Today is the most important day of the Buddhist year. Shakyamuni Buddha was born, enlightened, and passed into parinirvana. The results of all of our actions are exponentially multiplied today, so be good! Recite Shakyamuni Buddha’s name mantra, “Om Muni Muni Maha Muni Ye Soha,” while thinking of his unsurpassable qualities that we aspire to bring into our lives. Remember the suffering sentient beings are experiencing – birth, old age, sickness, death, getting what they don’t want, not getting what they want, losing what they love, and so much pain created by this contaminated body and mind. Beings in all the 6 realms suffer greatly. Not only the obvious physical and mental suffering, also the suffering of change where so-called pleasure exhausts or turns into pain. All of these sufferings are rooted in the misapprehension of reality especially not knowing who we are. Remember all this suffering while generating great compassion and love in your heart and mind for all living beings.
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