Edition 122 August 2017 Chung Tian Buddhist Temple 1034 Underwood Road Priestdale QLD 4127, Australia Website: www.chungtian.org.au Email: [email protected] BLIAQ Newsletter Ph: 3841 3511 Fax: 3841 3522 Buddha’s Light International Association of Queensland, Australia

U pcoming Events  Namo homage to the Ullambana Assembly of Buddha's and Bodhisattvas. 19-24 Aug Ullambana Festival Filial Piety Thus I have heard, at one time, the Buddha dwelt at Buddhist Chanting - Shravarsti in the Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and Liang Huang Repentance the Solitary. Mahamaudgalyayana had just obtained the six penetrations & wished to cross over his father & mother to 26 Aug repay their kindness for raising him. Sangha Offering Ceremony Thus, using his way eye, he regarded the world and saw

27 Aug that his deceased mother had been born among the hungry Amitabha Thrice Yearning ghosts, having neither food Buddhanor drink, she Spoken was but Ullambana skin and Sutra Dharma Function & General bones. Mahamaudgalyayana felt deep pity and sadness,

Merits Transference filled a bowl with food and went to provide for his mother. She got the bowl, screened it with her left hand, and with 3 September her right hand made a fist of food. But, before it entered her English Buddhist Class Term 3 mouth, it turned into burning coals which could not be

Baby Blessing Ceremony eaten. Mahamaudgalyayana called out and wept sorrowfully, and hastened to return to the Buddha to set 12 September forth all of this. The Buddha said, "your mother's offences Ven Master Hsing Yun’s B’day are deep and firmly rooted. You alone do not have enough power. Although your filial sounds move heaven and earth, Blessing Chanting Service the heaven spirits, the earth spirits, twisted demons, and At that time the Buddha commanded those outside the way, Brahman's, and the four heavenly 17 September the assembled Sangha of the ten king gods, are also without sufficient strength. The English Buddhism Exam directions awesome spiritual power of the assembled Sangha of the to recite mantras and vows for the ten directions is necessary for the liberation to be attained. I 24 September sake of the donor's family, for parents shall now speak a Dharma of rescue, which causes all Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival of seven generations. After practicing those in difficulty to leave worry and suffering, and to - Hiking Activity Dhyana concentration, they then may eradicate obstacles from offences. accept the food. When first receiving

the basin, The Buddha told Maudgalyayana: "The fifteenth day of the place it before the Buddha in the seventh month is the Pravarana day for the assembled stupa. When the assembled sangha Sangha of the ten directions. For the sake of fathers and has finished the mantras and vows, mothers of seven generations past, as well as for fathers then they and mothers of the present who are in distress, you should may accept it. At that time the prepare an offering of clean basins full of hundreds of bhikshu Maudgalyayana and the flavours and the five fruits, and other offerings of incense, assembly of great Bodhisattvas were oil, lamps, candles, beds, and bedding, all the best of the all extremely world, to the greatly virtuous assembled Sangha of the ten delighted and the sorrowful sound of directions. On that day, all the holy assembly, whether in Maudgalyayana's crying ceased. the mountains practicing dhyana samadhi, or obtaining the

four fruits of the way, or walking beneath trees, or using the At that time Maudgalyayana's mother independence of the six penetrations, to teach and obtained liberation from one kalpa of transform sound hearers and those enlightened to suffering as a hungry ghost. conditions. Or provisionally manifesting as bhikshus when Maudgalyayana addressed the in fact they are great Bodhisattvas on the tenth ground--all Buddha and said, "this disciple's complete in pure precepts and ocean like virtue of the holy parents have received the power of way-- should gather in a great assembly and all of like mind the merit and virtue of the triple jewel, receive the Pravarana food. because of the awesome spiritual

power of the assembled Sangha. If in If one thus makes offerings to these Pravarana Sangha, the future the Buddha's disciples one's present father and mother, parents of seven practice filiality by offering up the generations, as well as the six kinds of close relatives, will Ullambana basins, will they be able to escape from the three paths of sufferings. And at that time cross over their present fathers and attain release. Their clothing and food will spontaneously mothers as well as those of seven appear. If the parents are still alive, they will have wealth generations past?" The Buddha and blessings for a hundred years. Parents of seven replied "good indeed, I am happy you generations will be born in the heavens. Transformationally asked that question. I just wanted to born, they will independently enter the celestial flower light, speak about that and now you have and experience limitless bliss. also asked about it.

Page 1 The Significance of Observing Precepts

To observe precepts is to have true freedom as a result of not harming others. To take and uphold the precepts is to refrain from infringing upon others' rights, protecting everyone's lives, wealth, families, and careers as a result, Killing, stealing, having sexual misconduct, lying, and taking intoxicants are the opposite of the precepts; these actions harm others and also result in our own loss of freedom by ending up in jail. Therefore, observing precepts truly results in:

1.Freedom for all, for both oneself and others. 2.Safety for all, for both oneself and others. 3.Happiness for all, for both oneself and others. 4.Wholesomeness for all, for both oneself and others.

5.Benefit for all, for both oneself and others. 6.Liberation for all, for both oneself and others.

 Venerable Master Hsing Yun, 365 Days for Travellers

Having Faith in Ourselves

With self-confidence, one could cross the Ganges River even if empty-handed; With self-confidence, one could soar into the sky even after falling into a dry well. In Chan Buddhism, to assume responsibility is considered a way of having faith in ourselves. There is a proverb that says, "With self-confidence, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. Without self-confidence, even the simple act of breaking a stick cannot be accomplished." Indeed! Having faith in ourselves is like adorning ourselves with a jade or pearl necklace; it dignifies our body and mind. Having faith in ourselves is like having a walking stick; it allows us to advance without obstruction. Only by having faith in ourselves as well as an understanding of our own strengths and weaknesses, can we begin to create a bright future.

 Wi Wu Zhijian, Between Ignorance and Enlightenment

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Paramita of Concentration

The Sutra of Bequeathed Teachings says: "If you can concentrate your mind, there is nothing you cannot do." Most people spend most of their time caught up in the needs and desires of the five senses, and thus they rarely are able to see past the many entrancing distractions of the phenomenal world. Since they are preoccupied with the sights and sounds of the outer world, they are unable to see the pristine Buddha nature that already resides within them. Though all sentient beings have Buddha nature, very few of them are aware of it and even fewer of them ever discover it in all of its fullness. The paramita of concentration is a skill that is designed to help us turn our minds away from external distractions toward the inner peace and wisdom that already lie resplendent within us. Once we are truly able to control our minds and use them for skillful concentration, we will be able to open within us the wisdom eye that alone reveals the most profound level of human consciousness. This is the reason that Buddhists so often say, "Concentration is a great virtue, while a scattered mind leads to nothing but trouble."

The Treatise on the Perfection of Great Wisdom says: "Gathering the scattered mind is called 'concentration.'" To concentrate means to focus all our mental faculties on a single point. The scattered mind is like smoke in the wind, like clouds in a storm, like thunder and lightning that appear in a moment and then are gone. The untrained mind is like a muddy stream, turbid and silt-ridden, coursing among stones and obstacles, never knowing where it will turn as it winds from this life to the next, and the next, and the next. By learning to concentrate, we gain a new perspective on this stream and from this vantage discover how to control it and use its latent powers to free it from it from its senseless wandering.

The Sutra on the Six Paramitas says: "Peaceful thoughts give rise to wisdom, while wisdom gives rise to further concentration. The source and basis of the enlightened Buddha mind is concentration and wisdom. "The Treatise on the Completion of Truth says: "Concentration allows us to identify our problems, while contemplation helps us end them. Concentration is like taking a tuft of grass in our fist, while contemplation is like using a sickle to sever the bunch. Concentration is like dusting something off, while contemplation is like washing it in water."

The Sanskrit word for both "meditation" and "concentration" is samadhi, and thus the paramita of concentration is sometimes also called the "paramita of meditation" or the "paramita of samadhi" (see chapter 6 for a more detailed discussion of meditation and samadhi). Many people think that samadhi states can only be experienced in seated meditation. While seated meditation is the most important way to learn the samadhi

Venerable Master Hsing Yun, Buddhism: Core Ideas

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2017 Term 3 - Meditation, Buddhist & Tai Chi Classes held at Chung Tian Temple

Basic Buddhist & Meditation Class Intermediate Buddhist & Meditation Class Buddhist Book Study & Meditation Class Level: Level 1 Level: Level 2 Level: Level 3 Day: Every Sunday Day: Every Sunday Day: Every Sunday Date: 3 September 2017 to 8 October 2017 Date: 3 September 2017 to 8 October 2017 Date: 3 September 2017 to 8 October 2017 Time: 9:00am - 10:00am (Meditation) Time: 10:00am - 11:00am (Buddhist talk) Time: 10:00am - 11:00am (Meditation) 11:10am - 12:00pm (Meditation) 10:10am -11:00am (Buddhist talk) 11:10am - 12:00pm (Buddhist talk) Cost: $20 per term - Booking is required Cost: $20 per term - Booking is required Cost: $20 per term - Booking is required

Advanced Buddhist Study & Meditation Class Tai Chi Class Tai Chi Class Level: Level 4 (Free for BLIAQ members)

Day: Every Sunday Day: Every Wednesday Day: Every Sunday Date: 3 September 2017 to 8 October 2017 Time: 9.30am – 11.00am Time: 8.30am – 10.00am Time: 10:00am - 11:00am (Meditation) Where: Chung Tian Temple Where: Chung Tian Temple 11:10am - 12:00pm (Buddhist talk) Cost: Free donation Cost: Free donation Cost: $20 per term – booking is required

Tai Chi Class Teenager’s Buddhist Class

 To book for the Buddhist classes, an application form Day: Every Saturday Ages: 13 - 19 years must be completed and returned Time: 9.00am – 10.30am Sunday: 10.00am - 11.00am to the Chung Tian Temple’s Where: Chung Tian Temple Date: 3 September 2017 to 8 October 2017 Cost: Free donation reception together with full Cost: $20 per term

payment at least a week prior to Every 2nd & 4th child from the same family will be Bodhi Class For Children free. the course commence date.  The intermediate Dharma class builds on and Ages: 3 - 12 years expands the basic foundations of Buddhist learning,  For all enquiry please Sunday: 10.00am - 11.00am aiming for a practical approach and solutions to contact 3841 3511 on Tuesday Date: 3 September 2017 to 8 October 2017 challenges issues faced by young people today. to Sunday, or email: Cost: $20 per term [email protected] or see Every 2nd & 4th child from the same family will be free. www.chungtian.org.au  Children are taught Buddhist morals and ethics in a nurturing environment. Lessons are backed by Thank you fun activities which include: simple meditation, children’s tai chi, Buddhist stories and virtues,

craft activities and team-building games.

Buddha Quotes

 “Greater in battle than the man who would conquer a thousand-thousand men, is he who would conquer just one — himself. Better to conquer yourself than others. When you've trained yourself, living in constant self-control, neither a deva nor gandhabba, nor a Mara banded with Brahmas, could turn that triumph back into defeat.”

 “An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.”

 “Whatever a monk keeps pursuing with his thinking and pondering, that becomes the inclination of his awareness.”

 “There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.”

Date Day Time Program 19-24 August 2017 Sat-Thur 9:00am Ullambana Festival Filial Piety Buddhist Chanting Service / Liang

Huang Repentance. 25 August 2017 Fri 9:00am Ksitigarbha Sutra 26 August 2017 Sat 9:00am Ksitigarbha Sutra 11:30am Sangha Offering Ceremony 27 August 2017 Sun 10:00am Grand Offering-Disperse Calamity Acknowledgement

1:00pm Thrice Amitabha Commemorating Dharma Function 3 Sep – 8 Oct 2017 Sun 9:00 am - 12pm English Buddhist Class Term 3 (6 weeks) 10:00am - 11am Children & Youth Buddhism Classes (6 weeks) 3 September 2017 Sun 2:00pm Baby Blessing Ceremony 5 September 2017 Tues 11:00am Sangha Day Dharma Function 12 September 2017 Tues 10:30am Ven Master Hsing Yun’s B’day Blessing Chanting Service

17 September 2017 Sun 1:30pm English Buddhism Exam 19 September 2017 Tues 9:00am - 12 noon Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s B’day Service 24 September 2017 Sun 9:00am Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival Hiking Activity Every Sunday 9:00am – 9:40am English Buddhist Chanting Every Saturday 10:30am – 12noon Buddhist Service (in Mandarin)

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