Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing)
There is a very important
principle that we should know. That is, to cope with the all changing under the
unchanging, the Buddha-nature. When we practice the four assimilating-methods,
we have to clearly aware our Buddha-nature, and not to be tied and turned by
the outer situations or conditions. In other word, we are the master to hold
the whole situation.
Some people think that the
Buddhist are looked foolish and are easy to bully, or they mistakenly think
that the Buddhist might be joyfully to help them. And they then ask the
Buddhist to do a lot of things for them, including the things that they do not
want to do, or the things that they even don’t use their mind to think how to
do, because they think that the Buddhist might not reject their asking. Once
facing such situation, we should use our wisdom and aware our Buddha-nature to
think how to properly reject their unreasonable asking and how to help them
actually.
All of the Buddha’s
teaching has one key point that is to enlighten all sentient beings and help
them achieve the Buddhahood. In other word, the Buddha’s teaching gives a
direction for the sentient beings to learn wisdom so to resolve their own
problem. Under the principle, the human beings should be independent to deal
with their own problem with their own wisdom, not to dependent others people to
resolve their own problem. This is what we should know when we practice the
four assimilating-methods to reform and save people.
Let us introduce the four
assimilating-methods shortly. That is as follows:
The first
assimilating-methods -- Give
There are three kinds of
giving. The first is to give the material things for human beings, such as
foods, medical, clothes, shoes, houses, cars, money and so on. Such material
things could maintain the basic livelihoods of human beings. Of course, it can be
extend to give the technical of agriculture or medical, or to give our own time
and strength to help people, such as to build a house or a bridge
unconditionally. Only basic livelihoods are content, it is possible for them
further to learn wisdom and to learn Buddha. Secondly, if people are fond of
fortune, we could give them the material things so as to lead them into the
wisdom of Buddhism.
The second is to give human
beings the Buddha-law (dharma), such as Buddha’s teaching. If people are fond
of listening to the reasons and of thinking, we could give them the Buddha-law
so as to lead them achieve the wisdom of Buddha. Furthermore, if we are capable
to teach human beings the Buddhism and to teach Buddhism correctly, such
merit-virtue is incredible and immeasurable, and is commend and appreciated by
the beings of heaven and earth. Why? Because by Buddha’s teaching, it could
enlighten the human beings, lead them in the path of light of wisdom, liberate
human beings from the suffering in life and death, and finally help them
achieve the Buddhahood.
The third is to give human
beings the fearlessness. That is, to help human beings avoid or get rid of any
fear, such as in the classic drama, the hero saves the beauty when she is in
danger. That is, the hero gives the beauty the fearlessness, and helps the
beauty get rid of the frightened. If people are in danger or fear a lot in
heart, or are timid, we could give them the fearlessness through the express by
kindness so as to help them get rid of the fear.
In Buddhism, the
representative of the fearlessness-giver is Pusa
world-sounds-perceiving, Avalokiteśvara. If you have not yet read the
previous articles about Pusa world-sounds-perceiving and are interested
in Avalokiteśvara, I recommend you to read the following articles: Pusa World-Sounds-Perceiving in Universally Door Chapter or The god of wisdom and benevolence to liberate human beings
from suffering. It is one of the translated Buddhist-scripture and
its explanation, which is done by me.
The Second
assimilating-methods -- Express by love
If we want to lead the
people into the wisdom of Buddhism, we better to express by love, not by rough
words. Express by love means to show a feeling, opinion or fact by compassion
and kindness. Such express shows our care, is more acceptable by the people and
would promote the harmony in the relationship in a group or of each other. When
we express by love, don’t ignore the body language. Some body language would
warm our heart, such as smile, embrace each other, gently pat the shoulder or
gently wave your hand and say hello.
When people feel frustrated
in career or feel sad when facing the death of a loved one, we properly express
by love which would encourage them and let them feel comfort.
The third
assimilating-methods -- Benefiting action
“Benefiting action” is
meant to offer help or advantage for the acting of others or benefit the action
of others, when we try to help people and lead them into the wisdom of the
Buddha. For example, when a young man is goodness and is interested in learning
Buddha but he doesn’t have a good career to earn money for maintaining his
life, we could support him or offer him a good job so as to let him have a
stable life and the capital to learn Buddha. Such act by benefiting is not only
to support and benefit him to achieve the Buddhahood but also to support and
benefit the all sentient beings to be good, including ourselves, because it is
a good cycling of kindness. One day, when this young man has completely been
enlightened and the wisdom of his Buddha-nature is also inspired, he would be
capable to enlighten and support others and would also benefit the acting of
others.
Secondly, giving the
sentient beings the convenience or help is also the benefiting action, to
benefit the acting of others.
The fourth
assimilating-methods -- Work by together
Work by together means that
we go on the path as partner and by accompanying with each other so as toward
the same goal and we do something together so as to attain the same purpose.
What is the goal or the purpose? It is to reform and save ourselves so as to
influence others through wisdom and mercy. By cooperating in the action or
work, it is easy for us to know and communicate with each other.
For the different people,
we would offer the different Buddha-law so as to help them into the wisdom of
Buddha-nature. There is a lot of convenient Buddha-law which could be applied
to help people liberating from the suffering. The four assimilating-methods are
one of them, and these are the good assistance.
So, the four
assimilating-methods not only could be applied in Buddhism, but also could be
applied in different realms, such as the non-profit organization, the group of
the social or the international well-beings.
To profoundly learning
Buddha, the four assimilating-methods should be practiced well by us. Through
the four reforming-methods, it is not only to reform and save ourselves, but
also to reform and save others.
