Contemplating the suffering of hell beings

 There are eight hot hells and eight cold hells. According to Shakyamuni, and various Buddhist masters who explained them, these eight hells have their own adjacent or neighboring hells (utsadas[1]): 

“There are eight hells there that I have revealed, difficult to get out of, full of cruel beings, each having sixteen utsadas; they have four walls and four gates; they are as high as they are wide; they are encircled by walls of fire; their ceiling is fire; their sun is burning, sparkling fire; and they are filled with flames hundreds of yojanas  high.”[2]

3. Karma - the law of cause and effect

updated and revised August 21, 2020

(this article is the 3rd part of The Four Profound Thoughts that Turn the Mind Toward the Dharma) 

“Not in the heaven, not in the middle of the ocean, not in the mountain caves: there is no place in this world were you can hide from the consequences of your deeds.”[1]

            I will divide this section in two: a) general teaching on karma and b) karma and the salvation offered by Amida Buddha

            a) General teaching on karma

            Karma is the law of cause and effect. The term “karma” comes from the Sanskrit word “karman” which means action - acting with thought, deed and word. There are three types of karma: 1) the karma of thought, 2) karma of speech and 3) karma of action or body. All that we think, speak or do will affect our personal history. What we are now is the result of what we thought, said or did in the past, in another lifetime or in the present life; and what we think, speak and do in the present will create us in the future. We are the result of our own karma.  The Buddha said:

2) Impermanence and death

(this article is the 2nd part of The Four Profound Thoughts that Turn the Mind Toward the Dharma)

"This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds.

To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movement of a dance.

A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky,

Rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain".[1]

           

Nothing that can be found in samsara lasts forever: the outer universe, the bodies of beings in various states of existence, the social status and wealth, our so called "spiritual achievements", etc.

The great world systems with their various realms and planets that appear due to collective karma of beings inhabiting them will disintegrate one day. Then other worlds will be born and die again.[2] The long-living gods of higher states of existence know death too, just like any samsaric being. Rulers of vast celestial realms as well as rulers of humans will also die and their kingdoms will dissapear. Rich and poor, succesful people or losers, all will leave their present bodies and will not take with them any of their worldly achievements or failure. Death is indeed, the great equalizer:

1. Preciousness of human birth

- this article is part of The Four Profound Thoughts that Turn the Mind Toward the Dharma - 

Original Photo by nsyll available on Flickr.com

"This free and well-favoured human form is difficult to obtain.

Now that you have the chance to realize the full human potential,

If you don’t make good use of this opportunity,

How could you possibly expect to have such a chance again?"[1]

The first thought that turns the mind toward the Buddha Dharma is the preciousness of human birth and the importance of using it well for escaping samsara.

But what is so special about birth in human form? There are a few elements here. First, the human birth is extremely rare. Second, human birth is a favorable balance between pain and pleasure which makes listening and devoting to the Dharma easier.

To make us realize how rare is birth in human form Shakyamuni Buddha told the following parable from the Chiggala Sutra (Samyuta Nikaya):

The Four Profound Thoughts that Turn the Mind Towards the Amida Dharma

IMPORTANT UPDATE !
These series of teachings was revised, updated 
and put into book form which you can download from here (click here)

The Four Profound Thoughts are a basic teaching, something like a preliminary to any Buddhist path or practice. They have the effect of turning the mind towards the Buddha Dharma and should be a constant companion no matter one is a beginner or an older follower. Sometimes I may refer to them as the Four Contemplations, the Four Understandings or the Four Reminders. In this post I am going to explain them in the context of the Pure Land Dharma Gate of Jodo Shinshu (Amida Dharma).

The Four Profound Thoughts are:

1. Preciousness of human birth 

2. Impermanence and death  

3. Karma -the law of cause and effect 

4. Samsara is suffering  

If one contemplates, understands, remembers and never forgets these four, then one is a serious follower of Buddha Dharma. Such a contemplation, understanding and remembering is not something special, but a simple knowing that our situation is defined by the above four truths. I will talk about each one of them in detail. Please click on them to read the explanations. 

The Benefits of Being Born in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha 

a continuation of the Four Profound Thoughts that Turn the Mind Toward Amida Dharma 

- All the teachings/articles in this series are under constant review. 

They will be part of a new book I am working on -

Funeral verses on the death of self power mind

A friend of mine asked me to send him a few words on the occasion of Obon festival, so I wrote these verses, which comprise the essentials of our teaching. I call them Funeral Verses on the Death of Self-Power Mind:

Cremate the old corpse of clinging to your so called merits and "spiritual realisations" in the fire of the twofould profound conviction.

Conduct daily funeral ceremonies for your attachement to self power by entrusting to Amida's Power of salvation.

As the smoke offering to provide to the departed, enjoy in the merit transference of coming back to this world to save all beings.

And for the funeral monument, raise the Nembutsu of faith on the grave of different practices, teachings and wrong views.

 ***

Explanation of some terms for those who have little knowledge of Jodo Shinshu: