Repentance Begets Peace and Bliss; Repentance Begets Serenity and Clarity (Issue 283)

It’s getting late today, and I have yet to bring up the most important part of this talk. What is it? It’s our six sense organs. It’s just a coincidence that we are on the sixth roll of Emperor Liang’s Jeweled Repentance, which talks about our six sense organs and our consciousness – the sixth consciousness. I have mentioned before that one thought carries grave consequences, and the six sense organs – eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind – play an especially important role in the formation of that one thought. We living beings are constantly being turned by states, leading to emotional responses. This is using the false to chase after the false, a state characterized by the delusory mind going after illusive mundane dust and deceptive facade.

It just so happened yesterday when bowing in repentance I had a realization. Because of this realization, today when bowing in repentance I started the atonement wholly anew. What did I realize yesterday? As human beings we all have a kind of fear deep inside our minds. This fear is due to the many unknowns and the many things we are unclear of, e.g. When and how will I die? What will happen tomorrow? What about the day after tomorrow? Where will I go after I die? All these give rise to worries and apprehension.

But then I realized that as long as a certain something is present, there would be nothing to worry about. What is that certain something? It’s your resolve for the Way. What is the resolve for the way? It’s your resolve for bodhi. What is the resolve for bodhi? It is pursuing buddhahood above and transforming livings below. If you have resolve this, then neither the myriad external states nor the changes within ourselves are important. Whatever state you may be in, your resolve stays firm and solid, that is, pursuing buddhahood above and transforming living beings below. Look at Great Master Yong Jia. He left the home life at age four. Even at such a young age, his resolve for the Way is very strong. That’s why he left the home life right away.

Therefore, all our problems come from our having a weak resolve for the Way, letting our mind submit to the grind. Our sixth consciousness is extremely clever. The Venerable Master explained, “Our sixth consciousness is omniscient and omnipotent. It knows, and it knows what it knows.” Whatever state or whichever matter is presented to us, our sixth consciousness recognizes it right away, be it ugly or beautiful, good or bad, right or wrong, straight or crooked. However, deep inside our mind lies the dissension between self and others, constantly in unamenable combat. Such is the misfortune of the human race. As we have heard earlier today, the dharma master said that many years ago, a comet came close to the Earth, almost to near collision. Hence, we should all bow in repentance sincerely in order to help the human race avert catastrophes.

Whether the world endures the agony of war or enjoys times of peace it is determined by one single thought. It is like when the emperor goes into a battle rage, corpses overlay stretches of tens of thousands of miles, all because of an unbridled thought. Enraged, he acts without regard for the consequences, not taking responsibility for the many lives lost. It goes to show how significantly important one single thought can be! Not only should we recognize it, we should also regulate it and refrain from it reflexively reacting to our emotions. Not only do we have to regulate it, we also have to guide it. We have to apply what we learn in Buddhismin transforming our single thought. Whatever we think and ponder comes from our sixth consciousness, which is still an illusory mind and needs guidance and training. It has caused people a lot of trouble. So, the sixth consciousness is extremely important.

I would like to discuss with all of you the Venerable Master’s instructional talk entitled “Be a Responsible Driver for the Six Sense Organs.” The six sense organs are like an automobile; we have to steer them well. If we let our emotions loose and drive recklessly, we will be creating the realms of hell beings, hungry ghosts, and others. We should teach and guide the sixth consciousness to gradually forget such emotions. Do not see and hear with our illusory knowledge and illusory perceptions. We should abide by the Buddhadharma, listen to good and wise advisors and follow the Buddhas’ teachings. Do not listen to the call of our emotions.

When we have the chance, I will read the Venerable Master’s instructional talks to all of you because you may not remember to read them in your busy schedule. It’s five o’clock already, and everyone must be tired. I will end my talk now. Amitofo!