Venerable Buddhist teachers often say that “A practitioner must transform their mind” When the mind changes for the better, behavior will naturally follow. If we only change our behavior without changing our minds, it is simply putting on a show. We may appear unattached on the outside, but inside we are still filled with delusions and attachments. The most important thing is to cultivate our minds.
It is impossible to achieve success in Buddhism without samadhi and wisdom; in other words, without overcoming delusion and insanity. These are the “pitiable ones” mentioned in the sutras.
This is because our “arising thoughts and emotions” are filled with discrimination, attachment, and delusion. When we are with others, we are still filled with greed, anger, delusion, and arrogance. We are still jealous and create the causes for suffering in the lower realms.
No matter how much we meditate, study Dharma, or recite the Buddha’s name, if we behave in this way, we will never be liberated.
To truly cultivate, we must remember the words of the Sixth Patriarch of Zen, Master Huineng: “True practitioners do not see the faults of the world.” We must see our own faults, not the faults of the world. These are two true words that Master Huineng taught for future generations. Without diligently applying these teachings, one’s current life will be as futile as past lives.
Why will it be futile?
Because we cannot be patient. Without patience, how can we have samadhi?
The Six Paramitas (perfections) are like a six-story building. If we cannot reach the third floor, there is no way to reach the fourth. At most, we will only have generosity and keeping the precepts; there will be no patience, so how can we succeed in our cultivation? Therefore, the order of cultivation of the Six Paramitas is: patience, diligence, samadhi, wisdom. With samadhi and wisdom, our minds become vast and we can resonate with our true nature.
From the perspective of worldly dharma, if everyone could see their own faults and not the faults of the world, the world could live in peace and harmony. How could there still be conflict in the world? Society would surely be harmonious, and the world would be peaceful.