One of the Ten Titles about Buddha -- Buddha

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu

In the Buddhist Scripture--The Scripture of the Ten Titles Said by Buddha, the Buddha explained what the Buddha meant:

Why was it called Buddha? Its wisdom possesses the adequately three enlightenments and the consummate and the brightness. It was hence named Buddha.

The Buddha told Ananda. I had done the practicing of regularly-walking in the past. A Brahmin came and asked me. Why did your parents name you Buddha? The Buddha immediately answered. That what the world understands and knows can be understood and known by me. That what the world perceives can also be perceived by me. That what the world can eliminate can also be eliminated by me. I have all wisdom and all understanding. I have experienced my lives since the countless kalpas. All kinds of practice are far away from dust and dirt. Now I have achieved the supreme Bodhi. Therefore, the name of Buddha was established.

The Character Buddha is Sanskrit. Its definition and origin are as said above. The pronounce “Fo” is transliterated from Chinese and the pronounce “Fu” is the local language in Taiwan. The pronounce “Fo” and “Fu” also mean the Buddha and are more generally used in the communities of China and Taiwan. The Buddha Amitabha is usually known by the masses in China and Taiwan. The Pure Land of Amitabha is a place that everyone longs to go to.

In my opinion and as I know, the heavens in some sort of religions are included in the Pure Land of Amitabha. That is because, in the profound and wide meanings, the Pure Land of Amitabha includes all universes, and the visible and invisible materials. In the meantime, it also includes the invisible-non-materials. The Pure Land of Eternal-Silence-Light is the ultimate Pure Land of Amitabha.

In the concept of Buddhism, the earth where we live now is one of the Pure Lands of Amitabha, meanwhile, it is also a Pure Land of Amitabha where mortals and saints live together. The saints include all sorts of virtuous humans in all religions.

In the heart of Amitabha, all humankinds are transformed and generated from the heart of Amitabha. That is, all human beings are like “the children of the Amitabha”. No matter if these children are good or bad, and no matter how many lives and what sorts of lives they had experienced, and no matter what they had believed, they finally will return to and rely on Amitabha, and dwell on the Pure Land of Amitabha.

The pronounce "A Mi Tuo Fo" / “ Ēmítuófó “ / is transilitrated from Chinese and means Amitabha. The pronounce "A Mi Tuo Fo" / “ Ēmítuófó “ / is generally used in the communities of China and Taiwan.

More concept and knowledge about Buddha, please refer to any one in the articles of the blog.

One of the Ten Titles about Buddha -- Teacher of Heavens and Humans

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu

                                                                                                                    

The general meaning of Teacher of Heavens and Humans

The word Teacher of Heavens and Humans is translated from the Chinese and it is translated from the Sanskrit "sasta dena - manusyanam". Generally speaking, it means that the Buddha is good at teaching sentient beings what they should do and what they should not do, as well as what is good and what is not good. If all sentient beings can follow the Buddha's teachings and not deviate from the right path, they will be able to be free from their troubles and to liberate themselves from sufferings of life and death. 

The explanation of Teacher of Heavens and Humans said by Buddha

In the Buddhist Scripture--The Scripture of the Ten Titles Said by Buddha, the Buddha explained what the Teacher of Heavens and Humans  meant:

Why was it called the Teacher of Heavens and Humans? The Buddha said. It is not to be the teacher for Ananda of one Bhiksu. All Bhiksus and Bhiksuni. And Upasaka and Upasika. And the heavens and humans. The Srmana and Brahmin. The demon king and the outside Dao. All the heavens of Sakras, Brahmas and Dragons had returned their missions and relied on the teachings to pursue and follow it and all became disciples of the Buddha. It was hence named the Teacher of Heavens and Humans.

Further explanation for Teacher of Heavens and Humans

From this paragraph, we know that the Buddha is the teacher of all beings, no matter these beings are humans or non-humans, no matter they are heaven beings or non-heaven beings, no matter they are monks or nuns, no matter they are residence-scholars or residence-learners in Buddhism,  no matter their status are and no matter they are in the Dao of Buddhism or not in the Dao of Buddhism. That is, no matter what their races, appearances, colors, forms, non-forms, religions, and beliefs are, they all finally return to their missions and rely on the teachings of Buddha. Meanwhile, they finally pursue and follow the teachings of Buddha, and become the disciples of the Buddha.  

The explanation of the words in the content

The word Dao is translated from Chinese into English. Dao means path or way. The meaning of Dao is extended to be the truth of practicing in life, belief and religion. Dao is Tao. Bhiksu and Bhiksuni, Upasaka and Upasika, are Sanskrit. Bhiksu and Bhiksuni means monk and nun. In historical India, those who left the home and pursued and practiced the truth of life were called  Bhiksu and Bhiksuni, no matter what their beliefs and religions were. Generally speaking, they did not reside in a fixed place and always stayed under a tree.  And, those who did not leave the home, and pursued and practiced the truth of life at home, were called Upasaka and Upasika. That is, Upasaka is the residence-scholar of male or residence-learner of male. Upasika is the residence-scholar of female or residence-learner of female.

The following explanations for Srmana and Brahmin  are referred to on the Internet. Srmana and Brahmin are Sanskrit. Srmana is a person "who labors, toils, or exerts themselves for some higher or religious purpose" or "seeker, one who performs acts of austerity, ascetic". Brahmin is a varna (caste) within Hindu society. Traditionally, Brahmins are accorded the highest ritual status of the four social classes, and they also served as spiritual teachers. 

The heavens of Sakras, Brahmas and Dragons are the beings in heavens according to the records of historical India. According to our current understanding, they are sentient beings belonging to different dimensions of space and time. Meanwhile, they have lifespan and will experience reincarnation after the ending of their life. They have the huge blessings and are in the position of Bodhisattva (Pusa; Bosa).  However, they have not yet achieved Buddhahood. They always do their best to support the teachings of Buddha and to practice Buddhism. 

From Buddhist scripture, we can see the Buddha Shakyamuni spoke the Buddha-Law for the heavenly beings.

The Buddha Shakyamuni can be the teacher of humans. There is no doubt. However, from which scripture can we know that the Buddha Shakyamuni can be the teacher of heavenly beings? In some of the Buddhist scripture, it mentioned that the Buddha Shakyamuni was into the state of Zen-steady and went up the heaven to spoke the scripture for the heavenly beings, such as the Buddhist scripture --The Scripture of The Virtue and Merit of The Original Vow of The Bodhisattva Land-Treasure (Pusa Land-Treasure; Pusa Land-Hidden; The treasure is hidden in the land. Pusa is Bodhisattva). The Buddha Shakyamuni went up to the Daoli heaven (Trayastriṃśa) to speak this Buddhist scripture for his mother and the family members. His mother passed away after the Buddha Shakyamuni was born, and then she reincarnated in the Daoli Heaven (Trayastriṃśa) and enjoyed blessings. In other Buddhist scripture, it also mentioned that the Buddha Shakyamuni went up to the Daoli heaven to speak scripture for the heavenly Bodhisattvas (Pusas).

Except for this, in the great-boarding classic scripture, when the Buddha Shakyamuni spoke the scripture, the countless heavenly Pusas and beings, and the countless Pusas who appeared from the different worlds of all Buddhas, would attend the law-congregation to listen to what the spoken and taught by Buddha Shakyamuni. Furthermore, the Buddha Shakyamuni spoke the scripture for kings and his family members of all heavens and the earth. Such as this scripture -- Lotus scripture, there were countless sons of different heavens flown to attend the law-congregation so as to listen to the Buddha’s teaching. Pusa is Bodhisattva. Law-congregation means that the Buddha spoke the Buddha-Law for all beings in one place. 

From Buddhist scripture, we can see the Buddha Shakyamuni spoke the Buddha-Law for the king on the earth.

There also exists such a kind of Buddhist scripture that the Buddha Shakyamuni spoke the scripture for the king who lived on earth. As we have mentioned that the word Buddha is just a title. The meaning of Buddha is similar to the saint. That is, they already have good cultivation in moral and ethical aspects. Meanwhile, they are capable to save, teach and reform all beings to liberate them from sufferings of life and death. 

In conclusion

From the above explanation, we know why the Buddha was capable of being the teacher of heavens and humans. Please keep following this blog, we will explore more and deeply why the Buddha is the Teacher of Heavens and Humans.

One of the Ten Titles about Buddha—Man-Tamer

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing)

The meaning of Man-Tamer represents the Buddha who taught the living beings the knowledge and wisdom of Buddhism  and reform the living beings to be good.

  

The word Man-Tamer is translated by me from the Chinese Buddhist Scripture. I will explain it and why I use this word Man-Tamer. In the history of India, men were usually working and frequently and socially interacting with each other  in the society.  For obtaining and striving for the power and resources for the self and the family, any evil mind and behavior arose which is like the situation of today in the world. Furthermore, in the beginning, there were only the men leaving the family to practice the truth of life and therefore to become monks.  The Buddha Shakyamuni taught the men the knowledge and wisdom of Buddhism  and reform the men to be good persons. That is why I use the word Man-Tamer as the translation to represent one of the ten titles about Buddha.  

Therefore, to extend and expand the meaning of Man-Tamer, it can represent the Buddha who taught the living beings the knowledge and wisdom of Buddhism  and reform the living beings to be good.

Why is it called Man-Tamer?

In the Buddhist Scripture--The Scripture of the Ten Titles Said by Buddha,, the Buddha explained what the Man-Tamer  meant:

Why is it called Man-Tamer? The Buddha said. Buddha was a great man. And it could harmonize and rule the two sorts of good and evil things. The evil one made the three karmas of not good arise. And doing all the evil thus depraved oneself into the hells, hungry ghosts and brutes therefore gained the evil retribution. A good person practiced all good deeds in body, mouth and mind. Obtain blessings fruition from human and heaven. All good and evil were done by the mind. The Buddha used the law of nirvana of the good of the first meaning. It demonstrated the harmonizing and ruling to make beings leave the contaminated and filth and thus gained the supreme silent and eliminated Nirvana. Therefore, it was called Man-Tamer.

The story and meaning of the Man-Tamer.

In another Buddhist Scripture – Miscellaneous Agama Sutra, there was a paragraph which referred to  the story and meaning of the Man-Tamer. I translated it from Chinese into English as follows: 

 

This is what I heard:

At one time, the Buddha lived in the Kalanda Bamboo Garden in the city of Rajagaha.

At that time, a horse-training master named Zhishi came to the Buddha's place. He bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood back and sat down, faced and said to the Buddha, "World Honored One! I see that the world is very mean and low, like a flock of sheep. World Honored One, I am the only one who can train horses." If an evil horse is running wild, I will use the convenient way to make it easy for it to show signs of disease. I will tame it in the convenient way according to its signs of disease."

The Buddha asked the village-leader of horse-trainer: "How many methods  of convenience do you use to tame the horses?"

The horse master said to the Buddha: "There are three ways to tame an evil horse. What are the three? One is gentle, the second is vulgar, and the third is gentle and vulgar."

The Buddha told the village-leader: "You have used the three methods of convenience to tame the horse, but if you still cannot tame it, what should you do?

The horse-training master said to the Buddha: "Anyone who cannot be tamed should be killed. Why? Don't let it  humiliate me." The horse-training master said to the Buddha: "The World Honored One is the supreme Man-Tamer. How many methods of convenience can you use to tame the man ?"

The Buddha told the village-leader: "I also use three methods of convenience to tame the man. What are the three? One is always gentle, the second is always vulgar, and the third is gentle and vulgar."

The Buddha told the village-leader : "What so-called always gentleness is as the following said: 'This is the good deeds of the body and this is the reward of the good deeds of the body; this is the good deeds of the mouth and mind and this is the reward of the good deeds of the mouth and mind. Such is called the heaven, is called the human, is called the transformation-birth of good-going, and is called the nirvana. This is the gentleness.” 

"What so-called vulgarness is as the following said: "This is the evil deeds of the body and this is the retribution of the evil deeds of the body; this is the evil deeds of the mouth and mind and this is the retribution of the evil deeds of the mouth and mind. Such is called the hell, such is called the animal, such is called the hungry ghost, such is called the evil-going, and such is called falling into the evil-going. It is called the Tathagata’s vulgar teachings.”

"What so-called gentleness and vulgarness means that the Tathagata sometimes talks about the good deeds of the body, sometimes the reward of the good deeds of the body, sometimes the good deeds of the mouth and mind, sometimes the reward of good deeds of the mouth and mind; sometimes the bad deeds of the body, sometimes the retribution of bad deeds of the body, and sometimes the bad deeds of the mouth and mind, and sometimes the retribution of bad deeds of the mouth and mind. Such is called the heaven, such is called the human, such is called the good-going and such is called the nirvana. Such is called the hell,  such is called the animal and  the hungry ghost, such is called the evil-going, such is called falling into the evil-going. Such is called  the Tathagata’s teaching of gentleness and vulgarness”

The horse-training master said to the Buddha: "World Honored One! If you use the three methods of convenience to tame sentient beings, and some of them are not tamed, what should you do?"

The Buddha told the village-leader: "I should also kill them. Why? Don't let them humiliate me."

The horse-training master said to the Buddha: "If you kill a living being, it will be considered impure in the law of World Honored One. In the law of World Honored One, there is no killing of living beings. Now, it talked about the killing. What is the meaning of killing?"

The Buddha told the village-leader: "So! So! In the Law of Tathagata, killing is impure. And in the Law of Tathagata, there is no killing. However, in the Law of Tathagata, those who are not tamed by the three teachings will no longer be spoken, taught, or admonished. Village-leader! What does it mean?  In the Law of Tathagata, if Tathagata no longer speaks to, teaches, or admonishes these people, isn't that death?"

The horse-training master said to the Buddha: "Indeed, World Honored One! Tathagata no longer speaks to them, and never teaches or admonishes them. This is really death. World Honored One, for this reason, I will abstain from all evil and unwholesome deeds from now on."

The Buddha told the village-leader : "Good, as what you said!"

At that time, after hearing what the Buddha said, the master of the horse-training - Zhishi - was delighted, followed and complied with the joy, and left with all due respects by bowing his head at the Buddha's feet.

One of the Ten Titles about Buddha—Good Death

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing)

  

When we are young and learning Buddha, we may never think what the meaning is about Good Death. For the young women and men, the problem what they encounter is how to survive and live well, most of them never think about what the death is and how to die well. 

 

The meaning of good death in the views of Buddha’s teaching

 

If you have noticed the issue about long-term care, you may notice the issue about how to help the dying patient to experience the good death. There are a lot of discussion of ideas, methods and experiences of good death for a person. However, it is not the points in this article. In this article, it talks about the good death from the views of Buddha’s teaching. In the Buddhist Scripture--The Scripture of the Ten Titles Said by Buddha, the Buddha explained what the Good Death meant: 

 

Why it was called the Good Death. The Buddha said. That is the meaning of marvelous going. Such as greed, anger, obsession, etc., dragging all sentient beings towards the other evil going. This is not named good death. Tathagata's right wisdom was capable to eliminate all confusion. Wonderfully appearing and beyond the world can go toward the Buddha-fruition. It was hence named Good Death.

 

How to get the Good Death in learning Buddha

 

“Good” here means “virtuous”. From the meaning of the Good Death explained by Buddha, we know that the Good Death means the marvelous going. How do we go through the marvelous ways? That is, our inner Tathagata's  right wisdom has been eliminating all confusion in our lives. Meanwhile, such wonderfully appearing of our inner Tathagata's right wisdom and such eliminating all confusion of beyond the world can lead us go toward the fruition of becoming a Buddha. That is, we are able to achieve or have achieved the Buddhahood. Such situation or state is named Good death. 

 

What kinds of states belong to good death in the views of Buddhism

 

Such sort of ways include not to own any negative thought, mind,  emotion, mindset and any such motive, behavior and action.  That is because such negative things would make us go to the path of the evil. For instance, the hatred mindset is the ignorant fire which usually "burn down" our rational brains and merits, and "burn down" other’s lives and properties. That is, if we had the hatred mindset, it was possible for us to harm ourselves and others, and to cause any damages in the spiritual, physical and material.  The jealous mindset is easily caused the hatred mindset and the behavior of breaking any good matters of others.  

 

What kinds of states do not belong to good death in the views of Buddhism

 

The individually or group greedy mindset is easily to damage the interests and rights of the huge ordinary people through the ways of cunning smarts or injust means or the fake goodness, or through the ways of violence, threaten or fraud. The personal or group stupid obsession with any beliefs or with any ideologies might cause the large ordinary people being blind in their good wise, thinking and judgment, even to cause them being poor in the spiritual and material.  

 

The souls of more low level have no bright in their heart. 

 

In the views of Buddhism, such sorts of negative mindsets, actions and things are regarded as the evil human beings and the evil matters and which will make the persons who had done these evil things go to the evil paths after they die. That is the paths of animals, the hungry ghosts and the hells. Such sorts of fruitions of the evils are not regarded as Good Death. As we have mentioned a lot in the articles in the blog, it is easy and possible for the human beings with the Triad Dark personalities and the five-poisonous mindsets to go into the fruitions of the evils after their lives are terminated, and it is regarded as Bad Death. That is because their souls have to be taught and the retribution so as to compensate the beings who they have harmed before.  Therefore, we know that such sorts of souls are the beings of more low level and there are no bright in their heart. That there are no bright means that there are no wisdom, mercy and empathy. 

 

A thought of goodness will lead a person into the good death. 

 

I say "it is easy and possible." That is because if the human beings with the Triad Dark personalities and the five-poisonous mindsets have a thought of goodness and are willing to be taught and reformed, and are willing to do the goodness for the public or the large ordinary people or all human beings, they will change their fates and the consequences. Then, they will have the opportunity to obtain the Good Death. 

 

The cause of the Bad Death and how to avoid the Bad Death

 

Except for the mentioned above, we know that the opposite of Good Death is Bad Death, such as unexpected dying, dying accidentally, tragic death, suicide, murdered by others, etc. Such causes include the cause by the self and by others. In the views of the Buddhism, such causes derive from the five poisonous mindsets of, or any negative thought, emotion and behavior of the self and of the others. Therefore, we know that if we could do the goodness with integrity and honesty and with the good will, it would be possible for us to avoid any Bad Death. That is because there are good angels or the guardian gods who will protect us in our daily lives. Meanwhile, our righteous thought, wisdom, mercy and empathy will be the best protection for our personal lives to help us go to the Good Death. 

 

The concept of Good Death in learning Buddha is very highlighted  in the practice of the teaching of Buddha and underlined in the cultivation of self-thought and action.

      

In the teaching of Buddha, we at present know that what is the Good Death, how to experience the Good Death, who will obtain the Good Death, where to go during and after the Good Death, why it is the Good Death and when we will experience the Good Death. Therefore, the concept of Good Death in learning Buddha is very highlighted  in the practice of the teaching of Buddha and underlined in the cultivation of self-thought and action.  It is different with the concept of good death what we know in the medical care or long-term care or physical care or mental care. Even though it is some kind of difference, there is no conflict between them. 

 

Tathagata's right wisdom was capable to eliminate all confusion.

 

Tathagata's right wisdom was capable to eliminate all confusion. What is the meaning of all confusion in Buddhism? The confusion means do not understand the original and clean and pure heart, mind and thought. Meanwhile, such original and clean and pure heart, mind and thought are blinded or polluted by various odd, fake or seemed reasonable opinions or dogmas or ideologies and so on. In a word, that is the confusions of seeing, thinking and worrying which are caused by the fantasy mind of the self and others.

 

The fantasy mind is major caused by the five-poisonous mind of the self and others. The five-poisonous mind means the greedy, hatred, stupid obsession (or the stupid infatuation and attachment), arrogant, and the suspicious, which involve the jealous mind, restless mind, violent mind, ruthless mind and the brutal mind and so on. Mental violence is also one of them. In the views of the Buddhism, all of these fantasy mindsets and confusions are not the truth. For instance, some of the religious ideologies or politic themes are created by the people who have the cunning smart and selfish intention in order to manipulate and slave the large masses. 

 

Only when we truly practice the teaching of Buddha and prove the Tathagata's righteous wisdom by the self can we insight the deceit and trick, and get rid of any manipulating and slaving from the five-poisonous-mind persons. Then, we might have one question. What is the Tathagata’s righteous wisdom? In a word, it is the original and clean and pure heart and thus arise any applying from it by any convenient ways so as to face all kinds of changes of the world and to handle it or to resolve any problems. That is to live at ease by the Tathagata’s righteous wisdom.

 

The honesty to practice the teaching of Buddha is to the self.

 

Most young persons are very simple men or women, and they are not quite acquaintance about what the five-poisonous-mind is.  Maybe they have a little or a lot of five-poisonous-mind, but they cannot perceive it very well. To perceive the five-poisonous-mind of the self and the others, and to control the self not to do harmful things thereby, it requires the honesty to practice the teaching of Buddha and it also takes time. The honesty to practice the teaching of Buddha is to the self, not to others, because learning Buddha in the thinking and action is very personal thing at the beginning. However, if we do not have a decision and great vow with the sincere heart to achieve the fruition of becoming Buddha in the beginning, we would not learn Buddha diligently.  That is why it is responsible to the self to be honest. Only to be honest to the self, the guardian gods and all Buddhas in the ten directions will help us and care about us. 

 

Those dishonest persons will follow their fate and the causality what they have done. 

 

Otherwise, they don't pay attention to us and don't care about us. In fact, they had reminded and taught us to be a good person and do the good thing for all beings through many ways since there were records in the history of humans. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of people ignore the reminder and teaching from all Buddhas. That is, those dishonest persons will follow their fate and the causality what they have done. If they do the evil, they go into the path and the consequence of the evil. Now we know that it is the Bad Death and they will go into the three evil paths -- the animal, the hungry ghost, and the hell. That is their retribution and suffering in their fantasy mind. However, it is "very real in the feeling" just as the nightmare. We know that such sorts of "world and phenomena" are not created by others, but by the self. 

 

The cause is the consequence. The consequence is the cause. 

 

In Buddhism, there is the principle of that the cause are equivalent to the consequence. That is what kind of causes is created by a person is equivalent to the corresponded consequences in which this person will have to bear and suffer. That is, no matter the cause and the corresponded consequence are, it is created by the same person. Meanwhile, such sort of corresponded consequence is able to be the cause. It can become the cause and basis to go into the path of Bodhisattva. That is, no matter how bad the corresponded consequence is, it is the good opportunity for the person to create a good cause to achieve the Buddhahood for the self. No matter how bad the situation of outside or inside in our life is, we always hold the positive views and attitude to take the action in the views of Buddhism. Then, it would be the beginning of the good.     

 

Then, this person would have an opportunity to deserve the corresponded and good consequence in the future or in the next life. Such logical principle is also applicable to the group. That is, a group, such as a community, a society, a company or a country, is able to create good causes so as to gain the corresponded and good consequence. If they create the evil cause, they will gain the corresponded and bad consequence. In a word, the cause is the consequence. The consequence is the cause. 

 

The Buddhism is not the ideology of brainwashing or the manipulation by the name of God or Buddha.

 

That is why if someone said that they were atheist and they did the evil or if someone said that they believed in God or Buddha and they still did the evil, we know it and it is not necessary for us to take time to debate with them. Therefore, if we profoundly learn Buddha, we will find that the Buddhism is not the ideology of brainwashing or the manipulation by the name of God or Buddha.  The Buddhism owns the deeply dialectical theory and we can question it by any ways, if we know how to question it. Meanwhile, we understand that it is absolutely impossible for the Buddhism to be manipulated by any politic party or any ideology or any dogma.  If any politic party manipulates the Buddhism with any ideology and any dogma, we know that it is a thing of quite stupid.

 

From what we have observed in history and some people and things that have happened in modern times, some people use cunning, clever and unscrupulous methods to get the power and wealth they want, and they proudly think that they are the winners in the world. From a Buddhist point of view, they have lost their kind and upright hearts, wasted their bodies and lives, and failed to seize the opportunity to obtain human bodies in this life to cultivate the self, improve their spirituality, and advance themselves to the three good paths. On the contrary, they allowing themselves to run towards the three evil paths are actually the real loser.

 

As long as you read and recite the Medicine Master's Sutra with an honest and kind heart, you can avoid sudden death.

 

The Medicine Master's Sutra mentions that as long as you read and recite the Medicine Master's Sutra with an honest and kind heart, you can avoid sudden death. We know that sudden death is often difficult to accept for yourself and your family. Many things are not arranged, and may also cause some family members to have different opinions or disputes, for example, disputes over inheritance.

 

The Medicine Master's Sutra also mentions various kinds of unforeseen deaths, such as died of fright, death from torture, die from hatred, die from greed, die from infatuation, die for blindly following an ideology manipulated by evildoers. These are unwholesome deaths.

 

People who have achieved success in spiritual practice can predict the coming time and know when they will be reborn.

 

People who have achieved success in spiritual practice can predict the coming time and know when they will be reborn. Although most people do not believe in Buddhism, they are kind-hearted and behave well. They will also feel that their life span is about to end, and they can make arrangements for themselves early, both psychologically and in daily life.

 

Buddhists follow the teachings of the Buddha and do not do any bad things such as the five poisonous thoughts. 

 

Ignorant people with five poisonous attachments think that those who study Buddhism and believe in Buddha are stupid people and are easy to fight and bully. Because these ignorant people have not practiced Buddhism, they do not know that those who learn Buddha have the education and practice of solid moral life. Therefore, Buddhists who have a good foundation are very aware of the good and evil mentalities and behaviors in the world, and they also understand the consequences of good and evil mentalities and their behaviors. Therefore, they follow the teachings of the Buddha and do not do any bad things such as the five poisonous thoughts and actions. 

 

Doing nothing is one of the practices of learning Buddha. 

 

Even if ignorant people such as the five-poisoned minds fight, bully, harm or seduce these Buddhist practitioners with a mentality that they think they are smart and conceited, these Buddhist practitioners will not be affected and develop the five-poisoned minds to retaliate or respond. For example, some people use their cunning smart to do all the specious things in order to manipulate others or hurt others or make others bear the cost to get the benefits they want. Things like this do not mean that those who practice Buddhism do not know how to do it, but they don't want to do it. In these situations, doing nothing is one of the practices of learning Buddha. 

 

Not having hatred towards these ignorant people with the five poisonous minds in our heart is a sign of compassion for oneself. 

 

When these ignorant people with the five poisonous minds laugh at the stupidity of those who practice and study Buddhism, usually those who practice and study Buddhism remain silent and do not respond. Why? First, it is compassion for all living beings, and second, it is compassion for oneself. Because those who practice Buddhism already understand who will go to the three evil paths and how they will suffer there. Therefore, we compassionate these living beings. And not having hatred towards these sentient beings in our heart is a sign of compassion for oneself. 

 

Others’ greed, anger and ignorance may cause their own tragic death, and may also drag us down to our tragic death.

 

We cannot say that other people’s greed, anger and ignorance have nothing to do with us, because others’ greed, anger and ignorance may cause their own tragic death, and may also drag us down to our tragic death. For example, someone’s personal greed, anger and ignorance may cause harm to the general public and may cause financial losses. The freedom of the public may be restricted. And the victim may be dissatisfied, so he vents his anger and deliberately detonates an explosion in a building to cause serious harm. At this time, if we happen to be in the building or pass by, we may be affected and may be injured, or just killed in a bombing. The casualties caused by many incidents can be compared, for example, wars caused by the struggle for sovereignty.

 

Use cunning and deceitful means to set up traps to frame people, use confusing right and wrong, and use methods that seem reasonable and correct but are neither reasonable nor correct to take advantage of people and collect wealth. Even if they gain the world's wealth, even if they win sovereignty and obtain supreme power, it would not the good death. These are all going to the three evil realms. Even if they die sitting down or lying down, it is not a good death.

 

In Conclusion

 

Therefore, what we know about the good death involves the realms of physical good death, mental or spiritual good death, and worldly and beyond worldly good death. In summary, if we can practice Buddhist ideas, whether we are Buddhists or not, I believe we will have a good death. Buddhist ideas do not limit only Buddhists to practice. I have observed many who are not Buddhists, who follow their teachings to treat themselves well and love all living beings, and loving all living beings is actually the practice of Buddhist thought to a certain extent. Therefore, as long as we deeply understand and appreciate the profound meaning of practicing Buddhism, we will understand that Buddhism completely breaks the barriers and oppositions of various religions, politics, and ideologies, and possible manipulation. Even if you are not a Buddhist, if you have thoughts and practices in this regard, I believe you can benefit yourself and all sentient beings.

 

Keep Peace In Mind. No War.

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing)

 

Only all identities and the masses owned the knowledge and concepts of Buddhism and indeed practice it so as to cultivate the self accordingly in the daily life, the worlds will be peaceful according to the peace of mind of all beings.

 

The Buddha-Law doesn’t leave the worlds. Since the history of the world until now, civil wars in any country and international wars have frequently happened. Whether a country is ruled well or not, whether it keeps peace in the world or not, it is dependent on the knowledge, wisdom, empathy and sympathy of the president, the king, the emperor, the prime minister, the officials and the masses. Regarding any war and any related describing, there is almost not mentioned in the Buddhist Scripture. That is because any war and any related describing belongs to the change of phenomenon which is like the flow of water and the blowing of wind, and it is impermanent.  In the Buddhist scriptures, it does not describe or criticize these historical events about wars.

 

Only the president, the king, the emperor, the prime minister, the officials and the masses owned the knowledge and concepts of Buddhism and indeed practice it so as to cultivate the self accordingly in the daily life, the worlds will be peaceful according to the peace of mind of all beings. Therefore, there is more teaching about how to know and realize the change of the heart, mind, thought and conscious of the self and how to practice and act it in the reality of life in the Buddhism.

 

That is why the objects taught by Buddha include the king, the emperor, the officials and the citizens. That is to include all human beings, no matter what their identity, gender, belief or aging is, and what they are humble or noble, poor or wealthy is, and what their race or language is. When they keep peace in mind, any war will not arise, and any happened war will be ceased naturally. How to keep peace in mind is to follow the teaching of Buddha, which you can refer to and follow to any teachings in any articles in this blog.  

 

Discuss the cause and effect and its phenomena of various wars from the perspective of understanding Zen and Buddhism.

 

Zen of Buddhism is difficult to be understood and realized for the humankind. That is because that each one since being born has been taught to distinguish any relatively, any binary, and any opposite concepts, objects and things. Even no one teach us about these concepts, our instinct would make us to know them. That is because it is the basic common sense what we can know and form the outer world and inner mind, and it can make sure that we can live well and safely by these knowledge.

 

However, the humans gradually fall down in the trap or framework set by the self or others, and they think that they can safely live in this situation. Unfortunately, it is such cause and effect to make humans suffer. Only when we have profoundly realized the Zen of Buddhism, it is possible for us to get rid of any confusing and suffering caused by any binary-manipulated, confrontation-manipulated and opposite-manipulated concepts and objects. 

 

When we want to learn the Zen of Buddhism, it is better for us to own the basic knowledge about Buddhism and the learning about the Little-Boarding Buddhism (Theravada Buddhism). If we don’t have such kind of knowledge and learning, it would be possible for us to mistakenly realize the Zen of Buddhism and practice it with the wrong way of the arrogant mind. The Zen of Buddhism is almost the highest state in learning Buddha. All of the articles and the talked and translated Buddhist Scripture in this blog are the basic learning and practice in learning the Zen of Buddhism.  

 

There is no concept of enemies in the Zen of Buddhism. Being One in the emptiness, there is no opposition, no conflict, no grade, no fighting and no confrontation, and naturally there are no enemies. Everyone may have different ideas, views, opinions, beliefs and lifestyles, but as long as they do not cause interference, hindrance and harm to others, they can be respected and accepted. We can refuse any ideologies which we do not like, but, we do not need to see those persons who own the ideologies we do not like as enemies. In the Buddhism, to see others as enemies and to hate others is also one of the causes to make us suffer.

 

The concept of no enemies, no opposition, no conflict and no confrontation in the Zen of Buddhism is to break and to destroy the concept of the discriminating, opposing and fighting consciousness what has existed in our daily life. On the basis of the said concept, it offers us the different room for our thinking, decision and action. That is, it is possible to offer us the different way to deal with any things. 

 

When we realize the Zen of Buddhism, we will know that a lot of wars, including the modern and historical wars, are caused by the binary, confrontation and opposite ideology which is manipulated by some scheming people who own the mean intention and the selfish interest.

 

Especially, in the modern time, the military industry and energy trading are the huge interest. There are some of people with unjust mind and mean who purposely occupy and obtain these kinds of interests. And they thus take use of others and sacrifice the innocent people ruthlessly by the means of the fake goodness and by manipulating the binary, confrontation and opposite concept of what is the just and unjust.

 

Meanwhile, they take use of the two-side approach to obtain the selfish interest. That is to deliberately raise the enemy through economic and trade exchanges, and then manipulating any ideology to make ignorant people and groups act as scapegoats to fight against the enemy through buying weapons or any cooperation in military. If we are wise, we know that deliberately establishing the enemies and thus to compete with and fight against them is an approach of manipulation. We have to know that the complex mind of the manipulator might be beyond our normal thinking. The shadow warriors behind them and the bad motives behind them may not be what we can imagine.

 

If we own the good wise, we will know that we should leave such manipulation and avoid being the sacrifice in such manipulation. Furthermore, it is better for us to own good wise so as to alert all humans about such kind of things, protect them, and help them avoid being the sacrifice in such manipulation. 

 

Many events are neutral in themselves, but they may be exploited by scheming people.

 

The democratic ideology or the military industry or energy trade itself is neutral. It may be used for good or bad reasons. Many things can be analogized. However, in the minds of scheming people, it becomes a tool or a space that can be manipulated for the selfish purpose and interest.

 

For example, knives as kitchen tools for people's livelihood or as surgical tools for medical purposes. People who make knives will not encourage others to use them for improper purposes because they want to increase sales and profits. Similarly, with the advancement of science and technology, it is impossible not to engage in the high-tech military industry. The high-tech military industry is necessary to protect the country.

 

However, in the opinion of Buddhism, if someone wants to increase the sales and profits through selling military products, and for the sake of personal gain, thus to encourage or manipulate any ideological confrontation or war, or to cause humanitarian casualties and any crises by these causes, it is not only creating the personal bad karma but also making the common bad karma, and it will finally form the evil consequence for the self and the public. This vicious spiral will continue to turn until someone is willing to wake up, repent and correct this mistake.

Whether we have a bright mind or not, it is easy for us to hurt others. However, it is difficult to restrain ourselves from harming others. Because, to have good wisdom, compassion and empathy for all living beings, it takes time for us to learn and practice it, and then take action. Only in this way can we not only not harm others, but also use our clever minds to help all living beings and protect vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, women and children.

 

The Buddhist idea of​​ karma and retribution is a truly upright and equal idea.

 

In the area of the modern high technology, fighter planes, drones, unmanned ships and robots, etc., have been made better and better. Although these research and development and transactions will make a few people rich, the harm they cause to all living beings is quite terrifying and huge. If we get rich by hurting innocent people, we are creating bad karma. For related consequences, please refer to Chapter 36: Floundering gains the victory. If we only pray for God's blessings, but still create bad karma to harm all sentient beings, and do not understand or worry about evil karma and retribution, it will not be a good thing for the individual's future lives, and it will be a very dangerous thing for all sentient beings.

 

In my opinion, the Buddhist idea of​​ karma and retribution is a truly upright and equal idea. Assuming that evil deeds can escape the correction of worldly laws, they will inevitably receive the consequences of their own evil deeds in their future lives. In Buddhism and traditional Chinese thought, there is such a thing as judicial judgment in the underworld. I think this is in line with the principle of fairness. If a person commits evil deeds and does not need to be corrected by the laws of the world, does not need to repay those who have been harmed, and does not need to be educated by the laws of underworld, then I think it is the truly unfairness.

 

It is meaningless to use drones and robots and any unmanned tools to fight each other and there.

 

If we think deeply, we will understand that it is meaningless to use drones and robots and any unmanned tools to fight each other and there and it will only cause bad karma for ourselves. And at the same time, it will also damage innocent lives and everyone's property. Using the high-tech military tools to fight against each other and thus to hurt the innocent people would be not a wise behavior.

 

From a Buddhist point of view, all these evil deeds need to be repaid by receiving retribution. We humans have brains, knowledge, wisdom, empathy, and compassion. These can be learned and applied, and promoted and educated to all humans to make the world in which humans live become more friendly and harmonious. It is really not necessarily to use force to against each other.

 

Lao Tzu was the ancient Chinese wise man, he said: “The earth generates all things but without possessing and occupying it, and it has done everything but without relying on it.” When we deeply think the meaning of this wise saying, we will know that all disputes and troubles and suffering are caused by humankind and because of the stubbornly obsession from the mindset of greed, hatred, stupid addiction. Hostility and antagonism arise in this situation. And any evil karma will thus be made.

 

We all know that one of the pains in personal life comes from comparing with others in everything. Similarly, the competitive and the comparison of national military power will also bring pain to the people.  

 

There is comparison in the military strength, strength and victory or defeat between countries. We all know that one of the pains in personal life comes from comparing with others in everything. Similarly, the competitive and the comparison of national military power will also bring pain to the people. This does not mean that if the military strength of our country wins others, we all citizens will be happy. On the contrary, this may bring more anxiety and pain to the people. This can be understood as long as we think deeply and practice in Buddhism, study psychology, and have some life and social experience. I personally believe that it is necessary to strengthen national defense, but it is best to downplay comparisons and confrontations with other countries so as to reduce the hostility. To crease the relationship of the peace and harmony with other countries is better.

 

Many ignorant people are victims of the Five Poisons mentality and are also victims of the sugar-coating of the Five Poisons. Furthermore, those Machiavellians, Dark Triad personalities and Five Poison Mentality people are good at manipulating those with Five Poison Mentality to fight against the other Five Poison Mentality people. This will form a vicious cycle of bad cause, bad condition, and bad consequence. Human beings under war or in the evil environment of fighting against others will not have good time, room and environment to learn knowledge, good wisdom, compassion, empathy and self-cultivation. Let human beings have a good and stable economic life and a harmonious and friendly cultural environment. On this basis, they can widely learn knowledge, good wisdom, compassion, empathy and self-cultivation, thereby improving the quality and civilization of human beings and forming an extensive and invisible protection network of domestic and international society so as to prevent Machiavellianism and other Dark Triad personalities from having enough room to harm others. Therefore, if we learn Buddha well, we will understand how to do would make the human beings and the world more peaceful, harmony and happy. That is to create the blessing for the self and the others, and instead of dragging yourself and others down.   

 

Opinions can differ, but there is no need to turn them into hostility and hatred to trigger conflict, confrontation or war.

 

It is a better direction to guide these high-tech research and development to serve human beings, such as education, culture, medical care, long-term care, sightseeing, tourism, water and electricity maintenance, housework services, unmanned stores, maintaining good social order, smart cities, and more convenience transportation, etc. This can be a legitimate and honest business opportunity and operating profit. Make it affordable and useful for everyone. Let everyone can communicate, interact, learn and grow from each other more easily and internationally, or between cities, or between people by the service of high-tech and its tools and ways.

 

This can eliminate the barriers between races, and the gap between countries. And this also can promote mutual understanding and consideration among human beings, so that they can live in harmony. If knowledge, cultivation, wisdom and compassion are all improved, then the number of people with five poisonous minds and the Dark Triad personalities will decrease. At the same time, there will be less room for opposition and confrontation manipulated by those with five poisonous minds and the Dark Triad personalities. Only when human civilization and wisdom have improved can true happiness, joy, and true peace exist.

 

Manipulate various opposing consciousness, such as politics (National unity or independence, democracy or authoritarianism, communism or capitalism), religion (monotheism and polytheism), racism or national revival, and land reclamation or occupying land in the name of religion, etc., like this cause and effect of manipulation would bring the disaster and suffering for human beings. In the name of moral loftiness or justice or national defense or self-defense, or I am doing it for your own good, to manipulate such things for the self-interest are as the emotional blackmail. Such things are also easily to be tools or ways as manipulating.

 

The manipulation method of emotional blackmail, deliberately causing opposition, conflict and confrontation, or setting the trap of war between the two parties, is the dark method of the Dark Triad personalities, which is used to seek personal gain. We must stand at a higher level than them, that is, get rid of the manipulation of dualistic and antagonizing ideologies, and do not connect our consciousness with these. At the same time, we must be smarter and wiser than them in order to see through their hypocrisy and selfish tactics so as to avoid becoming objects for their manipulation and sacrifice. Opinions can differ, but there is no need to turn them into hostility and hatred to trigger conflict, confrontation or war.

 

Any confrontation, hostility, and the manipulation of the good and evil are all related to whether the five poisonous minds and consciousness arise or not.

 

When we learn Buddha, and if our personal, group or national interest is established on the basis of sacrificing of others life, property, exist development, and family members, or of making the innocent persons to bear any cost, and it will thus cause the extreme suffering of others, I think it is better for us to consider it again and to ask the self: does it be worth to do that?

 

Any confrontation, hostility, and the manipulation of the good and evil are all related to whether the five poisonous minds and consciousness arise or not. At the same time, this is all caused by the six consciousness of our six roots: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind, which arise from the rotation of the external environment, resulting in various consciousness of differences, and then giving rise to various good thoughts and good deeds or evil thoughts and bad deeds, as well as all kinds of disputes and worries. In our deep consciousness there are also the seventh consciousness and the eighth consciousness. The seventh consciousness is similar to the subconscious. The eighth consciousness is the seed-consciousness and which is the root of good or evil thought which is planted in the present or in the past lives. The seventh consciousness is relying on the eighth to turn and arise.

 

The differences in physiological structure between women and men lead to differences in their learning and various achievements. 

 

Because women's physiological structures are different from men's, this body root is different, which also causes differences between women and men in the other five sense organs, including differences in thinking, logic, and perspectives of looking at things. Relatively speaking, women have better empathy than men. When a woman is studying or employed, physical discomfort affects her thinking, learning, expression and performance to some extent. Therefore, women are at a relative disadvantage in terms of congenital physiology, which will affect her learning and achievement to some extent. Academically and in the workplace, a mechanism that is more suitable for women and that is more friendly and fair to women should be developed. Allow them to accumulate experience in learning and growth both academically and in the workplace, and then form opinions or suggestions or leadership to make good contributions to society and the country. To do so would help to make the world more peaceful.

 

Men are always encouraged by the teacher or the parents to study scientific and engineering. In general, because men do not have the uncomfortable and sick symptoms of women during the menstrual periods, this would make them have more time to think and read and study, even to play, argue, fight to others, however, it would make them be lack of the empathy for others suffering.  Men want to fight and win in everything. Such kind of thought would make them be lack of the wisdom and compassion. 

 

When a man is young and single, his self-learning ability and ideality are very good. However, once he marries a woman who is not smart enough and covets happiness and comfort, and when he is stubborn and obsessed with her and bear the pressure from his woman, his intelligence will be reduced. And his selfish and competitive nature and fighting to others will also appear. And this is not a blessing either to his original family members or to the general public, and may even cause serious harm and losses to self and others. After some men climb from the bottom of their career to the top, they get lost in the struggle between interests and power. This is not a blessing to them personally or to the society as a whole.

 

Secondly, men who join the army often receive favorable treatment. Even in countries with poor economic conditions, unemployed men will choose to join the army to fight in order to maintain their personal lives. When their intention to join the army is not to maintain world peace, it will be the disaster for the human beings. I don’t use the ideology and intention of defending the country. If we think deeply, we will know that the intention of defending the country can also be manipulated by people with cunning smart and scheming so as to cover their true intention of self-interest.

If women have any psychological problems or bipolar symptoms, they tend to manifest themselves through self-abuse or harming themselves. However, when men have such problems, they usually manifest themselves through abusing others, or hurt others to show up.

Furthermore, from my observation, if women have any psychological problems or bipolar symptoms, they tend to manifest themselves through self-abuse or harming themselves. However, when men have such problems, they usually manifest themselves through abusing others, or hurt others to show up. When women have stress or emotional problems, they are more willing to find someone to complain to. However, when men have these problems, they tend to suppress them and keep them in their hearts, and are unwilling to speak out in order to appear strong.

From my personal observation and psychological research, men have more advantages than women in the workplace to survive and compete among a group of men. However, due to men’s competitiveness and aggressiveness, coupled with they are under pressure to earn money to support their families. Men's psychological problems and bipolar symptoms are often more serious than women's. This serious psychological and emotional instability often prompts men to manifest themselves through physical or verbal violence.

According to research, men who have graduated from college or a Ph.D. and are engaged in higher-level occupations do not have lower levels of domestic violence than men with lower education and lower-level occupations. So, we have a question. If men with serious psychological problems and bipolar symptoms are in high-pressure international or domestic political environments. Will they manifest themselves through violence or waging war? I think this is quite possible.

According to my observation, when people get older and have chronic diseases or any diseases, they tend to show signs of depression. I think elderly men are no exception. According to medical research and observation, elderly men like this are often prone to violence. So, we have another question. If these elderly people still hold important political positions, are they likely to commit any violence at home or abroad, or wage any war? I think that is also possible.

 

In the modern time, to encourage women to study scientific and engineering and to encourage women to participate in the politic or to lead the military industries would guide the world to the more peaceful direction.

 

Women are lack of scientific and engineering thinking and training. They are inability to exercise good perspective and leadership in defense and military industries and related matters and perspectives. If it is dominated by men, it will easily lead to any conflict or a crisis of active aggression. This can be discovered from historical observation and research. If it is led by women, the possibility of war conflicts can be relatively alleviated, and it can even be led into a relatively peaceful, open and free world. In the modern time, to encourage women to study scientific and engineering and to encourage women to participate in the issue and affairs of the politic or to lead the military industries would guide the world to the more peaceful direction.

 

Most of the damage caused by war and social strife is still borne by women. For example, if a man dies on the battlefield, the family loses a man who can work in exchange for wages to take care of the family, or use labor to protect and take care of the family. Most of these roles and costs will be borne by women, whether they are old or young or underage. Women's wages and labor have always been lower than men's. This will cause the family's plight. More women must bear various costs to support a family to live a better life. Many families even end up sacrificing the lives of their daughter and daughters' rights and happiness in order to support the surviving men in the family, which is especially obvious in Eastern societies. 

This will have a negative consequence. Men are often spoiled by their family and the society, and then become more self-centered, more selfish, more focused on their own interests, including doting on their wives and children, and less empathetic to others. The dark triad personalities are often easily developed in such an environment. When he grows up, he will be more aggressive towards other brothers or sisters, other relatives and friends, and even parents in the family. When he goes out to work in society, he will harm his colleagues and all sentient beings.

 

I think that we should encourage women to express their views on various professions and events, and demonstrate their maternal qualities and abilities, especially in the political, diplomatic, national defense and military fields.

 

Since ancient times, men have had more opportunities to receive education than women. In modern times, they also have more opportunities to receive higher education than women. In various professional fields, we can often see and read men’s opinions, and use them as authoritative, standard and correct. However, it is a pity that in the past history, we have hardly seen women’s views and opinions on various professions and events. In modern liberal democratic societies, although women’s views and opinions exist, they are usually not mainstream and are taken less seriously. I think that we should encourage women to express their views on various professions and events, and demonstrate their maternal qualities and abilities, especially in the political, diplomatic, national defense and military fields. 

Due to the different physiological experiences of the two genders, as well as their different growth and learning experiences, gender-balanced views and opinions can better meet the needs of the public, including the international community and domestic society. It is help to balance and peace the world. Due to the competitive mentality of men/males and their tendency to be influenced by money and beauty, these weaknesses and problems often lead humans to antagonism, division, confrontation, fighting and struggle, and may even lead humans to the disaster of war by any means. Only existing and focus on the males views and opinions is the very  dangerous things for the world. 

Most women indeed devote their lives to giving birth to children, raising children, and taking care of the elders or weaklings in the family. They are the silent majority but the international community ignores their voices and rights, and even they are ruthlessly used and sacrificed. I think this is not a blessing to the international community.

 

From a Buddhist perspective, to harm any innocent human beings by any excuses will be unjustifiable in theory, and there will be evil karma and retribution.

 

Men are driven by sex hormones. When he does not satisfy his sexual needs in legal and legitimate ways, he either sexually assaults others for free, or spends money to buy or raise women. If these expenses exceed the expenses he can afford, then where does the money come from, and who bears these costs? When a man spends money to buy or raise a woman, the cost is quite large and may exceed his normal salary income. At this time, he will do things that harm all living beings, such as seizing other people's property and land, or instigating wars to benefit from it.

 

Men have more professional knowledge related to national defense, military science, engineering, and medicine. This professional knowledge is like a knife. It can be used to save people or protect living beings, but it can also be used to harm living beings. If these men do not have good, upright wisdom, empathy and compassion, it is easy to use this professional knowledge to harm sentient beings. For example, it doesn't mean that it is righteous to harm innocent sentient beings, including women and children, from the standpoint of self-defense. Especially, the children do not understand what happened in the world of the adults or in the history.  From a Buddhist perspective, to harm any innocent human beings by any excuses will be unjustifiable in theory, and there will be evil karma and retribution.

 

Those who owe anything to all living beings will not only have to repay it to all living beings, but they will also bring harm to their descendants to pay back, and they have to use their lives or blessings to pay back. 

 

Those who owe anything to all living beings will not only have to repay it to all living beings, but they will also bring harm to their descendants to pay back, and they have to use their lives or blessings to pay back. In other words, they also have to pay back the debt. It may be repaid with labor or financial resources, but it will be repaid in life after life. If someone says that he kills someone in the name of which Bodhisattva, he is not guilty and can go to heaven, and so on. And they use various words of plausible justice to hurt human beings. All sentient beings know with their common sense that this is ignorance. If you harm others and take advantage of others, and you don’t have to repay such debts, is there fairness and justice? We don’t need Buddhism to understand this. We can understand this with our common sense.

 

In our lives, we will inevitably encounter people who want to hurt us or take advantage of us, or people we don’t like. That is their weird, upside down or closed thought, mind, idea or ideology or the value of life is quite leaving our normal thinking,  After learning Buddhism, we know that we should try to stay away from such people. If we have to meet and get along with them, we should reduce our contact with them. If we need to communicate and deal with them, it is better for us in a calm manner as much as possible. If you get along with some people for a long time, you will find that their knowledge, cultivation, wisdom and compassion are insufficient. They will bluff, want to win over others, want to shirk the responsibility of the crime to others, and want others to bear any cost, etc. Meanwhile, they are paranoid and own pathological obsession with power and fortune. There is no need to hurt them, but we must have the wisdom to protect ourselves, not to be bullied by others, and not to fall into the traps of their cunning tricks. 

 

When we have brains, knowledge, cultivation, wisdom and compassion, there is no need to use force to fight with others.

When we have brains, knowledge, cultivation, wisdom and compassion, there is no need to use force to fight with others. A bunch of unmanned fighter planes and unmanned missiles are flying around there, harming innocent lives. Some people are talking about using robots to fight against the enemy. Do you think this is a sign of wisdom and compassion? I do not think so. Although these technologies are very advanced, they are not used to enhance human intelligence, but are used to fight wars, harm innocent sentient beings, consume countless people's lives and property, and even make it impossible for people to work, live and receive education. I think this is not only without wisdom and compassion, but this is also quite stupid. However, the scheming people do not think so, because it would make the scheming people earn more money and richer. In their mind, earning more money is everything. Unfortunately, they do not understand the causality,  the cause and effect, in the teaching of Buddha.

 

Any dispute or war or struggle or hostility, as well as what any party thinks is right from its own point of view and from these dilemma events, is very stupid in the eyes of the Buddha.

 

There is a Chinese poetry: “The green mountains in the country are still there, and there are several times that the sunset is red." No matter how the regime changes, mountains and rivers are still there. No matter how the days and years change, the people will still reproduce and pass on from generation to generation. It also illustrates the impermanence of worldly things. If the human beings are wise, they will understand that there is nothing more important than pass on good wisdom and compassionate.

 

Any dispute or war or struggle or hostility, as well as what any party thinks is right from its own point of view and from these dilemma events, is very stupid in the eyes of the Buddha.  The Buddha laughed at all beings that they are stubborn and stupid and cannot live a good and easily life and cannot create that for all human beings. All these stupid-obsessed people argue about some illusory things and waste their own life and time and that of all sentient beings. At the same time, they also waste their own and all sentient beings' labor and financial resources. In other word, these kinds of people indeed do the things to harm the self and the others.

 

Therefore, if you are lucky enough to encounter Buddhism in this life, I think it is worth for us to cherish it and learn from it so as to increase the good wise for the self and be able to help others. That is truly to help the self and the others to live a good and ease life. This is also the blessing and creating the well-beings for the self and the others.

Many people may be naive, ignorant, or scheming to help the evildoer to do the evil.

Many people may be naive, ignorant, or scheming. Financially, in life, or in work, they support or bear the burden of the lives of the greedy, hateful, and foolish-obsessed people of the Dark Triad personalities. That is, they not only "fatten them up" but also make them more capable of harming innocent beings or destroying other people's lives. That also is to help the evildoer to do the evil. Unfortunately, these people do not have this kind of awareness and awakening, and they do not know that these Dark Triad personalities of greedy, angry and ignorant people will eventually come back to bite you and hurt you.

 

People with the Dark Triad personalities of greed, hate, and idiot do not improve themselves in terms of culture, spiritual knowledge, and good wisdom. Instead, they are very cunning and have many tricks. They are very capable of using these cunning smart and tricks to destroy the stable and peaceful lives of others and the harmony of the society and the world. What the international community ignores is that using cunning smart and tricks to seize other people's property or sovereignty is an act of stealing. Unfortunately, many people succumb to the threats and inducements of these Dark Triad personalities for the sake of profit and are therefore willing to sell their consciences and souls.

 

The Dark Triad personalities and the humans of five poisonous minds exist in the society of democracy and dictatorship.

 

After trading with competitors of the Dark Triad personalities, the huge interest of trading have been "fatten them up", and their greedy appetites have been grown up, making them want to use force and any cunning smart to annex neighboring countries. This also make them have more capability to make weapons and then sell those weapons to others. This makes them to have more power to fight and bully others.

Based on the confrontation of ideology, and of democracy and dictatorship, and of land disputes, and of sovereignty disputes, some people use these ideas to compete with others or neighboring countries. And they deliberately make the conflict and confrontation so as to gain the interest from it. They fight against competitors, adopt two or more contradictory strategies, and then beautify or blur these events so as to obtain private interests. This is not a kind approach. From the perspective of Buddhism, this is an unwholesome deed. And this is the operating with the five poisonous thoughts. There will be resulting in a cycle of evil karma and retribution. From a psychological point of view, this is also the approach of the Dark Triad personalities.

These people do not have the concept and practice of Buddhism-Zen. Both of them want to create an illusion of being right, but in fact, both sides are creating conflict, confrontation and opposition. In the views of Buddhism, all of these things are doing the karma. There may be the good karma or the bad karma. But, anyway, these kinds of things would make the human beings suffer, and waste and consume their time, energy, fortune and life. 

A third-party manipulator manipulates bilateral ideological conflicts and contradictions and then profit from them.

The scheming, cunning and smart people deliberately cultivate authoritarian regimes or authoritarian political parties in the economy and trade. The privileged classes in these countries monopolize all the economic resources and interests of the country, harvest all the economic fruits of the people, and use them as their own. They think it is the safest way to move the huge wealth they have obtained to foreign countries.

 

The wealth these privileged classes plundered from innocent people, and all these illegal gains are placed in foreign banks. Do you think there are some foreigners who don’t want to covet this huge wealth? When these foreigners want to covet and harvest this huge wealth, what means will they use? At this time, there will be trick and skillful manipulation and the illusion room so as to set up an issue and a trap for conflict between two opposing parties. This is a means to let authoritarian dictators jump into the trap and thus start a war to harm weaker countries. And then the scheming people manipulate, use and sacrifice weak countries to fight. Finally, those who are greedy to interests are waiting to harvest the huge wealth and earn the money from the war.

 

The scheming, cunning and intelligent people hold up the banner of justice to punish these invaders, and at the same time freeze and harvest the huge wealth of these invaders and those of the privileged class. Therefore, whether it is a country with a dictatorial regime that launches a war, or a weak country that is in the process of self-defense and defending its country, both parties are manipulated by a third party and fall into the trap of war. Both parties become loser. The winner who actually makes a profit later is actually a third-party manipulator.

 

From the perspective of Buddhist causality, these third-party manipulators and gainers will eventually have their retribution. This is because bad causes, bad karma, and bad consequences will eventually lead to a vicious cycle. That is, some victims will be unwilling to be treated like this and they further create mentalities of revenge to take action. And this third-party manipulation method will eventually be seen through and despised by the world. If a country or individual is such a third-party manipulator, how can they properly educate their citizens or children about what true integrity and justice are? I'm quite skeptical about this.

 

Any conflict and confrontation can be reconciled and resolved with knowledge, reason, empathy and wisdom. In a modern information-rich society, there is really no need to use violence and force to solve problems.

Some media report that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are possible to become one of the most dangerous war zones and may trigger World War III. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait had ever been war-torn places, and U.S. National Defense Authorization Act at the end of the year 2023 also targets Taiwan. Some media articles said that the United States wants Taiwan to fight a proxy war. Throughout Taiwan's history, Taiwan's permanent residents have never taken the initiative to launch wars to attack others. No matter which side you stand and who you are, maintain inner peace and don't be tempted to fight or hurt others. In the views of Buddhism, the law of cause and effect is similar to the reverse zero sum game what you hurt others and thus owe others must be repaid one day. That is, do not hurt others by any means, otherwise, you will have to pay it back.

Recently, I have seen media reports about wars and the displacement of refugees. Many children and minors have fled with their parents. They are either receiving education in other places to adapt to the new environment, or they are completely unable to receive education in other places. There are many women and children hurt and killed ruthlessly by the missiles. The assets they had worked so hard to build were destroyed. They are also unable to find a good job to maintain their livelihood. How innocent these millions of people are to suffer this. If we have empathy, we absolutely don't want to see them living a miserable life like this. We humans have brains, kindness, wisdom, and empathy. Any conflict and confrontation can be reconciled and resolved with knowledge, reason, empathy and wisdom. In a modern information-rich society, there is really no need to use violence and force to solve problems.

 

Taiwan is currently a society of refugees and immigrants and aboriginal people living in harmony. I remember that it is a society of supplies being scarce after war, when I was a child. When there was a happy event in my family, such as wedding of son, my grandmother would give glutinous rice balls to the neighbors to share the happiness for everyone. And the leftovers from the table of wedding would be distributed to the neighbors. When a daughter got married in our family, we would give our neighbors wedding cakes. When a daughter-in-law gave birth to a son, we would give oily rice and hard-boiled eggs to the neighbors to share the happiness for everyone. Then, our neighbors would do the similar things to share with us when there are happiness things happened in their family. That is why we live in harmony with neighbors. When I grow up, I know that such things do not happen in the community of Taipei. It only happens in the office. 

We just share joy with each other and live in harmony with our neighbors. We have no intention of exchanging interests. From these experiences of getting along well and friendly, it is feasible for us to amplify it to the international community. It is a pity that the international community has too many strategies and calculations for self-interests. This will bring about more conflicts and disputes, which is not a blessing to the people of the international community.

 

I encourage the women with the kindness and generous to participate in the politics. Their experience, sympathetic and good wise will make the world more peaceful.

 

When men support their families and work outside the home, in order to earn profits, they may tend to use unfair methods, and to betrayal their good heart and violate their own good conscience. Male are less sympathetic to human beings, and are less of the feeling of suffering in physical and life. Male are more the mindset of winning, invasion and fighting to human beings. This mindset would make them want to control everything, including power, wealth, wife and children. Under this circumstance, If they stubbornly and stupidly obsessed on these things and strongly desire to protect his personal power, wealth and their family members and desire to benefit themselves, and when they want to be kind and generous for his family members, they might be neither protect nor benefit others and not be responsible for others, meanwhile they might be neither be kind nor be generous to others. That is, they might be kind to the self and their family members, however they might be ruthless, even to be brute, for the public in the society and the country. 

 

Women go through the process of pregnancy and the physical pain of giving birth, and they are also responsible for taking care of and raising children.  They will pay more attention to ethics so as to avoid teaching their children bad things and ruining their lives. Moreover, women experienced the pain of physical, which would make them own the empathy and sympathy for all beings. Therefore, if the good wise women with the empathy and sympathy are able to participate in the social and politic issues and to be the leaders, it is the blessings of all beings. I encourage the good and wise women with the kindness and generous to participate in the social activity and politics. Their experience, sympathetic and good wise will make the world more peaceful.

 

Conclusion

To realize the Zen of Buddhism does not mean that there is no line between you and others. The invisible line is still there. It would protect ourselves not to be harmed by any poisonous minds. But, we understand that they are the persons without brightness in their minds. And we do not need to be affected by their manipulation and we do not need to fall down the traps to fight against them. 

Meanwhile, we do not need to regard them as enemies. We understand that the hatred mind would damage our mental health. Anything can be resolved by using the approach of reconciliation. It is not necessary to use the force and violence to resolve any problem. 

Some people hate others and say that they want to eliminate race what they hate. This is really a stupid idea. When we learn Buddha, we would know that what should be eliminated is the poisonous minds in ourselves and in others. But, we know that it is not easy to change others. Therefore, the better way is to change ourselves. That is to learn Buddha and to practice the teachings of Buddha so as to eliminate the poisonous minds of the self. 

The poisonous minds include the greedy, hatred, stupid addiction or obsession or infatuation, and the arrogant and the suspicious. This is the cause of any evil. Angry or hate -- anger, hatred or resentment-- are a negative psychological state. Having this kind of negative mental state usually consumes your own energy, and at the same time, it also consumes the energy of others. That is, it harms oneself and it will also harm others.

  

What we can do and it is better for us is to realize the cause and effect in Buddhism and using our knowledge, compassion and wisdom to lead and guide the people with the poisonous minds to abandon the cause of the evil and any evil deeds, and then to generate and obey the good cause and do the good deeds so as to be good persons. And we thus are able to create the harmonious and peaceful world hand by hand. That is, peaceful mind would make the world better.  

In the rest of our life, it would be good for us to do something with meaningfulness according to our individual common sense, professional knowledge, experience of life, good and positive wise, sympathy and empathy, meanwhile, to be kindness to help others. That is also cultivating the self and practicing the teachings of Buddha. That is also to plant the seed of virtue in our farm of blessing and it would accumulate the blessing and finally generate the flower and fruition of virtue, merit and good blessing.

I wish that through our understanding of Zen of Buddhism, analysis and understanding of the differences between male and female characteristics, and from a psychological perspective, we can have a better understanding of the international community. And we are able to handle international relations in a friendly and peaceful manner. It is not only to make us to be a good person but also to make the world more peaceful and better. Meanwhile, I wish the current war  would be ceased as soon as possible, and all human beings would be safe and keep peace in mind.