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We still have five minutes. I will read the
aspects on the body, mouth and mind:
1. Do not teach others about lustful behavior. Many
laypeople have asked, "Can I be a matchmaker and introduce
boyfriends to somebody?" If you are a true Buddhist, don't
waste your time. You yourself want to seek an escape, so how
can you tell others to jump into the fire pit? It would be
better for you to spend your time and energy on reciting the
Buddha's name rather than to do such things.
2. Conjugal relations are not permitted
at the wrong times or places.
3. Do not look at improper sights. The
ancients said, "The eyes act as a matchmaker for love; a
smile acts as a go-between for lust." When you see all sorts
of beautiful forms, your mind must not give rise to greed.
The ancients also said, "Do not give rise to lust at the
sight of beautiful forms; do not smile for no reason." You
should not smile for no particular reason.
The Venerable Master often warned us,
"Women must not smile casually." Smiles have the power to
entice and indicate that one is being casual. Therefore, you
must always assume a dignified and respectable manner and
not casually smile. By not smiling, must one then look stern
like the Kitchen God? No. It just means that you should not
smile casually. In appropriate situations, a slight smile
will suffice.
"The eyes act as a matchmaker for love" -
Your eyes, especially if you are a monastic, should not look
around casually because your mind will be attracted by what
your eyes see. You will take a liking to whatever pleasant
sights you encounter. If you don't look around, your eyes
are considered pure because you don't see anything. If you
are not aware, then you will have no greed for forms.
4. Do not wear revealing clothes; dress
in a plain and respectable manner. This is especially so
when you visit any Wayplace. Even if women go to Wayplaces
where there are mostly women, they should wear plain and
respectable attire at all times. Do not cause the monastics
to have idle thoughts; you must safeguard the purity of the
cultivators.
Women who go to men's Wayplaces should
pay special attention to this. In any case, people who study
and believe in Buddhism should dress plainly and
respectably.
5. Observe the Six Days of Purity
strictly.
6. Do not consume alcohol, the five
pungent plants, or any other stimulants. Students of
Buddhism must keep their bodies and minds pure, so they must
avoid taking any food or drugs of a stimulating nature.
7. Do not talk about, listen to or look
at anything that might arouse lust. The mouth must not talk,
the ears must not listen to, and the eyes must not look at
anything improper.
8. Comport yourself with a proper and
upright manner, and avoid being flippant.
9. Bow and worship the Buddhas more
often.
Then what about a suitable environment?
With respect to mind karma, we must constantly recite the
Buddhas' and Bodhisattvas' names and uphold mantras. The
Universal Door Chapter says, "If living beings plagued by
sexual desire recite the name of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva
constantly and reverently, they will be free from desire."
Our sexual desires will diminish.
10. Be careful when you are alone. The
ancients said, "When living together with others, guard your
mouth; when sitting alone, guard your mind." When you are
alone, you should be extremely cautious since that is the
time when it is easy to become lax. I shall read the passage
concerning the karma committed by body and mouth.
a. Do not step into anyplace that deals
with sexual matters.
b. Do not possess or trade in
pornographic materials.
c. Do not transmit any discourses, books,
videotapes and cassette tapes that deal with sexual matters.
d. Do not draw near people of lustful
character.
e. Stay far away from individuals who
engage in deviant sexual practices. An example of this would
be people who commit bestiality with animals. These people
are abnormal. Do not associate with them.
f. A man should avoid going alone with a
woman to solitary places where there are no other people
around.
g. Draw near and support organizations
and teachers who possess proper views and take part in
meaningful activities.
h. Nurture proper habits and take part in
wholesome recreation.
That's why we must start with our daily
activities. Receiving the precepts helps us to develop a
proper and orderly lifestyle, and gradually get rid of our
past habits.
We will end the lecture here today.
Amitabha!
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