To all my students, disciples and friends,
Greetings and best wishes for the Western New Year. I send you my strongest aspirations and prayers for the success of your Dharma practice and your activities with pure motivation for the wellbeing of others. In particular, I pray that all of our projects and activities to benefit the Buddhadharma and to bring help to all beings in this world will reach successful completion.
Even though conditions in the world are becoming more difficult, by our positive activities we can make the effects of Kali Yuga times lighter. We must make our determination to succeed in our spiritual practice stronger and more stable. For Buddhist practitioners the essence of Buddhadharma is to recognize our Buddha Nature. If we can do this, it is like having one key that can open limitless doors of peace and harmony that will benefit worldly beings. We must emphasize this practice – it is so important.
As most of you know, some of my projects are near completion, and others are still under construction. At the Buddha Amitabha Temple and Retreat Centre in Nepal, we want a conference centre whose purpose is to promote good relationships between young and old, East and West, for the present and for the future. All religions are perfect, but are misused by their followers. It is this which creates conflict between the followers of different religions. By encouraging understanding between religions, harmony in this world will be increased. For this purpose we wish to hold an International World Religions Conference in Nepal. Another purpose of the Nepal project is to give international Buddhist followers a peaceful, harmonious place for practice. Non-Buddhist people, too, have much stress in their lives, covering their minds with confusion. As a result their responsibilities and activities are unsuccessful. For them, the Temple and Retreat Centre can offer a place to take a rest for a little while. Then their minds will become clearer, and their activities more successful and easier.
Why are we building temples in India? According to the Buddhist teachings, in the future all the world will dissolve, leaving only the holy place of Buddha’s enlightenment in Bodhgaya. This is why we are carrying out the Dharma activity project in Bodhgaya: it will survive to be used by people for the longest time possible. In South India, all the Dharma activity in our monasteries is planting a pure seed for all future beings. In Tibet, too, we have already set up a clinic and continue to do research to solve the special problem of women and newborn babies dying during delivery.
This is a time of great need for our projects. They are nearing completion. We really need help now, otherwise year-by-year expenses will be increasing, causing more problems. So – for all these important projects – please offer any help you can. And try to find others who can help. It is my wish in this lifetime to accomplish these things.
Read his full letter here: New Year 2013 Greeting