To one-sidedly seek personal liberation does not conform to the Buddha's original intention. If the Buddha had also been seeking primarily personal liberation, then we would not have Buddhism in this world, and we would not have heard the Buddhadharma. We can see from the Buddha's life that the Buddha himself was a most clear exemplar of the spirit of helping others.
The altruistic practice of the bodhisattvas -- whether it is the six perfections or the four methods of inducement -- begins with giving. And although the liberation path has the three undefiled practices of morality, meditation, and wisdom at its heart, the Buddha nevertheless encouraged people to give materially and to give the Dharma. Laypeople usually gave property whereas monastics would give the Dharma they had learned and practiced. This giving the Dharma exemplifies raising the social concern of the human and heavenly vehicles to the level of the bodhisattva path through integration with the path of liberation. The scripture says, "Among the higher forms of giving, none surpasses the giving of the Dharma."
Giving in the spirit of the Buddha should not be based on personal relations or with ulterior motives. When discrimination and motives are absent, the gift is unconditioned and in accord with the liberation and bodhisattva paths. The Buddha said to a follower, "Well-done, well-done, elder one! With the mind of a bodhisattva, you practice extensive giving single-mindedly." He also said that, "The place of learning for a bodhisattva is to be always impartial in practicing giving." The giving of the human and heavenly vehicles and the giving of the bodhisattva vehicle appear similar but are in fact entirely different. Ordinary charity work is still a mundane practice, whereas compassionate suffering relief -- guided by purity and impartiality of the liberation path -- is a bodhisattva practice.
Buddhism in the 21st century must root itself in concern for social problems. If Buddhists only shut themselves away in the cloister, Buddhism will be eliminated by contemporary society and eventually meet extinction. But Buddhists' care for society should be aimed at helping everyone reduce suffering, increase happiness, and uplift their character -- it surely does not mean drifting with the tide and becoming assimilated by worldly ways.
We should adopt the principle that in helping people we must first bring them peace of mind, teaching that "when the mind is pure, the land will be pure." Our mission then is to advocate "spiritual environmentalism," which means using the concepts and methods of Buddhist practice to uplift the character of humanity. We do this with an eye to carrying out and sharing our vision to build a pure land on earth. We complete our mission of social concern through education, and achieve our goal of education through social concern. In doing this we return to the Buddha's original intention. If our resources are limited and we accomplish less than we wish, we should still be confident that Buddhists in the 21st century will all respond in unison and work together.
May Buddhism's care for human society be realized! May all sentient beings be delivered through the Buddhadharma, leave behind suffering, and attain true happiness!
[Excerpted for Patheos from Master Sheng Yen's keynote address for the Fourth Chung-Hwa International Conference on Buddhism -- reprinted with permission of Dharma Drum Mountain.]
Master Sheng Yen (1930-2009) became a monk at the age of thirteen. He conducted a six-year solitary retreat in the mountains in Kaohsiung, after which he went to study in Japan. He obtained a Doctorate of Literature at Rissho University. Past positions include magazine editor, professor, president of the Institute of Buddhist Studies, and president of the Institute for the Translation of the Chinese Tripitaka in Taipei.
He founded the Chung Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies, Dharma Drum Mountain, Dharma Drum Shangha University and Dharma Drum Mountain Community College. In Taiwan he also established foundations for Chan practice, culture and education, social welfare and charity. There are DDM practice centers throughout Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.
Over the years, as an educator, author, and even more as a religious leader and internationally renowned Chan master, he had spared no effort to promote worthy causes such as protecting the spiritual environment, harmony between ethnic groups, and world peace.
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