2015 October Newsletter2015 October Newsletter

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News and Announcements

Picture1Words of Wisdom

Maintain a mind free of attachment. Neither enjoy praise nor resent defamation. Do not crave, cling, grasp or reject. Let the bodhi mind manifest at all times—this is true bodhisattva practice.

這念心不染著，人家讚歎你不要歡喜，人家毀謗你也不要煩惱，不貪不愛，不取不捨，這念菩提心始終都在，這就是真正的菩薩行。

—Words of Wisdom from Grand Master Wei Chueh, 惟覺大和尚法語 (For more words of wisdom)

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Diamond Sutra Ceremony

On Sunday, October 25 and November 22 from 9:30 am to noon, Buddha Gate Monastery invites you to participate in our monthly ceremony and chant the Diamond of Perfect Wisdom Sutra. Chanting the sutra and prostrating to the Buddha allow us to repent our misdeeds, purify our karma, receive Buddha’s blessings, and be in touch with our Buddha nature. Join us for a free vegetarian lunch immediately following the ceremony.

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Half-Day Meditation Retreat

Meditation can help you focus your mind, calm down, become more aware, and see things as they truly are. If you have completed the beginning meditation classes, we invite you to participate in the half-day meditation retreat to further advance your meditation practice. The upcoming half-day meditation retreats are on October 18 and November 1, 8 and 15 from 8:30 am to noon.

Picture110Lamp Offering

Making a Lamp Offering to the Buddha is a way to honor the Buddha while awakening our own intrinsic wisdom. According to the scriptures, when making a Buddha lamp offering, we gain good health, purity of the mind, freedom from worries, and extinction of ignorance. We can also dedicate the merits to our loved ones and all humanity. You can now sign up to make a Lamp Offering for the year 2016 (January 1 to December 31).

Kitchen Remodeling

Our kitchen at Buddha Gate Monastery is over 50 years old, and needs to be upgraded for improved energy efficiency, work space, and safety.
The blessings and merits of maintaining a monastery are inconceivable. By providing support, you help provide a peaceful environment for everyone to associate with the Three Jewels, understand the Truth, liberate from suffering and obtain perfect wisdom. With a respectful mind, we invite everyone to make offerings to support the Buddha Gate Monastery kitchen remodeling project.

Meritorious Volunteering

Volunteers form an important part of the Buddha Gate community. You can help the monastery by maintaining the buildings and grounds, working in the kitchen, and preparing for ceremonial events. By generously offering your time to support the monastery you not only accumulate blessings, but also practice patience, compassion, tolerance and working harmoniously with others, thereby developing the Chan state of mind and applying it toward everyday life. The monastery invites everyone to participate in the meritorious volunteering every Sunday afternoon.