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His open mouth is perpetually
laughing at all the funny people in the world. his huge belly can
hold all the unendurable things in the world.
We should learn the skill of patience from Maitreya
Bodhisattva. He said,
The Old Fool wears a tattered
robe,
And fills his belly with plain food.
He mends the rags to keep his body warm.
Should someone scold the Old Fool,
He just lies down to sleep.
“Spit right in my face,” he says, “And I'll just let it dry.
That way I save energy
And you don't get afflicted.”
This kind fo paramita
Is the most wonderful treasure.
Now that you know this news,
How can you worry about not attaining the Way?
Isn't that wonderful? That's why he's always
laughing and has such a pot belly. As it's said, “One gains weight
when one's mind is broad.” One has no afflictions.
Maitreya Bodhisattva's name is Ajita. Maitreya means
“Compassionate Clan,” and Ajita means “Invincible.” In what way
was he invincible? Someone says, “I know. This bodhisattva eats
more than anyone else. How else could his stomach get so big?
Nobody's stomach is as big as his, so he's called Invincible.”
Someone else says, “This Bodhisattva has great strength. He can
topple a mountain with one hand. Since no one can beat him, he's
called Invincible.” You are all wrong. In what is he invincible?
In his cultivation of the Dharma door of the Six Paramitas. He has
reached the other shore in his cultivation, and no one can surpass
him, so he's called Invincible.
This Bodhisattva totes a large cloth bag over his
shoulder, and he goes everywhere begging for alms. What kind of
alms? The alms of afflictions. He hopes that people in the world
will have no afflictions and will leave suffering and attain
happiness. There's a saying, “His open mouth is perpetually
laughing at all the funny people in the world. his huge belly can
encompass all the unendurable things in the world.” because he
never goes anywhere without his cloth bag, he's been dubbed the
“Cloth Bag Monk.” It is said, “Whether walking or sitting, he
always has his cloth bag. When he sets the cloth bag down, how
free and easy he is!” We should learn from his philosophy and
conduct.
I lectured on the Vajra Sutra when I was sixteen
years old. That Sutra talks about the Patient Immortal, who
endured being dismembered by King Kali without giving rise to
anger. When I read that story, I vowed to emulate the Patient
Immortal and wholeheartedly devote myself to the practice of
patience. I had always had a harsh and stubborn character, and the
practice of patience was just what I needed. Once I made up my
mind, challenges came from all directions to test my resolve. I
was scolded by people who had never scolded me before, beaten by
others who had never struck me before, and assaulted by friends
who previously had treated me well. I thought to myself, “I
explained the Vajra Sutra to people, and that Sutra says that the
patient Immortal didn't feel hatred even when his limbs were
chopped off. I have only been scolded and assaulted, but no one
has chopped my limbs off. If I cannot endure this, how can I be
qualified to explain the Vajra Sutra to others?”
Thus, I resolved to be patient. No matter who
bullied me or tried to harm me, I endured it. I learned to remain
unaffected by external states. Instead of harming me, these people
were teaching me by testing me out. I bowed to those who scolded
me and lay down when I was beaten. I encountered frequent tests
like this as a layman, and I was never short of “good advisors”
after I left the home-life either. All the other monks looked down
on me and bullied me, considering me a thorn in their flesh. One
monk saw me light incense and railed, “What kind of monk are you
that you don't even know how to light incense? What an idiot! How
dare you talk about leaving home!”
I said to myself, “Here it comes again. The Patient
Immortal didn't feel anger even when King Kali cut off his limbs.
This isn't half as bad as that. Fine, I'll just bow to him.” Then
I bowed to the monk and thanked him for his help. Both left-home
and lay “good advisors” constantly came to “help me,” and I never
got angry at them. Each time I would reflect: “I must not have
helped them in past lives. Now they're coming to help me, so I
ought to thank them.”
Do you understand now? Your teacher is one who
specializes in practicing patience when he is bullied by other
people. I specialize in bearing what others cannot bear, and in
yielding where others cannot yield. What use is this kind of
person? You all are pretty unfortunate for having encountered such
a useless and stupid teacher and deciding to study with him.
Nevertheless, since you came to study with me, I have to tell you
about my past. I traveled the path of patience.
When you study Buddhism, you should not only listen
to the teachings, but also put them into practice in your own
lives. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, to be especially kind
to those who mistreat us. Buddhism teaches us to regard loved ones
and enemies equally. We should treat everyone the same way, not
regarding some as closer than others or favoring certain people
over others. If students of Buddhism cannot put the teachings into
practice, then their learning is superficial and they cannot gain
real benefit. |
