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International Forum closing, 2018 Master Miao Jing teaches youth how to meditate

my frame of mind formed from decades of dualistic of their beliefs, merits, and blessings. As a result, strange
thinking. Since then, experiencing the True Nature was thoughts will appear in our mind: “These Buddhas
no longer a theoretical concept but an experiential and Bodhisattvas are different from one another, and
possibility for me. I truly appreciated my past extensive their blessings are different in form and size.” In fact,
practices in Mahāyāna tradition which had led me to in paramārtha-satya, the absolute truth, there is no
this moment of clarity and purity through the practices distinction among all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and
in Vajrayāna tradition. My momentary realization the True Nature of all beings. Ultimately, every Buddhist
turned into a strong motivation to practice both practitioner pursues the attainment of Anuttarā-
Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna Buddhism. samyak-saṃbodhi, the fully enlightened stage, also
known as the Buddhahood. If we only embrace some
Generally speaking, the different traditions of Dharmas but reject and obscure others, how can this
Buddhism are nominally distinguished by their titles. enlightened stage be attained? Therefore, it is critical
When guiding beings on their paths to unfold their that cultivators respect and have faith in all Dharmas
True Nature, the different traditions guide them with and humbly learn them.
different practice methods suitable to their roots and
conditions. Fundamentally there is no difference in In the Hundred Parables Sūtra, Buddha Shakyamuni
their mind cultivation. In fact, true refuge taking means gave a metaphor: “The Master’s Aching Legs and His
taking refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Two Disciples”.
Sangha) and under all Buddhas in the Ten Directions.
By taking refuge in only partial Buddhadharma, the In this parable, the Master asked two disciples to each
attained merits and wisdom are also limited. Paying look after one of his aching legs. When the first disciple
respect and taking refuge in the Three Jewels without was treating one of the Master’s legs, the second disciple
any differentiation is a necessary learning path for a got jealous of him, thinking that he had the better
Buddhist practitioner. treatment for the Master. The first disciple also thought
that his own treatment method was the best. So, each
If we practice Buddhadharma with a self-centered, disciple sabotaged each other by hurting the other
differentiating mind, we will discriminate between the leg with a stone and insisted on his own treatment.
three Buddhist traditions (Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Eventually they injured and disabled both legs, and the
Vajrayāna, also known as the Three Vehicles) in terms Master couldn’t walk anymore! Although the left and