é™æ€è¯ Readings For Silent Reflection
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Today’s Challenge: Overcome Anger
“Of all forms of evil, there is none worse than anger.
A single moment of anger can be an enormous obstruction to growth.”
– Avatamsaka Sutra
The origins of anger
The Abhidharmakosa and the Vijnaptimatratasiddhi Sastra both say that anger is a condition in which the mind roils with trouble and cannot find peace because it has turned its back on wisdom and its claws against others. Anger comes in many forms: resentment, hatred, jealousy, cruelty, abuse, and taking delight in the misfortunes of others. Anger has many names and many forms, but essentially it is always caused by a deluded belief that the illusory self has lost control over something that is important to it.
The cure for anger
Anger is a form of energy. The most basic way to cure anger is to see it that way. Remove all labels from it and disentangle it from all stories or excuses about why it is there…Another way to control anger is to consider times in the past when you were angry. What do they matter now? Did they really matter then? After enough time has passed, recalling anger is like recalling the heat of a fire. There is a memory but no feeling.
Source: Being Good: Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Life by Venerable Master Hsing Yun -
A happy life lies in plain and simple food, not sumptuous fare.
A happy life lies in a network of friendship, not a blind and lonely quest.
A happy life lies in hard work, not relying on others.
A happy life lies in seizing the moment, not waiting to see what develops.
~~by Venerable Master Hsing Yun
��大家都能安�当下，拥有快�的人生。
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Remembering and Entrusting
We recite Namo Amitabha Buddha persistently because we “entrust our lives” totally to him, not because we happen to remember to recite. This “entrusting” naturally leads to unremitting recitations which cannot be achieved simply by remembering.
To give an example: A father and son who were long separated are now reunited. Once that happened, they are father and son forever. This blood relationship is a fact and does not rely only on their memory. Today, the son remembers that this elder is his father. He still remembers this tomorrow, and even for a lifetime. Every morning when he wakes up, his memory of yesterday lives again: This elderly person is my father.
If we did not entrust our lives to Amitabha Buddha, even if we remember to recite his name night and day, there does not exist an intimate relationship like that between the reunited father and son. And of course, we sometimes do forget to recite.
A person who entrusts his life to Amitabha Buddha is just like a down-and-out son who finally returns home to be with his father. He naturally thinks of the Buddha and is extremely grateful for the latter’s compassion and kindness. He sleeps like a log even if he does not remember the recitation while sleeping at night. The lineage masters of our school called this relationship “karmic intimacy.”
- Master Jingzong -
‘Happy’ or ‘Unhappy’
Some people never feel life’s pain. They are healthy, smart, rich, successful, and able to fulfill their desires without obstruction. They seem so enviable. They can only see others’ pain; they themselves are untouched by life’s suffering. How lucky and happy they are! Unfortunately, they might actually be very unlucky.
“Life is painful” is the fundamental truth revealed by the Buddha. This knowledge eventually comes to all, whether king or commoner. But there are some people who go through life blind to this basic reality. It is due to their ignorance that they are so benighted.
There are people not yet enlightened to the truth of birth and death, and who have not escaped the endless cycle of rebirth, who only believe that others are suffering, not themselves. This is a pathetic stance, caused by arrogance and short-sightedness.
There are people who feel safe and happy even when they are trapped in a burning house with billowing smoke. Others may be swallowed up by the fire, but they are, for now, spared by the flames. It is but a miserable and temporary fluke.
People do not panic until they are actually on fire and suffering terrible pain. They scream and cry wretchedly, but it’s useless. Too late do they bemoan their negligence.
There are countless people who are not as healthy, smart, rich and successful as others; who are trapped in agony. If they would take the truth of suffering as their starting point, they would realize deeply how painful samsaric life is. If they would aspire to rebirth in the Pure Land by reciting the name of Amitabha Buddha, and thus attain the highest perfection in Buddhism, their small misfortunes would turn into the great blessings of a happy and perfect life. No one else would be as lucky as they.
People who suffer pain now are relieved because they will receive Amitabha’s compassion;
People who feel miserable now are saved because they will receive Amitabha’s deliverance;
People who are humble now are honored because they will receive Amitabha’s blessing;
People who recite his name will be surrounded by the light of Amitabha Buddha.
- Master Jingzong -
“Don’t worry – When your physical body is sick don’t allow your mind also to be sick.” # Gautama Buddha
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Mindfulness confronts with the constant change and impermanence.
The change is in the nature of life and clinging to anything will lead you to suffering.
The person meditating develops the freedom to break the hold of habits.-------------------------------------------------------------
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Always recite "Nanmo Amituofo" _/|\_
愿我临欲命终時，尽除一切诸障�，
��彼佛阿弥陀，�得往生安�剎。
When my life ends,
May I be able to eliminate all obstacles and see Amitabha Buddha,
So I may instantly be reborn in the Land of Peace and Joy. -
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The setting sun teaches impermanence.
Clouds teach change.
Mountains teach grandeur.
Oceans teach infinity.
‪‪‪佛光山‬#星雲大師