..續本文上一頁the worldly love and friendship break up, they instantaneously become enemies. This is the coldest and cruelest thing that can happen. The radiance and compassionate blessing of the Buddha is the only one that would never abandon any sentient beings.

　　Once, the Buddha went to look around in a monks” quarters and saw a sick monk. His clothes and bed were dirtied by his excrete. The Buddha asked him, "Where are your companions

　　" "They have all gone!" He then regretfully continued, "In the past when people fell sick, I never took care of them. Now that I am ill, there is no one to take care of me." The Buddha then consoled him, "Don”t be sad. I”ll look after you." So, Buddha cleaned away the dirt and gave him medicine. Although others had abandoned him, the Buddha still cared and protected him.

　　There is another story of Ksudrapanthaka in the sutra. Ksudrapanthaka was a very stupid person. He denounced the world together with his brother and they lived together in a monastery. One day, his brother kicked him out of the monastery. He stood outside the monastery and cried pitifully. The Buddha approached him and asked him sympathetically, "Ksudrapanthaka, why are you crying

　　" "My brother said that I”m too stupid and won”t be able to learn Dharma. He won”t allow me to become a monk any more." He cried more profusely upon finishing his answer. The Buddha then told him, "Dharma is mine. Don”t be afraid, follow and learn from me." Although his brother had abandoned him callously, the Buddha still took him back warmly, stayed with him, and taught him Dharma patiently.

　　The great spirit of not abandoning any sentient being can only be performed with the Buddha”s profound compassion. Hence, the Buddha”s compassion is the true warmth in this world.

　　3. The presence of Buddha in this world provides us with refuge and gives us enormous strength. Once we take refuge in the Buddha, our mind is strengthened. The Buddha imparts an unimaginable strength for us. For instance, after learning the Dharma, we can bravely perform tasks which we once used to fail. The body and mind that are full of suffering become happy after learning the Dharma.

　　Buddhists who are away from home and have no one to look after them, may feel afraid sometimes. But once they visualize the virtue and the appearance of the Buddha, their fear will spontaneously be reduced. This is analogous to soldiers who generate great power to defeat their enemies once they see their flag standing tall at the battle field. Those who learn Dharma have a bright future. Even to the moment of death, they are still being protected and blessed by the Buddha. Under conditions as such, what disappointment and horrifying sufferings will there be

　　Loving kindness and compassion are the Buddha”s special merit. He used his profound loving kindness and compassion to save and protect all sentient beings. This is the reason why we are still fervently commemorating him, even though he departed this world more than two thousand years ago. The Buddha always lives in our hearts. If the Buddha didn”t give us great beneficence, who would still hold this great puja celebration for him today

　　Loving kindness and compassion are the Buddha”s special merits. Loving kindness is to provide happiness to all sentient beings, whereas compassion is to alleviate suffering from all sentient beings. Although loving kindness and compassion differ in certain degree, they are of the same principle. It is said by some that, loving kindness and compassion of the Buddha is the same as the humanity of Confucius and the love of Jesus Christ. But there are in fact great differences in the Buddha”s love. These include:

　　1. The loving kindness and compassion of the Buddha”s teachings are not bounded by strata or class. Someone asked me…

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