Understanding the Principles
From this misunderstanding, we erroneously generate emotional attachments, differentiate between others and ourselves, expand the conflicts and confrontations within ourselves to all beings, affairs, objects and the natural environment outside ourselves. This is why we are making disasters worsening everywhere.
In reality, natural disasters are caused by human minds. The Buddha said, "greed is the cause of flood, anger is the cause of fire, ignorance is the cause of wind, arrogance and inequality are the cause of earthquakes".
Once we understand the fundamental principles, we will understand that everything in this world and beyond arises from the mind and changes according to our perceptions. If we seek to become Buddhas, we will become Buddhas. If week seek to become heavenly beings, we will become heavenly beings. Everything accords with the mind.
We should observe the nature of the Dharma Realm as everything is created by the mind. Therefore, the way of seeking is to accord with the principle that everything arises from the mind and is changed by our perceptions.
The practice of patience and tolerance is extremely important. Only when we are capable of enduring everything, can our hearts can be pure and unaffected by external influences. When we can be unaffected, our external environment will better accord our thoughts.
We often hear about renunciation in Buddhism. For the majority of Buddhist, renunciation does not mean giving up a worldly life and becoming a monk. It means letting go one's attachments. The Buddha show us how for he had no attachments to this world.
Unfortunately, as ordinary beings we are still very much attached to the world in our every thought. Although Buddhism emphasize substance rather than form, if there is substance, it will certainly be reflected in form. Therefore, if our thoughts transcend this world, our behavior will reflect this.
It is erroneous to [have thoughts of] not wishing for something, because one would reject all opportunities. Thoughts of wishing for something is seeking affinities. Thoughts of not wishing for anything is also seeking affinities. Therefore, Bodhisattvas practice the Middle Way, when they teach beings, they are according with conditions, not seeking affinities.
We often read in the sutras of the fire burning our forest of merits. What is fire? It is anger and hatred. When we lse our tempers, we lose our merits as too. If we want to know how much merit you have, think of the last time you become angry. With one angry thought, the fire burns our forest of merits.
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