A Life of Pluses and Minuses - Between Ignorance and Enlightenment 4 (Between Ignorance and Enlightenment, 4) Revised Edition by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, Venerable Miao Hsi (Translator), (2006) Paperback

Between Ignorance and Enlightenment #4

by Hsing Yun

"Life is like the tide," writes Venerable Master Hsing Yun, "rising and falling with its pluses and minuses." This reflects the Buddhist concept of impermanence, or constant change. Some changes, the Master says, are for the better, so they are easy to accept. But even changes for the worse¡X¡§minuses¡¨¡Xhave their place. Life's setbacks can improve our characters. And when we experience them we can learn to realize that minuses prepare the way for better things. "Without destruction there is no new construction," the Master writes, "and we do not get a plus where there is no minus." In the essays in this book, the Master demonstrates with warmth and wisdom how to put the Buddha's teachings into practice in order to be a positive force in the world. He writes about the potential of "one seed," and how hardship and sickness can be vehicles for a better "Without suffering," he quotes, "one cannot attain Buddhahood." As in all the Master's works, these essays contain fascinating illustrations and tidbits of historical fact. Information on pioneering Chinese monastics like Xuanzhang and Fahsien; glimpses of the life of the Buddha; lessons learned from the history of China; references to the fabled Shaolin Monastery¡Xthe Master weaves together modern life and ancient wisdom into a fabric of challenge and encouragement.

Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Hsing Yun was a Chinese Buddhist monk, teacher, and philanthropist based in Taiwan. He was the founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist monastic order as well as the layperson-based Buddha's Light International Association. Hsing Yun was considered a major proponent of Humanistic Buddhism and one of the most influential teachers of modern Taiwanese Buddhism. In Taiwan, he was popularly referred to as one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Taiwanese Buddhism, along with his contemporaries: Master Sheng Yen of Dharma Drum Mountain, Master Shih Cheng Yen of Tzu Chi and Master Wei Chueh of Chung Tai Shan.