(continued from previous issue)

Aye, you only just started your cultivation in the "path of accumulation." What is the path of accumulation? Upholding the Five Precepts and performing the Ten Virtuous deeds, these are the path of accumulation. Members of the Tzu Chi Foundation are performing the practice of the path of accumulation. Doing good deeds to increase your blessing is the path of accumulation. If you uphold the precepts and do good deeds, that is practicing the path of accumulation. Then, practicing homa, offerings, great homage, repentance, chanting mantra, chanting dharani, these are all the "path of initial application." You may have completed the path of initial application, but have you attained the state of comprehending the heart's nature of the great virtuous wise teacher? Has he transmitted the genuine essence of the dharma to you? Has he entrusted the dharma to you? What is this "knowing the heart's nature?" What is this "seeing Buddha nature"? If at this time, you realize what is called knowing the heart's nature, and what is seeing Buddha nature, then this is precisely perfectly completing the "path of seeing" [the ultimate truth]. You have seen the ultimate truth, have seen the genuine Buddha, have seen the genuine heart of the Tathagata, and then this is perfectly completing the "path of seeing."

Subsequently, you have to cultivate the path. Since you understand the heart of the Tathagata, have seen the path, then you must have bodhicitta aspiration, to become a genuine Buddhist disciple. To start on this path of cultivation, you must reach realization and help others reach realization. When you have completed the process of awakening, then you have progressed from the "path of seeing" to the "path of cultivation," perfect completion of the cultivation.

(to be continued)

《本文譯自蓮生活佛在休士頓密儀雷藏寺傳時輪金剛法的開示》