【Description】
How best to solve problems? How can you achieve a happy and prosperous life? It’s not easy to change your fate, but there is always a way out of every situation. According to Grandmaster JinBodhi, compassion is the only way to alter your fate for the better.
Grandmaster JinBodhi breaks down the meaning of compassion and provides specific methods to implement it in daily life.
As long as you listen to his teaching carefully, not only can you get rid of all kinds of pain and trouble and improve your destiny, you can even elevate your mental state and ultimately reach enlightenment.
【You will learn】
- The benefits of compassion
- How to improve interpersonal relationships
- How to maintain compassion
【Featured aphorisms】
- People with low intelligence always look at others’ weaknesses; people with high intelligence can always see others’ strengths.
- Those who have empathy and praise others are never cunning or pretentious; they are respectful, understanding, and give the gift of happiness.
- Compassion can make an imperfect person perfect.
- When you deeply integrate compassion into your life, the world starts to change, and your behaviors also start to change.
【Content】
Hello everyone. (Hello Master.)
The teachings at this retreat are from a macro view and are closely related to understanding fate, health, prosperity, appearance, happiness, accomplishments, and enlightenment. If we understand the world, we can better control our thoughts and actions.
To reach a true state of enlightenment, illumination, and health in body and mind, we should know about the world. Your illness will surely be gone. We can also gain wisdom so we won’t make mistakes or transgress. We don’t know about the world and our inner self. We don’t know about ourselves or others. How can we get along with others? As long as we engage with others, problems arise. This is because we lack knowledge.
Now, if we learn more, we will understand. If we want to resolve issues regarding our fate or transform our suffering into a happy, prosperous fate, we need this knowledge. Anyone want to have an unfortunate fate? Raise your hand. There are none. Anyone want to have a happy, auspicious fate? Raise your hand. At this moment, you should raise your hand bravely. That’s right.
How can we improve our fate? I have done lots of research. I started from belief in nothing, to benefiting from this law of the Way. By truly observing rationally, and experiencing it, I concluded: There is no other way. Only compassion can transform us and our fate. Let compassion be our master. This is the only way we can transform ourselves. Otherwise, we can’t.
If we are unlucky, we find a feng shui master to add two pots of flowers or stones, or do a magic drawing in our room. That only works temporarily. If you have had bad luck or bad energy lately, what is bad luck or energy? It is the negative karma which you have inherited. If someone uses a way to delay bad energy, it hasn’t disappeared. It is like a human-shaped balloon. You pinch it to push the air to the torso or limbs, but the air is still inside.
Your karmic debts are still in your body. They haven’t disappeared. It is only a temporary painkiller. It is like a doctor giving you painkillers without asking exactly where the pain is as long as it helps. What if your headache is caused by a liver problem, or negative emotions, or endocrine disorders during menstruation? The painkillers may stop the pain, but the illness remains.
We should deal with the root cause of illness. Right? Let’s visualize a river that floods farmland. In the past, when men weren’t so wise, some suggested they block the water by building a large barricade. Is this a good method? (No.) The force of the water as it rises breaks the barricade, and people die. Ancient wise people said the river couldn’t be blocked. We can only lead the river to change course by creating a stream. If there’s too much water in summer, make 3 streams. We need to lead its course, not block it.
With a headache, you only treat the head, but that may not be the best way. Maybe medically there isn’t a way to cure the root cause of the illness. Thus, only treat the head. But we hope to find the root cause of illness. We want to attain great health, illumination, and wisdom. Don’t let the trivial things, the stress of investment risks and personal relationships become obstacles in life. They can lead to depression and even death. Thus, when root causes are not found, trouble arises.
How many people past their 60s still invest and lose everything? Some couples past their 70s still fight with each other daily. That is not joy but suffering. Can they still be in good health? Impossible. If people aren’t happy, they don’t look good. Why do I say a couple who fights were enemies in their past lives? Why do they fight if they are not enemies? Why don’t they divorce if they are not happy together? They still have love for each other. But when they get together, one party always wants to turn the other into their captive or robot. One party believes the other is their creation.
Many women treat their husbands like their child after they have had children. His ideas come from her. His ability is molded by her. When he made a fortune, it is the result of her blessings. His charisma is her work. He is handsome and charismatic, but can’t seduce others. His good looks are hers only to admire, but then when others don’t appreciate it, she is depressed.
If we want to solve all issues regarding our body, health, or life, most importantly, we need to be compassionate. Sometimes, we believe we are compassionate. Going from no relationship to dating, how can we love another person without being compassionate? That would be selfish love, greed, or desire.
In establishing this kind of relationship, one becomes unkind and mean. The partner has to be “created” by her or is her puppet. He has to listen to her orders; otherwise, she will torture him. His mind is encoded by his partner and his behaviors are controlled. He becomes a super robot. He should be rich, handsome, and able to cook. Her man must be handsome and overbearing. He also should know martial arts with powerful kung fu. All this is rightfully hers.
This isn’t love, but domination or control. He is like a chess piece. He doesn’t control his own actions. A chess piece has no legs and is controlled by the player. This isn’t kindness or compassion but viciousness.
Compassion transforms fate and allows people to gain health and wisdom, and solve all afflictions in life.
If we are truly compassionate, what qualities should we have? Let’s list them. They may not be in order and I may miss a few. True compassion lets us love others, like a mother cares for her baby. It includes being caring, tolerant, sincere, loving, and understanding. 30 years ago, there was a catch phrase, “Hooray for mutual understanding”. Understanding others is hard to achieve, but we can start by being aware of it.
Domineering partners often don’t care for the other party’s needs. They cook whatever they like to eat, not the others’ favorite food. However, people who are understanding consider others’ needs. What do their wives or children like to eat? They will want to cook the food everyone likes to eat. This is kindness and understanding of others. This way of thinking shows consideration, understanding, and caring.
Conversely, a selfish husband and father hides food so the children can’t find it. From this incident, we see the level of his mental state, his speech, behavior, outlook, and values. His children leave home as soon as possible. None of them become successful. They make trouble to avenge the father who actually caused this. Although it is wrong for children to avenge, they don’t know how to behave.
We should be understanding of others, able to see their good points, and praise them. The slow-witted often find others’ shortcomings. Actually, everyone has their own imperfections. Our body is imperfect, so is our knowledge. The slow-witted often find others’ shortcomings. Intelligent people focus on others’ strengths.
What can we do? Try our best to look for and praise others’ strengths. If people are praised in the early morning, in that second, they are filled with happy energy for the day. Their performance that day will be great. If employees are praised by bosses or supervisors, “Wow! You are wonderful”, or if girls are praised, “You are so beautiful”, they won’t tire even if they work hard all day. However wise people are, they all like to be praised.
Those who often offer praise are intelligent, if the praise isn’t for making sales or getting money from their mother. A female practitioner’s daughter sent her 3 messages saying “I love you”. She thought, “She is being sweet with other intentions, she is probably out of money”. Salespeople say, “You look beautiful and your skin is beautiful” for more sales. The praise I mention isn’t for the purposes of personal gain or making money.
In our daily life, people who often praise others have a high IQ and EQ. Their brains work 10 times faster than normal people. It is wisdom. We, the slow-witted, often see others’ weak points. You have finally found a partner with a nice nose, but you say, “Your nose is so pointed, like a turnip.” That is because you don’t know how to communicate with kindness. Someone intends to praise, but the words spoken are hurtful.
To be able to praise is very important. The mom who received the daughter’s message still gave her money. She would give $1,500 if the daughter asked for $1,000, each praise worth $500. Without the praise, the daughter would probably get $200. This happens even between mothers and daughters.
I remember many years ago, a female practitioner, 66 at the time, had age spots on her face and hands. Cantonese people have a habit of eating an extra late night meal, especially when together with friends. After class, they would take me out for a late night meal. A few times, it was this senior female practitioner who took me along with others, always to the same restaurant.
The first few times, a young waiter served us. “Grandma, you are here”, he greeted. This 66-year-old lady asked, “Who is Grandma?” When paying the $60 bill, one of us said, “Give $10 more.” She didn’t give any more because he had called her “Grandma.”
One day, we went to the same restaurant, but at a different time. This time, there was a waitress, who was a local. She said to the 66-year-old, “Miss, you look so beautiful.” “Such a wise girl. Here is $20.” Before paying the bill, she had already given a tip. Realizing this trick worked miraculously, the waitress said, “Miss, what would you like today?” “Master, look, this girl’s voice sounds so beautiful.” Another $10 tip.
Receiving praise pleased this 66-year-old lady. In fact, it is not cunning. Praise empowers people. Praise energizes people. When she came to the restaurant, her legs were not so agile. Later when she left, she almost could have strutted in heels. Nothing had changed, she was just so elated to receive praise. Thus, praise is very important. Praise is an act of high IQ and EQ.
However, don’t praise the wrong way. We need some comprehensive knowledge. Please be aware of the importance of praising. I won’t teach you how to praise. This act arises from compassion.
Next is gentleness. There are many aspects regarding gentleness. What we say, our voice and movements should be gentle. There is a restaurant in Vancouver where noodles are a specialty. The waitress knew me. When I came, I surely ordered noodles. Though she knew me and was polite, she would almost throw the bowl down before me. How did she greet me? Patted my shoulder hard and said, “Brother, here you are.”
A fellow practitioner asked me, “Master, is she your sister?” If she was my sister, I would be very happy, I wouldn’t have any worries. She was very masculine. When happy, she would give me another pat. “Master, why do you let her continue patting you so hard?” I said, “It is ok, I practiced a martial arts called Golden Shield, I can take it.” Putting the bowl down hard on the table was a nice gesture. For a stranger, she would almost throw the bowl in his face. These are the familiar mannerisms of our countrymen. She created too much noise.
She was born in a cold region, Northeast China. She was nice. I knew her for a few years. After we were more familiar, I asked her, “Do you have a boyfriend?” Actually, the first time, I asked what I shouldn’t have, “Are you married?” She said no, put her hands on her waist and one foot on a chair. “No one likes my style”, she said. She was a strong, tough girl. I said, “True. The only person who would like you would be a blacksmith.”
In fact, I praised her, “You have a good figure, and you are beautiful.” However, her personality was rough and she acted recklessly. What did she lack? She needed to come to our classes. She had no family upbringing to teach her how to be gentle. Her father was a stonemason and her mother a butcher. When they quarreled, her dad would pick up a hammer. Her mother would grab a knife. They competed to see who was tougher. So, when this girl spoke or was happy, she would put her foot on a chair.
Our upbringings create good- or bad-mannered people. She lacked training and education. If someone told her, “Girl, if you behave this way, no man will like you”, she would immediately take her foot down. When I became more familiar with her, I said, “Girl, be gentle when putting down the bowl.” She asked, “How?” I showed her, “This way.” She said, “That is way too slow. I can’t stand it.” I replied, “But your customer will feel more comfortable.” She said, “I am not used to it.” I said, “If you behave this way, someone may like you.” “Really? Then I will try to learn to put the bowl down gently.” I can’t find the girl in that restaurant now. She may have gotten married.
If we are only kind in our heart, it is not enough. We need to express ourselves. A female practitioner married a Caucasian who was very polite. One day, her mother told me, “My son-in-law learned a few Chinese sentences for the sake of my visit. “When he speaks, it is with Western etiquette. Why is he so polite? “Every morning, he greets me with ‘good morning’. What was good? It was rather cold.”
Her mother thought this way: “It was cold outside. Why did he say ‘Good morning’? He is hypocritical.” I told her daughter to tell her husband not to say “good morning” to her. Later on, the mom came to me. “My son-in-law doesn’t greet me.” I said, “You miss that, right?” I told her daughter to tell her husband to continue saying “good morning” to her mom. Then things returned to normal. “They are living in peace now.” In fact, there is nothing wrong with the son-in-law.
Civility can indeed make us happy. When this elderly lady came here, she wasn’t used to her son-in-law’s morning greeting. When he stopped greeting her in the morning, she truly missed it. She thought being polite was a good thing. She felt comforted. In the end, the elderly lady praised her son-in-law. “Being married for over 30 years, my husband has never praised me. Now my son-in-law praises me every day.” I said to her, “Watch out, do not fall in love with your son-in-law.” She said, “My daughter loves him, so I love him too.” I said, “You are doing the right thing.”
He knows how to praise others. Praising and understanding others are good qualities. Being so isn’t hypocritical, but is respectful and brings others joy. When others are happy because you praise them, they will praise you in their hearts or even outwardly. You will be blessed by a person’s praise. Why do I say “blessed”? Giving praise is not an ordinary sentence. You will be full of happiness. It is very important.
Qualities of compassion are caring, tolerance, sincerity, love, praise, understanding, and gentleness. Compassion also creates creativity. In ancient and modern times, stories of compassion that cause creativity to arise are numerous.
When a girl becomes a mother, she becomes so capable. Before giving birth, she may have been weak or ill. After giving birth, she can hold a baby and even carries all necessities. Diapers in one hand and a stroller in the other, she can take a train, a plane, or a boat to travel. Moreover, she can look after both husband and baby, and save money. She changed from a weak girl to one with great capabilities. This is the result of love, or the power of love.
The power of love fosters creativity, leadership, and strong communication skills. This love is compassion. Compassion produces limitless possibilities. Compassion allows a person’s voice to become pleasant. Giving love or receiving love makes you look beautiful. A girl in love looks entirely different from one experiencing a breakup. In which state does she look more beautiful? Definitely when she is In love. She lives in happiness daily, that is why. Closing her eyes, she can recall the happiness of being together. Missing him is also a joy, and gives her energy. Thus, she has become beautiful.
People who love others are gentle, warm, generous, tolerant, understanding, and compassionate. They like to praise others. They like to help all disadvantaged people. These people sound perfect, right? Actually, compassion allows an imperfect person to become perfect. Thus, compassion transforms our look, personality, temper, and weaknesses.
Compassion can be extended to a larger and wider range. It is great compassion. It is like a loving mother’s great love. What do we love? First, love this world, the sky, sunshine, the earth, rivers, mountains, trees, grass, and flowers. Most importantly, love all people. At the least, we have no hostility toward others. We are compassionate. We should help people and have love and empathy towards them. We should love animals too.
Once this loving heart truly arises, and is integrated into our life, We can slowly start to observe it. From now on, with this loving heart, you will notice your palms and soles turning softer. Second, we find that small animals like to be near us. Some people are disliked by small animals. When small animals see them, they run away. Most wild animals run away whether we are compassionate or not, but they will come back and get near us after a while.
Small animals like cats and dogs will touch us with their tails. This means they like us. I visited a fellow practitioner in Taiwan twice. She had had a cat for over 10 years. She had a husband and two children. Whenever she was home, the cat wouldn’t go to anyone but her. She treated the cat better than anyone else, so the cat liked to be with her. If she sat on the couch, the cat sat on her lap. Because of this, her daughter and husband were jealous of her. “Why doesn’t the cat come to us, just to you?”
After I visited her home, she became jealous of me. After I arrived at her home, we chatted. The cat rubbed against me and then jumped onto my lap. She was very surprised, as the cat had never sat on a stranger’s lap before. I told her not to be surprised. When you have compassion, though small animals can’t speak, their intuition is strong. They know it is safe and comfortable to be near you. I had no food and I didn’t know there was a cat in her home. I was just passing by and dropped in at her request. I didn’t prepare anything for the cat. This little animal just approached me.
Animals will run away from those who often kill. In the past, I met a person who was good at killing snakes. He worked as a chef in a restaurant. Once, we were practicing together in a park. He drove his daughter to join us. Birds, peacocks and other small animals all ran away when they saw him. I realized he emitted a strong killing aura. Over to the side, a snake was gliding in the stream. Suddenly it became alert and quickly hid in the water. It was so scared.
All creatures will escape from those who have a strong killing aura. Those with compassion are popular among people and animals. Thus, we should love this world, being one with this world. Gradually, we gain this skill by practicing. For now, we first cultivate this concept. When compassion is deeply one with our life, our world starts to change. All our behaviors start to transform.
Compassion creates beautiful things and transforms the world.
Some say it is easy to get along with strangers, but not at all with business colleagues and family members. We need to understand and learn this teaching in depth. Family and colleagues are related to you in terms of personal interests. When personal interests are involved, can you still be compassionate? When your supervisors take credit for your work, can you still be compassionate and gentle towards them? If you can, that is real compassion. If you are angry and furious, you haven’t learned to be compassionate. Thus, you will be unhappy.
You are so used to being with your family. If they attack you with words, you will talk back. If you are offended, you attack. If you are cursed, you curse back. If you are hit, you may not hit back, but curse multiple times. These people are common and ordinary. When we use compassion, our feelings and family relationships will start to change in that instant.
When someone scolds you, you just praise with compassion. If your mother-in-law says, “Why did you put so much salt in the dish? How many times did I tell you this? Don’t you know I have bronchitis? You cook this way even for your mom?” Hearing this scolding, in the past, you might have said, “Who cares? Starve to death if you don’t want to eat.” You were so angry after being scolded. You may have talked even harsher. Or you may have said, “I am really sorry. I will do better.” Right away, you make another dish with less salt.
If you retaliate, you cook another dish with no salt. This is wrong. You are not improving, just looking for a fight. You are annoyed. Your anger isn’t released. You are still hostile. If you are sincere, you would cook another dish and ask her to try it again. See how your mother-in-law responds. Would she ask why you cook so well? It is impossible, right? She expresses her anger, but you don’t have to receive it. When you are gentle with her, her anger will be gone.
However, she is used to complaining. After a few days, she forgets and complains again. It starts with you opening a door in the winter. “You want me to catch a cold?” You reply gently, “Sorry Mom. I forgot.” You hurry to close the door. “Now do you feel better?” You even put a sweater around her. See if she is still angry with you. Her anger is gone. You truly respect her. She gradually realizes you are nice and more obedient than her daughter. “My married daughter is not with me, but my daughter-in-law is around.”
It is nice. Finally, she accepts you as her daughter. Regarding family conflicts, it takes 2 to dance. Understanding is needed. Differences in cultures and upbringing can cause conflicts. You play an instrument, while someone else chops cabbage. You are interrupting each other. This is when understanding each other is crucial. Loud chopping interrupts your playing. You change the time you play. He is cooking and makes good food for you. If you understand, it is a good thing, right?
If not, you will be in conflict. “When I am playing music, you interrupt me. You don’t like my music?” If the other really likes to listen, would he make a loud noise? No matter how well you play, if the other party can’t accept it, it is his culture and upbringing. What should you do? Comply and accept. Or find an opportunity to take him to a performance. At a performance, he will think, “Wow, it is such beautiful music.” He will start to appreciate music produced by this instrument. From appreciating music, he starts to appreciate you.
We first learn to accept. Couples especially need to accept each other. 2 people growing up in the same environment can’t get married. The more differences, the more suitable for a couple to marry. Why do we use the word “hun” in “jiehun” (get married)? “Hun” means confusion. Being confused makes one marry easily. With a clear mind, it is harder for one to get married. The clearer the mind, the more painful for a couple to be together.
Imagine if Zhuge Liang married Caocao, what would happen? These 2 people might only live for 3 days. They would murder each other. They were too clear-minded, detailed, and insidious. If you want to get married, marry someone who isn’t too “clear-minded”. They will easily forget what they said or did. Often, being confused can keep the marriage going. “Confused” means not taking things so seriously. It is good to remember this or write it down.
Some fellow practitioners are very clear-minded. I know a couple who both have a PhD. I asked the lady, “Who initiated the date between you and your husband?” Both of them were with me. The lady was smart. “At 9am, January 23, 1992, he came to our home and my mom opened the door. He wore white gloves, a white scarf and a white cap.” Wow, she remembered so clearly. What about the first date? “After 9pm on March 28.”
She had a very good memory. Her child would be a genius. How could they live together? With such a good memory, one would remember all afflictions. One can get depressed with such a good memory, right? Those who don’t practice enough have a good memory. I am sorry, I should correct my statement. I am confused too. Is a good memory the result of good practice or not?
Why have I spoken so much about how to get along with others? We always have to get along with others. Whether graceful, poor, cultured or not, you always need help from others. If you get along well with others, you will have lots of happiness. If not, you will have few friends. I believe your happiness will be halved. If just 2 of you stay together and are familiar with each other, I am not sure how much happiness you will find. Your life may be dull.
People need the support of friends who aren’t family. It is a necessary part of our life. Sometimes, you can’t talk about things with family, but you can with friends. After a good talk, you will feel better. Friends can also help resolve your problems if you tell them. In ancient China, in the community of martial arts or gangs, a song was popular. “A hero needs 3 people to help him.” A fence needs 3 posts; 3 people are needed to help a hero become a hero. It’s a song about brotherhood.
Don’t make a fuss. Let’s be serious. People need the help of friends or others. Often, at home, we rely on parents. outside the home, we need friends. We are all in such a community. We all need friends. This is so true. However, sometimes, friends are unreliable. But without friends, we can do nothing.
Whether you have reliable friends depends on your moral character. One can be cheated, but they don’t cheat others. People who are cheated are simple hearted, those who cheat are just cheaters. Take heed: Don’t cheat because you have been cheated. Remember this. You curse others because you have been scolded. This is ignorance. All of us need more friends. If our family and friends love and trust us, it is so easy for us to succeed.
Whatever profession you are in, if you have got the support of friends and family, your life will be successful. If you are a real estate agent, your friends trust you when buying a house. You will become rich, right? When you have a problem, all will come to help. This is turning misfortune into fortune. Having friends is very important.
Getting along with family and friends requires tolerance and caring. This encompasses many qualities. Another quality is giving. That word isn’t often used by friends. If you always ask your friends for help, like moving or paying for dinner, if you always ask others to serve you, and you don’t serve them, you will have no friends. So, you need to give. To get along well with friends, help them during difficult times. At these times, when others step away, you are around to help. Then you will be a truly prosperous person.
When everyone believes your business will fail, and you continue because it is the right thing to do, you surely won’t fail and will instead make money. If everyone believes your business will succeed, you may not earn money. If everyone believes it will make a fortune, I don’t think you will have the opportunity. Thus, to get along with friends, we need to give more. That is why we need to use a more solemn word which is “giving”. This form of “giving” is our utmost willingness to give to others.
Usually, people get paid for their time and effort. If I work for you, you pay me $20 or $80 per hour. I receive for what I have given, which is only fair! In North America, an hour of work earns money, right? You work 8 hours a day, and you get paid for 8 hours. Please remember that is the relationship between you and your employer. However, with friends, we need to do the opposite. Give more, and don’t ask for anything in return to become a noble person. You will have many friends. You benefit in the end, helping others is helping ourselves.
Compassion allows us to gain a healthy, joyful, and happy life.
When we discuss this important quality of compassion, our entire body is relaxed, absorbing and connecting with the compassionate energy. In terms of health and wisdom, this is really beneficial to us. When we are discussing these truths, we are not meditating. However, it is more important than meditation. It surely helps us.
As to whether we should be compassionate, people’s opinions vary. A decade ago, I helped a young man. We discussed building a larger center to help more people. We will provide free meals so everyone can enjoy. If we could, we would help disadvantaged people. This young man was angry. “Why should we spend money to help strangers? If we believe in fate, they deserve their suffering. They should experience suffering. Why should we help them?” he asked.
You would be angry and annoyed if you heard his words. I was. Later, I pondered, “Yes, maybe he is right.” Each person does have their own fate. There is a reason for their poverty. They could be lazy, cunning, have broken promises, or didn’t work hard. For whatever reasons, they are poor and homeless today. So we need to help them. This is compassion.
If we take away the superficial images of major world religions, at their core, it is all about compassion. These world religions would be abandoned if there wasn’t compassion within. However advanced today’s technology is, it can’t become faith. It is just the knowledge and products of a certain time. As time passes, they become outdated. When the 1st and 2nd generation of computers came out, they quickly sold out. Now, they became obsolete and were discarded.
However, compassion will never become outdated. In different phases of our lives, we need guidance and help. Be it financially or in relationships. Many people don’t receive such help. Many encounter obstacles. They are helpless and have no way out. Thus, those who frequently help others rely on compassion as a support. How does compassion everlastingly support us and become one with our life? How do we embrace compassion consistently in our hearts? Actually, it is truly difficult.
After listening to today’s teaching, you seem to have understood. You may start practicing compassion at home. That is good and right. But if one day you discovered you were cheated of your kindness, love, and money when co-partnering a business with your best friend, how would you feel? You would probably feel tricked by your compassion. You think you shouldn’t have been so compassionate and kind to others. You conclude that you won’t believe any teachings about being compassionate. Striving for success leads you to victory. The fittest survive. This is what the world is like.
You will become even more selfish, believing nobody. After breaking up, some choose to stay single due to having trust issues. There is a song that says, “Women cannot be trusted.” That is wrong. What about your mother? He said, “My mother is bad too. She ran away from home.” There must be a reason she ran away, right? If home life is good, no one wants to run away. After we learn more details, we find specific reasons.
Thus, don’t abandon your highest mental realm. Others cheat, harm, and scold you, but you don’t do the same to anyone. We need to love society more. We should be accountable and keep our promises. Do not cheat others. Be a compassionate, kind person. Don’t abandon your highest mental state even though you were hurt. Being compassionate is the pillar of your strength. Stay compassionate no matter what happens. Strive to be of the most noble character. Be determined. Otherwise, you will become an ordinary person.
Ordinary people don’t live a good life. Even if there is no problem, they will create one just to feel annoyed. Some don’t lack money, as their husband earns a lot. Are these husbands praised at home? Please express your opinions, husbands. When you work hard and earn money, your wife nags you daily because you are never home. When you stay home for 2 years, she says, “If you stay home, I will go insane.” Right?
Whatever changes occur, we must remain kind. These aren’t the truths that support us. What are the truths? The Six Perfections, which are scientific methods. There are 3 important points: faith, a vow, action. Faith is believing. From sincere belief, faith arises. Faith is the highest spiritual pursuit. When there are details you don’t understand, don’t doubt them.
Say you come to learn from me, and I tell you to run an errand, instead of doing so, you keep asking why. Some disciples won’t go unless I explain the reason clearly. Are they good students? They would ask why, who needs it, who pays. If these aren’t explained clearly, they won’t go. Are they correct to do so? That is not belief or faith but doubt.
Sometimes, we don’t understand the real truth. We don’t understand what the deities are thinking. Like a patient who is given a prescription, if the doctor didn’t clearly explain the purpose of the medication, the patient wouldn’t buy it. Then the patient would be forced to take the medications. His brain is damaged and he is seriously ill.
Faith, a vow, and action. Start with belief, then faith. Turn faith into the highest life pursuit. A vow means to set a goal for yourself. Some say they want to build a meditation center, or to be an enlightened practitioner, or to help 10,000 people in this lifetime, or to fund and build 10 schools to help poor kids. Some vow to make offerings to a certain number of practitioners. These are all vows or wishes. Some want to become American presidents. There are no right or wrong wishes or vows. After making a vow, take action. What do you do to fulfill your vow?
Those who frequently help others rely on compassion as a support. Support compassion through faith, a vow, and action.
The Six Perfections are most important in supporting our compassion. First is giving. To be a compassionate person, learn to give. Give without expecting anything in return. Be it money, possessions, strength, or wisdom, all are ways to give. You give without asking for anything in return. This is foremost to be a compassionate person. Making money isn’t easy. Giving money and possessions isn’t easy either. This is being truly compassionate. Then there are those who give even though they are not wealthy. They give to people in need. What fate do these people have? The fate of prosperity.
Second is keeping the precepts. Keeping the precepts means persisting in your belief. Refrain from things we shouldn’t do. Why is keeping the precepts a form of persistence? Gambling or taking drugs just a few times is enough to ruin us. It benefits us when we give, practice diligently, help others, exercise more, praise others, spread happiness, and even read more. Keeping the precepts means refraining from all the things you shouldn’t do. Persistence is the key.
Third is tolerance. Its range is extensive. When someone is jealous of you, mocks you, humiliates you, scolds you, or gossips about you, what do you do? Be tolerant. It is a kind of acceptance. Our ability to face praise or criticism is important. Tolerance trains our ability to bear these things. Without the ability to bear, we can’t tolerate.
If we don’t have tolerance, don’t even think about meditation, and we will never become enlightened. If we can only accept praise, but can’t take insults, attacks, or being mocked and ridiculed, we aren’t mature or grown up. Like a seedling, we can’t withstand storms and are easily beaten down. Thus, we must train ourselves to accept these, so we are undisturbed when adversities arrive.
Landslides are common in Taiwan. When a landslide happens while driving, you need to escape quickly, or else you will be covered by dirt and suffocate. Is there anyone who wouldn’t try to get out of harm’s way? Yes, there are. They are martyrs. I am not sure whether we should praise this spirit or not. I am usually not so strong. Seeing a landslide, just run. Why wait for death? Right? I still want to eat noodles in the evening. I am not like those who confront landslides. They waste their energy. I want to cherish this earthly life.
Tolerance is not only humiliation. There are 2 parts to it. There are 4 types of praise and 4 types of humiliation.
Another one is diligence. Have you worked diligently at your job? Have you tried your best to realize your vows? You are sleeping when you should be practicing. You planned to get up at 5am. Then you slept 5 more minutes, and got up at 8:05am. That is laziness. You can’t become enlightened. Excellence arises from diligence; laziness ruins its success.
Ladies love to look great, right? But, not many heavy-set ladies are diligent. I am sorry, my words will get me in trouble for sure. 100 paces after a meal are encouraged, but they don’t take one step. When eating, note the amount of food intake. They may be careless, eat more than needed, and their belly becomes big. Vegetables and meat turn to fat after they are eaten. How could the calories get used up? Thus you put on weight.
We put on weight when we aren’t aware of what we eat. The more we eat, the less we want to move. We are too lazy to move our hands, feet, mouth, and eyes. Some are genetically heavy, but many can’t control their food intake. Some don’t exercise after eating, so they become obese. As I talk about this, I want everyone to be alert and diligent. Then you will lose excess weight. Your body shape will soon be like mine. Sorry, I gave a wrong example. Soon, your body shape will become beautiful. Diligence is very important. We mean diligent practice.
Another important thing is meditation. Meditation means chanting to the buddhas, chanting mantras, The Meditation of Greater Illumination, having a clear mind. In ancient classics, meditation was called “Brahmacarya”, a Sanskrit word. What does “Brahmacarya” mean? My own understanding is “the behaviors of celestial beings”. It is the transformation of ordinary people to celestial beings, from an ordinary, afflicted brain to a liberated, holy one. This act is the noblest behavior.
In ancient days, people usually wore straw or leather sandals. There were no paved roads, just mud roads. When visiting practitioners, they washed their feet before entering. They also changed to clean clothes. Only then could they go near practitioners and their place of practice. They were considered celestial beings and holy places.
Practicing methods were those of celestials or immortals. Thus, practicing meditation is the noblest behavior as we gain wisdom. A few hundred years before and after 2500 years ago, many philosophers were actually meditation practitioners. Due to their practices, their thoughts still influence us today. Meditation is the source of our wisdom. If you only read sutras, listen to Master’s teachings and stories without practicing, can you gain wisdom? I am not sure about this. However, these Chinese philosophers were all meditation practitioners.
Historical records say Sakyamuni Buddha meditated 7 to 8 years, practicing rigorously in forests or mountains where he ate very little. He didn’t eat, or eat less, on purpose. He ate a little rice. Nobody offered him food as he hadn’t become enlightened yet. He was skin and bones. But he enjoyed being in the state and wanted to enter a meditative state. Only by entering a meditative state can he gain wisdom that abounds like a flood, leading to enlightenment. If Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, didn’t meditate, I am not sure whether he would have become enlightened. According to personal experiences, if we only read and don’t practice, I am not sure we can become enlightened.
The sacredness of meditation is beyond our imagination. But the safest means to reach enlightenment is to follow the Six Perfections. Meditation is the most important of the 6. Meditation is the primary way, and giving is secondary. Giving, diligent practice, and tolerance are all secondary. The foremost is to meditate. Then practice diligently and conduct yourself compassionately. Give often and make more offerings. Without meditation, there is no wisdom.
The last of the Six Perfections is prajna which is wisdom. Having wisdom means liberation. Without meditation, how can you gain wisdom? In the Six Perfections, prajna or wisdom is particularly listed. When we conduct ourselves, we try to act wisely. Don’t act ignorantly. With our wisdom, try to avoid unwise and poor decisions. The Six Perfections allow compassion to abide in our hearts. Our actions, thoughts, and behavior must conform with compassion. This way, we do less evil and do more good deeds.
Otherwise, we don’t even know when we do something wrong. We often make mistakes unknowingly. Say your mother-in-law scolds you and you scold back. If she scolds you severely, you do the same, but leniently, right? Although you do it mildly, you still talked back. As we don’t understand the truth, we can do wrong in an instant. Our jealousy arises instantly. Even if you have started to practice, your jealousy still arises right away. If I invite a young beautiful girl here, all girls would be jealous. What is wrong? Their thoughts run wild. Their afflictions arise.
If they are not as beautiful, they may start gossiping. “She must have a certain background.” “She must be flirtatious or bad.” Beautiful girls are flirtatious. Jealousy arises at this moment. Right after you finish listening to my teaching, this could happen. You can’t control yourself, and the thought occurs. This is due to a lack of merits and virtues. Those who practice well would applaud and say, “She is so beautiful.” They don’t get jealous. This is an act of enlightenment.
If affliction arises, they become angry and say, “Why are you so beautiful?” Their afflictions come from the fact that she is more beautiful than they are. Men compare how much money they have or how successful they are. Those with little money keep silent. The rich shamelessly exclaim, “I am rich!” Right? While teaching dharma in Guangzhou, I met a middle-aged man. He was Taiwanese and appeared to limp slightly. He had a dark complexion and his belly was huge.
He came to learn meditation from me. After some time, I asked, “Why is your belly getting bigger?” I meant he should watch his diet. He said he ate supper twice. He entertained friends for the sake of his business. He drank a lot too. I told him to lose weight for health sake. Patting his belly, he said, “Do you know what is inside?” “What?” I asked. “It is full of gold bars. Master, what do you think?” he asked. I said, “It is a cow’s stomach.” These are all foolish acts.
Thus, compassion brings us significant transformation. From an ordinary person to a wise, cultured person with a high mental state, benefiting society and the people around us. I think that is my highest pursuit in life. If you practice this way, you will reach this higher realm. Does anyone want to reach this state? (Yes.) Raise your hands if you want to. Since we understand these truths, we should learn to follow them. Take notes.
This teaching is video-recorded. Watch it a few more times in the future. It will surely help you. From an afflicted, ordinary person, you will become a saint, a wise, enlightened person. If a few hundred people here are enlightened and able to help spread dharma all over the world, that would be remarkable. Many places need such help. The merits and virtues are immeasurable.
Listen to this teaching a few more times to thoroughly understand it. Use the Six Perfections to stabilize the fine inner elements of compassion. Integrate compassion into your life; then your life isn’t wasted. You can then easily deal with life afflictions and won’t be obstructed. This is my hope for everyone.
If we can overcome these obstacles in the human world, when we leave this world, we may not be controlled by the King of Hell. Celestial deities, buddhas, and bodhisattvas may take you with them. I may also be able to bring you with me.
Actually, I should have been gone a long time ago. I always worry that you won’t understand my teaching. Have you understood? (Yes.) Really? (Yes.) Then I am hungry. Thank you everyone.
The second method to support compassion is the Six Perfections. Compassion lets us be wise and cultured in the highest realm, thereby transforming our fate.