释迦牟尼佛最大的悲愿

释迦牟尼佛最大的悲愿，就是希望没有一个生命在受苦，所以在皈依三宝时，第一条最重要的戒律，要我们保护所有生命，不要杀生。现在大部分动物是因人类要吃肉而被杀，所以各位最好要吃素。布施生命，你得到永恒的生命。以一个利他的慈悲心来做功德，都回向给众生。

Source : 海涛法师慈悲集锦

了凡四训漫画版 电子书

Link 1 了凡四训漫画版 电子书

或

Link 2 了凡四训漫画版 电子书


袁了凡原名袁黃，字坤儀，在考科舉之前由相命之人以皇極經數推測其未來功名，結果都一一應驗，因此認為命運不可改變，且命運中他將於53歲壽終，且無子嗣。然之後於1569年遇見雲谷禪師，透過雲谷禪師教導準提咒與解說命運（數）其實可以改變之後，積極為善助人，因此改變自身的命運，不僅未於53歲壽終，且生下兒子，並於69歲那年寫下「了凡四訓」。了凡四訓正是袁要給兒子的訓示：以多行善積福，使命運可以自主改變。

Liao-Fan's Four Lessons eBook

Liao-Fan's Four Lessons (了凡四訓) is a book written by Yuan Liaofan, who was born during the Ming Dynasty, in about 1550, in Wujiang County, Jiangsu Province. Yuan wrote the book to teach his son, Yuan Tian-Chi. The principal idea behind these lessons is that destiny can be changed through proper cultivation of kindness and humility. Thus one should not be bound by fate, but by one's own actions.

Yuan Liaofan was told by a Taoist monk surnamed Kong that he would only live to the age of 53 and have no son. At first, he disregarded this monk's words as farcical nonsense, but as Kong's other predictions began to occur with great accuracy, he then proactively made an effort to rewrite his fate. In relating his own life experience in changing destiny, Yuan, at the age of 69, wrote and taught these four lessons to his son.

The first lesson shows how to create destiny. The second lesson explains the ways to reform. The third reveals the ways to cultivate kindness and the fourth discloses the benefits of the virtue of humility.

The book, still in circulation after more than 500 years, is said to be a useful foundation in learning Buddhism.  (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Link 1    Liao-Fan's Four Lessons Ebook

or

Link 2    Liao-Fan's Four Lessons Ebook

Source : www.buddhanet.net

Buddhist Principles - The Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path.

Buddha laid down the eightfold path for his followers and enunciated that by following this path, they could put an end to their suffering.

This eightfold path, as laid down by Buddha, helps an individual attain the state of Nirvana by freeing him from attachments and delusions and thereby helping him understand the innate truth of all things. This path, therefore, helps a person with his ethical and mental growth and development.

Buddha laid great emphasis on implementing the teachings since a higher level or existence can be attained only by putting translating thoughts into actions.

The eightfold path suggested by Buddha involves adherence to:

1. The right View.

By right view, Buddha means seeing things in the right perspective. Seeing things as they really are, without any false illusions or pretenses. He wanted his followers to see and to understand the transient nature of worldly ideas and possessions and to understand that they can attain salvation only if they practiced the right karma.

2. The right Thought / Intentions.

Buddha says that we are what we are because of what we think. What goes on inside our minds (our thought process) determines our course of action. It is, therefore, necessary to follow the path of Right thought or Right Intention. To have the Right Intention or the Right Thought, a person should be aware of his purpose or role in life and is studying the teachings of Buddha.

3. The right Speech.

Buddha asks his followers to speak truth, to avoid slander and malicious gossip and to refrain from abusive language. Harsh words that can cause distress or offend others should also be avoided while also staying clear of mindless idle chatter which lacks any depth.

4. The right Action.

Behaving peacefully and harmoniously; Right action, according to Buddha, lies in adherence to the following guidelines:

- Staying in harmony with fellow human beings
- Behaving peacefully
- Not stealing
- Not killing anyone
- Avoiding overindulgence in sensual pleasure
- Abstaining from sexual misconduct
- Not indulging in fraudulent practices, deceitfulness and robbery

5. The right Livelihood.

By laying down this guideline, Buddha advises his followers to earn their bread and butter righteously, without resorting to illegal and nefarious activities. He does not expect his followers to exploit other human beings or animals or to trade in weapons or intoxicants.

6. The right Effort.

Buddha believed that human nature imposes undue restrictions on the mind at times, causing a person to harbor ill thoughts. So we have to train our mind to think in the right direction, if we wish to become better human beings. Once we gain control over our thoughts and replace the unpleasant ones with positive ones, we shall be moving in the right direction.

7. The right Mindfulness 

The Right Mindfulness, together with the Right Concentration, forms the basis of Buddhist meditation. By proposing this, Buddha suggests his followers to focus mentally on their emotions, mental faculties and capabilities while staying away from worldly desires and other distractions.

It refers to the ability of the mind to see things as they are without being led astray by greed, avarice, anger and ignorance.

8. The right Concentration.

This eighth principle laid down by Buddha is fundamental for proper meditation. Zazen (or, Zen meditation) is the only way to reach the right concentration of Zen. Needless to add, this is the most vital of all the aspects stated in the Noble eightfold path since without proper meditation, an individual cannot move on to a higher level of well being.

Source ZEN BUDDHISM | Buddhist Principles | The Eightfold Path

Buddhist Principles - The Four Noble Truths

The four noble truths.

After Buddha gave up worldly life and sat down for mediation under the Bodhi tree, he attained enlightenment. He laid down his teachings in easily understandable language for the common man in the form of Four Noble truths.

Though Buddhism is now divided into several schools each of which has its own set of beliefs, the essence of Buddhism is summed up in the Four Noble Truths enunciated by Buddha.

The First Noble Truth -
To live means to suffer.

Until the age of 29, Prince Siddhartha (Buddha's real name) was confined to the four walls of the palace by his father. When he first stepped out of the palace, he saw four things which left a deep impact in his tender and naïve mind: a new born baby, an old crippled man, a sick man and the corpse of a dead man.

The Prince who had been brought up in the lap of luxury, oblivious of the suffering in the world outside the palace, was deeply perturbed when he saw death, misery and suffering with his own eyes.

During the course of his meditation he realized that 'life is suffering'. The reason for this being the fact that human beings are not perfect. Likewise, the world inhabited by them is also ridden with imperfections.

The Buddha realized that during the course of their journey through life, a human being has to endure many sufferings- physical and psychological- in the form of old age, sickness, separation from beloved ones, deprivation, encounters with unpleasant situations and people, lamentation, sorrow and suffering.

All these misfortunes befall human beings because they are subject to desires and cravings. If they are able to get what they aspire for, they derive pleasure or satisfaction. But this joy or pleasure is also short lived and does not last too long. If it does tend to last too long, the pleasure associated with it becomes monotonous and fades away

The Second Noble Truth -
The origin of suffering is attachment.

The second noble truth tells us that the root of all suffering is attachment. To avoid suffering, we need to understand what causes suffering and then weeding out these causes from our lives.

According to Buddha, the basic cause of suffering is "the attachment to the desire to have (craving) and the desire not to have (aversion).

All of us have desires and cravings. Since we cannot satisfy ALL our desires and cravings, we get disturbed and angry, which is but another manifestation of suffering.

The same holds good for people who are over ambitious and seek too much. As they achieve what they desire, they get lustful and want more of it. And so the vicious circle continues.

The other problem pointed out by Buddha here, which is very pertinent, is that denying desire (or depriving oneself) is like denying life itself. A person, he said, has to rise above attachments and for that, he need not deprive himself. The problem arises when he does not know where to put an end to his desires. And when he yields in to his desires, he becomes a slave to them.

The Third Noble Truth -
The cessation of suffering is attainable.

Buddha stated that in order to put an end to suffering, we need to control our desires, or practice non-attachment. This may sound difficult but can be achieved through diligent practice.

This liberation from attachment and sorrow frees the mind of all troubles and worries. The attainment of this liberation is called "Nirvana" in Sanskrit and "Satori" in Japanese.

The Fourth Noble Truth -
The path to the cessation of suffering.

Buddha says that salvation (Nirvana/Satori) is a condition that can be attained by leading a balanced life. And to lead a balanced life, one needs to follow the Eightfold path which is a 'gradual path of self-improvement'.

The way to the Eightfold Path is Zen.

Source  ZEN BUDDHISM | Buddhist Principles | The Four Noble Truths

佛學名詞 - 冤親債主

佛學名詞 - 回向

Tales of the Buddha’s Former Lives Stories 51-100 ebook

The book, Tales of the Buddha’s Former Lives originates from a collection of stories known as the Jataka Tales. The Buddha Himself used the Jataka stories to explain concepts like karma and rebirth and to emphasise the importance of certain moral values.
Though meant for readers of all ages, these simple stories, written along the line of Aesop’s
Fables, are made even more relevant in the fragmented societies of today, where young children, especially those in their formative years, seek guidance and are moulded in their value system.
All Jataka stories have a moral at the end on how to correct our ways and develop virtuous conduct and good behaviour. They promote and highlight those human values which contribute to harmony, pleasure and progress. They played, and continue to play in some societies, an enormous role in the cultivation of peace and generosity. For instance, in India, these and other similar stories were a principal instrument in the socialisation of children, discouraging them from selfishness and laying the foundations for the solidarity of the family and community.
One story teaches respect for elders, and the need to gain control over conceit, which is a minor defilement. Another teaches the value of gratitude. And yet another teaches about the detrimental effects of associating with unwholesome people.  Others help cultivate the mind in many ways, advocating values like generosity, the use of gentle language, the nobility of the ways of wise people, the value of morality and the evils of unwholesome associations. In this and many other aspects, the Jataka stories contribute to the happiness and development of the minds of impressionable ones.

Link 1  Stories 51 - 100 ebook     or     Link 2 Stories 51 - 100 ebook


Copyrighted & Published by:
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
www.kmspks.org

Gratefully acknowledges the permission kindly given by the publisher, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery to share the above ebooks on this blog

Tales of the Buddha’s Former Lives Stories 1-50 ebook

Tales of the Buddha’s Former Lives originates from a collection of stories known as the Jataka Tales. The Buddha Himself used the Jataka stories to explain concepts like karma and rebirth and to emphasise the importance of certain moral values. The Jataka Tales were frequently used in Buddhist countries to develop wholesome character of their people.

The main purpose of these stories is to develop the moral and ethical values of the readers. By reading these stories, children and adults can develop their knowledge and learn how to face difficult experiences of modern life. All Jataka stories have a moral at the end on how to correct our ways and to develop virtuous conduct and good behaviour. Children and adults can learn to develop good values and qualities like patience, forbearance, tolerance and the four sublime states of mind : loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. Without wholesome values, people cannot be happy in their hearts and minds, or be at peace. 

To allow readers to understand the Jataka stories in modern English, the stories are not a 
scholarly word-for-word translation, instead they are retold in a manner that conveys the spirit 
and meaning they embrace. 

Link 1 Stories 1 - 50 ebook           or         Link 2  Stories 1 - 50 ebook


Copyrighted & Published by:
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
www.kmspks.org

Gratefully acknowledges the permission kindly given by the publisher, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery to share the above ebooks on this blog

佛學名詞 - 五停心觀

佛學名詞 - 正念

盂兰盆节的由来

The Buddha speaks on the Ullambana Sutra - Is the 7th Lunar Month The Ghosts' Season? 佛说盂兰盆节经 - 七月是不是鬼节？

佛陀教目犍连在七月十五日，也就是“佛欢喜日”那天，广施 “盂兰盆供”，为现世及过去世的父母祈福消业，因此这一天也叫做“孝亲日”。

The Buddha instructed Venerable Maudgalyayana to make extensive Ullambana offerings to the sagely Sangha on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. By doing so, the parents of the present and past lives will receive the blessings and their negative karma will be purified. Thus, this day is also known as “The Day of Filial Piety”.

English / Chinese Ebook 中英电子书 下载
Link 1  佛说盂兰盆经 The Buddha speaks on the Ullambana Sutra

Link 2  佛说盂兰盆经 The Buddha speaks on the Ullambana Sutra



Copyrighted & Published by:
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
www.kmspks.org

Gratefully acknowledges the permission kindly given by the publisher, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery to share the above two ebooks on this blog

佛陀三十二相

阿彌陀佛傳(漫畫版) 电子书

阿弥陀佛是如何成佛的？
阿弥陀佛成佛前发了什么宏大的誓愿？
西方极乐世界里有些什么？

Link 1 阿彌陀佛傳(漫畫版) 电子书

or

Link 2 阿彌陀佛傳(漫畫版) 电子书