One of the Ten Titles about Buddha—Brightness-Action-Feet

 

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu

 

 

The meaning of Brightness-Action-Feet

 

The character Brightness-Action-Feet in Sanskrit is vidyā-carana-sajpanna, which is translated by me according to my understanding from the content of Buddhist Scripture said by Buddha. In the Buddhist Scripture of the Ten Titles Said by Buddha, the Buddha Shakyamuni had explained its meaning which is translated by me as follows:   

 

Why it was 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.

 

The summarized explanations of the character Brightness-Action-Feet

 

Except for the explanation by Buddha, I also refer to the explanations of the character Brightness-Action-Feet by other Buddhist masters, and I summarize them as follows:

 

The character Feet here indicates the two legs of a Buddha. One of the titles to honor the Buddha is Two-Leg-Respect, which means that one leg represents the wisdom of the Buddha and the other leg represents the blessed-merit of the Buddha. A person leans down to the ground, with his forehead on the ground, his palms facing up, and salutes to the other person's feet. This is the highest salute done to the respected person in ancient India. Buddhists today also use this method of worship to worship the Buddhas who are in the ten directions of space. The statue of the Buddha or the image of the Buddha itself is only a symbolic representation. It is not worshiping the statue or worshiping the idol. When we have a deeper understanding of Buddhism, we can understand that Buddha is formless and imageless.

 

The two legs of a Buddha indicate the wisdom and blessed-merit, and are noble.

 

Why the two legs of a Buddha indicate the wisdom and blessed-merit? It derives from the action. That is, the Buddha had completely practiced the ten good Karmas and had guarded his six roots well not to do the evil. Therefore, the Buddha’s body, mouth, and mind are clean. That is, a Buddha has no five poisons and no related negative thoughts, mindsets and actions. Five poisons mean the greedy, hatred, stupid obsession (infatuation, addiction and attachment), arrogant and suspicion. The ten evil Karmas derive from the five poisons.

 

The word Karma means the action and what a person has done. In the Chapter 4 of A Brief Talk about The Scripture of Forty-Two Chapters Said by Buddha (Chapter 4: Understand the good and evil at the same time), we have mentioned that not to do the ten evil is to do the ten good. It is the ten good Karmas. The six roots mean the root of eyes, ear, nose, tongue (mouth), body and mind. The essence of the six roots is the emptiness and neutral, which is not to do the good and not to do the evil. That also means not to think of the good and not to think of the evil. This is to guard the six roots. That is because there are no five poisons and no related negative thoughts, mindsets and actions. Under the circumstance, its self is the wisdom. On this basis of wisdom and to do the right thing, the blessed-merit can be generated and appeared naturally. That is why the two legs of a Buddha are noble and worth for being respected. 

 

Keep the heart in Brightness.

 

The definition of and the explanation of the good and the evil, the right and wrong, and the justice and injustice are easily manipulated and distorted by the people who own the five poisons. That is, these people have the scheming and fraudulent mind and have the different self-interests and positions. Any hatred and hostility are also easily instigated and aroused in this situation. If we are ignorant, we will easily be led around by mistaken way. We then may make mistakes and create the bad karmas. This means that the heart is polluted and is in darkness. That is, there is no brightness and no light in heart. When we keep not to think of the good and not to think of the evil, we keep the neutral and objective position. We then judge anything according to the individually widely understanding, knowledge and wisdom. Hence, the heart is in brightness.

 

Four points taught by the Buddha about no-thinking and no-doing.

 

No-thinking and no-doing is one of the states of the Buddha. The further realizing for the no-thinking and no-doing, there are four points taught by the Buddha. It is according to what I have read in Buddhist Scripture and what I have learned in Zen of Buddhism. It is as follows:

 

1. Not to think of (not to remember, recall, and regret) the past what happened

2. Not to seek for and expect for the future what would be happened. 

3. Not to addict and attach to the present. That is, don't be swayed and distracted by what's happening right now so as to avoid the five-poison thought and mind being arisen.

4. On the basis of above three points, we cherish the moment and live at the moment with our clean body, mouth and mind. That is, we do anything, such as eating meals, drinking teas, sleeping, talking and work, ext., with the normal and peaceful mind. It is pure in heart without any greedy, hatred and stupid obsessed thought and mind.  

 

The meaning and function of no-thinking and no-doing

 

When we deeply understand the teaching of Buddha, we then understand the profound meaning of no-thinking and no-doing. When we are in the state of no-thinking and no-doing, we know that any manipulated binary opposition is not functioning and any deceive dogma and seemed plausible reasons that fools people's hearts will fail. Any attempt to manipulate us under the guise of religious teachings, including those who use Buddhist teachings to manipulate us, will not succeed. The Buddha is not always in the state of no-thinking and no-doing. If a person is always in the state of no-thinking and no-doing, it is called the stubborn emptiness (the stupid emptiness) and the death-silence (the stupid silence). This is not the state of the Buddha. Therefore, when we have any troubles and any sufferings, we know that it is better for us to be in the state of no-thinking and no-doing until our wisdom without any toxic mind arise and we thus know how to solve any problems. And then, we take any action. 

 

Buddha's state and action

 

The clean state of the Buddha’s body, mouth and mind is based on the wisdom, empathy, benevolence and compassion. In Buddhism, the wisdom means to completely eliminate the individual greedy, hatred, stupid obsession (infatuation, addiction or attachment), arrogant and suspicion. To sum up, that is to completely eliminate any negative thoughts, mindsets and actions. Meanwhile, this person with wisdom has completely understood that these five poisons and the related negative mindsets and behaviors are existed in those persons who have not yet been enlightened.

 

Any empathy, compassion and benevolence for others are on the basis of wisdom. This is what the state of a Buddha. At the same time, a Buddha is capable to take use of any flexible and convenient way to teach, lead and reform those un-enlightened persons so as to make them be in the state of the brightness. That is to make them remove the five poisons and any related negative thoughts, mindsets and behaviors so as to relieve any sufferings. Therefore, we know that the Buddha is full of the positive energy and is always doing such positive things for the sentient beings and the world on the basis of the no-thinking and no-doing.

 

The meaning of the consummate feet

 

From above explanation, we know why the action of the Buddha is good at practicing the consummate of possessing feet, the rightly truth and clearly clean. The two legs of the Buddha also mean the wisdom and compassion (mercy, empathy and benevolence). One leg represents the wisdom, and the other leg represents the compassion. To possess both of these two legs at the same time and without lack of any one of them means the consummate feet. No matter what the leg represents, what the action of the Buddha is, its essence is the rightly truth and clearly clean. That is, there are no five poisons and no related negative thoughts, mindsets and actions. It is also like owning a large clothing and bowl that are used by the monk and the monk is able to perceive them and to reflect them at ease, but the monk doesn’t love them and doesn’t attach them.

 

What we can learn from the meaning of the consummate feet.

 

That is to teach us that we can use anything what we need actually but not what we desire to possess, and that we can do anything to really help the self and the others with our wisdom and compassion so as to relieve our troubles, worries and sufferings. We can perceive these things and reflect them at ease. However, it would be better for us not to love it and attach it so as to avoid any troubles, worries and sufferings. Meanwhile, this teaching of Buddha is also to remind us, when we do anything and take any actions, we keep the wisdom and compassion in mind. At the same time, when we are walking and pay attention to our legs, we think of the meaning of the wisdom and compassion taught by the Buddha.

 

Buddha’s actions are coming from the voluntary strength.       

 

“The Buddha said. In all actions of the voluntary strength, practice them so as to make them consummate to possess the feet.” It means that all actions of the Buddha are coming from the voluntary strength of the self. There is no compulsion and no impure motives. By this way of practicing all actions, it can consummate to possess the wisdom and blessed merit. That is why the Buddha's two legs of wisdom and blessed merit are so noble and being respected. Whether you are willing to own the wisdom, compassion and the blessed merit or not, it depends on the self, not on the others. That is, the noble and being respected is coming from the honesty learning and practicing by self, not from others expectation and manipulation.

 

There is no situation of opposition to each other in the honesty Buddhist groups.

 

From above explanation, we know how we can learn if our goal is to achieve the Buddhahood. In Buddhism, there is no issue of religious divisions. In the world and in the different countries, there are a lot of different Buddhist groups. What the different is the method of practicing and learning. It is the different in the process and experience. And their goal is the same. That is to achieve the Buddhahood. It is as if someone wants to cross the river from the left shore to the right shore, one takes use of the small boat, however, the other takes use of the large boat, their destination is the same, the right shore. That is why there is no situation of opposition to each other in the honesty Buddhist groups.

 

There is also no situation of opposition to the others who believe in different religion from the Buddhism in the honesty Buddhist groups.    

 

Meanwhile, there is also no situation of opposition to the others who believe in different religion from the Buddhism in the honesty Buddhist groups. In Buddhism, it thinks that all sentient beings are the future Buddha who owns the Buddha-nature. However, they have not yet been enlightened in the aspect of Buddha-nature. That is, they have not realized that they own the Buddha-nature. Therefore, the future Buddha is also called the unenlightened Buddha. No matter what your belief is and no matter your race is and whether you have belief or not, it thinks that you are the future Buddha and you will become a Buddha someday after experiencing the reincarnation of unmeasurable times. Therefore, the Buddha thinks that all the sentient beings are equal to all Buddhas in the ten directions of space. In Buddhism, There is no such concept of master and servant and there is also no such concept that the servant served and dedicated to the Lord. The Buddha doesn’t think he is a Lord. The Buddha thinks that he and all sentient beings are the one and are equal. In the idea of Buddhism, to harm all sentient beings is to harm the self and such bad Karma would make the bad response and bad retribution return to the self.

 

 

The three kinds of brightness are based on wisdom and are arisen naturally.

 

“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.” Now you may realize that the brightness as said is based on the clean actions of practicing as mentioned above. The word Brightness also means to clearly know and to know by wisdom. The Brightness here also represents the wisdom. The wisdom-brightness is based on the clean action of practicing. It is that the Brightness is based on the Wisdom. When the body, mouth and mind are clean, that is without five-poison heart and action, then, the brightness of heavenly eye, the brightness of experienced and predestined destinies, and the brightness of leak- ended will be arisen naturally.

 

The three kinds of brightness are the power of the spiritual openness.

 

The brightness of heavenly eye, the brightness of experienced and predestined destinies, and the brightness of leak-ended are the power of the spiritual openness. In the translation of mine, the word Brightness is able to be replaced by the words Spiritual Openness. In Buddhism, the meaning and function of both of them are the same. It is translated by someone as the supernatural power. I don’t use the words Supernatural Power. The power of the spiritual openness is what we owned originally. However, the spiritual of the unenlightened people is in closeness and their heart is in darkness because of the five-poison mind and action of the self. That is why theirs such abilities are unable to be opened up and developed well.

 

These three kinds of brightness are included in the six kinds of the spiritual openness in Buddhism. I have explained it in the Buddhist Scripture of A Brief Talk about The Scripture of Forty-Two Chapters Said by Buddha. If you are interested in understanding it, you can read the following linked article. Its link is as follows:

Chapter 15: Ask about the force and brightness

 

 

 

The brief introduce about the three kinds of brightness.

 

I briefly introduce these three kinds of brightness as follows:

 

The brightness of heavenly eye

 

The brightness of heavenly eye: In the common dramas, novels and cartoons, especially in the classic and traditional Chinese dramas, it is called the third eye of human. If you have seen the image and its content, you might have the concept about what it is and what its function is. The heavenly eye means that it allows you to see what's going on in the distance about the people and things you care about, or any people and any things that need you to care about.

 

The brightness of experienced and predestined destinies

 

The brightness of experienced and predestined destinies: Its meaning and function are the same as the spiritual openness of perceiving fate. That is, someone who owns this power is capable to understand and see the past and the future destiny of the self and any person who you care about. In Buddhism, the destiny usually means the cause and condition, and the causality, and the reward of good result (the repay of good consequence), the retribution of bad result, and the response of the effect. In Buddhist Scripture, it records that the Buddha Shakyamuni always used this power to perceive his disciple’s destiny or human’s destiny so as to give his disciples and the sentient beings the correct teaching and to enlighten them to realize the meaning of Buddha-nature at the same time. The meaning and function of the brightness of experienced and predestined destinies is different from that of the fortune telling.  In Taiwan and China, the fortune telling always involves the meaning and concept of the Buddhism so as to offer the helpful advices and help people to change their fate and to make them be the good persons.

 

The brightness of leak-ended

 

The brightness of leak-ended: The word Leak is the analogy of troubles, worries and sufferings in Buddhism. In the Buddhist Scripture, it records that the Buddha Shakyamuni mentioned the word Having-Leak and the word No-leak. The word Having-Leak means to have the troubles, worries and sufferings. The word No-leak means to completely eliminate or remove any worries and sufferings. The state of a Buddha is ending the leak completely. That is, a Buddha is in the state of no-leak. The other meaning for the brightness of leak-ended is that a Buddha is capable to clearly know and perceive the other person whether to achieve the brightness of leak-ended or not when this person has achieved the leak-ended brightness.

 

From above explanation, we understand why the Buddha is in the state of no-leak. That is because no-leak is based on no five poisons and no related negative thoughts, mindsets and actions. All troubles, worries and sufferings are caused by the five poisons and the related negative thoughts, mindsets and actions of the self and the others. Therefore, if we want to resolve any problems, it is better for us to resolve any fundamental causes.

 

Conclusion

 

Now we know that when our thoughts, mindsets and actions are clearly clean as what had taught by the Buddha, and when we have achieved the Buddhahood, we naturally own the three kinds of the brightness as mentioned. Above is what and why I translate and explain the word Brightness-Action-Feet. When we have completely understood the meaning of the ten titles about Buddha, we will know that all of them are connected with each other. 

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.  

 

One of the Ten Titles about Buddha -- Should-Make-Offerings

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu

  

The Meaning of Should-Make-Offerings

The word Should-Make-Offerings means that the completely practicing and enlightened Tathagata is full of complete virtue and merit, and thus is full of the ability to teach, save and reform the all beings which are included the beings in heaven, so as to liberate all beings from sufferings of life and death. That is, Tathagata is qualified and adequate to hold the Buddha-vocation and that is why the Tathagata is worth to be made offerings by all beings. Therefore, it means that all beings should make offerings to the Tathagata. This all beings include the heavenly beings and the worldly humans.

Why it was called Should-Make-Offerings

Why it was 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.

 

Make offerings with the heart of respect and sincerity to the Buddha.   

When all beings make offerings to the Tathagata, they should have a heart of respect and sincerity to the Buddha and should have the voluntary will to do that, and there should not be such things of manipulation, coercion and intimidation or the any similar bad things. If there are some religious communities which makes you feel uncomfortable to make offerings to anyone or to be generous to the group, you should alert that there has been existed some problems and it must be something wrong in their inner group. In Buddha’s teaching, there are rightful and good notions of giving and being generous to all beings and to the Buddha. You will understand it by reading more the translated Buddhist scripture or following this blog. In a word, that we respect the Buddha is to respect yourself. 

To make offerings to the Tathagata is to make offerings to the all beings and to the self.

Eventually, in the deep teaching and meaning, to make offerings to the Tathagata is to make offerings to the all beings. At the same time, it is to make offerings to the self. That is any good repay will finally return to the self, including the invisible good things, such as healthy in mind and body, and keep harmony relationship with the family members, etc. Why? In the chapter 11 of Buddhist scripture” The Scripture of Forty-Two Chapters Said by Buddha”, I had ever explained the similar notion. The link is as followed if you are interested in understanding it: Chapter 11: Giving meals turns to victory

There is no Binary Opposition in mind for a person who has completely achieved the Buddhahood. 

 

In the profound teaching of Buddha, when a person has completely achieved the Buddhahood, there is no Binary Opposition in its mind. It is because that it has been enlightened and realized that its heart, all Buddhas’ heart and all beings’ heart are the one. That is, their nature is the same and is the one. What is the nature? It is the emptiness and silence. What the different is the appearance, the languages and form of their outside. Meanwhile, what the different is the time and process of the reincarnations, and the experience of life and death.

The Starting Point is to help all Beings to become Buddhas and the final purpose is to help us to achieve the Buddhahood.

 

When we practice the giving and being generous to others with the great compassionate and wisdom, we also practice to be no Binary Opposition with others. That is, we practice to realize what the nature of the self and the others is. At the same time, we practice to be the one with all Buddhas and all beings. That is, the starting point is to help all beings to become Buddhas and the final purpose is to help us to achieve the Buddhahood. This is to cultivate our great and generous mind. 

When we are learning Buddha, if we don’t understand this meaning, it would make us feel weird and feel that we are enforced to practice the giving. In a word, this is the more profoundly teaching of Buddha. Generally, for the beginner, the senior Master won’t tell you this point. Furthermore, many of junior Masters and the Master of little-boarding (Hinayana) even don’t understand this point.

In Buddhism, there is the personal cause and condition and outcome, which is rely on your own choice of a thought and your action, not rely on the manipulation from others and any ignorant people.

 

In Buddhism, the different master will take use of the different explanation to guide and teach you how to practice the giving. No matter what it is, you think it is reasonable, you can accept it and you do it, which is your choice. If you don’t accept it, it is also your choice. No one has the right to punish you if you choose to reject to give. If a good or upright Master teaches you to give alms, but you refuse it, it is only your personal choice of cause and effect, and it means that if you hope to become a Buddha, it is far away. That is, it needs to take you long time and your many worlds of lives to finally become a Buddha. 

If someone says that if you refuse to give, you will receive the retribution of bad karma and go to hell, which you have to be alert because there is an element of manipulation involved. In Buddhism, there is the personal cause and condition and outcome, which is rely on your own choice of a thought and your action, not rely on the manipulation from others and any ignorant people. When we learn the Buddha’s teaching, that is what we have to know. 

In Conclusion

Practicing the giving is the first and basic learning in Buddhism. Without this basic practicing, it is hardly for us to achieve the Buddhahood. Therefore, it is very important to understand the multiple meaning of giving in Buddhism and then to practice it actually.        

Patriotism creates barriers and binary oppositions and thus limits the thinking and creation of human beings.

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

I remember that when I was a little girl, we were instilled the ideology of patriotism at the elementary school, and at any time we were preparing for fighting with the enemy since we are in the martial law. Even the thought of Buddhism, it would be regarded as the violation of the ideology of patriotism. Why?

 

As I have mentioned, there is no enemy in the nature of Emptiness. In the body of Emptiness, there is no object, things, binary opposition, even any ideology. To have the ideology of patriotism is meant to be loyal to the country, and which is regarded as the right thought. However, in fact, the ideology of patriotism is to increase the hatred to the enemy. What so called "the enemy" which is always means that the person who disagrees with our ideology. So, the ideology of patriotism is hidden the binary opposition.

 

Such as ideology of binary opposition would make people narrow their mind and limit their thought and creation. In the history, I have found that a lot of people were instigated by the ideology of patriotism or the other, and were thus killed in the war. A lot of soldiers were illiteracy, and they might have force and courage, but were lack of brain. They were easy to be fooled by any ideology. If we go into the path of Buddha, the war is impossible to be existed, and people could not die innocently.

 

Secondly, the ideology of patriotism is to draw a line in our heart, to differentiate any persons and any things, which would increase the conflict and argument from person to person, and would increase the fighting from country to country. So, if human beings own the intelligence and wisdom enough, the ideology of patriotism or nationalism should be removed. All people in the world are equal to each other. It is better to destroy the intangible line of one country and the other country.