Chapter 14: Ask about the goodness and grandest

(Chapter 14 ) A Brief Talk about The Scripture of Forty-Two Chapters Said by Buddha

Co-translators in the time of Eastern Han Dynasty, China(A.D. 25 - 200) : Kasyapa Matanga and Zhu Falan (Who translated the said Scripture from Sanskrit into Chinese. )

Translator in modern time (A.D.2018: Tao Qing Hsu (Who translated the said Scripture from Chinese into English.)

Teacher and writer for explaining the said Scripture: Tao Qing Hsu 

Chapter 14: Ask about the goodness and grandest  

 

A Sramana asked the Buddha: ” What is the goodness? What is the grandest?” The Buddha replied,” Putting the Dao into the practice and obeying the truth is the goodness. Combining the aspiration and Dao is the grandest.”

The meaning of the goodness and the grandest in different belief might have the different explanation. Whether it is reasonable or acceptable or not, it is dependent on our own mind. No matter what it is, be sure that we would not be kidnapped by any concept, even the concept of Buddha.  

In the concept of Buddha, he said that putting the Dao into the practice and obeying the truth is the goodness. And combing the aspiration and Dao is the grandest.

Then, we might have the further questions. What is the Dao and what is the truth? This is the question in the question. Does it confuse you?

As we have explained about what is the meaning of the Dao before, “Dao” is “Tao” which is transliterated from Chinese character and its original meaning is path, road or way. Then, its meaning is broadened to be any education system or theory, or any teaching of any beliefs.  

In Buddhism, we could classify the Dao as three meanings or explanations which are from narrow to wide.

The first meaning or explanation for the Dao

The first meaning or explanation for the Dao is defined by Buddha Sakyamuni in Chapter 2, which is as follows:

Chapter 2: Cutting off the desire and no demanding

The Buddha said, “Those who go out of the family, become the Sramana, cut off the desire, remove the love, recognize the source of their own heart, reach the profound principle of the Buddha, realize the law of no-doing, have nothing being gained inside, have nothing being demanded outside, not to fasten the Dao in heart, nor to collect the karma, have no thoughts, have the no-doing, are non-practicing, are non-proving, not to experience the successive levels, but reach the own loftiest state of all, are called the Dao.”

The more explanation which you can refer to Chapter 2: Cutting off the desire and no demanding.

The Dao in Chapter 2 is original for the Buddhist monk or nun and its function of the Dao is for self-practicing, self-improving and self-acting. Even though we are not Buddhist monk or nun, it doesn’t mean that we cannot accept such Dao taught by Buddha. 

If we could put such Dao into the practice and obey or maintain the truth, it is the goodness. And if we combine our aspiration and such Dao, it is the grandest.

What is the truth? You can refer to Let heart in peace, no fear and affliction any more (Updated on 2019/07/11). In different level and in the different stand, there are different explanations for the truth. Therefore, be sure not to be hindered by any explanation or concept of truth, even the concept of emptiness.

Such Dao is not easy to be understood, let alone to be self-practicing. So the Buddha had ever said that the sentient beings on the earth are not easy to be taught, because they have the more evil karma and the less bliss. In other word, the most of the sentient beings on the earth are lack of compassion, empathy and wisdom. In the history, there are a lot of wars and oppression occurred by the human beings. That is also why the most of human beings are in the terrible life and in the suffering.

Only when people could completely understand and practice the Dao in Chapter 2 as defined, they therefore could understand and practice the following meaning of Dao.

What is the aspiration? In Buddhism, the aspiration is to attain the Buddhahood, to become Buddha.

The second meaning or explanation for the Dao - the Dao of Bodhisattva

The second meaning or explanation for the Dao is the Dao of Bodhisattva, which is also meant to the path of Bodhisattva.

What is the meaning of Bodhisattva?

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 strength of kindness and empathy to save  sentient beings to liberate from suffering. We call such person “Bodhisattva” for honor it. In Chinese language, we call it “Pusa” or “Busa”, which is transliterated from Chinese word and its original language is also from Sanskrit.

So, what is the Dao of Bodhisattva? It means that a person who really puts the Dao as said in Chapter 2 into the practice. And on the basis of such Dao as said in Chapter 2, it has compassionate vows and sublime aspiration so as to help and save people or sentient beings to liberate from suffering. Even though the person has almost completely removed its personal bad habit, such as greedy, hatred, resentment, stupid-obsession, and doubt, however, some of the remaining bad habits are still there, have not yet completely gone, and which thus could cause minor troubles and obstacles for him or her. 

Going on the path of Bodhisattva is not only meant to the Buddhist monk or nun, but also meant to the person who learns Buddha and not leave the family. 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 indicates that those persons learn Buddha well in family. They are not leaving the family to learn Buddha. Meanwhile, comparing to Buddhist monk or nun, they own more difficulty to learn Buddha. In Buddhist Scripture, the Bodhisattva of house-scholar (residence-scholar, living-scholar) is also called virtuous scholar. That is mentioned from The Sutra of Upasaka’s Precepts.

In a word, Bodhisattva has not only been liberating and enlightening in its own heart , but also has the compassionate strength to enlighten human beings and save sentient beings to liberate from suffering.

Therefore, if we could put such Dao into the practice and obey or maintain the truth, it is also the goodness. And if we combine our aspiration and such Dao, it is also the grandest.

In Buddhist scripture, the Buddha Sakyamuni had mentioned a lot of Bodhisattva. Each Bodhisattva has its own name and they are recognized as some kind of god or spirit, because they have the wonderful and spiritual power. Secondly, Bodhisattva is not the patent on the earth. There are thousand and thousand worlds in the universe and in the different dimensional spaces. Except for the earth, there is also a lot of Bodhisattva in such worlds which we don’t know. In other word, there is Bodhisattva in the alien.

Bodhisattva would use diverse methods or concept or speech to help or save human beings. In the concept of Buddhism, as long as the person who practices and talks about the concept of the Dao as mentioned above, it is recognized as Bodhisattva, whatever its belief or its name is called.     

The third meaning or explanation for the Dao - the Dao of Buddha

The third meaning or explanation for the Dao is the Dao of Buddha, which is also meant to the path of Buddha.

What is the meaning of Buddha?

When someone has totally enlightened, liberated from the suffering through the highly wisdom, and known all truth, meanwhile, has no longer fear and obstacle in heart, 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” or “Fu”, which is transliterated from Chinese word and its original language is also from Sanskrit.

Therefore, if one person completely attain the Buddhahood and become a Buddha, he or her will be in the Dao of Buddha, the path of Buddha. That also means that he or her has completely get rid of the Six-Paths Reincarnation.  

If we become Buddha and we have really been acting in such Dao and obey or maintain the truth, it is the goodness. And we combine our aspiration and such Dao, it is the grandest.

To become Buddha and act in the path of Buddha is the goal which we want to achieve, if our aspiration is to learn Buddha.

In the Buddha’s teaching, there are the shallow meaning and the deep meaning, and the narrow meaning and the wide meaning. Therefore, don’t be hindered by any one of the meanings taught by Buddha. Whatever it is, as long as it can let us accept it and put it into the practice in our daily life, it is the goodness and grandest for us.

Supplementary note: Dao is transliterated from Chinese, meaning way and method, deeper meaning as a system of learning or religion. Dao is Tao, which is transliterated from Chinese. The original meaning of Dao is the way and path, and it is extended to be the truth of life that we can learn and practice in our lives.

Tolerate one, turn it into a thousand peace. Step back, increase the hundred blessings.

Author: Tao Qing Hsu

  

Zhang Ying was a native of Tongcheng in the Qing Dynasty of China. He was an official and diligent, and he was open-minded.

When Zhang Ying was an official in Beijing, his family and neighbors each renovated their homes. When building the walls, because the boundaries were unclear, the two sides believed that the other party occupied their own land and did not retreat from each other, so they often quarreled for each other.

Finally, the other party brought the matter to the court. Therefore, Zhang Ying’s family wrote a letter to Zhang Ying for help. After receiving the letter, Zhang Ying immediately responded with a short poem. The content of the poem is:

To send a letter in thousands of miles  is only for a wall,

What is the obstacle to retreat three feet?

The Great Wall is still here,

And I don’t see the first emperor Qin.

After receiving a reply, Zhang Ying’s family immediately took the initiative to give up three feet of land. The neighbors saw the behavior of the other party and automatically gave up three feet of land. Thus, between the two, a six-foot-wide pedestrian lane was formed.

Because of Zhang Ying’s open-mindedness, he not only resolved war as peace, but also achieved a long-standing story. When the general people passed the six-foot lane, they praised the virtues of both parties.

Travel in Taiwan-Woodcarving Art, Shuimei Carving Street, Sanyi Township, Miaoli, Taiwan

Author: Tao Qing Hsu

Because of learning Buddha, I also pay attention to the Buddha image. I found some statues of Buddha statues in the Temple in Taiwan, which looked quite unnatural. However, some Buddha statues are solemn and kind, with natural movements and like living people. So let me have a kind of appreciation for the art of Buddha sculpture.

When I learned that there was a woodcarving street in Sanyi Township, Miaoli, Taiwan, I was curious and went to find out. I took the section train on the mountain line and got off at Sanyi Railway Station. After that, I went to Zhongzheng Road and turned left. Then I went straight to Shuimei Carving Street. The Shuimei Carving Street Business Circle was selected as the most outstanding business district in 2019. Since I like to roam on foot, such distance is still in the range where my physical strength can be loaded. If you feel that the distance is too far, there is a motorcycle or bicycle rental service available near the Sanyi Railway Station.

I visited three stores of them, and the boss and the clerk made some introductions to me, so that I have some concepts about woodcarving. Simply put, it is the material, the natural shape of the wood, the creative idea, and the engraving technique.

Since Taiwan is a place where Buddhism and Taoism prevail, it is still a type of creation in which the statue of Buddha is the majority. The Buddha statues carved here are beautiful, elegant and natural. Let me naturally feel the compassionate and elegant life of Buddha and Bodhisattva. For foreigners, if they have not been exposed to Buddhism, they may not understand the meaning and beauty of them.

We believe in Buddhism, and in addition to wishing to learn the Buddha's compassion and freedom in the soul; in life, we certainly hope for peace and happiness. Therefore, there are many similar creations in creative ideas, especially in terms of wealth. For example, the Maitreya Buddha, who laughs and laughs, holds the wishfulness in one hand and the gold ingot in the other, representing the meaning of wealth; the lotus has the meaning of fullness of money. The art of carving in Taiwan has its symbolic meaning. It is very interesting.

In terms of materials, Taiwan's high mountains of cypress, yew and stout camphor tree are used. On imported materials, ebony and rosewood are used, which are not cheap wood. Some are even classified as national treasures and are prohibited from logging. So, next time you see any trees, don't think they are useless and cut them to burn.

In Taiwan, every time a strong typhoon transits, there are insiders who ran to the estuary or the seaside to drift wood, because many of them are high-grade wood washed from the mountains by the wind and rain. The shape of these woods is quite natural, so the creators will follow these natural shapes to create their own creations, and become unique works that are collectible.

Of course, a perfect piece of work, of course, can not lack the skills of the engraver. However, I am a layman, I can't see the difference between them.

One of the clerk told me that many of their works are unique creations, so they will not be placed on the Internet. This is to avoid people imitating carving. I think this is very reasonable. These unique creations are usually accompanied by a certificate with the name, creator, material, and size. In order to respect the store and the creators, I did not take pictures. If you are interested in wood carving art, when you travel to Taiwan, don't forget to go and see!

Chapter 13: Ask about the Dao and destiny

(Chapter 13 ) A Brief Talk about The Scripture of Forty-Two Chapters Said by Buddha

Co-translators in the time of Eastern Han Dynasty, China(A.D. 25 - 200) : Kasyapa Matanga and Zhu Falan (Who translated the said Scripture from Sanskrit into Chinese. )

Translator in modern time (A.D.2018: Tao Qing Hsu (Who translated the said Scripture from Chinese into English.)

Teacher and writer for explaining the said Scripture: Tao Qing Hsu 

Chapter 13: Ask about the Dao and destiny  

   

A Sramana asked the Buddha: ”By what cause and condition could we know our destiny and understand it to reach the Dao?” The Buddha replied,” Purifying our own heart and obeying our own aspiration could understand and reach the Dao, such as grinding the mirror, the dirt is removed and the shine is kept; cutting off the desire and no demanding, we would surely gain the destiny.   

Sramana (श्रमण śramaṇa) is in Sanskrit. In Buddhism, Sramana means the Buddhist monk. The Sramana who asks the question has not yet reach the Dao and has not yet attained the Buddhahood. He is like the general people and eager to know his destiny.

Since ancient times, fortune telling has been around the world. Moreover, the method of fortune-telling is also diverse, and the question what has been cared is also very different. If we are not Sramana, how could it be possible for us to care about his question? But, I hope you know that his question and the reply of Buddha are really concerned about our destiny.

Everyone’s destiny is different with each other. Don't worry others destiny is not corresponding to our expectation. That is because everyone has its own life which must be experienced, no matter it is good or bad.

I have followed my interesting and have research the relatives' destiny for a while. I have found that everyone’s destiny is different. What is your destiny may be not what you have thought. What you expect someone’s destiny may be not what you expect.

Finally, I have an experience. Do not impose your dream, need and expectation on those who have their own dream and have their destiny, because your dream is not someone else’s dream. Your destiny is not the fate of others. As long as someone else does not do any harmful things to itself and others, just do not care or worry about someone else's destiny.

For example, someone’s mind just hopes its spouse to be a medical doctor so that they could have a steady and wealthy life. But, how do you know that your spouse would create a company and become a boss who owns the company valued more than 150 billion US dollars in the future.  

On the contrary, someone’s mind has a big dream and hopes its spouse to run a company so that they could earn a lot of money to raise their family. But, how could they know that there is no wealth in their destiny. And finally, they live a poverty life.

Please hold on our own dream if we think it is right to do, because our ideal destiny is waiting for us.

Similarly, what we want to do just follow our intuition and reasonable thinking, because we should be responsible for ourselves, and our dream and destiny is not someone else's dream and fate. So, please respect someone else’s dream, choice and its destiny. And please hold on our own dream if we think it is right to do, because our ideal destiny is waiting for us.

So, there is a Chinese saying, “It is hard to buy the earlier-knowing by thousand gold.” No matter what happened, we will go into our destiny.

No matter we are in the good or bad destiny, it is possible to change the destiny, from good to be bad, or from bad to be good.

If we are in the bad fate, we might have one question: can we change our destiny? The answer is yes. No matter we are in the good or bad destiny, it is possible to change the destiny, from good to be bad, or from bad to be good. Why? And How?

If the fortune-telling tells that we have a good destiny, we do not need to be happy too earlier. Because if we do not have an effort and do the good things in our life, how could it be possible for us to have a good destiny?

On the contrary, if the fortune-telling tells that our destiny may not be as good as we wish, we do not need to be upset every day. As long as we do the good things, especially the virtue things, such as to learn Buddha, the bad destiny absolutely would be changed by our effort in doing good things.

In Buddhism, the destiny is similar to consequences of some kind of retribution that someone would have to bear or enjoy.

In Buddhism, the destiny is similar to consequences of some kind of retribution that someone would have to bear or enjoy. That is because what have been done in its past life and which is as the reason. We call it karma, the strength of conduct and action. In the past life, if we had ever done the good karma, the strength of good conduct and action, we would have the good consequences of retribution to enjoy in the present life or in the future.

On the contrary, in the past life, if we had ever done the evil karma, the strength of evil conduct and action, we would have to bear the evil consequences of retribution in the present life and in the future life. We call it the fixed karma. So, in Buddha’s teaching, there are a lot of convenient methods to eliminate our fixed karma. Only completely eliminating our evil karma, it is possible for us to have the bliss in our future life. 

Most people have the good karma and evil karma at the same time. Only few people have the merely good karma or the exclusively bad karma. In Buddhism, whatever what we have done is good or evil would be recorded by our own Spirit-conscious. After we died and are in the different world, we would be judged by the king of hell who is some kind of god and actually it is Bodhisattva.

How could we be sure to know about our destiny? The reply of Buddha could give us a good suggestion and offer us a good reference.

We also have one question. Does what the fortune-telling tells is true? Not necessarily to be true. Mostly, we may be in the half belief and in the half doubt. So, how could we be sure to know about our destiny? The reply of Buddha could give us a good suggestion and offer us a good reference.

The Sramana wanted to learn Buddha. He wanted to do the virtue things. But, he had the question about his destiny and how to understand the Dao and how to reach it. Do you know? It is not everyone to have the chance and destiny to be a Sramana. If we have never done any good things in our past life, it is impossible for us to be Sramana.

Furthermore, if we had ever been a Sramana in our past life and we didn’t have vowed to be Sramana in our next life, it is impossible for us to be Sramana in this life.

Whether the chance and destiny is good or not, would be up to our one thought, what we have decided and what we have done. Good chance and good destiny would not be fall from the sky with no reason and with no condition.

Some of the Buddhist monks who practice the Buddhism well and have good karma would reincarnate to be king or to be son of rich man in their next life. That is called bliss of retribution or bliss-repaying, the result of good karma. Because they have good reason and good karma in their past life, so in the present life, they still have more chance and destiny to learn Buddha.

However, if they don’t seize the opportunity and destiny to keep learning Buddha, but indulge in the worldly enjoyment, it is possible for them to fall into and go into the three evil paths after their death. Actually, many of their current retribution are on the evil paths in the present life.

So, whether the chance and destiny is good or not, would be up to our one thought, what we have decided and what we have done. Good chance and good destiny would not be fall from the sky with no reason and with no condition. 

If we do not rely on the fortune-telling, how could we know our destiny? This question is quite similar to the question what the Sramana ask to the Buddha. What the difference is that the Sramana’s goal is to understand and reach the Dao, however, the goal of the general people is to understand and reach the worldly bliss.

The Dao has the great meaning for the Sramana. That is why one person wants to be Sramana, because he wants to reach the Dao through the practice in the Sramana's conduct, action, or thought. We might have one question. What is the Dao? In the Chapter 2, the Buddha had mentioned what is the Dao. It is as follows:

Chapter 2: Cutting off the desire and no demanding

The Buddha said, “Those who go out of the family, become the Sramana, cut off the desire, remove the love, recognize the source of their own heart, reach the profound principle of the Buddha, realize the law of no-doing, have nothing being gained inside, have nothing being demanded outside, not to fasten the Dao in heart, nor to collect the karma, have no thoughts, have the no-doing, are non-practicing, are non-proving, not to experience the successive levels, but reach the own loftiest state of all, are called the Dao.”

The further explanation you can refer to and link to the following: Chapter 2: Cutting off the desire and no demanding, if you have not yet read this article.

The above-mentioned realm of Dao is similar to the realm of Buddha. It is one part of the Dao of Buddha. But, it is not completely the same. The supreme Dao is the Dao of Buddha, the path of Buddha. Such supreme Dao is really the goal which we want to reach if we sincerely learn Buddha.

What is the difference between the Dao mentioned in Chapter 2 and the supreme Dao of Buddha? In a word, the Dao mentioned in Chapter 2 is only for self-saving and self-liberation. Such energy is just used for self-help. However, the supreme-Buddha Dao is on the basis of completely self-saving and self-liberation, and of the compassion and joy, so as to have the capability to save and liberate the sentient beings from the suffering. So, such energy is not just for self-help, but also could help others. 

As we have mentioned in Chapter 12 (20)《 (Chapter 12 ﹝20﹞ ) : Good at understanding the convenience is difficult.》, each Buddha has its own convenient methods to save and liberate the sentient beings from the suffering. Such methods are quite diverse and some of them are beyond our mind. It is very flexible and creative, even to be incredible. If you have ever met them, you might want to burst out, ”What a crazy man. ”

Everything what we have met has the good meaning for us, if we know how to learn something from it.

You might have one question. If we are not Sramana and we are not interesting in learning Buddha, what is the meaning of Dao for us? Actually, everything what we have met has the good meaning for us, if we know how to learn something from it.

The Buddha replied,” Purifying our own heart and obeying our own aspiration could understand and reach the Dao, such as grinding the mirror, the dirt is removed and the shine is kept; cutting off the desire and no demanding, we would surely gain the destiny.

In a word, what the Buddha said is to calm our mind and to let our heart be in the stillness and clearness. Don’t fall into the abyss of desire, because once we fall into the abyss of desire and are in the black hole, how could we climb up to the wide land, see the bright sun and keep going to our goal, so as to obey and complete our own aspiration?

The Sramana’s aspiration is self-saving and then to have the ability to save others. That is to attain the Buddhahood. And what is your aspiration?

Our heart is like the magic crystal ball or the magic mirror which could appear anything and prophet our future. 

If we have more desire, we would have more demands. Such greedy heart would let us make crime unconsciously. It would be like the dirt which would pollute our heart and cover the light of the heart. 

Our heart is like a mirror. We call it heart-mirror. Such heart-mirror would shine by itself. It is like the magic crystal ball or the magic mirror which could appear anything and prophet our future. It is not fairy tale, but is true.

“Magic mirror! Magic mirror! Tell me who is the most beautiful woman in the world?”

“Magic crystal ball! Magic crystal ball! Show me where is the gold-treasure to be hidden? ”

Ha! Ha! It is ok to ask our own heart-mirror.

Some people call it the third-eye which can see what cannot be seen by our naked eyes. That is also the self-nature in every one. The self-nature is also like the treasure-pearl which could obedient to our own wish. Such treasure-pearl could light our life and our future. It is so precious.

Our un-meaningful and endless desires and demands would not only disturb and poison our stillness-clearness heart, but also cover the light shined by the heart. Once the heart is like a mirror to be contaminated by thick dust, that is the endless desires and unnecessarily demanding, the shine of heart is disappeared. In the dark, how could we see anything from our own heart-mirror?

Stop greedy and have no unnecessarily demanding in inter and outer physical and mental body, our heart would be shine again and we could see anything concerning about us from our own heart-mirror. Then, we surely know our destiny by ourselves.

So what should be cut off are the un-meaningful and endless desires which could birth our greedy, let us do harmful things to others, and make us to be a sin person. To harm others is really to harm self. So to stop greedy and have no unnecessarily demanding in inter and outer physical and mental body, our heart would be shine again and we could see anything concerning about us from our own heart-mirror. Then, we surely know our destiny by ourselves.

For the Sramana, to cut off desires and no demands are very important practice in learning Buddha. It can't go into the sky by only one step. Our heart is so easy to be affected by any outer or inter reasons and conditions. So the heart is very easy to be moved (or shaken) and thus in the chaos. Once our heart is moved(or shaken), we cannot see and judge anything clearly. That is why to cut off desires and no demands is like to grind mirror which should be done in step by step.

To cut off desires and no demanding would be helpful for our life. Even though we are not a Sramana, we also have learned something from the Buddha’s teaching.

p.s. Dao is Tao, which is transliterated from Chinese. The original meaning of Dao is the way and it is extended to be the truth of life that we can learn and practice in our lives.

 

Supplementary note: Dao is transliterated from Chinese, meaning way and method, deeper meaning as a system of learning or religion.