Where Does Suffering Come From?

As beings ensnared in the cycle of rebirth, we are all subject to what is called the Eight Sufferings. The first seven—birth, aging, illness, death, separation from loved ones, association with those we dislike, and unfulfilled desires—are suffering as retribution. The last one, the suffering due to the five aggregates, is a general description.

Where does suffering come from? The Buddha said “the suffering due to the five aggregates.” The five aggregates are form, feeling, conception, impulse, and consciousness. Form refers to the physical body. Feeling, conception, impulse, and consciousness refer to the mental activities. All living beings are made up of these five aggregates. In other words, life is the combination of matter and mind. The body is matter and thus is subject to birth, aging, illness, and death. Mentally, we are subject to the experience of unfulfilled desires, separation from loved ones, and association with those we dislike.

~ Based on Ven. Master Chin Kung's 2003 lecture series on the Amitabha Sutra

Don't Worry About Being Taken Advantage Of

 

In the sutras, the Buddha often taught us that the giving of wealth will bring wealth. Where do wealthy people get their money? They practiced the giving of wealth in previous lifetimes. Therefore, in this life, no matter what they do, money keeps coming to them.

One should not be stingy. Do not be afraid of being defrauded. Do not think that there are a lot of bad people in this world, who always try to take advantage of you. If they defraud you, they will have to pay you back in the future.

The law of cause and effect, what we often refer to as karma, spans many lifetimes. When someone takes advantage of you financially, you are leaving the money taken for future lifetimes when it will be paid back. Do not dwell on this matter. Do not hesitate to do good deeds because of these obstacles. Just as we appreciate material things coming to us now, we will likewise appreciate them in the future, whether that future is close or distant.

~ Based on Ven. Master Chin Kung's 2003 lecture series on the Amitabha Sutra

In His Dreams

[D]uring the entire day, the practitioner just recites the Buddha’s name and keeps Buddha Amitabha in mind, in thought after thought, without interruption, holding the name of Amitabha as his very life. Whether walking, standing, sitting or reclining, he always recites Buddha Amitabha’s name. If he should meet with adversity or favorable circumstances and is moved to anger or happiness, he need only concentrate on reciting Buddha Amitabha’s name for the anger and defilement to cease.

Since defilement is the root of Birth and Death, the practitioner should recite the Buddha’s name to rid himself of defilement and avert the suffering of Birth and Death. If one who recites the Buddha’s name rids himself of defilement, he can end the cycle of Birth and Death. If he can overcome defilement during Buddha Recitation, he can overcome it in his dreams. If he can overcome it in his dreams, he can overcome it during illness as well. And if he can overcome defilement when ill, he can overcome it in his final moments. Thus it is very clear that he will be reborn in the Pure Land.

~ Pure Land of the Patriarchs, Excerpts From Master Han-Shan’s Dream Roamings, translated by Master Lok To

Never Make an Enemy

There are four kinds of affinity for a person to be born into a family: to repay kindness, to take revenge, to collect debts, and to repay debts.

All living beings, not just humans, are born into a family in the six paths because of one or more of these four kinds of affinity. Knowing this, we need to remember that we should not owe any debt nor should we incur enmity.

When we take advantage of others, this is incurring a debt, which we have to repay. When we incur an enmity, we will breed the desire for revenge. Reprisal breeds reprisal that is cyclical and never ending.

When others take advantage of us, we become upset. But ancient Chinese said that letting others take advantage of oneself will bring good fortune. Why? Because letting others take advantage of one will eliminate one’s karmic obstacles.

Those wishing to practice Buddhism invariably wonder how to cultivate. Cultivation is to correct one’s wrongdoings. We usually would not let others take advantage of us. But actually, this way of thinking or acting is wrong. When we are taken advantage of, we usually harbor a grudge and want to retaliate. Once we have this thought, a seed will be planted in the Alaya consciousness, our most subtle consciousness that moves from lifetime to lifetime. When the conditions for this seed mature in the future, there will be serious trouble.

When we are truly awakened and, like Buddhas, know the truth, we will not incur any enmities. No matter how someone takes advantage of, deceives, or falsely incriminates us, we should not dwell on these things. This is cultivation. We do not harbor a grudge or wish to retaliate.

In future lifetimes, we will become good friends with that person when we meet again. The enmity is dissolved, and this is good fortune. If we harbor a grudge and take revenge in future lifetimes, both we and the other party will suffer. That is misfortune, not good fortune. Revenge will be repeated lifetime after lifetime, and the suffering will be endless.

~ Based on Ven. Master Chin Kung's 2003 lecture series on the Amitabha Sutra

Eyes of a Stranger

Without judgment or favoritism,
bias or expectation,
look smilingly into the eyes of a stranger.

Just for a brief instant,
be totally one with the other.

Think thoughts of unconditional love,
wishing for them
the same happiness you yourself yearn for.

Warm the other with your smile
and your wish for their wellbeing.