An Insight Into Szechuan Earthquake

May 2008 turned out to be a mournful month. First is the cyclone in Myanmar, followed by the tragic earthquake in Szechuan, China on 12 May 2008. For the past few weeks, the world was sitting in front of TV watching the disaster footage following the incessant news about these natural catastrophe which was really heart-breaking.

Trapped amidst destruction, fear, and sorrow, there seemed to be so little hope to rescue more lives. I believe all of you will agree with me that many of us who are unaffected by the tragedies were mentally disturbed and heart aches over the loss of so many lives, not forgetting hundred of thousands who have injured and become childless or orphans all out of sudden. It casts a shadows on every heart. We have never wrapped our mind with figure such as this. .

The survived need our help to rebuild home and to keep up with lives. Many of us have generously donated to the victims which is meritorious. Let us pray for the souls of those that have passed on. Let us pray for their family and relatives, so that they may find strength to cope with the death of their loved ones, and also that they might find comfort and solace. Let us pray for those who have survived, but are traumatised and injured so that they may not be discouraged and afraid. Let us pray for the rescue and aid workers, that they may have the wisdom and perserverence to help those in need.

Besides financial aid, we may also render our help spiritually by sending loving kindness to the victims survived as well as for the deceased. One very easy way in sharing your loving kindness is by means of recitation of mantra and sutra. I happened to come across this information from the net about recitation of the Golden Light Sutra:-

Lama Zopa Rinpoche urges us to recite the Sutra of Golden Light every day. . The benefits from reciting, listening to, or even hearing the name of the sutra are immeasurable, from eliminating conflict, terrorism, torture and famine to achieving full enlightenment.

Therefore, Rinpoche says, recite even one page every day, and if possible, do so with others.

“The holy Golden Light Sutra is the king of the sutras. It is extremely powerful and fulfills all one's wishes, as well as bringing peace and happiness for all sentient beings, up to enlightenment. It is also extremely powerful for world peace, for your own protection, and for the protection of the country and the world. Also, it has great healing power for people in the country. ...

Anyone can read this text, Buddhists and even non-Buddhists who desire world peace. This also protects individuals and the country from what are labeled natural disasters of the wind element, fire element, earth element, and water element, such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, fires, tornadoes, etc. They are not natural because they come from causes and conditions that make dangers happen.

They come from past inner negative thoughts and actions of people, and from external conditions. The benefits of reading this sutra are immeasurable ... reciting just a few lines of the Sutra of Golden Light creates more merit than making ... immeasurable offerings to the Buddha. Reciting this sutra directs one's life towards enlightenment. There is so much merit ... one's life becomes so easy, whatever one wishes for one receives ... there is unbelievable purification ... one liberates numberless sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric suffering and brings them to enlightenment.”

Please access the following link for a copy of the sutra.

http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/advice/goldenlight.asp

Dedication

Rinpoche also recommended dedicating the merits so that all war, violence, terrorism, destructive weather, diseases, and famine is eliminated, and that everyone enjoys peace, plenty, good health, and has love and compassion in their hearts.

In dedicating the merits of yourself and others, think of your own virtuous actions of reading, reciting, and even thinking about this king of sutras. Then think of specific wars, areas of famine, terrible diseases and afflictions, physical and mental acts of violence, and dedicate the merits so that these are eliminated immediately.

A dedication of merit is like a practice of sharing with the world all the goodness created by any wholesome action. Using the mind to broadcast goodness is an effective form of spiritual activism. Below is a song/verse on Merit Dedication:-

May every living being,
Our minds as one and radiant with light,
Share the fruits of peace
With hearts of goodness, luminous and bright.

If people hear and see,
How hands and hearts can find in giving, unity,
May their minds awake,
To Great Compassion, wisdom and to joy.

May kindness find reward,
May all who sorrow leave their grief and pain;
May this boundless light,
Break the darkness of their endless night.

Because our hearts are one, This world of pain turns into Paradise, May all become compassionate and wise, May all become compassionate and wise.

Experiences with Sutra of Golden Light

Contact with the Sutra of Golden Light can produce new thoughts, changed understanding, interesting dreams, strengthened motivation, and who knows what else!

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has specifically asked to hear about our experiences with the Sutra of Golden Light. One man reported to Beth that he received a copy of the sutra in the mail and immediately he had an urge to light incense. In the Sutra, the four great kings themselves say that when one offers even one stick of incense, the fragrance calls forth all of the protectors and draws them to the place where the sutra is being honored

http://www.fpmt.org/golden_light_sutra/pdf/experiences.pdf