Every sentient being has the qualities of boundless enlightenment. Every one of us has the same equal nature, yet we put people in different categories. We try to make ourselves superior to others. We are unable to let go of our questions. In fact, as we lie down to sleep, questions run through our brain all night long....

June 29 2002 Norhampton Mass

We have the biggest shortcoming - we do not want to examine ourselves. We prefer to examine others.

When someone is free of worry, his effectiveness will increase, because he can focus. If you worry too much, you can not focus, and nothing will happen for you. Think of running. If you run with a short sleeved shirt you can run fast, but if you put on a heavy coat, you can’t. Worry is like the heavy coat. It is a hindrance on the path.. In a calm relaxed state you can accomplish more..

June 29, 2002 Northampton Mass

....Why do we need to have tolerance? ....To give someone else one step of space, you are actually creating 70% of that space for yourself. Forgiving others, in reality is to forgive yourself. To go easy on yourself is not forgiving yourself. ....If you want to free yourself from self-limitation, then you must first change yourself....If you are unable to change yourself, you will be ...limited by your own ego.....

June 2003 LA
Dharma is only attained by ones own practice. As long as you are able to let go of hindrances in your own heart, any one of you will attain and eventually accomplish. If you see clearly and let go, then you will certainly understand that existence. If you never experience what letting go is, then you never experience for yourself what being at ease is really like. I continually stress this point. Many things are only accomplished by doing them, not by talking about them.

May 29, 2000 LA

Whatever you learn, don’t become attached to it. You are just beginning to learn about esoteric dharmas. As you progress, you will discover there are
many ways you can build on your foundation.

Master Yu is in China.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For details about his next US visit, check
www.dari-rulai-temple.org

For details about his next UK visit, check
www.wisdom36.com

tribes.tribe.net/hanmihawaii

The Beauty or "Wisdom Dew" Dharma
Living Buddha Master Yu Tian Jian, November 12, 2000
Translator: KuoTranscriber: Jim Stewart Dari Rulai Temple, Los Angeles, CA
edited and shortened

(This is a shortened version of the explanation of the principles underlying the “Wisdom Dew” or “Beauty Yoga” practice, one of the previously secret powerful meditation practices of Hanmi Buddhism that has recently been released for public teaching & is now published and available on CD.)

In the Buddhist tradition, the 'Beauty Dharma' is actually called the "Wisdom Dew Dharma." In Beijing, my disciples nicknamed it the 'Beauty Dharma' or 'Beauty yoga', because they discovered that through practicing it, their blemishes gradually disappeared and they regained youth. People want to know why this happens.

In the process of aging, a person goes through 39 changes in the appearance of their skin. The skin goes through the five stages of life: baby, child, young adult, middle age, and old age. Then there are seven stages of change within each of the five stages of life, plus there are changes in each of the four seasons of life. How do the wrinkles, spots and blemishes in the skin come about? To make a blemish disappear naturally, first understand the origin, then you can find a solution.

Research in eastern cultures shows that skin changes its texture with age because of our desires and emotions, which results in disharmonies in our physical bodies. Our emotions constantly change from happiness to sorrow, to anger, to depression. These emotions cause imbalance in our internal systems which circulate the chi and blood, causing imbalance in the harmony of our existence. As our chi and blood change under this imbalance, the digestive systems change, so that the internal organs no longer work together as a team.

For example, when a person gets angry, the flow of energy in the pancreas and liver is blocked. As some people get angry, their face becomes red, or pale, because the flow of blood and energy is temporarily blocked. Moments later, when you are no longer angry, the flow of blood continues, but the event has already done some damage. When you are too happy or too sad, your blood circulation will change its speed, and your heart will beat faster. As the blood is rushing, the chi energies rise and the blood rushes to your face which becomes red. After even a short emotional upset, you are not the same, because there has been a fundamental change in your inner systems.

Or, when you are thinking too much and over-exerting your brain, you are worrying, you also have emotion bubbling up. Then your blood circulation slows down, and things pile up in the liver waiting to be processed. The Chinese masters call this accumulation of blood and chi in the liver "liver bruise." … Because you are experiencing emotions, or trying to suppress emotion, or if you are worried about things, your eyebrows push together and form lines. The liver bruise causes your internal system to heat up, because things cannot flow through easily, and are rubbing together from the stoppage. This overheating in your body will cause a blockage around the middle of your body (in the vicinity of your diaphragm) resulting in the upper and lower body not communicating with one another…..
If you want to attain youthful beauty forever, first learn to adjust your inner emotions. …..

People have used many ways to try to retain their youth. Businesses have developed many kinds of pills, medications, creams to apply to our skins. Many of these products may make the skin look nice, but they do not make you whole inside, so they are a waste of money.

Our wrinkles and blemishes are also caused by the environment, as the four seasons change. Sunshine, rain, winds all cause our skin cells to change. You need to have your skin be very soft. You want your circulation to flow well, with your muscles relaxed and your pores to breathe better. Your chi and blood need to circulate and you need to have your inner system work in harmony.

The beauty dharma I will teach you is really the elixir dharma, using the dews to wash and cleanse your face and body. It will take only 10 minutes a day to have a fundamental change in your skin and change your appearance.

Your face is the representation of how healthy are your inner organs …A person's emotions all show on his face..Every time, you have emotion, it will leave a trace on your face. Your facial wrinkles and blemishes are all accumulations of traces of emotions. There is an old Chinese saying, "A face that has lived through many times of wind, rain, and sun." When you look at a person's face you understand what this person has gone through in his life. This is the origination of Chinese art of reading faces.

Buddha's smooth skin comes from an emotional balance that lets the best of him to come out. He is not biased to the right or wrong, he stays on the middle path. He still experiences emotion, but he never become overjoyed or over saddened...

We have to understand this before we begin the dharma, because when you really understand the reasoning, you will begin to take action to change yourself.

© 1999-2003 Dari Rulai Temple

Nov 21, 2003 San Francisco

"......Everybody we know living today in this world, no matter who he is or what his position in society, has his own worries, suffering and disaasters....Every one of us, every day, has all kinds of questions popping into his head. Before the first question is answered, the next question comes up.......What can we do to free ourselves from these worries and problems? ......First we have to see the root cause of our problems.....and yet we do not see our worries, our problems, as being generated by ourselves. .... if one wants to change his circumstance, then he must first change himself. ... We have discovered the hardest thing to do is to actually change oneself. Why is it so hard to change? The reason is simply that we do not truly know ourselves. That's why we do not change. ......You may wonder, "How is it that I don't know myself ? Every night when I go home, I find my own door, I don't end up at somebody else's house. If we have a group picture, I recognize myself in the photograph....so how is it that I do not know myself?" .. ....Yes, you do know yourself, but only the appearance of self. Your appearance is only a representation of yourself, an appearance of you. It is something everybody can see for themselves and say, "I know this guy". ....So what do I refer to when I say you do know know yourself clearly?.... (Do you)... know every behavior, action and deed you have ever done, every motive you have ever had, the results of each and every one of your actions? ....What I am saying is that we lack this clear knowledge of ourselves...therefore the actions we have taken have misaligned with the conditions of the environment..and so we didn't get the results we wanted ......"

Notes from Talk By Master Yu on the Heart Sutra - 12/ 3 & 4 /2006

Note: These Notes Are Still in DRAFT form. Any Errors Are Those Of The Student. Corrected Transcript Will Hopefully Be Posted In Not Too Distant Future ....

Tonight we will speak about the Heart Sutra. Prajna Paramita, Wisdom embark for the other shore.

The way I elaborate on the Heart Sutra tonight may not be the same as what you have learned in the past. Dharma is law - natural and without limitation. Since language is man-made, it is difficult to use it to describe what is natural and perfect. Of course, without this man-made system there would be no tool to use to record reality. But words are imperfect. Intellectual understanding is not enough for the serious practitioner. Why ? Because people have difficulty transcending the limitations of their languages.

Consider scenery. A beautiful view from the top of a mountain, or a perfect sunset over the ocean, or a pine-clad mountain. No matter how wonderful an environment or scenery is - the instant it is put into words it is limited by the hearer’s concept of those words. You describe it and people imagine similar scenes that they have seen - but their visions are not necessarily the same as what you saw.

It is possible to break free from the limitation of language. He who can free himself from the limitation of language and other conditions moves beyond normal being. Thus one is no longer limited by the conditions of his environment. Everyone is limited by conditions. If one is under limitation, one can not free ones’ self.

Dharma transmission traditionally requires seekers to bow to masters, but I don’t require this. ..... (missed some).... The colloquial sutra should be interpreted. .....(missed some) Prajna Paramita - Prajna is wisdom. In Chinese is sometimes pronounced Bwo Lo.

There are three kinds of wisdom: Wisdom of Words; Wisdom of Observation; and Wisdom of Reality.

Wisdom of words refers to the wisdom gained by following the intellectual path of reading the sutras. Wisdom on this path is gained by reading and following the words. Wisdom can be reached by some in this way. However, generally speaking, genuine wisdom only comes in this way to someone who is already sufficiently realized to free himself from the initial connotation of the words. This is not a path that works for the average person.

Wisdom of Observation is realized by observing the rhythms of everything. The rhythm of everything is reflected in our bodies as well as the whole. Everyone experiences the stage of wisdom in which - suddenly you realize something. Why are there so many scholars who do not attain enlightenment? Why do they accomplish little even though they study assiduously? Because they are limited to words. How many people accomplish great feats even though they are illiterate? They may lack education but they can take advantage of observing conditions, etc. They rely on observation rather than on words. This is an example of the wisdom of observation.

Wisdom of reality is supra-mundane. Beyond the normal understanding of reality in this world. Not lacking. Pure. The one who realizes this can do anything. But because wisdom is pure, such a one will NOT just do things, because one also sees the connectedness of these actions to other things. One in this state can make a pebble emit light. How ? Everything is a point of light. All matter is infused with this. Someone who realizes the wisdom of reality can make anything. So prajna is wisdom, but greater than the wisdom of words. Prajna is the wisdom that encompasses the entire universe.

Paramita is without boundary. Boundary-less. If you truly realize the final stage, wisdom has no limitation.

The key to the Heart Sutra is in its title, “Heart” Sutra. Why is the term “Heart” the key ? If you stare at something - say a mountain - if you stare at a mountain in a state of mindfulness it can alter your consciousness. In zen if you observe an object with the heart in such a way that you are mindful of that and nothing else - the object, the mountain, enters your consciousness and your consciousness enters the mountain. If you open your heart everything comes in and at the same time everything has you in it. So our heart and consciousness are no longer limited to just “you” or “I”.

As for the last word, Sutra, Sutra means to sew together like a thread. Sutra is often translated as scripture - like a thread sewn together - a journey through the nuts and bolts of practice.

Sutra is a record of actual practice - how it should be done. What do I mean by an actual record? You actually follow this method and then arrive at this realization of wisdom. So there are instructions for how to practice within the heart sutra, but you must understand what it is trying to convey.

The Heart Sutra records the experience of Avalokitesvara Boddhisattva.

Ava - means look. Look. We were born with a shortcoming. Our eyes enable us to perceive others, but not to look inwardly at ourselves. In general we live with this shortcomiing. We look at others, but not at ourselves,. We can see others flaws but not our own. And here’s another weakness - we’d rather believe in ourselves than believe in others. So people often fail to notice the truth. We jump to conclusions about what we see and hear and we don’t see reality. By habit, we fail to see our own bad nature. One of the biggest bad habits is non-receptivity.

It is easier to forgive ourselves than to forgive others. This comes from our animalistic nature. We have urges for self-preservation, desires, etc. We should look without judgement at everything and into our selves. We often believe that whatever the eyes do not see does not exist. Eyes may not see, but that is not proof of non-existence. So when you look - make it a true examination. If you try looking at an object, stare at it with your heart. If your heart is in it, it comes to you. The object is in your consciousness, not separate from it. Everything you fail to see is not in your consciousnss. If you aspire to awaken, first look at yourself. People today fail to know themselves.

People do not know themselves. Others may know you but they will not tell you. If you look at a photo, you recognize, “this is me”. You recognize the appearance. But who are you? Before people invented mirrors they really didn’t know what they looked like. They had to wait for a windless day and look at their reflection in the water. One of the greatest inventions was the mirror. Suddenly peopole made themselves presentable, wanted to make themselves and their environment more beautiful. Suddenly people wanted to know their flaws so they could better themselves. You can ask people to tell you your true flaws, but they can’t. People have yet to invent the mirror that can accurately reflect your inner shortcomings. Since people can not see themselves clearly, it is difficult to know or conquer themselves. So, the essence is in the name. Ava - look.

Avalokitesvara - has two meanings - one, the individual boddhisattva by that name, and the other - looking into one’s self.

What is the range of your bad nature ? How does it start? How does bad nature continue to feed into animalistic behavior? To look into ones’ self is to be mindful. Observe your behavior, where does that take place? Remember self. Find the origination point of bad conduct and then see first hand by looking into yourself. First experience that stage of self-examination. This is what limits your advancement and your ability to love. Most of today’s love is just vanity. We persue goodness, but we do so out of vanity. People believe they are behaving properly but fail to see the stuff they bottle up inside. They say they are happy to help, willing to help, but don’t put out the effort. How many people put out little but take credit for others efforts and believe that they have helped? These sorts of behaviors show that we are still beings of defilement, filled with selfishness and vanity.

“Self” being is made up of all this nonsense. Selfishness, bad behavior. When a practitioner arrives at a certain stage, he sees all these behaviors and realizes that he should let go of all and everything to which he has attachments.

Everyone can say “let go”. But most of us are not able to truly let go. Everyone knows they have a bad habit. But few of us really change it. If you have not seen clearly enough to really let go, then you will never experience that stage of realization. Avalokitesvara.

The “self” is mostly composed of nonsensical ideas and attachments that we should let go of, so that we can arrive at that 2nd stage of existence beyond the limitations of the ego. Why are so many of us so stressed? Because we can not let go. We can not let go and then can not experience the great ease that comes with letting go. So we become very tired and stressed.

So now - really see yourself. Learn to know yourself so that you will see who you really are. If you truly do this you will renounce your smaller self. Once you have experienced through that stage, grasped that method of arriving at the other shore, then you must share it with others.

But what is the method? How do you do it? Know yourself. Observe the origination of the problems of your “self”, and then , like following a river upstream to its source, determine how they all began. Continue going upstream to the point where it began and then you will know yourself in a way that will enable you to drop animalistic behavior. By understanding and self examination, and by learning to let go and renounce.

This method is not intellectual, but is learned by direct experience. Once you have the direct experience, then you will have a mission to help others to realize and to renounce. At the moment of true renunciation you have arrived (at the first step, anyway).

So, Avalokitesvara, The name itself conveys looking into yourself and renouncing your ego. If you arrive at this state then you aspire to share the methods by which one is able to arrive at this state. Someone in this state is a boddhisatva.

So Avalokitesvara is the being on the path to awareness whose name is Avalokitesvara. But it also has a much more profound meaning, which embodies the path to renunciation.

Let’s take a moment.....
Close your eyes and look into yourself.
Your ears no longer listen to the sounds of the world, but to the sounds of your inner world.
Begin to look inward.
See your nature.
See how existence so far has been made up of defilements, made of filth in a sense.
Hear your breathing like the wind.
Hear your heart beat like thunder.
Hear your blood flowing like he waves striking the shore.
Through your eyes and ears, enter samadhi, revealing the great wisdom of this world.
Meditating profoundly.

Syin - the Chinese character for heart - has four or five different translations.
One is meditating, to enter by that conduct or behavior, enter that state.
When in that state one perceives the 5 skandas as empty. 5 bundles or 5 attachments or 5 clouds.
There are so many translations today..

Skanda – that which is hidden under. The analogy could be like sweeping the dirt under a rug.

Empty is not “don’t have” or “don’t exist”. Sunyata. Empty is space. What is the greatest, sky, cosmos, void. Kung or Sunyata is the greatest space that encompasses all and everything. So the Boddhisattva looks inward to that profound state.

Consciousness is the same as the greatness that accomplishes all and everything.

Whatever is in the cosmos is the same as in your body. Whatever is in the 5 skandas is in you. How do you enter that profound state and recognize that the 5 bundles are empty? Look inward. This is the first stage of yoga. Merge together into one union. Make your heart only one, not two. In that state, inner happenings are reflections of all and everything.

How to enter this state of reflection of reality? Last night I touched on this slightly. If you pursue this intellectually will you arrive? Wisdom does not arrive through repetition or intellectual mumbo-jumbo. The way to wisdom is to look inside and make the journey.

Tonight, since we are fortunate to have this time together, I will teach you the actual practice of heart sutra meditation.

If you do this practice - this is the nuts and bolts of entering the path. This will help you progress much faster than recitation or intellectual pursuit.

Enter the meditative state of profundity and perceive that the 5 bundles are without inherent form.

If you truly aspire to enter this profound state, then you have to do the nuts & bolts pracrtce. Your inner 5 bundles become one with the elements in the cosmos. Not separate, join into one. The outer 5 bundles are boundless. The inner 5 bundles are within the self. To connect these is to go beyond self limitation.

(Gives mudra and mantra)

Before we start, close your eyes for a moment and just look. The 5 bundles in the body correspond to the organs. The heart, liver, pancreas, lung, kidney.

(Leads short mediation somethng like practice taught later)

By having this direct experience, you may perceive and understand that emptiness is no different than form, and form is no different than emptiness. Matter is energy. Energy is matter. What the eyes see - whatever exists in consciousness - is only points of light .

When you truly enter that experience and see for yourself, infinite numbers of little points of light - then there is no birth, no age and no death.

By that realization you enter truth as described. No increase, no decrease. No purity, no impurity.

This is something you can only understand with experience. You only understand what it means when you enter that state.

The heart sutra involves boddhisattva, mudra, mantra and visualization.
Note the reference to Avalokitesvara. Look into the self and renounce.

So prajna paramita is a text book of tantra. It is like step by step instructions. You can follow them step by step to enter that state. It teaches you a technique. Only by doing this practice will you enter that profound state of (arhat)?. In that state, wisdom reveals itself. Intellectual understanding is not sutra. Only by experience is this understood.

Intellectual pursuits can calm the mind. But true wisdom is attained through practice. Not through recitation and not through intellectual understanding alone. So, after the break I will teach you the heart sutra method.

(Break)

The mystic path to attain self awareness involves the three mysteries - body, speech and mind.
We incorporate these mysteries into the practice by the use of mudra, mantra and visualization.
We chant in silence. The mudras are alive and improve (circulation?). The mantra is an invocation of a vibration that connects us with the energy of the enlightened beings. The visualization helps us to enter the rhythm of mindfulness. Using these techniques together, we dissolve with all and everything.

(Teaches Meditation Practice) - (Not Written Here)

Most of us, our hearts are not pure. Our hearts are polluted. People place themselves under limitations through their impurities. When you are truly magnanimous, you have tolerance for all and every thing, every one, every thing, every circumstance. Then this polluted heart, this defiled mind, begins to settle down. Let it settle. Give it time. The water clears and wisdom reveals. During meditation you can have this experience of boundless, radiant light. This purifies and slowly cleans the defilements in the mind and heart, so that your polluted heart and mind will slowly become purified. In this meditation, you become one with all and everything. Through that direct experience, slowly you develop a heart of tolerance.

Wisdom is already there when your heart and mind become boundary-less. That’s when it reveals.

Perhaps someone will wonder...I haven’t done anything wrong, how has my heart become polluted? The inner pollution is not always obvious to us. If a plant grows in a polluted, contaminated environment, it is already polluted, but it won’t know the difference.

You grew up in a polluted environment. Newspapers, TV, videos, etc. all have violence and other unwholesome images. When you see some image on TV, it may have an interesting story line, but have you ever considered that the moment you perceive that image, that idea takes root in your consciousness? You may be subconsciously traumatized. Or the seed of that experience may be planted. You grew up in a polluted environment, and have lived in a polluted environment all of your life. But you never see the difference. Dharma practice is to lead the practitioners into that mind state in which the mind begins to free itself of the images, fantasies and defilements it has encountered.

If you want to change your heart and mind from the polluted to the pure state, take the practice slowly and diligently. Allow your heart space to become boundary-less.

To live a truthful life you have to begin at a very young age to truly respect others. He who truly respects others will receive respect. Help others from the bottom of your heart. Helping others is a sacrifice. It should be unconditional. Expect no reward.

When one truly develops this heart of always respecting others, of helping others without expectation of return - one no longer has dependency on others.

In this life, many people feel empty, because their lives are not fulfilling. They feel fear also because life is not fulfilling. When you truly stand up and live a life of conquering yourself, you will respect others. Do volunteer work, don’t worry so much about yourself. Fulfill your life’s experience. Don’t waste time. Wasting time is wasting life. If you have a busy schedule but with purpose and direction, this is good. If you are busy all the time but spend that time helping others. Your emotions start to change. You live healthier, longer. You become younger. Your fears disappear.

Perfectionism and fault-finding are natural. People look at some things with different eyes. They have different perspectives, different backgrounds and different understandings. They normally focus on only what their eyes and ears perceive. It is difficult to turn 180◦ and look.inside. So, it is usually easier to see others’ flaws than to see our own flaws. We see the problems and flaws of others, but not our own. Lots of people have understanding that is limited in this way. Consider this story....

Once upon a time a black crow descended from the sky and landed on the back of a black cow. It felt to the cow as if the black crow was dancing on his back. But it became very scratchy. So the cow turned to the row and said, “Crow, you are on my back, dancing with joy. It seems you are quite comfortable, but why are you scratching my back?”... .The black crow said to the cow, “I am helping you. Look how black and dirty your back is. I’m just trying to clean your back.” The cow laughed and said “you are black, too”. So this is the truth. When you are defiled you don’t see it yourself. Meditate, examine yourself, developing an attitude of helping others without expectation of return, and conquer yourself. These things will help to purify your being.

Questions:

Q: Of all the questions people have asked you, what was your favorite?
A: No favorites. I like all questions.

Q: While you are healing us, if I think of someone else who needs healing, will it help them?
A: Yes, it will help to visualize your friend, but the level of effect depends upon the closeness of the relationship. It can also help to bring a picture of the person with the whole person from head to toe showing, and with full name and birth date.

Q: Sometimes it seems i find my original state of innocence, but then i lose it again. How can i keep that state of innocence for longer?
A: Don’t ponder it, just do it. If you let go of ego and selfish motivation, then you can become innocent again like a child. Why are children so innocent? They have not yet become selfish in the way of adults. Very young children do not yet understand jealousy and other flaws. In this long river of life, you have journeyed so far, and experienced so many things. Life so far has given you happiness and sadness, joy and worry. Many people wish to return to their childlike innocence, but it is hard to do so. It is like a white cloth that becomes smeared with black ink. Can you wash it out? You can. But it will probably take more than one wash cycle. (Laughter)

So how do we return the ink-smeared cloth to being a white cloth? If you wish to return to innocence, follow the truth. If you are able to learn the right methods, in 3 to 6 years you should be able to make a quite measurable change. Every day, make a slight change in effort. The point is to find the right method to lead back to that state. For example, you are wearing your favorite clothes, but you carelessly rip the cloth. So you try to find a seamstress who can sew it to the original condition. It takes a lot of effort. It is easy to destroy, but difficult to return to its original state. Can you wash the ink out of the white cloth? Yes you can. But probably not with one wash cycle. Maybe it takes 10 wash cycles. (laughter)

In China, we have a program for lamas that starts at age 6. Training young people from an early age in the dharma can help. But such training is not always suitable for this country, especially in this day and age. Social norms in America have changed greatly since the World War II generation, and I will say this. Although you think you have progressed and improved personal freedoms and so on, sometimes you are misled. From my view people have also become more lazy, more self-indulgent and more mentally unhealthy. People from the 1920s to 1940s generation had higher standards of honor, diligence and respect. You may have an intelligent brain. But an intelligent brain that is unable to conquer its own lazy habits will still fail. People sometimes pass the buck, don’t take responsibility for themselves. In many homes I find that people leave their clothes lying around. Many restaurants are not that sanitary, etc. It is best to prepare your own food, and eat the freshest food available. Wash your utensils. Wash your clothes, don’t leave them around. Cook well. Take care of yourselves well. And learn self sufficiency. What would happen to LA if it were without power for two weeks? How many could survive without power or water there? It actually is important in life to conquer your lazy habits. Those who succeed with this have true intelligence. If you are not lazy, and you take action, practice with diligence, you can accomplish something.

Q: Is there one sound that is the highest vibration?
A: If you are speaking about mantras, no. Matnra was recorded according to the sounds of the vibrations. So mantras are the sounds of life. There is no such thing in this world as the “highest”. If there were a sound that were the “highest” vibration, then that would imply that something is the “highest” - that that’s the end. But you can always keep rising higher - there is no highest.

I remember this story about a person who was speaking about his state of consciousness, saying no one could surpass him. And someone reminded him of this old Chinese story. In ancient China when they battled they used a long spear. One day a spear merchant was selling his spears and he said, “Look at my spear, It’s the strongest! It’s incomparable! No matter how thick a shield someone has, my spear will penetrate it!”... But he also sold shields. So then he put his spear aside, and picked up a shield. He knocked on the shield and said, “Look at my shield! It’s the best! No matter what you use, you can not penetrate this shield!”. So someone from the audience asked him “ What would happen if your spear and your shield were used against each other? Can you tell us what would happen?”...and the merchant picked up his shield and his sword and went away.

Q: Will the mudra alone have benefit?
A: The mudra can make you more healthy, and have some other beneficial effects, but to gain wisdom you need the whole thing.

Q: If any one of these techniques can work to bring us to enlightenment, then why are there so many?
A: Look at the person sitting next to you. Their physiology is different. Their psychology is different. Their soul’s journey is different. So they may resonate with or have an easier time working with one practice, while you may gravitate toward another. Right now you may have difficulty concentrating, but working over time, you can reach the clear light of purity. Remember - only those whose hearts are at peace can help others. Those whose hearts are not at peace may want to help others, and this is a good wish - but for those whose hearts are not at peace this is just a dream. If your heart is settled and clear, then wisdom can appear. If you do really enter that state - don’t hang on to the tools - go beyond.

DRAFT - Notes from - Master Yu - on Sutra of Cause & Effect - December 5, 2006

These Notes Are DRAFT only. Any errors are those of the student. Hopefully will be corrected and improved soon.

To really teach the Sutra of Cause and Effect - (Ying Gwo Jin - Cause Effect Sutra) (?), one could give talks every day for three months. So this is a very condensed version.

Between cause and result there are contributing conditions.

If there is no cause, no seed - then there will be no fruit. But likewise, there are other interdependent conditions. For example, some seeds may not bear fruit. If they don’t encounter the right soil conditions, the correct lighting, the correct temperature range, etc.

The seed itself may or may not be fertile. For example, a piece of rock in the shape of an egg will never become a chicken.

People are the same. Your conduct in this life sows the seeds for your next. How did the conditions of this life originate? Consider your previous life. Most people do not see their past life or future life. But behavior speaks for itself. Your conduct and thinking determine your destiny. Whatever actions you take in this life create the destiny of your future life. This is justice. There are 9 types of karma.

1. Gau Gwan Da Wei
Those born in high positions - presidents, kings, prime ministers, etc. In a previous life they respected their parents, elders and teachers. They are able to have enough support because they helped others. They are willing to sacrifice to save others. They made contributions, worked hard, helped others, lived with dedication to help others. So they became destined to lead.

2. High Officials & Influential People
These people also respected their parents, elders, teachers and ancestors. They helped old people, helped those in need, adopted orphans, helped seniors, dedicated their lives to helping others. They contributed a substantial amount to help the needy.

3. Generals, Admirals, Military Commanders
These people also respected their parents, elders and teachers. They helped people to solve problems and protected others. They protected and defended others. If they found someone beating up another person, they would intervene - like Robin Hood who took from the bad to give to the good. So others learned their names and respected them. They were perceived like Robin Hood in past lives.

4. Scholars, Literati, Authors, Writers, Doctors, Healers, Educators, Teachers, Experts
Again, these people also respected their parents, elders and teachers. Of all those in this world, teachers that can pass knowledge to the next generation are the most noble. These people contributed to help children go to school. Maybe bought books or other materials for them. Their past life time was dedicated to the goal of helping others learn. Whether learning a skill or other learning. It may not be like that now in today’s society. Sixty years ago, Americans still respected their teachers, parents and elders. Americans then, with that outlook, were more worthy of respect as well.

5. Very Handsome Men and Very Beautiful Women
These people also respected their parents, elders and teachers. They often helped others. They had good manners and etiquette and were dependable and loyal.

6. Men who are Intelligent and Clever, but like to compete & have a temper
Women who are Pretty - but like to compete with their mouths & make comments they should not.
These men in a past life weren’t good to friends, or weren’t loyal
These women did not respect their parents.
In this life, during middle age, these men may have an accident or become crippled.
In this life, during middle age, these women may have pains all over the body, or tightness in the chest.

7. Men who are Clever but have a Smooth Tongue
Women who are Pretty but “Lively”
In their previous lives, these men and women did not respect their parents, teachers & elders. Maybe they lied to others or did bad things. With their smooth tongues they may have bamboozled a lot of people. If they were lively, they may have indulged in a free lifestyle or failed to follow a virtuous life, placing their own selfish needs over those of others.

In this life, these men will often fight & may end up with the destiny to spend part of their lives in jail. They may cheat or take advantage of others without principles and with much selfishness. The women may lack principles or direction, they may go with anyone, or they may experience physical illness.

8. People who may be clever, may be able to do things well, but no matter how capable they are, they are always poor.
These people may be above average in intelligence, but yet they accomplish little or nothing. They seem to have bad luck. They may even be put in jail for a crime they did not commit. Even when things happen that they didn’t do - they get suspected of it and punished for it. They may even die in jail.

In a previous life these people may have coveted other people’s property and taken it and felt clever for getting away with it. They abused their parents and slandered their elders and teachers. Or maybe they took advantage of their siblings. They did these things for their own enjoyment with no consideration for the happiness of others. They may have played jokes on others that hurt them. Even though they lived as humans, their experiences were hellish. If they continue in this manner, their karma in future lives is to die young.

9. People who Become Crippled, Blind, Deaf, Mute, Deformed, Lose a Leg or an Arm
In a previous life they manipulated and harmed others, took advantage of others, disregarded others, harmed others for fun. This was breaking the natural law. Some of them may owe a big favor, or lots of $$ with no way to pay it back. Failing to keep such a promise commits a big sin. If they slander, they are born mute. If they manipulate or eaves drop to the point of causing harm, they are born deaf. If they were in a powerful position which enabled them to look into others affairs and cause them harm and used that in a negative way, they may be born blind. If they harmed others by crippling them, or harmed life for no reason, then they are born crippled. If in a past life they sexually assaulted children, committed arson, killed people, harmed others for the fun of it, mutilated animals, etc. they will be born paralyzed and crippled for life.

So, in general there are 9 types of people - but each of these are subcategorized into 3 and then those subcategories into 3 again, so that these 9 types are actually divided further into 81 types of karma. There is no time to go into all these 81 divisions right now.

I hope that those who meet me in this life have a seed planted so that they may better themselves now, so that the next life may be better than this one.

If your behaviors are like the negative behaviors described, change yourself. Sixty years ago, Americans were industrious, courageous, hardworking, loyal, honest, had good family values and maintained loving relations. From my view, I see a big deterioration in every aspect. The men are more irresponsible. The women are not loyal. Men are not men, women are not women. Things have changed. I came to the U.S. many years ago now, and have healed many people of many illnesses. Many women are not married but they become pregnant or have abortion. They may feel that they are living with a more free lifestyle, but this is called tsan hai yin ling. (Shang hai yin ling?) There was like a reservation for the soul, but the soul failed to enter and had no where else to go - creating a baby ghost. This goes against natural law. Going against natural law causes the body to get sick. This is not about judgement. This is the law of nature. OK, so in the past you lacked this understanding and knowledge. But now you know. In the time that still remains, change yourself. You can assist the baby ghost to move on. In Buddhism we build a stupa for the baby ghost. You build a stupa and the merit goes not to you, but to the baby ghost.

Why do we come into this world and experience different journeys ? The world is a stage whereon you choose your character. You chose this life through your actions in your previous life. You are choosing your next life by your actions in this one. Remember that. Respect your parents. If you had no parents, you would have no body. If you had no body, you could have no enjoyment. No matter how they treat you, your parents gave you a tremendous gift. They gave you this life.

In the East, parental discipline is much more strict. It is not considered abuse for a parent or a caring teacher to hit a child. Parental punishment can be tough love. A child likes to explore. It doesn’t know the difference between danger and non-danger. Doesn’t really know which behaviors are good and which are bad. It needs parental education. These days education and discipline in the U.S. seem to have become so lax that a PhD from the US may not have the level of achievement at the top of his mind that a talented diligent high school student in the East has. Nowadays, there is no longer such a need to retain knowledge in the mind, because they can look it up on the computer or in a text. But this does not create the same depth of learning. Nor do Americans respect their teachers or each other as they used to.

After I came to the U.S., I wanted to pass dharma to Western students and so I invited some U.S. students to come to China to learn Chinese so that they could return to the West and teach Dharma. These students became English teachers in their spare time, teaching English to children. One of them commented to me that he had not imagined how much respect Easterners had for their teachers. Students bow to them. If they run into them in town, they kow tow. Without teachers, we would have no knowledge or skills. Teaching is a most honored job. If teachers are strict in the U.S. parents may even come in and complain. Not so in China. Parents believe the teachers care for the child. If a teacher disciplines their child they are grateful that the teacher cares. In the beginning, we funded the American disciples to learn, gave them a scholarship. Now, they have learned so much they make their living and give me money ! One of the students was teaching English and four of his students got accepted to University. The parents gave him a fat red envelope with $30,000 RMB !! The original plan was that in the first three years these students would become proficient in Chinese, and in the next three, they would return to the U.S. to become dharma teachers. But after three years, all the students wanted to stay in China. There they have friends, good friends. They are respected as teachers. If they return to the U.S. they would not have the same kind of friends. He felt that his friendships were more genuine.

Moral standards are also different. If a couple become boyfriend and girlfriend, they are likely to stay together. Love is deeper than having one’s needs gratified. Need does not equal love. If a couple are married, the man is loyal. If the wife passes away, he will find a new companion, but otherwise he is loyal. If a man has sexual relations with a woman he will treat her responsibly.

You can live like this. Be together every day with those you love, and share life. Respect your parents, elders and teachers. Unite with everyone as a team. Help others from the bottom of your heart. Maintain and take care of your family, treasure them. Have morality and your spiritual journey will be quicker.

No matter how you treat your parents, they always have you in mind. Your childhood image is in their hearts. Whenever there is a special holiday, festival or birthday they think of you. If you forget your parents, then bowing to Buddha or God or Jesus is not useful. First respect and love your parents. Phone them. On special occasions, give them something they might like, something they enjoy. Only when you really respect your parents are you qualified as a human.

In Eastern cultures, a person who fails to respect their parents is not a good person. Tolerance is learning to be able to respect others. Many today chant about tolerance and love, but they don’t even have this for their parents. Or for others. Men take advantage of women, etc. How can people like this qualify as human? If you can not forgive your parents and keep charity and tolerance and love in your heart, you are hurting yourself and others. No matter what you did in the past, listen to me now. Call your parents and say hi. If they are no longer in this world, then visit their burial place.

I hope that you can conquer yourself so that you can forgive everyone, neighbors, friends, etc. Don’t worry about the future changes, don’t worry about yourself so much. Help each other. Only when you have good relations do you have strength. You may be a very intelligent person. But even a very gifted person can not accomplish as much alone as 10 average people can together. The strongest person is not as good as 10 together.

Heed my words. It will help you. This life’s worries, illnesses, fortunes, misfortunes, illusions, sadness, etc. all are seeds planted in a previous life. How you behave in this life plants the seeds for the future.

Many Americans are wasteful. Hungry people in Africa were also very wealthy in the past. In Chen Du monastery in China the New Years bread, steamed buns and pancakes are crushed into crumbs and stored. Monks start at 6 to 8 years old. They are no longer pampered at that point. They are up at 4:30 A.M., practicing by 5:00 A.M. If they are late, they can not chant. They must do prostrations for 2 hours to repent their laziness. At 8:00 A.M. they have breakfast. Their rice bowls are filled with crumbs from the sack and hot water. Twice a day they eat this. This is all they eat. These are real practitioners. Wasteful lifestyle is a sin. No matter your past - from now on conquer yourself. Don’t waste. Don’t pamper yourself.

The path is under your feet. How you walk it is for you to decide.

...If you don't think about the essential underlying principles of everything, (then) whatever you think, you are attached to the form. It's like I am holding you by a thread, whichever way i pull, you go. You are following blindly. When you have realized some of these principles, then I no longer pull you on the thread - you walk with me ...

United Nations Millenium World Peace Summit
of Religious and Spiritual Leaders
August 2000
Transcript

The Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders has far-reaching significance to discuss on the important subject of human harmony. This Summit has proven that people have found the inner force of the religious consciousness. It is a sensible and important undertaking to join the efforts of different religious groups for the development of world peace and the elimination of poverty. The full use of such efforts will play an important role in finding the solution to our goal.

Religion has less power than political authority. It makes no distinction of politics or regional boundaries, nor discriminates based on race or nationality. Religion is to purify human heart, to guide people, to serve humanity and to contribute to society. In addition, it shall do so despite any reward. It is a kind of attitude on human life, where it considers sacrificing oneself for the betterment of others as an honor, luxury and wasting as a disgrace, and seeking charity and kindness for all as one's duty.Religious teaching can change people's opinion. Such change can bring about the improvement of environment and conditions. A good interaction can really change the human consciousness, raise our level of understanding and bring us out of the vicious cycle into the good cycle.

The real transformation of consciousness enables us to realize that the human race itself created all the disputes, conflicts and wars among people, regions and nations. We are our own vice. We should re-examine our consciousness and understand that our vice is the main and deep-rooted cause of the disasters. We must, without rest, change and improve ourselves. Get rid of the bad habits to end the harm we have done to others and ourselves.

The world will enter harmony when we no longer harm each other. The world will become a jointly owned and mutually enjoyed ideal paradise when everyone respects one another, helps one another, respects the elders and loves the young ones. This is the simple yet lofty ideal of the religious creed. The practical measure to attain the ideal is more important, which should be truly recognized, supported, cooperated and emphasized by every government, religion and person. We shall grasp the essence of the religious ideal instead of only looking at the superficial stuff and the negative phenomenon of religion. How are we to pass on the correct religious thinking and its essence `without the limitation of adhering to the superficial and negative phenomenon? Every religious group should be open-minded, have a consensus, learn from each other's virtue and strength and improve oneself. With government support, inter-faith communication, cooperation and activities should be developed. Thus, we will form the same thought, which will have an influence on everyone to change for the better and benefit humanity.

People always long for peace and thirst for happiness eternal. By changing our habits, improving and overcoming ourselves, we are able to seriously re-examine ourselves to the depth of our heart, humbly accept other's criticism and teaching, and raise ourselves to a higher level. Then, we can enter a highly civilized society. We can only realize it with such profound soul purification and self-enhancement, and the world will become a highly civilized world of peace.

Look at the boundless universe. Why is there poverty? We ought to study it from the cause that lead to today's human civilization. In the beginning, the initial human thought, action and motive are for instinctive survival. As people moved around to seek food for survival, they met other people with different habit and language. Then, the conflict or fight for food occurred. The regional conflict was formed due to lack of communication and the escalation of these fights. The purpose of such conflict was still for food and survival. The conquered was expelled or enslaved, and had to work hard and bitter for less food. The victor expanded his territory, enslaved the conquered and obtained more food.

Social classes were formed. System and law were established to protect the benefits of the ruling class. Money was created for the exchange of goods. People are civilized. The traditional reality still is the same, for food. Social status was formed and reflected in the society. Different social treatment according to different social position resulted in complicated social problems. The confrontation continued and intensified. People must consider taking advantage in many situations with any mean for the protection of their interests. Pillage of resources formed the idea of storing in quantity and quality. The more they own, the richer they feel. They would disregard the damage done to the environment although they had surplus exceeded the real need for survival. To have self-enjoyment and self-satisfaction, they formed the bad habit of achieving their aim whether by cheating or by be a brute to others. Greed and selfishness guided them. People forgot to rethink that eating is just for living, moving around is just for surviving, and fighting is just for food. It is like this since ancient times.

For the enjoyment of the Haves, the victors disregarded the pain of the Have-nots. This attitude of the victors influenced their later generations. The rebellious psychology of the Have-nots, or slaves, also influenced their later generations. The vicious cycle brought turmoil to human society. The Law of Retribution continues. People must find the cause of the vicious cycle, the method to change their bad habits, the way to overcome themselves and the solution to eliminate the vicious cause. Then, they will realize that all the waste, greed and the damage to the environment are the causes of poverty and conflict. This is the reason that Buddhism advocates for equal treatment, charity and love. The bitter experience of the human race has proven that the teaching of the truth and faith in religion are very necessary for human soul. Once we have purified our hearts, the ways to resolve conflict, to eliminate poverty, and the opportunity to promote peace will be maturing accordingly.

After this Summit, we hope every religious school and every government can work together hand in hand, make full use of the joint efforts, and have a real and far-reaching influence for the progress of world peace, the elimination of poverty, and the protection of the environment.

- Talk Given By
Living Buddha Dechan Jueren,
aka Master Yu Tian-Jian
The 49th MahaAcharya of Hanmi Buddhism

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