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| "To be liberated is not escaping reality. It is eliminating vexations, eradicating erroneous thoughts, and opening the knots in our minds. When the mind is opened to true understanding, that is liberation." |
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On Saturday, July 4, Buddha Gate Monastery will host our annual vegetarian potluck in celebration of Independence Day. We will feast on a large variety of vegetarian dishes and be entertained by live performances. Afterward, we will make candlelight offerings to the Buddha, symbolizing the shattering of our ignorance and illuminating our inner wisdom. As the sun starts to set, we will make our pilgrimage climb up the hill to the Guan Yin |
statue and enjoy the panoramic view of the Bay Area fireworks. The climb represents the traditional practice of a mountain pilgrimage.
Come celebrate this special day with us. Bring friends and your favorite vegetarian dish. Please call and register in advance so we can plan for enough seating. |
From August 3 to August 7, BGM will host our full day Bodhi Seed Summer Camp for children ages 5 to 15. The program is free but space is limited. (details and application) |
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On April 26th, Buddha Gate Monastery celebrated Buddha’s birthday with the traditional Buddha Bathing Ceremony. Members of the Buddha Gate community, family, friends, guests and visitors all had an opportunity to participate in this annual cleansing ceremony. By bathing a statue of the baby Buddha, we had an opportunity to inwardly cleanse away our anger, greed and ignorance, and focus on our pure (Buddha) nature. (view article and photos). |
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From April 26 to September 13, Buddha Gate Monastery invites all Dharma friends and disciples to join us in the daily recitation of the Sutra of the Medicine Buddha Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata and help us observe the Sangha Summer Retreat. (View article and schedule) |
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Freedom in today’s society has many meanings. Some understand freedom as the ability to do whatever they want. Others feel that freedom entitles them to care only for themselves, “not even willing to lift one finger to benefit the world.” Neither way leads to true freedom. Buddhism teaches that true freedom is not freedom of ignorance, not the freedom to indulge, and not sensual freedom.
If we wish to gain true freedom we must discipline both body and mind. The body should be relaxed, yet not indulgent. The |
| mind should be at ease, calm, peaceful, still, focused, and without delusive thought.
How can we achieve this?
- We can engage in contemplation and reflection; reflecting inwardly to maintain awareness of each thought.
- We can work to attain bodily freedom by refraining from killing, stealing, and sexual offences.
- We can avoid malicious speech, cursing, lying, and frivolous talk.
- When we see pleasing things or hear beautiful sounds, we can avoid greed or the desire for yet more.
It is through self mastery we are able to achieve true freedom.
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This month we feature an interview with Sonia Chu, the Vice President of the Dharma Support Society at Buddha Gate Monastery. Sonia has been a Sangha member for eight years and tells us about her meditation practice, vegetarianism, and her visit to Chung Tai Monastery in Taiwan. She is also a frequent volunteer and participant in Buddha Gate classes and ceremonies. Read Sonia’s interview and find out about the Dharma Support Society and more. (Read interview)
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Each month we pick one of the Arhats that has a statue here at Buddha Gate Monastery to help explain the theme of the month. This month’s theme is ‘Liberation’.
Nakula was the fifth of the Eighteen Arhats. He was born into a wealthy family and was a very famous musician. After renouncing the home life, he could not bear the practice of asceticism. He became weak and emaciated. Although he could tolerate bodily sufferings, he was really perplexed that he could not realize the Dharma, so he had a thought to disrobe himself. The Buddha perceived his mind, and asked him: “If the string of your harp is kept too tight, what would happen?” Nakula replied: “It will break if the string is too tight.” “What would happen if it is too loose?” “There will be no sound.” Then the Buddha said: “Practicing the Dharma can be likened
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to playing the musical instrument. You should neither slacken nor overstress yourself. Hence, you should be calm and balanced when you practice the Dharma. Everything should be moderate.”
Hearing the Buddha’s advice, Nakula was suddenly enlightened, and soon he became an Arhat, liberated from physical and mental suffering in this world. |
Being a vegetarian does not mean sacrificing taste and food texture. Try this Curry Cauliflower and other recipes by Dharma Master Jian Zhou and be amazed at how nutritious and delicious vegetarian cuisine can be. (View all recipes, local grocery stores) |
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| To be added on or taken off the distribution list, email us at mail@buddhagate.org |
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