Chinese New Year Celebration Talk

Chinese New Year Celebration Talk

Jan /20/ 2023 – Jan / 21/ 2023

Hello everyone, I am so glad that we can spend Chinese New Year here in the Dharma Rain Meditation Center. Today is one of the most important days of Chinese and also for the Buddhists. From today, the spring will come back to the earth, and everything refreshes, just as our old Chinese saying goes, “spring is to one year what morning is to one day.” I sincerely hope that everyone has a bright new year and please believe that today is going to be a fantastic beginning.

Before I came here, I got a text from my student in Australia; she asked me what is the most important thing for her in the coming new year, now I would like to ask you the same question, Let me hear your answers … You want to know my answer; I will simply say, the Bidhi Resolve.

What is the Bodhi resolve? I have a very simple analogy: Before we bring forth the Bodhi resolve, we are like flour before yeast is added. Bringing forth the Bodhi resolve is like adding yeast to the dough so that it will rise and expand over time. What is the Bodhi resolve like? It is without any form or mark; it is only the enlightened way. To be enlightened means to understand; to understand the principles of the way. Yet we should not stop at understanding the principles; we must also cultivate the way.

 The Bodhi resolve can also be compared to a pagoda: no matter how tall a pagoda you plan to build, you have to start from the ground. The ground is analogous to our “mind ground.” Just as we have to build a pagoda story by story from the ground up, the Bodhi resolve is similarly built up from the mind ground. Starting very small, it gradually grows greater and higher. And eventually, when we perfect our merit and virtue, we will become Buddhas. This is only a very simple and rough analogy.

Now you understand the reason I emphasize the Bidhi Resolve in the very beginning of the year, it is not basic but also crucial, it decides the directions of your way, it also decides what will you gain in the new year.

This is the first thing I want to say in this special event, and secondly, I assume that if I do not talk, there will be someone going to ask soon, how? How to plant my Bodhi resolve and see the lights of Buddha? The Buddha’s light shines everywhere. The light of the Buddha’s wisdom illumines all living beings’ minds, purging them of greed, hatred, and delusion. That light dispels the darkness and eradicates 84,000 bad habits and faults. We are studying Buddhism because we want to get rid of greed, hatred, and delusion, and cast off our attachments.

“Why haven’t I seen the Buddha’s light?” maybe you will ask.

Isn’t studying the Buddha’s teachings and uncovering our wisdom seeing the Buddha’s light? If you don’t understand the teachings and studying them only makes you more confused, it’s because you haven’t renounced your bad habits and faults. You can’t say that the Buddha’s light doesn’t shine everywhere. If you don’t develop your wisdom and hang on to your greed, hatred, and delusion, then even though the Buddha’s light shines everywhere, it can’t shine on you. It neither shines nor doesn’t shine; it shines without shining. When the light of your wisdom appears, just that is the Buddha’s light shining everywhere. Before your own wisdom, light has come forth, for you, the Buddha’s light doesn’t shine everywhere.

The Buddha’s light is like electricity from the power company. The cables and switches may be installed in the house, but if we don’t switch on the lights, the house will remain dark. Why? Because the power isn’t connected. As soon as we flip on the switch, the lights go on, and the darkness is gone. Our mind can be compared to a light switch. If we turn on the switch in our mind, the Buddha’s light will shine forth. If we can’t flip the switch, then even though the Buddha’s light is there, it can’t connect. This is a simple analogy, but it conveys the principle. Everyone should quickly turn on the switch in his or her mind and receive the guidance of the Buddha’s wisdom light. That’s what it means to be illumined by the Buddha’s universal light.

Therefore, open your mind, feel the unique connection between you and Buddha in the upcoming blessing chanting, Wishing you all the blessings of a beautiful New Year.

Thank you for your listening!