Master Chin Kung - Essence of Vajra Sutra # 4 B 金剛經要義

(English subtitles) Buddhist Master Chin-Kung (淨空法師), 1927-2022, talks dharma.
Subtitles:
When I was young, I studied philosophy alone with Mr. Fāng, Dongmei.
At that time I had a job and wanted to audit his class at school. Fāng knew me well that I was studious and willing to learn, Besides, I had no previous studies and had a keen interest in this course. So he wouldn't let me go to the school to audit his class, but let me come to his house every Sunday, giving me 2 hours of lessons, and I was the only student. We had this one-on-one lesson at a small round table in his small living room.
1:00
I am very grateful for this teaching, but I didn’t realize until I studied Buddhism that I realized how much Master Fang cared for me. I was very grateful for this teaching.
I didn't understand the painstaking care of Professor Fang until I began to study Buddhism. Why didn't he let me go to school? If I went to school, I'd get to know a lot of my classmates, and know a lot of teachers. In other words, I will practice mixed and disorderly, and I will be chaotic. He wouldn't let me contact others except him. So he also used an analogy at that time, saying it was like writing or painting. This student was very interested in this but never studied before. This is a blank slate. This piece of white paper is very precious.
2:00
He can draw or write whatever he likes on it. He said, If this paper is dirty, a newspaper, or a mess inside, you can't do anything with it.
At that time, he cherished as if I was a blank sheet of paper that had never been tainted. That's why he cherished me so much and never let me be contaminated. This is called teacher succession, and it shows the teacher’s love for his students.
After I contacted Buddhism, I came to know Master Janggya. Master Janggya’s attitude was the same as Mr. Fang. I also met him 1 to 2 hours every week. I followed Master Janggya for 3 years. A year after the Master passed away, I met Venerable Layman Li, Bingnan.
3:00
So before I met Layman Li, I had two teachers. So what I learned was very simple, and with all my heartfelt admiration for my teachers. I fulfilled my teacher's teachings seriously.
After arriving in Taichung, it was no longer a blank sheet of paper. It had been tainted by Mr. Fang and Master Janggya. Fortunately, I had only been tainted by two people, tainted lightly and not serious.
Thus, I went to see Mr. Li, and he said bluntly, I do not recognize what you have learned in the past, and all of it is invalid. From today onward, accept my teachings in full. Everything in the past is voided.
4:00
At that time, he offered three conditions. It was only later that we realized that these 3 conditions were not his innovation, but had been passed down from generation to generation.
The first condition is that you can only listen to him when listening to the sermons and the studying Dharma. You are not allowed to listen to any other monks, laypeople, or masters giving lectures except him.
The 2nd is that when reading a book, whether it is a Buddhist book or any book, you must get his permission. If he disagrees, you are disallowed to read it.
The 3rd condition is that everything you have learned before will be voided, I will not recognize it, and you will have to start from scratch. These three conditions. On hearing it at that time, we thought the teacher was very domineering,
5:00
seemed to look down on everyone. However, after thinking it over, I finally accepted it.
The teacher requires, in 5 years, one must uphold these 3 commandments. This is called five years of studying commandments. But this method is good. It blocks your ears and doesn't let you hear; it blinds your eyes and doesn't let you see. After I stopped watching and listening for 3 months, I had fewer delusions and vexations really, and I seemed to be a little cleverer than before.
Being clever is wisdom. It took effect in three months and significant effect in half a year. Only then did I realize that the teacher’s method was brilliant. So the teacher asked me to observe for 5 years, and I voluntarily added 5 years.
6:00
In total, I extended his conditions to 10 years, and this laid the foundation.
The first time I went to Singapore ten years ago. I met Master Yanpei and we chatted about these things. Master Yanpei told me that when he was a young novice monk at Guanzong Temple, Monk Dixian also taught him these 3 conditions, and he was very unconvinced at the time. Then we suddenly realized, it turns out that these 3 conditions have been passed down from generation to generation in our Buddhist community.
When you approach a virtuous knowledge, you must obey him 100%. Only listen to one person, not a second person, and your mind will be settled.