Mostrando resultados por autor "Shih Cheng Yen" en Todas las categorías

The Sutra of Infinite Meanings is a very important Buddhist sutra. It can be seen as a turning point in the Buddha teachings, coming after He had already expounded the Dharma for over forty years. It is also an introduction to the Lotus Sutra. Therefore, Master Cheng Yen often stresses that the Sutra of Infinite Meanings contains the essence of the Lotus Sutra. The Sutra of Infinite Meanings is divided into three chapters – Virtues, Expounding the Dharma, and The Ten Merits. These Infinite Meanings arise from One Dharma; this One Dharma is of non-appearance. As living beings have ...

In this book, Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s spiritual teachings are compiled into relatively short English articles for reflection and contemplation. The collection is an eclectic one, based on talks to different audiences and from different sources. While they are loosely grouped into separate topics, each occupying one part of the book, the articles may stand on their own. Part I offers basic teachings on Buddhism, which can serve as a foundation for understanding the Master’s wider teachings. Part II is about cultivation, or ways we can put the teachings into practice to become a better ...

This book series contains thousands of Master Cheng Yen’s teachings or responses to questions on all sorts of matters. The earliest teaching documented in this series was given in 1980, when then president, Mr. Chiang Ching-kuo, visited the Jing Si Abode in Hualien. During this visit, Master Cheng Yen shared about the groups Tzu Chi Merit Association helped, the kinds of help provided, and its operating process. The most recent teaching was given in April 2021, after a Taroko Express train operated by the Taiwan Railways Administration derailed in and caused serious casualties. Master ...

"The Path to Truth" presents the principles of the Jing Si Dharma-lineage and the Tzu Chi School of Buddhism in an organized manner so that readers can gain a more comprehensive understanding. The book is divided into three parts. Part One: Pointing directly to the Bodhisattva-Path, the origins of the Tzu Chi School of Buddhism are explored, along with the gradual development of Tzu Chi's four missions. Part Two: Principles and Practices of the Modern-day Bodhisattva explains how the sutras are practiced and understood in this lineage and school of Buddhism. Part Three: From One to Infinity...

“To bring harmony to our society and eliminate disaster in the world, we must begin by bringing purity to people’s hearts.” This book is divided into four parts: the Life Chapter, the Wealth of Wisdom Chapter, the Great Love Chapter, and the Cultivating the Heart Chapter. It covers stories from Buddhist scriptures, legends, and real-life experiences. Using these stories, Master Cheng Yen shares profound Dharma through simple words. Like a pure stream, these stories help wipe away the dust covering people’s minds. These stories also act as a light tower, guiding us to exercise our ...

This inspiring and enlightening collection of 70 Buddhist stories told by Dharma Master Cheng Yen exemplifies how the karmic law of cause and effect plays out in people’s lives – unwholesome karma is created by deeply rooted negative habitual tendencies, eventually leading to undesirable consequences. By learning the Dharma, however, people will understand the truths of suffering and will come to realize the manifold blessings in their lives. They will be further inspired to tread the Bodhisattva Path and to practice the Six Paramitas. It is only by doing so that they can return to ...

"What is karma?” “Which is more important: harmony or principles?” “How can we understand ourselves?” “How can we be understanding toward others?” “What is true spiritual cultivation?” Dharma Master Cheng Yen answers these and other questions from people seeking guidance in their spiritual journey.　 Infinite TEACHINGS, Infinite MEANINGS is a collection of questions and answers that are organized based on the key concepts in Chapter Two of the Sutra of Infinite Meanings ─ “Expounding the Dharma.” In this book, Dharma Master Cheng Yen wisely answers questions related...

“May all people’s hearts be purified; may all societies be in harmony; and may the world be free of disasters.” Year after year, Dharma Master Cheng Yen offers these three prayers. In this book, she shares how her three prayers can become reality—by practicing good speech, doing good deeds and making good vows. Through good speech, we can purify people’s hearts. Positive words bring blessings, and negative words bring misfortune. If we hope to purify people’s hearts, we must constantly speak good words as a way of blessing ourselves and others. Practicing good deeds brings ...

"The world is impermanent; the earth is perilously fragile." ~ The Sutra of the Eight Realizations of Great Beings As unenlightened beings, we are easily pulled this way and that by our conditions. In our state of confusion, we unwittingly pursue fame, fortune, desire, and pleasure. How many of us truly take time to contemplate the meaning of our lives? The Sutra of the Eight Realizations of Great Beings contains the fundamental practices allowing us to make the most of our potential as human beings. In her explanation of the text, Dharma Master Cheng Yen uses stories from the Buddha’s ...

“I am very impressed by Dharma Master Cheng Yen.”— Thich Nhat Hanh “Dharma Master Cheng Yen is a role model for us all.”—Dalai Lama The Thirty-Seven Principles of Enlightenment contains 7 parts: (1) The Four Right Efforts, (2) The Four Steps Towards Obtaining Supernatural Powers, (3) The Four Considerations, (4) The Five Roots, (5) The Five Strengths, (6) The Seven Factors of Wisdom, and (7) The Noble Eightfold Path. The Buddha reminded us to practice the Thirty-Seven Principles to Enlightenment, which tells us the way to live a wholesome life. We must have right views and ...

Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s teachings in the Three Ways to the Pure Land: The Three Essential Principles for Cultivating Pure Causes are based on the “three blessings from pure actions” described in the Amitayurdhyana Sutra (Sutra of Contemplation of the Buddha of Infinite Life). In the traditional interpretation, cultivating “pure causes” will allow us to be reborn in the Pure Land of Amita Buddha, the Buddha of Infinite Life and Infinite Light. However, the way that Master Cheng Yen teaches about pure causes is different – her focus is on how we can work to establish a pure land...

What is a “bodhisattva”? “Bodhisattva” does not have to refer to a carved statue, neither does it have to refer to a being with supernatural powers. A true bodhisattva is a person who does not fear hardship in body and mind in seeking to help others. This book compiles discourses from 1990 on the Ten Grounds of Bodhisattvas, the ground of joy, the ground of freedom from defilement, the ground of radiating light, the ground of blazing wisdom, the ground of overcoming difficulties, the ground of manifestation, the ground of far-reaching practice, the ground of stillness, the ground of...

The Path of Good Teachers compiles Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s teachings to educators, such as how they should instruct their students in the current social climate, how to best align their attitudes and expectations with the task of education, and how to interact with students and parents. It also touches upon how students should interact with their teachers and how parents should have the proper mindset when teaching their children. This book is divided into ten chapters and emphasizes that educators must have a heart of joy and equanimity and spacious hearts that can accept new ideas and...

Dharma Master Cheng Yen once said, “Time is the most precious thing in life. Every day, month, or year spent in peace is a thing of joy. At the new year, many people express that they have made it through another year, as if the new year is a key threshold in life. People place importance on this time, but in fact, we should be mindful of our lives every second. This is because life is impermanent. In the span of a second, life can end. This is why we say, ‘In every second, every hour, and every day, we should be mindful and present and strive to live a good life.’” A Steady Heart ...

Teachings and Commentary on the Sutra of Infinite Meanings is compiled from the teachings expounded during the seven-day Buddhist retreats in 1972 and 1973. Master Cheng Yen explained the sutra word by word, verse by verse, and complemented it with many analogies and real-life stories, connecting matters to principles. The book is organized as follows: The first volume includes the Preface, which describes the background of the teachings and Master Cheng Yen’s karmic affinity with the Sutra of Infinite Meanings, as well as her commentary on the first chapter of the sutra, “Chapter on ...

Teachings and Commentary on the Sutra of Infinite Meanings is compiled from the teachings expounded during the seven-day Buddhist retreats in 1972 and 1973. Master Cheng Yen explained the sutra word by word, verse by verse, and complemented it with many analogies and real-life stories, connecting matters to principles. The book is organized as follows: The first volume includes the Preface, which describes the background of the teachings and Master Cheng Yen’s karmic affinity with the Sutra of Infinite Meanings, as well as her commentary on the first chapter of the sutra, “Chapter on ...

“Creating a life of happiness must start from the mind. If we can all work to purify our minds and strive to do good every day, this world can become a pure land filled with happiness.” The Thirty-Seven Practices to Enlightenment are thirty-seven practices through which we can attain wisdom and reach the state of Nirvana. In this book, Dharma Master Cheng Yen uses the Adapted Verses of the Thirty-Seven Practices to Enlightenment as an outline to explain these essential practices, guiding practitioners onto the Bodhisattva-path.

Sutra of Forty-Two Chapters covers the essence of the Buddhist teachings. For beginning spiritual practitioners, this sutra is truly the best entry point to the profound Buddha-Dharma. The first chapter of the Sutra of Forty-Two Chapters clearly illustrates the sequence we should follow in our spiritual practice. The second and third chapters are mainly written for those who are ordained as monastics, while the fourth chapter and the chapters thereafter are guidelines for spiritual practice for people in general. In simple and plain words, the Buddha used vivid metaphors to patiently and ...

Master Cheng Yen has made a vow to spread the Buddha-Dharma and benefit all sentient beings. For decades, she has led Tzu Chi volunteers to walk the Bodhisattva-path joyfully, without regret. Over the years, Master Cheng Yen has gathered many stories from the Buddhist sutras as well as from real life. Based on the conditions and people’s capabilities, she kindly guides everyone with these stories. Each story provides teachings that illustrate the principles taught by the Buddha. The various forms of suffering, afflictions, and joys experienced by sentient beings are all created by the ...

“By practicing propriety, we return to our pure nature.” Throughout the universe, the planets and stars follow their orbits in accord with true principles. In this natural cycle of things, there is a state of peace and harmony. It is the same for human life. In life, if we can internalize the principles of propriety, we are abiding by the true principles. Those who live in line with the principles attain harmony in their daily lives and can help their family, society, and the world thrive with virtue.