Date: 12/28/2024 12/29/2024
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
Instructions on the Six Mindfulnesses Practice,Including Buddha Mindfulness
One summer during the rainy season, the Buddha resided at the Jetavana Monastery in the southern suburbs of Shravasti, the capital of Kosala.
After three months of the rainy season, the monks gathered in the dining hall to mend clothes and to sew robes for the Buddha.
At that time, two brothers, Reshita and Purana, happened to be in Shravasti for business. Upon hearing that the Buddha was about to leave the city and travel to other regions, they sent someone to inquire about the Buddha’s movements. The person saw the Buddha and the monks departing from Jetavana and quickly returned to inform the brothers:
“The Buddha and his followers have left their residence and are heading this way.”
The brothers immediately waited by the roadside. When the Buddha arrived, they bowed and said to him:
“World-Honored One! You are leaving Shravasti and traveling to distant places like Kosala, Kashi, Malla, Magadha, Anga, Surasena, Gandhara, and Kalinga. This makes us feel as if our bodies are being torn apart, dizzy and distressed, forgetting the teachings we’ve learned. With your departure, we don’t know when we will see you and the virtuous monks again.”
The Buddha said to them:
“Whether you see the World-Honored One and the virtuous monks or not, you should always practice the Six Remembrances. What are the Six Remembrances?
You should recall the virtues of the Tathagata: the Tathagata is truly worthy of offerings, fully enlightened, a true and righteous practitioner, a complete ender of suffering and death, a knower of the world, an unsurpassed leader of those to be trained, a teacher of gods and humans, a self-enlightened one who enlightens others, and the most revered in the world.
You should recall the Dharma: the true Dharma is clearly taught by the World-Honored One, can be experienced here and now, is open for direct reception, naturally beneficial, available to everyone, can be achieved without dependence on seasons, invites everyone to come and practice, is immediately applicable, and is realized by the wise within.
You should recall the Sangha: the World-Honored One’s disciples, consisting of four pairs and eight ranks, who practice righteous and straightforward, well-principled, and disciplined teachings. They are worthy of respect, worthy of diligent service, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverence, and are the supreme field of blessings in the world.
You should recall the purity of your own morality: this morality is unblemished, unbroken, stainless, flawless, free from forced discipline, praised by the wise, radiant, and conducive to meditation.
You should recall your own generosity: generosity benefits me, helping me escape from the stingy tendencies common in all beings, allowing me to live with a household that is free from the stain of stinginess. I give freely, with my own hands, happily, and with an equal heart.
You should recall the celestial realms: there are the Four Great Kings’ heavens, the Thirty-Three heavens, the Yama heavens, the Tusita heavens, the Nimanarati heavens, the Paranirmitavasavatti heavens, the realms of the Brahma community, and so forth. For rebirth in these heavens, one needs faith, morality, generosity, knowledge, and wisdom, all of which I possess.
By remembering the Tathagata, the Dharma, the Sangha, generosity, morality, and the celestial realms, the mind becomes upright, free from greed, hatred, and delusion. By understanding the path of practice and the teachings, one attains joy in the Dharma, and because of joy, one finds peace, ease, bliss, and concentration. Practicing this way, it is said that the disciple remains awake amid confusion, is righteous amid the misguided, and enters the stream of the Dharma to practice mindfulness of the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, generosity, morality, and the heavens.
Lay followers, household life is full of distractions and defilements. Our wandering, renunciate life, on the other hand, is like a vast, clear sky. Yet, if you can practice diligently at home, it is more than enough.”
“World-Honored One, household life truly is filled with distractions and attachments. I serve as an attendant to King Prasenajit. When the king goes on outings, we have to ride elephants carrying the consorts and attendants. Two consorts sit close on either side of me on the elephant’s back, and I am sandwiched between them. When we go downhill, the one in front holds onto my neck, and the one behind holds my shoulder; when we go uphill, it’s the opposite. These consorts, adorned and fragrant to please the king, are in close contact with me. Yet, at that time, I only focus on three things: first, to control the elephant well, so as not to stray; second, to guard my thoughts, to avoid desires for the consorts, which could lead to disaster; and third, to keep my balance, so I don’t fall. World-Honored One, during those times, no unwholesome thoughts ever arise toward the consorts.”
“Well done! Well done! You are indeed good at guarding your mind,” praised the Buddha.
