Understanding Suffering and Renunciation

After entrance, one of course has to understand the meaning behind the Buddhist doctrines of `Ten Dharma Realms` or the ten states of existence which include the `Four Holy Realms` and `Six Ordinary Realms.` One has to recognize the inherent sufferings found in the six ordinary realms of existence: devas, human beings, asuras, hell beings, hungry ghosts, and animals. When one understands these realms and becomes aware of the fundamental nature of `Impermanence,` there will arise a desire to seek renunciation. At the realization of the Inherent Emptiness of all phenomena and that nothing exists independently, one becomes an Arhat. [audience applause]

The sufferings inherent in the six realms are, in fact, very clearly manifested to us. Take a look at the hospitals. Although huge hospitals have been built with charity in mind, if I had to name them, I would have named them, for example, `Taipei General Hospital or Tzu Chi Charity Hospital, a subsidiary of the Hell Realm of Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.` [audience laughter]

In my view, hospitals are realms of Hell. In your eyes, hospitals are hospitals, staffed with many white-cloaked angels [audience laughter] who are in fact bad demons and yakshas, with knives and forks in hand, to cut and fix people up! Indeed, inside the hospitals are the hells of brain opening, kidney transplant, liver dissection, and eye gouging.

Truthfully, I have been to the realm of Hell. There I saw a student of mine whose two legs had been pierced through by a nail. I have not heard from this student for a long time. We looked into each other and he started crying. I asked him, `How come you are here? Could it be that you have died?` [audience laughter] I asked him, `Are you dead?` I was not speaking Indonesian although in Indonesian, the morning greeting of `Se La Ma Ba Gee` sounds almost the same as `are you dead` in Mandarin. [audience laughter] While shaking his head, the student sighed and spoke, `I am in Hell.` When I came back, I made an investigation. It turned out that this student had been admitted into the hospital during that time. His legs, for some unknown reason, had suddenly developed atrophy and severe cramps. He could not move his legs as if they were pinned down by a nail. At the realm of Hell, I indeed saw his two legs being nailed together. He was already experiencing punishment in Hell although he was still alive. Are hospitals then not the realm of Hell?

Understanding Karma

We have to understand the principle of karma and reincarnation, a main idea of Buddhism. We have done many wrong deeds. Do not think that there is no retribution. One does not have to wait till one goes to hells to receive retribution. Even while living, one is already suffering punishments from Hell when one`s body becomes ill. Illnesses are the manifestation of one`s negative karma. Do not think that Hells do not exist. Some people say, `There is practically no such thing as Hell or karma! It is just a fabrication of men to persuade people to do good!` When you undergo brain surgery, you are entering into the Hell of brain opening! When you have cirrhosis, removal of a kidney, or any other illnesses, the negative karma accumulated from numerous past lives are manifesting in you. It is quite horrid.

The Simplest Precept

That was why at the beginning, the Buddha taught us the simplest way of practicing Buddhism : `Avoid all non-virtuous actions and execute all virtuous deeds.` The avoidance of non-virtuous actions is passive while the execution of virtuous deeds is active. The avoidance of non-virtuous actions refers to the observing of `precepts.`

At the beginning, there was not any stipulation of so many rules. The only precept was `to avoid all non-virtuous acts.` One was urged to actively `pursue good deeds` and to meditate under a tree to enter into the `Pure Consciousness.` Later on, many precepts came into existence. Why? When the students made a certain transgression, a rule was set up to provide guidance. As the number of transgression increased, the number of rules also multiplied. The purposes of the rules were to retrieve one`s mind to transform it into the One Mind, and to cultivate stability. Without the rules, one`s mind would become dissolute. However, if one is completely and freely grounded in stability, and one`s mind is able to expand and contract freely, these precepts would not serve any purposes, as such a person already lives in the state of `as-is-ness` whereby all self-will is completely surrendered.