Chapter 10 Simple Practice of Buddhism

On April 16th, Jimao lectured on Li Fangyuan's story in Yongchun Taoyuan Hall The cause of me going to Yongchun was originally initiated three years ago.Master Xingyuan often advised me to come here, and often mentioned how good Puji Temple is. Two years ago in the spring, after I taught the Consummation of the Vinaya in South Putuo, Master Miaohui came to Xiamen and invited me to come here.At that time, because there were too many people who were studying Vinaya to accompany them, and the facilities in Puji Temple were not extensive enough to accommodate them, it had to be suspended as a last resort.It's for the first time but failed.

In the winter of that year, there was a Shanxing teacher who took an invitation from all the good friends in Yongchun to Wanshiyan, Xiamen, and wanted to pick me up in Yongchun.At that time, I could not come to Yongchun because I had already accepted the invitation from Quanzhou Cao'an.It is for the second time to come to no avail. In the winter of last year, Master Miaohui came to pick her up again in the Cao'an.I wanted to come here with the invitation, but when I passed Quanzhou, I asked my good friends to stay, so I had to postpone it to this spring.It is for the third attempt but failed.

Until half a month ago this year, Master Miaohui went to Quanzhou to persuade him again, which was the fourth time.Since the public has such good intentions, they have to come.At that time, I was very busy teaching scriptures in various places in Quanzhou, so it was delayed for more than half a month.I am very happy to come to your place today and meet all of you good friends.Since I wanted to come here three years ago, I have been hindered by things many times, and now I am here, fulfilling my long-cherished wish for many years, and I am very happy. Today, I would like to invite you to give a speech.I think that talking about mysteries is wonderful, although it is extremely noble, but now I finally realize that it has nothing to do with it.So what I'm talking about today, let's briefly talk about what ordinary people can practice now.

Because it is specialized in talking about mysteries, for example, when a hungry person comes to study recipes, how can he satisfy his hunger despite the name of mountains and seas, and the paper is full of vertical and horizontal.It's better to get some common food now and eat it.Only when you are fully charged can you help in practical matters. What follows is divided into three sections. 1. Believe in cause and effect Although the law of cause and effect is the beginning of the introduction to Buddhism, it is very important, no matter who you are, you must believe it deeply.What is cause and effect?The cause is like a seed that is planted in the field and will grow into fruit in the future.The fruit is like a fruit, which sprouts from the seed and gradually blossoms and bears fruit.

The deeds we have done in our life are both good and evil, and the retribution in the future will not be as follows: Peaches and plums grow into peaches and plums - do good for good A thorn grows into a thorn - do evil for evil Therefore, if we want to avoid disasters and obtain good fortune, eliminate disasters and obtain blessings, we must plant good causes and work hard to correct our mistakes and make good ones, so that we will be able to obtain good results of auspiciousness and blessings in the future.If you often commit evil causes and want to avoid disasters, where can you get them?

Therefore, the first thing to persuade the public is to firmly believe in the understanding of karma, good and evil, and the retribution of good and evil, and nothing will be wrong. 2. Arouse Bodhicitta The word "Bodhi" is Sanskrit in India, translated as "jue", which means becoming a Buddha.The person who sends out is the initiation, so the person who sends out the bodhicitta is the one who initiates the heart of becoming a Buddha.Why do you want to become a Buddha?For the benefit of all beings.How can one practice to become a Buddha?All good deeds must be cultivated extensively.As mentioned above, it is necessary to extensively practice all good deeds and benefit all sentient beings, but how can it be done thoroughly?Don't care about me.Therefore, those who arouse bodhicitta should arouse the following three kinds of aspirations:

1. Mind of Great Wisdom: Although this mind is beyond the reach of a man, it should be observed as it happens. 2. Great wish: widely practice good deeds 3. Great compassion: saving sentient beings from suffering Those who have also aroused the Bodhi mind must make the following four grand vows: 1. The boundless vow to save all living beings: Bodhicitta is based on great compassion, so let’s talk about saving lives first. 2. Vow to cut off endless afflictions: May all sentient beings be able to cut off endless afflictions. 3. Vow to learn immeasurable dharma: May all sentient beings be able to learn immeasurable dharma.

4. Vow to achieve the supreme Buddha way: May all sentient beings be able to achieve the supreme Buddha way. Or the three vows below doubts and afflictions are all made for me. How can I say that I wish all sentient beings?There are two explanations here: First, in a superficial sense, I am one of the sentient beings, and I am among the sentient beings mentioned now.Furthermore, those who truly arouse bodhicitta must thoroughly realize the equality of dharma-nature, and never see any difference between self and all living beings, so that they can truly correspond to bodhicitta.So make a vow now, saying that you wish to all sentient beings, why not!

3. Specializing in Pure Land Now that you have developed the bodhicitta, you should work hard to practice it.But the teachings taught by the Buddha are many, different in depth and difficulty.If the method of practice does not match the root organ, more force will be used but less effect will be achieved.If it fits with the root vessel, the effect will be more with less effort.At this time of Dharma decline, which method is most compatible with the roots of most sentient beings?Speaking of which, there is only Pure Land Buddhism.Because it is very difficult for those who practice other methods in general, in this evil world of five turbidities, when there is no Buddha to appear.If you specialize in the Pure Land Dharma, then relying on the power of the Buddha's great compassion, you will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, see the Buddha and hear the Dharma, and quickly realize Bodhi, which is much easier.Therefore, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva once said that the front is a difficult path, and the back is an easy path. The front is like walking on land, and the back is like taking a boat on a waterway.

Books about the Pure Land Method, you can read first, "Guide to Purifying Karma", "Master Yinguang's Words", "Master Yinguang's Notes" and so on.According to this, we can get a little idea of ​​the doorway of the Pure Land Dharma. In the past few months, I have been giving lectures in various places in Quanzhou, and I am very tired physically and mentally.When I came to your place this time, I gave a speech in a hurry and didn't have time to prepare, so I can't explain it in detail.I hope people forgive me.