Bodhi

Has this ever happened to you? You?re reading Romeo and Juliet but you keep getting frustrated because there's no bank heists and barely any surfing. You?re halfway through watching Point Break on your laptop when you slam it shut, shouting ?this doesn't even rhyme ? You?re trying to hold a copy of a Shakespeare play and your Point Break DVD in the same hand so you can pick up a cup of coffee with your other hand but they don't fit together and they slip out of your hand so you try to catch them with your other hand but that spills coffee all over your white t-shirt and the play and the DVD and the cup hit your toe and you cry out in pain but then you glance at the title of the play and it's Much Ado About Nothing which just adds insult to injury so you throw your head to the heavens and scream ?there has to be a better way ? Well now there is. Point Break and Shakespeare, together at last.

"Everything returns to Oneness at the source, but there are many expedient methods that lead us there." This is a very popular saying in Buddhism. However, even though there are many expedient methods, we must really practice with diligence; - otherwise, we are left with only many expedient methods having no particular benefit for anyone- namely, with nothing at all. Therefore, Master Shih- Hsien Hsing-An (1685-1733) took pity on people and devas, for he could not stand the spectacle of Sangha members and lay Buddhists abandoning the great Tao or wasting time. He also felt that losing their opportunity to progress toward and even to gain Enlightenment was, indeed, a great pity. So Master Hsing-An wrote this composition, urging people to generate the Bodhi Mind as quickly as possible. He encourages all Sangha members and lay Buddhists to be diligent in their practice and to delay no longer. The Master promotes the ten causes and conditions leading to the state of grace in order to teach people how to generate their own Bodhi Mind. The Bodhi Mind is the Mind of Enlightenment; and if one has already generated the Bodhi Mind, he then can take the Great Vow to benefit all other sentient beings by enabling all people to generate their own Bodhi Mind and attain Supreme Enlightenment. Thus, it can be said that the Bodhi Mind is like a fertile field, growing all pure Dharmas in the minds of sentient beings. Also, the Bodhi Mind is like the bright sun, illuminating the whole world. Furthermore, the Bodhi Mind is like a broad way, allowing and encouraging all sentient beings to enter the City of Wisdom. This means that the Bodhi Mind is a peaceful haven to which all sentient beings can ultimately return. We have, very fortunately, been reborn in this world. Fortunately, also, we have been reborn as human beings and are able, therefore, to learn the Buddha Dharma. If we do not make the most of this good opportunity and are not diligent in generating our own Bodhi Mind, then it would really be a great pity to lose these great causes and conditions that make possible the generation of the Bodhi Mind. This idea is reflected in the sutra, which says "Once we have lost the human body, we cannot recover it even in ten thousand kalpas." If this is truly the case, then wouldn't the loss of our bodies and the opportunity to generate the Bodhi Mind be unfortunate and, indeed, a great pity? The Great Master Shih-Hsien Hsing-An, with the deepest compassion for all beings bound to the transmigratory Wheel of Life-and-Death, very kindly took the Great Vow to rescue all sentient beings from the ocean of suffering and convert them by helping them eliminate their defilements and by teaching them how to generate the Bodhi Mind. If people come to be aware of the importance of the Bodhi Mind, they should also be clear about Enlightenment as it relates to the Bodhi Mind. The Bodhi Mind is Enlightenment, and Enlightenment is the Mind of the Great Tao. To benefit people and to help them become more aware of the interrelationship of these concepts, I have appended to this Composition Urging the Generation of the Bodhi Mind a gatha of over one hundred lines, which was taken from The Avatamsaka Sutra, and is entitled "Merits Gained by Generating the Bodhi Mind"; and its purpose is to promote and strengthen the generation of the Bodhi Mind. In addition, I have added Ch' an Master Cheh Wuh's "Ten Articles of Faith", which alerts people to strive to achieve Enlightenment through their own minds and the practice of the Tao of Bodhi. I sincerely hope that these additions will help all people to integrate the concepts of the Bodhi Mind, Enlightenment, and the Great Tao and that all people will gain great benefit from the Buddha Dharma and be led, through it, to the desired goal. So I would like to say to all virtuous men and women and to all my friends: We are human beings and have a rare and wonderful opportunity to hear the Buddha Dharma now; so we should feel very happy and should be careful to consider this opportunity to be very precious within this lifetime. We should make absolutely sure that we do not miss this opportunity or let it slip by due to a mindless oversight. After reading this Composition Urging the Generation of the Bodhi Mind and if you have thereby generated, concentrated, and embraced your Bodhi Mind, please continue to increase it. On the other hand, if you have not yet generated your Bodhi Mind, please do so immediately. Then hold it forever, never letting yourself regress! In this light, The Avatmsaka Sutra says: Though a wheel of fire about your head Were wildly whirling and flaming,Just do not abandon your Bodhi Mind, Even amidst such strong suffering. This gatha clearly expresses to us the idea that it is extremely important that no person should overlook or neglect generating the Bodhi Mind and, furthermore, that one must be ever vigilant and mindful never to regress.

‘Wisdom of the Talking Bodhi Tree’ is a fable for both children and adults, telling the stories of life and its lessons in a fictional world. A knock on the door... a trip to the ancient forest... Follow the mystical journey of an old man as he searches for the all-knowing and wise, talking Bodhi Tree. A journey of a lifetime, hear the old man’s story of riches and losses and of his final pursuit for true happiness. As he finally stumbles upon the ancient tree... Will the wise Bodhi Tree have the answers he is seeking?

The Resolve for Bodhi (bodhicitta), the aspiration to reach full Awakening for the sake of all living beings, is a core element of Mahayana Buddhism. This short text by Master Xing An (d. 1734) who lived in Hangzhou, provides instructions on the Resolve for Bodhi that fit well into the Chinese cultural context, while staying true to the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism. Mainly written for a monastic audience, the text provides an intriguing glimpse into the Buddhism of the Qing Dynasty, which is yet to receive much scholarly attention. At the same time, the text and its modern commentary by Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua also speak to the people of the twenty-first century, asking what makes our lives worth living. (Based on audio recordings of lectures given by Master Hua at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah, California, in 1979, and at Gold Mountain Monastery in San Francisco in 1985)

This book contains thirty numbers of the renowned Bodhi Leaf Publication series, dealing with various aspects of the Buddha’s teaching. 1 Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta—Trans. by Soma Thera; 2: The Simpler Side of the Buddhist Doctrine—Kassapa Thera; 3: Earnestness—Vappo Thera; 4: Of Gods and Men—Francis Story; 5: The Lesser Discourse of the Buddha on the Elephant-footprint Simile—Trans. by Soma Thera; 6: Buddhist Aids to Daily Conduct—Edward Greenly; 7: One’s Own Good—And Another’s—David Maurice; 8: The Four Sacred Shrines—Piyadassi Thera; 9: How to Teach Buddhism to Children—Dr. H. Klar; 10: Rabindranath Tagore and Buddhist Culture—S. Bimal Barua; 11: Buddhist Ideals of Government—G. Vitanage; 12: Attitudes to Life—Ruth Walshe; 13: An Old Debate on Self—Soma Thera; 14: Pride and Conceit—Dr. E. Ashby and B. Fawcett; 15: Buddhist Meditation—Francis Story; 16: Comments on the Buddha Word—J. D. Ireland; 17: Buddhism and Democracy—K. Leidecker & B.P. Kirthisinghe; 18: Buddhist Therapy—Ruth Walshe; 19: The Dhamma—Bhikkhu Khema; 20: Guide Posts For Buddhists—Sita Paulickpulle-Renfrew; 21: Aspects of Buddhism—Piyadassi Thera; 22: Great Sayings of Anagárika Dharmapála—Bhikshu Sangharakshita; 23: The Place of Animals in Buddhism—Francis Story; 24: The Three Roots of Ill and Our Daily Life—Karel Werner; 25: The Buddha’s Practical Teaching—John D. Ireland; 26: Our Reactions to Dukkha—Dr Elizabeth Ashby; 27: Treasures of the Noble—Soma Thera; 28: Escapism and Escape and Buddhism and Mysticism—Y. M. Rao; 29: A Larger Rationalism—Francis Story; 30: Detachment—T. H. Perera.

This book contains thirty numbers of the renowned Bodhi Leaves Publication series, dealing with various aspects of the Buddha’s teaching. 31 Meditation—First Steps to Control of the Senses—P. M. Rao 32 The Threefold Division of the Noble Eightfold Path—Piyadassi Thera 33 Extinction Without Remainder—Buddhadasa Bhikkhu 34 Protection Through Satipatthana—Nyanaponika Thera 35 The Four Cankers (Asava)—T. H. Perera 36 Renunciation—T. Prince 37 The Preparatory Path—John D. Ireland 38 The Advantages of Merit—Bhikkhu Khantipalo 39 The Supreme Conqueror—Francis Story 40 Right Understanding—Bhikkhu Silabhadra 41 Applications of Dhamma—Siri Buddhasukh 42 Buddhism: A Method of Mind Training—Leonard Bullen 43 The Relevance of Buddhism in the Modern World—Princess Poon Pismai Diskul 44 Three Mental Faculties and Guarding the Doors of the Senses—Dr. Elizabeth Ashby 45 This Self Business and Other Essays—M. O’C. Walshe/Natasha Jackson/Dr. Elizabeth Ashby 46 The Way to Happiness—H. L. B. Ellegala 47 Women in Ancient India—C. D. Weerasinghe 48 Buddhist Observances and Practices—Piyadassi Thera 49 Saísara and The Way of Dispassion—Francis Story 50 Buddhist Ideas in English Poetry—Cyril Moore 51 Meditation: The Inward Journey—John Andrew Storey 52 Mindfulness: An All-Time Necessity—C. F. Knight and Reg McAuliffe 53 Why Buddhism? Why Theravada? Theravada, Mahayana, Hinayana—M. O'C. Walshe 54 Rebirth—John Andrew Storey 55 The Scientific Approach to Buddhism and The Appeal of Buddhism—Francis Story 56 Three Buddhist Tales—Various Authors 57 The Story of the Mahinda, Sanghamitta and the Sri Maha-Bodhi—Piyadassi Thera 58 An Actual Religion—Bhikkhu Silacara 59 Buddhist Lay Ethics—Francis Story 60 Mindfulness and Awareness—Nyanavira Thera

Collected Bodhi Leaves Publications Volume V (includes Bodhi Leaves 122-157) The Bodhi Leaves Publication series deals with various aspects of the Buddha's teaching. BL 122: To Light a Fire by Venerable Webu Sayadaw BL 123: Rdical Therapy by Lily de Silva BL 124: Nothing Higher to Live For by Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano BL 125: Prisoners of Karma by Suvimalee Karunaratna BL 126: Painting the Buddha's Eyes by Douglas Bullis BL 127: Family Planning & Birth Control in Buddhist Perspective by Louis van Loon BL 128: The Short Analysis of Kamma by Venerable Mahathera Nauyane Ariyadhamma BL 129: The Living Message of the Dhammapada by Bhikkhu Bodhi BL 130: The Blessed One's City of Dhamma by I.B. Horner BL 131: Of Mindsets and Monkeypots by Petr Karel Ontl BL 132: Ministering to the Sick and the Terminally Ill by Lily de Silva BL 133: A Taste of the Holy Life by Susan Elbaum Jootla BL 134: A Journey into Buddhism by Elizabeth J. A. Harris BL 136: A Good Dose of Dhamma by Tan Acharn Kor Khao-suan-luang BL 137: The Benefits of Walking Meditation by Sayadaw U Silananda BL 139: Buddhist Culture, The Cultured Buddhist by Robert Bogoda BL 140: The Healing of the Bull by Suvimalee Karunaratna BL 141: Detachment and Compassion in Early Buddhism by Elizabeth J. A. Harris BL 143: Discourses of the Ancient Nuns by Bhikkhu Bodhi BL 145: Transmitting the Dhamma by Susan Elbaum Jootla BL 146: Globalisation from a Buddhist Perspective by Pracha Hutanuwatr and Jane Rasbash BL 147: The Struggle of Letting Go by Suvimalee Karunaratna BL 149: In the Presence of Nibbana by Ajahn Brahmavamso BL 150: Five Visions of a Dying Man by Ven. Rastrapal Mahathera BL 151: Parents and Children by Ven. Medagama Vajiranana Nayaka Thera BL 152: The Joy Hidden in Sorrow by Ayya Medhananda BL 153: The Ending of Things by Ajahn Brahmavamso BL 154: The Good, The Beautiful, and The True by Bhikkhu Bodhi BL 155: Right Knowledge by P. D. Premasiri BL 156: How Free is Freedom of Thought by Sanath Nanayakkara BL 157: The Bodhisattva Concept by A.G.S. Kariyawasam