Why is it that "I/the self, Buddha, and sentient beings are one"?

Author: Hsu,Tao Qing; Tao Qing Hsu

Regardless of whether they have intangible souls or consciousness, they can still communicate and interact with each other without any obstacles.

Sentient beings include those in the heavenly realm, animal realm, and ghost realm. A deeper and broader understanding is that all sentient beings possess a soul and consciousness; the difference lies only in whether they have a physical form. If they have no physical form, their individual souls and consciousnesses remain independent and distinct. If they have physical form, besides their independent souls and consciousnesses, their genes and chromosomes are also different, thus presenting differences in appearance and form. For example, humans, cats, and dogs. Why is it that "I/the self, Buddha, and sentient beings are one"? Because, with a deeper understanding of Buddhism, regardless of whether they have a physical soul or consciousness, they can still communicate and interact with each other without any obstacles. That is, it is an exchange of spiritual and mental consciousness. This is beyond our ordinary understanding and experience. I have briefly mentioned this above. If we do not respect each other's life and psychological boundaries, and if we do not maintain an appropriate distance in each other's lives and minds, it will cause serious interference and damage to each other's lives and mental well-being.

From a legal and rights perspective, respecting each other's personal and psychological boundaries is respecting the individual's right to autonomy and freedom.

From a legal and rights perspective, respecting each other's personal and psychological boundaries, and giving each other appropriate space in life and mind, is respecting the individual's right to autonomy and freedom. In the real physical world, this is protected by legal norms such as territorial sovereignty, homeland sovereignty, and individual sovereignty. For example, imagine if some invisible spirit or consciousness tried to "chat" with us for three to five days, or even every day—wouldn't we find it annoying? Of course we would. Similarly, if a country's warplanes or coast guard ships circled and interfered with our territory for three to five days, or even every day, wouldn't we find it annoying? Of course we would. These intangible spirits and consciousnesses that disrespect themselves and others will ultimately suffer the consequences. And karmic retribution usually comes particularly quickly.

Therefore, we understand that most people in the world lack the Buddhist concept of emptiness and the equality of self and all sentient beings. In their minds, they may be misled by manipulators into believing that "ethnic unity/national unity" is a righteous act, a correct path. Consequently, they may echo the manipulators, using the righteous slogans and actions of "ethnic unity/national unity" to attack and harm others. If we possess this understanding and are wise, we will know how to counter this selfish and harmful tactic.

Buddhism does not emphasize ethnic unity. Why?

Author: Hsu,Tao Qing; Tao Qing Hsu

If we have a deep understanding of Buddhism, such as the Buddha's teaching above, "I/the self, Buddha, and all sentient beings are one," we can understand why Buddhism does not advocate ethnic unity. Why? Since in the emptiness and equality of all things, I/the self, Buddha, and all sentient beings are one, there is no duality, and therefore no need for ethnic unity. If we think carefully, the so-called "ethnic unity" is essentially opposition, exclusion, and confrontation with other ethnic groups, and may even go further, to struggle and fight against those who do not agree with its ethnic unity. That is, inciting a mindset and behavior of antagonistic opposition and confrontation rooted in hatred. A single thought gives rise to evil. This is the karmic consequence of unwholesome causes and conditions. This situation often occurs when those with this mindset or who establish this concept, including groups and organizations, are built on inequality and disrespect between people, yet they seek to use "ethnic unity" to achieve their own selfish goals. This shows that this group lacks equality and respect for all sentient beings. In Buddhism, this does not align with the Buddha's teachings, such as the equality of all sentient beings. In the Buddhist concept of emptiness and equality, sentient beings are defined without distinction of race, skin color, religion, belief, or whether they are human or extraterrestrial. In other words, any sentient being arising from the convergence of various causes and conditions is called a sentient being. For example, cats and dogs in the animal kingdom are also sentient beings.

One of the Ten Titles about Buddha—Truly-All-Over-The-Knowing

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu

 

The True Meaning of the Word Truly, Correct and Right in Buddhism

 

One of the Ten Titles about Buddha in Sanskrit is Samyaksaṃbuddho, which is translated by me as Truly-All-Over-The-Knowing, Truly-Equality-Enlightenment, Truly-Equality-and-Truly-Enlightenment. The word Truly is able to be replaced by the word Right. It means that when the sentient beings really realize the essence of the self-nature – the emptiness and silence, and the clearly clean and equality under this status. Only this, they are truly enlightened and truly realize the self-nature—the absolutely emptiness and without Binary Opposition. It is the true wisdom and the true knowing. Under the circumstance, only it is able to be understood as correct and right. That is because it is impossible to have the space to explain it with any distorted reasons. That is, it is the undistorted and un-doubt truth, and it can’t be debated, so it is correct and right. It is the importantly core notion in Buddhism. 

 

 

How to Verify the True Wisdom and the True Knowing in Buddhism

 

However, regarding the truth as mentioned, you might have one question how to know and verify it. According to my personal experiences, there are three ways that we could know and verify it. Firstly, we actually hear, think and practice it what the ways taught by the Buddha. Secondly, we observe those public and honesty Buddhist Masters from the ancient time to the modern time what the thought, deed, teaching and preaching they have done. Thirdly, we deeply read the Buddhist scripture with the single minded so as to actually realize the meaning taught by the Buddha as a reference, basis and further proving. If you finally find any common things and any common truths from these three points, and you are also inspired by it, it is worth for you to verify them furthermore. That is to rely on the true meaning, true laws and true wisdom which are taught by the Buddha and are realized and practice and proved by you, but not to rely on any persons and any expressions. 

 

 

When we truly understand the truth taught by the Buddha, it is not easy for us to be misguided, used and manipulated by any evil and scheming people.

 

It is very important to understand this. That is because there is always someone to explain the Buddhism with the view and phenomenon of Binary Opposition, distorted and wrong concepts. That is, someone do it by this way because of the self-interest. When we truly understand the truth taught by the Buddha, it is not easy for us to be misguided, used and manipulated by any evil and scheming people. Even though, the wisdom of the truth as said is originally existed in everyone’s heart. However, there are always the toxic people with the greedy, hatred and ignorantly obsessed mind, who have not yet been enlightened in their clean self-nature, and always control the world, and blindly use, manipulate and hurt the humans with the heart of darkness. When we realize these things, it is not for us to against these people, but we think how we can enlighten them so as to make them be good persons and return their missions to the right way and follow the teaching by the Buddha. 

 

 

Why It Is Equality in the Self-Nature.

 

Why it is equality in the self-nature. In the emptiness and silence, there is no cause, condition and effect. That is, there is no phenomenon and there is nothing which is able to be competed and compared. Therefore, there is no grade. Under this circumstance, it is the truly equality. Such truly equality is existed in everyone’s self-nature. However, the unenlightened sentient beings couldn’t see it. Only the enlightened beings can see it.

 

 

Does It Make Any Sense for Us To Know the Equality in the Self-Nature?

 

Then, we might have the further question. Does it make any sense for us to know it? We thus understand that a lot of inequality and any seemed equality and any thus harm are the outcome through the manipulation of humans. That is, there is existed the cause, condition and effect. And the basic and major cause is any personally greedy desire or any individually loving desire. These humans may be yourself, your family members, your relatives, your boss, or your officials in your country. It is also possible to be the strangers or famous persons who have the authority to affect any things of the world, and these kinds of persons exist in the ancient and the modern time, and also exist in the domestic and foreign countries.

 

 

How we can use our wisdom and knowledge to destroy our worries and affliction. This is the meaning and why we learn the Buddhism.

 

Therefore, it could be possible for us to further thinking that how we can get rid of any controlling things. Actually, that is how we can use our wisdom and knowledge to destroy our worries and affliction. This is the meaning and why we learn the Buddhism. When we profoundly realize the Buddhism and we intend to resolve any problems or troubles, what the things we depend on is our individually professional knowledge of the world, common sense and our wisdom, but not depending on any outside gods. The wisdom includes our mercy and empathy for all sentient beings, and includes the creativity and flexibility in our mind, etc.

 

 

Why the Buddha neither deny nor reject any outside gods, ghosts or demons, but accept all of them to be the guardian gods in the Buddhism.

 

It is as if when we had not yet grew up, we were vulnerable and helpless both in our hearts and in our lives and we needed to depend on someone to raise and help us (we needed gods or God to help us ). However, when we had grew up and were an adult independently, we were capable to independently resolve any things by our individual thinking, ability and decision. This is also some kind of the core spirit and notion in the great boarding of Buddhism (Mahayana).

 

Therefore, we understand that why the Buddha neither deny nor reject any outside gods, ghosts or demons, but accept all of them to be the guardian gods in the Buddhism. When we learn the Buddha with our honesty heart, these beings of gods would become our guardian angles to protect us not to be hurt by others so as to make us learn the Buddha in the good ways. That is also the true compassionate and wisdom of the Buddha. 

 

 

One of The Dao-proving Song by Zen-Master Yongjia

 

The word Enlightenment is able to be replaced by the word Awakening. Many Chinese Buddhist Masters in Taiwan often take use of the Dao-proving Song said by the enlightened Zen-master Yongjia of the ancient Chinese so as to enlighten the modern humans. One of the famous verses is translated by me as follows:

 

There are clearly six towards-going in the dream,

But after waking up,

Only the emptied emptiness

Without the great-thousand (worlds).  

 

When I was young woman and learning the Buddha, I felt confusion about this verse and really didn’t understand what it meant. In many articles of this blog, I explain the relative concept a lot in the contents. One day, if you are really realize the truth of the self-heart and the self-nature, this verse is also able to simply confirm yourself whether you are enlightened and see your nature or not.

 

                                                                                                                     

The word Law can be broadly explained and known in the realm of Buddhism.

 

The meaning of the Sanskrit Samyaksaṃbuddho is capable to truly, rightly, widely and universally understand and know all laws. The word Law can be broadly explained and known in the realm of Buddhism. That is, it includes any generated and eliminated phenomenon caused and conditioned by everyone’s root, conscious and aggregate. And all phenomena include the visible and invisible. Meanwhile, it also includes the changeable phenomena of the world and its things. That is, all laws are formed and arisen by the cause, condition, and effect. Therefore, no matter what the phenomena of laws are, it is always generated and eliminated in a moment and thus this situation and its cause and condition are always changeable continually. It is thus the impermanent (not permanent). For example, one of our thought is one of them. Our cell is one of them, too. That is why we can take care of them and take use of them well toward the good direction for the public benefit, but not to rely on or obsess with them for the self-interest so as not to limit the self in the difficulty finally. Many things in our life and in our world can be reasoned and understood accordingly.

 

 

How we can practice, prove and attain the truly-equality-enlightenment and the truly-all-over-the knowing.

 

Moreover, we might have one question how we can practice, prove and attain the truly-equality-enlightenment and the truly-all-over-the knowing. There are a lot of Buddhist scriptures which are regard to the truly-equality-enlightenment said by the Buddha. It is difficult for us to read those scriptures completely in our whole life. Therefore, the Master Xuanzang shortened the whole contents to the Heart Sutra. I have ever translated the Heart Sutra from Chinese into English. Meanwhile, I have explained and talked about it. To deeply meditate about this Buddhist scripture again and again, it would help us be enlightened to perfectly realize the truly-equality-enlightenment. If you have not yet read this Buddhist scripture and you are interested in it, the link is as follows:

     

l   Let heart in peace, no fear and affliction any more (Updated on 2019/07/11)

l   The Scripture of The Supreme-Wisdom Heart(Heart Sutra)

 

 

Both of the Truly-Equality-Enlightenment and the Truly-All-Over-The-Knowing are synchronized and the same one.

 

Both of the Truly-Equality-Enlightenment and the Truly-All-Over-The-Knowing are synchronized and the same one. But, how we can understand, practice, prove, and attain the truly-all-over-the-knowing. In the Buddhist Scripture of the Ten Titles Said by the Buddha, the Buddha had talked about how he had attained the truly-all-over-the-knowing and the truly-equality-enlightenment. The contents translated by me from Chinese into English and the link are as follows:

l   The Scripture of the Ten Titles Said by Buddha

 

The Content of The Buddhist scripture -- Why it was called the True-Equality-Enlightenment.

 

Why it was called the True-Equality-Enlightenment. The Buddha said. The Tathagata possessed all wisdom. There was nothing all over the places that could not be understood and known. Take the four thought places, four right breakings, four spiritual feet, five roots, five strengths, seven factors of enlightenment, eight sage paths, twelve causalities, and the four reason laws, etc., such were the laws. Equally enlighten all sentient beings. Make them arise the wisdom, cut off the confusion, and attain the in-flaw fruition, one-come-and-go fruition, never-come-again fruition and the no-birthing fruition. Possess the three kinds of brightness and six kinds of spiritual openness. Furthermore, in the great boarding (Mahayana), make the meaning and think the requesting so as to experience and practice all the status. Cut off the knots’ habits and attain the supreme enlightenment. This name was the True-Equality-and-True-Enlightenment.

   

 

The Tathagata possessed all wisdom and were the truly-all-over-the-wisdom.

If you have read the articles about the ten titles of Buddha, you know that the Tathagata is the Buddha and it is also the true-equality-enlightenment and truly-all-over-the-knowing. The word Knowing can be replaced by the word Wisdom. The Tathagata possessed all wisdom and were the truly-all-over-the-wisdom. That is, the Tathagata know all wisdom. The knowing here is meant to knowing the all wisdom or the knowing itself is the wisdom. Actually, the Buddha possessed all wisdom, but each one of them might not know all knowledge, such as the principles of modern highest technology, the various languages, any kinds of theories, or the modern law, the financial and economic knowledge, etc. The knowledge is able to be used in the good way so as to help all sentient being and the world. However, it is also able to be used in the bad way so as to harm all sentient being and the world. That is, the general, professional and any worldly knowledge uncertainly are equal to wisdom or include the wisdom.

 

 

The Buddha deeply realized the original self-nature of all sentient beings, and their initial cause, condition, and effect.

 

Even though, each of the Buddha didn't necessarily know the whole knowledge, but each of them had its own professional knowledge and knew how to take use of it in the good way so as to help the sentient beings and the world. This is its wisdom. Meanwhile, it can take use of its wisdom to help those people take use of their own knowledge in the good way so as to help all sentient beings and the world. I don’t use the word Omniscience or Omnipotent or All-knowing or All-ability to definite or describe the Buddha. If we deeply read the Buddhist scripture and understand the Buddhism, and we profoundly practice the teaching of the Buddha, we will know that the Buddha deeply realized the original self-nature of all sentient beings, and their initial cause, condition, and effect. Meanwhile, he perceived the cause and the changeable conditions which might be able to lead to any effect for everything in the world. From perceiving these cause, condition, and effect, the wisdom be thus arisen to help the self and the sentient beings and the world. That is why he possessed all wisdom. But, it doesn’t mean that he is a being of omniscience or omnipotent.     

 

 

The essence of the Buddha was no-knowing and no-wisdom.

 

Actually, the essence of the Buddha was no-knowing and no-wisdom. What? Why? How it could be? When we learn the Buddha, this concept might be really shocked you. And then, we might question our self, what and why we learned the Buddha on earth? When we are learning the Buddhism, we always expect our self to be like the omniscience and the omnipotent of the Buddha so that we can control everything in our life so as to get rid of all worries and sufferings. If the purpose of learning the Buddha is to become the humans of no-knowing and no-wisdom, why we learn the Buddha? That is the idea which had ever been appeared in my mind. The state and wisdom of the Buddha is really beyond our normally and logically trained thought and custom in our daily life. If we are ignorant and lack of the basic knowledge and practicing in learning Buddhism, it is really impossible for us to accept the Buddhism.

 

 

The Buddhist scripture Heart Sutra is the basic knowledge and practicing and the getting started in further deeply learning Buddhism.

 

Regarding the concept that the essence of the Buddha was no-knowing and no-wisdom, we are capable to understand it from the Buddhist scripture Heart Sutra. It is the basic knowledge and practicing and the getting started in further deeply learning Buddhism. But, it is not enough. It is still necessary for us to learn more and practice more from the teaching of Buddha and from reading the Buddhist scriptures. Such endeavor in learning would help us really realize the essence of the Buddha and make us no question any more. That is also to realize the essence of the self when we are awakened. But, is it meaningful in our life?

 

The state of the Buddha was always in the emptiness and stillness. Under this circumstance, do you think that its mind filled with all knowledge and wisdom by recite, remember, and speculate, and that he had the huge leisure time to know all the things and to deal with them? When we use our common sense, the knowledge of Buddhism and the actual experience of practicing the Buddhism, we will know that it is certainly impossible.

 

 

The heart of the Buddha is like a bright mirror. We call it heart-mirror.

 

As we have mentioned in another articles in this blog, if you have ever read, you would know that the heart of the Buddha is like a bright mirror. We call it heart-mirror. There is nothing in there. Of course, there is also no-knowing and no-wisdom. What is the state of the heart of the Buddha? It is described to be the heart-emptying, heart-mirror and heart-sea. It is one thing for us to know this state, but it is another thing for us to actually practice and achieve enlightenment.

 

 

The Buddha is not a judge. But, its heart is like the sea which could contain all things.

 

Due to really emptying the heart and wherein without greedy, hatred, stupid infatuation, arrogant and suspicious mind, it is able to realize the equality and compassionate for all sentient beings, and thus endure any weird, distorted and evil thoughts and behaviors that are seemed not to correspond to our normal, ethical and moral thinking and behavior. In the heart-mirror of the Buddha, there is no judgment for any seemed weird, distorted and evil thought and behavior. It will make all of these things itself to flow in and flow out the bright mirror of the heart and make those who have done these things to bear and accept the outcome or retribution of the Karma. That is, the Buddha is not a judge. But, its heart is like the sea which could contain all things, no matter the things seemed good or evil in our subject opinions. For example, do you think that the sharks of eating humans are demons or evil ones? The sharks itself don’t think so.

 

 

Why The Buddha was a freely and easily beings and possessed the truly wisdom.

 

Many things can be inferred and observed from this. What happened in the world might not be correctly understood by our bias opinions. Sometimes, one of the seemed evil things would be against the other of the seemed evil things. I use the word Seemed so as to be objective and not to judge it to be good or evil. And then, all of these seemed evil things and persons would be cumbered or destroyed each other by their cause, condition and effect of themselves. Wherein exist their cause, condition, and effect, and any changeable of such things. The Buddha knew it, saw it, let it come, let it go and didn’t judge it. That is, the Buddha really used the objective perspective to understand these things. That is why the Buddha was a freely and easily beings and possessed the truly wisdom.

 

 

The Buddha would not be manipulated by those people who think that they are standing in the side of the just, moral and correct.

 

The Buddha would not be manipulated by those people who think that they are standing in the side of the just, moral and correct. That is because some of the people would mistakenly explain the just, moral and correct with the fake good, weird and distorted logics and views, as well as with the logic and view of the binary opposition, so as to manipulate humans. If we really practice and realize the Buddhism, we would not be manipulated by these people and these things.

 

 

Why the Buddha appeared in the world to teach, save and reform those beings.

 

But, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exit the correct judgment about ethic and morality in Buddha’s heart. In generally, as we know, some of the worldly knowledge even are the evil theory which violate the conscience and good nature of humans, meanwhile, distort the self-nature of humans and thus to imprison and close the self-mind of humans. It entirely makes the self to be ignorant and stubbornly attaching what they love. These people not only believe and behavior it but also manipulate others to do so in order to make others be the followers and slaves and be stupid forever. The initial causes for these people and things are the various kinds of poisoned mind—greedy, hatred, stupid addicting or obsessing, brute, selfish, arrogant, suspicious or specious mind and so on. It is because there always are such ignorant people and things which not only harm and torture themselves and others but also make themselves and others suffer and worry, that is why the Buddha appeared in the world to teach, save and reform those beings.

 

 

The knowing and the wisdom of the Buddha were happened from the profoundly and honestly emptying heart and then the truly, sincerity and integrity thinking, reasoning and judging.

 

The various kinds of poisoned mind or of good mind are existed in the past, present and future humans. And thus cause various kinds of events and the changeable phenomena in the past, present and future. No matter the various kinds of humans, events and the changeable phenomena, it is some kind of the reincarnation rolled again and again. In other words, all things and thus following the changeable events are the interaction and inter-affection of the cause, condition, and effect, which exist continuously and everywhere. And from the changeable of cause, condition, and effect, it is possible to conclude or speculate the next, future, or possible consequence. Meanwhile, it is also possible to conclude or speculate the previous, past or possible cause from the current consequence. The Buddha sited with cross-legged and was into the meditation. In this state, the cause, condition, effect and any changeable of the relative things, which were cared by the Buddha, would naturally appear in the bright heart-mirror or the peaceful heart-sea of the Buddha. The Buddha knew it, saw it, felt it and even heard it. At the same time, there is no judgment. Then, the corresponded wisdom was arisen naturally. Therefore, we understand that the knowing and the wisdom of the Buddha were not happened by the memory, remembering or any conscious of brain, but from the profoundly and honestly emptying heart and then the truly, sincerity and integrity thinking, reasoning and judging. 

 

 

The state and function of the Buddha is totally different from the function of AI robot.

 

Now, we understand a little why and how the Buddha was the truly-all-over-the-knowing. Such mentioned state and function of the Buddha is totally different from the function of AI robot, and is impossible to be learned by AI robot, and the AI robot is not capable to learn it.

 

And then, we understand that all the knowing and all the wisdom were arisen from the no-knowing and no-wisdom of the Buddha. In the Buddhist scripture as mentioned, the Tathagata possessed all wisdom. There was nothing all over the places that could not be understood and known by the Buddha. Now we understand that what the all over the places and what the all over the knowing and what the all wisdom are all in the bright heart-mirror and peaceful heart-sea of the Buddha. However, do you know why and how the Buddha owned such ability?  

 

 

Why and how the Buddha owned the ability of truly all over the knowing?

 

In the content of The Buddhist scripture -- Why it was called the True-Equality-Enlightenment. There are the following mentioned:

Take the four thought places, four right breakings, four spiritual feet, five roots, five strengths, seven factors of enlightenment, eight sage paths, twelve causalities, and the four reason laws, etc., such were the laws. Equally enlighten all sentient beings. Make them arise the wisdom, cut off the confusion, and attain the in-flaw fruition…. Possess the three kinds of brightness and six kinds of spiritual openness. Furthermore, in the great boarding (Mahayana), make the meaning and think the requesting so as to experience and practice all the status. Cut off the knots’ habits and attain the supreme enlightenment. This name was the True-Equality-and-True-Enlightenment.

  

All of these contents are talked about the methods and ways that the Buddha how to own the ability of truly all over the knowing. All of these methods and ways had been honestly practiced by the Buddha for his present and past countless lives, worlds and experiences, when he had not yet become the Buddha. That is why he was able to use these methods to teach and enlighten all sentient beings. That is also what we have to learn. If we really learn the Buddha and when we have read and understood these methods and ways, it will be naturally kept in our mind and make us practice it. The Buddha's immeasurable mind and intention is to teach us how to be truly equality and enlightenment and all over the knowing like him. Since it takes a lot of time and content to explain all of these methods, I will explain these methods in another article. I hope that these introductions and explanations about the other title of Buddha—the truly all over the knowing, would make you know the Buddha and yourself more.  

 

The Scripture of the Ten Titles Said by Buddha (Updated on May 23, 2024)

The ancient translator: Master Devasantika, Buddhist monk, Since A.D. Unknown to A.D.1000, born in North India, Jalandhara. Master Devasantika accepted the ancient emperor's order to translate this Buddhist scripture from Sanskrit into Chinese.

The modern translator: Tao Qing Hsu, Buddhist-at-home, not Buddhist nun, born and living in Taiwan. She has translated this Buddhist scripture from Chinese into English since the year of 2023 AD.

 

　　

Tathagata, Should-Make-Offerings, True-Equality-Enlightenment, Brightness-Action-Feet, Good-Death, World-Understanding, Supreme-Scholar, Man-Tamer, Teacher-of-Heavens-and-Humans, Buddha, and World-Venerable-One.

 

Ananda spoke and said. Why was it called Tathagata? The Buddha told Bhiksu. In the past, when I was a Pusa in the cause position, I had experienced to practice various deeds. In order to seek the supreme truly equality and truly enlightenment, now I have attained Bodhi, Nirvana and all truth. By the Eight Sage Paths truly see what the proved. It was named Tathagata. Just like those, who attained the truly equality and truly enlightenment in the past, tamed and rested the mind so as to achieve nirvana. It was named Tathagata.

 

Why was it called Should-Make-Offerings? The Buddha said. In the past, when I was in the cause rank, the good laws, solemn and majestic appearance, and the classified of precepts were practiced. The strength of the ten good roots was cultivated so as to make it increased. Thus consummately practicing and learning to attain the ultimate rank. When achieve the Nirvana, cut off and end all worries. To make the body, mouth and mind clean and untainted. Forever destroy worries. Such as to break the head-root of Tala tree, make it never sprout buds. Furthermore, due to ending the worries of greed, anger, and obsession, all the toward-going would never produce the fruition and generate. It was beyond the law of bitter fruitions of the four difficulties of birth (living), aging, illness and dying. The two seeds of confusion and suffering would never be produced. It was established the name of Should-Make-Offerings. Furthermore, make all the clothes, bedding, food and drink, soups and medicines, banners, flags, precious canopies, fragrant flowers, lamps and fruits in the world, and the highest thing in heaven and earth be offered to the Buddha. Obtain the blessing of supreme wealth and auspiciousness. It was the name of Should-Make-Offerings.

 

Why was it called the True-Equality-Enlightenment? The Buddha said. The Tathagata possessed all wisdom. There was nothing all over the places that could not be understood and known. Take the four thought places, four right breakings, four spiritual feet, five roots, five strengths, seven factors of enlightenment, eight sage paths, twelve causalities, and the four reason laws, etc., such were the laws. Equally enlighten all sentient beings. Make them arise the wisdom, cut off the confusion, and attain the in-flaw fruition, one-come-and-go fruition, never-come-again fruition and the no-birthing fruition. Possess the three kinds of brightness and six kinds of spiritual openness. Furthermore, in the great boarding (Mahayana), make the meaning and think the requesting so as to experience and practice all the status. Cut off the knots’ habits and attain the supreme enlightenment. This name was the True-Equality-and-True-Enlightenment.

 

Why was it called Brightness-Action-Feet? The Buddha said. The brightness meant that the brightness of heavenly eye, the brightness of experienced and predestined destinies, and the brightness of leak- ended. What the meaning of the action feet was the Karma of the Tathagata’s body, mouth, and mind. Good at practicing the consummate of possessing feet, the rightly truth and clearly clean. Such as owning a large clothing and bowl, etc., being able to perceive and reflect it at ease but without loving or attaching it. In all actions of the voluntary strength, practice them so as to make them consummate to possess the feet. It was named Brightness-Action-Feet.

Why was it 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.

 

Why was it called the World-Understanding and the Supreme-Scholar? The Buddha said. What the world means. It was called the desire realm, the color realm, and the colorless realm. And the hells, the hungry ghosts and the brutes, etc., that sort of things. Each had its own form aggregate, feeling aggregate, thought aggregate, action aggregate and consciousness aggregate. And the root of the eyes, the root of the ears, the root of the nose, the root of the tongue, the root of the body, and the root of the mind. And all the laws of that six consciousnesses and of that realms of thereon depending and so on. It was called the world. Truly enlightenment and truly knowing was called World-Understanding.

 

Moreover, all the two-legged, four-legged, many-legged and no-legged in the other world, the all heavens of desire and color, the heavens of thoughts and no thoughts, the heavens of neither thinking nor non-thinking, and supposing to be the mortal or the sage, in all these sentient beings, only the Buddha was the first, the most supreme and no grade. It was thus named the Supreme-Scholar.

 

Why was 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Why was it called the World Venerable One? The Buddha said. When I was in the cause rank, I investigated myself to perceive all good laws. Precepts’ laws, mind’s laws, and wisdom’s laws. And I also perceived the laws of not good of the greed and so on. It could incur all sufferings of having generated and eliminated and so on. Used the wisdom without leakage to break through those worries and gained supreme enlightenment. That was why heavens, humans, mortals and saints. Those who transcended the world and those who were in the world respected him. Therefore, it was called World Venerable One.

Annotation: Pusa is transliterated from Chinese. It means Bodhisattva.  

 

The inequality and equality are existed in the body of Emptiness at the same time.

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

  

The concept of Buddha’s teaching tells us that the equality is in the body of Emptiness. All of the inequality is occurred by the inner and outer causes and conditions. Such causes and conditions might be very complicated, or might be very simple, which is depending on how we look at it. Once the causes and conditions are returning to be disappeared, or to be nothing, or to be void, the inequality would not be existed. That is, all things return to the Emptiness. Nothing is existed, including the inequality. Then, that is the true equality.

 

The inequality and equality are existed in the body of Emptiness at the same time. The inequality is the change of situation and phenomenon, which is impermanent. The equality in the body of Emptiness is true permanent, because it is not the change of combining or disappearing of any causes and conditions. It is difficult for the ordinary people to put such concept of equality into practice, because most of them are stubborn in the inner complicated thought and are entangling in the outer complicated conditions, situation and phenomenon.    

 

If we understand the above mentioned, and thoroughly get rid of the stubborn in inner thought, and of the entangling in the outer conditions, ridiculous ideology, situation and phenomenon, it is not difficult for us in our heart to put the true equality into practice.  

Most of the good persons could not fight for their right, because their brains are washed to be ignorant by ridiculous ideology.

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

 

 

The tangible and invisible class system is still existed in the family, workplace, society and country. Under the circumstance, how could it be possible for the people to feel the freedom and equality in heart?

 

In the history and in the modern time, some evil persons occupy the political resource. They steal the financial of country and bully the good person. Even though this, they still live well, have longevity and have many wealth. Most of the good persons could not fight for their right, because their brains are washed to be ignorant by ridiculous ideology. They are even to be died by ridiculous reasons. In other word, the inequality has still been there.

 

Even though the outer situation and phenomenon might make us feel unhappy and unbalanced in heart, the concept of Buddha’s teaching offers us another choice to let our heart in peace and to feel balanced and equal.

For those who are vested interests, they do not have such feeling of the injustice and inequality.

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

 

 

The concept of freedom, equality and human right is occurred in 17 century. The definition of the concept of freedom, equality and human right is more progressive and open-minded in modern time. And it is amended following the change of time. However, it is still the limited freedom, equality and human right under some kind of conditions. Most of women are still despised or bullied in the family, society and workplace, even to be ignored by the government.

 

For the young man and the elder, they also have more feeling about that they are despised or ignored in the society. The problems of the elder being abused and children being abused, or the women being abused are mostly happened in the closed-minded family or the society, or the country.

 

For those who are vested interests, they do not have such feeling of the injustice and inequality. Only for those who are deprived of human power, right and interests, they would strongly have the feeling of the injustice and inequality.  

The equality and justice of Confucian thought is not the true equality and justice.

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

 

In the culture of ancient China, it emphasizes on Confucius thought. Confucius is the people in 2500 years ago. Confucian thought affect the government of history Chinese dynasties. It also affects the government of Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand in history. In the history, the authority of male likes to use Confucian thought to stress its legitimacy in governing. However, the concept of equality and justice is standing on the angle of thought of male, not female.

 

Confucian thought is really despising female. Unfortunately, even today, there is the authority of male who are positive to promote the Confucian thought and regard the Confucian thought as a representative of Chinese culture. As a woman, in my opinion, I do not think it is an honorable thing. The women of the history are pressed and bullied because of the Confucian thought. Unfortunately, it is still affecting the eastern woman in the modern time.   

 

In other word, the equality and justice of Confucian thought is not the true equality and justice. In fact, it is only some kind of equality and justice under some kind of conditions. That is, it must be correspond to the concept or thought of male, and thus there is the equality and justice. Do you have found such concept or thought is existed everywhere on earth? 

Each one is equal to becoming Buddha someday in future.

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

  

It is really difficult for human beings to put the equality into the practice in heart. The inequality has existed since the ancient time. Unfortunately, most of the authority purposely rationalizes the inequality, and most of the ignorant civic have been washed the brain and accept the inequality. Even today, the inequality is still existed in everywhere, including the family, the society and the country.

 

Buddha Shakyamuni is the people before 2500 years ago. The background of his culture is deeply affected by the India. As we know, there is the caste system in India since ancient time. The caste system is an unfair social system. Even today, it is still existed in the society of India. Buddha Shakyamuni had perceived the inequality of caste system in his time.

 

In that time, the disciples question whether the slaver, the poor, the woman, and the criminal could become Buddha or not, Buddha Shakyamuni explains and teaches the disciples that all living beings have Buddha-nature. They and any one can become Buddha after completely bearing the retribution of their evil karma in future, present and past accumulated lives. In other word, each one is equal to becoming Buddha someday in future. But, regarding the process, the experience, the time, whether is the blessing or the retribution, which is depending on the personal’s causes and conditions. Such situation and phenomenon is some kind of changing and it would confuse us and let us have the feeling of inequality and injustice.   

 

Buddha Shakyamuni offers the concept of equality. Such equality is basing on the Buddha-nature. And it is not concerned about what your appearance is, what your color of eyes and skin is, what your gender is, what you have done, where you are born, and what your belief is.

 

It also not cares about what your race is, what your education is, what your social status is and what your wealth is. That is why the concept of equality in Buddhism is the true equality.