Dharma talk for the lunar New Year

Here’s a Dharma talk for the lunar New Year by Daehaeng Kun Sunim. In a sense, there’s a lot going on in this talk, but focus on finding just one part, one aspect that you can put into practice, and do that diligently for a week or two. See what happens!

New Year’s Candle Light Ceremony Dharma Talk

We gather together today here in the Dharma Hall and light candles, but you need to know that lighting a thousand wax candles can’t even begin to compare with lighting the candle of mind.

The light of this candle of mind, this candle of our inherent nature, is seen throughout all realms of the universe, but the light from these wax candles can’t even be seen outside of this building.

In fact, this candle of mind is always burning brightly, so can be called our eternal source of life. Because of this source, we are able to speak and act wisely and kindly, and able to light this incense of our heart, which gives off a beautiful fragrance that spreads far and wide.

Fulfilled and at peace because of this source, we are able to give rise to a compassionate smile that rises like the moon in the deep of a quiet night, illuminating all the world. But, just like when clouds cover the sun, so, too, people can’t smile when their hearts are covered in clouds.

We’ve gathered together as families and then separated so many times. It’s like the clouds gathering together and splitting up again and again. We’ve lived like this for a billion eons, and now we’ve reached the level of human beings. At this point, there’s no one who hasn’t once been our mother, our father, or our child.

This is why I say, “Think of everyone as yourself. Don’t look down on anyone, and don’t put others above you. See them all equally, see their pain as your pain. And not just only human beings – there’s nothing that’s not you, no life that’s not your life. What others are going through is also what you are going through.”

So take every single thing, without exception, and entrust it inwardly, knowing, “All of this arose from one mind, so my one mind is also what can solve this.” When you do this, what was input in the past begins to dissolve, and that intention becomes new input, and functions accordingly. This is the method by which you can dissolve karma, the five hell-states, and all of the problems caused by genetics, ghosts, and the conditioned nature of existence.

You also need to be aware of the fact that all the lives within your body are living together as one whole, and continuously change  ̶  never stopping for an instant and never remaining in the same form.

So don’t blame others for anything, and don’t resent others. Instead, remember that your presence has contributed to causing some part of what you are going through, and work on brightening your mind.

If you participate in the Candle Light ceremony here, coming to the Seon Center even just once a year and practice like I just said, that will benefit your parents, children, and spouse. As you try to brighten your mind, that effort will cause the dark clouds of their minds to fade, and help them to be more gentle and positive. Further, the karmic states of consciousness of the lives that make up their bodies will become kinder and act like bodhisattvas. As this happens, they’ll be able to go forward brightening themselves.

If you do so, even the spirits of the dead will become brighter as well. Becoming one with your bright mind, they will naturally step out of states they may be trapped in, and go forward on their own path.

How can I describe the benefits and wondrousness of being able to contribute to all of this? Of this amazing mind? There are just no words that can describe the virtue and merit of lighting this one candle of mind that connects the seen and unseen.

So what I’d like to ask of you is to always try to see things from others perspective, to stand in their shoes and understand their heart. If you act and speak based on this, then you’ll be precious to everyone, and even the unseen Dharma realms will cherish you. For what you do, and the thoughts you give rise to, are also known throughout all the universe.

Your mind should be able to become one with others, where your mind is their mind and their mind is your mind. Keep working on being generous, behaving kindly, and speaking gently, so that you are able to fully become one with them.

Homage to Shakyamuni Buddha
Homage to our inherent Buddha
Homage to the foundation within us that is none other than Shakyamuni Buddha.