From Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi, a class on Pali online via Zoom from Chuang Yen Monastery in New York,  8:15pm Eastern Time on Mondays and Wednesday!
** New dates have been added: August 17, 19, 24, 26 and 31, September 2, 9 , 14, and 16,  (September 7 NO Class due to Abhidhamma retreat)  **
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The most important languages for studying Buddhism are of course the ones you know and can use... but for those wanting to go as close as possible to the original teachings, the most important languages for studying Buddhism are Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan. The teachings of the Buddha were not written down for a few hundred years, but once they were, they were recorded in either Pali or Sanskrit, two ancient languages of the Indian subcontinent. The Pali cannon survives today in the Theravada teachings, widespread in the "Southern" regions such as Thailand and Sri Lanka. The Sanskrit cannon became the foundation of Mahayana teachings of the "Northern" regions such as China. A robust liturgy in Chinese was developed over centuries of monastics cultivating, and this Chinese-based cannon was then translated into most of the schools found in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. A separate lineage in Tibetan focused on Vajrayana and tantric teachings also arose, which spread from Tibet to central Asia, and what are now areas like Bhutan and Mongolia.
Thus, to study the root teachings, we now use translations in English. But translations may reflect a translator's understanding and lack cultural nuances or deeper meanings. So, for those really trying to see the meanings of Buddha's original sutras and stories, the closest we can get is through readings in Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, or Tibetan.

If you have ever wanted to study Pali, the language of the Pali Canon (the most complete ancient collection of the Buddha's teachings), here is your chance. My long-time Pali student Stephen Sas will be teaching a Summer Intensive Pali Course over July and early August. The course is free, but will cover a lot of ground. See below for the details.
Once you learn Pali, you are no longer at the mercy of translators, but can read the texts on your own in the language in which they have been preserved from ancient times.

http://www.BAUS.org for details (Buddhist Association of the United States)
Course handouts and reading material at 
​https://www.baus.org/en/baus-groups/cym/an-introduction-to-pali-a-summer-intensive-course/

Missed a class? Watch LIVE or archives on Chuang Yen Monastery's YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/user/bauscym

Guan-Yin is a figure in Buddhism who is said to have more responses than any other figure.
We can rely on her whenever we need any assistance - prayers are efficacious when our hearts and minds are whole-heartedly compassionate.

Rev. Heng Sure sings "She Carries Me" by Jennifer Berezan and tells the story of Gwan Yin Bodhisattva at Teance on 10/28/2014 for a "Tea and Dharma" gathering, a Berkeley Buddhist Monastery community outreach event.

She Carries Me
Melody and Lyric by Jennifer Berezan

She is a boat, she is a light
High on a hill in dark of night
She is a wave, she is the deep
She is the dark where angels sleep
When all is still and peace abides
She carries me to the other side,
She carries me to the other side...
And though I walk through valleys deep
And shadows chase me in my sleep
On rocky cliffs I stand alone
I have no name, I have no home
With broken wings I reach to fly
She carries me to the other side,
She carries me to the other side...
A thousand arms, a thousand eyes
A thousand ears to hear my cries
She is the gate, she is the door
She leads me through and back once more
When day has dawned and death is nigh
She'll carry me to the other side,
She carries me to the other side...

Song here:
https://youtu.be/WitKbWX_voI
and downloadable at ​http://www.cttbusa.org/audio.asp

Faith in Buddhism:
Buddhism doesn't require faith in a god or creator (especially not one who is vengeful and murderous and demands worship). True faith in Buddhism is in the conviction in your own potential to purify your body, speech, and mind, and become enlightened.

Read this excerpt below from Venerable Master Hsing Yun:

True religious faith is built upon selfless compassion and detachment from form. Most do not realize that religious faith is based on right view, honesty, righteousness, and selfless dedication to helping others.

In fact, it matters not to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas whether one believes in them or not. To them, they gain and lose nothing. However, it would be a true pity if a person lacks faith in themselves. Self-doubt in one's ability, knowledge, and understanding all arise from a lack of self-belief.

A person who has faith in themselves is capable of committing wholesome deeds and has the strength to help others. Moreover, they are able to discern the wholesome from unwholesome and believe in their own capability and potential. Would that not be a meaningful life?

Certainly, the levels of faith can be likened to a school system that includes primary school, secondary school, and university. Just as students complete their grade levels sequentially, faith has its own increments, beginning with a basic understanding and gradually progressing with each step. Regarding the different levels of faith, I once said, "No faith is better than wrong faith, blind faith is better than no faith, and right faith is better than blind faith.' The basis of any religion should be established upon right faith that allows us to reap immeasurable benefits. Not only should one develop right faith, one should also believe in a religion that allows one the freedom to do so. Particularly, it is best for everyone to have confidence and faith in themselves. Buddhism teaches that the most important faith is faith in oneself, to believe in one's potential to attain Buddhahood and to be a good person. As such, is it not important to have faith in oneself?

Excerpts adapted from Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Taiwan