..續本文上一頁y known by the wisdom of a buddha. Even Shravaka Arahats are not able to know their origins and developments, and so it is immensely profound. But despite this, when we see the bitter sweet of many people”s lives today, we can infer that these are related to their former lives. These can be well proven when combined with philosophical reasoning.

　　Now, if beings continue to create unwholesome karma, can the great aspiration of Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha be realized

　　 There is no mistake here. Although Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha generated a grand aspiration, it is not necessary for hell to be entirely empty before he would have the chance to attain buddhahood. This grand aspiration mainly represented his supremely noble spirit. For example, a teacher may say: “Until I have finished teaching all students, I would not leave.” But in actual fact, the number of students would continue to increase, and until this teacher passes away, it would still be impossible to finish teaching students. But through this, one can see his particularly great ambition.

　　In Buddhism, whether it is Bodhisattva Manjushri”s or Kshitigarbha”s aspiration, all must liberate all sentient beings before attaining buddhahood. This means the power of their aspiration is very strong. But it does not mean that if all beings are not liberated, they shall never attain buddhahood. Or, if one day all beings were truly liberated, then these bodhisattvas would have nothing to do and be made redundant. This is not the case. Instead, because their aspirations are supremely vast, they would attain buddhahood sooner than bodhisattvas in general.

　　(13) Question: I am a philosophy research student. We often say that when cultivating the mind; empty the mind. From many thoughts, to few thoughts, to one thought, then to no thought. But we have love and kindness, which are also a kind of thought. If there is no thought, then does it not mean that those who are enlightened have no kindness or love

　　Answer: As an awakened being, although there is no discriminating love, there is non-discriminating great love. There is also the great compassion that emerges from non-discrimination.

　　Cultivating the mind to move from many thoughts, to few thoughts, to one thought, then to no thought is a type of staged practice in the Chan tradition. It is necessary for the mind to gradually calm like this. But for us to have love, loving kindness, and compassion in our daily life is not in contradiction to this. For example, when I am in sitting meditation, I abide in the state of no thought. But after I emerge from the meditation, I am able to do more charitable deeds. At that time, because there is the aid of the meditative state, the strength to engage in charity can be elevated.

　　Although love and kindness are discriminating thoughts, but as I said before, they are like the boat to cross the river, and cannot be abandoned in the process of cultivation. While the Chan tradition teaches that all thoughts are the same, unwholesome or wholesome thoughts all must be abandoned; but this is the highest state of realization. Before we reach it, we must cut off unwholesome thoughts and grow wholesome ones. In this process, it is necessary to differentiate between “out of meditation” and “in meditation”. When out of meditation, do more good; when in meditation, do not be attached to anything. The two do not contradict.

　　Regarding Buddha”s non-discriminating great love, there is a particular analogy in Introduction to the Middle Way. When a potter is making pottery; initially great effort is required to turn the wheel. But eventually, when there is sufficient force, even without turning it, the wheel naturally rotates. Similarly, when the Buddha was in the causal stage, he habitually practiced and strengthened hi…

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