Blog » Sweet Dews Of Dharma Talks » 2008 » Everything is made by the mind
Everything is made by the mind2013-01-10
A Dharma talk given by DM Heng Bai
English Translation By Jessie Young
While Dharma Master Su Mei Du was in Thailand learning from Ah Jiang Cha, one day the community service consisted of sweeping leaves off the ground. Dharma Master Su Mei Du thought, “I have a Ph.D, I’m here to learn—and they tell me to sweep the floor? This is not my duty.” So he went about his work impatiently.
When he began increasingly agitated, his teacher noticed and asked him, “Is sweeping the floor difficult?” At this comment, Dharma Master Su Mei Du had a realization. He thought, “Sweeping is not too difficult; sometimes, it is even enjoyable! This is our teacher’s way of saying: we meditate, and engage in physical activity such as sweeping, to train our mind and our bodies. I shouldn’t have had false thoughts and thought that I am not fit for the job of sweeping, and was therefore impatient.” From then on, he would do his work calmly and joyfully.
This story shows that whether one is seeing or doing something, how the activity is perceived, in a good or bad light, is entirely subjective to one’s state of mind. Therefore in every day life we must carefully think before we take action as to choose correctly and avoid going down a false path. Making bad decisions can lead to further trouble and confusion. We have a saying: “Everything is made by the mind.” Therefore, while we cultivate, we must constantly take care of this mind and use it to think rationally.
We just recited the Ullambana Sutra. We read about how Mahamaudgalyayana brought food to his mother who was a Hungry Ghost, and because of her greedy habits she held on bowl of food with one hand while covering it with the other, as to not let other Hungry Ghosts see. She wanted this food, but her greediness caused the food to be burnt up when she tried to injest, and she could not eat any of it. For whoever who wants to save a Hungry Ghost, as Mahamaudgalyayana tried to do, if this Ghost’s mind is unchanged, he will not be able to be saved and be able to eat this food. The fundamental issue here is the mind, so we must all pay attention to it.
On the other hand, this mother who was a Hungry Ghost had heavy karma, so heavy that even Mahamaudgalyayana’s spiritual penetrations could not save her and she couldn’t even consume her food. Others’ karma may not be as heavy, and their salvation may be possible; however, this is only a temporary salvation. If his mind does not change, if he still does all that is bad and avoids all that is good, he will still always face troubles.
Venerable Master Hua often taught us that whether we are cultivating our own minds or spreading the Buddhadharma, we must address the root issues and not the superficial, such as the number of followers one may have or the kind of atmosphere one brings about. We should focus instead on the purity of the mind, doing deeds and cultivating honestly. These are his teachings.
Mr. Wong Fong Yi is a modern-day sage. He is illiterate, but he carries out his actions sincerely and honestly, all to benefit others. Once he tried to help his friend because he believed that his friend was a good person and he must help him with his troubles. Mr. Wong used all that was within his ability to help him. This was when he attained Enlightenment. He saw that his friend will have half a year of difficulties, but after that time has passed it will get better. Armed with this knowledge, he was then able to properly help his friend.
This is a concrete example that proves that we must act honestly, sincerely, and unselfishly in order to accomplish anything.
