Question:

I don’t understand how a person can master the power of being immortal but still be subject to birth and death. How is that being immortal?
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AT, Cerritos, California 

Question: Is this true?

Article: Celebration of Ullambana

If you feel you have a big temper and too much fire of ignorance, it is because your parents and other relatives from the past have not left suffering and attained bliss. Every day they help you get angry, and encourage you to commit offenses so that you can hurry up and join them. If you feel that this may be the case, you should take advantage of this opportunity to do merit and virtue to cross them over; and will cause all those in difficulty to leave worry and suffering and to eradicate obstacles from offenses.
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JT, Lake Elsinore, California 

Question:

After I sent the request for the plaques [on behalf of the entire Assembly for the upcoming One Week Buddha Recitation Dharma Assembly]. I felt a weird presence even in my meditation as well. It feel sort of not bright and smells a little like drain…I wonder if I did anything wrong, or retribution for giving other chance to make incense offering. That’s my guess, I don’t have much of what’s going on…
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DT, Artesia, California

Question:

This article below is about Petri dish grown meat. I was wondering about any or your thoughts about that? Seems kind of strange, but again so are many things.

Article: Artificial Meat
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JC, San Mateo, California

​Question:

Master,

My wife is planning a remodel of our house. This will involve scraping the lot to the ground to build a new house. As a result we will be removing some trees.
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I am concerned about the trees and living beings that reside on our property. Is there some dharma that can help them as we remodel the house? You had mentioned in the past that one could write a note and put in a tree to inform the living beings that the tree was going to be trimmed.

Question:

Master,

I am following your suggestion to become a vegetarian. I try make sure to eat no any egg products or anything from the onion and garlic family. I try to do this when eating with others but as you have noted, there are times when I feel obligated blend in, so as to make them more comfortable and show my appreciation for the meal. There also are times when I may unknowingly eat something that contains items that you suggested we not eat.

Is there something I should do, some dharma, when this happens?
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BB, Manhattan Beach, California 

Question:

Master,
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I sincerely apologize for my arrogance on Saturday [‘s Dharma Talk]. I was more concerned about getting an answer to my question than understanding what you were explaining when you were discussing fighting for promotions and I wanted to know about fighting for a job. I am sorry for my thoughts and actions.

Question:

I’m constantly suffering from my arrogance. How can I stop being arrogant? Where can I start?

AT, Cerritos, California 

Question:

A friend emailed me this article exposing the fur farming industry. Although I would never buy fur, reading this just makes me wonder how the Karmic debts would work out in this case. Will the spirits of the killed animals become hungry ghosts who attack the immediate killer of them or the factory owners or the buyer of the fur coat or all the above in certain amounts. Also is there anything that we can do on our end to lessen the suffering of those unappeased spirits (chanting and dedicating the blessings to them). Thanks for any input.

Article: Chinese Fur Farms
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JC, San Mateo, California 

Question:

Master:
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Had an interesting happening Monday (9/07/09) that brings up a question.
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Last Monday while working in my parkway, (I overheard your performing a ceremony at your place) your wood fish did a short Emituofo beat and an ending beat. Shortly after, you appeared to be working on your wall flower and plant garden. This caused me arrogantly and egotistically to wonder if the (wood) fish were directed to me to come see you. Started to do that and thought of the arrogance and didn’t.

Question:

Interesting!!!

Remember the [30ish] girl I mentioned about at work? The fortunate one [from a well to do family]?
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Her mom had thyroid disease (the one where the eyes bulge out) and the doctor told her she might lose her vision later in life. I just spoke with her today and she said her mom went back to Taiwan in July and the doctor said the thyroid problem is gone. I asked what has changed and she didn’t know the answer. When I asked the question I wasn’t thinking about anything.

Question:

While planning out the offering, I ran into a question regarding Quality vs. Quantity. For example, I don’t know whether to get one super-good item(washcloth, toothbrush, etc.) or ten decent items.
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Regarding food, I expect that many people will offer food and there will be excess of perishable and duplicate food items left at the temple. Is it appropriate to offer a grocery store gift card? Or, should I just not worry about excessive perishable and redundant food offerings.

Question:

How about Medicine Master Plaque for the Sanghan of the Ten Directions? That will cover everything and more?
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DT, Cerritos, California 

​Question:

Quote from Ullambana Sutra
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“For the sake of fathers and mothers of seven generations past, as well as for fathers and mothers of the present who are in distress, you should prepare an offering of clean basins full of hundreds of flavors and the five fruits, and other offerings of incense, oil, lamps, candles, beds, and bedding, all the best of the world, to the greatly virtuous assembled Sangha of the ten directions.”

Question:

Is there any appropriate plaque or ceremony we can do for Taiwan?
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AT, Cerritos, California 

Question:

Is it proper to listen to Sutra lecture recordings while driving, working, or walking?
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DT, Cerritos, California 

Question:

​I have a friend who I have warned not to tailgate for quite some time. I advised him that by doing so karma will come back. Last Friday it seems that it did. Since he usually tailgates people even on the highway to the point that he is less than 1 car length away from the car in front of him. I warned him that he will make the person in front nervous and feel agitated. Anyway last Friday karma seems to have taught him a lesson.

Question: 

I have a question that arose while visiting my cousin this weekend. When visiting I try and be helpful in appreciation for his hospitality. Sometimes he will ask me to help cook food on the grill. While I don’t eat any of the meat that is cooked I wonder if cooking it for others is something I should try to avoid. You have taught me to blend so I have applied that in the cooking of meat for others. Am I following your direction correctly?
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BB, Manhattan Beach, California 

Question:

​My friend tells me not to fly because of his dream. He indicates things happen in his dream and they are not exactly good. He not only tells me but warns me of flying. He tells me his dreams come true and they often do. One time he told another friend he saw in his dream this friend and his girlfriend went on bike trip and they would have a baby soon after. Low and behold, a year or two later, this couple went on a bike trip and now the girlfriend is 4 months pregnant. So if his dreams hold, then I want to know if there’s other ways other than avoiding flying entirely. I love to travel at the same time I want to enjoy and not worry about flying. Your help is greatly appreciated.
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PW, New York 

Question:

​I have questions regarding drawing imaging of Earth Store Bodhisattva.

Quote from chapter 6, page 37 of the sutra

“Universally Expansive, if good men or good women gaze upon and bow but once to painted or drawn images of the Bodhisattva or ones made of clay, or stone, or lacquer, or gold, or silver, or bronze, they will be reborn one hundred times in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three and will eternally avoid falling into the evil paths.”

1. If we draw it with computer programs does that count?
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2. What if we delete the files after we drew the picture? Does that count? Is that consider making offense? 

Question: 

​​Would it help us to cultivate 定力 (samadhi power) if we clear our boundaries before we sit? Will it help the false thinking to go away?
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Article: 橫相惱亂
你有這種心裡煩亂的情形，這是魔王來破壞你，你應該誦〈大悲咒〉，你一念〈大悲咒〉，這些鬼神、魔王，就都給抓起來，用繩索綁上。

Question: 
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What is the difference between sitting with your legs crossed while doing a task versus sitting in meditation with your legs crossed?
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I came across this site and found the articles to be quite interesting