Flowers in Sky, Moon in Water

by Venerable Sheng Yen

Question: Grandmaster Xuyun (1840–1959) said, “Buddhist rites are like flowers in the sky, yet we need to conduct them at all times; a temple is like the moon in water, yet we must build temples everywhere.” Flowers in the sky and the moon reflected in water are illusory phenomena. From the apparent meaning of Master Xuyun’s words, Buddhist rites are like flowers in the sky and Buddhist temples are like the moon in the water; therefore, conducting rituals is the same as not conducting them, and building temples are the same as not building them. Nevertheless, Master Xuyun said that we should always conduct Buddhist rites, and we should build temples everywhere. What is his meaning?

Master Sheng Yen: These words of Master Xuyun are very positive, not negative. Many people misunderstand the word “emptiness” in Buddhism as meaning “hollow and illusory;” in the same way, the name Xuyun (Empty Cloud) might make people feel empty and barely visible, irrelevant. However, Master Xuyun himself was like a cloud in a clear sky, going where water is needed or providing shade. The Buddhist rites are performed to beseech the Buddha to deliver sentient beings; temples are places and occasions for people to practice the way to Buddhahood. Under normal circumstances flowers do not exist in the sky, so how could there be flowers in the sky? In one case, when a person who spreads the Dharma is very accomplished in practice, the heavenly devas may be moved to drop flowers from the sky; this would be a miracle. In another case, when the eyes are under some kind of pressure, some people will see optical illusions like flowers floating in space. There are also medical disorders where the person sees images or colours within their own eyes.

Hence flowers in the sky are mere illusions, and the moon in the water is merely a reflection. Similarly, in their quest for fame, wealth, power and influence, sentient beings spend their lives busy fishing for the moon in the water. It is the vanity of possessing the moon and many other unrealistic things. In the end, they find themselves mired and buried in the five desires [of wealth, sex, food, fame, and sleep]. Grandmaster Xuyun’s words have a very proactive and positive usefulness, for while the Buddhist rites are illusory, and Buddhist temples are mostly empty, their purpose is still different from the satisfaction of the five desires – indeed, they are the opposite.

To conduct Buddhist rites is to use Buddhadharma to help people both present at the ritual and elsewhere. Whatever language, scriptures, or implements are used, their purpose is to uplift the character, intelligence, morality, and inner wisdom of humanity; their purpose is also to cultivate blessings which will enable sentient beings to leave suffering, attain happiness, and depart from vexation. Buddhist monasteries and temples are very well-defined and structured venues for practice; so whenever conditions allowed, Elder Xuyun helped to rebuild run down temples that he came across in his travels, thus helping sentient beings everywhere. In this manner, during his life, he helped to restore more than ten ruined old temples. To him, conducting Buddhist rites and building Buddhist temples are the fundamental responsibilities of monastics to benefit sentient beings and purify the human world.