Persevere in Attending Lamrim Class to Repay Master Jih-Chang’s Great Kindness
Year after year, we long to see Master Jih-Chang again. Everything that Master Jih-Chang had done over the past thousands and millions of lifetimes were for us. How should we follow his instructions? How can we repay Master Jih-Chang’s great kindness? To do that, we should persevere to attend the Lamrim class.
Lamrim class is the most precious gift that Master Jih-Chang had left behind for us. It symbolises Master Jih-Chang’s deep and sincere intentions. For someone who does not persist in following a structure of attending class like a student or does not have a conducive learning environment with the Teachings, virtuous teachers and friends, it will be extremely challenging to persevere in the study of Dharma education for more than 10 or 20 years. Similarly, without putting a child in a school, it will be challenging for him to complete his education. Master Jih-Chang had placed us into this Dharma school, which is the Lamrim class, so that we can learn and also provide the opportunity for others to join us to learn Lamrim together.
Every Lamrim student must treasure and value your Lamrim class by attending lesson regularly. Before each lesson, familiarise yourself with the text by going through the Lamrim and listening well to Master Jih-Chang’s discourse. During the lesson, listen attentively. During the class discussion, respect one another’s contribution. When the facilitators are leading the class discussion, do not engage in your own personal conversations. Share your views aloud only during the class discussion. These are ways of showing respect towards the Dharma which is a cause for increasing our wisdom. It is also a form of respect towards the facilitators who have put in much effort to prepare the lesson. In addition, apply some of the methods learnt from Master Jih-Chang which can transform your mind when you are at home and use them to overcome your own afflictions during challenging situations. By doing that, it allows your family members to witness your contributions towards the family when you are learning the Dharma. They can also share the joy of your progress. This will help to reduce unfavourable conditions and increase the favourable conditions for learning the Teachings. Buddhism is very plain and simple. Master Jih-Chang had shown us how to put the Teachings into practice and the methods are sturdy and down-to-earth. They can be cultivated through the process of listening and contemplation of the Lamrim daily, and then making changes to our behaviour.
Hope everyone will not skip your Lamrim lessons, always treasure and value your Lamrim class, guard it and all the Lamrim classes too. It is a big classroom for all, the laypeople as well as the monks. The Lamrim class is similar to the lotus pond in the mundane world which has the capacity to breed lotus flowers. Even when we are trapped in the sufferings of cyclic existence, we will still persevere to learn the Lamrim, to learn the precious Teachings from the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and the Lineage Masters. Moreover, through learning and discussing with virtuous friends, we can transform our minds and be liberated from the cyclic existence with minimal effort. The Lamrim classes resemble a Bodhi tree planted by Master Jih-Chang, deeply rooted with lush broad leaves and wide branches. When we sit under it, we can feel the great kindness from Master Jih-Chang and the tranquillity from receiving the Teachings. These are such valuable and happy blessings.
Let me share this with you secretly. All of you are Master Jih-Chang’s treasure, and mine too! I miss Master Jih-Chang! I miss all of you!
Translation and review by: Wong Siow Lai, Chiang Sheau Huey
坚持上广论班，报答师父的深恩
一年又一年，我们想念着师父（日常老和尚），千生万世，师父所做的一切都是为了我们，怎样听师父的话？报答师父的深恩？就是坚持上《广论》班。
因为《广论》班是师父留给我们珍贵的礼物，是师父深深的心意，一个人如果不坚持一个像上学的模式，没有师法友的环境，是很难坚持十年、二十年以上的佛法教育的。像小孩子，如果你不把他放在学校里，是很难完成学习的，师父把我们放进佛教学校，就是《广论》班，为了自己的学习，也为了他人能够进《广论》班学习。
每个《广论》同学要珍惜自己的广论班，按时去上课，上课之前要好好的听师父的带子，熟文，把《广论》熟悉了，上课的时候认真听，研讨的时候要彼此尊重，班长在带研讨的时候，不要在下面乱说话，讨论的时候才可以发言，这样是对法的敬意，是增长智慧的因，也是对班长的辛苦的一种尊重。并且把跟师父学到的一些转心的理路，可以在家里，自己对自己应用一下，对治烦恼，这样的话，就可以让家人看到你学习佛法对于家庭的贡献，分享你的进步，少一些学法的违缘、多一些顺缘。佛法是很朴素的，师父教导我们实践佛法的方式，步子也是很扎实的，就落实到每天的这种听闻《广论》，然后在内心里思惟《广论》，转变自己的行为，这种修行的过程。
所以希望大家上《广论》班不要缺课，再再珍惜自己的《广论》班，爱护自己的《广论》班，守护好《广论》班，因为这是我们所有居士的，甚至是所有出家人的大课堂，它是浊世中的，像能够孕育莲花的莲花池一样，我们虽然身处轮回的种种痛苦，还是能从坚持上《广论》班，学到佛菩萨祖师的珍贵教言，并与善友切磋琢磨来听闻随转修心要，少力即脱生死城，《广论》班像师父种下的菩提心树，根深、广大而枝繁叶茂，坐在树下感受师父的深恩，感受法的阵阵清凉，是件多么值得、多么幸福的事。
悄悄地告诉你们，你们是师父的珍宝，也是我的珍宝！我想念师父！我想念你们！