DHARMA IN EVERYDAY LIFE

By Nhat Quan

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Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is a symbol of the compassionate vows of the Buddhas. He manifests thousands of different physical forms throughout the ten directions and countries to educate and transform sentient beings. So you need to understand the exact meaning of His name:

- Contemplation is the subject of observing sounds to do Buddhist work,

- World sound is the object of sentient beings in life being saved.

- A Bodhisattva is someone who always practices the path of liberation, awakens sentient beings and helps them leave the suffering in the path of birth and death.

The subject of observation and the object of observation are not two, being able to enter the dharma nature of equality, vowing to save sentient beings, and achieving Great Compassion, which is the main virtue of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.

Thus, Avalokiteshvara means to contemplate, consider, and listen to the sounds of the world. According to Pham Pho Mon in the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma, the reason he had such a name was due to his compassionate vow to save suffering. Whenever someone is in trouble or danger, that person immediately recites the Bodhisattva's name, he immediately contemplates that sound, and immediately saves them from disaster.

In the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra, this Bodhisattva is named Avalokiteshvara based on his practice method. When he deeply contemplated himself, he realized that the five aggregates had no self-nature and were all temporary. Realizing that, he escaped all suffering.

In the Prajnaparamita Sutra, the name Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva is hidden in a profound philosophy, and a mysterious method of practice through contemplation to achieve freedom and liberation.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara's focus is to liberate the suffering of the mind and mental difficulties. Of course, when liberating mental suffering, a healthy body and all material values will be within reach. Because matter is not outside of spirit, spirit is not outside of matter. If you want to understand in what form Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara saves suffering, you must understand the issues symbolized by suffering and liberating from suffering to be happy. Following the path on the Buddha's path, helping sentient beings that Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara pointed out, you can depend on the conditions and requirements of sentient beings to meet their benefits. But your soul must always be completely clean and pure. Like the image of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara assisting Amitabha Buddha in the pure West, He still exists forever beside sentient beings in the suffering Saha world.

Avalokiteshvara, a Bodhisattva who practices profound Prajnaparamita wisdom, when observing objects is not hindered by false elements that form the illusion of the real entity, so he is called Avalokiteshvara.

In another sense, this Bodhisattva observes all the Dharmas of freedom, all the merits associated with sentient beings, causing them to leave the sea of suffering and achieve peace and joy, so he is considered a Bodhisattva powerful. He watches over and protects sentient beings, so he is called Avalokiteshvara. In the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra, the upper volume, Venerable K’uei-Chi explains:

- Contemplation means illumination, that is, wisdom that sees existence and non-existence;

- Avalokiteshvara means freedom, that is, only the result of liberation that has been achieved.

In the past, by practicing the Six Dharmas, now I have achieved perfect results, and that fullness is thanks to the wisdom of contemplation, achieving the ten orders of freedom. The ten types of freedom are:

01- Life is free: Can prolong life at will.

02- Free mind: Not infected with birth and death.

03- Freedom of wealth: Wealth is abundant, you can get it immediately if you want it, this is achieved by cultivating almsgiving.

04- Free karma: Only do good deeds and encourage others to do the same.

05- Free birth: Depending on where you want to be, you can be born, this is achieved by keeping the precepts.

06- Liberation and freedom: Can change at will, through patience.

07- Vow to be free: Whatever you want, you can achieve it through diligence.

08- Freedom of divine power: Supreme divine power, achieved through concentration.

09. Free mind: Knows all languages and words.

10- Dharma of freedom: Always following the basic needs of living beings, achieved through wisdom.

Mr. K'uei-Chi also added that Avalokiteshvara is a Bodhisattva ultimate state, Samyak-sambodhi bodhisattva, there is no dark, miserable place that the light of His compassion does not penetrate, but speaks fully. It's enough that he has ten levels of freedom, so people call him Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.

There are also many different names:

- Because this Bodhisattva took the original vow of compassion to help sentient beings, he was called Great Compassion Bodhisattva.

- Because holding a lotus flower is a symbol of pure wisdom or magical dharma, it is called Lotus Hand Bodhisattva.

- Due to observing and practicing the Non-Two Dharma, he is called Non-Two Bodhisattva

- By practicing the five Dharma contemplations: Truth contemplation, Purity contemplation, Generous wisdom contemplation, Compassion contemplation, and Kindness contemplation, pure, untainted light appears clearly. That is, the light of wisdom destroys the darkness and afflictions, thereby subduing the original mind. Therefore, He can bring his wisdom and light to shine throughout all realms to save sentient beings from suffering. That is a symbol of miraculous use and benefiting others, so he is called Bright Sound Bodhisattva.

- Due to the virtue of observing all the cries for help of all living beings in the Saha world for timely salvation, he was named Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva.

- Because he always practices the merits of Prajna Wisdom, he is called Prajna Bodhisattva.

- Because he always brings fearlessness and gives peace to sentient beings, he is called the Fearless Giver.

In the Sanskrit version of the Lotus Sutra, it is written: O good man! That Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva Mahasattva grants fearlessness to anxious beings. Therefore in this Saha world, he is the Giver of fearlessness.

- Because he uses the three Dharmas of Listening, Thinking, and Practicing to make the ear sense perfectly, he is called Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva.

Due to the transformation of means to save sentient beings, the name and image of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva have many different appearances. But usually, people use the title Avalokiteśvara. His image is very free without any specific characteristics, and each name is different to indicate his achievements, such as:

- The name Saint Avalokiteshvara is used to refer to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara along with Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva who accompanied Amitabha Buddha in the Pure Land and called himself the Three Saints of the West.

- The name Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is used to refer to sentient beings who are practicing the method of contemplation of reality to complete transcendent wisdom, or this title is used to refer to Bodhisattvas in the Noumenal and phenomenal realm or Principle and practice or Absolute and relative freedom, contemplation and attainment of freedom.

- The name Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva is used to refer to sentient beings who are Enlightened beings who are practicing The organ of hearing Universally penetrating method to complete the four immeasurable minds: Boundless kindness, Boundless pity, Boundless joy, Limitless indifference, Or this title is used to refer to a Bodhisattva who uses his original vow of Compassion to observe the sounds of all sentient beings in the Great Thousand World calling for help and quickly appearing to save those in need.

According to the Lotus Sutra of the wonderful Dharma, the chapter Avalokiteśvara Universal Gate reports, whoever recites the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, great fire cannot burn it, great water cannot wash it away, yaksha, Rakshasa cannot harm you. To those who are afraid, the Bodhisattva bestows fearlessness. Those who are bound by greed, anger, and ignorance will be eliminated by the Bodhisattva. For those who want to have a son or daughter, the Bodhisattva will grant them their wish.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara uses countless means to transform living beings and manifest according to their needs. Or appear in Buddha's body, Pratyekabuddha's body, Sravaka's body, Brahma's body... up to the body of Urana-la, Ma-most-la-da, the Vajra Deity... whatever body he has, he can be saved the living being, then He will appear in that body to save.

The Compassionate Flower Sutra, volume 3, reports the event of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara making a vow to the Buddha. The scriptures say:

- I pray that when I practice the Bodhisattva path, if any sentient being suffering, fear... is in danger of losing the Dharma, falling into evil paths, sadness, alone and without a rescuer, shirtless, homeless, poor, destitute... If those sentient beings can remember and think of me, recite my name, because they know that my heavenly ears can hear, my heavenly eyes can see, then if those sentient beings are not free from sufferings and tribulations, I swear I will not achieve perfect enlightenment

The Compassionate Flower Sutra also said that Avalokiteshvara is the Eka-jati-prati-badha-bodhisattva or One-life Bodhisattva,  and is also the Bodhisattva who inherited the position of Amitabha Buddha. His deeds were almost complete. Has achieved the merits of the Buddhas of the ten directions. In the sutra, there is a place where it is said that Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva was the Right Dharma Clearly Understanding Tathagata in his past life. Thus, he is Buddha but incarnate is Bodhisattva. He manifests in countless worlds, using the body of a Bodhisattva to save sentient beings who encounter suffering, expressing His immense compassion. As it was once said, when chanting the Bodhisattva's name, all the hardships of water, fire, and shackles will disappear... That's talking about reason. Here you also have to understand practice, like talking about:

1- In terms of Loss & Suffering:

* The fire accident only shows the nature of seeing and knowing, because the nature of seeing and knowing goes against one's will or gives rise to this hot nature like fire. Talking about fire, there are:

- Fire is angry.

- Lustful fire.

- Fire of dissatisfaction and discontent.

* The problem of water is only for the listening nature to know because if you hear the sentimental sound of the instrument, you will easily be swept away and drowned in sensuality. Heavy attachment is also alluded to as a form of washing away and submerging by water.

* Demon La Sat: Refers to cruel, violent people who kill people.

* Knife and Stick: Shows the harmful power of the six senses in contact with the six senses, creating suffering such as cutting and hitting.

* Devil: Shows the temptations of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, doubt, laziness, torpor, restlessness, torpor...

* Shackles and chains: Symbolize confusion and darkness because these things make people lose their freedom and inhibit their physical and mental development.

* Robbery: Refers to wrong and sinful actions. Therefore, losing all good merit is like being robbed of all your wealth.

In general, all harmful words, cause suffering, and loss in the Universal Door chapter must be understood as: They are psychological effects of the type of unwholesome. It should not be understood as a specific event in the immediate external environment. If understood otherwise, it becomes a superstition and a myth.

2- In terms of loss, gain & happiness

The seven treasures are gold, silver, lapis lazuli, etc., symbolizing the seven treasures:

- Faith, precepts, conscientiousness, preciousness, mindfulness, concentration, equanimity.

* Treasure: Represents all good merits.

* Son: Represents wisdom and enlightenment

* Daughter: Symbolizes merit and liberation.

In addition, all healthy and happy words in this sutra must be understood as:

- Merit, wisdom, liberation, and liberating knowledge belong to the category of wholesome mental factors.

Thus, wholesome or unwholesome mental factors are also understood as a typical way of talking. Because Avalokiteshvara is a practice to enter Buddha's Knowledge, not a type of prayer.

This type of dharma, depending on the opportunity, is the unique vow of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. As the Great Compassion Mantra tells you, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara has a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. Thousand hands represent great ability to help sentient beings, thousand eyes represent bright wisdom that shines everywhere. This is an image that symbolizes the wisdom and compassion of the Bodhisattva, serving as a means to lead sentient beings back to the path of Enlightenment. It can be said that Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara's means of teaching are extremely vast, there is no remote or small place where he does not go. In the Lotus Sutra, chapter Universal Gate, reports in great detail the means of teaching Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. Such as:

- If there are sentient beings who need Buddha's body for salvation, Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara will immediately appear in Buddha's body to preach the Dharma to those sentient beings. Until, if there are living beings who need the bodies of yaksha, asura, human, non-human... for salvation, then He will immediately appear in that body to preach the Dharma. Real beings in the world, such as lay people, farmers, industrialists, kings, mandarins, etc., also had Bodhisattva manifest those roles to preach the Dharma to them. The means to adapt according to the type is the Working Together practice of Bodhisattvas, not just Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.

In addition to the image of a thousand arms and a thousand eyes, there are also images of 18-armed Avalokiteshvara and 4-armed Avalokiteshvara. But perhaps the most realistic and also the most beautiful is when He incarnates humans with full and dignified virtues, depending on each person's belief and inspiration. Therefore, people often see Him appearing as a gentle mother!

Thus, the thirty-two incarnations are Bodhisattvas and Buddhas with the same magnetic power. The fourteen fearless subjects are Bodhisattvas who share the same compassion with all sentient beings, and all are achieved through the Bodhisattva's efforts and thoughts. However, in Bodhisattvas, compassion naturally responds, but in living beings, it must be created by creating good roots. Therefore, to sentient beings who have developed good roots, Bodhisattvas appear in person to preach the Dharma. With sentient beings who are suffering and worthy of their name, they are immediately moved by the Bodhisattva's fearless giving. Once self-power and other-power are perfected, the response will be clear.

Understanding this, you will see that enlightenment and impermanence are not far away or mysterious at all. An enlightened person is someone who clearly understands and abides by the laws of universal nature, then lives according to those laws, so that life is free from dissatisfaction and suffering, which the classics call living according to the truth.

You realize that only compassion, selflessness, and altruism can wash away sadness, anger, and suffering. Only that ability can resolve all the injustices in the hearts of humanity and the Dharma world of sentient beings. Among thousands of loves, only indiscriminate, unconditional love can bring absolute peace to everyone. That love exists in Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. In the vast and endless universe with thousands of lights, only the light emanating from the True Heart is the most miraculous. That light exists in the pure dharma body of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. Throughout the dharma world, sentient beings make countless sounds, but the sounds emanating from scenes of accident and suffering are thoroughly observed by the Bodhisattva to transform them.

 In life, sometimes some people help others intending to want others to be grateful and repay them in the future. Bodhisattva is not like that. Anyone in need calls on His name, and He immediately helps without any conditions attached. That is the noble vow of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. The Universal Door Dharma Flower Sutra states:

- If there were immeasurable hundreds of thousands of millions of sentient beings suffering from suffering and afflictions, listening to this Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara wholeheartedly recite his name. Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva immediately observed clearly and saved those sentient beings to be liberated.

Why does reciting the name Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara escape countless sufferings? That is due to the Bodhisattva's power. As explained in Chapter Universal Gate:

- Due to the power of reciting the name of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.

Those who have sincere thoughts will be inspired, this matter cannot be known by the human mind. But, when you single-mindedly recite the Bodhisattva's name, your mind is pure. Reciting Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara eliminates all delusions, and pollution, and eliminates sinful obstacles. If you focus your mind on mindfulness, you will gradually achieve the right concentration and develop liberating wisdom. The Buddhist scripture Eleven-faced Avalokiteshvara Mantra says:

- If there is any man, woman, or even all sentient beings who diligently claim my name day and night, they will reach the throne of irreversibility. Now, away from all suffering, all obstacles, all fear, and the three karmic sins are eliminated.

As said in the Sutras, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is the incarnation of a past Buddha, then the divine power of Avalokiteshvara is the divine power of Buddha. He not only helps sentient beings in distress but also encourages practitioners to practice the path towards the position of irreversibility. Therefore, the Buddha advised all sentient beings up to the ranks of Saints to always wholeheartedly respect the merits and original vows of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. Praising Avalokiteśvara's vow is to live with a selfless and altruistic soul, to express the voice of peace and love in the hearts of humanity. It is an effective method of practice that brings benefits and peace in the present and future lives.

Since beginningless eons, sentient beings have been passionate about sensual pleasures and deep karma, so they are immersed in the sea of suffering of birth and death. By reciting Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva to pray for the elimination of disasters and tribulations in life, and to have all the causes and conditions to practice the path of liberation. Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta are two great Bodhisattvas who assist Amitabha Buddha in guiding sentient beings from the ten directions, those who wish to be reborn in the West. That is why most Pure Land practitioners strongly believe in the Western Three Saints, i.e. Amitabha Buddha, Avalokiteshvara, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, through countless lifetimes of cultivating compassion, achieved immeasurable Samadhi. Achieving complete penetration of the six senses, enlightenment illuminating all ten directions, preaching unhindered mantras to relieve the suffering of sentient beings in the Three Realms. Therefore, His Mind Mantra is a mind mantra derived from the pure sound nature of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas spoken to help living beings purify their sins and afflictions. If you follow the Dharma and accept and maintain the sutras and mantras, you will easily achieve blessings and wisdom. Therefore, you do not necessarily have to go to relics such as Putuo Lac Ca Mountain in India, Nam Hai Putuo Mountain in Zhejiang Province, China, or other places to worship Avalokiteshvara to be able to worship Avalokiteshvara inspiration. Because Bodhisattvas appear in all ten directions and lands, not just in one country or one locality. You revere Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, which means you do not forget the task of promoting Bodhisattva's compassionate qualities in real life. When your mind has great love, knows how to help, and is moved by the pain of others, there is an image of Bodhisattva in your heart.

 If you only recite the Bodhisattva's name to ask for help to satisfy your selfish ambitions, there will be no inspiration at all. Because that prayer or confession only raises the will to look outward, carries the element of Divine blessings and disasters, and is not by the Bodhisattva's original vow of great compassion. No matter where you are, if you are sincere and practice the Dharma, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is there with you and in you. If you recite the title Avalokiteśvara, you will surely be liberated from all suffering. According to the Sutra, the way to recite is:

- Single-mindedly chant the name of Avalokiteshvara.

When you have one mind, it means you are far away from all afflictions and crazy thoughts. In terms of practice, if you are sincere and recite the Bodhisattva's name, of course, you will receive the Bodhisattva's blessing. But there is another meaning, in theory, when you are single-minded, it means realizing that:

- The minds of sentient beings and the minds of Bodhisattvas are not different

When you are single-minded, you reach the realm of selflessness and attain true wisdom. The Bodhisattvas' wishes bring happiness to everyone, building and promoting the path of liberation in the world. Because the Buddhas or Bodhisattvas do not want you to be a living being forever, they often teach that you can be a Buddha and a Bodhisattva. They always advise you to diligently practice good dharma right in this life to live peacefully. Reciting the Bodhisattva's name is to transform your mind to be full of compassionate qualities like a Bodhisattva.

The greatest misfortune of humans is that they do not have the right view of Buddha Dharma, so they suffer in the cycle of birth and death. If you know how to practice correctly, it is a great happiness in human life. To have the right view is to contemplate the impermanent nature of life and all phenomena. To have the right view is to see suffering and the method to resolve suffering. Personal and people's happiness are closely related to each other. People and the social community are a comprehensive relationship. A person who knows how to build happiness is someone who knows how to respect the happiness of others. When you hate others, you hate yourself. The ingredients of human happiness are Compassion and Wisdom, simply put, love and understanding.

In short, Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara's virtues are love and patience, knowing how to listen and share the pain of life. However, people sometimes forget other people's lives because of anger and conservatism. Therefore, they do not examine themselves and have the habit of condemning and criticizing, perhaps even their relatives or benefactors. That phenomenon makes people lose the ability to love inherent in their hearts. Greed and anger motivate delusional actions, which destroy individual lives, families, and human communities.

People suffer not necessarily because of material deprivation but because of a lack of love and understanding. Due to losing the right view of the principle of cause and effect, people forget morality and live with a confused consciousness, which leads to suffering.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, by knowing how to practice Listening, Thinking, and Practicing, attained Perfection of the Ear Organs and achieved true happiness:

- Hearing: Means the ability to receive all types of sounds.

- Thinking: This is the ability to evaluate all information values in an objective spirit.

- Cultivation: This is the complete practice of love and understanding, building happiness and liberation.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara's method of listening is to know how to look within. That's called:

- Reflecting the hearing nature, hearing about the Self-nature,

That means turning the hearing back to see the mind. Meanwhile, you approach every sound with a discriminating mind, so you should show an attitude of grasping or hating. By knowing how to listen, Bodhisattva masters consciousness and transforms consciousness into wisdom. From then on, all activities of the six senses: Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Body, and Mind in the body and mind are free. Bodhisattvas only have the joy of liberation and have full power to help sentient beings escape suffering. If you can apply the method like the Bodhisattva did, your life will not be dominated by afflictions. At any time and anywhere, live with a clear mind and be peaceful. If you can do that, you can use that power to help reduce suffering in life, which is practicing and learning the conduct of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.

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