Author: Shi ZhiXing

Bodhisattva Precepts Manual

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The Bodhisattva Precepts is a set of training rules undertaken by those individuals who are striving on the path towards Buddhahood.  Together with the Six Perfections, the Bodhisattva Precepts form a part of the Three-fold Practice of Sila, Samadhi & Prajna.

This
translation is based primarily on the teachings given by our late teacher Master Miu King (恩師上妙下境老和尚) on this precepts and also draws from our understanding of the Chinese Mahayana lineage and also from various sutta translations from the Pali Canon.

While we learn through the translation of this precept manual, we hope that this translation will serve to open the doors for English speaking communities to the Treasures found in the Buddha Dharma.

Should there be any typos, errors or mistranslations, please contact us so that we may put in updates and corrections where necessary.

May the merits and wisdom accrued from this translation lead to the attainment of Nirvana, Buddhahood of all sentient beings.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Bodhisattva Precepts Manual

 

(From the chapter of Precepts in the “Foundational Support Śāstra”1)

By Maitreya Bodhisattva 

Translated by Tripiţakas Master Dharmarakşa (India) in Guzang, the capital of Northern Liang

 

Translated into English in Singapore by

Ven. Shi Chuan Guan (wakeupnow@gmail.com)

Mr. Lee Cheng Soon (ruqing@gmail.com)

Started in June 2011, first draft in November 2011.

Completed in March 2012.

 

菩薩戒本經

（出地持戒品中）

慈氏菩薩說　

北涼天竺三藏法師曇無讖於姑臧譯

 

英譯

釋傳觀

李清順

於新加坡譯

2011年6月開始，2011年11月完成（初稿）

2012年3月完成

1 ~ This is identical to chapter forty on Bodhisattva Precepts found in the “Yogacarabhumi Śāstra”.

London ~ Buddhists Surge by 74% in Britain

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What we may not see often in the local Singapore news.  Buddhism is one of the fastest growing religion in Britain according to a research by the "House of Commons Library" in London.

 

Britain won't be Christian nation by 2030: Report

http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5896555

London, March 3 (IANS) Britain may no longer be a Christian country by 2030 as the number of non-believers is set to overtake the number of Christians, a media report said.

Christianity is losing more than half a million believers every year, while the count of atheists and agnostics is going up by almost
750,000 annually, the Daily Mail reported.

Research by the House of Commons Library found that while Christianity has declined, other religions have seen sharp increases.

In the last six years, the number of Muslims has surged by 37 percent to 2.6 million; Hindus by 43 percent and Buddhists by 74 percent. But the number of Sikhs and Jewish believers fell slightly, according to the Mail Friday.

Read more

 

The Power of Love and Compassion by a Buddhist Monk’s Prayer Jolts the Chinese

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We sometimes underestimate the power of Love and Compassion through our prayers.  A Buddhist monk touches the Chinese people as he held "the dead man’s hand, bowing and praying for his final peace".

http://www.latitudenews.com/story/buddhist-prayers-jolt-chinese/

There are many images that could compete for a “2011 photo of the year” award in China. But few would have bet that the picture of an unknown monk praying over a dead man would turn out to be among the most popular.

 

Memorise a sutra or mantra today!  When you meet someone who is down or in fear, a gentle recitation can go a long way to help.

As always, common sense apply. If the person need some water or food, give water and food for the body, and offer a prayer for the mind and heart.  

Korean Doctor Uses Meditation as Therapy

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What has meditation done for you recently?

People around the world are finding peace and calmness amidst the stressful modern society through the ancient practice of meditation found in Buddhism.

 

http://mingkok.buddhistdoor.com/en/news/d/24454

Dr. Jung Soon Young of Koyang Physiatrics Hospital received his phD degree at the Seoul Buddhist Graduate Program through his research paper on Korean Buddhist meditation program for Schizophrenia.

Dr. Jung uses the three steps; preparation, concentration, and mindfulness meditation, to make the patients be aware of their bodies. Dr. Jung re-developed Korean seon and mandala meditation, yoga and started this new program from November 2010.

After eight runs of this meditation program, the results proved to be positive.

In Dr. Jung’s research, the symptoms of depression in the control group was much higher than the group that received Dr. Jung’s Korean meditation treatment. His re-search showed that Buddhist meditation was largely helpful in improving individual’s lifestyle. 

 

The nature of Buddhist meditation does not impose nor require any belief systems beyond the effort to observe one's own body and mind, making it suitable for everyone including theists and atheists alike.

Visit the nearest Buddhist temple and enquire about meditation.  Request that they start classes and programmes if they do not have one already. 

Sharing at a Christian Meditation Seminar

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Earlier last month on 7 / 8 January 2012, I was invited to share at the Christian Meditation Seminar "Common Ground" in Catholic Junior College.

It was eye opening to hear speakers from five different religions coming together to share their religion's way of meditation as I was for the longest time under the impression that meditation was found mainly in Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and various Indian religion.

As most religions were theistic, meditation was for them,  a way to "reach God through silence".  For Buddhist, meditation was a way to purify our mind.

What to me is a step forward was to have people from different religions, using different meditation techniques to meditate together, without a need to convert the other, or to prove that "mine is better than yours".  

During the seminar, I took the opportunity to share the "common human experience" that we all shared.  When we don't get what we want, we fret, we are disappointed, we are unhappy.  Depending on the degree of our want, craving or attachment, we may experience suffering differently.  This does not depend on your gender, age, race, beliefs or nationality.  It is a fact, a Truth of our human condition.  The First Noble Truth of Suffering and the Second Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering (Craving and Attachment).

Most non Buddhists are quite taken aback when they realised that they just agreed to the Buddha's teachings on the Four Noble Truths … or at least the first two.  For the most part, non Buddhists may not have a chance to readily or easily get to know the teachings of the Buddha, so half the time, they may reject Buddhism based on hearsay or misconceptions.

Beyond the above sharing, I also shared with them "Dog Poo".

Yes, dog poo.  I quote myself based on what someone noted down of my talk

"What happens when you step on dog poo", asked Ven Chuan Guan. Your exclamation of disgust is followed may be by a tap dance, you look for a patch of grass/a bit of
wall. You take a plastic bag, clean it off your shoes, wrap it up, tie a nice knot, keep it in your pocket. Keep it warm. Then you go home, tell your family, show it to them: all smell, have a whiff. It was a dalmation, a german shepherd.

Your family says “that’s nothing, let me show you mine”.

So it is with emotional dog poo which does not taint the body but dirties the mind, We choose to live this cycle or choose not to bring home dog poo. Meditation helps.

Visit the Catholic News (Singapore) web site to read more. 

Perhaps all religious leaders, senior and youths alike should be required to attend interfaith events so that we can learn about other religion's teachings.  In learning, it is not to relinquish our own teachings or belief and accept other religions, but to have understanding and appreciate the goodness in others even if it flies under a different banner.

Attack by Vandals Destroys Nearly 30 Buddhist Statues in a Maldives National Museum

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Once again, vandals are at work.  This time, the target was 30 Buddhist statues in a Maldives National Museum.

 

“The whole pre-Islamic history is gone.” said Mr. Waheed, the director of the National Museum.

It is not gone.  The statues are gone.  But one cannot change or remove history simply by destroying the statues.  Instead, they have written history, of how in modern day Maldive, inspite of the destruction, Buddhists do not return blow for blow, hatred for hatred.  They have helped affirm the Buddhist teaching on loving kindness, compassion and true inner peace and calm.

Fellow friends, keep in mind.  The expression of the Buddha's and Bodhisattva's qualities and teachings in the statues can be destroyed, and has been harmed and destroyed numerous times.  Dharma books can be burnt, and has been burnt numerous times.  Teachings memorised in our heart can be lost if we die or are killed, and has happened before.  

But the Truth pointed by the teachings, the learning and application of the teachings, the fruit of inner peace and calm, and the unshakable cessation of suffering, Nirvana … that cannot be harmed by words and blows nor destroyed by guns and bombs.

 

 

MALE, Maldives — The broken glass from an attack by vandals on the National Museum here has been swept away, and the remnants of the Buddhist statues they destroyed — nearly 30 of them, some dating to the sixth century — have been locked away. But officials say the loss to this island nation’s archaeological legacy can never be recouped. [1]

 

References

[ 1 ]  The New York Times