Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

affliction, what should I do?" At this stage, one should
take the advice of some well-experienced teacher.
My guru, Tai Xu, wrote a book entitled: A Buddhist
Must Declare Himself. The substance of this work lies
in this declaration: "Now I have become a Buddhist, and
I am quite different. For example, before I took the
refuges, I smoked and drank alcohol—but not now. I
declare that my life has now changed and I shall
endeavor not to act like a common uninstructed person."
After all, the aim of Mahayana is not to seek release
from pain, but rather to develop a good character as a
bodhisattva and to save others with one's
accomplishment, even with pain to oneself.
In China, it was customary to approach a guru and say
to him, "I am just like an uncut stone and I request you
to engrave and polish me."
As a simile for taking refuge, we may think of the
magician who points at a stone, turning it into gold.
Such a transformation can occur in the character of one
who takes the three refuges.
c. Vajrayana. Traditionally, one does not learn any of
the secret teachings unless one has first taken refuge in
the exoteric sense. But in the West, some Tantric texts
have been published quite openly and anyone who cares
to may read them. From such reading, one may find
good points to judge the Buddhist teachings and some
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