Master St. Xi replied: What is the difference between bodhisattva and ordinary people's giving?
What is advocated here is common giving: some people give to a small number of sentient beings or sentient beings in a certain area; Time is once a year, once a month or choose some auspicious days, and the time is very short; Articles are also very common, such as some old clothes, ordinary food and articles. Usually, we will donate our unused clothes, but we are reluctant to donate our favorite or newly bought clothes. This is the mentality of ordinary donors. The bodhisattva's mentality is to give away what he cherishes-on the one hand, to satisfy the wishes of the other party, on the other hand, to break his stingy heart, so the bodhisattva will deliberately give away what he loves.
Generally speaking, the attitude given by ordinary people is extremely disrespectful, because ordinary people do not think that the other party deserves respect and think that the other party is the beneficiary, so they are above themselves; Ordinary people's giving behavior and language are also very casual. This is not pure pay. Beggars are also dignified people and can't be insulted casually. But most people don't pay attention, and it is easy to make such mistakes.
It can be seen that the benefits brought by ordinary giving are only to meet the needs of the other party for half a day, and the benefits that the receiver can get are very few. Even a dress can only be worn for a few years, and it can't be worn after it is broken.
[Such a move is still regarded as a good deed by people, not to mention that there are countless sentient beings in the environment, time is endless and continuous, and it is also a great happiness to give a good death. The interests of the line are also to satisfy all wishes, and the behavior is also respectful. 〗
The benefactors of ordinary charity are also called good people, not to mention Bodhisattva, a benefactor who practices pure charity. Therefore, the bodhisattva should be regarded as a master-the bodhisattva gives bodhicitta to all sentient beings, and giving is also infinitely affectionate.
When talking about cultivating bodhicitta, the guru said that although it is only given to one sentient being, it should benefit all sentient beings in this way, giving money, food and other good deeds to some sentient beings can also fully benefit the good roots of all sentient beings, so that good deeds can complete all merits. We should understand that a small number of sentient beings can also benefit all sentient beings, because we do good deeds to benefit all sentient beings and to care for all sentient beings. Therefore, we can benefit all sentient beings by doing every little good deed and holding it with bodhicitta.
"Time is endless and continuous": How long is the boundary of time? There is no time limit for bodhisattva's interest. According to the Buddhist scriptures, there is no end to emptiness and no end to all beings, so there is no end to benefiting all beings. ["Bodhisattva Wish" "Even the empty world is exhausted, and all living things are exhausted. If everything is endless, I am willing to be endless. " ]
"Giving is also the supreme happiness in past life": What the Bodhisattva gives to all beings temporarily is precious and wonderful, and what it gives to all beings is the supreme Buddha fruit.
"The benefit of doing is to satisfy all wishes": Bodhisattva can temporarily satisfy all the wishes of all sentient beings, and whether it can make all sentient beings become Buddhas will certainly satisfy all the wishes of all sentient beings.
"Behavior is also given in a respectful way": Because the Bodhisattva is not arrogant and rash, and regards the other person as his benefactor, he must be respectful when giving.
In the Biography of Buddha of Sakyamuni, there is a case in which the moonlight king gave his head: at that time, a wicked man asked for the head of the moonlight king, and the king readily agreed. The bad guys worried that the king would break his word and proposed to tie the king to a tree. Moonlight King also agreed to his request and tied himself to a tree. When preparing to behead, Moonlight King said, "Please put your head in my hand when beheading, and I will give it to you with both hands." 【 On Bai Lianhua's Moonlight King's Head 】: The king tied his head to a tree and said to the fierce Brahman, "After cutting off my head, you must give it to me, and I will give it to you personally. May all living beings get the most complete bodhi fruit with my merits. " Presenting things with both hands is a very respectful way, and the Moonlight King should respectfully give his head to each other with both hands.
We should often read the biographies of Bodhisattvas and learn their behaviors. It doesn't matter if you can't do it at once, you can approach it slowly, and through long-term imitation, you can finally become a standard bodhisattva. Learning the classics such as the theory of entering the profession really has a great change in our thinking and behavior.