(For example, in everyday life, sometimes a thought arises, then greed, hatred, delusion, arrogance, and doubt arise; things like wealth, sex, fame, and profit, and anger arises too… Everything is impermanent; I can’t bear that force… it’s just a whole pile of troubles.) Before we attain enlightenment, there is, in fact, a self in us. … Read more
(I said, “You often find fault with others. For example, you see someone acting selfishly, making demands, and not giving anything in return. Why do you keep staring at what is bad about that person?” He said, “Of course. Being selfless is better than being selfish.” His framework is still there: being selfish is wrong.) … Read more
The ultimate perfection of Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings lies in the perfection of wisdom: in gaining Prajna Wisdom, the wisdom of emptiness. Yet up to now, our understanding of this wisdom has come mostly from the scriptures. Many people cannot understand the scriptures; they can only explain the words by the words. Some teachers explain them … Read more
(I feel that, on the one hand, this is good for the body, while on the other hand, our compassion must not diminish. But when you look at that whatever it is on the table, you eat while thinking, “Sinful, sinful.”) Then learn some methods for helping beings cross over, and help them cross over. … Read more
(Actually, what I am about to talk about is still narrow. It has no meaning; it is still narrow.) He cannot play with you—how could he? The only thing he can play with is your self: you think he has embarrassed you, or made you uncomfortable, or that you have been embarrassed. But how could … Read more
So you compete fairly, right? Some people may use somewhat underhanded tactics. If you feel you can’t do that, then losing is no big deal. Some things are our bottom line; even if that means we lose, we can’t do them, right? Some people can. (Even if you lose, sometimes that may not be a … Read more
Love is like this: different people understand love differently. When you mention love, everyone imagines romantic love between men and women, or something else. Because you are sentient beings, you listen to reality with a heart full of emotion and desire, with a samsaric heart concerned with life and death. Whatever the expression, there is … Read more
It’s not that you have to get rid of all those things from the very beginning; you do have to see through them. When you see through them, you’ll feel at ease whether you pick something up or put it down. If you’re not at ease, you’re certainly trapped there. Say you want to do … Read more
There are many, many Dharma doors in Buddhism. You often see many Dharma Teachers in Shenzhen or elsewhere teaching various Dharma doors and methods. Buddhism is said to have 84,000 Dharma doors—there are simply too many; even drinking tea and eating are Dharma doors. In fact, anything that can reach into you and prompt your … Read more
(You must break ego-clinging to truly return to emptiness. Once you cling to appearances, my problems, my marriage… the problems never end.) Yes, you keep transmigrating, lifetime after lifetime; your problems can never all be solved. As long as there is a self, the problems are there and can never be solved. How do you … Read more
