The wind blows the weak tree and the wind blows the rock
If a person pursues the pleasures of the body, does not know how to control the senses, does not know how to eat and drink in moderation, is lazy and does not know how to be diligent, he will definitely be destroyed by Mara (impermanence), just like the wind blowing a weak tree.
If a person observes the impurity of the body, controls the senses, eats in moderation, and has faith and diligence, then the devil (impermanence) cannot destroy him, just like the wind blowing a rock.
The brothers Mahakala and Little Kala were both businessmen. Once when they were traveling for business, they heard the Buddha's teachings. After listening, Mahakala devoutly became a monk. Although Little Kala also became a monk, he did not have a firm belief.
After becoming a monk, Mahakala worked hard to meditate in the cemetery and contemplate the changes and impermanence of the body. Finally, he deeply observed and attained the state of arahant. On the contrary, Little Kala had no interest in the training and improvement of the mind, and was always thinking about the pleasures of the senses.
Later, one time, the Buddha and many of his disciples, including the two of them, stayed in the forest of Sīśāvā. At this time, the wives and concubines of Little Kala who had not yet ordained invited the Buddha and many of the bhikkhus to Little Kala’s former home. Little Kala therefore went home first to arrange the seating arrangements for the Buddha and the bhikkhus, and his wives and concubines took the opportunity to persuade him to return to secular life.
The next day, Mahakala’s wives and concubines also invited the Buddha and the bhikkhus to Mahakala’s former home. They hoped that they could persuade Mahakala to return to secular life like the wives and concubines of Little Kala. After offering the offerings, they asked the Buddha to let Mahakala stay to show their support. The Buddha agreed and left with the other bhikkhus, leaving Mahakala alone.
When they arrived at the village gate, the bhikkhus told the Buddha that they were worried that Mahakala would be persuaded by his wives and concubines to return to secular life like his younger brother. The Buddha replied that the two brothers were different. Little Kala was addicted to sensual pleasures and had a weak heart. On the contrary, Mahakala was free from the bondage of the senses, diligent, steadfast, and had a strong faith in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
The Buddha said that those who are weak in heart succumb to temptation, while those who are strong are unmoved, like a huge rock that is not moved by a hurricane.
Those who find fault with others and get angry easily will have more afflictions and will be far away from the state of eliminating all delusion. (Dhammapada, verse 253)
The hatred in the world cannot stop hatred, only compassion can stop hatred.
Buddhism explicitly opposes spells, elixirs, fortune-telling, and predictions of life span and fortune: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, who is single-mindedly contemplating the Buddha's Way, does not perform spells, combine various elixirs, curse ghosts and gods, predict good and bad fortune, or predict the length of life for the sake of a pure life. Why? Subhuti, this Bodhisattva Mahasattva knows that all dharmas are empty in themselves, and does not see the characteristics of all dharmas, so he does not practice evil, but a pure life. - "Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra. Volume 17. Firmness Chapter 56"
Those who accumulate virtue in secret will definitely be rewarded in the open; those who accumulate good deeds silently will definitely have a prominent reputation. —Huainanzi, written by Liu An, King of Huainan in the Western Han Dynasty
The mind is the forerunner of all dharmas, the mind is the mastermind of all creation. If a person commits evil deeds with his body, speech, and mind, he will surely suffer the consequences, just as an ox cart follows the ox's footprints. - Dhammapada
When it comes to good deeds, a sage will do everything he can to promote them; when it comes to mistakes, he will correct them no matter how small they are.
If there are sentient beings who are full of lust, they should always recite and respect Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. They will be free from lust. If there are many anger, they should always recite and respect Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. They will be free from anger. If there are many stupidities, they should always recite and respect Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. They will be free from stupidity. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva has such great power and can benefit many people. Therefore, sentient beings should always recite in their hearts. --Remember in the heart, think in the heart. The scriptures do not mention reciting aloud. Reciting aloud is easy to become a formality. Reciting aloud without combining with thoughts is prohibited by Buddhism: "If you see me with your eyes and seek me with your voice, you are walking the wrong path and cannot see the Tathagata." Tathagata means true nature. True nature is neither outside nor inside, neither in words nor in language. True nature is in self-nature. Reciting aloud has nothing to do with self-nature, so reciting aloud is mostly about grasping. Thoughts are always about focusing the mind, and focusing the mind leads to liberation and freedom. Get Free Bodhisattva is just another name for Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. Get Free, be the master of yourself. You can be the master of your mind, and be free. If the mind is the master of you, then you are not free. (Mind: greed, anger, and ignorance.) Recite the name of the Bodhisattva in your mind, concentrate your mind and be in a right mind, and then you will be free.
The past, the present, will never come back after the past. The red fallen leaves are buried in the dust forever.
Children, even if they are rewarded with carriages and horses by the monarch for being officials, do not ride in them because of the etiquette, for fear of exceeding the enjoyment of their parents. Such people are called filial sons by the people in the village. Children who spend more than their parents are considered to be violating etiquette. Etiquette does not refer to etiquette, but to the behavioral norms that make people human. Parrots can speak, but they are still birds; orangutans can speak, but they are still animals. Only humans can follow etiquette and be different from animals. - "Book of Rites"
A man who has not become more virtuous than he was yesterday has certainly lived in vain. Every day lived in vain is a life lived in vain. Filling one's stomach is not a virtue.
No matter how others do it, the final result is that I realize the seriousness and consequences of the problem and correct the mistake, which is the most important thing. I hope that the reflection can be remembered. I should not be resentful of the person who caused me to reflect. I should improve myself. Control my thoughts. Only by looking for the problem in myself can I change.
When Yang Zhen was in his fifties, he was promoted to the post of governor of Jingzhou and governor of Donglai. When he was on his way to Donglai County, he passed by Changyi County. A long time ago, Wang Mi, a scholar recommended by Yang Zhen, was the magistrate of Changyi County at that time. In order to thank Yang Zhen for his recommendation, Wang Mi brought ten pounds of gold to Yang Zhen at night. Yang Zhen said: "As an old friend, I know you, but you don't know me. What's going on?" Wang Mi said: "No one knows about this at night." Yang Zhen said: "Heaven knows, the gods know, I know, you know, how can you say no one knows!" Wang Mi had to leave.
Since Yang Zhen, four generations of Yang Zhen's family have served as "three officials" in succession, and they have been able to maintain the reputation of "clean officials" from generation to generation. According to the "Book of the Later Han Dynasty·Biography of Yang Zhen", "from Zhen to Biao, four generations of Taiwei, virtue and career have been passed down", and each generation "can maintain the family tradition and is respected by the world". The "Sizhi Hall" and "Qingbai Hall", named after Yang Zhen's "Four Knowledges", are spread all over the world. There are ancestral halls built by Yang's descendants to commemorate Yang Zhen in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and other countries.
Emperor Dongyue said: "Doing good is like the grass in the fields in spring. Although you can't see it growing, it actually grows every day; doing evil is like a sharpening stone. Although you can't see it decreasing, it actually loses every day. So disasters and blessings are shifting in secret, and confused people can't detect it."
Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty, said: "All places where blessings are planted are inseparable from people's hearts."
The Buddhist scriptures say: "The good and bad fortune of all living beings are created by their own hearts." It also says: "The operation of sin and blessing, the results of pain and happiness, are all caused by the three karmas of body, speech and mind, and are the result of the inspiration of the heart."
If you have anger and adultery in your heart, you are planting the cause of rebirth in hell;
If you think Greed and reluctance to give, you are planting the causes of rebirth in the realm of hungry ghosts.
If one's mind is obscured by ignorance and delusion, it is the cause of rebirth in the realm of animals.
If one is attached, arrogant, proud, and conceited, it is the cause of rebirth in the realm of Asuras.
If one can practice the five precepts of no killing, no stealing, no adultery, no lying, and no drinking alcohol, it is the cause of rebirth in the human realm.
If one can practice the ten virtues, it is the cause of rebirth in the heavenly realm.
If one can realize that everything in life is empty, it is the cause of becoming a Sravaka.
If one can understand the cause and condition and free one's nature from the attachment of all karma, it is the cause of creating the fruit of the pratyekabuddha.
If one can practice the six perfections together, it is the cause of becoming a bodhisattva.
If one can make one's mind truly compassionate and equal, it is the cause of becoming a Buddha.
If the mind is pure, then one will be reborn in a pure land with fragrant flowers, lotus platforms, and seven-treasure trees;
If the mind is stained with dust, then one will be reborn in a filthy land with hills, pits, and pits.
This is not from the sky, nor from the earth, but is caused by the first thought in the heart. Apart from the factors of the heart, nothing else can cause this result.
So the motivation for induction is very subtle. The path of good and evil is extremely dangerous. And the most difficult thing to control is the human heart. It jumps when it touches something, or sinks into the abyss, or flies in the sky; it moves with the delusion, sometimes the emotion is like frozen ice, sometimes like burning fire, the difference is really too big.
Therefore, the ancients were very diligent. During the day, they examined themselves with Zengzi's three self-examinations, and at night, they encouraged themselves with Yang Zhen's four knowledges. They also worked hard and tirelessly to do good deeds from the crowing of the cock in the morning. They kept this in mind all the time, hoping that the mirror of their hearts would always be pure and clear. If they can do this, they can decide their good and evil deeds, and they can decide their own fortunes and disasters, so they can control their destiny. Therefore, when we talk about the principle that fortune and misfortune are self-inspirited, tracing back to the root cause, it is the intention.
—Compilation of the Induction Chapters