A Principle for Complete Spiritual Practice

The Three Links of cultivation

Integration of three disciplines—meritorious service, scriptural studies, and meditation—is Chung Tai’s guiding principle for a well-rounded Buddhist practice, each being an inseparable link that complements and reinforces the other two links. Meritorious Service involves performing good deeds and service to the monastery and to the community at large (dana). Diligent study of the Dharma establishes right views and insight. Meditation calms and clears the mind. Integration of the three disciplines ensures proper progress on the path to Buddhahood.

Words of Wisdom from Ven. Wei Chueh

  1. If we practice the Way step-by-step, constantly cultivate blessings and wisdom, unify samadhi and wisdom, and employ both compassion and discernment, we will become just like the Buddha, attaining perfection in all virtues, blessings, samadhi, and wisdom.
    只要一步步地落實修行，時時福慧雙修、定慧等持、悲智雙用，就能和佛陀一樣，萬德莊嚴，福德、禪定、智慧都達到最圓滿的境界。

  2. Blessings come from doing good deeds and making beneficent connections with others. If our past deeds have brought us hardships, now is the time to be diligent —turn misfortune into blessings, and open up a world of new opportunities for ourselves. 
    福報，是由廣修善法、廣結善緣而來的。假使知道自己過去修的福報不夠，現在努力地廣結善緣、廣積福德資糧，就能遇難呈祥、逢凶化吉，重新開創出一番天地。

  3. The bodhi path is a path of merit as well as wisdom. Merit is doing good deeds. Wisdom is doing good deeds and cultivating compassion without attachment, without the notions of self and others. With wisdom, the bodhi mind will manifest.  
    菩提之道一方面要有福德，一方面要有智慧。福德就是善法，修了善法而不執著善法、修了慈悲而不執著慈悲，無我相、無人相，這就是智慧。有了智慧，菩提心就現前。

  4. If we lack samadhi power and wisdom, are swayed by the external environment, and give rise to vexations, we will never clearly see the reality of all phenomena. Therefore, we must cultivate samadhi (meditative concentration). With samadhi, we will always be in command, and have the wisdom to know when to advance or retreat, to engage or let go. 
    一個人若缺乏定力與智慧，隨境界而動，心生煩惱，常會看不清楚事情的真相。所以必須修習禪定，有了禪定，便能時時作主，具有知進退、知取捨的智慧。

  5. To attain samadhi means to always maintain mindfulness. Wherever you are, that is where your mind should be. Adhere to this principle in life: “In quiet meditation, reflect on our own deeds; in conversation, never gossip about others’ faults.” Always examine our own mistakes and correct them as soon as we discover them. 
    禪定的道理，就是要經常保持這念覺性存在，人在哪裡，心就在哪裡；為人處世更要做到「靜坐常思己過，閒談莫論人非」，隨時檢討自己的過失，有過失就要馬上改過。
Read more

Meditation

Meritorious Service

Scriptural Studies