Robot Monk Xian'er

Buddhist AspirationAs one makes his bed, he must lie on it. Because of ignorance and afflictions, evil karma is created that brings suffering. Even anger toward an evil person creates nonvirtuous karma. Those who cultivate the mind vow to help all sentient beings including the good, the underprivileged, the evil, and the privileged. Medical doctors pay more attention to those who are seriously ill. So do Bodhisattvas. Desires can never be satisfied. The more one seeks, the more desire runs off. The more it is satisfied, the more it grows. With virtuous Dharma, one is full energy spiritually and will naturally have less secular desires. It is as if eating, when one is full, one no longer desires food. When the mind corresponds with the Dharma, it is filled with delight that is food for the mind.  On the other hand, one gets hungry for the next meal even though one has had enough for this meal. It is a must that one continues to learn and gradually absorbs the nutrition that nourishes the mind. 修行人

Planting the seed of loving kindnessAll seeds of the future are within our minds. Life is infinite and it is not about the present, nor this life. We must be aware that we are planting seeds of causes wherever and whenever.  We must bemindful of these causes for they determine what the future holds.Bodhisttvas keep practicing the Dharma. As a result, they attain Buddhahood.   The present is the cause whereas the Bodhi is the outcome.  Supreme wisdom is achieved via continuous accumulation of small enlightenments. Grand compassion is achieved via continuous cultivation of sympathy. This is Buddhist practice. Every thought and behavior in this present moment creates its karma, which plants an intangible seed for the future.Although we have no choice but to liveunder the influence of past karma, the future can be changed.What we should do is not to fight against the karmic force, but to create new karma according to the karmic law thus building up influence over the future. 种善良的种子一切希望的种子，都在自己内心之中。人生不是只看现在，也不等于只有

Non-selfThe Buddha’s teachings emphasize the concept of “anatta”, which means “Non-self”. The “Self” here means a state of permanence, oneness, and dominance.It is due to habitual practice of attachment that a “self” is formed in our mind.We believe the “Self” is constant, independent and everlasting such that we tend to manipulate people and things around us, carving for attention and approval. These are manifestation of obsession with the “self”.Our thoughts, influenced by many conditions, are ever-changing and non-self as well.无我佛法说无我，这个“我”是常、一、主宰之意。人长久串习的执著，会在心里构建出一个“我”的存在，认为“我”会一直存在，不会变化，可以独立，不需要别人，而且喜欢去支配周围的人和事，希望别人重视自己的意见等，这些都是我执的表现。思想是许多因缘影响的、变化的，也是无我的。

Can desire bring happiness?Human beings technology development and inventions are all to satisfy desires. Desire is what makes this world wonderful; but meanwhile desire is the cause of human afflictions and it dries out as well as shadows our inner minds. Therefore, we must reflect upon the relationship between desire and happiness so that we can manage our desires. 欲望真的带来快乐吗？人类的种种科技、发明，都是为了满足欲望而产生的，欲望让这个世界变得丰富多彩；但同时，人们的种种烦恼也是因为欲望而产生、膨胀的，它也让我们的内心变得干涸、黑暗。因此，我们必须去思考欲望与快乐的关系，去选择和管理自己的欲望。

 Doing the right thing“Although this makes sense, I just cannot let go.” This is the thinking pattern behind knowing but cannot do. “Although it is hard to let go, this does make sense.” This is the thinking pattern behind doing the right thing. The truth is yours only if you endeavor to follow suit. Otherwise it is of no use as you remain an outsider. 知道就去做知道却做不到的思维模式是：“虽然道理这么说，可是真的放不下。”如理实践的思维模式是：“虽然很难放下，但是道理这么说。”听懂的道理，要真正走心，才会成为自己思维的一部分，否则永远是一个外围的过客，无有大益。

How to address afflictions One is to seek a tranquil mind, not a confined mind. On the pursuit of a tranquil mind, some find that the more they do, the more confined their minds become as they only enjoy solitude.Such tranquility is rather superficial and fallacious.Superficial speaks to the narrow-minded nature as one is incapable of dealing with more people and taking more responsibilities.Fallacious speaks to the deceptive nature as it is not that one truly addresses afflictions, it is the lack of external conditions causing afflictions.  如何调伏烦恼心要静，但不要小。有的人越追求静心，心越封闭，只愿独处自得，这种“静”未免肤浅、虚诳。肤浅，是言心之狭窄，没有能力去应对、承担更多人与事；虚诳，是因为这种静是假的，只是没有外境引发内心的烦恼，而不是真正调伏了烦恼。

Seeking true happinessAccept everything as it is. When you find inner peace, you are at home. On a grand scheme of things, this life is nothing but a temporary existence out of a combination of karmic causes. However, there is infinite value in this ephemeral life to be discovered. It is through such discovery that man finds true happiness. 寻找真正的快乐既来之，则安之，心安处即是家。更长远来看，此生也不过如匆匆过客，都是因缘和合的暂时存在。但是，如梦如寄的人生中蕴含着无限的意义，要找到它，才有真正的快乐可言。 

Everyone has unlimited potentials.【Xianer says so: “I am telling ghost stories to Shifu.”】Shifu took Xian’er for a walk in the evening,Xian’er was sleepy and wanted to go to bed. He didn’t dare to tell Shifu as he might be called lazy. So he came up with an idea that he was going to tell ghost stories. Shifu might get scared and want to go back sooner. Therefore, Xian’er told several ghost stories: some with long red tongue, some with  scary hanging hair, and some with extremely pale face ...Xian’er finished his stories, only to find Shifu staring at him for almost 10 minutes. This freaked him out. So he asked, “Shifu, what is going on? Why are you starting at me like this?”Those who heard about this were angry and asked Shifu: “Xian’er is so dum, why are you keeping him around?”Shifu said: “Xian’er is going to be great. ”Below are quoted from my Shifu’s new book, Say Good Things—Master Xuecheng’s insight on the path to speaking like a Buddha. The Buddha teaches the truth of emptiness and conditional arising.

Keeping happiness of others’ in mind, there will be no adverse situations. 【Xian’er says so: “what to do when faced with setbacks?”】Xian’er runs into some setback again. He climbed to the top of a mountain, alone in sadness. The more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. By the cliff, a small tree growing out of rock cracks could not help weeping. Xian’er asked,’What is your story? ”The tree answered: “I’m the most unfortunate tree in the whole world.I grow in an awful environment, in between rock cracks. And I look ugly for I can’t fully stretch my branches. I may look strong but I am in a living hell.”Xian’er asked: “As such, what is the point of staying alive?” The tree continued: “It’s easy to die. But there’s a nest above my head where two magpies live. This is their home where they live and have a family. If I die, what would happen to them? ”Having heard this, Xian’er came to an understanding. He returned to the monastery and continued his work of cleaning toilets.Below are quoted from my Sh

The grander an aspiration is, the more challenges one encounters.【Xian’er says so:  “What is the key to success?”】Shifu gave Xian’er lots of guidance.Xian’er kept them in mind and wanted to shoot an animated movie such that more people would benefit.But Xian’er had no money, no equipment, no studio, and even no actors.He wanted to give up.Shifu told Xian’er to find ways to solve the problem. Xian’er then found Zhao Xiaocui and borrowed a selfie stick. He started filming himself everyday and put it on show. This is how Xian’er cartoon series are made. Below are quoted from my Shifu’s new book, Say Good Things—Master Xuecheng’s insight on the path to speaking like a Buddha. The grander an aspiration is, the more challenges one encounters.The key to success lies in the choice to advance or retreat under difficult conditions. If you accept adversity and work to change it, it’ll toughen your will.If you escape from and complain about it,it’ll destroy your will. 一个人的愿力越大，阻力就越大【贤二如是说：什么是成败的关键】贤二的师父给了贤二很多的教诲，贤二都记在心里，

There are only 3 days in life--yesterday,today andtomorrow.【Xian’er says so: “Understanding life in the present.”】Xian’er overate ice cream and overslept again. He missed chanting sutras, skipped the morning class, and did not get to hiswork of cleaning toilets. Again, he got yelled at by Shifu and regret what he has done. He was in great sorrow and it seemed only eating more ice cream would help. He could not get out of bed, had no strength to attend to sutra chanting norclean the toilet. Heregret it so muchthat he could accept no more criticism from Shifu. Xian’er asked shifu what to do. Shifu gave him some advice. Xian’er did what Shifu asked him to do.  He got up and went to sutra chanting;  Afterwards he attended the class and went on to clean toilets. Even though he was yelled at by Shifu again, all he felt was delight. Below are quoted from my Shifu’s new book, Say Good Things—Master Xuecheng’sinsight on the path to speaking like a Buddha. Regret is an outcome. Often we blame ourselves for this outcome

It is true that everything is ever fresh.【Xian’er says so: “Everything is ever fresh.”】Shifu has been criticizing Xian’er a lot lately. Xian’er was thus afraid of seeing Shifu. Xian’er found that Xianyi’s English has gotten a lot better. While he himself can’t even speak Mandarin well. He was sad and frustrated.Xiansan had gained some experience in sitting meditation. Whereas Xian’er kept struggling with maintainance of toilet flushingequipments. All of this made Xian’er upset and feeling a bit lost. .And he found the following. Below are quoted from my Shifu’s new book, Say Good Things—Master Xuecheng’sinsight on the path to speaking like a Buddha. The largest obstacle to starting over is the shadow on our mind and theattachment to failure in the past, which discourages us from marching forward.Everything is ever changing and everything is ever fresh.The past has passed, and the future is yet to come.  The only thing we can do is to seize the present. 真的，一切都是崭新的【贤二如是说：一切都是崭新的】师父老是批评贤二，贤二都不敢见师父了；贤二发现贤一的英语越来越棒