Positive Belief vs Superstition 4/7 - Must Purify your Heart for Rebirth in Pure Land 正信 vs 迷信

(English subtitles) Lectured by Daoist teacher Rui-Lie Lee (李瑞烈, 1921-2015)
Subtitles:
Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. We've talked about positive belief in the last session. Then what is positive belief? The reverse of superstition is positive belief. Any religion has a superstitious side. On the contrary, it also has a positive side of belief. Superstition is that one doesn't cultivate himself but only hopes the Buddha to ferry him or only hopes God to receive him. Only replies on God or Buddha to cease the cycle of rebirth. This is superstition. If one really wants to cease birth and death, he must practice himself, awaken himself,
and cultivate morals. I have cited many proofs in the previous sessions. Tonight, let's quote another phrase in the Platform Sutra by Sixth Patriarch: If one didn't do any evil, the West is not far away. If one has evil mind and chants the Buddha
to seek rebirth in the West, It's hard to reach there, It's difficult to reach that place. If you are not kind, chanting Buddha is in vain. It's not me to say that, It's the 6th patriarch, Hei Nan, said that.
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It also says in the Sutra by Sixth Patriarch: If you do the 10 virtues. That is, mouth has 4 virtues - No Bad words, No Gossip, No Lie, No Flatter; mind has 3 virtues - Not Greedy, Not Resentful, Not Obsessed; body has 3 virtues - No Participate in Killing, No Steal, Not Lewd. It's 10 virtues in total. If you do 10 virtues, why need you vow to seek rebirth in the West? You don't need to vow and you can reach the West.
If you haven't ceased the thoughts of 10 evils, which buddha will welcome you after you die? It's faster if you call the Bull Head and Horse Face to drag you. If you can instantly comprehend the dharma of no birth and no death, If you want to go to the West, It's only a ksana, ksana is just a blink of an eye. If you can't comprehend, even if you chant Buddha from morning to night to seek rebirth in the West. It is a long distance. How will you reach there?
Thus, we can realize If one is not kind, chanting Buddha is useless. The Analects of the Utmost by the 5th Patriarch. The 5th Patriarch, Master Hong Ren, is the master of the 6th Patriarch. The 6th Patriarch said:
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You often chant the Buddha of the other side. You chant that Buddha's name for the entire lifetime. What is the Buddha of the other side? The Buddha on that shore, like Amitabha, Sakyamuni. All are the Buddhas on that shore. You have chanted those Buddhas for the entire life, still are not free from reincarnation. You have chanted Buddhas for the entire life, still need to reincarnate.
If you can keep your original heart, that's your self nature. Then you can reach the other shore where the Buddha is. If you can keep your original heart, It exceeds chanting other Buddhas. Everyday, Amitabha Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha, Guan Shi Yin Pusa (Avalokitesvara), Maitreya Buddha, all are other Buddhas. The Buddhas on that side. You yourself must have bodhicitta. Without bodhicitta, a lifetime of chanting buddha is to no avail.
It says in the Analects of Instant Awakening, One man came to ask the patriarch. I would like to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. Is there really such a Western Pure Land? This man is doubtful about the West. Is there such a pure land? The patriarch said: The sutra said, What is the sutra? It's the Sutra of Vimalakīrti.
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Some said Vimalakīrti was a layman. You say only when a person is enlightened can his book be called a sutra. Why was Vimalakīrti a layman and people call his book a sutra. You must know that although Vimalakirti was a layman, he was a lay Buddha. His mind has reached the state of Buddhahood. If you study Vimalakirti Sutra, you will know. Sometimes, Sakyamuni Buddha's disciples are repeatedly pondering his words, not able to comprehend, except Vimalakirti. At that time, Sakyamuni Buddha knew Vimalakirti had reached the state of enlightenment.
So he dispatched his disciples to Vimalakirti to ask questions if they were confused. When some of his disciples came to Vimalakirti to discuss the Dharma with him, everyone was asked questions in return and was left speechless. Finally, Manjusri, a great Bodhisattva, went to Vimalakirti, only then was it possible to even the debate. Only Manjusri Bodhisattva could be equal to Vimalakirti. No one else could do it. Then you know how high the level of Vimalakirti is. He has reached the state of Buddhahood. So you can not say one can't attain Buddhahood at home. Even if you practice at home, you can become a Buddha. It depends on your state of mind.