The Basic Knowledge of learning Buddha (updated on 2019/07/02)

Author: Tao Qing Hsu

1.     What is the difference between a Buddha and a Bodhisattva?

When someone has totally enlightened, liberated from the suffering by the highly wisdom, and known all truth, meanwhile, has no fear in heart any more, and can also use its great power of kindness and empathy to save all sentient beings, and thus let them liberate from the suffering in life and death, we call such person “Buddha” for honor it. In Chinese language, we call it “Fo”, which is transliterated from Chinese word and its original language is also from Sanskrit.

When someone follows the path of Buddha, however, it has not yet completely enlightened, and still has some obstacles in heart about nuisance and what as known, even though this, it can use its power of kindness and empathy to save  sentient beings, we call such person “Bodhisattva” for honor it. In Chinese language, we call it “Pusa”, which is also transliterated from Chinese word and its original language is from Sanskrit.

There are two kinds of Bodhisattva. One is Buddhist monk or nun. The other is neither Buddhist monk nor Buddhist nun. Some translators use the word” layperson” to call the non-monk and non-nun who learn Buddha, but, I do not use this word. I prefer to use the word” residence-scholar, house-scholar or living-scholar” which mean the person who learns Buddha well in family. They are not leaving the family to learn Buddha. Meanwhile, comparing to the Buddhist monk or nun, they own more difficulty to learn Buddha. In Buddhist Scripture, the Bodhisattva of house-scholar is also called virtuous scholar. That is mentioned from The Sutra of an Upasaka’s Precepts.

“Fo” and “Pusa” are easier to recite and remember. These two words would also be used in this website of Buddha’s teaching.

2.     What is the teaching of Buddha?

      In a word, it is as follows:

      Not to do all evil things,

      But to do all virtue things,

      And to purify our own mind by self,

      This is all teachings of Buddha.

3.     What is the Buddha’s nature?

Buddha’s nature exists in everyone and all sentient beings. ”Tathagata” is another word with the same meaning as “Buddha”. In Chinese, “Tathagata” is translated to be “Rulai” which is transliterated from Chinese words. It means that it neither comes from where nor go to any where. It comes as it is.

All sentient beings have the virtue of “Rulai (Tathagata)” wisdom, however, why which can not be attained, because any illusion, obsession, persistence in absurd thought, and stubborn mind are in their heart. If they can abandon it, all wisdom and natural wisdom will be appeared in heart immediately.

The above words are mentioned in the Buddhist Scripture. It means that all sentient beings have the Buddha’s nature.

4.     What is the Four Immeasurable hearts?

      The four immeasurable hearts are as follows:

      The heart of kindness (benevolence, mercy).

      The heart of sympathy (empathy, compassion).

      The heart of joy (great happiness and pleasure).

      The heart to abandon (give up; let it go, put it down. ).

It is important for us to think of the four immeasurable hearts, when we learn and practice the Buddha-law.

5.     What is the Three Treasures?

The Three Treasures are as follows:

(1)   The Buddha

(2)   The Buddha-law or the doctrine of Buddha

(3)   The person who has completely understood the Buddha-law, and has put it into practice or are practicing it. Such person mostly refers to the Buddhist monk or nun. In wide meaning, it also refers to the residence-scholar, house-scholar, or living-scholar as what I have mentioned.

6.     What is the meaning of “Na Mo” in Buddhism?

“Na Mo” is transliterated from the Sanskrit and is used in China and Taiwan since the ancient time. “Na Mo” means “return to” or “depend on ”. When we return to or depend on the three treasures in Buddhism as said, as if we have seek or found a refuge in life and death, and we could liberate from the suffering in life and death.

7.     Should I return to and depend on the three treasures in Buddhism?

The Buddha said:

For destroying all suffering, eliminating the distress, and perceiving the happiness of the supreme silence and extinction, that is why the people return to and depend on the three treasures.

The Buddha also said:

Returning to and depending on the three treasures is all immeasurable good Buddha-law, and is also the root of Bodhi wisdom.

8.     What is the law or doctrine of Buddha?

The all, including the material and spiritual world or things, is the law or doctrine of Buddha.

9.     What is the meaning of the “law door of Buddha”?

Let us image that, there is an invisible door, through which we can get into” the law or doctrine of Buddha”. That means, if we accept any “law door of Buddha”, we practice it. It also means the method with which we can get into the liberation. Furthermore, we can use the method to liberate others. There are many “law door of Buddha or Bodhisattva” with which it could liberate us and others. Each Buddha or Bodhisattva has its own name. For example, if someone has a name “happiness” and one day who are enlightened, then, it might be called “Buddha Happiness” or “Bodhisattva Happiness”. In generally speaking, the name of Buddha or Bodhisattva is more concern about its qualities or characters.

And Such Buddha or Bodhisattva has created its special law door, such as law door of Buddha Happiness. If we follow and practice the law door of Buddha Happiness, which also means we return to and depend on such Buddha, we might gradually liberate us from the suffering and attain the happiness and bliss.

10.  What is the ”law door of reciting and repeating a name of Buddha ”?

By reciting and repeating a name of Buddha could concentrate our thought and mind so that it could also help us to eliminate our bad thought and any illusion appeared in our mind. Meanwhile, we could connect with Buddha’s vows to obtain the protection by reciting and repeating their names with the title of Buddha or Bodhisattva.

When we call its name, it is as if we call someone’s name. It would come to see us and try to understand what we need and what it can help us. It is like a servant. But, in fact, it is a god, a virtuous Spirit. So, it is better for us to respect it, as if we should respect the servant. In fact, the relationship between a god, a Buddha, a Bodhisattva and us are equal. Why? In the body of Emptiness, all is equal. 

11.  What is the “Zen” in Buddhism?

It is one person at the great ease and the most comfort.

12.  What is the discipline of Buddhism?

In a brief, for the Buddhist non-monk or non-nun, it just needs to follow the five disciplines of Buddhism as below:

Not to kill others and oneself.

Not to steal.

Not to have sex in improperly ways. That is, do not harm yourself and not harm others, and be to respect to each other.

Not to lie.

Not to take alcohol or illegal drug.

13.  What is the law of cause and result in Buddhism?

In a brief, one thought is one cause which will result in any action, and finally arise in any consequence. Therefor, in learning Buddha, it especially stresses that the first thought should dwell on a right positive thought for all sentient beings, because a good thought will result in a good action, and a good effect will be arisen in the end. Furthermore, any thought is like a monkey which jumps up and down, here and there. It means that any thought is unstable at any time. So, how to keep the thought in a stable sate in mind is also very important in learning Buddha, because it is also a cause which should be protected and not to be affected by any bad conditions from outside. Therefore, there is a word which said that: “The general people fears the outcome, however, the Bodhisattva fears any cause.”

14.  What are the six methods of liberation to attain to Buddhahood?

       In a brief, the six methods are as follows:

  Give all sentient beings the material things, wisdom or fearlessness.

       Put the discipline of Buddhism into practice.

       Endure any humiliation.

       Specialize in learning Buddha and improve it day by day.

       Meditate in Zen and keep stable in mind.

       Grow our wisdom.

15.  What is the pure land in the teaching of Buddha?

In a brief, when we have purified our heart, we have created our own pure land in heart at the same time.

16.  What is the advantage in learning Buddha?

It benefits us and other people. It grows our wisdom, liberates us from suffering in life and death, and lets us have a peaceful and good life.

17.  What is the Bodhi heart?

Bodhi is transliterated from Sanskrit, and has the immeasurable meanings.

In a brief, it means the four immeasurable hearts as mentioned. Mostly, it means Buddhahood.

If we want to pursue the teaching of Buddha, we have to cultivate the Bodhi heart in the beginning.

In generally speaking, the Bodhi heart is a motivation to help all sentient beings to be free from all suffering.

18.  Should I bow to the sculpture of Buddha or Bodhisattva?

In Asia, bowing to the sculpture of Buddha is for training our heart to be humble and respect to others. Because respecting others is to respect ourselves. However, most general people do not understand the true meaning. If you understand this meaning, it is not necessary for you to bow to the sculpture of Buddha. But, if you want to use this method to train you to be humble, it is up to you. When profoundly thinking about it and practicing it, every one might be the “sculpture of Buddha or Bodhisattva. That is, every one is Buddha or Bodhisattva in our heart. At that time, you could really get rid of the bondage in form, and respect others sincerely.

19.  Should I be a vegetarian if learned Buddha?

No. It is not necessary to be a vegetarian. To be a vegetarian is not concern about compassion. However, to eat more vegetables will be good for our health and good for the earth.

20.  Should I learn Buddha?

The sixth founder of Zen in China, master Hui Neng, had said that:

Buddha-law is in the world,

and would not depart from the worldly feeling.

Leaving the world to look for the Bodhi (supreme wisdom)

as if demanding for the rabbits horns. (The rabbit has no horns, which also means it is impossible. )

In a brief, it means that the worldly nuisances and troubles are Bodhi. Why? How could it be possible? To learn Buddha is to expect us become Buddha some day. For the modern people, it is more convenience to learn Buddha by the modern technology, which would help us easier to understand the law or the doctrine of Buddha. To follow the path of Buddha, it is not necessary to leave the group of the world, or to be a Buddhist monk or Buddhist nun. That is, we do not need to leave our family or our country for learning Buddha. We can learn Buddha in our worldly life. The most important is to follow a good and positive teacher. It is impossible to attain Buddhahood without a teacher.  It means that to be Buddhahood needs a master. Whether to follow the good thing and whether to have a positive choice that is up to you.

21.  What should I do if I achieved Buddhahood someday?

If that day comes, you will know what you should do.

22.  Is a Buddha an almighty person?

No. It is not. It could not save two kinds of people to let them be free from the suffering. That is, one kind of people is those who have no opportunity to know or to encounter a Buddha. The other kind of people is those who do not believe the teaching of Buddha.

The further and deep teaching of Buddha will be in the course.

We welcome you to learn Buddha with us in the entity course or in the website.