Everyone has desires. What a person yearns for the most, and how strongly he or she struggles to obtain it, says a lot about that person’s approach to life.
No matter how strong the spirit to seek, as long as what is sought is confined to things like wealth, power, acclaim, position, health and the like (desires for “treasures of the storehouse” or “treasures of the body”), it has no relation to what is known in Buddhism as a “seeking mind.” A yearning cannot be called a “seeking mind” unless what you are seeking is at least to improve your character, achieve growth as a human being, or aim for a more elevated way of life. In Buddhism, a seeking mind, longing to see the Buddha, means the spirit to ardently and single‑mindedly seek the Way so as to attain the enlightenment of the Buddha.*
Special Back-to-Back Introduction Meetings
This weekend, Saturday, December 12th, and Sunday, December 13th, we will host introduction meetings to close out our 2015 series on Buddhism. Here’s the schedule:
Saturday: Video presentation on Buddhism’s Beliefs and Origins and brief lecture by Chief Priest
Sunday: Lecture by Chief Priest on Buddhist Concept of Karma
- Learn how to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and properly use the Juzu Beads, Buddhist prayer beads.
- Q&A with our Chief Priest.
- Both meetings start at 2:00 pm and conclude around 3:15 pm. Open to the public.
If you have decided to become a Buddhist or are interested in learning how to become a Buddhist, after Saturday’s and Sunday’s meetings (about 3:30 pm) Rev Murata will be performing the Acceptance of the Precept Ceremony, the ceremony where you become a Buddhist.
*Excerpted: Maintain a Seeking Mind.
