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>> Buddhism-The
Wisdom of Compassion & Awakening
Chapter One:
Introduction
It is necessary for us to a have correct
understanding before practicing Buddhism; otherwise, all the time
spent in cultivation will be futile, as the most superior result
will not be attained. Therefore, I would like to briefly explain
the true nature of Buddhism.
Chinese history tells us that about three
thousand years ago, Buddha Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism was
born in Northern India. He lived seventy-nine years and dedicated
forty-nine of them to teaching. In 67 AD, one thousand years after
he entered Nirvana, these teachings were formally introduced into
China.
Prior to acquiring a good knowledge of Buddhism,
we need to understand the terms Buddha, Dharma, Buddhist Dharma
and Buddhist teaching, as they are important to our cultivation.
Buddha is a Sanskrit word, meaning ¡§wisdom and enlightenment¡¨. Why
was it transliterated as Buddha and not translated into wisdom and
enlightenment? The meaning of ¡§Buddha¡¨ is so profound and extensive
that these two words were insufficient to cover the original meaning.
Therefore, transliteration was used with further explanations.
In essence, Buddha means wisdom. In application
or function, it means enlightenment. There are three levels of wisdom.
First, ¡§General and All Knowledge Wisdom¡¨ is the correct understanding
of the noumena, or essence, of the universe. It is the wisdom of
knowing the general aspect of all existences, the wisdom of Theravada
sages. Second, ¡§Differentiation Wisdom¡¨ is the wisdom that can correctly
comprehend all the infinite phenomena of the universe, the wisdom
of knowing the discriminative aspect of all existences, the wisdom
of Bodhisattvas. How did these phenomena arise? From where? In what
way? What were their results? Third, ¡§Overall and Perfect Knowledge
Wisdom¡¨ is the exhaustive and perfect perception and comprehension
of the truth of life and the universe without the slightest doubt
or error, the wisdom of Buddhas. Buddha Shakyamuni, possessing all
three of these kinds of wisdom, completely understood the true reality
of life and the universe.
The function of wisdom is enlightenment.
There are three classifications of enlightenment. First is "self-enlightenment",
a state in which one possesses no erroneous thoughts, views, speech
or behavior. Arhats and Pratyekabuddhas in Theravada Buddhism have
attained this level of self-enlightenment, but have not yet generated
the Bodhi mind to help others achieve enlightenment. Second, is
"enlightenment of self and others", a state in which one
helps others to reach enlightenment after achieving his or her own.
Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism have attained this level. Third
is "Perfect Complete Enlightenment", a state in which
one reaches perfection in both enlightenment for self as well as
helping others to reach enlightenment. This is the state of Buddhas.
The Buddha told us that this perfect wisdom
and virtue are innate to all beings. The sutras, recorded teachings
of the Buddha, tell us that ¡§all sentient beings can attain Buddhahood.¡¨
and ¡§every being possesses the wisdom and virtuous character of
the Buddha¡¨. In other words, all beings are equal to Buddhas in
nature. However, due to our discriminating and wandering thoughts
and attachments, which are the root cause of all sufferings and
disasters, we have temporarily lost our original Buddha nature.
Thus, we continue being born into the endless cycle of birth and
death.
The more we rid ourselves of these wandering
thoughts and attachments, the more we will experience freedom from
suffering, and the more wisdom and enlightenment we will uncover.
Once we completely free ourselves from discriminating and wandering
thoughts and attachments, our fixations to certain ideas or objects,
we will regain our lost Buddhahood; our original perfect enlightened
state, our self-nature Buddha.
Possessing great wisdom and enlightenment
enables us to truly know all that exists and all that is infinite.
This includes matters and objects as tiny as a speck of dust or
the finest hair on the human body, to those as great as the infinite
universe. All of these are the objects of our perception, or wisdom
and enlightenment.
The Buddha used the word Dharma to symbolize
all these infinite phenomena. Buddhist Dharma or Principle, is the
infinite wisdom and enlightenment, the perception of all things
and laws in life and the universe. Chinese people often say that
Buddhist Dharma is as infinite as the object perceived is infinite
and the wisdom perceivable is infinite. This wisdom is innate to
our self-nature.
The Buddha said, ¡§Our innate perception and
the objects in the universe perceived are ONE not TWO.¡¨ When we
think about it logically, if the Buddha's words are complete and
perfect, then we can believe that this wisdom and enlightenment
are ultimate and perfect. However, if perceived and perceivable
are opposites, then wisdom can hardly be complete and perfect, but
rather it is limited.
The Buddha told us that knowable and known,
perceivable and perceived are ONE not TWO. This is called the One
True Dharma Realm, the most genuine, perfect and highest realm as
explained to us in the Flower Adornment Sutra. The Western Pure
Land of the Pure Land School also belongs to and is not separate
from the One True Dharma Realm. This Western Pure Land, was created
by Buddha Amitabha as an ideal place of cultivation as those who
are born there are no longer subject to reincarnation within the
six realms.
In 1923, a well-known Buddhist scholar, Mr.
Jing-Wu Ou-Yang gave a speech at Nanjing Normal University in China,
entitled ¡§Buddhism is Neither a Religion Nor a Philosophy, but the
Essential for Our Modern Time.¡¨ It caused considerable sensation.
His well-documented speech gave much conclusive support to the proper
definition and viewpoint of Buddhism.
Source: Dallas Buddhist Association |
