Buddha’s Light International Association of Queensland,

Australia

BLIAQ Newsletter

1034 Underwood Road Priestdale QLD 4127, Australia Website: www.chungtian.org.au Email: ibaq@chungtian.org.au Ph: 3841 3511 Fax: 3841 3522

Chung Tian Buddhist Temple

March 2019 Edition 132

A newspaper headline recently caught my eye. More than half of the front page carried

a banner reading ‘I want it all’. The following three pages were entirely taken up with

the same message in bold black letters on a bright orange attention grabbing backdrop-

‘I want it all’. This was not a newsworthy story of national significance. It was an

advertisement for Pay TV. This legitimising of entitlement with unspoken undercurrents

of ‘you deserve to have everything’, is ubiquitous. It also implies having everything

equates with happiness. I’m not suggesting people should not have Pay TV, but the

trend seems to be towards having everything with no regard for consequences. The

current Exhibition of Environmental Art in the Temple Gallery is a fine example of

consequences when we disregard the impact ‘wants not needs’ can have on our

environment. Master Hsing Yun reminds us that more desire leads to more suffering,

but that knowing how to be satisfied with what we have is the cure for that suffering.

He also tells us ‘ordinariness is greatness, demanding nothing is sublime’ (365 days for

travellers). Happiness is the true letting go of the many attachments that are part of life

in 21st century western society. It is also about being free of delusions that tell us we

need or must have things – be they material objects, position, status or power. These

‘wants and needs’ not only link to greed, but also to pride and attachment. The Buddha

taught that happiness lies in limiting our desires, yet our society tells us happiness can

be found in fulfilling our desires. The Buddha taught that contentment is not an end in

itself, rather it is a means to a greater end because true contentment makes wisdom

our only concern. It is wisdom that allows us to see past the illusions around us, and to

then banish the delusions within us.

Contents this issue

Our Beautiful Temple Page 2 This Month’s Words of Master Hsing Yun Page 3 Photos of Temple events Page 4-5 Member contribution, A Morning Prayer Page 6 March Activities Page 7-8

2 March Filial Piety Sutra

3 March Clean Up Australia Day

30 March Buddhist Chanting Service with Merit Transfer to the Deceased

16 March Great Compassionate Repentance Service

Greetings to all our readers: February was a very busy month at the Temple, and we saw our Venerables and BLIAQ members working tirelessly to make the events of Chinese New Year, The Cultural Day and the Opening of the new Art Exhibition to name but a few, such a success. We have included several photos in this month’s letter, as well a message from the branch deputy president who has developed a Facebook page for members. This month also sees a contribution from our branch President Gary, who has sent us the original English version of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Morning Prayer, an earlier version of the one used in the Sunday morning English Chanting service. Continuing ‘Our Beautiful Temple’ series, we highlight the Zen Garden, while ‘Words of Master Hsing Yun’ are from a keynote speech he delivered in 1990.

12 March Ven. Yong Fu Buddhist Lecture

25 March Avalokitesvara Bodhisattvas Birthday

Thoughts from the Editors Pen

Buddha’s Light International Association Qld Newsletter Edition 132 March 2019

2

Our Beautiful Temple

The Zen Garden

The Temple Zen garden is characterised by a stylized landscape with plants and careful arrangements of rocks, gravel and sand to create a quiet place for people to erase the stress of everyday life. The concept of a Zen garden originated in Japan and the word ‘Zen’ used by the Japanese came from the word Ch’an in China and is frequently praised for its purity and meditative spirituality.

Dry landscape gardens lack an element that ties together all other styles of Japanese Gardens – water. Water is replaced by gravel giving the impression of a dry ocean or river. While people tend to focus on the stone settings of a dry landscape garden, the skill of the person who creates such a garden is more accurately reflected by the empty space between the stone groups. It is called ‘The Beauty of Empty Space’. Although dry landscape gardens are famous for using only gravel and rocks, in many dry gardens, plants play an important role. The Buddhist Trinity Stone placement or the Stone Triad is perhaps the most popular stone setting in Japanese garden design, representing a deity-stone in the middle with two supports on either side.

The striking statue in the Temple Zen Garden is that of the contemplating Maitreya Bodhisattva who gained widespread popularity, especially in Japan and Korea. Since Maitreya once manifested in China as a fat monk to deliver people, he is often portrayed in China as a fat smiling monk with a big belly representing his broad and accommodating mind. As the Temple Zen Garden is of the Japanese style, it is more appropriate to have Maitreya Bodhisattva in the contemplative posture which is the general depiction in Japan.

Maitreya is often depicted as a bodhisattva in Tushita Heaven 兜率天 1. He is usually sitting on a throne,

with one or both legs down, fingers to his chin as if in thought, contemplating ways to save all suffering beings, and emanating his loving thoughts. Images in this form are among the most famous Buddhist statues in the world.

Maitreya Bodhisattva is considered the next Buddha to come into this world in the distant future after Sakyamuni Buddha. Maitreya, meaning ‘loving one’ has a caring and generous character and is known for his loving-kindness. His posture helps to calm down our mind and enhance our spiritual refinement.

1Tushita Heaven is the 'Heaven of Contentment' the 4th of the 6 heavens in the Realm of Desire

Buddha’s Light International Association Qld Newsletter Edition 132 March 2019

3

THIS MONTH’S WORDS OF VENERABLE MASTER HSING YUN

The Fundamental Concepts of Humanistic Buddhism

The morning prayer by Venerable Master Hsing Yun and

recited in the English chanting service each Sunday

morning contains the phrase ‘I realise I came into the

human world to be happy’. With that quotation in mind,

this month’s words of Master Hsing Yun are from a

keynote speech he gave in 1990 reminding his audience of

that very fact.

The Buddha taught kindness and compassion. How

many are kind and compassionate? The Buddha taught joy

and equanimity. How many are really joyful and generous?

Buddhists live by Buddhism. It does not matter whether

one is in or away from this world. If a Buddhist is without

Dharma, how is he or she different from a non-Buddhist?

People say every family has Amitabha, every household

has Avalokitesvara. Avalokitesvara is worshipped in every

shrine. Everyone selects the best spot in the house for

Avalokitesvara. Why? Because Avalokitesvara is

compassionate. Only compassion is welcomed in each

household. Only with compassion can one be respected.

Only with compassion can the heart be truly pacified,

rightfully deserving respect and offerings.

I don’t know when Buddhism began being coloured by

pessimism. Whenever Buddhists see each other they

inevitably say such things as ‘life is suffering! Such

suffering! All is impermanent! Oh impermanence!’

Buddhism is happy in character and joyful in spirit. It

speaks of boundless happiness, endless compassion and

covering all the world with joy. When the Buddha spoke of

suffering as the First Noble Truth, he did so in order that

we could recognise the reality of suffering, so that we

could know we can be liberated from defilements and

attain joy. Suffering is not the final goal. The Buddha

taught that all phenomena are impermanent.

Impermanence is wonderful, for it makes change possible,

so that the bad can be transformed into the good. Because

of impermanence adversity can be followed by felicity and

bad luck can change for the better. It is because of

impermanence that fate is not irrevocably determined.

Our task is to disseminate the seeds of joy so that all the

world may attain the Dharma, and everyone can live a

complete fortunate and joyful life.

Excerpt from A keynote speech presented at the 1990 Buddhist Youth Academic

Conference January 1, 1990. Foguangshan Temple Kaohsiung, Taiwan. P16-17.

By Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

The branch now has a very new Facebook page

which we hope, you will check out. It is one of the

ways we are introducing to keep our members

informed about what is going on at the temple.

Follow steps below to join.

I emphasis this is a ‘members only’ closed group, do please visit and get it started.

Sharon Corbett Deputy Branch President

STEP 1 Go to the Facebook ‘Page’: BLIAQ Chung Tian

Branch and give it a ‘like’. This page will have basic information (nothing yet, it is a work in progress) but no interaction from members, think of this as the shop window.

STEP 2 Press the blue ‘visit group’ button, which will

take you to the place (inside) where members are encouraged to interact. Please request to become a member, once approved (only members will be approved) you will be able to add posts & pictures.

Buddha’s Light International Association Qld Newsletter Edition 132 March 2019

4

Some of our wonderful members

looking after the plant and book stalls.

Buddha’s Light International Association Qld Newsletter Edition 132 March 2019

5

Snapshots of Chinese New Year’s Eve.

Buddha’s Light International Association Qld Newsletter Edition 132 March 2019

6

Oh Great Merciful Buddha! Today is another new beginning! As the saying goes: The days plan is to be made during the morning,

On such a fine morning, One reflects on the past, I have failed, but never despaired, My heart was hurt, but in the end readily consoled; I have been aggrieved, But fully know that everything in life starts and ends with a cause; I have shed tears, But deeply believe that life will be better tomorrow. Today under the embrace of Your Compassionate Light Buddha, I pray and wish that you will Grant me the courage, to face all of today’s challenges. I pray and wish that you will grant me perseverance, so I can accept all of todays defeats; I pray and wish that you will grant me the strength, to shoulder all of today’s tasks, I pray and wish that you will grant me wisdom, So that I can be thankful for all casual encounters. Oh Great Merciful Buddha! Please help me to unlock my wisdom, Please help me to open my mind’s eye, so that I can appreciate the wondrous heaven and earth, So that I can feel the warm glow of mankind, So that I may obtain helpful support from friends, so that I can understand the exquisite treasures of Buddhism. Oh Great Merciful Buddha!

Please help me to become rich in heart, so that Every day it pleases me to give, Every day is enjoyable to encounter others, Every day I am compassionate and generous, Every day I am forgiving and caring. Oh Great Merciful Buddha! Please help me to become a warrior of life, who can think purely and clearly, who can always humbly offer, who can refrain from all evils, who can participate in every kind deed. Oh Great Merciful Buddha! I pray that under your embrace, I can be cleverly agile, and behold a Buddhist heart; I can have a pocket full of compassionate light, to save people from agony and misery Oh Great Merciful Buddha! I have felt your presence within my heart, I understand I came to the world joyously, I realise my purpose in this society is to contribute, I know I study Buddhism for perfection. I pledge from now on, every day I shall facilitate happiness and affection to enlighten myself and all other beings. I pledge from today on, My every moment will be spent on benefitting my country and enriching it’s people, To liberate myself and all other Beings. Oh Great Merciful Buddha! Please receive this morning prayer of mine, Oh Great Merciful Buddha! Please receive this morning prayer of mine. Namo Sakyamuni Buddha.

Thank you to branch president Gary for sending this in for inclusion in this month’s newsletter

Prayer and Wishes on Morning Rise

by Master Hsing Yun

Buddha’s Light International Association Qld Newsletter Edition 132 March 2019

7

FO GUANG SHAN CHUNG TIAN TEMPLE ACTIVITIES FOR MARCH 2019

Buddha’s Light International Association Qld Newsletter Edition 132 March 2019

8

Basic Buddhist & Meditation Class

Level: Level 1

Day: Sunday

Date: 17 Feb 2019 – 24 Mar 2019

Time: 9:00am-10:00am (Meditation)

10:10am-11:00am (Buddhist talk)

Cost: $30 per term - Booking required Buddhist Book Study & Meditation Class

Level: Level 4 (Free for BLIAQ members) Day: Sunday

Date: 17 Feb 2019 – 24 Mar 2019

Time: 10:00am-11:00am (Meditation)

11:10am-12:00am (Buddhist talk) Cost: $30 per term – booking is required

Intermediate Buddhist & Meditation Class Level: Level 2 Day: Sunday

Date: 17 Feb 2019 – 24 Mar 2019

Time: 10:00am-11:00am (Buddhist talk)

11:10am-12:00am (Meditation) Cost: $30 per term - Booking required Bodhi Class For Children Ages: 4 - 12 years

Sunday: 10.00am - 11.00am

Date: 17 Feb 2019 – 24 Mar 2019

Cost: $30 per term Every 2nd & 4th child from the same family will be free.

Children are taught Buddhist morals and ethics in a nurturing environment. Lessons are backed by fun activities which include: simple meditation, children’s tai chi, Buddhist stories and virtues, craft activities and team-building games.

Buddhist Study & Meditation Class

Level: Level 3

Day: Sunday

Date 17 Feb 2019 – 24 Mar 2019

Time: 10:00am-11:00am (Meditation)

11:10am-12:00am (Buddhist talk) Cost: $30 per term - Booking required

To book for the Buddhist classes, an application form must be completed and returned to the Chung Tian Temple’s reception together with full payment at least a week prior to the course commence date.

For all enquiries please contact 3841 3511 on Tuesday to Sunday, or email: ibaq@chungtian.org.au or see www.chungtian.org.au

Thank you

Teenager’s Buddhist Class

Ages: 13 - 19 years

Sunday: 10.00am - 11.00am

Date: 17 Feb 2019 – 24 Mar 2019

Cost: $30 per term

Every 2nd & 4th child from the same family will be free.

The intermediate Dharma class builds on

and expands the basic foundations of

Buddhist learning, aiming for a practical

approach and solutions to challenges issues

faced by young people today.

Tai Chi Class

Day: Every Wednesday

Time: 9.30am – 11.00am

Where: Chung Tian Temple

Cost: Free donation

Tai Chi Class

Day: Every Saturday

Time: 9.00am – 10.30am

Where: Chung Tian Temple

Cost: Free donation

Tai Chi Class

Day: Every Sunday

Time: 8.30am – 10.00am

Where: Chung Tian Temple

Cost: Free donation

2019 Term 1 - Meditation, Buddhist & Tai Chi Classes held at Chung Tian Temple

Please send items and suggestions for inclusion in the newsletter to: hvlennon@optusnet.com.au with the word ‘Newsletter’ in the subject. If referring to another person by name or photograph in your submission, please ensure you have their permission to do so. Thanks to 惜寬 for graphic design and layout of the newsletter, also to Peter Wu and Kim Perryman for photos of the Temple activities in February, and to Elaine Pun for assistance with Chinese translations and additional background information on the Zen Garden.

Environmental Art Exhibition highlighting consequences for disregard of the planet by our throwaway society.