LESSON 9: FOUR MINDES OF VOLUME

UNIVERSAL BUDDHISM 1

SRAMANA=THICH THIEN HOA.

COURSE IV: ENJOYING AND BODHISATICS BUDDHISM

Lesson 9: FOUR MINDES VOLUME.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.

A. OPENING 

Standing in terms of absolute, or chon as subjects, the mind of sentient beings or the mind of the Buddha is still one, no narrow, low high, difference, separation. 

But in terms of relative or arising subjects, the mind has many thousands of states, depending on the nature of beings that have high, low, wide and narrow. Whenever one thinks of greed, hatred, ignorance, etc., the mind becomes narrow and whirled in the Six Paths. Also follow the way of the Four Noble Truths, Six Continents, and so on, the mind becomes vast, and is liberated to the great Four and Four Saints. It is also a kind of mind, which is created by sentient beings or Buddha, which is narrow, big and small, thousands of wrongs, like many things, as well as the same kind of flour that a baker, clever or clumsy, has a good cake. bad, good cakes, bad cakes, crackers, salty bread, etc. Therefore, Ton Lu Luc wrote: "The mind creates Buddhas, the mind creates sentient beings, the mind creates heaven, the mind creates hell. the difference arises, peace in the world is calm, the mind is three tied poisons, the holy heart, the six dishes of divine power are free, the mind is not the pure director, the right mind is of thousands of scenes. Drunk by myself and drink nectar juice, there is no one for me. Lying in a fiery fire, drinking blood pus also caused itself, not by heaven, nor by the land. " 

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 get rid of samsaric suffering, to be able to attain the fruit of a saint, a bodhisattva, we need to cultivate an extremely vast mind, an "immeasurable mind". 

B. BACKGROUND 

I. DEFINITIONS 

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

The immeasurable mind is the immensely broad 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 "isometric", the mind is equal, 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, it is the result of Bodhisattva and Buddha momentum. 

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

In short, the word immeasurable here has many meanings, countless good causes, countless beautiful fruits, countless beings, countless worlds, countless lifetimes, countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. 

II. INGREDIENTS AND PRACTICE OF FOUR VITAL MINDES  

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

1. Bi immeasurable.  Compassion is a great compassion for the sufferings of sentient beings, and determined to eliminate them. As we learned in the third course on the Four Noble Truths, the suffering of sentient beings is so vast, so vast that it cannot be said. It encompasses both cause and effect, 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 results ." Beings are not wise so only when suffering arises will they be afraid, but while causing suffering, they will not notice it, but 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 and cheering to each other. 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 suffering, then all must suffer, it is natural. Has anyone ever cultivated potatoes and beans? Yet few people would accept such recognition. People resent heaven blame the earth, crying miserably, making the darker the darker the darker the life, the more miserable life becomes even more miserable. 

- Suffering covers the whole time.  From beginninglessness to now, the suffering never ends, but it keeps growing more and more. It causes cause and result, causes and causes, continues on and on in a vicious cycle, like a wheel rolling on a physical 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 only one world, but countless, countless other worlds. The infinite space is immeasurable, so the suffering is endless like that.

- Suffering dominates both mortal and holy.  Beings in hell, hungry ghosts, animals have become extremely miserable, mankind is passionate about sensual desires, and is greedy and ignorant, so he is also reeling in the sea of ​​misery, and gods wear Although not suffering like people, but also can not avoid suffering because the five prime minister appear. Until the saints such as Thanh Van, Pratyekabuddha, because they still love the dharma and dwell in front of Nirvana, they cannot avoid the suffering of samsara. Seeing that enough know the suffering is immeasurably great. Having an immense great mercy commensurate with immense suffering and having a vow to save all from the immeasurable suffering is the infinite compassionate mind. 

The Bodhisattvas, thanks to their great compassion, generated the vast Bodhichitta mind, making their vows all over. They realized that they had a mission to go in and out of samsara to convert sentient beings, so they did not stagnate in Nirvana. Their main mission is to bring sentient 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 aware of their destiny and to do only evil, leaving sin behind. 

Seeing this enough know great compassion is the main motivation to arrive at the Bodhisattva and Buddha results. In Congress Avatamsaka Bodhisattva Samantabhadra also recognize it and say something like this: " Therefore because the beings which starts compassion. Nhon compassion that give rise to  the Bodhi. Nhon found Bodhi mind carried the throne right enlightenment ". 

His sentence was clear, without a doubt. Buddha taught, " The Bodhi seed cannot be sown in vain, only 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 love for all sentient beings, and creates sentient beings with genuine joy. 

The joy of the world is called temporary fun, because that joy is not durable, that joy is also dominated by defilements: when greed, hatred, ignorance, pleasure are satisfied, but there is never anything sexual Hope that can be completely satisfied and durable? 

Also happy in the world is true happiness, because it is durable, escaping the cycle of defilement 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 end all the suffering caused by afflictions. If it is impossible to prevent greed, hatred and delusion, then there can only be a momentary momentary joy. 

Therefore, Bodhisattvas who wish to give joy to sentient beings must first have the immeasurable compassion as mentioned above, to always remind sentient beings not to commit crimes, to lead sentient beings away from dangerous pitfalls. dangerous. 

Through these first stages, they guide the sentient beings to the path of righteous enlightenment and the bright path to the state of liberation and enjoy 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, when the Bodhisattva wants to let sentient beings enjoy Nirvana, they first show only what is suffering (suffering) and what is compassion of suffering (sole practice), then only showing the joy of Nirvana. -table like (kill the sole) and give methods to paragraph suffering (director). If sentient beings who follow their teachings do so, then the joy of Nirvana will appear. Thus, the motivation to teach sentient beings to know misery and to practice is compassion, and the motivation to teach sentient beings to destroy the base and the Noble Truth is to be compassionate. 

But the suffering of sentient beings has been immeasurable, compassion has been immeasurable, so have kindness. In order to attain this word, Bodhisattva must use all means to benefit sentient beings. In the middle, there are two important points that Bodhisattva cannot ignore while transforming beings: Depending on the body and the time. 

- Depending muscle:  That is observing the basic level of how sentient beings and according to which teaches. 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 talented 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 fear of danger, an infinite patience like the patience of The mother is for her, determined to work for her so she is new. If there is no wisdom, patience, and especially the infinite compassion as the Bodhisattvas, it is difficult to avoid the rot of death or death. 

The following is a literary passage in the Avatamsaka Sutra that can eloquently prove the immeasurable compassion of Samantabhadra: 

"... What  is being of living beings? That means how many sentient beings in the ten realms of the ten realms of the Dharma world, nowhere ... I am free and willing to transfer everything to the fullest, all manner of offerings. as if respectful of their parents, as well as serving their elders, and Arahant to anger, as if the Tathagata were all the same: For the afflicted, they took care of them, made them astray, and pointed the way out to them, with the one in the dark, making them light up and with the poor, making them meet ... The Bodhisattva benefits equally with all sentient beings because the Bodhisattva realizes that it depends sentient beings, depending on the offerings to the Buddhas, should respect the excess of sentient beings, that is, respect for the future ... ". 

- Depending on the time.  That is, adapt to the times, to the stage where the degree of sentient beings is transformed. Time rotates the world changes every time another. 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, does not change to adapt to the situation, with the stage, however good the method is, it will not achieve good results. Bodhisattvas understand that well, so when teaching beings must also follow the times, know when the statue of law, when the Dharma is leading to the Dharma in accordance with radical bases. 

In short, in order to effectively cultivate sentient beings, the Bodhisattva will never forget two main things: custom and timing. Sutta "Mindfulness of the Earth" also teaches: 

" The Buddhas turn the wheel of dharma, depending on what they say, always avoiding the four misleading things: one is to say it is not the right place; two is to say it is not right time; three is to say it is not radical; four is to say no. must be ". 

Because of the above should Bodhisattva in the chemical, sometimes embodied, sometimes hidden, sometimes happy, sometimes mischievous, when dread, sometimes from peace. Bodhisattva's deeds differ greatly, but only arise from the one idea of ​​creating genuine joy for sentient beings. 

Remember to "create true joy" here, does not mean creating heavenly realms, or blissful realms for your beloved beings to enjoy, as people give miracles, but only It means creating sentient beings a true happiness by awakening, leading them to avoid evil and doing good things in a strong and positive way, until the germ is happy, thanks to such good deeds. happy new results only. 

See, such immeasurable kindness. As mentioned above, Xu must follow Bi. If there is only Bi, then the Bodhisattva's great vow is not successful, because it has just saved suffering, not happiness. We are Buddhists, in order to cultivate the Bodhisattva conduct, we must practice for the generosity of expansion, expansion, and endlessness. 

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

- Release the mind happy according to the naked scenes: which color, sound, flavor, taste, contact, any method ... let it be mastered, do not know reflection, do not know how to wake up but suppress the current practice negativity, it is fun according to lust, according to the habits of the liberal world. 

- Fun according to evil karma, like when you see a person who kills, drinks, steals ... we should have advised but not willing to follow them into the evil way. Joy to follow here means to encourage accomplice with the wicked. 

- Rejoice in benevolent works of mercy, such as when you see someone bringing alms to give a house, setting up a hospital, we agree and help you to be happy with their work. This joy is a step towards the path of good karma. However, we should distinguish two cases: If our hearts also want to do good, so when we see others doing, we gladly agree, that is a good case will be many blessings; If not because of kindness, but because you see that good people are praised, the famous reputation that we join together to support and help to be praised, it is not smart just to cause more ego, ego . 

- 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 according to this, although there is no perverted, evil nature, but according to the Chief Justice, it is also narrow, lacking in compassion and not yet the true meaning "Hy" countless hearts. The Buddha also rebuked it was the "happy to kill the mind" or "confiscated Nirvana". 

- Only the following "joy" 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 natural Bodhisattva is also happy. In Solemn Mahayana solemnity Tran Na Bodhisattva teaches, "This joy is much more than the joy of sentient beings." Bodhisattva also asserted that: "If making sentient beings be happy, that is to make all Buddhas rejoice". Those are the words of the Prussian Hien. 

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

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

+ There is no longer being forced in a round of self-centered joy to increase one's 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 defiled, selfish, narrow-mindedness of ordinary people or goods Second class. 

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

Usually, when we do something, especially when we have good results, we are proud, sometimes proud and arrogant. The discontent, quarrel and conflict between close friends or between this group and other groups are also due to that attachment, which is considered important. The cause of this nature is due to the ego, the dharma. 

Phàm phu both finds himself doing (accepting the ego) and seeing the result of his work (the dharma), so he is bound within the limit of dividing the 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 able to discharge the law yet. After thanks to practice, they escaped from the three realms of being the fruit of Nirvana, they regarded it as a worthy reward of how to practice and to rest in the realm of such possession. Therefore, the Second row is still subject to samsara. 

Only the Bodhisattvas are not enlightened, so they have secluded the concept of attachment. When they go out to save suffering for sentient beings, it is a natural induction, among them and sentient beings, that they use their utterly non-discriminatory mind to be equal and common according to their great compassion. 

Be sentient beings have fun, Bodhisattva does not see himself as an active benefactor. On the contrary, they also see sentient beings as their benefactors on the path of self-seeking, toward the fullness of virtue. Therefore, loving kindness, compassion of Bodhisattva escape from the cycle of prejudice and pre-existing, that is discharge. Just as the heart of "Hy" is the same, the Bodhisattva is happy with compassion, 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 because of personal privacy. So the mind of this joyous state is also completely liberated, that is also pure in the spirit of "Discharge". 

Thus, Discharge is a generous generous amount. There, no general set up. Ke near Him far are equal, the wise are still the same, we and the other are not; do everything and feel like doing nothing; say but do not see themselves have said anything, the evidence that does not see you have evidence and evidence. Therefore, in the sutta, the "Twelve-fold Sutta " states: " Mindfulness without accepting the place of recitation is mindfulness. Practicing without accepting the place of action is onions, saying without accepting the place of speaking." Li means that is close to the religion, ignorance is not clear from the direction . " 

Doing so means Discharge: Disqualifying all 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 De. " Hey Mr. Tu Bo De, if there is a Bodhisattva still falling, General Nhon, General sentient beings, General life expectancy, ie not a Bodhisattva ". 

The meaning of the word Xà is clear. Now we only try to practice gradually to get that Discharge mind. Achieving the Equity completely, the Equal Discharge is the witness of Bodhicitta. 

III. THE TREATMENT OF FOUR UNIQUE MOLDS  

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, good back. 

- When anger broke, the mind of Bi was encroached. 

- When the heart of anger rises, the mind of Compassion is obscured. 

- When Uu brain filled, Hy Hy did not detect. 

- When the craving is still heavy, the mind of discharge is not born. 

On the contrary, when the mind of compassion becomes strong, the hatred of anger must be weak. 

When the mind of compassion spreads, then the heart of the Yard must back. 

When the mind of Hy rises, the heart of the brain has to flatten out.

When the mind of equanimity develops, craving is lighter.

The battle with afflictions is like the battle with the enemy, and must continue until the victory is complete. If we have just won a few matches and are satisfied and stopped, then the bandits will recur and rage again. 

Similarly, in the battle of Xu, Bi, Hy, and Discharge against Yard, Hatred, Upright, and Lust we must continue to practice until the end of victory, that is, the expansion of the virtues of compassion, compassion, and piety, until infinitely so that anger, hatred, uu, and desire are completely destroyed. 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 discharge have become immeasurable, defilements will disappear and the practitioner will attain the Bodhisattva fruition. That is the meaning of "defilement, ie Bodhi" that Bodhisattva Tran Na taught in Mahayana Mahayana. 

C. CONCLUSION 

We often hear the ears and speak four hours "compassionate joy". But it is because of "familiar" that we do not pay attention to separating the profound meaning of it. The four virtues have an intimate and complementary relationship with each other, without one is not: 

- Because we feel that sentient beings are extremely miserable, they should have mercy on them. 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 no longer happy, we are happy (Hy). But if this joy is still entangled, conceited for self-achievement of great deeds, then that joy becomes craving, heavy dirty, pulling practitioners down to the sublime line. So that joy needs to be a pure pleasure, completely separated from the attachments as people, falls, beles, try, sentient beings, Bodhisattvas ... (Discharge). 

- It is about the product, and talking about the amount, the four virtues need to be extremely vast, or to say by the common words, must 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 those four virtues are already in the pure nature of sentient beings. But do not find it difficult to back down, to step back. What job is great, brilliant but easy job? 

The key to success is determination and patience. Austerities are like climbers. Do not see the high mountain that discouraged, frayed. You must first make up your mind to climb up to the end of the mountain, and then step by step patiently step by step, don't be rash and don't be late, one day you can set foot on the top of the mountain. 

Austerities also, please broadcast four major vows, and then sequentially, patiently, that practice according to the Buddha's teachings were prepared until new achievements only. 

May all Buddhists develop strong and healthy mind and heart to cultivate the four immeasurable Minds.  . END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).WORLD VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST ORDER=GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.8/1/2020.