Dependence and emptiness look at life
Master Kuanqian
Talked at Mingshan Temple in Zhushan
All religions have their commonalities, that is, they cannot be separated from faith. Without faith, it cannot be considered a religion. Moreover, all religions encourage people to do good and inspire love, fraternity and compassion.However, the greatest feature of Buddhism that is different from all religions is "wisdom", which is not our secular knowledge or life experience;It is the wisdom of Prajna that comes from the world and enters the world, and it is the wisdom of Prajna that is observed through "dependence and emptiness".
「The Prajna wisdom of dependent origination and emptiness helps us understand life, life, sentient beings, all things in the universe, and the truth and laws of the universe and life.But it is unfamiliar to all of us and difficult to understand.Because we have been bound by the troubles and pains of our persistence and cannot break free.We are used to using affirmative thinking mode, and we are used to thinking with ourselves as the starting point, which means we have the deep obsession habits of our past lives. ──「The self-nature is falsely attached to us, which makes us selfish and wrong judgments and thinking at any time, anytime, anywhere, so troubles, bondage, pain, and helplessness come one after another, so we cannot understand the whole truth, and what is presented before us is an inverted appearance.
「"Nature emptiness" is based on the idea of denying the existence of self-nature, and then denying the false attachment of self-nature, allowing us to break free from the cage of the false attachment of self-nature in the past."Empty" is a major problem in Buddhism. If you can understand it, it is equivalent to taking a big step in thinking about ideas and abilities."Empty" is not empty emptiness, nor is it visualized emptiness without anything, nor is it not to cut matter into half through inference, cut half, and cut half, the infinite half, that is, the emptiness that is almost adjacent to the virtual substance.So what is empty?The meaning cannot be explained literally. It is just a symbol, a negative symbol. There are several commonly used negative symbols in Buddhist scriptures, such as: non, non, empty, non... Their meanings are the same, all of which are "negative".What to deny?Negate one's nature!Negate the existence of "self-nature".
So what is "self-nature"?First of all, we must clarify the self-nature that is commonly discussed in Buddhism, which often refers to the nature of "seeing nature to become a Buddha", that is, the nature of sentient beings that originally possess the Buddha nature, and the self-nature is the Buddha nature.However, the self-nature mentioned in the Prajna system is not like this, but "self-nature" is a rigorous definition: the characteristics of individual existence, the characteristics of constant and unchanging, and the characteristics of true dominance;"Empty nature" means that we understand that in the universe and life, all the Dharma Realms do not have these characteristics;Negate the existence of these characteristics.Not only for sentient beings, they can also circulate in the ruthless world of tools.
Any event that can exist is composed of more than one cause and condition. The so-called cause and condition are conditional factors. It is not only material conditions that can be seen, but more importantly, it also contains the causes and conditions that are not necessarily visible, which belong to the silent, spiritual, mental, and accumulated over the long period of time.Therefore, a single cause and condition cannot exist, and it must be the combination of many causes and conditions to exist.Scientists are constantly pursuing and exploring the most basic and smallest units that make up matter purely from the perspective of matter, but with the progress of the times, more basic and smaller units will always be produced, which is indefinitely;Because the Buddha had long seen through the characteristics of individual existence that cannot be established, and because the characteristics of individual existence that cannot be established, more than one cause and condition must exist in harmony with each other, and each cause and condition exists in harmony with each other, but it will also affect each other and cause variables.Therefore, harmony is just a short-term phenomenon. In the end, due to the interactive relationship between causes and conditions, different arrangements and combinations are formed, and even the dispersion and dispersion of causes and conditions are formed, and they are invisible.The causes and conditions continue to be arranged and combined from time to time, and then merged from disillusionment, but the causes and conditions of combination are different from the previous causes and conditions.Therefore, there is no eternal phenomenon, everything is impermanent and changeable;In the process, causes and conditions are not static and unchanging, but are changing in an instant, so they are not real and unchanging, nor are they dominated by any force.Therefore, "emptiness of nature" negates the characteristics of existence alone, constant and true dominance.
In this way, we must have an awakening innovation, step out of the persistence of habitual affirmation, that is, we must start using negative thinking logic.For example: we often stipulate or require children, family members, subordinates... to do nothing but what they must do, and invisibly define a frame, making people feel stressed, restrained, and uncomfortable;The more it demonstrates its authority, the more unpleasant it is, and the more it loses creativity.Perhaps someone is convinced by temporary coercion and will be in the current situation, but he always wants to try to escape, which means he is not convinced.If we formulate things that cannot be done from a negative way of thinking and can do the rest, then is the scope of what can be done much larger?This is how the Buddha teaches sentient beings, what cannot be done?Violating the moral norms of basic principles of being a human being!Therefore, the Buddha formulated the Five Precepts. As long as we are like individuals in this life, we can still be human even in the next life. What we have to abide by is: do not kill, steal, do not commit adultery, do not lie, and do not drink alcohol. All other things can be done.Therefore, it is best to make an agreement with the child: do not violate morality, do not damage the body, do not learn a skill... nothing else has nothing to do, and it gives a broader space for development!Instead of staring at the child, the regulations are only required to do, and nothing else is allowed."Empty of nature" helps us deny the unchanging absoluteness, let us try various thinking patterns from different angles, especially try to think in reverse!
Speaking of which, two colleagues finally arranged time to do the "Zen Qi" program.They all have problems with smoking addiction, but they also want to overcome this bad habit by meditation.They all survived one day, two days, three days, and on the fourth day, they couldn't help it. The two discussed privately to ask the Zen master for instructions.One of them used Xiao Shen time to ask the Zen master, came out happily and quickly swallowed the clouds and mist.When the other person saw this, he was overjoyed and asked the Zen master. Unexpectedly, he was scolded and asked his colleague with confusion what was going on?A colleague asked him how to ask for advice from the Zen master, and he replied: "I asked for advice from the Zen master, can I smoke when I was meditating?"A colleague said, "I asked the Zen master to ask, can you practice Zen when smoking?"This is a joke, but it reminds us that there may be a turning point in the reverse operation!
Our thinking direction is often one-way. Because we are restricted by persistence, we all start from ourselves and think that we are the most important, most precious and most reasonable. Therefore, we often have our own reasons and our mother-in-law has our own reasons, but we argue endlessly, and we can even make no mistakes and small things become big things!"Prajna" helps us transform our direction and cannot do it ourselves and reduce our attachments. We will find that reducing our attachments will lead to a trace of freedom and coolness, which is the source of wisdom.
Do we want to be healthy?Then you must let go and innovate your bad habits of laziness, greed, and partial eating, insist on exercising and balanced food intake, and know how to adjust your body and mind, so that you can naturally obtain a healthy body.
Do we want family and happiness?Then I must let go of my figure and authority, take care of any member of the family sincerely, and understand what everyone needs. I may not be able to do it for them myself, but at least I can understand, accept and tolerate them. Isn’t the family much more happy!
Do we hope our career will go smoothly?Let go of your heart that only pursues fame and fortune, be broad-minded, and do your best to more people. (From being a family and employee, it has expanded into a community, a hometown, a society, and a country )，If you think about others everywhere, you will naturally have good popularity and good causes and conditions, and many things can be solved easily. If you turn bad luck into good fortune, will your career not go smoothly?
「Prajna helps us to "become the mind without dwelling on anything". This "dwelling" is attachment.When we do not have attachment, when we can deny the "deceptive attachment of our own nature", the artistic conception we will feel is bright, ethereal, and joyful, and is generated by the destruction of ignorance.That is, a peaceful and clear mind, a freedom without gains and losses, without restraints.The famous verse of Master Shenxiu of Zen Buddhism: "The body is a Bodhi tree, and the heart is like a mirror platform. Wipe it frequently and do not cause dust."However, Master Huineng became enlightened by the Diamond Sutra, "There should be no place to dwell on anything and give birth to his mind" and made the story of "There is no tree in Bodhi, and the mirror is not a platform. There is nothing in it, so where can dust be caused?” is indeed slightly beyond the scope, because Master Huineng denies the "self-nature delusion" through the negative thought of "Prajna" and his thoughts can naturally be improved and transcended.Our body and mind are trapped in troubles, which means we lack the understanding of the "self-nature" and we are obsessed with the existence of the self-nature;Once you can abandon the burden of your own nature, you will naturally be as light as a swallow and fly high and take a bird's eye view.For example, we are trapped in the crowd, and we are competing with each other about brand-name clothing, delicacies, jewelry, car houses, etc., but if we keep a distance or look down at a high level, these brand-name and quality considerations will gradually lose their effect;When we climb higher, even people can’t see it, and the types of cars and the shape of houses can’t be distinguished;Better to the higher, the mountains, rivers and earth showed silence, with almost no big difference.
The same is true for the minds of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The more you can let go of your attachments, the more you are, the higher you can reach, the farther you see, the wider you see, the smaller your discrimination towards sentient beings.Therefore, only in the compassionate eyes of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, sentient beings are equal;No matter whether it is a great official or a peddler, there is no distinction, because all sentient beings must face the problem of life and death, and no one can avoid it. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas cannot bear the suffering of life and death of sentient beings. As long as they are destined to be, they will definitely lend a helping hand.Why can Buddhas and Bodhisattvas save others?This is also the reason for "emptiness of nature"!Because the existence of self-nature is denied, it is necessary to deny the existence of single, unchanging, and dominant characteristics. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas cannot save sentient beings alone and wishfully. It is invalid for sentient beings to have no correspondence, and it is still my own.Buddhas and Bodhisattvas cannot save sentient beings in a fixed and unchanging way. Instead, they must change and follow the land of sentient beings and become in line with sentient beings in order to save them.Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are not omnipotent, they cannot dominate everything, they are not absolute authority, they must be corresponding and interactive to sentient beings in order to be able to save them.Therefore, the Buddha said: Buddha saves those who are destined to be!Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have no choice for sentient beings, are equal and have no "form".Therefore, the Diamond Sutra says: "There is no self, no human form, no sentient being form, no life form."Among all living beings, every cause and condition is equal and indiscriminate because of "empt nature".All sentient beings are also born from the combination of many causes. The "nothing" here denies the existence of the self-nature. The form of self-nature is because the existence of the "self-nature" without self-nature, that is, the form of self-nature will change, become old and ugly;My appearance cannot exist alone, it will be affected by people's emotions and will change with the passage of time;The self-image cannot be dominated and cannot be maintained forever, and it cannot be maintained forever. Therefore, it is said that there is no self-image.
《The Diamond Sutra and the Heart Sutra both belong to the Prajna system. Prajna specifically explains "dependence and emptiness of nature", which means the sentence form that mainly negates the self-nature, so it is full of negation.For example: The Diamond Sutra often says: "There is no self, no human appearance, no sentient beings, no life-living appearance", "The Buddha said ＊＊，That is, non ＊＊，Yes ＊＊」，「If you see all appearances that are not appearances, you will see the Tathagata.”…The Heart Sutra even more: All dharmas are empty in appearance, neither born nor destroyed, neither dirty nor clean, neither increasing nor decreasing... There is no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind, no color, sound, fragrance, taste, touch, law, no eye world or even the realm of consciousness, no ignorance and no ignorance, no old age and death, no suffering, no accumulation, no path, no wisdom and no gain, because there is nothing to gain... Among the short 260 words, nine "no", seven "empty" and nineteen "no" characters appeared. "No", "no", "empty", and "non" are all the most typical negative sentences, which are all for us to relax, let go, and liberate, so that we can "the mind is not hindered, no hindrance, no fear, stay away from inverted dreams, and ultimate nirvana."
The most fundamental thing is to be able to realize and deny the habits of nature from the past kalpas, and the self-nature's false attachment is like darkness, that is, ignorance.Ignorance is "confusion", which is unclear about things and has no understanding of people. It is full of self-pity and resentment in its heart, and it causes troubles and pain. Therefore, it does nothing to commit evil deeds and then suffers the consequences.If you are afraid of suffering, you will not commit evil deeds. If you can avoid committing evil deeds, you must be clear and unconfused in your heart, rather than ignorance or troubles."Prajna" is like a bright lamp that can illuminate the inner ignorance and troubles, and even the dark ignorance that has been passed down from previous kalpas.Because darkness or light are self-natureless, that is, they cannot exist absolutely, unchangeably, and dominantly.As long as the light can be ignited, darkness will naturally disappear invisible;The causes and conditions that gather light can be united, and the causes and conditions that form dark causes and conditions that naturally disappear and separate.Light does not devour the existence of darkness bit by bit, but is displayed comprehensively, gradually and slowly.The darkness also disappears in a comprehensive, gradually, and slowly.Like dew, they are not formed in order drop by drop, but are formed comprehensively, simultaneously, gradually.So when the sun gradually rises, the light gradually becomes brighter, and the temperature gradually increases, drops of dew drops disappear in the entire area, comprehensively, and gradually dissolve in the air;It is not the second drop that disappears after one drop disappears.Therefore, although we have accumulated infinite karma in our past lives, we do not eliminate them bit by bit, but as long as we ignite the light wisdom of "Prajna", the light wisdom of "Prajna" will gradually break through the darkness like the rising sun, gradually appearing light, and the power of darkness will naturally disappear, just as the influence of dark karma will gradually lose its effect;Until the light's fate is completely united, the dark fate is completely gone and separated.Once the bright wisdom of "Prajna" is completely ignited, the karma of personal innate self-attachment will be completely eliminated and there will be no more reincarnation in life and death.But the Buddha does not only teach us to solve our own personal problems, but also inspires us to develop a great mind, practice the Bodhisattva path, and help sentient beings solve their suffering, troubles, and life and death;Therefore, Bodhisattvas have the ability to free themselves from their personal life and death problems. They do not endure the suffering of sentient beings and the decline of the holy teachings, but do not endure the end of birth. They can be born in the world but become more in the world, and are busy for sentient beings until the innate attachment to the Dharma is solved, and they are completely pure and untainted to achieve the ultimate result!However, from ordinary beings to becoming Buddhas, it is formed by the accumulation of countless causes and conditions. It is formed by the accumulation of three great monks in a long life and death. In the endless life and death, we still maintain the enlightened bodhicitta. The most important of these is the cultivation of the "Prajna" thought, anytime, anywhere, at any time, and for generations.Therefore, the Prajna thought arises through the observation of "dependence and emptiness" is the compass in the long life and death, guiding the correct, obvious and clear way to become a Buddha!
