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LET'S WALK TOGETHER ON THE GREAT PATH OF BODHI

Bhikshu Heng Lyu

An experience I had at fourteen made me feel that killing and eating animals was very cruel, and so I stopped eating meat. In 1981, reading the book Three Steps, One Bow made me loathe the fighting in the world, and think of leaving the home-life. In 1988, the Venerable Master led a delegation to Taiwan, inspiring my great admiration for cultivation. After work everyday, I started volunteering at the Dharma Realm Buddhist Books Distribution Society. While my daytime job was just for making a living, working at a Way-place of proper Dharma was the real purpose of life. Later, I felt that external giving was not enough. I wanted to give my mind and body entirely to Buddhism, to seek joy and peace for all beings. In 1990, with the Ven. Master's and the Society's compassion, I came to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, left the home-life, and received the precepts.

The City is a Pure Land in the world, and a great furnace.The city's strict tradition of the six great principles purify and rectify our bad habits. The Master's personal example of virtue makes me deeply ashamed. I should vigorously cultivate, and not be lax. Every night, after the bell has sounded, I always ask myself: now that this day is over, have I gained control over birth and death? Am I my own master? Or will I keep transmigrating? On the other hand, as I understand more Dharma every day, I feel fortunate to have heard the Dharma in this life. Though penniless, I feel peaceful and at ease. A wise teacher's compassion has taught me that "everything is made from the mind." We shouldn't underestimate ourselves. We should "forge our lives as our basic duty," without seeking comfort for ourselves. Even the slightest bit of comfort should be offered up. That is "to renounce our lives to do the Buddha's work." Not only should we do it once, we should do so time after time, even more in the future. A Sanghan is the model and teacher of people and heaven, a great hero who stands straight and tall, honestly upholding the precepts, doing what others cannot do. With untiring vigor, we can gradually wash away our bad habits from limitless kalpas past, and regain our original bright wisdom. This is "to rectify our lives as the Sanghans' duty."

Even though the path of Bodhi is long and far, I'm not alone on it, and it is brightly illumined. I hope all friends who aspire to revitalize this holy religion will make a great resolve to zealously advance together on this great, bright path.

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