What Is the Mind's Capacity?

A magnanimous heart accomplishes great deeds; a petty heart accomplishes small deeds; a heart lacking magnanimity accomplishes nothing. What does "magnanimity of heart" mean? What does it mean to say the heart encompasses the vast emptiness and pervades the realm of all sands?

Although the Tathagatagarbha encompasses the vast emptiness and pervades the realm of all sands, the Tathagatagarbha is the Tathagatagarbha. How vast is one's own seven consciousnesses? While the Tathagatagarbha can encompass the great void, one's own seven consciousnesses can only encompass oneself, plus one's immediate family and relatives. With such limited magnanimity, what great deed can be accomplished?

Who possesses the magnanimity of a Bodhisattva, holding the entire Buddhist endeavor and all sentient beings in the Dharma realm within their heart? Without such magnanimity, if one diligently seeks only personal gain day after day, concerned only with personal matters and the affairs of a few family members, is it possible to seek the Buddha Way and gain benefit from the Dharma with such a heart? At the slightest sign of trouble, one scurries away in panic, hides in a corner and refuses to step forward, thinking this ensures personal safety. One adamantly refuses to step forward for any matter concerning Buddhism, yet when facing personal difficulties, one seeks help everywhere, hoping everyone will take care of them. Are those with such conduct not deserving of the suffering of birth and death?

Everyone wants to gain benefits from Buddhism; everyone wants the Three Jewels to protect them. Yet when Buddhism faces difficulties, when the Three Jewels need protection, everyone hides far away, not lifting a finger, watching the plight of Buddhism and the Three Jewels with amusement. Can such people truly be considered disciples of the Buddha? Relying on Buddhism for survival, treating Buddhism as their home, yet when this Buddhist home faces difficulties, they stand by indifferently, prioritizing their own safety, unconcerned whether Buddhism perishes or not. Can such people truly gain benefits from Buddhism? Can they receive the blessings of the Three Jewels?

Do they not realize that no egg remains intact when the nest is overturned? The rise and fall of Buddhism is the responsibility of its disciples. Those unwilling to bear responsibility—are they truly disciples?

Dedication Verse: We dedicate all the merit from Dharma propagation and group practice on our online platform to all sentient beings in the Dharma realm and to the people of the world. We pray for world peace, the cessation of wars; the absence of conflict, the eternal end of strife; the complete subsiding of all disasters! We pray for unity, mutual aid, and kindness among the peoples of all nations; for favorable weather and national prosperity with people living in peace! May all sentient beings deeply believe in cause and effect, be compassionate and refrain from killing; widely cultivate good affinities and virtuous deeds; believe in the Buddha, learn the Dharma, and increase their roots of goodness; recognize suffering, eradicate its causes, aspire to cessation, and cultivate the path; close the door to the evil destinies and open the path to Nirvana! We pray for the eternal flourishing of Buddhism and the everlasting abiding of the true Dharma; to transform the burning house of the three realms into the pure lotus land of Ultimate Bliss!