Apply real efforts to investigating the Buddha Dharma, no matter which state we are in. Do not take it for granted. If we can make it, we shall be able to turn the state around, instead of being turned by it. You shall always be within the Buddha Dharma, and free from afflictions. We practice the Buddha Dharma to develop a better mental outlook and attitude in dealing with the worldly affairs.
The Asuras, in truth, are well advanced in cultivation. Many of them fall to the realm of Asura from the Heaven of Neither Thought Nor Non-Thought or the Heaven of Light Sound. They get reborn as Asuras as a consequence of the transgressions they have committed. They are good at spiritual penetrations, but also have big offenses, and therefore fall to the realm of Asura. Many Asuras are animals. They can appear in human body by transformation. Usually they have fiery tempers. Nonetheless, they are endowed with high level of comprehension. After all, they used to be good cultivators.
Text:
With such great eagerness we look forward to the treasure being transmitted here, both when awake and in our dream. The self-nature shall manifest as it is. Greed can help with the cultivation. Who knows when we can return to the Proper Path once deviated from it? If we can let it go, the sutra lecture shall be presented to us right today.
Commentary:
At the outset, “With such great eagerness we look forward to the treasure being transmitted here, both when awake and in our dream.” This line of the text indicates that they are anxiously waiting for the treasure. They knew someone was going to visit them for a lecture on the Sutra of Longevity. The Sutra of Longevity is the very treasure.
The self-nature is inherent in our mind. “The self-nature shall manifest as it is.” the self-nature manifests in every moment. It is a manifestation of our self-nature or Buddha nature, for example, when we are talking, or doing things. Each and every single thought we give rise to is the manifestation of our self-nature. It is shown when we see it with our eyes, speak with our mouth, and hear with our ears.
The Asuras woke up to it when they learnt someone was to transmit the treasure for them.
“The self-nature shall manifest as it is. Greed can help with the cultivation.” The line explains that the self-nature is inherent within us. Even being greedy helps with cultivation. Some of you also have such a problem. First of all, we need to cultivate to be patient. I was off-line for a while just now as my son needed help with homework. I asked you to wait for a while. Were you being impatient in waiting? I was expounding on the text for you when some phoned me and I had to stop to answer the call. Take time to reflect on yourself. If you were at ease when interrupted, it means you have good skills. Otherwise, if you were impatient with it, you are not good enough in cultivation. If you can make it to stay in accord with conditions, you will always be happy. The Asuras are characterized by greed and impatience. They are greedy for more spiritual penetrations, and are very hot-tempered. They woke up to it, though. The self-nature, or Buddha-nature, is inherent to them. Greed can also help with the cultivation. Why is it so? Isn’t it a means of cultivation when one works to guard against greed?
“Who knows when we can return to the Proper Path once deviated from it?” If we deviate from the Proper Path, we let loose our mind, and are out of the control of desires, emotions, and the three poisons of greed, hatred, and ignorance. Once off the Proper Path, who knows when to return? This is thought-provoking. Return to where? It is to return to the Buddha and here him talk the Dharma. After all, we are being turned on the wheel of rebirth in the Six Paths.
“If we can let it go, the sutra lecture shall be presented to us right today.” If we can put it down and let it go, our mind shall be set at peace. We make it today, we get the chance to hear the Dharma Talk today. The precious opportunity shall be presented to us in no time. Lingmei described how wonderful it could be at the very outset.
Text:
I was sitting in meditation when all of a sudden I felt impatient as if something was grating my nerve. I set my mind at peace, and realized it was the Asuras who were getting anxious waiting for the sutra lecture. My soul therefore travelled again. In a flash of thought, I arrived at Mount. Asura. There are both heaven and earth in the Asura Realm.
Commentary:
“I was sitting in meditation when all of a sudden I felt impatient as if something was grating my nerve.” It was not Lingmei herself feeling impatient, but the Asuras, as their minds were at that time connected. After setting her mind at peace, she realized it was the Asuras getting impatient for her sutra lecture.
“My soul therefore travelled again. In a flash of thought, I arrived at Mount. Asura. There are both heaven and earth in the Asura.” She did not know it because it was the first time she had been there. They are of four categories: born from eggs, born from wombs, born from moisture, and born by transformation.
Those born from eggs are in the Path of Ghost. They are endowed with such a spiritual power that they can fly in the air.
Those born from wombs are in the Path of Humans. They live at a height which is close to the moon and the sun. These Asuras have been heavenly beings but fall to the lower realm as they fail to behave properly morally.
Those born from moisture are in the Path of Animals and usually dwell by the entrance of a water cave. In the morning, they roam around the empty space while in the evening they return back to reside by the water.
Those born through transformation are in the Path of Heaven. While they do not enjoy any heavenly bliss, they are endowed with spiritual penetrations as powerful as the Heavenly King Shakra and the King of Brahman Heaven.
Text:
I took a look and saw the tall and mighty Asura King standing there waiting for me. He fell down and made obeisance to me at the sight of me, and said, “We have been waiting for master for long. This is a precious opportunity that we hardly encounter once in ten thousand eons.”
Commentary:
“I took a look and saw the tall and mighty Asura King standing there waiting for me. He fell down and made obeisance to me at the sight of me.” It shows just how sincere they were. They can be an all-weather friend and comply with you in every aspect if they think you are nice. Or, as we often put it, “With daggers on both side of the chest, I am willing to stand risk or sacrifice for friends.” This is what the Asuras are like. “We have been waiting for master for long. This is a precious opportunity that we hardly encounter once in ten thousand eons”.
Text:
I found the Asuras were not that frightening. They were of different levels, with some flying in the air and beautifully dressed, and others, different in size and shape, kneeling down on the ground, incalculable in number. I thought of what Master had told me, and decided to take a close look at how they looked. Exactly as Master had said, the male Asuras were ugly, but mostly strong and mighty, while the female stunningly gorgeous. I knew well that they were very anxious for the sutra lecture, and said, “At the behest of Master, I have come to lecture the Sutra of Longevity for you. You please do not get too excited. Pacify your mind. In this case, you shall benefit fully from the power of the Sutra.
Commentary:
“I found the Asuras were not that frightening.” Many of us think of the Asuras as demons or goblins and therefore frightening. It is true that they can be terrible in resentment and vengeance. The male Asuras are tall and mighty, while the female gorgeous.
Lingmei noticed that they were of several levels with some flying in the air and beautifully dressed. That was heavenly clothes and therefore very beautiful.
“…and others, different in size and shape, kneeling down on the ground, incalculable in number. I thought of what Master had told me, and decided to take a close look at how they looked. Exactly as Master had said, the male Asuras were ugly, but mostly strong and mighty.” If a man is very strong and large in size, he can be frightening. The female Asuras are stunning beauties.
They are inherently impatient. “I knew well that they were very anxious for the sutra lecture, and said, ‘Upon the request of Master, I have come to lecture the Sutra of Longevity for you. You please do not get too excited. Pacify your mind.’” Lingmei asked them to be patient so that the power of the Sutra of Longevity can be fully felt. Surely it helped when Lingmei said so. In fact, you would feel it that their mind gradually turned at peace if you were in that state.
Text:
I went on to read the following passage from the Sutra for them: “Now I will teach you also The Six Paramitas, which are also practised by the Bodhisattvas. What are the Six Paramitas? The first Paramita is to give expansively. The second Paramita is to uphold the precepts firmly. The third Paramita is to be patient always. The fourth Paramita is to be diligent constantly. The fifth Paramita is to cultivate concentration diligently. The sixth Paramita is to clearly penetrate wisdom. When a man is able to uphold the six paramitas fully and completely, he will arrive at the other shore. He should never even neglect any one of the Paramitas.There is also a verse on the accomplishment of Buddhahood by The Buddhas in the past: “All activities are impermanent. They are the dharma of birth and death. When there is no more birth and death, a man will enjoy the bliss of quietude and extinction. You should uphold and practise this dharma joyfully.”
Commentary
This passage explains how we should cultivate to enter Buddhahood. The Six Paramitas are practiced by the Bodhisattvas. I am not going to dwell on this passage now as I already talked on it when lecturing the Sutra of Longevity. What are the Six Paramitas? How shall we approach them? Well, the Six Paramitas are about applying an unconditioned mind to cultivation. The Asuras are fairly advanced in cultivation. They shall gain release from the Three Realms if they can act strictly on the Six Paramitas.
Text:
The Asuras showed utmost sincerity as they attended the sutra lecture. They kept making offerings to me with the best of their treasures. Without hesitation, I transferred them to Master. Myriad flowers fell from the air. The Asuras in the heaven were even more sincere. They kept flying around me.
Commentary:
They got the point immediately when Lingmei recited the sutra passage for them. They were very honest and sincere people. They had nothing but sincerity when making the offerings. They kept making offerings to Lingmei with the best of treasures, which Lingmei transferred, without hesitation, to Master.
“Myriad flowers fell from the air.” Lingmei was not in the same state as the flying Asuras. They were making offerings to her with flowers.
Text:
I knew how sincere they were, and transferred the sincerity to Master, too. In fact, I no longer need to pay attention to myself. I had long been integrated with Heaven, Earth, and everything in the universe. I could read the mind of them wherever they were.
Commentary:
Lingmei had entered their state by then. That was why her temper remained hot for a while after she returned. She had yet to get out of it. It also showed her weakness in the cultivation of concentration.
Text:
As I was about to depart, the Asura King knelt down and bowed to me, saying, “The brotherhood between us is unsurpassed. We listen as our tears dropped like rain, as we are overwhelmed with emotions. It is because of the kindness and compassion of the Buddha that we get the chance to listen to the Sutra lecture. His blesses all the beings with his grace, and the responses are evoked as long as we show sincerity. Master, you make a request, and we shall do it for you even we have to grind our body and bone into powder to achieve it to perfection. I only hope that Master you will be thinking of us no matter how time flies. Shedding tears we bid you farewell. Before you take your departure, please always remember that we shall be thinking of you all the time and do not forget about us.” The air was filled with Asuras as I was about to leave. How they wished I could stay for longer. I certainly knew their mind except time did not allow for it. By sending the treasure of the Sutra to them, I win their sincerity that is unsurpassed. It is a pity that we humans never match them in sincerity. It is a moment so toughing that it shakes heaven and earth. I really hate to leave them.
Commentary:
When Lingmei was about to leave, the Asura King knelt down, and bowed to her, “The brotherhood between us is unsurpassed.” The Asuras are very serious about brotherhood. This shows how grateful they were to Lingmei.
“We listen as our tears dropped like rain, as we are overwhelmed with emotions. It is because of the kindness and compassion of the Buddha that we get the chance to listen to the Sutra lecture.” This shows how grateful they feel. See, the Asuras are serious about brotherhood, like those who play martial arts. They are tough but treat you very well as long as they take you as a friend. They would go all out to help you. There is not the least bit of hypocrisy in them. Because of the sincerity, they evoke responses from the Buddha.
“It is because of the kindness and compassion of the Buddha that we got the chance to listen to the Sutra lecture.” They say so to give thanks to the Buddha.
“His blesses all the beings with his grace, and the responses are evoked as long as we show sincerity.” Not a single being is left behind. Both sentient and insentient beings are included. He responds to us as long as we are sincere. How fast we progress depends not on the superficial form, but the sincerity of our mind. See, the Asuras are very sincere and serious about brotherhood!
“Master, you make a request, and we shall do it for you even we have to grind our body and bone into powder to achieve it to perfection.” See, this is how serious they are. They told Lingmei to just drop them a message should she need any help and they’d do their best to do it for her. Or, as we put it, even it means to go through fire and water. Sure, we do need their help to serve as our Dharma protector.
We should be careful not to give rise to evil thoughts. If we think, ok, I need an immortal or an Asura friend to help me give a beating to that guy, without any doubt that guy would die from illness. We ordinary people cannot see it with our naked eyes. So, never ever give rise to such an evil thought. Refrain from resentment. No matter how others are making it difficult for us, we should not be hateful or think of taking revenge against them. In fact, a genuine cultivator could shock them away into pieces by simply reading a mantra.
“Master you make a request, and…”: They take Lingmei as their master. As I told you before, those whom you ferry over by the power of the Buddhist scripture will eventually become your disciples. You make a request, and they will do it for you even if they have to grind their body and bone into powder. That is why I always stress to you that we should be free from resentment as a cultivator. A genuine cultivator can give order to any immortal in the Three Realms. We should never abuse such an authority to bully others, though.
“I only hope that Master you will be thinking of us no matter how time flies.” They hope that Lingmei would not forget them, so that they get the chance to follow her in cultivation.
“We look to meet with you again in the future in the great gathering of the heroes.” They talk like a hero.
“Shedding tears we bid you farewell” It is now time for away to bid you farewell. But Master, we should keep your words in mind and transmit the precious sutra.
“Before you take your departure, please always remember that we shall be thinking of you all the time and do not forget about us.” See, this is just how sincere they are. They will be thinking of Lingmei all the time and hope that Lingmei, too, shall be thinking of them, and do not forget they are her disciples. This is characteristic of Asuras. Lingmei could not possible have written it so real without having met them in person. Even the best sci-fi novelist cannot possibly have fabricated by imagination.
“The air was filled with Asuras as I was about to leave. How they wished I could stay for longer. I certainly knew their mind except time did not allow for it. By sending the treasure of the Sutra to them, I win their sincerity that is unsurpassed. It is a pity that we humans never match them in sincerity. It is a moment so toughing that it shakes heaven and earth.”
Lingmei was in one with them. She did not want to leave them, either, except time would not allow for it. She could not stay there for long, even with the power bestowed by Master. Though she was there to send the treasure of the sutra, she, too, was rewarded with their heart sincere beyond comparison. Lingmei felt it keenly how sincere they were when in such a state. It is a pity that we humans can never match them in sincerity. Don’t many people making offerings to Master with what they do not want themselves? As the Fifth Patriarch often put it, “How pitiable! How pathetic!” Venerable the Fifth Patriarch often said it.
“I really hate to leave them”: It really is a touching a moment that I could hardly hold back my tears when reading it. The Great Way is formless. Once we attain the Great Way, we can feel it all, even when our body and mind remain still.
Text:
In less than a second, I was back. It took a long time before I got pacified from feeling overwhelmed by their sincerity.
Commentary:
“In less than a second, I was back.” Her mind was connected with theirs when she was in that state. Therefore, it would take a long time before she calmed down. She was so touched by their sincerity. Nevertheless, it also shows Lingmei was not firm enough in Samadhi. Samadhi enables us to be at ease all the time. While I also was touched to tears reading the article, as I felt their sincerity so keenly. I do not get the response as I am lecturing it now, because I keep my mind at peace.
Text:
Then, I heard Master’s voice speaking, “Excellent Lingmei! Master knows clearly what a meritorious deed you have done. You have tried your best. Free your mind from attachment to it. Soon there will be a new mission for you. Take it as a flower-viewing experience. The heavens were all revealed.” I said, “Master, I know.”
Commentary:
“You have tried your best. Free your mind from attachment to it. Soon there will be a new mission for you. Take it as a flower-viewing experience.” It was spoken by Master to her. Soon she’d have to carry out a new mission. Forget about what she has experienced. Do not get attached to it. Do not be influenced by it in cultivation.
“The heavens were all revealed.” All the states of the heavens have been revealed to her through the trips she has had. The heavens include The Heavens of Desires, the Heavens of Form Realm, and the Heavens of Formless Realm. The realm of the Asura was also revealed to her.
Text:
The voice then spoke to me again, “The beings are in such huge suffering and yet they fail to realize they should cultivate to cross it over while staying attached to spiritual power. Nor have they realized that their own mind is the foundation of the Buddha Dharma. Amitabha-Buddha! Talk about it later…”
Commentary:
The living beings are suffering too much. They do not know how to cross it over by themselves. Think about it. Is it really that hard to make it? Well, were it not for the legacy that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas give to us, it is just that difficult. We cannot cross it over by ourselves without it. That is why the Buddha Dharma is very precious. We cannot repay the kindness and grace of the Buddha even by grinding our body and bone into powder.
We should get attached to spiritual power, which is but a piece of cake. Rather, it is our mind that we should focus on when cultivating. This is what distinguishes Buddhists from externalists who entice you with spiritual penetrations or things like that. It is the proper way to cultivate the mind.
Text:
“…Your kindness binds us from heaven and earth together. We living beings are benefited and blissful.”
Commentary:
All the living beings are happy about Lingmei’s sutra lectures around the Three Realms.
She then wrote down her own thoughts of reflection.
Text
I looked into myself after hearing Master’s comment. It is all because of Master’s warrant that I am able to travel around. Curiosity, however, does kill people, sometimes. If our mind is not well controlled, we may go deviant. Me is not me, and you are not you. We cultivate to get our mind bright and enlightened, to bring out our Buddha nature, and our true-self.
Commentary:
Do not have our mind controlled by curiosity. Once someone asked me to verify the sharira he had bought and asked whether it was good to eat it. Sharira is meant to be enshrined by us instead of being eaten by us. How helpful is it for you to eat it, anyway?
“Me is not me, and you are not you. We cultivate to get our mind bright and enlightened, to bring out our Buddha nature, and our true-self.” There are two selves within us. One is the false self, while the other is the true-self. The false self pulls us towards the three poisons of greed, resentment, and ignorance, and the seven emotions and six desires, while the true self pulls us towards cultivating the Buddha Dharma. Whoever has the greater strength wins.
Text:
Having travelled to so many places, I realize that the humans are the dullest. They just do not realize that the treasure is right in their mind.
Commentary:
She has put it correctly. It is good that you follow me in cultivation. However, even with all the disciples back to me, there are but 3,000. Isn’t it a small number when compared to the population of China, let alone the world’s? We humans are just dull and never know that the treasure is in our mind.
Text:
By then, I heard a voice speaking to me, “Time goes by so fast and you should cherish it. Almost within the twinkling of an eye, one’s life is over. Your mind is the effective medicine and it is a cure-all. Find the means that suits you the best. By doing so, you not only shall cross yourself over, but will ferry over others. Your minds are not distant from each other but connected. Such devotion will prove to be worth it when the Buddha Dharma illumines all. Whatever we are doing, it is our mind that matters. As Master often says, you will get the result as much as you want it. The Sutra of Longevity grants your wishes better than anything else. The Sutra is the very granting-your-wish fruit, the cure-all medicine. In the final analysis, we have to comprehend it with our mind.
Commentary:
As she was pondering over it, she was reminded that “Time goes by so fast and you should cherish it. Almost with a wink of the eyes, one’s life is over.”
Even if one lives up to 100 years ago, it is over with a wink of the eyes.
“Your mind is the effective medicine and it is a cure-all.” It is the Buddha Dharma. Shakyamuni Buddha compares we living beings as his own children and he himself a very expert doctor. One day, he is out for a tour. When he returns, he finds his children poisoned by greed, hatred, and ignorance. They are deluded after they take the poison. Seeing their father is back, they children shout to them for help. As I said just now, the father is an expert doctor. He prescribes some very good medication can works effectively to remove the poisons. Those who are slightly poisoned take it immediately while those in critical conditions refuse to take it any more if they feel it is not as fast as they thought.
The medicine refers metaphorically to the Three Vehicles of the Buddha Dharma, the Twelve Divisions of the Tripitaka, and the eighty-four thousand Dharma Doors. The medication is to cure our mind sickened by the three poisons. Some of us are so critically poisoned that they are deluded and refuse to take it (referring to those who do not believe in Buddhism, and who refuse to cultivate or listen to the Buddha Dharma).
“Your mind is the effective medicine and it is a cure-all.” The Buddha Dharma is the very medicine.
“Find the means that suits you the best. By doing so, you not only shall cross yourself over, but will ferry over others. Your minds are not distant from each other but connected. Such devotion will prove to be worth it when the Buddha Dharma illumines all.” Cultivate it in a way that suits us the best. We shall not only gain release ourselves but will ferry others over. In fact, people’s minds at not distant from each other at all. A genuine cultivator knows clearly what others are thinking. We should devote ourselves to the propagation of the Buddha Dharma to bring it to as many people as possible. As I have often stressed to you, ours is a very good era during which the Buddha Dharma shall reach a peak. Whatever we are doing, it is our mind that matters.
“You will get the result as much as you want it.” We reap the harvest as much as we apply efforts to it. It depends on our mind. If we recite a mantra skeptically, it won’t be that efficacious for us. Otherwise, if we read it with single-minded sincerity, it is totally different story.
“The Sutra of Longevity grants your wishes better than anything else.” The Sutra of Longevity does have a unique feature in the way that it is understood by all beings with their original consciousness. We need to comprehend it with the mind to understand the profoundness of the Buddha Dharma. We may think we have understood it by reading through it once while very likely we misunderstand it if weapply the consciousness within the scope of the six senses. Not only will we fail to be in tune with the Buddha Dharma, but will get further and further away from it.
Isn’t what we are supposed to do here in the secular world a tough mission? It is full of challenges. As the King of the Heaven of Neither Thought Nor Non-Thought once said, “people’s mind has yet to be unlocked.” Many people cannot tell the Proper Dharma from the Deviant Ways. They have no idea what the Buddha Dharma is about. Therefore, I have always emphasized to you that we do not impose the Dharma on people, but rather, influence and transform them by the way we behave. We can improve us through cultivation.
I had been talking to you about the heavens for a while sometime ago. I was challenged the other day by someone on how I got to know it. “Did you get it by reading?” “Is there any ground to what you say?” Well, since you were skeptical, I decided to send a disciple for the trips. You shall all be able to enter the heaven and drill down to the earth cultivating the Buddha Dharma for me for sometime.
I sent Lingmei to meet Guanyin Bodhisattva, to the Heaven of Light Sound, to the Hell, to meet King Shakra, and to visit the World of Lapis Lazuli of Earth Store Bodhisattva. She not only visited there in person, but put into words the trips, including what she did, what she said and heard during the trips.
Some people were trying to fathom it with the mind of the ordinary people. Why was Lingmei able to go there while others could not? Are you colluding to write it? (Laughter)
I then sent Zhi Ming to meet Guanyin Bodhisattva. He, too, wrote about his trip there. It proves that not only Master, but you, too, can visit the wonderlands and take back what you see and here there. You should believe in it.
All that we do is for the purpose of propagating the Buddha Dharma and ferrying over the beings. We do so for none other than making our faith stronger. Building faith is the foremost challenge as we cultivate the Buddha Dharma. The doctrine underlying the cultivation of Buddha Dharma is to have faith, to make vows, and to practice. We place “to have faith” in the first place. We have to build faith first before making any vow or practicing it. Building faith is the biggest obstacle in the practice of the Buddha Dharma.
Now you have seen it yourself. My disciples can enter the heaven and drill down the earth. I am not just paying lip services. They brought back with them from the trips the instructions of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and put them into words. They are not trained as a writer. They could not have possibly made up those wonderful words spoken by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. One cannot have written about it without having truly been there in person.
Besides, I did think hard when deciding where they should be visiting. After all, many of you are so critically poisoned by greed, hatred, and ignorance. I made the arrangements just to help you build faith. Anyway, this is a long process and their trips are but the first step. The Buddha Dharma is efficacious only when we place faith in it. If we believe in it, without harbouring any doubt, we are a Bodhisattva. We are no different from a Bodhisattva.
It is because we are wavering between faith and doubt that we do not have the power the Bodhisattvas possess. All that I have been doing is to help you build the faith. When your faith is so firm that there is not the least bit of doubt in it, you the Bodhi Mind of Unsurpassed, Proper, Equal and Perfect Enlightenment.
Do think it is easy to have faith. Actually it is the most difficult challenge. As the Asura King put it, “Because of the sincerity, we evoke responses from the Buddha.” It is efficacious as long as we are sincere.
OK, we now come to the end of the lecture.
May the merit and virtue accrued from this work,
Adorn the Buddha’s Pure Lands,
Repaying the four kinds of kindness above,
And aiding those suffering in the paths below.
May those who see and hear of this,
All bring forth the resolve for Bodhi,
And when this retribution body is over,
Be born together in Ultimate Bliss.
Amitabha-Buddha! May we all be filled with the joy of the Dharma!
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