Blog » Sweet Dews Of Dharma Talks » 2010 » The Roots
The Roots2013-01-10
A Dharma talk given by DM Heng Yun
English translation by Huali Yuan
Today is the fifteenth anniversary of the Venerable Master’s entering Nirvana. In fifteen years, a baby has grown into a teenage, an old person, perhaps passed away. The Master’s Dharma lineage, fifteen years after his Nirvana, is like the teenage who continues growing, and it does not break off because of his absence, like the old person who has gone.
Gold Sage Monastery planted many trees, and there are a few trees seemed quite green, but suddenly withered. Why? Because their roots were eaten by ground squirrel. A newly planted tree in last year was getting withered and we thought there would be no hope for it, however, after the winter, green sprouts unexpectedly emerged and the branches began to grow out. Why? Because it is rooted down, and it has roots!
Many temples, after their founders entered Nirvana, were either declined or divided by becoming a private temple, no longer exist as one group. However, for wayplaces established by the Venerable Master, our Dharma Realm Buddhism Association (DRBA) still exists as a whole entity. Moreover fifteen years after the Master’s Nirvana, these wayplaces, although with different cultural background, western and oriental, still sustain and hold together. This is an incredible strength, an inconceivable state. Why? Because the Venerable Master left us deep roots and thus built us a solid foundation, until fifteen years later, these roots are still supporting us. What foundation did he give us? Most people would mention propagation of dharma, education and Sutra translation, but these has been discussed a lot, now what I would like to talk about is “the foundation of the Sangha”
It is said that: “propagation of Dharma relies on the Sangha”, therefore, the Sangha’s foundation has to be very solid for them to cultivate according with Dharma, propagate Dharma, benefit living beings, and carry on the Buddha’s wisdom. The Venerable Master left a lot of “foundations of the Sangha”, I will talk about some of his essential teachings.
As we all know, the Venerable Master set up rules for men and women to have very clearly separated boundaries, but at the same time, men and women can cooperate with and complement to each other in a strict order and with propriety. Other rules include not seeking for affinities, not personally accepting any offerings. The Venerable Master encouraged monastic disciples to hold the precepts of not touching money, but also had their daily needs properly arranged.
When the Venerable Master was alive, he often led us to hold meetings to gather everyone’s opinion to discuss things, in this way he trained us to act on collective wisdom. The Venerable Master often said: “The assembly is the Heaven”. When he was around, we could consult many things with him, now he is gone, no one has the same wisdom as him, and each one's views are not necessarily correct. Therefore, we should follow the Master’s teachings: collect everyone’s wisdom to learn from each other, discuss and communicate with each other, and share the work. By doing so we help our Sangha group grow while protecting each other.
In the past, many wayplaces in China last for thousands of years? Why? Because good foundations keep them survive. If we cherish the foundations left us by the Venerable Master, then in no matter what kind of situation, our wayplaces will operate properly and continue to grow.
