How do I practice self-improvement?

We talk about it a lot, but how do we do it. There are four guidelines:

(1) Improve Your actions, speech, and Buddha mind: First you must improve your actions don't kill, steal, or commit sexual misconduct,  physical violence,  or harmful deeds. Then you need to improve your speech: by not lying, flatter, exaggerate, or deliberately harm or wound others with your words. Finally,  you have to improve your mind.  Model it after the Buddha's spirit of compassion,  brotherhood,  and wisdom.

(2) Improve oneself and the relationship with others: First, you have to make sure that yours are exemplary in every way. Then others will follow your example and improve themselves. You must act like parents and teachers when guiding others. When others follow your examples, you can then improve relationships among people and lead them to peace and harmony. All these depend on your practice.

(3) Self-practicing at anytime, anywhere: You can practice Buddhism anytime. A minute of kindness, five minutes of meditation, or ten minutes of praying and chanting. You do not need to be in altar or in public, at home or in your room. With pure mind, no matter where or when, you are practicing Buddhism. When you do a good deed, don't insist that everyone knows about it. Keep your practice to yourself

(4) Earn Merit, wisdom, and peace: Helping the humanities and helping others will earn you merits. Keep your mind active and clear, and learn to practice the teachings that will earn you wisdom. Practice both merit and wisdom as the foundation for studying Ch'an or Pure Land School of Buddhism. 

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How should I cope with worries?

You can do the following:

(I) Talk it over with a good counselor. Don't bother someone who already has too many worries.

(2) Acknowledge your own weakness and correct the situation.

(3) Go out and see people. Be friendly, smile, and talk to people who will give you helpful advice.

(4) Face the problem and talk it over with the person who causes you the misery.

(5) Be disciplined and patient.

(6) Be tolerant and forgiving. Think of the other person and empathize with him or her.

(7) The most courageous person is the one who admits mistakes and corrects them.

(8) Vow to yourself: "I  will treat others with kindness, and I will see others through the eyes of kindness."

(9) Tell yourself: "I am practicing Buddhism to overcome worries."

(10) Ask yourself: "Why not let it go? Why torture myself with it?"

(11) Tell yourself: "I will focus on praising and respecting others."

(12) Write down your thoughts.   Read a book. Repeat to yourself: "I shouldn't blame others. And, I should learn to forgive others."

(13) Paint or draw pictures, preferably of Buddha's or Bodhisattvas

(14) Recite the Buddha's name. Pray to Buddha. Copy verses of repentance and  vows of Bodhisattvas.

(15) Recite sutras or dharma words.

(16) Study sutras and explain one section of the sutra to yourself.

(17) Meditate on your problems.

(18) Stay busy, and focus on your  work.

(19) Listen to Buddhist chanting and sing Buddhist songs.

(20) Look up to the Buddha's face.  Can you stay angry when you look at his face? 

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How do I gain self-realization?

We count on others to teach us, guide us, and help us to learn worldly knowledge even obtain Buddha hood. Ch'an Buddhism teaches us, it's better to be self reliant than to rely on others. The bottom line is we can count on no one except ourselves. Someone once asked a Ch'an Master how to attain enlightenment. The Master answered," I don't have time to explain it to you now. I have to go have lunch." Can you eat lunch for him? Can he achieve enlightenment for you? We each must do these things by ourselves.    But how?

(I) Look within yourself: Are you focused on the present moment? Can you have an insight into your stream of consciousness? Can you govern yourself? Look over yourself, but treat others with kindness.

(2) Renew Yourself: We need to renew our heart and purify our mind. We have so many daily worries, but they will all be resolved eventually.

(3) Be Effort to Yourself: Keep your faith, keep up your schedule and keep your promises. You have to be effort in your own practice.

(4) Don't  attach on yourself: Don't   get too hung up on appearances. People are too attached on the impressions they make and haggle over details. If we constantly argue over minor wrongs and hurts, we will be mired in the maelstrom of gains and losses. We will never find peace. We have to leave all our clinging on self, others, longevity and forms of beings. Don¡¦t get trapped. Don't be too calculating. Let it go and find peace of mind instead.

These rules may seem simple, but practicing them are the true tests for everyone. Even though they are difficult to carry out in practice, there is no one else to do it for you. Until you attain self-realization, you will understand the world and the meanings of life. 

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How do I make a vow?

The practicing of Buddhism involves making vows. Making a vow is making up your mind to do good deeds. All the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas took a vow before they obtained enlightenment. There are the "Four Great Vows" also known as "The Universal Vow". There are the "Distinctive Vows," which include the twelve Vows of Aval Okitesvara or Kwan Yin Bodhisattva, the ten Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, the forty-eight Vows of Amitabha Buddha, and one great Vow of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva which I will not obtain Buddha hood unless all hells are empty".   When making a vow, learn to follow these Buddha and Bodhisattvas examples. Place your emphasis on giving and self-sacrifice rather than on selfish motives. 

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Should a Buddhist tell a lie?

Killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and drunkenness are the basic Buddhist prohibitions. Lying includes boasting and exaggeration. For example, people claiming supernatural power when he or she doesn't have any, or claiming to be enlightened before achieving it, or calling themselves Living Buddha are usually lying.   Some imposters lie and trick in order to convert people and gain their trust, this is another form of lying.  However,  if we were asked "Have you eaten?" to avoid causing the host the trouble of preparing food for us, even if we have not eaten, we may answer, "Yes, I have." This is not a serious lie because it's done out of kindness. A Buddhist practitioner is one who tells the truth by relaying the facts, without using exaggeration or omission. 

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What causes obstacles in our lives?

There are obstacles in our lives that we may enjoy: studying, making friends, working, buying a house, building a home, etc. Practicing Buddhism is no exception. Obstacle are caused because we:

(1) Are seeking Untrustworthy: We ourselves may be the obstacles. The pressure of external influence is limited, but the barrier on oneself is great. Just talking about something is not enough. We have to do it. Otherwise, people will no longer believe us and we will create a barrier for ourselves.

(2) Think Selfishly and Self-centered: If we only think about taking advantage of others, we are becoming selfish. People are not blind and not stupid. They will see through us and refuse to associate with us.

(3) Behave unlawful, corrupt and immoral: If we've done bad things and have broken promises, if we've been selfish and greedy, or if we've committed crimes, it's natural that people will avoid us. This will lead to obstacles in our life.

(4) Insisting on our own way always: When living, working, or conducting business with others, try not to be overly critical. When we become too calculating, others will stay away from us. This will cause a good beginning to become a miserable end. If we do not change our ways, the obstacles will stay with us forever.

In addition, if we keep our mind, views, courage, hearts, and thoughts closed and dishonest calculating. These are the obstacles in our lives. 

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What is the proper state of mind of learning the Dharma?

There are many ways to enter the world of Buddhism. You can do so through faith, through compassion, or through wisdom. It is essential to learn the Dharma, for it will help you gain confidence and stay dedicated to your practice. But, you must develop the proper state of mind in order to learn about Buddhism. As Buddha said, to hear the Dharma, you must be "like a vessel ready to receive water, like the earth ready to accept the seed, and you must seek to overcome the three obstacles." There are three obstacles are as follows: allowing preconceived ideas to hinder your learning, regarding the teachings with a negative and judgmental mind, and rejecting the teachings with arrogance. If a cup is covered, inverted, cracked, or dirty, you can't pour water into it and expect the water to remain clean or contained. If the earth is hard or full of weeds, the seed will not grow. One must be respectful and sincere, maintain a positive and humble attitude, and keep an open and pure mind in order to gain the full benefit of listening to the Dharma. 

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How do I establish a positive karma?

You treat others with kindness and generosity, always keeping the Dharma in your heart. Always think positively and practice being at ease in any circumstance. Make an effort to get along with everyone and bring joy to others. All of the above will establish a positive karma. 

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How do I gain respect and acceptance?

If you want to gain respect and acceptance, you need to give effort and be willing to make sacrifices. You need to generate good actions, speech, and thoughts, always keeping your temper under control and being careful not to hurt or embarrass others. When you bring others joy and make their lives easier, you will earn their trust and confidence. In this way, you will naturally, gain respect and acceptance. 

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