Those who study Buddhism and attain enlightenment must possess these three qualities
2025-03-17
by Master Ouyi Zhixu
Those who study Buddhism and attain enlightenment must, first, truly study for the purpose of breaking the cycle of birth and death; second, must have a strong character; and third, must have true knowledge and insights.
If you do not truly have the desire to end the cycle of life and death, even if you have ambition and strength, you can only become a worldly hero, but you can never become a beyond worldly sage.
If you do not have a truly strong character, even if you want to escape from the cycle of life and death, you will be bound by desires and seduced by external circumstances. Power and fame will take away your will, and you will eventually be buried by inner demons and sufferings.
If you do not have true knowledge and insight, even if you are terrified by the cycle of life and death and practice diligently and courageously in order to end the cycle of life and death, you will certainly be seduced by evil teachers and bad friends, and become confused and not follow the right path.
One may fall into the gate of light and shadow (attachment to appearances), or have prejudices accumulated in one's mind, or even regard "Zen joy" as merit, or take "emptiness" as the destination. Even the most intelligent and superior people will flow into the expedient realm of the "Two Vehicles (Pratyekabuddhayāna and Śrāvaka)" and will not be able to directly reach Bodhi.
"The Sect Commentary of Lingfeng"
beyond worldly sage 出世
Refers to the Buddhas appearing in the world to become Buddhas in order to teach sentient beings, such as "the original intention of the Buddhas to appear in the world".
After achieving success in his own cultivation, the Zen master returns to the human world to teach and enlighten sentient beings, which is also called beyond the world.
