Category: Buddhist Sutra

The Meaning and Merits of “Life Release”

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Embracing Compassion: The Day of Releasing Lives and the Teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

The practice of life release originates from Mahayana Buddhist scriptures and has been widely practiced in mainland China, Tibet, and also spread to Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and neighboring regions. The act of life release is rooted in the compassionate principle of equality among all beings and the karmic understanding of the cycle of birth and death. As the saying goes, “If you take half a pound from others, you will have to repay eight ounces.” Abstaining from killing while also practicing life release brings even greater merit, and there are countless historical accounts of miraculous responses and blessings resulting from such acts.

In Volume 4 of the Miscellaneous Treasures Sutra, there is a story about a novice monk and his teacher. The teacher foresaw that the novice monk would pass away within seven days and advised him to return to his family home, asking him to come back after seven days, without explaining why.

On his way home, the novice monk came across a broken pond, where water was flooding an anthill.

The ants were frantically trying to escape, but their speed was no match for the rushing water. Seeing that countless ants were about to drown, the novice monk used his robe to carry soil and blocked the breach in the pond, saving all the ants.

After seven days, the novice monk returned to his teacher. The teacher, upon seeing him alive, was astonished and asked what had happened during those days. Mistakenly thinking he was being accused of wrongdoing, the novice monk fearfully replied that he had done nothing. The teacher, being an Arhat, used his divine vision and discovered that the novice monk had performed a small yet significant act of kindness by saving the ants from drowning.

This single compassionate act altered the novice monk’s karmic fate, extending his lifespan and allowing him to live a long life until his natural passing.

The Profound Teachings Behind Life Release

The practice of releasing lives is deeply rooted in Buddhist scriptures:

  • The Chapter on the Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra states:
    “Living beings cherish their lives above all, and Buddhas cherish living beings above all. To save the lives of living beings is to fulfill the heartfelt wishes of the Buddhas.”
  • The Brahma Net Sutra on the Bodhisattva Precepts states: “If a disciple of the Buddha practices life release out of compassion, they should regard all men as their fathers and all women as their mothers, for in every life, they are born through them. Therefore, all beings in the six realms are like one’s own parents. To kill and eat them is akin to killing one’s parents or oneself. When witnessing the slaughter of animals, one should strive to protect and relieve them from their suffering. Furthermore, one should teach and explain the Bodhisattva Precepts, guiding and saving all sentient beings.”
  • The Sutra on Distinguishing the Origin of Good and Evil reveals:
    “The Buddha said: In this world, if one possesses a compassionate heart and refrains from killing, they will gain five blessings: longevity, physical well-being, freedom from harm, rebirth in the heavens, and a long life when returning to the human world. Those who live to a hundred years today owe it to their abstention from killing in past lives.”

These teachings emphasize that compassion is both a passive and active virtue. While refraining from killing is essential, taking proactive steps to save lives embodies the true spirit of Buddhist teachings.

October 29 marks the Day of Releasing Lives, a profound observance dedicated to the protection and liberation of living beings. This day calls for the nurturing of compassion, the accumulation of virtue, and the cultivation of good karma. Initiated in 2009 by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, this practice symbolizes an enduring commitment to compassion and liberation. Following a major Buddhist event, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III designated this day as a global occasion for the compassionate release of captive lives, inspiring a tradition now embraced worldwide.

The 2024 Life Release Event: A Global Act of Compassion

This year, the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Culture and Art Museum, in collaboration with the World Buddhism Association Headquarters, hosted a commemorative Dharma Assembly in Marina Del Rey, California. The event brought together esteemed holy gurus, eminent monks, and devout Buddhists from around the world.

Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lee | Vice President of World Buddhism Association Headquarters, Jiaozun Zhengda, presided over the Dharma Assembly on the Buddha-Stipulated Day of Releasing Lives.

The gathering featured the release of thousands of fish back into the ocean, accompanied by the recitation of the Heart Sutra. Jiaozun Zhengda, Vice President of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters, led the prayers and delivered an inspiring address on the significance of the occasion. She emphasized the need for ongoing acts of compassion and the responsibility to protect living beings wherever and whenever they face suffering.

Jiaozun Zhengda explained that the practice of releasing lives arises naturally from the precept of refraining from killing. While refraining from harm is virtuous, actively saving lives elevates compassion to its highest form. This principle is at the heart of the teachings of Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and Namo Shakyamuni Buddha.

Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lee | Hundreds of Buddhists from all over the world attended the Dharma Assembly of Releasing Lives.

Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lee | Participants released captive fish into the ocean

Participants shared profound reflections on the event. Watching the fish swim freely into the ocean became a moving symbol of resilience, freedom, and the boundless compassion of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. For many, this practice reaffirmed their vows to live with kindness, respect all life, and emulate the selflessness of the Buddhas.

The Day of Releasing Lives is more than a symbolic gesture. It is a reminder that compassion knows no boundaries of time or space. Through the release of captive lives, Buddhists actively demonstrate their commitment to fostering a world of harmony and peace.

A Global Call for Compassion

As we observe the Day of Releasing Lives, let us remember that every act of compassion matters. By choosing to release lives, we contribute to a legacy of kindness that transforms our world. May this day inspire all of us to nurture compassion, protect life, and cultivate peace for the benefit of all beings.

For more information about the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Culture and Art Museum and their compassionate initiatives, please visit https://www.wbahq.org/.

Link: https://peacelilysite.com/2024/11/07/the-meaning-and-merits-of-life-release/

Source: https://www.wbahq.org/reports-by-news-media/rm20241105/

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The Compassionate Vows of the Medicine Buddha: A Path to Health, Harmony, and Happiness

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Source: Luobenkun Art museum

On the 29th day of the ninth lunar month, Buddhist disciples worldwide honor the birthday of Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, known as the Medicine Buddha or the Great Medicine King. He is also referred to as the Buddha of Twelve Great Vows, embodying deep compassion and healing. Presiding over the Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli Light in the East, the Medicine Buddha has inspired countless practitioners with his transformative teachings and boundless compassion.

Buddhist communities celebrate this sacred day with ceremonies, reciting the Medicine Buddha Sutra, learning from his teachings, and making offerings. The Medicine Buddha Sutra recounts Shakyamuni Buddha’s dialogue with Manjusri Bodhisattva, where he reveals the profound virtues of the Medicine Buddha’s Pure Land and the twelve vows he made as a bodhisattva. These vows reflect his deep empathy for beings suffering from illness, poverty, and ignorance, and his wish to liberate them from these afflictions. This sutra is not only a sacred text but also a guide for overcoming life’s challenges, helping us gain inner peace, health, and happiness.

The sutra explains the Medicine Buddha’s teachings with a unique emphasis on relieving suffering in this life. By focusing on the here and now, the Buddha’s teachings encourage us to look at our lives with clarity, understand our challenges, and gain relief from worldly troubles. This practical orientation gives the Medicine Buddha Sutra a distinctive place in Buddhist practice, emphasizing the importance of compassionate action and wisdom in daily life.

The Twelve Great Vows of the Medicine Buddha

First:
I vow to assist those impoverished and tormented by constant struggles. Those who come across my name, sincerely honor it, and practice Dharma to build their merit will see their wishes come true.

Second:
I vow that my body shall shine as beams of brilliant light across this infinite, boundless world, freeing all beings from ignorance and worry through my teachings. May all beings attain a perfect state of character, integrity, and enlightenment, like the Buddha.

Third:
I vow that my body shall be like flawless crystal, radiating splendid light to all corners, enlightening beings with wisdom. Through the blessings of compassion, may all beings gain spiritual power and physical strength to achieve their aspirations on a virtuous path.

Fourth:
I vow to grant all beings the inexhaustible resources they need, freeing them from pain and guilt caused by material desires. While essentials such as clothing, food, shelter, and transport are needed, they should be wisely used. May they generously share these resources within the community to foster harmony.

Fifth:
I vow to lead those who have strayed back to the path of righteousness, guiding them toward enlightenment on the Buddha way.

Sixth:
I vow to enable all beings to uphold precepts of purity and morality. If they falter, they shall be guided to repent. Those who sincerely regret their wrongdoings and vow to change, with faith in the Buddha, shall be forgiven and regain purity.

Seventh:
I vow that all beings who are physically disabled or ill will be blessed with both physical and mental health. Those who faithfully honor the Buddha will receive these blessings.

Eighth:
I vow to alleviate the suffering of the poor and sick. May the ill be cured, the helpless supported, and the impoverished uplifted.

Ninth:
I vow to relieve the suffering of women seeking transformation. By hearing my name, paying homage, and praying, may their wishes be fulfilled, leading them ultimately to Buddhahood.

Tenth:
I vow to release all beings from harmful thoughts. I will guide them to righteousness and honor, so they may walk the Buddha way on a path of light.

Eleventh:
I vow to save those who have sincerely repented, including prisoners and victims of natural disasters. Those who are sincere will receive my blessings and be freed from suffering.

Twelfth:
I vow to relieve those facing starvation or committing crimes for survival. If they hear my name and hold it dear, I will lead them to the benefits of Dharma and favor them with the sustenance they need, helping them to lead peaceful, contented lives.

The Medicine Buddha’s great vows remind us of the healing power of compassion and inspire us to live with kindness and selflessness. Whether through reciting his name, chanting his mantras, or making offerings, we are encouraged to practice not only for our own relief but also for the welfare of all beings. By embodying the virtues outlined in the Medicine Buddha Sutra, we aim to carry forward the Buddha’s compassionate mission, helping ourselves and others find happiness, harmony, and well-being.

May we all find solace and empowerment through the compassionate vows of the Medicine Buddha and live our lives with health, joy, and a sense of unity with all beings.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2024/10/31/the-compassionate-vows-of-the-medicine-buddha-a-path-to-health-harmony-and-happiness/

Source: https://www.baromkagyu.org/medicine

Holy Miracles Temple: A Sanctuary of Compassion and Healing Amid Global Turmoil

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Holy Miracles Temple, located at 1730 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA, serves as a sanctuary dedicated to teaching the true Dharma of the Tathagata, as transmitted by Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and Shakyamuni Buddha, guiding disciples on their path to liberation and spiritual accomplishment. Grounded in the Buddha’s teachings and fueled by boundless compassion, the temple’s core mission is to selflessly serve humanity. Its hope is for people in America and across the globe to embrace Buddha Dharma, cultivating love for their country, fellow people, and the world. Through mutual support, peace, kindness, and auspiciousness, the temple envisions a strong nation with thriving citizens and a world brimming with joy and happiness.

In these challenging times, when suffering and catastrophe touch so many, Buddhism’s compassionate spirit calls us to extend blessings to all sentient beings. On October 13, 2024, the Holy Miracles Temple held a Blessing and Peace Dharma Assembly, a response to the unprecedented hardships the world faces today. Devoted Buddhist disciples gathered to honor the teachings of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III, coming together to send prayers for healing and hope to those affected by natural disasters, conflicts, and upheavals. This assembly reaffirmed the Buddhist commitment to easing the suffering of all.

The event featured a solemn chanting of the Universal Gate Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, dedicated to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the embodiment of compassion. The gathering was led by Abbess Ruzun Ruohui from Hua Zang Si Temple, who guided attendees through the prayers.

This year has been marked by profound global calamities. In the United States, Hurricane Helene ravaged Texas and Louisiana in August, displacing thousands and flooding communities. Just weeks later, Hurricane Milton unleashed further destruction in Florida and Georgia. Recovery efforts faced tremendous challenges as these back-to-back disasters left homes shattered and lives in turmoil.

In Asia, Typhoon Dindo devastated the Philippines, causing severe flooding and landslides across Luzon in September. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate as the typhoon submerged entire neighborhoods. Nepal, too, was struck by tragedy when a powerful earthquake hit in June, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life in remote regions.

The war in Ukraine, continuing its escalation throughout 2024, inflicted further suffering on cities like Kyiv and Mariupol, leaving behind a deepening humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, renewed violence in Syria once again brought bloodshed to war-torn cities such as Aleppo and Damascus, compounding the plight of its weary people.

Europe was not spared from disaster either, as record-breaking floods struck in July. Torrential rains overwhelmed parts of Germany and Belgium, causing rivers to overflow and submerging entire towns. Meanwhile, the United States’ western regions grappled with annual wildfires of increasing magnitude, destroying homes and forests alike.

During the Dharma Assembly at Holy Miracles Temple, attendees united in spirit and purpose. As the sacred verses of the Universal Gate Chapter resonated through the temple, the prayers reached out to those suffering from this year’s tragedies, seeking to bring healing and relief. Prayers were offered for the displaced, the injured, and those who had lost everything. In the face of conflict and war, the community gathered to extend peace, comfort, and hope to all those impacted.

This powerful assembly embodied the compassionate essence of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, radiating light and healing to all beings affected by suffering. It was a profound reminder that through shared compassion and collective action, we can create a world where all beings may find peace, healing, and joy.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2024/10/18/holy-miracles-temple-a-sanctuary-of-compassion-and-healing-amid-global-turmoil/

Source: https://cagazette.com/insights-from-the-blessing-and-peace-dharma-assembly-at-the-holy-miracles-temple/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGADEJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSOFxdL9Y7OJSnH14qBxTQoBYe2QSzdXAI_yk56BTajnwGdAXcnXxCa7bQ_aem__GWuVw6xxEGleMzpPI9e5A

Gratitude

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Gratitude

“Monks, I will teach you about the nature of a person without integrity and a person with integrity. Listen carefully and pay close attention.”

“Yes, Lord,” the monks replied in unison.

The Blessed One began, “What defines a person without integrity? Such a person is ungrateful and unthankful. This ingratitude and lack of thankfulness are characteristics of rude individuals and belong entirely to those without integrity. These individuals fail to recognize and appreciate the good done to them by others. They are driven by selfish desires and a sense of entitlement, neglecting the virtue of gratitude, which is the foundation of a harmonious and compassionate society.

“In contrast, a person with integrity is grateful and thankful. This gratitude and thankfulness are traits of civilized individuals and belong entirely to those with integrity. They recognize the value of the kindness and support they receive from others and make it a point to express their appreciation. Such individuals foster positive relationships and contribute to a community where mutual respect and support flourish.

Photo by Emma Bauso on Pexels.com

“Monks, there are two people who are difficult to repay. Who are they? Your mother and father. Even if you were to carry your mother on one shoulder and your father on the other for 100 years, attending to their needs by anointing, massaging, bathing, and rubbing their limbs, even if they were to defecate and urinate right there on your shoulders, you still would not have repaid them. If you were to establish them in absolute sovereignty over this great earth, filled with the seven treasures, you still would not have repaid them.


“Why is that? Because parents do much for their children. They care for them, nourish them, and introduce them to this world. From the moment of birth, parents make countless sacrifices, enduring sleepless nights and countless worries to ensure their child’s well-being. They provide food, shelter, education, and unconditional love, guiding their children through the complexities of life. These acts of love and devotion create a debt that is immeasurable.

“However, monks, the greatest way to repay one’s parents is not through material means or physical care alone. True repayment comes from leading them towards the path of virtue and wisdom. If someone inspires his unbelieving mother and father to have faith, guides his unvirtuous parents towards virtue, encourages his stingy parents to be generous, and leads his foolish parents to wisdom, then, to that extent, he has repaid his mother and father.

“Consider the transformative power of such actions. When you rouse your unbelieving parents to embrace faith, you open their hearts to a greater understanding of life’s purpose. By encouraging them to practice virtue, you help them cultivate qualities that bring inner peace and happiness. Inspiring them to be generous allows them to experience the joy of giving, and guiding them towards wisdom leads them to a deeper comprehension of the world and their place in it.

“Monks, remember that integrity and gratitude are the cornerstones of a meaningful life. By embodying these virtues and helping others, especially your parents, to do the same, you contribute to a legacy of compassion and understanding that extends beyond your lifetime. This is the true measure of repayment and the highest expression of filial piety.”

The monks, deeply moved by the Blessed One’s words, reflected on the profound teachings and resolved to cultivate integrity and gratitude in their own lives, vowing to honor and repay their parents in the most meaningful way.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2024/08/02/gratitude/

Source: https://wisdomtea.org/2024/07/27/gratitude/

The Green Tara Perfect Practice Ritual and Thangka: A Marvel of Compassion and Artistry

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The Revered Practice of Green Tara: A Journey Through Time

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, from beginningless eons, has been tirelessly saving countless sentient beings with his immense compassionate power. Despite his boundless efforts, he felt a sense of inadequacy. Thus, from the power of samadhi born of great compassion, he formed an immense compassionate force. This force, combined with the great compassionate power of Buddhas from the ten directions, resulted in a drop of green tear flowing from his eye, transforming into the infinitely majestic green female Bodhisattva, known as Green Tara. Due to this origin, Tara’s power to save is boundless and infinite.

Green Tara is revered as the Great Compassionate One and the Holy Savior Mother Buddha. The practice of the Green Tara ritual has a rich history that originated in India and later spread to China, Tibet, Japan, and beyond. The sacred roots of this practice trace back to Green Tara herself, who was initially the ancient Buddha Pravartaka and an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.

Chanting the Green Tara mantra even once, with focused contemplation of Tara’s sacred image, brings immense merit. Such merit is equivalent to chanting the names of seventy-two billion Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. Both the exoteric and esoteric traditions have extensive practices based on this ritual, and many practitioners have achieved great success and benefit from it.

Over time, the original texts and mandalas related to this profound practice have suffered from omissions and distortions in their transmission. For the past two hundred years, these deviations have increasingly moved away from the authentic regulations. In recent decades, the practice has nearly completely lost its true essence. Furthermore, the representations of Green Tara have deteriorated in form, lacking the dignity of the authentic appearance. This includes discrepancies in hand mudras, attire, and overall sacred depiction, resulting in a significant loss for the Buddhist community.

The Green Tara Perfect Practice Ritual and Thangka by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

In response to these issues, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III transmitted the “Green Tara Perfect Practice Ritual” and personally supervised the creation of the Green Tara mandala thangka.

This three-dimensional thangka is not only lightweight and portable, making it easy to carry, but also presents the mandala clearly and vividly, ensuring that it remains etched in memory. Additionally, it possesses several extraordinary merits:

  1. Authenticity and Compliance: The Green Tara mandala presented in the thangka fully complies with the regulations of the “Green Tara Perfect Practice Ritual.” This ensures that the practice remains true to its original form.
  2. Historical and Miraculous Significance: Tara had already attained Buddhahood countless eons ago, her divine power is illustrious, and her sacred deeds are well-documented. Today, in the “Tara Hall” in Nethang, Tibet, the sacred statue of Tara once spoke to Atisha, instructing him, further propagating her holy name and Dharma power across China and Tibet. During the creation of this three-dimensional thangka, many miraculous occurrences were witnessed. For example, the sacred image of Tara, originally looking straight ahead, appeared differently in subsequent photographs taken from the same angle: one showed her looking up at the sky, while the other depicted her looking down at sentient beings. This clearly demonstrates Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva’s extraordinary vow power: above, he shares the same compassionate force with all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas; below, he joins in compassionate aspiration with all sentient beings in the six realms. Additionally, when viewed from different angles, the main deity of Green Tara always faces the observer, and the seed syllables in the sky behind her follow her movement, appearing above her head. Furthermore, the colorful clouds, initially close to the sun and moon, seem to remain stationary while the sun and moon move vividly between the clouds from different perspectives.
  3. Majestic and Unmatched Representation: The sacred image of Green Tara in the thangka is exceptionally majestic and perfect, unrivaled in both China and Tibet throughout history. The twenty Taras, each with different postures, exhibit supreme Dharma power, arranged behind the main deity, appearing and disappearing miraculously. Notably, standing in different positions reveals the Great Brahma Deva, the primary protector, initially as one, then suddenly as two, and then back to one again, a phenomenon unprecedented in history! Meanwhile, the Four Great Heavenly Kings and the Eight Dragon Kings remain unchanged. Additionally, Indra, the Four Great Heavenly Kings, and the retinue of the Eight Dragon Kings, wielding their divine weapons and instruments, surround and protect Tara with unmatched divine transformation. Visualizing this thangka makes the practice highly effective and rapidly fruitful.

Validation and Praise

Upon the completion of the “Green Tara Perfect Mandala Thangka,” Buddha Master specifically instructed disciples to bring all existing Green Tara statues of various materials from around the world to the Vajra Dharma Circle for public verification. They were to determine which one is the most orthodox and perfect thangka. The Vajra marbles immediately entered the mandala thangka, confirming that the Buddhas and Dharma protectors of the ten directions unanimously endorsed it.

Many of the seven classes of Buddhist disciples, upon practicing with this three-dimensional thangka, experienced unprecedented and unique realms. High monks, living Buddhas, and even Dharma Kings from around the world have all respectfully praised and recommended this rare and precious sacred image. In truth, among all the existing Green Tara images, none can compare to the perfection and majesty of this mandala thangka. Its blessing power is extraordinarily miraculous; a single glance imprints it deeply in the mind, leaving a lasting impression.

The Green Tara Perfect Practice Ritual and its accompanying thangka, as transmitted and supervised by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, represent a revival of the authentic practice of Green Tara. This thangka not only restores the true essence of the practice but also enhances the spiritual experience for practitioners worldwide, offering unparalleled blessings and merits.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2024/08/01/the-green-tara-perfect-practice-ritual-and-thangka-a-marvel-of-compassion-and-artistry/

Source: https://www.brxuefo.com/5970.html , https://www.brxuefo.com/6849.html

The Venerable Tsemang’s Speech at the 2024 Dharma Ceremony in Honor of the Holy Birthday of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III

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The speech given by the Venerable Rambo Tsemang at the 2024 Dharma ceremony in honor of the holy birthday of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III on June 15, 2024, is published below.

Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III!

Namo Shakyamuni Buddha, Lord of Buddhism in the Saha World!

Namo Yuhua Shouzhi Wang Holy Mother the Great Mahasattva!

Namo all Buddhas in the ten directions, Vajra Beings, Bodhisattvas, Sky-goers, and Dharma Protectors!

Today, Buddhist disciples from all over the world have once again gathered here to commemorate the Holy Birthday and infinite merit of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III. We want to express our gratitude to Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III for bringing to humanity His magnificent, unprecedented, and unsurpassed Buddha Dharma and accomplishment in the Five Vidyas.

I will summarize the questions that some of you have raised recently and share my personal thoughts for your reference.

First: Cultivation is the foundation for all Buddhists to attain liberation

Throughout the time that Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III propagated Dharma to save living beings, His Holiness the Buddha continuously reminded Buddhist disciples that cultivation is of utmost importance, and it is the only foundation for attaining liberation. In many audio recordings of expounded Dharmas, Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III taught many aspects of cultivation and emphasized that Buddhist disciples must practice cultivation at all times. Therefore, we must always remember the teachings of Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III by respectfully listening to the audio recordings of the Dharmas of His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III and reading the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection.” That is how we may learn correct knowledge and views and apply them in our own cultivation practice. This is very important for all Buddhist disciples. We must always remember that it is by practicing cultivation that we may accumulate good fortune and merit, stay away from dark karma, receive initiation to the highest Dharmas, and ultimately attain liberation from transmigration and cyclical birth and death. We must not pay lip service to practicing cultivation. Cultivation must be applied to every thought, word, and deed.

Some people tend to sway or regress from their cultivation whenever they encounter setbacks, but they should not be like that. We should know that during our transmigration since beginningless time, we have done so many bad deeds and taken on so much dark karma. All of our suffering and adversities are the effects of bad causes that we planted. By understanding this, we then understand that both good times and bad times are opportunities for us to practice our own cultivation. As our respected ancient elders said, “We do not evade bad retributions and face them with ease. We must be cautious with our every word and deed to plant good causes.”

Second: Actively Promote the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection”

Ever since Buddha Shakyamuni established Buddhism in our sahā world, the Sutras of the World Honored Buddha have enabled innumerable Buddhist disciples to attain liberation and accomplishment. The “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection” is, once again, a collection of Dharmas expounded by a Buddha in this world. This Collection will certainly enable many more Buddhist disciples to attain liberation. Namo Buddha Shakyamuni’s Sutras have been the guidance that we have followed for more than 2,000 years. Upon that foundation, Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III used simple language to teach us the quintessence of Buddha Dharma, and the essentials for attaining liberation and accomplishment. Therefore, the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection” is and will be the fundamental guide for all Buddhist cultivators in the sahā world to attain liberation.

Since we have received this supreme Dharma treasure, the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection,” we should apply the four limitless states of mind and Bodhicitta to enable more people to learn the Sutra Collection. Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III taught us that we will accumulate the most abundant merit by propagating Dharma to benefit living beings and that more merit we have, the sooner we can attain Buddhahood. The best method to propagate Dharma now is to actively promote the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection.” This is the quickest way for us to accumulate merit.

Think about this: In the Diamond Sutra, Buddha Shakyamuni told Subhuti that if someone were to grasp just the four-line gatha of the Dharma and make it known and explain it in detail to living beings, this person’s merit would far exceed someone who were to fill the billion worlds of this universe with the seven jewels in almsgiving.

The four-line gatha is only about emptiness and Dharmakaya. The “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection” comprises the truth about Dharmakāya, Saṃbhogakāya and Nirmāṇakāya, and how to attain realization states of the Three Bodies. Therefore, by promoting the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection,” not only will you enable others to understand the truth contained in the four-line gatha; you may even enable them to achieve abidance in the realization states described in that four-line gatha and become a holy person. Then your merit will increase even more. That’s why whenever you introduce one person to study the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection,” you will gain an increment of merit.

However, we must be clear that explaining the four-line gatha to others or promoting the Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection doesn’t mean that we as ordinary people would then quote Dharma out of context or randomly explain Dharma to others. In doing so, we would end up in the hell realm. We should guide living beings to study the Sutras and respectfully listen to the audio recordings of the Dharmas themselves, so that they can learn directly from His Holiness the Buddha. In this way, we can also increase our merit without incurring any sins.

Third: Make Effort to Protect the Dharma

There are many different ways to protect the Dharma, such as protecting organizations that propagate true Tathagata Dharma or supporting Buddhist cultivators who have correct knowledge and views and who practice in accordance with the Dharma. What I want to talk about here is how to protect the Dharma on the Internet.

In the current Internet era, Buddhist disciples make use of the Internet to propagate Buddha Dharma. However, evil demons also make use of the Internet to slander true Buddha Dharma. Therefore, if any one of us sees any evil deeds of slandering the Buddha or the Dharma, we must rebut those slander with correct knowledge and views.

There are two things that we must not misunderstand about protecting the Dharma.

First, it is seriously wrong to think that rebutting others is getting yourself tied up in matters of right and wrong. It is only with correct knowledge and views that you may understand Buddha Dharma, but some people understand Dharma incorrectly due to their incorrect knowledge and views. We must be very clear about this without any confusion: If a Buddhist disciple cannot differentiate between correct and incorrect knowledge and views, how can they properly understand the Dharma? If they cannot understand the Dharma, how can they attain accomplishment? Getting involved in matters of right and wrong usually refers to personal arguments about who’s right and who’s wrong as a result of attachments to self and to worldly phenomena. This is not the same as defending the correct meaning of the Dharma. The meaning of Dharma must be made clear.

Second: It is wrong to think, “I don’t want to do the work of protecting the Dharma, but I will make effort to practice forbearance and cultivate my conduct.” Actually, protecting the Dharma is an important aspect of cultivation. If you don’t protect Buddha Dharma, you are essentially a fake Buddhist who is not cultivating yourself. Therefore, it will be impossible for you to attain accomplishment. When cultivating ourselves, if anyone points out our shortcomings or wrongdoings, we should thank them, reflect upon ourselves, and do better in our cultivation. For whatever reasons, if someone insults us or attacks us, we should ignore those distractions and focus on cultivating ourselves with forbearance. But if the attacks are targeted toward the Buddha and Buddha Dharma, we must step up and fearlessly protect the Buddha and Buddha Dharma. Even if we don’t have enough abilities on our own, we can work with other Buddhists and discuss how to protect the Dharma together. If we don’t even protect the Buddha, if we don’t protect the integrity and benefit of Buddha Dharma, will Buddhas and Bodhisattvas receive us in the Buddha Lands? Will Dharma Protecting Bodhisattvas and deities help us?

All in all, if we want to attain liberation and accomplishment, we must cultivate ourselves. To cultivate ourselves, we must abide by the precepts, promote the “Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III Complete Sutra Collection,” and protect the Dharma. By doing these three things well, we can quickly eliminate our dark karma, accumulate merit, receive Buddha Dharma, and be liberated from transmigration forever! Throughout Buddhist history, all holy people who attained holy accomplishments were precept-abiding. They all propagated Dharma to benefit living beings. They all protected the Dharma. That’s how respected ancient elders attained accomplishment. These are also the things that we must do to attain accomplishment.

Here, I wish that all congregants and living beings fulfill their good wishes, have good fortune and wisdom, and attain accomplishment and liberation! I wish that the countries that you live in be prosperous and powerful, and that all people enjoy happiness. May there be peace in the world and the circumstances of all living beings be auspicious.

Finally, let us once again pay obeisance:

Namo Dorje Chang Buddha III!

Namo Shakyamuni Buddha, Lord of Buddhism in the Saha World!

Namo Yuhua Shouzhi Wang Holy Mother the Great Mahasattva!

Namo all Buddhas in the ten directions, Vajra Beings, Bodhisattvas, Sky-goers, and Dharma Protectors!

Link：https://peacelilysite.com/2024/07/16/the-venerable-tsemangs-speech-at-the-2024-dharma-ceremony-in-honor-of-the-holy-birthday-of-namo-dorje-chang-buddha-iii/

Source: https://www.wbahq.org/hq-announcements/a20240614/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3S5bLrQRnl9bEBaeZv8BKQQUUSEhO2yYxjM3CA0pcsEuRP55Fty0j7FnU_aem_hrsVKsqIjNdZ5fe0TGYolw

Ten Paths to Happiness

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Mahāratnakūṭa: 30. The Maiden Sumati

The “Ten Paths to Happiness” sutra, where an eight-year-old girl named Sumati asks Buddha ten profound questions. These questions explore essential aspects of human life and happiness, and Buddha provides insightful answers. This sutra is significant as it presents complex philosophical ideas in an accessible manner through the dialogue between Buddha and a child.

Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was in the city of Rājagṛha, on the mountain of Gṛdhrakūṭa, along with a great assembly of bhikṣus, twelve hundred and fifty people in all. The bodhisattva-mahāsattvas there numbered ten thousand in all.

At that time in the city of Rājagṛha, there was a laywoman named Sumati, who was in her eighth year. Her appearance and features were upright, colorful, and beautiful, appearing so nice that those who saw her were happy. Already, she had approached and made offerings before innumerable buddhas of the past, planting good roots. When that maiden went to the place of the Tathāgata, she bowed her head at the feet of the Buddha, and then circled around him three full times to the right. Kneeling with palms joined, she spoke a gāthā:

Anuttarā Samyaksaṃbodhi
Is a lamp for the entire world!
Of the practices of a bodhisattva,
I wish you would hear my questions!

The Buddha said to Sumati, “You may now ask questions as you like, and the answers will cut through your net of doubts.” At that time, Sumati went before the Buddha and spoke a gāthā to inquire:

How can one attain upright features
And a body of wealth and nobility?
Moreover, what causes and conditions
Make kinship difficult to destroy?

How may one perceive oneself
Receiving birth by transformation,
Arising from a thousand-petaled lotus flower,
And giving reverence to the bhagavāns face-to-face?

How is one able to attain realization
Of supreme and sovereign superknowledge,
And go off to innumerable lands
To pay homage to the buddhas?

How can one attain blamelessness,
So that others will have belief,
Purely removing obstacles to the Dharma
And forever departing from the deeds of Māra?

How is one able, at the end of life,
To attain perception of the buddhas,
Hear the speech of the pure Dharma,
And not be subject to suffering?

Great compassionate supremely honored one,
I merely wish you would speak of these for me!

At that time, the Buddha spoke to the maiden Sumati, saying, “Excellent, excellent! It is good that you are able to ask about such profound matters. Now listen carefully, listen carefully and well mindfully, and I will tell you.” Sumati then spoke, saying, “Just so, Bhagavān. We are joyfully wishing to hear it.”

The Buddha told Sumati, “A bodhisattva who accomplishes four dharmas receives an upright body. What are these four? [1] The first is not giving rise to a mind of hatred for bad friends. [2] The second is to abide in great kindness. [3] The third is to have profound delight in the correct Dharma. [4] The fourth is to create images of the Buddha.”

“Moreover, Sumati, a bodhisattva who accomplishes four dharmas will attain a body that is rich and noble. What are these four? [1] The first is that you should give timely gifts. [2] The second is to do so without a mind of disdain for others. [3] The third is to do so with happiness. [4] The fourth is to do so without expecting any reward.”

“Moreover, Sumati, a bodhisattva who accomplishes four dharmas will attain birth by transformation before the buddhas, seated upon a lotus flower. What are these four? [1] The first is to give flowers, fruit, and fine powdered incense as offerings to the Tathāgata and to the stūpas. [2] The second is not to tell lies or harm others. [3] The third is to make images of the Tathāgata placed within a lotus flower. [4] The fourth is to give rise to profound and pure faith in the bodhi of the buddhas.”

“Moreover, Sumati, a bodhisattva who accomplishes four dharmas may travel from one buddha-land to another buddha-land. What are these four? [1] The first is to not perceive others’ cultivation of goodness as obstruction or annoyance. [2] The second is to never hinder others when they are expounding the Dharma. [3] The third is to burn lamps and make offerings to the stūpas of the Tathāgata. [4] The fourth is to constantly strive to cultivate the dhyānas.”

“Moreover, Sumati, a bodhisattva accomplishes four dharmas for the station of blamelessness in the world. What are these four? [1] The first is to draw near to virtuous friends without a mind of flattery. [2] The second is to not have a mind of jealousy regarding others’ excellence in the Dharma. [3] The third is to always be happy when others receive honors and recognition. [4] The fourth is to not vainly criticize the practices of a bodhisattva.”

“Moreover, Sumati, a bodhisattva accomplishes four dharmas for his speech to be believed by others. What are these four? [1] The first is develop speech and cultivation always in unison. [2] The second is to not do evil things to virtuous friends. [3] The third is to not find faults in the Dharma one has heard. [4] The fourth is to not give rise to a mind of evil for one who speaks the Dharma.”

“Moreover, Sumati, a bodhisattva accomplishes four dharmas for being able to leave obstacles to the Dharma and quickly attain purity. What are these four? [1] The first is to accept the Threefold Discipline with profound conviction. [2] The second is that one does not give rise to slander for extremely profound sūtras. [3] The third is to perceive the newly-developed intention of a bodhisattva as the arising of the mind of omniscience. [4] The fourth is regarding sentient beings with great kindness and equanimity.”

“Moreover, Sumati, a bodhisattva accomplishes four dharmas for being apart from māras. What are these four? [1] The first is to fully know the equality of the nature of dharmas. [2] The second is to give rise to determination. [3] The third is to constantly strive to be mindful of the Buddha. [4] The fourth is to transfer over all good roots.”

“Moreover, Sumati, a bodhisattva accomplishes four dharmas so that at the end of life, the buddhas manifest before him. What are these four? [1] The first is to fulfill the wishes of others by giving what they are seeking. [2] The second is giving rise to profound faith and understanding of good dharmas. [3] The third is to give adornments to the bodhisattvas. [4] The fourth is to diligently make offerings to the Triple Gem.”

At that time, the maiden Sumati heard what the Buddha had spoken, and said, “Bhagavān, as the Buddha has spoken of the practices of a bodhisattva, so will I practice them! Bhagavān, among these forty practices, if there is one that is lacking or uncultivated, then this will be conflicting with the Buddha’s teachings and deceiving the Tathāgata.”

At that time, Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana spoke to Sumati, saying, “The practice of a bodhisattva is extremely difficult to carry out. You are now developing this extraordinary great aspiration. How will you attain accomplish mastery over this vow?”

Sumati replied, “Venerable, if my great aspiration is true and not void, able to bring these practices to complete fulfillment, then may the three thousand great thousand-worlds shake in six directions, and the heavens rain wondrous flowers, and may the drum of heaven sound of its own accord!” When this had been spoken, flowers fell from the sky like rain, and the drum of heaven sounded of its own accord, and the three thousand great thousand-worlds shook in six directions.

At this time, Sumati again addressed Maudgalyāyana, “From my true words, in a future era I will attain buddhahood, just as Śākyamuni, the Tathāgata. In my land there will be no deeds of Māra, and not even the words for evil destinies, or for women. If what I say is not fabrication, then may the bodies of those in the great assembly all take on a hue of gold!” After speaking this, the assembly took on a hue of gold. At that time, Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana then arose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, and bowed with his head at the Buddha’s feet. He spoke saying, “Bhagavān, from these things I have developed the mind of a bodhisattva and even that of the assembly of bodhisattva-mahāsattvas!”

At that time, Dharma Prince Mañjuśrī spoke to Sumati, saying, “In what dharma do you abide to make this sincere aspiration?” Sumati replied, saying, “Mañjuśrī, it is not proper to ask this. Why? This is because in the Dharma Realm there is nothing which abides.” He also asked, “Then what is Bodhi?” She answered, “The non-differentiation of dharmas is what is called Bodhi.” He also asked, “Then what is it that is called a bodhisattva?” She answered, “A bodhisattva is one who is aware that all dharmas are equal to the manifestation of empty space.” He also asked, “What is it that is called the practice of Bodhi?” She answered, “The practice of Bodhi is like a mirage, or like the echo of a valley.” He also asked, “With what underlying meaning do you say such things?” She answered, “In this I do not perceive even the slightest thing which may be underlying or manifest.”

He also asked, “If it is as you say, then all ordinary people would have Bodhi.” She answered, “You speak of Bodhi as being different from an ordinary person? You should not have this view. Why? These are all of the same characteristic of the Dharma Realm, to be neither grasped nor abandoned, with nothing to accomplish or destroy.” He again asked, “How many beings are able to fully understand your meaning?”

She answered, “Their number is like the number of illusory minds and mental functions. The illusion of sentient beings is already able to understand my meaning.” Mañjuśrī said, “Illusions are without basis, so how can there be such minds and mental dharmas?” She answered, “The Dharma Realm is also such, neither existing nor non-existing, and for the Tathāgata is it also such as this.”

At that time, Mañjuśrī addressed the Buddha, saying, “Bhagavān, this Sumati is extraordinary, even able to accomplish such dharma-patience!” The Buddha said, “Thusly, thusly! What she has spoken is sincere and true. In such a way, this maiden has long since developed the mind of Bodhi, throughout the past thirty eons, even developing the destiny of my supreme Bodhi, causing such abiding in the patience of the non-arising of dharmas.”

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2024/07/12/ten-paths-to-happiness/

https://lapislazulitexts.com/tripitaka/T0310-LL-30-sumati/ Translated from Taishō Tripiṭaka volume 11, number 310.

The Spiritual Journey of Superstar Jacky Cheung and the Masterpiece “Rare Supreme Chant”

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Hong Kong’s superstar Jacky Cheung has achieved numerous successes in the entertainment industry and is widely recognized as a superstar. However, few people know about his dedication to studying Buddhism. Jacky Cheung’s master is H.H.  Dorje Chang Buddha III, an internationally acclaimed master in arts, philosophy, and culture. He was awarded the International Master of Arts and Culture by the World Cultural Conference, comprising experts from 48 countries and regions. Additionally, the Chinese government built a grand museum in his honor in Dayi County, Sichuan, highlighting his unique achievements and contributions.

Around 1995, at the earnest request of many disciples, including Jacky Cheung, H.H.  Dorje Chang Buddha III composed a unique masterpiece called “Rare Supreme Chant.” The lyrics, composition, singing, and chanting were all personally handled by the master.

The song’s melody is rich, and its sound changes are exquisite, ranging from powerful and resonant to gentle and intricate. It includes lion’s roars, sacred chants, deep contemplations, and even modern rock and rap elements. The singing techniques transcend traditional vocal resonance, harmonizing with the cosmic realm. This “Rare Supreme Chant” not only broadens the listener’s auditory experience, allowing them to hear various sounds, but also elevates the mind, nurtures moral strength, and purifies body and soul through the blessings of H.H.  Dorje Chang Buddha III’s voice.

According to those who provided musical accompaniment for H.H.  Dorje Chang Buddha III, his lyrics and melodies are filled with ancient charm and profound knowledge. His voice is versatile and spontaneous, making it difficult to complement with our limited cultural and musical expertise. While they believe his unaccompanied voice is superior, they fear that without accompaniment, the music might be too challenging for listeners to appreciate, thus missing the compassionate intention behind its creation. Despite these challenges, they made an effort to provide accompaniment, hoping listeners would understand and appreciate the master’s work. Listeners are encouraged to attentively enjoy and experience the profound benefits of the music.

The Great Bright Six Syllable Mantra is a very popular Buddhist song, with many audiotapes and CDs distributed worldwide. However, His Holiness’s rendition of the Great Bright Six Syllable Mantra is entirely different from all others I have heard. It is in a powerful vajra style, and at the end of the song, His Holiness uses the lion’s roar voice, with a bursting energy that seems to penetrate the universe and awaken all living beings.

The great bright six syllable mantra

The song “Guo Ping Chang” describes the scenery and feelings of His Holiness passing through Ping Chang (a place in Sichuan).

The sound of the flute sends me across Pingqiang, The boat docks at Wuyou, filled with lantern-lit halls. The spring breeze warmly welcomes visitors, Mist colors the dusk, but the mountains remain evergreen.

This song was sung in an opera style. It has four lines of lyrics, which the Buddha sang using four different Peking Opera styles. This fully demonstrates the Buddha’s profound vocal skills, leaving listeners deeply moved and with a lasting impression.

Passing through PingQiang

H.H.  Dorje Chang Buddha III, has even composed a unique masterpiece, in modern rock and rap style, the energetic and festive song “Chinese Dragon,” showcasing the dragon’s cultural significance. This song demonstrates the Buddha’s ability to effortlessly and masterfully handle any musical form.

Chinese Dragon

The Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra is a very important Buddhist scripture. The Buddha composed an elegant and beautiful yet powerful melody for this sutra. His voice is rich and clear, strong yet gentle, as if bringing the compassionate love of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to every sentient being.

The Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra

#DorjeChangBuddhaIII#HHDorjeChangBuddhaIII#Poetry#Vocal #Buddha #Buddhism #buddhist #Music#BuddhaDharma#MasterofOrientalArt#DistinguishedInternationalMaster

Link：https://peacelilysite.com/2024/07/11/the-spiritual-journey-of-superstar-jacky-cheung-and-the-masterpiece-rare-supreme-chant/

Renowned Buddhist Scholar Jeffrey Hopkins, Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia, Has Died

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Photo courtesy Christof Spitz

Jeffrey Hopkins, a brilliant scholar, author, teacher, and translator who founded one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist Studies programs in the West, died on July 1 in Vancouver, Canada. He was 83.

For more than three decades, beginning in 1973, Hopkins was a leading light at the University of Virginia. He directed UVA’s Center for South Asian Studies for twelve years and taught Tibetan Buddhist studies and Tibetan language for thirty-two years, but his signature achievement was the Tibetan Buddhist studies doctoral program he established in 1975, which became the largest in North America. Among its graduates are some of the most esteemed academics in the field today, including Anne C. Klein of Rice University, Donald Lopez of the University of Michigan, Georges Dreyfus of Williams College, and Bryan Cuevas of Florida State University. Hopkins’s program, by placing Tibetan Buddhism (rather than Indian, Chinese, or Japanese Buddhism) at its center and bringing prominent Tibetan masters from India to Charlottesville to teach the classic texts of that tradition, “changed the way Buddhism is taught in the American academy,” Donald Lopez says.

Hopkins’s singular force was evident from the moment he arrived at UVA in 1973. Lopez, a senior when Hopkins joined the faculty, remembers: 

Despite being a newly arrived assistant professor, he immediately gained a large following among the “Be Here Now” crowd. By the second semester, students were walking around campus wearing buttons that said, “Buddha’s Slogan: Dependent Arising.” In a men’s room on campus one day I noticed something written on a urinal. Assuming it said “R. Mutt” [as Marcel Duchamp had signed his urinal artwork, “The Fountain”], I went closer and saw that it was four words stamped in red letters: “DOES NOT INHERENTLY EXIST.” Inspired by such visions, I wrote my senior thesis, master’s thesis, and doctoral dissertation under Hopkins’s direction.

Convinced that scholars of Tibet must be able to both read classical Tibetan and speak modern Tibetan, Hopkins established the first Tibetan language program at UVA and coauthored a comprehensive language course, Fluent Tibetan: A Proficiency Oriented Learning System. He also compiled a 900-page Tibetan-Sanskrit-English dictionary of Buddhist terms that is posted online. 

During his career, Hopkins also held visiting professorships at the University of Hawaii and the University of British Columbia. After he retired from UVA, he focused on translating. He was the founder and president of the UMA (Union of the Modern and Ancient) Institute for Tibetan Studies and from 2011 directed its Great Books Translation Project, set up to make Tibetan texts freely available. 

Hopkins was also a peace and human rights activist and published The Art of Peace, edited from talks at a conference of Nobel laureates he organized in 1998 for UVA and the Institute for Asian Democracy, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that promoted self-governance in Asia, particularly in Burma. Hopkins was president of the institute from 1994 to 2000.

One of the most respected Tibetologists of his generation, Hopkins authored, edited, or translated more than fifty books. His extensive published work includes scholarly books on emptiness and tantra, as well as translations of works by such famed figures as Nagarjuna, Chandrakirti, and Tsongkhapa. His first and most influential work was his massive 1973 doctoral dissertation, Meditation on Emptiness, which provided the first detailed presentation of the Geluk synthesis of philosophy and practice. After circulating widely as a bound Xerox copy, it was published by Wisdom Publications in 1983. A fortieth-anniversary edition will be published next year. Much of Hopkins’s work was devoted to the Geluk founder Tsongkhapa, translating major sections of his massive exposition on tantra, Stages of the Path of Mantra. Later he turned to Tsongkhapa’s most beloved work among Geluk scholars, Essence of Eloquence, a text recited from memory by the monks of Ganden Monastery at his funeral in 1419. Although Tsongkhapa’s text is rather brief, Hopkins devoted three large volumes to it: Emptiness in the Mind-Only School, Reflections on Reality: The Three Natures and Non-Natures in the Mind-Only School, and Absorption in No External World. 

In 1979, Hopkins was instrumental in arranging His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first visit to the United States and served as his chief translator from 1979 to 1989 on tours of the US, Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Hopkins translated and edited His Holiness’s teachings for sixteen books, including The Dalai Lama at Harvard, along with titles aimed at a general audience, such as Kindness, Clarity and Insight; How to See Yourself As You Really Are; How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life, Mind of Clear Light, Mind of Clear Life: Advice on Living Well and Dying Consciously; How to Be Compassionate; and How to Expand Love: Widening the Circle of Loving Relationships. 

Hopkins collaborated with the tulkus Lati Rinpoche and Denma Locho Rinpoche on Meditative States in Tibetan Buddhism, based on a text by the Geluk master Panchen Sonam Drakpa. With the Nyingma lama Khetsun Sangpo he published Tantric Practice in Nyingma, a translation of a famous work by Patrul Rinpoche that would later be translated as Words of My Perfect Teacher.

Born Paul Jeffrey Hopkins in 1940, he grew up in Barrington, Rhode Island. A rebellious youth, he was a member of what he later described as a “suburban gang . . . disgusted by the aims that were being presented to us: merely making money and so forth.” Hopkins was then sent to Pomfret, a prep school in Connecticut, where he thrived. During his freshman year at Harvard, he read Thoreau’s Walden and retreated to the woods of Vermont, where he lived in a one-room cabin, wrote poetry, and “began finding my own integrity,” he later told an interviewer. Further inspired by Herman Melville’s Typee and W. Somerset Maugham’s The Moon and Sixpence, he hopped a freighter to Tahiti. It was during this period that Hopkins began meditating—in a fashion. 

Hopkins returned to Harvard after a year and a half, then between his junior and senior years, took off again. While floating down a river in Oklahoma, he saw a dead man propped up on a bank. It was a turning point. “I suddenly realized that his last perception in this lifetime would be no fuller than any of his other perceptions,” he recalled. “I began to recognize the ultimate futility of external activities and to turn my attention inward, to a light within. When I returned to Harvard in the fall of 1962, it was as if a coffin had been opened. I had been living my life in a coffin and had not recognized the presence of the sky.”

During Christmas vacation from college that year, a classmate drove Hopkins to Freewood Acres, New Jersey, to meet Geshe Wangyal,  a Kalmyk Mongolian Tibetan Buddhist who had established a monastery there in 1958. In 1963, after graduating magna cum laude from Harvard—an English major, Hopkins won the Leverett House Poetry Prize for his translation of the Anglo-Saxon poem “The Wanderer”—Hopkins spent seven years studying with Geshe Wangyal in New Jersey. After a false start in graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, he enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Later, Hopkins called his time in the Buddhist Studies program at Wisconsin as “thrilling in many ways and . . . certainly a crucial choice for my career.” At Hopkins’s urging, Richard Robinson, the head of the Buddhist Studies program, hired Geshe Lhundup Sopa, a Geluk scholar who had been living at the Kalmyk monastery in New Jersey. He was instrumental in the hiring of renowned tantric master Kensur Ngawang Lekden, former abbot of the Tantric College of Lower Lhasa. Anne Klein, then a master’s candidate at Wisconsin, recalls that Hopkins, with Robinson, “founded Tibet House on a farm outside Madison, where Kensur, Jeffrey, and grad students could live, learn Tibetan, and share kitchen duties. Jeffrey served ice cream on small, flat plates, which, as Kensur demonstrated with delight, meant you could lick them clean.” Hopkins read with Kensur daily, Klein remembers, material that formed his dissertation, Meditation on Emptiness.

Throughout his career, Hopkins’s interest in Buddhist studies was broad, encompassing South Asia, Tibet, and East Asia. He was the recipient of three Fulbright fellowships and made twelve trips to India and five to Tibet for research.

As a translator, Hopkins had an approach unusual among his peers at the time: working closely with Tibetan scholars and regarding them not as “native informants” but as collaborative partners. “I thought it was . . . extremely important to treat every Tibetan scholar fairly, to give them credit for their part in producing any book,” he said. “If I couldn’t understand the text without somebody informing me of its meaning, then that person has played an equal role in its translation even if they don’t know English.” 

In 1991, Hopkins suffered a debilitating, near-fatal case of Lyme disease that temporarily left him partially paralyzed with noticeable mental gaps. He recovered, but “I had to reconstruct my mind,” he later told Tibetan Buddhist nun Robina Courtin. “In any field, I had to consciously make a logical connection, and then once the connection had been made, that area was reopened.” What saved him, he ventured, was a habit formed in his years at the monastery in New Jersey: repeating the intelligence mantra of Manjushri, bodhisattva of wisdom, aimed at enhancing mental acuity: Om ah ra pa tsa na dhih. “I overheard Geshe Wangyal tell one Mongolian boy who was having trouble memorizing it, ‘Then do dhih dhih dhih . . . endlessly,’ ” he recalled. 

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2024/07/05/renowned-buddhist-scholar-jeffrey-hopkins-professor-emeritus-at-the-university-of-virginia-has-died/

Source: https://tricycle.org/article/jeffrey-hopkins-obituary/, By Joan Duncan Oliver
 JUL 02, 2024

The Consequences of Lying: A Lesson from Buddhist Teachings

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When we were young, our parents and elders all taught us not to lie. Many stories and fairy tales illustrate the consequences of lying, such as a child being eaten by a wolf or having a long nose like Pinocchio. Different cultures and religions praise honesty and disapprove of liars. However, most of us have told a lie at one time or another, often to gain an immediate benefit, without realizing that the long-term consequences of lying can be very costly. In Buddhism, one of the ten precepts is to abstain from lying.

There is a recorded story in a Buddhist sutra about Shakyamuni Buddha teaching his son to refrain from lying.

The Buddha’s son, Rahula, was quite mischievous in his youth. He often enjoyed playing pranks on others, using deceptive words to tease people. For instance, when someone came to see the Buddha, Rahula, knowing that the Buddha was not present, would intentionally mislead them about the Buddha’s whereabouts, causing them to search in vain for amusement.

When the Buddha learned of this, he asked Rahula to bring him some water to wash his feet. After washing his feet, the Buddha pointed to the water and asked Rahula, “Can this water be drunk?”

Rahula replied, “The water is dirty from washing feet; it cannot be drunk.”

The Buddha then asked, “Can this basin, used for washing feet, be used to hold food?”

Rahula replied, “No, it cannot. The basin is dirty and cannot be used to hold food.”

The Buddha sternly said, “You are like this water. The water was originally very clean, just as you were originally a prince, able to renounce the false glories of the world and become a monk. But if you do not diligently pursue the path, do not purify your body and mind, and do not speak carefully, the impurities of the three poisons will fill your heart, just like the clean water being soiled by washing dirty feet. You are like this basin. Although you have become a monk, if you do not practice precepts, concentration, and wisdom, and do not purify your body, speech, and mind, how can the food of the Great Path fill your heart?” After speaking, the Buddha kicked the basin, causing it to roll. Rahula was very frightened. The Buddha asked, “Are you afraid the basin will break?”

Rahula replied, “No, the basin is a coarse utensil; it doesn’t matter if it breaks.”

The Buddha said, “Rahula, you don’t cherish this basin, just as people will not cherish you. As a monk, if you do not uphold dignity and discipline, and speak deceitfully, the consequence is that no one will care for you or value you. When your life ends, you will not attain enlightenment, but will only increase your delusion.”

From then on, Rahula changed his mischievous ways, strictly observed the precepts, and diligently practiced the path.

According to the teachings of the Buddhist sutras, we should take a long-term view and consider the consequences of lying for both this life and future lives.

In this life, if we frequently lie, deceive, or slander others, we will inevitably face retaliation from those we have wronged. In the mundane world, most people are naturally inclined to protect themselves and have a tendency for “an eye for an eye” revenge, unless they are saints who have subdued their own minds. If we deceive others, the victims, unwilling to be deceived, will expose our misdeeds among people. As word spreads from one to ten and from ten to a hundred, our bad reputation will quickly become widespread. Our credibility will be utterly destroyed, and our trustworthiness will plummet. From then on, even if we speak the truth, it will be seen as a lie, and people will be wary of us to avoid being deceived. No one will trust us. In such a predicament, we will constantly feel the pain of isolation and helplessness. Our lives will shrink, and our careers will suffer as a result.

In future lives, under the influence of the dark karma of lying, one will inevitably fall into the three lower realms. When the bad karma diminishes and one is reborn as a human, the residual effects of lying will manifest in various speech-related congenital obstacles in both body and mind. These may include having an impaired tongue root, stuttering, or unclear speech. Additionally, there will be a habitual tendency to lie, and sometimes, even when one wishes to speak the truth, it will come out as a lie involuntarily. In interactions with others, one will frequently be slandered and deceived. Even when speaking the truth, people will not believe it. Moreover, even when preaching the true Dharma, others will be unwilling to listen.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2024/06/13/the-consequences-of-lying-a-lesson-from-buddhist-teachings/

Source: https://fo.china.com/m/fostory/20001207/20231107/25809400.html