The second line of the verse ‘Returning to and Relying on the Triple Jewels 三皈依’ goes, ‘By returning to and relying on Dharma, I am freed from desires and therefore I am honourable 皈依法，離欲尊.’ The Dharma here does not refer to any specific Buddhist sutra, but refers to correctness. This is because what is recorded in all Buddhist sutras teach us to think what is correct, to say what is correct, and to do what is correct. All of what Sakyamuni Buddha taught us, the Dharma, teaches us to let go. Let go of all things in our minds. This is what is correct.

Listen to my teacher’s lecture in Chinese: What is a Buddha? What does the word ‘Buddha’ mean?

Listen to the podcast in English: What is a Buddha? What is learning to become a Buddha for? 

     Why should we let go of things in our minds? Because when we let go of things in our minds, we will restore the originally pure, unbiased and awakened state of mind. The word ‘awakened’ means enlightened. It means that we are awakened from all the delusions, awakened from all the wrong thoughts, wrong speech and wrong actions.

   Just for your information, the five basic categories of wrong things that human beings tend to do are killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxication (because intoxication can lead to all sorts of bad things). If we want to stay mentally and physically healthy, we should at least stay away from these five basic types of wrong things. In other words, no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying and no intoxication are the Five Precepts 五戒 that we should observe. 

      So the pure, unbiased and awakened state of mind is our True Mind, and this Mind is the Buddha Mind. Every being has a Buddha Mind, and all beings are originally Buddhas. It’s just that our minds have been contaminated by too many things over too long a passage of time, countless previous lives. All the Dharma, all of what Sakyamuni Buddha taught us, teaches us to let go, let go of thoughts, let go of differentiation, and let go of the state of being attached to anything in our minds, and these are the teachings of all Buddhas including Sakyamuni Buddha. 

     The third line of the verse goes, ‘By returning to and relying on the sangha, I am therefore the most honourable amongst all 皈依僧，眾中尊 .’ The sangha here does not refer to any specific Buddhist monk, nun, or lay Buddhist practitioner, but refers to purity because what a true Buddhist practitioner, be they a monk, a nun or a lay practitioner, practises is purity in thought, purity in speech and purity in action. (If interested, please watch my teacher’s original lecture on the meaning of the word ‘sangha’ or 僧 seng in Chinese.)

     From a broad perspective, four people learning together is called ‘sangha’, be they monks, nuns or lay practitioners. The four of them practise sages’ teachings together and follow the Six Principles of Harmony and Respect 六和敬, that is, 1) harmony in opinions with a common understanding 見和同解, 2) harmony in precepts when practising together 戒和同修, 3) harmony in actions when living together 身和同住, 4) harmony in speech without competition and conflicts 口和無諍, 5) harmony in experiencing the joy of practising the Buddha’s teachings 意和同悅, 6) harmony in benefit when sharing together 利和同均.

     Any group that follows these six rules can be called a harmonious and united group 和合僧團. So the word ‘sangha’ refers to a group. If a family of four people, the father, the mother and the two children, can follow the Six Rules of Harmony and Respect, this family can be called a sangha, a harmonious and united group. The benefit that this kind of group brings to the world is phenomenally positive.

     Amongst all sangha groups, a Buddhas’ sangha group is the most honourable. Why is it? Because all the group members of that group follow the Six Rules of Harmony and Respect. It is a standard, representative and exemplary group. Because it sets a good example, it attracts all other groups in the world to learn from them. This is what ‘Returning to and Relying on the Triple Jewels’ really means.

     To start with, a true Buddhist practitioner must observe precepts, at least the Five Precepts mentioned above. The purpose of observing precepts is to achieve innate tranquillity. It is a state in which a person remains undisturbed by their physical and mental environments. By observing precepts and achieving innate tranquillity, their innate wisdom will arise. These are called the Three Learnings 戒定慧三學 which are the three principles and steps of attaining full enlightenment. In other words, when a person attains full enlightenment, their innate perfect wisdom will arise. Without practising the Three Learnings, a person is not a true Buddhist. That is why we must do our best to learn and practise. 

      Wishing whoever reads this article good mental and physical health, peace, harmony, auspiciousness, happiness, healthy long life and infinite wisdom. Thank you.     

DEDICATION

The effort and gains of explaining, transmitting and listening to Buddhas’ teachings are dedicated to:

the entire Universe and all beings of all dimensions and all existences. May they all listen to Buddhas’ teachings, awaken to the truth of the Universe, be mindful of the name ‘Amituofo’ (Amitabha Buddha),

aspire to go to the Pure Land, and become Buddhas. (Read the above three times)

I pray to Buddhas and bodhisattvas for unconditionally solving all man-made and natural disasters around the globe.

For all of those who died in man-made wars and natural disasters across the world,

and for all of those who are related to me in all kinds of ways in this life and previous lives, may they listen to Buddhas’ teachings. May they awaken to the truth of the Universe, aspire to unearth their innate and most sincere, pure, equal and awakened mind, be single-mindedly mindful of Amituofo, aspire to go to the Pure Land so as to see Amituofo and listen to his teachings, removing all their delusions and unveiling their innate wisdom, gaining the real peace and happiness, instantly escaping from the cycle of birth and death, speedily becoming Buddhas, and helping all beings (in the entire Universe) like all other Buddhas.

The effort and gains are dedicated to the leaders of all countries on the Earth. May all countries be prosperous. May all disasters be solved. May the world enjoy eternal peace. I use the effort and gains to return the help from the enlightenment of Buddhas, by the correctness of Buddhas’ teachings, from the purity of sangha, from all beings, from my parents (in this life and previous lives), and from my country(ies). I also use the effort and gains to help alleviate the suffering of those who are already in and will be reborn into the animal realm, the ghost realm and hells as the result of their bad thoughts, speech and deeds. For anyone who sees and hears me chanting or being mindful of Amituofo and doing other good deeds, may they aspire to unearth their most sincere, pure, equal and awakened mind so as to go to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, together with me, at the end of our present lives.