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Chapter 45 Contributing a Buddha Image - The Body of Enlightenment Donating a Buddha image for oneself or one s family was a favorite tradition of our ancestors. Wealthier people traveled around the country with the purpose of contributing Buddha images to many temples. They understood the fruits they would gain from this merit. Nowadays, most people do not understand the true reason behind this tradition. As a result, they do not support their own grandparents practices. For this reason, the elderly regrettably miss a great opportunity to make significant merit during the final days of their lives. As Buddhists, we should The Warm Hearted Family 401 Contributing a Buddha Image - The Body of Enlightenment www.kalyanamitra.org

examine this so that we will not miss the opportunity to do so. The Bodhisatta, who receives confirmation of his future We should clearly understand the importance of contributing Buddhahoodbya Buddha,iscalled Niyata-Bodhisatta,meaning a Buddha image so that we do not obstruct our grandparents a person who will definitely attain enlightenment and become when they wish to perform such great merit. I would like to a Buddha in the future. After being informed by a Buddha, a take this opportunity to share with you the benefits that result Niyata- Bodhisatta must continue to pursue perfections for at from such an act of merit. least another four Asankheyya (infinite time) and 100,000 kappa (the cycle of birth and death of the world). This means Our country s ancestors tended to donate Buddha images he must continue in the cycle of existence for an immeasurable because they venerated the Lord Buddha s great compassion amount of time in order to attain Buddhahood. As he towards all beings. This would be a way of showing their approaches this feat, the obstacles become more difficult, gratitude towards Him. requiring the devotion of his entire being to eradicate his impurities and increase his divinity. Since this is extremely In Buddhist history, a person who is determined to difficult, the Lord Buddha once gave the following analogy: become a Buddha (an Enlightened being) in the future, to free The number of times He donated His eyes to help others in people from suffering, exists rarely in this world. This type of order to become enlightened is greater than all the stars in person is called a Bodhisatta.14 the sky. Bodhisattas who devoted their lives to spiritual perfections To devote one s entire being towards reaching and successfully eradicated their defilements were an enlightenment is rare because of this lengthy process. After extremely rare occurrence. Some achieved their goals, and becoming enlightened, He will spend the rest of his days some gave up along the way. spreading His knowledge of the truth (Dhamma) to everyone. Those who follow His teachings and practice Dhamma In order to attain Buddhahood, a Bodhisatta must devote diligently can attain enlightenment and reach Nibbana. Thus, his life to virtue. In one of his lifetimes, he must meet a Buddha the people who are born during the Buddha s life and who would assure him of his future Buddhahood and inform successfully attain enlightenment are highly fortunate. him of the length of time required to attain enlightenment as a Buddha. 14 Candidate for Buddhahood The Warm Hearted Family 402 Contributing a Buddha Image - The Warm Hearted Family 403 Contributing a Buddha Image - The Body of Enlightenment The Body of Enlightenment www.kalyanamitra.org

Those who are not born during the life of a Buddha must to perform good deeds, the contributor will be revered seek refuge in the Lord Buddha s teachings, unaware of His by both humans and celestial beings in every area he appearance. visits. 3) Even if the contributor is no longer living and people Our country s ancestors, who experienced and attained still seek refuge in the contributed Buddha image, the high levels of meditation, had both vision and wisdom. They merit will continue to flow causing others to revere decided to recreate the image of the Lord Buddha from within him in his future lifetimes. (the Body of the Enlightenment) as a Buddha statue. The 4) Regardless of the number of rebirths, if the contributor heritage they passed on to us enriches our knowledge of the unintentionally has evil thoughts, speech or actions, Lord Buddha s excellent appearance, increasing our faith in or experiences problems in life, with the simple Him. This act of contributing to cast a Buddha statue is recollection of the Buddha image he donated, all non- favorable to many Buddhists around the world. virtue will be avoided. 5) Regardless of the number of rebirths, he will always Because our ancestors were able to see unwavering be born in a land where Buddhism flourishes and will Dhamma within, their ability to duplicate the flawless Buddha effortlessly attain the Dhammakaya the Body of image caused those who saw the image to become joyful and Enlightenment. have faith in Him. It inspired them to perform virtuous deeds 6) While still in samsara (the cycle of death and of birth), and practice meditation in order to attain Nibbana like He did. he will gain wealth easily. Whatever livelihood he has, as a merchant or a government official, the merit Thus, the Buddha image a person contributes helps to rid from contributing a Buddha image will support and people of their impurities, lust and desire, as well as motivating bless him to be prosperous. In his final life in them to improve the world in which we live. samsara, he will effortlessly attain enlightenment. A contributor of a Buddha image earns the following This just a summary of all the benefits the contributor types of merit: will gain. These are just the fruits of merits that are easily understood. If the reader practices meditation and studies the 1) The contributor develops increased morality and biography of the Lord Buddha, you will see the innumerable virtue. 2) Because the contribution empowers other individuals The Warm Hearted Family 404 Contributing a Buddha Image - The Warm Hearted Family 405 Contributing a Buddha Image - The Body of Enlightenment The Body of Enlightenment www.kalyanamitra.org

benefits in contributing for a Buddha image. We now List of contact numbers understand why our ancestors focused on this moral of Dhammakaya Meditation centers contribution. www.dhammakaya.or.th/centremain.php My own grandmother understood the benefits of contributing a Buddha image, as she donated more than twenty Florida such images and dedicated them to everyone in her family and deceased loved ones, inviting her kin to do the same thing. Florida Meditaion Center I know that this great merit she achieved in her old age will 1303 N. Gordon St., Plant City, FL 33563 USA ensure she has worthy future. When she passes away, she can Tel.+(1)-813-719-8000,+(1)-813-719-8005 depend on the merit she earned, without expecting others to Fax.+(1)-813-719-8007 dedicate merits to her after she dies. Email : [email protected] I would like to invite anyone who has not yet contributed U.S.A. NORTH AMERICA Georgia a Buddha image to do it for your own sake. It will be better if you can contribute one for yourself today rather than later. In California Georgia Meditation Center Inc. today s society, many people have strayed from performing 4522 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30360 USA virtuous deeds. As a result, their children will not realize the Dhammakaya International Meditation Center Tel.+(1)-770-452-1111,+(1)-770-643-1233 main purpose in doing good deeds as well. Contributing a (USA) Mobile.+(1)-404-514-7721,+(1)-404-862-7559 Buddha image is one of the noblest deeds that benefits 801 E. Foothill Blvd., Azusa, CA 91702 USA Fax.+(1)-770-452-3424 contributors as well as society. If they miss this great Tel.+(1)-626-334-2160 Email : [email protected] opportunity, they may pass up the benefits they can depend Fax.+(1)-626-334-0702 on in the afterlife. We should contribute a Buddha image for Email : [email protected] Illinois our own sake. When we near the end of our lives, we will depart in a peaceful manner because we are sure that this great Meditation Center of Chicago (M.C.C.) merit will embrace us in the next world. 6224 W.Gunnison St., Chicago,IL 60630 USA Tel.+(1)-773-763-8763 Fax.+(1)-773-763-7897 Email : [email protected] The Warm Hearted Family 406 Contributing a Buddha Image - The Warm Hearted Family 407 List of contact numbers The Body of Enlightenment of Dhammakaya Meditation centers www.kalyanamitra.org

Minnesota Hawaii Starsbourg ITALY Dhammakaya Centre International de la Minnesota Meditation Center Hawaii Meditation Center Meditation Milan 242 Northdale Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, 54-111 Maakua Rd, Hauula, HI 97617USA 21, Boulevard de Nancy, 67000 Strasbourg, Wat Buddha Milano MN 55448 USA Tel.+(1)-808-497-4072 France Via Dello Scoiattolo 7, 21052 Busto Arsizio Tel.+(1)-763-862-6122 Email : [email protected] Tel. +(33) 3.88.32.69.15 (VA) Italy Fax.+(1)-763-862-6123 Fax. +(33) 3.88.22.99.19 Tel. +(39) 33.138.6721, +(39) 33.131.8738, Email : [email protected], Email :[email protected] +(39) 329.917.8629 Email: [email protected] [email protected] New Jersey EUROPE GERMANY Ravenna Wat Buddha Ravenna Dhammakaya International Meditation Center BELGIUM Augsburg Tel. +(39) 348.814.2485, +(39) 338.644.1706 of New Jersey Wat Buddha Augsburg (Meditation Zentrum) Fax.+(39) 054.498.7722 257 Midway Ave., Fanwood, NJ 07023 USA Dhammakaya International Meditation Centre Pfarrer-Bogner Str.6, 86199 Augsburg, Germany Email: [email protected] Tel.+(1)-908-322-4187,+(1)-908-322-4032 (Belgium) Tel. +(49) 821.998.3939 Fax.+(1)-908-322-1397 Sint-Jobsteenweg 84, 2970 S-Gravenwezel, Fax. +(49) 821.998.5118 NORWAY Email : [email protected] Antwerp, Belgium Mobile. +(49) 162.421.0410 Tel. +(32) 3.326.45.77, +(32) 3.289.51.81 Email : [email protected] Wat Buddha Midnuttsol (Det Norske Oregon Mobile. +(32) 494.32.60.02 Dhammakaya Samfunn) Email : [email protected] Bavaria Hvittingfossveien 343, 3080 Holmestrand Oregon Meditation Center Dhammakaya International Meditation Zentrum Norway 13208 SE. Stark Street., Portland, OR 97233 DENMARK (D.I.M.Z) Tel. +(47) 33.61.01.43 USA Heinkel Str.1,86343 Koenigsbrunn, Germany Mobile. +(47) 997.23.075 Tel.+(1)-503-252-3637 Wat Buddha Denmark Tel. +(49) 8231.957.4530 Fax. +(47) 33.09.66.09 Mobile. +(1)-503-799-8547 Gl. Landevej 12, 7130 Juelsminde, Denmark Fax. +(49) 8231.957.4532 Email: [email protected] Email : [email protected] Tel. +(45) 46.59.00.72 Mobile. +(49) 162.421.0410 http://www.dhammakaya.no Mobile. +(45) 20.70.74.59 Email : [email protected] Texas Email : [email protected] SWEDEN Bodensee Meditation Center of Texas Wat Buddha Bodensee Wat Buddha Gothenburg 1011 Thannisch Dr., Arlington, TX 76011 USA Lindauer Str. 76, 88085 Langenargen, Germany Ostra Arodsgatan 17 B, 422 43 Hisings Backa, Tel.+(1)-817-275-7700 Tel. +(49) 754.393.9777 Sweden Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Tel. +(46) 767.620.52.501 Mobile. +(46) 737.562.722 Virginia FRANCE Frankfurt Fax. +(46) 8668-8973 Wat Buddha Frankfurt (Meditation Verein Email: [email protected] Meditation Center of D.C. Bordeaux Frankfurt/Me.V) 3325 Franconia Rd.,Alexandria,VA 22310 USA Wat Bouddha Bordeaux Odenwald Str.22, 65479, Raunheim, Germany SWITZERLAND Tel.+(1)-703-329-0350 47, Cours du General de Gaulle, 33170 Tel. +(49) 6142.833.0888 Fax.+(1)-703-329-0062 Gradignan, France Fax. +(49) 6142.833.0890 Wat Buddha Geneva, Switzerland Email : [email protected] Tel. +(33) 5.40.00.93.70 Email : [email protected] Avenue d aire 93 G, 1203 Geneva , Switzerland Mobile. +(33) 6.20.23.53.08 (c/o Wee Khee Wee) Seattle Email : [email protected] Stuttgart Tel. +(41) 796.049.704 Wat Buddha Stuttgart Mobile. +(33) 6.15.41.70.14 Seattle Meditation Center Paris Im Meissel Str.6, 71111, Waldenbuch, Germany 852 N.E. 83rd Street Seattle, WA 98115 USA Wat Bouddha Paris Tel. +(49) 715.753.8187 THE UNITED KINGDOM Tel.+(1)-206-522-1514 10, Avenue de Paris, 77164 Ferrieres en Brie, Fax. +(49) 715.753.7677 Fax.+(1)-206-985-2920 France Mobile. +(49) 16.0179.3782 London Email : [email protected] Tel. +(33) 1.64.77.28.37 Email : [email protected] Wat Phra Dhammakaya London (Dhammakaya Fax. +(33) 6.88.25.82.06 International Society of United Kingdom) Email : [email protected] 2 Brushfield Way, Knaphill, Woking, GU21 2TG, UK The Warm Hearted Family 408 List of contact numbers The Warm Hearted Family 409 List of contact numbers of Dhammakaya Meditation centers of Dhammakaya Meditation centers www.kalyanamitra.org

Tel. +(44) 1483-475757, +(44) 1483-480001 Fax. +(81) 3-5604-3022 MALAYSIA Taizhong City Fax.+(44) 1483-476161 Email : [email protected] Tel. +(886) 4-2223-7663 Email : [email protected] Kuala Lumpur Osaka Dhammakaya Meditation Center of Manchester Wat Bhavana Osaka Kuala Lumpur Wat Charoenbhavana Manchester 4-6-27 Ohmiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka,535-0002, Japan 4-2 Jalan, Puteri 5/1, Bandar Puteri, Gardner House, Cheltenham Street, Salford, Tel. +(81) 6-6956-1400 47100, Puchong, Selangor, D.E, Malaysia Manchester M6 6WY, UK Fax. +(81) 6-6956-1401 Tel.+(60)-3-5882-5887 Tel. +(44) 161-736-1633, +(44) 798-882-3616 Email: [email protected] Fax.+(60)-17-331-1599 Fax. +(44) 161-736-5747 Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Nagano Wat Thai Nagano Penang THE MIDDLE EAST ASIA 733-3 Mihari, Tomi-Shi, Nagano-Ken, Dhammakaya Meditation Center of Penang 389-0501, Japan 66, Lengkonk Kenari1, Sungai Ara,11900 BAHRAIN CHINA Tel. +(81) 2-6864-7516, +(81) 2-6864-7720 Penang, Malaysia Fax. +(81) 2-6862-2505 Tel. +(60) 4-644-1854 DMC Centre, Bahrain SiChuan Meditation Center Mobile. +(81) 90-9390-6055 Fax. +(60) 19-457-4270 to 1 1310 Road No. 5641, Block No.0356, Manama SiChuan University, 29 Wangjiang road, Email : [email protected] E-mail : [email protected] City, Bahrain No. 38 Zhulincun 11 Dong 3 Danyuan, Contact : Mr.Thanachai & Mrs.Peanjai ChengDu 610064, SiChuan, China. Tochigi SINGAPORE Thongthae Tel. +(86) 28-8541-8878 Wat Bhavana Tochigi Tel. +(973) 3960-7936 Mobile. +(86) 136-8900-7101 1068 Oya - Machi, Utsunomiya - shi, Kalyanamitta Centre (Singapore) Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Tochigi - ken, Japan, 321-0345 30 Mohamed Sultan Road #03-03 Lam Ann Tel. +(81) 2-8652-8701 to 2 Building, Singapore 238974 HONG KONG Fax. +(81) 2-8652-8703 Tel. +(65) 6836-1620 Email: [email protected] E-mail : [email protected], The Dhammakaya International Society of [email protected] Hong Kong Ltd. Kanagawa 385-391, 2/F, Henning House, Hennessy Rd., Wat Bhavana Kanagawa TAIWAN R.O.C. OCENIA Wanchai, Hong Kong 3-5-12 Ryosei, Ayase-Shi,Kanagawa-Ken, Tel. +(852) 2762-7942, +(852) 2794-7485 252-1126, Japan Taipei AUSTRALIA Fax.+(852) 2573-2800 Tel. +(81) 4-6770-3264 Dhammakaya International Meditation E-mail : [email protected] Mobile.+(81) 90-5099-4527 Center of Taipei Sydney Email: [email protected] 3F No.9 Lane 16, Sec.2 Sihchuan rd, Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Sydney JAPAN Banciao city, Taipei country 220 Lot 3, Inspiration Place, Berrilee, NSW 2159 Ibaraki Tel. +(886) 2-8966-1000 Tel. +(61) 2-9655-1128 Tokyo Wat Bhavana Ibaraki Fax. +(886) 2-8967-2800 Fax. +(61) 2-9655-1129 Dhammakaya International Meditation Center 2816-2 Oaza Arakawahongo, Ami-Machi, http://dhammakaya.tc Mobile. +(61) 4-1162-8677 of Tokyo Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki-ken, Japan 300-1152 Email : [email protected] 3-78-5 Arakawa, Arakawa-ku,Tokyo, 116-0002, Tel. +(81) 2-9846-6110 Taoyuan Japan Mobile.+(81)080-5489-5669, +(81)080-5489-6659 Dhammakaya International Meditation Center Sydney meditation Center, (Sydney office) Tel. +(81) 3-5604-3021 Email: [email protected] of Taoyuan 117 Homebush Rd. Strathfield NSW 2135, No. 232 , Ching-Tian Street , Taoyuan City 330 Australia REPUBLIC OF KOREA Tel. +(886) 3-377-1261 Tel. +(61) 2-9742-3031 Mobile. +(886)9-2252-1072 Fax. +(61) 2-9742-3431 Wat Tae Jong Sa Email:[email protected] M29 - 4, Dongsam - 2 dong, Youndo - Gu, Busan City, South Korea Taizhong Tel. +(82) 51-405-2626 Dhammakaya International Meditation Mobile.+(82)10-8681-5976, +(82)10-2996-9072 Center of Taizhong 1 - 2F, No.25, Lane 14,Minquan Rd., Zhong Dis, The Warm Hearted Family 410 List of contact numbers The Warm Hearted Family 411 List of contact numbers of Dhammakaya Meditation centers of Dhammakaya Meditation centers www.kalyanamitra.org

Mobile. +(61) 4-1145-3946 Fax. +(64) 3-487-6775 Website : www.dhammakaya.org.au Email: [email protected] Brisbane Children of broken families often display certain Brisbane Meditation Center characteristics such as disobedience and negative 73 Lodge Rd., Wooloowin Brisbane, attitudes. Obviously, that is not something that is Queensland QLD 4030, Australia desirable. Why did these childrenûs families fall apart and Tel. +(61) 7-3857-3431 their members go their separate ways? If we do not learn Mobile. +(61) 4-3105-7215 about the real causes, this may happen to our families as Email :[email protected] well. Children turn out this way when they are not properly taught. Some come from good families, but Melbourne SOUTH AFRICA runaway due to conflicts with their siblings. Some even try Dhammakaya Meditation Centre of Melbourne to steal their siblingûs possessions at the age of only 12 or 84 Oakwood Rd., St. Albans VIC 3021, SOUTH AFRICA 13 years old. Australia Tel. +(61) 3-9266-0181 Cape Town A lack of family unity is really at the core of these Mobile. +(61) 4-0100-8799 Cape Town Meditation Centre (CMC.) problems. It all begins when each member has a different Email : [email protected] 4B Homlfirth Road, Sea Point, Cape Town, schedule resulting in no interactions with each other. As South Africa, 8005 they become more distant, the family eventually falls Perth Tel. +(27) 21-439-1896 apart, However, the primary cause of a familyûs rapid Dhammakaya Meditation Centre of Perth Mobile. +(27) 79-379-0245, +(27) 72-323-0060, deterioration is the failure to have dinner together 174 Moolanda Boulevard, Kingsley,WA, 6026, Australia Johannesburg Tel. +(61) 8-9409-8614 Johannesburg Meditation Centre Fax +61 8-9408-1007 30 Scheepers Street, North Riding , Randburg, Mobile. +(61) 4-302-07877 Johannesburg, South Africa 2169 Email : [email protected] Tel :+(27) 11-704-3360 Mobile:+(27) 72-363-1226, +(27) 78-464-8871 Northern Beach Email : [email protected] Northern Beach Meditation Centre 4 Hurdis Avenue, Frenchs Forest, Sydney, Australia Tel. +(61) 294511-722 NEW ZEALAND THAILAND Orewa The temple offers a meditation lesson Orewa Meditation Centre in English from 13.30 to 15.00 hours 43 Albatross Road, Red Beach,HBC, Auckland, daily. New Zealand, 1461 It regularly organizes a seven-day Tel. +(64) 9-427-4263 retreat in the northern province of Fax. +(64) 9-427-4264 Chiang Mai, each starting after the Mobile. +(64) 21-153-8592 first Sunday of every month. Email : [email protected] Dunedin For more information, please contact DESIGNED BY SURAYOTHIN J. Dunedin Meditation Centre (DDMC) the foundation or visit 10 Barnes Drive, Caversham, Dunedin, www.meditationthai.org New Zealand, 9001 Tel. +(64) 3-487-6772 The Warm Hearted Family 412 List of contact numbers of Dhammakaya Meditation centers www.kalyanamitra.org