Hsing Yun

"Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one family. There are no Taiwanese in Taiwan and Taiwanese are all Chinese. Which Taiwanese is not Chinese? They are Chinese just like you are. We are all brothers and sisters. The more (cross-strait) exchange we have, the more mixed we will be. Then we won't be able to distinguish who's Mainland and who's Taiwanese — and we will naturally become unified."

"Our heart is like a factory. This factory can produce joy. It can also produce worry. If you can produce worry to make yourself unhappy, why don’t you produce joy instead? Many of our worries are much ado about nothing."

"I don’t think “poor” or “rich” should be defined by how much money one has. People with money are not necessarily rich. Some suffer from moral bankruptcy. In my opinion, the world is filled with poor people with money. How so? Because they don’t sow. They are not willing to think about others. Some people, even though they’re without money, they often help others. These people are rich. My personal philosophy is: Not having is the best state to have, and cultivating a big heart is the way to have lasting inner joy."

"Exposure to an appropriate amount of hardship is healthy for one’s growth. Parents should not spoil their children if they want their children to grow up to be resilient. Nor should young people spoil themselves. There is an ancient Chinese poem that describes the life of limestone. The raw limestone endures thousands of strikes to be dug out of the deep mountain, after which it is burned in scorching flames without ever flinching and then ground to dust without ever complaining, just so it can fulfill its destiny to become lime. If one wants to make his or her mark in the world, he or she must be able to withstand hardships like raw limestone. Young people nowadays are referred to as the “strawberry generation”, which means they lack spiritual vitality and a sense of mission and tend not to give much thought to personal growth or what they want to achieve in their lives. Endurance, wisdom, benevolence, responsibility and confidence—these are the qualities which give us strength and which we should work to possess."

"If you have resentment in your heart, you’ve only got yourself to blame. If you could understand it’s not any outside thing but your own attachment or greed that causes the resentment in the first place, you would be able to let go of the emotion. If you have time to be angry, you might as well use that time to do something good for society, right?"

"Embrace the vow of compassion to deliver all beings, Float like an untethered boat in the Dharma sea. Ask me what merits have I over a lifetime, They are the Buddha’s Light across five continents."

"Having marched through life for close to seventy years, I am but an ordinary monk who deems “preaching the Dharma a daily duty and benefiting all living beings a lifetime career.” Whatever transpires in the outer conditions, I have always felt profoundly blessed to be in the favor of the Buddhas from the ten directions and with the affinity of all living beings. With them watching over and caring for me, I have been able to carry out the sacred mission that pertains to a monastic little by little."

"Just as we get sick physically, the earth is sick too. When people are sick, they need to be treated and saved. When the earth is sick, it also needs everyone to care for it and save it. To save the earth, we must begin with environmental preservation. On the other hand, the protection of nature depends on humanity to self-awaken, which also starts with preservation of the spiritual environment."

"Buddhism advocates that all living beings possess buddha nature; and that both the sentient and insentient possess the potential to attain Buddhahood. As mountains, rivers, grass and trees will all attain Buddhahood, thus Buddhism advocates no killing, thus no deforestation; no stealing, thus no unlawful logging. The Buddhist doctrine of equality views all beings as equals, and advocates that not only do humans and animals deserve love and care, mountains, rivers and the great earth also need to be protected."

"Places with water mean survival, places with water mean prosperity, and places with water are more suitable for communities to flourish. In this world, not only is the Sun important. The reason that humanity is able to surpass other animals in survival is because they discovered fire, which is extremely important to a civilization. No living creature in this world can live without air, just as has been said, “Life exists between each breath,” without the flowing of wind, there will be no air, and all forms of life will suffocate to death."

"Today, as members of the global village, we are all responsible for caring for the continuous existence of the global village. Because the Dharma clearly explains that sentient and non-sentient all exist “because there is this, there is that. If this is not, then that will not be.” Thus we coexist as one. Thus, within the continuous flow of change, even something as tiny as a speck of dust has a subtle relationship with the environment. While there is no doubt that we should strive to eliminate the dusts in our inner world and change them, we must also raise people’s awareness and take action to preserve the external environment. Not only is the 21st century the era of environmentalism, it also will be a beautiful era of purified minds."

"As time progresses, human minds and civilization also continue to advance, it has become a trend for members of society to volunteer themselves. The work of a volunteer is different from that of general paid job which expects money and reward. Volunteer work on the other hand, focuses on happiness, joy and establishment of good connections, which is rather different from the former."

"I used to urge that “everyone be a police,” so that they can help the police to keep order in a society overflowing with chaos and problems. The best way for a nation or society to improve is for everyone to be a police. A police is like a guardian who also shows the bodhisattva spirit. Therefore, not only are compassion and initiative required to practice the bodhisattva path, one also needs to do so with activeness and bravery."

"Equality among people leads to wholeness and freeness in the human world. Everything in this world is originally whole and free. However, our ignorance and delusion give rise to perceptions of dualities, such as superior and inferior, coming and going, with and without, arising and ceasing, large and small, internal and external, good and evil, wise and dull. Such distinctions, subsequently, cause continual fighting among people, deepen antagonism among people, increase animosity among races, and escalate warring tensions among nations."

"Before attaining Buddhahood, Prince Siddhartha lived a privileged life of abundance and joyful bliss in the palace, never knowing what suffering is. Till one day came the time for him to step outside the palace, where he saw for himself what old age, sickness, death, and rebirth are like in the world. At that moment, it finally dawned on him: “So this is the reality of the world!” Right there, he realized that people should fully bring forth the value of life and to actively elucidate the meaning of life. Soon after, he decided to give up the throne he was to inherit and trod alone on the path of cultivation. In the course of his cultivation, the Buddha had profound realization of two states:"

"One, the lasting nature of life: Life may appear to be one span after another, arising and ceasing, however, within the arising and ceasing, there is its unchanging nature, which is always timeless, coexisting with space, and nature."

"Two, the equality among sentient beings: When you witness the many shortcomings and imperfections of human nature in this world we live in, do you still have faith in humanity? Even though humans have so many inadequacies, but in the eyes of the Buddha, the mind, buddha, and sentient beings are no different. He told us, “All beings have the wisdom and virtue of the Tathagata,” and will ultimately attain Buddhahood."

"The Buddha’s two realizations demonstrate his high degree of recognition in the value of life as well as firm faith in sentient beings, which is a deep faith in the truth of the world. If we are able to experience this wisdom of life as realized by the Buddha, then we will have more faith in viewing life, understanding that if we are willing to strive to act well as humans, the future will change for the better. We will have more confidence in dealing with people from all walks of life because all beings have Buddha Nature. Every person is a future buddha and should be accorded respect."

"While there are worries in the world, one should remember that, the world also has the Buddha; while there are suffering in the world, but remember, the world also has the Dharma. As long as we have Dharma in our mind, the Dharma can change our views, transform our way of thinking, and purify our body and mind. Then the world we see and hear will be different."

"Just as the Venerable Master once said, “Life is a marathon race; we need to persevere over distance and time.” It is the same with learning Buddhism and cultivation, it is a lifetime undertaking or even life after life till the end of time, all of which needs perseverance. Of course, every lifetime will bring us much wisdom and experiences. Ultimately, if we can combine the experiences we have gained life after life, we will be like the Buddha’s “realization” in fulfilling the meaning of life."

"Compassion, regardless of one’s status or position, is the treasure within every person’s mind. The Venerable Master said, “One can be without anything, but never without compassion.” Compassion is giving others joy and alleviating their suffering. If a person can always embrace compassion and uphold kind thoughts, then naturally there will be less troubles and worries in live."

"Compassion is the common language of this world than can break down all barriers in human relationships. However, for most people it is easier to give rise to compassion when it comes to friends and relatives whom they have connections with; it is not easy to practice compassion on strangers. In reality, Buddhism teaches us that even for people who appear to have little connection with us in this lifetime, they could be our relatives and friends in our past lives. As such, regardless if we know one another or not, we should treat each other with compassion."

"Wisdom is like a bright light, shining through people’s delusion and ignorance; it is also like a varja, eradicating delusional worries. Within the various Dharma services and activities, I believe we are able to learn much wisdom of the Dharma. It is wished that the legacy can be sustained into the future for the benefit of the next generation."

"Morals and a person’s life are closely related, for instance, if someone praises us for being a person of morals, we will certainly be very pleased. Conversely, if someone says we are an unethical crook, we will be upset for a long time. So we can see that morals have significant implications for every person’s life."

"Buddhism is a kind of moral education which can support the establishment of views in dealing with people and situation. The Five Precepts are the basic morals in conducting oneself; they provide the standards in accordance with kindness for people’s behavior. For instance, the precept of “not taking intoxicants” means not to take any substance which impairs one’s wisdom; in the perspective of today’s society, it is not taking drugs. By not taking drugs, our body and mind will be calm and will not go on to transgress on others. Hence, morals are the standard for cultivation, the self-realization of the conscience. For a person of cultivation, his or her morals are undoubtedly noble."

"In today's world, technological and medical advances have prolonged the human lifespan. However, such advances have also led to increasing estrangement and apathy among people. More and more people are feeling the lack of happiness and peace in their lives."

"Speaking of happiness and peace, what is the purpose of our existence in this world? Is it to find happiness? Or to experience suffering? Of course, most people would say, “Happiness!” In reality, how many people actually enjoy happiness and peace? What we hear and see most often are the wails of grief over the catastrophes of this world. These include natural disasters and man-made calamities such as war, violence, famine, poverty, and various stresses and anxieties experienced in everyday life. Very few people think of life as truly happy."

"Happiness and peace come from detachment and contentment In this world, some people pursue material happiness and others pursue nature’s tranquility and peace, while some pursue material transcendence and spiritual happiness attained from detachment and contentment. So what type of happiness should we be pursuing? Material life may satisfy our daily needs, but it does not bring sustained happiness; only detachment and contentment allow us to enjoy lasting happiness."

"As the saying goes, “a mind without desires makes a character noble.” A person may be without glamorous outfits or sensual enjoyments, but as long as he or she is not greedy for anything, he or she will naturally be noble in character. A person who is detached and without desires does not get jealous or compare himself with others, does not oppose or fight with others, and does not treat people or matters with arrogance and insolence, but follows any conditions with perfect ease. Take the many eminent and virtuous people throughout history, for example. They earned the respect of others not because of their wealth, but because of their moral integrity nurtured through living simple but content lives. They are the true models of living the philosophy of emptiness."

"Compassion is not a demand on others, nor is it a standard by which we judge people. It is a way to discipline ourselves. Compassion does not mean blind tolerance to physical attack or verbal abuse. When justice is threatened or when good people are being slandered or attacked, we should stand up bravely for them. Compassion is not a momentary emotion, but a persistent service for others. Compassion is not just being kind only to our friends and family, nor does it mean we are to expect anything in return. Compassion is not always about praises and encouragement. Sometimes, in the interest of common well-being or to subdue the hard-headed, an angry expression is required to subdue villains. This is actually the greatest and most difficult form of compassion."

"In this world, the meaning of compassion is often distorted, leading to excessive indulgence and turning a blind eye to what is wrong. When applied inappropriately, compassion can become the source of crimes and wrongdoings. For instance, the common practice of freeing live animals actually causes harm to more animal lives. Inappropriate and lavish giving of money only nurture greed and corruption. Therefore, true compassion and tolerance must be supplemented by prajna wisdom to prevent traveling down the wrong path, rendering the initial intentions futile."

"I often use the suitcase as a metaphor for life: we pick it up when we need to, and we let go of it when it is time to do so. When we pick up something, we should be able to shoulder the responsibility with courage, with the resolve and sense of mission in serving. When it is time to let go, we should also follow conditions and let go in a calm and composed manner. The ability to let go makes it easy to pick up again. When you are willing to take a step forward, there will be hope for the future."

"Picking up and letting go are two sides of the same coin; they are equally important. To pick up does not mean to fight for something; it is a resolve, a form of tolerance, and wisdom. To let go does not mean to ride on a loose rein and indulge oneself; it is the bodhisattva spirit of giving, only making contributions and not expecting anything in return."

"Bodhisattvas base their spiritual cultivation on “placing every thought on the attainment of buddhahood, and focusing every mind on delivering sentient beings.” Ordinary beings from the Saha World on the other hand, usually use spiritual cultivation as an excuse to retreat into mountain forests and live a secluded life so as to pursue liberation for themselves. However, according to Hui-neng the Sixth Patriarch, “Buddhism’s being in the world is not separate from the awareness of the world. To seek bodhi apart from the world is like searching for the horn of a hare.” How can one speak of spiritual cultivation or attaining buddhahood if one remains distant from the world and its people?"

"The purpose of work may sometimes be living, for one’s career, for one’s interest, to repay others, for one’s religious belief, or sometimes for a sense of honor and justice. When you volunteer for Buddhism, the Buddha will see your initiative, and cause and effect will never turn against your contributions. To be a volunteer for Buddhism, not only are you serving the multitude, you are also nurturing your own fortune, which can be of benefit to you in many lifetimes, thus its value is formless. Therefore, to be volunteer may look like it is for the benefit of others on the surface, but we are in fact the one who is receiving the most benefits."

"While persistence is important, one must also never forget the initial vows, and be an unrequested helper to people. To be an unrequested helper means to actively offer your help, and never fall behind others in shouldering responsibilities. People usually wait for others’ requests or invitation before offering their help, but a truly compassionate and generous person will automatically step forward and offer a helping hand when seeing others in need. Just as said in the Vimalakirti Sutra, the bodhisattva “befriended and pacified people without being requested.” To be an unrequested helper to our families, friends, society and country is a demonstration of the best volunteer spirit."

"I used to divide generosity into four grades: 1) giving of money, 2) giving of labor, 3) giving of language, 4) giving of goodwill. Money will be of no use if one does not know how to use it properly. Sometimes there may not be as many works available, but words of kindness will never be too much. If one offers good intentions and continue to wish others well, or even teach the Dharma to others, one will be practicing supreme generosity."

"Volunteers are a very important part of public life. To volunteer one’s work without any monetary reward is a type of moral duty, which not only benefits the public but also promotes the spirit of oneness and coexistence. Through voluntary hard work and dedication, one will bring out the compassion and love in people, and inspire righteousness and virtue in society. Furthermore, voluntary work can contribute tremendously to public welfare and charity campaigns, relief aids, and the bettering of society. Therefore, if everyone can be a volunteer, then society will naturally be filled with peace and goodness."

"It has all been for Buddhism's sake. Despite having grown up inside a monastery living a frugal and simple life, I never for a moment felt mistreated or deprived, because it was all for Buddhism’s sake. I became ordained for Buddhism’s sake; I remained firm against temptations of rich offerings from conducting chanting services, because I had resolved to devote my life to propagating the Dharma and benefiting sentient beings for Buddhism's sake; I declined positions of abbot and those of authority and fame from a young age, because I had my own thoughts and directions, and it was “all for Buddhism's sake.”"

"Self-awareness is also a way of self-education, and this also refers to what is mentioned in the sutras, “Rely on yourself, rely on the Dharma, and rely on nothing else.” Self-education is the key to our success, as we are most clear of our own faults and ignorance, we must educate ourselves and teach ourselves how to rectify our shortcomings. In other words, we must be demanding of ourselves, and attain the ability for self-learning, self-enrichment, and self-reflection. We need to learn to seek the cause in ourselves and make consistent effort in questioning ourselves, be self-aware, be one with our own initiative, and enlighten ourselves. Through continued self-reflection, we are able to find our true self. Otherwise, it will be as Sutra of Bequeathed Teachings indicates, “I am but a guide that points out the path to you; if you do not follow, it is not the guide to blame. I am but a good doctor who prescribes the medicine for your illness, if you do not take the medicine, the fault does not lie with the doctor.” If we do not even attempt to enlighten ourselves, not only will the Buddha not be of help to us, even a world of books on Buddhism will not help us gain understanding of the profound prajna wisdom. Therefore, we must read extensively and study deeply the Buddhist texts; the process of listening, thinking, and practice will enable us to be self-awakened and self-enlightened."

"To resolve means to cultivate the field of your mind, which is also the first thing we have to learn as Buddhists. Without cultivating and developing the field of our mind, no matter how good the conditions we may possess, or how much fortune and merits we may have, the sprout of bodhi wisdom will still not grow. This is similar to a seed without a good and fertile land, no good flower or fruit will ever grow out of it. Therefore, if we wish to open up and develop our spiritual wealth or utilize our energy, we must begin by resolving."

"Develop a true mind that is as vast as the ocean: Not only is the ocean a palace for aquatic animals, it is also a place filled with inexhaustible treasures. Take a look at oil drillers today. Don’t they always dig deep in the ocean for the oil? The ocean’s resources are usually what supports and makes a country wealthy; this is why every country protects its water rights, because to them, they are protecting their national property. Our mind is also like the ocean, it is a womb that nurtures the treasures of compassion and bodhi wisdom awaiting us to uncover."

"Develop a true mind that is as immense as space: The universe can be used as a metaphor for our mind, “the mind is like the universe; its capacity immeasurable like grains of sand.” Within the universe exist the sun, moon, and stars; within the universe exist thunder, lightening, rain, and dew. Every phenomenon is embraced within. Therefore, the nations of the world are all interested in exploring the universe, hoping to discover treasures from within. Our mind too is like space filled with limitless treasures of joy and contentment. It is only through development that we can discover the treasures."

"Develop a true mind that is as boundless as the earth: The earth is our mother that nurtures our life. Not only does the human race depend on the sky and the ocean’s resources for food, they also depend on the earth to survive. The earth supports all forms of life that grow on it, while underneath it there are mines of gold, silver, bronze, and all kinds of minerals. Our mind too, is like the earth in which our Buddha Nature and true nature lie deeply within. We must know where to dig and how to develop in order to uncover these treasures."

"Develop a true mind that is as intrinsic as our nature: Each one of us possesses an intrinsically true nature. Once we uncover the true nature that is like the ocean, like space and like the earth, we can take one step further and uncover our original face, return to our native home, and retrieve what has been ours from the very beginning. In general, anything that enables us to accomplish the ultimate goal of benefiting both oneself and others as well as enlightening both oneself and others must never be lost or forgotten by learners of the Dharma. These include gratitude, humility, determination for the Way, merit, deep belief, respect, magnanimity, and endurance, all of which are the resolves that Buddhists cannot do without."

"In Buddhism, human beings are referred to as “sentient beings.” In other words, they are beings that come into existence once the necessary conditions gather together. In this world, there is no such space or time that enables an individual to exist alone, because beings must depend on each other in order to survive. Only when the conditions around us gather together will we be able to live. For this reason, we must allow these conditions to gather together, and then share them with others, and allow other people to benefit from them. We must never leave the crowd and become selfish practitioners, because buddhahood can only be attained by interacting with sentient beings; without them, not only are we no longer able to survive, buddhahood will also be out of reach."

"Being resolved and making vows are not a practice exclusive to Buddhists; every member of society has the obligation to do so. Once one has resolved to do it, the accomplishment of a task then becomes possible; once a vow is made, a clear goal will then be in sight. In particular, a chaotic society is the cause of many people’s worries and senses of insecurity."

"Since our birth, we have gone through various phases of receiving instruction and education. Up to a certain age, our parents at home would give us the necessary instructions. When we grow up and go to school, we are taught by our teachers. Finally when we start working, we will receive further education from the interaction with society. However I consider the most important form of education as one that is gained from maintaining constant self-awareness."

"Self-Awareness is essentially a form of self education. According to the Buddhist sutras, we must be reliant on ourselves and the Dharma, but never depend on external influence. Similarly, we should teach ourselves to maintain alertness at all times so that we can assimilate and derive global understanding of all events around us. This is what I mean by self education."

"By self education I mean the ability to be self demanding, self learned, self enriching and self reflecting without relying on others’ assistance. Successful self education is dependent on the constant questioning, awareness, motivating and understanding of the self. We can indeed discover our own self through self contemplation."