Self-help & Helping Others

 Q&A (2021/07/25)

In the article entitled: Saving Vacchagotta the author states:

In refusing to answer Vacchagotta’s questions, the Buddha reveals himself as the self-help guru of them all, in the most literal sense. He is telling us: don’t mess with anything that won’t help you get to release; focus only on what can lead to your ultimate well-being and happiness. The implication of his silence on the issue of whether or not the self exists, which he explains later in the sutta to Ananda and elsewhere in the canon, is a signpost for his entire teaching on anatta, or not-self. 

Is there a literal self help program or progression of sutras that can be categorized as such?

~> The teachings of Buddhism are actually centered on the concept of "help".

~> The Three General Aspects of Buddhist Practice — Moral discipline, Meditative Concentration and Study of Buddhist Doctrines to gain Wisdom, are tend to "self-help". In the process of learning, we will improve our virtue, inner stability and wisdom.

~> The Six Pāramitās, the six practices that ferry one beyond the sea of mortality to nirvana — generosity, precepts, patience, diligence, meditation, wisdom — are developed from the level of "self-help" to "helping others."

~> Whether it is "self-help" or "helping others," Buddhism takes "eliminating affliction" as a clear learning goal.

~> It is "self-help" to reduce one's worries through practice; in the same way, if it reduces the suffering of others, it is "helping others".

~> In the process of practicing, they are called "Improving Oneself and Bringing Benefits to Others"（自利利人）; in the aspect of achieving enlightenment and liberation, they are called "To Enlighten Oneself and Enlighten Others"（自覺覺他）.

The Bodhisattva Aspiration

 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?

Safeguard your children with wisdom and compassion

Wisdom and compassion are important assets in life. Have you saved it for yourself and your children?

The most effective way to safeguard your children is to do your best and give them a positive influence.

Cultivate wisdom and compassion thru practicing mindfulness

Whether it is a child, oneself, or a inner child who has not yet grown up, let’s consider the practice of mindfulness to cultivate more wisdom and compassion.

 Reroute attention ~> Adjust emotions ~> Soften words and deeds ~> Improve relationships

About Heart Sutra

 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?

Eliminate Fears by the Method of Recollections

Reading Material:

Spiritual Advice for Fears of Pandemic

by Gesshin Claire Greenwood

https://medium.com/@clairegesshin/spiritual-advice-for-fears-of-pandemic-ae84a94eded2

The Six Recollections :

Some people are afraid of illness, death, or regression to the three evil destinies after death. Full of worry and regret, they are extremely miserable. The Buddha said that people whose minds are timid and fearful should practice the doctrine of the six recollections. 

“Recollection,” which means being mindful and remembering, is a convenient method for practicing meditation.

What are the six recollections?

The six kinds of mindfulness to dwell upon: Buddha 念佛, the Dharma 念法, the saṃgha 念僧, the precepts 念戒, almsgiving 念施, and heaven with its prospective joys 念天, according to the Dīrghâgama

The first three types of Recollections:

(1) The recollection of the excellent and solemn appearance of the Buddha, as well as the Buddha’s virtues: wisdom, grace, and freedom from defilements. 

(2) The recollection of the Buddha’s true Dharma, which is comforting and can lead to emancipation. If one can accept it and follow it appropriately, one can thoroughly understand and realize the Truth at any time.

(3) The recollection of the śrāvaka Saṅgha / The recollection of the bodhisattva Saṅgha

(3a) The śrāvaka Saṅgha: These are beings who virtuously keep the precepts, practice meditation, and have wisdom, liberation, and perfect knowledge of liberation; they are the field of good fortune in this world.

(3b) The bodhisattva Saṅgha: those who have great compassion and great wisdom and are a benefit to themselves and others.

The Result of Recollections:

When one’s mind is focused securely on the pure and awesome virtues of the Buddha (Dharma or Saṅgha), one can leave behind deviant thoughts, defiled desires, worries, regrets, and fears.

~~ excerpted from The Way to Buddhahood, verse 57

Sample videoclips :

The Recollection of the Buddha (by chanting Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa)

https://youtu.be/wY9ZyjZBCz8

Literally, I pay homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One.

The Recollection of the Saṅgha (by chanting Namo Avalokiteshvara)

https://youtu.be/ntBfYFFlbV8

Literally, I pay homage to the Bodhisattva of infinite compassion and mercy.

Food for Thought:

What’s your common practice whenever you encounter fear or worry?

Can you slide back after enlightened ?

This is a great question.

Let’s begin with “The three general aspects of Buddhist practice (三學)” —— which are:

1. the practice of moral discipline 
2. the practice of concentration 
3. the practice of wisdom

The first two, the moral discipline and concentration will deviate depends on conditions.

In certain situation, we have to leave aside certain observation of discipline, for instance, due to health issues we have to consume certain food in certain time, then we can no more observer that discipline restrictedly.  

Regarding the achievement of the status of concentration, we may accomplish good practicing result while we are in good meditation environment, or in a long term retreat. However, the achievement may fall when we are back to our daily life, which has tons of things to distract us.

But, when we talk about the achievement of wisdom, which bring us enlightenment, there’s no backsliding. Just imagine, when someone truly understands the phenomenon of impermanence or the nature of emptiness, no matter what circumstances s/he is facing (even very ill), the nature of reality just pop straight up into her/his understanding. Hence, wisdom once attained, is no way to fade away.

Nevertheless, I have to say, there is a condition of “fake enlightenment”. Don’t get me wrong, the “fake enlightenment” I mention here, is not refer to someone who purposely self-flattering as enlightened one to get attention or to cheat for money, but the one who overestimated her/his achievement. Then, that kind of “enlightenment” may give us “a sense of backsliding”, in fact, that’s no such retrogression. Why? Those who overestimate their achievement of practice is actually never really attained enlightenment yet.

In short, if that is a authentic enlightenment, there is no backsliding.