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 in the original Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha did not believe in deities; he was just an ordinary person who, while in this world, was also 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 they are the same, they 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, making communication 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 of thought as a thinker, philosopher, psychologist, etc.
The Buddha teaches us methods to elevate our depth of thought more quickly because human life is limited, just a few decades; relying on natural development 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, allowing 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 a higher wisdom and discover a different world, including subtle things and various perspectives on matters.
4. Views on the Realm of Cultivation#
Arhat | Bodhisattva | Buddha → Elementary School | Middle School | University
Many people online believe this is a kind of hierarchy, but thinking this way is too narrow.
Take me for example; currently, I can only understand and comprehend texts classified at the elementary level; I don't know what the others are saying.
Of course, the content at the elementary 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 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 level, 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—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 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 low, and disasters were many. When you were thrown onto the battlefield, you would definitely pick up a gun and try every means to escape. 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, like cheese and drugs, are placed before us. Once tried, one can become immersed, and through generations, this subtly influences people, causing them to forget their original intentions.
The existing education also occupies our thoughts, making it 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 agree with modern Buddhism; most of them are products of modern society, exploiting people's worship psychology to gather wealth.
Of course, there are some small temples that, while not for money, mostly promote ghost and deity narratives, with various gods and Buddhas everywhere; I have not found much nourishment in them.