To Reform Oneself

We need to change and transform ourselves continuously: In order to achieve eventual perfection, we need to work on correcting our bad habits.

When a table is broken, it needs to be fixed; when a shirt is torn, it needs to be mended; when the roof is leaking, it needs to be patched; and when a road is wrecked, it needs to be repaired. Similarly, we need to change and transform ourselves continuously. In order to achieve eventual perfection, we need to work on correcting our bad habits.

There is so much to learn that it is impossible to learn it all in a lifetime. So, if we feel too satisfied with ourselves and refuse to reform ourselves or to continue to learn, then we never improve. We are full of bad habits. In speech, we have harsh speech, meaningless speech, duplicity, and lies; and in thoughts we have selfishness, attachments, greed, anger, and jealousy. These are like cancer, for if we fail to find a good doctor and proper treatment, it is like being marooned aboard a sinking ship. Life becomes precarious and helpless! It is only when we are able to reform ourselves and find our own cure that we are able to find hope.

Throughout history there are many examples of people who changed their delinquent ways and errant practices, reforming their lives from being the outlaws of their time to becoming the saints of their era.

During the Buddha’s time, there was a notorious murderer, Angulimalya, who after learning the devious teachings of some heretics killed mercilessly. But after he met the Buddha, who compassionately taught him the right way, he transformed himself completely and eventually became an Arhat who was pure in body and mind.

Nagarjuna is one of the four renowned Buddhist sastra masters in ancient India. Before he learned Buddhism, he lived a life full of sin, spending his days flirting with the ladies of the imperial palace. But upon learning Mahayana Buddhism, he submerged himself completely in the Dharma. He eventually became the patriarch of the eight schools of Buddhism and is now honored as a bodhisattva.

The large bell in the Buddha Hall once protested to the statue of the Buddha, “Why do the devotees all come to worship you but hit me hard instead?” The statue of the Buddha replied, “That is because I withstood the carving and hammering of the chisel and mallet, so I could become a statue for people to worship. But you wail loudly whenever you are struck, so you can only be a big bell!”

Whether we become a statue of the Buddha for people to worship or a big bell that cannot stand to be struck depends on whether or not we are willing to reform ourselves. One sutra says, “Everyone has Buddha Nature; Buddha Nature is intrinsically pure.” Therefore, even if we have erred, as long as we are able to purify our karma and cease to commit further misdeeds, we should review and reform ourselves so that greed can be turned into generosity, anger to compassion, ignorance to wisdom, and jealousy to respect.

In regard to daily life, we should practice “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, and do no evil.” When we can be rid of our bad habits, and subdue and control the six roots––the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind––then life will be free of wrongdoing.

From All in a Thought, written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

Image from Pixabay.

More Featured Articles

The first realization of The Eight Realizations of a Bodhisatttva Sutra is concerned with what is generally called the Buddha’s view of this world. This first realization is a description of the basic features of the world we live in. The points made in this realization are made in many other Buddhist sutras.The Buddha emphasized these basic points on many different occasions because it is Read more
What are people supposed to do when they are troubled by afflictions? Some people are troubled by very specific things, others encounter poverty, and many have poor relations with other people. Some individuals are disturbed the moment they hear even the slightest comment they do not like, or they become angry when they see someone doing something they do not approve of. This sort of Read more
"To bear disgrace and insult" is the most important virtue a person can possibly cultivate, because the ability to forbear is enormously powerful, since a moment of anger can destroy an entire lifetime of merits. By restraining our emotions, we have a better chance of avoiding confrontation and gaining control of the situation at hand. Otherwise, our minds will be clouded and our judgment impaired. Read more
The Sumati Sutra discusses fulfilling both worldly and supramundane needs. Sumati’s first three questions are regarding obtaining an elegant appearance, obtaining wealth, and keeping a harmonious family life—all of these are concerned with success in this life. Being satisfied in this way ensures that a bodhisattva will not be hindered, and can freely walk the bodhisattva path.Rewards and blessings are not stolen, forcibly taken, or Read more
Why should people create Buddha images? Did the Buddha really want everyone to make images of him and worship his body?In truth, the purpose of creating the Buddha images is not to create symbols for worship. Buddha images are reminders that “the mind is the Buddha,” and that everyone has Buddha nature. Buddha images also remind us to frequently recollect the virtues of the Buddha Read more
Most of us have an idea of what constitutes the space outside us; it is the environment in which we live. This includes the house we live in, the city we live in, or even the world we live in. Just as we need to skillfully manage our relationship to others, to the environment, and to wealth, we also need to properly manage our relationship Read more
In the practice of meditation, once you have developed meditative concentration it does not matter if you are walking, standing, sitting, lying down, carrying firewood, or bringing water—every single action can suddenly lead to enlightenment and seeing intrinsic nature. For true Chan practitioners meditation is whatever they see in their daily lives; it is everywhere. Read more
Music gives us the capacity to express deep emotions. Whether through holy hymns or chants of praise, music is capable of uplifting the mind to an almost sublime state. As such, it has a significant role in the promotion of religion.All Buddhas and bodhisattvas are very skilled in utilizing music to teach the Dharma and guide sentient beings to enlightenment.Music has a very important function Read more
All my life, many have thought of me as rich, but the truth is, staying poor has always been my motto. I grew up in a poverty-stricken family, yet I never saw myself as poor, because I always felt rich in heart. Till my old age, many have thought of me as very wealthy because they believe I own many education institutes, cultural enterprises, publishing Read more
All these naturally beautiful landscapes of the world are odes of praise to the beauty and wonder of nature. The beauty of nature is really enchanting and fascinating! Read more
On the path of life, sometimes we need to go straight ahead, other times we have to make turns in order to reach our goals. If we do not turn around when we need to, we will not “see the other shore.” But when we need to move ahead and we do not, we will miss a prime opportunity. When we have to make a Read more
Within the faith of Humanistic Buddhism, there is no opposition between time and space, nor is there any worry about life and death. What we seek to attain in passive terms is the absence of fear, confusion, and degradation, as well as the inability to become broken; in active terms, life can become happier, more peaceful, more tranquil, freer, and more liberated. Read more