Strengthening the Power of Bodhicitta through the Six Principles for Daily Living (I)

On November 25–26, 2023, the Winter Leadership Camp for the Dharmapala Committee of Ling Jiou Mountain was held. Whenever we see all of you serving as administrative leaders, our hearts naturally fill with joy. In this lifetime, what we are engaged in is the work of “sustaining virtuous activities and ceasing non-virtuous activities”—that is, “refrain from non-virtues, engage in virtues.”

Our minds often do not readily abide by discipline and order; therefore, we must “purify our intents.” We purify the complicated and defiled thoughts within us. Such purification means transforming ourselves through generosity and ethical discipline among the six perfections; simplifying situations through patience; and cultivating diligence throughout the process of Dharma study and practice. Through the blessings received during the four seasonal intensive camps, our confidence is empowered and we move resolutely along the path toward buddhahood.

Through Chan practice, wisdom gradually unfolds and enhances. Therefore, we must maintain consistency and perseverance in Chan practice so that our minds become stable, free from defilements and faults. When the mind is purified, what we contemplate becomes luminous and clear. Wisdom means contemplative observation: we observe and reflect upon all phenomena carefully, analyzing how everything unfolds through causality and cyclic existence, and recognizing that all conditioned phenomena are impermanent, suffering, and of emptiness. Thus, within the intensive camps, participants are guided and contained within the framework of the bodhisattva path—engaging in self-reflection, contemplative observation, and inner stabilization—so that we may dedicate ourselves to meaningful pursuits.

The first of our Six Principles for Daily Living is the “wondrous mind of Nirvana.” The wondrous mind of Nirvana is oneness; this oneness is our mind. Mind itself is the universe, and mind itself is the Buddha. This is our objective and our point of orientation. The wondrous mind of Nirvana is the most essential aspect of Dharma practice—it means uncovering our own mind. Our minds are inclined toward grasping and attachment: the eyes crave forms, the ears pursue sounds, and the six sensory faculties continually chase after the six sensory objects. Eventually, through such constant attachment, the mind becomes confused and deluded; and when delusion arises, harmful actions follow. Therefore, we must consistently remember to return to Nirvana’s Wondrous Mind, for this is where we must establish our roots and where our true ground of being lies.

The second principle is “love Earth, love peace.” The Earth is now being equivocally overheated due to human activity. The Earth is our mother—it is the place where we live and survive; it is our shared home, and thus we must cherish and protect it carefully. Ecology sustains our lives. Therefore, to love the Earth is to love ecology, and to love ecology is to love life itself. Without ecological systems, we would lose our sources of food and could no longer survive.

Today, humanity employs countless methods that damage the Earth and disrupt ecological cycles and systems. When we destroy the Earth and fail to care for ecology, it is equivalent to an act of collective self-destruction. In reality, loving the Earth is not particularly difficult. As long as we cultivate proper ecological understanding—respect the intrinsic value of all beings, embrace the space for coexistence, and together build a world of shared fulfillment—we can coexist harmoniously with ecological systems and flourish together.