Statement of Faith

Our founder owes his Dharma to the teachings of Great Master Xuan Hua
who articulated the following guidelines for cultivation. 
This become our Guiding Principles of Bodhi Light International:

FREEZING TO DEATH, 
WE DO NOT CLIMB ON CONDITIONS (scheme for more favors).
STARVING TO DEATH, 
WE DO NOT CREATE CONDITIONS (beg to survive).
DYING OF POVERTY, 
WE DO NOT SEEK CONDITIONS (to establish).

ACCORD WITH CONDITIONS BUT DO NOT CHANGE. 
DO NOT CHANGE YET EMBRACE CONDITIONS.
THE  (ABOVE) THREE GREAT PRINCIPLES 
FORM THE FOUNDATIONS TO OUR WORK.
WE RENOUNCE OUR LIVES TO DO BUDDHA’S WORK.

WE MOLD OUR LIVES TO DO FUNDAMENTAL WORK (attain sagehood).
WE OBSERVE THE PROPER LIVELIHOOD TO DO SANGHAN’S WORK
(propagate the Dharma). 
ENCOUNTERING PHENOMENON, WE AWAKEN TO THE PRINCIPLES. 
AWAKENED TO THE PRINCIPLES, WE APPLY THEM TO PHENOMENA.
WE CARRY ON THE MIND-TRANSMISSION OF THE PATRIARCHS’ LINEAGE.

ASK YOURSELF: DO I NOT FIGHT/ NOT HARM? 
ASK YOURSELF: AM I NOT GREEDY? 
ASK YOURSELF: DO I NOT SEEK?
ASK YOURSELF: AM I NOT SELFISH?
ASK YOURSELF: DO I NOT SELF-INDULGENCE?
ASK YOURSELF: DO I NOT LIE?
ASK YOURSELF: DO I PRACTICE THE FOUR UNLIMITED MINDS? 
ASK YOURSELF: DO I EAT ONE MEAL A DAY?
ASK YOURSELF: DO I ALWAYS WEAR MY PRECEPT-SASH?
THIS IS THE TRADITION PASSED DOWN FROM OUR PATRIARCHS, 
WE WILL ABIDE BY IT.