From last issue: The Ten Advantages of cultivating the Perfection of Vigor

4. One will not forget the Dharma one hears. This is the best advantage of all. One will have a good memory. Once the Dharma passes by one’s ears, it will always remain as a seed of the Way. One will never forget it. Wouldn’t you like to receive this benefit? I think you all would. Then be vigorous! If you aren’t vigorous, you won’t get it. For every increase in your effort, you gain that much benefit.

5. One will hear what one hasn’t heard. This is quite inconceivable! One will hear Dharma one has never heard before. What an advantage!

For example, the mother and her two sons who came today originally had not planned on listening to the Dharma in San Francisco. But the mother was probably swayed by what I said to “trick” them into staying, so she asked her sons about it and they agreed to stay for the lecture. Basically, they shouldn’t have had this opportunity to listen to the Dharma, since they live very far away. However, today they got to hear what they had never heard before. This is due to their vigor in past lives. When someone becomes vegetarian, has faith in the Buddha, or recites the Buddha’s name, it is not such a simple matter. They are able to resolve to do such things because of causes and conditions from past lives.

6. One’s eloquence will increase. To start with, one might not have been able to speak the Dharma, but, all of a sudden one becomes quite eloquent. This is because one was vigorous, and so one’s eloquence increased. Those with eloquence can talk people out of crying into laughing, out of anger into compassion, and out of running away from the suffering of this Summer Session into staying! Eloquent people can even scold others and they will find it very pleasant and not hard at all to hear.

7. One will obtain the essence of samadhi. One will have concentration.

8. One will have little sickness or affliction. One will not be sick or afflicted. Such problems will vanish.

9. One will have good digestion. One will be able to eat all one wants, and in just a few hours one will be hungry again. Why? Because one works hard and isn’t lazy. One doesn’t sit around thinking, “The Master’s not here. I think I’ll take a snooze.” One is very vigorous, and so one will always be able to digest one’s food well. One will also have a good appetite.

10. One will grow like the Udumbara flower. One will develop and grow, day by day, just like the Udumbara flower.

Venerable Master: What do the three laypeople from Taiwan think of my reckless talking?
Laywoman: Dharma Master, you speak very well. I have heard what I’ve never heard before.
Venerable Master: Now you’ve heard it.
Laywoman: Venerable Master, what does “Udumbara” mean?
Venerable Master: It means “magical and auspicous.”
Laywoman: Is it the kind of flower that appears only once in a long while?
Venerable Master: Yes. It blooms once every 3,000 years. “Udumbara” is Sanskrit and is translated as “magical and auspicious.”

Whether the lecture was good or not, time is just about up. There is a quarter hour left, but I think I can be lazy. However, while the teacher can relax a bit, the students should not be lazy. Why? Because the students should strive to be top of the class, while teacher doesn’t have any “top” to strive for. I tell you all to not be lazy, but I pay no attention to myself.

I just said that you should beat your lazy worms into vigorous tigers, but really, tigers are too fierce. Turn your lazy worms into vigorous dragons. That would be better.

To be continued