappointmentornot,andwlIetlIerlIedeservedtohaveasonOfcourse)thediscussionbetweenMasterYunguandLiaofandidnotonlyincludethesetwoquestions,buttoLiaofanthesetwowerethemostimportant.T}1erewasnoneedtomentiont}1erest.Liaofantl1oughtfOralongtimeaboutwhatthemasterhadaskedHethenhonestlyansweredthatnolIedeservedneitberanimperialappointmentnorason.

    Onl1ishonesty,Mr.YouXiyininhiscommentary27

  • onDonfbJrLessoIsstated:HonestyisthefOundationindevelopingvirtueIfapersonlIidesorglossesoverlIisorl1erfaults,orcoversupmistakeshowcanhisorberfUturebepromising?))Whenwearehonestandencounterbenevolentteachers,tl1eywilltakecareinguidingus.Ifwearedishonestandarro-gant,tl1eywillsmilebutwillnotseriouslyteachus.

    Liaofandeeplyregrettedhisfaultsandt}Iisbecamet}Iekeytochanginghisdestiny.HetoldMasterYunguthat}Iedidnotdeserveanimperialappointmentbe-causehedidnothavetl1eappearanceofgoodfOrtunethatwasveryimportantfOrgovernmentofficials.Citi-zenswillsufferunderthereinofanofficialthatlacks

    goodfOrtune,butbenefitwl>entl1eofficiall1asit.Uponexaminationofancientsocialsystems,wesee

    tbateducatedandlogicalpeopledidnotquarrel.Wecanalsoseetl1atsomeemperorswereverywise.ForexampleEmperorTaizongoftl1eTangdynastyl2wasextremelylearned,broadminded,andadmiredbythepeople.Heasked:Whatissogoodaboutbeinganemperor?TobeoneisagraveresponsibilityIfyouwisl1,youcantakemyplace))Astheemperor,l1edidnotenjoyorusel1ispositiontointimidateotl1ersbutservedthepeopleandenabledthemtoenioyl1appi-ness.Alsotobetterservetl1epeople,hefOundcapa-blescl1olarstoworkonbel1alfoftlIeempire.

    Al>cannggovernmentofficialsl1avetl1eappear-ance,orsigns,ofgoodfbrtune.Liaofanatthistimeinhislifehadverylittlegoodfortuneandwasunableor

    28

  • unwillingtocultivateanyThus,bedidnotevenhavetheappearanceofagovernmentofficialandconse-quentlywasinadequatetoserveortolead

    Next,Liaofanexplainedthatbewasveryimpatient,intolerant,andundisciplined-threeseriousfaultsBeingimpatientandbad-temperedgivesustheap-pearanceoflittlegoodfortune.Beingnarrow-mindedrendersusunabletotolerateothers.Thesebadquali-tieswouldcauseapersontoimproperlysuperVse,lead,orjustlyserveothers.

    Also,heanMyadmittedthathewasselfindulgentandlikedtoshowoffhisintelligence.Hedidwhateverl]ewishedtoThisisalsosometbingnotreadilyen-duredbyothersHewasindiscreetandirresponsibleinhisspeechandlackedconsiderationfOrothers.AllthesefaultsbringmisfOrtuneratherthangoodfOrtune.

    PeoplewhotrulyhavegoodfortunearekindlIeartedl1onest)andtolerant.TheirspeeclIandman-nerarecalmanddignifiedConfUciussaid:$OnlywitlIdignityandtheabilitytoinspirerespectareweabletoeffectivelyinteractwit}Iothers.LiaofanadmittedthatwlIenlIewasyoung,}Iesimplywasnotcalmordigni-fiedandcitedthisasoneofthereasonsthatlIelacked

    goodfOrtuneandwasthusundeservIngofanimperialappointment.

    TlIereisanoldsayingtbatLifespringsomthedirtoftheearthwlIileclearwateroften

    29

  • harborsnofishTlIefirstreasonwhyIfeltthatIdidnotdeserveasonwasthatIwas

    obsessiveaboutcleanliness.Thesecondrea-

    sonwastl1atwhileharmonyisthecultivatoroflifeIwasquick-temperedTlIird)al-tlIougbloving-kindnessisthecauseoffertil-ityandharshnesstlIecauseofsterility,IwasselfishlyconcernedaboutmyreputationandwouldnotsacrificeanythingfOrotbers

    ThefOurthreasonwasthatItalkedtoo

    muchandthiswastedalotofenergyFifth,IdranktoomuchAndsixth)IdidnothaveasonbecauseIoftenstayedupallniglItandwastedmyenergyAsidefTomtl1eseIhadmanyotherfaultsthatweretoonumeroustomention

    Fisl1aregenera>lynotfOundinclearwater.Why?Tl1eyknowthatwhentheyareseentl1eyareeasiertocatchThesaymgalsopointedouttlIatnothingwouldgrowwitboutdirt.Liaofanhadanexaggeratedfearofthingsnotbeingclean.Beingcleanandneatisagoodquality;}]owevertobeoverlysocanbecomeanobses-sion.Itisnotgoodwhenonecannottolerateeventheslightestbitofdirt.ThiswasonereasonwhylIedidnotdeserveason.

    Harmonycanhelpafamilytoprosperandfriendli-nessisconducivetowealthLiaofan>sbadtemperwasoneoftl1ereasonshewasnotwealtlIyandthisplaced

    30

  • hisfamilyinaprecariousfinancialsituation.Also)hewaseasilyangeredbytheleastprovocationandcouldnottolerateanytlIingdispleasing.TobehaveintbismannerresultedinalackofgoodfOrtuneandtl1iswasanotlIerreasonhedidnotdeserveason.

    Loving-kindnessiscaringfOrothers.Liaofanunder-stoodtlIeprinciples)butwasunabletoactonthem.W}Iy?Hewasaveryunkindperson!Heovervaluedbisownreputationandwasunwillingtohelpothers.Thiswasanotl1erreasonwbyhedidnotdeserveason.Alsohetalkedtoomuch,wbichwastedalotofenergy.Liaofancameupwithsixmainreasonswhyhedidnotbavechildren.Thefirstthreewerebeingobsessiveovercleanliness>beingquick-tempered)andlacking

    lovingkindnessThesewereomtbeaspectofintention,ortbemind

    TlIenextthreeweretalkingtoomuch,drinkingandstayingupallnightTbeywerefTomtheaspectofbehaviorortbebody.Helikedtotalkandcriticizeothers.HeindulgedingossipingaboutotlIer)sfaults

    andwasargumentativeTheseharmthebodyandexhaustonesenergy.Healsolikedtodrinkexcessivelyandtl1isharmst}1emindandtirestl1espirit.Finally,besaidhedidnotdeserveasonbecausehespentl1isnightstalkingwithfriendsdrinking,l1avingagoodtime,andnotbotheringtolookafterhislIealth

    ByrealizingthathehadsomanybadhabitsandfaultsLiaofanbonestlyadmittedandregrettedallhisflawedbehavior.Toaclmowledgeallofone)soffenses

    3l

  • withouthidinganythingistoregretanderadicateone>skarmicobstacles.Thismustbedonesincerelytobeeffective.Awakeningisachievedwbenweareabletoidentifyourfaults.Cu>tivationisaccompIisbedwbenwehaverealizedthesefaultsandcorrected

    themSincemostpeopleareunawareoftbeirmis-takestheyarenottrulycultivating.TherefOre,thefirststepistorecognizeourbadhabitsLiaofanwassounusua>becauseonceMasterYunguquestionedhim;hewasabletocarefUI>yreflectandtodiscoveral>hisfaultsThisishowhewasabIetochangehisfUturefromthenon.

    Howwasheabletodothis>Andwhyareweunabletodoso?CompIetelyunawareofourbadhabits,weareofcourseunabletocorrecttI]emLiaofanwasable

    toreflect,uncover)andchangeallofhisimproperbehavior.Inthisway,heattainedwhatbesought.Ontheinside,heattainedvirtuousandcaringconduct,andontheoutsidewealthandchildrenHedidnot

    seekfromwithoutWedidnotseehimbowingandburningincenseinfrontofAvalokiteshvaraBod}Ii-sattvatoseekchildren,fame,andwealthButtoday,peop>eseekwhattheywantbymerelygoingthroughthefOrmalitiesofblindlywors}Iiping.Theydonotunderstandtbeprinciples.Theyseekwhattheydesire,butjustgoingthroughthefOrmalitiesisthewrongwaytodosoandwilIleadtofailure.

    Dayandnight,weseecountlesspeoplegoingtotemples,burningcandlesandincensewhileaskingfor

    32

  • wealthandchildrenbasicallytoattainwhattheirdestinyl1adalreadyensuredthemofreceiving.Intl1eirignorance,theywouldthinkwhattlIeyreceivedwasgrantedbytlIegraceofbeaven.PractitionersneedtounderstandtherealityandtoseekinaccordancewithtlIeteaclIings.AsMasterYungusaid,itistogainfiFombothwitbinandwitlIout.Intbisway,wecanattainwbateverweseek

    MasterYungusaid:(Accordingtoyouthen)therearemanyothert}Iingsinlifeyoudonotdeserve,notonlyfameandason!Thosewhohavemillionsofdollarsinthislifeculti-

    vatedthegoodfOrtunewortbyofthatamountinthepast.Thosewbohavethou-sandsofdollarsmustalsolIavetbegoodfOr-tunewortlIyofthatsum.Those,wbodieofstarvation,wereinfactmeanttodieinthatmanner.ThekarmicresulttodayissimplythefTuitoftlIeirowndeedsandbasnothingtodowithexternalpowers.

    ThisadvicefromtlIemasterismostimportantandmustnotberegardedasmeresuperstition.Ifwedoso,itisduetoourdelusionandinabilitytobelievewl1atthesagesbavetoldus.MasterYungutaughtLiaofantohonestlyreflectwithinanddoingtl>isenabledhimtorecognizebismanyfaults.Tl>egreatestvirtuousdeedisthatwerecognizeandchangeourmistakenbehavior.

    33

  • Maldngofferingstoinfinitesagesisalsoagreatvir-tuousdeedButwelearnfromtheirBLbStJnHthatitisevenbettertoturnbackfromdelusionandto

    conscientiouslycultivate.Cultivationistocbangeourselves.Theancientsagesregardeditastl1egreatvirtueofregrettingandrefOrming

    MasterYungutoldLiaofanthatapparentlyhefeltthereweremanytlIingsinlifethathedidnotdeservenotonlyasonoranimperialappointment.AttainingahiglIgradeintheexaminationsandtberesultantimpe-rialappointmentbothreliedontlIecultivationandaccumulationofmeritfromonespastlives.WeneedtherightconditionstobavemillionsofdollarsorsocialpositionThesearenotrandomlyattained

    InBuddl1ism,itissaidt}1atfOrustopossesswealt}1inthislifeweneededtohaveextensivelypracticedthegivingofwealtlIinourpastlives.CanwefOrcenaturetogiveuswealth?Impossible!TotrytodosowillbringdisasterandmisfOrtune.andprestigeinaccor-dancewithtbeteachings,wewillfindthateverytlIingisattainable.

    34

  • clearlyseethetruthTobewealthywithagoodsocialpositionortobepoorwitlInonealllieswithinus.

    orexampleifapersonbasaccumulatedenoughmeritsandvirtuestolastal1undredgenerationstlIenheorslIewillhaveahun-dredgenerationsofdescendants.Onewhoaccumulatesenoughmeritsandvirtuesto

    35

  • lasttengenerationswillhavetengenerationsofdescendantstoliveoutthatgoodfOrtune.TlIesameappliestothreeortwogenera-tions.Tl1osewhohavenodescendantshad

    toolittlemeritsandvirtues.

    TlIistalksaboutt}Iedestinyofhavingornothavingchildren.IfwelIaveaccumulatedenoughmeritsandvirtuesfOralIundredgenerations,thenwewillhaveahundredgenerationsofdescendants.MasterYin-GuangoftenpraisedConfUcius,wbocultivatedthevirtueofalIundredgenerations.ConfUciuscon-stantlythoughtofbenefitingthecountryanditspeo-ple,withoutthesliglItestthoughtofhimself.Hededi-catedhislifetoeducationandpassedonhisidealsandbopestohisstudents.HewasthegreatesteducatorinChinesehistory.

    TberehavenowbeenoverseventygenerationsofConfucius)descendantsandbiscurrentdescendant,Mr.KongDecbeng,isstillrespectedbypeopleallaroundt}IeworldNotonlytheChinesebutot}IersarealsocourteousandrespectfulwarmlywelcominghimuponhearingtbatlIeisthedescendantofConfU-ciusFromthis)itbecomesevidentthatbyplantinggoodseedsorcauses,wereapgoodharvestsorresults.

    InLiaonbfbJrLessonswereadthatwlIenweaccumulateenoughmeritsandvirtuesfOrtengenera-tions)wewillhavetengenerationsofdescendantstoenjoythatgoodfOrtuneThroughoutClIinesebistory,

    36

  • emperorstriedtoestablishdynastiesthatwereabletoreignfOrmanygenerationssuchastheQingdynastythatlastedfOrtengenerations.But,iftheirancestorshadnotaccumulatedenoughmeritsandvirtuesthenitwouldhavebeenimpossible

    Todaypeopledonotlmoworbelievethis.TlIeytbinkalltl1eyneedisabiligoodpoliticaltactics,andlmowledge.Buttheyarewrong.VirtuesaccumulatedbyourancestorsplusourvirtuousconductfTomourpastliveswillresultinlIavingadditionalvirtuouspeoplebeingrebornintoourfamilies,assuringitscontinuation

    Similarlyhowmanygenerationswillafamilybusi-nesslast?InTaiwan,thereisachainofmedicalstorescalled

  • SomepeoplemayonlylIaveenouglImeritsandvir-tuestolastfOrtwoortlIreegenerationsofdescen-

    dants.Tl1eClIinesesaythatofthethreeseriousoffensesofbeingunfilialhavingnodescendantsisthemostcritical.l4Tl1islackofmeritsandvirtuesresults

    innothavinganydescendantsIntbepast,peoplewereextremelyconcernedabout

    this,buttodaytl1ingsareverydifferent.Manycouplesdonotevenwanttohavechildren,t}Iinkingtheywillbetoomuchtrouble.Also,wenowbavesocialwelfare.Whotakescareoftheelderly?Countriesdo!WithnoneedtorelyontheirchildrentoprovidefOrtbemwhentheybecomeolder,manycouplesl1avedecidedthattl1eyneednothavechildren.TheycanretireintlIeirsixtiesandcollectsocialsecurityeverymonthfromthegovernment.

    Tbisispossiblebecausetoday)ssocialwelfaresys-temismucl1bettertl1anwhattranspiredinthepast,whentheelderlylIadtodependontheirchildrenfOrsupport.Now,moregovernmentsarelIelpingtocarefOrtbeelderly.Thissystemismorefilialtllanmanychildrenare!HowevertbelawofcausalityremainsunclIanged

    lTustasonestoresupgrainagainstleanyears,oneraiseschildrenagainstoldage))hasbeenacommonlyheldideaInhiscommentary,MrYousaid:(Sagestranscendingthisworldconsiderthecultivationofendingdesiresandattachments,eradicatingdelusiontoattainwisdom>andtranscendingtheordinaryto

    38

  • reachsagehoodtobetheutmostvirtueandmerit.UnfOrtunately,thislevelofattainmentisnotunder-stoodbyordinarypeople/)

    ThisideaofraisingclIildrenagainstoldagestillex-iststoday.Usuallywhenyoungpeoplegiverisetothecompassionatehearttobecomemonksornuns)theirfamilyandfTiendstrytbeirbesttostopthem.Notunderstanding,tlIeythinktlIattheirbiggestconcernisnotbavingdescendants.Buddhismlooksintothepast,present,andfUture,andunderstandsthetruthoflifeandtheuniverse.Ordinarypeopleseeonlyatinyportionoftheuniverse.Ofthisportion,theyhaveonlywitnessedthehumanrealmOftl1isrealmtl1eyonlyseethepresent.Tl1eydonotseethepastortl1efuture;tberefOre,theyareunabletoperceiveasclearlyasBuddhasandBodhisattvasdo.

    WhensomeoneinafamilybecomesamonkornunitistrulythemostjoyousoccasionfOrthisisanout-standingpursuit.HowevermonksandnunsmustsincerelypracticeinrenouncingworldlylifefOrifwedonotachieve)wewillfalIintotheTlIreeBadPaths.InBuddl1ism)itisoftensaidthatanofferingofonegrainofriceisasgreatasMtSumeruandnottran-scendingthecycleofbirthanddeathinthislifetime,consignsmonksandnunstorepaythedebtasananimal.

    AsPureLandpractitioners,wehavetoachieveacertainlevelofattainmentandtotranscendsamsaratoberebornintotbeWesternPureLandTberavada

    39

  • practitionersneedtoreaclI,attheleast,tbelevelofStream-enterer,whichisachievedbyseveringvariouswrongVews.ItisthelowestofthefOurstagesofsage-lIoodinTl1eravadaBuddhism.Attbispointofattain-mentpractitionerswillcontinuetoberebornintotbel1eavenandl1umanrealmsfOrsevenmoretimes.In

    thisway>theyareassuredofattainingthestateofArhatalthougl1itmaytakethemalongtimetodosoButbynotfallingintotheThreeBadRealms,theyareconsideredtohaveachievedattainment.

    AccordingtotlIiscriteriontheminimumstandardtoaclIieveattainmentinMabayanaBuddhismistoridourselvesofaportionofourattachmentstosevertheeighty-eigl1tkindsofdeviatedtboughtsandviewsIfwecannotseverthese,wehavenotyetacbievedat-tainment.Mahayanapractitioners)whosuccessfUllyseverthemreacbtlIeInitialBeliefStage.Theravadapractitionerswl1osevervariouswrongv1ewsreacl1tl1estageofStream-enterer.

    Withouttheseaccomplisl1ments)wewillstillbere-incarnatingwithinsamsara,stillrepayIngourdebts.Formonksandnuns,thismeanswewillhavetorepayeverysingleofferingfromtlIrouglIouttheuniversetl1atwasenjoyedduringthetimeweweremonksandnunsTlIeseofferingsgivenbypractitionerstomonksand

    nunsweregivenineectationofrewards.IfTl1eravadapractitionersareabletoacl1ievethe

    levelsofStream-entererorifMal1ayanapractitionersareabletosevertheeigl1ty-eigbtkindsofimproper

    40

  • thouglItsandviews,tlIosewl]ohavemadetheoffer-ingswillreceivegoodfortuneThen,thereisnoneedfOrustorepaythembecausetheylIavebarvestedfTomthefieldsofmerit.UsingtheserequirementsastlIestandard,suchattainmentisnotattainablebymonksandnunsofthisgeneration.

    However)thereisstiIlanotlIerway:toseekrebirthintotheWesternPureLandOtherwise>attainmentisnotpossible.IfwecannotgotothePureLandwewillhaveaclIievednothing.SeekingrebirthintothePureLandisactuallymucbsimplerthanseveringtlIeeiglIty-eightkindsofimproperthoug}Itsandviewsbecausewedonotneedtoseverthemall,butcancarryourremainingkarmawithus.Aslongaswel1avefaitb)vows,andpractice>l5wewillachieve

    attainment.TheBuddhaelainedthistousintheDHjrBLbStJbHandtheAmraaSthaTberefOrewhenwerenounceworldlylifetobecomemonksornunswemustacbieveattainment.

    ToRefOrmFaultsThorouglIly

  • MasterYungutaughtLiaofanlIowtocorrectl1isbadhabitsandslIortcomings.Sincehelmewwbatt}1esewere,themastertoldllimtodoeverythinghecouldtoimproveMrYousaidinhiscommentary,(

  • areunwillingtogivetoothersWhengreedy,wearealwaystryingtogainwlIatwedonotlIaveIfwefindthatwearehabituallydoingthis,wecanbecomegenerousthroughthepracticeofgiving.WhatI}IaveandothersdonotIcanunreservedlygivetothemuponrequest.Orbetteryet,wbenIseeotherswhohaveanurgentneed,IcantaketheinitiativeandsimplyprovidethemwithwhattbeyneedTlIisistlIecultivationofgoodfOrtunethrouglItbefirstoftbreekindsofgiving)thatofgivingwealth

    Thissecondldndofgivingisteachingandisprac-ticedwhenwebelpothersbysharingourskillSorwisdomIfwearegoodatwhatothersarenot>wecanenthusiasticallyteachtothemsotheywilIIavetheskilloruncovertlIeirwisdom.Thethirdkindofgiving>thegivingoffearlessnessishelpingotherstobecalmandsecureinbothbodyandmind.Itistol1elprelievetheiruneasinessandtheirfears.Forexample,ifsome-oneisafiFaidtowalkhomealoneatnight,wecanaccompanyhimorhersoheorshewillnolongerbeapprel1ensive

    Today,manyyoungpeopleserveinthearmedfOrcestoprotecttheircountriesfrominvasionThisisanotherformofthegivingoffearlessnessbecausesoldiersprotectacountryanditspeopleandmaintainthepeacebynotallowingharmfTomforeignfOrcestobefallitspeople.WecanseethatthescopeoftlIeset}Ireeldndsofgivingisextensive.WitlIthegivingofwealthwegainwealthWiththegivingofteaching,

    43

  • wegainintelligenceandwisdomWithtl1egivingoffearlessnesswegainhealthandlongevity.

    Inmanycountries,fTeeingcapturedanimalsisan-otherfOrmofthegivingoffearlessness.HowevermanyimproperpracticeslIavearisenbecauseofthis.Sincemanypeoplewishtofreecapturedanimalsothersl1avegoneintothebusinessofcapturingthem.Freeinganimalsinthiswayisnottbegivingoffear-lessnessbutsubjectsthemtoharm.IfwedidnotlIave

    theintentionofeeinganimals,otherswouldnotcapturethem.WewoulddowelltothorougMyunder-standthesituationsotlIatinourattemptstobekind>wedonotinadvertentlycausel1arminstead

    Insomecountries,wecanproPerlypracticetl1isgivingbyfreeinganimalsthatwefindwhenshoppinginthefoodmarket.WedOsointl1eknowledgetl1at

    tbeywillbeabletosurvIveoncetheyareeedTl1isisgenuinecompassionandkindnessfOritissavingthoseinsuffering.Howeverweneedtobeawaretl1atmanypetsbopssellanimalsthataredomesticallyraisedandtberefOrewouldbeunabletosurvIveontl1eirown.If

    theywerefreedtheywoulddieandourgoodinten-tionswouldbecometransgressions.

    TherefOreweneedtoconsidertheconsequencestoeverythingtbatwedoWhenwedooccasionallyfindanimalsinafOodmarketandbuyt}Iemtosetfree,tlIeproperwaytodosoistochanttbeTbreeRefUgesoftheBuddha,theDharma,andtheSangba,andtl1encl1antaBuddl1a)sname.Inthisway,wearesav1ng

    44

  • theirliVeS.l6

    ThecommentarynexttalksaboutclIangingfromanangryandagitatedpersontoonewhoiscalmEasilygivingintoangerorbecomingirritatedisamajorfaultandwasonethatLiaofanhadThemasterencouragedhimtoremaincalminsteadWbenweareableto

    accomplis}Itbis,wewillnaturallybegentleBothBuddhaShakyamuniandConfuciusstressedtbisimportantqualityofourvirtuesThestudentsofCon-fUciuspraisedhisfivevirtuesofgentiliI,kindness,respectfi1lness,tbriftinessandhumilitythatheexlIib-itedtowardseveryoneandeverything.ConfUciusdidnotliveanextravagantlifebutoneofsimplicity.Beingcourteousandhumble>beneverargued>alwaysac-cordedwitlIothers,andwasamodelofmoralexcel-lence.

    TlIecommentarycontinueswith,Tocl1angefTomapersonwl1oexaggeratesandisboastfUltoonewhoismodest.Whenpeopleexaggerate,weautomaticallydoubtwl1atevertlIeysay.Asaresult,itisdifficultfOrthemtowinourconfidencebecausebasically,theyaredislIonest.Therefore,weneedtobemodestandhon-estinalltl1atwesayanddo

    Ifwecanremaincalm>wewillattainpurityofmindTochangefTomapersonwhoisarrogantandinsolenttoonewhoiscourteous.Therereallyisnothingtobearrogantabout.IfweaccomplishedsomethingsuccessfUlly,itwasourre-

    45

  • sponsibilitytodosoIfwedidnot,wes}Iouldbecor-rectedandtoldhowtoimprove.Buddl1asandBodl>i-sattvas,w}Ioareenlightenedbeings,respecteveryoneandeverything)asdidConfUciusandMenciusGiventbatwearefarbehindtheminattainmentorunder-

    standing,weneedtoregardotberswithrespectandcourtesyfOrthesearenaturalvirtues.

    TocIangeomapersonwhoislazytoonewlIoisdiligent.>)BeinglazyisaseriousafflictionfOrtheper-sonwillnotsucceedinanything.InsteadwewoulddowelltobepurposefUlandenergetic.OneofBuddhaShakyamuni>sstudents)Anurudd}IawaslmownfOrbislaziness.Afterbeingreproachedbytl1eBuddba,heresolvedtogowithoutrestfOrsevendaysandnigl1ts.Duetohisent}Iusiasm)}Iedamagedhisvision.TheBuddhacompassionatelytaugbthimt}Ie

  • vas

    (

  • Second,wecanstrivetobetolerantofotbersaswebroadenourmindsandhearts.Ifwedonot,wewillencountermoreafflictionsandthiswillpresentfUr-therobstaclestoourcultivationWecultivateawaken-

    ing,propertboughts,andpureminds.Ifwecannotattainpurityofmind,tbenwewillnotbeawakenedThiswillresultindeviatedthoughtsProperandgreatenlightenedthoughtsrelyonthefOundationofpurityofmindWeaccomplishthisthroughtolerance.

    Thereisnoneedtobeoverlyseriousortocriticizeeverytbing.AswelearnintheD/amondStJZm>

  • tolearnandpracticetotrulybenefitourselves.Int}IePureLandsutras,wereadabout(

  • DwellTogether.Withtl1estateofOneMindUndis-turbedinMindfilness,wewillberebornintotheLandWl1ereEverytbingisTemporary.WiththestateofOneMindUndisturbedinEnlightenment,wewillberebornintotheLandofTrueRewardThelevelofattainmentweacl1ievedetermineswlIichlandwewillbereborninto.

    TherearealsodifferentlevelsintlIestateofCon-

    stantMindfUlness;thus>tbereareninelevelsofbirthPeoplewlIoarerebornintothehighertbreelevelsofbirtlIareabletopassawaywbenevertl1eywishAtthattime,theycangowitboutanyillnessandmaybestandingorseatedIftheydonotfeellikeleavingtl1isworldyet,theycanstaylonger.Everythingcanbeacbievedatwill.Peoplewboarerebornintotl1emid-dlethreelevelsofbirthareabletolmowafewmonths

    inadvancewhentheyaregoingtopassaway.Again,theymayleavetlIisworldstandingorseatedIntlIelowerlevel,peoplewillknowseveraldaysinadvanceoftheirdeatb,buttl1eymaybecomeillbefOretl1eirtimeofdeath

    PeoplereachingthestateofOneMindUndisturbedhaveevenhigherabilitiesTherearetwolevelsofOneMindUndisturbed:MindfiIlnessandEnligl1tenment.Theselevelsarenotachievablebyordinarypeoplelikeusinonelifetime,whereas,ConstantMindfulnessis.TberefOre,inthislifetimewecanattaintl1estateofConstantMindfulnessinwl1icbwewillhavetlIeabil-

    itytopassawayatease,toleavewheneverwewish

    50

  • T}IisistoberebornintothehigherthreelevelsofbirtlI,intotheLandWhereBothSagesandOrdinaryBeingsDwellTogetherandtocarryourremainingMrmaalongwithus.

    ThemastertoldLiaofantbatheshouldcarefOrhis

    healthandconservehisenergyandspirit.BecauseLiaofanlikedtositupallnightanddidnotlmowhowtotakecareofhimself)lIeneededtopayspecialatten-tiontocaringfOrlIishealthandenergy.

  • beginningomtheneedtocultivateandaccumulatemeritsandvirtuesandculminatinginbecomingThesearethekeystochangingdestiny.

    Mr.Yousaidinhiscommentary,Thefirststepinchangingdestinyistocorrectourfaults.Tobrushawayalltheaccumu>atedbad}IabitsonebyoneandtopullouttlIerootsofourproblemsonebyoneAtalltimesandinallplaces,tobeconstantlyvigilantofoureverythought,word,andactWerestrainanddisci-plineourselves.Weprotectourinnocentandthevirtuousaswewouldanewbornbaby,)Tl1efUllre-sponsibilityfOrchangingdestinyisinourhandsnotinthebandsofheavenlyorenlightenedbeings.Peopleofutmostvirtuearenolongerboundbydestiny.

    Weneedtobestrictwithourselves.Ifwecon-

    stantlyfOrgiveourselveswewilllimitourfUtures.However)whileweareexactingandsternwithour-selves,weouglIttobegenerousandlenientwitlIoth-ers.WeneedtoprotecttlIosewhoarepure,virtuous,andinnocent.Whatisinnocence?Itistonothaveanyselfisbthougbts.IfweconstantlylIavewanderingthouglIts,thenweloseourinnocent,true,andpureminds.

    Tl1eresponsibilityfOrc}Iangingwl1atispredeter-minedisentirelyuptous.Onceweunderstandthetruthaboutre-creatingourfiItures,wewillnolongerneedtoaskfOrtunetellerswhatthefUtureholdsWe

    cancarefUllyreflecttoknowwhatitissupposedtobe

    52

  • andhowtoclIangeitKnowingtbis>otherswouldnolongerbeabletodeceiveus.

    PreviouslyMasterYunguto>dLiaofanaboutpeoplewhowereoftheutmostvirtue.InthePureLandsu-

    tras,welearnthattheyliveinthePureLandPeopleofutmostvirtueareabletofeelregretandrefOrm.IntheWesternPureLand)tlIeydosodaiIy,untilthereisnothingleftthatrequirescorrectionThentheybe-comeBuddhas.

    Eventhehig}Iest-leveIBodhisattvasstiIIavefaults.Whatldnd?TheystillhaveonedegreeofignoranceyettobebrokenthroughIfEqual-enlightenmentBodhi-sattvasstillneedtoregretandrefOrmwecanimaginehowmuchweneedtodo!Fromnowon>weneedtolIavethecompassionatehearttofeelremorseandchangefOrthebetter.EvenuponreachingthelevelofEqual-enlightenmentBodhisattvas,wewillstillneedtodotlIis.OnlywhentlIereisnothinglefttocorrectwillwebecomeBuddhas.Wecannotattainsupremeenlightenmentifwesti>lbaveoneremainingfault.

    EnlightenmentistoknowandcorrectourfaultsBodbisattvasareenligbtenedsentientbeingsWearealsosentientbeings,butareunenlig}Itenedsincewedonotknowourfaultsandtbusdonotknowtocor-

    rectthem.Webelievethatwearealreadycorrect.Wequestion,(DoIhaveanyfaults?))andt}IinkfOralongtimewithoutHndinganyThus,itissaidthatordinarypeopledonothavefaultsw}IileBodhisattvas}Iavemany.Theyconstant>ywatchovert}Ieireveryt}Iought,

    53

  • wordanddeedImowingthattbeyhavemanyshort-comingscontinuouslycorrectingthemanddoingsofOrtbreegreateons.WlIenwethinkaboutlIowmanyfaultstherecanbe,howcanwepossiblythinkthatasordinarypeoplewedonotbaveany!

    Whatisthedifferencebetween(enlightened),andunenlightened),?OnewhoknowstlIattbeyhavemany((

    faultsisanenligbtenedbeing-aBodbisattvaOnewhodoesnotlmowtheypossessnumerousfaultsisunenlightened-anordinaryperson.Bodhisattvasarenotdeities,butarebeingswhoknowtheirfaultsandconstantlystrivetocoITectthem.Ifweweretoim-prove,notonlywouldwecorrectourfaults,butwewouldalsogiverisetothevowsofBuddhaAmitabhaandthiswouldbethemostremarkablewayofclIang-ingourdestinies.

    WerecitetheirLkbStJnHdailytobeveryfamiliarwithitbutt}Iisisonlytheinitialstep.Thesecondstepistousetbesutraasamirror,reflectingoncewitheachrecitationtomakeacomparisonandtofindourfaults.Bylookingatreflectionsinamirror)wecanseewlIatpartsaresoiledandimmediatelycleanthem.TocleanistocorrectWerecitethesutra

    tofindthepollutioninourmindtlIatwearenotyetawareof.Thesutraislikeamirrorthatseesandre-

    flectswbatpartsofourmindslIavefaultssothatwemayimmediatelycorrectthem.T}1erefOreweinitiallybecomefamiliarwithtlIesutraandthenweaccord

    withitsteachings.

    5

  • Incultivation>firstwegiverisetovows.WeneedtothinkcarefUllyifwehavegivenrisetotl1efOrty-eightvowsofBuddhaAmitabha>toadoptthesevowsasourown,andtobeofoneheartandvowwithbim.Tl>en,wewillbetl1esameasl1imandbecomehismanifesta-

    tion.HeisourrolemodeItohelpustomoldandtransfOrmourselvestobetl]esameashim.T}1isistobeofonemind,oneheart>andonevow.HowcouldwenotberebornintothePureLandwhenourlIearts

    andvowsaretl1esameashis?Wl1entbishappens,wewilltl1ink,speak)andacttbesameasBuddhaAmi-tabhaaswerelatetootlIerpeopleandcircumstancesbecomeconstantlymindfulofBuddhaAmitabl1aandalwaysremembertoencourageotherstocl1antAmi-tuofO.

    Wl1enourthreekarmasofbody,speech,andmindarethesameasBuddhaAmitabhawebecomehismanifestation.WereturntothisworldtofUlfillhis

    originalvowsThisisevenmoreremarkablethanbeingapersonofVrtueandsincerityOriginally,wereincarnatedintotlIisworldtorepayourkarmicdebts,butnoweaclIofusisBuddhaAmitabhacomingtothisworldthrouglIthestrengthofourvows!Tbisistl1emostremarkableandunsurpassablemetlIodinclIangingourdestinies.

    Ifevenourbodyisgovernedbydestiny,thenhowcanabodyofvirtueandsinceritynotevokearesponsefromheaven?

    55

  • HereMasterYunguwastalkingofwanderingthougl1tsandattac}1ments.Ourbodiesreallybavenothingtodowithdestiny.Whatmattersistl1emindfOritinfluencesthebodyTobelIonesttlIemindsofmostpeopleareselfishandtl1us,theyaregovernedbydestinyWealsofallunderthecontrolofdestinywbenweusetlIeconsciousmindorourEightConscious-neSSeSo

    EnlightenedbeingsareabletotranscendbecausetheyhaveturnedtheirEightConsciousnessesintotheFourWisdoms.NotusingtheEiglItConsciousnesses,enligbtenedbeingsarenotcontrolledbydestinyAfterwehavereachedacertainlevelofenlightenment,wetoowilluseourenlightenedmindCurrently,weareusingdeludedfeelings.Ifweusedourenlightenedwisdom,howcouldwenot

  • stone!HethoughtImustbeverystrongtolIaveslIotanarrowsodeepintoastone!Hetriedagainandagain,butfailedtorepeathisaccomplishment.Fromtl1is,wecanseetlIattlIefirstshotresultedfTomtbeutmostsincerityofhavingnowanderingtboughts.

    Similarly,w}1engreatMasterKumarajivawasaboutsevenyearsold,heliftedupagreatironbowlwitl1outsomuchasathought.Butthenhethougbt,)Hetriedtodosoagain,butfailedGeneralLiGuanglIadmistakenthestonefOratigerandwasabletoslIootanarrowintoitMasterKumaraiivathoughtnotl]ingoftheweightofagreatironbowlandwasabletoliftit

    OnceGeneralLiGuangrealizedtlIattlIetigerwasactuallyastoneandMasterKumarajivarealizedtbattheironbowlwasextraordinarilybeavytbeywereunabletorepeatt}1eirpreVousaccomplis}1ments.BothinitiallyactedfTomthemindofsinceritythatlIadnowanderingtlIoughtsThus,tl]estonewassplitopenandtbeironbowlwasliftedup.

    Fromthesetwoexampleswecanconfirmwhatissaidintl1eAmmsaShnHTherearenoobstaclesamongpbenomenaorprinciples.>)Thisisac}IievedwhenthemindattainsacertaindegreeofpurityasweseverourwanderingdiscriminatorythouglItsandattachments.Ifthemindisnotpure,thenallp}Ie-nomenapresentobstacles.Butwhentl1emindispure,therearenoobstacles.

    Utmostsinceritythusevokesaresponsefrom

    57

  • heaven.>)ConfUcianismspeaksofwrestlingwithmate-rialisticdesires)teachingustoletgoofandnolongerbeinfluencedbydesire.Utmostsinceritycanchange

    destiny.ItistbetruemindasexplainedintlIesazak/DI>StJnH.ItistheBodhimind:l8tlIemindofut-

    mostsincerity,profUndity,meritdedicationandvowgeneration

    AsissaidintheTai]iaChapter}intlIeBooAfsrol9OnemayrunawayfTomtheretributionofheaven,butonecanneverescapetl1eretributionfOrone)smisdeeds.>

    TosaytbatwemayrunfromtlIeretributionofheavenmeanstlIatalthoughwehadcommittedoffensesinformerlifetimes)tberetributionfOrt}Iemischangeablebyourcurrentcultivation,andtl1eaccu-mulationofmeritsandvirtuesinthislifetime.The

    retributionsofheavenaredestinedandchangeable.

  • wrongdoingsmature.HoweverifwerefrainfromcommittingfUrthermisdeedswecansuppresstheadverseconditions.Thebadcausesstillexistbutwith-

    outtberigbtconditions,theywillnotmature.T}1eprincipleinclIangingdestinyisbasedontl1iscondi-tionalaspectofthelawofcausality.CauseiswlIatwascreatedinthepastandisunchangeable;butconditioniscl1angeableandcontrollable.

    Wereapwhatwesow.Wecanplantmelonandbeanseedsthatarecauses.WhenwedosowewillgrowthemelonsandbeanstlIatarefTuits.However,wecannotgrowbeansfrommelonseedsormelons

    ombeanseedsCauseisaconstantbere.WhatwewillharvestdependsontheconditionsIfwewouldliketoharvestbeans,weplanttheseedsfOrthemandputawaytlIemelonseeds.Foracausetocomeintoeffect)appropriateconditionsarerequired

    Forexample,seedsneedt}Ierightconditions>whicharegoodsoil)fertilizer,sun,andwatertogrowwell.Evenaftertheseedsareplantedandthecauseiscre-ated,wecanpreventthemfTommaturing.WesimplywithlIoldthewaterandsunIightTheseedswillnot

    grow.Theywillnotmatureintouitsbecausetheydonothavetherigbtconditions.

    TherefOre)altbougbwehavecreatedbadcausesinourpastlives,ifwerefrainfromwrongdoingsintlIislifeendourerroneousbebaviorandcultivatekinddeeds,wewiInotprovidet}IebadconditionsfOrtl1esecausestomature.Surely,wealsocreatedsomegood

    59

  • causesinourpastlivesHowcouldapersonhaveonlycommittedbaddeedsoronlyperfOrmedgooddeeds?Suchapersonsimplydoesnotexist.Tl1erefOre,lifeafterlifeallofourdeedshavebeenamixtureofgoodandbad.Sometimesmoregood;sometimesmorebad

    WedonotneedtobeaaidthatwehavecommittedtransgressionsaslongaswerefTainfTomcommit-tinganymore.Ifwecanblockthebadconditions,althoughwemayonlyhaveasmallamountofgooddeedstbesewillblossomandmature.

    ItissaidintheBokSmg3TopermanentlyaccordwiththemindofbeavenandtoseekourowngreatgoodfOrtune.>

    ThisrevealstlIerealpurposeofourmorningandeveningclasses.ThemorningclassservestoremindusofBuddlIaAmitabha>svows.ThepurposeoftlIeeve-ningclassistolookbackontbedaytoseeifwel1adfOllowedtlIesutra>sguidanceandwhetherwel1adbeenwatclIfuloverourthoughts)words,anddeeds.ThusitismeaningfUltoparticipateinbothInBud-

    dhaShalqamunistime,thecontentfOrbothmorningandeveningclasseswastheThreeRefi1gesfromthe

    hapterofPurificationofConduct,intlIedpamsaaStJZr:TotheBuddhaIreturnandrely,vowmgthatalllivingbeingswillprofOundlyunderstandtl1egreatWayandbringfOrththelIeartofgreatunder-standing>}

    Ancientvirtuouspeoplecompiledourcurrentreci-60

  • tationlIandbooksandthecontentwassuitablefOrthe

    peoplepracticingtogetlIerattbattimeButisthisrecitationsuitablefOrourcurrentpractice?Ifnot)tlIehandbooksneedtobemodifiedsotlIattheywillallowustocontinuetobenefitfromthembycoITectingourfaults.Tl1esameappliestorepentanceceremonies.Ifweparticipateintl1eseanddothemanyprostrationswitl1animpuremind,notonlywillwenoteradicateourkarmicobstacles,wewillincreasetl1em.

    Thisissimilartotakingmedicinewhenwebecomeill.Ifthemedicationprovesineffectivewehavetocbangeprescriptions.ThepurposeofsutrarecitationandrepentanceprostrationsistotreattheillnessinourmindstocureourafflictionsIftl1eyareineffec-tive,weneedtofindabetterprescription.Tl1isiswhy

    tbengmaiRenceCzmocompiledbyMrXiaLianiuismoresuitabletlIanothersimilarbooksintreatingourcurrentproblems.UponcarefUlreading,wewillunderstandthatmanyofitsphrasesareappropriatetoday.Hence,weneedtochoosetlIemorningandeveningrecitationsbasedonourillnessesandproblems.

    Fortbemorningandeveningclasses,manyPureLandpractitionersnowrecitetheHirELZbStJZmtocultivateconcentration.Ifwedonotl1aveenouglItimetorecitetheentiresutra)tlIenwecanreciteclIaptersixthatcomprisesthefOrty-eightvowsfOrthemorn-ing>andcbaptersthirty-twototlIirty-sevenfOrtheevening

  • sectioninwl1ichAmitabhaBuddhaistalldngtoMai-treyaBodhisattva).ThesesixclIapterstalkofcausalityandoflearninglIowtochangeourselves.Doingthis,wewillpermanentlyaccordwithtl1emindsoflIeavenandseekourowngreatgoodfOrtune.

  • loss,witl1inandwithout/WelIaveseenpeoplewhotrytoimprovetheirenvIronmentbychangingtl1eplacementofdoors,windows>andsoon,alltobeataloss,withinandwitbout.Onappearance,theyseemedtogainbutactuallywhattheygainedwaswhattlIeyweredestinedtohaveItwasstillwit}Iint}Ieirdes-tiny-aconstant,notavariable.

    Weneedtochangefromourmindsandl1eartstorefrainomwrongdoingsandtocultivategoodnessTl]emasteralsosaid(Thesearegooddeedst}IatotbersdonotknowaboutIfwedidsomethingthatwasgoodandthenmadeitwidelylmown,sothatotherspraisedus,wewouldloseourmeritsandvirtuesastlIesehavenowturnedintopraise.TodowlIatisgoodbuttocancelitsbenefitsattlIesametimewillpreventusomaccumulatingmeritsandvirtues.

    Itismuchbettertopracticegoodnesswitl1outlet-tinganybodylmowandevenbetterifsomepeoplereproacbedus,forthiswillhelptoreduceournegativekarmaItwouldbebestifournegativekarmaandretributionswerereducedandeveneradicatedwhileourmeritsandvirtuesremainedhidden.

    Today,wl1enwedogoodandarecriticizedorevenslandered,wefeelitisundeservedWlIydowebavebadconsequenceswhenwedogood?Actuallyt}Iesearegoodconsequences.Ifweareimmediatelycom-plimentedupondoinggooddeeds)wewillloseourmeritsandvirtues.TlIerefOre,wecanstrivetoaccu-

    63

  • mulatemeritsandvirtueswl>ilehidingthemfiFomotlIers)fOronlytbenistlIistrulyagooddeed

    weneednotwaituntilfUturelifetimestoreapourrewards;insteadwemayseeourdeedsbearfTuitinthislifetime!DuetothisprincipleLiaofancompletelychangedlIisdestiny.HehadaccumulatedsomanygooddeedsthatlIedidnotbavetowaituntilhisnextlifetoenjoytheresults

    JCmeBooAangs,waswrittentolIelppeopleaccruegoodfOrtuneandtoavoidadversityIfeverytlIingisdestinedwitlInoroomfOrcbange,lIowcanwehopetodotbiS?

    TbeJCmgisconsideredbymanytobetleearliestphilosoplIybookinancientClIinaandteachespeopletobecomesagesandvirtuouspeopleItac-

  • complislIestlIisthroughmathematicsandtbeuseofsixty-fOurhexagramsofwboleandbrokenlinesrepre-sentingallpossiblecombinationsofbrokenandun-brokenlines.Therearethree}Iundredandeighty-fOurpossiblepredictionsCbangesassmallastl1osethataffectindividuaIstothosethataffectcountriesand

    eventbeworldcanbededucedomtl1esefigures.TIebookusesmathematicstodeterminethenatural

    courseofcauseandeffect.

    WhatMasterYungusaidregardingtlIesurpassingofmathematicsiswherethetechniquesoftlIeICmgfail.TlIeJCmgworkswellwitIconstants,butalthoughitunderstandstbattherearevariables,itfailstoworkwitl1them.Thisteachesustoaccumulate

    meritsandtoavoidbaddeedS.Onevirtuousthoughtisaplusandonenegativethoughtisaminus.So,everydayissimplyamatterofadditionandsubtraction,multiplicationanddivision.IfthemarginofclIangeisnottoomuch,otlIerscanfOretellourdestinieswitl1areasonabledegreeofaccuracy.ThisishowMr.KongfOretoldLiaofansdestiny

    Portwentyyears)Liaofanneitherincreasednorde-creasedhisbadorgoodthoughtsanddeeds)butcom-pletelyaccordedwithhisdestiny.Formostpeoplethereareusuallysomevariances-onevirtuoustbought,oneunkinddeed.Liaofan,whohadnointer-estindoingeithergooddeedsorbaddeeds)main-tainedconstancyfOrtwentyyears;thus>l1isdestinywasremarkablyaccurate.Ifthevarianceislargewe

    65

  • willsurpasstheconstanttoaccruegoodfOrtuneandavoidadversity

    Wereadint}Iecommentary:BecauseallthouglItsandbel1aviorareclIangeable,soalltheconsequencesofgainandloss,joyandpainseemflexibleandclIangeable.Theseconsequencescanbeaddedsub-tracted,multipliedanddivided:gainedandlostinaccordancewitl1thebehavioroftl1eindividual.

    Aconstantisthecause.Avariableistbecondition.

    Tl1ekeytocl1angingdestinyisdeterminedbytheconditionandtl1isiswl1atBudd}1ismstresses.Allt}1einfinitecreationsinheavenandoneartl1arisefrom

    conditions.>)AllenstingthingsarisefiFomtl1econdi-tion,wl1iclIisavariable.Bycontrollingthisvariable,wecanchangedestiny.Then,wecanpursueourwisl1esandgoalstogainremarkable,perfectresultsT}1eBuddl1aalsotoldusintbesutra,Impermanence,noego,Nirvana.>)Understandingtl1isprinciplewecanbecomevirtuouspeopleandsages,ArhatsBodhisatt-vas,andBuddlIas.

    Tl1efirstchapteroftheJCmgsaysamilieswhooftenperfOrmgooddeedswillhaveanexcessofgoodfOrtunetopassontothefOllowinggenerations.)Doyoubelievethis?Ireplied,

  • lmewthatthereisavariablethatisthecondition.BycontrollingtlIisvariableonasmallscale)wecanchangeourowndestinyandonalargerscale,wecanpursuelastingstabilityandpeacefOrourworld

    TheJChngistrulyextraordinary;howeveritisapitytl1atnowitlIasvirtuallybecomeafOrtune-tellingbookAsMrMeiGuansaidintheprefaceofthe

    DHniLZbSmrH:OriginallytheAmiraaStJrHwasateacl1ingtl1athelpedustotranscendthecycleofbirthanddeatbtobecomeaBuddhaButnowitl1as

    becomesometl1ingfOrpeopletoreciteatmemorialservicestosendoffthedeceased!),ThattheAmjraDAaStJ

  • canwenotclIangeourdestinies?Mr.Youtoldusinhiscommentary:Onewhobears

    goodadvicefromsagesandslandersthemhascom-mittedabaddeed;doubtisoneofthefundamentalafflictionsGoodadviceistheteachingsoftlIesagesoftl1isworldandbeyondLatergenerationscalledtheseteacbingssutrasThesutrasspeakoftrutbstbatdonotchangewithtime.Tbetrutht}Iatsurpassestimeisthesamenowasitwastl1ousandsofyearsago;itneverchangeswhetherintheeastorinthewest.

    ThewritingsandteaclIingsofsagesdidnotcome{Tomtl1eirpersonalexperiencesandopinions,fOriftheydidtheywouldbebiasedorinappropriate.Historyisnotmadeupofopinionsbutofaccumulatedexperi-enceswlIereassutrascontainthetruththatarises

    fromtlIeoriginaltruenature.Thustheteachingsinthesutrasaretheabsolutetruththatsurpassestimeandspace.

    WewillbenefitandimproveifwebelieveintlIeteacl1ingsbutifwedonot)thenwewillmisstl1eseremarkablebenefits.Tl1isiswhywesaytbatdoubtisoneoftl1esixfundamentalafflictionsofgreed,anger,ignorancearrogance,doubt>anddeviatedviews.

    Thecommentaryalsostated:(OnewlIol1earsMndwordsofadviceandgivesrisetobeliefwillnurturetheappearanceofgoodfOrtuneandmerit.ThisbeliefisthemotherofgoodfOrtune.Mother))meanstogiverise)togrow.AllgoodfOrtuneandmeritarisefrombeliefintheteachingsofthesages.Ifweareableto

    68

  • believeinthewordsandteachingsofthesageswewillfindt}1atinfinitegoodfOrtuneandmeritaregen-eratedfromthisLiaofanwasindeedarareperson:todeeplybelieveuponhearingthemastersadvice.

    ToSurpassDestinybyCultivatingGoodFortuneandAccumulatingVirtues

    IgratefUllyacceptedhisadviceandpaidmyrespectstohimbyprostrating.ThenIbegantoregretallmypastwrongdoings,largeandsmallinfrontoftheBuddl1asimage.IwrotedownmywisbtopasstlIeimperialex-aminationsandvowedtocompletetl1reetbousandmeritoriousdeedstosl1owmygratitudetowardsmyancestors,eartl1,andbeaven

    HereweseeLiaofanssincerityinhononngtheteacherandreveringhisorlIerteachings.Hedidnotcasuallysay,

  • wbenwearecriticizedandcorrected,ourkarmicobstacleswillbegraduallyeradicated.IfothersspealKoutaboutourmistakes)begratefulevenifwehavenotdonewbattl1eysaidwedid,fortobewronglyaccusedbyot}1erswillalsoeradicateourkarmicobstacles.Tbereisnoneedtorefuteordefendourselvesintbe

    faceofundeservedaccusations.Wbenwearedefen-

    sive,otherswillnotwanttohelpuscorrectourfaults.Tbentheoffensewillbecomeevenmoreserious

    Taizong,agreatemperorwholivedoveratl1ousandyearsagoduringtlIeTangdynastyisrememberedfOrbeingwIseandaccomplishedWhy?Sincehedidnotcoverupl1iss}1ortcomings,anyonecouldtalktol1imaboutthem.Evenasemperor,bedidnotl1ingtoretali-ateknowingthathestillhadfaultstocorrect.

  • Tl1emerit-faultchartprovidedfOrtheentryofbot}lmeritsandfaultsandwasverypopularduringthelatteryearsoftheMingdynasty20SclIolarsaswellasBuddl1istsusedthechartintheircultivationofmoral-

    ity.MasterLianchi2ldrewupamerit-faultchartcalledtheSelf-reHectionRecord))tlIattotallyderiveditsstandardsforgoodandbadbehaviorfromBudd}1ism.ItwasthusespeciallyhelpfulfOrBuddhiststousefOrendingfaultybehaviorandcultivatingkindnessThereareseveralversionsofmerit-faultclIartstbatlIave

    beenpasseddownovertheyearsthatcanbeusedfOrourreference.

    Liaofanlivedfivebundredyearsago.Hisback-groundandmanneroflivingwereverydifferentfTomours.However,wecanstillabidebytbeprinciples,usingourwisdomtodeterminehowwecanadapttheclIartsfOrmodernusage.Altl1ougbnoonel1ascomeupwitlIamorecurrentclIartitsprinciplesremainvalid

    TlIemasteralsotaug}ItmetorecitetheZhuentiMantraOnlywithamindofpurityandconcentrationcouldIattainwhatI

    sought

    InEsotericBuddl1ism,ZhuentiBodhisattvaisamanifestationofAvalokiteshvaraBodhisattva.WhydidtlIemasterteacl1LiaofantoclIantamantrainsteadof

    recitingasutra?Thepurposeofthechantingistouncoverourpuremindstoeradicatewandering

    7l

  • tlIougbts.SincemantrasaretransliteratedfTomSan-skritweonlyrepeattheirsounds>notanalyzethem.Aswecontinuetochantoveralongtime,ourmindswillbecomepure,oratleastourwanderingthoughtswillbesuppressed

    TlIegoalremainsthesamewbetherwearerecitingsutras,clIantingmantras,orchantingaBuddha>sname.ItisimportanttlIatweteacl1otherstlIemetllodthatismostsuitabIefOrthem.Forexampleift}1emasterlIadtaughtLiaofantorecitesutras,hewouldhavebeentemptedtoanalyzetlIeirmeaning.Thushewastaughtthemantra.Tl1ereisaBuddhistsaying:sname.))Alltbeseemphasizeactualcultivation.

    Today,welackthefUndamentaleducationthatourancestorsreceived,soitwillbehelpfUlfOrustofOllowthisadviceofancientpeople:ItisnottoolatetomendthefOldevenaftertl1esheeparelost/)TomakeupfOrourlostfundamentaleducation,fOrthefirstfewyearsofourpracticewecanconcentrateonmemoriz-

    ingtheHircLZbStJrB.ThisisespeciallypracticalfOryoungpeopleasthebesttimetolearnisbefOretlIeageoftwenty.Ifweareabletomemorizethesutraandreciteitbyheart,wewillbenefitfromitfOrtherestofOUrliVeS.22

    Budd}Iismistheultimateperfectwisdom;tlIus,re-

    72

  • citingsutrasbybeartisaveryimportantfOundation.Ifweareabletoendourerroneousways,practicegood-ness,andcultivatepurityofmindtheninduetimewhateverweseekwillbeattained

    MasterYunguelainedthatitl1adbeensaidbyspecialistsindrawingtalismanicfig-ures:Thosewboareconsideredexpertsintheartofdrawingcharmsbutdonotlmowtherightwaytodosowillbelaugl1edatbyspirits.)}ThekeytodrawingcharmsishavingnothoughtsombeginningtoendUnderstandingthisbegintl1efirststrokewithastillmindaftertlIeprimaldarlmess.Intheprocessofdrawing,onemustletgoofallwanderingthoughts.Onlyinthiswaycanacharmbeeffective

    DrawingtalismanicfiguresisafOrmofancientskillinTaoismsimilartochantingmantrasinBuddhism.TlIesecrettodrawingtalismanicfiguresistol>aveamindthatisdevoidofthoughts.WecanusetheGreatCompassionMantratoillustratethis.TheGreatCom-passionwaterwhichisconsecratedbychantingtlIemantracanbeveryeffectivefOrsome,butnotatalleffectivefOrotl1ers.WlIy?Inchantingthemantra,tlIefOrmerdidnotl]aveasinglewanderingthoughtfTomstarttofinishIfduringtlIechantingawanderingt}1ougbtarises,thentl1emantrawillbeineffective.TherefOretlIelongerthemantra,themoredifHcultit

    73

  • istosuccessflIllychantit.TbeSurangamaMantracanbeveryeffective)how-

    everfewpeopletodayareabletobenefitfromit.Why?Thevastmajorityofpeoplehavemanywander-ingthoughtswl1ilechantinganditonlytakesonesuchthouglIttorendertlIeireffOrtsineffective.

    Thesameappliestosutrarecitation.IfasPureLandpractitioners,wereciteoneroundoftheireLK/bStJnHwithouthavinganywanderingthoughts,itwouldbewonderful!Ourmindswouldbeinaccor-

    dancewiththemindoftl1eBuddlIasthroughouttlIeuniverseinthepastpresent,andfUtUre.TherefOre,weneedtorecitethesutrawithamindofpurity)equality)sincerityandrespect.But,ifwerecitethesutrawlIilehavingwanderingthoughts,ourmindswillnotbethemindofaBuddha.

    Fromthis,wecanseethattheshorterthemantratheeasieritwillbefOrustoreciteandtoconcentrate

    on.Andchanting

  • toasingletboughtIntbisway,onewi>leas-ilyreceivearesponse.

    WbenweseeksomethinghomtbeBuddhas,Bo-dbisattvas)orthebeingsoflIeavenorearth,weneedtodosowithoutlIavinganyt}IoughtsfOrourseekingtobeeffective.Toacbievet}Iis,ourmindsneedtobetrulypurewithoutanywanderingthoughts.Thisistohavethemindofsincerity,purity,andrespect.OnlywlIenweappealtotheenlightenedonesusingthemindofutmostsinceritywillweattainwhatwewishfOr

    Thesameprincipleapplieswhensomepeoplemakeofferingstotheirancestorsastheyappealinontoftheancestralplaque.ItwouldbeuselesstodosowithanimpuremindTherefOre,inthepast,makingoffer-ingstoancestorswasaveryspecialoccasion.Forexample,thosewhoofficiatedattheceremonyfastedandbatl]edfOrthreedaysbefOreTheycultivatedpurityofmindbyshuttingthemselvesinasmallroomtotrytoletgoofattachments.Theyconductedtheceremonyasifthespiritsoftheirancestorswerepre-sent.Buddl1istswouldcalltlIis)BysincerelyhonoringthematthetimeoftheceremonytlIespiritswillappear

    Wl1enwepayrespecttot}IeenliglItenedbeingsatcultivationcentersaretheypresent?Notnecessarily.ThepresenceoftheirimagesdoesnotmeantheytlIemselvesarethereIfthepractitioners>whetlIer

    75

  • monks,nunsorlaypeoplearesincereandpureinmind,thenenlightenedbeingswillbepresentOtlIer-wIse,moreoftenthannottherewillbesomedemons

    impersonatingenlightenedbeingsThisiselainedintheSiJIHI1gamaStJkm.

    (

  • standingthis)wewillbecontentwithourpresentsituation)beitoneofweaIthorpov-

    erty!fwearccontentwithtbingsastheyare,wecan

    settlcdownandgcionwithourwork}iissaid:IftherichwerecontenttoberichandthepoorwerecjI!tobepoor,))thensocietywouldbestabletheworldwouldbepeacefi1l)andeveryonewouldbehappy.Whatisbeingbappy?Nothavinganywanderingthoughts,worries,orafflictionslfapersoninpovertywasabletounderstandtbat}Iisorhercurrentcondi-tionwasamatterofdestiny,thenheorshewouldalsobecontented

    Agoodexampleoftl1isoccurredintheearlypartofthetwentietbcenturyAmaninavillageinJiangsuprovIncebeggedfOrfOodduringthedayandsleptinolddesertedtemplesatnight.Inthisway>l1ewascontented

    Hissonaftereeriencingbusinesssuccess,becamerichandinHuentialbutthenfoundhimself

    beingadmonished:(Howcanyoubesuchanunfilialson?YouhavesuchgreatwealtlIbutyouletyourfathercontinuetobegfOrhisfOod?>,TlIesonfeltashamedafterhearingthisandsentpeopletosearclIeverywlIerefOrhisfatlIerandbrouglItl]iml1ometocarefOrhim.But,afteramonthoflivinginbissonsl]ome,tl]efatherslippedouttoresumehislifeasabeggar.

    77

  • Peopleaskedthefather:

  • istinglifespanbeitlongorshort.ThemostimportantconcernfOrbumansisthatoflifeanddeathTlIus,earlydeathandlongevitysubsumeallconditions,whethertheyarefa-vorableorunfavorable,andwhetherofgainorloss

    Thisspeaksofaccordingwithconditions.Regard-lessoffavorableorunfavorabIeconditions,wewillbecompletelyateaseaseverythingbecomesclearandlogical.WecanhavegoodfOrtuneandattainthegreatliberation.ThisistruelivingTruebappinessisnotachievablewithoutgreatknowledgeandeffOrtinprac-ticeWecannowclearlyseethatonlyawakenedpeo-plecansettletbeirmindsandre-createtl]eirdestinies.ItispointlesstobehaveimmorallyandtobecomeincreasinglydeludedTlIus>theBudd}Iaoftenreferredtothosewhoweredeludedas(pitiablebeings. ,)

    Wehavetowaituntilourcultivaiion

    reachesacertainlevel,thenourdestinywillchange.TlIischangedependsontheaccu-mulationofmerits)onseekingaresponsefTomtheheavens.Whencultivating,weneedtobeawareofourfaultsandresolveto

    correctthemasifwewerecuringasick-))

    neSSo

    WecultivatewbilewaitingfOrdestinytobere-created;however>thisisnotaccomplishedovernight.

    79

  • Ittakesalongtime.Weneedtoceaseourlaziness,andconfidentlyanddiligentlystrivetoimprove.Weneedtobeawakenedandnotdeluded,todowhatisproperandnotdeviatedIntime,wewillattainthedesiredresult.Cultivationiscorrectingourfaultsinthethreekarmasofimproperthoughts,wordsanddeedsandadoptingwhateverwaysarenecessarytoremedytl1esefaults

  • souglIt.InitiallybesougbtsclIolarlyhonorandoHicialrank,tben,hesoughtchildrenWhateverhesoughtwasaccomplisbedIfhehadnothadonetlIouglItofarequest)ifhelIadsolelycultivatedandaccumulatedvirtues,everythingwouldhaveturnedoutperfectly.HedidnotseeklongevityandyethelivedlongerthandestinedHewassupposedtodieattheageoffifty-three,butlivedtoseventy-fOur!

    Wewillbenefitifweceaseourrequestsandaffinityseeking,andonlyhavesensiblewis}Iesliketboseinwhichweaskthatourlivesbesmootb,thatwehaveenoughtoeat,asafeplacetolive,andadequatecloth-ing.Itisenougl]tolivesimplyandcomfOrtablywithminimalexpensesinasmallhouse.Butmostpeoplewanttopossessluxuriesandtoimpressothers>notlmowingthepricetheyhavetopayfOrt}Ieseextrava-gances.Theylosemorethantheygain.Ifinstead)wesl1areourgoodfOrtunewit}IothersthenourgoodfOrtuneistlIeaccumulationofmerits.

    IfwecultivateandaccumulateenoughvirtuetolastfOralmndredgenerationsthenourdescendantswouldhavegoodfOrtuneIfwearetrulyintelligentandwise,wewillsurelywanttoshareourgoodfOr-tunewithothers.TherefOre,bepatientWhyseekfOrtheearlyarrivalofgoodfOrtunewhenitwillcomeingoodtime?

  • actuallearningandpracticeofwisdom ),

    MasterYunguto>dme:llllmowthatyouarestiIlunabletoaccomplishthestateofno

    tought,butyoucanpracticerecitingtheZhuentiMantracontinuouslywithoutcount-ingthenumberofrecitationsandwithoutinterruption

    Whenyoureac}IahigherlevelofconstantmindfUlness,youwil>beab>etoachievetheIevelofWhenyounolongerbavewanderingthoughts,tbemantrawillbecomeeffective)>

    Learningandpracticeofwisdomaretruelmowl-edge.Innatenatureis((returningtotheoriginalstate>ThisrevelationofouroriginaltruenatureisnotthestateofanordinarybeingTheoriginaIstateistruehappinessfOritistobeIedwiththeD}Iarmablissandtotrulyabandonsufferingforhappiness.Tbisiswhatawakenedpeopleseek

    Tbismethodcal>edperfectpracticewithperfectattainment)wastaughtbyMasterYunguanditen-ablesustopracticeconcurrentlytheThreeLearningsofabidingbytheprecepts,deepconcentration,andwisdomIntheAZamsaAaStIna,itisexplainedas,oneisall,allisone.Tocu>tivateonemethodisto((

    cultivateallmet}]ods.))Theessenceoft}]epracticeistodosowithoutinterruption,andwithoutintermin-

    82

  • glingwithothertboughtsorothermethodsDoweneedtocounttherecitations?MasterYungu

    didnottellLiaofantodoso,butrathertorecitecon-tinuously.ManyancientsagesrequiredpractitionerstobegintheirclIantingpracticebycountingtl1enum-berofrecitations.Why?Likeus,theywerelazy.So,itwashelpfUlforthemtobaveadailygoal,suchaschantingaBuddha>snametenthousandtimesaday.Meetingthisgoalhelpedtocounteractthebadhabitoflaziness,fOriftheydidnotcounttbeymight}IavefOrgottentopractice

    However,fOrsomeoneashonestandearnestasLiaofantherewasnoneedtokeeptrackoftherecita-tions.Forhim,thatwouldhavebeeninterminglingofthoughtsHiscultivationwastrulylearnedanddili-gent;thus,}IepracticedwitboutinterruptionandwithoutinterminglingwitlIotherthoughtsandmeth-ods.

    AllmetlIodsareequal:nooneisdifferentfiFomtlIeothers.AttainmentliesindelvingdeeplyintoonlyonemethodfOraprolongedtimeIntbepast)peoplegen-erallypracticedsutrarecitation.Butwhet}Ierrecitingsutras,cl1antingmantrasoraBuddhaIsname,wedosowithtbemindofpurity,equalityandrespectWhenwepracticecontinuously,wewiIltrulybenefitffomit.

    ThestateofNoThought)isessentialItistonothaveanywanderingtbougbts,discriminatorytlIouglIts>orattachments.AlthoughLiaofanlIadnotgivenriseto

    83

  • anywanderingtbougbtsfOrthreedayswhilehewasmeditatingwithMasterYungu,behadnotyetreached

    thestateofNoThougItHebadusedbelief,notconcentration,tosuppressbisafflictions.HebelievedthatallwasdestinedHebelievedincausality.

    TherefOre,themastertaughthimawaytomoveontothenextlevel,tocultivateconcentration.TorecitetheZhuentiMantraistocontinuouslycultivatecon-centration.Byriddingourselvesofwanderingthoughtsandattachments)ourtruenaturewillbeuncovered

    TheBuddlIaoftenspokeof>PureLandpractitionerscalltlIistl]etrueandperfectachievementof,Itisthegoalofourpractice.Itistoreachtbeattainmentof)Thisisoftenexplainedas)

    WedosowhetherwearechantingtheBuddha)snameorrecitingthesutra.WbenwerecitethehDiLZ/bStJIrHwithoutattachment,wewillfirstachieveConstantMindfUlnessofBuddhaAmitabhatlIenOneMindUndisturbedAlthoughtl1emetl1odsmaydiffertheprinciplesandthegoalarethesame.WbenwereachthestateofNoThoughtandtl1erecitingbe-comessecondnature,itwillnaturallybecomeeffec-

    tiveTherearethreelevelsofacbievement.Tbeupper

    levelisOneMindUndisturbedinEnliglItenment,the

    84

  • middlelevelisOneMindUndisturbedinMindfUlness,andthelowestandinitiallevelisConstantMindfUl-

    nessofBuddlIaAmitabha.WecannotbeproudwlIenourattainmentreachesacertainlevelfOrdoingsowillprol1ibitusfromfUrtheradvancement

    Reacl>ingt}IeupperlevelinConstantMindfulness,wemayhavetl1eabilitytotranscendtlIisworldatwill,toleaveanytimewewishWheneverwewanttogo,BuddhaAmitabhawillcometoescortustotbeWest-

    ernPureLandAlthougbwehavereac}Iedthis>evelofattainmentandareabletopassawaywitlIease,itisbesttostaylongerinthisworldWhy?Wereadintl]e

    irLbStJnHthattopracticeinourworldofsufferingfOronedayisthesameaspracticinginthePureLandfOronebundredyearsWestayberetotrainourendurance

    Evenmoreimportantly>westaytoencouragemorepeopletogotothePureLandItisremarkablethatweourselvesareabletogo,butitwillbeevenbetterifwecanhelpotherstoberebornthereaswell!Thus,wecanconcentrateonhelping,educating>andencourag-ingothers.Wl1enweourselvescultivateandinspireotherstodolikewise)ourmeritsareperfect.Insodoingweareabletopaybacktbegreatkindnesstbat

    enligl1tenedbeingshavesIownusMynameusedtobeXuehai,wl1ichmeansbroadlearningButafterreceivingtlIeseteacl1ingsfTomMasterYungu,IclIangedit

    85

  • toLiaofanwlIicbmeanscourtesynameandsobriquet.Tbeirgivennamethat

    wasgiventothembytleirparentseressedthepar-entsaspirationsfortheirchildren.Changingthisnamewastantamounttoignoringthisaspiration,trulyanunfilialact

    Uponreachingadultl1ood,agetwentyformalesandsixteenfOrfemales,peoplewerenolongeraddressedbytl1egivennamefOrtodosowasdisrespectfi1l.Atthistime,tl1eyunderwentaceremonytobeinitiatedintoadulthoodDuringtbisceremony,peopleoftbesamegenerationorolderlikesiblings)schoolmates>andfTiends,wouldprovidetbecourtesynametlIatwouldbeusedfOrtherestoftheirlives.

    IfinthefUtureapersonbecameagovernmentoffi-cial,event}Ieemperor,peopleaddressedl1imbyl1iscourtesyname.Ifanadultwasaddressedbyhisgivenname,thenmostlikelyhehadcommittedacrime,andwastobesentencedandpunislIed

    TobeevenmorerespectfillpeoplewouldaddressanindividualbytheirsobriquetorbylIisorlIerbirtl1-place.Thisindicatedthathewasahighlyrespected

    importantpersonomaparticularplace.24LiaofanandXuehaiwereLiaofan)ssobriquets.Only

    onesparentsandteacherwoulduseapersonIsgiven

    86

  • nameaftertheyreachedadulthood;evengrandpar-ents,uncles,andemperorsusedthecourtesynameThus,societyaccordedtl]esamegratitudeandrespecttoteacbersasitdidtoparents

    ItsignifiedmyunderstandingoftlIefacttbatwecouldre-createourdestiniesandthatI

    didnotwishtobelikeordinarypeoplewhowerecontrolledbydestinyFromthenon,IbegantobeverycautiousinwhateverItl1ougbtordid.Soon,IfeltquitedifferentfTombefOre.InthepastIhadbeencarelessandwitlIoutselfdiscipline.Now,IHndmy-selfbeingnaturallywatchfUlandconscien-

    tiOuS

    TlIissegmenttalksofLiaofan,sdeterminationandcultivationincorrecting}IiserrorsandmakingafiFeslI

    start.FirstheclIangedhissobriquetomXuelIaitoLiaofan.Liao>)meansunderstandingandawakeninganmeanstobeanordinaryperson.Liaofanmeanstounderstandworldlyphenomenaandthatwecanre-createourowndestinies.

    Attl1atpoint,heunderstoodeverythinginregardstoworldlymattersandwasawakenedHetrulylmewthatonlytlIeindividualcouldchangeandre-create}Iisorherowndestiny.Heunderstoodtheprinciplesandmethods,andlmewthatfromtlIenonhedidnothavetopassivelyacceptlIisdestinybecauseitwasnotfixed

    AfterhisresolutiontorefOrm,bisfeelingtowards87

  • everythingcl1angedFromthatpointonuntiltlIeendofhislife,hewasconstantlyawareoflIisthougbtsandbehavior,alwaysalert,andnolongerdeluded

    IntlIepast,lIehadbeenunrestrained,doingthingsaslIepleased,driftingaimlesslythrougl1eachday.Howdidl1elivelIislifC?HelIadnoideafOrhehadno

    directionorgoalTolivethiswayistobeboundbyfate,unabletore-createabrightfuture

    AfterrefOrmingl1efOund}1imselfbeingnaturallycautiousandcarefulinthought,speech,andbehavior.Inotherwords,afterturningoveranewleaf,bisbe-liefSandviewsregardinglifeandtheuniversechangeddramaticallyPreviously,hehadthoug}Itthatevery-thingwasboundbyfate.But,nowlIelmewt}Iathecouldre-createdestinyandthus,hebecamedeter-minedandoptimistic

    ImaintaintlIisattitudeevenwhenalone,fOrIlmowtl>attherearespiritsandheavenlybe-ingseverywherewbocanknowmyevery

    thougbtanddeedIamcautiousnottooffendthemwithmythoughts.EvenwlIenIencounterpeoplewl1odislikeorslanderme,IbeartlIeirinsultswit}Iapatientandpeace-fulmind,anddonotfeelcompelledtoquar-relwitl1them25

    ThereasonwlIyordinarypeoplecannotrefOrmisthattlIeydonotunderstandthis.TlIosewhoaremorefamiliarwithtlIehHniLbSMrHareabletounder-

    88

  • standandtobeevenmorecarefUlwiththeirthoughts)speech,andbehaVorthanLiaofan.

    ThepopulationoftbePureLandisbeyondcalcula-tionEvenifweusedeverycomputerintheworldwecannotcalculatethenumberofbeingsthere.EachofthempossessesthesameabilitiesasBuddhaAmi-tabbaEaclIbasheavenlyeyestoseeall,heavenlyearstolIearall)andtheabilitytoknoweverythoughtofeverybeingthroughouttbeuniverseint}Iepast,pre-sent>andfUture.So>BuddhaAmitabha>AvalokitesvaraBodhisattva,MahasthamapraptaBodhisattva,andallthebeingsintbePureLandknowoureverythougbtandwrongdoing.

    Evenwhenwearealone,wherenooneelsecanseeus,westillneedtorestrainourselvesandnotgiverisetoasingleimpropertbougbtlnsodoingwewilltrulyacl1ieveself-disciplineandcontrol.AsPureLandpractitioners,weseekrebirthintothePureLandandtoachieveinourvirtuousconduct.But,ifwecontinuetodeceiveourselves)wewillnotachieveanythingAsConfuciussaid>adecentpersoniscautiousevenwhenalone.Livingbyourselves,wecanstillbedisciplinedandnotself-indulgent.Inthisway,wewilltrulybecultivating.Ordinarypeopleconstantlyindulgethem-selveswitl1outanyrealrestraint.Wheninpublic,tlIeymayappearcarefUlandseIfrestrained,butwhenalonetheyagaindoastheyplease

    Thisisoneofthereasonswhymonasteriesofthepastbadmanypractitionerssharingoneroom.Ifthere

    89

  • wasonlyonepersoninaroom,heorshewouldbeunabletoachieveincultivation.Withmoret}Iantenpeopleinaroomeveryonewillbehavewellatalltimes.ThepurposeofthiswastofOrcepeopletodis-ciplinethemselves.

    Today>veryfewpeoplearewillingtorestrainthem-selves,butareintentonen>oymgcomfOrtFine!Wecanen}oyourselvesinthislifeandthenwecanalsoleisurelyen}oyourselvesintheThreeBadPatlIsintlIeupcominglife,bavingnotsucceededontbepatl1toenlightenment!

    Whenlivingwithinalargegroup,everyoneneedstoworktogether.T}Ierearesomesingleroomsatmonas-teries,buttheyareespeciallyforthosecultivatorsofadvancedyears.Also,thosewboholdhighpositionsandwl1ol1avemanyresponsibilities,likeabbotsortl1eleadingmonkornunneedtohavearoomoftl1eirown.Thiswillallowthentheconvenienceofoversee-

    ingmattersatalllIourswitlIoutdisturbingotlIers.TlIerefore,truecultivatorspracticelivingtogetherharmoniously>>oneoftheSixHarmonies.

    ItisinappropriatefOranindividualtohaveasingleroom.IfapersontbinksitisuncomfOrtabletobavetwoorthreepeoplelivingtogetherinaroom,itthenbecomeseasyfOrtl1emtothink(Idonotwanttolivewitbthatperson.ThenheorshewillbeunabletoachievetlIestateofConstantMindfulnessofBuddha

    Amitabha.Wby?Tbeybavediscriminatoryandimpureminds;themindthatstillbasdislikesandevades

    90

  • unpleasantnessHowcanthatpersonachieveany-tlIing?WlIerethenandl1owdowecultivate?Weculti-vatepurityandthenon-discriminatorymindintheplacewedisliketbemost

    ItiswrongfOrustobeunwillingtolivewitlIorgetalongwitlIsomeone.LiaofanhaddiscoveredlIisownfaultsandsincerelycorrectedtlIem.But,indealingwithourownfaults)wecontinuouslyexcuseourselvesinsteadofcorrectingtbem.WhenwedotlIis,howcanwe}Iopetosucceedinourcultivation>

    WitlIinaSanglIa,astartingpointfOrourcultivationistlIeSixHarmonies,whicharethebasicguidelinestofOllowwhenlivingtogetherinagroup.Alltheindi-vidualscanabidebytheFivePreceptsandTenVirtu-ousConductsInthepasttemplesusedtlIeNovicePreceptsandtheGuidelinesfOrDignifiedBehaviorastbestandardThisincludedtbetenpreceptsandtwenty-fOurkindsofdignifiedmanners.TodaywedonotneedtobethatstrictItisenoughfOrustousetl1eFivePreceptsandtheTenVirtuousConductsasthestandardsfOrboth>aypeopleaswellasfOrmonksandnuns.HoweverthestandardscannotbelowertlIanthese

    ToliveharmoniouslyinagroupitisnecessarytoabidebytheSixHarmoniestocorrectourfaultsandbadhabits,andtolearntogetalongwithothersLiao-fanfOundthatbenolongermindedwhenheencoun-teredthosewhodislikedorevenslanderedlIim.He

    couldpatientlybeartheirinsultswithapeacefUlmind

    9l


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GVY Commentary Dhargyey

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Keil & Delitzsch - OT Commentary on Joshua · Web viewKeil & Delitzsch - OT Commentary on Joshua Subject Commentary Description Document was created by {applicationname}, version:

Keil & Delitzsch - OT Commentary on Joshua · Web viewKeil & Delitzsch - OT Commentary on Joshua Subject Commentary Description Document was created by {applicationname}, version:

Documents
Mariette's Commentary on Denderah

Mariette's Commentary on Denderah

Documents
Krama Dipika Complete Commentary

Krama Dipika Complete Commentary

Documents
SS 2016 04 Commentary Lessons - Логос инфоlogosinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/SS_2016... · Урок 24.12–30.12 Отдельные уроки из книги

SS 2016 04 Commentary Lessons - Логос инфоlogosinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/SS_2016... · Урок 24.12–30.12 Отдельные уроки из книги

Documents
39322175 psalm-3-commentary

39322175 psalm-3-commentary

Spiritual
changing the courts by changing the courts (in loop)

changing the courts by changing the courts (in loop)

Government & Nonprofit
Pasadika Sutta Commentary

Pasadika Sutta Commentary

Documents
Isaiah 46 commentary

Isaiah 46 commentary

Spiritual
FKM - commentary

FKM - commentary

Documents
Jeremiah 24 commentary

Jeremiah 24 commentary

Spiritual
Tang Poems Commentary

Tang Poems Commentary

Documents
Changing Lanes

Changing Lanes

Documents
Doom3 commentary

Doom3 commentary

Technology
SINGAPORE CONTENTIOUS COMMENTARY JANUARY – …

SINGAPORE CONTENTIOUS COMMENTARY JANUARY – …

Documents
Physics Commentary

Physics Commentary

Documents
Acts 23 commentary

Acts 23 commentary

Spiritual
Word Biblical Commentary: Volume 30: Daniel: John …johnandkathleenshow.com/.../03/Daniel-1-6-Commentary …  · Web viewWord Biblical Commentary: ... One bright and cold January

Word Biblical Commentary: Volume 30: Daniel: John …johnandkathleenshow.com/.../03/Daniel-1-6-Commentary …  · Web viewWord Biblical Commentary: ... One bright and cold January

Documents
CLIMATE CHANGING

CLIMATE CHANGING

Education
GLOSSAIRE - Free Bible Commentary

GLOSSAIRE - Free Bible Commentary

Documents
Petakopadesa Commentary Nissaya

Petakopadesa Commentary Nissaya

Documents