Dharma Talk at Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre – The Reality and Transcendence of Learning Buddhism

In her role as the Managing Director of the Public Buddhist Education Center and the Director of Nung Chan Monastery, Ven. Guo Yi arrived in Vancouver to present a 3-day in-person lecture from March 14 to 16, entitled "The Reality and Transcendence of Learning Buddhism." Referring primarily to the Agama Sutra from Early Buddhism, Ven. Guo Yi presented a practical course for the general public. Approximately 220 people attended the event in person over the course of three days.
 
Had the Buddha ever answered the questions of utmost concern to individuals in their everyday lives? In what ways did the Buddha use wisdom to address these questions? Responding to perplexing questions and doubts lingering in practitioners' minds, Ven. Guo Yi has taken special care to research topics concerning our daily lives over the past few years. The resulting lecture was divided into three topics: reality, transcendence, and the principles of Buddhist practice. The Venerable methodically explained that the Buddha not only answered his disciples' questions, but also taught us how to "transcend the self."
 
Ven. Guo Yi presented a lively and engaging course, using numerous quotes from Buddhist scriptures and stories, in addition to utilizing illustrations which vividly portrayed the scenes of the Buddha engaged in Dharma talks with his disciples. During the first session, "Buddhism in This World – Reality of the Human Realm," Ven. Guo Yi delineated the Buddha's teaching about the various aspects of real-life circumstances, which included the five main pillars of financial investments, interpersonal relationships, aging and illness, finding ease amidst the cycle of birth and death, and the cultivation of karmic blessings and wisdom.
 
The teachings of the Buddha are practical and useful, as illustrated in the Samyukta-Agama 91 Sutra, which teaches the importance of having a skill, working hard, making virtuous friends, and living within one's means without being miserly. Similarly, Samyukta-Agama 1283 Sutra teaches the importance of keeping enough money for familial expenditures, personal savings, and financial investments.
 
Proceeding to the topic of interpersonal relationships, the Venerable reminded everyone to adhere to Master Sheng Yen's teachings of the "Six Ethics of the Mind." We must begin with ourselves by "shouldering our responsibilities and fulfilling our obligations; for this is ethics. Respecting and showing concern for each other; for this is morality." The key to practicing morality lies in ourselves, and not others. To transcend old age and sickness, one must develop faith in the Three Jewels and follow Master Sheng Yen's teachings of "entrusting one's sickness to the doctors, and entrusting one's life to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas."
 
In the second session, "Enlightenment cannot be Attained Away from the World – The Transcendence of Buddhism" the Venerable quoted the Samyukta-Agama 273 Sutra and the Metaphor of Clapping the Hands Sutra to clarify: "Buddhism talks about causality, where phenomena are temporary and dependent on causes and conditions. When you have this understanding and return to your daily life, your attachment will cease to exist, as will your insistence on having things a particular way."
 
During the third session, "Common Principles for Self-cultivation," the Venerable quoted the Samyukta-Agama 843 Sutra to explain the teachings of the Four Factors of Stream Entry: first, to associate with virtuous friends; second, to contemplate on the Dharma from the right perspective then putting it into practice; and, lastly, to act in accordance with the Buddhist teachings. These are the principles by which everyone practices buddhadharma: namely, to listen, contemplate, and practice. Ven. Guo Yi encouraged everyone to take their lives seriously. Buddhism is a people-oriented religion, which from a realistic perspective, could serve as a great focal point.

Over the course of three days, Ven. Guo Yi mapped out a complete set of directions for everyone, from finding tranquility and happiness in this lifetime, to attaining peace and joy in the afterlife. One participant remarked, "I've been studying Buddhism for over a decade and still haven't made much progress. What should I do?" The Venerable replied, "Keep practicing diligently and gradually accumulate merit. In terms of self-cultivation, everyone is the same." The Venerable's practical and sincere response gave the participants a clear sense of groundedness and direction.
 
At the end of the course, the Managing Director of DDM European and American Monastery Administration and Director of the Vancouver Centre, Ven. Chang Wu reflected that Ven. Guo Yi's course helped everyone to understand how to learn and apply Buddhism, as well as allowing them to believe that everyone has the potential to become a Buddha. All the participants at the event expressed their earnest wish that Ven. Guo Yi could come back often and offer more Buddhist lectures.
 
Text: Jian-Shen Lin 20230317
Photo: DDM Vancouver Centre 20230317
Translated by: Ariel Shen (沈純湘)
Edited by: Cheng-yu Chang (張振郁), Keith Brown