The bacteria and insects on your body are causing trouble and preventing you from developing the Bodhicitta, and they want to make you fall

Taught by Master Hsuan Hua

Many people who come to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to become monks do so voluntarily, without anyone forcing them to do so. Whether they are Americans or Chinese, they all want to become monks on their own initiative and have requested many times before being allowed to do so. The same is true for converts. Those who come to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas can convert if they are willing, and those who are unwilling will not be forced. Because doing things forcibly is not the ultimate way, "a melon picked by force is not sweet". Some people who sincerely want to become monks will change their minds and return to secular life after a long time. What's more, if a person does not become a monk voluntarily, he will eventually return to secular life even if you teach him to become a monk.

"Becoming a monk" is an upright and honorable act for a man of honor. It is not something that can be achieved by stealing or taking risks by a villain. Therefore, monks must clearly understand their responsibilities as monks, their status, and their purpose. They must not follow the crowd, like the secular world, blindly following what others say and do, without a clear purpose or a clear understanding of their goals. The same principle applies to taking refuge in the Three Jewels and protect them, once you have taken refuge in the Three Jewels, you must protect them. Don't expect the Three Jewels to protect you, and don't try to take advantage of Buddhism. If this is the case, you will suffer losses in the future, and it will be too late to regret then.

Each of us has many delusions, as numerous as dust particles, up and down, in a mess. Why do we have so many delusions? It's because our bodies are filled with many fungi and insects: large, small, old, and young. Some fungi and insects have supernatural powers, some have ghost powers, or some have human powers, heavenly powers, and earthly powers. These fungi and insects drill into the pores on our bodies and use their supernatural powers to cause trouble. They also have radio waves, and as long as they send radio waves into our minds, we will have delusions. Therefore, our delusions never cease. As soon as one delusion ceases, another wave arrives, giving rise to another. This is all caused by the fungi and insects within us. Although these fungi and insects are insects, they are all spies. Some possess celestial powers and serve as celestial spies; those with supernatural powers serve as divine spies; those with human powers serve as human spies; and some possess ghostly and animal powers. Between heaven and earth, everything in the universe, houses, corridors and buildings, all the space and earth, nothing does not exist in us. Some fungi and insects help practitioners develop bodhicitta, and these are fungi and insects with Buddha-like powers; others teach people to do good deeds, and these are fungi and insects with bodhisattva-like powers.

Why do we take vitamins? The purpose is to raise these fungi and insects and make them fat and plump. Although you cannot eat their meat, they will eat your meat. The Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra says that the human body is composed of countless insects. Just think about so many strings of dirty fungi and insects, how dirty it is! But you still work like slaves for these fungi and insects, dressing them in nice clothes, feeding them delicious food, and letting them live in luxurious houses. Isn't this upside down!

Sometimes these bacteria and insects will meet together and make you sick, and no doctor can cure you. At this point, they'll clap their hands and laugh heartily, rejoicing that they've taken you down and that you're about to surrender to them. Some people just don't like to do good things, and only do bad things, wanting to take advantage of others. This is all because of the bad bacteria and insects that are causing trouble, preventing you from developing a bodhi mind and wanting to make you fall. If you don't believe it, cut open your flesh with a knife and see. After a few days, these insects will move around.

People are so pitiful, they regard this body as a treasure; but in fact, feeding these fungi and insects is a boring thing! Even if you don't believe it, I will still tell you; even if you believe it, I will still tell you. I tell you so that these fungi and insects can hear it and know that there are people in this world who know their secrets.

Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra Brahma Conduct, Chapter Sixteen :

https://www.cttbusa.org/fas16/fas16.asp.html

" If the body were Brahma Conduct, then we should know that this Brahma Conduct would not be good, would not be Dharma, that it would be turbid, stinking and evil, and impure.That it would be disgusting, rebellious, mixed and defiled, that it would be a dead corpse, and would be a clump of worms. "

宣化上人開示錄

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