Time : Saturday 2pm-4pm
Platform : ZOOM Cloud Meeting
Topic of Discussion : Eight Buddhist Ways To Break The Stress Cycle
🪷 Master Lu once said, “There are four sufferings in life that are like strings that entangle and baffle us in life: failing to see through the nature of things, hating to part, the inability to accept defeat and the unwillingness to let go”. 🪷
On 23 July 2022, Guan Yin Citta, Singapore held an online English sharing session to look into “Eight Buddhist Ways to Break the Stress Cycle”.
To make the session more effective, a reasonable amount of time was dedicated to explaining sources of stress from a Buddhism perspective. Besides the oft-cited reason, “Desire breeds suffering”, other sources of stress are the oblivion to the law of causation, being new to Buddhism practice and the presence of foreign spirits on our bodies.
Through a thought-provoking short story, Master Lu said, “No matter how small our stress is, as time passes, it will become unbearable. The best method is to let nature take its course”.
For overwhelming life stresses, the participants were recommended to adopt a right mindset, view trials and tribulations as a form of blessings from Bodhisattva, repent of their past misdeeds, and lastly, exert to make personal breakthroughs.
🪷 Contrary to common belief, letting go of stress is easier than we think if we can:
💡 Tell ourselves that, “It doesn’t matter”,
💡 Understand that it is our conditions, not our ability, that determine our success,
💡 Stay focused and have strong faith,
💡 Embrace Bodhisattva in our heart,
💡 Spend brief periods in solitude,
💡 Do not demand for worldly perfections as true perfection dwells in one’s soul,
💡 Aim to be of service to sentient beings, and last but not least,
💡 Draw inspiration from our revered Master who worked tirelessly and dedicated His life for the sake of sentient beings which He did until the end.
Join us on 13 August, to immerse yourself in a compilation of stories of the closest and most eminent disciples of the Buddha: The Qualities of the Buddha’s Disciples (PART 1).
🌿 Join us in our next session
Please contact Loh SX (96978356) / Woan Yi SX (82182248) for more information
⏰ Date and time:
Saturday 13 Aug 2022 (2pm – 4pm)
Please click here to download the Summary Slides shared during the Group Study:
Summary Slides_Eight Buddhist Ways To Break The Stress Cycle
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING TODAY?
< A Dharma Door Is The Key That Unlocks Our Soul (心灵是锁，法门是钥匙) >
Buddhism in Plain Terms by Master Jun Hong Lu, Episode 21
Key Messages:
- When we put ourselves in others’ shoes, we will feel immensely relieved as the circumstance doesn’t befall us.
- We need to learn to protect ourselves and not to be infected by others’ mood.
- With a pure mind, our prayers will be answered (心净自然灵). When our minds are settled, we can keep countless obstacles at bay. (心定百障不侵). Our soul is a lock, and a dharma door is the key that unlocks our soul.
- When our mind is like a lotus flower, though it hasn’t blossomed, after all it’s a seed, one day, it will bloom. Therefore, a soul entangled in distracting thoughts will bear no merits and virtues (杂念缠绕的心灵，是不会修出功德的).
- We should learn the compassion of the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva to spiritually awaken sentient beings and touch the heart of every Buddhist, so the Buddha nature within each of us will reveal itself.
< Understanding the roots of stress >
1. The four strings of suffering in life
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk Melbourne, Australia 11 November 2018 (An Excerpt)
THE FOUR STRINGS OF SUFFERING IN LIFE
Master Jun Hong Lu: Please remember, there are four sufferings in life that are like strings that entangle and baffle us in life:
- not being able to see through our confusion and disagreements with others (看不透的世间的纠结、纷争),
- hating to part with ephemeral luxuries (舍不得的过眼云烟的繁华),
- being unable to take defeat in the vicissitudes of life (输不起的跌宕起伏的沉浮) and
- our insistence on the rights and wrongs of events bygone (放不下尘封已久的是非).
All these are referred to as the four strings of suffering in life, in short,
failing to see through the nature of things (看不透),
hating to part (舍不得),
the inability to accept defeat (输不起) and last but not least,
the unwillingness to let go (放不下).
2. Desire is the root of all sufferings
Master Jun Hong Lu Buddhism In Plain Terms Volume 3 Chapter 1 (An Excerpt)
DESIRE BREEDS SUFFERING
Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me begin by analysing this saying, ‘desire breeds suffering’ (多欲为苦). The more desires one has, the more suffering one is bound to endure. I may desire for something today and am unable to obtain it and I may desire for something else tomorrow which too, remains out of my reach.
To illustrate, what do you think my desire is? As your Master, I desire to save more sentient beings, when I am unable to do so, I will be very sad.
What do you desire? Maybe you desire to do better at your job, so that you won’t get fired. In fact, once any desire arises, humans will be subjected to suffering. A person who is able to eradicate desires will not suffer as much.
3. Not understanding the Law of Causation will cause stress
Wenda20200306 08:26 | Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
STRESS IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE KARMA
Caller: One Buddhist practitioner has dreams daily and they are mostly dreams with implications, either premonition dreams or dreams that act as a reminder to him or someone else. As such, he is rather stressed out and is unable to sleep well. To address this problem, what should he do, Master?
Master Jun Hong Lu: If he is stressed out, it means mentally he has deviated from the right path (思维出偏差). What stress is he suffering from? The stress he gets from the dreams is no different from the stress in real life. You must remember this – why is it that a person is stressed out? This is because he does things without much deliberation on the seeds he is sowing. Naturally, he will suffer from the pressure of reaping the fruit of his actions (因为你没重视因，所以你才会有果的压力).
Caller: That’s true.
Master Jun Hong Lu: As a matter of fact, stress is the consequence of a negative karma. When one first sows the seeds of ’cause’, he is usually unaware of them and thus won’t stress over them. However, the moment the karmic ramification is effectuated, he will start to feel stressed out, inducing him into sowing more negative seeds of ‘cause’, during which more stress will pile on him. This vicious cycle goes on as he continues to react to the cause and effects that arise from his deeds. In the world of the mortal, this is called the cycle of the six realms of existence (六道轮回).
Caller: I see. Thank you, Master, for your explanation.
4. The stress of a novice practitioner
Shuohua20120810 20:01 | Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
IT IS NORMAL FOR NOVICE PRACTITIONERS TO FEEL MORE PRESSURED IN THEIR SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION
Caller: Hi Master, would you be able to tell me whether I’m ailing from any physical illnesses? For some reason, I experience extreme psychological stress.
Master Jun Hong Lu: The extreme psychological stress that you are experiencing is because you have just started cultivating your mind and reciting the Buddhist scriptures. Your scenario can be likened to someone who had never consulted a doctor in the past and was clueless about his health conditions, but the moment the doctor diagnoses many of his health issues, stress will start to seep in. Assuming you are a workaholic who toils away day in, day out, but the moment you lie down, you will realise how tired you are. You must step up your recitation of Little Houses in order to repay your karmic debt.
Caller: How many should I recite?
Master Jun Hong Lu: For a start, please recite 21 Little Houses.
Caller: This morning, I’ve just confided in Guan Yin Bodhisattva that I would do seven first.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s far too few.
Caller: In any case, it will not take me long to complete 21 Little Houses.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Exactly! You have a strong affinity with Buddhism.
Caller: I’m able to recite the Buddhist scriptures reasonably fast. In about a minute, I can complete one round of the recitation of the Great Compassion Mantra. As for the Heart Sutra, I can do so in about 40 to 50 seconds.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s pretty good. For all you know, you could be a monk in your past life.
Caller: Thank you, Master.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Please be diligent in your recitation.
5. The reason for bottleneck in Buddhism practice
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 219) 10 April 2018
WHAT TO DO WHEN WE FEEL STRESSED OUT IN PERFORMING RECITATION?
Question: Just recently, my Buddhism practice hit a bottleneck and I was struggling to break the impasse. After a few days of diligent practice, I would backslide in the ensuing few days and this scenario kept repeating itself. It feels like a war against the force of karma and it’s not an easy struggle. Having left with no other alternatives, I offered three Little Houses and implored Bodhisattva to help eliminate the karmic obstacles that were hindering my diligence in my spiritual practice. After doing so, I managed to make progress. In this context, I’d like to know whether the method I used can be applied on a case-by-case or universal basis?
Answer: It can be applied universally. Those who have foreign spirits on their bodies will lack diligence in their spiritual practice. These can either be the major (大的灵性) or the scattered spirits (散灵). There are many people who fail to continue in their recitation. This is due to the demons on their bodies. All of us are faced with karmic calamities. Those who are unable to avert their misfortunes have foreign spirits on them. Hence they should quickly offer Little Houses. In such a scenario, a minimum of 21 Littles Houses should be offered. If you are able to regain your diligence merely by offering three Little Houses, it goes to show that the quality of your recitation is very good
< How Heavy Is This Glass Of Water? >
Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting, Paris, France, 1 Oct 2017
Key Messages:
- No matter how small our stress is, as time passes, it will become an unbearable burden.
- We must not harbour any bad thoughts, as we only end up hurting ourselves.
- The best method to practise Buddhism is to let nature take its course (最好的学佛是随缘), i.e. to adjust our mindset and act in accordance to circumstances.
- A person with wisdom will remain unperturbed in the face of worries and troubles.
- By the time we become enlightened, we will naturally let go, will naturally liberate ourselves, and will naturally attain Buddhahood (自然放下，自然解脱，自然成佛).
< When there’s too much on your plate >
1. The effects of stress on physical & mental health
Wenda20200126 14:56 | Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
FINDING A BALANCE BETWEEN REPENTING OF ONE’S MISDEEDS AND NOT GRASPING TO THEM
Caller: Master, you have said before that if we become fixated on our wrongdoings, we are bound to develop depression after a prolonged period. You have also advised us to frequently reflect on our wrongdoings and to have a penitent heart (忏悔心). In this respect, how should we balance our mental attitude?
Master Jun Hong Lu: The right mental attitude is to repent after committing a wrongful act. This is a must. If you know well that you have done wrong, how do you bring your mind into a state of balance? It is when you are willing to repent, as this is how your mental state will reach an equilibrium.
On the other hand, if you are oblivious (还不知道) and not owning up to your own mistakes, your mental state will be imbalanced, from which a sense of resentment will emerge from within. This hatred is aimed at others, not yourself. As compared to the kind that is directed inwardly, the former kind of hatred is more difficult for one to be liberated from.
Caller: There are people who become fixated on their mistakes, bringing upon themselves a tremendous amount of stress, and end up wallowing in grief. I would like to know whether this is a form of attachment (一种执著)?
Master Jun Hong Lu: From a psychological standpoint, if mentally, one feels the pressure, it is a natural psychological reaction. Knowing that you have done something wrong and yet, you are unwilling to reveal it or repent, you are effectively giving the free rein to this unwholesome matter to produce some kind of negative energy within you.
Not only is it detrimental to your heart, it will also cause the endocrine system (内分泌) that regulates your entire body to produce a type of negative cells which will make you feel depressed and dispirited (精神颓废). By then, you will lose all self-control, allowing your spiralling thoughts to take over you. Don’t you think this will turn into depression after a prolonged period?
Caller: Yes. What Master says is so true.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s for sure because I am analysing it from a psychological perspective.
Caller: When things happen, we should perform more repentance before Bodhisattvas. We should confide in Bodhisattvas and repent more often. Is it right to say that by doing so, we are able to balance the stress in us?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Definitely! How does stress come about in the first place? You asked for it! When you make blunders, you bring stress upon yourself, don’t you think so?
Caller: That’s true.
Master Jun Hong Lu: If you do not commit any wrongdoings, will you have anything to be stressed over?
Caller: I understand now.
2.The effects of stress on the quality of recitation
Wenda20120601 32:26 | Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program (An Excerpt)
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ADOPT A RIGHT MINDSET WHEN PERFORMING RECITATION
Caller: Hi Master, in which aspect of my spiritual practice that I’m still falling short of?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Those who recite the Buddhist scriptures must embrace a good mentality because in the absence of a right mindset, any lump or tumour present in their body will not be eliminated quickly.
This is just like if a person wishes to have optimal health, all aspects of his life must be regulated (要靠全方位的调节) – be it getting adequate sleep, eating a balanced and nutritious diet, a body that is free from disease, a mind that is free from defilements and bad stress, etc.
If you are someone who scolds habitually, you feel anxious every day and here you are pleading for your prayers to be answered and you recite your Little Houses, do you think you will regain your health in such a scenario?
3. The positive effects of stress
Wenda20170430A 37:47 | Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS ALONG OUR SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION JOURNEY CAN ALSO BE A FORM OF BLESSINGS FROM THE BODHISATTVA
Caller: Oftentimes, we receive blessings from Bodhisattva in our spiritual cultivation journey. There are various types of such blessings, among which are better health, a smooth-sailing career, ability to think things through and these may even include endless setbacks, tribulations and major obstructions.
However, through the application of Buddhist’s teachings of “faith, commitment, action” (信愿行), one is able to surmount these problems, from which, one gains a profound realisation.
Is it right to say that at face value, the problems may seem like an impediment but in reality, it is a form of immense spiritual blessings that the Bodhisattva is bestowing upon us as we advance this path of mind cultivation?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Anything that gives you inner stress, or an opportunity for you to get rid of these stresses, is a form of blessings from the Bodhisattva.
It’s all possible. These stresses are meant to propel you so that you mend your ways.
Would you change your bad habits if no one puts pressure on you? When you are asked to observe the Buddhist precepts, do you feel the pressure?
Caller: That’s true.
Master Jun Hong Lu: If there is no pressure, how are you going to observe the Buddhist precepts?
Caller: I see. Is it correct to understand it as trials and tribulations are Bodhisattva’s ways to toughen us up and to help us grow, hence, they can also be considered as a type of blessings?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s correct. That is how it works.
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk Macau SAR, China 9 June 2019 (An Excerpt)
UNLEASH THE DORMANT POTENTIAL TO SURPASS YOURSELF
Master Jun Hong Lu: The hidden potential of many people is realised by force. This is because human potential is like a diamond, lurking deep inside the earth and we need to dig to get it out. A lot of human capabilities only come to light when forced by situations in life. If you remain in your comfort zone, you will never uncover your true self, and the diamond within you may become obsolete (你自己心中的钻石有可能会被淘汰). From time to time, you must give yourself a push and force yourself to create personal breakthroughs in life. You can only regain your confidence and create miracles when you stop telling yourself, “I can’t do it, I simply can’t do it”.
Master Jun Hong Lu Buddhism In Plain Terms Volume 2 Chapter 3 (An Excerpt)
GRATITUDE CAN UNLOCK ONE’S DORMANT POTENTIALS
Master Jun Hong Lu: As a matter of fact, humans have infinite dormant potential (潜能无限). How should we go about unleashing these potentials? To do so, we must tap into our heart of gratitude so that these potentials can shine through. The more grateful you are, the greater your innate capability is, and you will be able to find more ways to solve your problems. Gratitude is able to unlock one’s hidden potential, help ward off calamities and difficulties (化灾解难), quell resentment and bring forth the loving heart in you (去除瞋恨心，生出爱心).
< Confront Your Blind Spots and Transform >
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 2019
Key Messages:
- By not being covetous, we keep afflictions at bay.
- We must persist in performing kind and virtuous deeds, and increase our wisdom.
- When we comprehend the true nature of this world, only then, our mind will be untroubled and unobstructed.
< Letting go of stress is easier than we think >
1. Tell ourselves that, “It doesn’t matter.”
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms Volume 1 Chapter 30 (An Excerpt)
WHEN AFFLICTION APPROACHES, BE INDIFFERENT
Master Jun Hong Lu: We often say, “It doesn’t matter.” Today, let’s interpret it from a Buddhist perspective. “It doesn’t matter” – this is the way to get rid of afflictions. If you stop pursuing something and it doesn’t matter to you anymore, your afflictions will be gone. You must look beyond the superficial nature of things. If you don’t, and you’re unable to let go, then it becomes something that matters to you.
Remember: Everything in this world arises from a combination of causes and conditions (这世上的一切都是因缘和合而成), and us being alive in this world is just a part of all that.
Causes and conditions emerge and perish on their own. When something is born due to a cause, it will also cease to be as the conditions ripen. It’s just like the way in which our mothers gave birth to us.
When we become adults and they pass away, so too will our relationship with them disappear – it ceases. In fact, the relationship we have with our mothers in this lifetime is just a manifestation of a karmic condition.
Causes and conditions emerge and perish on their own (因缘自生自灭). Also, when there is birth, there is also cessation. This is what it means by ‘emerge and perish on their own’.
For instance, when a person is born, he will eventually die one day. Or when you eat something bad, you have sown a cause and will experience stomach irritation as a consequence. Where there’s a cause, there will be a consequence.
2. Understand that it is your CONDITIONS, not your ability, that determine your success
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms Volume 1 Chapter 9 (An Excerpt)
IT IS YOUR CONDITIONS, NOT YOUR ABILITY, THAT DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS
Master Jun Hong Lu: Remember: It is your conditions, not your ability, that determine whether you can succeed perfectly in your endeavours. No matter how much effort you put in, or how capable you are, you may still fail. This is because blessings in the human realm are formed through a combination of causes and conditions. You must have a certain cause to foster a particular condition. Only in the presence of a combination of proper causes and conditions can you succeed. Take note that if you want to succeed perfectly, you must carefully consider whether the causes and conditions for the task at hand have ripened, and not whether you have the energy or ability to accomplish or solve the task.
3. Stay focused and have strong faith
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms Volume 12 Chapter 13 (An Excerpt)
SPIRITUAL ENERGY CAN ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE
Master Jun Hong Lu: Everyone of us must give rise to a thought that says, “I’m strong, I’m resolute to be diligent in my spiritual cultivation. I must become a Bodhisattva!” If such a thought is powerful, your willpower will come forth. Why is it that when your mind becomes scattered, your spiritual energy will diminish (分念之后能量就变弱了)?
This is because you also harbour the thought, “Gosh, am I really able to persevere? With so many years in front of me, am I able to stay true to my spiritual practice? What if something happens midway resulting in me having to give up my vegetarian lifestyle?”
These thoughts are capable of diffusing your mind and you will find yourself to be lacking in mental strength, energy and capability. If your self-confidence is so lacking, how is it that you are going to inspire confidence in others? Assuming you are propagating Buddhism to others, but your faith is hardly firm, you will feel awkward when you tell others, “You must have faith! It’s very efficacious”.
This is because your faith is weak, as you didn’t put your heart into cultivating yourself. When your own prayer is not even efficacious and you go around telling others about its efficacy, how is it that others will believe what you say?
Why do we call a person with mental disorder ‘schizophrenic’? This is because their mental state is diffused. Think about it, is a concentrated or diffused light more capable of shining further? The concept works the same way.
4. When the mind is scattered, the soul is incomplete; When the mind is focused, wisdom is complete. (心念散，魂不齐; 心念定，智慧齐)
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 28 August 2017 (An Excerpt)
PRACTISE MEDITATIVE CONCENTRATION BY FOCUSSING OUR THOUGHTS
Master Jun Hong Lu:
People, who practise Meditative Concentration (禅定), may eat and sleep the same way as the non-practitioners, but they are different from the latter.
Once a laity (世俗人) asked a Zen Master, “Master, do you practise meditation?”
The Zen Master said, “Yes, I do.”
The laity asked, “What method do you use?”
The Zen Master explained, “Eat when you are hungry, and sleep when you are sleepy.”
The laity probed, “Everybody does the same. Does that mean that they are the same as you??”
The Zen Master replied, “No.”
The laity asked, “Why?”
The Zen Master reasoned, “Because when they eat, they are not really eating. Instead, they are thinking about various problems and they are troubled and disturbed. When they sleep, they are not really sleeping. Instead, they are dreaming and brooding over issues. Hence, they are different from us who practise meditative concentration.”
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 28 August 2017 (An Excerpt)
PRACTISE MEDITATIVE CONCENTRATION BY FOCUSSING OUR THOUGHTS
Master Jun Hong Lu: Buddhist practitioners should focus their thoughts (念归一处). When you eat, eat well. You can do the thinking after the meal. When you sleep, sleep well. Don’t think too much. Otherwise, you won’t sleep well.
Some people when they eat, they think of chanting; when they chant, they think of sleeping; when they sleep, they have loads of distracting thoughts.
They fail in cultivating their minds and their minds are in such a mess that they can’t even have a good night’s sleep.
When the mind is scattered, the soul is incomplete; When the mind is focused, wisdom is complete (心念散，魂不齐; 心念定，智慧齐).
5. Embrace Bodhisattva in Your Heart
Wenda20160129 01:18:53 | Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
HOW TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE BETWEEN TIME SPENT ON WORK AND RECITATION?
Caller: Greetings to you Master Lu! I am new to Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door and I would like to seek your advice on how to achieve and maintain a balance between time spent between work and recitation?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Maintaining a balance between work and recitation is similar to maintaining your daily work-life balance. You have to first maintain the equilibrium in your heart.
As long as you want to do your recitation, you should seize whatever time you have to do it. You don’t necessarily have to recite at a fixed time. Whenever you have spare time on hand, instead of wasting it on unwholesome thoughts, you should just stay focused on performing your recitation.
Caller: Noted. Thank you.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Bear in mind, performing recitation has the benefit of eliminating disasters and resolving your troubles. So, you should try to do your recitation as and when you are able to.
Caller: Yes. I was on vacation recently and still, I was performing my recitation diligently. During this period, I felt a sense of serenity.
However, as I will be resuming work in February, I am feeling scared and at a loss as I do not know how to maintain the balance.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Fear not. Insist on performing your recitation regardless of whatever hardship and fatigue you have to endure. Embrace Bodhisattva in your heart and you can be assured that you will never lose the Dharma.
Caller: I will do that. My gratitude to you, Master Lu.
6. Spend brief periods in solitude (小闭关)
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms Volume 6 Chapter 48 (An Excerpt)
BRIEF SOLITUDE HELPS CLEAR ONE’S MIND AND GAIN MENTAL STRENGTH
Master Jun Hong Lu: Our minds must always be clean, and we should constantly spend brief periods in solitude (小闭关). Spending time in solitude helps to clear and free our mind from all thoughts. Detach yourself from worldly matters and devote yourself to performing recitation from day to night to instil a sense of peace within you.Even if you only have an hour to spare, retreat into a room with the door closed to recite your scriptures. This is what it means to be in solitude and emptying your mind.
To retreat into solitude is to cast aside all the distracting thoughts for a minute, five minutes, ten minutes, thirty minutes and so on, to solely focus your mind on Guan Yin Bodhisattva and nothing else when performing recitation. You are also not supposed to engage in a conversation nor answer any call, and to maintain an empty state of mind.
Every time you complete reciting a scripture, make it a point to pause momentarily, empty yourself out before resuming your recitation with an empty mind again. You have to cultivate such a mental state (思维). If you are successful in doing so, you will be able to avert catastrophe as you are able to spiritually connect with Guan Yin Bodhisattva the minute you quiet your mind. When your mind is clouded with unwholesome and distracting thoughts, you will lack vitality, mental strength and you won’t be able to find a place in your heart for Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
7. Do not demand for worldly perfections as true perfection dwells in one’s soul.
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk Toronto, Canada 5 September 2016 (An Excerpt)
A PERFECTIONISTIC LITTLE MONK
Weeping away, a little monk sat on the floor strewn with waste papers with words scribbling on it.
An old monk walked over and asked, “Are you alright?”
The little monk answered, “I can’t write well”.
Picking up a few of these waste papers and glancing at them, the old monk commented, “That wasn’t too bad. Why did you throw them away? Why are you crying?”
In between sobs, the little monk replied, “Somehow, I felt it was not up to scratch. As a perfectionist, I simply can’t get myself to tolerate any mistakes.”
The old monk said, “The crux of the matter is, is there anything that is flawless in this world?”
Tapping the little monk’s shoulder, the old monk pressed on,
“In your pursuit of perfection, you get upset and cry over the slightest imperfection, in this regard, your action is hardly perfect”.
Upon hearing this, the little monk picked up the waste papers, washed his hands, looked at himself in the mirror, and cleaned himself repetitively.
Seeing this, the old monk asked, “What’s the matter with you? You keep cleaning yourself and are wasting a lot of time”.
The little monk replied, “I’m obsessed with cleanliness (洁癖). I can’t tolerate any dirt. Haven’t you noticed? The moment a donor leaves the temple, I will wipe the chair he sat on”.
The old monk said, “Do you think this is what ‘obsession with cleanliness’ looks like? You think everything under the sun and all the people are filthy (你嫌天脏、嫌地脏、嫌人脏). No doubt, you look clean on the outside, yet, you still have so many weaknesses which make you the one who is defiled”.
On his way to ask for alms, the little monk chose a worn-out shirt to wear.
The old monk asked, “Why did you pick this shirt?”
Bent on playing mischief with his master, the little monk retorted, “Haven’t you said we should not be particular about how we look externally? Because of what you said, I decided to don this shabby-looking shirt. As a matter of fact, the donors may take pity on me upon seeing a little monk in such a worn-out shirt and give me a bit more donations”.
With eyes wide open, the old monk asked, “Are you asking for alms or are you begging? Are you hoping that others will make offering to you out of sheer sympathy or see you as a promising little monk who is capable of propagating Buddhism to thousands of people (度化千万人)?”
Upon the demise of the old monk, the little monk became the abbot of the temple. Always neatly attired and carrying a medicine box, he would drop by the filthiest, poorest and most chaotic areas to tend to the medical needs of the sick people there; he would clean their wounds and change their dressings. After which, he would return to the monastery in filth and mess.
He would always personally go out to ask for alms and every single donation received was handed over to the poor almost immediately. He hardly spent time in his temple. Although the temple was worn with age his followers continued to multiply. They would follow him wherever he stepped his foot on, even to the most remote village up in the mountain or by the sea to propagate Buddhism.
The little monk explained, “When my Master was still alive, he taught me the meaning of perfection, that is, not demanding for worldly perfections but the kind of perfection that dwells in one’s soul (心灵的圆满)”.
“My Master also enlightened me that the meaning of being obsessed with cleanliness (洁癖) is to go out and help every filthy person out there so that their souls can be cleansed. On top of this, he educated me that collecting alms is about making everyone go hand in hand, extending mutual help, besides establishing positive affinities among themselves.”
The little monk rounded up and said, “Last but not least, what’s a Zen temple? It does not need to be located in a forest up in a mountain. Instead, it is in every corner of this world wherever I bring the dharma to; in between heaven and earth, this is where my temple is located (南北西东，都是我弘法的所在；天地之间，就是我的禅院)”.
8. Aim to be of service to Others
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 382) 10 May 2020
BE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SENTIENT BEINGS
Master Jun Hong Lu: Those who aspire to become a Buddha or a Bodhisattva must have great resolutions. I hope that you will have a great resolution to help sentient beings in the future, just like me, your master. Do not be preoccupied with your personal gains and losses. Enduring hardships for the sake of sentient beings is your blessing. It will gain you merit when you are able to do something for others.
Those who only live for themselves are seriously lacking in virtue (很缺德). We should be considerate towards others and be of service to them. Being able to help goes to show that you have both the energy and capacity to do so, without which, you are very much like living in vast emptiness (犹如在虚空中), where you can’t even receive any positive energy. All you can gain is only worldly fame and wealth.
< HOW DID OUR MASTER DEAL WITH STRESS? >
Shuohua20170127 01:04 | Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program (An Excerpt)
PERSEVERANCE IS THE KEY TO OUR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
Master Jun Hong Lu:
There are only two words in my mind – work hard, I work with all my might.
When I draft my speech, there are times I fall asleep at my desk and when I wake up, I’ll continue drafting.
Today, if I can’t get myself out of bed, I’ll use all my might to get up, if I fail, I’ll try harder.
When I’m under pressure today, I will endure it.
When I’m under more pressure, I will continue to endure.
Even as the onslaught mounts, I will continue to endure…
(我今天有压力了，我再顶，有压力了我再顶，有压力了我再顶)
never giving up and continuing to persevere until the end.
SUMMARY
1.Understanding the roots of stress
- Stress arises from the four strings of sufferings in life:
-
- failing to see through the nature of things (看不透)
- hating to part (舍不得)
- the inability to accept defeat (输不起)
- the unwillingness to let go (放不下).
- Desire breeds suffering’. The more desires one has, the more suffering one is bound to endure. Thus, a person who is able to eradicate desires will not suffer as much.
- Stress arises when one does things without much deliberation on the ‘seeds’ he is sowing. It is the consequence of a negative karma.
- Desire breeds suffering’. The more desires one has, the more suffering one is bound to endure. Thus, a person who is able to eradicate desires will not suffer as much.
- Stress arises when one does things without much deliberation on the ‘seeds’ he is sowing. It is the consequence of a negative karma.
2. When there’s too much on our plate
- No matter how small our stress is, as time passes, it will become an unbearable burden.
- When one has done something wrong and yet, they are unwilling to reveal it or repent, there will be negative energy produced within them, which is detrimental to the heart, and will also cause the endocrine system to produce a type of negative cells which will make them feel depressed and dispirited.
- No matter how small our stress is, as time passes, it will become an unbearable burden.
- When one has done something wrong and yet, they are unwilling to reveal it or repent, there will be negative energy produced within them, which is detrimental to the heart, and will also cause the endocrine system to produce a type of negative cells which will make them feel depressed and dispirited.
- From time to time, we must give ourselves a push and force ourselves to create personal breakthroughs in life.
If we remain in our comfort zone, we will never uncover our hidden potential, and the diamond within us may become obsolete.
3. Letting go of stress is easier than we think
- Tell ourselves that, “It doesn’t matter.”
- Understand that it is our conditions, not our ability, that determine our success.
- Stay focused and have strong faith.
- When the mind is scattered, the soul is incomplete (心念散，魂不齐); When the mind is focused, wisdom is complete (心念定，智慧齐).
- Embrace Bodhisattva in our heart.
- Spend brief periods in solitude (小闭关).
- Do not demand for worldly perfections as true perfection dwells in one’s soul.
- Aim to be of service to others.
4. How did our Master deal with stress?
- Work hard
- Never give up
- Continue to persevere till the end!
< When Both The Body And Mind Are Calm, Wisdom Will Arise (身心定，智慧生) >
< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享
