Clearing the clouds and fog: Question 1: Teacher Huang's explanation

Author: Huang Shengchang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-01-01
Features: If one sentence could summarize the key points of this book, it would be "to act with peace on the wisdom of the Buddha while fulfilling one's duties (carrying out all responsibilities)." This sentence can be said to be a concise, practical, powerful, and highly beneficial summary of Buddhist practice. The first half represents the mind, while the second half represents the form; the first half represents wisdom, while the second half represents the circumstances; the first half represents a three-dimensional perspective, while the second half represents the manifestation of action; the first half represents finding peace, while the second half represents taking action; the first half represents seeking the path, while the second half represents practicing the path; the first half represents internal focus, while the second half represents external focus; the first half represents adhering to principles, while the second half represents adhering to actions; the first half represents the meaning of emptiness, while the second half represents the meaning of action; the first half represents the ultimate truth, while the second half represents the conventional truth; the first half represents opening wisdom, while the second half represents cultivating blessings. The most remarkable aspect of this summary lies in the single character "while" in the middle. It is precisely because of this "while" that the mind and form become one, principles and circumstances are not obstructed, emptiness and existence are not dual, ultimate and conventional truths are harmonized, and blessings and wisdom are cultivated together. This prevents falling into extremes or becoming disjointed. If matched with the Three Perspectives of Tiantai, the peace on wisdom is the perspective of emptiness, while the fulfillment of duties is the perspective of illusion, and the "while" in the middle is the perspective of the middle way. If paired with the Three Sections of True Word Buddhism, the peace on wisdom belongs to the Vajra Section, while the fulfillment of duties belongs to the Womb Section, and the "while" in the middle is the Sutra of Completion. In summary, the first half represents wisdom, while the second half represents karma, and the "while" in the middle represents the integration of wisdom and karma.