(6) No harsh speech is not to say things that are coarse or sardonic. When criticizing others for their wrong deeds we must speak softly instead of using words that are cruel and hurtful.
(7) Not to speak words that are beguiling is to speak words that are moral and beneficial for society. Beguiling words are words that sound nice, but have wrong thoughts and may result in killing, robbery, adultery, falsehood and other sins. They can be meaningless prattle and a waste of time.
(8) Not to be greedy is to take only what you deserve, and to be content with few desires. We should not covet things that do not belong to us.
(9) Not to have any hatred is to have compassion and to refrain from disputes and fights.
(10)To be free from wrong views is to have right under-standing. This means understanding and accepting the Law of Cause and Effect, the existence of past lives and future lives, the cycle of life and death, the state attainable by the saints and Arahats, and that Bodhisattvas and Buddhas are able to release themselves from the cycle of life and death. Do not let wrong thoughts, such as thoughts that claim death as the end of human existence arise.
A Bodhisattva who acts according to the Ten Meritorious Deeds is an apprentice who has initiated the mind of enlightenment that has great emphasis on compassion. He is determined to become a Buddha for the salvation of other sentient beings. To act according to the Ten Meritorious Deeds can be accomplished by almost everyone.
If we say that we cannot perform the ten good deeds, then we must be fooling ourselves. The Buddha-Dharma teaches us that to be a human equipped with a wholesome personality, we should start by observing the Five Precepts and the Ten Meritorious Deeds. The Ten Meritorious deeds are the right actions and conducts for life. However, if a person has high morals and is able to perform the Ten Meritorious Deeds, but lacks compassion, they will only be a sage in the world or a virtuous Human among men. In Buddhism, it is different. The Ten Meritorious Deeds are guided by the mind of compassion, the essence of the mind of enlightenment. Therefore, the Ten Meritorious Deeds are the first steps from Human to Buddhahood.
Everyone should consider Buddha as the ideal, be dedicated to seek enlightenment, and practise the Ten Meritorious Deeds. Besides we should also repent, set vows, pay respect to the Buddharupa, meditate on the Buddha, and be enthusiastic to protect the Dharma as we would protect our own life. We should not think "As long as I am following the Buddha, that is good enough". We should also care about what is happening to Buddhism in the world. Should Buddhism meet with any disaster or destruction, we must protect it for our own faith as well as for the spiritual life of all sentient beings. There are many things a Bodhisattva should do which cannot be covered by this brief address. Last but not least, I hope that you all will start to take this first step in practising the Mahayana Buddhism. Try to be a Bodhisattva-child, cultivate your compassion and practise the Ten Meritorious Deeds.
Translated by Neng Rong, edited by Mick Kiddle, proofread by Neng Rong (14-5-1995).
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