Words of Wisdom from Grand Master Wei Chueh

Vegetarianism is the sign of a compassionate mind. When we are filled with compassion, blessings and merits increase and good health will come naturally.
Cultivating the Way is to purify, to rectify, and to transform our thoughts.
Having good thoughts is heaven. When the mind is lucid and pure, this is the Pure Land.
If we understand “giving others what is good ,taking responsibility for what is bad,” then we will face life with the correct attitude.
Do not be happy when others praise us; do not be annoyed when others blame us; having no notions of self, others, sentient beings, and lifespan, one will soon realize the Way.
Maintain a mind that is clear, lucid, still, and free from discrimination. A mind of stillness is samadhi. A mind of clarity and reason is wisdom. The oneness of samadhi and wisdom is the supreme bodhi mind.
Maintain a mind free of attachment. Neither enjoy praise nor resent defamation. Do not crave, cling, grasp, or reject. Let the bodhi mind manifest at all times – this is true bodhisattva practice.
Frequently peer inward, reflect, and reform with a mind of compassion, respect, tolerance, and harmony. By taking a step back, you instead expand your horizons. Truly transforming yourself in this way, you will discover that everyday is a good day, any time is the right time, and that there is reward in every endeavor.
“Be mindful of the buddha of our original nature. Read the sutra that is wordless.” Whether we are chanting the Buddha’s name or reciting a sutra, the purpose is to overcome our afflictions and ignorance. What is most important is to realize that there is a wordless sutra within each of us – our intrinsic, pure awareness.
The sutra says, “The Buddha Dharma is here in this world. There is no enlightenment apart from this world.” Practicing Buddhism empowers us to deal with any circumstance through observation and mindfulness, leading to enlightenment.
In meditation, we let our thoughts settle. Do not let the mind wander or become drowsy. Be aware of each thought. Neither delight in something good nor worry about something frightening. Remember, ” All forms are illusions.” Maintain mindfulness without clinging to the duality of existence and emptiness.
Harboring no thoughts, the mind of the present is unborn and undying. Do not give rise to thoughts of purity or impurity, gain or loss. This mind is as it is. “The myriad phenomena all derive from this mind of non-dwelling.” This is the true reality.
Enlightenment is the realization of the original mind, that all is just as it is. Zen cultivation is the practice of overcoming defilements, to ultimately just letting be. Therefore, true cultivation is non-cultivation. No matter what the circumstance, at work or at rest, facing prosperity or adversity, during daytime or nighttime, we can always practice Zen.
The ultimate repentance is to realize the true nature of the mind and abide by it each moment. This will cleanse all sins. Hence the saying “one light dispels the darkness of a thousand years.”
Be mindful each moment. Do not dwell on the past, present or future. The past is past, to linger on it is pointless. The future has yet to come, to speculate on it is wishful thinking. To worry about the present is to be trapped in fleeting, inconsequential thoughts.
We should act mindfully, knowing when to advance and when to retreat. If we do not advance when conditions are right, we lose opportunities. If we do not retreat when it is time, we invite disgrace. Making the right decision requires wisdom.
Buddhism teaches us how to transform our mind. Always be mindful of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Use wholesome thoughts to replace unwholesome thoughts. When there are no more unwholesome thoughts, let go of even the wholesome thoughts. This is called returning to the state of no-thought. No-thought is the Middle Way; no-thought is True Reality.
Frequently examine ourselves for faults and shortcomings; immediately correct them if any are found. By sweeping away the garbage in our mind — our afflictions and ignorance, our mind can be like a clear mirror, a pool of pure, still water.
There is an ancient saying, “The old man lost his horse; maybe it was a blessing in disguise.” Any bad situation may turn out to be the opposite. If we keep calm and persevere, we always have a chance to change the outcome of our future.
Any suffering or affliction, when recognized and clearly observed through wisdom, can be converted into happiness, serenity, and freedom. From affliction to happiness is merely a single turn of thought.
Always maintain a mind of compassion, equality, respect, and humility. Let every thought be one of benefiting others. Then our mind will be a Pure Land of brightness, serenity, and liberation.
Whether things are going great or becoming frustrating, whether the situation is for or against you, the mind should not be moved the slightest. Maintain the “ordinary mind”, which is a mind of wisdom. Ordinary mind means the mind is unmoved and in “suchness”; wisdom mind means the mind is clear, lucid, seeing things as they are.
There are eighty-four thousand Dharma doors in Buddhism, like eighty-four thousand keys; our minds are locked by the burden of defilements, so we need these eighty-four thousand keys to open them.
Wisdom and virtue are inherent in our original nature. If one can be free from thoughts of delusion and attachment, one can realize the nature of mind this very moment. This is because it is ever present, always within us. This is the truth realized by the Buddha under the bodhi tree.
Sentient and non-sentient beings arise from causes and conditions, and their nature is emptiness. When conditions come together, things manifest; when conditions fall apart, things return to emptiness. Without the confluence of causes and conditions, no phenomenon, no dharmas, can manifest.
Zen (Chan) is like a fountainhead; having found the source, the water is inexhaustible – always fresh, never stagnant. Discovering the original mind is like finding the fountainhead.
The core of Buddhism is human beings; the core of human beings is the mind; the core of the mind is pure awareness, which makes enlightenment possible. With this understanding, life has direction and purpose; it is no longer occupied by worries and meaninglessness.
The myriad phenomena of the world are all impermanent, always arising and ceasing. In Buddhist cultivation we need to discover what is neither arising nor ceasing. Amidst all this impermanence, only the original nature of the mind is neither arising nor ceasing.
“No-thought” is neither being ignorant nor having no consciousness like a stone. It refers to a mind that is clear and lucid, free from any trace of delusion.
The aim of meditation is to achieve stillness, purity, clarity and awakening of mind. When the mind has awakened, one is truly practicing the Way. The ancients have said, “Hundreds of great awakenings; thousands of small awakenings”. This denotes the progressive expansion of the mind and advances in the understanding of life and the universe.
All sentient beings have the Buddha nature within. Therefore, besides cherishing our own life, we should also respect the lives of all sentient beings.
To practice Buddhism is to learn from the Buddha, to emulate his purity of body, speech, and mind. When we have achieved the highest and most perfect standard in our cultivation, we will attain the Buddha’s compassion, wisdom, and samadhi power.
The aim of practicing Buddhism is to free the mind from the influence of external circumstances and maintain peace and serenity within.
To practice the bodhisattva way means that we act with a compassionate mind in every situation to benefit all sentient beings.
The problems in the world are no other than suffering and joy. Suffering and joy are opposed and relative. Joy from stimulation of the senses is like clouds or smoke passing before our eyes; it is short-lived and empty. After experiencing joy, unending attachments and vexations follow. Only when we pacify the mind, when the mind is pure and serene, do we experience true joy.
Practicing the Way, we must penetrate the nature of all things and learn to let go. This does not mean escaping from them; rather, it is using prajna wisdom and samadhi to pierce the veils of all worldly phenomena. Thus, the mind will not be swayed by the external world; thus, the agitation of the mind-water attains stillness.
By treating all people with a mind of compassion, respect, and equality, we can share the brightness and joy of the Dharma with everyone. That is the bodhisattva way.
“Enlighten the mind and see the true nature; seeing the true nature one becomes a Buddha.” This is equivalent to the “Amitabha Buddha” of the Pure Land School, which means infinite light and infinite life. Realizing this present-mind, one enjoys the same longevity as that of empty space. The empty space never perishes; neither will this mind, which is replete with infinite life, light, and wisdom.
We should pursue a spiritual life. A mind of contentment and tranquility is the true blessing, prosperity, and happiness in life.
“Bodhisattvas dread the cause. Mundane beings dread the retribution.” We should be true and down to earth in all our undertakings. Ask only how much we cultivate, not how much we shall harvest. Work diligently on the right causes, and then you will surely succeed. Conversely, success is unlikely if you aim too high but overlook the groundwork.
The mind should be lucid and clear, neither thinking of the past, nor of the present, nor of the future; this present mind must always be in command and imperturbable. To abide in “this-mind” is what is called “to live in the present”.
The bodhisattva is not just a kind of form or appearance, but is the pure intention to benefit all sentient beings.
When we have developed a mind of compassion, our mind will be filled with harmony and brightness.