Why Should We Learn to Maintain Mindfulness in Our Own Lives?

In today's fast-paced life, we often find ourselves caught in endless whirls of thoughts and inner dialogues, often leading to feelings of anxiety and distress. However, we can harness a powerful tool to combat this mental chaos and embark on a healthier, happier lifestyle: mindfulness. By integrating mindful self-dialogue into our daily lives, we can unleash the potential of our subconscious, promote positive change, enhance happiness, and improve our overall quality of life.

At the core of mindfulness is consciously directing our attention to the present moment and accepting it without judgment, while cultivating higher levels of awareness. When applied to self-dialogue, mindfulness becomes a potent tool for self-improvement, empowering individuals to manage their inner conversations.

Mindful self-dialogue involves consciously monitoring our inner dialogue, keenly aware of the constant stream of thoughts in our minds, ensuring that these thoughts align harmoniously with our values and goals. Through engaging in mindful self-dialogue, individuals cultivate healthier cognitive patterns, gradually perfecting themselves, thereby catalyzing happiness and enhancing well-being.

Healthy self-dialogue constitutes an integral part of mindful self-dialogue. It includes identifying and challenging negative thoughts, replacing them with more constructive and affirmative alternatives. This practice empowers individuals to break free from self-destructive behaviors, fostering healthier and more beneficial self-relationships. By consistently engaging in healthy self-dialogue, individuals can boost self-esteem, alleviate anxiety, and cultivate resilience when facing adversities, facilitating positive life transformations.

Mindful self-dialogue not only alters our thinking patterns but also significantly enhances our overall sense of happiness. Its positive impact permeates various aspects of life, including interpersonal relationships, careers, and overall life satisfaction.

Learning to maintain mindfulness in our own lives has several benefits:

1. **Reduce Stress:** Maintaining mindfulness helps us better cope with stress and anxiety, enabling us to face life's challenges with greater calmness and composure.

2. **Enhance Focus:** Mindfulness training helps improve our concentration and attention, making it easier for us to focus on tasks and handle daily affairs.

3. **Increase Happiness:** By maintaining mindfulness, we can more deeply experience and appreciate the beauty of life, thereby enhancing our sense of happiness and fulfillment.

4. **Improve Interpersonal Relationships:** Mindfulness training helps cultivate empathy and emotional intelligence, making us more sensitive to others' emotions and needs, thereby improving our relationships with others.

5. **Promote Mental Health:** Maintaining mindfulness helps reduce negative emotions and self-criticism, strengthening self-acceptance and emotional regulation abilities, thereby improving our mental health status.

In summary, learning to maintain mindfulness can lead us to live more calmly, attentively, and joyfully, helping us better cope with various challenges and difficulties in life.

The International Huayan Society is now accepting registrations for its Mindfulness and Art Therapy monthly course. The course is generally scheduled for the third Sunday of each month. The next session will take place on March 24, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The course includes:

- Walking Meditation: Introduction to walking meditation to help participants slow down and focus their attention.

- Guided Meditation: Body scanning meditation, as well as insight meditation.

- Mandala Art Therapy.

- Music Walking Meditation.

- Guided Mindfulness Tea Ceremony: Understanding the principles of Zen tea and its logical principles.

- Singing Bowl Chanting Therapy.

- Zen Meditation Guidance: Both online and offline guidance from meditation instructors and answering meditation-related questions.

Due to limited venue capacity and enrollment slots, interested individuals are encouraged to register early.

Buddhist Closing Prayer Offered by Pingping at Manhattan Women Faith Leaders Convene

Manhattan Women* Faith Leaders Convene to Address Housing Crisis and Migrant Justice

New York, NY - March 6, 2024 - Today, amidst the backdrop of a mounting affordable housing crisis and pressing issues surrounding migrant justice, Manhattan's diverse community of women* faith leaders convened at the Riverside Church for the 2024 Manhattan Women* Faith Leaders Breakfast and Roundtable. Hosted by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, the Interfaith Center of New York, and the Riverside Church, the event brought together leaders representing various faith traditions to explore innovative and compassionate approaches to addressing these critical challenges.

New York City is grappling with an escalating affordable housing crisis exacerbated by skyrocketing rents, evictions, and a lack of support for migrants. Against the backdrop of an uneven economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for collaborative and community-centered solutions has never been more urgent.

Faith leaders and their communities have long been at the forefront of addressing societal crises, from ensuring food security to promoting public safety. Women* faith leaders, in particular, offer unique perspectives and insights that can drive innovative and more humane approaches to housing and migrant justice.

During the gathering, attendees engaged in robust discussions and shared best practices aimed at fostering greater understanding and cooperation across faith lines. The event served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and solidarity as participants explored ways to leverage their collective influence and resources to effect positive change.

As a poignant conclusion to the event, Pingping Huang, the chief secretary of The International Hua-Yan Buddhist Federation, offered a closing prayer rooted in Buddhist tradition, underscoring the importance of spiritual unity and compassion in the pursuit of justice and equity.

In his remarks, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander emphasized the crucial role of faith communities in driving social change, stating, "Our city faces complex challenges, but by coming together across faith traditions, we can harness the power of collective action to build a more just and equitable society for all."

The 2024 Manhattan Women* Faith Leaders Breakfast and Roundtable underscored the vital role of women* faith leaders in shaping the future of our city and reaffirmed the commitment of participants to work collaboratively towards a more inclusive and compassionate society.

2024 New Year Art and Zen Meditation Journey Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition

To introduce and spread the essence of traditional Chinese culture, the International Huayan Buddhist Federation held a New Year Art and Zen Meditation Journey Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition on the 25th in Queens, New York, USA, celebrating the Year of the Dragon. Nearly 100 guests attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition, which showcased over 100 pieces of calligraphy and paintings by Chen Shaogong, Huang Pingping, and the Venerable Master Xian. During the event, Venerable Xiansu engaged with guests on topics of Tiantai Zen meditation.

Venerable Xiansu, from the Yuquan Temple in Dangyang, Hubei Province, China, had just arrived in the United States for a short visit in early February. In addition to displaying his Zen-inspired paintings, he also introduced the Tiantai Zhiyi Zen meditation of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism during the opening ceremony. He expressed that whether through painting or behavior, his works are created spontaneously, aiming to convey an inner state beyond words and language.

Chen Shaogong and Huang Pingping, the president and the chief secretary of the International Huayan Buddhist Federation, have long been engaged in the creation of calligraphy and paintings with Buddhist themes, combining traditional Chinese forms with contemporary Western abstract oil paintings and watercolors. Their works include the writing of Buddhist scriptures, traditional Chinese poetry, and Zen-inspired paintings.

Chen Shaogong mentioned that the eight pieces of the "Heart Sutra" he created during the pandemic reflect the changes in his state of mind during that period. Huang Pingping stated that her works are created following meditation, in line with her mood, and due to her strong personality, her works unconsciously exhibit bright colors. The content is merely a manifestation of her mood, without any specific direction or meaning.

Consecration Ceremony for The "Eighteen Arhats"

On November 5th, 2023, the International Huayan Buddhist Federaton held a consecration ceremony for the "Eighteen Arhats" in Queens, NY. The eighteen Shoushan stone Arhats, collected by Li Yan for nearly thirty years, have crossed the oceans as ambassadors of Sino-American friendship and were donated to the International Huayan Buddhist Federaton. The ceremony was presided over by Venerable Ming Yu, the president of the American Buddhist Confederaton.

Chen Shaogong of the International Huayan Buddhist Federaton expressed his deep gratitude to Li Yan and her family for donating the Shoushan stone Eighteen Arhats, which had been in their collection for 26 years.. He felt joyful seeing the Arhats arrive safely at the association by sea. The Eighteen Arhats are considered auspicious symbols in Buddhism, representing good wishes for the people's auspiciousness and well-being.

Li Feng, CEO of Charming Media, stated that the Eighteen Arhats are carved from Shoushan stone with exquisite craftsmanship. Currently, mining of Shoushan stone has been banned, making these eighteen Arhat statues even more precious. Li Yan, the chairman of Charming Media, has collected the Eighteen Arhats for 26 years. During the pandemic, she formed a connection with the International Hua-Yan Buddhist Federation and conceived the idea of donation. The official donation ceremony was held in Guangzhou in May this year. Li Yan mentioned that it was hard to part with the Eighteen Arhats, which had witnessed the company's development, but she hoped their donation would serve as a messenger of Sino-American friendship.

"Global Chinese New Year Blessings" Zoom Event

At the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year, everything is changing. In the days of returning to spring earth, we have passed an unprecedented year of 2020. The new coronavirus epidemic has caused many people to lose their precious lives, the world economy has been hit hard, and now we are living under strong natural and mental pressure. When the Chinese lunar calendar is approaching, The International Hua-Yan Buddhist Federation will hold a "Global Chinese New Year Blessings" event in New York.

At this time, interfaith religious leaders, scholars, and social elites from all over the world, will send blessings together to our members and the people all over the world, praying for world peace and the people's health and happiness. We sincerely invite all of you to participate.

Zoom event link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82011147582?pwd=SWJZejA4dnlWc2FiWTlIMVBjendvZz09&__mp_disable_close_menu__=0

Third Cultural Temple Festival Was Held In Brooklyn City Hall

At 10 am on January 22, 2021. the opening ceremony of the Third New York Cultural Temple Festival was held at the Brooklyn City Hall. Due to epidemic prevention and control policy, only a few people were allowed to participate.

The opening ceremony was virtual through the Internet and was presided over by Zheng Qirong, Chinese assistant of the Brooklyn Mayor Eric Adams’s Office. The temple festival Chinese New Year Blessing was led by Master Ming Yu, President of the American Buddhist Confederation and Master Rui Fa, the Honorary President of the American Buddhist Confederation. The Brooklyn Mayor Eric Adams delivered a speech, thanking the American Buddhist Confederation, over the years, the care and compassions for the New York City community, the contribution to the harmony and development of different ethnic groups.

TIHBF Chairman Nanren Shi participated the event.

From left: Nanren Shi, Venerable Ruifa, Venerable Mingyu

Eric Adams specifically mentioned that since the outbreak of the epidemic in March last year, the American Buddhist Confederation has donated medical supplies such as masks, protective clothing, protective glasses, and disinfectant to Brooklyn City.

Chairman Visited Yanji With Global Artist League

With the Global Artist League delegates, Chairman of TIHBF Mr. Nanren Shi visited Yanji City of China. Mr. Shi is the chairman of Religion Division and Vice President of Global Artist League.

September 3rd, the delegates were invited to attend The Northeast Tourism Food Festival.

September 5th, the delegates were visited Dragon Home Resort and its art exhibition. A local Korean show was present. The president of Dragon Home Resort and Art Center, Mr. Zongji Bi greeted delegates. The chairman of Global Artist League, Mr. Jincheng Yáo also delivered speech before the performance.

A cultural forum was held in afternoon. An art research institute is proposed and intended to be established in the near future .