I totally agree with his statement, and when I reflect on its meanings and subtle implications, I feel inspired. In one simple sentence, the Venerable Master is telling me to use my false body to cultivate the true. He is kindly encouraging me to create a real masterpiece, not on canvas or paper, but by making a continuous effort to improve myself from within. He is also admonishing me and reminding me to use the Buddhist precepts and the Buddha’s Teachings as my working tools and colors to mold and shape myself into a perfect human being. The art of being a perfect human being is the most difficult of all arts. Thus, I am deeply grateful to have encountered the Buddhadharma and to have met a Greatly Wise and Compassionate Good Knowing Advisor, the Venerable Master, who has the patience to teach such a stupid, bad, and obstinate student like me.

When we buy a piece of office equipment, there is usually a booklet in the package that explains how we should use and care for the equipment. But when we are born, we are not born with a book on the rules of being a human being. Therefore, we ought to be most grateful and happy that the Venerable Master is willing to teach us the basic rules of being a true Buddhist. Many of the things the Venerable Master speaks about sound like common sense, but, although the Venerable Master usually speaks in simple language, they are in actuality words of rare wisdom. I will give an example to illustrate my point. Dr. Albert Einstein was the world-renowned physicist who formulated the theory of relativity, and it is said that only a few people in this world are able to completely understand his theory. Therefore, his contemporaries were impressed and amazed that Einstein was able to explain his complex theory in such an effortless and simple manner. I believe that Einstein was able to do this because he was the master of his own theory. By the same token, I believe that the Venerable Master’s remarkable ability to explain the precepts and the Sutras in such an incredibly simply and penetrating manner is proof of his true understanding of the Way. If we wish to realize this truth, we can begin by learning to appreciate the fundamental rules of being a proper person, for only by using the precepts as our mirror, teacher, and foundation can we eventually realize ultimate perfection.

The Buddhist Sutras, precepts, and shastras are basically teaching us the same thing: They are teaching us to cut off all evil and to cultivate all good. In other words, they are teaching us the art of being a perfectly enlightened being. When we live in a pure Way-place, we are dwelling in the same household as the Triple Jewel. Since we are living in the same household as the Triple Jewel, as the Buddhas and the Bodhisattvas, we ought to try and be at our best behavior at all times. The Venerable Master has mentioned before that the earth is actually a transformation body of a Bodhisattva. Hence, we can also regard the world as a huge Way-place and temple; and since we are dwelling on the compassionate body of a Bodhisattva, we should maintain our good conduct and deportment no matter where we are. It is said,

To learn what is good, a day is not enough;
But to learn what is bad, an hour is too long.

Thus, I sincerely hope everyone will cherish this auspicious and rare chance we have now to study the Buddhist rules, precepts, and Sutras.