White Tara said:
“It is essential to stay far away from those who disregard virtue and to keep a distance from wrongdoers. This is because when we associate with such people, our own spiritual purity will be compromised and stained.”
At first, I resisted these words.
I said:
“For an enlightened person, should sentient beings not be viewed with equality and without discrimination? Based on teachings about buddha-nature, those who violate the precepts also have buddha-nature, and wrongdoers also have buddha-nature. How can we discriminate between good and evil?”
White Tara smiled:
“Grandmaster Lu possesses the ability to regard all living beings with impartiality and without prejudice. However, for a practitioner who has not yet attained enlightenment, it is necessary to stay away from those who are corrupted.”
She continued:
“Listen!
A dharma propagator who violates the precepts will mislead a cultivation group.
A dharma propagator who violates the precepts will mislead a chapter.
A dharma propagator who violates the precepts will mislead a temple.”
Why is that?
The reason lies in what is known as the process of staining.
***
It finally dawned on Grandmaster Lu.
Why did Mencius’s mother move house three times?
One who is near vermilion turns red.
One who is near ink turns black.
I was reminded of the Korean kimchi fermentation jar culture. They use enormous jars to make kimchi. Inside these jars are sugar, salt, vinegar, food coloring, flavorings, and ingredients that create tartness, sweetness, bitterness, and spiciness.
After the ingredients are prepared, they are mixed with the vegetables and placed into the jar.
The jar is then buried in the ground and left to ferment.
When it is finally dug up, something has happened. The vegetables have become stained and completely transformed into kimchi.
None of them retain their original qualities. Once inside the fermentation jar, everything becomes stained.
This is the process of fermentation inside the jar. It is extremely fearsome because it completely changes the nature of the vegetables. This reminds me of the saying, “When you spend enough time in a fish market, you no longer notice the smell.”
Another saying:
Different customs arise ten miles apart.
Different practices arise five miles apart.
These customs and cultures are all the result of surrounding influences.
If we encounter:
A dharma propagator who has strayed from the lineage teachings.
A dharma propagator who has become arrogant and full of self-importance.
A dharma propagator who believes he has achieved great merit.
A dharma propagator who disrespects his root guru.
A dharma propagator who believes he is the greatest.
A dharma propagator who criticizes his or her root guru.
A dharma propagator who criticizes the Buddha.
A dharma propagator who criticizes the True Buddha Dharma.
A dharma propagator who criticizes other dharma propagators.
You must know that this person has become unstable. They have broken the vows and precepts related to honoring the guru, treasuring the Dharma, and practicing diligently.
White Tara said:
“Immediately keep a distance!”
Just as a clean white robe will become stained and dirty in a place filled with filth and mud, even if your own commitments are pure, they can still be tainted by the damaged commitments of others, causing you to become like them.
In the Vajrayana tradition, if you have even the slightest doubt about your root guru, his teachings, his lineage, or the Buddhas, the Dharma, and the Sangha, you will not be able to attain spiritual realization and union.
Be cautious! Be careful!
Remember clearly! Do not forget!
You must stay far away from those who violate their vows and precepts!