(Photo source: Pexels)
Someone asked Dharma Master Cheng Yen, “Why do mundane beings often experience suffering?”
The Master answered:
Since beginningless time, mundane beings have allowed their deluded thoughts to give rise to the Three Subtleties. Ordinary beings continuously accumulate their dust of afflictions, till it piles up to form a vast desert. As layers upon layers of mental afflictions accumulate in our minds, our pure, innate nature, which is as clear and bright as a mirror, will be shrouded by the thick dust, denying us the ability to understand the truths in the world and the ability to clearly see the correct path of our life.
The Dharma is like water that can nourish living beings. There is a verse in the Stage Adaptation of the Water Repentance Text that goes, “Evil causes, conditions and retributions must be clearly discerned no matter how subtle they are. The Law of Karma never fails; how can we not repent for the bad karma we have created?” This is to serve as a reminder to us that we must always be mindful as we go about our daily lives, reflect on ourselves, and repent for our wrongs at all times.
Dharma water can cleanse away the defilements in our minds, but we need to self-reflect and repent in order to let the Dharma enter our minds to cleanse away the filth. Then our inner minds will be able to glow and shine brightly, and we can recover our bright, innate nature, which allows us to see the truth of impermanence, i.e. “the arising and ceasing of karmic conditions”.
Everyone has the same pure innate nature as the Buddha. Buddhists should keep the Buddha in their hearts and act in accordance with the Dharma. However, how long do we actually let the Buddha “live” in our hearts? And how long can we uphold the Dharma in our actions? If we do not take care of our minds, we will easily form bad karmic affinities with people. For example, when we turn around and accidentally collide with someone, instead of apologising, we blame the person for blocking our way.
Many people know what impermanence is, and they often talk about it. However, many do not realise that impermanence actually refers to the arising and ceasing of karmic conditions. When the right conditions are present, people and things come together. When the conditions cease, they will part with each other.
People who truly understand what impermanence is will treasure their good karmic affinities with people and seize every opportunity to form good affinities with others. They will take good care of their minds with every thought they give rise to. They are able to discern their thoughts no matter how subtle they are, and do not slack for even a split second.
It is easy for mundane beings to be inspired, but difficult for them to maintain their initial conviction. It is not difficult to unleash our innate nature, but it is not easy to maintain our pure, innate nature and uphold the Dharma in our actions. Our pure, innate nature is easily replaced by our negative habitual tendencies, and this is why we often experience suffering in life.
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
Share 
