The phrase, 'like a moth to a flame', is used to describe those who are irrestistibly and dangerously attracted to something or someone, which often results in dire and baffling consequences.
Without the Pure Dharma Eye, we often behave like this. A true account regarding a Buddhist master exemplifies this. There was once an old monk who practiced well and could chant in deep concentration. One day, he told everybody, "Tomorrow at 12 noon, Amitabha Buddha will come and lead me to the Western Pure Land. Would all of you please come and see me off then?" His disciples were ecstatic hearing about their master's impending rebirth in the Western Pure Land thereby ending his cycle of existence.
The master told eyerone, "If the bells at the front of the monastery were to ring loudly, it would signify that I have taken rebirth in the Western Pure Land and thus bidding farewell to everyone. If not, they will not ring." To even have proof of his rebirth, isn't it wonderful?
The next day at 11:50am, all his disciples sat together with him in front of the main entrance to the Main Shrine Hall, chanting Amitabha Buddha's name. Everyone was prepared to send their master off. The Master chanted the Buddha's name devoutly and with concentration. At 12 sharp, the master quietly took rebirth in the Western Pure Land, which was truly wonderful!
Everyone was curious and wanted to confirm if their master had indeed taken rebirth in the Western Pure Land. So they looked at their master and waited for the bells to ring.
But unexpectedly, the bells did not ring, which meant that the master did not reach the Western Pure Land. This was disastrous!
One of the elder monks was invited out at this point. The elder monk, one of the Master's peers, then meditated by the side of the master so as to perceive his location.
Emerging from his meditation, the elder invited everyone to chant the Buddha's name under the peach tree at the front of the monastery. He then plucked a peach from the tree, picked out a worm from within the fruit and said to the worm, "Why are you so foolish. Amitabha Buddha has already come to lead you away, yet you didn't follow Amitabha Buddha. You didn't see him with your mind's eye, instead, you used your eyes to look at this peach, you are really so foolish! Such stupidity!"
Then the elder squashed the worm, which after hearing the Dharma elucidated by the elder and the chanting of the Buddha's name by everyone else, took rebirth in a good existence. But the old monk remained in Samsara, prolonging his suffering. Fortunately, the elder was able to use expedient means to save him.
Through this story, we realized that even an old monk of great cultivation may still descend into the bad existences. Though chanting the Buddha's name daily, his focus was not on the Buddha.
Due to his foolishness, the old monk who became a peach worm did not have any wisdom at all. As a result, he would treat his fondness for peaches which is illusionary, as real. Therefore we have to eliminate our greed, learn the recognize and turn away from chasing the "moon in the water" so as to attain liberation from Samsara.
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From Everlasting Happiness as Buddha Attains, Presented by Venerable Da Shi, Translated by The Dharma Committee Miao You Pu Ti Yuan (Singapore)
Without the Pure Dharma Eye, we often behave like this. A true account regarding a Buddhist master exemplifies this. There was once an old monk who practiced well and could chant in deep concentration. One day, he told everybody, "Tomorrow at 12 noon, Amitabha Buddha will come and lead me to the Western Pure Land. Would all of you please come and see me off then?" His disciples were ecstatic hearing about their master's impending rebirth in the Western Pure Land thereby ending his cycle of existence.
The master told eyerone, "If the bells at the front of the monastery were to ring loudly, it would signify that I have taken rebirth in the Western Pure Land and thus bidding farewell to everyone. If not, they will not ring." To even have proof of his rebirth, isn't it wonderful?
The next day at 11:50am, all his disciples sat together with him in front of the main entrance to the Main Shrine Hall, chanting Amitabha Buddha's name. Everyone was prepared to send their master off. The Master chanted the Buddha's name devoutly and with concentration. At 12 sharp, the master quietly took rebirth in the Western Pure Land, which was truly wonderful!
Everyone was curious and wanted to confirm if their master had indeed taken rebirth in the Western Pure Land. So they looked at their master and waited for the bells to ring.
But unexpectedly, the bells did not ring, which meant that the master did not reach the Western Pure Land. This was disastrous!
One of the elder monks was invited out at this point. The elder monk, one of the Master's peers, then meditated by the side of the master so as to perceive his location.
Emerging from his meditation, the elder invited everyone to chant the Buddha's name under the peach tree at the front of the monastery. He then plucked a peach from the tree, picked out a worm from within the fruit and said to the worm, "Why are you so foolish. Amitabha Buddha has already come to lead you away, yet you didn't follow Amitabha Buddha. You didn't see him with your mind's eye, instead, you used your eyes to look at this peach, you are really so foolish! Such stupidity!"
Then the elder squashed the worm, which after hearing the Dharma elucidated by the elder and the chanting of the Buddha's name by everyone else, took rebirth in a good existence. But the old monk remained in Samsara, prolonging his suffering. Fortunately, the elder was able to use expedient means to save him.
Through this story, we realized that even an old monk of great cultivation may still descend into the bad existences. Though chanting the Buddha's name daily, his focus was not on the Buddha.
Due to his foolishness, the old monk who became a peach worm did not have any wisdom at all. As a result, he would treat his fondness for peaches which is illusionary, as real. Therefore we have to eliminate our greed, learn the recognize and turn away from chasing the "moon in the water" so as to attain liberation from Samsara.
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From Everlasting Happiness as Buddha Attains, Presented by Venerable Da Shi, Translated by The Dharma Committee Miao You Pu Ti Yuan (Singapore)
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