| |
| Sweet Dew of Grand Master Wei-Chueh |
"If we are content, our minds will be at peace, we will see our blessings, be filled with gratitude and a willingness to help all, and our lives will be filled with hope and happiness." |
| Upcoming Dharma Events |
Ten years ago, Venerable Master Wei Chueh, the founding abbot of Chung Tai, established Buddha Gate, the first overseas branch of Chung Tai Chan Monastery. This October, in celebration of Buddha Gate’s tenth anniversary, the Venerable Master will visit the monastery and transmit the Three Refuges, Five Precepts, and Eight Prohibitive and Fasting Precepts (read more). In addition, the Venerable Master will also visit the other overseas branches. Join us for this momentous and auspicious event. Following is the tentative itinerary:
Oct 1 (Fri.) 7:00 pm - Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale:
Dharma lecture and Three Refuges Transmission Ceremony
Oct 2 (Sat.) 10:30 am - Buddha Gate Monastery in Lafayette
In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Buddha Gate Monastery, the Grand Master will conduct a Purification Ceremony and transmit the Eight Prohibitive and Fasting Precepts.
Oct 3 (Sun.) 10:30 am - Buddha Gate Monastery in Lafayette
Three Refuges and Five Precepts Transmission Ceremony
Oct 5 (Tue.) 7:00 pm - Buddha Jewel Monastery in Seattle
Dharma lecture and Three Refuges Transmission Ceremony
Oct 8 (Fri.) 7:00 pm - Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston
Dharma lecture, Three Refuges and Five Precepts Transmission Ceremony
Oct 9 (Sat.) 10:00 am - Texas Pagoda Chan Monastery in Shepherd, Texas
At the site of the future Chung Tai International Retreat Center: Opening Purification and Consecration Ceremony
Oct 10 (Sun) 1:00 pm - the Middle Land Chan Monastery in Pomona (Southern California)
Opening Purification and Consecration Ceremony
*Note: If for some reason Venrable Wei Chueh is unable to come, Venerable Jian Deng, Abbot of Chung Tai Chan Monastery, will take his place. |
| |
|
If you wish to take the Three Refuges and Five Precepts at Buddha Gate Monastery, , please register by completing the registration forms (for Three Refuges and Five Precepts) and returning them to Buddha Gate Monastery by September 12.
|
| |
|
To learn more about the Three Refuges, Five Precepts, and Eight Prohibitive and Fasting Precepts, workshops will be held in Chinese from 10:00-11:30 am and in English from 1:00-2:30 pm. |
| |
|
The concluding ceremony for the Medicine Buddha Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata will be held on Sunday, September 5 from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm (read more). Anyone can join the chanting and set up Blessing and/or Memorial Tablets for special dedication.
|
| |
Register now for the beginning and advanced classes. Click here to view schedule and sign up. Note that classes will be held from September 6th -11th and will resume again from October 12th.
This class is held on Saturdays from 10:15 am-noon for children aged 5-13. Kids learn to meditate along with basic Buddhist practice through fun activities. Click here to register. |
| |
Located at the La Fiesta Square Parking Lot in Downtown Lafayette. Come with your family for a day of fun to our hometown community event. Visit our booth at this popular festival. Meet and greet our Dharma Masters & practitioners and learn more about the wonderful services offered at Buddha Gate Monastery. |
| Past Dharma Event |
The annual 4th of July celebration at Buddha Gate Monastery is always a joyful and meaningful event, and this year was no exception. Members and guests enjoyed the beautiful summer weather, gathering outdoors for a delicious vegetarian potluck and entertainment. (Read more and view photos)
|
| |
On June 13, over forty seniors attended a very special event: Buddha Gate Monastery’s first ever day-long Infinite Life Retreat. Participants began the day in silent meditation, toured the monastery grounds, and enjoyed a special vegetarian lunch prepared in their honor. The afternoon was spent enjoying a variety of activities: flower arranging, calligraphy, tai chi, and a traditional tea service. The retreat was an opportunity for the participants to further their Buddhist practice and a wonderful way for us to honor our elders and express our respect and gratitude. (View photos)
|
| |
This spring, Buddha Gate Monastery continued its tradition of service and support for the community by sponsoring a blood drive in collaboration with Blood Centers of the Pacific and a vegetarian food drive to support local food bank. Through generous donations from members of Buddha Gate and the community, the monastery was able to collect and donate over 800 pounds of vegetarian food. Thanks to all who participated in these events for their generosity and efforts to help those in need! |
| |
From August 4 to 7, 80 students ranging in age from 5 to 13 attended Buddha Gate Monastery’s second annual Bodhi Seed Summer Camp. Campers began each morning with sitting meditation and a story illustrating the theme for the day: Bodhi, Respect, Kindness, Harmony, Truthfulness and Gratitude. The activities that followed reflected the theme for that day. Campers had fun exploring nature and the arts, with scouting activities, Bodhi seeds planting, environmentally-friendly crafts, calligraphy, Mandarin lessons, singing, learning Dharma instruments, and baking cookies. Tai Chi and martial arts were popular activities as well. The camp was staffed by many diligent volunteers. Children built lasting friendships, developed a better sense of their moral compass, and had lots of fun! (View photos) |
| Chan (Zen) and the Life of Wisdom |
Chan embodies both compassion and wisdom. If we understand the principles of Chan and incorporate it into our daily lives, we not only can reduce many vexations, but our relationship with others will also become more harmonious, and society will become more peaceful. (Read more) |
|
What is the purpose of the monastery? Why is it here and not elsewhere? The Venerable Master Wei Chueh, founder of our parent monastery, has vowed to help all people understand Buddhism; he was aware that there was not a resource for traditional Buddhist teachings in Western nations. In the year 2000, conditions were ripe when the property in Lafayette, California that was to become Buddha Gate became available. (Read more.) |
Everyday Buddhism |
Is there a Buddhist way to party? Observing the precepts should not take a break, but that doesn't mean that you cannot partake in celebrations. Here are some tips that you might find helpful: (read more) |
 An Arhat is someone who understands the Four Noble Truths, follows the Noble Eightfold Path, has realized the emptiness of the false-ego, has extinguished the poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance, thereby transcending the cycle of rebirth. The Arhat has extinguished all evils, is immaculate and noble, worthy of offerings from human and heavenly beings, and abides in absolute, eternal bliss. Panthaka means “born by a road side.” His younger brother, Budapanthaka, was “born by a country road”. Both of them became ordained monks and attained Arhatship in Buddha’s time. Panthaka, the Arhat holding a sutra, vowed to stay in this world to ensure the transmission of the correct Dharma. Panthaka was one of the Buddha’s most prominent disciples. He was known for being skilled in assisting students that had difficulties and doubts about the Buddha Dharma.
|
| Recipes from Our Community |
 Making the resolve to be a vegetarian is much easier if you enjoy the food you eat and have wonderful options. To help each other to follow the Way and practice compassion, we are gathering vegetarian recipes from members and posting it on our website under “Members Recipes”. Do you have a great recipe you can share? Email it to mail@buddhagate.org and include your contact information. It would be most helpful if you could include picture(s) of the steps, and if convenient, schedule a visit to Buddha Gate Monastery and have the entire cooking process photographed. By working together and sharing our expertise, we can build a delicious reference tool for everyday vegetarian living.
Be kind to your body. Be kind to the animals. Be kind to our planet! |
|
|
