What makes you attend the Than Hsiang Temple’s eight precepts cultivation?

We started coming to the Than Hsiang Temple’s eight precepts cultivation about three years ago when the programme was first introduced. We have been attending regularly since then.

Actually I wanted to participate in the Amitabha Buddha Name Chanting Retreat (Fo Qi) organized by this temple last year. But when I telephoned Than Hsiang to inquire about the retreat, a staff who answered my call, suggested that I attend the eight precepts cultivation first. So I came to try it out. This is my first time participating in the eight precepts cultivation here at Than Hsiang Temple.

Now I had managed to persuade my whole family, namely wife, son and daughter to attend the eight precepts cultivation. It makes me feel good, and my family likes it too.

Madam Wang, since this is your first time how do you feel about it?

The environment (ambience in the cultivation hall) is very spiritual, religious and conducive for practice. I have been chanting from the morning until now and I find that it has raised my confidence in the triple gems. The cultivation programme is also very strict. Yes, I like it very much.

Madam Li, Mr. Tan, and Mr. Wu, since the three of you are regular participants of the Than Hsiang eight precepts cultivation, do you have any thing special to share with us?

I feel sad that I am not a very healthy person. For each eight precepts cultivation, we have to start at 8:00 a.m. in the morning till 9:00 p.m. at night. Because of my health problems it is very tough for me. When I come in the morning I feel alright, but by lunch time I do not feel very well. However, I believe that the Buddha will bless me. Thus I have managed to finish the whole session every time. For example it is now nearly 7:00 p.m. and I am still feeling fresh and am confident (that) I can complete the session

I do not know how to express myself but I believe in the Buddha and the Buddha Name chanting (nian fo). Each time whenever I have a problem, I can always find a way to solve it. This is very true for me. That is why I always keep coming back to this cultivation and practice.

Every month I come to the Than Hsiang eight precepts cultivation without fail. For me it is like coming to recharge my batteries. I also chant at home every day, but when I come to the temple to chant it is totally different. Here I can really concentrate better and we will chant the whole day from the morning till the night. I cannot do that by myself at home. I like it best towards the end of the cultivation and practice where I can transfer the merits I have acquired to the departed and share loving kindness (metta) with the living. We are doing a very good deed. Although I am English educated and do not know a single word of Chinese, I have loved the Chinese chanting from the first time I heard it. I learned to chant by transliterating all the chants in my own romanized Chinese. I then marked the places for the pauses and the rhythms so that I can chant correctly. Next, I try to memorize a line at a time until I can remember the whole chant. Now I can memorize all the sutras and the chants.

What are your feelings about having to take your food together mindfully, and contemplating while you eat?

That is good. We seldom have the chance to eat peacefully and without talking during normal days.

I have a different opinion. I eat very slowly. However here the time is too short. So here I have to eat very quickly. I do not even have the chance to notice how the food tastes like. Usually I just literally swallow my food, because I noticed that all my fellow cultivators have already finished their food. I know Ven Wei Wu always say that we can eat slowly, but when I see every one waiting for me, it makes me feel very uncomfortable and nervous.

(* At this juncture, all present laughed at Mr. Tan's expression when he said this.)

When it comes to chanting the phrase "shi ri yi quo ming yi sui jian" which means "the day have passed and our life has become shorter by another day" ; what is your inner feeling about this?

I have to be aware that the time passes very quickly without our realizing it.

I agreed with Madam Li.

When the day passed, it means that our life is already shorter by one day, so we have to be prepared to face the fact that life is impermanent and death is definite.

Most of us are happy when one day passes by and never notice that our life is also shortened by one day. We should be aware that life is very short as well as impermanent and that we can die any time. Majority of us think that materialistic life is more important than the spiritual life unlike the few of you guys. Here, I would like to congratulate you for knowing how to cultivate your spiritual life in a Buddhist way. Amituofo.