1 00:00:00,224 --> 00:00:01,054 The Lotus Sutra says 2 00:00:01,504 --> 00:00:03,875 In a past life the Buddha knew only one thing 3 00:00:03,944 --> 00:00:04,955 To bow to people 4 00:00:05,304 --> 00:00:07,735 Last time we unpacked the first card of the Lotus Sutra 5 00:00:08,103 --> 00:00:09,234 Three vehicles return to one 6 00:00:09,503 --> 00:00:12,634 The Buddha spent forty years teaching three paths 7 00:00:12,704 --> 00:00:13,875 And finally told you 8 00:00:13,903 --> 00:00:15,794 From beginning to end there was only one 9 00:00:16,103 --> 00:00:16,614 All paths 10 00:00:16,824 --> 00:00:18,355 Lead to the same destination 11 00:00:18,544 --> 00:00:20,114 But have you ever thought about one question 12 00:00:20,423 --> 00:00:21,954 If the Dharma is only one 13 00:00:22,024 --> 00:00:24,195 Why do some people awaken on the spot 14 00:00:24,224 --> 00:00:26,274 Some take ten years to understand 15 00:00:26,344 --> 00:00:27,535 And some listen for a lifetime 16 00:00:27,704 --> 00:00:28,695 Yet hear nothing at all 17 00:00:29,184 --> 00:00:29,894 The same teacher 18 00:00:30,224 --> 00:00:31,195 The same words 19 00:00:31,303 --> 00:00:33,414 Why are the results worlds apart 20 00:00:33,984 --> 00:00:36,314 The fifth chapter of the Lotus Sutra gives an answer 21 00:00:36,463 --> 00:00:37,935 This time it does not reason with you 22 00:00:38,064 --> 00:00:39,376 It uses a metaphor 23 00:00:39,684 --> 00:00:39,995 Hello 24 00:00:40,205 --> 00:00:40,675 Everyone 25 00:00:41,004 --> 00:00:42,096 I am Wang Lijie 26 00:00:42,404 --> 00:00:44,815 The metaphors in the Lotus Sutra are never polite 27 00:00:45,044 --> 00:00:46,443 Last time there was the parable of the burning house 28 00:00:46,444 --> 00:00:50,495 Where beings are children playing with mud inside a burning house 29 00:00:50,645 --> 00:00:51,795 This time it is the parable of medicinal herbs 30 00:00:52,084 --> 00:00:53,535 The picture is much quieter 31 00:00:53,605 --> 00:00:55,575 But its force is no smaller 32 00:00:56,237 --> 00:00:56,588 It says 33 00:00:57,036 --> 00:00:58,567 There is a great cloud in the sky 34 00:00:58,836 --> 00:01:01,408 This cloud covers the whole great thousand world 35 00:01:01,517 --> 00:01:02,967 And then a rain falls 36 00:01:03,197 --> 00:01:03,948 The same rain 37 00:01:04,197 --> 00:01:04,908 The same water 38 00:01:05,356 --> 00:01:06,768 Falls everywhere 39 00:01:07,117 --> 00:01:08,968 But the plants on the ground are different 40 00:01:09,236 --> 00:01:09,908 There is grass 41 00:01:10,156 --> 00:01:10,787 There are shrubs 42 00:01:11,037 --> 00:01:11,927 There are great trees 43 00:01:12,236 --> 00:01:14,756 Every plant has roots of different depth 44 00:01:14,757 --> 00:01:16,207 Leaves of different size 45 00:01:16,356 --> 00:01:18,087 And a different capacity to absorb water 46 00:01:18,397 --> 00:01:19,847 When the same rain falls 47 00:01:19,917 --> 00:01:21,968 Every plant takes what it needs 48 00:01:22,076 --> 00:01:24,083 And grows into a completely different form 49 00:01:24,471 --> 00:01:26,143 The sutra divides the plants into five kinds 50 00:01:26,551 --> 00:01:29,882 Small herbs medium herbs superior herbs small trees and great trees 51 00:01:30,111 --> 00:01:32,242 Then the Buddha says something very important 52 00:01:32,351 --> 00:01:32,703 He says 53 00:01:33,232 --> 00:01:34,262 The Buddha teaches equally 54 00:01:34,672 --> 00:01:35,842 Like rain of one taste 55 00:01:36,111 --> 00:01:37,203 Pay attention to this word 56 00:01:37,557 --> 00:01:38,357 One taste 57 00:01:38,831 --> 00:01:40,262 The Buddhas Dharma is like rainwater 58 00:01:40,551 --> 00:01:41,762 It has only one taste 59 00:01:41,872 --> 00:01:44,751 But every blade of grass tastes it differently 60 00:01:45,099 --> 00:01:46,179 Do you see it 61 00:01:46,179 --> 00:01:49,230 The Buddha is not saying some people are smart and some are stupid 62 00:01:49,859 --> 00:01:52,430 He is saying something far deeper 63 00:01:53,099 --> 00:01:54,150 The rain has not changed 64 00:01:54,739 --> 00:01:55,790 The water has not changed 65 00:01:56,260 --> 00:01:57,510 What changes is the root 66 00:01:58,099 --> 00:01:58,971 What does that mean 67 00:01:59,620 --> 00:02:01,590 It means the Dharma is one 68 00:02:01,780 --> 00:02:04,271 But reception is always different 69 00:02:04,620 --> 00:02:06,391 This is not a failure of teaching 70 00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:08,271 This is the nature of teaching 71 00:02:08,700 --> 00:02:12,590 A teacher cannot make every student hear the exact same thing 72 00:02:13,179 --> 00:02:15,111 Not because the teacher explained badly 73 00:02:15,380 --> 00:02:17,391 And not because the student did not try 74 00:02:17,779 --> 00:02:19,470 But because every blade of grass 75 00:02:19,660 --> 00:02:23,271 Comes to this land with a different root 76 00:02:24,179 --> 00:02:27,189 If you watched my earlier episodes on Yogacara 77 00:02:27,299 --> 00:02:28,710 You will hear it immediately 78 00:02:28,739 --> 00:02:30,750 This is another version of seeds 79 00:02:31,098 --> 00:02:34,389 The seeds stored in each persons alaya consciousness are different 80 00:02:34,459 --> 00:02:35,550 Their structure is different 81 00:02:35,579 --> 00:02:37,109 And their maturity is different 82 00:02:37,299 --> 00:02:38,777 When they meet the same Dharma rain 83 00:02:38,778 --> 00:02:41,069 The seeds awakened will naturally differ 84 00:02:41,338 --> 00:02:42,330 Someone hears impermanence 85 00:02:42,699 --> 00:02:43,949 And something in the heart suddenly drops 86 00:02:43,978 --> 00:02:45,750 As if something has become clear 87 00:02:45,899 --> 00:02:47,330 Someone else hears the same impermanence 88 00:02:47,658 --> 00:02:49,229 It goes in one ear and out the other 89 00:02:49,378 --> 00:02:51,585 Because that seed is not ready yet 90 00:02:51,854 --> 00:02:53,626 When the Lotus Sutra tells this metaphor 91 00:02:53,734 --> 00:02:57,066 It is really speaking about a question education studies today as well 92 00:02:57,574 --> 00:02:58,406 The same course 93 00:02:58,815 --> 00:02:59,946 Different students 94 00:03:00,014 --> 00:03:02,025 Produce completely different understanding 95 00:03:02,454 --> 00:03:04,106 This is not a system malfunction 96 00:03:04,574 --> 00:03:06,946 This is the system working normally 97 00:03:07,539 --> 00:03:10,950 But hidden inside this is an uncomfortable conclusion 98 00:03:11,299 --> 00:03:13,270 If difference is natural 99 00:03:13,419 --> 00:03:17,150 If every plants root is already fixed at birth 100 00:03:17,218 --> 00:03:20,289 Does that mean some people are destined not to receive it 101 00:03:20,938 --> 00:03:24,110 Does that mean some people simply lack the capacity 102 00:03:24,218 --> 00:03:25,249 And no teaching can help 103 00:03:26,218 --> 00:03:28,390 If you read the herb parable alone 104 00:03:28,458 --> 00:03:30,469 It does seem to say this 105 00:03:30,819 --> 00:03:34,430 But the Lotus Sutra is not a sutra you can read in pieces 106 00:03:34,859 --> 00:03:37,870 Its answer is never only in the present chapter 107 00:03:38,218 --> 00:03:40,177 Its answer is hidden later 108 00:03:40,446 --> 00:03:41,598 The herb parable has already gone far enough 109 00:03:41,926 --> 00:03:43,337 It is already shocking enough 110 00:03:43,567 --> 00:03:45,378 But the Lotus Sutra does not stop 111 00:03:45,807 --> 00:03:47,318 Later it hides another chapter 112 00:03:47,567 --> 00:03:49,418 Called the chapter of Bodhisattva Never Disparaging 113 00:03:49,847 --> 00:03:50,818 The twentieth chapter 114 00:03:51,287 --> 00:03:54,538 This chapter is fifteen chapters after the herb parable 115 00:03:54,886 --> 00:03:56,897 But if you read them together 116 00:03:57,046 --> 00:04:01,138 You find they are two halves of one complete argument 117 00:04:01,486 --> 00:04:03,698 When I first read the Never Disparaging chapter 118 00:04:03,886 --> 00:04:04,725 To be honest 119 00:04:04,726 --> 00:04:05,737 I was stunned for a long time 120 00:04:06,007 --> 00:04:08,041 The story goes like this 121 00:04:08,391 --> 00:04:09,421 A very very long time ago 122 00:04:09,790 --> 00:04:11,081 There was a monk 123 00:04:11,510 --> 00:04:13,842 The sutra says he did not specialize in reading or reciting scriptures 124 00:04:14,070 --> 00:04:16,481 He did none of the usual Buddhist practices 125 00:04:17,030 --> 00:04:18,442 He did only one thing 126 00:04:18,870 --> 00:04:20,602 Whenever he met someone he bowed 127 00:04:21,151 --> 00:04:22,321 No matter who he met 128 00:04:22,790 --> 00:04:24,261 Monastic or layperson 129 00:04:24,591 --> 00:04:25,682 Man or woman 130 00:04:25,831 --> 00:04:27,401 Practitioner or passerby 131 00:04:27,631 --> 00:04:28,542 He would walk over 132 00:04:28,790 --> 00:04:30,682 Bow with deep respect 133 00:04:30,870 --> 00:04:32,321 And say one sentence 134 00:04:32,895 --> 00:04:35,546 The Lotus Sutra records this sentence clearly 135 00:04:35,695 --> 00:04:36,287 The original says 136 00:04:36,655 --> 00:04:37,727 I deeply respect all of you 137 00:04:38,015 --> 00:04:39,106 I dare not look down on you 138 00:04:39,255 --> 00:04:40,267 Why is that 139 00:04:40,296 --> 00:04:41,847 You are all walking the bodhisattva path 140 00:04:42,176 --> 00:04:43,467 And will become Buddhas 141 00:04:43,856 --> 00:04:44,647 In plain words 142 00:04:44,936 --> 00:04:46,494 I respect you from the bottom of my heart 143 00:04:46,496 --> 00:04:47,866 I dare not look down on you 144 00:04:47,976 --> 00:04:48,486 Why 145 00:04:48,816 --> 00:04:51,042 Because you will surely become a Buddha 146 00:04:51,392 --> 00:04:52,443 Do you see it 147 00:04:52,712 --> 00:04:55,003 He is not saying you will become an Arhat 148 00:04:55,512 --> 00:04:57,402 Not saying you will attain first fruit 149 00:04:57,832 --> 00:04:59,482 He says you will become a Buddha 150 00:04:59,991 --> 00:05:03,722 This is the most radical sentence after the Lotus Sutra unites the three vehicles 151 00:05:04,111 --> 00:05:08,363 After the Buddha spends nineteen chapters telling you there is only one Buddha vehicle 152 00:05:08,551 --> 00:05:11,602 This monk turns that sentence into daily action 153 00:05:11,952 --> 00:05:13,323 He is not explaining a doctrine 154 00:05:13,512 --> 00:05:15,643 He lives the doctrine as an act 155 00:05:16,552 --> 00:05:17,963 Think about this scene 156 00:05:18,112 --> 00:05:18,783 A monk 157 00:05:19,073 --> 00:05:19,744 He does not read scriptures 158 00:05:20,032 --> 00:05:21,004 He does not preach Dharma 159 00:05:21,073 --> 00:05:22,604 He bows to people all over the street 160 00:05:22,753 --> 00:05:24,843 And tells everyone they will become Buddhas 161 00:05:25,193 --> 00:05:26,583 Guess how the people around him react 162 00:05:27,018 --> 00:05:27,818 They curse him 163 00:05:28,153 --> 00:05:29,044 They mock him 164 00:05:29,193 --> 00:05:30,364 They throw stones at him 165 00:05:30,592 --> 00:05:31,883 Some chase him and beat him 166 00:05:32,393 --> 00:05:33,883 The sutra writes it very directly 167 00:05:34,073 --> 00:05:36,544 Monks nuns and lay followers 168 00:05:36,833 --> 00:05:37,963 Curse him and beat him 169 00:05:38,232 --> 00:05:39,484 What do they curse him for 170 00:05:39,833 --> 00:05:40,304 They say 171 00:05:40,672 --> 00:05:42,443 You foolish monk 172 00:05:42,472 --> 00:05:43,783 Who are you to give us a prediction 173 00:05:44,313 --> 00:05:46,643 We do not need you to tell us we can become Buddhas 174 00:05:47,340 --> 00:05:49,219 If you think carefully about this reaction 175 00:05:49,220 --> 00:05:50,551 It is actually very interesting 176 00:05:51,020 --> 00:05:51,892 The people who curse him 177 00:05:52,181 --> 00:05:53,991 Are exactly the practitioners of that time 178 00:05:54,421 --> 00:05:56,232 They have their own methods of practice 179 00:05:56,421 --> 00:05:58,671 And their own understanding of spiritual stages 180 00:05:59,020 --> 00:06:01,551 They think whether someone becomes a Buddha or not 181 00:06:01,580 --> 00:06:04,832 Is not for a monk who bows to everyone to decide 182 00:06:05,101 --> 00:06:06,532 But Never Disparaging does not answer back 183 00:06:06,780 --> 00:06:07,580 He does not strike back 184 00:06:07,580 --> 00:06:08,061 He runs 185 00:06:08,061 --> 00:06:09,539 After running some distance 186 00:06:09,541 --> 00:06:11,352 He turns back and stands far away 187 00:06:11,421 --> 00:06:12,332 And still shouts loudly 188 00:06:12,700 --> 00:06:13,852 I dare not look down on you 189 00:06:14,181 --> 00:06:15,871 You will surely become Buddhas 190 00:06:16,220 --> 00:06:17,691 Day after day 191 00:06:18,020 --> 00:06:19,071 Year after year 192 00:06:19,421 --> 00:06:20,892 People gave him a nickname 193 00:06:21,181 --> 00:06:22,352 Never Disparaging 194 00:06:22,780 --> 00:06:24,952 The person who never looked down on others 195 00:06:25,478 --> 00:06:27,250 If the story ended here 196 00:06:27,319 --> 00:06:30,490 You might think it is a fable about patience under insult 197 00:06:30,878 --> 00:06:33,370 In the six perfections there is one called patience 198 00:06:33,759 --> 00:06:34,349 Practice after all 199 00:06:34,519 --> 00:06:35,649 Means learning to endure 200 00:06:35,719 --> 00:06:38,450 But at the end the Lotus Sutra gives a reversal 201 00:06:38,918 --> 00:06:40,370 Once this reversal appears 202 00:06:40,478 --> 00:06:42,930 The weight of the whole story changes completely 203 00:06:43,478 --> 00:06:44,329 The Buddha says 204 00:06:44,438 --> 00:06:46,789 Do you know who that Bodhisattva Never Disparaging was 205 00:06:47,478 --> 00:06:48,289 It was me 206 00:06:48,683 --> 00:06:49,483 He says 207 00:06:49,519 --> 00:06:52,930 In a past life I was that monk who bowed even while being beaten 208 00:06:53,745 --> 00:06:55,715 Take a moment to digest what this means 209 00:06:56,224 --> 00:06:56,616 The Buddha 210 00:06:57,145 --> 00:06:58,863 Sitting on Vulture Peak at this very moment 211 00:06:58,864 --> 00:07:01,796 The one teaching the Lotus Sutra before countless disciples 212 00:07:01,904 --> 00:07:04,623 His practice in those past years was not meditation 213 00:07:04,625 --> 00:07:05,623 Not deep concentration 214 00:07:05,625 --> 00:07:06,623 Not austerity 215 00:07:06,625 --> 00:07:07,335 Not debate 216 00:07:07,664 --> 00:07:09,436 It was bowing to every passerby 217 00:07:09,945 --> 00:07:11,596 That is already shocking enough 218 00:07:11,945 --> 00:07:14,755 But what the Buddha says next is even harder to sit with 219 00:07:15,070 --> 00:07:15,825 He says 220 00:07:15,825 --> 00:07:19,116 Those people who cursed me beat me and threw stones at me back then 221 00:07:19,185 --> 00:07:20,655 Do you know where they are now 222 00:07:21,385 --> 00:07:23,036 They are sitting among you 223 00:07:23,705 --> 00:07:25,075 The sutra even names them 224 00:07:25,505 --> 00:07:25,976 The Buddha says 225 00:07:26,424 --> 00:07:28,436 Five hundred bodhisattvas such as Bhadrapala 226 00:07:28,544 --> 00:07:30,275 Five hundred monks such as Lion Moon 227 00:07:30,424 --> 00:07:32,966 Were exactly the people who cursed and beat me then 228 00:07:33,436 --> 00:07:36,526 But the sutra does not make this sound easy 229 00:07:36,795 --> 00:07:39,766 It says that because of their anger back then 230 00:07:39,876 --> 00:07:42,886 They first suffered great torment in Avici hell for a thousand kalpas 231 00:07:42,996 --> 00:07:46,727 For two hundred billion kalpas they could not meet a Buddha hear the Dharma or see the Sangha 232 00:07:47,035 --> 00:07:47,867 After their karma was exhausted 233 00:07:48,035 --> 00:07:49,754 They met Never Disparaging again 234 00:07:49,756 --> 00:07:50,847 And were taught by him 235 00:07:51,076 --> 00:07:53,715 But because of the connection made when he bowed to them back then 236 00:07:53,715 --> 00:07:56,287 They still eventually entered the path of practice 237 00:07:56,636 --> 00:07:57,187 Some of them 238 00:07:57,475 --> 00:07:59,943 At this very moment had already attained non regression 239 00:08:00,371 --> 00:08:01,462 Do you hear it 240 00:08:01,691 --> 00:08:03,582 Never Disparaging was not practicing patience 241 00:08:03,892 --> 00:08:05,263 He was planting seeds 242 00:08:05,611 --> 00:08:06,522 Every time he bowed 243 00:08:06,892 --> 00:08:09,022 Every time he said you will become a Buddha 244 00:08:09,131 --> 00:08:12,222 He buried a seed in the other persons field of mind 245 00:08:12,371 --> 00:08:16,582 Even if the other person was cursing him beating him and rejecting him with all their strength 246 00:08:16,972 --> 00:08:19,183 That seed still went in 247 00:08:19,412 --> 00:08:21,342 Every debt still had to be paid 248 00:08:21,532 --> 00:08:23,863 But not one seed was lost 249 00:08:24,332 --> 00:08:26,462 Whether a seed can be planted 250 00:08:26,491 --> 00:08:27,782 Does not depend on your attitude 251 00:08:28,051 --> 00:08:29,982 It only depends on whether contact happened 252 00:08:30,371 --> 00:08:31,243 Whether you curse him 253 00:08:31,532 --> 00:08:32,542 Or beat him 254 00:08:32,572 --> 00:08:34,222 You have interacted with him 255 00:08:34,572 --> 00:08:35,522 Once interaction happens 256 00:08:35,931 --> 00:08:37,423 The condition is planted 257 00:08:37,731 --> 00:08:39,262 You think you are rejecting him 258 00:08:39,452 --> 00:08:41,663 But in fact you have already been changed by him 259 00:08:41,771 --> 00:08:42,943 You just do not know it 260 00:08:43,891 --> 00:08:45,203 Only after a very long time 261 00:08:45,371 --> 00:08:46,382 Will you know 262 00:08:46,926 --> 00:08:47,238 Look 263 00:08:47,646 --> 00:08:49,205 This forms a pair with the herb parable earlier 264 00:08:49,207 --> 00:08:50,617 It forms exactly a pair 265 00:08:51,046 --> 00:08:51,797 The herb parable says 266 00:08:52,207 --> 00:08:53,617 When the same rain falls 267 00:08:53,727 --> 00:08:55,497 Every blade of grass takes what it needs 268 00:08:55,926 --> 00:08:56,958 Deep roots absorb more 269 00:08:57,327 --> 00:08:58,698 Shallow roots absorb less 270 00:08:59,127 --> 00:09:01,218 This describes difference on the receiving side 271 00:09:01,607 --> 00:09:02,678 Difference is natural 272 00:09:02,926 --> 00:09:03,818 You cannot change it 273 00:09:04,286 --> 00:09:06,137 What Never Disparaging does is exactly the opposite 274 00:09:06,487 --> 00:09:08,458 He does not care whether you can receive it now 275 00:09:08,806 --> 00:09:10,657 He first pours the rain over you 276 00:09:10,926 --> 00:09:13,537 What he cares about is not how much you can absorb now 277 00:09:13,686 --> 00:09:17,558 What he cares about is burying one more seed in your roots 278 00:09:17,868 --> 00:09:19,138 If you cannot absorb it in this life 279 00:09:19,388 --> 00:09:20,319 That is fine 280 00:09:20,667 --> 00:09:22,038 The seed is there 281 00:09:22,427 --> 00:09:24,418 When fitting conditions appear in a future life 282 00:09:24,667 --> 00:09:25,719 It will sprout 283 00:09:26,427 --> 00:09:29,398 The herb parable is about how the Dharma is received 284 00:09:30,027 --> 00:09:32,999 Never Disparaging is about how the Dharma is sown 285 00:09:33,427 --> 00:09:34,719 One is about waiting 286 00:09:35,067 --> 00:09:36,278 One is about initiative 287 00:09:36,748 --> 00:09:37,758 Put together 288 00:09:37,787 --> 00:09:42,038 They are the Lotus Sutras fullest understanding of teaching 289 00:09:42,653 --> 00:09:45,924 Do you remember the uncomfortable question left by the herb parable 290 00:09:46,492 --> 00:09:48,651 If capacities are naturally different 291 00:09:48,653 --> 00:09:50,684 Are some people destined not to receive it 292 00:09:51,612 --> 00:09:54,904 The chapter of Never Disparaging is the Lotus Sutras answer 293 00:09:55,372 --> 00:09:57,264 It is not that some people have no capacity 294 00:09:57,693 --> 00:10:00,544 It is that some peoples capacity has not yet been planted 295 00:10:01,012 --> 00:10:03,583 Never Disparaging is the one who plants that capacity 296 00:10:04,012 --> 00:10:06,144 He is not waiting for others to be ready 297 00:10:06,492 --> 00:10:09,264 He is creating the conditions that make readiness possible 298 00:10:09,732 --> 00:10:11,024 Even if those conditions 299 00:10:11,053 --> 00:10:13,544 Take several lifetimes to mature 300 00:10:14,018 --> 00:10:16,428 This is the deepest compassion of the Lotus Sutra 301 00:10:16,778 --> 00:10:18,548 It gives up on not one blade of grass 302 00:10:18,977 --> 00:10:19,328 It says 303 00:10:19,697 --> 00:10:21,548 If this blade of grass has no root yet 304 00:10:21,618 --> 00:10:23,188 Go plant a root for it 305 00:10:23,498 --> 00:10:25,456 If this blades root is still too shallow 306 00:10:25,457 --> 00:10:26,828 Then water it one more time 307 00:10:27,217 --> 00:10:28,188 The rain will not stop 308 00:10:28,418 --> 00:10:31,269 Because the cloud never asks whether the grass is ready 309 00:10:32,495 --> 00:10:33,667 I remember something 310 00:10:34,135 --> 00:10:36,506 One year I was chatting with a friend who works in education 311 00:10:36,615 --> 00:10:37,706 He said something 312 00:10:37,775 --> 00:10:39,147 I have remembered it ever since 313 00:10:39,380 --> 00:10:40,181 He said 314 00:10:40,296 --> 00:10:44,267 A good teacher is not the person who makes students understand everything in class 315 00:10:44,696 --> 00:10:48,307 A good teacher is the person who nails a peg into the students heart 316 00:10:48,775 --> 00:10:51,106 That peg may not go in right now 317 00:10:51,216 --> 00:10:52,346 But one day 318 00:10:52,416 --> 00:10:54,307 Life will hammer it in 319 00:10:54,775 --> 00:10:57,866 At the time I did not think this had anything to do with Buddhism 320 00:10:58,216 --> 00:11:00,667 Later when I read the Never Disparaging chapter of the Lotus Sutra 321 00:11:00,895 --> 00:11:02,187 I suddenly remembered it 322 00:11:02,576 --> 00:11:04,827 Is that not exactly what Never Disparaging was doing 323 00:11:05,375 --> 00:11:07,746 He does not care whether you can take it in now 324 00:11:08,176 --> 00:11:10,866 He only places that peg on you 325 00:11:11,735 --> 00:11:13,934 The more radical part of the Lotus Sutra is 326 00:11:13,936 --> 00:11:17,575 It says even when that peg is placed on you while you are resisting 327 00:11:17,576 --> 00:11:18,414 While you are cursing 328 00:11:18,416 --> 00:11:19,246 While you are throwing stones 329 00:11:19,456 --> 00:11:20,827 It still works 330 00:11:21,015 --> 00:11:22,527 Because the act of planting 331 00:11:22,816 --> 00:11:24,147 Does not require your consent 332 00:11:24,807 --> 00:11:26,618 Think back on your own life 333 00:11:26,728 --> 00:11:28,618 Have you ever had a moment in this life 334 00:11:28,767 --> 00:11:30,498 When you suddenly understood something 335 00:11:30,688 --> 00:11:32,378 Then traced that thought back to its source 336 00:11:32,488 --> 00:11:36,219 And found it came from something someone said long ago 337 00:11:36,608 --> 00:11:38,378 You did not care about those words at the time 338 00:11:38,488 --> 00:11:39,978 You may even have found them annoying 339 00:11:40,167 --> 00:11:41,799 But they stayed in your heart all along 340 00:11:42,127 --> 00:11:43,286 Quietly 341 00:11:43,287 --> 00:11:44,378 Waiting for many years 342 00:11:44,568 --> 00:11:47,487 And then one day after you went through something 343 00:11:47,488 --> 00:11:48,778 They suddenly lit up 344 00:11:49,007 --> 00:11:50,778 What that person did back then 345 00:11:50,887 --> 00:11:52,618 Was exactly what Never Disparaging did 346 00:11:52,927 --> 00:11:55,788 He planted a seed in you 347 00:11:56,057 --> 00:11:57,788 And have you ever wondered 348 00:11:57,817 --> 00:11:59,948 Why Never Disparagings method works 349 00:12:00,536 --> 00:12:02,507 In all those years of being cursed and beaten 350 00:12:02,536 --> 00:12:04,747 He never taught a single Buddhist concept 351 00:12:05,136 --> 00:12:08,028 He never explained emptiness to anyone 352 00:12:08,057 --> 00:12:09,188 Or dependent arising 353 00:12:09,616 --> 00:12:10,895 The only thing he did 354 00:12:10,896 --> 00:12:12,587 Was let you feel one thing 355 00:12:13,416 --> 00:12:14,387 Being seen 356 00:12:14,896 --> 00:12:15,828 Being believed in 357 00:12:16,297 --> 00:12:17,747 Being respected without condition 358 00:12:18,416 --> 00:12:20,747 This feeling itself is a seed 359 00:12:21,136 --> 00:12:22,587 It does not need your understanding 360 00:12:22,977 --> 00:12:24,775 It directly bypasses your mind 361 00:12:24,776 --> 00:12:26,227 And plants itself somewhere deeper 362 00:12:26,641 --> 00:12:28,612 This makes me understand one thing anew 363 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,612 You cannot control when another person is ready 364 00:12:32,041 --> 00:12:35,972 And you cannot guarantee every word you say will be heard 365 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:37,732 But you can do one thing 366 00:12:38,161 --> 00:12:39,951 When that person is not ready yet 367 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:41,331 Believe in them first 368 00:12:41,761 --> 00:12:43,892 Believe first that they will reach that place 369 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,132 Believe first that they have that potential 370 00:12:46,560 --> 00:12:47,972 Bow to them first 371 00:12:48,824 --> 00:12:49,695 In all those years 372 00:12:49,983 --> 00:12:51,915 Never Disparaging never preached a sutra 373 00:12:52,383 --> 00:12:53,874 Never transmitted the Dharma 374 00:12:54,304 --> 00:12:55,382 The only thing he did 375 00:12:55,383 --> 00:12:57,295 Was tell every person through action 376 00:12:57,783 --> 00:12:58,955 I see you 377 00:12:59,143 --> 00:13:03,075 I see the thing deep inside you that you have not yet seen yourself 378 00:13:03,383 --> 00:13:06,395 You do not need to prove first that you deserve to be seen 379 00:13:06,783 --> 00:13:07,535 You are seen 380 00:13:07,824 --> 00:13:09,474 Not because of what you have done 381 00:13:09,503 --> 00:13:11,754 But because you already have that thing within you 382 00:13:12,584 --> 00:13:15,435 What Never Disparaging saw was not who you are now 383 00:13:15,663 --> 00:13:17,986 He saw who you will finally become 384 00:13:18,416 --> 00:13:19,167 The herb parable says 385 00:13:19,495 --> 00:13:20,206 The same rain 386 00:13:20,495 --> 00:13:22,067 Gives every being its moisture 387 00:13:22,456 --> 00:13:23,167 Never Disparaging says 388 00:13:23,456 --> 00:13:24,826 I will become that rain 389 00:13:25,216 --> 00:13:27,027 Have you ever met someone like this 390 00:13:27,336 --> 00:13:29,226 When you did not believe in yourself yet 391 00:13:29,296 --> 00:13:30,466 They believed in you first 392 00:13:30,696 --> 00:13:32,307 When you thought you could not do it 393 00:13:32,416 --> 00:13:34,147 They never thought you could not 394 00:13:34,495 --> 00:13:36,947 You may not even know why they believed in you so much 395 00:13:37,096 --> 00:13:39,215 Because all the evidence you showed at the time 396 00:13:39,216 --> 00:13:41,466 Pointed to you not being worthy of belief 397 00:13:41,735 --> 00:13:43,106 But later when you look back 398 00:13:43,176 --> 00:13:44,855 The reason you became who you are today 399 00:13:44,855 --> 00:13:47,187 Was not that one day you suddenly got it 400 00:13:47,416 --> 00:13:49,014 But because long ago 401 00:13:49,015 --> 00:13:51,307 Someone planted a seed in your heart 402 00:13:51,975 --> 00:13:54,575 That seed endured your self doubt 403 00:13:54,576 --> 00:13:56,067 Endured your denial 404 00:13:56,135 --> 00:13:58,187 Endured all your unreadiness 405 00:13:58,696 --> 00:14:00,826 It waited there quietly the whole time 406 00:14:01,096 --> 00:14:01,887 Until one day 407 00:14:02,296 --> 00:14:03,374 The conditions arrived 408 00:14:03,375 --> 00:14:04,826 And it sprouted on its own 409 00:14:05,705 --> 00:14:08,397 The Lotus Sutra uses two metaphors to say one thing 410 00:14:08,746 --> 00:14:09,757 The rain will fall 411 00:14:10,105 --> 00:14:11,556 The seed will sprout 412 00:14:11,866 --> 00:14:13,017 The only thing you need to do 413 00:14:13,546 --> 00:14:14,836 Is believe first 414 00:14:15,482 --> 00:14:17,172 Not believe in a religion 415 00:14:17,281 --> 00:14:18,973 Not believe in a master 416 00:14:19,161 --> 00:14:21,812 But believe in this ordinary person before your eyes 417 00:14:21,882 --> 00:14:24,093 Who one day will also reach that place 418 00:14:24,321 --> 00:14:26,012 And then like Never Disparaging 419 00:14:26,041 --> 00:14:27,812 When they still do not believe in themselves 420 00:14:27,921 --> 00:14:29,253 Bow to them first 421 00:14:29,722 --> 00:14:30,353 I am Wang Lijie 422 00:14:30,602 --> 00:14:31,622 See you next time