Sunday, January 17, 2010

Chapter 37 The Resemblance Of The Poor Who Obtains The Precious Gem

"All of you have widely planted the virtuous conduct, and I hope that you all should uphold the precepts purely. Try to be patient and practise vigorously for one day and one night. Try to practise with a kind and well-concentrated mind, and a body that is pure and adorned with precepts; the blessings and virtues thus obtained are much more than doing good deeds for a hundred years in the Land of Innumerable Lifespan. Why is it of such great difference?

It is because the Buddhaland consists only of good deeds and abundant virtues but not a single hair of evil. So if a man is able to cultivate vigorously for ten days and ten nights here, his blessings and virtues are much more than doing good deeds for a thousand years in the other Buddhalands. What is the reason behind this? The beings in the other Buddhalands are naturally born with great blessings and virtues and there is no way for them to do any bad deeds. In this Saha World, where there are nore evils than goodness, the suffering thus experienced here is as though a man is drinking bitter drinks, or taking poisonous food. And none of them have ever a chance of respite.

I am indeed sad to see the tortures in this world and I sincerely hope to teach you the Dharma, with advices and example. I lecture on the Sutras and Dharmas so that all of you can uphold them, think about them, receive and accept them and finally cultivate them accordingly. Whether born in the honourable class or of inferior status, either men or women, relatives or friends, everyone should tell each other of my teaching. Try to control one's behaviour; try to encourage and improve each other's behaviour, in a gentle, polite way and with righteousness. Then with a joyous mind, a mind that is kind and filial, accept my advice. At times you might make some mistakes, then you should be regretful and humble and try to change for the better, with determination, put in more effort the next time. In this way, you will be able to do away the bad deeds and develop the good behaviours fully. Upon hearing a good advice, a man should practice and change himself for the better immediately. Accept the Dharma and uphold the precepts, just as though you are a poor man who has met with a precious gem. By one's effort, one should always change for the better, to clean up the defiled mind thoroughly and to change the bad behaviours. Then, he will naturally obtain whatever he has vowed for.

Wherever The Buddha dwells, either in the town or in small villages, there is no one who will be unable to be transformed by Him. The world will be calm and in harmony, with the sun and moon shining brightly, and the wind and rain that will arrive in time for the benefits of all living beings. There is no situation that will bring in harm or chaos, but the land will be rich and the people will live peacefully. In fact, there is no neccessity to train the army or to invent weapons. Everyone will be respectful and have high regards towards the virtuous and humane ones. Everyone will respect and be polite to each other. There is no thieves or robbers in such a land. Nobody will suffer because of others' wrong accusation. The strong ones will not bully the weak ones but everyone will be contented with what they have gained through their own efforts.

My compassion and kindness towards all of you is more that of the parents who are thinking of their only son. In this world, I have attained Buddhahood and taught the people to maintain good conduct, to conquer and overcome the evil thoughts and bad behaviours, in order to uproot the suffering of birth and death and to obtain the five virtues. Finally, everyone will arrive at the shore of Nirvana, with no more attachment.

After my entrance into Nirvana, the teaching of the Sutra and the practice of the proper path will deteriorate, day by day. The people will return to their bad behaviours and again they will do all kinds of evil deeds. Then, they will have to undergo the five burning skands and the five torturing pains which will be getting from bad to worst in the future. All of you should take turns to teach the people, just as if The Buddha is teaching the Sutras and Dharmas to you, and never should you try to go against The Buddha's teachings."

Maitreya Bodhisattva put his palms together and said, "The people in this world are really suffering just as The Buddha has described for us. In fact, no one can deny that. The Buddha is indeed the kind and compassionate Humane One, who vows to cross over all the living beings. I have received the great responsibility to propagate your teaching and I will never dare to be unmindful of my duty."

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