/r/Mahayana

Photograph via snooOG

Mahayana Buddhism is one of three main branches of Buddhism. It was formed approximately around 100 B.C.E at the latest. Mahayana Buddhism is prominent in North Asia, including China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and parts of Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The other two main branches of Buddhism are Theravada and Vajrayāna.

Rules

1. Keep posts and comments relevant

Posts and comments should be relevant to Mahayana Buddhism specifically. Westernized, secularized, or "new age" takes on Buddhism will likely be removed.

2. No spam/self-promotion

Please read the reddit guidelines about spam.

3. No harassment or trolling

No trolling, sea-lioning or harassing others.

4. No surveys or research polls

This sub is for the discussion of Mahayana Buddhism. No surveys, polls, homework, etc.

5.No duplicate accounts

No duplicate accounts (also known as "sock-puppets"). Whether to evade bans, to create the impression of support for views, or any other reason these actions will not be tolerated. Anyone discovered using multiple accounts will have all accounts permanently banned.

6. Don't block mods

Transparency matters. Mods need to know if you are here in good faith so your other contributions need to be viewable. If you block one of the mods, you will be banned.

Related Subs

/r/Mahayana

7,861 Subscribers

3

Do you need a teacher to teach you mantras, or can you learn and recite them on your own?

2 Comments
2024/11/29
20:54 UTC

1

If having a specific nightmare results in purification. If my dog has a nightmare, is he, possibly being purified?

My apologies for the funny question. I am just curious because of course I deeply care about my dogs liberation.

Should I not wake my dog every time he has a nightmare? That’s what I would usually do.

4 Comments
2024/11/29
12:34 UTC

21

The Ancestral Monastery of Pure Land Buddhism, Donglin Monastery has recently set up an Instagram, Facebook and Twitter account. Please support by liking and following their accounts!

0 Comments
2024/11/28
01:32 UTC

14

Seven (well, Eight) Medicine Buddhas

0 Comments
2024/11/26
17:25 UTC

6

Exposing To More Buddha-Names And Their Merits (4) - Thoroughly Illumined Glorious Array of Excellences Buddha

Śāriputra, to the east of this buddha realm, past buddha realms as numerous as the grains of sand in five river Ganges, there is a world system called Tiers of Purification. The thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha Thoroughly Illumined Glorious Array of Excellences presently lives and thrives there, [F.19.b] teaching the Dharma.

...
Śāriputra, those sons or daughters of good family who hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master these names will not descend to the three lower realms. Such a possibility will simply not exist. Hence, Śāriputra, for those beings, going to the hell realm, being reborn as animals, or going to the realm of the Lord of Death is impossible, except for those individuals who have committed acts of immediate retribution and those who have abandoned the holy Dharma, and even those beings will have those experiences only minimally, not greatly."

Śāriputra, whatever sons or daughters of good family hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master these names will never be separated from the extraordinary knowledges right up to their arrival at the Essence of Awakening. They will never be without signs of realization. They will never be without dhāraṇī. They will never have defective faculties. They will never be without abundant melodious speech. They will never be without the resonance of drums. They will never be unworthy of gifts, and they will never regress. They will never be without the flowers of the branches of awakening. They will never be without the very extensive Mahāyāna discourses. Śāriputra, there is no basis for that and no possibility for that to occur."

Śāriputra, whenever a woman hears the names of those blessed buddhas and remembers, carries, reads, teaches, properly chants, and masters them, it will be impossible for such a woman to acquire female attributes again, unless she takes on such attributes due to her own prayers. Śāriputra, there is no basis for that and no possibility for that to occur."

Śāriputra, when sons or daughters of good family hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master them, it will be impossible for those sons or daughters of good family to experience any terrors from kings, thieves, fire, water, evil forces, nāgasyakṣasgandharvasdemigods, humans, nonhumans, or any other type of destruction, unless it is due to the forceful ripening of karma. Even then, they will have those experiences only minimally, not greatly.

Extracted from: The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra “The Eight Buddhas”Āryāṣṭa­buddhaka­nāma­mahāyāna­sūtra

All credits to 84000.co and their translators.

0 Comments
2024/11/19
02:35 UTC

6

Exposing To More Buddha-Names And Their Merits (3) -  Glorious Supremely Renowned Intense Subduer Buddha

Śāriputra, to the east of this buddha realm, past buddha realms as numerous as the grains of sand in three river Ganges, there is a world system called Joyous Delights. The thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha Glorious Supremely Renowned Intense Subduer presently lives and thrives there, teaching the Dharma.

...
Śāriputra, those sons or daughters of good family who hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master these names will not descend to the three lower realms. Such a possibility will simply not exist. Hence, Śāriputra, for those beings, going to the hell realm, being reborn as animals, or going to the realm of the Lord of Death is impossible, except for those individuals who have committed acts of immediate retribution and those who have abandoned the holy Dharma, and even those beings will have those experiences only minimally, not greatly."

Śāriputra, whatever sons or daughters of good family hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master these names will never be separated from the extraordinary knowledges right up to their arrival at the Essence of Awakening. They will never be without signs of realization. They will never be without dhāraṇī. They will never have defective faculties. They will never be without abundant melodious speech. They will never be without the resonance of drums. They will never be unworthy of gifts, and they will never regress. They will never be without the flowers of the branches of awakening. They will never be without the very extensive Mahāyāna discourses. Śāriputra, there is no basis for that and no possibility for that to occur."

Śāriputra, whenever a woman hears the names of those blessed buddhas and remembers, carries, reads, teaches, properly chants, and masters them, it will be impossible for such a woman to acquire female attributes again, unless she takes on such attributes due to her own prayers. Śāriputra, there is no basis for that and no possibility for that to occur."

Śāriputra, when sons or daughters of good family hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master them, it will be impossible for those sons or daughters of good family to experience any terrors from kings, thieves, fire, water, evil forces, nāgasyakṣasgandharvasdemigods, humans, nonhumans, or any other type of destruction, unless it is due to the forceful ripening of karma. Even then, they will have those experiences only minimally, not greatly.

Extracted from: The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra “The Eight Buddhas”Āryāṣṭa­buddhaka­nāma­mahāyāna­sūtra

All credits to 84000.co and their translators.

0 Comments
2024/11/18
16:59 UTC

5

Exposing To More Buddha-Names And Their Merits (1) - King of the Summit of Power of the Victory Banner Buddha

Śāriputra, to the east of this buddha realm, past buddha realms as numerous as the grains of sand in two river Ganges, there is a world system called Exquisitely Joyful. The thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha King of the Summit of Power of the Victory Banner presently lives and thrives there, teaching the Dharma.

...
Śāriputra, those sons or daughters of good family who hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master these names will not descend to the three lower realms. Such a possibility will simply not exist. Hence, Śāriputra, for those beings, going to the hell realm, being reborn as animals, or going to the realm of the Lord of Death is impossible, except for those individuals who have committed acts of immediate retribution and those who have abandoned the holy Dharma, and even those beings will have those experiences only minimally, not greatly."

Śāriputra, whatever sons or daughters of good family hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master these names will never be separated from the extraordinary knowledges right up to their arrival at the Essence of Awakening. They will never be without signs of realization. They will never be without dhāraṇī. They will never have defective faculties. They will never be without abundant melodious speech. They will never be without the resonance of drums. They will never be unworthy of gifts, and they will never regress. They will never be without the flowers of the branches of awakening. They will never be without the very extensive Mahāyāna discourses. Śāriputra, there is no basis for that and no possibility for that to occur."

Śāriputra, whenever a woman hears the names of those blessed buddhas and remembers, carries, reads, teaches, properly chants, and masters them, it will be impossible for such a woman to acquire female attributes again, unless she takes on such attributes due to her own prayers. Śāriputra, there is no basis for that and no possibility for that to occur."

Śāriputra, when sons or daughters of good family hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master them, it will be impossible for those sons or daughters of good family to experience any terrors from kings, thieves, fire, water, evil forces, nāgasyakṣasgandharvasdemigods, humans, nonhumans, or any other type of destruction, unless it is due to the forceful ripening of karma. Even then, they will have those experiences only minimally, not greatly.

Extracted from: The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra “The Eight Buddhas”Āryāṣṭa­buddhaka­nāma­mahāyāna­sūtra

All credits to 84000.co and their translators.

0 Comments
2024/11/18
05:41 UTC

6

Buddha-Name Recitation Series (21): Namo Splendorous Light Manifesting in the Manner of All Phenomena Buddha

“Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita, below here is a world system known as Delighting in Inseparability. There, the thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha Splendorous Light Manifesting in the Manner of All Phenomena abides, alive and well. That eon is known as Gathering of Wisdom. The faithful noble sons and daughters who remember the name of the blessed, thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha Splendorous Light Manifesting in the Manner of All Phenomena will, immediately in their next lives, attain the dhāraṇī called accomplishing buddhahood. With just one rebirth remaining, they will fully awaken to unexcelled and perfect buddhahood. They will hear the Dharma teachings of ninety million buddhas, and, upon hearing them, they will remember them all. Regarding this, it is said:

‘Those who remember the name of this buddha 
Will hear the teachings of ninety million buddhas,
Will have just one birth remaining,
And will fully awaken to unexcelled and perfect buddhahood.’”

—From The Noble Great Vehicle Sūtra “The Questions of Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita”

Namo Splendorous Light Manifesting in the Manner of All Phenomena Buddha
Namo Splendorous Light Manifesting in the Manner of All Phenomena Buddha
Namo Splendorous Light Manifesting in the Manner of All Phenomena Buddha

Namo Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita Bodhisattva
Namo Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita Bodhisattva
Namo Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita Bodhisattva

Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha

Link to the Sutra (In this Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha details the inconceivable merits of reciting and remembering the names of the Buddhas of the ten directions. I imagine that the benefits of reading this sutra in its entirety must be indescribable.)

2 Comments
2024/11/18
03:54 UTC

5

Exposing To More Buddha-names And Their Merits (1) - Exceedingly Widely Renowned Glory Buddha

The Bhagavān said, “Śāriputra, to the east of this buddha realm, past buddha realms as numerous as the grains of sand in a single river Ganges, there is a world system called Unsubdued by Others.4 The thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha Exceedingly Widely Renowned Glory presently lives and thrives there, teaching the Dharma."

...
Śāriputra, those sons or daughters of good family who hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master these names will not descend to the three lower realms. Such a possibility will simply not exist. Hence, Śāriputra, for those beings, going to the hell realm, being reborn as animals, or going to the realm of the Lord of Death is impossible, except for those individuals who have committed acts of immediate retribution and those who have abandoned the holy Dharma, and even those beings will have those experiences only minimally, not greatly."

Śāriputra, whatever sons or daughters of good family hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master these names will never be separated from the extraordinary knowledges right up to their arrival at the Essence of Awakening. They will never be without signs of realization. They will never be without dhāraṇī. They will never have defective faculties. They will never be without abundant melodious speech. They will never be without the resonance of drums. They will never be unworthy of gifts, and they will never regress. They will never be without the flowers of the branches of awakening. They will never be without the very extensive Mahāyāna discourses. Śāriputra, there is no basis for that and no possibility for that to occur."

Śāriputra, whenever a woman hears the names of those blessed buddhas and remembers, carries, reads, teaches, properly chants, and masters them, it will be impossible for such a woman to acquire female attributes again, unless she takes on such attributes due to her own prayers. Śāriputra, there is no basis for that and no possibility for that to occur."

Śāriputra, when sons or daughters of good family hear the names of those blessed buddhas and remember, carry, read, teach, properly chant, and master them, it will be impossible for those sons or daughters of good family to experience any terrors from kings, thieves, fire, water, evil forces, nāgasyakṣasgandharvasdemigods, humans, nonhumans, or any other type of destruction, unless it is due to the forceful ripening of karma. Even then, they will have those experiences only minimally, not greatly.

Extracted from: The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra “The Eight Buddhas”Āryāṣṭa­buddhaka­nāma­mahāyāna­sūtra

All credits to 84000.co and their translators.

1 Comment
2024/11/17
17:28 UTC

5

Buddha-Name Recitation Series (20): Namo Jewel Sign Tathagata

“Moreover, in the past there arose in the world a Buddha named Jewel Sign Tathagata. If there are men and women who hear this Buddha’s name and give rise to a reverent mind, these people will attain arhatship before long."

[...]

"World-Honored One, all living beings in the present and future—be they devas or humans, men or women—as long as they remember a Buddha's name, they will attain measureless virtues. How much more so when they remember many [Buddhas’] names! These beings will gain great benefits at the time of birth and the time of death, and they will never fall into the lower realms.

“If a person is on the verge of death and his family members, even just one of them, recite a Buddha’s name clearly for the sick one’s sake, with the exception of the five great violations that lead to incessant torments, the ripened effects of the dying person’s other karma will be dissolved. The five great violations that lead to incessant torments are so extremely grave that the offender would pass through millions of kalpas without release.

Nevertheless, by virtue of other people reciting and meditating on the names of Buddhas for his sake when he is on the verge of death, [even the torments from] such offenses can be gradually dissolved, too. How much more so when living beings themselves recite and meditate on [the names of Buddhas]! They will gain measureless merit and dissolve measureless [torments of] offenses.”

—From Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, "Chapter Nine: Reciting the Names of Buddhas"

Namo Jewel Sign Tathagata
Namo Jewel Sign Tathagata
Namo Jewel Sign Tathagata

Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva
Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva
Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva

Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha

Link to the complete Ksitigarbha Sutra in English
Link to Khenpo Sodargye Rinpoche's incredible lecture notes on "Reciting the Names of Buddhas"

0 Comments
2024/11/17
02:38 UTC

8

Outline of the Tendai School: The Textual Curriculum

0 Comments
2024/11/16
03:48 UTC

3

Buddha-Name Recitation Series (19): Namo Array of Light Constantly Proclaiming Pure Gold and Space Buddha

“Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita, above here is a world system known as Splendor Arrayed with Immeasurable Qualities. There the thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha Array of Light Constantly Proclaiming Pure Gold and Space abides, alive and well. That eon is known as Attaining the Immeasurable. The faithful noble sons and daughters who remember the name of the blessed, thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha Array of Light Constantly Proclaiming Pure Gold and Space purify an immeasurable aggregate of discipline. They also purify an immeasurable aggregate of absorption, an immeasurable aggregate of insight, an immeasurable aggregate of liberation, and an immeasurable aggregate of liberated wisdom vision. They will also progress through the levels. They will attain speech that is worthy of being accepted. They will attain excellent eloquence free from hesitation. They will swiftly and fully awaken to unexcelled and perfect buddhahood. They will understand the symbols of letters and sounds. They will attain lofty castes and exalted lineages. They will attain the five superknowledges. They will remember their former lives. They will attain the eighteen unique qualities of the buddhas. Regarding this, it is said:

‘Those who remember the supreme name of this victor
Will attain perfect speech endowed with the eight aspects,
And they will never be reborn where there is no buddha.
Such individuals will awaken to buddhahood without hindrance.’ “

—From The Noble Great Vehicle Sūtra “The Questions of Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita”

Namo Array of Light Constantly Proclaiming Pure Gold and Space Buddha
Namo Array of Light Constantly Proclaiming Pure Gold and Space Buddha
Namo Array of Light Constantly Proclaiming Pure Gold and Space Buddha

Namo Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita Bodhisattva
Namo Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita Bodhisattva
Namo Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita Bodhisattva

Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha

Link to the Sutra (In this Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha details the inconceivable merits of reciting and remembering the names of the Buddhas of the ten directions. I highly recommend reading the entire Sutra from beginning to end at least once; it is truly beautiful)

1 Comment
2024/11/15
01:34 UTC

6

Buddha-Name Recitation Series (18): Namo Jewel Excellence Tathagata

“Moreover, in the past, as many kalpas ago as there are grains of sand in measureless, countless Ganges Rivers, there arose in the world a Buddha named Jewel Excellence Tathagata. If there are men and women who hear this Buddha’s name, they will never fall into the lower realms and will frequently be in the heavens and experience excellent, wonderful happiness."

[...]

"World-Honored One, all living beings in the present and future—be they devas or humans, men or women—as long as they remember a Buddha's name, they will attain measureless virtues. How much more so when they remember many [Buddhas’] names! These beings will gain great benefits at the time of birth and the time of death, and they will never fall into the lower realms.

“If a person is on the verge of death and his family members, even just one of them, recite a Buddha’s name clearly for the sick one’s sake, with the exception of the five great violations that lead to incessant torments, the ripened effects of the dying person’s other karma will be dissolved. The five great violations that lead to incessant torments are so extremely grave that the offender would pass through millions of kalpas without release.

Nevertheless, by virtue of other people reciting and meditating on the names of Buddhas for his sake when he is on the verge of death, [even the torments from] such offenses can be gradually dissolved, too. How much more so when living beings themselves recite and meditate on [the names of Buddhas]! They will gain measureless merit and dissolve measureless [torments of] offenses.”

—From Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, "Chapter Nine: Reciting the Names of Buddhas"

Namo Jewel Excellence Tathagata
Namo Jewel Excellence Tathagata
Namo Jewel Excellence Tathagata

Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva
Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva
Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva

Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha

Link to the complete Ksitigarbha Sutra in English
Link to Khenpo Sodargye Rinpoche's incredible lecture notes on "Reciting the Names of Buddhas"

P.S. I must once again apologize for missing a day. I neglected to post on account of poor time management and being busier than usual yesterday (but mostly poor time management).

0 Comments
2024/11/14
03:27 UTC

6

Master Renshan - Suffer grievances no more!

0 Comments
2024/11/12
13:40 UTC

4

Buddha-Name Recitation Series (17): Namo He Who Attained Awakening after Countless Millions of Eons Buddha

“Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita, to the northeast of here is a world system known as Transcending All Misery. There, the thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha He Who Attained Awakening after Countless Millions of Eons resides, alive and well. That eon is known as Array of Eloquence. The faithful noble sons and daughters who remember the name of the blessed, thus-gone, worthy, perfect Buddha He Who Attained Awakening after Countless Millions of Eons will, immediately in their next lives, attain the excellent eloquence of speech endowed with the sixty qualities, and they will attain the development of roots of virtue before eight hundred million buddhas. Regarding this, it is said:

‘Endowed with the excellent sixty qualities of speech,
As well as an understanding that is perfected,
They will attain the inconceivable merit
Of worshiping eighty million victors.’"

—From The Noble Great Vehicle Sūtra “The Questions of Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita”

Namo He Who Attained Awakening after Countless Millions of Eons Buddha
Namo He Who Attained Awakening after Countless Millions of Eons Buddha
Namo He Who Attained Awakening after Countless Millions of Eons Buddha

Namo Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita Bodhisattva
Namo Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita Bodhisattva
Namo Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita Bodhisattva

Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha

Link to the Sutra (In this incredible Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha details the inconceivable merits of reciting and remembering the names of the Buddhas of the ten directions.)

0 Comments
2024/11/12
03:40 UTC

7

To what degree is Huayan metaphysics is actually innovative?

Maybe the doctrine of total interpenetration is a unique reading of the passages from the Avatāmsaka Sūtra, but to my mind some of the ideas which Huayan stresses are mistakenly portrayed as being innovative. Isn’t the interdependency of phenomena due to their emptiness just saying explicitly what Yogācāra and Madhyamaka say implicitly?

6 Comments
2024/11/11
21:51 UTC

4

Buddha-Name Recitation Series (16): Namo Infinite Forms Tathagata

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, 'World Honored One, in the past, measureless asamkhyeya kalpas ago, there arose in the world a Buddha named Infinite Forms Tathagata. If there are men and women who hear this Buddha’s name and give rise to reverence momentarily, they will transcend forty kalpas of severe torments of samsara. How much more so when they sculpt and paint his image, make offerings, and sing his praises! These people will gain merit that is measureless and boundless.'"

[...]

"World-Honored One, all living beings in the present and future—be they devas or humans, men or women—as long as they remember a Buddha's name, they will attain measureless virtues. How much more so when they remember many [Buddhas’] names! These beings will gain great benefits at the time of birth and the time of death, and they will never fall into the lower realms.

“If a person is on the verge of death and his family members, even just one of them, recite a Buddha’s name clearly for the sick one’s sake, with the exception of the five great violations that lead to incessant torments, the ripened effects of the dying person’s other karma will be dissolved. The five great violations that lead to incessant torments are so extremely grave that the offender would pass through millions of kalpas without release.

Nevertheless, by virtue of other people reciting and meditating on the names of Buddhas for his sake when he is on the verge of death, [even the torments from] such offenses can be gradually dissolved, too. How much more so when living beings themselves recite and meditate on [the names of Buddhas]! They will gain measureless merit and dissolve measureless [torments of] offenses.”

—From Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, "Chapter Nine: Reciting the Names of Buddhas"

Namo Infinite Forms Tathagata
Namo Infinite Forms Tathagata
Namo Infinite Forms Tathagata

Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva
Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva
Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva-Mahasattva

Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha
Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha

0 Comments
2024/11/11
03:18 UTC

1

Master Chin Kung's teachings

  1. Even in the most harmonious marriages, karmic affinities from past lives determine how long two people stay together—10, 20, 30, 40 years—but eventually, they must part. After parting, will they meet again in the next life? Not necessarily! Why? People think and perceive things differently, so it is difficult for them to be reborn into the same world. In ancient society, such reunions were easier to believe in, as people were raised with moral and ethical education. Husbands remained loyal to their wives, and wives to their husbands, making it more likely for them to have a karmic connection in the next life. But today, this loyalty is rare. Divorce used to be almost unheard of; now, it happens so frequently that it's commonplace.

This reflects issues within the family structure. The family is the foundational unit of society, like cells in the human body; when basic units are damaged, society suffers, just as illness affects the body. Therefore, if we want a harmonious society and world, it is very difficult to achieve this without incorporating traditional moral and ethical education through teachings from Confucianism, Buddhism, and karmic understanding. Everyone should understand the Mahayana teachings, recognizing that “all phenomena are empty, without substance,” and live selflessly, thinking, speaking, and acting in alignment with natural virtues. This brings true value and elevates one’s spiritual essence. Harming others for personal gain will only lead to degradation and suffering in the three lower realms (hell, hungry ghosts, and animal realms). This is a reality!

  1. We should follow our daily morning and evening recitations, which include the *Four Great Vows. The first vow teaches us to cultivate the Bodhi mind, to strive for enlightenment, and to help sentient beings: “Sentient beings are innumerable; I vow to save them all.” With this vow, you live not just for yourself. Many people say, “Who am I suffering and working so hard for?” It’s a sad question. For whom are you really living? In the end, the wealth and efforts you amassed are left for others; nothing can be taken with you. For us, who follow the Buddha's teachings, we live meaningfully, serving the Dharma and helping sentient beings, making our lives worthwhile. We live to uphold the Buddha’s teachings and help all beings. If one lives for oneself, then it would be better to seek rebirth in the Pure Land sooner.

While this body can still serve others, we should do so without attachment, and without seeking recognition. “All forms are illusion!” Keep a clear, pure mind, detached from the mundane, living a life like the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. After making such a commitment, the first virtue is to overcome afflictions: “Afflictions are endless; I vow to overcome them.” The clearest example is to let go of fame, wealth, and sensory desires. Greed, lust, and fame are the five roots of hell; if we cling to even one, we cannot escape the cycle of rebirth. If we cling to all, even the Buddhas cannot pull us out. So, follow the guidance of the teacher, practicing to cut through afflictions and ingrained habits.

  1. We don’t need television or radio. Newspapers and magazines are unnecessary. Focus solely on the sutras. This way, your mind can be peaceful and pure. Without giving up attachment to material and worldly desires, achieving the spiritual path will be impossible. Dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to cultivating the path, refrain from worldly distractions, and chant Buddha’s name with a focused mind. Read sutras, chant Buddha’s name, and listen to Dharma teachings.
  2. If you truly wish to escape the cycle of six realms (gods, humans, asuras, hungry ghosts, animals, hells) and be reborn in the Pure Land, then immerse yourself in one practice. Fellow practitioners must remember this! In this life, focus on one sutra, like the Amitabha Sutra or the Infinite Life Sutra, and one phrase, "Amitabha Buddha," until your practice is effective.
  3. Nowadays, for those who recite the Buddha’s name, I advise spending several hours daily listening to Dharma teachings. Why? Without understanding the teachings, doubts arise, leading to afflictions and obstacles. Therefore, listen to the Dharma for four hours a day without interruption, and spend the rest of the time chanting. In this way, both understanding and practice are balanced, with practice as the main focus and understanding as support. This method is effective and stable. In both domestic and international Dharma centers, this approach is widely practiced.
  4. If we vow to repay the Buddha’s kindness and help all sentient beings understand the Dharma, we must first let go of the attachment to the self and always seek to benefit others. No matter the hardship, vow to never retreat, just like Amitabha Buddha’s original vows. As long as sentient beings benefit from the Dharma, especially the Pure Land teachings, any sacrifice is worthwhile.

(Ven. Master Chin Kung)

*Note: The Four Great Vows:

  1. Sentient beings are innumerable; I vow to save them all.
  2. Afflictions are endless; I vow to overcome them all.
  3. Dharma doors are boundless; I vow to learn them all.
  4. The Buddha’s path is supreme; I vow to realize it.
0 Comments
2024/11/10
15:12 UTC

Back To Top