General Buddhism: Course 4 - lesson 9 Tu immeasurable mind

Universal Buddhist Studies

SRAMANA. Thich Thien Hoa

---

Fourth Session

Pratyekabuddhas and Bodhisattvas of Buddhism

Lesson 9

Four Immeasurable Minds.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.

A. Open Topic

Standing in terms of absolute, or chon as subjects, the mind of sentient beings or the mind of the Buddha is still the same, no narrow, low high, different, separate.

But in terms of relative or arising subjects, the mind has thousands of thousands of shapes, depending on the nature of sentient beings that are tall, low, wide and narrow. Whenever you think of greed, hatred, ignorance, etc., the mind becomes small, small, big, wrong, like the same dough that is made by a baker, skillful or awkward and has a good bread and cakes bad, good cakes, bad cakes, crackers, salty crackers, etc. So Ton Lu Luc wrote: "The mind creates Buddhas, the mind creates sentient beings, the mind creates heaven, the mind creates hell. Dynamic expectations are thousands of discrepancies, the peace of the world is calm, the ordinary mind is tied with three poisons, the holy mind is the six divine powers of liberation, the mind is not the pure religion, the right mind is thousands raging scene. Drunk by myself and drink nectar juice, there is no one for me. Lying in a fiery fire, drinking blood pus by yourself, not by heaven,

Seeing it then is enough to know that the mind is the main motive to make us happy or miserable, happy or sad, depraved or liberated.

So in order to escape from samsaric suffering, to be able to attain the result of a saint, a Bodhisattva, we need to cultivate an extremely vast mind, an "immeasurable mind".

B. Right Concise

I. Definitions

What is infinite? Immeasurable means many, vast, unpredictable.

The immeasurable mind is the immensely large mind that is free from the constraints of the vile afflictions of ordinary people, breaking through the narrow attachments of Second Mantra, which has a wide area of ​​love. can embrace countless beings, and find solutions for all. Immeasurable mind also means "isotropic", the mind is equal and popular; equality, because the mind is only natural, regardless of whether it is low or high or worse; popular, because it covers all regions without limitation.

And of course, any cause and effect: due to the exercise of equality and benefit for countless sentient beings, this mind has the function of giving birth to immeasurable merits, making the basic event to appreciate countless retribution. nice, that is the result of the Bodhisattva and Buddha momentum.

Moreover, this mind not only benefits countless sentient beings, leads to countless merit, and produces countless good results in one world and one life, but it also spreads to countless beings. precepts in countless afterlife, and constitute countless Buddhas.

In short, the word immeasurable here imposes meaning, countless good causes, countless beautiful fruits, countless beings, countless worlds, countless lifetimes, countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

II. Composition And Administration
Of Four Immeasurable Minds

Immeasurable mind consists of four parts are: immeasurable compassion, from immeasurable, infinite joy and infinite discharge.

1. Bi immeasurable. Compassion is often compassionate for the sufferings of sentient beings and determined to eliminate them. But we have learned in the third course about the Four Noble Truths, the suffering of sentient beings is so vast, so vast that it is impossible to say everything. It encompasses both cause and effect, both time and space, both mortal and holy, it is truly infinite suffering.

Suffering lies in the cause. In the scriptures, there is a saying: "Bodhisattvas are afraid of causes, sentient beings are afraid of the results." Beings because they are not wise, only when suffering arises will they be afraid, but while causing causes they will not notice, and they will remain calm as not. They are living in misery that they don't know, sometimes for fun. They applauded and encouraged each other to make misery but thought it was fun, like children playing matches on the roof of a leaf, then clapping hands together. Because of lack of insight, sometimes they cause suffering to save suffering, which is like quenching thirst by drinking salt water.

Suffering is in the fruit. Having caused cause and effect, all sufferings must be borne, of course. Has anyone ever planted potatoes and been ever bean? Yet few people would accept such recognition. People resent heaven blamed the earth, rren cried miserably, making the darker the darker the darker life, the more miserable the life was even more miserable.

Suffering encompasses all the time. From beginninglessness till now, the suffering has never ended, but it keeps growing. It causes cause and result, causes and causes, causes it to continue in a vicious cycle, like a wheel rolling on the natural road, never stopping.

Suffering covers the whole space. The suffering has no basis and nationality; Where there is ignorance, there is suffering! Ignorance is like an endless curtain, covering not just another world. How infinite space is immeasurable, the suffering is also immeasurable immense like that:

Suffering dominates both mortal and holy. Beings in hell, hungry ghosts, sauc beings have become miserable, humankind because of passion, and greed, ignorance, so also reeling and diving in the sea of ​​suffering as gods. not suffering like people, but also could not avoid suffering because the five prime minister appear. Until the saintly rows such as Thanh Van and Pratyekabuddha, because they still love the dharma and remain in front of Nirvana, they cannot avoid the misery of samsara. Seeing that enough knows suffering is immeasurably great. Having an immense great mercy commensurate with immense suffering and having a prayer of salvation all free from immeasurable suffering, it is the infinite compassionate mind.

The Bodhisattvas, thanks to their great compassion, generated great bodhicitta and vows all over. They realized that they had a mission to enter the sahà to convert sentient beings, so they did not cling to Nirvana. Their main mission is to bring beings closer to:

To make sentient beings receive the true face of life, it is clear that evil is righteousness and suffering is fun.

To make sentient beings realize their own destiny only to do evil, except to sin.

Seeing this enough know great compassion is the main motivation to arrive at the result of slapping and Buddha. In the Huayan assembly, the Bodhisattva Bodhisattva also admitted and said like this: "Because of sentient beings, there is great compassion." Because of great compassion, the mind of Bodhi Nhon developed Bodhicitta mind into mindfulness. "

His sentence was clear, without a doubt. Buddha taught, "The Bodhi seed cannot be sown in nothingness, only it can be planted on the soil of sentient beings." So, we Buddhists, in order to cultivate the bodhisattva conduct, have to expand compassion, have mercy on all, do not divide people, falls, believers, try, and must make vows of all things, that is, we must cultivate practice to have a great compassion.

2. From immeasurable. The word is love and because love makes people happy. The word immeasurable is an immense affection for all sentient beings, and causes sentient beings a genuine joy.

The joy of the world is called temporary, because that joy is not durable, that joy is still disturbing: when greed, hatred, ignorance, pleasure are satisfied, but there is never such desire. Where can it be completely and permanently satisfied?

Also happy in the world is true happiness, because it is durable, out of the defilements of attachment, hatred, ignorance, and chronicity; it is not dominated by desire. This joy is not noisy, exciting but forever gentle, because it is the joy of the sublime realm of liberation.

To have this joy, you must first eliminate all the suffering caused by afflictions. If it is impossible to prevent greed, hatred and delusion, only the card can have a moment of fun.

Therefore, Bodhisattvas who wish to give pleasure to sentient beings must first have immeasurable compassion as mentioned above, in order to always remind sentient beings not to cause sin to lead beings away from dangerous pitfalls.

Through those first stages, they guide the sentient beings to the path of righteous enlightenment and the bright path to the state of liberation and enjoy the eternal joy. More clearly, kindness must follow compassion: Compassion refers to the cause of suffering and advises sentient beings not to cause suffering; Words to show how to eliminate suffering and to be happy.

For example, if Bodhisattvas want to let sentient beings enjoy Nirvana, they first show us how miserable (suffering) and which is compassion (suffering), only then to show you the joy of Nibbāna. how (kill the king). If sentient beings who follow his teachings follow, the joy of Nirvana will appear. Thus, the motivation to teach sentient beings to know suffering and to practice is compassion, while the motivation to teach sentient beings to cease and cessation is To.

But to say that all sentient beings have been immeasurable, compassion has been immeasurable, so have mercy. To achieve this kindness, the Bodhisattva must use all means to benefit sentient beings. Achievement has the following two important points that Bodhisattva cannot ignore while transforming beings: Depending on the body and time.

Depending muscle: Thinking is observing the basic level of beings and then according to that teaching. The mind of sentient beings is immeasurable, so the medicine of the Bodhisattva is also immeasurable. But precisely because of the immeasurable disease, the medicine is also immeasurable, so giving the right medicine to the disease is one thing that only great medical practitioners like Hoa Da and Bien Thuoc can do.

Bodhisattvas have turned many sentient beings because, in addition to their wise wisdom, there is also an infinite loving kindness, no hardship, no naughty dangers, an infinite patience like the patience of The mother, towards her child, is determined to work for her so she is new. If you do not have the wisdom, patience, and especially the immeasurable compassion as the bodhisattvas, then you will not be able to avoid the conversion of death or death.

The following is a literary passage in the Avatamsaka Sutra that can eloquently demonstrate the immeasurable kindness of the Sage:

"... What is being called upon? Meaning that there are many sentient beings in the ten realms of the Dharma Realm, nowhere in the world ... I am willing to give everything I need, every way of making offerings, like my parents, like serving my elder brother and A La Han until both as angry as the same. For those who are afflicted, make them their physicians, to those who have lost their way, direct the way for them, to those in the dark night, to make them light up and to the poor ke, to make them meet their ... Bodhisattva do Equal benefit with all beings like that because the slap realized that depending upon beings means depending on offerings to the Buddhas, they should respect the redundant beings, the redundant ones. "

Adapt. Ie adapt to the era with the stage that chemical beings. Time swirls the world every time it changes. The weather sometimes rains, when the sun shines, changes according to the four seasons, the hearts of people sometimes like one when they like the other. If the chemical method does not change or change to adapt to the situation, with the stage, however good the method is, it will not achieve good results. Bodhisattva understands so, so when teaching beings must also follow the times, know when the statue of law, when the Dharma to be suitable for the base.

In short, in order to effectively turn sentient beings, the Bodhisattva will never forget the two main things, depending on time and muscle. The Sutta of Mind also teaches:

The Buddhas turn the wheel of dharma, still speaking according to the dharma, always avoiding the four false things; one is to say not the right place; two is not talking about time; three is to say is not radical; four is saying not legal ".

Because of the above should Bodhisattva in the chemical when the embodiment, sometimes hidden in making happy, sometimes mischievous, sometimes dread, sometimes at peace. Bodhisattva's deeds are much different to immeasurable, but only arise from a single idea of ​​creating genuine joy for sentient beings.

Remember to "create true joy" here, does not mean creating heavenly or ecstatic realms for your beloved beings to enjoy, as people give miracles, but only means is to create sentient beings the true joy of happiness by awakening to lead the beings to avoid evil and do good and positive things in a strong and positive way, until the happy germ, like those good deeds, results Just have fun.

See, such immeasurable kindness. As mentioned above, Tu must follow with B. If only Bi does, then the Bodhisattva's vow is unsuccessful, because it has just saved us, not yet made fun. We are Buddhists, in order to cultivate the Bodhisattva conduct, we must practice for loving kindness to expand, expand, and extend to infinity.

3. Hy immeasurable. What is Hy? Strictly speaking it is joyful, meaning "happy according to". "Fun with" there are many ways:

Reporters happy according to the ceiling: any color, any bar, any incense, any flavor, any contact, any legal..to let it master, do not know feedback, do not know the enlightenment but suppress the current troubles brain, it is fun according to lust, according to the unruly habit of the human heart.

Happy according to evil karma, as when seeing a murderer, drinking alcohol, robbing thieves ... I should have advised but not, but willing to follow them on the evil path. Joy to follow here means to encourage being with the wicked.

To be happy with things like charity, such as seeing people give alms, setting up hospitals, we agree and help with their work. This joy is a step towards the path of goodness Karma. However, we should distinguish two good cases that will be greatly blessed, but if not for goodness, but because we see people doing good are praised, the famous reputation that we join and support. to be praised spread, then not smart just cause more ego falls.

Unlike the fun ways above, which are the mundane pleasures of the world, the Second row is only happy according to the pure Nirvana realm. Fun things in this, although there is no evil, perverted personality, but according to the Chief Justice, it is also narrow, lacking in compassion and not yet the true meaning "Hy" immeasurable mind. The Buddha also rebuked it was the joy of "Restoring the mind to destroy the mind" or "confiscating Nirvana".

Only the following "fun according" of the Bodhisattva is true to the meaning of infinite Joy.

While realizing the means of Compassion for the sake of rebirth and after this merit is achieved, realizing that sentient beings are free from suffering, enjoying joy, the mind of the Bodhisattva is naturally happy too. In the Mahayana Mahayana Master Tran Na Bodhisattva teaches, "This joy is much more than the joy of sentient beings." Bodhisattva also asserted, "If you make sentient beings happy, that makes all Buddhas rejoice." Those are the words of Venerable Hien Hien.

Remember the "Hy" of the bodhisattva has the following characteristics:

Not only does not make sentient beings deluded but also enlightened and delights.

There is no longer being forced within a self-centered joy to increase the conceit, attachment in the world, but on the contrary, causing sentient beings to appear.

Get out of the scope of self-interest that is common and equal to all sentient beings. In short, joy comes from compassion. How big is compassion, this "joy" is as big as that.

We are Buddhists, cultivating the Bodhisattva conduct, we must practice for the pure and liberated joy of the bodhisattvas, rather than reeling from the selfish, narrow-minded pleasures of ordinary women or the Second Class. redundant.

4. Discharge immeasurably. What is discharge? Discharge is giving up, not accepting regardless

Often, when we do something, especially when we have good results, we are proud or proud, sometimes arrogant. The discontent, argument and conflict between close friends or between this group and the other group also due to attachment. consider yourself important. The cause of this nature is due to the ego, the dharma.

Phàm phu both finds himself doing (ego) and sees that there is a result of his attainment (dhamma), so he is bound within the limit of dividing his personality, tries and therefore never escapes. be the realm of world.

In fact, the second row of goods has been released, but has not been allowed to discharge the solution. After thanks to practice, they escaped the three precepts to attain the fruit of the Noble Medicine of Nirvana, which they considered to be a worthy reward of the practice and peace of mind in that privileged realm. Therefore, leftover goods are still being translated to life and death.

Only the Bodhisattvas are refrained from dharma, so they have secluded the concept of attachment. When they go out to save sentient beings, it is a natural induction, among them and sentient beings, that they use their utterly non-discriminative mind to be equally popular according to their great compassion.

Are sentient beings happy, Bodhisattvas do not see themselves as active benefactors. At the same time, they also see sentient beings as their benefactors on the path of self-seeking toward the fullness of virtue. Therefore, the love and compassion of the Bodhisattva escape from the cycle of prejudice and prejudice. Just as the heart of "Hy" is the same, the Bodhisattva is compassionate, seeing that sentient beings are happy, not the self-satisfied, joyful way of praising the common merit with the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and sentient beings, Not happy because you keep it private. Therefore, the mind of joyfulness is also completely liberated, meaning that it is also pure in the spirit of "Discharge".

Thus, Discharge is a noble generosity. there, there was no general established. Ke fen He far away from equality, the wise are still the same, yourself and the other are not; do everything and feel like doing nothing; Saying that you have said anything, the proof that you do not have witness and what is the result. So in the chapter of the Twelve chapters, it says, "Mindfulness without accepting the concept is the concept, the practice without accepting the action is , saying without accepting the new place of speaking is saying, cultivating without accepting the new cultivation site is practicing Li means that is close to the religion, ignorance is not clear away from religion. "

Doing so means Discharge: Disqualifying everything is truly a Bodhisattva. If still accept a general, no matter how small, it is not yet a Bodhisattva. Listen in the Buddhist scriptures Kim Cang Buddha Tu Tu Bodhi. "This Tu Tu Bodhi, if there is a Bodhisattva also fallen generals, generals such ason, generals beings, generals fake life, ie not a Bodhisattva."

The meaning of the word Xà is clear. Now we only try to practice gradually to be the mind of discharge. Achieving the Equity of Completely Equal Discharge is the witness of Bodhicitta.

III. The Treatment Of Four Immeasurable Minds

The four immeasurable minds are the four states of the Bodhisattva Mind, but they are also the four dharmas of Bodhisattva Buddhists.

In every human being there are two trends: the trend of good and the tendency of evil. These two trends are always in conflict: everyone who wins is evil, when everyone wins, he will backward.

When anger broke, the mind of Bi was overwhelmed.

When the anger arises, the mind of Compassion is obscured.

When Uu brain is filled, Hy Hy does not detect it.

When the craving is still heavy, the mind is not born.

On the contrary, when the mind of compassion is growing, the hatred of anger must be weak.

When the word mind spreads, then the back of the yard must back down.

When the mind is happy, then the favor of the brain must down.

The fight with defilements is the same as the battle with robbers, and must continue until the victory is stopped. If we have just won a few matches and are satisfied and stopped, then the bandits will be troubled and raging again.

Similarly, in the battle of Xu, Bi, Hy, and Xat against anger, hatred, pros and cons, we must continue to practice until the whole victory, which means Expanding the virtues of compassion, joy, abandon to nothingness. end to anger, anger, favor, sex completely destroyed only. As long as the darkness is still, because the light is not strong enough, in order for the darkness to completely dissipate, the light must be strong enough to shine throughout. When compassion, joy, and equanimity become immeasurable defilements will disappear and the practitioner will attain the Bodhisattva fruition. That is the meaning of "the brain, ie the Bodhi", that Bodhisattva Tran Na taught in Mahayana Mahayana.

C. Conclusion

We often hear the ears and talk four hours "compassionate discharge". It is because of "familiarity" that we do not pay attention to separating its profound meaning. These four qualities have an intimate and complementary relationship, incinerating one must not:

Because we feel that sentient beings are extremely miserable, they should have mercy on sentient beings. Because of mercy, sentient beings should save sentient beings from suffering (Bi). Saving sentient beings from misery has not yet been done the task of love, so it is necessary to continue making sentient beings happy (Xu). When sentient beings are free of misery, they are happy (Hy). But if this joy is still entangled, conquered because he himself has achieved great deeds, then that joy becomes craving, heavy dirty, dragging practitioners down to the sublime line. So the joy must be a pure pleasure, completely separated from the attachments as people, falls, beles, try, sentient beings, Bodhisattvas ... (Discharge).

It is about the product, also in terms of quantity, these four virtues need to be extremely vast, or in the common words, to be immeasurable. There are countless new enough to save sentient beings also countless. There is immeasurable new power to overwhelm all afflictions and prevent them from having a living land to recur and disturb.

That is the general and the meaning of the four immeasurable Minds, or of the four virtues: Pronouns, Great Compassion, Great Dread, Great Disappointment, which we often praise when reciting the names of Bodhisattvas or Buddha.

Admittedly, having four immeasurable Minds is not easy, even though these four virtues already exist in the pure nature of sentient beings. But do not find it difficult to back down, step back. What job is great, brilliant but easy job?

The key to success is determination and patience. Austerities are like mountain climbers. Do not see the high mountain but discouraged, painted heart. First of all, determination to climb up to the end of the mountain, and then step by step patiently step by step, do not be in a hurry and do not be late, one day you will be able to set foot on the high mountain.

It is the same for spiritual practitioners, to make four great vows, then to practice self-giving, to be patient, but to practice according to the Buddha's teachings, until the new attainment is made.

May all Buddhists develop strong and healthy mind and heart to cultivate the four immeasurable mind. END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).WORLD VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST ORDER=GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.22/1/2020.