DHARMA IN EVERYDAY LIFE

By Nhat Quan

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As a Buddhist, you all know the saying:

- Nine directions of heaven, ten directions of Buddha.

* Nine directions of heaven are:

- East

- West

- South

- North

- Northeast

- Southeast

- Northwest

- Southwest

- Above

* Ten directions of Buddha, are:

1. East:

There is Medicine Buddha is the master

2. West:

There is Amitabha Buddha is the master

3. North:

There is Flame Buddha, that is, Infinite Light Adornment and Enlightenment Buddha is the master

4. South:

There is Sun and Moon Lamp Buddha is the master.

5. Northeast:

There are Countless Hundred Thousand Thousand Verses of Light and Wisdom Buddha is the master.

6. Northwest:

There is Immeasurable Merit Fire King Light Buddha is the master.

7. Southeast:

There is Supreme Great Cloud Thunder Sound King Buddha is the master.

8. Southwest:

There is The Supreme Sun Light Name and Merit Buddha is the leader.

9. Above:

There is The Brahma Sound Buddha is the leader.

10. Below:

There is The Lion Buddha is the leader.

That means that Buddhas are present in many directions, but there are two Buddhas who have a great affinity with sentient beings in the Saha world:

- The Eastern Teacher Medicine Master Buddha

- The Western Teacher Amitabha Buddha

Many people talk about the practice of the Western Teacher Amitabha Buddha and many people practice it. As for the Pure Land Medicine Master Buddha method, although it is essential for all people, all species, at all times, and for humans, including all species, very few people know and talk about it. If there is, it is only when those who encounter problems such as accidents, and difficult-to-heal illnesses, do you think of and pray to Medicine Master Buddha.

I say this for no purpose but to introduce Medicine Buddha to as many good men and women, Buddhists near and far as possible. Because when the incident happened, deep down in your hearts, none of you wanted to die, so Amitabha Buddha is a Buddha who many generations of Zen masters have praised, also in the present, there is many people hear about organizing Buddha Retreats or Pure Land Dharma Halls, you call each other to participate enthusiastically. I call it enthusiastically because the organizers of those Buddha Retreats are Monks, Nuns, or lay people. Regardless of whether they are organized at home, in restaurants, or at entertainment and dancing venues, they all attract a large number of Buddhists to participate. But then for some reason, the organizers started arguing with each other. I say this not to support or criticize any Dharma sect or any individual. Because every dharma belongs to the Buddhas and is passed down by the ancestors, whoever has the affinity to practice any dharma, just follows your fate.

As I said before, although many people are shouting about the Pure Land of Amitabha Dharma, in reality, when the incident occurs, you do not dare to recite Amitabha Buddha's name. Deep down, you think that if you recite Amitabha Buddha's name from one to ten times, he will take you to the Western Paradise, but you do not want to go to the Western Paradise at this time. Therefore, when you are sick, your mind always recites:

- Namo Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light King Buddha

Two events are happening now:

- Your relatives are sitting together talking and laughing, or telling each other happy or sad stories

Or:

- Your relatives are now taking care of your funeral

Which situation do you find happier? Of course, the situation where your relatives and you are together talking and laughing is happier.

So in my opinion, instead of choosing to practice the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha to wait for rebirth, you should practice the Medicine Buddha Dharma to live a peaceful and healthy life. Is that fun?

The Pure Land of Medicine Buddha's practice is simple but profound. There are two ways to practice:

- Reading and reciting the Medicine Buddha Sutra and reciting the name of Medicine Buddha.

- Practicing Medicine Buddha Meditation

Meditation on Medicine Buddha and the four Medicine Goddesses was taught by Padmasambhava, a great Indian master. This meditation method helps to cure any illness you have and protects you from getting sick in the future. Of course, no matter what meditation method or technique you apply, the ultimate method of healing must be related to your mind and your good heart. Therefore, you need to observe your mind and protect your mind from being disturbed by disturbing thoughts. While practicing this meditation, you will receive the blessings of Medicine Buddha, but the most important part is that you must protect your mind from being polluted in your daily life. Medicine Buddha

As a Buddhist, you all know the saying:

- Nine directions of heaven, ten directions of Buddha.

* Nine directions of heaven are:

- East

- West

- South

- North

- Northeast

- Southeast

- Northwest

- Southwest

- Above

* Ten directions of Buddha, are:

1. East:

There is Medicine Buddha is the master

2. West:

There is Amitabha Buddha is the master

3. North:

There is Flame Buddha, that is, Infinite Light Adornment and Enlightenment Buddha is the master

4. South:

There is Sun and Moon Lamp Buddha is the master.

5. Northeast:

There are Countless Hundred Thousand Thousand Verses of Light and Wisdom Buddha is the master.

6. Northwest:

There is Immeasurable Merit Fire King Light Buddha is the master.

7. Southeast:

There is Supreme Great Cloud Thunder Sound King Buddha is the master.

8. Southwest:

There is The Supreme Sun Light Name and Merit Buddha is the leader.

9. Above:

There is The Brahma Sound Buddha is the leader.

10. Below:

There is The Lion Buddha is the leader.

That means that Buddhas are present in many directions, but there are two Buddhas who have a great affinity with sentient beings in the Saha world:

- The Eastern Teacher Medicine Master Buddha

- The Western Teacher Amitabha Buddha

Many people talk about the practice of the Western Teacher Amitabha Buddha and many people practice it. As for the Pure Land Medicine Master Buddha method, although it is essential for all people, all species, at all times, and for humans, including all species, very few people know and talk about it. If there is, it is only when those who encounter problems such as accidents, and difficult-to-heal illnesses, do you think of and pray to Medicine Master Buddha.

I say this for no purpose but to introduce Medicine Buddha to as many good men and women, Buddhists near and far as possible. Because when the incident happened, deep down in your hearts, none of you wanted to die, so Amitabha Buddha is a Buddha who many generations of Zen masters have praised, also in the present, there is many people hear about organizing Buddha Retreats or Pure Land Dharma Halls, you call each other to participate enthusiastically. I call it enthusiastically because the organizers of those Buddha Retreats are Monks, Nuns, or lay people. Regardless of whether they are organized at home, in restaurants, or at entertainment and dancing venues, they all attract a large number of Buddhists to participate. But then for some reason, the organizers started arguing with each other. I say this not to support or criticize any Dharma sect or any individual. Because every dharma belongs to the Buddhas and is passed down by the ancestors, whoever has the affinity to practice any dharma, just follows your fate.

As I said before, although many people are shouting about the Pure Land of Amitabha Dharma, in reality, when the incident occurs, you do not dare to recite Amitabha Buddha's name. Deep down, you think that if you recite Amitabha Buddha's name from one to ten times, he will take you to the Western Paradise, but you do not want to go to the Western Paradise at this time. Therefore, when you are sick, your mind always recites:

- Namo Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light King Buddha

Two events are happening now:

- Your relatives are sitting together talking and laughing, or telling each other happy or sad stories

Or:

- Your relatives are now taking care of your funeral

Which situation do you find happier? Of course, the situation where your relatives and you are together talking and laughing is happier.

So in my opinion, instead of choosing to practice the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha to wait for rebirth, you should practice the Medicine Buddha Dharma to live a peaceful and healthy life. Is that fun?

The Pure Land of Medicine Buddha's practice is simple but profound. There are two ways to practice:

- Reading and reciting the Medicine Buddha Sutra and reciting the name of Medicine Buddha.

- Practicing Medicine Buddha Meditation

Meditation on Medicine Buddha and the four Medicine Goddesses was taught by Padmasambhava, a great Indian master. This meditation method helps to cure any illness you have and protects you from getting sick in the future. Of course, no matter what meditation method or technique you apply, the ultimate method of healing must be related to your mind and your good heart. Therefore, you need to observe your mind and protect your mind from being disturbed by disturbing thoughts. While practicing this meditation, you will receive the blessings of Medicine Buddha, but the most important part is that you must protect your mind from being polluted in your daily life.

Whatever you do, the main thing is to generate good motivation. Therefore, you should develop the following mind:

- The purpose of my life is to save all sentient beings from the problems and causes of those suffering problems that are in the mind. At the same time, bring all sentient beings to the shore of happiness and peace, especially the supreme happiness of complete enlightenment, and this is extremely necessary. For me, to do so, my mind and body must be healthy, pure, and perfect. Therefore, to bring benefits to sentient beings as immeasurable as the vastness of space, I vow to practice this healing method.

In short, the Medicine Buddha and the Medicine Buddha Dharma are simple methods, you can practice anywhere, and do anything. The result is that at the end of your life, wherever you want to be reborn, He will take you there accordingly. If you want to be born in the Eastern world, the Bodhisattvas Sunlight and Moonlight will immediately appear there to guide you. If you want to be born in the Western Pure Land or any other realm, he will send eight Bodhisattvas:

- Manjushri Bodhisattva, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, Infinite Intention Bodhisattva, Jewel Sandalwood Bodhisattva, Medicine King Bodhisattva, Medicine Superior Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva from the sky to show you the way, and you will immediately get what you wish for.

Or if there is someone who, thanks to the power of the Medicine Master's vows, is born in the heavens, and thanks to that good root, will not be born again in the evil paths. When the life span of the heavens has ended, that person will be born in the human world: Or become a Holy Wheel-Turning King, ruling over the four continents, teaching countless hundreds of thousands of sentient beings to practice the ten good paths. Or if you want to be born into a royal family, or wherever you are, you will have plenty of money, a dignified appearance, intelligence, and wisdom, and all means will be available to you.