Bring Happiness to Others


 

A disciple asked Bodhidharma:
How can I become a happy person and bring happiness to others?

Bodhidharma said:
There are four states that you need to be in to do this.
Start by thinking of yourself as someone else, and this will make you “selfless.”
Next, think of others instead of yourself, this will make you “compassionate.”
Then, treat others as separate people, this will make you “wise.”
Finally, think of yourself as yourself, and this will make you “at ease.”

Image result for 達摩祖師相片
Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and regarded as its first Chinese patriarch.
According to Chinese legend, he also began the physical training of the monks of Shaolin Monastery that led to the creation of Shaolin kungfu. In Japan, he is known as Daruma.

Bodhidharma’s teachings and practice centered on meditation and the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra. The Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall (952) identifies Bodhidharma as the 28th Patriarch of Buddhism in an uninterrupted line that extends all the way back to the Gautama Buddha himself.[16] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhidharma)

The following is Bodhidharma’s teaching in Chinese:

弟子問達摩祖師:
如何才能變成一個自己愉快,也帶給別人快樂的人?
達摩祖師笑答:
四種境界,你可領會其中的妙趣
首先把自己當成別人,此是”無我”:再之,要把別人當成自己,這是”慈悲”;而後,要把別人當成別人,此是”智慧”;最後,要把自己當成自己,這是”自在”。”selfless.”
Next, think of others instead of yourself, this will make you “compassionate.”
Then, treat others as separate people, this will make you “wise.”
Finally, think of yourself as yourself, and this will make you “at ease.”

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