The phrase Ru Shi Wei, or 'to act in this way,' carries a profound significance for every practitioner. It is not merely a suggestion; it is a call to align every aspect of your life with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. When you act in accordance with these fundamental truths, your life flows with natural ease. Your understanding of the becomes clear, and you remain firmly on the righteous path, never veering into the shadows of confusion.
Conversely, when you fail to act in this way, you encounter resistance in your affairs. Your understanding of the Truth becomes clouded, and you drift away from the righteous path. In such a state, you inevitably create negative causes, which lead to evil consequences and the suffering of the cycle of rebirth. Therefore, to act in this way is to protect yourself from the weight of your own .
The Pillars of , Samadhi, and Wisdom
In your practice, you must cultivate meditative concentration. The Three Learnings of Precepts, Samadhi, and Wisdom are the pillars of our path, and they must be cultivated in their proper sequence:
Precepts: The foundation of self-discipline and moral conduct.
Concentration: The stillness of the heart that arises from a disciplined life.
Wisdom: The luminous clarity that emerges once the mind is still and the heart is pure.
If you do not establish the foundation of the Precepts, you will find it impossible to achieve true meditative concentration. Without the stability of concentration, the light of Wisdom cannot manifest. You must follow this order diligently; this is what it means to act in this way.
The Simplicity of Self-Purification
The Precepts are not meant to be a burden; they are your personal guidelines and requirements for self-purification. Your practice should be simple, humble, and grounded. You must strive to reduce your desires until you reach a state of no-desire, finding contentment in whatever circumstances you encounter. If you lack the foundation of the Precepts, your actions will have no boundaries. You will be driven by your personal whims and desires, remaining an ordinary person bound by karma. This is not purification; it is merely further contamination of your true nature.
If you lack meditative concentration, your heart will be tossed about by the changing conditions of the world and the physical sensations of your body. You will be constantly disturbed by the suffering of aging, sickness, and death. This instability leaves your spirit restless and prevents your Wisdom from shining through. If you lack Precepts, concentration, and Wisdom, the darkness of ignorance will take hold of your heart and actions. You will inadvertently harm yourself and others, losing the precious opportunity to transform your karma. How then, can you hope to avoid the hells or the animal realm?
The Boundless Heart of the
You may ask: what is the difference between limited and unlimited , , and Selfless Giving? When you only offer help to those with whom you have a karmic connection—such as your family, your loved ones, or those you naturally care for—this is known as limited Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving. While this is a virtuous act that brings the of the human and heavenly realms, it is not yet the path of the Great Vehicle.
True, unlimited Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving—the —is different. It is the ability to help all beings, whether they are connected to you by karma or not, to leave suffering behind and find happiness. This state of heart arises from and no-selfishness. When you are free from the ego, you naturally see the suffering of all beings, you understand how to resolve that suffering, and you are able to bestow true happiness upon them. This is the heart and action of the Great Vehicle practitioner. If you remain attached to the 'self' and act out of selfishness, you will not only be unable to resolve your own suffering, but you will also be blind to the suffering of others. If you cannot see their suffering, how can you possibly help them leave it behind? As a practitioner of the Great Vehicle, you must always be vigilant and keep this truth at the forefront of your mind.
