The Eight Realizations. The First Realization: All the world is impermanent. The earth is fragile and perilous. The four great elements inhere in suffering and emptiness. In the five skandhas there is no self. All that arise, change, and perish, Are illusive, unreal, and without a master. Mind is the root of evil; Body a reservoir of sin. Thus observing and contemplating, One gradually breaks free from birth and death. The Second Realization: Excessive desire is suffering. Birth, death, and weariness in life All originate from greed and desires. Desiring less, being wu-wei, Body and mind are at ease and free. The Third Realization: The mind is insatiable, Always seeking, thirsty for more, Thus increasing our sins. Bodhisattvas renounce such conduct. Always remember to follow the way, Be content and at peace with poverty, With wisdom as the sole vocation. The Fourth Realization: Indolence leads to degradation. Always practice with diligence, Vanquish all vexations, Subdue the four maras, And escape the prison of the skandhas. The Fifth Realization: Ignorance leads to birth and death. Bodhisattvas are always mindful To study and learn extensively, To increase their wisdom And perfect their eloquence, So they can teach and enlighten all beings, And impart great joy to all. The Sixth Realization: Poverty and hardship breed resentment, Creating harm and discord. Bodhisattvas practice dana, Beholding the friendly and hostile equally; They neither harbor grudges Nor despise malicious people. The Seventh Realization: The five desires are perilous. Even as laity, be not sullied by worldly pleasures; Think frequently of the three robes, The tiled bowl, and instruments of Dharma; Aspire to the monastic life And cultivate the Way with purity; Let your actions be noble and sublime, Showering compassion on all. The Eighth Realization: Birth and death are like a blazing fire Plagued with endless afflictions and suffering. Vow to cultivate the Mahayana mind, To bring relief to all; To take on infinite sufferings for sentient beings, And lead all to supreme joy. These eight points are the realizations of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. With diligence they trod the way, with compassion they hone their wisdom.They board the vessel of the Dharma body, and sail to the shore of nirvana. Then they return to the cycle of birth and death to help others cross to that shore. These eight points can direct us in all things, and they can show all sentient beings how to understand the sufferings of birth and death; they can help us disentangle ourselves from the five desires and turn our minds to the saintly way. If a discipline of the Buddha chants these eight points, thought by thought he will eradicate his infinite karmic debt; and he will approach the awakened state, and quickly become enlightened; then he will forever be free from the cycle of birth and death, and abide in joy forever. BUDDHISM, By Master Hsing Yun
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:15:58 +0000
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