Venerable Huifeng gives Dharma Talk on “Buddhist Psychology – Knowing the Mind, Cultivating the Mind”

Fo Guang Shan’s Vice Abbot Venerable Huifeng arrived in New Zealand on 19th August. On the evening of 20th August at 7:00pm he held an English Dharma talk with the subject of “Buddhist Psychology – Knowing the Mind, Cultivating the Mind”. This lecture was attended by North Island BLIA president Dolly Tsai, South Island BLIA president See Xian Lee, BLIA committee members, NZ Police Commissioner, his wife, and 200 other audiences.

Venerable Huifeng explained that all phenomenons arise from the mind and the mind is in control of all phenomenons. Whether it’s feelings of joy and sadness, personality traits of kindness or arrogance, they have all risen from seeds hidden within our consciousness. They materialise with afflictions and are externally expressed with our action, speech and thoughts, thus causing suffering. So firstly we should understand our mind. Through the progress in understanding our mind, we will be clear about our personality and thoughts process, thus able to choose the appropriate Dharma methods to solve our doubts.

Regarding how to cultivate the mind, Buddhism recommends using 5 different kinds of meditative contemplation to counter the afflictions created by 5 personality types:

1. Types that are prone to desires – should contemplate impurity, impermanence and suffering to transcend greedy tendencies.

2. Types that are prone to negativity – should contemplate compassion and loving kindness to transcend negative tendencies.

3. Types that are prone to ignorance and uncertainty - should contemplate ‘dependent origination’ to counter their ignorant and wrong views.

4. Types that are prone to showing off one’s views and “uniqueness” – Should contemplate by analysing and observing the body and mind, thus realise that the self and others are equal.

5. Types that are scatter minded and over thinking – should contemplate the breath to settle body and mind.

6. Type that exhibit a mixture of all tendencies above – if one possess a mixture of the symptoms described above, the appropriate contemplation should be chosen accordingly.

Venerable Huifeng used different examples from daily life to encourage everyone to establish right views and understanding in accordance to the “8 Venerable Path”. Using the practice of “Precepts, meditative concentration and wisdom” to cultivate one’s mind. The upholding of precepts can improve one’s behavioural discipline. Meditative concentration can improve our ability to control our emotions. The practice of wisdom can allow us to have sharp penetrative understanding. We should learn to stabilise our complicated, over active and agitated mundane mind, thus keeping it at ease whether we are experiencing success or failure. The continued inner cultivation and contemplation can gradually allow us to be less attached to the self. By knowing how to contemplate the mind and finding an effective cultivating method we can courageously advance down the path of cultivation. Turning negative conditions as our nourishment, we can actualise the practice of Buddhism during our daily life.