◉ To practice the Buddha's teachings is to know great joy.
◉ Moving within the cycle of birth and death is to be in the Sea of Suffering. Our head comes out of the water for just a breath and then we sink once again.
◉ As ordinary people we still need the Buddha's teaching but once we cross the Sea of Suffering we leave behind the boat of the teachings.
◉ We have encountered innumerable Buddhas over infinite lifetimes. Then why are we still mired in this Saha world? Buddhas cannot help us until our conditions have matured.
◉ Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can show us the way, but we have to take it for ourselves.
◉ The Buddha taught us three basic principles. From precept observation we attain deep concentration. From deep concentration we attain wisdom. This is the way to attain supreme, perfect wisdom.
◉ If our "Amitabha" karma is heaviest, we will be born into the Pure Land. If our bad karma is heaviest, we will be born into the three bad realms.
◉ Buddha name chanting and sutra recitation are ways to obtain a response from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
◉ How do we gain wisdom? Many people who grew up in our modern society would say that wisdom is gained from information or knowledge. The Buddha told us the opposite! He taught us that wisdom is already within our self-nature; it does not come from the outside.
◉ It is a rare opportunity to encounter Buddhism. The hindrance to this is the selfishness that has been accumulated over infinite lifetimes and which is very strong.
◉ Our first hindrance to enlightenment is ego, our self-attachment, our every thought of ourselves. The Buddha said we have to have no-ego, no self.
related post: Part Two: Questions and Answers (1)
Source Of Information:
《To Understand Buddhism》, by Venerable Master Chin Kung, translated by Silent Voices, distributed by: Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Amitabha Malaysia, 90 & 92, Jalan Pahang, Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.
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