Fo Guang Shan Weekly Dharma Class – “The Moon Appears from a Pure Mind”

On 13th September, 12 Buddhist elders from the Bodhi book reading group participated in another weekly Dharma class under the guidance of BLIA board member Hua Mei Gao. The subject this week is another article from the “Venerable Master Hsing Yun speaks Gatha” series, titled “The moon appears from a pure mind”.

Within the Avatamsaka Sutra there is a gatha that goes ‘Cool and Pristine Moon Bodhisattva, often sojourns the definitive emptiness, when the minds of sentient beings are purified of defilements, The Moon of Bodhi will appear.” The gatha is saying that a bodhisattva is like the moon in the sky that always travels through true emptiness. As long as the ocean of our mind is clear and pure, lights emanated from the Bodhi Moon will be reflected from our heart. A bodhisattva’s cultivation allows them to harmonise, acclimate, and widely assist the vast myriad of different sentient beings with different inclinations, which enable them to be benefitted in different ways. So if we want to receive assistance from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, we need to purify our mind from thought after thought, thus diligently self-cultivate and self-practice. Relating to the current topic, all the elders present shared their experiences of benefitting from the practice during their everyday lives.

Afterwards “Uncle Awesome” taught everyone simple aerobic dance moves over the sound of energetic music. All the elders present joyously followed every action, hence successful completing another week’s class.