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

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu

                                                                                                                    

The general meaning of Teacher of Heavens and Humans

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

The explanation of Teacher of Heavens and Humans said by Buddha

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

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

Further explanation for Teacher of Heavens and Humans

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

The explanation of the words in the content

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In conclusion

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

A story about Bodhisattva Often-not-despising

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

 

In another chapter, I have mentioned a Bodhisattva who is named as Often-not-despising. When he was a Buddhist monk and saw the people, he closed his palms together, respected and bowed to those persons, and said to them that you would become a Buddha in the future, so I do not dare to despise you. He often did that and said such things. Some people regarded him as a mad person and threw stones to him. He ran away, and then stood far away to face those people, always closed his palms together, respected and bowed to those people, and said loudly to them that all of you would become Buddha in the future, so I do not dare to despise you. That is why people call him Bodhisattva Often-not-despising. The story is talked by Buddha Shakyamuni in Buddhist Scripture. This story reminds us that we should not despise any person, even though they are un-learner in Buddhism.

Only extensive study can help you understand Buddhism

 

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

For more than twenty years, I read variety books related Buddhism written from different authors and heard the variety speech from different Buddhist mentor. In the beginning, I really have no idea about what they have written and what they have talked about. With the time passed by and the experience in life, I think of the meaning as they mentioned and then I gradually understand what they have talked.

But, I still have an idea that people's potential is unlimited, but unfortunately, people's knowledge is limited. So, when we want to learn Buddha, it is better for us to reference the variety Buddhist teaching. Everything is worth to widely learn and to extensively research.

It is also worth for you to question about what I have taught in Buddhism. One day when you really realize what I have taught in Buddhism, your life would be totally changed and you would find that it is really worth to learn Buddha in our life.

There is not only one method to teach Buddhism. There is not only one method to be enlightened. Some methods of Buddha’s teaching used by one Buddhist mentor might not be suitable for you, or might be very suitable for you, that is depending on whether you could accept it or not. I have found that every Buddhist mentor has its own style to teach the Buddhism. The Buddhist mentor what I have said include the person who is not monk, and who is not nun.

Recite and learn from Buddha to eliminate the evil karma and become one with Buddha

Recite and learn from Buddha to heal our mental disease.

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

I remember that in the early time of Taiwan, when we are in the serious disease and in the bad fate, the elder Buddhist monk or nun would advise us to worship the Buddha or Bodhisattva, or the god, so as to eliminate the personal evil karma, which includes to save the hatred relative and the creditor, who was established the link with us in this life due to our evil relationship with each other in the past life. Then, after eliminating the personal evil karma, our pain would be released, our disease would be healed, and our fate would be changed to be good. 

   

When I am a young girl and only have a little knowledge about Buddhism, I don't understand it totally, let alone to accept it. In that time, I think that it is bullshit and blind faith, meanwhile, I also doubt about the IQ and knowledge of the Buddhist monk or nun, because they said those things. Why? Because I have studied in the nurse school and have been trained by the modern medical knowledge. In my opinions, if we have any diseases, of course, we have to go to the hospital and ask the doctor to heal us. 

However, after I deeply research the Buddhism and put it into practice, I finally understand why the Buddhist monk or nun talks about that, which I can explain it by a whole article. Here, I tell you in a brief about the highlight, the Buddha is the great-medical king. When we don’t understand the Buddhism, the Buddha and the great-medical king is someone else, so we worship them to help us, however, when we understand the Buddhism, the Buddha and the great-medical king is not someone else, it is really in our heart and it is no different from us, which means that we are one. 

In modern medical knowledge, it is emphasize the technical treatment and use the researched medicines. In other word, it pays attention to heal the body. That is what we need, when we are sick. Don’t disregard it. Mostly, it is necessary by this way to treat our disease. However, we might find that it is not enough.

Buddhism is emphasizing on the mental body or the psychological realm, even it is talked about the super-natural experience. In this realm, we might be healed in a different way, if we are sick. It could be as the special power of assistance.

Of course, we would find that some weird religion or national belief would use such method to help people to treat their disease. I don’t recommend you to accept those religions, because most of those religions are based on the personal greedy and desire about fortune and sex. Even Buddhism, some of the evil persons would misuse it or by its name to cheat ignorant people.  

The Buddha's education is vast and profound. It is a very good spiritual education, which can inspire our supreme wisdom and cure our ignorant and superficial mental diseases. This makes us have no opposing and hostile thoughts and attitudes towards people and things, and will not subjectively or irrationally rejecting other people and theirs affairs. It is because of such a healthy thought and mentality that we can be physically and mentally healthy, and our life will be smoother.

An Inspired Story--To Sweep Garbage Out Of Heart

The Chinese original author: unknow

Translator-editor: Tao Qing Hsu (A Buddhist at home;Taiwan; Since AD 1971-- ) 

In a Buddhist group, there is a little novice monk who decided to practice the Dao to follow the Buddha’s teaching and was assigned to sweep the floor in the courtyard. There were a lot of fallen leaves on the ground. The little novice monk always complained that there were endless fallen leaves every day and why the master assigned him to bear so much heavy work. Many years passed away, the little novice monk had grew to be a young man.

 

One day, he was still complaining while sweeping the floor. The master took a walk to beside him and watched him complaining. The master asked him, ”You have swept the floor for many years. Do you have swept “the garbage” out of the floor of your heart?” Then, the master smiled with mercy and went away. The young man felt confused and began to think what “the garbage” in the floor of heart is and why “the garbage” has to be swept out of the floor of heart. Then, the young man was thinking about this question while sweeping the floor every day.

 

Another day, there was a senior Buddhist monk who walked beside the young man and saw him take a rest under a tree. The senior blame him and said, “The sluggard! How dare you to be lazy. Why don’t you hurry up to sweep the floor clean? ” The young man was unhappy about this blaming and suddenly wanted to leave this group. After a period of time, the master came to beside him and saw the young man who was anxious while sweeping the floor with upset. The master advised him and said, ”Why don’t you “sweep” the worries out of your heart? ” Then, the master looked at him, smiled with mercy and went away. The young man suddenly seems to be inspired and began to diligently sweep the floor with the good mood.

 

Do you have been inspired from this story? Do you have swept “the garbage” from the floor of heart every day? What is “the garbage” in our heart? How to define “the garbage” in our heart? In a word, it means all the unpleasant things or all the worries which are resulted from our desire, love, greed, hatred or the stupid infatuation.  

Two interesting stories about Dongpo Su and zen master Fo Yin

Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Buddha Statues, The Palace Museum Branch, Chiayi, Taiwan

Author: Tao Qing Hsu

Dongpo Su was literati of the Song Dynasty in China (A.D. 960-1270). He was a talented and brilliant man in Chinese poetry, and also had an official position in that time. However, he always had frustrating and troubling things in heart when he was an official person. That is why he went into the path of Buddha to ask for the liberation from the suffering, and had made a good friend with zen master Fo Yin.

Fo Yin was a professional-Buddhist monk in Zen. Dongpo Su and Fo Yin knew each other very well, and frequently learned from each other by exchanging views in literature and Buddhism. However, Fo Yin usually won each time, which let Dongpo Su feel unbalanced in heart. Therefore, Dongpo Su was often intent to embarrass Fo Yin.  

  

One day, these two men sat face to face and made a meditation for a period of time.

At this time, zen master Fo Yin asked Dongpo Su:

“What do you think about my posture?”

Dongpo Su answered him without any consideration:

“You are looked like a pile of shit. ”

Zen master Fo Yin smiled, closed his two palms together, and said to him:

“A Mi Tuo Fo”  (“A Mi Tuo Fo” is transliterated from Chinese. It means Buddha Amitabha, and also means happiness and perfection in life. In China and Taiwan, Buddhists say “A Mi Tuo Fo” to each other as greeting words so as to bless each other. It is a traditional custom in the field of Buddhism from ancient China. )

Dongpo Su asked zen master Fo Yin a question on a whim: “What do you think what I am looked like, when I sit in meditation now?”

Zen master Fo Yin said:

“You are looked like a Buddha.” 

Dongpo Su was full of pride after hearing that.

After Dongpo Su returned home, he proudly showed off to his younger sister and said:

“I finally win this time. Zen master Fo Yin lose. ”

His younger sister was an intelligent girl, who did not agree to Dongpo Su after listening to him about the whole story, and said to him: ”brother, you’ve lost the worst of your life today! Because it is full of Buddha in the heart of zen master Fo Yin, any sentient being is regarded as Buddha in his heart. That is why he regards you as Buddha. However, your heart and mind is completely filthy and unclean. That is why you regard six-roots-purifying zen master Fo Yin as a shit. Aren't you losing this time badly?" (The six roots means eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and heart or mind. )

Dongpo Su felt ashamed to twist his beard with his finger, and agreed with his younger sister’s views.

After a period of time, Dongpo Su had the progress in sitting-meditation day by day.

There was one time, after Dongpo Su had done the sitting-meditation, he happily wrote a poem:

“My head touches the land

so as to respect the heaven in heaven.

My inner-little light

Shines the large world.

The eight-winds blowing  

Can not move me.

Correctly and peacefully sitting 

on the purple-golden lotus 

is me. ”

Then, he asked a child to cross the river in order to send this poem to zen master Fo Yin, and let him judge how is his progress in sitting-meditation.

Zen master Fo Yin smiled after reading the poem. He handily took a red Chinese-writing brush and wrote two large-Chinese characters on the said poem:

“Fang Pi” (It also means “ That is bullshit!” “Fang Pi” is transliterated from Chinese characters.It means fart, that is, an escape of gas from bowels.)

Then, he gave it back to the child to send it back to Dongpo Su.

Dongpo Su originally expected that Fo Yin would give him a lot of praise. However, when he saw the two red-big Characters “Fang Pi” in the letter, he couldn’t help but be very angry, and broke out into curses:

“Fo Yin really goes to far in insulting me. He does not praise me. I let it go. Why does he curse me? I have to cross the river immediately and to argue with him. ”

During this time, zen master Fo Yin had already closed the big door and had a trip outside. Only a couplet was posted on the door, which said:

“The eight-winds could not move you.

A fart hits you to cross the river. ”

Dongpo Su deep felt ashamed and had sighed that he was not as good as Fo Yin in practicing the sitting-meditation. 

(P.S. Eight winds mean praise, ridicule, slander, fame, advantage, decline, suffering, and enjoyment. That means, eight conditions from outside, which are like wind, would affect our heart, mind, will and action, when we are practicing in sitting-meditation and learning Buddha. )

The related article that you might be interested:

1. Let heart in peace, no fear and affliction any more
2. The god of benevolence and wisdom to liberate people from suffering (updated on 2019/07/16)