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Yunmen Temple Dharma Talk
Understanding rebirth requires a deep look into the teaching of no-self. Using the analogy of a flame, it is seen that manifestation occurs when conditions are sufficient and ceases when they are not; the flame is neither the same nor different from moment to moment. Continuation is both vertical and horizontal. A tea leaf continues vertically as soil and flowers, but also horizontally as the person who drinks it, the poem it inspires, the Dharma talk it supports, and the calligraphy it thins. Like water transforming into clouds, snow, or ice cream, everything possesses many transformation bodies.
Rebirth and continuation happen in every moment through the three karmas of thought, speech, and action. These actions radiate energy like the light and heat of a candle, affecting both the environment and the self. The six destinies are available in the present moment, chosen like television channels: hell, the animal realm, the realm of hungry ghosts, asuras, and heaven. The Pure Land is also available now. When the mind is free from the three poisons of desire, anger, and ignorance, the land becomes pure. In the Pure Land, there are nine qualities of lotus flowers, and the purity of one’s mind determines which lotus one sits upon.
Practical mindfulness maintains this presence in a busy world through simple exercises:
- Practicing three mindful breaths before making a telephone call.
- Using mindful walking when moving between buildings.
- Smiling and breathing at red lights while driving.
- Simplifying life to allow more time for the wonders of the present.
Zen and Pure Land practices are not contradictory; both aim for mindfulness, concentration, and insight into the five skandhas. The Diamond Sutra teaches that the mind of the past, present, and future cannot be grasped, yet by touching the present deeply, one heals the past and creates the future. This involves letting go of the four notions of self, human being, living being, and lifespan.
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