It’s crucial to cultivate our nature and life at the same time. Many people know that in their later years or during times of disaster, protecting both one’s nature and life can be difficult. What does it mean to have difficulty protecting one’s nature and life? Life refers to your physical body, while nature pertains to your soul. When it becomes difficult to safeguard both your nature and life, it indicates that both your soul and physical body are in jeopardy. Therefore, cultivating one’s nature and life is essential, as both are equally important. Cultivating one’s nature involves nurturing one’s inherent nature and conscience, while cultivating one’s life focuses on improving one’s body and behaviour. Hence, it is vital to cultivate both aspects.
If you are not destined to cultivate your nature, you won’t be able to attain it. If your life’s path is marked by extreme hardship and overwhelming suffering, and you have no opportunity to encounter Master Lu’s Buddhist practice, then you are an unfortunate person without blessings. Our lives serve as the foundation for our spiritual practice, and spiritual practice requires both internal and external cultivation. Internal cultivation involves calming the mind, whereas external cultivation means one should be unimpeded in dealing with sentient beings.
I often talk about “unimpeded in outward appearances,” which refers to the external cultivation of your mind and conduct. External cultivation involves the practice of compassion. Cultivate your facial expressions and refrain from having deceitful appearances so that others see a Bodhisattva-like countenance. The countenance of those who cultivate their minds will change. However, if your expression remains fierce, it means your mind has not been properly cultivated. One should learn to resemble what they study; if you learn from the Bodhisattva, you must resemble the Bodhisattva. You should not just act like a Bodhisattva on the outside; you should also embody the Bodhisattva from within, and only then can you be a true Bodhisattva. Those who cultivate internally have fewer illnesses and less distress because their mentality is peaceful and calm, making them less prone to illness and worries.
Externally cultivated individuals have rosy complexions, appearing radiant from within, bright eyes, gentle temperaments, polite speech, and wisdom. When they speak, their clarity is evident.
Regardless of what you may hear from the outside world, tune in to the voice of the Buddha within your heart, along with the voices of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Let me share a tip with you: no matter what situation you encounter, bring forth a thought and immediately learn to resolve it. Consider the matter you encounter as a test from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. When you feel something unfavourable is happening, think of it as a test from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Contemplate how to overcome the obstacle and be able to withstand the test. No matter what situation you face, as long as you think of the Bodhisattva, what difficulties in the world cannot be overcome or conquered?
Buddhist practitioners must remember: do not dwell on the past, and there’s no need to worry about the present. Being mindful of and reciting the holy name of the Buddha brings auspiciousness naturally. Let go of things that have already passed, and don’t panic about the future. Why worry about things that haven’t arrived yet? Truly seize the present moment, for one today is worth two tomorrows. Being mindful of and reciting the holy name of the Buddha every day brings auspiciousness naturally. The wise gain strength from all the conditions they encounter, whether good or bad. Many people, upon facing difficulties, grow even more determined and derive strength from the situation. Those with wisdom will benefit from both favourable and adverse circumstances. Today’s failure could be a stepping stone to tomorrow’s success, while today’s success might foreshadow a potential downfall tomorrow.
Scientific studies have shown that emotions can significantly impact a person’s immune function. The state of your emotions, whether positive or negative, can affect your body’s immunity. When a person is angry or upset, their immune system weakens. Similarly, anger produces substances akin to snake venom. When a person is angry, it’s as though they are spewing venom like a snake. Therefore, anger can be deadly, and one might say that an angry person is essentially poisoning themselves, damaging their immune system and harming their bodies. An angry person lacks wisdom; they cause illness to themselves, and no one else will suffer but them.
In reality, the human body has unlimited potential. So, how can one tap into this potential? It is through cultivating gratitude. The more grateful you are, the greater your potential, and the more solutions you will find to problems. Gratitude can unlock your hidden potential, help you overcome obstacles, eliminate anger and hatred, and give rise to love and compassion.
As we live in this world, we must cherish blessings and avoid mistreating our bodies when healthy, only to complain when illness strikes. In fact, this tendency is often seen as squandering one’s life. Instead, one should focus on cultivating the mind and practising good deeds in daily life. By doing so, even if they become ill, they will have no complaints, as they will quickly recover from illness.
Below, I will share a reminder for disciples: When making offerings of water to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, it is important to never present an empty cup (do not place an empty cup first and then add water). Instead, the cup should already contain a small amount of water. Water can help alleviate greed. Offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas should be made with utmost sincerity, without any reluctance or reservation. Offering water helps prevent the arising of greed, anger, and delusion, and it helps eliminate stinginess.
Water serves four functions:
- Purification: When offering water, it cleanses your body and mind, temporarily purifying your six sense faculties.
- Softening: Water helps to make your thoughts more flexible. Those who regularly drink water tend to be calmer, while those who do not are more prone to anger. For example, when their mouth becomes dry, their body feels hot, and they become irritable.
- Soothing the throat: Drinking water frequently leads to eloquent speech and pleasant words. It helps to calm the mind and brings clarity to your thoughts.
- Clarity: Drinking water results in clear and pure thoughts.
I remind all disciples: As Buddhist practitioners, it is important to consider others’ teachers as our own teachers, adopt others’ virtues as our own virtues, and embody others’ conduct as our own conduct.
