February 15, 2020, Medicine Buddha Group Practice
[TBSNews]


On February 15, 2020, Grandmaster presided over the Medicine Buddha Group Practice. After the practice, Grandmaster talked about the recent COVID-19 epidemic.

The vows of Medicine Buddha include curing the physical and psychological illnesses of sentient beings. Currently, China is experiencing a major COVID-19 outbreak. During the discourse, the Dharma King beseeched Medicine Buddha to bathe sentient beings with light so that they could be cured of the COVID-19 disease. He also prayed that this plague would end soon.

The Dharma King recalled an interview he did with a television show during Chinese New Year (note: January 9). The host had asked him to rate this year’s economy, and the Dharma King had given a low rating of 20 percent. He remarked that this was the first time that he had ever given such a low rating, and at that time, the coronavirus hadn't reared its ugly head yet.

In contrast, now, one can see that people everywhere and from all walks of life are experiencing the impact of COVID-19 -- from the travel and tourism businesses, the hotel and restaurant industries to the food and supplies trades. The coronavirus is so infectious that the economy and the life of people are greatly affected. The outlook is bleak.

The Dharma King placed his palms together and prayed for the compassion of Medicine Buddha, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to remove sentient beings’ hindrances and eradicate the coronavirus.

Next, the Dharma King continued with the discourse on the Lamdre (reference: page 429, part G.1 to G.4).

G.1: Faith and action may fall on either side of Wisdom; even spiritual experiences may fall on either side of Wisdom too.

Similarly, if one’s handling of things is partial towards emptiness, then there is no prapañca [or even Dharma talk since everything is empty to one].

G.2: Hindrances are actually inner and outer demons. With reference to the phrase, “The Mara arrives”, the Dharma King explained that when the attainment of Buddhahood is just a step away, the Mara will arrive to test a practitioner. The Mara is considered an outer demon, and he is the greatest of all demons. Outer demons cause external disturbances, whereas inner demons cause internal turmoil and manifest from within the mind of the practitioner.

G.3 and G.4: When and what are the hindrances? In the initial stage of the period-of-accumulation, hindrances take place when one experiences numbness upon meditating and sitting in any posture (for instance, the lotus position or the Vajra cross-legged posture).

In the middle stage of the period-of-accumulation, hindrances occur when one experiences numbness or the feeling of ants-crawling-all-over-the-body, or when one sits until the mouth is so dry that one is unable to chant mantras.

In the last stage of the period-of-accumulation, hindrances arise if one sees light, or if one experiences the four big hindrances of earth, water fire and wind. For example, when one experiences the fire element, one feels as if the whole body is on fire.

From the Dharma King’s discussion on the various hindrances, it is easy to see that a common theme [in overcoming hindrances] prevails -- the concept of Nagarjuna Bodhisattva's Middle Way. Examples include: “In emptiness, something miraculously exists”, or “the merger of faith and action”, or “a well-rounded way of doing things”.

All these emphasize the importance of the dual execution of existence and emptiness. The Dharma King stressed that in meditation, one may see and hear many things. If one is attached to what one sees or hears, and if one does not use clear-bright wisdom to differentiate and judge, then one is unable to liberate oneself. Eventually, one may suffer from mental illnesses that come with illusory seeing and hearing. Hence, meditation can also sidetrack a person and lure him or her towards the demons.

As disciples, we are very fortunate to be able to take refuge under the Dharma King! Profound theories in the Lamdre are explained clearly in simple language, and this is notwithstanding the vivid and lively exposition that leads to easy comprehension.

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