The Benefits of Animal Liberation – Practice Dharma Diligently

Teaching at Wan Fo Chan Monastery, Hebei, China

(June 27, 2010 PM)

Venerables from Wan Fo Chan Monastery, and Dharma brothers and sisters from Qin Huang Dao, good afternoon to all of you. I would like to share three points about Dharma practice here today with you. However, due to time constraints, I can only briefly talk about these three points.

Liberating and Protecting Animals

Firstly, since we are going to hold an animal liberation event here today, in which we will save the lives of birds, aquatic animals, and other types of living beings, I would like to take this opportunity to stress the importance of liberating and protecting animals. In addition to that, we are going to chant the “Animal Liberation Prayer.” As our motivation is of utmost importance in whatever we do, during the chanting, I would like to request that we all generate compassion for those living beings from deep within our heart.

I think the importance of animal liberation events is even more relevant for those of you living near coastal cities, for most of you could be creating more serious negative karma than others due to the consumption of fresh seafood. When I was on the way from Beijing to here, one of my friends, who doesn’t believe very much in Buddhism, said, “Going to Qin Huang Dao is very nice. The seafood there, especially crab, is delicious.” I replied to him, “I am a vegetarian.” After he heard my reply, he apologized, “Oh, sorry, I forgot….” What he said about seafood at Qin Huang Dao implies that those living near coastal cities, who like to eat seafood, are creating negative karma that is hard to imagine.

Of course, this not only happens with those living near coastal cities, it even happens with some Buddhists. When you recall what has happened during your lifetime, the scenes of killing living beings for the sake of meals may appear in your mind, and these are all things worthy of confession. As a Mahayana practitioner, generating compassion, equanimity, and loving kindness to save miserable sentient beings is our responsibility. Only by having these mindsets can we treat all sentient beings equally, and thus not only refrain from harming them, but also protect and save them. As we learnt from the scriptures, this not only eradicates all our present sufferings and disasters, benefits our mental and physical health, and promotes world peace, but also functions as a way for us to gain temporary future happiness in the three fortunate realms and ultimately attain enlightenment. Therefore, the benefits of the practice of animal liberation are indeed vast.

In addition, as there are many Pure Land practitioners here, I would like to take this opportunity to urge that we refrain from using impure practices as an excuse to reject the animal liberation practice or to slander Tibetan Buddhism and other Buddhist lineages. What we should be aware of is that various strands of Buddhism are harmonious with each other, they are all the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, and whoever practices virtue and accumulates merit will be able to attain enlightenment, no matter which strand the practitioner is from. Master Han Shan from the Han region has said, “Animal liberation coupled with Pure Land practice—thousands of people practice this, thousands will have realization.” We should bear in mind that only by performing animal liberation together with Pure Land practice can we have full confidence in achieving liberation or enlightenment. In contrast, if we advocate Pure Land practice but neglect other virtues, or, even worse, if we reject other profound Buddhist lineages, this will not only obstruct our path to liberation, but may also cause us to fall into the three unfortunate realms. As such, for the sake of liberation, for the sake of oneself and others attaining perfect buddhahood, we should all get rid of sectarianism and practice the profound and pure Dharma together.

The Benefits of Practicing Dharma

Secondly, I would like to emphasize the supremacy of the Dharma and the benefits of putting it into practice. By critically comparing the Buddhadharma to the secular scholars or secular philosophy, we will truly find that the Buddhadharma is matchless. Thus, we can establish that of all the knowledge we long for, Buddhism is the greatest and most supreme; of all the philosophies, Buddha’s wisdom and compassion are also the best. For Buddhism, we can also establish this based on the scriptures. One of the Chinese versions of the Samyuktagama (Bie Yi Za A Han Jing) says that, “Of all the brightness, sunlight is the greatest. In the worlds throughout the ten directions, Buddha is the greatest.” What this means is that, of all the brightness, the light of the sun is the greatest; similarly, of all the various kinds of philosophies and thoughts in the worlds, the wisdom of the Buddha is matchless. By knowing the preciousness and the supremacy of the Buddhadharma, our wish to practice it increases. We should, therefore, all remain aware of and understand the superiority of practicing Dharma.

The Flower Adornment Sutra says, “Tathagatas and bodhisattvas appear in this world for the sake of revealing pure wisdom to sentient beings and leading them to abide in eternal happiness.” This means that all the buddhas and bodhisattvas who have come to this world have done so for the sake of revealing pure wisdom to deluded sentient beings, in order that they may realize the truth of reality, the suffering of samsara, and so gain the benefit of liberation and eternal happiness for this life and all their future lives. Therefore, the happiness and joy of sentient beings all relies on the wisdom of Buddhism. If Buddha had not preached the precious Dharma, then we would all forever continue to sink and revolve in the darkness of ignorance.

Unfortunately, although we all have the innate desire for happiness, nowadays, most people do not know the true causes of happiness, as was taught by the Buddha. Because of this, despite striving to gain happiness, they still gain nothing. For this reason, to truly gain temporary serenity, joy, and happiness, it is necessary that we rely on the great wisdom of the Buddha and put the supreme Dharma into practice. By doing this, we will eventually obtain the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha to help both ourselves and others to attain enlightenment.

Practicing Virtue

Thirdly, we all should practice virtue. Only by doing this can we brighten the whole world and, at the same time, achieve abiding happiness. The Long Agama Sutra says, “When practicing virtue, with ten virtuous activities, even though you are only one person, millions of Dharma protectors will be around.” If you can practice virtue, even if you are just a single person, millions of Dharma protectors, heavenly beings, non-humans, and so forth will be around to protect and help you. We often see that the capacities and power of a person who practices virtue, even though he or she is just a single person, are far more than many other people. Why is this? It is because he or she is protected by Dharma protectors and blessed by buddhas and bodhisattvas.

Of course, before we practice virtue, it is necessary for us to first learn and listen to the teachings, otherwise the practices would easily stay at a superficial level and would cause Buddhism to become a superficial religion. Therefore, it is necessary for a monastery to have the tradition of listening, contemplating, and meditating. Through this, we can then educate and tame the minds of sentient beings. Coupled with this foundation, if you can then carry out animal liberations, Pure Land practice, perform meditation, and benefit sentient beings, only then can it be considered very meaningful from a Mahayana viewpoint.

Today, I shall briefly talk about these three points, at this ancient monastery. I hope that the faithful can gain a strong grasp of these points in their mind. I also hope that these simple words are able to turn around the suffering of many people, and cause them to enter the path of liberation.