眾生無邊誓願度
煩惱無盡誓願斷
法門無量誓願學
佛道無上誓願成

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Dharma Teachings

28 Jan 2019    Monday     1st Teach Total 1212

Cultivation is one's own affair; no one else can do it in one's place.

The karma of sentient beings must still be resolved by the sentient beings themselves; the main task is to resolve the mind—only when the mind is resolved can karma be resolved. Resolving the mind cannot be accomplished merely by the Buddha's blessing and empowerment; one must actively cooperate oneself, transform one's own mind, and eliminate ignorance—only thus can karma be resolved. If you have the karma of killing, and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas resolved it on your behalf, yet you still harbor the intention to kill, you will commit evil karma again in the future—so what karma could possibly have been resolved? As for the karma of poverty, who can resolve it for you? Merit is cultivated by the individual; others cannot cultivate it on your behalf. Meditative concentration is cultivated by oneself; others cannot cultivate it on your behalf. The precepts are kept by oneself; others cannot keep the precepts for you. Seeing one's true mind is achieved by oneself; others cannot see the true mind and realize one's nature on your behalf. Buddhahood is attained through one's own cultivation; no one can become a Buddha in your place.

——Master Sheng-Ru's Teachings
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