Assignment 3 - Valerie Tseng

The Venerable Master greatly changed my life. His teaching is now part of my daily life ~_~. I learned to notice my bad habits, to reflect and to transform them though I often fell short of myself. He inspired me to do my best in life in body, speech and mind. When I encounter problems or face challenges, I look to the Buddhadharma and Venerable Master for light and clarity. Amazingly, every time I would encounter the teaching that I needed to develop the wisdom to overcome them, often through different sources and people. I came to develop great faith that Dharma would come to me when I am ready and sincere for it. Having such an unselfish person as role model has set the direction for my own life. I am forever grateful to the Venerable Master and will never be able to do enough to return his kindness but I try my best to cultivate according to his teachings.


Source:  DM Heng Chih's lecture, Bodhisattva precepts June 2009
She said that the Venerable Master said this and it to really spoke to me.

The time when we begin to study a Sutra, take refuge, precepts, when we begin to learn a Mantra, is a time when we can change our faults, start anew. Whatever our bad habits were before, I am not going to do this anymore. It is not going to be me. Stress, worry, angry, frustration, unhappiness look like ghosts.


It is the same temple but we can change the spirit. Wherever we are, we can make it a way place (Vajra Sutra). We can leave our frustration, anger, it will be the power of the precepts and resolve that can make it happen. You don't want to be like the old you, you can become another person.

When I heard this I thought to myself that gosh I didn't want to look like a ghost and became self-conscious about them whenever these emotions arose ^_^. That strong imagery really got me to want to reduce those emotions. Plus reading the Shurangama about emotions is an eye opener.