Elder Monk Mengcan
When our clothes get dirty, we wash them, and they become clean again. The meaning of repentance is just like this.
Everyone should take note: as a Buddhist, you must not slander. The teachings spoken by the Buddha—if you believe in one teaching but slander another, this is destroying the Dharma. For example, if I am expounding or reciting sutras and say that chanting the Buddha’s name is not good, I am slandering the practice of chanting, which is slandering the Dharma. If I am a chanter of the Buddha’s name and say that those who recite or expound sutras are wrong, that is also slandering the Dharma. If I teach one sutra and claim another sutra is inferior, that is slandering the Dharma as well. If I have no affinity with a particular sutra, I should instead make offerings, pay respects, and seek to build a connection with it. We should strive to understand all the teachings and not slander the true Dharma. This requires special attention.
Nowadays, among our fellow practitioners, many are unaware of the consequences of slandering the Dharma and speak recklessly. Some may even say, “I am a disciple of this temple, and he is a disciple of that temple,” and conflicts arise between them. This does happen. There are even disputes between temples, let alone among lay practitioners. But you must understand that this is slandering the true Dharma, and the karmic consequences of slandering the Dharma are severe. Stirring discord among the monastic community or speaking ill of one temple to another is extremely dangerous—it falls under the five heinous crimes, specifically “disrupting the harmony of the Sangha.” Therefore, we should not casually criticize any sage, wise person, or temple leader. We have not yet reached their level of realization, and if we act this way, we are walking the path of unwholesome Dharma, not the path of wholesome Dharma.
I have been repenting for many years for this fault, yet I still feel my repentance is not complete. When I was young, I was like this too. I studied the Five Teachings and thought the Four Teachings were inferior. Later, I studied the Four Teachings and felt they were similar to the Five Teachings, but I hadn’t fully penetrated either. When I practiced chanting the Buddha’s name, I thought reciting “Amitabha” alone was enough. If everyone only chanted “Amitabha,” the entire Tripitaka and twelve divisions of the Buddhist canon would eventually be lost—who would study them? This is cutting off the Dharma, extinguishing the seed of the Dharma! I dare not speak like this anymore.
Those were the sins of my past, of which I committed many. I personally know to repent, and this is my experience, which I share with everyone. Slandering the Dharma may seem trivial—“I haven’t slandered the Dharma!”—but in reality, you may have done so many times, saying, “This teacher is good, that teacher is not.” Every teacher is good. As long as they wear the monk’s robe, they are a disciple of the Buddha. I praise them and regard them as wise or holy beings. Their personal karma is their own to bear and has nothing to do with me—I don’t carry their karma for them.
The Sutra of the Ten Wheels specifically addresses this issue. It states that no matter how much a disciple breaks the precepts or commits offenses, the king is not permitted to punish them—this is the Buddha’s teaching. Even if they are flawed, as long as they wear even a piece of the monk’s robe—not even a full robe—ghosts and spirits see it and receive benefit. Humans may not believe this, but ghosts and spirits do, as they have spiritual insight and understand the consequences. Humans, in their ignorance, do not understand these consequences and speak recklessly.
Everyone must pay special attention, especially regarding temples, monastics, disciples of the Three Jewels, and even among fellow practitioners. “Monks praising monks leads to the flourishing of the Buddha’s teachings”—this is the meaning.
As disciples of the Buddha, we always uphold Shakyamuni Buddha and protect all sentient beings, ensuring that future beings are free from suffering. We must act in this way. In the past, I was unaware and made many mistakes. Now that I know better, I will not repeat them. But what about the wrongs I committed before? Repent to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, especially to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and it will be resolved. The Sutra of the Ten Wheels specifically teaches about repentance.
The meaning of performing repentance ceremonies is to wash away our past sins. Just as we wash dirty clothes to make them clean, repentance works the same way. If I did something wrong in the past, I change my ways and resolve not to do it again. Through repentance, your past negative karma is lightened. If you understand the method of repentance, you have a way forward. Having a sense of shame is your treasure.
你對父母的態度，決定你人生的高度；
