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DHARMA IN EVERYDAY LIFE
- CREATE GOOD PREDESTINED
By Nhat Quan
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---o0o---
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Predestined
is the interaction between people in your daily life.
Considered good predestined is the relationship between
people, in good circumstances, creating joy, bringing joy to
everyone. Expanding good relations means building good
reciprocal relationships between people widely. All beings
in this world are your brothers and sisters. Due to the
influence of the social environment, ideology, personality,
and habits have changed, so the relationship is no longer as
good as before. If you want to go back to the beginning, you
should use good predestined to treat each other or teach.
And should always remember:
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- Meeting
each other in life is all predestined
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According to
the Buddha's teaching, there is always a predestined
relationship between people from a previous life, so in this
life, when you meet someone to love or hate someone, there
are reasons:
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- The person
who loves you gives you warmth and courage.
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- The person
you love will make you learn how to love and cherish.
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- The person
you don't like teaches you tolerance and respect.
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- People who
don't like you will help you grow, make you self-conscious,
and re-examine yourself.
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No one comes
into your life for no reason. Everyone's presence has a
reason, it's all appreciated. All of you are here together
not by chance, but because you have been predestined to each
other for many generations, so now you have met. In the
sutras, the Buddha said that there are four kinds of
predestined.
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- There are
people you have never known, but when you meet them, you
feel friendly and familiar, like you have met them somewhere
before.
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- Someone
you just met you already hates. It is a sign that you have
had a bad relationship with each other in many previous
lives, and only now are you meeting again.
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- The person
you used to be indebted to, as soon as you see it, you
immediately fall in love.
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- The person
who has a grudge, you are angry as soon as you see it.
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You are born
in this world by creating mixed conditions of good and evil.
So from the predestined to join together, also from the
predestined to disintegrate. If it's good enough, it's
still, if it's not, then it's over. When the predestined
condition is still there, no matter how bad someone destroys
it, it can't be broken, but when the predestined
relationship is over, any kind of clinging will be broken.
Of the four types of predestined conditions I have just
mentioned, it shows that in a person's life, there is a
gathering of predestined conditions, and if there is no
predestined relationship, even if they face each other, they
don't know each other. Thus, among the types of conditions
of encounter, they are divided into two types:
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- Good and
bad.
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Talking
about good and bad conditions, there is a saying that:
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- Meeting
each other means having a predestined relationship,
respecting each other is a good predestined. Hurting each
other is evilly predestined.
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In the
spirit of studying the path of liberation, if you want to
become enlightened, you must have a relationship with
Buddha. However, if you want to have a Buddha-destiny
relationship, you must first make a good-natured
relationship. The so-called good relationship is building
harmonious relationships and good relations with others. The
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have for many lifetimes accumulated
good karmic relationships with living beings and have taken
one step further to transform sentient beings and become
buddhas.
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One of the
most precious things in human life is making good conditions
or creating good conditions. Because in order for your life
to be happy, also for everyone's life to be happy, it is
really important to make good connections. So how can we
expand our good predestined?
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According to
the Venerable Virtues, in human society, there are many ways
of making a good predestined, such as:
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- Someone
built a street lamp post on the way to make a good
predestined with passersby.
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- Someone
set up a tea shop for everyone to drink tea to make good
predestined with passersby,
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- Someone
created a bridge connecting the two banks to make a good
predestined with people,
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- Someone
spends money to drill a well to offer to the masses to make
a good predestined,
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- Someone
gave a watch in a public area to make a good predestined
with time,
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Those are
all very precious blessings. As long as people have good
intentions, and naturally good predestined are everywhere,
then the door of good predestined will open everywhere! All
of the above suggestions are summed up into eight types of
good predestined:
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1- Helping
the Unknown:
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There are
times when you can use the money to make friends with
strangers, perhaps thus turning a stranger into an
acquaintance.
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Indeed, when
I went to Duoc Su Temple, Michigan to celebrate Ullambana.
For some reason, the flight from Seattle to Houston, Texas
was delayed, so when it arrived, the flight from Houston to
Grand Rapid Michigan had already flown. So that night I had
to sleep at the airport in Houston. Due to the airline's
fault, all customers get a coupon for breakfast. After going
to Michigan for the ceremony and then back to Seattle, that
Sunday afternoon the plane was late again, so I had to
return to the temple until the next morning to return to
Seattle. When going to Grand Rapid Michigan airport because
it's too early, there's still time, moreover, if you don't
use the coupon, it's like leaving. Seeing that I just bought
breakfast, the coupon is only worth $15.00 dollars, while
the food I bought is almost $17.00 dollars. Because I didn't
want to pay more, I asked the salesman to take back two
bottles of water, while the salesman was taking them out,
there was an American friend behind me, he told me to let
him pay me the amount missing. So I have another friend who
is a person I have never met before.
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2- Words
create good predestined:
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When someone
is discouraged, you give them a word of encouragement, and
that person will feel in despair he found a way to live.
When someone is disappointed, you have a compliment, they
will feel that life is more lovely, which is the so-called:
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- A
compliment is more glorious than a fine dress, a mockery
more unpleasant than the punishment of an ax.
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A good
saying can really make you happy, then heaven and earth
become peaceful!
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3- Knowledge
of creating good predestined
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You can also
use your knowledge or techniques to create good predestined
with others. If you are a person with knowledge and a level
of self-discipline, today you teach others a little
knowledge or technique, that person will later become a
person with bravery, self-reliance, and know how to behave
be a good person for society. So often a profound word can
affect another person's life, becoming the basis of their
behavior and a guide to their life.
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4-
Self-sacrificing service to create good predestined
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Doing
something that makes others a little convenient, sometimes
will become the object that everyone admires and respects
you. For example, if you are walking down the street and see
an old man cross the street while many cars pass by, you
immediately have the heart to help the old man cross the
street at the intersection, then you have built a good
image. Or young people very politely give their seats to the
elderly on the bus, this makes you believe that there are
people in this world who care for each other. Although the
work is small, it comes from compassion for people, which is
a good predestined relationship. In the same way, you must
treat all sentient beings with a sincere heart.
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5- Smile
creates a good predestined
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Smiling is
the common language of the world, it can shorten the
distance between people, but also has the ability to bring
people closer together. If you always have a smile on your
face, you can easily get close to people, increase harmony
and closeness, and make people release their guarded minds,
making it easier for others easy access to you. So, just a
smile, a raise of hand can bring people unexpected good
predestined. Somewhere in the press, there was a mention of
an unemployed young man lounging in front of New York's
train station, looking at the prosperous scenery of traffic,
he wanted to find a car of people rich to commit suicide, to
let the poor mother get the compensation to live through the
day. Just when he was in a despairing mood, all hopes turned
to ashes, a noble beautiful girl passed in front of him,
smiling and nodding at him. This nod and smile made the
young man feel that this life still had meaning to live, so
this young man forgot about finding death. On the second
day, he suddenly found a job to support his family, so he
didn't want to die even more! The predestined condition of a
smile is normally seen as a simple smile, but in this case,
the girl's smile is of great value because it was this smile
that saved that young man's life.
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6- Respect
Others:
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In the Sixth
Patriarch Sutra or Fa-bao-t'an-ching, the Sixth Patriarch
once said:
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If you want
to learn unsurpassed Bodhi, you cannot despise the beginner.
The lowliest people also have the highest intelligence, the
most intelligent people also lack wisdom. If you despise
people, you will have an immeasurable and boundless sin.
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Here the
Sixth Patriarch clearly warns you not to look down on
others. What you often see in life is that associations, due
to many disagreements, arguments, and even fights, are the
result of disrespecting others. If at that time everyone
could respect the opinions of others, not criticize the
opinions of the other party, but secretly discuss the
appropriate solution, then not only could the problems be
resolved satisfactorily discussion issues in the meeting can
also avoid unnecessary arguments. So, no matter how good or
bad sentient beings are, you still have to make good
connections, because buddha's nature is equal.
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7- Reach out
to people
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Creating
opportunities to reach out to people, like in the temple,
there is a day to meditate or recite Buddha's name, you
should think of ways to make people have a good opportunity
to attend with you, make good use of time and conditions to
maybe a lot of people can participate. Share your interest
so that everyone can practice together and learn together.
Sharing and inviting each other to study is to create a
generous predestined relationship.
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8-
Enthusiastically helping people:
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In 1978,
when our ship as a refugee arrived on the Indonesian island
of Surabaya. Here I can see people working in love for their
fellow human beings, regardless of body or non-kin. People
with money spend money, people with strength help, in the
spirit where there are people in need, they help there. They
have fully promoted their compassion and kindness, in
helping refugees. The acts and deeds of the people on this
island are not for the sake of others' praise but are
derived from the sincerity of the inner service to save
others. So as long as you have a mind to help people, there
is a place for you to practice your wish anywhere. As long
as you have a sincere and enthusiastic heart, you can always
make good friends with people. Besides, a good predestined
result can also be a good source of merit.
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Those are
the good predestined ways of an ordinary person in today's
society. Talking about promoting the good predestined for
those who study the Buddhadharma, make merit, sometimes it
is not necessary to go to the mountains and deep forests to
practice, or discharging money. But there are times when a
good word, a good deed, a smile, or a little knowledge can
give you a wide range of good relationships, and great
achievements of merit. Chinese Buddhism has five famous
mountains, each of which has a Bodhisattva that transmits
the Dharma. It is Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha
Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra
Bodhisattva and Mahasthama Bodhisattva you all know. These
five great bodhisattvas each have their own superior
predestined causes:
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1- At
Pu-To-Shan, there is Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who takes
compassion as a good predestined, universally saving
sentient being, so he has achieved compassion.
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2- At
Chiu-Fa San, there is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva who takes his
vows to make good predestined:
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- To save
all sentient beings, I will only witness the Bodhi fruition
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Hell is not
empty, I swear not to become a Buddha.
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Over many
hundreds of thousands of years, these four immeasurable
verses of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva have shown a path to
Buddhahood for the world.
- 3- At
Wu Tai Shan, there is Manjushri Bodhisattva who takes
wisdom as a good predestined. Here appeared a bright light
that enlightened the blind, the sound of the Dharma
resounded for the ignorant, and with profound wisdom, he
enlightened the realm of great wisdom, even magic
salvation for people
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4- At O-Mei-Shan there is Samantabhadra Bodhisattva who
takes practice as good predestined. Here he incarnates the
predestined people. Building noble character, and practice
for China's Buddhist community.
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5- At Sumeru Mountain in China, there is a
Mahasthama-prapta Bodhisattva who takes the power of
diligence as a good predestined
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addition to the five great bodhisattvas, in Buddhism,
there are also high monks and nuns of all ages, each with
their own unique good predestined connection methods such
as:
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- Master Hoang Nhat uses calligraphy to make good
relationships with people. As long as you are an admirer
of the Buddhadharma, he does not regret using pen and ink
to write sutras or calligraphy to form a predestined
relationship. He himself was very strict in his practice,
strictly observing the precepts, and absolutely did not
say a word that slandered the Dharma, did not do any
actions that violated the precepts, and built an example
of noble dignity.
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- The Most Venerable Hu Van uses meditation to make good
relations with people. In his monastic life, his mind was
as immobile, one-pointed as undisturbed, not preaching the
Dharma, but spreading the Dharma and spreading widely,
taking on countless government jobs without changing his
mind to worldly circumstances.
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- Thai Hu Great Master used the teaching of the Dharma as
a good condition, used the writing to deduce the prajna,
or used the teaching of the sutras to enlighten those who
had gone astray. He wandered around, established goodwill
with everyone, and revived Chinese Buddhism.
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- Others like Tu Dat the Elder of India, used almsgiving
to make good conditions and built the Jetavana Monastery,
which became the Buddha's teaching place in northern India
that received the respect of the whole country...
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- Venerable Vinh Minh Dien Tho Zen Master used the release
of living beings to establish a good relationship and
saved countless animals and creatures living in the water.
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- Long Kho Imperial Preceptor takes the offering of tea to
passersby to make a good relationship so that passersby
are not thirsty and have the strength to go further!
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- Venerable Thich Quang Duc Bodhisattva, in 1963, burned
himself to protect the Dharma, by using the fire of ardent
service to establish a good relationship with sentient
beings.
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To say that it is to create good conditions or to promote
good conditions is in the spirit of a student of the Way.
But according to the world, instead of talking about
creating goodwill, today's society says that it must rely
on the combined operation of each other to be able to
promote effective functions. That is, the life of each
individual must also depend on close coordination with
everyone to exist, and be able to live happily. Everything
in your daily life depends on the unbroken cooperation of
the castes:
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- Intellectuals, farmers, workers, and traders.
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There is the transportation of goods, so there is no
shortage of food and clothing, avoiding shortages, so you
have to thank the predestined conditions, thank many
people who have accomplished for you. If you want a
successful career, a favorable life, and a happy life, you
must establish good conditions with all sentient beings in
this life, even make good causes and conditions for future
lives establish a dharma relationship with the Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas. Ten thousand people give alms, ten thousand
people rejoice, together with ten thousand causes and
conditions, surely society will be good, the fruit of
becoming a Buddha is certainly not lacking! It can be said
that a life of good conditions, blessed for thousands of
kalpas, through which according to the records in the
Canon, it is said about Venerable Vakkula's predecessor:
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- At the time of the Buddha Vairochana, there was a monk
whose head was very painful. At that time, Venerable
Vakkula, who was a poor merchant, took a fruit capable of
curing pain and offer it to him. After the monk finished
eating, the headache was completely gone. Thanks to
diligent practice, that monk attained enlightenment
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Venerable Vakkula, because he had done this good deed, had
established this predestined relationship with a future
Buddha. So, in the next 91 lives, Vakkula lived happily,
and his body never got sick. Later, Vakkula was
reincarnated into a Brahmin family, his mother died early,
and his stepmother tried to kill him many times, but all
were unsuccessful.
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Once, his stepmother left him with a pan of boiling oil
but did not die, then the stepmother threw him into the
river, being swallowed by a big fish. The fish was
immediately caught by the fisherman, and when he opened
the fish's belly, there was a baby. Vakkula
later became the adopted son of a nobleman. Later,
practice attained Arhat status.
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Good condition is a very impressive word in thought, or
consciousness, formed on the inside and manifests in
action on the outside, moreover, it is a unified
combination that sublimates thought and action your own
action. Normally speaking, in a traditional society, the
degree of good deeds of a person more or less depends on
the conscience and karma of each person. This is not
absolute, especially when human society has entered the
era of high technology and good communication system. This
is also the reason why people's honesty declines, people's
hearts are not as good as before. The moral character of
people is decreasing day by day, social evils exist
everywhere, evils such as gambling, drugs, etc. These
evils creep into every corner, making you do not do good
deeds, but with one heart only eyeing money, getting rich
illegally.
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In short, the promotion of goodwill is the ladder to
Buddhahood, the basis of Buddhist practice, the wider the
goodwill is, the deeper the Buddha's relationship will be.
You must live well and grasp every part of the good
conditions, then build a bridge between the human world
and the realm of the Buddhas, save sentient beings, and
lead them to the shore of liberation.
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Like the Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas have extended good
relations with people everywhere, so they have also saved
many sentient beings' suffering. That's why, if a person
can promote good conditions, your predestined will be
good. If you can all promote good conditions, believe that
in terms of saving people, and helping people, you can
definitely get good results. Great results with little
effort.
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Everything starts with fate and ends with fate. So in
life, someone has also uttered the familiar sentence:
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- Well, everything has a destiny,
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Or:
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- Fate is determined.
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That is to say, ten years, twenty years, or a hundred
years of human life, is just a segment of human life. You
can only be destined to go together for only a certain
part of the way, don't confuse your attachment to
temporary possessions and think it's yours and then bring
suffering into your body. For those rare moments of fate,
you should care, and not think that others have to conform
to your style. In this way, you will not be misunderstood,
respect and help others, leading to a positive and joyful
life, without causing suffering to yourself and others.
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Always doing good deeds, and promoting good conditions, is
the most important moral virtue that you need to follow on
the path to enlightenment.
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You can be happy without worries, live a peaceful and
comfortable life, you can practice, create merit and
cultivate good roots. People who study Buddhism have an
honest heart and like to do almsgiving. Not because of
greed for fame, profit, greed for wealth, and greed that
they fight with each other, on the contrary, using an
equal mind, a reverent mind, and a joyful mind, you
practice giving, rescue sentient beings' sufferings, and
always encourage everyone in the society live together in
peace, and enjoy all the fun, auspicious and peaceful.
---o0o---
If you have any recommendations,
please e-mail to:
chuaduocsu@duocsu.org
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