Report of the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Yoga Flame Mouth Ceremony on August 31, 2025

In early spring in Melbourne, the previous night’s spring rain nourished all living creatures just awakening, symbolising the transcendence and comfort of Grand Master and Bodhisattva’s supreme Dharma power for all beings during today’s Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Yoga Flame Mouth Remedy for bardo deliverance, removing bad luck, gaining benefits, blessings, and love Dharma Assembly on the Ghost Festival.

During the assembly, Vajra Master Shi Lian Ming performed the bardo deliverance mudra, resembling the opening and closing of a lotus flower; the chanting of mantras by the audience resonated like thunder. Rice grains scattered transformed into nectar. Hungry ghosts crawled to the assembly, their throat obstructions instantly disintegrated, allowing them to enjoy the refreshing Dharma food. Where the sutra scrolls were unfurled, the Hell-Breaking Mantra rends the darkness; where the willow branches were sprinkled, the Eight Meritorious Waters cleanse all burning. The attendees chanted praises aloud, the name of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva surged like a tide, and the bardo deliverance prayers reached the heavens. Amidst the starry sky, it seemed as if the souls of the deceased clasped their hands and bowed, riding on the power of the Buddha’s vows, each step bearing a lotus flower, destined for bardo deliverance in the ten directions of the Pure Land.

After the Dharma Assembly, Master Lian Ming gave a dharma teaching on “Emotions.”

How to View Emotions

The master explained that emotions arise when the outcome contradicts one’s own thoughts. Every emotion stems from a hidden need that remains unmet. If we fail to address these underlying needs and instead blindly suppress our emotions, they will inexorably magnify within the body, eventually exploding at the slightest provocation and igniting anger.

People with low energy are more prone to losing their temper. Generally, this is more common when you are sleep deprived, tired, or hungry. This is because the human body is like a battery; when energy is low, it needs to revive itself through anger. Therefore, losing your temper is the body’s way of protecting itself, protecting the powerless you. So, don’t resent your temper or try to suppress it. Instead, address the root cause.

The master went on to explain that having a temper is good. Master gave an example, citing the situation where parents often suppress children’s emotions by spanking and scolding them. Overly strict parenting can easily lead to children being unable to express their emotions. Unable to release these emotions, children can become self-destructive, leading to isolation, self-harm, or attempts to leave their parents. In severe cases, this can even lead to suicide.

Chronic suppression of emotions can be very harmful to the body. For example, constant sadness can lead to decreased cardiopulmonary function; those who endure excessive work pressure and endure humiliation will inevitably suffer from gastrointestinal problems; those who frequently want to be angry but are unable to do so will suffer from liver problems; those who worry excessively will inevitably suffer from poor sleep. Suppression of emotions can lead to physical problems such as high blood pressure and anxiety. Therefore, the human mind and body are directly connected.

Emotions are our truest selves, our body’s most genuine needs. We need to learn to accept and coexist with our emotions, and be more tolerant of ourselves. Resolving emotions means addressing the root causes behind them.

Emotions themselves are neither right nor wrong. We shouldn’t try to change others, but rather learn to accept or filter them.

Temperament can help us understand a person’s boundaries. Therefore, negative emotions can have positive effects. 

How to Deal with Emotional People

The Master gave an example of a young pregnant woman whose husband had left her. Unable to work or remarry, she felt deeply depressed and told her unborn child, “You’re superfluous.” She even contemplated suicide, but ultimately chose to give birth. When the child grew up and went to school, she was ostracised by her classmates. Feeling superfluous, she committed suicide. Why did she react so strongly to being ostracised? Because emotions and personality are inherited; parents’ emotions are passed down to their children.

So, don’t assume your words are insignificant and why others react so strongly. It’s because you don’t understand what the other person is going through, and they likely don’t understand what they’ve been through either. Therefore, we should be more tolerant and kind to each other.

When dealing with someone who loses their temper, we must understand that they are feeling powerless. Their temper isn’t directed at you, so don’t let it affect you or take it personally. Seeing someone lose their temper means they’re facing something they can’t do anything about, so we should offer sympathy, not lecture them. Let him release his emotions. Once they have had enough sleep and food, usually they will be fine.

People often lose their temper in front of those close to them, but are more easily controlled in front of outsiders. So, when someone loses their temper with you, it means you’re precious to them.

How to Manage Emotions

In the past, there was a country in Asia where the suicide rate was high due to intense work and life pressures. So, they invented a once-in-a-lifetime invention: karaoke. Karaoke allowed people to release their emotions, and the suicide rate in that country immediately dropped dramatically.

The first step in spiritual practice is to manage your emotions and transform your mind. Learning Buddhism means learning how to use your emotions for spiritual practice. People with tempers find it easier to resonate with Vajra dharma protector because Vajra dharma protector requires a certain level of passion.

The master suggests that when you’re feeling emotional, go to your altar, face the statue of Vajra dharma protectors, and recite the Vajra dharma protectors mantra with all your heart. With continued recitation, you may respond with Vajra dharma protector.

The master encouraged everyone to practice meditation, slowly identifying the root causes of their emotions through meditation, transforming their body and mind, and becoming a more perfect person, with a happy family, a better life, and improved relationships. If you are tolerant, others will be tolerant of you. Buddhism teaches us to observe our own restless hearts through meditation and thus identify their root causes.

At the conclusion of the Dharma Assembly, a golden sun suddenly appeared high in the sky. This was the luminous jewel of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s compassionate gift. Its brilliance illuminated the hells, dispelling the endless night of ignorance and guiding countless sentient beings in the netherworlds to ascend to the Pure Land. In this blazing light, all those suffering in the netherworlds found joy in the Dharma, and their karmic obstacles instantly transformed into lotus blossoms.