Synopsis
Part 1: KARMA & SAMSARA Every action we perform leaves an imprint, or potential, on our very subtle mind, and each karmic potential eventually gives rise to its own effect. Our mind is like a field, and performing actions is like sowing seeds in that field. Positive or virtuous actions sow the seeds of future happiness, and negative or non-virtuous actions sow the seeds of future suffering. This definite relationship between actions and their effects is known as the 'law of karma'. An understanding of the law of karma is the basis of Buddhist morality. It is important to understand that as ordinary beings we do not choose our rebirth but are reborn solely in accordance with our karma. This uninterrupted cycle of death and rebirth without choice is called 'cyclic existence’ or ‘samsara in Sanskrit. And our ultimate objective is liberation from Samsara.
Part 2: THE BUDDHA and RAHULA The Stanzas of the Lion Men included verses uttered by Princess Yasodhara to her son, Rahula, on the occasion of the Buddha's first visit to Kapilavatthu after his Enlightenment. She explained some of the physical characteristics and noble virtues of the Blessed One. Not long after, Rahula took up the rope and became a monk at a young age. Though a monk, he liked to lie and told jokes. The Buddha used a unique method to teach his naughty son.
Part 3 : THE GREAT SIXTH PATRIARCH OF ZEN BUDDHISM, MASTER HUI NENG His Holiness Hui Neng, who became the great Sixth Patriarch of Zen was a poor illiterate peasant boy from Hsin Chou of Guangdong. One day, after he had delivered firewood to a shop, he overheard a man reciting the Diamond Sutra and became enlightened. Hui Neng then traveled thousand miles to meet the Fifth Zen Patriarch, Hong Ren. Hong Ren knew Hui Neng has great wisdom and immediately accepted Hui Neng as his disciple, but he had to hide this fact from the very educated northern monks at the monastery. To protect Hui Neng, the Patriarch sent him to the kitchen to split firewood and pound rice for eight months. One day, Master Hong Ren summoned Hui Neng in the middle of the night and gave him the insignia of his office, the Patriarch's robe and bowl. Hui Neng was told to leave for the South and to hide his enlightenment and understanding until the proper time arrives for him to propagate the Dharma.
Part 4: THE GREAT COMPASSION Billions Kalpas ago, there was a Buddha whose name is Thousand-rayed-King Motionless Tathagata, for mercy and mindfulness to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and all living-beings, he spoke this Vast-Perfect-Unimpeded Great-Compassionate-Mantra, and said to Avalokitesvara: "Good man, you should hold this heart-mantra to give great benefit and happiness to all living beings in the future." Right after hearing this mantra, Avalokitesvara was happy and vowed: "If I will be able to give benefit and happiness to all living beings in the future, let me have thousand hands and thousand eyes immediately." right after the vow, He got thousand hands and thousand eyes on His body, six types of quakes occurred on grounds of the ten directions, thousands Buddha’s of the ten directions emit their light to His body and lightened unlimited worlds of the ten directions. Avalokitesvara’s never-tiring work is to save all souls from the Ocean of Illusion and Suffering. Stemmed from his realization of how many suffering beings there were dependent on his deliverance, he shed tears. From His tears were born the Goddess Tara, whose two principle forms are White Tara and Green Tara. The white Tara is consort to Avalokitesvara. She gives comfort and children, a goddess of mercy. Green Tara represents a more dynamic aspect: her colour indicates growth and new hope. Legend has it, Princess Wen Cheng of Tang Dynasty, who introduced Buddhism to Tibetan people was the reincarnation of Green Tara
