1. Views on Buddha—(referring to the Buddha)#
I think many people misunderstand that Buddha is not a deity, nor is he omnipotent. Worshiping Buddha and making wishes does not guarantee that your wishes will be fulfilled.
According to the records of the original Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha did not believe in deities; he was just an ordinary person, bound by the rules of this world—birth, aging, sickness, and death.
So why worship Buddha? It can be understood as a form of respect, similar to honoring ancestors.
2. What is Buddha?—(referring to Buddha nature)#
What is Buddha? I think it can be understood as a kind of character, a depth of thought.
I wonder if you have noticed the differences between your childhood self and your current self.
In fact, the current you is not much different from that time, but obviously, you have gained more knowledge, and you can think about more things and at greater depths, and you can accomplish more.
You are still you; while you are the same, you are not entirely the same.
The reason why top students are top students is that they have mastered learning methods. If you have worked with very specialized people, you will find that you are AM, and they are FM; communication is completely impossible, which is why there are various professional distinctions.
3. The True Teachings of the Buddha#
The Buddha is a spiritual mentor, reaching the pinnacle as a thinker, philosopher, psychologist, etc.
The Buddha teaches us the methods that can help elevate our depth of thought more quickly because human life is limited, just a few decades; if we rely solely on natural development, our lifespan is simply not enough.
So, in his youth, he sought methods, and fortunately, he found this method and shared it with everyone.
This method is a shortcut to becoming a top student. It allows you to rapidly enhance your thoughts and the depth of your soul within a limited lifespan.
When an individual's depth reaches a certain level, they will possess higher wisdom and discover a different world, including subtle things and various perspectives on matters.
4. Views on the Realm of Practice#
Arhat | Bodhisattva | Buddha → Elementary School | Middle School | University
Many people online believe this is a kind of hierarchical system, but thinking this way is too narrow.
Take me for example; currently, I can only understand and comprehend content classified at the elementary school level, and I do not know what the others are talking about.
Of course, the content at the elementary school level also requires a certain level of wisdom and thought.
I think many people today also cannot understand it; their thinking has been fixed by the current society.
Of course, being able to understand is only superficial; it also advocates doing certain things, such as helping others, meditation—various breathing techniques, and contemplation, which also require action and courage.
5. Benefits of Elevating One's Realm#
According to the records of the original Buddhist scriptures, reaching elementary school graduation can grant some special abilities, but these are merely illusions and cannot change reality, so the Buddha does not advocate promoting these.
Reaching the high school stage, known as Bodhisattva, allows one to understand the Buddha's advanced scriptures; this level of thought has the ability to help others elevate, which means it is the stage of being a tutor.
Reaching university graduation, which is the Buddha's stage, although one cannot escape the constraints of the real world—such as birth, aging, sickness, and death—one can take preventive measures. For example, if there is a car in front of you, when you are sensitive enough, you can sense that it will lose control and dodge in advance. You can hear frequencies of sound that only animals can hear, allowing you to sense an earthquake in advance.
Another aspect is that when your depth reaches this level, you can choose your next world...
Regarding another world, it exists—I think many people will not believe it; the depth is too high, and I won't elaborate further. (This has nothing to do with superstition.)
6. Views on the End of Dharma Age#
In the past, living conditions were poor, and disasters were many. When you were thrown onto the battlefield, you would definitely pick up a gun and try every means to survive. Education in that era was not widespread, and people were not brainwashed into certain deeply rooted thoughts, just like children find it easier to learn languages.
With the progress of time, living conditions have improved, and real-world temptations are like cheese and drugs, placed before us. Once experienced, one can become immersed, and through generations, it subtly influences us, causing us to forget our original intentions.
Current education also occupies our thoughts, making it very difficult for us to even learn English.
A monk once said that those who have not truly experienced great suffering and hardship find it very difficult to attain enlightenment and become Buddhas.
I do not recognize modern Buddhism; most of it is a product of modern society, exploiting people's worship psychology to gather wealth.
Of course, there are some small temples that, although not for money, mostly promote ghost and deity narratives, with various gods and Buddhas everywhere; I have not found much nourishment in them.