Philosophical Sayings About Worldly Matter (LXXI71)

Buddhist teachings have nothing to do with supernatural forces, fortune telling or the practice of “feng shui” and “yin yang”. Such teachings are based on the law of cause and effect. Buddhist teachings begin with observing precepts, obtaining peacefulness of mind, and cultivating wisdom. It is followed by practicing the four limitless states of mind: benevolence, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. Disciples are taught a love of their country, a love of the world, and service to people without selfish attachments. The whole meaning of the Buddhist teachings is to understand that everything is subtly

substantive, yet truly empty.

(This is a translation of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu’s philosophical sayings about worldly matters originally written in Chinese.)

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Below is not an official translation, just for reference

Many people in society misunderstand the true nature of Buddhist studies. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III emphasizes that Buddhism is a discipline rooted in science and the law of cause and effect — it is a discipline of nonattachment /Wu-wei (non-action). Therefore, Buddhism is absolutely not what some uneducated individuals think it is: things like yin-yang geomancy, fortune-telling, face reading, character divination, or other superstitious and deceptive practices that involve invoking spirits and mystical forces. These so-called supernatural practices have nothing at all to do with Buddhism. In fact, Buddhism cannot be represented by feudal superstitions of any kind.

Buddhism teaches that the foundational path begins with precepts, concentration, and wisdom — that is, strictly observing ethical disciplines, strengthening mental focus, and developing knowledge. Next, one must cultivate the Four Immeasurables: benevolence, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity.

We must place our hearts in a state of benevolence, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. Our behavior and our speech should be guided by these four immeasurable qualities when interacting with others:

• Benevolence(慈) means to love the people as we love our own children and family.

• Compassion (悲) means to feel others' suffering as if it were our own, just like how we feel pain when our loved ones suffer, and then toward those who are suffering, and even all sentient beings."

• Sympathetic joy (喜) means to feel joy when others are happy, as if their happiness were our own.

• Equanimity (捨) means to willingly give up what we have — whether material things or abilities — when others are in need, to help them overcome difficulties. That is the spirit of giving.

These Four Immeasurables are the most fundamental qualities and essential mindset for any Buddhist. To establish this mindset, first of all one must understand that one loves one's country, and eventually, loves the entire world. So this people loving, patriotic and universal compassion is the basic spiritual attitude for a Buddhist practitioner.

On this foundation, we must approach others with complete selflessness and non-attachment, meaning without even a trace of selfish thoughts or personal desire. Even when we do good deeds, we must not become attached to them or prideful.

The principle of “True Emptiness and Wondrous Existence of Self and Phenomena/Dharmas” (我法妙有空) refers to a deeper level of realization. It is letting go of attachment to the self and to all phenomena. True emptiness is wondrous existence — this is a level of the attained state and realization of prajñā (wisdom). Only through genuine insight and practice can one realize the true nature of Buddha and attain enlightenment. This profound meaning cannot be fully explained in a few words; to truly understand it, one must deeply study the teachings of prajñā and fully comprehend the wondrous truths of bodhi (awakening).Only after grasping this principle can one truly understand the essence of Buddhist studies.

So the realm of Buddhism is lofty; it exists as a system of cause and effect that pervades the world and the universe.

Cause and effect means that once a cause is planted, it will inevitably bear a result. This is an immutable law. “Cause and effect” is a scientific term, not a superstitious belief. The cause is the specific action one performs; the effect is the appropriate outcome or result of that action.

For example:

• When we beat a drum, the act of striking it is the cause; the sound produced is the effect.

• When we cook rice — using fire, water, and time — the process is the cause, and eating the cooked rice is the effect, the enjoyment of the result.

This is the principle of cause and effect. Of course, Buddhist philosophy runs very deep, and what is discussed here is only the most basic introductory guidance.