A lot of strange things happened this year, many famous people passed away, but still I am surprised to hear former Pope Benedict passed away at age 95 today. I had not know much about Catholic church. But reports said former Pope Benedict was the one who jump start the process to discipline or defrock predator priests after a more lax attitude under John Paul II. Pope Francis said the Church and the world had lost a noble, gentle person.
With 2023 coming, with Ukraine war continued, anxiety about energy and food shortage, concerns about inflation and economic recessions, concerns about the need for basic necessity for survival just loom over the air. Many prediction talked about calamity coming for 2023. I do not know what to say, but I remember Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Our Appointment with Life: Sutra on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone, which is a short translation and commentary on the Bhaddekaratta (“an auspicious day”) Sutta—about the importance of living in the present moment—to encourage transformation which relieves suffering. The Sutra is the earliest teaching of the Buddha on living fully in the present moment. “To live alone” doesn’t mean to isolate oneself from society. It means to live in mindfulness: to let go of the past and the future, and to look deeply and discover the true nature of all that is taking place in the present moment. To fully realize this is to meet our appointment with life and to experience peace, joy, and happiness this realization brings, no matter what happens in life.
The Diamond Sutra has a famous verse, “Neither the past, the present nor the future mind can be found.”《金剛經》云：過去心不可得 現在心不可得 未來心不可得。過去心不可得 未來心不可得，让我们 把現的心投入在修行，投入在念佛，投入在拜佛，投入在听经闻法上。
Reciting Sutra can bring our on the work of the present, thus help us obtain tranquility and peace of mind. Reading Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra is especially beneficial in this tumultuous time. 末法時期.
I had talked about the many benefits of recital Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra. This sutra is especially great in removing many bad karmas and purifu our soul. Diamond Sutra is another great sutra teaching us to see through the illusory nature of this world. Our mind can create certain magnetic field. When we tune in to Amituofo, or great Bodhisattvas like Earth Store and Avalokiteshvara, we will connect with pure auspicious energy to purity the negativities and retain our clarity and strength. Let’s keep praying !