The Practice of Bodhisattva Dharma
PREFACE
then civilization is able to expand and go forward. If one has light, then even
he, as an individual, can help to disperse the darkness of ignorance. Thus, wisdom
and civilization are the right way for everyone to follow, and Buddhadharma illuminates
the world.
Just
what is Buddhadharma? It is a method to enable all being to become Buddha. "Buddha"
means "enlightened One", but the term can be extended to mean enlightening
oneself and others as well as enlightening _all_ people and _all_ sentient beings.
Because everybody in reality possesses the Original nature of Enlightenment, everybody
can, therefore, become a
Buddha. However, people in the world, in their daily
lives, are strongly bound by feelings of love and hate,etc.; and they are, also,
deeply confused by their own Original Wisdom and cloud their own Buddha Nature
and are ultimately overcome by all sorts of obstacles and delusions.
Therefore,
the great Dharma Master /Tai-Hsu/ recommended that Buddhism should be promoted
and spread everywhere. Thus, all people should be encouraged to understand the
Dharma, increase their wisdom, purify their own minds, and be directed onto the
open, wide and comfortable Path, that from numerous and various beginning point
arrives at last, at the Supreme Bodhi. For this reason, Dharma Master /Tai-Hsu/
wrote _The_ _Practice_of_Bodhisattva_Dharma_, which recommends accepting the Three
Refuges to link up with Triple Jewel, practicing goodness and generosity, observing
the Five precepts and the Ten Virtues, and diligently performing the Six paramitas
and the Four All-Embracing Virtues. So practitioners, whether following Mahayana
or Hinayana,
whether monks or laymen, and people of every degree -- with
either shallow or deep understanding and ability -- will see, if they practice
regularly, responsibly and sincerely, the Fruits of Bodhi gradually increasing
day by day.
I fervently hope and desire that all people and friends in the Dharma, after reading this work and following its recommendations, will discover that their blessing and wisdom are constantly on the increase.
Dharma Master Lok To
Young Men's Buddhist Association of America
Bronx, New York
July, 1985
THE PRACTICE OF BODHISATTVA DHARMA
In
the Buddha's teaching, the Sutra collection and the Vinaya collection comprise
two kinds of Dharma. The Sutras are the collection of the Buddha's discourses
given over a forty-year period in the Ganges valley, in India, nearly 2,6000 years
ago, and they are concerned with the nature of mind and experience and the reality
of the suffering, unsatisfactoriness, and the frustration of conditioned existence.
The Vinaya is the collection that sets forth the discipline of body and speech
that bhikkhus and bhikkhunis (Buddhist monks and nuns) must practice. This monastic
code of discipline is undertaken upon ordination, when one formally leaves home
life, and Vinaya of this sort is primarily the concern of the Sangha (monastic
body). An expanded version of this Buddhist training is the Bodhisattva ordination,
wherein one undertakes the practice of the fundamental bodhisattva Dharma of
body and mind.
This Bodhisattva Dharma encompasses many levels and degrees
of practice, both worldly and transcendental, and it is truly wondrous and inconceivable.
Many people
are familiar with the term "Bodhisattva", but the genuine meaning of
the term could stand some clarification. The average person perhaps considers
images made of clay, wood or gold or portraits and paintings of saintly personalities
to be some manner of substitute
Bodhisattva. Indeed, through Asian national
customs and traditions, we have come to associate religious statuary of this sort
with the term "Bodhisattva". Needless to say, this is incorrect. We
should understand that there are Buddha rupas portraying a higher degree of practice
than Bodhisattva and also images of lesser sages, patriarchs, and even demons
with bodies of oxen and serpents. These images should not be indiscriminately
lumped together under the designation "Bodhisattva". Actually, men and
women cannot look like the representations of Bodhisattva that artists have created.
However, we are human beings with mind, and if we vow to practice Bodhisattva
behavior, then we can gradually become Bodhisattvas.
The
Sanskrit term "Bodhisattva" is composed of two words: /Bodhi/, which
means enlightenment or awakening; and /sattva/, which means being. The designation
"Bodhisattva" originally meant a living being who had developed or had
determined to hold the Bodhicitta. /Citta/ is a Sanskrit work that means mind
or heart; in the East, the two words "heart " and "mind" are
synonymous. To search with the great perseverance for the Supreme Bodhi and to
develop a compassionate heart in order to effect the liberation of all sentient
beings from their states of conditioned suffering -- such is the authentic meaning
of the life and path of one who has taken the Bodhisattva vows. Therefore, if
we can resolve determinedly to develop the Bodhicitta, to search above for the
Tao of the Buddha and seek the below to convert all sentient being to the right
path -- not simply in theory but in genuine practice -- then we are practicing
real Bodhisattva Dharma. Only one who urges
all beings to strive upward and
penetrate the region of the great enlightenment can validly be recognized as and
be called _a_ bodhisattva. Thus, it should be clear that image of clay or gold
are not the real thing; and only those who have determined the Bodhicitta are
genuine Bodhisattvas.
To
initiate the Tao of the Bodhisattva, one need not already stand in the highest
regions of sanctity. By the same token, when we observe our own natures closely,
we see that pure-mind realms are not so very far away. Starting from our worldly
state, we march, step by step, toward the highest, holiest region and create purity
and freedom. Staring from
the shallow and progressing to the deep, we transform
inferior into superior beauty. Beginning as worldlings with the bodhicitta, we
eventually shall enter the blessed stage of the final Diamond Heart. This is the
condition of the superlatively enlightened Bodhisattva.
Most
people who have confidence in the Buddhadharma and consider themselves Buddhists
do not vow the develop the bodhicitta. Thus, they remain mere worldlings if they
do not choose to add to themselves to dimension of Bodhisattva mind. Genuine Buddhists
who have determined the Bodhicitta are as rare as the feathers of a phoenix or
the horn of a
unicorn. Another kind of Buddhist are those who, after encountering
the Buddhadharma, imagines the accomplishment of Buddhahood to be so lofty as
to be virtually unreachable. Because of their inadequate self- confidence, such
people fail to realize the real goal and cannot complete the Buddha Tao. They
grasp the expedient teaching which was
revealed gradually by the Buddha --
i.e., wholesome karma in this world and the subsequent reward of heavenly bliss.
Learning this very shallow dharma, they wish only to satisfy their desire for
bliss and blessings in the present life. They can be said to have learned some
Buddhadharma, but they are still quite far, in reality, from any genuine, profound
understanding of teaching. In short, they are merely grasping expedient teaching
as absolute truth. Buddha was the censure this kind of understanding as /ichchantika/
or the state of being unable to make spiritual progress.
Yet
another kind of Buddhist is the sort who is personally aware of the suffering
of birth and death and so learns the void dharma of the Middle-Way beyond the
two extremes of "is" and "is not". Always grasping the extremes
of "is" and "is not", and then one can enter the
stage
of void samadhi. Even though this is considered a superior position and can lead
to the practice of Mahayana, it is, however, not the Bodhisattva Tao leading to
the Supreme Buddha Fruit. Thus, this approach was censured by the Bodhisattva
Dharma, whether high or samadhi. The practice of Bodhisattva Dharma, whether high
or low,
worldly or transcendental, starts from the human level and proceeds
until the complete Tao of Bodhi is won. This characterizes that practice that
goes all the way through from top to bottom, and it require nothing apart from
determining the Bodhicitta and vowing to act as a
Bodhisattva. This development
is analogous, by way of example, to a person beginning kinder-garten and proceeding
until he eventually reaches the research institute and earns his doctoral degree;
at all stages of his academic career he is called a student. Similarly, in
developing Bodhisattva practice, one begins by vowing to determine the Bodhicitta
and progresses to the Final-Diamond-Heart stage. The beginning one approaches
the Buddha Fruit. All stages are termed Bodhisattva, and practice is an ongoing
matter. The Bodhisattva stage immediately preceding the Buddha Fruit is termed
the Final Diamond
Heart. Though it is not easy to carry through, by not letting
go of Bodhisattva Mind even for one instant, one will gradually complete the work
and achieve the goal.
The
practice of this Bodhisattva Dharma is easily initiated by accepting the Three
Refuges of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Because it is feared that a person might
stray onto wrong paths, one, after accepting the Three Refuges, is encouraged
to determine to hold the Four Great Vows. These are:(1) Sentient beings without
number I vow to enlighten; (2)
Vexations without number I vow to eradicate;
(3) limitless approaches to Dharma I vow to master; (4) Supreme Bodhi I vow to
achieve. The purpose of taking the Three Refuges is to enable people to disentangle
themselves from erroneous views; the Four Great Vows are used to teach people
to hold to no desire for the bliss of men and devas and the void
samadhi
of Dviyana (the two yanas of Sravakas and Pratyekabuddhas). This path can be termed
the direct road of the Bodhisattva Tao that leads one to the Supreme Bodhi. After
accepting the Three Refuges and thus inaugurating the Bodhisattva-Dharma training,
it is very important for one to practice everywhere, continually turning the wheel
of the Dharma
and aiding all sentient beings. Relative to this view, the
/Vimalakirtinirdesa Sutta/ says: "The Bodhimandala (place of spiritual practice)
of the Bodhisattva is everywhere."
ACCEPTING THE THREE REFUGES TO LINK UP WITH THE TRIPLE JEWEL
In
his acceptance of the Three Refuges, the essential point to be stressed is that
the aspirant should develop a very fervent desire to behold the Buddha, Dharma
and Sangha. While maintaining a spirit of self-sacrifice in relationship to the
Bodhisattva Dharma. Extended to
body, mind and even life, one should forge
a vow in the following manner:
"I, namely so and so, as a disciple of the Buddha, vow to take refuges in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha throughout my entire life."
While
uttering this vow, one should maintain a spirit of great devotion and solace.
When one repeats this vow while prostration to the Buddha, one comes to fell great
awe as of a great mountain had exploded in front of him. One may experience great
solace just as a nursing child deprived of milk might experience if suddenly he
met his lovely mother
and had another whelming impulse to surrender himself
into her arms. These wholesome emotions, coupled with repentance and joy, are
kindled in one's heart. Having experienced skillful mental states such as the
above, one states the following:
"
I, namely so and so, accept the Three Refuges for the remainder of my life, and,
feeling like a bird who once had lost its nest and has once again returned to
its home forest or like an infant who is dependent upon his loving mother, I vow
never to stray away at
midday (i.e., before the end of my life) and will always
hold these Refuges with great devotion."
These
Refuges are the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, otherwise known as the Three Precious
Ones of the Triple Jewel, "Precious" here meaning valuable and worth
of respect. Taking refuge as understood here we are also simultaneously taking
refuge in the Triple Gem within ourselves. This means that our own fundamentally
enlightened mind is Buddha; our
speech, used to teach and aid living beings,
is Dharma; and our bodies and behavior are the symbols of Sangha, the enlightened
community of Noble Ones. We first go for refuge to Buddha. Buddha means the Enlightened
One, who has fully accomplished ANUTTARA SAMYAKSAMBODHI, the perfect Complete
Awakening. Therefore, the appellation given to
enlightened ones is simply
"Buddha".
This
title has been used since the original period of the Buddha's teaching in India.
The founder of the Buddhist religion was called SAKYAMUNI, or sage of the Sakya
clan; but after he achieved the Supreme Awakening, he was thenceforth called SAKYAMUNI
BUDDHA. We go for refuge to Sakyamuni Buddha but simultaneously take refuge in
all Buddhas of the
ten directions and in the three periods of time. Because
the epithet "Buddha" denotes the attainment of perfect virtue and wisdom,
there is complete equality between Sakyamuni Buddha and all other Buddhas. So
even though we go for refuge to our original teacher Sakyamuni. It is reasonable
that we also, at the same time, take three time periods.
Taking refuge voluntarily,
one should concentrate all the energy of one's Dharama practice to realize the
perfection of blessedness and wisdom; i.e., one should also harbor no pride whatsoever
over one's small storehouse of virtue and wisdom. With feelings of pity and
sadness for the unskillful, one should always maintain a sense of reverence within
oneself and dwell in delight and peace.
Secondly, we go for refuge to the Dharma. Because all Buddhas depend on the Dharma as their teacher, the Dharma is recognized as the most important refuge. The Buddha was enlightened and practiced in accordance with the Dharma After his attainment of Bodhi, the Buddha taught all his disciples to practice Dharma and reap the fruit just as he had. One's heart and mind should incline naturally toward the Dharma, and one should feel as if his whole body were embraced by the Dharma.
Thirdly,
we go for refuge to the Sangha, the present superintendent of the Three Precious
Ones. In India, "Sangha" originally meant harmony. The ability of the
assembly to harmonize and stay together is called Sangha. When more than four
people live together in harmony, the term "Sangha" can be applied to
describe the situation. According to the
Buddhadharma, if disciples leave
home to practice (i.e., to become bhikkhus or bhikkhunis) and dwell harmoniously
together in a VIHARA, they are called a Sangha. According to the Theravada teaching,
those who have practiced and attained the various stages of liberation and sanctity
of the Three Vehicles make up the Sangha of Arahants and Sages.
According
to the Mahayana teaching, disciples practicing the Bodhisattva Dharma and attaining
its fruit make up the Bodhisattva Sangha. When we go for refuge to the Sangha,
we should include all the various meaning of the term in our understanding. However,
in the beginning stages of Dharma study, it is more important that we take refuge
in the present
superintendent Sangha of disciples who have left home. The
transmission of the Buddhadharma in this world depends upon this present Sangha
to protect and actualize the Teachings. We take refuge with and depend upon them
to learn the practice path to Bodhi. Therefore, we take refuge to link up with
the tradition of Bodhisattva Dharma practice and initially are not so concerned
with which teacher is the wisest and who has developed the highest wisdom and
virtue in former lives. We should be primarily concerned with cultivating our
own good roots, developing harmony with everyone and universally aiding them to
achieve minds concentrated in and focussed upon the Buddhadharma.
One
who takes refuge should understand that the Buddha is all-virtuous and worthy
of all respect and that the Buddha-Mind represents the incomparable field of blessings
in this world. We should understand that the Dharma is a complete teaching that
is full of principles explicitly outlining the path to the Supreme Awakening.
The Sangha should be
understood to be the pure Dharma teacher, excellent
in conduct and expedient methods of instruction. In this manner, regarding the
Three Precious Ones with deep admiration, we can successfully go for refuge, even
to the end of our lives with full confidence in the practice path. Without recourse
to religious or philosophical views, we shall always
remain disciples of
the Buddha. This, then, is the beginning of the determination to achieve the Bodhisattva
Mind in the practice of Bodhisattva Dharma.
PRACTICING GOODNESS AND GENEROSITY, INCREASING BLISS AND DISPELLING CALAMITIES.
Faith
of confidence in the Three Precious Ones is extremely wholesome because synonymous
with this confidence is the desire to practice loving-kindness and perform acts
of goodness. According to the Buddha's Teaching, to respect, make offerings towards
and to contribute to the happiness and welfare of all sentient beings is the primary
field in which to sow the seeds of bliss in this world. Building temples or creating
statues of religious personalities, etc., can lead to bliss and wisdom and is
termed the field of reverence. Offering devotion, respect and gratitude to one's
parents and teachers due to the fact that they are one's benefactors is termed
the field of grace. We should do our best for the poverty-stricken, the ill, old,
weak and disabled, etc., because they are fallen into states of woe and calamity;
should we be armed with our practice of generosity and purity of heart, we would
then
be able to transform these situations into more fortunate ones.
Natural
disasters and catastrophes arise simply as a response to evil minds and unwholesome
activities on the part of many living being. If human beings were to determine
to use wholesome mind and pure action in all circumstances, then bliss and happiness
would follow naturally. All people want a life free from ill and calamity and
full of happiness. To expect a life of happiness without performing wholesome
and beneficial
activities is not a legitimate expectation. If one does not
sow the appropriate seeds, one will surely not reap the desired response or result.
The novice Bodhisattva should develop a storehouse of skillful activity and virtue
in order to increase the happiness of all sentient
beings.
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Master Han
Shan's opinion
How to become a Bodhisattva
Power of Bodhisattva