Date: 02/15/2025 02/16/2025
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Otto Huang
Dharma Talk
The Diligence of Two Billion Ears
Once, the Buddha came to Rajagaha in the kingdom of Magadha and stayed at Vulture Peak, located outside the northeastern part of the city. At the same time, the venerable monk known as Two Billion Ears was diligently practicing in a nearby cemetery.
Venerable Two Billion Ears practiced tirelessly day and night, either meditating in seated posture or walking meditation, constantly adhering to the Buddha’s teachings on the Thirty-Seven Factors of Enlightenment. His walking meditation was so intense that his feet would often bleed, leaving bloodstains on the ground that attracted birds to peck at them. Despite his diligent efforts, he could not make a breakthrough and remained unenlightened. Gradually, his initial enthusiasm and faith in practice began to wane, until his zeal cooled and his confidence faltered. One day, he thought to himself:
“Among the many disciples of the Blessed One, I am considered one of the diligent practitioners. Yet, I have not achieved liberation to this day. If I continue like this, what is the point? It would be better to return to lay life and use my parents’ considerable wealth to make offerings and accumulate merit—it might be more beneficial that way.”
The Buddha, aware of Venerable Two Billion Ears’ thoughts, went to the cemetery to guide him. The Buddha asked him:
“Two Billion Ears, before you became a monk, did you play the lute?”
“Yes, Blessed One, I was quite skilled at playing the lute before I renounced the world.”
“Good. When you played the lute, if the strings were too tight, would the sound be pleasant?”
“No, Blessed One, it would not.”
“And if the strings were too loose, would the sound be pleasant?”
“No, Blessed One, it would not.”
“But if the strings were tuned just right, would the sound be pleasant?”
“Yes, Blessed One, it would be.”
“That is correct. A practitioner should be like this as well. Overexertion in practice is like a string that is too tight—it causes agitation and restlessness. Insufficient effort is like a string that is too loose—it leads to laziness and slackness. Neither extreme leads to accomplishment. Therefore, you should avoid these two extremes and make proper adjustments to achieve liberation.”
Hearing this guidance from the Buddha, Venerable Two Billion Ears reignited his enthusiasm and faith in practice. Constantly recalling the Buddha’s teaching about the lute, he resumed his efforts. Before long, he attained liberation.
After his liberation, Venerable Two Billion Ears thought that he should report to the Buddha. He went to see the Buddha and shared his realization:
“Blessed One, a truly liberated person does not attain dispassion through mere belief, nor does one embrace renunciation for fame or gain, nor avoid contention merely to uphold precepts. A liberated person is free from greed, hatred, and delusion. Such a person delights in dispassion, delights in renunciation, delights in peace, delights in the cessation of attachment, delights in letting go, and delights in the immovable mind.
A monk whose mind is truly liberated will not lose that liberation due to anything he sees, hears, smells, tastes, touches, or thinks. When encountering the six sense objects, a liberated person’s mind is never captured by them and remains pure and unwavering, steadfast and unmoved. Such a person can skillfully observe the arising and ceasing of phenomena in accordance with dependent origination, and recognize the stillness within impermanence. Just as a massive stone mountain stands unshaken by winds or storms from any direction, so does the liberated mind remain unshaken.”
Hearing this account, the Buddha was greatly pleased. He then said to the monks:
“Monks, one who has attained liberation should express their realization in this way. Two Billion Ears’ statement is neither arrogant nor self-deprecating but smooth and truthful. He has indeed attained liberation. He is not one who claims realization without attainment, thereby falling into the conceit of overestimation.”
