How many levels have you overcome in the nine major difficulties of cultivation?

Buddha answered 2024-08-29 06:29

Introduction:For today's Buddhist disciples, it is still difficult to quit milk tea and stay up late. Faced with other temptations in the flower world, can they stick to the Buddha's teachings and follow the teachings?Facing parents who can’t use mobile phones or virtual payments, and facing children who “can’t teach them no matter how they teach”, can they have the perseverance and patience of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to teach them repeatedly?There are many difficulties encountered in practice, far more than these nine...

Life is not easy, and we always have to go through many difficulties in life, and the Buddha once taught his disciples the difficulties of practicing.

one

Give charity when you are poor

The first level is that when we are in poverty, can we still develop compassion and give charity to all living beings?

Many people are dissatisfied with the attachment to wealth, and when they hear "giving charity", they think they are "asking for money from themselves", and they feel dissatisfied: "I am so poor, and I still ask me to give charity!"Or "When I have money, I will definitely give you charity!”

But it should be noted that Buddhism talks about cause and effect karma. The cause of "poverty" is rooted in the "greed and stinginess" of past lives, while the result of "poverty" appears in the present moment.

If we ignore cause and effect and continue to be stingy with "giving", then the current "fruit" will become the "cause" of future poverty.

In fact, Buddhism’s donation is not just an option for wealth. As long as we are willing to use words and actions to help others resolve their troubles when others need help, it is all a donation.

two

Can still learn the Tao after being rich

The second level is whether we can still have the idea of learning Buddhism after we are "rich and honored"?

Some people may say that they are far from reaching wealth, but this level can also be extended to when we are in a certain comfort zone, should we choose to enjoy comfort or enjoy ourselves, or to abandon "desire and pleasure" and make ourselves better through practice?

Although blessings are good, if you enjoy blessings all day without knowing how to cherish blessings, cultivate blessings, and accumulate blessings, then blessings will always be exhausted. Just like the sentient beings in the heavenly way will face the five declines of heaven and man after they have enjoyed blessings. It is too late to study Buddhism again.And we still have room for choice and time.

three

I can meet Buddhism in this life

The third level says that it is difficult to meet Buddha in this life.Just like after Prince Siddhartha was born, the Aquitta immortal who came to divine him, she burst into tears because he saw that the prince would definitely become a Buddha in the future, but he was old and probably would not be able to listen to the Buddha's teachings and practice with the Buddha in the future.

It has been more than two thousand years since the Buddha's Nirvana, and it is too early to be reborn by Maitreya Buddha. However, the scriptures left by the Buddha still retain his Dharma body and wisdom life, and the Buddhist heretics and superstitious stories still hinder us from getting close to the Dharma.

Therefore, if we can have the opportunity to come into contact with Buddhism in this life, we must rely on the blessings and wisdom of our past lives, which is very rare.

Four

Recite the scriptures and never forget the original intention

The fourth level talks about whether we have the wisdom to recite Buddhist scriptures and follow the teachings?

For those in the Buddha's era, because the scriptures are passed down by word of mouth and there are no written scriptures, it is also very difficult to recite and listen to Buddhist scriptures.

Although we can easily obtain scriptures through the Internet, it is still not easy to "recite Buddhist scriptures".Because "reciting and reciting" includes both "reciting and reciting with your mouth" and "practice with your body and mind".

If we do not understand the purpose of "learning Buddhism and reciting scriptures", we always turn around the form of chanting scriptures, and do not practice the wisdom in Buddhist scriptures to resolve troubles, and we are still at a loss when facing troubles. What is the difference between watching or not reading?

five

Don't get upset when encountering a state

I have recited the Buddha's name a lot in scriptures and Buddhist principles, and I have also listened to a lot in name and Buddhist principles. But can our thoughts always be consistent and not have troubles when we encounter a state?Can you be aware of and repent at the moment of your arising?

In life, we hate "996" and ridicule ourselves as "workers", but apart from sleep time, we always work for "greed, anger, and ignorance"-

When you encounter "people and things you like", you will try your best to pursue them;If you can’t get it, you will be lost, resentful, and if you get it, you will hope for something better;

When surfing on Weibo, can you resist the passion of your head when you meet someone who speaks rudely to you or your favorite stars?As things change, can the thoughts stop being entangled in the past?

six

Treat all living beings with equal heart

Buddhism has always advocated "equality of all beings" and encouraged Buddhist disciples to eliminate attachment and oppositional thoughts, but in our practice, we will occasionally focus on "self" and classify people and things, such as:

When a certain monk teaches the Three Refuges, will arise such as "the master I convert" be more powerful than other monks?Is the method that Master teaches "me" better than other senior brothers?

When we discuss issues with fellow practitioners, do we think that "I have been studying Buddhism for a long time and should listen to me?" "I understand more than you, so it is absolutely right to believe in me"?

When we offer incense, flowers and fruits to the Buddha, and meet beggars on the street, can we also give selflessly?When we respectfully bow to the master, can we also express respectfully to those who meet delivery guys, cleaners and other mages?

In this regard, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva once gave a teaching in the "Avatamsaka Sutra": Be a good doctor when suffering from all diseases.Those who lose their way should show their right path.In the dark night, it is for light.For those who are poor, they can be hidden.Bodhisattvas benefit all sentient beings equally and equally.

seven

Don't talk about right and wrong, be careful in your words and actions

Modern people often use the Internet to "no restraint in words and deeds", thinking that "what is wrong with saying a few words, it is not illegal." But a single sentence may push people into the abyss, and may also make people let go of their thoughts of suicide.

In daily conversations and comments, can we not lie for self-interest, deliberately please others, not arbitrarily evaluate or belittle others, not nickname others, not spread uncertain news, and not sow discord?

eight

Discover the good teachers around you

The old monk Xuyun once taught: "The Buddha is not here now, and good teachers spread the Dharma on behalf of the Buddha. If you get close to him, you can escape from life and death.However, if you have shallow roots, it is difficult to get good teachers. Even if you have the chance to meet and listen to the Dharma, you will not understand the meaning of what you say, it will be of no use.”

We often lament that good teachers are difficult to find today, but Guanyin Bodhisattva has long taught that they will realize various images of sentient beings to save the people. What we lack is not "good teachers", but the "blessings" of meeting good teachers and the "wisdom" of distinguishing good teachers.

He can be everyone around him: those who criticize us and correct our mistakes;Those who hurt us and temper our nature;Those who insult us and train us to endure humiliation;Those who deceive us and enhance our wisdom;Those who despise us and shake our persistence...

Nine

Persist in saving others and oneself

In the "Ksitigarbha Sutra", the Buddha once told Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva that it is difficult to be strong and difficult for sentient beings. Even if he encounters a good teacher at once, he will be affected by troubles and desires soon. In this regard, Bodhisattvas should not be tired and persist in saving the people repeatedly.

For today's Buddhist disciples, it is still difficult to quit milk tea and stay up late. Faced with other temptations in the flower world, can they stick to the Buddha's teachings and follow the teachings?

Facing parents who can’t use mobile phones or virtual payments, and facing children who “can’t teach them no matter how they teach”, can they have the perseverance and patience of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to teach them repeatedly?

There are many difficulties encountered in practice, far more than these nine kinds. Just as the great masters and great masters taught by "Buddhism is in the world" and "troubles are Bodhi", the difficulties in the world are also the difficulties of practice.

Encountering many difficulties is a good opportunity to test your practice and go further.

Practice

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How many levels have you overcome in the nine major difficulties of cultivation?

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