Related to The Way to Buddhahood verse: no. 115
Some enter with the faithful vow;
Some enter with wisdom, some with compassion.
Article Reading:
The Three Essential Virtues by Master Yin Shun, translated & published by Hwa Tsang Monastery Australia
Food for thought:
Recall and share : In the very beginning, which aspect of Buddhism (in terms of philosophical, social welfare or admiring the attainment) has caught your attention and lead you into the dharma practicing?
Related to The Way to Buddhahood Verse no. 122 :
Withdrawal and loss of bodhi mind,
Jealousy, stinginess, anger, and arrogance
Obstruct the acts of benevolence
And violate the precepts of the Great Vehicle.
Article reading:
The Enemy Within by Dalai Lama
Food for Thought:
“Abstain from jealousy, stinginess, anger, and arrogance” are considered as most important precepts for a bodhisattva. Why is/are the reason(s) that you can think of for this statement?
Related to The Way to Buddhahood verse: no. 114
Not tolerating the decline of the noble teachings,
Not tolerating the suffering of sentient beings,
Through the arising of great compassion,
Enter into the Great Vehicle.
Article Reading:
An Everyday Aspiration by Manjusura
Food for thought:
How can I turn my common daily task into an Everyday Bodhisattva Aspiration?
Reading Material:
The Heart Sutra Will Change You Forever
by Karl Brunnhölzl| September 29, 2017
Contemplating and Sharing:
Share your understanding after article reading about:
1. A sutra about crazy wisdom
2. A brief memo for contemplating all the elements
3. The Heart Sutra is like a big koan
4. Trash all the hallmarks of Buddhism
5. The basic groundlessness of our experience
6. Emptiness is like thinking outside of the box
7. The heart of the Mahayana
8. An invitation to just let go and relax
9. We could call the Heart Sutra the Heart Attack Sutra
More About Emptiness:
All things are empty and without an independent nature, so defilements can become pure, confusion can become enlightenment, and the common can become holy. The nature of things being empty is the principle of having the possibility to be common or holy, defiled or pure, and is also the principle of having the possibility to become a buddha. Therefore, it is said, “Because existence is empty, all things can be formed.”
~~ excerpted from The Way to Buddhahood, verse 118
The wisdom that sees the emptiness of things is a skillful means, which means it is tactful. If one is not attached to the giver, the receiver, and things given, this is called possessing skillful means. If one lacks the wisdom that sees the emptiness of things and attaches to the act of giving, one is unskillful and tactless and cannot leave birth and death behind to enter the sea of wisdom.
~~ excerpted from The Way to Buddhahood, verse 120
By relying on the contemplation of emptiness, which does not posit an inherent nature, one can eliminate meaningless elaboration through continuous practice. After meaningless elaboration is eliminated, erroneous discrimination will not arise because it will have lost its object. When the mind’s discrimination stops, prajñā will arise; then one will no longer have confusion or create more karma.
~~ excerpted from The Way to Buddhahood, verse 166
Food for Thought:
How to apply the concept of “the union of emptiness and compassion” in my daily living and dharma practicing?
