Medicine Buddha Gratitude Ceremony: On Sunday, September 13th from 9:30AM -12:00PM, this year's Summer Sangha Retreat will conclude with the final Medicine Buddha Gratitude Ceremony at Buddha Gate Monastery.

A free vegetarian lunch will be offered immediately following the ceremony. All are welcome to attend.

Mid-Autumn Festival/Dharma Support Society Reunion: On September 26th from 6:00PM to 8:00PM, the Sangha, laypeople, and friends of Buddha Gate Monastery will come together to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival Reunion. Under the light of the harvest moon, we’ll enjoy a delicious potluck dinner. You’re invited to bring your favorite vegetarian dish. Please refer to the Monastery Food Guideline.

Meditation and Buddhism Classes: Registration is now available for the Fall Session of beginning and advanced Buddhism classes and meditation sessions. Classes begin the week of September 14th and are free, ongoing, and open to the public.

Improved Buddha Gate Monastery Website: Take a few minutes to explore our improved website www.buddhagate.org. You’ll find additional content, drop-downs for better maneuverability, and a beautiful, new video about Buddha Gate Monastery. If you’re unable to visit the Monastery regularly, the website is a great way to keep informed about our activities and expand your knowledge about Buddhism.

The 4th of July was a full day of celebration at Buddha Gate Monastery. This joyful event honors our commitment and patriotism. It also reminds us of our dedication to each other. Finally, this is a day of appreciation.

We began the morning with a July 4th Festival. Under rows of beautiful white canopies, members of the monastery sold delicious and unique homemade food, treats and drinks. Children enjoyed activities such as candle making, calligraphy, and tie-dyed shirt making. All proceeds went toward future programs at the monastery. (Read more about this event.)

A harmonious society and a harmonious world are the fundamental conditions for a happy and peaceful life. In this multi-faceted, ever changing society, with its materialistic progress and close interaction between people, human desires are pervasive and problems surface. This results in mental agitation for many, and the importance of peace and harmony is ever more apparent. To achieve a harmonious world, we must consider not only ourselves, but also our environment. If people wish to lead a harmonious life, they must not only satisfy and maintain their basic material needs, but live in harmony with others, have a sense of values, have a calm and peaceful mind, and maintain a physical environment amenable to human existence. Read more.

Isaac Newton postulated; “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” This is the same basis for Karma and all that is taught in Mahayana Buddhism.  As part of the instruction of the Dharma, here are some of the practices for eradicating afflictions and poisons.

To free us from the six causes of suffering, the Six Paramitas are the remedies:

1. Dana—Giving and generosity to eradicate greed and stinginess
2. Sila—Virtue and morality to eradicate misconducts and moral corruption
3. Ksanti—Patience, tolerance, acceptance, and endurance to eradicate anger and hatred
4. Virya—Energy, diligence, courage, enthusiasm and effort to eradicate laziness and dullness
5. Dhyana—Meditation, absorption, concentration and contemplation to eradicate distraction and monkey mind
6. Prajna—Transcendental wisdom to eradicate ignorance and delusion

In practicing the Paramitas with concentration and diligence, we can eradicate these vexations and learn to cultivate generosity, virtue, and transcendental wisdom.

Tony Khoury serves as Vice President of the Dharma Support Society at Buddha Gate Monastery. He has been at Buddha Gate Monastery since 2003. To read more about his journey and experience with Buddhism, click here.

Arhats are saints or sages who have fully realized for themselves the Buddhist Doctrine. The difference between an Arhat and a Bodhisattva is the Arhat attains enlightenment by himself, for himself, whereas a Bodhisattva vows to lead all beings to ultimate liberation. The Buddha was also considered an Arhat, who was named the Great Arhat in Buddhist scripture, because he attained supreme and complete enlightenment, which is superior to that of the Arhat. In some texts the Buddha is described as being accompanied by 50 Arhats, sometimes by 500 or other multiples of this number (the figure is taken by some simply to mean a large crowd).  Here at Buddha Gate we have 18 statues to represent all Arhats.

In keeping with this month’s theme, ‘Harmony’, we have selected Arhat Vajraputra. The literal meaning of Vajraputra is Diamond Seed. Vajraputra symbolizes the invincible power of compassion and wisdom. One of the stories of Vajraputra is that he instructed Ananda (famous for his extraordinary memory by which he was able to retain all of the Buddha’s teachings), to harmonize the understanding of the Dharma with the practice toward Arhatship. 

Vegetarian cuisine can be not only delicious and easy, but affordable and healthy! Please try our selection this month of Pineapple Mushroom.