2017-6-28

 

 

Growth is a personal matter, but growth cannot rely solely on oneself.

There are such people in this world who, though not your parents, yet seem to understand you better than your parents; though not your lover, but seem more reliable than a lover; though not your friend, but seem more dependable than a friend.

This kind of person is—your “master.”

 

They understand all the suffering of ordinary people, yet possess the wisdom to transcend the mundane, using minimal effort to achieve great results…

A good master is rare. Once found, a disciple is eager to entrust everything to them.

As the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch says, “When one is deluded, the master leads them; when one is enlightened, they guide themselves.”

Before our initial awakening, what should be our focus in cultivation?

When we are not yet enlightened, the focus of cultivation is to find a teacher who is already awakened.

A renowned Dharma master once taught, “The bit of wisdom I possess today is inseparable from my master. Everything I have achieved today is because my master’s energy has already merged into my blood.”

In the Buddhist scriptures, there is a recorded conversation between the Buddha and his attendant, Ananda—

Ananda said to the Buddha, “Buddha, I have realized a truth: A person’s accomplishments in life are 50% due to their master.”

This one statement from Ananda is enough to awaken us. In the past, we always relied solely on ourselves.

But the Buddha responded, “A person’s accomplishments are entirely determined by their master!”

This statement shocked me even more and made me change my view of the master from that moment forward, and I began to truly value the master.

As long as one lives in this world, no matter what role we play, if we want to grow quickly, we must have a master to guide us along life’s path, helping us make continual progress.

Therefore, we must respect our masters and never forget them. Forgetting the master is equivalent to losing a part of our own life.

 

When the Sixth Patriarch Huineng sought discipleship, he was ridiculed by the Fifth Patriarch in public. Later, he was assigned to the woodshed to do hard labor, and for eight months, the master ignored him.

On the night Huineng wrote, “Originally there is not a single thing, so where could there be any dust?” the master and disciple had their only true exchange in life.

After that, they parted ways at the riverbank, going their separate directions. Huineng never again had the opportunity to serve at his master’s side like other disciples, nor be taught by his master.

However, after 15 years of exile, he—

“unleashed the lion’s roar, resounded with a thunderous voice, widely spread the banner of the Dharma, invigorated Buddhism, and became the founder of the Five Houses of Chan Buddhism—the most important lineage in the history of Chinese Buddhist development!”

 

The master’s benevolence must be repaid, repaid through a deep connection of the hearts;
The master’s benevolence must be repaid, repaid by passing on wisdom;
The master’s benevolence must be repaid, repaid by honestly and sincerely benefiting countless beings…

 

(Source of the article: Buddhism Website)

 

2013-6-3

 

 

Even if someone is your master for only a day, you should regard him like your father for the rest of your life.

The word “Master” carries a weight as heavy as thousands of tons.

The master is the beacon on your path of cultivation, illuminating the road ahead of you. The master is the sunlight in your life, shining upon you, warming you, driving away the harsh cold of winter, and bringing you the hope of spring.

The master is the support you rely on within your heart. When you find your master, you find the way home. You no longer wander, and you are no longer alone. You are no longer just yourself; you have your master, and you have your fellow disciples. In this warm family, you will grow, feel warmth, and most importantly, find direction.

Before finding your master, you may feel lost and confused, like a sailboat in the ocean, battered by stormy winds and dark clouds, without a compass, unable to find your way. Without a master, it’s like crossing a desert alone, surrounded by sandstorms, and all you see is a hazy world. You can’t see the end, nor find the right direction. Your food runs out, your water is gone, and you are exhausted, hungry, and thirsty, yet you cannot give up. To give up would mean death approaching; you must persist, persist, and persist again.

Think about it—before we found our master, wasn’t this our situation? Maybe even worse. It was difficult for us to take a step forward. How much suffering did we endure, how many trials did we go through, and how many tears and blood did we shed? Have we forgotten all that? We cried out to the heavens, but no one answered; we called out to the earth, but there was no response. That feeling was worse than death. Yet, we had to stay strong and keep moving forward, because it was the faith in our hearts that is supporting us.

We had not yet realized the true meaning of life, we had not yet understood the truth of the universe and life, we had not yet solved the issue of life and death, and we had not yet freed ourselves from worldly bonds, broken the cycle of karma, and transcended the Six Realms and the Three Worlds. We hadn’t completed our mission or fulfilled our tasks. How could we easily give up? How could we fear difficulties and not move forward? How could we indulge in comfort and pleasure? Countless times we gave ourselves lessons, countless times we cheered ourselves on, countless times we reminded and motivated ourselves. These are the bits and pieces of our journey, serving as tests for us. This also tells us that the “Dharma” is not easy to seek, and reminds us how difficult it is to find a master. We must understand the importance of “respecting the master and valuing the Way.” The basis of cultivation is respecting the master and valuing the Way—without knowing how to respect the master, nothing can be accomplished.

Our master has sacrificed so much for us; it’s not easy to be a master. How many of us have truly experienced the challenges of being a master? How many of us have really understood and connected with our master? We all think our master is imposing and has so many disciples, and that whatever our master does for us is expected. “After all, you’re my master!” We think that being a master is very easy, carefree, and also graceful.

Alas, do we even realize how many disciples there are? Forget about individually guiding them on the right path, helping them understand the principles, and ensuring they truly practice diligently—how can the master manage so many disciples effectively? The master worries that one disciple might stray, or another might become confused and lose their direction. How much care and effort does the master have to put into this!

Do you really think it’s easy for the master to guide even a single disciple? The master also bears the great responsibility of delivering all beings from suffering. Do you really think being a master is that easy? Beings are stubborn and difficult to guide; the master must have immense patience to teach them. The master needs to understand them, connect with them, and teach according to their aptitudes, helping lost beings realize the need to turn back, to get on the Dharma ship, and to return home. With skillful means and great compassion, the master saves and calls back the souls of sentient beings lost in the cycle of reincarnation, helping them cleanse the dust from their hearts. Truly, it is great unconditional loving-kindness, and oneness with great compassion.

When has the master ever said to give up? When has the master ever retreated? Your karma is yours to resolve, and your burdens are yours to carry. But when you can’t bear it anymore and seek your master, has your master ever shut the door on you? The master has always saved and guided you with deep compassion. The master pities you, saves you with a benevolence heart, and never tires.

It’s only so that you can understand the truth and cultivate well. Time after time, the master enlightens you, teaching and guiding you step by step, all to help you board the Dharma ship. Those beings who understand are fine, but those who don’t even slander the master. How is this different from the parents who gave birth to you and raised you, whom you failed to repay the favor and instead drove them out of the door? Despite this, has your master ever given up on you? The compassionate light of the master still shines upon you.

Being strict with you, even beating or scolding you, is all for your own good. Have you understood this with your heart? Your master is not only as warm as sunlight, but also as piercing as a cold wind, because without being beaten, you will not awaken. Your master is like raging fire, like lightning, like thunder, and also like the spring breeze—everything is done to guide you to salvation. Have you genuinely appreciated your master’s painstaking efforts? When Buddhas and Bodhisattvas guide and save sentient beings, they don’t only show kind and amiable faces, but they also show the wrath of a Vajra!

But what about you? How have you acted? You “doubt” your master. Ask yourself honestly—have you ever had such doubts in your heart? Ask yourself—have you been completely sincere towards your master? Ask yourself—have you offered everything to your master? And yet, you still doubt your master?

What is there to doubt? Are you afraid your master will lead you to a mountain of knives? Or are you afraid your master will send you into a sea of fire? Ask yourself honestly—are you worthy of your master’s kindness? Even between people, there must be “trust” and sincerity, let alone between a master and disciple. Have you forgotten how difficult it was to find your master? Have you forgotten your vows? Have you forgotten the grace and benevolence your master has shown you?

For every bit of respect you show to your master, your master will give you tenfold blessings. There is no such thing as a master who abandons their disciple—only disciples who lose their true nature.

Everyone makes mistakes—Not everyone is a sage, so who can be without fault? It’s not wrong to make mistakes. If you repent, correct yourself, and avoid repeating those mistakes, that is what truly matters. Here, a word to all fellow practitioners: if you have done something wrong to your master, if you have made mistakes or committed sins, don’t hesitate any longer. Go to your master immediately and repent. Present your whole heart to your master without holding anything back, and sincerely repent. There is no shame in repenting in front of your master.

Someone who doesn’t understand repentance cannot be saved, even if a thousand Buddhas were to appear. Do you want temporary pride, or do you want permanent liberation? I believe that as long as you sincerely repent, your master will gladly accept you, will cleanse the dust from your soul, resolve your confusion and doubts, and return you to your pure true nature. Because that is your “master”.

Finally, a note for all fellow practitioners: the first step in cultivation is to respect your master and value the Way. Without respecting your master and valuing the Way, your cultivation will lead to no achievements.

Reverently pay homage to your master as you would to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!
Reverently pay homage to all the great virtuous and wise teachers as you would to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!

 

(Source of the article: Buddhism Website)

 

2015-8-15

 

 

 

 

A true spiritual practitioner will inevitably meet their master sooner or later.

When the karmic bond from many lifetimes ripens, the master and disciple meet each other, and the disciple’s heart is always inexplicably stirred.

It could be sorrow, joy, relief, or sentimental…emotions that are beyond words.

Usually, it’s the master who seeks out the disciple. Sometimes it seems like the disciple comes looking for the master, but the master naturally knows this in their heart. When the master recognizes the disciple just at first glance, the disciple is, however, completely unaware.

 

The master will enlighten you in a special way, guiding you to come to them on your own. What follows is a difficult running-in period, which often takes two or three years.

If it is your true master, they might reprimand you, manipulate you, snub you, praise you, pamper you, or let you be, and through a continuous cycle of intense warmth and cold indifference, you find yourself as if in the cloud or in the mist, on peak of mountain or bottom of valley, in heaven or on earth, unable to grasp what’s next. For without being beaten, you won’t awaken; without being forsaken, you won’t feel comfort; without being hurt, you won’t understand; without being afflicted, you won’t behave; without having pain, you won’t stop; without being suppressed, you won’t submit. It’s truly a mix of love and hate, enduring all kinds of “torments”…

Thereafter, you’ll attempt to escape unceasingly, but helplessly, you return obediently, because you realize you are simply inseparable from your master—you must rely on them. You’ll even become anxious to know how the master will teach you a lesson next.

A master is like a blazing fire. If you are too close, you’ll be burned all over, but if you stay too far, you’ll feel cold. It is incredibly difficult to maintain a proper distance. This is how the master intensifies conditioned effort to lead the disciple to enter the effortless state of the middle path.

 

As a disciple, you constantly express your devotion, but time and again, it ends in failure, as the master simply takes no notice of your declarations. All you can do is humbly surrender your mind. Eventually, you will realize that you deeply yearn to see your master, and the joy in your heart when their name is mentioned is indescribable. Sometimes, when you meet your master, you become unusually nervous. It is because your benefactor-master is like a clear mirror, radiating from within a kind of purity, awareness, and wisdom, reflecting the disciple’s deep-rooted karmic hindrances.

In the presence of the master, the disciple feels an overwhelming sense of shame, as if there is no place to hide. Your heart is full of words, but you find it difficult to speak your mind. This back-and-forth process of refinement continues until the coarse habits of the disciple are worn away. Only then, you are then able to establish complete inner “trust” and “faith” in your master, and it is at this point that the communication between master and disciple reflects a transmission of lineage-based qualities.

Only then, you will have the ability to perceive and comprehend the endless compassion in your master’s words, smiles, and conversations. You’ll be able to sense the hardships and bitterness your master has endured along the way in spreading the Dharma for the benefit of all beings. You’ll be able to understand the meaning behind the food in your master’s bowl, the tea in their cup, the tears in their smile…Being a disciple is difficult, but being a master is even more challenging.

A virtuous master is a great benefactor who continues the transmission of wisdom, guiding us beyond the cycle of life and death, leading us toward liberation and the other shore of light. The grace of the master is as deep as the ocean, and it would be hard to repay even if one were to be shattered into pieces. Without the compassion of the benefactor-master, the disciple would be lost on the crossroads of life, wandering indefinitely. The disciple vows to repay the debt of gratitude to the benefactor-master throughout lifetimes to come.

 

Under the guidance of your benefactor-master, you notice that your gaze becomes softer, and you are always able to discover the good and kindness in others. Your words becomes gentler for fear of hurting the hearts of others. Your heart soften, even toward those who have hurt you the most, and you develop boundless compassion, finding justifications for their actions.

When you quietly reflect on your master, every words and deeds, every gesture, their voice, their smile, their serene nature, and joyful demeanor come to mind. At times, they appear as innocent as a child; at other times, as compassionate as Buddha and Bodhisattva; sometimes as dignified as a venerable elder, and sometimes as warm and soothing as spring breeze. The master exudes a natural charm at every moment and in every places.

The master is like a magnet, and the disciple is like a piece of unrefined raw iron, irresistibly drawn to the master and unable to escape. You are completely captivated by them, and willingly surrendering to your master. With pure body, speech and mind, you provide for your benefactor-master.

 

Those virtuous qualities, like rays of like, permeate your inner heart: openness, acceptance, tolerance, compassion, clarity, awareness, wisdom, serenity, calmness, even a familial tenderness and a warrior’s wrath—all flow like refreshing sweet Dharma rain, cleansing your soul over time. The same qualities within you are awakened, and you long to be just like your master.

Everything an enlightened person does is a skillful manifestation in harmony with the circumstances, aimed at benefiting all sentient beings. Their actions are free from any faults, naturally flowing from their luminous and awakened mind. Gradually, you find that you become more broad-minded, the capacity of your heart expands, your body and mind becomes softer, and you’re able to bear more responsibility. You are returning to your true nature.

 

All of this stems from the heart-to-heart transmission between master and disciple, which requires no words. The disciple regards the benefactor-master as a Buddha, and the Dharma practice associated between the master and the disciple brings immeasurable merit and benefit. You received the most intimate lineage transmission, gaining access to the living essence of the so-called “Dharma”. However, this is only possible when the virtues are fulfilled and karmic bond ripens.

There are as many methods of spiritual practices as there are imperfections in the world. In front of your master, hide nothing. Present yourself without reservation, no matter what shortcomings you have. Trust in your master, who will heal you with greatest compassion.

 

The more attached you are to something, the more the Divine will test you on it, forcing you to let to. This is the compassion of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and the gift of the Divine to you.

It all depends on whether you understand it and whether you can endure it. Cultivate right at your weakest point—where you fall is where you must rise again, standing firm and steady.

 

 

 

(Source of Article: Sohu Culture; Author: Huang Yaoshi)