Buddhism As Education

The Buddha-name Chanting method is suitable for everyone to learn and practice regardless of one's capability. Other methods such as Zen meditation and Tibetan Buddhism are not as easy for one to learn or practice. The Buddha-name chanting method is simple and convenient. It does not matter whether one has a Buddha image at home or if one has flowers to offer. Everyone can learn and practice. This method does not emphasize appearance or learning environment. It is the most convenient method of all. The Buddha said, "All dharmas are created by the mind". When we think about a matter [that will benefit others] every moment of everyday, never forgetting it, then this matter will not be accomplished. Why? Because when we stop thinking of benefiting others, we stop generating energy. Thoughts will truly generate inconceivable energy - this is continual mindfulness. When one understands this principle, one sees that those who are mindful of Buddha will attain Buddhahoo...

For a true practitioner who wants to have a fast, assured success in his practice in this lifetime, the Buddha-name Chanting is all he needs. One chants and read the sutras to understand the truth. Once confidence in establishing upon one's understanding of the principles and the truth, one will naturally let go of everything else. Not only did Sakyamuni Buddha used this method as the foremost method to teach all beings, but all Buddhas do the same. The Pure Land method is hard to believe but easy to practice. Only when one has great good fortune and great wisdom will one be able to believe this method.  The way to cultivate a pure mind is to mindfully chant the Buddha-name. When we are not chanting the Buddha-name, we should listen to the chanting of the Buddha-name. It is best if we can listen to our own chanting. So, we could record our chanting and when we are not chanting, listen to this recording. This is very effective. This is call, cultivating a pure mind. As ...

Generosity, giving, is the first parami. It confers upon the giver the double blessing of inhibiting the immoral thoughts of selfishness on the one hand and of developing the pure thoughts of selflessness on the other hand. The object in giving is to eliminate the craving that lies dormant within oneself; apart from which there are the attendant blessings of generosity such as the joy of service, the ensuing happiness and consolation and the alleviation of suffering. He makes no distinction in extending his love with supreme generosity, at the same time not forgetting to use his judicious discrimination in doing so. If for instance, a drunkard were to seek his help, but he was convinced that the drunkard would misuse his gift, the Bodhisatta would not hesitate to refuse him, for such generosity would not constitute any parami. If however, someone should seek his help for a worthy purpose, he would express his deep obligation for the opportunity offered and willingly and humbly...

Wandering thoughts are afflictions and karmic obstacles. As soon as they begin to rise, we will recognize them and change them into Amitofuo. As the six senses encounter the external world and a wandering thought, which may be pleasurable or unpleasant, virtuous or unvirtuous arises, we immediately replace it with a second thought of either Amitofuo or Namo Amitofuo. This is to awaken. This awakening needs to be immediate so there is no room for delusion to grow. This is how we will effectively uncover our wisdom. When one is often mindful of good dharmas, one's mind will be virtuous. When one often contemplates good dharmas, one's thoughts will be virtuous. When one often observes good dharmas, one's conduct will be virtuous. The criterion for virtuousness is to permanently end the Ten Evil Karmas: killing, stealing, committing sexual misconduct, lying, divisive speech, harsh speech, enticing speech, greed, anger and ignorance. When one's every thought, every...

If one does not have the Ten Virtuous Karmas as a foundation for one's learning and practice, one will not be able to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land even though one practices Buddha-name chanting. How do we know this? It is mentioned in the Visualization Sutra that one should first cultivate the Three Conditions before [beginning to] cultivate the pure karma to go to the Pure Land. The Three Conditions are the foundation of the Mahayana Buddhism. Without such foundations, one will not succeed in one's cultivation and learning, regardless of which Dharma door one learns and practices. The Three Conditions are the common foundation. They are the "true causes - the pure karmas - that the Buddhas of the three time periods cultivate to attain Buddhahood". The three time periods refer to the past, present and the future. there are innumerable Dharma doors that enable one to attain Buddhahood. all the Dharma doors are based on the foundation of the Three Con...

What if we can truly put down all the wandering thoughts, discrimination and attachments? The world will change immediately. What will it become then? The world will become a Land of Ultimate Bliss. What is the difference between our land and the Land of Ultimate Bliss? Sakyamuni Buddha introduced us to the Land of Ultimate Bliss where people of superior virtues assemble. when people's minds are virtuous, the land will be stable and secure. Everything will be wonderful, without the least defect. When people's minds are vicious, the land and everything in it will be vicious too. People with true aspiration and profound insight need to know that seeking rebirth into the Pure Land wholeheartedly and meeting Amitabha Buddha is the perfect and complete accomplishment of life. We should let go of attachments to worldly activities, both physical and mental and rid ourselves of differentiating thoughts. There is nothing worthy of worry and nothing worthy of greed. We accord wit...

According to this criterion, the minimum standard to achieve attainment in Mahayana Buddhism is to rid ourselves of a portion of our attachments, to sever the eighty-eight kinds of deviated thoughts and views. If we cannot sever these, we have not yet achieve attainment. Mahayana practitioners, who successfully sever them, reach the Initial Belief Stage. Theravada practitioners who sever various wrong views reach the stage of Stream-entering. Without these accomplishment, we will still be reincarnating within the cycle of rebirth, still having to repay our debts. However, there is still another way here: to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Otherwise, attainment is not possible. If we cannot go to the Pure Land, we will have achieved nothing at all. Seeking rebirth in the Pure Land is actually much easier than severing the eighty-eight kinds of improper thoughts and views because we do not need to sever all of them, but we can carry our remaining karma with us. As long as...

The bodhisattvas of the Western Pure Land have the ability to travel to all the Buddha Lands and any place in the entire Dharma Realm. The sutras teach that the past has no beginning and the future has no end. From this, we know that space [in Buddhism, it is called Dharma Realm] is immensely vast. This is the area the bodhisattvas cover in their travels - the vastness of the Dharma Realm. If they have an affinity with a place, they will manifest themselves there to benefit the beings. Like Sakyamuni Buddha, all Buddhas lecture according to the level of the audience. when the people in the audience have different capacities, there are many sutras that the Buddha would not speak. But, they would definitely speak the three Pure Land sutras. Why? Because these sutras are suitable for all beings. These are the sutras that all Buddhas must speak. That is, they must introduce Pure Land teachings to all beings. If the beings' conditions have matured and this being believes, mak...

About 3,000 years ago, the Buddha knew completely what was going to happen in society today. He did not fail those of us who truly sought transcendence, who truly sought enlightenment. In the Great Collection sutra, he said that in the Dharma-perfect Age, one could succeed in cultivating by observing the precepts; in the Dharma-ending Age, one could succeed in cultivating by learning the Pure Land method. The Buddha was telling us, the people today, that we will definitely succeed in our cultivation if we learn and practice the Pure Land method. The most important thing in our cultivation is to correct our wrong behavior. If we are not happy with a person or a thing, it will obstruct our rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, because our minds are not pure. This is why it is hard to attain rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss and why Mr Li Bingnan said that only one or two our of 10,000 Pure Land Practitioners succeed in attaining rebirth there. Most practitioners only manage...

The Palme Gon Buddhist Society situated in Taman Sentral, Butterworth had recently organized its wide-ranged Dharma programme in conjunction of the Wesak Day celebration. The program includes, liberation activities, Dharma talk, chanting of mantras, lighting of auspicious lamps. The Dharma programme commenced from 13 May until 17 May 2014. Invited members of the Sangha who graced the five-day event are His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang (Head of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage), Thritsab Rinpoche, Nubpa Rinpoche, Rabsang Rinpoche and Venerable Hai Tao. The highlights of the five-day programme are as follows: 13/5/2014 9.30am-12.00pm : Namgyalma Thousand Offering I 2.00pm-9.30pm : Namgyalma Empowerment & Teaching 14/5/2014 9.30am-12.00pm : Namgyalma Thousand Offering II 2.00pm-9.30pm : White Parasol Empowerment & Teaching 15/4/2014 10.00am-12.00pm : Namgyalma Thousand Offering III 2.00pm--9.30pm : Namgyalma Blessing 16/5/2014...

Karma Norbuling Buddhist Centre (KNBC) will be holding its Wesak Day celebration at its premises situated in No. 15 & 17 Lorong Rozhan 3, Kawasan Perniagaan Jalan Rozhan, Alma, 14000 Bukit Mertajam. The programme for the KNBC event are as follows: 13th May 2014 10.00am - Liberation, Lamp Lighting & 16 Arahant Puja 6.00pm - Devotees are welcomed to join the KNBC Float Procession 1. Devotees who sponsor RM100 and above will be invited to offer a lamp. 2. Auspicious lamp offering for Business/Company - RM50. 3. Auspicious lamp offering for Family - RM25. 4. Auspicious lamp offering for Individual - RM10. 25th May 2014 9.00am to 1.00pm - 4th Blood Donation Campaign at KNBC. The whole day event will be graced by Lama Khedup Rinpoche (KNBC Resident Master) and his group of Lamas. All are Welcomed. May You Be Well and Happy.

Nandaka Vihara will be holding its Wesak Day celebration in its vihara premises situated at Lot 1250, Mukim 17, Jalan Kolam, Cherok Tokun, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah. The programme of the Nandaka's Wesak Day are as follows: 7.30am - Transfer of the Buddha's Relic from Sima Hall to Dana Hall 8.15am - Dhamma Talk 9.00am - Pindapatta (Alms Round, Rice Only) 9.30am - Food Stall Commence 11.30am - Lunch Dana to the sangha 7.30pm - Bodhi Puja All are welcomed. Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu!