..續本文上一頁ou can be of one substance with everybody, then that is real compassion." If you can see that other people”s faults and your own are the same, then that”s really being able to have great compassion. If you can think this way, then there will be no difficulties or bitterness at all.
Student: First I want to say that I am really happy to be here and get this small taste over the weekend of Buddhism, and I hope to read more on it. I am of the Jewish faith and the Master several times referred to the five great religions and Judaism was not in there, which may be understandable, but I would want to know how Buddhism relates or how it can be incorporated into Judaism
Ven. Master: Judaism is just Buddhism, and Buddhism is just Catholicism. Same medicine, different bottle. So, there are no real differences between the Five Religions. People”s natures develop differently, yet it all still comes from the Buddha nature. No matter what religion I meet with, I feel I am a member of that religion. I don”t have my own religion. I”m like a little ant or mosquito, I want to drink a little of whoever”s blood it is. Wherever I am, I want to run around a little. I myself am nothing but a small ant or a mosquito. Some people started a rumor that I”m a frog spirit, and I said, "OK, that”s fine."
Student: I have a question about desires and I was wondering if I could get some advice on how to differentiate between wrong desires and right desires.
Ven. Master: If you are being selfish, then it”s wrong; if you”re not being selfish, then it”s right. If what you are doing accords with true principle, then it”s right. If what you are doing does not go along with true principle, then it”s wrong. If it is something that is just going to benefit yourself, then it”s wrong. If it”s something that”s going to benefit others, then it”s right. And to get into it any deeper, I don”t know. So, if your desire is something that you can let everyone know about, then it is right. If your desire is something to feel shameful about, then this is a wrong desire. If in front of people you behave yourself like a gentleman, but in the darkness when no one sees you, you act like a ghost, and if, when you attend to business, you cheat people, then this kind of behavior is all wrong.
True principle and human desire are not far from each other; if there is one mind, then they are close to each other. I”m afraid today I don”t have enough time to explain the Ten Dharma Realms in detail. But twenty years ago I wrote a poem describing them. If any one of you is interested, this book has been translated into English and you can find it here.
I”ll just tell you their names for the time being. There are the Dharma Realms of Buddhas, of Bodhisattvas, of Pratyeka Buddhas, of Arhats, (Sound-Hearers), of Gods, of humans, of Asurasa, of animals, ghosts, and hell-dwellers.
Well you should all go eat right away. You”ll never get full by just listening to me. It”s time to eat! I hope after hearing this talk, everyone will not be as stupid as I am.
《宣化上人對漢堡大學學生開示 Master Hua Speaks to Students Visiting From Humboldt State University》全文閱讀結束。