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BUDDHA AND HIS DHAMMA IS PERMANENT
The way of home life β Ethics
In society, laypeople have their own set of
relationships; in Buddhism, monastics have master-disciple relationships and
relationships between Dhamma brothers and sister. The four part Vinaya says,β A
master looks upon his or her followers as if they were sons and daughters; and
the followers look upon their master as if he or she were a father or mother.
And when they respect one another, the right Dhamma will be held longerβ. βThe
teacher is the basis of a studentβs learning; the student who has a teacher can
be compared to a tree with rootsβ. βAfter achieving the Way, one appreciates
the kindness of a teacher β. At times, the relationship between a Buddhist
master and disciple is deeper than that
of kinship. For example, during the Jin Dynasty, Tanyin fell dangerously ill.
His disciple Fakuang, repented for his master with great devotion for seven
days and seven nights. In Yuan Dynasty, even when Yinjian met with hardships of
war, he continued to serve his master, Zhongguan Zhaogong, with the same
devotion, earning him the respect of the Yuan troops. Bumao waited on Chan
Master Niaoke for sixteen years before he was given instruction and finally
realized his true nature. In the Song Dynasty, Huaizhi reverently obeyed the
last wishes of Zhenjing Kewen, his teacher, steadfastly refusing to become the
abbot of the temple and to lead others