Written by: Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen
Lu
Translated by: Harmony
Edited by: Dance Smith
Proofread by: Jessie
Padmakumara Translation Team
Website: www.padmakumara.org
Chapter 85: Chatting
When I was teaching the dharma at Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple in
Seattle, U.S.A., my disciples would often say, "Now, please
welcome Grand Master to chat with us In reality, that was not chatting,
or some other inconsequential talk; it was giving a dharma talk
on a specific theme in front of group of people.
Of course, all my dharma talks concentrated on the truth of Buddhism,
aiming to highlight the realization that comes from practice. I
used a relaxed and flexible approach. I tried to be as lively and
evocative as possible because my disciples could easily accept talks
like that.
In cultivation, I am like a great lion. I surpass all others in
discernment and diligence. Nevertheless, when it comes to conversation
or chatting, I become very awkward and lose the ability to talk
well. Although I have lived in Seattle for the past twenty years,
you will never see me engaged in useless or trivial conversations.
At restaurants, I often say these three sentences: "Amitabha,
it's time to eat." "Amitabha, it's delicious." "Amitabha,
I'm full." In front of a large gathering, I am always self-controlled.
Mindfulness and wisdom are constantly present in every moment of
my work. I never chat just to kill time. I feel chatting is a waste
of time. It is frivolous cultivation; it is useless, boring, immature
and harmful. Chatting involves gossiping about others' rights and
wrongs. It is full of rubbish and meaningless remarks.
Regardless of the meditation center, all disciples should engage
in meditation, chant mantras or the names of buddhas, and diligently
endeavor to practice. Chatting should be prohibited because it is
harmful. People may unknowingly commit bad speech karma. While I
am living in reclusion, I don't need to worry about creating bad
speech karma because I don't have anyone to converse with. My lips
are tightly sealed.
I immerse myself in the Great Mindfulness. From the Great Mindfulness
arises Great Wisdom. The more clumsily I speak, the more brightly
the light of wisdom shines.
