é™æ€è¯ Readings For Silent Reflection
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万缘放下，
一念�起，
一心念佛，
一念得生。
With the ten thousand conditions let go,
with one thought [of ‘Amituofo’] upheld,
with [such] wholehearted mindfulness of Buddha,
in one thought[-moment] attain birth [in his Pure Land].
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It is not a matter about the Buddha understanding or not, as the impartial law of karma works naturally and impartially according to what we do.
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While the one doing wrong
creates negative karma in the present,
the one who is wronged
created negative karma in the past.
– Stonepeace | -
The very ignorant continue
to ignore their ignorance,
which harms them continually.
– Stonepeace
“Suppose, a very hot metal were lying on the ground, and one man knows that it is a hot metal, while the other man does not know. If the two men were both to take hold of the hot metal, whose hands would be burnt more?” “The hands of the man who does not know it, would be burnt more.”
“Like this, ignorant people who do evils without knowing it will not repent it. Therefore their demerit is greater. But the wise people who do evil know that it should not be done, so they repent their offence daily. Therefore their demerit becomes less.”21/3
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Mutual Giving in a Temple
By Venerable Master Hsing Yun
Devotees drinking a cup of tea or taking a meal in a temple would make some donations (donation is often called 'for adding oil and incense') because they do not want to take advantage of the temple. Some make donations for the sake of creating affinity since they consider it a rare opportunity to visit a temple. As it was said, “Money goes to the temple and bliss returns to the donor”. Making donation to a temple enables the donor to increase bliss and good conditions.
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When compassion is greater than greed,
it is easy to abstain from eating animals.
– Stonepeace -
Stonepeace
Question: Is it true that ‘to suffer is a blessing’ (å�ƒäº�是ç¦�)?
Answer: No. If ‘to suffer is a blessing’, the Buddha would not have given a single teaching on how to overcome suffering at all. Yet, his central messages are on how to transcend all suffering, so as to attain the True Happiness of complete enlightenment. If to suffer is a blessing, there would be no urge to practise compassion to help one another transcend suffering too. This too lacks wisdom. Lacking cultivation of compassion and wisdom thus, Buddhahood can never be realised. Romancing suffering is deluded and extreme asceticism too.
Also, as all suffer due to negative karma ripening, how can that be a blessing? While suffering is an expression of the clearing of negative karma, it is foolish to suffer on and on when one can simply walk away. Out of wisdom, one should protect oneself by taking a hand off a hot stove put upon. Also, it is cruel to let others inflict suffering onto you, who thus create negative karma for themselves, planting seeds for their future suffering . Out of compassion, whenever possible, they should be urged to stop. Not doing so when one can actually creates more negative karma from cold-hearted apathy on one’s part. -
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When honor comes, examine your mind,
lest a wall of arrogance block your view.
When trouble comes, examine your mind,
lest the fire of hatred consume your merits.
When your world is in chaos, examine your mind,
lest the torrent of worry drown your will.
When you are worried about gain and loss, examine your mind,
lest the winds of suspicion and jealousy blast your confidence. -
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