SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S SECOND GREAT VOW: PRAISE THE TATHAGATAS (THUS COME ONE)
Master Jun Hong Lu: Please allow me to elaborate on “To praise the Tathagatas”, there are three aspects to it:
• Paying respect to the Buddhas through your actions;
• Praising the Buddhas through your speech; and
• Venerating the Buddhas through your thoughts.
This is what it means by making offerings to the Buddhas through the three actions.
Whatever you do, you are courteous, you practise good etiquette, and your behaviour is regulated and dignified. You also speak words of praise and at the same time, your thoughts are respectful without a tinge of evil. This is what it means by making offerings to the Buddhas through one’s actions, speech and thoughts.
It is important to note that one’s display of veneration for Bodhisattvas is not restricted to the single means of offering fresh fruits. You respect and venerate the Bodhisattvas with all your heart. What does the ‘heart’ mean here? It is your actions, speech and thoughts that you use as offerings to the Tathagatas, Bodhisattvas and Buddhas.
In other words, as long as you do no evil, that is, you act in accordance with the dharma and the path of rightness, you are essentially already making offerings to the Buddhas.
Is being a good person considered making offerings to the Buddha? Do you think Bodhisattvas favour good people? Just like when you treat me well, doesn’t that equate to making offerings to me? When I see that all of you are upright, honest, well behaved and so diligent in your cultivation, I feel very happy. Does this not mean that I have accepted the offerings each and every one of you has accorded me with?
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 11 Chapter 12
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