Fo Guang Shan Weekly Dharma Class – “Offerings by ceasing anger” Gatha by Venerable Master Hsing Yun

12 Buddhist elders attended the Wednesday Dharma class at 1:00pm on 16th August. BLIA board member Hua Mei Gao led them through yet another teaching under the “Venerable Master Hsing Yun speaks gatha” series.
This class revolved around the contents of: “A face without expression of anger is an offering, speech without anger is fragrant incense, a heart without anger is priceless treasure, non-arising and non-ceasing are real permanence.” The sutras have said that “When the thought of anger arises, tens of thousands of obstructions will appear.” Hence we can see that anger and hatred are terrible indeed. Since the Buddha always speaks what is true and right, the teachings should be believed. We should employ the practice of 4 harmonies:

• Giving,
• Loving speech,
• Beneficial actions,
• Co-operation,

And the 6 paramitas:

• Giving
• Upholding precepts
• Forbearance
• Diligence
• Meditative Concentration
• Wisdom

As guidelines for our conduct. With benefitting others as our goal, we should be mindful of all our thoughts and actions, thus purify our speech, action and thoughts. By combining our compassion, wisdom and vows, we can cultivate to the stage of erasing all anger from our face, speech and thoughts. That state will be what is referred to as the permanent state of non-arising and non-ceasing.

Afterwards Venerable Rulian taught everyone how to sing Buddhism hymns, thus completing the 2 hour class under an atmosphere of endless joy.