The Buddha-nature: the Original Source of All Living Beings (Issue 301)

The myriad phenomena fundamentally come from the Buddha-nature, which can transform something into nothing, and nothing into something, in an endless series of births and transformations, ever increasing in number like bugs born in rice, which is a case of something insentient producing something sentient. By the same principle, the Buddha-nature can transform nothing into something, producing all living beings and humankind.

The theory that humans evolved from apes is totally groundless. You can see that the people of different countries have different appearances–there are black, yellow, white, and red-skinned people. What did they evolve from? You can talk about it this way and that, but you’ll never find an answer. If we return to the Buddha-nature–which can transform nothing into something, and something into nothing, in endless births and transformations –this is a theory which can explain it, but few people have the wisdom to reach that level of understanding.

People came into being from nothingness, and all other living beings are that way, too. Cultivation is just turning existence into nothingness, returning to the origin, and going back to the inherent Buddha-nature. “What use is that?” you ask. Well, what use is your being a person? If you can return to your inherent Buddha-nature, you will quickly be able to accomplish the Buddha Way. The Buddha-nature exists eternally. Even if all living beings die, the Buddha-nature will never perish. Why am I talking about this? It’s because today is the anniversary of Earth Store Bodhisattva, and his vows urge me to speak some truly fundamental principles about being a person and handling affairs, that is, about the principle of “nothing turning into something, and something turning into nothing.” If you don’t believe that principle, then how do you explain bugs being born in rice? People in the world are also like bugs, except that they have a higher level of perceptive ability and a soul. But they are still a long way from the Buddha. Comparing people to the Buddha is just like comparing bugs to people.

If you understand this, then you will be able to cultivate. In cultivation, you must be steady and balance like a scale, be calm and peaceful, with no waves in your own nature. If you truly understand Buddhism, then I can discuss the Buddhadharma with you, and together we can investigate how to cultivate. If you do not truly understand, and you are still involved in seeking fame and gain, and you cannot put down wealth, sex, fame, food and sleep–you can’t put anything down–then how can I tell you about the true Buddhadharma and cultivation of the Way? All of you should wake up and be alert!