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Homage to Triple Gems..Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
"Buddha and his all teaching were always meant for everyone…not to own self only"
Continuation from Teachings in Chinese Buddhism.
Continuation from (9) Dharma About Lay People for Lay People.
The Five merits
One should learn to be a Mahayana layperson and learn to follow the path of the Bodhisattvas. That is one who aspires to attain Buddhahood and wishes to pave the way for all sentient beings. In order to achieve this aim, one has to practice the Five Merits. These Five Merits were expounded by the Buddha especially for lay people. We should ask ourselves whether we could gain all the Five Merits, or just a portion of them. Just as a human needs to possess all five sensory organs to be complete, a lay person should try to develop these Five Merits.
1. Faith: Is the faith we have in the Triple Gem strong and firm? If we have doubt and hesitation, shifting between belief and disbelief, then it would still be a far cry from the real merit. Therefore, we should first have firm faith in the Triple Gem.
2. Precepts (s. Sila): Lay people should have faith in the Triple Gem. As well, they should strive to observe the Five Precepts because precepts are the basis for all human morality. A Buddhist should try to perfect his personality by becoming a "gentleman" or "lady" of the human race.
3. Listening: Having faith and good moral conduct is not enough. One should try to approach the Noble ones and listen to the Dharma. In this way, one may acquire the right views and deepen one’s understanding of the Dharma. Practising the Dharma can be developed from listening, thus:
"From listening one knows good.
From listening one knows evil.
From listening one gets away from unworthiness.
From listening one may attain Nirvana."
4. Giving (s. Dana): The above three merits are mainly for one’s own benefit, thus these merits are incomplete. One should contribute oneself and helps others financially or physically.
5. Wisdom: The listening merit mentioned above is close to general knowledge. The teaching of the Buddha deals with detachment, the overcoming of life and death and the liberation of suffering for all sentient beings. But one requires real wisdom. One has to listen, contemplate and put into practice the Dharma. Then one may gain wisdom, and realize the truth.
Some Buddhists have profound knowledge; some have very high morality; some have compassion, loving-kindness, sympathetic joy and equanimity. Every Buddhist has their own strength. For a lay person to perfect his practice, he has to learn to gain the above five merits. Only with the perfection of the five merits, can one develop the characteristics of the Bodhisattva.
A lay person aspiring to be a Bodhisattva, to help all sentient beings, should also learn to acquire the Four All-Embracing Virtues. To influence others’ thinking and hope that they accept our view points, we must be skilful. We should not look down on ourselves, as though we would not be able to bring about any effect. A student can lead his fellow students; parents can guide their offspring; a shopkeeper can direct his workers; teachers can teach their students. In every walk of life, there are people who are successful. As long as we have the right means in attracting and directing them, we may encourage all people whom we meet in our daily lives with the teachings of the Buddha. We can teach them and help them. So what are these Four All-Embracing Virtues?
The Four All-Embracing Virtues
1) Giving (Dana)
Giving is practised when we help others either financially, career-wise, or in thinking constructively. Those who have received your help will spontaneously have good impressions of you. They will listen to your advice, follow your guidance; and some may even obey your instruction although the instruction may be unreasonable.
Someone once asked me, "The teachings of some other religions are quite superficial, but why do they flourish?" I replied, "The flourishing of a religion is not due to its teaching only. They may have done a good job in terms of giving. For instance, they may build schools or hospitals. There are thousands who have benefitted. With gratitude, regardless of whether there is a heaven or not, or whether the divinity will help them, these people will believe in what they say."
For Buddhism to prosper, Buddhists should start with the practice of giving by organizing welfare activities such as education and helping those in need. Mahayana Buddhism followers who want to help all sentient beings must practise giving.
Bodhisattvas should take the perfection (s. paramita) of Giving (s. Dana) very seriously. Sometimes one may not believe in what is said by person A but believes in the same words spoken to him by person B. What is the reason? This is because he has a very special karmic relationship with person B. Whenever we give, we will establish a karmic relationship with the receiver. This makes the transmission of the Dharma easier. Therefore, giving is an essential virtue in the spreading of Dharma.
2) Loving Speech
Loving speech means to communicate and discuss with pleasant speech. There are three types of loving speech:
a. Comforting speech: We should communicate in a warm manner when seeing one another. When we meet people who are sick, or suffering from major disaster or live in fear, we should encourage and provide them with psychological support. Even though we might not give them great help through gentle speech and compassionate attitude, they will appreciate our efforts.
b. Rejoicing speech: Every individual has his own strength. Even a bad person might have his good aspects. Whenever there is good point, we should rejoice, encourage and inspire him to do more, so as to encourage him to do more good. For example, there was once a European philosopher who was very ordinary initially, but with the encouragement from his wife, he strove diligently and eventually became a well-known philosopher. If we want to teach others, we should start praising them in order to give them confidence in their strength and virtues. They will not only be appreciative towards us but will soon be walking on the path of goodness.
c. Inspiring speech: This helps others to progress one step ahead. For example, for a person who is practising giving, we should guide him to observe the precepts. We should not restrict the usage of our speech to those of pleasant and gentle words. Sometimes we may have to use firm and wrathful words to urge someone to progress. With a sincere attitude and honesty, we will be accepted by others.
3) Beneficial Acts
Parents who look after and guide their children will have the respect of their children. A teacher who cares and teaches his students whole-heartedly will have the confidence of his students. A superior who cares about the welfare of those who work under him will have the support from them. Therefore, for those people that we would like to teach and help, we should carry out actions that will benefit them so that they will listen to our advice and follow our guidance willingly.
In Europe, there was an animal trainer who was with the tigers and lions all the time. Some people asked him as why the animals did not harm him. He replied by saying if the animals knew that he wouldn’t harm them, they would follow his instructions. If that is the response from the animals, what about human beings? If one always perform beneficial acts and consider the welfare of the others, the one who benefitted will trust us, and follow our guidance.
4) Working Together
Working together is to share responsibilities, especially to share hardships with friends and those who work under us. Even though our individual ability is very minor, if we work together with others, they will come to help us and follow us. If we want to advise others, we should learn together with them, and do the same job with them. During the war, there was a group of youths who formed a choir and drama group. They went to villages to perform with the aim of encouraging the villagers to support them in the war. They achieved a certain degree of success but it was far short of their expectations. They analysed various causes and found out that the reason for the shortcoming was the vast discrepancy of the attitude to life between them and the villagers. Because of the gap, they could not come to a consensus on the war. This is reason why the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva appear in thirty-two different forms, in order to help and guide the uncountable number of characters of sentient beings.
The Four All-Embracing Virtues discussed above are the basic means of attracting and guiding others. They represent the principles of the mundane world. When we apply these virtues in the spreading of Dharma, we will achieve a better response. If we are practising Dharma and guiding others but fail to lead more people into the Dharma, it is probably because we have not perfected these Four All-Embracing Virtues. If we can act according to the Four Virtues properly, it will bring about an enormous effect. We should take up the responsibility of a Buddhist lay person, and do our best to guide others towards the path of Buddhahood, so that the luminosity of the Buddha will spread even further.
[Recorded by Ming Dao] (Translated by Mok Chung, edited by Ke Rong, proofread by Shi Neng Rong. (6-7-96))
1. "Ju shi" means a secular Buddhist devotee which is translated here as lay person. Literally, "lin" means forest and its meaning is further explained in the main text.
2. Literally, "chong" means thicket. "Chong Lin "refers to a Buddhist forest monastery.By k.jagadeesh
Mobile: 91-9841121780, 9543187772.
EmaiL: jagadeeshkri@gmail.com
Web: http://www.pinterest.com/jagadeeshkri/books-worth-reading/
Web:http://www.bookbyte.com/searchresults.aspx?type=books&author=jagadeesh%20krishnan
Web;http://issuu.com/home/publications
Web:
https://www.morebooks.de/search/gb?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=jagadeesh+krishnan
Web: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/275-9424466-2127042?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jagadeesh%20krishnan
Web: http://www.amazon.co.jp/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/378-4986394-6216105?__mk_ja_JP=%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8A&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jagadeesh+krishnan
WEb:
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WEb:
my books
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/180-0191351-1760005?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jagadeesh%20krishnan
WEb;
https://www.peecho.com/dashboard/applications/publications?applicationId=3105
Homage to Triple Gems..Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
"Buddha and his all teaching were always meant for everyone…not to own self only"
Continuation from Teachings in Chinese Buddhism.
Continuation from (9) Dharma About Lay People for Lay People.
The Five merits
One should learn to be a Mahayana layperson and learn to follow the path of the Bodhisattvas. That is one who aspires to attain Buddhahood and wishes to pave the way for all sentient beings. In order to achieve this aim, one has to practice the Five Merits. These Five Merits were expounded by the Buddha especially for lay people. We should ask ourselves whether we could gain all the Five Merits, or just a portion of them. Just as a human needs to possess all five sensory organs to be complete, a lay person should try to develop these Five Merits.
1. Faith: Is the faith we have in the Triple Gem strong and firm? If we have doubt and hesitation, shifting between belief and disbelief, then it would still be a far cry from the real merit. Therefore, we should first have firm faith in the Triple Gem.
2. Precepts (s. Sila): Lay people should have faith in the Triple Gem. As well, they should strive to observe the Five Precepts because precepts are the basis for all human morality. A Buddhist should try to perfect his personality by becoming a "gentleman" or "lady" of the human race.
3. Listening: Having faith and good moral conduct is not enough. One should try to approach the Noble ones and listen to the Dharma. In this way, one may acquire the right views and deepen one’s understanding of the Dharma. Practising the Dharma can be developed from listening, thus:
"From listening one knows good.
From listening one knows evil.
From listening one gets away from unworthiness.
From listening one may attain Nirvana."
4. Giving (s. Dana): The above three merits are mainly for one’s own benefit, thus these merits are incomplete. One should contribute oneself and helps others financially or physically.
5. Wisdom: The listening merit mentioned above is close to general knowledge. The teaching of the Buddha deals with detachment, the overcoming of life and death and the liberation of suffering for all sentient beings. But one requires real wisdom. One has to listen, contemplate and put into practice the Dharma. Then one may gain wisdom, and realize the truth.
Some Buddhists have profound knowledge; some have very high morality; some have compassion, loving-kindness, sympathetic joy and equanimity. Every Buddhist has their own strength. For a lay person to perfect his practice, he has to learn to gain the above five merits. Only with the perfection of the five merits, can one develop the characteristics of the Bodhisattva.
A lay person aspiring to be a Bodhisattva, to help all sentient beings, should also learn to acquire the Four All-Embracing Virtues. To influence others’ thinking and hope that they accept our view points, we must be skilful. We should not look down on ourselves, as though we would not be able to bring about any effect. A student can lead his fellow students; parents can guide their offspring; a shopkeeper can direct his workers; teachers can teach their students. In every walk of life, there are people who are successful. As long as we have the right means in attracting and directing them, we may encourage all people whom we meet in our daily lives with the teachings of the Buddha. We can teach them and help them. So what are these Four All-Embracing Virtues?
The Four All-Embracing Virtues
1) Giving (Dana)
Giving is practised when we help others either financially, career-wise, or in thinking constructively. Those who have received your help will spontaneously have good impressions of you. They will listen to your advice, follow your guidance; and some may even obey your instruction although the instruction may be unreasonable.
Someone once asked me, "The teachings of some other religions are quite superficial, but why do they flourish?" I replied, "The flourishing of a religion is not due to its teaching only. They may have done a good job in terms of giving. For instance, they may build schools or hospitals. There are thousands who have benefitted. With gratitude, regardless of whether there is a heaven or not, or whether the divinity will help them, these people will believe in what they say."
For Buddhism to prosper, Buddhists should start with the practice of giving by organizing welfare activities such as education and helping those in need. Mahayana Buddhism followers who want to help all sentient beings must practise giving.
Bodhisattvas should take the perfection (s. paramita) of Giving (s. Dana) very seriously. Sometimes one may not believe in what is said by person A but believes in the same words spoken to him by person B. What is the reason? This is because he has a very special karmic relationship with person B. Whenever we give, we will establish a karmic relationship with the receiver. This makes the transmission of the Dharma easier. Therefore, giving is an essential virtue in the spreading of Dharma.
2) Loving Speech
Loving speech means to communicate and discuss with pleasant speech. There are three types of loving speech:
a. Comforting speech: We should communicate in a warm manner when seeing one another. When we meet people who are sick, or suffering from major disaster or live in fear, we should encourage and provide them with psychological support. Even though we might not give them great help through gentle speech and compassionate attitude, they will appreciate our efforts.
b. Rejoicing speech: Every individual has his own strength. Even a bad person might have his good aspects. Whenever there is good point, we should rejoice, encourage and inspire him to do more, so as to encourage him to do more good. For example, there was once a European philosopher who was very ordinary initially, but with the encouragement from his wife, he strove diligently and eventually became a well-known philosopher. If we want to teach others, we should start praising them in order to give them confidence in their strength and virtues. They will not only be appreciative towards us but will soon be walking on the path of goodness.
c. Inspiring speech: This helps others to progress one step ahead. For example, for a person who is practising giving, we should guide him to observe the precepts. We should not restrict the usage of our speech to those of pleasant and gentle words. Sometimes we may have to use firm and wrathful words to urge someone to progress. With a sincere attitude and honesty, we will be accepted by others.
3) Beneficial Acts
Parents who look after and guide their children will have the respect of their children. A teacher who cares and teaches his students whole-heartedly will have the confidence of his students. A superior who cares about the welfare of those who work under him will have the support from them. Therefore, for those people that we would like to teach and help, we should carry out actions that will benefit them so that they will listen to our advice and follow our guidance willingly.
In Europe, there was an animal trainer who was with the tigers and lions all the time. Some people asked him as why the animals did not harm him. He replied by saying if the animals knew that he wouldn’t harm them, they would follow his instructions. If that is the response from the animals, what about human beings? If one always perform beneficial acts and consider the welfare of the others, the one who benefitted will trust us, and follow our guidance.
4) Working Together
Working together is to share responsibilities, especially to share hardships with friends and those who work under us. Even though our individual ability is very minor, if we work together with others, they will come to help us and follow us. If we want to advise others, we should learn together with them, and do the same job with them. During the war, there was a group of youths who formed a choir and drama group. They went to villages to perform with the aim of encouraging the villagers to support them in the war. They achieved a certain degree of success but it was far short of their expectations. They analysed various causes and found out that the reason for the shortcoming was the vast discrepancy of the attitude to life between them and the villagers. Because of the gap, they could not come to a consensus on the war. This is reason why the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva appear in thirty-two different forms, in order to help and guide the uncountable number of characters of sentient beings.
The Four All-Embracing Virtues discussed above are the basic means of attracting and guiding others. They represent the principles of the mundane world. When we apply these virtues in the spreading of Dharma, we will achieve a better response. If we are practising Dharma and guiding others but fail to lead more people into the Dharma, it is probably because we have not perfected these Four All-Embracing Virtues. If we can act according to the Four Virtues properly, it will bring about an enormous effect. We should take up the responsibility of a Buddhist lay person, and do our best to guide others towards the path of Buddhahood, so that the luminosity of the Buddha will spread even further.
[Recorded by Ming Dao] (Translated by Mok Chung, edited by Ke Rong, proofread by Shi Neng Rong. (6-7-96))
1. "Ju shi" means a secular Buddhist devotee which is translated here as lay person. Literally, "lin" means forest and its meaning is further explained in the main text.
2. Literally, "chong" means thicket. "Chong Lin "refers to a Buddhist forest monastery.By k.jagadeesh
Mobile: 91-9841121780, 9543187772.
EmaiL: jagadeeshkri@gmail.com
Web: http://www.pinterest.com/jagadeeshkri/books-worth-reading/
Web:http://www.bookbyte.com/searchresults.aspx?type=books&author=jagadeesh%20krishnan
Web;http://issuu.com/home/publications
Web:
https://www.morebooks.de/search/gb?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=jagadeesh+krishnan
Web: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/275-9424466-2127042?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jagadeesh%20krishnan
Web: http://www.amazon.co.jp/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/378-4986394-6216105?__mk_ja_JP=%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8A&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jagadeesh+krishnan
WEb:
http://www.amazon.es/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jagadeesh%20krishnan
WEb:
my books
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/180-0191351-1760005?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jagadeesh%20krishnan
WEb;
https://www.peecho.com/dashboard/applications/publications?applicationId=3105
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