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New Revelations from the Buddha King
- Book 120: New Revelations from the Buddha King
- Chapter 16:
A Spy from the Land of the Buddhas
- Written by Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated by Janny Chow
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A Self-Definition
I like to stay alone inside a small, dim room, musing over certain thoughts: what am I?
I have been sent by a group of Buddhas to samsara!
I have to lie low with my name altered!
I have to carry out a special mission!
I have been given an infinitely great amount of rights and power!
It is an extremely difficult task!
The resistance and obstacles are also infinite!
I thought to myself, what else could I be but `a spy from the Land of the Buddhas`? My mission is to help human beings develop their inherent Buddha-Nature, using a special cultivation tool, and then aid them to go to the Land of the Buddhas.
I really think that I am a spy. Having assumed the alias of `Padmakumara` and lying low in the human world, I have trained my keen gaze on the Buddhist community. What a great spy I am, like an anonymous hero who can exert an influence over the entire world.
This is the kind of mission where one serves not just one country, but the whole of humankind. The work started by my predecessors has fallen on my shoulders. And what a job it is that I have to do! The other Dharma Masters [in Taiwan] are taking their jobs too casually.
I am a spy who is prepared to sacrifice himself if necessary. One may imagine what an arduous task it is. I think I am a pawn predestined to be in the vanguard, and thus I have no choice but to forge ahead.
Powerful Religious Groups
On the surface, Buddhists in Taiwan are enjoying a great period of prosperity. There are, however, outbreaks of chaos. Buddhism is at the height of power and splendor, but public security is steadily deteriorating and the hearts of the people are becoming rotten. What is happening? This is because the doctrines and teachings of Buddhism have not taken deep roots, they are only floating frivolously on the surface, like those of a tree that has been planted in sand!
A great number of Buddhist groups exist, and there are power struggles among the more powerful ones. While raising the banner of Buddhism, their actual work may not be oriented towards the realization of Buddha-Nature.
We cannot totally negate the different measures adopted by the `powerful groups` in the dissemination of Buddhism; however, in the eyes of this `spy,` those policies seem to have laid particular stress on `humanitarian Buddhism` and world involvement. As their practices become more and more world-oriented, the spirit of transcendentalism dwindles almost to non-existence.
In the case of Dharma Master Hsing Yun, his organization, media propaganda, estate, finance, and politics are all on a colossal scale. Recently Dharma Master Hsing Yun announced that he would like to see the World Buddha Light Society soon develop into the biggest international organization in the World. What is implied here is that it would surpass the Rotary Club, Lion`s Club, and, especially, the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation.
That Dharma Master Hsing Yun could establish the biggest international organization is absolutely without doubt.
That Dharma Master Hsing Yun`s finances could nurture many Buddhist scholars with bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees is also without doubt.
Dharma Master Hsing Yun`s aspiration for the Nobel Peace Prize could also be realized if given enough time.
Dharma Master Hsing Yun also has displayed his ability in the cultivating of presidential candidates.
That Dharma Master Hsing Yun could establish a religious kingdom is possible.
The only thing this `spy from the Land of the Buddhas` would like to point out to him is this: `All such accomplishments are like flowers in the sky. The bottom line is, how many of your students are able to realize the nature of mind?`
It is not how many of them can get a Ph.D. in Buddhist studies, but how many can see into the Buddha-Nature!
And how about you yourself, Dharma Master? Have you been able to see the nature of mind? Have you reached Enlightenment yet? Have you attained self-mastery over birth and death? These have nothing to do with establishing a religious kingdom and becoming the first Buddhist Pope!
The Tzu Chi Charity Foundation
The Tzu Chi Charity Foundation established by Dharma Master Cheng Yen is also a powerful organization. This religious organization and its development have been compared to the work of Mother Teresa, the Catholic nun living in India. Mother Teresa has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and Dharma Master Cheng Yen is not far behind.
Mother Teresa has been able to use her own fame to appeal to people to give to charity. She is world renowned for her practice of the paramita [perfection] of charity. Dharma Master Cheng Yen is also walking on the same path, the path of charity.
In Buddhism, charity is listed as the first of the ten paramitas. These ten paramitas are also represented by ten bodhisattvas located at the Akasargarbha Court of the Womb Mandala. The names of the ten bodhisattvas are as follows:
1) Charity Paramita
2) Morality Paramita
3) Patience Paramita
4) Energy Paramita
5) Meditation Paramita
6) Transcendental Wisdom [prajna] Paramita
7) Skillful Means Paramita
8) Vows Paramita
9) Force of Purpose Paramita
10)Knowledge Paramita
Charity Paramita is also categorized into three types:
1) the giving of money
2) the giving of Dharma
3) the giving of fearlessness
I, this `spy from the Land of the Buddhas,` of course knows of the identities of the High Beings behind Dharma Master Cheng Yen, and I have no objection to the four goals she has adopted for her organization. However, the path she is walking is still `humanitarian Buddhism,` through which people following her footsteps are urged to help the poor and the needy and to build hospitals and schools.
I have listened to talks given by Dharma Master Cheng Yen and they emphasize the practicing of charity and ethical behavior. Among the ten paramitas, those of the vows, force of purpose, and skillful means have all emerged in her work.
In my observations, her particular deficiencies lie in the paramitas of meditation, prajna, and knowledge. All the remaining ones are fine.
If Dharma Master Cheng Yen can practice deep meditation to attain the Buddha wisdom of all Buddhas, and cultivate inner practices that reveal the profound prajna and innate true wisdom, then she could teach other sentient beings the methods she herself has learned and practiced. It would be realization in `action` and not just in `theories.`
Frankly, Dharma Master Cheng Yen`s Tzu Chi Charity Foundation is a success, and her practice of the charity paramita is also very successful. It has brought out kindness in people and moved them to sprout the bodhicitta of the four immeasurable minds. This is all very wonderful.
Yet, the most important words are:
This samsara is illusory and impermanent. Back then, when the Emperor Wu of Liang, who had built numerous Buddhist monasteries and temples and greatly propagated Buddhism, asked Bodhidharma if such deeds had brought him any merits, he was given an answer in the negative. Therefore, the practice of `transcendental Dharma` is also very important. It is just as important `to be of the world` as `to rise above the world`!
In my eyes, the earth is a grain of sand! Could any merits be found there? Only the Supreme Perfect Enlightenment is the true, priceless treasure.
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