FOURTH DAY: MAY 6, 1993
Master and fellow cultivators, good afternoon. [Audience returns greeting, "Good afternoon, Grand Master."] Today is the fourth day of this discourse on An Overview of the Buddhadharma. Over the last three days, I have covered the topics of Faith, Comprehension, Practice, and Realization, Theoretical versus Practical Approaches, as well as the Three Non-outflows. The term "Non-outflows" means liberation from kleshas (emotional afflictions). The Three Non-outflows are the requisites for achieving liberation from emotional afflictions, and are a key topic in the study of the Buddhadharma. After the Three Non-outflows, I shall discuss the Six Paramitas, Seven Factors of Enlightenment, the Eightfold Noble Path, and the Ten Transcendental Tathagata Powers. These topics may be arranged in numerical order: Three Non-outflows, Four Noble Truths, Five Roots and Five Positive Agents, Six Paramitas, Seven Factors of Enlightenment, the Eightfold Noble Path, and the Ten Transcendental Powers of the Tathagata. This would be one system of structuring the Buddhadharma. However, if one often reads the Buddhist sutras, one realizes that, among all these Buddhist terminologies, the topics of my discussion today - "Stabilization" and "Wisdom" - occupy the most crucial position.
"Stabilization" and "Wisdom"
"Stabilization" and "Wisdom" are the two wings that can carry one to Enlightenment. Aided by these two wings, one may soar to the Four Holy Realms (of Arhats, Solitary-Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas). Therefore, Zen meditation (as a method to engender "Stabilization") and "Wisdom" may be considered to be the most important focal points of all Buddhadharma. At the time of the Buddha Shakyamuni, there was a monk by the name of Assaji, who was studying under the Buddha. One time, while Assaji was listening to the Buddha's teaching, some words of the Buddha's went straight to his heart. What were those words? They were, "The arising and disintegration of all phenomena are dependent upon causes and conditions." Assaji kept repeating this sentence to himself as he continued along the road. It was a statement that would bring profound insight if one could penetrate its meaning!
Which Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?
I remember when I was a child, one of my teachers gave our class a question to argue among ourselves. We became completely involved in the debate. What were we arguing about? I believe you have all pondered it before. The question was, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" We know that after an egg is incubated, a baby chick emerges. When the chick matures into a hen, she lays eggs. This is a very simple cycle and also a very simple fact. So, when our teacher asked us to debate this question, some students answered "chicken," while others said "egg." On the one hand, "chicken" seemed to be the right answer, because the chicken had to be there first to lay the egg. On the other hand, since the chicken had to grow from the egg, "egg" seemed to be the correct answer. I now pose the same question to you. What would your answer be? (A student replies, "Reincarnation!" Audience laughter) Reincarnation? He is bringing up the subject of reincarnation. Reincarnation is surely what Buddhism teaches. [audience laughter. Another student replies, "Whoever answers the first is right!"] Oh, whoever answers the first is right? [laughter and audience laughter]
Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma
True Buddha School
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