Venerable Professor Ananda from Thailand visited Nanjia Temple Los Angeles USA to preside over the Dharma Talk
Mahavira News:
On February 26, 2023, the seventh day of the second lunar month 10.30 am morning, Professor Venerable Ananda arrived at Nan Jia Temple in Los Angeles and was invited by Venerable Abbot Most Venerable Hui Xiong, to deliver a Dharma speech to the devotees.
It was a great honor for the Venerable Ananda to come to the United States for the first time and hold a Dharma talk today.
Venerable Ananda mentioned that Mahayana and Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism have practiced the verse that was taught by the Lord Buddha:
” Not to do evil;. To cultivate the good;. To purify the mind;. This is the Teaching of the Buddhas. “
This is also the theme of our topic today. We must first let go of all evil thoughts and practice good karma if we want to study Buddhism and believe in Buddhism.
For example: when we are invited to a dinner banquet, we must take a fragrant bath and change clothes before going to the dinner.
After you get home from work, of course, you don’t have to take a bath, but you have a smell on your body, it stinks, and you will not feel very comfortable attending the dinner banquet.
The same in our practice. Before practicing good Dharma, one must first cut off bad karma and accept good precepts.
The Lord Buddha’s teaching is compound in the Tripitaka which includes: the Sutra, the Vinaya (Rules of discipline ), and the Sastra(Commentary).
When it comes to Vinaya, there are five precepts, Bodhisattva precepts, and eight precepts for practicing Buddhism at home.
Laymen must observe the five precepts carefully, there are :
1. Refrain from taking life. Not killing any living being. It can protect our lives, not only us but also our family members and other sentient beings.
2. Refrain from taking what is not given. No stealing from anyone, and practice good behavior and habits.
3. Refrain from the misuse of the senses. Not having too much sensual pleasure. That is no adultery, it means that you take good care of your family and can bring harmony and happiness to your family.
4. Refrain from telling lies, it will allow you to gain the trust and admiration of society and superiors. If this precept is violated, social people will stay away from us.
5. Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind. Do not drink alcohol: can protect our lives, will not do bad deeds, and hurt people.
The five precepts are the basic principles of learning happiness in life.
Of course, we still sometimes suffer from past karma and obstacles, but as long as we uphold and practice the Buddha’s precepts, wisdom, and four immeasurable mind as the guide to the liberation of practice, we can let go of all worldly attachments and ego and go deep and diligently in practicing Buddha-Dharma, cultivating right thought and behavior.
You must be able to achieve the most complete, supreme, and happy life.
On the day, more than 40 devotees gathered in the Temple to practice Dharma, enjoying the joy of the Dharma.
