Special Topics
Akshobhya Buddha Teaches You Not to Get Angry
Do you always get angry? Can you master your mind? The Buddha once likened anger to throwing dust against the wind— the dust will eventually fall back on yourself. How can you avoid being dragged along by anger? In the Eastern Wondrous Joy World, there is a Buddha named Akshobhya. His secret to enlightenment is—not getting angry! Anger is like a burning flame, harming others and oneself. Yet, Akshobhya Buddha skillfully uses the flame of wisdom, transforming hatred ...
Akshobhya Buddha: The Role Model to Follow on the Bodhisattva Path
About Akshobhya Buddha Core Theme: The Role Model to Follow on the Bodhisattva Path By Hsu Tsuigu (許翠谷) Origins of the Teaching The belief in Akshobhya Buddha was introduced to China around the 2nd century CE, following the translation of the Akshobhya Buddha Land Sutra by Lokakṣema. Akshobhya's practice methods and Pure Land philosophy not only held significant importance in early Mahayana Buddhism but also reflected the ideal image of a Bodhisattva practitioner. The Ak...
Learning about Akshobhya Buddha
【Learning about Akshobhya Buddha】 By Qiu Huimin (邱惠敏) What are the fundamental vows of Akshobhya Buddha? Based on Chapter One, The Mind of Wisdom, and Chapter Four, The Practices Completed by the Bodhisattvas, from The Sutra of the Land of Akshobhya Buddha, Venerable Yin Shun summarized Akshobhya Buddha's vows into three main categories: 1. Fundamental Vows 2. Bodhisattva Vows 3. Pure Land Vows Among these, there are four Fundamental Vows, followed by twelve B...
Anger is the greatest obstacle to the study and practice of the Buddhadharma
Wondrous Joy in the World "Freedom from anger" is the very meaning of the Akshobhya Buddha's name. Anger is the greatest obstacle to the study and practice of the Buddhadharma. Let us first recognize the true nature of this affliction of anger and hatred, and understand the harm it brings. Then, addressing the root of the problem, let us learn from the Buddha Akshobhya—vowing to extinguish all thoughts of anger and harm, thereby transcending the affliction of...
Recognizing the Root of Affliction — Anger and Hatred
Wondrous Joy in the World Recognizing the Root of Affliction — Anger and Hatred Akshobhya Buddha, who dwells in the Eastern Pure Land of Abhirati — the Land of Wondrous Joy, made a great vow in his causal stage* never to give rise to anger or hatred toward any sentient being. What is anger? What are its characteristics and harms? What other afflictions are connected to it? When we understand the problem of anger, we can then practice with greater focus to transform it, and, ...
Smiling at Anger - How to Tame the Fire of Anger
Wondrous Joy in the World Smiling at Anger - How to Tame the Fire of Anger The harm wrought by anger is deep and severe. Yet to walk the Buddha's path is to recognize our problems — to face them, accept them, deal with them, and ultimately let them go. The sutras and treatises offer many concepts and ways to subdue the flames of anger. If we take Prajña, transcendent wisdom, as our guide, and live in accord with the teachings, then you, too, are the suc...
Awakening to Anger
Wondrous Joy in the World Awakening to Anger Did the Buddha ever get angry? How did the Buddha teach his disciples not to be angry? There are many short stories about anger (krodha, in Sanskrit) in the Buddhist scriptures. Let us explore together the Dharma gate of being unmovable in suchness. ■ Hsu Tsui-Ku (許翠谷) The Murderer Who Learned Not to Be Angry In the Buddha's time, there was a terrifying murderer who struck fear into everyone's hearts. Misled by a ...