Master Lu once said, “Pain is the gift of success. To avoid the pain of loss, we must let go of our insistence on planting the seeds of cause. Every gain in this elusive life inevitably contains suffering”.
In a continuation of the first part of the Eight Winds, in this final pack, we highlight the remaining four Worldly Dharmas:
Hope for happiness versus the fear of suffering, and hope for praise versus the fear of being criticised.
Take a look at the pack to find out:
1. The meaning of happiness and suffering.
2. The consequences of clinging on to attachment and notion of self.
3. Ego is our enemy.
Last but not least, Master Lu advises us to make use of this illusory world for true cultivation because this elusive and transient life is a world apart from reality and nothing in this world is truly ours.
WHAT ARE THE EIGHT WINDS /
THE EIGHT WORLDLY DHARMAS (八风/世间八法)?
The Eight Winds in Buddhism context:
Fame (誉) & Neglect/Defame (毁)
Gain (得) & Loss (失)
Joy/Pleasure (乐) & Suffering (苦)
Praise/Honour (称) & Disgrace/Ridicule (讥)
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 11 Chapter 5
THE EIGHT WORLDLY DHARMAS
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms (Audio), Episode 67
< Joy and Sorrow (乐与苦) >
Fifth, hope for happiness (希望快乐); sixth, fear of suffering (不希望痛苦).
Master Jun Hong Lu: The fifth being the desire for joy. At times, misfortune may befall you if you are happy when you are not supposed to. Once, there was a person, who learned a verse on happiness from an eminent monk, recited the verse to a family that was grieving the death of a family member, he ended up being thrown out by the family. Do you know why? The desire for joy is also a mental preoccupation because when someone makes you happy, you are bound to commit mistakes immediately thereafter. As a simple example, when someone offers you liquor, you will be happy, right? But, the moment the bill is presented to you for payment, will you sign on it?
The sixth being the fear of suffering. Nobody wants pain and suffering.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms (Audio), Episode 67
< HOW DO WE STAY AWAY FROM THIS FIFTH AND SIXTH WINDS? – UNDERSTANDING TRUE HAPPINESS & THE ROOT OF SUFFERING >
HAPPINESS AND SUFFERINGS ARE MERE FEELINGS
Master Jun Hong Lu: What is happiness and what is suffering? Some alcoholics think drinking makes them happy. Do they still feel happy after drinking? What about the birthday boy at the party? He is over the moon during the party, however, once the party is over, he goes, “I don’t want anyone to leave!”. But the guests have to go home, right? Would you say this is suffering or happiness then?
It is only a form of grasping (只是你的一种执著，叫“执取”), that is, you insist on going your way. Happiness and suffering are mere feelings (感觉). Have you ever felt miserable or exhilarated (快乐) when you were young? Thinking back now, won’t you say it was just a feeling you had back then?
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse to Disciples, Singapore, 12 May 2019
< Perpetual happiness is made up of everyday sense of content | 恒常的快乐就是天天知足 >
ATTACHMENT IS THE ROOT OF HUMAN SUFFERING
Master Jun Hong Lu: Tell me, is there anyone here who is free from attachment? You are either attached to your child, your parents, your spouse, yourself, money or fame. Each one of us has our own sets of attachment. All things that you fail to let go, they are referred to as an attachment, which is demonising (执着就是魔). When your sense of attachment prolongs for a long time, demons will invade and occupy your mind, and you will start to lose a lot of things in life. As a result, you will grow very dejected.
A person who is attached will tend to regret his every action; while a person who is free from attachment will find bliss in all he does.
This is because a person who attaches to nothing will not cause any negative consequences in the things he does. For example, you are someone who loves cake. You know that your diabetic condition does not allow you to indulge in sweet stuff. But you insist on eating it. And, your diabetic condition worsens. As for someone who is detached, he will think, “I’m diabetic, I can’t eat cakes. I’d settle for some bread”. Then he will not suffer the repercussions of food craving.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 4 Chapter 36
< PAIN IS THE GIFT OF SUCCESS >
Having understood the pain in life, you will know that pain is the gift of success.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu, Words of Wisdom Volume 8
THE NOTION OF SELF IS THE SOURCE OF SUFFERING!
Master Jun Hong Lu: A person who is able to eradicate suffering, is one who does not put himself in the midst of the suffering. This is when Prajna or wisdom is gained.
Should someone scold you today, and you don’t even feel it. In that case, will you even get angry? Isn’t this what wisdom is all about?
The key is to eliminate the notion of “self”.
Without a “self” you are liberated from suffering.
Instead, if you feel,
“Why didn’t I get a share of this?”
“Why didn’t I get a raise?”
“Why wasn’t I informed about this?” etc.
Such a notion of self is the source of all your sufferings!
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s 4th Discourse to Disciples Worldwide, Part 2
TO BE FREE FROM SUFFERING, ACCORD WITH CONDITIONS AND ADOPT AN EQUANIMOUS MIND
Master Jun Hong Lu: Those who are enlightened will not be distressed by adversities in life because they understand that all gains and losses stem from pre-determined affinities. Their minds remain unperturbed, neither increasing nor decreasing; and they are able to transform their state of mind from ordinary to sageness so as to attain the blissful mind of a Buddha.
One who is enlightened will not be distressed by adversities in life. An awakened person would not have worries in the face of tribulations, as he understands the truth that sufferings are inevitable in life – a predestined phenomenon that he would have to embrace. As such, there is no cause for worries and he will accept the adversities willingly. On the contrary, those who worry are the ones who have yet to be enlightened.
We have to let nature take its course and adopt the best approach in order to bring the outcome to perfection. Having an unyielding attitude (执着) will impair our ability to act in accordance with nature.
Regardless of the circumstances, Buddhist cultivators have to achieve a mind of equanimity (从心里不要有增减). The equanimity in this context is a reflection of how important you regard the circumstances to be. Once they become your focal point, stress will build up in your mind. On the contrary, you will be indifferent when you give them less importance.
A true practitioner would have the underworld cave-in to his affinity (一个真正修行的人就连冥府也要顺着你的缘).
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism in Plain Terms, Volume 1 Chapter 5
< Fame and Defamation (誉与毁) >
Seventh, hope for fame (希望声名远扬);
fear of being neglected (不希望默默无闻或被忽视).
Master Jun Hong Lu: The seventh Worldly Dharma is the desire for fame. Many people yearn for their contributions to be noticed and recognised. They will think, “Do others know me?”, “Do they know that that was my contribution?”, “Does anybody know about the good things that I did?”. They become unhappy if their efforts go unnoticed. When others stop discussing them, they will wonder, “How many retweets did I garner?”, “How many members in my group know about it?”. Can you understand what I am trying to get at?
The desire for one’s fame to reach far and wide is a human flaw that was expounded by the Buddha some 2,500 years ago.
The eighth Worldly Dharma is the fear of being neglected, that is, the fear of fading into oblivion. Whenever someone attends a party, he will hope to receive a warm welcome or reception. If you go, “Wow, you are here, please take a seat here”, as a guest he will be delighted because you give him a warm welcome. Conversely, if you leave him out, he will be miserable.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms (Audio), Episode 67
TRAPS OF LIFE: THE FEAR OF BEING NEGLECTED
Master Jun Hong Lu: The problem with humans is, we wish that our reputation be known to everyone (希望自己声名远扬). Even a storekeeper who runs a small business would wish that everyone knows him and goes around telling others how famous his little store is and how good his product is.
People fear being neglected (不希望受到忽视). There are many who strive to stand out in the crowd. They will go, “Hey, everybody, let’s come together, come over…!”. They long to be noticed. It pains them when no one takes notice of them, and they even suspect others look down on them. Please remember, Bodhisattvas are generally seated quietly, and they are unperturbed (如如不动). Do we look down on Them? We worship Them, don’t we?
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse to Disciples, Singapore, 12 May 2019
< DO NOT PURSUE FAME AND MATERIAL WEALTH, HOW? – LET GO OF OUR EGO! >
MAKE USE OF THIS ILLUSORY WORLD FOR TRUE CULTIVATION!
Master Jun Hong Lu: As Buddhist practitioners, we should not pursue worldly desires like fame, material wealth and pleasure. Think about it, if you bite into a rotten fruit plucked from a tree, you will soon realise the change in taste. Every gain in this elusive and transient life inevitably contains suffering (虚幻不实的人生就算你得到了，也是一种苦啊).
Hence, to avoid the pain of loss we must let go of our insistence on planting the seeds of cause. This elusive and transient life is a world apart from reality; just like a filthy place in the human realm can never be clean and untainted.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Penang, Malaysia, 15 April 2017
< WHAT IS THE THING THAT WE SHOULD LET GO? THE EGO >
EGO IS THE ENEMY!
Master Jun Hong Lu: We mustn’t take fame, fortune, status, or even our thinking too seriously. Simplify our life (要减淡自我), and by that it means we should regard ourselves as less and less important (把自己看得越来越轻). This, in fact, will promote the elevation in our spiritual state in Buddhist practice (这是对你自己学佛境界的提升).
It is not something that will make us lose our honour nor is it a sign of a decline in one’s spiritual state. The more humble and polite a person gets, the more noble he is in the eyes of others. This is how he earns the respect of others.
Those who are dead determined to save face (死要面子) will be looked down upon. We need to take ourselves lightly and let go of our ego (放下自我). This is how we can live at ease (才能活得自在). Learn from the wheat: the fuller the fruit, the lower its head will be, which represents humility
The Buddha says, “The past mind can’t be grasped, the present mind can’t be grasped and the future mind can’t be grasped”. In fact there is nothing we can seize because there is only emptiness. Hence, we need to lower ourselves and understand that, however strong we are, there is always someone stronger. When you turn your nose up on others, you are only looking down on yourself (看不起别人就是看不起自己).
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism in Plain Terms, Volume 4 Chapter 31
OVERCOMING EGO
Master Jun Hong Lu: How do we overcome egocentrism? It can be done through understanding the law of causation, and by cherishing our affinities. Think about it, ‘Why do others dislike me?’, ‘Why do they fail to understand me?’. Do not find excuses for yourself. We have to recognise what we have done wrong. By doing so, we are bound to realise the faults within us.
Why are there so many people in this world who misunderstand and dislike us? Surely not all of them are irrational? The fact of the matter is, we are the one who is at fault. So, stop finding excuses for yourself.
First, it has to do with our affinity to others.
Second, it is our character.
Therefore, cultivate and conduct yourself well. Learn to retain the pure land within us where we can be at peace, study Buddhism diligently, nurture our spiritual self and that of other sentient beings.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse, Dharma Sharing Session, Singapore, 20 October 2017
< Compromise makes conflict easier to resolve | 退一步海阔天空! >
Master Jun Hong Lu:
“In life, oftentimes, we need to retreat in order to advance. When others attack you, the more you fight the more badly you will fail. Instead, try stepping back, as forbearance will then take you on the advancing path.”
A Poem by Patriarch Maitreya:
Planting green seedlings all over the rice field,
As one’s head lowers, the sky in the water is revealed,
When all six sense organs are pure, understanding is yield,
It is through retreat that advancement is revealed.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, New York, USA, 2018
< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享