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From Four Noble Truths to the Four Grand Oaths
From Four Noble Truths to the Four Grand Oaths AUG/12/ 2023—AUG / 13/ 2023 Hello everyone, welcome to our Dharma talk at Great Thunder Meditation Center. You will probably feel curious; why we have to talk about the logical relationship of the Four Noble Truth, Dukkha is eight sufferings, samudaya are causes, nirodha is Nirvana, marga is thirty-seven bodhipakṣa dharma, they are four independent parts, why Buddha concluded them in Four Noble Truth? Indeed, in the modern society we are so easy to ignore the Dukkha, ignore the fact that the life journey in this world is suffering; it is so difficult to read the phenomenon of life, to understand…
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Taking the Precepts as Our Guiding Principle
Taking the Precepts as Our Guiding PrincipleApr /22/ 2023– Apr / 23/ 2023 Hello everyone, welcome to our Dharma talk at Great Thunder Meditation Center. What is the guiding principle? We often concentrate on the main points; guiding principle is the main point or key point highlighted by its representative, normative, and lead characters. Some people disagree that taking the precepts as our guiding principle, they said that focusing on Zen, Pure Land or reciting the Buddha’s name is our program and the most important part of cultivation. This is a very common opinion. Many Buddhist ask me: Which Dharma gate should I learn? Should I recite Buddha’s name or…
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Taking the Precepts as Your Master
Taking the Precepts as Your MasterApr /1/ 2023 – Apr / 2/ 2023 Hello everyone, welcome to our Dharma talk at Great Thunder Meditation Center. The Shurangama Sutra says: Controlling your heart as the precepts, reaching the samadhi due to the precepts and getting the wisdom because of samadhi. We call it Three Non-Outflow studies. In April, May and June, we will discuss the precepts, samadhi and wisdom. It is well-known that the precepts, samadhi and wisdom is a summary of the Eightfold Path. They are three weapons to deal with desire, anger and ignorance, helping people ultimately relieve the afflictions and attain nirvana. The three are mutually reinforcing and…
