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It is easier to govern a country than a family; easier to govern a family than another person; and easier to govern another person than one’s own mind. There are ministers and generals who can govern a country very well, but they cannot get along with their spouses and children at home. Some people take good care of their family lives and manage people and matters outside the home with ease, but find it hard to manage their own minds. They cannot control their desire, anger, worries, and deviant views and are constantly troubled by emotions and cravings. The mind is like tangled silk that needs sorting to be in good working order. It is like an ancient mirror that requires a good polishing in order to shine, or a wild horse that needs to be tamed. The mind is our master, leading the daily activities of our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body. Within our everyday activities, a single thought may ruin our lives or reputations, or help us gain success and fame. Buddhist sutras compare the ungoverned mind to the likes of thieves, vicious beasts, monkeys, and kings. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial to govern the mind!

So what kind of power can we use to subdue the mind? The following are four suggestions that anyone can follow.

1. Know how to cultivate the mind. We repair furniture when it is broken, water pipes when they leak, and

clothes when they are torn. If the mind has become smeared by greed, ignorance, and arrogance, how do we repair it? We need the instruments of compassion, joy, generosity, meditation, morals, and practice to treat it.

2. Know how to calm the mind. The mind is like a monkey or a horse. If we are not careful, it will commit all kinds of unwholesome deeds. Ming Dynasty scholar Wang Yangming said, “It is easy to capture a bandit in the mountains; it is difficult to catch the thief in the mind.” Calming the mind is like soldiers apprehending bandits or the police arresting thieves. Where are our soldiers and police? Right thinking is our soldier and right view is our police. We have to make good use of them in order to calm our minds.

3. Know how to use our minds. We are often manipulated by the mind but do not know how to use it properly. It is said that the mind labors for its physical form. It is often influenced by our desires and external circumstances. It is driven by sight, sound, smell, touch, and perception from outside. The greed, anger, and ignorance of the mind keeps pushing and working against us. So we must master our minds. With prajna-wisdom and clear understanding of sentiments and reasoning, we will understand how to use our minds.

4. Know how to understand the mind. Chan Buddhism speaks of “understanding the mind and seeing nature.” This means that we need to have an awareness of our minds and be clear every moment. We should constantly watch the mind and not allow it to come and go as it pleases. We must not be enslaved by it. With right views and right thoughts to counter our roaming minds, we can contemplate and understand the mind and rest assured that we can accomplish anything.

(adapted from Tending Life’s Garden, Between Ignorance and Enlightenment VI, published by Buddha’s Light Publishing)

Governing the Mind

Issue No.29 August 2013

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Around 220 devotees attended the ‘Eight Precepts Retreat’, which was held at Nan Tien Temple on the weekend of July 6th and 7th.

The participants were keen to set aside the worldly matters of their busy lives, to deepen their understanding of the Dharma through talks - delivered by various Reverends - and through discussions on

Eight Precepts Retreat

topics like Buddhist verses and etiquette, texts from the Buddhist canon, and meditation.

Further topics included establishing good affinity with others, correcting misconceptions about faith, subduing our own unwholesome habits, and experiencing the pure calm and peacefulness derived from upholding the precepts.

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Sound of SilenceWhat is the sound of silence?

According to Venerable Master’s article on noble silence in Ten Thousand Worldly Affairs, noble silence islearningself-control, listening to our inner voice, calming the body and mind, and seeing our true self clearly.In July, participants at the Eight Precepts Retreat and students of the Nan Tien Buddhist College upheld noble silence from a day to a week. They can attest that it takes true perseverance and effort to control the habit of chatting but also the mental chatter in the head.

200 participants seized the chance to uphold the Eight Precepts for one day and night at Nan Tien Temple. The toughest to uphold according to most participants was noble silence. One participant commented she had to constantly remember not to speak. Through the silence, participants commented they learned the value of being mindful, to be tolerant with myself and with others, to self-control, and to be more open mind.

“I learned that noble silence actually calms my mind.”

Nan Tien Buddhist College students also took the opportunity after the Eight Precepts Retreat to uphold a week-long of noble silence. Imagine a week of no speaking! But this is what a few of the students discovered through noble silence:

Vivienne:“Often I ask for help, but now when I’m upholding noble silence, I couldn’t ask anyone for advice or help. Then I discovered that I need to learn how to rely on myself.”

Yangyi reflected, “I often chat away about anything, but after upholding noble silence, I found I spent most of my time talking about nonsense. Now a few words can simply do for an answer.”

Nan Tien Buddhist College students made it through the week and discovered the beauty of silence and their true selves.

Noble silence is a practice of mindfulness. It brings us back to the present moment. Have you heard the sound of silence yet?

Everyone found the retreat beneficial, helping them to truly understand that Buddhist teachings need to be regularly applied in our everyday lives.

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Little People Graduation

On Sunday, July 14th, Little People Class held its graduation in the Auditorium with thirty reverends, parents, and friends. Reverend Miao Chun, Miao Zhe, and Zhi Li were invited to present the graduation certificates. After the presentation, the children put on their costumes and showcased what they have learned throughout the term by putting on two skits

based on the story of the “Watermelon” from the Sutra of a Hundred Parables.Under the guidance of Georgina, the children also presented their rewritten version of the “Watermelon”. To end the graduation, they sang the “OK Song”. Afterwards, a party was held in the classroom with homemade cakes and snacks for parents and children to enjoy.

and being rewarded with a sense of accomplishment at being able to do both! Some found themselves looking for something simple and straightforward, but soon realised things don’t always go according to plan, with twists and turns (literally) in their selected designs!

With the participants now firing on all cylinders, we began to discuss ideas for next year’s ‘Buddha’s Birthday Education Project’, which celebrates the birth of the Buddha through art and education.

The room was abuzz with fresh ideas and a clear direction as the workshop concluded, with participants looking ahead to new challenges, further inspired by the power and essence of ‘Do Good Deeds, Say Good Words, Think Good Thoughts’.

Dependent Co-originationMeich Lee reflects on the doctrine of ‘Dependent Co-origination’…..and origami!

Despite a gloomy weather forecast, the morning of Saturday, May 20th was bright and sunny as a group of eager learners met at Nan Tien Temple for a half-day workshop entitled ‘Dependent Co-origination’.

The workshop was facilitated by Stacey Weng, and kicked off with a brief introduction to one of Buddhism’s fundamental concepts. Venerable Jue Wei, in her distinctive style, then presented a lively, comprehensive and humorous take on ‘Dependent Co-origination’. Needless to say, we will never look at a chocolate donut the same way again!

Next, to put the learning into practice, everyone took part in an ‘origami parade’ by tackling the task of folding pieces of paper based on a design of our choosing. We were asked to observe our thoughts, speech and actions. Later, all of the origami pieces were paraded in a colourful display - everything from pretty peacocks to shiny elephants; simple two-fold houses and complicated castles!

At the end of this exercise, we reflected and shared our observations; and were surprised to find a wide spectrum of thought processes. Some found dissatisfaction and frustration, due to their perfectionism in getting the folds “just right.” Others found they were helping those in need rather than focusing on their own tasks,

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July Time At Nan Tien

Top Achievers of the Buddhist Examination . 26.7.2013

Dharma discusssion and sharing . 21.7.2013

BLIA subchapters who came out to garden at Nan Tien Temple. 14.7.2013

Ven. Jue Ning blessing the baby. 20.7.2013 Chanting for the babies at the Baby Blessing in the Main Shrine. 20.7.2013

Sweep, Sweep, Sweep Clean the Mind. 14.7.2013

Planting of the Bodhi tree at Nan Tien Temple Friends Lotus Lounge Launch. 20.07.2013

A group of more than 40 from Chatswood touring the shrines. 21.7.2013

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In the seventh month of the Lunar calendar, between August and September, Buddhists worldwide celebrate the ‘Ullambana Festival’.

Traditionally, the festival was the day when the Sangha - or community of Buddhist monks and nuns - completed their summer retreat.

During the Buddha’s time, many of his disciples attained enlightenment. Hence, on that day he was joyous for the disciples, who gathered together to share their experiences.

The laity would then offer a meal to the Buddha and the Sangha, as an act of reverence.

The word ‘Ullambana’ - translated from the Sanskrit - means “deliverance from suffering,” and refers to the salvation of anguished souls in Hell. This originated when the Buddha’s disciple Maudgalyayana saved his own mother.

The Buddha had instructed his disciples to dedicate an elaborate offering of food and fruits to all the Sangha members, in the names of their parents from the past seven lifetimes, as well as the present lifetime.

The practice of Sangha offering has the power to transform and deliver all sentient beings, and

Ullambana FestivalMaudgalyayana’s mother was eventually released from Hell, and reborn in another realm.

This year’s ‘Ullambana Festival’ will commence at 10 o’clock on Sunday morning, August 18th at Nan Tien Temple.

At 1 o’clock that afternoon, the ‘Amitahba Triple Contemplation Dharma Service’ will be held, with the merits of chanting transferred to all contributors and their ancestors.

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Date Time Activities

15/8~5/9 Tues~Fri 9am~5pm Nan Tien Monastic Life Exhibition Museum

1/8~30/9 Tues~Fri 9am~5pm Buddha’s Light Art Exhibition Hai Hui Hall

3/8 Sat 9am~4pm One Day Meditation Retreat Nan Tien Temple

04/8~05/9 Sun 2:30~4:00pm Class for Little People Nan Tien Temple

3~4&10~11/8 Sat~Sun Emperor of Liang Repentance Ceremony IBAA Parramatta

10/8 Sat

10am Meditation Practices in Chinese Buddhism –Dharma Talk by Vice Abbot of Fo Guang Shan Ven Dr Hui Feng Conference Room

2pm Youth Workshop on The Mind and its CultivationLead by Vice Abbot of Fo Guang Shan Ven Dr Hui Feng Conference Room

11/8 Sun 4:30pm The Mind and its Cultivation (in Chinese)Dharma Talk by Vice Abbot of Fo Guang Shan Ven Dr Hui Feng IBAA Parramatta

14/8 Wed 7:30pm Meditation and Dharma Talk *Lead by Vice Abbot of Fo Guang Shan Ven Dr Hui Feng Nan Tien Temple

18/8 Sun 10am1pm

Nan Tien Temple Ullambana FestivalAmitabha Triple Contemplation Service Main Shrine

15~14/9 Sat~Sun Weekend Meditation Retreat Nan Tien Temple

18/9~23/10 Wed 6:30~7:30pm7:30~9:00pm

English Buddhism ClassMeditation Class (Beginners / Advanced) Nan Tien Temple

21/9 Sun Children’s Happy Camp Nan Tien Temple

28/9 Sat One Day Meditation Retreat Nan Tien Temple

Nan Tien Temple 2013 Aug ~ Sept Upcoming Events

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Contact NTI now:Tel: +61 (2) 4272 0618 Email: info@nantien.edu.au www.nantien.edu.au

ABN: 80 139 338 819CRICOS: 03233C

These subjects have a stimulating mix of academic theory, with the experience of authentic Buddhist practice. All are open to Buddhists and non-Buddhists, and require no prerequisite knowledge.

You can enrol in NTI’s Non-Award Program, which allows you to study any subject of interest, and requires only a minimum commitment of 5 days on-campus. Alternatively, a quali�cation from NTI can set you up with a unique edge in many career �elds; and a Graduate Certi�cate in Applied Buddhist Studies can take as little as 6 months.

The Timetable can be found at www.nantien.edu.au/study/lecture-timetable. Register now for:

Achim Schenk is the �rst NTI student to receive a free iPad from NTI to support his studies. Achim is studying a Masters in Applied Buddhist Studies, and received his iPad as part of NTI's initiative to make the student experience easier, more e�ective, accessible and enjoyable.

Any new or existing NTI student can also receive a new iPad for free like Achim. All you have to do is enrol in four NTI Applied Buddhism subjects and you will receive your free iPad on payment.*

NTI's study tool makes accessing information easier

Semester 2 subject enrolments now open

Nan Tien Institute (NTI) is Australia’s newest accredited tertiary education provider grounded in Buddhist wisdom and values. 2013 is NTI’s third year of postgraduate programs, o�ering an increasing number of students a unique and holistic education.

The Road to an Enlightened Education

Nan Tien Institute (NTI) is Australia’s newest accredited tertiary education provider grounded in Buddhist wisdom and values. 2013 is NTI’s third year of postgraduate programs, o�ering an increasing number of students a unique and holistic education.

Airynaa Tannberg is NTI's newest recipient of a Nan Tien Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS). Airynaa receives the $3,400.00 Scholarship to cover her course fees for her Graduate Certi�cate of Applied Buddhist Studies over the next 12 months.

NTI has a wide range of scholarships available for Australian and International students. These range from specialised scholarships for health and education professionals, to research and general postgraduate studies �nancial assistance.

The next round of scholarships will be decided on 2 September at the Scholarship Selection Committee meeting - so if you would like to be considered, please send your application to NTI quickly.

NTI welcomes new scholarship student

As part of NTI's and the Australian Government's initiative to make education more accessible, NTI has now been approved as a FEE-HELP Provider. FEE-HELP is an interest-free Australian government loan scheme available to eligible* Australian students which allows students to defer payment of tuition fees for approved courses at higher education institutions. FEE-HELP will now be available to NTI students from Semester 2, 2013.

FEE-HELP now available for NTI students

More information in future editions of Enlighten-Ed:

1 October - 24 November NTI Art Exihibition 'being in the moment: art and mindfulness'Sunday, 27 October NTI will be holding its' annual Graduation Ceremony Information Day and Art Exhibition

Hold these dates

*Conditions apply. See www.nantien.edu.au/content/enhance-your-study-experience-your-free-ipad-nti

*terms and conditions apply. Details at: www.nantien.edu.au/content/nti-fee-help

‘Tradition and Change: Buddhism from its’ Early Beginnings to the 21st Century’ (26-30 August) familiarises students with the rich spectrum of Buddhist traditions and schools of philosophy, and gives a comprehensive overview of developments from the early beginnings to the present day.Lecturer: Dr Tamara Ditrich

Buddhist Ethics (16-20 September) gives an introduction to Buddhist ethics and an examination of the nature of ethics as found in Buddhist traditions, with inquiries into its application in the contemporary world. Lecturer: Dr Royce Wiles.