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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 29

DON’T TAKE
not met, and therefore suffer. This becomes a
thought pattern that can shape your reality and
make you sick. Your brain will stop functioning
correctly and eventually your body will do so as THE EASY WAY
well. In the worst case, a very hard life event, an
emotional or existential crisis can bring you to
the edge of suicide if we don’t take the proper OUT
measures to deal with them.
By Venerable Chang Zao
We should remember to be an island unto
ourselves, where we empower ourselves
Ordained as a Buddhist nun in
to take the steps necessary to overcome
the Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhist
suffering and understand the conditions that
tradition, Venerable Chang
make it possible. With the Dharma as our
Zao is currently the Director
refuge, we practice the Middle Way diligently
to set the most beneficial conditions for our of Dharma Drum Mountain
development, practicing the jhānas to rewire Buddhist Centre Malaysia.
our brains, and surrounding ourselves with
admirable friendship that supports our She graduated from the National University of Malaysia,
practice. KL Campus and later pursued her studies at Dharma Drum
Sangha University, Taiwan, in 2007. She ordained and
Depression and mental illness are a very
learned Chan meditation under Master Sheng Yen, the key
serious matter. We should treat them as such
figure in the revival of modern Chinese Chan Buddhism.
by taking all measures possible and using
the tools available to help us find peace. The
After she graduated from Dharma Drum Sangha University,
Buddha showed us the way, now, we have to
walk it. EH she was appointed as a lecturer and advisor for various
faculties at Public Education Center of Dharma Drum
Mountain Taiwan. During her time at the center, she
1. Digha Nikaya 26
2. "Jhana Sutta: Mental Absorption" (AN 9.36), supervised the development of dharma syllabus and course
planning. She is also advisor for Dharma Drum Mountain
translated from the Pali by Thanissaro
Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30
Singapore and Dharma Drum Mountain Thailand.
November 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.
Currently, she conducts meditation classes, retreats,
org/tipitaka/an/an09/an09.036.than.html .
religious services, dharma classes and various inter-varsity
Buddhist camps in Malaysia.
3. Samyuta NIkaya 56 4. In a rosewood forest, 35.
A Hundred Spears. Translated for SuttaCentral
by Sujato Bhikkhu. https://suttacentral.net/
sn56.35/en/sujato
At the beginning of this year, I stopped being a lurker on
4. Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Connected Discourses
Facebook and was motivated to make a post on the first
of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000).
morning of the year.
https://suttacentral.net/sn56.11/en/bodhi
5. It is of course not my intention here to
minimize extremely hard life conditions. “Before becoming a Buddhist, my wishes and prayers have
I understand I can`t comprehend all the always been about myself – I’ve always prayed to acquire
suffering some people take. something or to achieve something. I have always hoped for
external circumstances to come together to fulfil my wishes.
Only then would I conclude that the year has been fruitful.