Misdeeds done by the mind brings calamitous retributions in the body

Originally, I plan to give all of you some words of encouragement. I did not expect my tone to turn solemn and admonishing.  I came up the podium with a big hammer and delivered a blow, and everyone became very quiet.

Dharma Master Gwei told me, “It’s rare that you come back to Gold Wheel Monastery.  You should talk to everyone and keep up with how people are doing.”  I remember when I first came to Gold Wheel Monastery, I was told by the dharma friends here that they felt very honored. I asked why.  They said, “Dharma Master, the assembly of cultivators here at Gold Wheel Monastery strictly follows rules and regulations.”  We all know deep down in our hearts to follows rules and regulations.  I also remember back in 1991, I came to Los Angeles for the first time to bow the Jeweled Repentance of Emperor Liang.  At that time, it was not here at Gold Wheel Monastery, but at Long Beach Monastery. Is that correct? Someone in the audience just nodded in agreement.  I remember the Venerable Master had his living quarters upstairs. The Venerable Master asked me to set up my living quarters upstairs and stay there as well.

At that time, the dharma friends from Gold Wheel Monastery would cook and prepare vegetarian meals as an offering to the Buddha.  The chefs at that time included Guo Xian, Guo Si, and Guo Qing; they are all big chefs.  I am happy for them.  It has been some twenty odd years since then.  At this time, they are still very hands-on helping to prepare vegetarian meals, notably during the Jeweled Repentance of Emperor Liang Dharma Session and our annual Honoring Elders Day.  You all have to keep on cooking. After all these years, Guo Xian can now take a little break.  Although age is catching up with him, he is still vigorous.  His kitchen team consists of hardy men and some young volunteers.  When working in the kitchen, they exude their tiger-like prowess. Therefore, we are savoring our delicious meal today with lingering flavors.

Since everybody has such a Bodhi resolve, we have to ensure that our bodhi resolve continues without interruption.  Whether left-home disciples or lay disciples, the Venerable Master treated all with impartiality. He regarded them all with equal value. He taught and transformed them all the same. He admonished all the same. He held high expectations from everyone just the same.  Our teacher was most impartial and the most kind and compassionate.  Therefore, as disciples of the Venerable Master or descendants through his dharma lineage, we have to uphold the Venerable Master’s spirit and energy. We should not let him down. We should have an unyielding moral character and apply diligence and vigor in our cultivation. Do not let the bodhi resolve perish even before it germinates.  Once the bodhi resolve has sprouted, we need to keep nourishing it and foster its growth.  Fostering and cultivating our good roots will always be the most important task in life.  If we disrupt our good roots, then we lose our lives.  We also lose our dharma body and wisdom life.  Periodic life continues incessantly.  Each periodic life is just like a tiny bubble in the vast sea of birth-and-death.  How can we turn back from confusion and return to enlightenment, disunite with the dust of defilements and unite with enlightenment?  That will depend on the strength of our unyielding moral character, and our aspiration and determination.