Are you having Mahayana Spirit or Mahayana Pride?

Not by wearing Mahayana robes do you become a Mahayana Buddhist.

Not by living in or going to a Mahayana temple do you become a Mahayana Buddhist.

Not by reading or studying a Mahayana Sutra/text do you become a Mahayana Buddhist.

Not by being the Abbot of a Mahayana temple do you become a Mahayana Buddhist.

Not by leading a congregation of followers in a Buddhist assembly do you become a Mahayana Buddhist.

Not by teaching a Mahayana Sutra/text do you become a Mahayana Buddhist.

Certainly not by belittling Theravada Buddhism do you become a Mahayana Buddhist.

Just because you are wearing Theravada robes, it does not mean you are not a Mahayana Buddhist.

Just because you are reading or studying Theravada scriptures /texts, it does not mean you are not a Mahayana Buddhist.

Just because you let your students cultivate on their own (in between formal together-session), it does not mean you are not a Mahayana Buddhist.

Just because you are teaching a Pali-based text, it does not mean you are not a Mahayana Buddhist.

Just because you do not make offerings or accept the Mahayana pantheon of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, it does not mean you are not a Mahayana Buddhists.

Just because you are the Abbot of a Theravada temple, it does not mean you are not a Mahayana Buddhist.

Certainly not, just because you are an Arahant (or working towards being one), it does not mean you cannot be a Mahayana Buddhist as well.

Some Mahayana people judge the ways of practice belonging to Theravada school as "individual effort", whereas theirs are "collective effort". These are only external forms of practices. All of the items listed above talk about only externalities. It does not make a person a "Mahayana" or "not a Mahayana" person. It is perplexing that Mahayana people do not understand what makes a person a Mahayana. It is all in their own ATTITUDE. The answer to this question is key: what is your aspiration to achieve liberation?   

Also, it does not mean it is wrong to strive for individual enlightenment first. However, it is important to start laying the groundwork for strong BODHICITTA at the beginning, even though it is alright to walk the path towards being an Arahant. If you infuse your Arahanthood with BODHICITTA, then that's called a BODHISATTVA. Being an Arahant, you can help more sentient beings than if you were just a normal sentient being. In this sense, walking together at the same level and achieving liberation together is not only not practical, but also being stupid. You are incapable of even saving yourself, far less saving others. There is also the aspect of hypocrisy. Therefore, it is good to at the very least, being a Sotapanna yourself in order to set yourself a good example to others before you can lead them. How can you convince others to strive for Nirvana, if you yourself are still mired in Samsaric mess? Therefore, any talks about "collective effort" in your Temples must not be merely on external forms of practices, but more about the way you treat others, and also how you set yourself as "good example". By being a "good example", you do not need to lead in a walking group meditation. When people see you are a "good example", everyone will naturally be inspired to follow your footsteps in practice earnestly to attain the same too. That is true BODHICITTA. So, there is no need for Mahayana people to say things like, "... theirs is "individual effort"... ours is "collective effort"..." The division between Mahayana spirit and non-Mahayana spirit are drawn not merely on simplistic externalities (or outer forms) lines. Sometimes, this Mahayana spirit thing gets too much into their pride that they don't really understand what is "Mahayana". It becomes an "ego" thing. This is disappointing. In actual fact, having the Mahayana spirit is very humbling. 

If you like this post, try read this one - https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2014/11/guidance-from-chan-master-hsu-yun.html

#Mahayana #Theravada #Bodhicitta 

Hua Chenyu's Dharma Song: Seven Personalities

Let me introduce you to one of China's latest singing sensation - Hua Chenyu. He is 32 years old but looks a lot younger. He first made a name for himself from a singing competition in China. Since then, he has been recognised widely for his expertise not only in singing but in composing. He was given a short tune without lyrics in another competition in 2016, and yet he was able to come out with such a big hit - Qi Tian Da Shen (Great Sage Equal to Heaven, i.e. the title for Sun WuKong/ Monkey God). Video is included below too. His songs and superb stage performances have earned him praises by even Westerners. You may search Youtube for "Seven Personalities Hua Chenyu Reaction". In the song "Seven Personalities", there is a part whereby the Mani mantra is hummed. In the video below, you can see it. There is English lyrics included. But if you search the original performance video, there is no mani mantra humming in the background. Just the "Oo...Oo...Oo..." made by Hua Chenyu himself. It is not difficult to understand why he is so popular in China and beyond. His voice and facial expressions as well as body movements are all very well executed. Video is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_HR6ACvedE

I thought this is so talented of him. Perhaps he might have gotten help from the lyricists and others, but the fact that he was able to even compose this tune shows his respect and knowledge of the Dharma. Oh yes, there is one line in the lyrics which seems to me to have a reference to a famous Avatamsaka Sutra sentence. See if you can spot it. 

Translation of the lyrics to English

source: Hua Chenyu - 七重人格 [Seven Personalities] (Qī chóng rén gé) lyrics + English translation (lyricstranslate.com)

Night befalls and insects chirp

See a robin in the sky fly by

The sparrow outside the window for whom does it mourn?

(shut up!)

 

If all time is unrecorded, leaving not a trace behind

If all ancient books turn black, how could the past be portrayed?

If numbness is to be exposed, wounds will bleed afresh

If a man can tamper with his cruel and doomed fate, stamped at birth

wu wu~ (note: this is the part of the humming of the mani mantra)

 

Ancient, Present, Heaven, Earth

When the Great Chaos first dissipated

clarity, turbidity, black and white were distinguished birthed specks of dust

 

Ecstasy, Anger, Joy, Sorrow

Flourish and decay in endless cycles

Right and wrong, victory and defeat alternate, hundred of mundane lifeforms in eons of Samsara

 

The eternal, the bygone, the existing, the unknown

From antiquity to future ages, prosperity eventually fades

All things bloom with a single move of my thoughts

 

The Great Chaos transforms in thousands of incarnations

'Tis none other than this, 'Tis none other than this

Let me dictate, It's up to me to dictate

All shall vanish and leave only

 

That completely unrestrained self

Who stands in the torrid storm and does! not! die!

Bearing unhealed wounds I dash to the battle on the verge of loosing control25

For the fi-! -nal! es-! -cape!

For snatching back the lost freedom

I am willing to turn into a beast

 

If the truth is entirely buried, no words are uttered

If men could accept succumbing to these predestined, doomed fates

wu wu wu~ (note: this is the part of the humming of the mani mantra)

 

When tranquility arrives once more

oh how beautiful is this scenery

Even stars doth tumble and perish, utterly pitch-black

 

Like a puzzle, I have lost a piece

with such glaring blankness

Endlessly ruing,

till I.. have completely.. lost.. myself!

https://lyricstranslate.com

Try to guess what are the 7 personalities. If not mistaken, it is given in the first 7 paragraphs. 

There is another interesting song by him called "Fake Monk". You should check it out. Usually we despise fake monks, right? But he advocated that we should understand that they become this due to problems they face and we should help them in ways we can. This is what I interpret his words when he said we should "love" this wandering fake monks. Perhaps, the welfare department should round up these people and see how they can help (not for purpose of punishment). I know it is easier said than doing it, but still I think he has a point there for our reflections. He sang and performed one of the greatest touching song ever seen in "Dad, I'm Home". He re-arranged Jay Chou's original song into something very touching. After listening to Hua Chenyu's rendition, I like his version better. Conveys the feelings and emotions better. It's like a different song altogether. He is really amazing! I may comment on it in the future.

If you like my comments above, check out my previous post on Sun Wukong chinese dramas. https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2012/04/journey-to-west-part-3.html

#huachenyu #sevenpersonalities #avatamsaka