Bodhi Light International
  • Home
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Live Stream
    • Temple Activities
    • FoQi
    • ChanQi
    • Online Classes
    • Relics
  • Calendar
  • Dharma
    • Download Audio & Slides >
      • Sutra Lectures >
        • Avatamsaka Sutra
        • Six Patriarch Sutra
        • Heart Sutra
        • Vajra Sutra
        • Amitabha Sutra
        • Earth Store Sutra
        • Medicine Master Sutra
        • The Bequeathed Teaching Sutra
        • The Sutra in 42 Sections
      • Dharma Talks Archive
      • Chan Meditation Archive
      • Fo Qi Archive
      • Chan Qi Archive
      • Outreach Archive
    • Ceremonies
    • Dharma Blog
    • Q&A
  • Practices
    • Practices
    • Training Program
    • Cultivation Stories
  • Publications
    • Publications
    • Chan Handbook
    • Pure Land Handbook
  • About
    • Statement of Faith
    • Location
    • Contact
    • Master YongHua
    • Contribution
    • Sponsorship
  • Languages
    • Tiếng Việt
    • 한국어
    • 中文首页
    • Español
    • Portuguese

Practicing Immortality Dharma

1/6/2014

 
Question:

Emituofo:

Do you know anything about immortality dharmas?

Can Buddhist disciples practice such dharmas? Would such practices have detrimental effects on our Buddhist practices?

Please kindly teach me.

Thank you.
​

PVT

Read More

Difficulties in maintaining Shurangama Mantra

12/1/2013

 
Question:

Emituofo,

I would really appreciate your kind guidance.

I realize that I have a lot of greedy desires and therefore I resolved to recite the Shurangama Mantra [not clear…]. 
​​

However, after each time that I recite the Mantra I often have unwholesome thoughts whereas when I do not recite the Mantra, my mind would be normal: not that it is free from greedy desires but rather it is not as heavy and uncomfortable as when I recite.

Please teach me what to do. Thank you.
​
HD

Read More

Family Obstructs Leaving Home Life

11/26/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

I wish to leave the home life but my family is putting up a lot of roadblocks. I can’t seem to find a way out. Please teach me what to do. Thank you.
​

MJ ​

Read More

Blamed for healing others

10/24/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

Will you please clarify a few things for me?

My parents have medicine to cure stomach ailments and ulcers. They healed a lot of people but never charged a cent for it.

Once, they gave the medicine to a person in the neighborhood. Once healed, this individual started criticizing my parents. When my parents brought the medicine to the temple’s free clinic, they would encounter criticism as well! I really fail to understand; why that would happen?

Please kindly explain this to me.

Respectfully,
​

NTB

Read More

Wishing to attain liberation

10/21/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

I am a lay disciple.

I took refuge with my Master at my village in 2010.

Recently, I  set up an altar at home to worship the Buddha. ​

Each morning, I offer incense and make the vow for rebirth to the Pure Land. I do not have a lot of time to recite sutras or recite the Buddha’s name. I have two children of school age who keep me quite busy.

After I learned about Buddhism I resolved to attain liberation this lifetime. My wish is that my two children would someday leave the home life and cultivate vigorously in order to help society and others.

I don’t know which Dharma Door to cultivate or how to cultivate it. Many people advised me to cultivate Pure Land. My husband does not want me to go to the temple, except for on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month. Often, he scolds and berates me severely. It makes me quite upset but I do not know what to do. My husband is much older than me.

Please kindly tell me what to do?

Emituofo!

Thank you very much.
​

NTTT

Read More

Reciting the Infinite Life Sutra

10/18/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

I worship Shakyamuni Buddha. Is it OK for me to recite the Infinite Life Sutra? Please clarify this for me.

Emituofo,
​

VTH

Read More

Recitation Dharma Doors

10/15/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

First, allow me to say that my sister and I are very grateful that you took time of your busy schedule to talk to us for so long. ​

​Unfortunately, we had an engagement with our family or else we would have loved to ask you to clarify a lot more things for us. Please kindly clarify the following for us:

1. 
In your Chan Handbook, you transmitted the Buddha Recitation Dharma Door to the readers. Can we use the same methodology to recite mantras?

2. When we Use the Guan Yin Dharma Door (Contemplating the Sounds Method), do we contemplate both the sound and the Dan Tian. Would that not create distractions [the mind being split between two tasks]?

3. In the Handbook, you indicated that the Shurangama Mantra is the most powerful. Should I memorize it in Vietnamese, Chinese or English? If I do not have the time, is it OK to just recite the heart of the Shurangama Mantra?

​I hope that we will have the opportunity to participate in the temple’s Fo Qi (Buddha Recitation Week) or Chan Qi in the future.

We wish you good health, peace and bliss, blessings and wisdom in abundance and success in the Buddha’s work.

Respectfully,

TD

Read More

Reducing creation of karmas

10/12/2013

 
Question:

Greetings Venerable Master,

I came across your website while searching for the teachings of Venerable Master Xuan Hua, and I had the luck of finding the Q&A section. ​
​
I’d like to say in advance that I am sorry if I may sound rude or offensive. I do not consider myself to be a Buddhist but I greatly admire Buddhist teachings; they sound right in my heart. I also admire the resolve of left-home people to cultivate in order to help all living beings. I already learned a lot from the Q&As, but I have some questions I was hoping that you may clarify:

Read More

Summer Chan Qi Feedback

10/6/2013

 
Question:

Dear Master,

First of all, I would like to pay my respects to you in thanks for organizing the Chan Qi retreat for us. During the one month I stayed at Lu Mountain Temple, it felt like I was living in a small version of the Mahayana Pure Land and that you were the Cardinal who with altruism saved living beings by teaching us the meditation dharma.
​
Lu Mountain Temple is a calm, relaxing, dignified place, and very suitable for meditation. While there, I learned a lot of meaningful things: Spiritual cultivation practice is the best daily activity; we should have no fear of suffering (that is, we should be willing to accept the suffering and have patience to bear it when most people do not); and do not be satisfied with what we have achieved. You have taught us that we should not waste our samadhi energy with false thoughts. This energy which is on a higher plane is unconditional but it is lost when we think false thoughts because they are conditional.

Read More

Neglecting Husband

10/3/2013

 
Question:

Emituofo.

We already have two children but my husband still prefers to spend time with his friends, drinking among other things. I want to convince my husband to walk the Buddha path with me but am not sure what I should do. ​

I often recite the Buddha’s name and repent, hoping that my husband will quickly change his ways. I also pray that the Buddha will awaken my husband: but is it too greedy of my part?

Please kindly instruct me.

PSD

Read More

How to make vows

9/19/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

Please teach me how to make vows.

Thank you very much.
​

MT ​

Read More

Touched by Master

9/10/2013

 
Question:

Na Mo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha:

Please kindly instruct me!

It hurts me deeply to talk about this.

One day, a monk that I really admired the most embraced me. As I was still stupefied, he asked me whether or not I was attracted to him. I immediately answered that I was not. He instantly apologized to me. Afterward, I thought about it and told myself that I was not interested in him and yet he chose to embrace the dust and he was not actually embracing my body.


Ven. Master, is my thinking correct? Or am I just fooling myself?

Thank you for your help
​

LHM

Read More

Returning to Lay Life

9/4/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

I know of someone who left the home life a long time ago.

Recently, that person is considering returning to lay life: would that involve committing offenses?
​

TTMH

Read More

What is Pure Land

8/5/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

What is the Pure Land Dharma Door?
​

LBN

Read More

Rebellious Daughter

8/2/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

I feel miserable because my daughter will not listen to me even though she is only in the sixth grade. She is twelve years old. What am I to do?

Emituofo,
​

Buddhist disciple TH

Read More

What about Fa Lun Gong

7/31/2013

 
Questions:

Ven. Master,

What do you think about the Fa Lun Gong?

Thank you.
​

MTV

Read More

Preparing for Rebirth

7/28/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

I am very happy that you returned safely from your trip to Asia to take care of the temple matters.
​
I recently spent a lot of time to listen your Dharma Talks from your web site repeatedly. As a result, it has helped restore my original faith and respect you. The eight winds blew and yet you were unperturbed and at ease, whereas your disciple’s mind was deeply moved. My gongfu is still quite inadequate [even after decades of vigorous practice]! Once again, please accept my sincere apologies [for doubting you].

Read More

Where is Proper Dharma

7/25/2013

 
Question:

[Regarding a comment made about a senior monk’s Dharma]

I agree with your assessment. Mahayana and Hinayana are two different paths. What are we Buddhist disciples to do? Where can we find Shakyamuni Buddha’s Proper Dharma?
​

QV ​

Read More

Erroneous Breathing Contemplation

7/22/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,
​

I still do not understand: what is meant by “breathing naturally” and do “not interfere with the breathing?” Please give me an example and elaborate.

In my limited understanding, to breathe naturally, does that mean that one does not take long or short breaths? Please kindly clarify this for me.


When I am standing or sitting on a chair, I can breathe very comfortably, my breath fills up my stomach effortlessly (it takes about six seconds to fill up my stomach) and I feel very good. However, while sitting, especially in full lotus, my breathing becomes difficult. The first three seconds are OK, but afterward it does not feel comfortable, as if there is some obstruction and I experience discomfort in my stomach. When I continue to breathe, air cannot fill up my stomach as much as while I am standing or sitting in a chair. Similarly, when exhaling, the first three seconds are OK but afterward, it feels uncomfortable.


Read More

Repenting for Deviant Sex Precept

7/19/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

If I have sex with the person I love, is it a violation of the Deviant Sex Precept? If so, how do I repent for it? Please kindly instruct me.

Emituofo,
​

HP

Read More

Masturbation & False Thinking

7/16/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

I have two questions:

1. If a lay Buddhist disciple masturbates, is that a Precept violation? Is that repentable? Is masturbation a violation of the Deviant Sex Precept?
​
2. When I recite sutras, I still have a lot of false-thinking and that makes me very afflicted. Am I creating offenses because I cannot control my thoughts?


Please kindly instruct me so that I can better understand Precepts.
​

Emituofo,

JK

Read More

Helping Niece With Mental Challenges

7/13/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

I have a niece (my brother’s daughter) who is 16 years old. Her physical body is developing normally but her mind is not. Her mind is that of a 2-year old: she cannot speak, she has no memory, and she needs help to bathe.

Occasionally, she goes into a fit and destroys everything in sight. Her parents are very sad and miserable as they have taken care of her for all these years.

I’ve come to realize that my brother’s family and my niece have very heavy karmic obstructions. Therefore, on my niece’s behalf, I often repent, recite sutras and recite the Great Compassion Mantra, hoping to lighten her karmic retribution.

Is my thinking correct? If so, can my actions have any positive effect?

Please teach me how to help diminish her karmic obstructions and to turn her toward the Triple Jewel for guidance and help.

Thank you very much and I wish you good health.

Respectfully,
​

TA

Read More

Stomach Growls When Meditating

6/15/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master,

I have been contemplating my breath as per your instruction. I need further direction because I think ran into some problems:

I inhale and expand my tummy, hold my breath for 2-5 seconds and then exhale. Often when I hold my breath, my stomach starts making bubbling noises even as air comes out from my mouth. While I contemplate my breath, I feel very comfortable. If I prevent the air from escaping then I feel a little bit of discomfort. Also, I pass gas while I meditate but I still feel as comfortable as before.

Is there anything wrong with my practice? Please clarify it for me. After I started following your meditation methodology, I feel better and can sleep better. For that I am very grateful and wish you great health.

Respectfully,
​

TA

Read More

Facing Leaving Home Life Tests

6/11/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master:

I was born into an area where Buddhism was obstructed and could not thrive. Thus, when those to whom I introduced Buddhism obtained great results, I became blissfully happy.

In time, I came to realize my path to leave the home life and return to my area try to propagate the Proper Dharma.

Unfortunately, due to my mistakes, while I was preparing for my university examinations, I could not practice that much and could only recite the Buddha’s name in a very limited way. And now I have a change of heart about leaving the home life, and love and desire well up inside of me. This is the biggest reason for my hesitation. I read Master XuanHua’s biography and used what I learned from it to not indulge in worldly pleasures. But my greed for love is extremely overwhelming. Please kindly assist me.
​

HS

Read More

Let Go Memory

6/9/2013

 
Question:

Ven. Master:

What can we do to detach from our memories?
​
DMĐ

Read More
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Categories

    All
    42 Hands & Eyes
    49-day Dharma
    Abortion
    Chan & Meditation
    Deviant Sex Precept
    Healing Illnesses
    Karmas & Repentance
    Leaving Home Life
    Medicine Master Buddha Dharma
    Non Buddhist Practice
    Personal & Family Issues
    Proper Dharma
    Pureland & Rebirth
    Tantric & Mantras

    Archives

    October 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011

    RSS Feed

RELATED LINKS

Temple Locations
Buddha Relics


​
​© 2010 – 2024 Chanpureland.org 

  • Home
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Live Stream
    • Temple Activities
    • FoQi
    • ChanQi
    • Online Classes
    • Relics
  • Calendar
  • Dharma
    • Download Audio & Slides >
      • Sutra Lectures >
        • Avatamsaka Sutra
        • Six Patriarch Sutra
        • Heart Sutra
        • Vajra Sutra
        • Amitabha Sutra
        • Earth Store Sutra
        • Medicine Master Sutra
        • The Bequeathed Teaching Sutra
        • The Sutra in 42 Sections
      • Dharma Talks Archive
      • Chan Meditation Archive
      • Fo Qi Archive
      • Chan Qi Archive
      • Outreach Archive
    • Ceremonies
    • Dharma Blog
    • Q&A
  • Practices
    • Practices
    • Training Program
    • Cultivation Stories
  • Publications
    • Publications
    • Chan Handbook
    • Pure Land Handbook
  • About
    • Statement of Faith
    • Location
    • Contact
    • Master YongHua
    • Contribution
    • Sponsorship
  • Languages
    • Tiếng Việt
    • 한국어
    • 中文首页
    • Español
    • Portuguese