International Bodhisattva Sangha by Syouko Liao

International Bodhisattva Sangha

Cultivate all good with the mind of non-attachment.

ecords of IBS To create a temple with simple and tranquil spiritual sittings for modern people living in the bustling world, International Bodhisattva Sangha (IBS) has transcended the traditional temple architecture and adopted a modern plain concrete architectural style. Though the dynamic movements of light and water, impermanence is teaching the subtle and profound Dharma of Dependent Origination through the natural passing of time. IBS is guiding everyone the way home to their pure original mind. Based on the understanding of Madhyamika (middle path), we strives to promote and teach that cultivation is living and cultivation is not apart from living. Furthermore, by assisting Buddhists to develop a right understanding of the Dharma and learn to contemplate the truth of nonduality in daily living, they will be able practice all good deeds with nonattachment and realize the Bodhisattva ideal of wisdom and compassion.

Lets walk in the Path of the Buddha

Abbot of IBS, Venerable Hueiguang Venerable Hueiguang was born in Taiwan. After graduating from the University of California at San Diego in 1994, he vows to practice the Dharma and propagate the noble teachings for the benefit of all sentient beings. He left the pursuance in medicine for a life of a Buddhist monk under Venerable Master Hsing Yun of Fo Guang Shan (FGS) in Taiwan.

He was formally trained in the FGS Ts’ung Lin

▲ 1997, visit Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy.

University for monks and also served as the Dean of the Male Buddhist College in FGS for over ten years. In December 25 of 2008, Venerable Hueiguang recieved Dharma transmission from Venerable Master Ben Huan at Hongfa Temple in Shenzhen, China, as the 45th generation

▲ 1998, visit Taroko Gorge with Ven. Master Hsing Yun in Taiwan.

Patriarch of the Linchi Ch'an School.

▲ 1998, conducting the Triple Platform Ordination in Bodhgaya, India.

Presently, Venerable Hueiguang is the Abbot of IBS in Taiwan and USA and also the guiding master of Bodhisattva Dharma Pitaka Association. The master not only specialized

▲ 2009, receiving Dharma teachings from Ven. Master Ben Huan in Shenzhen, China.

in the Buddhist study of Madhyamika but also the Yogacara philosophy. Moreover, he is able to employ modern communicational tool such as worldwide web to teach the Dharma in English. With many skillful means, he expounds the teachings to guide people in their learning of Buddhism. In

▲ 2008, Ven. Master Ben Huan showing his hand copied sutra in blood.

giving lectures, the Venerable has taught Mula-Madhyamakakarika, Maha-Prajna-Paramita Sastra, Diamond Sutra, Verses Delineating the Eight Consciousnesses, and The Thirty Verses on Consciousness Only. 5

▲ 2006, offering an ancient copy of the Diamond Sutra to H.H. Karmapa in India.

eturning to the home of Bodhisattva

We are all solitary travelers in the long journey of life. Constantly, people are searching for the exit and the entrance to life. However, we missed the path that leads home again and again.

Wishing to return home, this is our original vow from the beginningless time. In the middle of the journey, let us not miss the path again.

In front of the gate, lighting a lamp of infinite illumination. With the light of prajna, darkness is eradicated. By using the Dharma water of compassion, the defilements are cleansed.

Entering the Gate of Emptiness, We are home!

ilgrimage to the mountain of life When we enter the mountain gate, It gives life another chance. Follow the foot prints of Dharma. In moments of coming and going, be your own master wherever you are, then where you stand is the Truth.

In front of the Truth, one must remember to humble oneself. Bowing your head, When passing under the peach tree. Every steps you take, contemplate conditional arising and ceasing of all.

一座生命的 Sit on the stone under the old plum tree. In the pond, shining light and floating clouds have filled it. In the traveler’s heart, the sounds of the slow breeze and babbling water are heard.

The prajna wisdom’s Dharma song sings thusly: All dharmas are impermanent, suffering, empty, and no-self.

Since the Bodhisattva realizes that all existence are illusive, to have compassion for all beings, he creates the water-moon temple of cultivation and conducts the sky-flower works of the Buddha.

With the mind as the meditation mat, I take refuge in the Buddha and learn to self-awaken in life. I take refuge in the Dharma and follow the sail of Truth. I take refuge in the Sangha and attain a living of liberation and purity.

The simple concrete wall without any modification truthfully records all the events of life. Similarly, every moment in living, we must learn to face them directly. Because of its simplicity, it is abundant.

amboo shadows sweep the stairs, yet not a mote of dust is stirred.

oonbeams pierce to the bottom of the pool, yet in the water not a trace remains. Everyday in the garden of life, there are new fallen leaves. Realize that the defilements are the seeds of Enlightenment.

The Buddha Path is not far. The three incalculable eons of practice begins with a footstep. With the mind of nonattachment, cultivate all good. To liberate all sentient beings, I vow to attain Buddhahood.

Sentient beings are Bodhisattvaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pure land. When leaving the temple gate, treasure the once in a lifetime encounter.

Maha Prajnaparamita The Great Wisdom Perfection of Life

eat the great Dharma drum and uphold the right Dharma teachings. 20

The

ultivations of the odhisattva

At the time the Blessed One told all the bhiksus: â&#x20AC;&#x153;You should illuminate the Path by yourself, let the Dharma illuminate the Path and do not allow others to illuminate the Path. You should take refuge in yourself, take refuge in the Dharma and do not take refuge in others.â&#x20AC;?

A Buddhist practitioner should always be mindful and employ the Dharma as oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light in the Path.

o not be afraid of defilements; “Do not be afraid of defilements; fear only not being mindful”—this should be everyone’s lifelong work and is what we should all strive for. Whenever we encounter events and conditions that give rise to mental defilements, not only should we be mindful of them but we should also diligently cultivate ourselves to overcome the inherent obstacles. The method by which we cultivate ourselves is to gradually meditate on the defilements until the mind becomes purified and steadily progresses toward perfection. We must embrace this process and make a wholehearted effort to allow it to transpire. People are often impatient. They wish to attain perfection instantaneously and seldom consciously exert themselves to experience the processes in between. In doing so, they readily experience setbacks. In general, people are reluctant to acknowledge their imperfections. As a result, when they discover that there are many faults and

ear only not being mindful deficiencies in their lives, the setbacks become more pronounced and can even be magnified. They are likely to forgo cultivation with the misconception that striving for perfection would be unattainable. Similarly, upholding the precepts is comparable in many ways. Few of us truly abide by the pure precepts taught by the Buddha due to all of the defilements that we innately possess. The only one who has perfected the practice of upholding the precepts is the Buddha himself. For us sentient beings, we are merely trying to learn how to uphold the precepts in a virtuous manner. If we have the desire to genuinely perfect this practice, there is a process by which we can achieve this lofty goal. We must first vow to cultivate this process with utmost diligence. In turn, we will gradually perceive the advancements and behold the benefits. Whenever we become cognizant of issues, we should consciously exert our efforts to cultivate it. This is the true essence of the phrase â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do not be afraid of defilements; fear only not being mindful.â&#x20AC;?

ave right view of Dependant Origination ealize there is no difference between emptiness and existence. Sincerely I prostrate, with the Dharma realms of the ten directions in one mind. Light a lamp to illuminate the darkness of ignorance. With the incense of the mind, the entire Dharma realms are perfumed. Sentient and non-sentient beings all possess the perfect Buddha nature.

The Disciplines Taught by the Buddha

uddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Joyful Day aking offerings to the Buddha and Sangha May the great golden Garuda, the hungry ghosts of the wilderness, Raksasa and Hariti receive this offering of nectar with satisfaction.

Five Contemplation at Meal 1. I contemplate how much positive potential I have accumulated in order to receive this food given by others. 2. I contemplate my practice, constantly trying to improve it. 3. I contemplate my mind, cautiously guarding it from wrongdoing, greed, and other defilements. 4. I contemplate this food, treating it as wondrous medicine to nourish my body. 5. I contemplate the aim of Buddhahood, accepting and consuming this food in order to accomplish it. The Buddha teaches the Disciples: While eating, observe the five Contemplations! A confused mind and talk, renders the Faithful's Offerings indigestible. Therefore while receiving food, all shall be mindful. Then one may receive this offering.

The Disciplines Taught by the Buddha

The Lay Precept Ordination for hree Refuge and

ive Precepts

The precepts are the foundation for the supreme Bodhi, One must uphold them with wholehearted effort.

2006, Ven. Hueiguang presided the Three Refuge and Five Precepts Ceremony under the Bodhi tree where Buddha became enlightened in India.

The Buddha has taught the Dharma for 45 years. When he was about to enter parinirvana, he taught this last teachings to the disciples who were in great distress, “All of you, bhiksus! After I entered parinirvana, you shall uphold the pratimoksa (the body of precepts) like gaining light in darkness and receiving treasures in poverty. You shall recognize it as your master, like I am with you in the world!”

• A person who upholds the precepts will always gain others’ respect and offerings. • In the mind of this practitioner, there is happiness without any regrets. • He lives in abundance with food and clothing. • When passing to next life, he will gain rebirth in the heavens. • Later, he will also attain supreme enlightenment. • For a person who practice the precepts, there is nothing that he is unable to attain. • For a person who transgress the precepts will lose all of his benefits.

The Disciplines Taught by the Buddha

The

ight Precepts Observance Experience a day of pure monastic living

The Buddha taught the eight-precepts to allow lay people have an opportunity to learn the life of a monastic. Lay people, who have very limited time but are eager to experience life in a monastery, can leave behind their family life and social chores for one day and a night to stay in the monastery observing the eight precepts which nurture the wholesome foundations for liberation.

• I undertake the precept to abstain from taking life. • I undertake the precept to abstain from taking what is not given. • I undertake the precept to abstain from all sexual conducts. • I undertake the precept to abstain from false speech. • I undertake the precept to abstain from intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness. • I undertake the precept to abstain from dancing, singing, playing music, attending entertainment performances, using perfumes, wearing garlands and cosmetics. • I undertake the precept to abstain from the use of high and large luxurious seats and beds. • I undertake the precept to abstain from eating at improper times. • I undertake this set of eight precepts May all sentient beings encounter this teaching, With Manjusri always being the spiritual friend. May all expeditiously obtain skillful Prajna wisdom And swiftly realize the Supreme Enlightenment.

The Disciplines Taught by the Buddha

hree Sessions of

Buddha Recitation Dharma Function

This auspicious Pure Land practice

Amitabha Buddha’s great vow of

was expounded by the Ch’an master

compassion to bring sentient beings

Zhongfeng Mingben (1263-1323

to the Pure Land, the deceased

C.E.), who was the national preceptor

are advised to take rebirth in the

to the emperor of Yuan Dynasty in

Sukhavati, the land of Ultimate Bliss,

China. In his teachings, practitioners

and forever renounce the boundless

are advised to recite Amitabha

sea of samsara. Therefore, this

Buddha’s name for empowerment

Dharma function may bring benefits

and liberation. Moreover, relying on

to both living and deceased.

Since I have presently took rebirth in the human realm and separated myself from the eight difficulties, I have attained that which is difficult to achieve. I should vow to cultivate with great compassion. With skillful means, I shall learn all auspicious Dharma. Cease all evil and cultivate all good for the benefit of all sentient beings.

The Disciplines Taught by the Buddha

mperor Liang Jeweled Repentance Ceremony Why should a Buddhist practitioner cultivating the path candidly repent past transgressions? Karmic deeds are like plants with roots. If the roots are bared and exposed on the ground, the plant will die. However, if it is covered and buried, the plant will grow. Therefore, roots of wholesome deeds should be covered and concealed, so that all good may proliferate. On the other hand, roots of evil deeds should be revealed and exposed, so that all evil may cease.

This repentance teaches practitioners to give rise to supreme bodhicitta to attain complete enlightenment in order to benefit all sentient beings. With the Dharma water of wisdom and compassion able to purify oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transgressions, cultivators should candidly repent. Emperor Liang (464-549 C.E.) initiated this ceremony approximately 1500 years ago. His wife, Chi Hui, died at age of thirty after leading a life marked by jealousy and anger. After her death, she turned into a giant snake and purgatory. She came to recognize that she needed prayers from the Sangha to expiate her negative karma and liberate her from the lower realms. Through great generosity, Emperor Liang requested Ch'an Master Bao Zhi and other high monastics to compose ten chapters of the repentance. As a result of performing this repentance ceremony, his wife was indeed released from her suffering.

lowly Walk and Arrive Quickly, Safety is Number One “Do not hastily react”—it is essential to clearly comprehend this phrase that one should never act with haste. A Chinese proverb states, “He who cannot play the fool is not a wise man.” In essence, we must learn humility and not act with shrewd arrogance and haughtiness. Some people in this world can be quite clever and are apt to habitually react towards matters in a rather impulsive manner, which is a root cause for the unceasing cycle of rebirth. When we begin to learn and practice the Dharma, we must allow our reactions to slow down and be cognizant of our actions until the mind becomes serene with clarity. The more we vividly understand our minds, the more we will become our own masters. In general, we have a natural tendency to merely react towards thoughts and not mastering the mind. In order to master our minds, it is imperative that we diligently practice being observant and slowing down our reactions, which are keys to cultivation. If a practitioner succeeds in this endeavor, others will feel a sense of serenity and purity within that person. At the same time, the practitioner will also manifest compassion and wisdom from this cultivation. Hence, all Buddhists should strive to “slowly walk and arrive quickly,” but do not hurry since “safety is number one.”

harma Propagation in America The International Bodhisattva Sangha (IBS) was founded by Venerable Hueiguang to promote Buddhist teachings and meditation in the United States. It was filed and incorporated in California as of July 27, 2004. IBS has been officially recognized as a non-profit religious organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code attaining tax-exemption status from the United States Revenue Service on November 7th, 2006.

▲ Officers of IBS (from left to right): Shirley Tam, Ven. Xian Zhong, Ven. Hueiguang & Daniel Tam.

Below are the objectives set forth by IBS: Retreat Program

Study and Lecture

Emphasis is on the development of specific

Primary goal is to diversify methods and

disciplines within the Buddhist study. The

various routes of exposure to the Buddhist

qualified instructor will provide adequate

teachings that otherwise are limited to

venues for an uninterrupted environment

individual studies. These sessions include

conducive to engaging in intense concentration

formal teaching sessions, commentaries,

and focus.

and exchanges of philosophies facilitated by qualified experts within their respective fields. There are no participant qualification restrictions. Anyone who wishes to expand his or her knowledge of Buddhism is welcomed. The sessions will be focused on topic discussions with durations not to exceed one month at a time.

▲ Dharma talk at Lakeside, CA.

Religious Ceremonies

Religious Literature

Religious rituals can be classified into two

The literatures provide additional access to

general types. The first one deepens faith

information and knowledge insights. These

through consistent exposure and the other

include, but are not limited to, printing of

recognizes and extols the accomplishments

existing scriptures, texts, commentaries, and

and values established by the Buddha and

chanting booklets. They are the primary

Bodhisattvas. These activities are routinely

means of communication and dissemination

performed by monastic personnel.

of the Buddha’s teachings. The selected activity can be initiated or proposed by anyone with the desire and aspiration to spread the Dharma.

▲ Celebration of Buddha's birthday in San Diego Buddhist community.

▲ Silent walking meditation in the park.

▲ Dharma talk by Ven. Xian Zhong.

Sponsorship

Counseling

Sponsorship will be granted to those who

This represents the support portion of the

demonstrate the capacity for propagating

Buddhist study. The people who take the

the Buddhist philosophy. They should be

refuge and five precepts will be available

striving for the continuation of cultivation

to provide the stability and the depths

and learning, which are attributes ideal for

of understanding capable of fostering

those on the path to becoming a mentor.

appreciation and application to those who wish to study the Buddhist philosophies.

▲ Giving meditation guidance to a group in Mira Mesa.

▲ Visiting a Buddhist suffering from illness in the hospital.

Public Services Three of the most established volunteer

concept of non-violence. The number of

programs can be found at the Calipatria

participating locations will be increased as

State Prison, the Pleasant Valley State

per request by the state government. This

Prison and Chuckawalla Valley State Prison

program began in 1995 and has been adopted

in California. Buddhist representatives,

and considered by IBS as being one of most

including ordained individuals, are present

essential programs within the organization.

to provide religious literature, studies, and

Under Venerable Xian Zhong’s guidance,

instructions to enable inmates to engage

IBS gained permission to conduct a three

in ritual activities. These services offer

days and three nights meditation retreat at the

opportunities for inmates to study and

maximum security prison in Calipatria. This

understand the teachings through cultivation

was considered unprecedented in that it was

of their inner qualities during incarceration.

the first time any party was granted approval

The aim is to decrease return rate by invoking

to hold such activities in the California state

their abilities to learn and assimilate the

prison system.

▲ Ven. Xian Zhong teaching meditation to a group in Ramona Julian Academy of Dance at Ramona, CA.

Monastic Training Program Monastic programs are designed to train

enforce future educations of Buddhism by

and teach the path of Buddhahood for

maintaining a level of cultivation appropriate

ordained individuals. The program seeks to

for guiding others on the right path.

Who Is This Monk From IBS? Hello, my name is Xian Zhong. I am the very first disciple of Venerable Master Hueiguang (The Abbot and President of the International Bodhisattva Sangha) and am currently presiding as the Chief Executive ▲ 2004, Venerable Master Hueiguang presiding the tonsure ceremony.

Officer of IBS. I was born in Ladakh, India to a Buddhist family. During my childhood

upbringing, I did not receive much of an opportunity to learn about the Dharma. It was only after completion of my junior college in India that I started to learn about Buddhism. I went to the Mahabodhi Temple in Bangalore where I studied Buddhism, yoga and meditation. I went to Taiwan in 2001 and studied Buddhism in Chinese under the guidance and tutelage of Venerable Master Hueiguang. His teaching was so profound that it eventually led to my decision to follow in his footsteps in becoming a monastic. I was officially ordained as a Buddhist monk in 2004. After my ordination, Venerable Master Hueiguang sent me back to Nepal for further education and training of Tibetan Buddhism, yoga, and mediation. Due to the popularity and hence expansion of the prison visitation program in California, Master Hueiguang decided to send me to the United States in 2007. I came to the US in

▲ Ven. Hueiguang & Ven. Xian Zhong visiting Calipatria State Prison, CA.

October 2007. After just three months, I started to become more involved with the prison visitation program with Danny and Shirley Tam, who have been running the program for over 15 years. After a few visits to the prison, I gradually ascertained what type of teachings was most effective and beneficial for the inmates. I realized 43

▲ Ven. Xian Zhong & Daniel Tam visiting Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, CA.

that they strongly needed help from both a physical and mental standpoint. In the beginning, I offered them the basic teachings of the Buddha including the life of the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, Cause and Condition, the 10 Meritorious Deeds, the Five Precepts, the 12 Links of Dependent Origination, and â&#x2013;˛ Ven. Xian Zhong visiting Prof. Lewis Lancaster, a renowned Buddhist scholar from UC, Berkeley.

the Six Perfections.

I frequently encouraged them to initiate meditation practices. One such way was to teach them yoga and meditation in order to calm their minds, which was particularly important especially during lock downs when they were confined in very small areas without being able to engage in any sort of physical activities for twenty four consecutive hours. I observed how the overcrowded situation within the prison walls could readily lead to potential violence, physical abuse, and hatred. Hoping to ameliorate the situation, I decided that an effective method was to introduce a meditation retreat to the inmates since I knew firsthand that such retreats had been very successful with the prisons in India.

IBS officers visiting Pleasant Valley State Prison, CA.

â&#x2013;˛ Ven. Hueiguang at a fund-raising dinner for the prison visitation program.

With the help of Chaplain Charles Richey at the Calipatria State Prison and also upon the request of the inmates, IBS submitted an application to the warden of Calipatria State Prison requesting permission to conduct a three-day, two-evening meditation retreat event for the inmates regardless of their religious background. It was a very long and arduous process as a result of the huge turnout in addition to having to abide by prison rules and policies such as the requirement to have all inmate returned to their prison cells by 4pm. It required a lot of arrangements and coordination on both the part of the correction officers and the sponsoring chaplains. Fortunately, IBS was eventually granted approval by the Warden. The meditation retreat was the very first one of its kind to be carried out in any prisons within the state of California. After the meditation retreat, we received admirable recognition and feedback from all those who were involved including the chaplain, correction officers, and the inmates. Ever since that one single event, we started to have more inmates from other religious faiths participating in our monthly Buddhist group services. They displayed their appreciations, shared their feelings, and also sincerely expressed that the retreat had really altered and improved their daily lives. Hearing that brought so much joy and happiness to me in such a way that I felt extremely fortunate and tremendous gratification in being able to help those in need. I sensed that I had accomplished one of many missions that I had been sent to do and I looked forward to many more to come. â&#x2013;˛ Ven. Hueiguang, Ven. Xian Zhong and Daniel Tam visiting Calipatria State Prison, CA.

hat Is Meditation? Meditation is a method for acquainting our mind with virtue. The more familiar our mind is with virtue, the calmer and more peaceful it becomes. When our mind is peaceful we are free from worries and mental discomfort, and we experience true happiness. If we train our mind to become peaceful we will be happy all the time, even in the most adverse conditions. But if our mind is not peaceful, even if we have the most pleasant external conditions we will not be happy. Therefore it is important to train our mind through meditation. An ordinary person may consider meditation as a worship or prayer. But it is not so. Meditation means awareness. Whatever you do with awareness is meditation. "Watching your breath" is meditation; listening to the birds is meditation, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we can see many different kinds of meditation. Such as Yoga Meditation, Zen Meditation, Mindfulness Meditation, Ceasing thoughts Meditation, Anapana (focus on breathing) Meditation, Vipassana ( Insight) Meditation, Metta (Loving-Kindness) Meditation, Karuna (Compassion) Meditation, Tea Meditation etc. As long as these activities are free from any other distraction to the mind, it is an effective Meditation. Meditation is not a technique but a way of life. Meditation means a cessation of the thought process. It describes a state of consciousness while the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns. The observer (one who is doing meditation) realizes that all the activities of the mind are reduced to one. A Tibetan Lama was being monitored on a brain scan machine by a scientist wishing to test physiological functions during deep meditation. The scientist said - "Very good Sir. The machine shows that you are able 46

to go very deep in brain relaxation, and that validates your meditation". "No", said the Lama, "This (pointing to his brain) validates the machine!". We are not only learning about the knowledge of meditation but also need to practice it in our daily life so that we will truly understand the beneficial of meditation.

Benefits From Meditation • Stress relief • Increased mind strength • More energy and better sleep

▲ Ven. Xian Zhong guiding a meditation in Surya Inc. at Carlsbad, CA.

I , Ve n e r a b l e X i a n Z h o n g w a s ordained as a Buddhist monk under Ve n e r a b l e M a s t e r H u e i g u a n g o f International Budhisattva Sangha at Taiwan in 2004. I practiced meditation under the

• Better circulation and complexion

guidance of my Master, Venerable Master

• Migraine and headache relief

Sanghasena , Choje Lama Phuntsog

• Healthier Organs

Rimpoche( the founder of Karma Lekshy

• Improved concentration and brain function

Ling Higher Buddhist Institute in Nepal)

• Feel inner peace and serenity

since 1999. I am practicing meditation of

• It lowers oxygen consumption

Theravada tradition, Tibetan tradition as

• It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.

well as Chinese Mahayana tradition. With

• Increases exercise tolerance in heart patients

all my meditation practice background, I

• Leads to a deeper level of relaxation

wish to pass on my learning to the general

• Good for people with high blood pressure as it brings the B.P. to normal.

teaching meditation at the California State

public of United States. I have been Prisons since January 2008 and I can see the benefits of meditation reflecting on the inmates who find their inner peace in a very harsh environment. I wish I can offer myself to the people who want to learn about the meditation.

BENEFITS FROM MEDITATION

â&#x2013;˛ The gate to the Bodhimandha of Manjusri in Mt. Wutai of Shanxi Province, China.

ourney in the Dharma Realms Paying homage to the bodhimandha of Manjusri Learning the great vows of Manjusri Bodhisattva Maharatnakuta Sutra Manjusri addressed the Buddha, saying, “Hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of myriads of kalpas ago, I vowed: ‘If all the future Tathagatas in countless Buddha-lands in the ten directions, whom I see with my unhindered deva-eye, are not persuaded by me to engender bodhicitta or taught by me to cultivate giving, discipline, patience, vigor, meditation, and wisdom and to attain supreme enlightenment, I shall not attain bodhi. Only after the fulfillment of this vow shall I attain supreme enlightenment.’”

The gate to Nanhua Temple where Sixth Pratriach Huineng and Ch'an Master Hsu Yun taught the Dharma in Guangdong Province, China.

Bodhi is no tree

Nor standing mirror bright;

Since all is originally empty, Where can the dust alight?

What is Ch'an? • A special transmission outside the scriptures; • No dependence upon words and letters; • Direct pointing to the human mind; • Seeing into one's own nature and attaining Buddhahood.

Ch’an Mater Hsu Yun was the most influential Ch’an master in the modern Chinese history. He rendered teaching on the precepts, sutras, meditation and restored old temples until the age of one hundred and twenty. 50

The ordinary person is a Buddha. Vexation is bodhi. One moment with a deluded mind you are an ordinary person; the next moment with the mind enlightened you are a Buddha. Clinging to sense-objects this moment is vexation; detaching oneself the next moment is bodhi. What is no-mind? To see all things without attachment and defilement is no-mind. When we use it, the mind is everywhere, yet without abiding anywhere.

Hongfa Temple where Venerable Master Ben Huan preside in Shenzhen, China.

harma Transmission In Chinese Ch’an Buddhism, the “Dharma transmission” or “transmission of mind seal” is a formal confirmation of a disciple's awakening from the master. After the confirmation, the disciple becomes an heir to the master’s teachings. This procedure establishes the disciple as a Ch’an master in his own right and successor in an unbroken lineage of masters, a Dharma lineage that traces all the way back to the Buddha himself. The authentic lineage is to insure that the Buddha’s original teaching is preserved and transmitted. On December 25th of 2008, Venerable Hueiguang received the Dharma transmission from Venerable Master Ben Huan, making him the 45th generation lineage holder of the Linchi sect of Ch’an Buddhism. The ceremony took place at Hongfa Temple in Shenzhen, China. During the ceremony, Venerable Master Ben Huan taught Venerable Hueiguang that “as a disciple of the Buddha, you should diligently cultivate to continue the Buddha’s lineage and uphold the wisdom of the Dharma to benefit all sentient beings. This is not an easy mission. Therefore, you must honor this sacred practice with utmost sincerity.”

â&#x2013;˛ Hand written Ch'an verse given to Ven. Hueiguang by Ven. Master Ben Huan, who is 102 years old.

roup Cultivation Generates Great Power There are times when people are unable to generate the power and capacity to further progress in their practice. At such a roadblock, it is paramount that we seek the aid of the Sangha community for support and guidance. In this type of setting, practitioners can benefit immensely from the empowerment of group cultivation. At home in our own isolated space, the empowerment effect is non-existent since we can only rely upon ourselves. Only within an environment of group cultivation can one realize this kind of propitious effect. In Buddhism, there is a saying that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;One rather sleeps in a big temple and not cultivate in a small shrine.â&#x20AC;? In a great Buddhist temple, there is a large Buddhist community presence all practicing together in harmonious unison. The ambient surrounding is conducive to providing the motivation for all to practice. On the other hand, within a small shrine, people do whatever they please with their thoughts being easily diverted. For

some, motivation is essential to maintaining their ongoing practice. In a temple environment, activities are more regimented and formal in which the schedule is fixed in advance. During a typical temple chanting ceremony, it begins with the striking of the wooden board to signify that it is time for practitioners to congregate. There may be times when an absentee will prompt others to search for that person. In contrast, if one chants alone, there can be numerous distractions including random thoughts and lingering matters that can easily cause one to forsake practicing and to abandon cultivation altogether. For this reason, it is advantageous for practitioners to chant in the presence of a large Sangha within a group setting in order to reap the benefits of the great empowerment effect.

Promotion for Reprinting the Mahaprajna Paramita Sutra

Light a bright wisdom lamp for the world A lamp may illuminate the thousand year darkness; The wisdom may eliminate the ten thousand year ignorance. The Origination of Bodhisattva Dharma Pitaka Association (BDPA) In order to promote the circulation and the study of Mahayana Buddhist literature and educate people on the spiritual practice of the Bodhisattva, BDPA is established as a sub-branch of IBS. Through BDPA, we hope to assist Buddhists develop right understanding of the Dharma and realize the teachings of lovingkindness, compassion, joy and equanimity in daily living to enlighten ourselves and others. With the perfection of this bodhicitta vow, we wish to utilize the Dharma to guard the Dharma so that the lamp of the world does not extinguish and the Dharma wheel everlastingly turns. 56

http://www.ibs.tw e-mail :zhongibs@hotmail.com 地址: 412臺中縣大里市永隆路147號電話: 04-24079920 傳真: 04-24072469 12584 Sora Way, San Diego, CA 92129 USA Tel:1-619-920-2828 Fax:1-858-484-1889