Showing results by author "Shih Cheng Yen" in All Categories

Lying between the twin sala trees, the Buddha was about to enter Parinirvana. It was the middle of the night, quiet and without a sound, as he summarized the essence of the Dharma for his disciples. In the Sutra of the Buddha’s Bequeathed Teachings, the Buddha reminded his disciples one final time how to take care of their own hearts and how to maintain their spiritual practice after he was gone. In her explanation, Dharma Master Cheng Yen relates this key teaching in the Buddhist tradition to our modern lives. By applying these teachings in our lives, we can improve ourselves and grow in...

Jing Si means to think in tranquility with an unperturbed and pure heart on the origin of life. Master Cheng Yen translates the essence of the Buddha's teachings into simple and easy- to- understand language to exemplify life lessons. Her exquisite words and caring thoughts inspire wisdom and provide direction amidst delusional thinking. In the world, there are natural disasters caused by the disequilibrium of the Four Elements (earth, water, fire, and air) as well as man-made conflicts caused by uncontrollable human desires. Actually, the disharmony in people's minds is even more dangerous...

“By practicing propriety, we return to our pure nature.” Throughout the universe, the planets and stars follow their orbits in accord with true principles. In this natural cycle of things, there is a state of peace and harmony. It is the same for human life. In life, if we can internalize the principles of propriety, we are abiding by the true principles. Those who live in line with the principles attain harmony in their daily lives and can help their family, society, and the world thrive with virtue.

For both Chinese and Western readers, The Essence of Filial Piety is a practical and inspiring book. Dharma Master Cheng Yen frequently makes filial piety a central theme of her teachings, such as in the stories in this book. While filial piety has been a valued virtue in Chinese culture, it is being forgotten in modern society. Seeing children who cause their parents to worry by living recklessly and adults who send their aged parents off to nursing homes and then ignore them, Master Cheng Yen emphasizes filial piety as a key virtue that needs to be valued again today, just as it was in ...

"What is karma?” “Which is more important: harmony or principles?” “How can we understand ourselves?” “How can we be understanding toward others?” “What is true spiritual cultivation?” Dharma Master Cheng Yen answers these and other questions from people seeking guidance in their spiritual journey.　 Infinite TEACHINGS, Infinite MEANINGS is a collection of questions and answers that are organized based on the key concepts in Chapter Two of the Sutra of Infinite Meanings ─ “Expounding the Dharma.” In this book, Dharma Master Cheng Yen wisely answers questions related...

In this era, natural disasters are becoming ever more frequent. As the greenhouse effect warms the earth, the situation is indeed worrisome. Only when hearts are purified can this ecological crisis be mitigated. Only when hearts are united and working as one can the suffering be saved. We must seize time, space, and interpersonal relationships to actively create blessings. In recent years, Dharma Master Cheng Yen has been worrying about erratic climate changes and various natural and manmade disasters. Master Cheng Yen suggests we should cherish our lives, this world, and our relationships ...

“May all people’s hearts be purified; may all societies be in harmony; and may the world be free of disasters.” Year after year, Dharma Master Cheng Yen offers these three prayers. In this book, she shares how her three prayers can become reality—by practicing good speech, doing good deeds and making good vows. Through good speech, we can purify people’s hearts. Positive words bring blessings, and negative words bring misfortune. If we hope to purify people’s hearts, we must constantly speak good words as a way of blessing ourselves and others. Practicing good deeds brings ...

The Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance is a well-known text in the Chinese Buddhist tradition. It was written by Tang Dynasty practitioner Master Wu-da after an encounter with the force of karmic retribution that manifested as a human-faced boil on his knee. Having personally experienced the inevitable results of karma, Master Wu-da wrote this text to caution future generations and make clear the necessity of repentance. Master Cheng Yen taught The Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance for five years in hopes that people would better understand the principles of repentance practice and...

Since the publication of the first two volumes of Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s Still Thoughts in English (“Jing Si” in Chinese) in 1996, many people have been touched by her wise and compassionate words. Still Thoughts Volume I and II were followed by an additional volume called Jing Si Aphorisms Volume 3 in 2010, as well as several other aphorism collections in books and other formats. These Still Thoughts and Jing Si Aphorisms have been translated from the original Chinese into as many as eighteen languages, making their concise wisdom accessible to people the world over. On the ...

Master Cheng Yen told stories from the Buddha’s time and instances from daily life. This book includes three parts: In part one of this book, “The All-Pervasive Heart,” a young child deposits coins in a piggy bank every day in order to “help Grandmaster build the hospital.” In this child’s young heart, a window of love is opened, and as she grows up, the goodness in her heart will continue to grow. In part two of this book, “Self-Refinement,” there is a story from the Buddha’s time about an elder who asked the Buddha how to eliminate illness. The Buddha told him, “If ...

This is a book that showcases the love in our world through short stories about daily living or from Buddhist sutras. These stories about everyday people are like music notes that make up a symphony that reflects our modern times. We can also liken them to paintings that tell of undying love in this world. Through these stories, we go from understanding and caring about life, to celebrating and creating life.

Personal experience led Dharma Master Wu-da to write the Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance so that others might understand the truth of reincarnation and the karmic law of cause and effect. Dharma as Water consists of three volumes. It is a compilation of five years of lectures taught by Master Cheng Yen. The first volume of the book is an introduction followed by an explanation of how to cultivate the Seven States of Mind that are used in repentance practice. The second volume covers the Obstruction of Afflictions. The third volume includes The Twofold White Dharma Of Repentance, ...

This book series contains thousands of Master Cheng Yen’s teachings or responses to questions on all sorts of matters. The earliest teaching documented in this series was given in 1980, when then president, Mr. Chiang Ching-kuo, visited the Jing Si Abode in Hualien. During this visit, Master Cheng Yen shared about the groups Tzu Chi Merit Association helped, the kinds of help provided, and its operating process. The most recent teaching was given in April 2021, after a Taroko Express train operated by the Taiwan Railways Administration derailed in and caused serious casualties. Master ...

"The Path to Truth" presents the principles of the Jing Si Dharma-lineage and the Tzu Chi School of Buddhism in an organized manner so that readers can gain a more comprehensive understanding. The book is divided into three parts. Part One: Pointing directly to the Bodhisattva-Path, the origins of the Tzu Chi School of Buddhism are explored, along with the gradual development of Tzu Chi's four missions. Part Two: Principles and Practices of the Modern-day Bodhisattva explains how the sutras are practiced and understood in this lineage and school of Buddhism. Part Three: From One to Infinity...

“To bring harmony to our society and eliminate disaster in the world, we must begin by bringing purity to people’s hearts.” This book is divided into four parts: the Life Chapter, the Wealth of Wisdom Chapter, the Great Love Chapter, and the Cultivating the Heart Chapter. It covers stories from Buddhist scriptures, legends, and real-life experiences. Using these stories, Master Cheng Yen shares profound Dharma through simple words. Like a pure stream, these stories help wipe away the dust covering people’s minds. These stories also act as a light tower, guiding us to exercise our ...

The original Chinese edition of The Spirit of Great Love Volume Two was first published in 2003, during the SARS outbreak. Nearly two decades later, the English eBook edition was released in 2022, at a time when the world was still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Though years apart, both editions emerged during global crises, echoing each other in spirit and underscoring the book’s timeless message of compassion and wisdom. This volume features a curated selection of short stories—both classical and contemporary—organized into five themes: Rich vs. Poor, Desire and Faith, Wisdom...

This book features a selection of stories told by Dharma Master Cheng Yen, including tales from Buddhist scriptures, traditional moral tales, current events, and real-life encounters. Though simple on the surface, each story carries profound wisdom and compassion. Through these moving narratives, readers are invited to reflect on the Dharma in everyday life, connect with genuine human emotions, and find strength and clarity for their spiritual journey. Over the decades of Tzu Chi’s development, Master has consistently reminded Tzu Chi volunteers to never forget their initial aspiration ...

What people worry about can often be summarized into three categories: family, business, and relationships. Greed and desire are often the root cause of people’s worries. People tirelessly pursue fame and fortune, material goods, family love, and romantic relationships, yet they completely forget that they live in the human world, where one cannot have everything as one wishes! This book compiled questions and responses over the years between Dharma Master Cheng Yen and disciples or visitors: the questions may be about faith, suffering of illness, managing wealth, managing the household, ...

This book series contains thousands of Master Cheng Yen’s teachings or responses to questions on all sorts of matters. The earliest teaching documented in this series was given in 1980, when then president, Mr. Chiang Ching-kuo, visited the Jing Si Abode in Hualien. During this visit, Master Cheng Yen shared about the groups Tzu Chi Merit Association helped, the kinds of help provided, and its operating process. The most recent teaching was given in April 2021, after a Taroko Express train operated by the Taiwan Railways Administration derailed in and caused serious casualties. Master ...