Buddhism As Education

How does one subdue and transform one’s thoughts? When an evil thought arises, one should constantly have the wisdom to be aware of it and stop the wandering thoughts. For many kalpas, for which there is no beginning, ordinary being have been immersed in affliction and habits, so they naturally have many wandering thoughts. But it is said, “Do not fear a thought arising; fear realizing is too late”. When an evil thought arises, one should immediately detect it and transform it into “Amituofo”. This is indeed cultivation. In the Zen school, this is the practice of enlightening illumination. Here is where we practice transforming an evil thought into a virtuous thought, transforming an evil thought into “Amituofo”. The “Chapter on the Perfect and Complete Realization of Mahasthamaprapta” from the Surangama Sutra tell us how Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva concentrated on Buddha-name chanting from the time he took refuge until the time he attain enlightenment. He taught us that the proper...

We may want to ask, “What is the method that Bodhisattvas of the Western Pure Land practice to achieve all their faculties and having supple body and gentle mind?” It is mindfully chanting “Amituofo”. As Mahasthamaprapta Boddhisattva said, “I and fifty-two fellow practitioners…”. Fifty-two” refers to the ten stages of faith, ten stages of abiding, ten stages of practice, ten stages of dedication, ten stages of ground, the stage of equal enlightenment and the stage of wondrous enlightenment. “Fellow practitioners” refers to practitioners who shared the same aspiration and focused on practicing the Pure Land method. This tell us that from Mahasthamaprapta Boddhisattva’s initial generation of the Bodhi mind until attainment of Buddhahood, he practiced the Buddha-name chanting without any changes. This is truly inconceivable! Buddha-name chanting enables us ordinary beings to attain Buddhahood. To practice good deeds with one sincere mind means to have an absolute proper and virtuous th...

Karma Norbuling Buddhist Centre (KNBC) is holding the Gyazhi Puja today at its centre in Penang mainland. The puja is led by the resident master Venerable Khedup Rinpoche assisted by his Lamas and Anilas (Nuns). The puja commenced this morning at 10.00 am and will complete at 9.00 pm tonight. The puja is excellent in dispelling the followings: *Diminishing of life forces or bad omens of untimely death, *Hard luck, *Harms from powerful spirits and demons, *Negative astrological effects, *Robbery, thefts, quarrels, unrest, *Epidemics. Gyazhi is the Puja of 400 Offerings which was first carried out by the Buddha to appease the mara or demonic negative forces within us. Beings have these four very strong negative forces which arise from: 1. The Five Aggregates, 2. Defilement, 3. Death, 4. Lustful External Powerful Influences. With these four negative forces that actively present within us and completely controlling us, arises an obscu...