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SHRAMANA

Lecture by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
Edited by the International Translation Institute

Shramana is a Sanskrit word which means "Diligently cultivating precepts, samadhi and wisdom, and putting to rest greed, hatred and stupidity." After leaving home, we shouldn't diligently cultivate greed, hatred and stupidity, while putting to rest precepts, samadhi and wisdom. If we are less wise and more stupid each day, then we are diligently cultivating how to be greedy, how to hate and how to be stupid. Every day we cannot let go of greed, hatred and stupidity; we cannot pick up the precepts, samadhi and wisdom. We don't want to find out how to cultivate, how to observe the precepts, and how to develop samadhi and wisdom. Our afflictions increase day by day because our karmic obstructions are too severe. Our karmic retribution keeps following us, telling us not to make a Bodhi resolve, and to always look for other people's faults. This way, we will certainly fall.

Shramanas, that is, those who have left the home-life, should renounce worldly wealth. There are left-home people here who keep the precept against holding money: this is an example of renouncing worldly riches. All the contention in the world starts on account of wealth. Take a look! Countries fight with countries, families feud with families, and people contend with people, all for the sake of profit. Shramanas renounce worldly riches, and not want any of the precious things of the world. They take one meal a day. They are not greedy, and don't eat a lot. They should be careful not to seek too much.

How can Shramanas leave the home of the Three Realms? They must cut off desire and put an end to love. They should comprehend the Buddha's profound principle of "activity and non-activity." It's said, "The less one knows, the less affliction one will have. If one reaches the state of seeking nothing, one will have no worries." When one reaches the state of not attaining anything internally and not seeking anything externally, one will be free of all discursive thoughts, and will have only proper mindfulness; this is called "being free of thoughts." One will not have even a little bit of false behavior. This is called non-activity. At this point, one has done what one had to do, and has cultivated the Way to the ultimate, so there is nothing left to cultivate. One has already attained the essence of the Way and realized the fruition, and there is nothing more to be realized. This is called "non-realization." It is unnecessary to go through the ten dwellings, the ten practices, the ten transferences and the ten grounds because one suddenly transcends them all. This is a Shramana who has attained the Way.

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