What is African Buddhism?

What is African Buddhism? more so, what is African Pureland Buddhism?

These two questions tackle a subtle subject that cannot be answered straight forwardly.

So it remains much of an open question...what we ask from the Blog viewers and participants is to give their opinion/stance/critique on:

- what African Buddhism is?
- what African Pureland is?
- is there such a thing as African Buddhism?
- should there be such a thing as African Buddhism?
- what does African Buddhism entail?
- who decides that 'this' is African Buddhism?
- where and how does the African cultural context fit in?
- more...?

It is important to keep an ethical principal in mind, Buddhism should not be propagated as a power structure but should be shared as a mutual means/guidance to help the ending of suffering.

What are your ideas on the topic? and what suggestions do you have that may encompass this large area of life, namely the bigger benefit of the African socio-spiritual-cultural continent?

Master Hui Re's teachings

You must remember this most important thing:

If you do not recite the Buddha's name, if you do not make Buddha karma, you are making worldly karma. Whether you make bad worldly karma or good worldly karma, it is still worldly karma. It is the karma to continue in this world indefinitely, over and over again, life after life after life, suffering in Samsara. Whether you are enjoying yourself in Samsara or suffering in Samsara, it is still Samsara. Over and over and over again. The only way out is to recite the Buddha's name.

Every single cause has its effect. You are constantly creating a new world for yourself.

Not reciting the Buddha's name is making karma in this world. It's just piling up shit. When its bad karma it stinks a lot more. When its good karma it does not stink as much. You are still carrying this bag of shit.

(Master Hui Re on Samsara, From the July 2007 retreat. Translated by Ben Le.)

Master Hui Re's teaching

Amitabha's vows

Call my name.

I will know you

I will save you.

When you die,

my light will purify you.

You will be reborn in a lotus flower

as a saintly being.

If I fail to achieve these goals,

I will not become a Buddha.

Thus I vow.

(From the July 2007 Pure Land retreat, Master Hui Re. Translated by Ben Le, edited by Maxine)

Intermediate Purland Retreat in October

Intermediate Pure Land Retreat: 19-21 October 2007

Master Hui Re has agreed to hold a Pure Land Retreat from Friday 19 Oct to Sunday 21 October, 2007

Who may attend? Pure Land practitioners or people interested in Pureland practice who have attended at least one other Pureland retreat at Ch’an Lin in 2007.

Cost: R300 for 3 nights.

If you wish to attend, please contact Maxine: (013) 931 0009,
email: maxine.fine@gmail.com

Intermediate Pure Land Retreat: 19-21 October 2007

Chanting up the Sun

Six o clock this morning me and the Master and Maurice Barker of the Sat Chat Anand Buddhist Centre went down to the beach to chant the sun up, calling on the Buddha's Name as dolphins came to listen to dance in the swell.
Today we leave this Heaven Realm and return to our home at Chan Lin, Nan Hua Temple.

It was good to bask in the sun, it reminds me that i'm already basking in Amitabha's Light, even if i don't feel.It was good to bask in the sun, it reminds me that i'm already basking in Amitabha's Light, even if i don't feel it.

Thank you to all the bodhisattva's who called master out here to Paradise in Plettenberg Bay. May we all chant the Name in Trust.

Amitofo

Coming & Going with Buddha Karma

The Karmic connections of Amitabha Buddha has led us to this beautiful spot overlooking the ocean. The photos was taken by Maurice Barker, co-founder of Sat Chit Anand Buddhist Centre, on the Robberg, a small peninsula near Plettenberg Bay where their centre serves as the only Dharma waystation for many miles around.

As master says, this place is like Heaven, like the God realms, it's surprising that anyone practices the Dharma here because it seems there is not enough suffering here. This place has everything, mountains, ocean, beaches and forests, and now it has the Buddha!

We've come with the Buddha's karma and we'll leave again soon with the Buddha's karma.

Master Overlooking the Robberg

The Master and me (Ben Le) are in Plettenberg Bay for the week, we're giving teachings every evening at the Sat Chat Anand Buddhist Centre, while in the day the kind & loving Bodhisattvas who run the center take us aournd their particular corner of the South African Pureland. The Master just says: "Wherever we go is due to the causes and conditions that Amitabha Buddha arrange for us, because we are here only to teach this Dharma."