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From Retirement to Life at the
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
A Talk given by Sui Yee, February 25, 2025
All Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Venerable Master, Dharma Masters, and Good knowing advisors. Amitabha!
My dharma name is Chin Yue. I’m from Texas. I am very grateful to have the affinity to share dharma with everyone. When I lived in Louisiana, a friend of mine, who is from the same hometown, introduced me to a layperson who hosted group practice at her home. I went once and participated, but after that,
I never went back. At the time, I wasn’t very interested in group practice, so I stopped attending. Later, my nephew passed away in a car accident. He was only 20 years old and had just graduated from college. I was deeply saddened. I remembered that when I lived in New York City, people would recite sutras for those who had passed away. I thought about reciting sutras for him, but at that time, I didn’t know how to recite them. So, I thought of that layperson and called her. I asked if they taught people how to recite sutras, and she said yes. I also told her that I didn’t know how to drive, and she kindly offered to come pick me up. After she picked me up, I told her about what happened with my nephew, and she taught me how to recite the Amitabha Sutra. She taught me sentence by sentence. When I got to the part of the sutra, “In the pools are lotuses as large as carriage wheels: green colored of green light; yellow colored of yellow light; red colored of red light; white colored of white light.” I suddenly said, “I’ve been to this place.” Layperson Chen was very surprised and asked, “When did you go there? How did you get there?”I said that I had seen it in a dream. I saw the lotus flowers blooming, and a child standing in the middle of the lotus. I was floating in the clouds, drifting back and forth. I saw golden sand covering the ground, with many treasures of gold and silver. The lotuses in the lotus pond were so beautiful, as large as a wheel, and their colors were exactly as described in the sutra. After some time, I recited sutras and dedicated the merit to my nephew. One night, I dreamed of my nephew. He had become a monk, a novice (śramaṇa). I tried to touch him, but he stepped back. Then, he taught me how to recite sutras. He also taught me to recite a four-line verse from a sutra. I remember very clearly that one of the characters was "umbrella" (傘), and he reminded me to tell his mother to also recite sutras. After I woke up, I tried to search for a sutra with this character but have not been able to find it.
My affinity with CTTB and Master Hua was established through Layperson Chen and family friends from my hometown. Gradually, a group of sincere lay practitioners purchased a way place and invited Dharma masters to host various Dharma assemblies and talks. Over time, more and more people attended the way place, and Layperson Chen decided to lead a group to CTTB to participate in a Dharma session. The first Dharma session we attended at CTTB was the Amitabha Session. I came with my younger brother. Before attending the Dharma session, Layperson Chen encouraged all of us to practice a vegetarian diet. She said that because it is not easy to come to CTTB for a Dharma session, we should eat food that is pure. Therefore, a few weeks before the session, my family and I adopted a vegetarian diet. After the Amitabha session, we were all filled with Dharma joy. When I returned home, I wanted to keep six vegetarian days a month. Since I was a child, I loved seafood, so at the time, I didn’t want to be a full vegetarian. But my older daughter encouraged me to be fully vegetarian, and from then on, my younger daughter, older daughter, and I all became full-time vegetarians. In addition, I also noticed that the students at the schools were well-behaved and independent. The Master placed great importance on the students' virtue and conduct. Later on, I also sent my younger daughter to study here.
There were many wonderful moments at the way place in Louisiana, but in 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed many homes and buildings. The Way place was flooded, and at that time, my family, two Dharma masters, and I evacuated to Texas. Once it was safe, the Dharma masters returned to California. Eventually, we relocated to Texas, and after a few years, the way place also closed. Layperson Chen also became a nun at CTTB, but due to illness, she passed away.
The reason I came to help with the girls' school dormitory is because of a dream I had around March 2024. One morning, I had a dream in which I saw a picture of Amitabha Buddha hanging on the wall. In the picture, Amitabha Buddha spoke to me, saying, "In about two months, I will come to take you back." When I woke up, I felt very anxious, so I went to brush my teeth and wash my face. Then, I prayed to Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin), telling her about the dream, and asked whether it was true that Amitabha Buddha would come to take me back in two months. I felt that things at home were not yet settled, and many things had not been arranged. I will pause here with regard to this dream.
Last May, I came to CTTB to participate in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance Ceremony. While I was there, a Dharma master from the school asked me, “Ah Yue, have you retired?” I said, “Yes, I have retired.” The Dharma master then asked what I was doing at home. I replied, “I take care of the household and cook meals.” The Dharma master said, “You can only care for a few people at home. Why not come to the school and take care of more students?”After completing the Ten Thousand Jeweled Repentance Ceremony, I returned to Texas. Later, I discussed it with my daughter. The Dharma master had suggested I come to the school to help take care of the students. I also discussed it with my family, and in the end, we decided that I would come here to help.
After I arrived, I experienced some afflictions at first because the tasks at home were different from those at the school. However, the Dharma Masters from various departments were compassionate and encouraged me, teaching me to learn gradually. Now, after completing a semester, I see that the students at the school are very well-behaved, adorable, and obedient. Every day, when they return from class and see me cooking, they ask, “Auntie, what are you cooking? It smells so good.” When I see their joyful smiles, my heart feels particularly at ease. Watching them eat happily also makes me very happy to cook for them.
Now that I reflect on my dream of Amitabha, I finally understand its meaning. When Amitabha said he would come to take me home, he actually meant for me to return to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to help. So here I am, helping to watch over the students and cook. The most important thing is that it allows me to gradually let go of my attachments and focus on cultivating. Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to participate in the Great Compassion Repentance, evening recitations, and Dharma sessions. I also realized that my mind and body are much more peaceful and calm here.
Before returning home for the winter break, I was able to fully participate in the Amitabha session. I realized how peaceful and joyful it is to recite Amitabha’s name. In the resting area, I overheard a conversation between a Dharma Master and a layperson. They said that we are living in the midst of the "fire gates" of the Saha world, and we truly need to recite Amitabha's name mindfully. When I heard this, a wave of emotions overwhelmed me, and tears flowed down my face. I felt that my family and I were not vigorous enough, and we are trapped in this fire. The recent devastating wildfires of Los Angeles is a reminder to use time wisely to cultivate diligently.
I really appreciate all the dharma masters for taking good care of me. Also, thankful to the students for their love and care. I am very grateful to all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Venerable Master for giving me this opportunity to come here and learn. If there’s anything that I have done that’s not in accordance with the dharma, please do forgive me and kindly teach me.
Since I still have a little time, I would like to share another story. In March of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I had a dream one evening. I saw my husband lying in bed, very ill, unable to get up. A few days later, he came home from work and said he didn’t feel well. I realized then that he had contracted COVID-19. This was at the beginning of the pandemic, and we didn’t know much about the virus at the time, except that it could be life-threatening. My husband developed a high fever and became very ill. I asked my Dharma friends to recite prayers for him and set up a plaque for him at CTTB. Everyone was incredibly kind, bringing Chinese medicine and food and leaving it outside our home. One of my friends from work reminded me of a specific type of Chinese medicine, which I had at home, so I gave it to my husband. After taking it, he spat out black phlegm. I also prayed to Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Master Hua to watch over him.
Additionally, I encouraged my husband to make a vow that if he recovered from COVID, he would become a lifelong vegetarian. After a few weeks, my husband slowly recovered, and not long after that, I had another dream. In the dream, someone told me that Master Hua had saved my husband’s life.
My husband has been very supportive of me and our daughters becoming vegetarians twenty years ago, even though he still loved eating meat at the time. He ate vegetarian meals at home and never asked me to cook meat for him. When he wanted to eat meat, he would dine out. Due to the circumstances surrounding his contraction of COVID, he is now a long-term vegetarian.<< PREVIOUS NEXT >> CONTENTS