The Three Conditions
A Commentary on The Contemplation Sutra

Given by Master Chin Kung

Part 3: The Third Condition

 

Consisting of Four Practices
Based on the Practices of the Bodhisattvas

This is the third part of a three-part commentary by Master Chin Kung on The Contemplation Sutra.

The First Practice: Manifesting the Bodhi Mind.

Bodhi is a Sanskrit word that means awareness. It also refers to the acts of learning the Buddha's teachings, practicing them, and aiding all those who are in need. All these intentions can be summed up in a set of pledges called the Four Grand Vows . A person who truly understands the reality of life and the universe will naturally manifest these great vows.

The first of the Four Grand Vows represent the vows and wishes of Bodhisattvas. The second and third vows represent the practices of Bodhisattvas. The fourth vow is the fruit of attainment that we reach by cultivating the first three vows. Altogether, the Four Grand Vows are the guidelines to Bodhisattva practice.

The First Vow: "Living beings are innumerable; I vow to aid them all." A Bodhisattva's heart is filled with boundless purity and compassion. There is not the slightest trace of discrimination or attachment; Bodhisattvas' hearts are open to accept and help all living beings.

We can learn this practice by expanding our caring to all beings and offering our aid to those in need. The most important and genuine kind of help we can give to others is to help them awaken from delusion, rid themselves of their afflictions, and regain Purity of Mind. We can also help people by teaching them to love and respect their parents and teachers, refrain from killing, and cultivate the Ten Kind Deeds. We can offer them the teachings of Taking Refuge, abiding by the Precepts, and abiding by the law. We can even advance to the level of teaching people about giving rise to the Bodhi Mind.

Keeping in mind our wish to help all living beings, we can now move on and learn how to make this possible.

The Second Vow: "Afflictions are inexhaustible; I vow to sever them all." Getting rid of afflictions is the first step towards enlightening ourselves and others. When afflictions block our way, we cannot attain Purity of Mind.

The root of afflictions lies in the Three Poisons: greed, anger, and ignorance. When we are faced with these poisons, we must recognize their threat to the Bodhisattva practice and quickly raise the sword of wisdom to sever them. When we are cut off from our afflictions, we are like a crystal-clear vase, ready to accept and practice the authentic teachings of the Buddha.

The Third Vow: "The Ways to Complete Understanding are infinite; I vow to learn them all." There are eighty-four thousand ways to Enlightenment. These ways vary according to the background, capacity, and wisdom of those who wish to travel the path. A Bodhisattva, after attaining liberation from afflictions, is prepared to learn the infinite varieties of ways there are to understand the true nature of life and the universe. Bodhisattvas vow to learn these infinite varieties of ways to broaden their knowledge so they can better serve those in need.

The Fourth Vow: "The Buddha Way is Unsurpassed; I vow to attain it." When the practice of compassion, purity, learning, and understanding are perfected, the Buddha's Way is achieved. What is the Buddha Way? It is the complete Purity, Equanimity, and Understanding of our self-nature. It is the state in which only happiness pervades the whole universe and the brightness of our wisdom penetrates all realms of existence.

 

The Four Grand Vows are very important to the Bodhisattva practice and must be carried out in the proper order. Otherwise, the result can be a disastrous failure to accomplish any of the Buddha's teachings. These days, many people like to begin their practices with the Third Vow: "The Ways to Complete Understanding are infinite; I vow to learn them all." This is very unfortunate because it leaves out the heart of cultivation.

Purity of Mind

Without Purity of Mind, we are like a leaking vessel, unable to contain the Buddha's teachings. If we are still bothered by everyday matters and remain subject to the afflictions caused by greed, anger, and ignorance, how can we possibly attain the Complete Understanding of the Buddha? A true practitioner of the Bodhisattva path should honor and cultivate the Buddha's teachings accordingly.

In his commentary of The Essence of Amitabha Sutra, Great Master Ou-I once said: "If one wishes in utter sincerity to reach the Pure Land, that is the mind of Unsurpassed Bodhi." This is an even simpler and clearer way to define the profound Bodhi Mind. As practitioners of the Pure Land method, we should keep in mind the words of Great Master Ou-I and build upon our unwavering belief, vows, and mindfulness of Amitabha Buddha with even greater diligence.

The Second Practice:Deeply Believing in Cause and Effect

Cause and Effect is the law of the universe. In science it is said, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." The same goes for people. Every aspect of our lives today is a direct reflection of our past actions.

It is not by chance that children are born into wealthy or poor families; it is a question of the merits and virtues they have accumulated in past lives. There is a saying in Buddhism: "If you wish to know the causes created in the past, look at your life today. If you wish to know the fruits that will manifest in the future, look to see what is being done now."

If we want a life of prosperity, fortune, and happiness, we must cultivate kindness and the Five Wonderful Precepts to help others. If we wish to avoid poverty, rejection, and misfortune, we should refrain from selfishness, arrogance, and committing evil deeds. This is the law of cause and effect on the worldly plane. A person who understands cause and effect will cease to blame others for his misfortunes and can harbor a mind of peace and contentment.

Because the teachings of the Third Condition are directed towards Bodhisattvas, the kind of cause and effect referred to here is not just one that affects only the mundane world. It is a most wondrous and profound law of cause and effect: the Cause and Effect of Buddhahood.

Many Bodhisattvas do not know about this kind of cause and effect; if they did, all Bodhisattvas would turn to the method of Buddha recitation. We are what we think, so our thought must be pure, continuous, and without the slightest shadow of a doubt. Mindfulness of the Buddha is the most direct way to Buddhahood. This is why all the Buddhas of the Ten Directions praise the inconceivable merit and virtue of Amitabha and His Pure Land. If you are able to believe, accept, and practice the Pure Land teachings in this life, you are one who has great fortune and wisdom.

The Third Practice: To read and recite the teachings of the Great Vehicle.

When we follow the Bodhisattva path, the Great Vehicle Teachings are our guidelines to the Complete Understanding of Buddhahood. The Buddha's "Great Vehicle" teachings are those that encourage not only self-realization, but also the cultivation of compassion to help all suffering beings. The Buddha also expounded some "Small Vehicle" teachings, which "carry" fewer people to Buddhahood because they solely stress self-realization. In the Third Practice, we are taught to read and recite the Large Vehicle teachings.

If reading and reciting are carried out in a correct manner, Purity of Mind can be attained and the true meaning of the Buddha's teachings can be revealed.

We seek to attain two goals from reading and reciting Sutras. The first is Purity of Mind, and the second is Proper Understanding of the Buddha's teachings. These two goals must be cultivated separately.

When we read to attain Purity of Mind, we should read with sincerity, respect, and clarity, making sure not to lose single-mindedness. When we read for the purpose of understanding the way to cultivate, we should use an open and humble attitude to receive the proper teachings. Only with a pure and undeluded mind can the teachings be truly received and realized.

If we fear that our interpretation of the teachings is not completely correct due to a scattered mind, we can also choose to listen to explanations of the teachings by accomplished teachers of the Way. With proper understanding, proper conduct will manifest, and we will be able to tread the path to Buddhahood in confidence.

The Fourth Practice: Prevail upon all others to follow in the Education of Complete Understanding.

A Bodhisattva not only benefits himself or herself in cultivation; he or she also seeks to help all living beings follow the path to Awakening. This Practice teaches us to devote our efforts to introducing and bringing the benefits of the teachings to those with whom whom we have affinity.

People may ask, "What are the benefits?" They are: Peace of Mind, True Happiness, Longevity, Prosperity, Boundless Compassion -- and, overall, Complete Wisdom.

Who on this earth does not seek these things? We must help all those who are searching for these benefits to understand clearly the Buddha's teachings, and to practice accordingly, with great diligence.

This Concludes the Third Condition.

 

The Three Conditions described in this commentary form the foundation for all methods of practice, whether Zen, Pure Land, or Esoteric. It is stated in the Contemplation Sutra, "The Three Conditions are the basis of pure karma cultivated by all Buddhas of the past, present, and future." We hope everyone will practice in diligence and together reach the Land of Ultimate Bliss to behold the Enlightened One of Infinite Light and Infinite Life.

Amitabha!