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Liberating Life
On Sunday, July 19th, to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the Sino-American Buddhist Association will hold a great Liberating Life Ceremony on the Dias Ranch, off the Panoramic Highway in Marin County. A great number of birds, purchased from poultry butchers, will be set free. We set free these living beings destined for an early death as an expression of our feelings about the act of killing.
Since killing is the root cause of violence in the world, for us to make war against already existing wars would simply invite even more violence into an already troubled world. We realize that all problems of war, crime, and violence can be traced to their root cause in killing. Thus, rather than protest, we wish to set a positive example by celebrating life. By allowing life to continue, rather than by taking life, we reveal the only way to put an end to violence and killing in order to exterminate war at its very root.
This ceremony will be open to the public and all are welcome to participate. For further information contact the Sino-American Buddhist Association.
Buddha's Birthday Issue # 4, Volume I, will be devoted to an account of celebrations held in honor of the anniversary of Sakyamuni Buddha's birthday. In the Far East, this event is accompanied by expansive festivals, ceremonies and feasts. Here in San Francisco more than 600 people gathered on May 10th to participate in colorful ceremonies, which included a Liberating Life Ceremony, bathing the Buddha, chants, Sutras, and mantras, and discussions on the Buddhadharma. Don't miss the complete account of this celebration virtually unknown in the West.
Contributors Who Have Aided in the Spreading of the Good Dharma:
| Upasaka Kuo Chih |
$100 |
Upasika Kuo Chin |
$1,000 |
| Upasika Kuo Hsing |
$100 |
Dianne L. Barry |
$25 |
| Upasaka Huang Kuo Chun |
$100 |
Jim Foard |
$25 |
Vajra Bodhi Sea, in order to make the good Dharma widely known, will publish the biographies of eminent Sangha members and lay Buddhists around the world. The editors welcome contributions, which are not restricted to biographies alone. Any articles, translations, poems and stories of interest to Buddhist readers will be gladly received and considered for publication.
Featured in Coming Issues:
- More stories about the Patriarchs.
- The Fox Record -- of special interest to parents.
- The Professor Requests a Lecture from the Monk in the Grave -- Highlights of a Dharma meeting at Berkeley.
- The next in a series of commentaries on The Lotus Sutra.
- The Record of Water Mirror Turning Back Heaven -- "Tomorrow".
Readers with questions about the Buddhadharma, or with any problems at all, from suicidal tendencies to attempts at cooking vegetarian food, may address them to Vajra Bodhi Sea and receive an appropriate response.
Carol: We received your letter. Put everything down and study Buddhadharma. Then what problems could you have?
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