【Description】
In the opening chapter of The Diamond Sutra, Subhuti asked the Buddha a question: “How do these great practitioners of the arhat level maintain their compassion and bodhi heart?”
Through expanding upon the Buddha’s answer to this question, Grandmaster JinBodhi teaches everyone an important mentality for self-cultivation and how to broaden your mind, strengthen your commitment and improve your state through practice.
Listening to Grandmaster JinBodhi’s teaching may inspire you to become the next bodhisattva in this world.
【You will learn】
- How to broaden the mind and increase compassion
- How to make a habit of being compassionate and craving nothing
【Featured aphorisms】
- If you only work to obtain something, you have an “exchange mentality” like an ordinary person. When doing good deeds becomes your natural habit, and you help others without thought of reward, you’ve become a real enlightened bodhisattva with real commitment.
【Content】
There is a part of The Diamond Sutra in this Bodhi Meditation Sutra Collection. Subhuti was the Buddha’s elder disciple. Subhuti asked, “How do arhats and great practitioners stay compassionate and keep striving toward enlightenment?” The Buddha’s answer is a deep, valuable teaching.
Be thankful to fate that you have the luck to listen to this today. What you hear today might be the force that transforms your life. What he said has enlightened bodhisattvas who have vowed to enlighten all sentient beings. “All beings, be they mortal, Divine or otherworldly, can be enlightened. Regardless of your ability to become so, you should have the thought of becoming so. Your heart should be as broad as the Universe. That broadmindedness will contain everything and it’s the key to all great achievements.”
Subhuti asked, “Do these great practitioners earn merits from doing so many good deeds?” “None at all.” That is the Buddha’s answer. Why? Because if you are doing it to earn merits, then you are not enlightened enough. You are not a qualified arhat. To be an arhat, you must help people without thinking of earning anything. You help people naturally, without thinking. What is this? You make a habit of helping others.
If you are helping a girl because she is pretty, then something is wrong with you. You don’t deserve the title of arhat. If you help others for a return, then it is an exchange. This is a layman’s thought. You should help people because they need help. You help people without thinking, for no reason. Make a habit of being compassionate.
Doing good deeds should be a habit. A real awakened mind asks for nothing in return. That is what a real bodhisattva is like. This is the mental state you should try to achieve; it is the mental state of a buddha and bodhisattva.
You have heard my teaching today. No matter how much you have understood, you should have been moved while listening to me. As long as you remember what I have just said, you will benefit from my teaching.