- Revealing the Universe and Our True Nature
🧘 Understanding Cultivation (修) and Practice (行)
Cultivation refers to correction, and practice refers to applying these corrections in our thoughts and actions. Actions can be categorized into three aspects:
- 💭 Thoughts – The movement of the mind.
- 🗣️ Speech – The words we say.
- 🚶 Physical Actions – The bodily movements we make.
All actions ultimately fall under body, speech, and mind. When errors arise, how do we determine what is right or wrong? In Buddhism, particularly in the Mahayana tradition, the standard is our true nature (自性), also known as Dharma-nature (法性).
- ✅ Actions aligned with true nature are righteous and lead to well-being—bringing mental clarity, harmony, and stability.
- ❌ Actions contradicting true nature cause suffering and disharmony.
Our thoughts and actions affect not only our relationships but also the physical world, the environment, and even the entire universe. 🌏✨
📖 The Universal Principles of the Mahayana (大乘佛法) Teachings
🔍 Why Do Thoughts Shape Reality?
The Mahayana Buddhist teachings highlight two fundamental truths realized by Buddhas:
- "Phenomena arise from the mind, and environments shift according to the heart." (相由心生，境随心转) 💡
- "All things originate from thoughts." (一切法从心想生) 🧠
These principles explain why our inner thoughts create our external world. If we fully grasp these truths, we will not only solve personal struggles but also understand universal reality. 🌌
🧑🤝🧑 The Nature of Sentient Beings and the Concept of "Self"
The Buddha emphasized that his realizations are not exclusive to him—all sentient beings inherently possess the same wisdom and potential. 🌱
Who Are Sentient Beings?
- The term "sentient beings" (众生) does not only refer to humans or animals. 🐾
- In Buddhist philosophy, it refers to any phenomenon that arises due to the coming together of causes and conditions.
- Everything exists due to interdependent conditions—nothing arises independently. 🔄
For example, human existence is composed of:
- 🌍 Four Great Elements (四大) – Earth, water, fire, wind (physical matter).
- 🌀 Five Aggregates (五蕰) – Form, feeling, perception, mental formations, consciousness.
Thus, everything in the universe consists of both matter and consciousness. 🏯✨
🌌 The Origin of the Universe and Life
Where does the universe come from? Where does life come from? Where do we come from? 🤔
The Mahayana sutras explain that everything arises from the mind and transforms through consciousness. 🧘
- "Mind" (心) is synonymous with "true nature" (性)—the fundamental essence of all existence. ✨
- This "mind-nature" is neither material nor spiritual, yet it manifests as both matter and consciousness.
- All things originate from this fundamental nature. 🔄
🔬 Scientific Alignment with Buddhism
Modern science suggests that the universe consists of three fundamental elements:
- ⚡ Energy
- 🪨 Matter
- 🧠 Information
This aligns with the Buddhist concept of Storehouse Consciousness (阿赖耶识, Ālaya-vijñāna):
- Karma-characteristic (业相) = Energy 🔥
- Perception-characteristic (视相) = Information 📜
- Phenomenal-characteristic (境界相) = Matter 🏔️
Everything in existence is simply a transformation of these three aspects, a concept modern science is only beginning to explore. 🔬
🌟 The Six Spiritual Abilities (六通)
Buddhism teaches that all sentient beings naturally possess six extraordinary abilities (六通), but they remain obstructed due to attachments and delusions. These abilities include:
- 👁️ Heavenly Eye (天眼通) – The ability to see beyond ordinary vision, perceiving distant worlds and beings beyond human sight.
- 👂 Heavenly Ear (天耳通) – The ability to hear distant or subtle sounds that are inaudible to ordinary ears.
- 💭 Mind-Reading (他心通) – The ability to perceive the thoughts and emotions of others.
- 🌍 Past-Life Recall (宿命通) – The ability to remember past lives and understand karmic causes and effects across time.
- 🚀 Supernatural Travel (神足通) – The ability to move instantly across vast distances without physical constraints.
- 🔄 Liberation from Rebirth (漏尽通) – The wisdom to completely eliminate afflictions and transcend the cycle of reincarnation (samsara).
🧘 Why Does the Buddha Have These Supernatural Powers While We Do Not?
The Buddha did not possess anything supernatural—he simply let go of delusions, discriminations, and attachments. 🚫💭
- By doing so, his natural abilities fully returned. 🔄
- Everything he saw and spoke of was based on direct experience, not speculation or imagination. 🛤️
🚧 What Blocks Us from These Supernatural Powers?
❌ False Views and Attachments
The primary obstacles preventing us from accessing our full potential are false views and attachments. The Srotaapanna (First Stage of Arhatship) achieves realization by overcoming five key misconceptions:
- 🚫 The misconception that the physical body is the self.
- ⚖️ Overcoming dualistic thinking (边观) – The belief in absolute opposites (e.g., good vs. evil, self vs. others).
- 🔍 Letting go of preconceived judgments (成观) – The habit of believing "I am right" and dismissing different perspectives.
- 🧹 Releasing all incorrect perceptions – Gradually correcting one's false views of reality.
🌟 The Restoration of Spiritual Abilities
By overcoming these false views, the Srotaapanna regains two spiritual abilities:
- 👁️ Heavenly Eye (天眼通) – Seeing beyond ordinary vision.
- 👂 Heavenly Ear (天耳通) – Hearing distant or subtle sounds beyond normal perception.
💡 Can We Regain These Abilities?
Yes! The Buddha teaches that we also have this ability—we only need to let go to regain it. ✨
This can be tested like a scientific experiment:
- ✅ Try it yourself—let go and observe.
- ✅ The moment you let go, your wisdom begins to return.
- ✅ Doesn’t this prove these teachings are real? 🤯
🕊️ The Root Cause of Mental Agitation and Suffering
In daily life, where do people exist mentally? 🤯
- ⚡ Restlessness and anxiety.
- 🤔 What causes this instability?
- 🌀 Delusions, discriminations, and attachments.
As long as these disturbances persist, our innate wisdom and virtues remain blocked. Instead, what arises are distorted perceptions, afflictions, and disasters. 🌪️
🏆 The Ultimate Guiding Principle of Buddhist Practice
To liberate oneself, one must:
- 🛤️ Recognize that suffering comes from within.
- 🧹 Let go of mental clinging.
- 🧘 Restore natural wisdom and inner peace.
This is the highest guidance in Buddhist cultivation—an awareness that leads to true liberation. 🏯✨