Former Abbot President in North America for propagating dharma

In early May, Ven. Guo Dong (果東法師), former Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain, made a trip to North America on behalf of the current Abbot President, Ven. Guo Hui (果暉法師), to propagate Dharma teachings.

In the afternoon of May 4th, at the invitation of Chinese Buddhist Culture Association, Ven. Guo Dong delivered a speech titled “Good wishes for the world – mutual benefits for a life of wisdom,” at Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel.

Nearly two hundred participants were present, including Wang Lihua (王隸華), wife of Wang Dingjun (王鼎鈞), a well-known writer now residing in America, and Yang Chaohua (楊朝華), holder of Sheng Yen Professorship of Chinese Buddhism at Columbia University.

Ven. Guo Dong pointed out that for most people life is full of suffering, which is actually caused by the vexations in their mind. And their unwillingness to change makes their sufferings even worse. If, according to Ven. Guo Dong, one could embrace the law of cause and consequence and the law of causes and conditions as the principle of life, and transform emotions into compassion and wisdom, then one’s life will be full of wisdom, be it long or short.

Later, Ven. Guo Dong visited Dharma Drum Mountain Massachusetts Buddhist Association on May 11th, the Buddha’s birthday. Close to eighty upholders came to participate in the Buddha Bathing Ceremony. In his speech, Ven. Guo Dong encouraged everyone to learn to let go of self-centeredness, manifest our inherent Buddha nature, and develop inner awareness. Using transplanting rice as an analogy, the former Abbot President pointed out that farmers need to bend down and move backwards in order to do the job properly. Because their heads are lowered, they could clearly see the splendid sky reflected in the paddy field; although they seem to be moving backwards, they are actually making progress.

The next day, Ven. Guo Dong gave a speech titled “Good wishes for the world – creating good affinities by settling body and mind.” In the speech, he pointed out that modern people are constantly under pressure from their busy lifestyle. They are prone to be discontent with the status quo, yet unable to transform their sufferings from within. In fact, one will gain clearer insights into the reality, if one could adjust one’s thinking, trying to minimize the self-centeredness. What’s meant by reverse thinking is to think positively, do not stay attached to the negative side of things, be observant of one’s own arising thoughts and be at ease with them – In addition, one should be grateful, and try to let go of gains and losses in dedicating oneself to fulfilling one’s vows.

Texts: Venerable Yan Shan (釋演禪)
Translation: Frances Liu (劉演珮)
Editing: Elenda Huang, John Wu (吳俊宏), Shujen Yeh (葉姝蓁)

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