..续本文上一页ving.

　　When you pause, you might discover that the peace brought about by contentment is actually a deep need within us. Whenever I leave behind the hubbub of cities to return to the monastery, there always arises an indescribable joy in my heart – perhaps it is the satisfaction of returning to nature. At that moment, I deeply feel that: happiness does not come from wealth, but from inner fulfilment and joy. The adage of “a contented mind is a perpetual feast” is true!

　　Of course, if a person cannot even meet the basic living conditions, then that would also bring many worries. But the worries of many people today are not because of this, but because of discontentment. Discontent, therefore they continue to pursue; when there is pursuit, worries naturally follow. Therefore, if one wishes to reduce worries, the only method is to be content and to crave less.

　　For a city person, to be content and crave less one just needs to accord with the conditions – if there are no causes and conditions, then be at peace with whatever one encounters; if the causes and conditions are there, then make a little more money, but do not overly demand it. Also, once you have money, it is best that you can help those around you who can barely find enough food, and even to help those who were caught in disasters. If one merely indulges in self-centered and illusory happiness after attaining wealth, then in retrospect, it is also without much meaning.

　　Therefore, being content and craving less is a type of wisdom. Under the care and guidance of this wisdom, you would live positively, do what needs to be done, say what needs to be said. At the same time, because you are content and crave less, there will definitely be fewer worries.

　　 (12) Question: I am a Mechanical Engineering student here. In Buddhism there are the concepts of “signs” and “mind”. What is meant by “signs are born of the mind”

　　Answer: “Signs are born of the mind” is the view of the Yogacara School (consciousness-only school). According to this view, all internal and external manifestations are produced by the mind. It is like being in a dream – nothing is real in a dream; all are products of the mind.

　　To make sense of this idea, you can study Twenty Verses on Consciousness-Only, Thirty Verses on Consciousness-Only, and other sutras like the Surangama Sutra and the Lankavatara Sutra. Once you understand, you will know what is meant by “the three realms are only mind, the myriad dharmas are only consciousness”. The myriad phenomena in the world are not produced from anywhere, but the confused manifestations of our mind after it has been obscured by ignorance. These “signs”, no matter inner or outer, do they actually exist

　　 They do exist, but only as illusions of the mind.

　　 (13) Question: Another set of concepts are “form” and “emptiness”, the so-called “form is emptiness, emptiness is form”. But if form is emptiness, for example an ant, if the form of an ant is empty, then why should we discriminate between being compassionate towards it and harbouring an unwholesome mind towards it

　　 Further, if compassion and unwholesome mind are themselves empty, then why be attached to wholesome or unwholesome

　　Answer: “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form” is the fundamental idea of the Middle Way, as well as the core content of the Heart Sutra. I have explained this when I previously talked about the Heart Sutra. The so-called “form” refers to things that our eyes see. Its substance is empty, and this can be reasoned and validated by Middle Way theories. But this is speaking from the angle of true reality, that is to say, in the state of realization of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, on the level of the original nature of all dharma, form and emptiness are inpisibly one. However, from the manifest reali…

《Question and answer at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…