Special Topics
Modern People’s Mental Issues - Too many wandering thoughts
Facing the complexity of life and interpersonal relationships, it is indeed difficult for us to keep our mind unmoved. With the fast spread of technologies in modern times coupled with rapid, constant changes in our life and environment, more and more people are suffering from mental issues as a result. Though we are supposed to be the masters of our minds, most of the time we don't even recognize our mind; sometimes, we even get carried away by our mind without noticing it at all. For th...
Modern People’s Mental Issues - Materialistic Obsession
In the modern world, material desires dominate people's lives, and numerous problems in society are chiefly rooted in desire. Why do people harbor feelings of greed? Furthermore, why do modern people seem to have more desires than in previous times? Are there ways to deal with one's greed and desires? The growing complexity of interpersonal relationships, coupled with a rapidly changing living environment have resulted in people having more options in modern life. Having many optio...
Modern People’s Mental Issues - Chronic Depression
Nowadays, people are troubled by numerous vexations in their daily life. Even though they may not have symptoms of depression, they are often prone to worry and fear. Why are people nowadays so unhappy? What concepts or methods can help combat depression? Huang Wenxiang, Director of Ping-An Psychiatric Hospital, believes that there are two main reasons why people are prone to depression. The first is that people can't find their direction in life, which makes them become disconnected f...
Modern People’s Mental Issues - Intense Anger
Anger is one of the three poisons of Buddhism. Modern people are easily prone to anger, thereby causing many serious social and family problems. Why do people get angry so easily? What are the concepts or methods to treat this problem? In Buddhism, anger or rage is called "Dvesa" in Sanskrit, which is one of the fundamental vexations. Anger is referred to as one of the three poisons, alongside greed and ignorance. Venerable Kuan Qian, head of the Chue Feng Buddhist Art and Cultur...
Buddhist Methods for Training the Mind - The Seven Stages to Regulate the Mind
Buddhist practice is about training our mind. Whether it is counting the breath, prostrating to the Buddha, sitting in meditation, reciting the Buddha's name, reciting dharanis/mantras, or reciting/transcribing the sutras, all these methods can help us cultivate concentration and remain focused and aware, as well as attain states of mental and physical peace and calm. If we develop a habit of doing routine practice, then even when an unexpected situation hits us, we can be more aware of o...
The Key to Training the Mind—Chan Practice
Training the mind cannot be achieved overnight; it takes daily practice. When hit by any unexpected situation, our many years of practice will then come into play and help us deal with it without panicking and losing our emotion. There are many methods in Chan practice that can be used to train our mind. We can practice the following methods in our daily life, thereby allowing us to focus and concentrate our mind with clear awareness, in order to constantly rein in our mind. Doing so will tra...
The Key to Training the Mind—Single-minded, undisturbed concentration through Buddha-name recitation
All Buddhist methods of practice are meant to help us attain ultimate freedom and liberation. We can recite Buddha's name when we have mental afflictions, or when we experience distress and difficulties. Reciting the Buddha's or Bodhisattva's name helps us focus our mind and cultivate concentration. In the Introduction to Buddhism, Master Sheng Yen taught us the method of Buddha-name recitation, which includes the names of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and not just reciting the...
The Key to Training the Mind—A focused mind through upholding a dharani/mantra
In addition, we can achieve the purpose of settling our body and mind and cultivating concentration by upholding a dharani or mantra. As Master Sheng Yen pointed out in the Introduction to Buddhism, many people consider upholding a dharani/mantra as a purely esoteric practice. In fact, however, in traditional Esoteric Buddhism, such practice must be personally passed down by one's master, and requires one to follow certain rituals and rules. Generally, it is similar to Buddha-name recitat...