(continued from previous issue)

The so-called Brahma Ministers heaven precisely means the residence of the ministers who assist the Brahma.

I asked Nong-ni, "As a devi of the first dhyana heaven, have you attained Samadhi in meditation?"

She replied, "I have only attained a very small aspect of it."

She elaborated, "We only have a clear heart and merits from upholding the precepts. We have not yet truly entered Samadhi. We only maintain a calm mind."

I told her, "Today, you have reached the Heaven of Brahma's Ministers by relying on the first three of the six paramitas and you did not reach here by realizing the nature of emptiness through meditation. So you really only reached a relatively high level in the cycle of transmigration. Do you wish to enter an even more advanced level and leave transmigration?"

She replied, "The life span of devis in Brahma Followers' Heaven is half of a medium kalpa. The life span of devis of Brahma Ministers Heaven is one medium kalpa. Although this is a long time, there is still eventually an end. Revered Master Lu, would you please instruct me on how to reach ‘no cessation’?"

I answered, "Practice the latter three of the six paramitas, then you shall make further progress."

For those who practice the first three paramitas (1. alms-giving, 2. upholding precepts, 3. patience), I notice that they tend to attain more of the blessings needed to ascend to heaven.

For those who practice the latter three paramitas as well (diligence, meditation, and wisdom), they attain more of the wisdom needed to transcend the mundane world.

I wrote a short verse for Nong-ni Zheng:

Such great delight and happiness assisting the Great Brahma

Uniting the loving hearts of the multitude in this heaven as one

Even the time of a great kalpa quickly slips by

How can there be time to be lax even in this heaven

Diligently practice the latter three of the six paramitas

Attain the same awakening as bodhisattvas' non-practice

(the end)

(From Book #191 "Staircases to the Heavens")

(本文選自蓮生活佛第191冊著作「諸天的階梯」文章「『鄭濃妮』在梵輔天」)