1. Title [E.g. Assignment 1- Due July 30]

2. First name, surname (Country/Region) [E.g. Kit Brian Valderrama (Philippines)]

3. Reflection/Questions

2. First Name, Surname (Country/Region) [E.g. Kit Brian Valderrama (Philippines)]

Reflection:

My wisdom and joy are always recharged to 100% during every live Q&A session with the professor. Facing challenging topics and questions, such as the "shouts and sticks" from the Lin-Ji School and surrogacy, the professor answered with compassion and inclusiveness. I learn a lot from these sessions, not just the elegant way of answering questions, but more importantly, the broad perspective filled with compassion and wisdom to embrace the human world we live in.

The wonderful phrase "Bodhisattva has good luck and Bodhisattva has bad luck" often echoes in my mind. I enjoy it and feel empowered by the professor's teachings. As Ven. Master Hsing Yun told us, we are Buddhas. We are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. More accurately, we are buddhing and bodhisattvaing. It is okay to be in any human condition, and we can find joy at any moment. With faith, confidence, and merits, we can live a better life.

For me, there are two Buddhas in this world now. One is the Buddha Ven. Master Hsing Yun from the East, and the other is the Buddha Prof. Dr. Lancaster from the West. Dharma water flows from East to West and at the same time from West to East. What a wonderful world full of Dharma water flowing! I wish the professor good health and abundant merits. See you in September!

Thank you, Ven. Miaoguang, for always accompanying us. Thank you, Ven. Zhimu, Ven. Zhipu, and all the TAs for this class series!

This session is about Q& A and we can take the chance to glimpse at Prof Lancaster's opinions .

In this month I realized that the gently soft tone works better than hard and calm tone when you are trying to persuade and teach someone in a straightforward way. It is important to make your audience comfortable when talking to you, more than message conveyance and being gentle makes you in a good role when you are talking to someone who has a distant relationship with you , or superior than you. Probably my sound tone makes it lively and creative so the atmosphere is not so tense all the time, but when I recalled back , I found that the overall atmosphere is bit aggressive and it is a blind spot that I am never aware of, neither did i get any reminder of that. The finding just sparked in through the meditation during the session . I have to admit that no one is probably like to continue the conversation with me .

This type of gentle attitude is more than speaking in soft tone. Prof Lancaster mentioned a good example were performed by Venerables Master, and I should have a serious look at it .

Be gentle and calm. 🙏

There was a discussion of abortion for the raped victim by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Master opined that there is a dilemma faced by the raped victim whether able to live for the rest of her life with the child of her enemy. She may accept the birth of her child but normally with great reluctance and distress. If not able to accept, she may opt for abortion (by killing a life) within the legal framework, which is a passive exit for a better tomorrow.

Conversely, in our last session there was a discussion of surrogacy to be allowed or otherwise. We see that the surrogate is more proactive to decoy herself in the fertility of her embryo but with fake love. She might think that her decision of active entry into this grey area (by creating a life) may give her a better tomorrow.

Both cases cannot be solved easily within the legal framework and moral framework. The final say seems to be the mother herself. If there is any karmic consequence, who will bear a heavier responsibility?

Reflection:

Thank you to Professor Lancaster, Ven Miao Guang, Ven Zhi Mu and all the supporting team members for running this Dharma Classes smoothly.

Professor Lancaster thanks for your humbleness, gentleness, wisdom, kindness and compassion in sharing your knowledge and personal experience.

Thank you to all participants to share their questions and experiences.

Few things are more impressed

1.     Stick to your opinion if you have already deeply thought about it. One can share your view to others and let others to decide whether to agree or not;

2.     We need to understand some things need to be sought from professional to assist and some can be dealt by Buddhist teachings.

3.     Be mindful and gentle in speech

4. The use of words and tone of speech depends on the relationship

Reflection:

I've been studying "Dasabhumika Sutra" with Dr. Lancaster and the Venerables for the second season. I'm so happy to hear there will be another season starting in September. I am profoundly thankful for Dr. Lancaster’s compassionate generosity in continuing to illuminate our path with the teachings of Buddhism.

This semester, I have experienced the subtle yet transformative influence of Buddhist teachings on my life. Indeed, I am but a humble “sentient being,” navigating the ebb and flow of life’s vicissitudes. For me, learning Buddhism and believing in it has been a big change from a year ago, when I didn't have any beliefs and had some wrong ideas about Buddhism. My family, friends, and co-workers often say I'm calmer and more positive now.

Life, akin to a symphony, weaves melodies of beauty and moments of jest that challenge our resilience. When I'm with people, I see how strong my bad habits are. Despite my fervent aspiration to embody the “Four Means of Embracing” as elucidated by Dr. Lancaster—Generosity, Kind Words, Altruism, and Empathy—the chasm between intention and execution often widens, and sometimes, even these noble virtues elude my grasp. I have come to terms with Ven. Miao Guang’s words, “Sentient beings are stubborn.” Am I not also one of these obstinate ones? I have observed in others, and perhaps in myself, the following traits:

1. A yearning for affection, esteem, and acknowledgment, often accompanied by a condescending attitude towards those perceived as insincere or inferior, leading to a sense of superiority.

   
   

2. The propensity to suppress and ostracize others for the sake of status, gain, vanity, or fame within social or group settings

   
   

3. Fluctuations in mood, swayed by emotions and the words and actions of others, leading to swings between joy and sorrow.

   
   

4. Being hindered by fear and worry, allowing these emotions to limit my boundless potential, even though they may stem from the ego’s protective instincts

5. Energy leaks caused by greed, anger, and ignorance.

   
   

See? When I am pointing out others' faults, I can say a lot of them. But where is my kindness and the understanding towards other people? The very flaws we see in others may mirror our own shortcomings, as we are always ready to defend our perspectives. Indeed, the path to understanding is not easy.

Recently, I attended the 2024 BLA YAD international conference in Berlin, Germany. There, I encountered FGS young leaders from around the world, the future seeds of Buddhism. These youthful aspirants yearn for truth, goodness, and beauty, and through FGS’s platform, they connect with fellow Buddhist youth globally. In their eyes, I perceived the radiance of hope.

Each FGS international conference presents a unique scenario, a crucible for testing my faith, interpersonal skills, endurance, and adaptability. As I delve into Buddhist scriptures and listen to the teachings of Dr. Lancaster and venerable masters like Ven. Miao Guang/Ven. Zhi Mu/Ven/Ven. You Lv/Ven. You Ding, and many others, these collective activities provide a practical arena to test my commitment to Buddhism and my ability to handle unexpected events and relationships.

Despite feeling inadequate in both ability and spirit, the process of participation, to be honest, feels arduous and complex. However, when the Venerables impart Buddhist teachings, my mindset undergoes a profound transformation. I had never realized the importance of benevolent knowledge(as “善知识” in Chinese) in my life until now. Whenever I am tempted to retreat or doubt myself, friends who participate in the activities and courses with me listen patiently to my confusions and provide clarifications, thereby reinforcing my confidence in the Dharma. This semester, I've met many bodhisattvas in real life. I hope one day I can let go of my ego, starting to peel away my attachments and karma.

Reflections
This is an interesting session which is inspiring and insightful.

The response to the question on endlessness gave me a new perspective in conceptual understanding of the term and its meanings in daily life. “There is always something smaller than small; something larger than large” acts as such a good reminder in every day life. To me, it tells me there is always room for improvement if I am too content with what is or when one begins to slack. Yet when one is discouraged, this phrase could give one some form of “omh” that things could be worse, we are still fortunate to be able to see some bright sides of an event. This somehow tells me that nothing much to be attached to or to cling on, be it good or bad, happiness or sorrow. I just need to take it as it is at the moment, enjoy the happiness, feel the sadness as it is at the moment as something that happen just because the conditions were such at that moment.

The kindness, patience and compassions (of course together with wisdom) demonstrated during his lecture and Q&A sessions by Prof Lancaster reminds me of Master Hsing Yun, also they act as good models for me when I walk the walk on the path to liberations.

I am so grateful that I attended these  lectures. I am also very grateful to venerables who helped us to better grasp the gists of each lecture, or to clear our doubts like roles demonstrated by Ven Miao Guang and Ven Zhi Sheng, without forgetting supports provided by Ven Zhi Mu and Ven Zhi Pu and the technical team to make the classes possible.

Thank you for all your generosity in sharing your time and knowledge with us.

I would like to first apologies for late submission.

Once again thank you Dr. Lancaster and Venerables for conducting these classes so we have the conditions to study Dharma.

Really delighted in how Dr. Lancaster construct and paced the classes so as students we are able to ease into complex concept without feeling overwhelm with information. He has really mastered the expedient means to teach different sentient beings. Our class is made up of different nationalities and each of us with different background and understanding of the sutras. Yet Dr Lancaster always manage to let each of us have some take away at the end of each class.

Had also really enjoyed the Q&A sessions, whereby I was given a chance to learn from my fellow classmates and their unique view and wisdom on certain topics. How a class of students listening to the same lecture has such different yet similar questions and understanding of the subject.

For myself, before these 2 sessions, I always have self-doubts on how am i able to match up to the expectation and actions written in the sutras. I now realized that “time” cannot be determined by just one lifetime, nor our cultivation is just solely dependent on this lifetime. Little bit of daily effort, span over many years can produced a significant outcome. My faith had become stronger.  I will just be down to earth and 老实，实修。I will practice in my best ability to focus on the present and to assist and bring happiness to people I meet.       

Reflection for this season:

I am recharged again in this season. Many important golden phrases are reminding me in every day life: Bodhisattvas choose to reborn as human. They have good luck and bad luck. They don't choose to be perfect. It is ok to be in the human condition. At the last class, I was not expected that professor mentioned family, siblings, parents, in the 2nd bhumi. We all know that sometimes the family members are the hardest ones to communicate in a peaceful mind, compared to other strangers in FGS branches or in work, because we treat them as the cloest ones in this world. We have highest expectation to them. We believe that they should have understand us in a natural way, since we are naturally blood linked. If the communication did not go well, it would bring hurt and estrangement to us. But in the Dharma, everything could be solved with Buddha's wisdom and Boddhisattvas' practice. The 2nd bhumi stainless doesn't mean everything is perfect like a fairy tale, as white without any spots. Even the closest family linkage can be discussed in the 2nd bhumi. We can live with our family, friends, and loved ones in the 2nd bhumi - stainless.

Reflection for this season:

1. I’ve been reflecting on the concept of harmony. This idea aligns beautifully with FGS's theme of Coexistence and Coprosperity. Venerable Master Hsing Yun once said, “The term ‘oneness’ encompasses equality and tolerance.” Just as our sensory organs—the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue—are diverse yet integral to our body, each individual possesses a unique life and heart. By embracing my own life and heart, I can extend my influence to benefit the world. It’s akin to how a single drop of water merges with the ocean, gaining boundless potential as part of something larger. Additionally, when that drop of water nurtures a plant, it helps the plant thrive. While a single drop may seem small, it embodies infinite possibilities. Similarly, when each person’s life unites with their nation, culture, and even the universe in harmony and coexistence, we can achieve societal harmony.

2. People often cling to many things, such as status, fame, honor, and the accumulation of wealth and experience. What is truly the most important? There are likely too many to count. Is it possible, just once, to try letting go? When we fall into the water and struggle desperately, that moment can be very painful. However, when we finally rise to the surface, we can feel ourselves bathed in the genuine light of the moon. This light can be felt as what we call "true happiness."

I remember that Professor Lancaster is happy that we have our own harvest from this class and our daily practice.

I did not think highly of my mother before because I regarded her being good at cleaning a trivial thing, plus she did not even finish the elementary school education.

But now I consider my mother’s being good at cleaning a shining point: In the world of five turbidities, doing the cleaning is so important!

Now I think it’s not that difficult for me to maintain a harmonious relationship with my mother.

Writing a reflection has been a challenge this semester as it is hard to write my thoughts when I'm unclear about what I think. My confusion is like a lavender haze hovering in my head.

These two lessons of resolute intentions have been somewhat eye-opening and interesting in a way that is somehow counter-intuitive. I was born and raised in China but received education in foreign countries when I was quite young. In China, even though you were not meant to have disputes with your peers, you're still taught to compete with everyone in the class. It was very common for the teacher to call out each student's name according to their ranking based on the scores after the exam papers were marked. It is somewhat funny now for me to think about how they would teach harmony on one end while telling us how incredibly competitive these national exams are—everyone is your competitor. I was once asked by a young lady who just got into college, she was so upset that her friends did very well but she didn't; now they're flourishing but she's not. I wish I could shake her, I said to her, that national exam is OVER!!! If she made it to a great school, learn from that and actually have fun!!! (I promise I said it very gently and in a way that brought harmony.) I find it painful that it would obviously take them a great effort to un-brainwash that idea of competition rather than team-building and community support. I wish they could receive something else. It is also funny that I performed really horribly in primary school; I didn’t feel the competition because I was the left-out kid, never in the game. Well, I guess you can never tell if something is good or bad.

And then I went to Singapore for high school and then Australia for my bachelor’s. I was then taught to "speak your own voice," be tough, be fierce, be mature, and be confident. I slowly learned how to speak up for myself, how to defend myself in somewhat painful experiences, like when someone is pretending to be funny but actually judging. I learned my lesson of rejecting when I don't want to, was I too harsh? Most likely yes... I learned that my bubbly personality attracts people, and just saying words of what people want to hear (but might not be what they need) will make them like me (I changed; that was cryptic). Flattery speech, here I abandon. Gentle and firm, I learned!!!

Being gentle is very hard, I have to admit. It is a great way to cultivate mindfulness against anger and annoyance. It is so easy to jump to conclusions, led by both the mind consciousness and the manas consciousness, so easy to be judgmental of others but not see our own mistakes. It is so easy, and too easy, to judge other people while thinking I'm great. I'm somewhat better, kinder, and wiser. It is dangerous to feel that little sense of reward—very bad!

I think that lavender haze was finally cleared, even though I lack the ability to describe what it is and how I cleared it. I have been really genuinely SO joyful; my PMS is supposed to kick in and turn me into a grumpy grump, there are annoyances every now and then, I admit. But there is so much joy and so many wonderful beautiful things happening to be joyful for. I don't know how to quite thank you for bringing me these insights; it has just been such a wonderful journey to learn what really is a Bodhisattva. They are not that mysterious; they are not just some statues in the temples but real living beings! We can be human Bodhisattvas; it is not only possible but joyful to do so. I'm not quite there yet, but I am beginning to see the shining ribbons at the finish line.

My son has professional help to address his conditions. I felt like the only way I can be of help and support to and for him is to share the teachings that I found helpful for myself. The mind is the compass for us. I thought that coupled with the professional help, if my sharing with him which is my gentle and firm way can make a dent to slowly move his mind into a state of peace and calm and a growth outlook. As any parent, my concern is to not hear and help with skilful means.

Again, my thank you to you, Professor Lew.

Be seeing you for Season 4.

Thank you as well to all my fellow boat rower — ShiFus and Householders. 🙏🏻