Recently there has been an outbreak of Coronavirus in Wuhan, China. We would like to transfer merits to the deceased and pray for the sick. Our heart is with the medical professionals in the outbreak areas, and we give our blessings to all people in Wuhan. We hope that the epidemic will be brought under control soon, and a cure will be found soon. May Inner peace bring real peace!
Our founder, late Master Sheng Yen’s blessing and admonition for the SARS pandemic in 2003...
Learn more about the NCP relief project >
WORDS OF MASTER SHENG YEN
WISDOM OF THE DAY
  • Happiness lies in our own mind and is not affected by environment. If we have happiness and joy in our mind, we will be able to influence others around us and let them feel happy as well. This is what DDM advocates-- to "uplift the character of humanity" so that we may be able to "build a pure land on earth".
  • Spiritual Environmentalism -- A Cure for Happiness: Due to erroneous views, sentient beings feel unhappy. If the upside-down view is corrected, one will find that happiness is present in every moment and at every place. This is the so-called "spiritual environmentalism".
  • Bodhisattva practice is fulfilled in the midst of hardship and suffering as well as in the midst of helping people in hardship and suffering. Welcoming a new year, we still need to face many things. Whether they are good or bad, favorable or unfavorable, we should regard them as enhanced contributory conditions for practicing the Bodhisattva path.
  • I, who pray for blessings, vow to cultivate good affinities with all people and to practice to benefit myself and others so that we may be free from the ocean of suffering. I, who pray for blessings, vow to learn and protect the Buddhadharma so that there will be less troubles and afflictions in the world.
  • I, who feel well and safe, pray for enhanced blessings and wisdom, for peace in the world, and for the joy and contentment of all people. I, who is in frustration and hardship, pray for the elimination of disasters and obstacles so that everyone can be free from suffering and gain happiness
  • A World of Blessings - With a calm body and mind, we have peace in every moment. In harmony with ourselves and others, we have blessings everywhere.
  • The nature of habits is emptiness. When wisdom arises, the troubled mind will naturally be dissolved. Unwholesome habits may still be manifested but we already know clearly that the habits are empty in their nature.
  • To peacefully harmonize with others, reflect inwardly and not be emotional in daily life, these are the practices of concentration.
  • Those who maintain a more serene and inward-looking mind will be less troubled by the external environment.
  • As long as our direction remains the same, no matter how hard things are, or whether our path is great or small, we will eventually find our own way.
  • Merit begins in the mind. The bigger the heart is, the greater the merit. The so-called big heart is to be willing to share what we have with others.
  • To achieve self-mastery and take charge of your own life, learn to control the body and mind. We should be master of our own body, and mater of our own mind.
  • In success be humble, in failure undaunted. In poverty work hard, and when disparaged raise yourself up. In a position of wealth be frugal, and in a high position be diligent.
  • Counting our blessings, we are forever content and happy. Cherishing our blessings, we are always fortunate. Cultivating merit, we increase our happiness. Sowing the seeds of merit, all will be blessed.
  • If one is able to adeptly use the concept of “impermanence”, then one will live in the midst of the joy of fresh thoughts, peace at every moment, and continuous movement forward without regression.
  • The so called “beginner’s mind” allows one to practice each time as if it were for the first time. It doesn’t matter whether your past attempts at practice were good or bad. What’s most important is that, for each thought, each period of time, one uses the method.
  • Happiness and suffering actually come from our perceptions. If we can see them as a process to develop compassion and wisdom, we will enjoy great freedom and ease.
  • There is no need to be arrogant about the good things that happen to us, nor feel troubled and upset about the bad things. The best approach is to make timely efforts to make progress and seek improvement.
  • People with compassionate mind will always be respected and valued. Compassion means showing care and consideration toward and helping others unconditionally.
  • When looking outwardly, what we can see and hear are very little. Only when looking inwardly can we experience endless time and infinite space.
  • The true self is to be able to be the master of yourself. To be able to control one's own body and mind, and be one's own master -- that is the true self.
  • There is no such thing as "stable" or "unstable" in the external environment. What really has the decisive impact on our emotions is the feelings in our inner world.
  • We often only see the faults of others instead of our own unwholesome habitual behaviors. One who only knows about others but not oneself feels vexed all the time. They do not know how to behave properly, and are unable to achieve success.
  • Chan first verifies our selfness, then transcends it. To verify our selfness means to assume total responsibility, transcending selfness is to not only assume our total responsibility and duties, but to not expect anything in return.
  • When vexations arise in the mind, we should give rise to a mind of repentance-- then the habitual tendency will vanish instantly.
  • People have their karmic retributions and bad habits and cannot be without imperfections. Each person has a mind filled with wounds, a body covered with scabs. One has to let go and to tolerate, to open up each scab. Otherwise, one will never know how ugly he is.
  • Use each opportunity to train your mind, at every moment, wherever you are. Neither pursue anything, nor dislike anything. Because good and bad are originally one.
  • What is this thing called "I"? It is none other than the deadlocked consciousness. Most people look at things in either a subjective or objective way. If people are more objective in dealing with things, then they are more rational and are approaching wisdom.
  • Always be aware of what your mind is doing. If you can calm and settle your own mind, you will also be able to bring calmness and stability to others.
  • What it means to unify our inner world is not to seek this unification beyond our body and mind, not to conquer the nature, not to overcome the external obstacles but to subside and unify our inner conflicts.
  • Do whatever you can to the best of your ability, learn what's required of you, take up responsibilities, dedicate the best of yourself, and constantly improve yourself. This is the best way to find the true self.
  • If our minds were able to be unified for just a few moments, then during those brief few minutes we would experience limitless freedom and joy.
  • Your mind is not an easy thing for you to direct, not easy for you to calm. Those people who do not practice, who have not observed the ability of their minds to be active, will believe that their minds have no problems. These people are ignorant.
  • As long as the mind changes, heaven will be in front of you and hell will leave you. When we can go beyond the dualistic view of heaven and hell, our mind becomes the mind of equanimity.
  • If you often examine the trends of your words, actions, and thoughts and find them to be filled with pride, jealousy, greed, resentment, anger, and doubt, then change them. If you can’t, then avoid them. That is practice.
  • Arrogance, inferiority, suspicion, jealousy, hatred, resentment, anger...are all part of the self. In addition to using a variety of meditation methods to resolve such habitual tendencies, one should also cultivate repentance as a supportive method.
  • To transcend means to let go, to let go of vexations from self-centeredness. The attitude of transcendence should be -- it's good whether one has or does not have, do not pursue, do not fight, do not possess, but still dedicate yourself to do what you can do.
NEWS
  • Feature News
  • CMC Expansion Project Current Progress
  • Give blessings to others and to yourself by Lighting up a blessing light
  • Chan Magazine 2024 Winter is now available
  • DDM Magazine 2024 March (Issue:411) is now available
  • SUNDAY OPEN HOUSE / MARCH 24
    Bilingual Dharma Talk
  • Bilingual Dharma Talk
    11:00AM - 12:00PM
  • TEA & TALK
    2:00PM - 3:30PM
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
    Meditation
  • Tai-Chi Moving Meditation
    3/21     Thu.     7:30PM - 9:00PM     at CMC
  • Group Sitting Practice
    3/23     Sat.     9:00AM - 12:00PM     at CMC
  • Meditation
    3/30     Sat.     9:00AM - 4:00PM     at CMC
  • NEW TO MEDITATION?
    ABOUT CMC

    Chan Meditation Center (CMC) is a place of serenity and self-cultivation, learning and living the Buddha's teachings
    through the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan Buddhism, established by late Chan Master Sheng Yen in 1979
    with the purpose of bringing Chinese Chan [Zen] Buddhism to the Western world.
    We welcome all those interested in meditation and the study and practice of Buddhism,
    regardless of background, age, or ethnic origin.
    more >

    Chan Meditation Center (CMC) is a place of serenity and self-cultivation, learning and living the Buddha's teachings through the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan Buddhism, established by late Chan Master Sheng Yen in 1979 with the purpose of bringing Chinese Chan [Zen] Buddhism to the Western world. We welcome all those interested in meditation and the study and practice of Buddhism, regardless of background, age, or ethnic origin.
    more >