Amituofo
This means dedicating all of our good deeds and merits to all the sentient beings in the universe. It means broadening our hearts so that the entire universe become one entity. Only when we have reached this state can we be said to have attained the Great Perfection. In our learning and cultivation of the Read More …
We need to accord with the wished of all sentient beings in the universe. This is extremely difficult to do and is why the Chinese say that filial piety and according with others go together. Learning Buddhism is to honor filial piety and to accord with the being’s wishes. While according, we need to look Read More …
Although the Buddha no longer resides in this world, we still have his sutras to follow and study. Following the sutras is the highest standard in our learning and practicing Buddhism.
The main purpose of the sixth vow is to introduce Buddhism to all people. If we hope to have accomplishment in our cultivation, the vow request to request the turning of the Dharma Wheel is not enough. Have you seen anyone attain enlightenment simply by listening to a talk on the sutra only once or Read More …
Since we benefit from the education we receive from the Buddha, what can we do to repay his kindness? Nowadays, most people enshrine and worship him, making daily offerings to his image on an alter. Is this the right way to repay him? No. These are only rituals to remind us not to forget the Read More …
This requires us to go against what seems so natural to us, jealously. It is natural for humans to have this emotion. For example, small children appear unhappy when others receive more candy than they do. This is jealously and it is a major obstacle to our self-cultivation. Universal Worthy Bodhisattva largely attributed this vow Read More …
Everybody has karmic obstacles. Every thought in a person’s mind causes a karmic act, which in turn will certainly result in an obstacle. What is obstructed? Our true nature, within which there is infinite wisdom and virtue. There are two types of obstacles: those caused by afflictions and those caused by knowledge-attachment. We create them Read More …
The primary characteristic of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva is an immeasurably broad and compassionate mind, which in Mahayana Buddhism is considered as the perfect function of the self-nature. Ordinary Bodhisattvas have seen to their self-nature, but it is partial, not perfect. Only the virtuous character of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva is perfect. All his vows are directed Read More …
The second vow is to “Praise the ‘Thus Come One’.” Since, the first vow is “To respect all Buddhas” why don’t we rephrase them as one, “Praise and respect all Buddhas?” There is a profound meaning within these two vows. “Respect all Buddhas” applies to behavior. When considering the form, we are to show respect Read More …
Who are Buddhas? We read in the Flower Adornment Sutra, “Sentient or insentient, all attain wisdom.” So all beings that have self-awareness and all things such as plants and minerals are Buddhas-to-Be. With respect for all beings and things, not just the present Buddhas, we will foster the heart of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva. His heart Read More …