LJM 37th Anniversary – Awakening of Life and Compassion

July 5th, 2020, marked the 37th anniversary of Ling Jiou Mountain (LJM). It is an annual celebration where many people gather at LJM and reconnect with the aspiration and mission of LJM. Every year, we take the opportunity to reaffirm our bodhicitta so it'd never regress. Let us connect with the awakening nature and compassion so we can continue with the bodhisattva path.

Due to Covid-19, many friends couldn't join us this year. Even that's the case, I still wish you all happiness, joy, and wellness. May you enjoy good health and good wishes. Fill your life with Dharma so the journey would be fruitful.

This world we are in is a karmic matrix and a realm of awakening at the same time. When we are awakened, we'd be more fulfilled, amazing, and perfect. When we are not yet awakened, our greed for worldly pursuits is insatiable. The five poisons (greed, aversion, ignorance, doubt, and pride) are the causes of our unhappiness.
Dharma is the learning of cultivating compassion and the mind of liberation. With compassion, merits can be cultivated. With the mind of liberation, all the afflictions and burdens are relieved. Let go of all the pressure. That is why LJM has been stressing the teaching that "all that is conditioned are impermanent, all dharmas are empty and devoid of self." As we immerse in this understanding, our thinking process would become habituated with this. Consequently, we can be careful with our conduct and the related karma.

Anniversary unites everyone with the aspiration of LJM and Guan Yin (Avalokiteshvara). It is also the time to strengthen our connection with sentient beings. Align our lives with the goal of benefiting others. This is also called the way of Guan Yin, or the way of a bodhisattva. Such a way leads to Buddhahood. It is a journey to perfect enlightenment.

Faith is a path and a light in the darkness. With faith, our lives become open and vast. It fills our lives with the learning of wisdom. On this special occasion of the 37th anniversary, I wish you all the wisdom for Dharma study and never forgetting bodhicitta for a moment.