Chapter 24 Chapter Ten Venerable Subhuti

(1) Origin of the name Subhuti Subhuti translated Shanji into Chinese. On the day of his birth, his family was empty. His parents were amazed, so he asked a fortune-teller.The astrologer Zhanyun, this is an auspicious phase, hence the name.Also translate good karma, be charitable by nature, do not fight with things, and become a monk, seeing nothing to gain the Tao.At the same time, he cultivates a compassionate heart, obtains the samadhi of non-argument, and is good at protecting the three karma, hence the name.It is also translated as empty life, because when he was born, his house was empty, hence the name.Subhuti was born in a Brahmin family.Buddha went to his hometown to preach, and his parents converted to Buddhism.Under the influence of his parents, Subhuti became a monk and became a disciple of Buddha.

(2) Solve the empty first When the Buddha was in Gion Abode and was about to speak Vajra Prajna, Subhuti stood up in the crowd and asked the Buddha: How should good men and good women arouse the bodhicitta and dwell?How to subdue his heart?The Buddha replied: Abiding in Bodhicitta, that is, when giving alms, one must practice formless almsgiving.When you save your life, you should live without self.Only by dwelling peacefully in this way can we subdue the delusions in our minds.The two attachments of self and law cannot be entangled; the four phases of self, people, sentient beings, and life cannot be bound.Only by leaving all attachments can we see emptiness, and only by leaving all appearances can we see life.Subhuti heard the Buddha's teachings and realized the truth of emptiness. Among the disciples of the Buddha, he is known as the number one solution to emptiness.

What is empty?Emptiness refers to all things in the universe, which are born by cause and condition and destroyed by cause and condition.Karma is a synonym for emptiness.Buddhism says emptiness, not the emptiness of nothingness, the emptiness of emptiness, the emptiness without cause and effect, and the emptiness that destroys the law of karma.Instead, it is full of the bodhisattva spirit of benefiting others and helping the world, and extensively practicing the six perfections and ten thousand lines.Bodhisattvas should not be attached to all dharmas, and should live in emptiness and non-discrimination. Only then can they complete the study of the six paramitas and live in a non-retreating position.Possess supernatural powers, travel freely in the Buddhist kingdom, benefit all living beings, adorn the Buddhists, and live in the realm of freedom and liberation.

It is said that the Buddha once went to the Trao Li Heaven to speak for Mrs. Maya.Three months later, the Buddha returned to the world, and everyone rushed to greet him.At that time, Subhuti was sewing clothes in the grottoes of Lingjiu Mountain. When he heard the news of the Buddha's return, he put down the clothes in his hands and went to meet him.Suddenly I thought, the real body of the Buddha cannot be seen by the six sense organs.When I go to meet the Buddha now, I regard the Buddha's dharma body as the physical body of the four elements of earth, water, fire, and wind, which is a manifestation of ignorance of emptiness.If you don't know the emptiness of all dharmas, you won't be able to see the Buddha's dharmakaya.The Dharmakaya of the Buddha is the emptiness of all dharmas without self, human being, non-action, and omnipotence.Emptiness is everywhere, and the Dharmakaya of the Buddha is also everywhere.So he sat down safely and continued to sew.

Among the welcoming crowd, among the bhikkhunis, the lotus-colored one with the most supernatural power was the first to see the Buddha.While prostrating, she said: Disciple Lianhuase was the first to welcome the Buddha, please accept the prostration.Buddha said to her: The first person to meet me is not you, but Subhuti.At this time, Subhuti was observing the emptiness of all dharmas in the grottoes of Lingjiu Mountain. When he saw emptiness, he saw the Tathagata. Therefore, he was the first to see the Buddha and the first to welcome him. (3) Begging for wealth not begging for poverty According to the Buddhist system, monks beg for food in order, but after Subhuti left the monastery, he always went to rich people to beg.No matter how far the distance is, he must go to the rich and noble family, otherwise he would rather be hungry than beg.As time went by, some monks criticized him for looking down on the poor and greedy for food.Subhuti explained to these people: I am begging from the rich, not for the sake of delicacies.If it tastes good, I won't become a monk to learn Taoism.Why do I not beg at the door of the poor?Because poor people can hardly maintain their own lives, where is there any surplus food to support us?We are already very guilty of not having food relief for them, how can we increase their burden.A mere meal of food given by the rich is nothing more than a drop in the bucket.This is why I beg for wealth and not for poverty.

Once Maha Kasyapa said to Subhuti: I beg for food from the poor and plant a field of blessings for them so as to relieve them of future poverty.The rich are blessed with more blessings, so why add to the cake?Kasyapa's words are undoubtedly a criticism of Subhuti.After hearing this, Subhuti said humbly: Begging for the rich and the poor is all for the benefit of sentient beings.There are many ways of convenience in Buddhism, we can go our own way, and we don't have to force others to be the same as ourselves.Subhuti's begging for the rich but not the poor, and Maha Kasyapa's begging for the poor and not the rich, became a sharp contrast.The Buddha disapproved of both of them, accusing them of being unfair and unsuitable for begging.The real method of begging is to beg in order, regardless of wealth or filth, in a solemn and dignified way.Regarding the Buddha's education, Subhuti had an open mind, and quickly corrected the practice of begging for wealth and not begging for poverty.Kassapa focused on asceticism, and he still went his own way, and the Buddha did not force him.

(4) Non-disputable Samadhi Subhuti's state of mind and mind are broad and free, which is admired by all the bhikkhus.But there are also people who sneer at him, saying that he is demented all day long, not active at all, and there is nothing special about him.Some monks heard this, complained about Subhuti, and wanted to argue with those people.Subhuti advised these well-meaning people: People who practice the Tao should regard ridicule and slander of adversity as helping the Tao to increase their predestined relationship, so that they can eliminate karma and strengthen their confidence.Besides, the truth of the emptiness of all dharmas is that there is no self and no one, no one, no one, no height, no holiness, and equality.Debate and debate are victorious and contrary to the truth.Because of Subhuti's understanding of emptiness, he can follow the world, practice great patience, and be free from affliction and disputes with anyone.The Buddha appreciated his practice very much.At the Vajra Prajna Dharma Conference, he was praised for having attained the samadhi of non-disagreement, and he was the first among human beings and the first arhat from desires.Subhuti replied, "Your old man's praise to me is really unworthy."I will never admit that I am the number one among human beings, the number one arhat who is free from desire.If I have such thoughts, it means that the ego has not been eliminated, and I am still indulging in the legal enforcement of what I have obtained and obtained all day long.In fact, Shariputra and Moggallana are the real arhats who are free from desire.

Subhuti was sitting in meditation in the grottoes of Lingjiu Mountain. One day, he suddenly felt that the four elements were out of tune, and he was very tired physically and mentally.When he was seriously ill, he sat in lotus position, reciting righteous thoughts.Some of the causes of physical illness and suffering are the past karmic retribution, and some are the unfavorable relationship in the present life. Medicine cannot completely eradicate it. Only by firmly believing in cause and effect, repenting of sins, and practicing meditation, from no suffering in the mind to no suffering in the body .After practicing mindfulness and meditation, he immediately felt relaxed physically and mentally, and his illness was cured immediately.