By Betty Lim

I was born and raised in a Filipino-Chinese family. Although I did accompany my parents to visit and pay respect in Buddhist temples every weekend, at that time, I could not differentiate between the three Buddha statues in the main hall from Guanyin Bodhisattva which I heard Mom often mentioned. In 2013, Dad passed away, and two years later followed by my Mom. We followed the burial service in Buddhist way out of the respect for my parents. During the 49 days of mourning, we chanted Amitabha Sutra which I found interesting yet difficult to understand. That was when I decided to attend classes in Ocean Sky Chan Monastery.

After decades of living with and taking care of my parents, their sudden departure drove me to feel deep sorrow, anxieties, hatred, and frustration. I felt life had become meaningless and subsequently lost my purpose. Luckily, at that time, I had just started my classes learning Buddhism in Ocean Sky.

Under the compassionate guidance, comfort and care of the Dharma Masters, I learned about impermanence in this world. I also realized that apart from being grateful to my dear parents who brought me into this world and raised me, I also have an ultimate important duty: to make offerings to and respect my Dharma Parents, i.e., the Three Jewels, and to support and protect Buddhist temples.

My four years of study in Ocean Sky, such as joining meditation classes, chanting sutras, cultivations, and attending ceremonies and so forth, have resulted to a big turning point in my life. My impatient hot temper has tamed and cooled down through the practice of calm mind taught in classes. I used to be intolerant, unforgiving and uncompromising. Little by little, the teachings of compassion in class have made me learn to forgive, understand and tolerate others. I realize the best way to get rid of sufferings is to let go of all hatred, greed and all kind of emotions and attachments.

In fact, my relatives and friends are so surprised to see the big change in me, even more astonished to find I am now introspective, self-repentant and non-complaining! I have taken the Three Refuges and Five Precepts, and at the end of 2016, I also took the Lay Bodhisattva Precepts. Lay Bodhisattva Precepts, as guided by Dharma Masters, are observed not only to keep pure precepts, but also to benefit others as well as myself. I am now able to extend my concern to my relatives, friends and even the Dharma brothers whom I barely know, and to comfort and offer help especially to the sick and the departed ones. Our compassionate Dharma Masters intentionally arrange schedules for volunteer works in the temple for everyone to take turns in cultivating merits and wisdom. I am lucky to be one of them. In the process of forming good affinity with others, I can feel true happiness within me in helping others. Although I never expect anything in return, surprisingly, the incredible merits have just bounced back to me! The more friends and less enemies means lots of relaxation and joys in life!

It is indeed difficult for me to reverse my decades-long bad habits. Given the bad influences in this sinful and suffering world, every time I am faced with unfavorable incident, I would be stricken with a bad thought. However, I would constantly remind myself that I have to apply the Buddha’s teachings of compassion, tolerance, and forgiveness, and to look at myself, to examine my actions, to feel remorseful and to repent. Thereafter, I would immediately switch to good thoughts. I still find it difficult to let go of my attachment and love for my departed parents who had sacrificed their whole life for me. However, I have confidence that in the process of learning Buddhism, I will be able to overcome and let go gradually.

It is indeed the best merit in this life to become a Zen disciple, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our dear Founding Patriarch Grand Master Wei Chueh, who had devoted and contributed his life to building a very solemn and pure Chung Tai Chan Monastery, a perfect place for meditation and cultivation. Also to all Dharma Masters for their untiring efforts in preaching and teaching us. I have nothing to repay them, except to stay diligent in my study of Buddhism, forming greater affinity with all sentient beings, and strictly keeping all precepts and supporting Buddhist temples!

By Nancy L. Limso

Darkness. It is perhaps the word that best describes when I was at the lowest period of my life. I can clearly remember it. January of the year 2012, my husband passed away, leaving me and my 6 children in sorrow and distress. It is like the end of the world for me. All I felt was this emptiness that enveloped me. I was devastated. Everything was uncertain. The future seemed unclear. I was crying non-stop when my aunt approached me and said, “No matter how hard you cry, your husband will not come back.” It felt like a gallon of cold water was poured over me. I came back to my senses.

Little by little, I started to live my life the way it was again. Sometime in January 2014, a complete stranger by the name of Helen Go invited me to join the beginner’s meditation class in Ocean Sky Chan Monastery. I was amazed and inspired by the wisdom of Buddha’s teachings. From that day on, I grew fond and excited in attending classes so I did not want to miss any. I can say that it is really rare to find such a wonderful monastery in the Philippines. There is so much more to learn and I am always trying to catch the time to gain more wisdom. This helped me heal the pain, understand, and accept fully the loss of my husband. I realized after a while, it was like I was awakened. I have never felt so alive and happy. I never felt this enlightened.

In the past, I did not always look at things positively. Since coming to the monastery, I now look at life from a different perspective. It has taught me a lot. It taught me to be more mindful of my thoughts and actions. I had this gradual change of attitude wherein I became calmer, I improved my sense of reasoning and how I perceive and understand things. I became more concerned with other people’s needs. I have developed this sense of compassion toward all that has life and this sense of responsibility towards the needy and the deprived. The monastery made me realize that helping is not an effort or in any way a burden. It is a privilege. It is an honor to serve and I am always thankful every time there is an opportunity to do it. Indeed, serving is an effortless pursuit that gives me great fulfillment and happiness.

I devote myself to the monastery. I dedicate myself to always be of service to whatever the monastery may need as much as I can. In the office and at home, I share the Dharma teachings I learned from the Dharma talks of Shifu as my way of caring for them and helping them gain more wisdom. I invite people from the office and my friends to join the classes in the Ocean Sky. We do outreach activities for the abandoned children and for institutions that housed the old. For me, aside from monetary means, serving and helping others can be augmented by simply giving others your time, sharing your knowledge, wisdom and advice to those who needed it. Who would have known? Little things you share can mean the world to someone else in need.

When you light a lamp for others, you also get illuminated. I learned that by giving, you not only become the benefactor, you are also a beneficiary. It is by giving that you also receive. To benefit others is to benefit oneself. This belief and practice in the monastery transformed me. I can see myself tirelessly, uncomplaining and unceasingly serving with a smile on my face. Every now and then, I feel this indescribable and unexplainable joy overflowing in my heart where buying material things cannot even compare.

Though I am not expecting anything in return and I am not counting what I have given, I believe I am rewarded a thousand fold more than anything I have ever shared. I feel so lucky and blessed by the love of family, relatives and friends around me. My late parents being kind-hearted and charitable, my late husband being so loving, caring and generous, my children being so compassionate and filial, the supportive people surrounding me, financial stability, good health, and a happy life is all I can ever ask for in life. I am contented with what I am, what I have, and where I am now. I should continue to live in service to my fellowmen in the bodhisattva way, giving what I am and what I have whenever and wherever I can.

From the lowest point of my life when darkness filled me, I am so grateful to a complete stranger who lit a lamp for me. I also thank the Shifus for being the lamp that illuminates and inspires me. The Philippines is really blessed to have a zen center of Chungtai Chan monastery. Ocean Sky is my lamp and light. Now that I am illuminated, it is my turn to illuminate others as well. Thank you for giving me the chance to help and serve. Thank you for the opportunity to be a light.