• English
  • 中文
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Gplus
  • Linkedin
  • Mail
  • Rss

Lisiming.net

  • Chinese
    Philosophy
    • Confucius
    • Daoism
      • Daoist Basics
        • Yin-Yang Bagua System
        • Five Element System
        • Essence-Energy-Spirit System
        • Energy System in Body
        • Daoist Regimen
      • Daoist Philosophy
        • Dao De Jing core 33 Chapters
        • Why select 33 Chapters from Laozi
        • Summary of Laozi core 33 Chapters
        • Qing Jing Jing
      • Daoist Cultivation
        • 4 types of human
        • 5 types of immortals
        • Internal Alchemy: An Overview
        • ZhangSanFeng Teachings
    • Buddhist
      • Buddhist Basics
      • Buddhist Cultivation
        • 6 Paramitas
      • Buddhist Teachings
        • The Heart Sutra
        • The Diamond Sutra
        • The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma
          • Outline of Practice
          • Wake-up Sermon
  • Spiritual
    Cultivation
    • 4-Stage Development
    • 3 Pathways
    • Meditation
    • Related Topics
    • Modern Research
      • Messages from Water
      • The Master Key System
      • Map of Consciousness
  • Study with
    Derek
    • Derek’s Approach
    • Individual/group class
    • US tour May 2013
    • US Tour April 2014
    • 12 Day Heart of China Cultural Spiritual Tour
    • 100-Hour Chinese Spirituality Foundation Program
    • Testimonials
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Contact
  • Blog /
    Online Class
    • Blog
    • News
    • Online Class
    • Archives

Tag Archive for: charity

Diamond Sutra – Bodhisattvas do not receive reward for their merits

02/02/2014
02/02/2014

There is virtue in practicing charity, which follows the law of karma (law of attraction);

Ordinary people claims the virtue  as theirs, which reinforces and continues the “self” and its way of life;  Bodhisattva dedicates the virtue for the well-being, fulfillment, growth, transcendence, and liberation of themselves and all beings.

* * *

不受不贪分第二十八

NO GREED AND NOTHING ACQUIRED, TWENTY EIGHT

须菩提!若菩萨以满恒河沙等世界七宝,持用布施;若复有人知一切法无我,得成于忍,此菩萨胜前菩萨所得功德。何以故?
须菩提!以诸菩萨不受福德故。
“Subhuti, if (on the one hand) a Bodhisattva gave in his practice of dana, all the seven treasures in quantities sufficient to fill worlds as many as sand-grains in the Ganges, and (on the other hand) another man comprehended that all dharmas were egoless and thereby achieved perfection of patience (ksanti), the latter’s merit would surpass that of the former. “Why?

“Because, Subhuti, all Bodhisattvas do not receive reward for their merits.”

须菩提白佛言:世尊!云何菩萨不受福德?
Subhuti asked the Buddha: “World Honored One, why do Bodhisattvas not receive reward for their merits?”

须菩提!菩萨所作福德,不应贪著,是故说不受福德。
“Subhuti, Bodhisattvas should have no longing and no attachment when they practise meritorious virtues; therefore, they do not receive a reward.

0 Comments/in Buddhist, Chinese Philosophy, Online Class /by Derek
  • buddha assembly

Diamond Sutra – the Buddha did not save any living being

01/11/2014
01/11/2014

Further to his earlier teaching “are we living beings, are we not“, the Buddha reminds Subhuti again in this chapter, “don’t think that I have liberated any being, for if you think so, i will be fallen into the limitation of a self, others, beings, and immortals“.

As devoted students of healing and enlightenment, don’t we all want to liberate suffering through various forms of healing and charity?  Is suffering real, and the liberation of it through various means of healing to be done then?  Yes, indeed the suffering and healing are both real.  Otherwise the Buddha would not have taught on earth for 40+ years!   The reason why the Buddha told us that no beings have been liberated by him is that, he knows that when we live our lives and heal sufferings, we easily fall into the temptation of the labels “healers” who heal “others”.  This labeling and claiming credits are to be avoid, not the healing work itself.  For if we get sucked into these labels,  we would be hijacked and sidetracked by our own ego on the road to true healing and enlightenment.

What then, could be a proper way to live our life and do our healing work?  Refer to our earlier discussion: “how does Bodhisattva do charity?“.

* * *

化无所化分第二十五

TRANSFORMING WITHOUT THERE BEING ANYONE TRANSFORMED, TWENTY-FIVE

须菩提!于意云何?
汝等勿谓如来作是念:我当度众生。
“Subhuti, what do you think?
“You should not say the Tathagata has this thought (in His mind): ‘I should liberate living beings.’”

须菩提!莫作是念。何以故?
实无有众生如来度者,若有众生如来度者,如来则有我人众生寿者。
须菩提!如来说:“有我者,则非有我,而凡夫之人以为有我。
须菩提!凡夫者,如来说则非凡夫。
“Subhuti, you should not think so. Why?
“Because there are really no living beings whom the Tathagata can liberate. If there were, the Tathagata would hold (the concept of) an ego, a personality, a being and a life.”
“Subhuti, (when) the Tathagata speaks of an ego, there is in reality no ego, although common men think so.
“Subhuti, the Tathagata says common men are not, but are (expediently) called, common men.

0 Comments/in Buddhist, Chinese Philosophy, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek
  • wolf-in-Sheep

Diamond Sutra – Real vs. Fake Bodhisattva

11/05/2013
11/05/2013

We have learnt that there is no Buddha who “obtained” enlightenment, as enlightenment is beyond the notion of something that could be obtained by someone.  In this section the Buddha furthers that there is no Bodhisattva who could save any beings.

Why?  Because the notion of “Bodhisattva” is absence in a real Bodhisattva when carrying out his/her charity work (actually Bodhisattva is beyond and no limit to sexual differentiation).  On the other hand, when one accepts the notion that “I shall liberate unlimited beings”, the notion of a self, others, world, and immortality arises and one falls into the realm of ego and mortality.  Even in the worldly realm, we can see that real philanthropists choose to remain anonymous for a similar reason.

Can we do charity work without the ego/self getting involved?  The moment we succeed, the moment we are real Bodhisattva.

* * *

须菩提!菩萨亦如是。若作是言:“我当灭度无量众生”,则不名菩萨。何以故?”
须菩提!实无有法名为菩萨。
“Subhuti, in like manner, if a Bodhisattva says: ‘I should lead uncountable living beings to put a stop to (reincarnation) and escape (from suffering)’, he cannot be called a Bodhisattva. Why?”
“Because there is really no dharma called the Bodhisattva (stage).

是故佛说:一切法无我、无人、无众生、无寿者。
“Therefore, the Buddha says: Of all dharmas, there is not a single one which possesses an ego, a personality, a being and a life.

须菩提!若菩萨作是言:“我当庄严佛土”,是不名菩萨。何以故?
如来说:庄严佛土者,即非庄严,是名庄严。
须菩提!若菩萨通达无我、法者,如来说名真是菩萨。
“Subhuti, if a Bodhisattva says: ‘I should adorn Buddha lands’, he cannot be called a Bodhisattva. Why?”
“Because when the Tathagata speaks of such adornment it is not, but is (expediently), called adornment.
“Subhuti, if a Bodhisattva is thoroughly versed in (the doctrine of) the unreality of ego and of things (dharma), the Tathagata will call him a true Bodhisattva.

0 Comments/in Buddhist, Chinese Philosophy, Online Class /by Derek
  • guan yin

Diamond Sutra – how does Bodhisattva do charity?

07/16/2013
07/16/2013

Last week we learn that Bodhisattva does not cling to the notion of self, others, beings, and immortality.  This week we learn that Bodhisattva not only transcends the above 4, but also continue to serve through charity.

In Buddhism continuous service and virtue are essential to complete the process of cultivation and enlightenment, even for enlightened beings such as Bodhisattva.  How does one serve without the notion of a self serving?  Here we can use our knowledge of non-doing from Taoism:  doing without the selfish idea of someone doing the charity.  Internally, the process could be observed as follows:

1) Conditions/invitations to service
2) agree or alignment to service
3) completion of service and move on

Let’s say one see an old lady crossing the street needing help. One approaches and offer the help, helps the old lady to cross the street, and then smiles good bye to the old lady after crossing the street.  The self could be presence, but one is driven by intention to serve which is beyond one’s self, i.e. one does not drive the action, one merely agrees, surrenders into it, and then retires when the action is done.

Therefore, if one maintains centered and focused throughout the process, it is possible that service be done without the intervention of, or claiming credit by the self.  This is how charity work is done by Bodhisattva and Taoist sages.

* * *

妙行无住分第四

WONDERFUL PRACTICE IS TO NOT RELY ON ANYTHING, FOUR

复次,须菩提!菩萨于法,应无所住,行于布施,所谓不住色布施,不住声香味触法布施。须菩提!菩萨应如是布施,不住于相。何以故?若菩萨不住相布施,其福德不可思量。须菩提!于意云何?东方虚空可思量不?
“Furthermore, Subhuti, a Bodhisattva’s mind should not abide anywhere when giving alms; that is to say, he should give without a mind abiding in form, or he should give without a mind abiding in sound, or in smell, or in taste, or in touch or in things. Subhuti thus a Bodhisattva should give alms without a mind abiding in false notions of form (laksana) “Why? (Because) if a Bodhisattva’s mind does not abide in forms. (laksanas) when practicing charity (dana), his merit will be inconceivable and immeasurable. Subhuti, what do you think? Can you think of and measure the extent of space in the East?”

不也,世尊!
“I cannot, World Honored One!

须菩提!南西北方四维上下虚空可思量不?
“Subhuti, can you think of and measure (all) the extent of space in the South, West and North, as well as in the intermediate directions, including the zenith and nadir?”

不也,世尊!
“I cannot, World Honoured One!”

须菩提!菩萨无住相布施,福德亦复如是不可思量。须菩提!菩萨但应如所教住。
“Subhuti, (when) a Bodhisattva practices charity without a mind abiding in forms, his merit is equally inconceivable and immeasurable. Subhuti, a Bodhisattva’s mind should thus abide as taught.

0 Comments/in Buddhist, Chinese Philosophy, Daoism, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek
  • virtue not alone

Confucius Analects – Virtue attracts alike

05/28/2013
05/28/2013

There is a Chinese saying: giving is more blessed than receiving (施比受更有福). Is it true?  Confucius reported so.

4.6 Virtue attracts alike

子曰、德不孤、必有鄰。

The Master said, ‘Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practises it will have neighbors.’

* * *

I would like to share a personal story of charity here.  One time, i heard of a practice of charity that one gives away the first money drawn out from the wallet, no matter the value of the note.  I decided to give a try on this.

That evening, when i was approaching the San Francisco Symphony Hall, a young homeless person appeared on the street, asking me for changes.  I opened my wallet, thinking of the exercise, and put a note. I looked at the note, it was a $10 dollar note.  Hesitated for about a second, i handed it over to him.  He was surprised, and grateful.  When i departed, my heart was filled with love and warmth.   At that moment, i was already contented with the result.  But that was only the beginning.  When i arrived the entrance of the symphony hall, a middle-age lady sensed that i was looking for ticket, approached me and gave me a complimentary ticket!  Not only that, when i get inside the concert hall, i was told that the seat is on the first row.  I watched the piano soloist perform right in front of me that evening.  I was ecstatic!

Indeed it is true.  When we give, it comes back to us ten folded and hundred folded. Confucius was right, those virtuous are not alone!

0 Comments/in Chinese Philosophy, Confucianism, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek

Contact

To conact Derek you can use the contact Form on the Contact Page.

Phone - (+86) 133 8714 8778

Links

  • Wudang Dao Institute

Recent Comments

  • Ricardo on Confucius Analects – Balance Work and Study
  • Derek on Dao De Jing core 33 chapters – completed!
  • Georgi Marinov on Dao De Jing core 33 chapters – completed!
  • Derek on Dao De Jing 2 – Dualistic nature of worldly standards, vs. non-dual lifestyle of sages

Recent Comments

  • Ricardo on Confucius Analects – Balance Work and Study
  • Derek on Dao De Jing core 33 chapters – completed!
  • Georgi Marinov on Dao De Jing core 33 chapters – completed!
  • Derek on Dao De Jing 2 – Dualistic nature of worldly standards, vs. non-dual lifestyle of sages
  • SKent on Diamond Sutra – the mystical presence of this Sutra
  • Sosiale medier – hvorfor markedsføre her? | tdidr on Autobiography of Confucius – Confucius Analects
  • tworzenie stron www kursy kraków on Happy Chinese New Year of the Horse!

Latest News

  • Health Tips during Virus Outbreak03/13/2020 - 11:25
  • lisiming.net01/12/2019 - 11:00
  • New Year01/01/2019 - 11:00
  • ZenZen Reality and Practice12/26/2017 - 19:36
  • Reference from Academia04/19/2015 - 15:35
  • US Tour 2014 – photo04/27/2014 - 12:51
  • practiceOnline Class – foundation course completed03/09/2014 - 10:56

Categories

  • Buddhist
  • Chinese Philosophy
  • Confucianism
  • Daoism
  • Health
  • News
  • Online Class
  • Spiritual Cultivation
  • Uncategorized
  • Wudang

Contact

To contact Derek you can use the Contact Form on the Contact Page.

© Copyright - Lisiming.net - Shimsy Website design