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Summary of sermons delivered on 20th - 21st June 2009 |
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Written by Bernard Peh
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Jun 27, 2009 at 04:25 AM |
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Speakers hou and zhang (from taiwan) conducted 2 full days of talk in Tiandi temple on the 20th and 21st of June 2009. Many turned up and the feedback was very encouraging. We would like to invite them back to Tiandi again next year! I was thinking what I could do for those who didn't make it for the 2 days... I didn't make any recordings as I thought the translation would be very difficult for the listener (alot of pauses... and background noises) to follow. Instead, I summarised what they said in point form. Hopefully, it can be of use to all the friends out there.
1. How can we be faithful and not follow blindly? We need to identify negative teachings:
a) Any teachings that is physical or teaches us to look for truth outside the heart.
b) Any teachings that is verbal and focuses just on theory.
c) Any teachings that focuses on spells and magical powers.
d) Any teachings that teaches selfishnesses and focus on wealth, status and power.
2. Cultivating tao is nothing complicated. It is about being aware of what we are doing and doing one thing at a time.
"To look at one dot is difficult but to look at many dots is easy"
3. Ask ourselves what we want to achieve in this live. Set spiritual goals for ourselves and don't be distracted. Have faith, set goals, then get into action.
4. How to progress in tao cultivation?
a) Don't waste time. Time and tigh waits for no man.
b) If you want to do anything good for your soul, don't wait.
c) If you like to help out in tao activities, don't wait.
d) Always give thanks to our seniors and people around us.
We don't know what will happen to us tomorrow, so make full use of this physical body to do something good for yourself and the people around us. In cultivation, the law of karma applies. What ever effort you put in, whatever output you get. There is no shortcut. No minimum input, maximum out. Learn from the saints. They are good examples for us to follow.
5. People don't know where they come from and they should go. By receiving the tao, we know where we come from and where we should go. Anyone who receives and cultivate the tao will return to maitreya pureland in the future.
6. Mencius said "when the world is in chaos, tao will save the world". We need to spread humanity to everyone around us. Changing oneself is the only solution to change the world. Everyone asks everyone else to change first. Everyone is waiting. Who is willing to be the first one to change? Let us start first!
7. How much time do we need to change ourselves? time is not a problem if we have faith. Start from the basics. Change from the inner heart. Don't be afraid to start from scratch.
8. This is the era where we need to practice the buddhisattva way. We try to purify ourselves by being in crowd. We are a lotus flower that grows out from the mud but not stained by it. By being receiving the great tao, we become the disciple of matreiya. With matrieya divine vow, we are given three treasures to help us to achieve boddhisattva hood.
9. sacificing is happier that taking. We must learn how to sacrifice especially now when the practice of selfishness is prevalent. Compare the joy you get when you save someone and when you strike a lottery. What is the difference? |
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Last Updated ( Jun 27, 2009 at 04:31 AM )
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