The Buddha's light shines everywhere. The light of the Buddha's
wisdom illumines all living beings' minds, purging them of
greed, hatred, and delusion. That light dispels the darkness and
eradicates 84,000 bad habits and faults. We are studying
Buddhism because we want to get rid of greed, hatred, and
delusion, and cast off our attachments.
Isn't studying the Buddha's teachings and
uncovering our wisdom seeing the Buddha's light? If you don't
understand the teachings and studying them only makes you more
confused, it's because you haven't renounced your bad habits and
faults. You can't say that the Buddha's light doesn't shine
everywhere. If you don't develop your wisdom and hang on to your
greed, hatred, and delusion, then even though the Buddha's light
shines everywhere, it can't shine on you. It neither shines nor
doesn't shine; it shines without shining. When the light of your
wisdom appears, just that is the Buddha's light shining
everywhere. Before your own wisdom light has come forth, for you
the Buddha's light doesn't shine everywhere.
The Buddha's light is like the
electricity from the power company. The cables and switches may
be installed in the house, but if we don't switch on the lights,
the house will remain dark. Why? Because the power isn't
connected. As soon as we flip on the switch, the lights go on
and the darkness is gone. Our mind can be compared to a light
switch. If we turn on the switch in our mind, the Buddha's light
will shine forth. If we can't flip the switch, then even though
the Buddha's light is there, it can't connect. This is a simple
analogy, but it conveys the principle. Everyone should quickly
turn on the switch in his or her mind and receive the guidance
of the Buddha's wisdom light. That's what it means to be
illumined by the Buddha's universal light.
