In September 2015, our Master, wishing to encourage his disciples to respectfully listen to the Dharma discourses of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, establish right understanding and right views, and diligently cultivate themselves so that they might attain accomplishment and liberation at an early date, organized a program called “The Practice of Right Understanding and Right Views.” Participants were required to listen to one Dharma discourse each day for a period of six months. We immediately signed up for the program and also encouraged other Dharma brothers and sisters to participate so that we could support and remind one another to remain diligent in our practice.
On the evening of Friday, September 11, I took my “Dharma-Listening Record Sheet” and went to the home of Dharma Sister Huimin. As I approached the covered walkway in front of her home, I accidentally missed a step and fell. My right knee was injured and bleeding, and I also strained my lower back. Xiangjun’s mother, who was there at the time, immediately helped me up. That evening, I did not feel much physical discomfort. However, the following morning, the pain in my lower back was so severe that I could hardly get up.
After washing up, I was unable to sit on the sofa as I normally did to listen to the Dharma. Instead, I had to sit on the floor and lean against the sofa. After respectfully listening to two Dharma discourses, however, the pain in my lower back unexpectedly disappeared. I was able to stand up naturally, and the wound on my knee had almost vanished as well.
That afternoon, Xiangjun’s mother came to visit me. When she saw my condition, she was amazed and exclaimed, “This is incredible! Then I want to come and listen to the Dharma too.”
I had originally been worried that I would not be able to travel to the Buddhist center in Tainan on Sunday as scheduled to receive a Dharma transmission from my Master. I am deeply grateful for the blessings and protection of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Mahasattvas of the ten directions, and my Master.
Every day, when we listened to the Dharma at seven o’clock in the morning and again in the afternoon, two spotted doves would fly to our balcony and remain there quietly, listening together with us to the Dharma discourses of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. They neither made noise nor caused any disturbance. After the Dharma discourse ended, we would feed them, and over time they became unafraid of people.
Every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m., a number of diligent Dharma brothers and sisters would come regularly to the Jili Dharma-Listening Center, regardless of wind or rain, to respectfully listen to the Dharma discourses. We would also share with one another our experiences, insights, and reflections gained through cultivating ourselves and learning Buddhism.
The Dharma brothers and sisters understood that cultivating bodhi merit includes diligently introducing people to the Dharma and helping guide them to listen to the Dharma, cultivate themselves, and learn Buddhism. Their children, relatives, and friends noticed that after they began listening to the Dharma and cultivating themselves, they had learned to practice patience and forbearance, their complexions had improved, and they had also become healthier. As a result, new people gradually began joining us in listening to the Dharma, cultivating themselves, and learning Buddhism.
Seeing the joy that came from the transformation and growth of these Dharma brothers and sisters made me realize that I should work even harder to sow the seeds of bodhi far and wide, so that more relatives and friends may have the opportunity to hear and learn the true Buddha Dharma.
I feel profoundly fortunate in this lifetime to have the opportunity to hear the magnificent Buddha Dharma of Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and to follow my Master in cultivating myself and learning Buddhism. This has made my life fuller, richer, and more meaningful.
Buddhist Disciple Liyu
With palms joined in reverence
#DorjeChangBuddhaIII #Spirituality #Buddha #Buddhism
