Teachings of Hsuan Hua

[Nicholas Weeks]

From vol. one of his Talks on Dharma:

Since everything is impermanent, we should quickly find a refuge. All of you can count yourselves lucky,
for you have searched around and finally come to believe in the Buddha. Faith in the Buddha enables us to
attain the ultimate happiness of permanence, joy. true self, and purity. Therefore we should believe in the
Buddha. But it’s not enough to say that we believe. We also have to cultivate according to the Dharma. If
you believe but don't cultivate, its like talking about food without eating it, or counting the wealth of others
—it doesn’t benefit you in the least.
So the ancients said

The Way must he practiced. If it is not
practiced, what use is the Way?
Virtue must he cultivated. If it is not cultivated.
from where does virtue come?

[Nicholas Weeks]

We should personally practice, always hanging the words “birth ” and “death” on our brows, and putting
the words “Way” and “virtue” beneath our feet. Maybe that’s hard to understand—why should we put the
words “Way” and “virtue” under our feet? Because the Way and virtue are a person’s foundation. They
are to us what roots are to a tree. Once we have the Way and virtue, we can stand on our own feet. But
with no base under our feet, we have no place to stand. We are in a fix, unable to advance or retreat, and
we cannot accomplish anything. If we can actually practice these two things, then we can establish a good
character and naturally be successful in whatever we do.
So it’s said, “The Way and virtue are the foundation of being a person.”
The Analects of Confucius also say, “The superior person attends to the
root. When the root is established, the Way comes forth.” Only when the fundamentals are tended to can
the Way come forth. This is wise advice from the ancients.

Master Hsuan Hua

[Nicholas Weeks]

Here are many years of his talks:

http://www.bplmonastery.org/vm-huas-tal ... harma.html

[Nicholas Weeks]

http://www.drbachinese.org/online_readi ... -ce-03.htm

Talk given in 1958: The Land of Ultimate Bliss Is Right Before Our Eyes

[Nicholas Weeks]

Master Hua is a Bodhisattva, so he taught many sorts of virtue in addition to varieties of Mahayana. Many thought of him as a Chan Master, yet that was only part of his greatness.

Anyway here is a sketch of his life plus some of his teachings on Chan and more.

http://www.cttbusa.org/listen/listen2.asp.html

[bodom]

Is there some teaching by the venerable that clearly shows a connection to the Theravadan tradition that you would like to discuss?

[Nicholas Weeks]

Is there some teaching by the venerable that clearly shows a connection to the Theravadan tradition that you would like to discuss?

Would prefer that you or some other Theravadin would read some of the quotes and express your views on their harmony or not with your understanding.

The May 30 quote at top of this page on impermanence, could save you all that research labor.

[bodom]

Is there some teaching by the venerable that clearly shows a connection to the Theravadan tradition that you would like to discuss?

Would prefer that you or some other Theravadin would read some of the quotes and express your views on their harmony or not with your understanding.

The May 30 quote at top of this page on impermanence, could save you all that research labor.

I'm sorry but that Is your responsibility as the OP to show the connection.

[Nicholas Weeks]

A playlist of several disciples talking about his verbal & non-verbal teachings:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... buVWVofA68

[Nicholas Weeks]

The Buddha’s four measureless attitudes of kindness, compassion, joy, and even-mindedness are totally advantageous to all creatures. When we base ourselves in thoughts such as these, then we can go ahead and put technology to work for us.

Don’t get scared when you hear me call television, radios, and computers “man-eating goblins.” No need to be afraid. My hope is that you will clearly recognize these things for what they are. Once you recognize them, those electric gadgets lose their power to confuse you. But if you’re confused by them, then they can gobble you down.

Spring Sun, Lotus Flower

Passage in bold = 4 Brahma Viharas, also valued in Theravada.

[Nicholas Weeks]

During your meditation, you should work hard and advance with determination. Reflect inwardly, seek
your true self. Ask yourself, “How many evil thoughts have I created” How many good thoughts? How
main idle thoughts have I let arise?” Take an inventory:

Bring forth the good thoughts that have not yet arisen;
Increase the good thoughts that have already arisen.
Suppress the evil thoughts that have not yet emerged;
Wipe out all the evil thoughts that have already occurred.

This is the foundation of a beginner’s career in cultivation.

[Nicholas Weeks]

The world faces imminent destruction because peoples’ evil thoughts outnumber their good thoughts. A
thought of goodness increases the proper energy in the world; a thought of evil increases the world’s bad energy. We want to transform bad energy into auspicious, peaceful energy. Bad energy refers to noxious, toxic energy. Each thought of greed increases the harmful energy in the universe. Each thought of hatred increases the harmful energy in the universe. Each thought of stupidity increases the harmful energy in the
universe. If we do things using greed, hatred, and stupidity, then the world will be a murky, dark place,
and disasters will occur. If we use precepts, concentration, and wisdom to solve our problems, then
heaven and earth will be pure and peaceful. That’s why it’s said that wherever evil people prevail,
calamities will abound. Wherever good people prevail, good fortune will abound. In general, both
disasters and good fortune are made by people.

[Nicholas Weeks]

http://www.cttbusa.org/dharmatalks/fas.htm

Avatamsaka Sutra as Mother of All Buddhas.

[Nicholas Weeks]

http://www.cttbusa.org/dharmatalks/fas.htm

Avatamsaka Sutra as Mother of All Buddhas.

How Master's talk begins:

The Flower Adornment Sutra is the Sutra of the Dharma Realm and the Sutra of Empty Space. To the exhaustion of the Dharma Realm and empty space there is no place where the Flower Adornment Sutra is not present. Wherever the Flower Adornment Sutra is found, the Buddha is to be found, and also the Dharma and the Sangha of Worthy Sages.

That is why when the Buddha accomplished Proper Enlightenment, he wished to speak the Great Flower Adornment Sutra to teach and transform the Great Knights of the Dharma Body. Since this Sutra was a Sutra of inconceivable wonder, it was then concealed within the Dragons' Palace for the Dragon King to protect. Afterwards, Nagarjuna—"Dragon Tree" Bodhisattva went to the Dragons' Palace, memorized it, and brought it back.

[Nicholas Weeks]

Cultivate with great vigor, like Buddha:

http://www.cttbusa.org/emulate_buddha/i ... spirit.htm

In his quest for perfect wisdom, the Buddha dedicated his life to vigorous cultivation. How can we expect to achieve Buddhahood without any effort at all?