Fo Guang Bodhi Class – 4 Dharma Practiced by the Bodhisattva

During the Bodhi class on 22nd August, BLIA Trustee Tina Hua Mei led 9 members to read Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s article “4 Dharma practiced by the Bodhisattva”.

Within the “Maharatnakuṭa Sutra” is a gatha that goes: “One should only talk when they can follow with action, one who can commit with action can thus talk the talk, always practice humility, respect those who are learned, wise and cultivated, be apart from those who are jealous, conduct with compassion and kindness, to have joy when seeing others obtaining benefits.”

The Buddha is teaching us that a person should only talk when they can put what they speak of into action; this way it will not merely become fanciful talk that is not practical to daily life. One should conduct their life with humility, thus respecting those that are learned, wise, have morals and cultivation. We should be cautious and avoid those with no substance but likes to show off. We should have compassionate and kind characters, for it is said that one thought of kindness will lead to respect to others, and one thought of compassion will lead us to help others in need. This is the way to transcend jealousy. We should also develop the character of being happy for other’s joy. When seeing others obtain fame and fortune, we should praise and feel happy for them. If we can practice according to this gatha, then our character will certainly be perfected, thus garnering great hope for achieving buddhahood.

Of course there will be many chances of developing worries and afflictions during our daily life, but as long as we can simplify these issues, utilize time well, reform our mistakes quickly, these afflictions will be eliminated in due course. This is called real practice.

After class the students joyously practiced a hand gesture song under the guidance of Alice Ng.