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Monday, May 26, 2014

EVENT JUNE 8

The 'full moon of the fifth month' by the lunar calendar is most commonly cited as the Buddha's birthday as well as the day of his enlightenment. His six-year search leading up to that day is well worth knowing since many people are engaged in that same search and can benefit from studying both the successes and failures of his efforts. It is important to remember that his point of focus for those six years was 'Nirvana'; that after his night of enlightenment which led to the realization of Nirvana, he was "inclined to inaction" because of the the difficulty of explaining it to people and the likelihood that they would not understand, thus bringing benefit to no one; and that after two weeks of such contemplation he changed his mind and set out on the path to do everything he could to show people the way to end all suffering. It was at this point that he became the Buddha.

Gassho

California Tendai Buddhist MonasteryAt the temple (http://caltendai.org), one can have seclusion for the
practice of meditation, fire ceremony, ascetic practice, liturgies,
waterfalls, and mountain circumambulation, with a vegetarian regime and a
Mahayana Bodhisattva rule. From this unwordly life, one travels outside
to the world and its people, for their happiness and their benefit.
Through altruism, one transforms suffering into enlightenment. Details
and info on "My Web Page."