When one understands the true meaning of Traceless Charity, he will not be weary of what he is doing. He feels the endless joy and love for giving and sacrificing. The more he gives, the more joyful he becomes. He gives all he can until his last breath and joyfully smile when he leaves this world. On the contrary, if one enjoys the applause and compliments from others for his great deeds, he might feel happy for that moment, but after the praise, he falls into emptiness or even sadness. This is not true happiness or joy; they are only the manifestation of desires and conditions. These kind of emotions are all casual conditions (emotions or situations that begins and ends according to the laws of nature).
Confronting Solitary
   For a Dao cultivator, it is important for one to improve the practice of Traceless Charity. To cultivate this is to restore the original self, the Heavenly nature. Perhaps, one might question, "why cultivate?" The world has everything imaginable. "Why be different and walk a path different from everyone else?" The path of cultivation is not paved in gold, it can be a very lonely road to walk. Throughout history, Saints and Sages lived a solitary, yet a holy life. It is difficult for sentient beings to understand the wisdom of a saint who lived a life for bright conscience. Ignorance blinds one from the truth and rejects the efforts of a Saint. This is why it is not easy for one to realize the purpose and loneliness of confronting the self in walking the path to a brighter conscience.
   In the path of Dao cultivation, no one can walk the road for another. As a Dao cultivator he faces different problems from those who does not cultivate. One can perhaps resolve his problems with the help from a family or friend, but a Dao cultivator must resolve and face his inner struggles alone. If no bears hatred, jealousy, or suspicion, no one can help him subdue his inner emotions. No matter how much consultation he receives from others, at the end, he must resolve his own struggles. This is why he must stand firm and have faith in confronting his emotions alone. He must understand the source of his distress, his fear, and bitterness. Only he who eats can satisfy his own hunger. Likewise, when one gets sick, he must take the medicine himself to be cured, no one can substitute the sufferings and the pain he faces. This is why physical problems can be helped, but inner struggles must be faced alone, and facing this is an aspect of cultivation. 
Instant Reunion with LAOMU
   When one faces loneliness with peace in his conscience, he reunites with LAO MU. His life of cultivation will be brilliant when he overcomes the fear of loneliness. The greatest aspect in Dao cultivation is to sacrifice for sentient beings. In solitude, he faces the world with the compassion he has for them. He exhausts himself to bring all beings back to LAO MU. In doing so, he expounds eternal joy. For example, if you are a person filled with complaints and resentments, and feel the need to complain to someone, this may give you a momentary relief, but the problem remains. You still have to exert all efforts to confront the struggles with benevolence and wisdom. Do try to discern the importance of this aspect.
   If one surrenders to loneliness, it will be difficult for him to walk the road of cultivation. Many profound dharmas can be preached, but dharmas  are useless unless he can thoroughly understand them and fully practice them in his life. If one listens to the dharma without a clear comprehension, he will not know  how to solve the problem when a situation comes up. If one can bravely face the problem of loneliness, then he has put the dharmas in practice. This is the practice of True Charity, because he sacrifices worldly enjoyments for "solitude." To master the state of loneliness is much valuable than to understand intellect theories, because one may learn all the concepts without practicing them. When one practices what he has learned, the he truly understands that knowledge. Otherwise, they remain only words and concepts. 
   Traceless Charity is a precious dharma to help one learn the way of benevolence. A benevolent one will prepare himself to face loneliness. He must overcome loneliness in order for boundless loving-kindness to unveil, because the meaning of loving-kindness is sacrifice and charity. Though loneliness is an aspect of cultivation, if one cannot pass this state, he cannot elevate himself to the ultimate state. A benevolent one sacrifices, contributes, and gives selflessly without leaving a trace for others to know. So he may appear to be lonely and poor to the world. But it is this virtuous spirit that vibrates the light of benevolence. The spirit of loving-kindness does not rest or stop because of loneliness. The charity and sacrifice of a benevolent one are the marvelous conducts of the Heavenly heart. This is the reunion with LAO MY. This is how he can spiritually be with LAO MU eternally. The significance of this is true joy. He is never lonely.
To be continued ........) 

Benevolent Charity
    Of the six characteristic of benevolence, charity stands first. Charity in its definition is to give to the needy. But the generosity of charity comes in many different forms. To understand the significance of true charity, it will be discussed from the perspective of benevolence. A benevolent person lives his life based on love and kindness and sacrifices selflessly for the world and all sentient beings. This brings him a meaningful life.
    Traceless Charity is to give and sacrifice without leaving a trace. This is the charity a benevolent one will practice. He sacrifices his life to give selflessly, yet feels guilt and shame for not giving enough. He always asks LAO MU (God) to forgive his misdeeds and lack of sacrifice. “I have sacrificed for others” does not exist in his mind. His heart is like heaven and the great earth who provides and nurtures selflessly without uttering a word. This is the great spirit of the heavenly heart, the marvelous nature of the true void. In simple terms, this is the spirit of Benevolent Foolishness. If any concept of sacrifice ponders in his mind, then it is not charity from true loving-kindness.
    Traceless Charity is the virtue of faith because he gives and sacrifices ceaselessly. Sacrifice remains sacrifice, and giving remains giving. He does not question them. He contributes his life to the world, without any concept of contribution. He does not claim his efforts, nor does he complain about his pain and sufferings. The notion of “I” does not arise in his mind. But when one claims his efforts, abilities, and sacrifices, he is just a layman. The virtuous one does not speak or think of his virtuous deeds because he realizes that all his efforts are merely the conducts of the heavenly heart.
    Many people may feel that it is foolish to give and sacrifice without being acknowledged. Some might question, " Are my efforts in vain?" When he weights his efforts, and realizes that all he had done has no reward, he questions the worth of his efforts. He might even feel that not being  rewarded is undoubtedly a great virtue, but to speak of leaving no trace for others to acknowledge, isn't this meaningless to all he has done? When such questions arise, this is not having the heart of Traceless Charity. He does not understand the true meaning of charity and sacrifice, nor does he understand its significance. 
    True Charity is the act of reuniting with LAO MU (God). This is the instant reunion with LAO MU.To understand this significance and act upon it, is not easy, because the majority of those who give and sacrifice are conditional. The condition may be the desire for mental or physical rewards. The world is populated with at least six billion populations, how many people understand the true meaning of charity and sacrifice? It might be difficult to even find one person out of a million who thoroughly understand its significance. It is not easy to practice charity unconditionally. 
    When one gives superficially, conditions cloud his mind, and desire for rewards awaits him. Even the wish for acknowledgement is a trace of condition left in the heart. Such sacrifices can be commonly found and practiced by many. This is why we must first realize that Traceless Charity is unconditional. 
(To be continued......)

Thank you to everyone that attended our Chinese New Year celebration this year! We had a great turnout and the change to a festival setting was a plus! This year we had several activities for everyone to enjoy! This included Kid’s activities, a wheel of fortune, Chinese Calligraphy, and a display of Fortunate Clocks and Watches. We also had a featured display from Oasis of the Heart that included hand-made jewelry and organic skin care products.

This year’s CTMT Lion Dancers did a great job and got everyone excited as we celebrated Chinese New Year. The CTMT Youth Group continually does a good job at entertaining the crowd and we can’t wait until next year to see what they come up with!

Everyone enjoyed the food bazaar which allowed folks to sample different types of vegetarian Asian food. From Vietnamese Summer Rolls and Dim Sum to Bamboo Rice and Lettuce Wraps, there was something delicious for everyone to try. The kitchen really outdid themselves this year.

A special thanks to all the vendors, temple members, volunteers, and the CTMT Youth group for making today a success. Temple events are 100% volunteer supported so we could not do this without your hard work and dedication.

Edited by Ci Kui
Each day, we ask the Earth to “let us make a living” From the air, water, soil, all living things, even the mines beneath the Earth.
The Earth nurtures us with an abundant of resources.
She silently and patiently sacrifices herself for us.
Yet, we repay her with universal pollution and insoluble garbage.
And we fracture the skeletal frame of the Earth by destroying her Eco-system.
We owe so much to the Earth.
Each time we take a breath, we suck in her air.
Every person on Earth breathes the same air.
Each day, we drive, use electricity, and consume manufacture goods without restraint.
Only 2% of civilization consume 80% of the world’s resources.
By doing so, we create countless pollution and cancer-causing factors.
Exhausts from automobiles, power plants and factories has increased the temperature in the atmosphere and damaged the Ozone layer.
Also, the exhausts travel across oceans to create acid rain.
Rivers, lakes, and forests all suffer the damage;
Fish and wild animals die in large numbers,
Cause the changing climate, reduction in farm produce, and destruction of buildings.
Humankind is facing a challenge of survival.
As a member of Earth’s populous
We are deeply in debt to plants and animals.
We are also deeply in debt to other humans.

Since ancient times until the present, from the Earth to the Heavens, from the West to the east, we are all of one unit.
Once upon a time, we did inherit a beautiful and abundant earth.
Our ancestors have made such an effort to maintain this earth, and pass it along from generation to generation in thousands upon thousands of years.
Once it reached our hands, within decades, she has become wounded and scarred, and her energy has been weakened drastically.
Nowadays, we cannot even guarantee a good future for our children and descendants. 
Worst of all, we turn our heads in blindness to the situation, seemingly uncaring.
We owe so much to our children.
We owe so much to our children and later generations.

Saints in the ancient times left us a “non-erasable” good example.
They educated and nurtured massages on how to love and care for the earth and her people.
Now, the noble and profundity God has revealed numbers of revelations to awaken those that are indulgent in this world, that all beings and all things in the world posses the same dignity.
Justice and compassionate love filled among Heaven, Earth, all beings and all things.
Because, God is ubiquitous; Heaven, Earth, all beings and all things are the embodiment of God.
Hence, To Whom Do We Owe the Most?       GOD

Practicing the Environmental Protection does not burden us; instead, it gives us true freedom.  Because the foundation of the Environmental Protection is from our “benevolent compassion,” it is the endless consideration and devotion from our heart, and we will never ask for any rewards.  This positive attitude helps us overcome selfishness, obsession, and worries, and lets us always feel joy and peace.  The true spirit of the Environmental Protection is to achieve “Universal Harmony” as the ultimate goal, and by “starting with myself” as the method.  In other words, we should always carefully consider the future of this beautiful world, and always love this world as well. The basic way to achieve this goal is to start with everyone’s minute efforts, including every drop and every particle in our life.

The concept of the Environmental Protection is to ask every one of us to save natural resources, to protect the Eco-system, to reduce waste production, to recycle and reuse the same resource, and to refrain from producing and using poisonous chemical substances.  Unfortunately, in this highly commercialized consumer civilization; we have formed many wasteful living habits.  Are we willing to re-adjust our life patterns for the security of our world?  Are we willing to correct our life pace to help achieve global well-being?  Are we willing to change our own habits for the future of others and of this world?

The following is a list of situations that require individual sacrifice to ensure the well-being of the future of the world:

When I face many delicious foods, am I willing to buy less or eat less?
When I face various fashionable clothing and accessories, am I willing to buy one fewer item?
When I face the choice of using disposable tableware, am I willing to take the extra time to reuse non-disposable kinds?
When I go shopping, am I willing to bring my own shopping bags instead of getting another plastic bag from the store?
When I purchase merchandise, am I willing to spend the time to read the label to find out whether it satisfies the Environmental Protection principles?
If I have a car to drive, am I willing to take a bus, ride a bike, or to walk the extra distance to help save energy and reduce pollution?
If I have the choice of riding an elevator, am I willing to use the stairway to save energy and to also exercise as well?
When I have the choice on many kinds of convenient, ready-made cleaning agents, am I willing to look for safe and now poisonous substitutes?
Since I have been used to throwing away all of my trash, am I willing to take the time to separate them into different types of materials for recycling?
Am I willing to clean and separate bottles, aluminum cans, and to bundle up papers to sell or to recycle?
When I use paper, envelopes, or paper bags, am I willing to reuse the other side of papers and to reuse bags and envelopes?
Am I willing to pay more attention, make more contact, and learn more about the news and information of the Environmental Protection?
Am I also willing to exchange ideas with others and try to inspire them to do the same?
 
All of these seem to be burdensome, and time and energy consuming.  From the viewpoint of the Environmental Protection, it is our choice -- a happy and joyful choice from our conscience, as well as a wise and smart choice concerning the well-being of the world!  As long as we are benevolent and loving and consider the future of mankind and the world, we will feel neither burdened nor restrained in our minute effort to uphold the Environmental Protection. Instead, the feeling of harmonious giving will fulfill our heart.  Superficially, it may seem like only a small “giving” from each individual’s sacrifice.  However, if we can influence many others to do so, and be persistent as well, the world will have a great “gain” -- a universally happy way of achieving a pure land!  We are sacrificing a portion of our selfish desires in exchange for a portion of our spiritual purification.  How precious and valuable of this is!  Sacrifice! Sacrifice! If we can sacrifice for others and for the good future of the Great Nature, then it will be the most blissful and rewarding act of benevolence from all of us.  I wish that we all together “have great sacrificing and receive a great gain.”  We can widely propagate the great benevolence of Maitreya , and together we can build the Pure Land of the world!