Note: How fortunate it is that amidst witnessing the ongoing CoVid-19 pandemic, one has the opportunities since March 2020 to regularly read, listened and contemplated on dharma teachings shared by Sifu Kuan Ming, to stir one’s interest in Kuan Yin practice in the comfort and safety of one’s home via the messaging app and virtual dharma sessions.
OM MANI PADME HUM
It has been a year of learning and a year of experiencing. Each year, each month, each week, each day, in fact, each moment, provides a new meaning to life. This is a very important point to remember. It makes every moment precious, worth the while living for. It helps one not to spend time in useless and harmful activities. In January some predictions were made which pointed out how this years was to be. It has been such a year!
Many have come and gone - with different memories of what they had gained. You have done your bit to try to do those things which are meant to stir their interest in Kuan Yin practice. It is not up to you to expect anything from anyone. Even though you may be shouting into their ears that “Dharma practice is good, caring for others is the duty of life”, it may or may not bear fruit, but most certainly seeds have been planted into their minds. They will sprout in time to come when the conditions ripen and then they will receive their rewards. A year of learning means much time spent in studying, reflecting, hearing and presenting. Make sure each day in the future will be spent in such a way. A year of experiencing is to learn how to think, feel and work towards benefitting others, particularly those around you and those who come for some help. The fact that not all will receive immediate response or relief shows how difficult it is for anyone to try to help another and the need to see the great importance of developing further!
Learning and experiencing makes life meaningful. It also brings about great progress. You learn from others just as they learn from you. You see in others that they are but Kuan Yin in emanations and they see in you as the one whom Kuan Yin has blessed. Do some make you happy while others irritate you? They are all your kind teachers. They make you realise what self-cherishing is and how dangerous and harmful it can be, therefore the need to reorientate oneself for the better. It’s all a lesson in relationships. You will have to learn how to conduct yourself and how to view every being as special, being a field of merit solely for your benefit. It they had not come to you, you would not have had so many opportunities to learn in so many ways!
The conclusion is still that you have so much more to learn and so many more duties to perform. The meaning of life comes from this learning and being able to serve others.. So life is not to be taken as a bitter pill. It should be taken as extremely precious because all those so-called bitter and unhappy experiences have their meanings and purposes for this particular life. Those who are able to develop the habit of thinking, reflecting and contemplating, they have benefitted by the practice and they will easily fall into practice which will bring about positive results. They will come to the various stages of realisation and they will enter into a deeper and closer relationship with others. In this way, they will continue to learn what life has to offer, and they will be able to overcome the many difficulties of life.
Has it been so for the disciples or those who have made their ways here regularly. This is a place where they learn from seeing and hearing after which they are to spend time in contemplation - have they done so? When one is able to sit and contemplate, life will have so much to offer. Wisdom arises out of such a practice and it will help one to reach out for the others, to understand Bodhicitta! There is no need for anyone to practise in the hills or in places away from people. Such places are suitable only for the adepts, those who have practised, understood and are in need of quietude to work out certain commitments or for deeper studies. The average person must first of all learn how to relate with others. If this is not possible then where is the Dharma practice? Running away into quiet spots or going in retreats will not help them at all. They will still have to learn how to be with people and to know what life is.
Next year should be vigorously spent! More and more time should be utilised purposefully. More prayers to be recited for the well-being of the country and for the peoples of the world who must go through grave problems and sufferings. Renew the commitment of the reciting of the Mani and try to have the recitations increased. It is a way for them to help themselves and at the same time generating merits for the benefit of others. Those who are sincere in their practice will not be severely affected by their arising problems!
Learning comes mainly from one’s own effort. Prayers do not bring about knowledge. Those who are serious about advancing in the spiritual path must make the progress themselves - with every step that is made.
Next year will not be an easy year. It is up to each individual to take care of himself or herself. What better way is there than to try to generate merits, to live positively and purely, and to develop the spirit of caring for the happiness and well-being of others? The Essence of the Divine Spirits of every Buddha and Bodhisattva can be received by those who make the effort to reach out. This requires an open mind and a pure heart. To attain them is not an impossibility. The way has been shown, it can be applied to attain the positive results. The Kuan Yin Contemplative Order offers all everything that they need. All who are here play a very positive role in helping others, simply by holding the interest to see that all living beings can be happy through their prayers!
Monday, 28th December 1987 (11th Moon 8th Day)