2023 Mid-Year Buddha Seven

It is indeed very fortunate. I just returned from my home country and haven't had time to adjust to the jet lag. After two days of group practice, we immediately entered the Mid-Year Buddha Seven, which spans from August 28th to September 3rd (from the 13th to the 19th day of the seventh lunar month). Coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the venerable Master's Nirvana, Pure Land practitioners worldwide are conducting ceremonies and various commemorative activities. As the largest Pure Land lay community in the United States, how could the North American Mituo Village fall behind?

The management team and volunteer bodhisattvas began meticulous preparations months in advance, from renovating and reinforcing the residence to arranging each flower and fruit. Many individuals silently contributed their time, energy, and financial resources, all aiming to make practitioners from across the United States feel at home in the pleasant weather and lush surroundings of North American Mituo Village during this season. Some team members even stayed on-site continuously for nine days, taking charge of coordination and service, carefully taking care of everyone's accommodation, meals, and group practice, preventing any oversights or inconveniences.

I feel deeply ashamed as a humble learner, with limited virtues and shallow blessings. Over the past few months, I have been preoccupied with personal matters such as school applications and visa processes, failing to contribute any effort. Even during the Mid-Year Buddha Seven, my body was exhausted, and my wandering thoughts prevailed, reaching a state typical of "chanting the name of Amitabha with a scattered mind, shouting until hoarse in vain." I've been passively helping in the kitchen and providing transportation morning and evening. Coupled with the unexpected challenges of the new school year, I found myself in a state of confusion and disorder. Consequently, during the initial days of the Mid-Year Buddha Seven, I was unable to focus on chanting the Buddha's name.

It wasn't until Thursday night, on the way back to Mituo Village, that a speeding truck roaring past me from the right side, completely ignoring my right turn signal, abruptly woke me up.

Does death really feel so close? If one were to suddenly leave this world, who could help find the way for oneself—family, loved ones, or work? As a disciple of an old master, what exactly have I understood? How much merit and virtue have I accumulated? In the following less than an hour, all these questions lingered in my mind. Especially on the pitch-black mountain road, facing the entire dark world, I felt like a reptile surrounded by shadows, advancing alone, not knowing where I came from, with an uncertain path ahead. I had to ponder with all my might what could accompany me.

This profound reflection on life and death often arises when faced with unexpected situations. When people sense the uncertainty of death and the fragility of life, they contemplate their existence and meaning in this world.

For a disciple of an old master, such moments might lead to a deeper understanding of the importance of spiritual practice. You may ask yourself, what have I done in this lifetime? Is my practice sufficient? Can I face the arrival of death and depart from this world without attachments?

Simultaneously, you may reflect on the support and companionship provided by your family, loved ones, and work in your life. It's a profound realization of the importance of interpersonal relationships and essential elements in life.

On the pitch-black mountain road, facing such perplexities, you may feel like a reptile surrounded by darkness, advancing alone. This is a highly symbolic scenario representing a sense of helplessness on an unknown path. In such moments, people often seek inner strength and faith for support and guidance.

Perhaps, such an experience could make you cherish the present moment more, recognize the value of life, and inspire a deeper pursuit of spiritual practice.

This naturally brings to mind the saying of the ancient master, "All will eventually fade away, only karma accompanies us." Over the past half year, regardless of the external world, be it with family or business, I've felt my control and influence diminishing, fading away even faster than the sunlight in the dusk. It's a powerless feeling, an irreversible force pushing me back without any say in the matter.

So, on the fifth day, I decided to learn from Senior Shen's experience during the last Buddha Seven. She was able to let go of the "outer garment" of the body, forget about illness, and witness miracles, testifying that Amitabha Buddha is the great healing king. Why shouldn't I be able to do the same? Moreover, Master has always emphasized the six words transmitted by Master Zhang Jia, "See through, let go." I made up my mind to adjust my ears to single-channel input mode, and soon, the sensation in my body changed. Whether sitting and chanting Buddha or circumambulating, whether chanting quickly or in silence, I felt an inexplicable ease. The pain in my right shoulder disappeared, and there were no signals from my legs. I felt light and happy, as if ready to take off, and everything became bright before my eyes. 

This kind of feeling used to appear only briefly. Lay practitioner Lao Fu from Shijiazhuang, Hebei, repeated a story about a blacksmith who chanted the Buddha's name until the end. On the first night of earnestly chanting the Buddha, he dreamt of the Western Pure Land's Three Saints. Since then, he has been chanting the Buddha for over thirty years. His body has rejuvenated, his eyes are clear and bright, and he has a clear awareness of the entire world. He advises people to chant the Buddha and free themselves from disturbances, even chanting the Buddha in their sleep. This elderly person is truly an admirable living example, following in the footsteps of Venerable Master Hai Xian!

This Buddha Seven event also attracted practitioners from outside the local area, with participants coming from places like Atlanta and Boston, showing dedication to their practice. There are two outstanding features in the arrangement. Firstly, a dedicated space on the first floor was set up for an altar with memorial tablets. On the last day, the chanting of the "Ksitigarbha Sutra" was conducted, along with a ceremony for offering and transferring merits to ancestors, deceased relatives, and karmic creditors.

The second notable aspect was the specific recognition of volunteer bodhisattvas. While we often praised volunteers in the Dharma instruments and kitchen teams before, this time the scope was broadened, expressing gratitude for the three types of giving from all volunteers and presenting certificates of appreciation. Several Vietnamese practitioners were moved to tears, sharing their excitement and gratitude. The presiding Dharma Master and the management team carefully organized this segment, deliberately expressing appreciation and praise for all volunteers, hoping that more people could benefit from participating in the collective cultivation at Amitabha Village. The sincere dedication of Vietnamese practitioners has become a tradition in Amitabha Village.

Another noteworthy scene in this event was the Lin family from New York and Philadelphia. The sister-in-law, husband, and sisters gathered at Amitabha Village to participate in the Buddha Seven. Whether chanting the Buddha or sweeping and cleaning, they didn't waste a single moment. Their actions were meticulous, serene, and poised, setting an example in every aspect. Such a Buddhist-oriented family appearing in the Chinese community in the United States is indeed rare and admirable. It's truly a fortunate and rare occurrence. The emergence of more accomplished practitioners like Lay Fu from mainland China in Amitabha Village seems to be on the horizon.

After more than half a year of adjustments and improvements, in addition to investing in hardware facilities, Amitabha Village emphasizes the construction of a wholesome spiritual atmosphere. Efforts have been focused on education in precepts and rituals, maintaining a pure Dharma environment, and cultivating renunciation of self-centered views. A new version of the "Shared Living Agreement" has been introduced with the goal of creating a "Six Harmonies and Respectful" Dharma realm. The success of this Buddha Seven event serves as a testament to these efforts. Gratitude to all the monks and volunteer bodhisattvas who contributed to this. Amitabha Buddha...

Finalized on September 12, by Lay Devotee Dong.