With the old year passing, we welcome the new one. The rooster crows, the dogs steal things and troubles occur. Watch your door to prevent robbery. Benefit yourself and others by trying your best.

Today is the New Year’s Day. In the Chinese calendar, it is the ren-yu year and the Chinese zodiac sign is Dog. In this year, some people will be nipped and injured by dogs. Some will be protected and safe. Dogs protect good men and bite the evil ones. Although evil people are wicked, they are temporarily protected. Why? It’s said the good are rewarded with good and the evil ones are rewarded with evil. The good and evil to the end will reap their own retributions. It’s just a matter of time.” Some receive the retribution early; some get it late. When it’s time, one has to undergo the retribution and it will not be off by a hair breath. The law of cause and effect is a principle that does not change through time.

When one plants good seeds, one reaps a good fruition. When one plants bad seeds, one reaps an evil fruition. What we encounter today is created by ourselves in the past and is what are supposed to undergo. When undergoing the retribution, we should not blame heaven or other people. Rather, we should calmly accept this retribution.

One’s destiny is not fixed but is totally created by oneself. When one does more charitable deeds, misfortune turns into good luck. When one does more evil deed, good fortune turns into disasters. Therefore, we control our own destinies.

So, it is said: “I create my own destiny and seek my own blessings. Good fortune and misfortune are not fixed; one attracts them to oneself.” Ordinary people are bound by destiny. However, a virtuous and noble person is not bound by fate and in fact, transcends it. The same principle applies to an extremely evil man as well. Why? For example, if a person is not supposed to engage in doing bad deeds, but he does them regardless, and then he transcends his destiny since his fortune will change based on the bad deeds he committed.

Those who do charity work will be protected by good gods. Those who do wicked deeds are followed by evil spirits. So, it is said: the retribution of doing good and evil follows people like a shadow.” In short, doing good deeds increases one’s lifespan. Committing offenses shortens it.” A person’s lifespan is controlled by himself. If you wish to alter your destiny, you should read “Four Lessons from Liao-Fan”, which details how one should go about changing his destiny. I will not elaborate upon them here.

Today is New Year’s Day. It is said: “With the arrival of a new year, everything is renewed.” We must start our cultivation anew from today onward. Do whatever is good. Don’t waste your time. Don’t be like last year when you gained nothing. You must vow to become enlightened this year. Where there is a will, there is a way.

When we cultivate in this refrigerator, we must marshal great vigor, otherwise, we will suffer this cold in vain. It will be a waste of effort and we will not live up to our initial resolve earlier. Gold Mountain Monastery is like a refrigerator and the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is like freezer. Therefore, those who can’t stand the cold temperature have all left. Only a few fools, who do not fear the cold, stay in this refrigerator to apply their skills in spiritual practice. However, some people grit their teeth to struggle with the cold. Even though they are very praiseworthy in their determination, they still like to dose off and not cultivate. Since you want to sleep, why don’t you sleep in a warmer room? Why do you sleep in this uncomfortable?

Why do we do this bitter practice? It’s because we want to rouse our energy to cultivate the Way. If we want to live in a monastery, we must cultivate everyday. Don’t create trouble and sleep here everyday, wasting your precious time. In a bitter environment, one is inspired to cultivate and seek enlightenment without craving for enjoyment and comfort. Though we are in a bitter environment, we must be at peace without being influenced by the external surroundings. Instead, we can transform the environment.

It is said that adverse circumstances make a hero. We shall bring forth the great Bodhi resolve in the difficult situations and see through all worldly matters as empty. “Wealth and honor are like a spring dream at dawn. The fame and glory are like a floating cloud. Our family is no longer real. What was love and kindness now turn into animosity. Don’t lock yourself with golden cangues and tie yourself with jade chains. With a pure mind and few desires, one is liberated from the world, and gains one’s original happiness.” We shall bring forth the mind to become enlightened and apply efforts in cultivation in difficult situations.

This is the year of the Dog; I have made the following verse.

With the old year passing, we welcome the new one.

The rooster crows, the dogs steal things and disputes occur.
Guard the doors to prevent robbery.
Benefit yourself and others by trying your best.

The commentary for the verse is as follows: One year has passed and we welcome a new year. Last year was the year of the Chicken and this one is the year of the Dog. Since this is not going to be a great year, people should guard their doors so that they don’t lose their treasures. This treasure refers to one’s genuine inherent nature, which is one’s intrinsic wisdom. Don’t lose it. You must guard and protect your six sense faculties and not lose track of your priceless treasure. Practice the Bodhisattva’s path is to benefit yourself and others. It is manifested from one’s mind and can not be sought outside. I hope everyone will cherish the time. Don’t behave like last year and waste your valuable time in vain. You must work hard and investigate Chan diligently this year. Make vows to become enlightened. I wish you a Happy New Year and may everything go according to your wishes.