080408 Striving for the State of Inner Stillness and Clarity

Date: April 8, 2008 (Tuesday)
Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Place: April 4, 2008 – Taichung Region

When people’s minds cannot settle down, the dust in the field of their mind will be constantly stirred up. When the winds of delusion and ignorance blow, the dust of afflictions in our mind will be stirred up. So this “dust” flies everywhere, covering everything, tainting everything. So, the state of mind described by the phrase: “Our mind is still and clear , and our vow, vast as the endless void” is a state of “stillness” (“Jing” in Chinese). It’s very still. Such a state of “stillness” is truly very beautiful. In addition to being still, we must also contemplate (that is “Si” in Chinese). We must contemplate deeply so that our mind will not be chaotic but be composed focused, and settled. When our mind can reach such a state, it will truly be a very beautiful experience. To prevent the dust in our mind from being stirred up, isn’t there a phrase in the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings that says: “Letting fall the dew of Dharma to dampen the dust of desire”. The phrase, “Letting fall the dew of Dharma to dampen the dust of desire”--- Sometimes, when my mind gives rise to afflictions, being only human, the phrase would sometimes serve to remind me that I lack the dew--- that dew of Dharma. Sometimes, even if it hasn’t been raining, when we wake up early in the morning, we’d see that the land has been moistened. When wind blows in the early morning, dust would not be stirred up and that’d be because of the dew which formed at night. This is what is meant by: “Letting fall the dew of Dharma”. Even before the sun has come out, the dew has already moistened the land. That is why our mind, like the breeze in the early morning is especially cool and refreshed. So, at that time, if we wake up at dawn and listen to the Dharma, it will be the best time as our mind is very “still and clear” at that hour.

See how our Tzu Ching from Taichung, Liao Xiao-yi initiated the activity of listening to my dharma talk at dawn. See, now, Tzu Chings from over ten countries around the world have joined in the activity. Not only are Tzu Chings doing this, Tzu Chi Moms are also there to support them. Tzu Chi Moms have gone online despite being not as good with computers because they thought to themselves: “if the young people can do it, then why can’t I do it too? If we don’t take part in this, we might not be able to catch up to them and we’d be left behind.” So, each and every one of us should keep up with the latest technology so that we can make use of modern technology to spread the Dharma. Moreover, I was told that 21 out of 29 colleges in central Taiwan are participating in initiatives to encourage customers of eateries to bring their own eating utensils, as well as asking shop owners for permission to put up Jing Si Aphorisms in their stores. This time, after I left Hualien and traveled down to Taidong and up along the west coast, Tzu Chi volunteers at every stop I made have pasted Jing Si Aphorisms in shop fronts. These are all ways of bringing the Dharma to the people. This is truly to “manually” deliver the Dharma to others bit by bit, drop by drop. Where possible, we’ll use Da Ai TV as a medium so that the Dharma can reach even further around the world. This is how we can circulate love around the world.

We should be grateful to be in this era that has technology to make Dharma so accessible. But to be honest, it is also an era that worries us much. I have always been very worried about the state of this world and feel that time is running out.I am truly worried. Why am I worried? Because the Buddha had already foretold that the day will come when the world will enter into the phase of destruction where things in this world are continually being destroyed by manmade or natural disasters. Resources will keep being depleted, making this Earth become poorer and poorer in natural resources. Do not see a country for its wealth and power as even such a country will become poor when all its resources have been depleted. Recently, there has been very serious inflation and food prices have risen greatly. This is also worries me very much. For example, see how many people around the world are facing food shortage. It truly makes me very worried. How exactly can we help them when food prices are continuing to rise due to inflation? If we are to conduct relief distributions now, it would be different from before as food prices in some countries have even gone up fourfold. Exactly how many supplies can we afford to buy and give as aid to those who are impoverished and in need of food supplies? This s what worries and concerns us very much. Why is there so much inflation and why has food prices risen so much? What can we do about this? This is truly everyone’s collective karma.

Look at how global warming has caused climate conditions to become erratic. In the U.S., though it is already spring, Colorado was still affected by snow storms recently which is said to have never happened before. See how abnormal the climate is. These changes are happening even faster than what scientiss had predicted. Think about it, it truly is very frightening and also hard to believe. Why isn’t the climate following its natural course? In the past, people would say that if people do not follow principles, then Nature won’t take its orderly course either. That is what people of old used to say. It truly seems to be the case because nowadays, people’s minds are not staying to the right path. That is why I keep telling everyone that we are running out of time. Saying that, we also feel very helpless about it. But, while feeling helpless, should we just sit there and do nothing about it? No, we shouldn’t be pessimistic and passive, but rather, we should be proactive and positive and take action to encourage everyone to contribute their bit of effort. We can see that even ants will gather every tiny strength they have and work together with concerted effort to carry a big-sized crumb all the way to their nest and share the food together. Even such a tiny insect knows to unite efforts, let alone us human beings. In fact, the behavior of these little insects contains great principles we can learn from. As long as we can settle and quiet down our mind and contemplate deeply, we will find in every animal and plant profound principles. As you are all disciples of the Jing Si lineage, you must all use your wisdom attentively to settle your mind so you can quietly contemplate on what truly gives value to your life in this world. Is it to eat, drink, and indulge ourselves? A life like that would truly have no value whatsoever. It would truly be a waste of our life. We should make the fullest use of our life by working for the good of others in order to increase the value of our lives.