2026年11月10日 星期二

Where Do the Eight Sufferings of Life Come From, and Where Do They Lead?

Where Do the Eight Sufferings of Life Come From, and Where Do They Lead?

Day: November 9, 2026

Where Do the Eight Sufferings of Life Come From, and Where Do They Lead?

Where Do the Eight Sufferings of Life Come From, and Where Do They Lead?

Do you often feel that your life is filled with troubles and that Heaven has treated you unfairly? Do you frequently envy others for their wealth and successful children, while feeling that you have nothing? Do you often complain that your superiors are incompetent, yet arrogantly use their authority to oppress and exploit you?

Namo Shakyamuni Buddha taught that there are eight sufferings in life: birth, aging, sickness, death, separation from loved ones, being unable to obtain what one desires, encountering those one dislikes or resents, and the suffering arising from the intense activity of the five aggregates.

These eight sufferings follow us like shadows and are deeply intertwined with our daily lives. That is why we frequently experience pain, distress, and oppression. This should come as no surprise. From the moment a person is born, or even while still in the mother’s womb, suffering and torment are already present. Only occasionally, in the brief intervals between sufferings, do we experience fleeting moments of happiness.

As we drift and struggle in the ocean of suffering, what exactly are we hoping to gain?

An extraordinarily beautiful woman? No matter how beautiful she may be, her beauty will eventually fade with the passing years.

Unlimited power and authority? No matter how powerful a person becomes, no one can escape death or attain eternal life through worldly power.

Mountains of wealth? Even if one possesses riches comparable to those of an entire nation, such wealth is only temporarily held.

Romantic love? In life, we often encounter the suffering of separation from loved ones and the suffering of meeting those we resent. In the face of death, even the most deeply devoted lovers must eventually part.

I could not help but look up to the heavens and sigh: Why must we suffer so much? We come into this world, endure countless hardships, and ultimately leave with nothing. Then what is the meaning of all this suffering?

With these questions weighing heavily on my mind, I began a painstaking search for answers.

I studied traditional Chinese culture, hoping to find the key to these questions within the profound wisdom accumulated over thousands of years of Chinese civilization. Confucian teachings and Taoist cultivation both seek peace and stability in this present life, but can such peace and stability truly be relied upon? The shadow of suffering still looms behind every one of us.

I also tried to find answers in Christianity, but cultural differences soon led me to abandon that pursuit.

Finally, I turned to the vast and profound teachings of Buddhism. I visited many temples, met numerous monastics wearing Buddhist robes, and studied a great deal of Buddhist knowledge online. Despite my persistent search, however, I gained very little understanding.

Through the coming together of causes and conditions, I was fortunate enough to encounter the authentic Buddhist teachings transmitted by Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

The teachings of Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III were like a bright lamp illuminating the darkness, enabling me to penetrate the mysteries behind the countless sufferings of life.

I finally came to understand that the root of all our suffering is attachment to self (self-attachment), and that self-attachment is the root of reincarnation.

Because we are afflicted by the five poisons—greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt—we remain entangled in self-attachment throughout countless lifetimes. As a result, we continue to endure torment in the ocean of suffering within the cycle of reincarnation.

Therefore, eliminating self-attachment is the foremost priority in learning Buddhism.

No wonder we suffer so much! All along, we have been troubled, deluded, and obstructed by our attachment to the self.

Eliminating self-attachment is an urgent task for every Buddhist practitioner. Yet self-attachment follows us at every moment. How difficult it is to eliminate!

What, then, should we do?

We should constantly and respectfully listen to the Dharma discourses of Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and respectfully study authentic, precious Dharma books.

With the Buddha residing in this world, we should take the Buddha as our teacher, follow the Buddha’s teachings and precepts, and cultivate ourselves in accordance with the Dharma.

By doing so, we can gradually free ourselves from the self-attachment that has bound us throughout countless lifetimes, untie the knots of reincarnation, transform causes and effects, and progress from self-cultivation to Dharma practice. Ultimately, we can attain liberation and accomplishment and reach the realm of happiness—the Pure Land.

Are you still searching for the true meaning of life, or have you already embarked upon the path to Bodhi?

Written by Mei Fang

Link: https://myhappylifestyle.net/2026/11/09/dorjechangbuddhaiii-eight-sufferings-of-life/

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From Listening to the Buddha’s Dharma Discourses to Caring for the Elderly: Experiencing True Compassion

From Listening to the Buddha’s Dharma Discourses to Caring for the Elderly: Experiencing True Compassion

Day: November 4, 2026

From Listening to the Buddha’s Dharma Discourses to Caring for the Elderly: Experiencing True Compassion

From Listening to the Buddha’s Dharma Discourses to Caring for the Elderly: Experiencing True Compassion

Looking back on the time when I accompanied fellow Buddhist practitioners to visit and care for the elderly at a nursing home, the memories remain deeply etched in my heart.

I still remember walking into the nursing home that day and seeing some elderly residents sitting quietly in their wheelchairs, staring blankly ahead. It was truly heartbreaking. I couldn’t help but think that, when they were young, they might have worked tirelessly to support their families and devoted themselves to raising their children. Now, in their old age, with their mobility limited, perhaps all they longed for was someone to visit them and spend some time talking with them.

That day, we recited the Buddha’s name together and brought some food to share with the elderly residents. As the sound of the Buddha’s name filled the room, I noticed that the expressions on some of their faces gradually softened, and gentle smiles began to appear. I was deeply moved. I came to realize that, for someone experiencing loneliness, simply knowing that someone cares and is willing to offer companionship is a precious source of happiness.

This experience reminded me of the Dharma principles I had learned from listening respectfully to the Dharma discourses of Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

In the teachings presented in What Is Cultivation?, Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III teaches us to cultivate compassion and bodhicitta, to learn to consider the needs of others, and to genuinely benefit living beings.

Among these teachings, the Dharma principle of “Exchanging Self and Others through Bodhicitta” gave me an even deeper understanding. When we feel lonely or distressed, don’t we also wish for someone to accompany and comfort us? Since we ourselves long to be cared for, shouldn’t we make an even greater effort to understand the needs of others?

In the past, when listening to the Dharma discourses, I felt that I understood these principles. However, it was not until I personally witnessed the loneliness of the elderly residents that I truly realized that understanding the Buddha Dharma is one thing, while putting it into practice is another.

Compassion is not merely feeling sympathy for others. It means being willing to reach out to them and bring a little warmth into their lives.

That visit also deepened my awareness of the impermanence of life. Today, we may still be healthy, able to live independently, and surrounded by family and friends. Yet everyone will grow old someday. Today, we are the ones visiting and accompanying the elderly, but perhaps one day, we too will become the people hoping that someone will come to visit us.

With this realization, I feel an even greater need to cherish the people around me and make good use of the time when I am still able to help others.

In fact, doing good deeds does not necessarily require accomplishing anything extraordinary. Spending time talking with an elderly person, showing greater patience toward our parents, offering more care to our family members, or taking the initiative to help someone in need—these are all simple acts of kindness that we can practice in everyday life.

When helping others, we should not always be thinking about how much merit or good fortune we might accumulate. What matters most is sincerity. When we genuinely wish for others to suffer less and experience more happiness, our actions take on true meaning.

Looking back on that day, all we brought with us was a little food, some of our time, and our companionship. Yet what we took away was a deeply moving experience that has remained in our hearts.

I am grateful for the teachings of Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, and I am also grateful to the fellow Buddhist practitioners who accompanied me. They gave me the opportunity to put the principles I had learned from respectfully listening to the Dharma discourses into practice, following the teachings and applying them in daily life.

I know that I still have many shortcomings on my path of learning Buddhism. Nevertheless, I hope to always remember the feelings that arose from that visit and constantly remind myself to be less concerned with personal gains and losses, to show greater understanding toward others, and to willingly offer whatever help I can whenever I see someone in need.

True Buddhist practice is not measured by how many Dharma discourses we have listened to or how many teachings we understand. Rather, it is reflected in whether we can begin with the small things around us and transform compassion into concrete actions.

Buddhist Disciple Qiu Huangren
With palms joined in reverence

October 19, 2026

Link: https://myhappylifestyle.net/2026/11/04/dorjechangbuddhaiii-experiencing-true-compassion/

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orld Buddhism Association Headquarters Public Announcement 20200101 Correct Reply to an Important Inquiry

World Buddhism Association Headquarters Public Announcement 20200101 Correct Reply to an Important Inquiry

2026年11月1日 星期日

Who Is His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III?

Who Is His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III?

Day: September 4, 2026

Who Is His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III?

Five Key Points about the Buddhist Spiritual Leader

Buddhism is among the largest religions in this world. The original founder of Buddhism and the religion’s highest spiritual leader in the universe is Dorje Chang Buddha. He is worshiped by all major sects and schools of Buddhism as the earliest primordial Buddha.

Buddhists belong to a religious belief that understands the universe’s nature of no-birth and no-annihilation and human beings’ original nature of true such-ness are one and the same. They believe in the cycle of transmigration driven by the law of cause and effect. They believe that after one’s biological death, the spirit or soul will incarnate and be reborn into a new being. In the case of the primordial Buddha, He has now incarnated to this world for the third time as His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III. The highest spiritual leader in Buddhism alive today currently lives in the United States of America.

His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III is not one who seeks publicity. Even when awarded the Presidential Gold Award, the Dr. Martin Luther King Legacy Award for International Service and Leadership, and many other prestigious prizes, He did not attend the award ceremonies to receive the prizes in person. He is well known for loving-kindness and compassion, and has made a vow of only helping others and never accepting any offerings from anyone.

However, His accomplishments and accolades are widely-reported. The following are five of the most interesting things that you may not have known about His Holiness the Buddha:

Recognitions & Congratulations to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

International Buddhism Sangha Association

1. Buddhism classifies all material and spiritual matters and knowledge in the universe into five aspects. Complete mastery of these five aspects is called having realized the Five Vidyas (vidya is a Sanskrit word meaning brightness). Buddhas and Bodhisattvas must possess the Five Vidyas. The Five Vidyas include: the Vidya of Causality, the Vidya of Healing, the Vidya of Sound, the Vidya of Craftsmanship, and the Vidya of Inner Realization. Looking through the entire history of Buddhism, His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III is the first holy one to perfectly manifest real accomplishments in the Five Vidyas, meeting the highest standard of Buddhism. For this reason and more, His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III is the one and only individual in history to receive recognitions and corroborating recognitions from over 60 of the highest present-day dharma kings and regent dharma kings from various Buddhist sects.

 

2. His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III was awarded the Top Honor Prize during the World Peace Prize Ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 14, 2011. The World Peace Prize is an initiative to promote world peace and understanding between different nations, ethnicities, cultures and religions. His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III was recognized for receiving this Top Honor Prize by the 112th Congress in U.S. Senate Res. 614, commending His Holiness the Buddha for his role in advancing peace, justice and inter-religious collaboration.

3. His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III has long been an internationally renowned artist. His paintings are not limited by subject or themes and are of many types, from water-ink paintings to oil paintings. Specifically, the subject matters include human figures, animals, flowers and birds, mountain and water scenes, fish, insects, and so on. Within the wide range of styles, there is fine brushwork, drawing with lines and strings, splash-ink, bold freehand brushwork, small freehand brushwork, and others. Altogether, He created 16 unique painting styles or schools, representing an unprecedented pioneering achievement in the history of art. His paintings are on permanent exhibition at the International Art Museum of America in San Francisco, the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum in Los Angeles County, and other art museums. His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III’s paintings are extremely valuable and rare. As early as in 2000, His artworks were sold for more than two million U.S. dollars each. He became the artist whose paintings commanded the highest prices compared to the prices for paintings created by all ancient and modern Chinese artists. Last March, an ink painting of His was sold at the New York Spring Auction for $16.5 million, which was the highest price realized at the 2015 Spring Auction of all artworks by ancient and modern artists worldwide. He is the world’s first inventor to create a class of artworks that cannot be duplicated by anyone or with any method — Yun Sculpture. Only after that, the world now has un-duplicable artworks. Experts predict that His paintings will become increasingly valuable as His Holiness plans to focus solely on Buddhist activities.

Proclamation of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Day

4. In 2011, the then Mayor of Washington, D.C., Vincent Gray, proclaimed January 19th as “H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Day.” The mayor called on D.C. residents to join him in saluting “His selfless and exceptional work to spread the word of peace to all those in His presence.” The Unites States Postal Service also issued a commemorative cover in celebration of “His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III Day.”

5. His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha is a Fellow of Britain’s Royal Academy of Arts, making Him the first internationally distinguished artist appointed to a Fellowship in the Academy’s history of more than 200 years. The title of Fellow was awarded by the Academy’s President, Phillip King, at a ceremony in the British Embassy in Washington.

Unless you are an astute follower of Buddhism, you may not have known that His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III has been recognized as the third incarnation of the original Buddha. His accomplishments clearly transcend religion, healing, art, philosophy, and literature. He continues to devote His time to a wide scope of cultural, religious, and various other domains directed at helping people in communities across the globe. His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III has made the following vow: “I will bear all of the karmic offenses committed by living beings, and I will give everyone all of the good karma and merit that I plant.” His Holiness the Buddha has been executing it exactly as is.

Steven Meyers received his bachelor’s degree in Chinese language from Brown University, where he graduated magna cum laude. After graduating, Mr. Meyers spent a year at the Stanford Center in Taiwan furthering his study of the Chinese language. Later, he received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan and is now an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of California. He has been providing legal advice to California non-profit corporations since 1996. His current focus is translating Buddhist material from Chinese into English.



Who Is His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III?

 

Source: https://dharma-hhdorjechangbuddhaiii.org/who-is-his-holiness-dorje-chang-buddha-iii/

Link: https://myhappylifestyle.net/2026/09/04/who-is-his-holiness-dorje-chang-buddha-iii/
 

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