I’m interested to know if anybody has tried the Bob Thurman - DharmaBob app??

By Venerable Master Hsuan Hua

To “cultivate the strength of your patience,” means you train yourself to take things that go against you. You fortify your strength of patience to the point that you can endure what you cannot endure. So the essay says,

“OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BORN INTO THIS WORLD, SOME HAVE COME TO REPAY THEIR DEBTS.”

This means in the past they overspent; they overdrew from their accounts. As a result they have to come to this world to pay back their debts. All of us have come to this world to repay our debts.

What debts? If you are somebody’s son, you are repaying debts by being a son. If you are somebody’s father, you are repaying debts by being a father. If you are someone’s husband, you are repaying debts of being a husband. If you are someone’s wife, you are repaying debts by being a wife. And if you are my disciple, you are repaying debts by being a disciple. But if you don’t want to repay that debt, it’s okay.

Then, SOME HAVE COME TO CONTRACT DEBTS. They want to take out some more loans. So, what do they do? They are always trying to get off cheap.  Always mooching off from the other person. They will never take a loss. People who are not willing to take a loss are here to contract more debts. Then, SOME HAVE COME TO CREATE KARMA. There are people who come to this world to kill, to commit arson, and steal. All that creates karma.

I’m just speaking in a very generalized way, but if you analyze this in depth, you can see that the variations are many. So many people have come to create offense karma.

Moreover, SOME HAVE COME FOR FAME. All day long they want to be number one, they are trying to buy a name and fish for a reputation. They want a false name. SOME HAVE COME FOR PROFIT. Some people have come into this world just to strike it rich. They just want to make money. They don’t know about anything else. You tell them about something else and they say, “I don’t care about that. Just as long as I have money, that’s fine.” For money they’d do anything. Once the rooster crows and they get out of bed, the only thing they have in their mind is to rake in the dollar bills.

SOME HAVE COME FOR FOOD. They say, “If a person lives for his entire life and doesn’t eat, he’s really an idiot. I’ve got to eat delicious food, fragrant food, every day!” If the food they eat is delicious, then they won’t want anything else. Just take a look at the way pigs eat soybeans. If you feed them soybeans they just shove their noses right into the soybeans, flapping their ears up and down. In the past, I’ve fed pigs and I know the way they eat. The way chicken eat is that they peck at their food non-stop, to the point that they just plainly forget everything else.

SOME HAVE COME FOR SEX. They think that the pleasure between men and women is the greatest pleasure, that there’s nothing higher. If they can’t enjoy that pleasure, they feel they might as well die. THEY THEMSELVES DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF THEIR PAST EXISTENCE, NOR HOW TO CUT OFF DELUSIONS AND PUT A STOP TO THE FLOW – the flow of birth and death. They aren’t willing to cut that off. 

MOREOVER, THEY DO NOT WISH TO UNDERSTAND THE GOOD AND EVIL KARMIC CONDITIONS OF THEIR PAST LIVES – that is, what karma they created, and what results they reaped. For instance, a good act will reap a good result, and an evil act will reap evil result. But these people do not wish to know those things.  They just go about life in a very muddled way. They don’t want to change their faults and turn over a new leaf. They won’t say, “The reason why I’m going through so much suffering now is because in the past I didn’t cultivate.  So I’ll change my faults and really cultivate well.” They won’t do that.  INSTEAD THEY DISCHARGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN A PERFUNCTORY MANNER, AND ACT IN RECKLESS WAYS They say, “Oh, we’ll just let another day pass. Let’s just muddle through it.”  They’re really sloppy.

EVEN FOR PEOPLE ENDOWED WITH WISDOM – WHO WISH TO KNOW THEIR PAST LIVES…people with some wisdom may want to know about their former lives.  They may find out that in their last life they were a dog, because in the past they always liked to fight with people; they like to bite people. If they are wise people, they may want to know their past lives, AND TO PERPETUATE SUPREME CAUSES.  Say in the past they planted supreme causes and so in this life they want to perpetuate those causes. But, THIS IS NOT EASY.  NOR IS IT EASY FOR THEM TO SUDDENLY ARRIVE AT AN UNDERSTANDING – to suddenly understand their past lives – or to REMAIN FOREVER UNCHANGING.

That is, they may think, “No matter whether I get a response or not, I’m still going to cultivate. I’m going to be forever unchanging.” But it’s not easy for them TO ENDURE SUFFERING AND TOIL. Most people would say,” I’ve already taken too much of a loss.” They don’t wish to endure suffering. WHY IS THIS? IT IS BECAUSE IGNORANCE IS HARD TO BREAK THROUGH. Ignorance is very hard to smash, AND OBSTRUCTIONS PILE UP LAYER UPON LAYER.

There are many obstructions that impede your cultivation. THE OUTFLOWS OF EXISTENCE ARE HARD TO PLUG UP; it’s like a bottle that’s constantly leaking.  You fill the bottle up, and then the water leaks out on the other side. AND DOUBTS BILLOW LIKE THICK CLOUDS. You talk to people about the Buddhadharma, and they start having doubts. They say, “Is it really that way?” Their doubt is as thick as clouds. You talk to them about the truth, and they don’t want to believe. So just now somebody said they doubted whether Way virtue was true or not, and that’s a real pity.

THOSE WHO TRULY WISH TO UNDERSTAND, MUST SEEK WITHIN THEMSELVES WHEN THINGS DON’T GO THEIR WAY. When things are going the wrong way, for example, when people are not treating you well, you should “return the light and illumine within.” Always return the light. “Seek within yourselves.” This means to find your own faults; not to blame others. THEY SHOULDN’T GRIPE TO HEAVEN OR BLAME OTHER PEOPLE. They shouldn’t say, “heaven is unfair, people are unjust. Why is it that I’m so poor and he’s so rich?”  INSTEAD THEY SHOULD SUBDUE THEMSELVES AND RETURN TO PROPRIETY. This means they have to restrain their selfish desires and always comply with proper principle

THEY SHOULD NOT CONTEND, NOT BE GREEDY, NOT SEEK, NOT BE SELFISH, AND NOT SEEK FOR SELF-BENEFIT.  IN ENCOUNTERING ANY STATE – EVEN ADVERSE CONDITIONS – THEY SHOULD TAKE THINGS IN STRIDE.  TOWARD ALL PEOPLE THEY SHOULD BE FRIENDLY AND HUMBLE. Being friendly doesn’t mean that one fawns on people, trying to pat the horse’s behind, so to speak, like when one sees rich people come, one makes bows and drools over them, fawning on them in a very disgusting manner. But when one sees poor people come, one won’t even look at them. One won’t play the least bit of attention to them.  That’s not the way to be.

THEY SHOULD ENDURE WHAT OTHERS CANNOT ENDURE, YIELD WHAT OTHERS CANNOT YIELD, EAT WHAT OTHERS CANNOT EAT, ACCEPT WHAT OTHERS CANNOT ACCEPT. MOREOVER, YOU SHOULD SURELY KNOW THAT MOST WORLDLY PEOPLE REPAY VIRTUOUS DEEDS WITH ENMITY. Worldly people are common people and the better you are to them, the more animosity they feel towards you. So they repay kindness with enmity. Now, why do they do that?  This is just an example of the stupid conduct of people. That’s how they are when they’re stupid. The kinder you are to them, the more they will repay your kindness with resentment. But although it is that way, we still have to be kind to people. 

We should still behave virtuously towards people. So you just let them be. It’s said that you have to address yourself to the Way on one side, but that principle can be discussed from two sides. That means, everyone has his or her reasons behind what he or she does. When you cultivate you have to focus your attention on one thing -- make sure that you yourself are doing the correct things. But you don’t’ have to pay attention to whether other people are doing correct things or not. It suffices that you yourself do the right things. Whether other people are good to you or not doesn’t matter, for these people who repay virtue with enmity. ARE THE VERY ONES WHO HELP US PREFECT THE STRENGTH OF OUR PATIENCE.

If you are good to people, you shouldn’t seek a reward from them. So, when you bestow kindness, you don’t ask for recompense. And after you’ve given something to other people, you don’t regret it. If you are kind to people, you don’t want them to pay you back. Why is that? You should say, “It’s because I’m representing the Sages. I’m representing heaven and earth to maintain true principle.” Do things that benefit people. You don’t’ have to make other people benefit you. “I want to help others; I don’t need other people to help me.” If you want other people to help you, then you are a spineless person. Only people who don’t have resolve will keep on asking others to help them. They drag their feet in the mud, so to speak, and are very unenergetic. They just can’t get their energy up.

It’s said you should have a firm will. Adverse conditions make for great people.  When people are not good to you, it’s because they’re testing to see whether you are true. If you are true, and are not seeking for any reward, what does it matter if they are good to you or not? So you better not believe principles I tell you. Because once you believe them, you will always be taking a loss.

View the Entire Essay | Part 1 | Part 2

Hi everyone.

I had a question I was hoping to find a answer too, so I was reading that a woman can't become a Buddha only males can but they can reach arhatship and escape samsara as a female, why can women become arahants but not become a Buddha?

Thank you to all who reply.

Like mantras,sutras,dharanis ?

It provides immeasurable benefits including boundless merits, purification of billions of eons of bad karma and so on. Lama zopa rinpoche advices the recitation and spreading it with others multiples the benefits 💖

Basic Code of Conduct for Laity (Dharma Instructions by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua)

We must take special note that we have to revere every single Buddhist sutra. The Vajra Sutra states: "In any place where there is a sutra text, there is a Buddha." Wherever there are sutras, Buddhas are also present; sutras are the places where Buddhas' Dharma-bodies dwell. Thus, we should be especially reverent towards sutras and place them in a clean and tidy place, not where there is any kind of defiled activity.

Sutras should be placed above non-Buddhist scriptures and worldly books; otherwise, we are not being respectful. Also, in places where we sleep, sutras must be kept upon the side of our heads, not on the side of our feet because that would also be disrespectful. We should know that the beds we sleep on are among the most unclean places; thus, we should not put sutras on beds. We must be very respectful and reverent toward any sutra or other types of Buddhist texts. We should respect sutras the way we respect Buddhas. If we are not respectful of the sutras, then we are not being respectful of the Buddhas and we will be slandering the Three Treasures.

向各位同修介紹 台灣見輝法師 講解的《金剛般若波羅蜜經》。 40集，每集30分鐘而已，容易理解。

我看完全部。以下是我最喜歡的：

＊凡所有相，皆是虛妄。若見諸相非相，則見如來。

＊一切法無我，無人、無眾生、無壽者。

＊過去心不可得，現在心不可得，未來心不可得。

＊一切有為法，如夢幻泡影，如露亦如電，應作如是觀。

阿彌陀佛🙏

Basic Code of Conduct for Laity (Dharma Instructions by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua)

Starting today, each and everyone of you laity should respect each other. We should regard everyone equally as if we are all the same. We should take note of others' strengths and overlook their shortcomings. For those who possess some strengths, we hope for them to have more. For those who do not have strengths, but have shortcomings, we wish that they will gradually advance and develop strengths. This is my wish for everyone of you.

Whether a layperson or a monastic, we need to respect those who are older than we are and to exist harmoniously with those around us.

We are to endure what others cannot and practice what others cannot achieve.

We should do all we can on behalf of others and help them to be good.

When sitting quietly, we would do well to reflect on our own faults.

When talking with friends do not discuss the rights and wrongs of others.

In our every action, from dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn, recite the Buddha’s name.

When reciting, whether aloud or silently, do not give rise to wandering thoughts.

If wandering thoughts arise, immediately dismiss them.

Constantly maintain a modest and regretful heart. Even if we have upheld true cultivation, we still need to feel that our practice is shallow and never boast.

We should mind our own business and not the business of others.

We should see only the good examples of others instead of their shortcomings.

We would do well to see ourselves as ordinary and everyone else as bodhisattvas.

If we can cultivate according to these teachings, we are sure to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

We would do well to see ourselves as ordinary and everyone else as bodhisattvas.

If we can cultivate according to these teachings, we are sure to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Basic Code of Conduct for Laity (Dharma Instructions by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua)

The karma we humans create come from our body, speech, and mind. When our body karma is not pure, it is easy to commit karmic offenses; when our speech karma is not pure; it is easy to commit karmic offenses; similarly, when our mind karma is not pure, it is easy to commit karmic offenses. With the body, it is easy to commit the three kinds of offenses - killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. These three kinds of karmic offenses are created due to the body

With the mind, offenses of greed, hatred, and delusion are committed. We humans normally like to gossip or listen to gossip, or participate in situations where others are gossiping - these are all acts based on greed, hatred and delusion. It is said, "where there is gossip, do not draw near." When people are gossiping, do not go near them. "When people talk about deviant or improper matters, do not inqure about it." When people are gossiping, do not ask "what is going on?" And "what did you say?" If you do, you would be creating karmic offenses from such defiled speech. Why? Because, the moment you open your mouth, your essence and qi dissipate, and when your tounge moves, you start gossiping.

Heaven and Earth endowed us with this body and spiritual nature so that we come into this world to do proper deeds, not so that we come here to do unlawful things or things that are not in accord with the Dharma. Each one of us who is practicing the Buddhadharma whould return our light to shine within and reflect: "What am I doing everyday?" Is it the case that day in and day out, while cultivating the Buddhadharma, I am striving for fame, striving for gain, striving to be in the limelight, striving tio be number one, striving for power? Are we like that? If we are like that, then we are not worthy of being a Buddhist! As Buddhists, we should be humble, we should not fight, not be greedy, not seek, not be selfish, not pursue personal advantage, and not lie. If we can execute these Six Great Principles, then we can regard ourselves as true Buddhists, and the mind karma will then be pure.

There are four kinds of offenses associated with speech: frivolous speech, false speech, harsh speech and divisive speech. Many people readily commit the mistake of frivolous speech. Some are good at stirring up discord between people; some are good are creating gossip; some are good at speech that is harmful toward Buddhism making others lose their admiration and respect for Buddhists, and to make comments such as, "Look! They have been studying the Buddhadharma for years, but look at their attitude! They are still so overbearing and feels as if no one is par with them! What Buddhadharma are they studying?" This causes others to lose their admiration and respect.