The Three Karmas of Body, Speech, and Mind
Teachings from Master Xuanzang
Recorded on May 5, 2019
The Weight of Our Actions
On the fifth of May, 2019, we reflect upon the three karmas of Body, Speech, and Mind. Through these three gateways, we often create the ten evil deeds. Our physical actions, our spoken words, and our internal thoughts accumulate over countless lifetimes, forming a karmic burden as vast and towering as Mount Sumeru. How, then, can we possibly hope to dissolve such immense weight?
The Precious Vessel of the Human Body
The physical body is the primary instrument through which we commit the acts of killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct. However, the human body is also incredibly precious. It is the only vessel through which we can truly practise the . If you have a vow to fulfil, you must have a physical body to carry it out. Without a body, your vows remain mere empty wishes, impossible to manifest in reality.
Throughout history, all those who have attained Buddhahood have done so by first obtaining a human body. Therefore, you must understand that your body is meant for the path to Buddhahood, not for the creation of further negative . You must guard your physical roots with diligence and keep them pure, ensuring you stay far away from the acts of killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct.
The Power of Our Words
The karma of speech is equally dangerous. It manifests through lying, double-tongued speech, harsh words, and flowery speech. When you use harsh words to hurt others, you are ultimately wounding yourself. Every word spoken with a deceitful intention lacks sincerity and makes it impossible for others to trust you. When you sow discord, you place your own opinions above the truth, allowing malicious words to flow freely.
When you speak in a seductive or flowery manner, you lead others into a dream-like state of illusion, causing their spirits to become lost and detached from their bodies. If you do not restrain your tongue, you will find that others will naturally avoid you. Furthermore, you will be creating the karma that leads to the suffering of the tongue-cutting hells.
Why not transform your speech instead? Let your mouth speak words as fragrant as lotus flowers, with each word penetrating deeply into the hearts of those who hear them.
The Roots of Thought
The karma of the mind is rooted in greed, anger, and ignorance. These three poisons lead us into the lower realms: greed leads one directly into the ghost realm; anger, the burning fire of the heart, leads one into the hells; and ignorance leads one into the animal realm. You must remember this firmly: the moment a terrifying or negative thought arises, a ripple is formed, and the karma of the mind is already being created.
If you add physical action and speech to these thoughts, you will find yourself trapped within the cycle of rebirth, wandering endlessly through the six realms of existence. How can you ever hope to leave this suffering behind if you do not control your mind?
Returning to the True Self
The first priority is to save yourself. You must work to remove your ego-attachment and your biased views. Practise right speech and right thought, and ensure that you never stray from the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. You must allow Wisdom to arise within you, accompanied by compassionate and virtuous deeds. At every moment, observe your own heart and mind; do not let every thought and intention arise without awareness.
If you do allow a thought to arise, ensure it is not for selfish gain. Selfishness invites the laws of karma and cause and effect, while selflessness brings peace to the heart. A good heart and good thoughts are excellent, but a mind that is pure and empty of attachment is even better. Goodness and purity should always accompany one another.
You must transform the ten evil deeds into the ten good deeds: cease all killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct; refrain from lying and double-tongued speech; avoid harsh words and frivolous, flowery speech; and do not allow greed, anger, or ignorance to take root in your mind. By rectifying your Body, Speech, and Mind, you will find that confusion cannot easily arise, and your negative karma will have no conditions to manifest. Practise with diligent practice every single second. In doing so, you will eventually rediscover your true self, complete the path to Buddhahood, and spread the teachings of the far and wide.
This teaching was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe, who served as the chief writer.
Namo Amituofo
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