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Dear
Venerable and Guardian Faithful,
Today,
I am going to discuss with you a very important, but difficult
to affirm, question. When we talk about rebirth or
reincarnation, some people laugh at the idea. They consider such
belief is passe and obsolete. Others may think such question is
in arena of religion. After all, it concerns what is after
death. It is not practical and very distant. There is a saying,
'If I don't even know about living, why ask about dying?' Thus,
this question should not be an urgent concern. To be sincere,
the setting of a grand lecture hall is not very suitable to talk
about the subject of rebirth. If we could discuss this question
on a battle field, where death confront us, then we can all
sincerely and solemnly discuss our next stop upon death.
Most
young people today slight and look down on the question of
rebirth. These disbelievers of rebirth are not necessary living
in a higher level. They are actually shallow and ignorant.
Denying the existing of rebirth does not obstruct others, it
only limits our own life. Without rebirth, there is no past and
there is no future. A life without future, existence is so short
and vain. The future is so hopeless. When we face a great
obstacle, we can encourage ourselves, 'It is okay, another ten
years then it will be my turn.' Even when criminal steps on the
execution chair, they can still say, 'Another twenty years,
there will be another tough man'. With rebirth, human existence
has maneuvering rooms. With rebirth, pledge and wish can
eventually be fulfilled. With rebirth, life has the next train
available.
The
phenomenal world cannot be separated from rebirth. Good or evil
existences in the six realms are rebirth. Life and death are
rebirth. The physical world changes naturally. There is the
change of the four seasons. There is the time cycle of past,
present and future. There is the twenty four hours a day. They
are rebirth in term of times. There is change of directions.
There is the movement from here to there. These are rebirth in
term of space. Everything around us is the product of rebirth.
The wind gathers the clouds. Rains fall to the ground. It
evaporates back into clouds again. This is a phenomenon of
rebirth. Automobile burns gasoline. It generates energy and
produces carbon dioxide. It is absorbed by plants. Plants decay
back to natural oil deposit. This is also rebirth. The light
comes on, and then turns off. It then turns back on again. This
is rebirth too.
All
physical changes in the universe are rebirth. A person's birth,
mature and death are also rebirth. According to scientific
research, the human body is renewed every seven years. In
another word, the seven-year metabolism has given us a total new
body. According to Buddhism, all creatures from advance to
rudimentary, all their perceptions and cognition, are changing
constantly. Physical changes are birth, age, sick and die.
Mental changes are forming, stay, change and vanish. Existence
is dynamic. It is like a wheel. It is therefore called the wheel
of rebirth. Besides, even family relationship, economic
association, emotion up and downs, they are all just phenomenon
of rebirth. Buddhism is to teach us the truth of rebirth in the
six realms. Human existence is dynamic and with in rebirth. The
pace may be different. The slow changes are called 'existing and
extinction' or 'changing and differentiating'. The fast changes
are called 'cycle of rebirth'. All beings create karma as a
result of their thoughts. It forms the connection between cause
and effect. It forms the endless and beginningless river of
life. It gives rise to the life form of celestial, human, spirit
and animal. Master SOUND-YIN in his 'Inspiration to pledge for
Bodhicitta' said, 'I and all beings, from time since eternity,
trap in rebirth and cannot be liberated. Heaven and earth, here
and there, in many forms, rise and fall.' Yet, this profound and
important law of rebirth is not accepted by so many ignorant
beings. No wonder ancient masters exalted, 'Only the Buddha and
scriptures could expose such profound truth.' Rebirth is a
religious theory. It is not an escape for psychological comfort.
It is a precision science that explain our existence from past
into the future. With a correct understanding of rebirth, we
examine our life intelligently. Buddhism's view on rebirth and
reincarnation can be summarized into the following four points.
1.
The value of rebirth
If
we accept and believe in the idea of rebirth, what value does it
bring? What meaning does it add to our existence? Rebirth
extends our existences. Life is beyond only a hundred year. Life
is full of hope and possibility. In rebirth, death is the
beginning of another existence. It is like a torch. When one
stick of wood is exhausted, there will be another, one after the
other. Each stick may be different in component. Yet, the flame
will continue to burn. Rebirth is also like a lamp. The oil may
be exhausted. Another lamp can be lighted. One lamp after
another, it gives brightness in the darkness of existence. We
exist with in the six realms, as Henry or Jack. We may be in
heaven or earth. We may have many different forms. Yet, the
flame of life is eternal. The lamp of wisdom is endless. Rebirth
connects us with the universe. Our existence is also timeless.
Rebirth is the meaning of existence. We passed our experience,
wisdom and history from one generation to the next. If we cannot
hand down our experience, then work has no meanings. If we
cannot pass down our culture, history will be very short.
Some
people said, 'Everyone is equal in front of the law'.
Yet,
even the strictest law has loophole. Buddhism believes only in
front of rebirth that all are equal. King and noble, commoner
and beggar, everyone must face the cycle of rebirth. There is a
poem, 'The greatest justice of in the world is white hair. It
will appear even on the head the noblest.' Time is the fairest
judge. Birth, age, sick and death are the most just jury. Cause
and result, rebirth and reincarnation, are not controlled by the
Yama judge, nor the creator god. Event is determined by a
being's confused deeds. It reacts with the ripen conditions
according to the stored karma. It effects a variety of happy and
painful rewards. Therefore, it is written in the scripture,
'Millions of millennium may passed. Karma does not vanish. When
the condition is ripened. One must bear one's action.' In the
rebirth of the six realms, being intelligent or dump, rich or
poor, they are all the products of our past deeds. There are
people attending college as children. They are what the society
called talent. Talent is not a product of this life. It is
accumulated from past lives. It too is a form of rebirth.
Rebirth liberates us from the hand of divine power. Our karma
controls rebirth. Heaven and gods cannot give us fortune or
bring us disaster. We are our own master. We taste our own
medicine. From the viewpoint of rebirth, every being is free and
equal. Happiness and fortune are the products of our own hands.
Misery and tragedy are also self made. A creator cannot protect
us from crime. God cannot take away our merits either. In front
of rebirth, cause and result, there is no luck. We are our own
creator.
Live
must be spinning like a wheel. We must progress forward. Sins
are also like the spinning wheel. With time, we can repent and
amend. Rebirth, it can give us so much hope. The winter may be
long and cold, the warm spring will come. Rebirth is not a word
game for argument. It is not a matter of belief it or not.
Rebirth is all around us. We can examine the universe, nature,
society, science, even you and me, everything is within the
swirl of rebirth. How can we understand rebirth calmly? How can
we escape rebirth and the three realms? How can we change the
wheel of rebirth to the Dharma wheel of the Buddha? This is all
a matter of wisdom.
2.
Some questions regarding rebirth
Rebirth
may have such a profound value and meaning. Yet, many people
still strong doubt on its existence, it's phenomenon and it's
purpose. I will summarize the questions and give answers as the
following.
2.1
Is rebirth good for us?
People
may think life is suffering. It is best death is final and
everything is concluded. Buddhism said death is not final. It is
the beginning of another life. We must learn to treasure each
life, and not to waste it away. With rebirth, existences never
end. There will be always hope to build a bright future. Without
rebirth,
death is the end. All our hopes and dreams will not be able to
fulfill. It is such a grief. It is not a pretty sight at all.
2.2
Why am I not aware of rebirth?
If
rebirth really exist, how come I cannot recall anything in my
past life? The scripture said, 'Human are pitiful. Grandson
marries to grandma'. Why are we so ignorant, that we would even
marry our grandmother? In Chinese folklore, it is said a person
must drink a bowl of soup before rebirth. It causes one to lose
all previous memory. Plato also believes a soul must venture
through a hot desert to rebirth. The journey leads to a river.
Drinking the water to quench thirst will cause a lost of all
previous memory. In Roman folk tale, there is also similarly
stories.
Buddhism
teaches that people lost all memory of previous life because of
'confusion through rebirth'. Rebirth must passed through a stage
of 'intermediary body'. It is the 'soul' that go on to the next
birth. The intermediary body is like a three feet child. It has
supernatural power. It can venture anywhere except for a
mother's uterus and the Buddha's diamond throne. The
intermediary body dies and born every seven days. The longest
existence would be seven-seven or forty nine days. During this
time, it would chose rebirth into another realm. It is because
of this intermediary existence, we forget our previous lives.
Some of you may say, 'How regrettable, would it nice if I know
my past life'? Do you really think those have supernatural power
will necessarily be happy? Do you think it is nice to know that
you were a cow or pig before? If you know you have only three
more years to live, would life be great? If you can read mind,
you know others hate you, is it really that joyful? We do not
have magic power. Everyday is great day. Everywhere is a great
place. Life is free and liberated. Universe and life have their
rules. Everything has its appropriate place. We forget our past
existences. We get a new body and forget all the past bad
experiences. It is also a very good thing.
2.3
Could prayers affect rebirth?
If
rebirth is real, then when we read scriptures to pray for
deceased love one, would it has any benefit? Can it liberated
them from rebirth? According to the Ksitagarba Sutra, the merit
from reading scriptures are as following. The deceased will
receive about one-third of the total merit. The rest will go the
one reading the scripture. Therefore, it would be best we recite
scripture by ourselves when we can. Instead of bothering our
relatives when it is too late. Besides, the merits of reading
scriptures are limited. What is then the value of reading
scriptures for the death? It is like you have a wealthy and
famous relative. It is like a passport during our trip. The
merits allow one to born into a Buddha's Pure Land. If we throw
a rock in a river, it quickly sinks into the bottom. If we tired
it to a ship, it can arrive the other shore safely. Our sins can
use the merits of reading scriptures as the ferrying vessel. We
can be liberated from the sea of rebirth. If a wheat field is
full of healthy and strong seedlings, then a couple weeds would
not affect the harvest. The merits of reading scriptures promote
the growth of our virtue. It buried the seed of sins in soil. It
lessens their effects.
2.4
Would horoscope and fortune telling help rebirth?
In
Chinese popular culture, people usually hire a fortune-teller to
check the time and location for wedding, funeral and special
occasions. The house has wrong alignment. It will effect your
descendants' future. The couple's horoscopes do not match. They
should not be married. Wedding must be on the best day. Funeral
must pick the best locale. Our life is controlled by divine
power and superstitions. Actually, many weddings are on the same
day. Some end in divorce. Some build happy family. It is obvious
the time is not important. Relationship and communication are
the basis for happy marriage. If we can establish ourselves by
helping others, friends with others, then everywhere is great,
all times are good time. If we believe in rebirth, we should
accumulate more merit. They will be reborn with us. We should
build more good relationship. They too will be reborn with us.
Accumulating merit and building relationship are sources of
success and happiness in life.
2.5
How about some real examples as proof?
If
I cannot know the past and future, then can there be some real
example to prove rebirth is real? For example, people wear a
silk blouse. Silk worm spin a cocoon. Silk moth break off from
the cocoon. Are they three or one? Can we say the worm, cocoon
and the moth are same, or are they different? This is a living
example of rebirth. Once, a person steals a coconut. While
enjoying his catch, he was caught. The owner scolds him, 'How
can you steal my coconut'?
'No,
I did not'.
'How
can you deny? I planted the coconut tree'.
'Well,
your coconut is in the ground. I am eating the one that is on
the tree. What is that have to do with you'?
The
coconut on the tree and in the ground has the connection through
rebirth. Our existence is like this coconut. It is like lighting
a torch. Birth gives rise to birth. The cycle never ends.
2.6
Is rebirth in conflict with no self?
The
fundamental teaching in Buddhism is 'all phenomenon has no
self'. If there is no self, how can there be rebirth? Are they
conflicting each other? No self does not mean no life. No self
means our bodily existence of the five skandas and four
elements. Its existence is effected by cause and conditions. It
does not has a self nature. Thus, it is said to have no self. It
is like a piece of gold. It can be made into ring, earing,
bracelet. They are a variety of forms. Yet, the nature of gold
is unchanged. Our existence is the same. We become Henry or
Jack, donkey or horse, heaven and earth. The truth rebirth is
not the body. It is the master inside our body.
2.7
Who then is doing the rebirth?
If
the body is reborn, it is the body's master, then who is this
master? In Buddhism, Alaya-vijnana is this master. In the
scripture, it is described as, 'It is the teachings in all of
the Tripitika. It is influenced by external environments. It
stores, affected and determine the next body. It is last to go,
first to come and it is the master'. Alaya is the main source
that gives life. It perceives different environments. It reacts
and creates karma. The karma is store as future seeds in this
giant warehouse. According to the good or bad, dominate or minor
karmas in stock, the next rebirth is determined. When the body
die, the Alaya is last to go. When reborn, the Alaya is first to
arrive. It is the master that determine rebirth.
2.8
How does karma related to rebirth?
The
master of rebirth is Alaya-vijnana. How does the direction of
rebirth get decided? Everyday, we create new karma of deeds,
speeches and thoughts. They can be good or bad. They are the two
dominating and competing forces. If the good forces dominate, we
born in to the three good realms of celestial, human or asuna.
If the evil force win, we born in the three evil realms of
animal, ghost and hell. The good or evil of karma decide the
future direction of rebirth. To prepare for our future well
beings, it is important to go all good and refrain from all
evilness.
2.9
What is the final destination of rebirth?
All
religion has the idea of rebirth. Their purpose may be
different. Taoist seeks everlasting life and constant youth.
Christianity seeks entrance into the kingdom of god. Popular
religions seek to live forever. Buddhism's goal is to enter the
realm of non-birth. The realm of non-birth is liberation from
rebirth. From a Buddhism perspective, everlasting life, forever
life and heaven are still in the painful cycle of rebirth. Only
non-birth can emancipate us from the suffering of existence. It
is the ultimate serene, joyful, comfort or pure living.
3.
Proofs of rebirth
There
are many records and stories in history that proves the
existence of rebirth.
Famous
scholar HUANG-YEN-MING visited the Gold Mountain temple once.
The scenery was very familiar as if he was there before. He
walked around to a closed and sealed door. The room looked very
familiar. He just could not control his curiosity. He requested
the reception monk to show him the inside of the room. The monk
replied, 'I am very sorry. Inside the room is the body of our
master who passed away fifty years ago. His words were that it
should not be open to the public'.
'If
the room has door, it cannot remain shut forever. Please, let me
go inside to take a look.'
With
persistence, finally the monk let him inside. Inside, there was
a monk's body in meditation posture. Oh! How could the face look
so familiar? On the wall, there is this poem, 'The
HUANG-YEN-MING in fifty year. Same guy opens and closes the
door. The consciousness leaves and returns. We now believe in
the Ch'an teachings of the indestructible body'.
HUANG-YEN-MING
is the reincarnation of the old monk. He closed the door before.
He returned to open it today. As a proof for the future
generation, he wrote another poem, 'The Gold Mountain awakened
me like a fist strike. It breaks open the sky under HUI-YEN's
lake. Looking at the moon from a high platform. The flute is
playing and dragon is sleeping'.
In
the record of KAN-HSI province SHI-SHU county, there was a story
of a woman reborn as a county commission HUANG-SHAN-GOO.
HUANG-SHAN-GOO was a famous scholar. He became a county
commissioner at twenty six. One day, he dreams that he was in a
room. He saw an old lady. She was making offerings of celery
noodles. He smelled and it was so nice. He ate up all the
noodles. He was awakened and still tasted the favor of celery.
HUANG-SHAN-GOO thought it is all just a dream. The next day, he
had the same dream again. He was getting disturbed. He took the
day off and went for a walk. He was strolling around. Suddenly,
he walked by a house and saw the same old lady in the dream. She
was praying and making offering of a bowl of celery noodle
inside the house. HUANG-SHAN-GOO was very curious. He walked up
and asked, 'Madame! What are you doing'?
'Yesterday
is the twenty-six anniversary of my daughter's passing. I am
praying for her'.
HUANG-SHAN-GOO
was alarmed. Strange! How come it's is the same as my age? So he
asked further, 'What did your daughter like to do usually'?
'She
was a devoted Buddhist. She liked to read Buddhism scriptures.
She specially took delights in celery noodles. Therefore, I am
specially making a bowl as offering for her'.
'Well!
Can I look in her room'?
The
lady showed him inside. The room was full of familiar books and
scriptures. In the corner, there was a giant chest. HUANG-SHAN-GOO
asked, 'What is inside the chest? Can we open it'?
The
old lady replied that she did not know either the content or the
key. HUANG-SHAN-GOO thought for a while. Then, he seemed to
recall. He found the key and opened the chest. Shockingly, it
was full of his essays and writings. He realized the lady was
his mother of previous life. He sincerely pleaded, 'Madame! I am
your daughter. I will take you home to care for you.'
He
wrote a poem for memorial, 'Like a monk with hair. Like a mortal
without dust. Dream with in a dream. I see the existence beyond
existence.'
This
is to say, 'He may be a lay person. His heart is with the way of
clergy. He may live as a mortal. His heart is not corrupted by
the dust. Life is like a dream. Beyond life there is another
existence.' It is as the saying, 'In my dream, there are clearly
the six realms. Awakened, the entire universe is vanished.'
The
Fifth Patriarch of Ch'an HUN-YIN also has a famous rebirth
story. It was said HUI-YIN was an old gardener. He wanted to
become a disciple of the forth Patriarch TAO-SHUN. TAO-SHUN
thought that he was too old and could not carry on the
missionary work. He consoled him, 'If you reborn now, I may be
able to stay on couple years longer for you.'
The
old gardener bid the forth Patriarch farewell. He went by a
stream and saw a young lady washing cloths. He asked, 'Lady! Can
I borrow your room for a while?'
'You
should ask my parents. I cannot decide.'
'I
must have your okay, before I dare to go.'
The
young lady saw that it is getting dark and for a poor old man,
so she nodded. Strangely, she was pregnant. The family was very
upset. They chased her away. Later, she gave birth to a young
boy. She was thinking about abandoning him in a river.
Miraculously, the baby flows up stream. Without support, she
goes around begging to bring him up. Since no one knows of his
father, he was called the kid with no name. Six years went by.
One day, master TAO-SHUN was preaching in the area. The young
boy followed the master and asked to be taken in as disciple.
The master saw that it is only a young boy, so he replied, 'You
are too young, how can you be my disciple?'
The
kid with no name replied, 'Master, in the past, you complained
that I am too old. Now, you say I am too young. When are you
going to accept me as disciple'?
Master
TAO-SHUN was puzzled. He asked further, 'Kid, What is your name?
Where do you live'?
'They
call me the kid with no name. I live in the ten miles avenue'.
'Everyone
has a name. How could you lie and say that you have no name?
Come on, tell me the truth'.
'Buddha
nature is my name. Of course, it has no name'.
TAO-SHUN
was very astonished. A young kid can said such impressive words.
Later, the kid with no name became the Fifth Patriarch of Ch'an
school with countless disciples.
In
1942, a commoner TIN-SAN-OU of SIN-SHI-PAN county was living in
a cave. During a storm, the cave collapsed and buried him alive.
He passed out then feel himself climbing out of the cave. He saw
everyone was crying. He asked around but no one paid him any
attention. He was getting upset. He left the area and walk by a
house. He entered the door and suddenly hear, 'Congratulation!
You have a new son'.
TIN-SAN-OU
was reborn as a son of the CHEUNG family named CHEUNG-YU-SHIN.
The mid wife is looking around for a scissors. He replied, 'Hey!
The scissors was hanging on the wall'.
Everybody
was shocked. They thought that he was some sort of demon. They
were thinking about abandoning him. Because of the love of his
mother, he was spared. For seven years, he did not dare to speak
one word. Yet, he remembered everything of his past life.
Anyhow, slowly the news spreaded. One times, the TIN's family
had a dispute with their neighbor on land boundaries. They could
not find the deed. In desperation, they invited the CHEUNG kid
to their house. Strangely, the kid knew everything about the
family. He also found the deed and resolved the argument. This
story was told by the assistant director of social service Mr.
MU-NIN-KON. It was witnessed by the deputy minister of fiance
Mr.HUANG-FO-CHOU. In this modern age of science, there are still
many unanswered mystery stories of rebirth.
SO-SHI
has close association with Buddhism. He befriends many clergies.
In the 'Record of Lamp Passing for Laity', it was recorded that
he is the rebirth of Fifth Patriarch master KAI. His mother
dreams of a skinny elderly monk just before giving birth to him.
Many years later, his brother SO-CHI was the commissioner in
KAO-AN. SO-CHI be friends monks JEN-JIN, MIN-SEN and SHU-CHON.
They like to discuss Ch'an and Dharma together. One day, these
three monks all dream of a visit from the Fifth Patriarch KAI.
When talking about the dream, SO-SHI came over for a visit. They
thus tell SO-SHI their dream. SO-SHI replied, 'He once dream of
himself as a monk living in SIN-FA at seven'.
Master
JEN-JIN added, 'Master KAI was from SIN-FA, and passed away
fifty years ago'. Coincidentally, SO-SHI was forty nine.
There
is this famous Chinese proverb, 'A relationship lasted for three
lives'. Behind the proverb, there is a rebirth story. In the
book, 'The Legend of Monk YUAN-JYE', it described a friendship
between master YUAN-JYE and scholar LI-YUAN. Once, they planned
a pilgrimage to O-MEI mountain together. YUAN-JYE wished to
travel by land. LI-YUAN insisted to go by river. Master YUAN-JYE
signed, 'Everything is in cause and conditions. It is beyond
human control'. They travel by river together. While passing by
NAI-POO, they meet a pregnant woman getting water along the
river. YUAN-JYE signed, 'I was afraid that I would meet her. I
am supposed to be his son. For three years, I have been hiding
from her. She been pregnant for three years and cannot give
birth. Three days later, go over to her house to visit me. I
will check it with a smile. Twelve years later, we can meet
again in the TIEN-CHU temple in HAN-CHU'.
That
evening the master passed away painlessly. Three days later,
LI-YUAN paid a visit to the lady's house. The newborn baby gives
him a very warm and friendly smile. Twelve years later, he
traveled to the TIEN-CHU temple. He saw a young herder riding
and singing on top of an oxen, 'On the boulder of three lives
the soul is old. Enjoy the scenery and let's not argue. I am
happy an old friend come visit from afar. This body is
different, but the nature is eternally same'.
LI-YUAN
yielded, 'How is Ch'an master YUAN-JYE doing'?
The
young herder waved backed and replied, 'Mr.LI is indeed someone
who keep his promise'. He kept playing his flute and slowly ride
off into the horizon.
4.
How can we raise above rebirth?
We
have understood the value and truth about rebirth. Now, we
should talk about rising up above rebirth. The understanding in
the reality of rebirth is only a method, process and way. Our
purpose is to escape and rise above rebirth. Many people
consider Buddhism is superstition because it talked about cause,
result and rebirth. Actually, all of the Buddha's teachings are
method to escape from the suffering of rebirth. It is the
ultimate purpose of Buddhism. Buddhism is the religion that
truthfully and wisely separated us from rebirth.
If
we want to escape rebirth, we must first know the reason for
rebirth. Mortals have to suffer from rebirth. It is because of
the traction of karma. The karmic forces have good, evil, heavy
and light. The rewards and results are all different. It is
written in the scripture, 'Cutting a tree but not the root, the
tree still grows. Cutting desire but the origin. There still be
painful rebirth. It is like making an arrow, then striking it on
yourself. The flesh arrow is the same. The arrow of desire hurts
all beings'. The craving and greed for desires is the arrow. It
makes us drowning in the sea of rebirth. We must burn the fire
of diligence to incinerate the forest of desires. We must use
the radiance of Prajna to break through ignorance and evil
karma. We must use the sword of wisdom to free us from the chain
of rebirth. These are our hopes and our directions. Buddha once
said, 'This is my last rebirth'. With the countless teachings
inherit from the Buddha, we all can be break off from rebirth
with certainty. We can realize the emancipation. We can live in
the realm of total freedom.
Knowing
rebirth, rise above rebirth, the next step is not to be afraid
of rebirth. We can live in rebirth and not corrupted by rebirth.
Mortal's rebirth is controlled by karma. Arhats only wish to
escape rebirth as soon as possible. Bodhisattva has the mighty
power of vows. They chose to participate in rebirth.
Avalokitesvara comes back to emancipate all beings. Master
CHI-HANG also has the same vow. Many masters may wish to born in
Pure Land. Their ultimate goals are still reborn in this world
to help others. When a Tibetan Lama nirvana, it will be reborn
to this world. Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama both have historical
trace as proof. All the masters have a Bodhisattva's compassion
and pledge. They wish for the well beings for all. They are not
seeking comfort just for themselves. They are not deserter of
humanity. They are the life boat in the sea of misery. They are
lotus blossoming from dirt. They reborn in this evil world of
Saha. Yet, they suffer no pain of rebirth. They are voluntary
participate in birth courageously. They have the compassion to
bear the mire of rebirth. This action truly rises above the no
rebirth of an arhat. According to the Jataka tales of the
Buddha, he was a deity, an animal, a monk and king. He never
rested. He diligently practices the way of Bodhisattvas. He
busily works for the salvation of all beings. All the time, he
was also completing the path to Bodhi.
The
founder of JYE-YEN school, Ch'an master JYE-SHAN-LIN-YU was
about to enter nirvana, his students gathered around and asked,
'Master, with your cultivation. Where are you going to reborn
after nirvana'?
'Oh!
I will be a water buffalo in a farm nearby'.
His
students were shocked, 'You are such are great practitioner. How
can you possible be reborn as an animal'?
'You
guys don't believe me? Okay, under the buffalo's left shoulder,
there will be monk JYE-SHAN-LIN-YU five words'.
After
the funeral, they did discover a new buffalo was born in a farm
nearby. They also discovered their master's name on the buffalo.
They saw the buffalo, or their previous master, was working very
hard under the sun. They bought the buffalo. They gave him good
hays to eat, but did not dare to put the buffalo to work.
Strangely, the buffalo refused to eat or drink. Hopelessly, they
took the buffalo back to the farm. The buffalo worked, and then
happily chewing on his hays.
Master
JYE-SHAN-LIN-YU's compassion of 'beings an oxen and horse for
all beings, before become a master in Buddhism', is beyond the
shallow understandings of his disciples. This attitude of
cultivates in the sea of rebirth, at easy in the city of
reincarnation, are the Bodhisattva's ultimate truthful
realization and liberation from rebirth.
Today,
I have talked with you on the Buddhism's view on the wheel of
rebirth. My main goal is to wish all of you would face future
and live full of confidence and brightness. We must believe in
the unending of life. Death is the decay of a house. We will
select another comfortable and good house. Death is a torn old
clothes. We can change into a beautiful and fashionable
wardrobe. In the swirl of life since timeless beginning, all of
us should work to complete the grand temple in us, and the
beautiful Dharma robe in us. I wish all of you would rise above
rebirth, would be liberated from rebirth. In the countless swirl
of rebirth, you will attained the wisdom life of Bodhi. |
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