THE "THEORY" APPROACH
While the "theory" approach consists of studying the scriptures, the "practice" approach consists of actual practice, such as the True Buddha Tantric Practice. One may combine both approaches and treat them equally. However, if one has more affinity with the "theory" approach, one may choose that doorway. Or, if one prefers the doorway of "practice" one may choose that approach.
I would like to offer a few of my opinions here. Sometimes it is very difficult to gain a comprehension of the theories, as the Buddhist Canon is both vast and profound. Buddha Shakyamuni often said, "The Dharmas I have taught are like the earth in my palm, while the Dharmas I have not taught are like the great land." The Buddha preached for forty-nine years, and what he touched upon only amounted to a few grains of sand when compared to the whole Buddhadharma, or Truth, which is as vast as the Earth. That being the case, my teaching today will only amount to a few pinhead-sized specks, which will be gone when I blow some air on them. [audience laughter] How can one learn all the Buddhadharma, which is as vast as all the land, when what the Buddha taught in forty-nine years only amounted to a hand's grasp of earth? Therefore, the number of theories is vast and the "theory" approach is very difficult. The "practice" approach is relatively easier.
One might presume that the theory approach is simpler. Actually it is not simple at all! Just ask yourself if you know how your eyes can see things. You will say, "I just open my eyes and I can see things." Seeing seems such a simple act, but the mechanisms involved are not simple at all. I am asking if you know how the reflection and refraction of an object enters your eyes to stimulate the optic nerves, which send signals to a certain part of your brain, and if you know how you are suddenly shown an image and are thus able to perceive the shape of the object? You may not understand the hidden mechanisms involved. Similarly, the waving of my hand also involves some very intricate mechanisms. [Grand Master Lu waves, audience laughter] How and why is my hand waving like this? You tell your hand to wave and a certain part of your brain receives that message. So you know which part of your brain does this? Although modern medical technology is very advanced, there is still a great deal we don't know about the mapping of the brain and its functions. When the intent is perceived by the brain, do you know which part of the brain orchestrates the motor nerves and, subsequently, all the movements of tendons, bones, blood, and muscle to make your hand wave? You do not know any of this! [laughter and audience laughter] I am asking you about the workings of your own body and none of the mechanisms is simple!
When you eat, you open your mouth and, with the chopsticks, move food into your mouth. The food automatically enters the esophagus instead of the trachea. If your autonomic response is slow, and the food enters the trachea by mistake, you will choke. When the food passes through the esophagus into the stomach, the stomach begins to churn and digest the food. Do you know how the muscular layers of the stomach wall move? Are the movements longitudinal, circular, or oblique? Why is the digestion of food necessary? If you have not made a study of it, you do not know. Food passes through duodenum to the small intestine and then the large intestine. Secretion and absorption take place both in the stomach and the small intestine. So you know how the large intestine moves and functions? You know how to eat large pork intestine [a popular dish among Chinese], but you do not know how the large intestine functions! The large intestine contracts and pushes waste to the anus. [audience laughter] From the moment the food is ingested to the moment it is excreted, it has undergone great transformation. How many people study these functions and understand them in detail? How is food broken down by the aid of enzymes into amino acids, fatty acids, and simple sugars that are absorbed through the intestinal walls? The processes of metabolism and transportation are also involved. The transportation system is made up of arteries, veins, and capillaries, as well as exchange at the cellular level. You know that cells are the units that make up the human body. Do you also know what is inside a cell? [Someone replies, "Life."] I also know that it has life. [laughter and audience laughter] Of course cells have life. Perhaps someone who is a doctor or nurse will understand these mechanisms better. Do not feel ashamed if you don't know all these biological mechanisms. As a matter of fact, I also do not know them all. [laughter and audience laughter] My point is that it is very difficult to understand all the mechanisms in one's own body. Most people only put food in their mouths and do not care what happens to it after ingestion. They do not, in fact, know all the subtle mechanisms involved in the process.
The same thing may be said about the theories and doctrines of the Buddhadharma, the Truth of the Universe. It is difficult to understand Truth through a dissociative study of the Universe. On the other hand, if one participates in the actual practice, if one experiences it, then one will gradually know what the Dharma Taste is and what the subtleties are. One can only truly know the subtleties of the Truth by identifying with it and experiencing it.
Many doctrines are found in the Buddhist scriptures. These doctrines are also expounded by many people who do not necessarily have the experience of Dharma Taste. Even though they know where to look for the Dharma Taste, they cannot taste it. The most important thing is "eating" and getting nourished. If one postponed eating food until one completely understood the mechanisms involved in the various biological and chemical processes of digestion, one would die of starvation. In one's lifetime one might be able to read the whole Buddhist Canon once, thrice, over even one hundred times, but could one understand every doctrine in it? It might take many lifetimes before one could understand everything in the whole Buddhist Canon. One may read the scriptures day in and day out, from youth to old age, but one will not experience the Dharma Taste unless one starts doing actual practice. One cannot taste the Dharma without penetrating the meaning of the doctrines. However, it is possible that one could die before one could penetrate the meaning of the doctrines! Therefore, do not bother with how a dish is prepared, eat it first. We will eat the food first - we will start with the actual practice.
The Buddha said that "the benefit of actual practice surpasses that of a wide seeking of knowledge." Who was most famous for having been exposed to the most doctrines? This was Ananda, one of the ten chief disciples to attain Realization. Mahakashyapa had a great dislike for Ananda. [audience laughter] Among all of the disciples, Mahakashyapa had a horrid temper and was the one most easily aggravated. He was very skinny and had an extremely angular face. In front of the Buddha, Mahakashyapa was very respectful, but sometimes he would act on his own will and ignore the Buddha's words. The Buddha would call to him, "Do not stay so far away! Come and spend some time at the Bamboo Grove Vihara. Eat a little bit more food to keep yourself nourished!" Mahakashyapa would not listen. He had a strong will power and liked to stick to his ascetic practices. When he saw Ananda, he would fly into a rage! [audience laughter] He felt that Ananda was too greedy. Ananda was fond of good food and beautiful clothes. When he saw a piece of beautiful clothing that belonged to the Buddha, he would steal it and put it on himself. [audience laughter] When the Buddha was away, he would sit on the Buddha's chair and lecture the younger disciples. He was also very fond of women. [audience laughter] Ananda's desires were the strongest among the disciples. In reality, the Buddha greatly praised Mahakashyapa, despite his terrible temper and frequent absence from the Buddha's company. The Buddha considered Mahakashyapa to be an adept of actual practice who had attained the greatest level of Realization among the disciples. How about Ananda? He was the last to achieve Realization. [audience laughter] Mahakashyapa was not the only one who disliked Ananda; many other disciples also disliked him. This was because Ananda had been an attendant of the Buddha for a long time and people were jealous of him. [audience laughter] There was also some competition going on among the disciples.
Amituofo
Lotuschef
Pure Karma
True Buddha School
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