Matter, Consciousness, Phenomena
Once our thoughts arises, various phenomena in the universe appear. Once our thought ceases, the universe disappears and at the same time our true nature instantly emerges.
All phenomena in the universe are one entity and are the manifestation of the true nature. When one thought arises, all objects instantly appear. When there is one existence, all exist. When one existence ceases, all existence ceases. There is no order or before and after.
It is much like the television screen that changes images all the time, but all the changes come from one screen. Different images are the result of different frequencies of transmissions. The frequency change can be compared to the change of thoughts. When on thought arises, all objects follows. That’s why the Buddha said, “All phenomena arises from the mind”.
We need to avoid all that is evil and embrace all that is good. We begin with ourselves. First, we cannot allow ourselves to be affected by worldly phenomena. In other words, we must not be attached to the five desires and six sense objects but let go of them for as long as we cling to them, we will never eradicate our selfishness. These thoughts of self-benefit are the root of all negative karma. All good deeds that are done out of evil intentions will become evil.
A person who has a thorough and correct understanding of the truth of life and the universe – all principles and matters, the condition of anything and its phenomenal expressions and causes and results – is called a Buddha.
A sage also has a clear understanding of truth of life and universe but not thoroughly. The difference between the Buddha and the sage is the extent understanding.
Confucianism and Buddhism both teach us to be better people, to be virtuous and to achieve universal harmony after we achieve personal harmony. The Buddha said in the Ten Virtuous Karmas Sutra that bodhisattvas have a method can help them end all sufferings in the Three Evil Paths.
The method is being mindful of and contemplating wholesome thoughts often and observing wholesome behaviour and speech day and night without having even the slightest non-virtuous thought. This way, one will end all evils forever and perfectly accomplish good dharmas.
When we contemplate carefully, we see that all complicated problems throughout history and around the world arise from contradiction, conflict, opposition and inequality. When we probe deeper, we see that the root of the conflict between the true nature and the acquired habits of humanity. In other words, it is the conflict between altruism and self-benefit.
Therefore, the Buddha taught this fundamental principle: “When the mind is pure, the land will be pure. When the mind is pure, the land will be pure. When the mind is at peace, all beings will be at peace. When the mind is impartial, the world will enjoy equality.”
He taught us to purify ourselves, enrich our spiritual life, return to our original goodness and achieve harmony of body and mind. This way, all the contradictions, conflicts, oppositions and inequalities in the world will naturally resolved.
If our every thought is of ourselves, ego-attachment will worsen day by day. How then can we transcend the Three Realms? This is why the Buddha taught us to always think of benefiting all beings.
This way, the thoughts of benefiting ourselves will gradually diminish and go away. Our every thought and every deed should be for all beings and not for ourselves. When all beings have good fortune, we too have good fortune, because we are also one of the beings.
Similarly, we cannot avoid misfortune if all beings have misfortunes.
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