41. Buddhism As the Buddha's Perfect and Wholly Complete Education
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Verse of Praising the Buddha The Buddha is the Supreme One Both in heavens and on earth. So is he without comparison In the ten directions of space. Among all things in the world That I can possibly see, No other beings can ever be Comparable with the Buddha. Verse of Praising the Buddha The Buddha is the Supreme One Both in heavens and on earth. So is he without comparison In the ten directions of space. Among all things in the world That I can possibly see, No other beings can ever be Comparable with the Buddha. An Illustration of Buddha’s speaking of the Ten Dharma Realms Pratyekabuddhas Buddhas Bodhisattvas Deities Sravakas MIND Humans Asuras Animals Hungry Ghosts Hell Explaining in words the Illustration of Buddha’s speaking of the Ten Dharma Realms Knowing that dharmadhātu is one mind, and having accomplished the three The Realm of kinds of enlightenment with tens of thousands of virtues is the mind of a next Buddhas— Buddha. The Realm of Keeping altruism in mind, broadly cultivating the six paramitas, and practicing Bodhisattvas— the Middle Path is the mind of a bodhisattva. Practicing in the way of the four noble truths, knowing what suffering is and The Realm of how to end its aggregation, being eager for nirvana and cultivating the Way Sravakas— to reach it is the mind of an arhat. Apprehending the twelve nidanas, keeping substance of things in mind, The Realm of being awakened to Void, and enjoying being alone and quiet is the mind of a Pratyekabuddhas— pratyekabuddha. Observing five precepts and ten forms of good action, being merciful, The Realm of cultivating virtues, and protecting lands and people is the mind of a deity in Deities— the Heaven Realm. The Realm of Observing the same precepts and good deeds as those in the Heaven Realm, Asuras— and being high-minded, jealous and quarrelsome is the mind of an Asura. Following five precepts, becoming rich and noble if doing it faithfully or The Human becoming poor and underprivileged if failing to do it, is the mind of a sentient Realm— being in the Human Realm. Being ignorant and unenlightened for not following the right path, being The Animal without any courtesy and respect, and acting irrationally and forcefully is the Realm— mind of an animal. Being miserly and greedy, taking things not belonging to them, being The Realm of unrighteous and stealing things entrusted to them, and depleting all blessings Hungry Ghosts— and luck is the mind of a hungry ghost. Being tyrannical and ignorant, disobeying one’s superiors and bullying his The Realm of subordinates, and acting violently and irrationally is the mind of a sentient Hell— being in Hell. Ten Forms of good (wicked) action: 1. No killing, protecting animals and releasing them. And this is the virtue of kindheartedness. 2. No stealing or taking possession of ill-gotten gains with greediness. And this is the virtue of righteousness. 3. No adultery, following pure practice without being promiscuous. And this is the virtue of courtesy. 4. No lying, saying honest words and being faithful. And this is the virtue of faith. 5. No sexual talks or dirty words. Speak in good language. And this is a real gentleman. 6. Don’t be double-tongued and cause quarrels. Always promote harmony among people. And this is a seed of goodness. 7. No hateful speech. Don’t speak ill of others and always be gentle when speaking. This is the virtue of speaking properly. 8. No greediness. Be merciful and give alms to accumulate blessings. This is the basis of becoming rich. 9. No wrath and no hatred for others. Don’t be angry with people because of unenlightened illusion and ignorance. 10. No foolishness and ignorance. Correctly believe in the truth of causality and don’t take heterodox teachings for real. Entrance to Buddhism by Chien, Feng-wen translated by Chien, Su-cheng Revised in May, 2005 Translated into English in September, 2020 Entrance to Buddhism Contents PREFACE ..........................................................................................................................................................................................5 PREFACE TO TRANSLATION.................................................................................................................................................6 1. A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA .................................................................................................9 2. EIGHT ASPECTS OF VENERABLE SAKYAmuni’S LIFE .......................................................................................23 3. A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE BUDDHA’S CLAN NAME .............................................................................26 4. AN EXPLANATION OF THE BUDDHA’S HOLY TITLE ........................................................................................28 5. BUDDHIST HOLY PLACES IN INDIA ...........................................................................................................................29 6. BUDDHIST CALENDAR AND BUDDHIST FLAGS ..................................................................................................32 7. THE MEANING OF VESAK DAY OR BUDDHA DAY ..............................................................................................34 8. A DIAGRAM OF THE THREE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FORMING BUDDHISM ......................................36 9. THINGS WE SHOULD BE ALERT TO...........................................................................................................................37 10. TRISARANA OR TAKING REFUGE IN THE THREE JEWELS .......................................................................42 11. AN OUTLINE OF BUDDHA-DHARMA ......................................................................................................................44 12. THE GENERAL MEANING OF BUDDHISM ............................................................................................................46 13. A LIFE AND UNIVERSE ARISING FROM CONDITIONAL CAUSATION ....................................................48 14. THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT OF KARMAS ................................................................................................50 15. HETUPRATYAYA AND RETRIBUTION FOR GOOD OR EVIL DEEDS ........................................................52 16. A SURVEY OF SENTIENT BEINGS IN THE UNIVERSE .....................................................................................56 17. A SURVEY OF THE PHYSICAL WORLD OF THE UNIVERSE ..........................................................................71 18. THE EXPEDIENT MEANS OF THE FIVE VEHICLES OF BUDDHISM .........................................................79 19. VEHICLES FOR HUMANS AND DEVAS AND FIVE PRECEPTS AND TEN FORMS OF GOOD ACTION................................................................................................................................................................................85 20. A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EIGHT PRECEPTS ............................................................................................93 21. THE SIX PRIMARY AFFLICTIONS ..............................................................................................................................96 - 3 - Entrance to Buddhism Contents 22. A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE SRAVAKA VEHICLE ..............................................................................101 23. A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS ......................................................................102 24. A DIAGRAM OF THE THIRTY-SEVEN CONDITIONS LEADING TO BUDDHAHOOD ....................106 25. A GENERAL EXPLANATION OF FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS ......................................110 26. PUTTING THE EIGHTFOLD NOBLE PATH INTO PRACTICE ...................................................................115 27. A SIMPLE INTRODUCTION TO THE FIVE SKANDHAS ................................................................................119 28. THE PRATYEKABUDDHA VEHICLE AND THE TwELVE NIDANAS ........................................................122 29. THE BODHISATTVA VEHICLE AND THE SIX PARAMITAS .......................................................................128 30. THE FOUR INFINITE BUDDHA-STATES OF MIND .........................................................................................134 31. THE FOUR METHODS OF WINNING OvER AND THE FOUR GREAT VOWS ....................................137 32. THE BASIC DOCTRINES OF BUDDHISM ............................................................................................................141 33. THE FOUR ASSEMBLIES OF COLLECTING AND FIXING BUDDHIST CANONS ..............................156 34. THE THREE PERIODS OF BUDDHA-DHARMA IN INDIA ............................................................................160 35. THE INTRODUCTION OF BUDDHA-DHARMA TO CHINA ........................................................................164 36. REASONS WHY BUDDHISM IS DIVIDED INTO VARIOUS SECTS ............................................................168 37. DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUDDHISTS ......................................................................................................................171 38. GUIDELINES OF LIFE FOR A BUDDHIST ORDER ...........................................................................................173 39. BELIEF IN SERVING OTHERS OF BUDDHISM ..................................................................................................176 40. THE PURPOSE AND MISSION OF LEARNING BUDDHISM ........................................................................178