Speech of Liu Changle at World Buddhist Forum
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 27, 2012
A Life of Consciousness
--- Buddhist Revelations on Life
By Liu Changle, Chairman and CEO, Phoenix Satellite Television
One fact we shall never fail to see: even till now, Buddhism is regarded by some as a dated, backward and undemocratic belief—a typical stereotyped misconception. In fact, Buddhism stands as one of the pillars that constitute the Chinese culture. Buddhist wisdom, ever since its inception, has breathed life into the Chinese culture and nurtured numerous minds: its wisdom beyond what is known as common sense, has rendered us long-term beneficiaries and will continue to do so. Over a century ago, culture master of China, Mr. Liang Chi-chao, revealed the essence of the Buddhism belief: it is a knowing belief rather than blind obedience; shared welfare rather than lone perfection; engaged and pro-active rather than pessimistic; infinite rather than limited. The Buddhist outlook upon the world, life and death, good and evil, serves as an active force for good. It warns people that there is happiness but also misfortune in the afterlife, therefore people would not seek death as a relief from temporary suffering. It cultivates in minds an awe towards heaven and hell so that people dare not indulge in deception but be benevolent and do good deeds. Knowing that death is only a spiritual transcend of life, people would not be too afraid to die for a righteous cause and would remain unrelenting even in the face of suffering and threat. These thoughts of Master Liang Chi-chao acutely summarize the truth to Buddhism, and bring to us sudden enlightenment and revelations on life.
As a practitioner and learner, I believe Buddhism offeres enlightenments and improvements in the following ways.
I. It encourages Virya and self perfection
I once asked Master Hsing Yun, "What attitude should a man embrace upon doing things?" The master replied without hesitation, "Be willing to take risks. To be a living Bhodisattva, the prime qualities to posses are superior valour, great compassion and wisdom. How can one be a true Bhodisattva with any of these traits missing?" The master's words put me in thought of the rich spiritual nourishment Buddhism can bring to human minds. Virya, a very important advocation in Buddhism, is one of the six Buddhist Perfections practitioners are to follow. It can be defined as an attitude of fervently engaging in wholesome activities and keep off from evil doings. It functions to cause one to overcome one's laziness with a tempered heart of bravery to accomplish self-perfection. What is even more valued is that in order to reach the height of Buddhist theories, eminent monks practice "Virya" with their own deeds. Since childhood, we know that the Tang Monk survived eighty-one disasters to fetch the Buddhist sutras from the West. Along the world's earliest path of cultural exploration lines the footsteps of many eminent monks from China. As far as I know, the first Chinese to go west for the sutras was named Zhu Shixing. The earliest ever recorded by history, Zhu blazed through secular prejudices and survived treacherous journeys to become a pioneer in China's efforts to learn from the outside world.
Zhu travelled in around 260 A.D., 140 years prior to Monk Fa Xian's journey to India, 380 years earlier than his more famous peer Monk Xuanzang. Though he did not go beyond Yutian at the foot of the Kunlun Mountain, he had constructed a spiritual bridgehead in risking life in pursuit of the sutras. He became a lighthouse for men to come and was the first linguistic and translator to write in foreign languages. The book of Buddhism theory he had written in languages of Qulu and Yutian exceeded 600, 000 words. They echo as an everlasting calling for those who hold faith dearer than their lives.
The silkworms could not have known that they had given birth to a Silk Road. The Buddhist monks had, likewise, unknowingly breathed youth and energy to this ancient nation, nourishing the Chinese nation with wisdom and knowledge.
Of course, not all endeavors can be called Virya. However, the moment Buddha invented the idea, he has ingrained the notion in all those who set out for the endeavor to progress in the good and eliminate the evil.
II. It helps one to discover his other "self" as a result of meditative enlightenment
We see in the mirror our same "selves" as we perceive ourselves to be. In that image, we are successful, well-dressed, rich and powerful, ready to embrace a never-ending good life. But in the Buddhist reflection, we see our vulnerable inner selves—selfish, irritable and simmered with anxiety. We incessantly sought for success, and yet could not help being afraid of the possible failures and losses. We lack a sense of security and gone is our happiness. While modern time information technology offers great convenience, it also threatens to overwhelm us. Without listening to your heart, information could well be a catastrophe. Overwhelmed by a sea of excitements—entertainments, violence and materialism desires—we forgot our connection with Nature and other forms of life. The ability to reflect upon the truth of death is lost. With an ever richer life, we struggle with an ever poorer soul. As Dzongsar Rinpoche duly points out, people nowadays even consider reflecting on souls a waste of time. "We made numerous efforts just to get material returns for our lifetime consumption. This way of life—isn't it unimaginable?"
Luckily, Buddhism offers a mirror to see the unseen parts of ourselves, and lays a path to break free from mediocrity and obsession. It pierces through the mist of falsehood to see the truth and unfolds a world free from earthly obsessions.
This inner reflection is key to especially media workers. Media need to make money so as survive. Often, cultural programs win applauds but fall short of drawing wide audience. The producing organization, as a result, suffers losses. If, lawful and honest of course, we look at profiting as the enterprise's only responsibility, then we can well choose to only make surplus-bringing productions—to enlarge profit margins, to create more jobs, to surrender more taxes… But if we look at the issue from a Buddhist perspective, we will see compassion and good-will as media's higher priorities. In this sense, perplexities aroused from money-making are results of being led astray by our worldly considerations.
Therefore, in true contemplation, we will discover the truth of the world: what is suffering and why; the remedy for its relief and the ultimate truth to the world. Only when we resolve our inner conflicts can we be able to get better immuned against exterior obsessions. Till then, our wisdom will empower us to critically assess our existing knowledge structure and the ultimate meaning of life. Till then, a bigger world will unfold.
III. Let things take their own course and see through the appearance to perceive the essence
Leo Tolstoy, famous Russian writer, once told a profound story of a king who wanted to find answers for three questions for he thought he would never fail in anything he might undertake if he got the answers. The questions are as follows:
What is the right time to do things?
Who are the best people to work with?
What is the most important thing to do?
The king was happy with none of the answers people came up with. So he travelled incognito to a hermit in the mountains. Although the hermit didn't give him the answers directly, the king got the answers himself after a day's experience of quietness and adventure. "Now is the most important time because it is the only time when we can get hold of. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with anyone else. And the most important thing is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!"
This story is so full of Zen Buddhism that Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned master thought "it reads like Buddhist Scripture, or even better", for he knew the meaning of life lies in the present.
To let things take their own course, first, one should live for people around. Every life is of great meaning and dignity. Buddhism teaches us that seeing through everything is not the nature or purpose of life, and letting things take their own course doesn't mean to do nothing, but to believe in the greater power, the power of the present, from which we originate. Life is composed of details and one's social network is made up of people around. So one should behave oneself in proper manner, be considerate and modest, keep harmony with everything, especially with people around, and make them happy instead of hurting them, not even accidentally.
To let things take their own course, one should release grip of anything. The Book of Nothing written by John David Barrow, famous English cosmologist told people about the world of nothing. He said "nothing" is an indispensable concept of human thoughts. It is a concept of profoundness, abstrusity and mystery. The book was widely commented by scientists and artists alike. They find that after reading a few paragraphs, they are lost in wonderful thoughts. Bareau, the famous English mathematician, also said "when I went up stairs, I met a man who wans't there". Astronomer John Couch Adams, one of the discovers of Neptune, said "nothing" is closer to supreme normality than the ordinary age's prejudice towards it. Beatles, the famous English band, said "nothing" is real. All the concept of nothing mentioned here is so close to that of Buddism that it indicates that great minds think alike and as deep, only different in perspectives. Nothing is everything. Once we leave behind all the unnatural and inhuman thoughts and things, we will find the invisible hand, the rules, and truth of nature. Animitta, anatta, anicca, unlimited, unbounded, borderless, are all concepts related to nothing. If people live with "nothing", then they will get wisdom and power, and achieve goals by letting things take their own course.
To let things take their own course, it is also important to be tolerant and broad-minded. Once someone asked Buddha, "why are there people remain common after listening to your preach for decades?" Buda answered, "What I can do is to tell them where the way is and it is they themselves who need to take the path rather than counting on others. And on the way, people should encourage each other. Even if it's one step forward, it's closer to the goal anyway. One cannot reach far only by relying on others to carry him forward on the back or in the arms."
To let things take their own course, one should keep inner peace. Take the middle way, not too fast nor too slow; not too sparse or too dense; not prejudiced, nor biased; neither welcoming nor rejecting, neither adopting nor dropping. By treating oneself like this, one will hear the calling of life, head sober, soul peaceful. Anxiety, horror, criticism, excoriation, anger, sadness would all disappear. One would feel like a stream finding the estuary after passing numerous deserts and barren hills, clear, serene, peaceful, free and satisfactory. You would find that you are the beginning as well as the ending, the origin as well as the destination. The world doesn't change for better or for worse. But all the worries and anxieties that have been chasing you day and night suddenly disperse.
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