Temple Attendance

Hello all.

Would someone please tell me if one has a temple in their area must they attend and if so why?


Brenda

Hi Brenda,

You don't have to go to the temple if you don't want to.

I make it a point to goto the temple at least once in a while for a Bardo or Water Ceremony. The spiritual energy I get when I attend these ceremonies is tremendous. I can literally feel the increased energy, it is perhaps 100X more powerful than regular group practice.

Wow 100 times more powerful?!? I can understand if someone says, "Yeah right! What does this guy know??" I cannot explain it. The first time I went to PLS was Feb. 1994. I remember participating in quite a few Homas and I never got much of a response. I've also participated in a few Homas in Redmond hosted by Grand Master Lu.

I am not sure whether it is because I've been doing practice for a long time, maybe it's because Master Samantha is getting better at hosting ceremonies, or maybe because I'm sitting closer to the firepot. But there is definitely a huge indescribable lift.

After 8 or 9 months, if I do not attend anymore practices, I can feel the energy dwindling. My prostrations are not as lively, and are slower, I have difficulty concentrating, etc.

Also, immediately after a Homa or Water Ceremony I am more aware, and I can feel protection. If I do not attend ceremonies for a long while afterwards, I can feel the protection start to fade and then bad luck starts to set in.

It's like a boost. I like to use the added energy to put into my studies to give me an "edge" over other students. Right now I'm very sore and full of pain. I've been working out very hard physically and my body is not athletic at all (not to mention I'm sick). I may take it easy for the next couple weeks.

There are other reasons I like to attend group cultivation ceremonies. This sounds superficial, but when we die we see the King of the Netherworld who weighs out all the good and bad things we've done. After I've been bad (which wasn't too long ago) I like to goto group cultivation to "balance it out".

The King of the Netherworld puts all the bad things you've done on one side of the scale, and puts all the good things you've done on the other side. Participating in group cultivation is a very good thing and will help tilt the scale in your favor.

Participating in group cultivation helps in day to day cultivation. When you visualize yourself in group cultivation (even if you aren't actually in a group cultivation) your practice becomes more powerful. Of course it's far easier to visualize yourself in a group cultivation if you do it on a regular basis.

Going to the temple affords you other opportunities. If you are lucky you can catch Master Samantha and talk with her and maybe get some advice. She's always hanging around. And also, the monks at PLS can help if you have questions.

If you don't goto the temple often, at least go for the major Fire Ceremonies and/or Water Offerings to receive the blessings.

Maha

Thank you Steven.

I know that it says in the Bodhisattva vows that those who have taken them must attend.
Although for a lay practitioner, I am a little confused.

A ran into a Dharma Brother recently, and he said that that it is important that we be there, and something to do with group cultivation practices to help others..

Perhaps you know what he means.

Thanks.

Brenda

hey Bren...
   mind if i ask why your asking this question? correct me if im wrong but it almost sounds like you dont want to visit the temple near to you... if im right, how come you dont want to visit it? or did i miss something? if im asking something you would rather not get into just say so you dont have to feel ackward... 8)

       om mani padme hum

The new temple here is a little longer drive but it is still home away from home.

The reason I am asking is not only to clear it up for myself but for others as well.

I never felt I had to be every practice, until my Dharma
brother talked about it.  I am attempting to understand what he was really talking about.  

For me, I need to have things clarified, in case I am missing out on doing something that will really help others and myself.

Brenda,

A buddhist who has taken the Bodhisattva Vows must attend
...i repeat MUST attend any dharma talk within 5km radius
of where the buddhist stayed. Unless the buddhist has a valid reason...like falling very sick or truly working and thus
not at home, he/she must attend any dharma talk/praying ceremonies held in the temple.

If not, the buddhist is considered as having broken the
Bodhisattva vows that she/he has taken and must repent
at the altar.

Brenda

what arica said was true.

but, are you "A buddhist who has taken the Bodhisattva Vows"?

for me, I am just a lazy layman, I stay at home cultivating...

Mimosa

Hello Mimosa.

I already know about the Bodhisattva vow requirements and I am preparing to take them the next time around here.

My inquiry is for lay persons.

Thanks.

Brenda, if you don't mind me asking, after you take the Bodhisattva vows, where will you reside? Maybe you can come to San Francisco and help Master Samantha at the Purple Lotus Society. There aren't too many english speaking people there.

Maha

Steven.
Perhaps you do not remember me.  I spent several weeks at PLS about 3 or so years ago about the time when Mr.Chow was building their new house.

I stayed at the woman's dorm and cultivated daily with the sangha and spent the rest of the time helping out with the computer work.  

I also wrote a story about my expereinces there on e-board.
As a result of my story, one of our English speaking Dharma brothers from Edmonton wanted to go there too.
He faxed PLS and was turned down because he could not
speak Chinese.  Perhaps PLS has changed their policy for TBS English members staying at the dorms.

Everyone was very nice to me there, especially K.C, Janny, and the head Lama all of which I remember very fondly.

If you would not mind rechecking for me their policy regarding this I will pass it along.

As for actually moving to the U.S, I am "attached" to Canada.

Thank you for your kind thoughts.

Brenda

One of the reasons supplied by Fa-Shi, who will respond later with more, is  that one has the chance to hear dharma teachings when one attends the group practice.

A Master also said that attending group practice means aquiring more lineage empowerment.
Also a temple has group practicing that will assist to spread the energy in the surroundings of the temple.
The example I was given was; if one practices alone, how much magnetic energy is created, compared to many people practing together.

As in the same with everyones response to this question one of the many reasons to attend at your local temple is the cultivating energy. I mean just the feeling of oneness that is there. We recently just had a monk leave our temple and new monk came in. He was an acting abbat at the Remond Temple and just the difference, wow. Another reason to be around fellow Dharma brothers and sisters and to chat with one another. I look forward to every Sunday and it doesn't matter to me if the temple was 15min or 2hrs. Cermonies are great too, I few monthes ago went too a Stupta cermony ( excuse the spelling) and it was an experince. When the new temple opens in Charlotte I might possibly go down to experince. Besides the vows though of course should be followed, one should just want to go. I pray for the best, Om Mani Padme Hum!!

how about those of us who have already taken the Boddhisattva vows in our hearts, but didn't go through the ceremony of really becoming one? I mean, just a personal commitment to oneself

is it considered breaking a vow?

Hello.
I find the energy at the temple is great especially for cultivation and I love being around my fellow Dharma sisters and brothers.

I am going to formally take the Bodhisattva vows myself this year.  As I am preparing to take the vow's I am working on
several of the vows.  Like not speeding, stopping to help people on the road..etc.

Personally, I think if I can keep these vows without taking them, then I will be ready to take them formally.

I hope this helps.

Brenda,
What are the rules of the Bodhisattva vows?

this is the url for the Boddhisattva vows:
http://www.tbsn.org/english/library/reference/bsvav.htm

The vows also include the five basic precepts too.

Normally, you'll notice : those who have taken the vows would dorn the brown outer clothing on top of the existing yellow robes.

Wow! I just finished reading the link, very interesting. Yes, there are lots of vows, so many that I could not remember them let alone keep all of them. Some are easier to keep than others such as the days one must eat a vegetarian meal would be hard to follow. However, I believe that if one has the will and perseverance, and cultivates a good heart, these things will come very naturally.

Lyciss,
GM said that Sakyamuni had to eat whatever was offered to him, including meat and that Sakyamuni was not against eating meat. He also said that becoming a vegetarian does not necessarily place one ahead of another who eats meat in line of becoming enlightened. As well, it was far easier to become a vegetarian back in those days than it is now. Grandmaster realized how hard it was for practitioners to become vegetarians so he taught the deliverance method out of compassion. Perhaps that is why Sakyamuni did not practice or teach it. Or perhaps he did teach it, but the teaching was lost or rejected by later schools of thought.

Cele,
   i havent ever read Grand Master saying that about Shakyamuni, when i mentioned what i wrote in my other post it was from past readings about shakyamuni... perhaps Grand Master would be a more qualified person to ask then the authors of those other books i read... what ever the case im a vegitarian still... i dont find it hard at all to not eat meat... it actually is very natural for me not to... the only part about it that i find inconvient is people always asking me the "whys" i hate answering them because they always seem to get defensive like im somehow challenging them... it doesnt bother me that people eat meat... its rare for me to come across another person who doesnt eat it...
     ever since i learned about the rebirth mantra and i know Grand Master says that they are both equal neither one is better than the other... but i kinda wonder... if you use the rebirth mantra isnt that allowing the being to have a more fortunate birth which is good right? well since i dont eat meat im not reciting the rebirth mantra over any dead animals and just think about the merits of how many dead animals people eat and recite the mantra over compaired to me who eats none and recites none... perhaps i need to recite it everyday for all those animals i would eat but dont... lol
      for me i still consider it a tribute to all those animals who have to suffer to become feed for humans... and i personally feel that if i cant have compassion for a cow or a chicken how can i have compassion for the person who wants to hold me at gun point for my wallet? im not anit prision but i am anti death penalty and anti abortion... however i dont expect others to join my belief... these i hold for myself... if im faced with having to make a choice to send someone to their death i will pardon them but i cant force nor is it fair for me to  expect anyone else to follow this...
       the way i see it... if i cant forgive my enimies how can i expect my karmic deptors to forgive me? these are just my personal feelings towards my life... 8) and this doesnt make me better than anyone else...    

       om mani padme hum  

Lyciss,
No, I don't think you're challenging me nor do I have anything against people which eat meat or don't. I'm was simply saying that there is no difference between vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Grand Master made that distinction very clearly in his book. I believe he wrote it in The True Buddha Tantric Dharma in a chapter titled 'Vegetarian or Non-vegetarian.' He said that it is a matter of personal choice. Although you find it easy to be a vegetarian, I am not so sure everyone else will find it easy as well. Because in your previous post, you said that Sakyamuni might have said that he abstains from eating meat. Grandmaster talks about it extensively. The principle of becoming a vegetarian was started by Devadatta, Sakyamuni's opposer. He tried to draw away disciples from Sakyamuni and thus made such rules. However, it was a Chinese emperor who later made it law for the monastery to become vegetarians. It is all written in that chapter. Perhaps the books you read did not mention it because they were Mahayana Buddhists. Actually, Grandmaster is not the only one to write about it. When one researches Thervada Buddhism and Tantric Buddhism one will find the same story. As well, Grandmaster said that when one is a vegetarian, one's food also has many bacteria and organisms. Are those not sentient beings too? That is why Grandmaster said there is no difference. So I don't have anything against being vegetarian or non, but I just wanted to clarify that.

Cele,
   i understand the whole bacteria thing it all makes sense... and i realize that this human form will constantly be a source for causing sentient beings harm... but the less the better? if you are going to eat a cow why not chop off ur own leg and eat it? lol or i should say would you chop off ur own leg to feed a person who is starving?

       om mani padme hum