{"id":4338,"date":"2025-12-24T02:26:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T19:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/?p=4338"},"modified":"2025-12-25T10:46:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-25T03:46:36","slug":"the-specific-characteristics-of-the-sea-in-the-buddhadharma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/the-specific-characteristics-of-the-sea-in-the-buddhadharma\/","title":{"rendered":"The Specific Characteristics of the Sea in the Buddhadharma"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 95%; font-family: arial black, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/category\/author\/ven-thich-trung-sy-author\/\"><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><span style=\"font-size: 140%;\">Ven. Th\u00edch Tr\u1eebng S\u1ef9<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: book antiqua, palatino, serif; font-size: 200%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6377 \" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/PH\u1eacT0.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"928\" height=\"1109\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/PH\u1eacT0.jpg 481w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/PH\u1eacT0-251x300.jpg 251w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 180%;\"><span style=\"font-family: impact, sans-serif;\"><strong><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00; color: #ff0000;\">THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEA <\/span><\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-family: impact, sans-serif;\"><strong><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00; color: #ff0000;\">IN THE BUDDHADHARMA<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Specific Characteristics of the Sea in the Buddha Dharma read by Ms. Nguy\u00ean V\u00e2n\" width=\"1020\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wctus_nHQFw?list=PL7hSPEhKYWcDaeljknRuF5OgMz8CkFmW0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><em>Saky\u0101muni <\/em>Buddha, the perfectly awakened and enlightened Teacher, has taught the wonderful Dharma in order to bring authentic peacefulness and happiness to gods and human beings.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">His teachings, which stress deeply humane features, have practical application in the present, have value beyond time, and are suitable for people of all levels of ability, cultivation, and enlightenment attainment of living beings all over this planet.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">As you know, a good teacher regularly points out illuminating examples for learners, readers, listeners to easily understand and apply his teachings into their daily lives.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Likewise, in the sermons of the Buddha, in order for the congregation to easily absorb the Buddhadharma, he put forth many specific and different examples and metaphors, which were contained the specific teachings found in the Holy Tripitaka of Buddhism or in the Three Baskets of Buddhist canonical Scriptures including (<em>S\u016btra Pi\u1e6daka<\/em> (\u201cBasket of Discourses<em>\u201d<\/em>)<em>, Vinaya Pi\u1e6daka <\/em>(\u201cBasket of Disciplines\u201d)<em>,<\/em> and <em>Abhidharma Pi\u1e6daka <\/em>(\u201cBasket of Special [or Further] Tenets\u201d), especially found in the <em>Agama Sutras<\/em>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">In the <em>Ekottarik\u00e0gama<\/em> Sutra, there are many specific characteristics found, but in this discussion post, \u201c<em>there are eight specific characteristics of the sea<\/em>\u201d<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> found in the conversation that took place between the Buddha and a Brahmin.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">These eight characteristics, which are presented in the forms of metaphors, comparisons, and contrasts, are related to Buddhadharma very closely.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Afterward, we take turns to find out the meanings and contents of the above characteristics. We would like to invite you all to consult together.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">A sea beach does not have an abyss.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The sea is immensely vast.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The sea never contains a corpse.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The sea is welcome to receive all the streams of water.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The sea is neither full nor empty.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Seawater has a purely salty taste.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The sea nurtures aquatic species.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The sea contains many kinds of treasures.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6378 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1-2.jpg 900w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1-2-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; background-color: #ffff00;\">1.\u00a0<span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">A sea beach does not have an abyss.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">When swimming, we swim from shallow to deep water gradually. Similarly, when having good conditions to be in contact with the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em>, we start to cultivate and learn from lower to higher levels, to obtain enlightenment and liberation in each part, at each different level, transforming gradually from normal beings to holy beings, from suffering to peacefulness and happiness.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Moreover, the Dharma that has been well preached and presented by the Buddha and his holy disciples from the basic methods to the developing methods has practical value in the present, goes beyond time, accords with the abilities of cultivation, learning, and enlightenment of every being.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Those who have enough good conditions to contact, inquire, and practice the <em>Buddhadharma,<\/em> are never lost and drowned in it.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Conversely, they can enjoy the flowers and fruits of peacefulness and happiness right here and now in the present life.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6379 \" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/2-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"867\" height=\"477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/2-2.jpg 738w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/2-2-300x165.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 867px) 100vw, 867px\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00; color: #ff0000;\">2. The sea is immensely vast.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">We know that the river is small, narrow, and limited.\u00a0 Conversely, the sea is immense, vast, and unlimited.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">At this point, in Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh\u2019s Plum Village, there is a very popular meditation song with the topic<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201c<span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\"><em>The River and the Sea<\/em><\/span><em>\u201d<\/em><a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cI have never seen the sea,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">I only see the stream of the river.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">But after listening to my teacher\u2019s telling,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">the sea is wider than the river;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">the sea\u00a0 is immense,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">the immensity of the blue sea is warmly salty<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">human life is like a river.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">If anyone lives for all the people,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">his or her heart is wider than the river.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">If anyone lives for himself or herself,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">his or her heart is narrower than the river.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cI have never seen the Buddha<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">I just see his picture<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">But I heard the teacher tell<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">the Buddha is in the mind<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">the Buddha is in the mind,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">in all people.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">If anyone lives for all people<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">the Buddha will certainly appear.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">If anyone lives for himself or herself<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">then the Buddha will undoubtedly hide.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The sea symbolizes the mind of freedom, immensity, and selflessness; the river represents the mind of attachment, narrowness, and selfishness.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The purpose of practitioner\u2019s cultivation is to recognize and transform the mind of attachment, narrowness, and selfishness into the mind of selflessness, freedom, immensity, vastness, like the sea.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The above song is to remind us to try to lead a life of mindfulness and awareness, solidity, and calmness by applying the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em> in our daily lives in order to bring peacefulness and happiness to the many right here and right now in the present life.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The immense sea means that the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em> has the ability to contain all the substances of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, inclusiveness, selflessness, altruism, forgiveness, tolerance, generosity, embrace, transformation, nourishment, healing, stability, calmness, freedom, peacefulness, happiness, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Those who have enough good conditions to live to apply and practice the <em>Dharma <\/em>of the Buddha have the capacity to enjoy the flavors of peacefulness, happiness, liberation, and the same equality.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6380 \" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/03.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"914\" height=\"514\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/03.jpg 720w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/03-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 914px) 100vw, 914px\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00; color: #ff0000;\">3. The sea never contains a corpse.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The sea mentioned here is understood as the <em>Dharma <\/em>of the World-Honored One; the corpse is understood as misfortune, suffering, afflictions of greed, anger, delusion, wrong view, wrong thought, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, wrong concentration, violence, and hatred.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The sea is the symbol for Buddha nature, <em>Bodhi Citta, <\/em>namely, the mind of insight; the corpse is the symbol for ghost nature, the mind of defilement and suffering.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The World-Honored One\u2019s <em>Dharma<\/em>, which is the <em>Dharma <\/em>of enlightenment and awareness, has never contained habits of negativity, afflictions, misfortune, suffering, and vice versa; all the Buddha\u2019s teachings contain the substances of stability and calm, peacefulness and happiness, enlightenment and liberation right here and right now in the present life.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">We know that those who cultivate not well regularly have a scornful mind, criticize other people, lose the mind of <em>Bodhi<\/em>, that of freedom, that of calm, and freedom.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Their lives are usually dominated and controlled by defilement and suffering; their bodies and minds are not peaceful, gentle, and relaxed.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Good cultivators, who know how to apply and practice the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em> in their daily lives, lead their lives of mindfulness and awareness, solidity and calmness, and have the ability to eliminate, overcome, and transform the negative seed into the positive one, the unwholesome seed into the wholesome one, the seed of affliction into that of <em>Bodhi Citta<\/em>, the seed of suffering into that of happiness, etc.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">These good cultivators have their hearts full of joy, love, forgiveness, sympathy, help, and sharing for difficulties and suffering of themselves and other people.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Indeed, in the process of practicing the Dharma well, we can recognize that our suffering is all people\u2019s suffering, and vice versa, our peacefulness is their happiness, and our peacefulness is their peacefulness.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">When understanding and practicing so, we have the capacity to bring the flowers and fruits of authentic peacefulness and happiness to ourselves and other people right in this lifetime.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Moreover, as you know, when the corpse drifts in the sea, it will be sunk by seawater, or be washed ashore. This point implies that if we live without practicing mindfulness and awareness, we live no differently from the corpse.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">If we do unwholesome things such as killing, stealing, taking what is not given, doing sexual misconduct, violating kids\u2019 sexuality, lying, using intoxicants, etc., we will certainly be washed onto the shore of birth and death by the sea of <em>\u200b\u200bsamsara<\/em>, and be dominated by afflictions and sufferings.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Aware clearly of the foregoing things, we try to lead our lives of mindfulness and awareness, to not do evil, to do good, to purify our peaceful bodies and minds by applying and practicing the Buddha\u2019s teachings in our daily lives in order to bring the flowers and fruits of peacefulness and happiness to the many right in the present life.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">We are aware to live with good conduct, aspiration, and with the hearts of love, almsgiving, charity, honesty, mindfulness, awareness, etc., all over the world.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Upon understanding and doing so, we not only help our relatives, loved ones, and ourselves to have the ability to recognize and transform suffering and afflictions, but also help other people swim to the shore of authentic peacefulness and happiness right here in this world.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6381 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/04.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/04.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/04-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/04-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00; color: #ff0000;\">4. The sea is welcome to receive all the streams of water.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">We know the sea has the capacity to welcome and to receive and contain all the streams of clean water, dirty water, muddy water, rainwater, etc., flowing from hundreds and thousands of different rivers, springs, ponds, lakes, etc., all over the world.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Likewise, anciently as well as presently, the <em>Dharma <\/em>of the World-Honored One has the ability not only to embrace and integrate\u00a0 the doctrines and philosophical theories in the world,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">including other spiritual cultures, traditions, customs, and habits in the world, but also to teach and help kings, mandarins, courtiers, servants, the rich, the poor,\u00a0 the white, the black, the brown, the red, people of high caste, low caste including courtesans, robbers, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Those who have enough good conditions to come to Buddhism, contact and practice the Buddha\u2019s teachings in their daily lives, peacefulness and happiness can permeate and cool their bodies and minds.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6382\" src=\"http:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/3-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"779\" height=\"487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/3-2.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/3-2-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/3-2-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/3-2-1024x640.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 779px) 100vw, 779px\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; background-color: #ffff00;\">5. The sea is neither full nor empty.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">As you know all the water currents of rivers, canals, ponds, lakes, etc., flow into the sea, but the characteristics of the sea are neither full nor empty, neither more nor less, neither high nor low.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Likewise, in Buddhism, there are so many kinds of different people coming from scientists, political people, spiritual leaders, religious leaders, ethicists, educators, etc.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Those who have fortunate enough conditions to cultivate, apply, and practice the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em> over a period of one week, two weeks, three weeks, one month, two months, three months, one year, two years, three years, etc.,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">they have the ability to feel and enjoy the flavors of Dharma joy, Dharma happiness,\u00a0 enlightenment, and the same equality in the sea of the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">From their practice and application of the Dharma into their daily lives, their Buddha\u2019s natures, Buddha\u2019s minds, Buddha\u2019s virtues, and Buddha\u2019s aspirations become brightened. <em>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Thus, the sea mentions here means \u201cBuddha nature\u201d that is available in all of us.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Buddha, first of all, means the One who is perfectly awakened and enlightened, full of happiness and happiness, completely steady and relaxed.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Nature means \u201cMind.\u201d When we feel and enjoy <em>Dharma<\/em> happiness by practicing and applying the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em> in our daily lives, our minds become brightened and our bodies become peaceful.\u00a0 We have the capability to overcome afflictions, transform suffering, and obtain awareness, peacefulness, stability, and calm right here and now in the present life. The \u201cBuddha nature\u201d in us appears illuminated.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201c<em>The sea is neither full nor empty<\/em>\u201d also means that in a holy person, whose \u201cBuddha nature\u201d does not increase, in a normal human whose \u201cBuddha nature\u201d does not decrease.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">This point, which has a different meaning, is because our enlightened mind is obscured by ignorance and defilement, we cannot see our own \u201cBuddha nature\u201d clearly.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Likewise, \u201cBuddha nature\u201d symbolizes \u201cFull Moon.\u201d The light of the dimmed Full Moon which cannot be seen clearly is because it is obscured by clouds.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Wanting to see light is thanks to the wind. The wind blows, the clouds fly, the light of \u201cFull Moon\u201d naturally appears.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0The \u201cwind\u201d here represents the cultivation and practice of the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em>. \u201cClouds\u201d refer to ignorance and afflictions.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Thanks to diligently practicing the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em>, living our lives of mindfulness and awareness, we have the capacity to destroy the darkness of ignorance and extinguish afflictions.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">At that time, ignorance disappears, wisdom appears, we see \u201cBuddha nature;\u201d the light of insight in us becomes bright. The seeds of enlightenment in us are awakened and sprouted.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cBuddha nature,\u201d the light of insight, and the seeds of enlightenment in us, not only have the ability to offer flowers and fruits of love and understanding to the many but also \u201c<em>peace view, peace thought, peace speech, peace action, peace livelihood, peace effort, peace mindfulness, peace concentration<a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\">[3]<\/a><\/em>\u201d to all living things and living beings on this globe.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Understanding and acting so, then we are able to become messengers of peace to truly contribute to the building of peace, happiness, and peace for many families, schools, and societies all over the planet.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6383 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/05.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/05.jpg 800w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/05-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/05-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00; color: #ff0000;\">6. Seawater has a purely salty taste.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Although all kinds of rainwater, river water, spring water, fresh water, muddy water, dirty water, etc. all flow to the sea, they all become seawater and have a unique salty taste.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Likewise, in all the teachings of the Buddha and His disciples, or in all the methods of Buddhist practice, whether you practice according to the <em>Therav\u0101da<\/em> tradition or the <em>Mahay\u0101na<\/em> tradition, whether you practice the method of meditation or the Pure Land, enlightenment and liberation are still the key factors, peacefulness and happiness for yourself and for others are the top factors.\u00a0Wisdom, virtue, and meditation are the methods of essential and fundamental cultivation for practitioners right in the world. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6384 \" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/5-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"973\" height=\"713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/5-2.jpg 640w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/5-2-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 973px) 100vw, 973px\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00; color: #ff0000;\">7. The sea nurtures aquatic species.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">In the space of immense vastness, the sea contains and nourishes countless aquatic species like shrimp, crab, fish, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">throughout the historical length of nearly three thousand years, the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, the Dharma, and his Sangha have the ability to tolerate and cultivate many various kinds of human beings in this world, such as the wise, the unwise, the rich, the poor, the educated, the uneducated, the intelligent, the unintelligent, scholars, scientists, educators, politicians, religious leaders, including dung collector, courtesan, killer, etc.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cThere is no caste division in the same red blood and the same salty tear.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Those who have wholesome conditions to cultivate and learn the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em> diligently, lead their lives of mindfulness and awareness, steadiness and freedom, and can reap the flowers and fruits of peacefulness and happiness for themselves and for other people right in this lifetime<\/span>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6385 \" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/6-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1009\" height=\"666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/6-2.jpg 765w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/6-2-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1009px) 100vw, 1009px\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">8. The sea contains many kinds of treasures<span style=\"background-color: #ffff00; color: #ff0000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">In the sea, there are countless kinds of pearls, jewels like gold, diamonds, crystals, amber, etc. Likewise, in Buddhism, there are countless kinds of beings born from eggs, fetuses, moist places, and from metamorphoses.<a href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\">[4]<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Among the kinds of those beings, there are awakened ones, there are enlightened ones, there are holy people, there are human beings, etc.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Even though we are different peoples of the world, we have the good fortune to study the Dharma, listen to the dharma, understand the dharma, and taste the blissful dharma, Buddha nature and the light of insight in us become brightened, <em>Bodhi Citta <\/em>in us becomes fully enlightened and awakened.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">From the practice and application of the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em> into everyday life to benefit other people, we are truly fresh and beautiful flowers to beautify life and help life more happiness and less suffering.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Those who understand and practice so deserve to be treasured by the world like gold, diamonds, crystals, amber, etc. right in this lifetime.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">In conclusion<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Through what is discussed above, we see that the specific characteristics of the sea in the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em> are typical of the specific characteristics of Buddhism, the Dharma, and the <em>Sangha<\/em>, practitioners who truly enjoy the Dharma learning, Dharma practice, Dharma joy, Dharma happiness, Dharma achievement, and Dharma enlightenment right here and right now in the present life.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">These specific characteristics are only found in Buddhism, the path of awakening; apart from it, they are not easily found in other religions and philosophies.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Although these specific characteristics have been present in the world for nearly three thousand years, their values, which are very practical in the present, are timeless, suitable for science and human society today, have the capacity to extinguish afflictions and to lead practitioners to peacefulness and happiness right in the present life.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Upon understanding, applying, and practicing the specific characteristics of the sea in the <em>Buddhadharma<\/em> into our daily lives diligently and mindfully, we can bring peacefulness and happiness to ourselves and to other people right here in the world.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">May you all be well, happy, and peaceful in the Dharma.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 180%; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Ven. Th\u00edch Tr\u1eebng S\u1ef9<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"0G5sgNY8Nr\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/tv\/nhung-tinh-dac-thu-cua-bien-trong-phat-phap\/\">Nh\u1eefng T\u00ednh \u0110\u1eb7c Th\u00f9 c\u1ee7a Bi\u1ec3n trong Ph\u1eadt Ph\u00e1p<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Nh\u1eefng T\u00ednh \u0110\u1eb7c Th\u00f9 c\u1ee7a Bi\u1ec3n trong Ph\u1eadt Ph\u00e1p&#8221; &#8212; Phap Nhan Temple\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/tv\/nhung-tinh-dac-thu-cua-bien-trong-phat-phap\/embed\/#?secret=0G5sgNY8Nr\" data-secret=\"0G5sgNY8Nr\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: book antiqua, palatino, serif; font-size: 140%; color: #282828;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #282828;\" href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> \u00a0Xem T\u0103ng Nh\u1ea5t A H\u00e0m \u2013 T\u00e1m Ph\u00e1p \u2192 42. Ph\u1ea9m T\u00e1m N\u1ea1n \u2192 Kinh S\u1ed1 4\/\u00a0Xem Ti\u1ec3u B\u1ed9 \u2192 Kinh Ph\u1eadt T\u1ef1 Thuy\u1ebft \u2194 C\u1ea3m H\u1ee9ng Ng\u1eef (V \u2013 Ud 51) \/ See <em>Khuddhaka Nikaya I <\/em>\u2192 <em>V Ud\u00e0na<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: book antiqua, palatino, serif; font-size: 140%; color: #282828;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #282828;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.buddhanet.net\/budsas\/uni\/u-kinh-tieubo1\/tb13-ptt2.htm\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.buddhanet.net\/budsas\/uni\/u-kinh-tieubo1\/tb13-ptt2.htm<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: book antiqua, palatino, serif; font-size: 140%; color: #282828;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #282828;\" href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\">[2]<\/a>\u00a0<a style=\"color: #282828;\" href=\"http:\/\/langmai.org\/sng-chung-an-lc\/thien-ca-lc\/thien-ca\/303-song-va-bin.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/langmai.org\/sng-chung-an-lc\/thien-ca-lc\/thien-ca\/303-song-va-bin.html<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: book antiqua, palatino, serif; font-size: 140%; color: #282828;\"><strong>And http:\/\/my.opera.com\/lienngoc08\/blog\/show.dml\/4292988<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: book antiqua, palatino, serif; font-size: 140%; color: #282828;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #282828;\" href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\">[3]<\/a> See the Noble Eightfold Path (Sanskrit: <em>\u0101ry\u0101\u1e63\u1e6d\u0101\u1e45gam\u0101rga<\/em> \u00a0\u00a0\/ P\u0101li: <em>Ariya-Atthangika-Magga<\/em> )<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: book antiqua, palatino, serif; font-size: 140%; color: #282828;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #282828;\" href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\">[4]<\/a> See http:\/\/www.purifymind.com\/DiamondSutraConze.htm<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ven. Th\u00edch Tr\u1eebng S\u1ef9 THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEA IN THE BUDDHADHARMA Saky\u0101muni Buddha, the perfectly awakened and enlightened Teacher, has taught the wonderful Dharma in order to bring authentic peacefulness and happiness to gods and human beings. His teachings, which stress deeply humane features, have practical application in the present, have value beyond [&hellip;]\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[289,290,288,228,229,219,224,239,230,217],"tags":[373],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4338"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4338"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11354,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4338\/revisions\/11354"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}