How I entered the Buddha's Teachings.

Avalokitesvara, Buddha of Great Compassion... saved my life on more than one occasion. I will tell you a story from my own meandering experience...

Many years ago, I had a nervous breakdown. At the time, I met a new friend that was a social drug user. I, myself, didn't partake in it, but as you keep the company of fools too long, soon you become a fool. Since I did not know how to deal with my life's affliction's, soon I too became a drug addict. During the course of my addiction, I felt immense shame, and I tried different approaches of rehab to end my suffering, but to no avail.

One day, I was browsing the book store, I bought a book by Thich Nhat Hanh called the Heart of the Buddha's Teaching's. In the course of three months, I tried to read this book, but didn't understand it's meaning, most likely due to the drugs still in my system. I put the book down. A thought arose, "I remember in the past, I was told if I was ever in danger to call out to Kuan Yin, the Great Compassionate Buddha!"

Fastforwarding...One day, in the wee hours of the morning, I was hallucinating on drugs. I saw demons in the backyard starring at me. Some had smiles on their faces. These demons I saw were nothing I had seen in movie's nor television let me add. I was immediately frightened out of my wits, of course being on drugs we are already out of our wits in the first place. Hah! At that moment, I remembered that if I was ever in danger to call out to Kuan Yin, the Buddha of Great Compassion. So when I saw the demons, I screamed to the top of my lungs, "KUAN YIN! Please help me STOP!"...guess what happened after I woke up next day? I never touched it again. I didn't even have craving nor withdrawals. It was an efficacious and miraculous event!

From that moment onward, I wanted to know what it was that saved my life. So I picked up every free distribution books on Buddhism I could get my hands on, and I spent the next year, from when I awaken in the morning to time I rest at night, I read, read, read, read. After I read those free distribution books, I bought Sutra's, and read those. Some I continue to read over and over again. That's my story of how I entered the Buddha's teachings.

I learned an important lesson. You see, I used to look down on other's that were drug addicts. I had to learn compassion the hard way. I no longer look at drug addictions with a discriminating mind, I try my best to accept all people with all faculties and conditions with a sense of understanding, empathy, and compassion. If you have an arrogant mind, and think yourself better than other's just because your situation is more pleasant, do take heed and learn from my own experience so you too do not have to encounter such a test yourself.

I hope my story will benefit other's now and in the future. No matter how doomed one may feel, there is help. There is a way to redemption. Always remember and keep in your heart and your mind that if you are ever in compromising situations call out to Kuan Yin, the Great Compassionate Buddha that Hear's the Cries of the World.

The reason why this Buddha is depicted as having so many arms is because it takes so many to reach all living being's.

Rest in natural great peace

Rest in natural great peace
This exhausted mind
Beaten helplessly by karma and neurotic thought
Like the relentless fury of the pounding waves
In the infinite ocean of samsara.

Rest in natural great peace.

~Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche

"How do thoughts and emotions settle? If you leave a glass of muddy water quite still, without moving it, the dirt will settle to the bottom, and the clarity of the water will shine through. In the same way, in meditation we allow our thoughts and emotions to settle naturally, and in a state of natural ease. There is a wonderful saying by the great masters of the past. I remember when I first heard it what a revelation it was, because in these two lines is shown both what the nature of mind is, and how to abide by it, which is the practice of meditation. In Tibetan it is very beautiful, almost musical: chu ma nyok na dang, sem ma chö na de. It means roughly, ‘Water, if you don’t stir it, will become clear; the mind, left unaltered, will find its own natural peace.’

What is so incredible about this instruction is its emphasis on naturalness, and on allowing our mind simply to be, unaltered and without changing anything at all. Our real problem is manipulation and fabrication and too much thinking. One master used to say that the root cause of all our mental problems was too much thinking. As Buddha said: "with our thoughts we make the world". But if we keep our mind pure, and allow it to rest, quietly, in the natural state, what happens, as we practise, is quite extraordinary."

~ Sogyal Rinpoche

Words spoken by Soygal Rinpoche inspired by a poem by Nyoshul Ken Rinpoche set to music written and performed by Richard Page.  Vajra Guru Mantra song on Sacred Chants of the Buddha album.  Video by Dharma Doors.

The Avatamsaka Sutra

 ‘THE GREAT MEANS EXPANSIVE BUDDHA FLOWER ADORNMENT SUTRA.’

Introduction A brief outline with annotations to inform people about the existence and accessibility of the AVATAMSAKA SUTRA, the first sutra spoken by the Buddha after he attained enlightenment. by Soo Hoong Liung, disciple of the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua Homage to the Avatamsaka Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as Vast as the sea, Homage to the Avatamsaka Sutra The greatest event in history is the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha because at that time, the World Honored One spoke the Great Means Expansive Buddha Flower Adornment Sutra. In Sanskrit, it is known as the Maha-Vaipulya-Buddha-Avatamsaka-Sutra. In Chinese, it is called the Ta Fang Kuang Fo Hua Yen Ching. National Master Ch’ing Liang says, Without Rising from Beneath the King of Trees, He Extends to Seven Places in the Dharma Realm. Preface The Buddha used the Sea-Seal Samadhi to speak this Sutra with his Dharma Body in seven places and nine assemblies, in the human realm and in the heavens. The First Assembly gathered at the site of his enlightenment; the six chapters spoken here are: The Wondrous Adornments of World Rulers. The Appearance of the Thus Come One Universal Worthy’s Samadhi The Coming into Being of Worlds The Flower Store Sea of Worlds Vairochana The Second Assembly is at the Universal Light Palace; the six chapters spoken here are; The Names of the Thus Come Ones The Four Holy Truths Light Enlightenment Bodhisattvas Ask for Clarification Pure Conduct Worthy Leader The Third Assembly is at the Trayastrimsha Heaven; the six chapters spoken here are: Ascending to the Summit of Mt. Sumeru Praises Atop Mt. Sumeru The Ten Dwellings Brahma Conduct The Merit and Virtue from First Bringing Forth the Mind Understanding Dharmas The Fourth Assembly is at the Suyama Heaven; the four chapters spoken here are: Ascending to the Suyama Heaven Palace Praises in the Suyama Heaven Palace The Ten Conducts The Ten Inexhaustible Treasuries The Fifth Assembly is at the Tushita Heaven; the three chapters spoken here are; Ascending to the Tushita Heaven Palace Praises in the Tushita Heaven Palace The Ten Transferences The Sixth Assembly is at the Bliss from Others’ Transformations Heaven (Paranirmitavashavartin); the one chapter spoken here is: The Ten Grounds The Seventh Assembly is again at the Universal Light Palace; the eleven chapters spoken here are: The Ten Samadhis The Ten Penetrations The Ten Patiences Asamkhyeyas Life spans Bodhisattvas’ Dwelling Places The Buddhas’ Inconceivable Dharmas The Sea of the Marks of the Thus Come Ones’ Ten Bodies The Light of the Merit and Virtue of the Thus Come Ones’ Minor Characteristics Universal Worthy’s Conduct The Thus Come Ones’ Appearances The Eighth Assembly is again at the Universal Light Palace; the one chapter spoken is: Leaving the World The Ninth Assembly is back in this world, at the Jeta Grove; the one chapter spoken here is: Entering the Dharma Realm (Includes Universal Worthy’s Conduct and Vows Chapter) National Master Ch’ing Liang says, Considering that in the Proper Dharma Age Its Pure Glory Still Remained Concealed, How Fortunate that in Semblance and in Final Times This Profound Teaching is Happened Upon! Moreover, when one meets a Sagely Ruler, Obtaining it on Magic Mountain, Exhaustively Reflecting on its Esoteric Doctrine, How can one but Jump for Joy. Table of Contents Acknowledgments Writer’s Foreword Introduction Title of Sutra Chapter 1 The Wondrous Adornments of World Rulers Ten Kinds of Assemblies Earthquakes Chapter 2 The Appearance of The Thus Come One Shakyamuni Buddha’s Buddhaland Is Pure Vimalakirti Sutra Chapter 3 Universal Worthy's Samadhi Chapter 4 The Coming Into Being of Worlds The Hearers Could Not See or Hear How the World Comes into Being Chapter 5 The Flower Store Sea Of Worlds Scientists Wind Wheels Five Eyes Chapter 6 Vairochana Do Not Waste Time Chapter 7 The Names Of The Thus Come Ones Buddhas’ Names / Titles Chapter 8 The Four Holy Truths Suffering Chapter 9 Light Enlightenment Chapter 10 Bodhisattvas Ask For Clarification Chapter 11 Pure Conduct Mind Household Life Renunciation Filiality Chapter 12 Worthy Leader Faith Chapter 13 Ascending to the Summit of Mt. Sumeru - Trayastrimsha Heaven Chapter 14 Praises Atop Mt. Sumeru Humility Chapter 15 The Ten Dwellings Chapter 16 Brahma Conduct Chapter 17 The Merit and Virtue from First Bringing Forth the Mind Bodhi Resolve Yen Hui Chapter 18 Understanding Dharmas Requesting The Dharma Chapter 19 Ascending to the Suyama Heaven Praising The Buddha Chapter 20 Praises in the Suyama Heaven Chapter 21 The Ten Conducts Non-Opposition Nirvana Chapter 22 The Ten Inexhaustible Treasuries Precepts Heavens Chapter 23 Ascending to the Tushita Heaven Bowing Chapter 24 Praises in the Tushita Heaven The Buddha’s Bodies Chapter 25 The Ten Transferences Compassion Giving Chapter 26 The Ten Grounds Happiness Science Education Chapter 27 The Ten Samadhis Chapter 28 The Ten Penetrations Judging Logic Greed For Powers Chapter 29 The Ten Patiences Patience Chapter 30 Asamkhyeyas Mathematics Ineffable Chapter 31 Life Spans Amitabha Buddha Chapter 32 Bodhisattvas’ Dwelling Places Manjushri Bodhisattva Chapter 33 The Buddhas’ Inconceivable Dharmas Why The Buddha Enters Nirvana Chapter 34 The Sea of the Marks of the Thus Come Ones’ Ten Bodies The Buddha’s Thirty-Two Marks Of Greatness Chapter 35 The Light of the Merit and Virtue of the Thus Come Ones’ Minor Characteristics Repentance Chapter 36 Universal Worthy’s Conduct Anger Chapter 37 The Thus Come Ones’ Appearances The Buddha’s Five Teaching Periods Chapter 38 Leaving the World Serving The Buddha Filiality Animals Vegetarianism Chapter 39 Entering The Dharma Realm Repaying The Buddha’s Kindness Manjushri Bodhisattva Venerable Shariputra Youth Good Wealth Good Knowing Advisor The Shurangama Sutra Meaning Of South Upasika Unmoving Purity Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva Compassion Eye Faculty Lady Maya Avatamsaka Syllabary The Ten Kings of Vows Conclusion Bibliography Glossary Verse of Transference