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The Three Conditions Given by Master Chin Kung Part 2: The Second Condition Consisting of Three Practices
This is the second part of a three-part commentary by Master Chin Kung on The Contemplation Sutra . In this part of his commentary, Master Chin Kung explains the meaning of a ceremony called "Taking Refuge in the Triple Jewels," in which the cultivator takes refuge in three good qualities: "Awareness and Understanding," "Right Understanding and Views," and "Purity and Harmony."
Taking refuge in the Triple Jewels restores the complete wisdom and abilities of our Self Nature. We attain Purity, Equality, Honesty, Freedom, Compassion -- and, overall, True Happiness. The Buddha Jewel
As students of the Pure Land Teachings, we learn to rely upon Amitabha's lessons on wisdom and compassion. Amitabha stands for Infinite Light and Infinite Life. When we follow Amitabha's teachings, we attain wisdom, happiness, and longevity. This is taking refuge in the Buddha.
The Dharma Jewel Dharma means Proper Understanding and Views. In the past, delusion has obstructed us from seeing the true face of people and the reality behind matters and objects. This has caused us to look at life and the universe in a distorted and deviant way. When delusion is cleared and our minds begin to purify, we give rise to wisdom. With wisdom, we are able to see all people and matters completely and clearly. When our minds are pure, we can see the past, present, and future. Only when we have clearly seen the Whole can our viewpoint and Understanding be considered "proper." The Buddha's mind is pure, without the slightest pollution; therefore, he sees everything clearly and in its entirety. We can rely upon the Sutras (recorded teachings of the Buddha) because they speak completely of the truths the Buddha has seen. They teach and show us the way to attain Purity of Mind so that we can see life and the universe clearly. As students of the Pure Land Teachings, we should rely upon the Five Sutras and One Commentary of the Pure Land school as guidelines for our practice:
This is taking refuge in the Dharma. The Sangha Jewel Sangha means Purity and Harmony. Today's world is full of pollution -- pollution of mind and body. Even the earth and atmosphere are dangerously
polluted. Buddha taught: "The environment changes according to our state of mind." We should reject all these pollutions and rely upon purity of mind.
Attaining Purity of Mind is the key to saving our Earth. Sangha also refers to any group of four or more persons who practice Buddha's teachings and abide by the Six Principles of Living in Harmony. Whenever we see a left-home person, we should immediately remember our reliance on the Sangha and use that encounter as an opportunity to establish our mind in a spirit of purity and harmony. As students of the Pure Land Teachings, we should rely upon wisdom and compassion as our way of treating others and dealing with our circumstances. Da Shi Zhi (Great Strength Bodhisattva) represents wisdom. His choice of the Buddha Recitation method of practice is wisdom in its highest form. Guan Yin (Great Compassion) Bodhisattva represents compassion; when we help introduce the Pure Land Teachings to others, we are practicing the complete compassion of Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
To the Buddha I return and on the Buddha I rely,
This is taking refuge in the Sangha. Precepts As students of the Buddha, we should follow the guidelines of cultivation set down by Buddha in order to maintain a concentrated mind directed towards perfect understanding and compassion. "Refraining from all evil and practicing all forms of kindness" is the spirit behind all the Precepts laid down by Buddha. Fundamentally, there are Five Precepts that have always served as the foundation for other sets of Precepts. These five fundamental precepts are considered the most important. They are: The first four of these Precepts are Precepts of our Nature. It is wrong to violate these precepts, even if one has not formally taken the Precepts. The fifth Precept, No Taking of Intoxicants, was established to prevent us from breaking the other four Precepts. The taking of intoxicants is not regarded as breaking a Precept if one has not taken the Precepts. The First Precept: No Killing. The spirit of this precept is to nurture a heart of compassion. We should not, by intent, wish harm or death upon another living being, whether human or animal. We should not take delight in the sufferings of others, but rather regard them with compassion. We ourselves should not commit any act of killing; we should not advise others to kill; and we should not approve of, or participate in, any act of killing. To behave otherwise would result in the breaking of this Precept. The Second Precept: No Stealing. The spirit of this precept is to prevent greed and promote honesty and contentment. If something is not given to us, we may not take it. We should not take the property of others by force, by stealth, or by fraud. This prohibition includes tax evasion and the failure to pay fees. We should treat the property of others with respect and care, and see it as more important than our own property. We ourselves should not commit the act of stealing; we should not advise others to do so; and we should not approve of, or participate in, any acts of stealing. To behave otherwise would result in the breaking of this Precept. The Third Precept: No Sexual Misconduct. Desire is the cause of our suffering in the cycle of birth and death. It is also a great obstacle to our practice on the path of Awareness and Understanding. We should make a strong resolve to transform these kinds of desires into compassion for all beings. If you have a family, sexual activities should take place only between you and your spouse. You should respect your commitments and the rights of others, and preserve your energies for the practice of the Way. We ourselves should not commit any act of sexual misconduct; we should not advise others to do so; and we should not approve of or participate in acts of sexual misconduct. To behave otherwise would result in the breaking of this precept. The Fourth Precept: No Lying . The spirit of this precept is to practice positive and constructive speech for the benefit of living beings. We should not say things we know to be untrue, either for personal benefit or to impress people. We should use our speech to promote harmony and understanding, guiding others toward kindness and wisdom. Whenever possible, we should introduce the Buddha's teachings to others and encourage them to walk that path. We ourselves should not practice false speech; we should not instruct others to do so; and we should not approve of, or participate in, acts of speaking untruthfully. To behave otherwise would result in the breaking of this Precept. The Fifth Precept: No Taking of Intoxicants. This is a precept of prevention. Intoxicants can delude and confuse the mind, harming our seeds of wisdom. The Buddha established this precept to prevent the breaking of the other four Precepts when one loses good conscience after intoxication. Intoxicants include alcohol, drugs, and the like. We ourselves should not take intoxicants; we should not advise others to do so; and we should not approve of, or participate in, the act of taking intoxicants. To behave otherwise would result in the breaking of this Precept. There are instances, under certain circumstances, when a Precept might not be strictly observed because harm might be done to others if the precept were strictly upheld. For example, when you attend a wedding ceremony or a birthday party for non-Buddhist friends, you might be expected to drink some wine to celebrate the occasion. If you insist on observing the Precept against taking intoxicants instead of joining the celebration, others might think: "Buddhist rules are so strict and forbidding, I don't think I'll ever want to become Buddhist." If we make others feel this way, we might be ruining their opportunity to learn and benefit from the Buddha's teachings. Therefore, the harm you might do by observing this Precept could far outweigh any virtue you might accrue from upholding it.. In every situation, you should consider the spirit of the Precepts and consider the best ways to apply them in different situations and in the company of different people. In the example I just referred to, if you were to drink a little wine to celebrate with everyone else -- but not to the point of getting drunk -- you would not be regarded as violating a Precept because of the time and place in which the behavior occurred. On the other hand, if you were looking for a chance to get drunk, you would be regarded as violating a Precept, not modifying it for the benefit of living beings.
These Five Wonderful Precepts are the basic guidelines of conduct for those on the Path to Awareness and Understanding. If they are practiced sincerely, and are made a reality in one's life, they bring great benefit and insights to the cultivator.
The precepts explained in The Second Practice are not limited to the Buddha's guidelines of conduct. They also include the morals, ethics, laws, rules, and the manners of our school, office, state, and country. In whatever environment we find ourselves, we should learn to act accordance with the customs and laws followed and respected by the people in that locale. If we maintain a neutral mind that is dedicated to the benefit of others, we will have a better capacity for Awareness and Understanding. This Concludes the Second Condition.
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The First Practice: Taking Refuge in the Triple Jewels.
