Hello, everyone. Welcome to this episode of the podcast provided by the Buddhas’ Practice Incorporated of Australia.
Today, I want to share a very important chapter from the Lotus Sutra, Chapter 14: Ease in Practice. What is “Ease in Practice”? It’s the ability to serenely and joyfully expound the Lotus Sutra, even within this troubled and defiled world.
The Buddha teaches that a Bodhisattva must abide by four kinds of practices to achieve this.
1. The Sphere of Bodhisattva Practice
A Bodhisattva should dwell in a state of patience, gentleness, and receptivity. You should not be volatile or easily startled. Beyond this, a key point is to be “without any activity with regard to existent things” This means not clinging or being attached to any phenomena, because all things are illusions of the world. Therefore, you have nothing to gain and nowhere to go.
At the same time, you must “perceive all things in their true aspect“, observing the true nature of all phenomena—both their emptiness and their dependent origination. This practice helps us break free from the illusion of things having real, substantial existence.
2. The Sphere of Bodhisattva Relationships
This practice outlines what a Bodhisattva should and should not associate with.
You should not consort with:
Kings, princes, ministers, and high officials.
Heretics, Brahmans, or those who create worldly literature or external texts.
People involved in dangerous sports like wrestling, boxing, or various forms of entertainment.
Those who kill for a living, such as hunters and fishermen, or those who raise animals for slaughter.
Regarding women, you should not generate thoughts of lust while teaching them the Dharma. When entering someone’s home, you should not speak to young girls, maidens, or widows. You should also not be intimate with the “five kinds of non-men.”
Furthermore, you should not enjoy keeping young disciples or novices. When you have no particular business, you should practice meditation in a quiet place to control your mind.
These are the relationships and environments a Bodhisattva must carefully avoid, especially when their stability and wisdom are not yet fully developed. By doing so, they can avoid self-inflicted vexations and keep their resolve to walk the path firm.
3. The Sphere of Perceiving the Emptiness of All Dharmas
This practice requires us to contemplate the fundamental nature of all phenomena and realize their inherent emptiness. All things arise from causes and conditions, based on their self-nature, which is the only thing that’s real. We must break the attachment to the emptiness of things, as this would be discarding the phenomena and only holding on to the principle.
4. The Sphere of Great Compassion, Reverence, and Equality
In this practice, we are taught not to take pleasure in speaking of the faults of others or of other sutras. You should not speak ill of other Dharma teachers, nor should you praise or blame others. You should not be jealous, flattering, arrogant, or deceitful.
When answering questions from listeners, you should accommodate their needs, but never to the point of encouraging negative karma. You should always use the Mahayana Dharma to explain things, helping them to attain omniscience.
You should awaken a heart of great compassion for all beings, a desire to relieve their suffering. You should cultivate a heart of great kindness toward all Dharma disciples, whether lay or monastic. You must also treat all beings equally when teaching the Dharma, speaking in a way that is neither excessive nor insufficient, and always in accordance with the truth.
Finally, you should make a vow to use your transcendent and wisdom powers to guide those who have not heard, known, or understood the Dharma, helping them to abide in it.
The Wonderful Benefits for Those Who Uphold the Sutra
By practicing these four kinds of ease, one can receive wonderful benefits:
Freedom from anxiety and mental suffering
Serenity and physical well-being
Reverence from both humans and celestial beings
Courage and fearlessness
A pure and beautiful countenance
A life free from poverty or lowliness
Pleasant dreams, where you will see yourself teaching the Dharma, meeting Buddhas, and even attaining enlightenment
May we all be able to deeply understand the Buddha’s teachings and abide in these Four Practices for Ease in Practice. May we not only cultivate ourselves in serenity but also widely proclaim this profound and sublime Lotus Sutra to benefit countless sentient beings, working together to achieve the supreme Buddha Path.
Thank you all.
