Breathe in
the air that nourishes all
Breathe in
the love from all the trees and grasses
Breathe in
the love from the earth and the sky
Breathe in
the life which infuses everything.
Look around you, everything around you, hear, breathe, feel. The world around you, comforting you. Take in their strangth, they nourish your every pore. Imbibe the life. Release your ills.
The world at peace.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
10,000 Dharmas return to one, where does one return to?
Dharma Talks
Hidden Treasure of Korean Buddhism
Dharma Talk by Mu Ryang Sunim at Ja Kwang Sa, Korea, May 16, 2004
----from http://www.koreanbuddhism.net/hwadu/content_view.asp?cat_seq=3&content_seq=123&page=1
(Holding the stick in the air and hitting the table)
Mountain is water. Water is mountain.
In the Heart Sutra we just recited it says, “Form is emptiness and emptiness is form.” This is the fundamental Buddha’s teaching of impermanence, which means everything is changing, changing, changing.
(Holding the stick in the air and hitting the table)
No mountain. No water.
This means “no form, no emptiness.” If we are thinking, and attached to the changing world of form, then we get suffering. But if we cut off all thinking, then there is no form and no emptiness, also no suffering; also no I and no you. Descartes, the famous French philosopher, said, “I think, therefore, I am.” But if I am not thinking, then what?
(Holding the stick in the air and hitting the table)
Mountain is mountain. Water is water.
This means “form is form and emptiness is emptiness.” Everything is just as it is. So, we have three statements: Mountain is water, water is mountain. No mountain, no water. Mountain is mountain, water is water. Of these three statements, which one is correct? Which one is the truth?
KATZ! (Shout)
Mountain is high. Water is flowing.
Today I would like to thank all of you for coming here. Especially I would like to thank Chong Ah Sunim for having these talks every month. It must be very difficult to schedule monks, nuns, and teachers from all around the world. I appreciate his effort very much.
Most especially, though, I would like to thank my teacher, Zen Master Seung Sahn; today I am borrowing his dharma and sharing it with all of you. Seung Sahn Sunim has spent the last 40 years bringing this hidden treasure of Korean Buddhism to people all over the world. So I owe him a debt of gratitude.
Today I would like to speak a little bit about his lineage in Korea. So I will tell a few stories of Zen Master Man Gong, and his teacher, Zen Master Kyung Ho, who lived over one hundred years ago. Behind this temple here, in Gye Ryong Mountain, there are many famous temples. One of them is called Dong Hak Sa, where a lot of Buddhist nuns live and study the sutras. It has always actually been a sutra temple.
It is interesting to look at the shape of mountains.
I was a geology major in college, so I have some interest in topography, which is closely related to the Korea tradition of wind-water geography (feng shui).
Dong Hak Sa’s location is unique because there is one mountain which the temple is facing directly. It looks high and conical, like the point of a calligraphy brush, sticking up. It is actually called, ‘Mun Pil Bong’ or ‘Calligraphy Brush Mountain.’ Tradition has it that because it is there right in front of the temple, people who go that temple naturally just want to pick up a book and starting reading words. So that temple always has been a sutra study temple: not much Zen meditation practice but more sutra study.
Kyung Ho Sunim practiced there. First he was a student and then he became a sutra teacher there at a very young age. He was famous for being very unorthodox as well as quite smart, and he learned the sutras quickly. Normally in a sutra school, there is a very organized, correct and proper way of studying sutras. First, monks put on their ceremonial robes and kasas, and then sit properly and correctly. I see that you all do things very well here, that you have been taught by Chong Ah Sunim to follow the rules very carefully, so you will be very good in these sutra schools. But Kyung Ho was not like that. Instead of sitting properly and reading sutras upright, he would relax in the rest area room and would read the sutras lying down on his back. Some monks were very upset and told their Sutra Master, who then got very angry. “Kyung Ho! Why are you reading the sutra like that? That is very disrespectful! ” And Kyung Ho said, “Oh! No, teacher! I am not being disrespectful. If we read sutras like that, then our breath and our saliva can go all over the sutras but I want to care for them properly so I keep them over my head. ” So then what could the Sutra Master say? Anyways, Kyung Ho was like that. He was not your normal monk.
He got a very big question traveling through a town where everybody had died of cholera. Suddenly he realized that he had been studying the Buddha’s sutras which deal with life and death, impermanence, and questions like, ‘what are human beings?’ and ‘what is the truth?’ He had been studying these sutras for many years, and still he was afraid of dying. So he returned to his temple, Dong Hak Sa, and said to all of the monks, “I cannot teach you any more. Go away! ” ----------part 1
Hidden Treasure of Korean Buddhism
Dharma Talk by Mu Ryang Sunim at Ja Kwang Sa, Korea, May 16, 2004
----from http://www.koreanbuddhism.net/hwadu/content_view.asp?cat_seq=3&content_seq=123&page=1
(Holding the stick in the air and hitting the table)
Mountain is water. Water is mountain.
In the Heart Sutra we just recited it says, “Form is emptiness and emptiness is form.” This is the fundamental Buddha’s teaching of impermanence, which means everything is changing, changing, changing.
(Holding the stick in the air and hitting the table)
No mountain. No water.
This means “no form, no emptiness.” If we are thinking, and attached to the changing world of form, then we get suffering. But if we cut off all thinking, then there is no form and no emptiness, also no suffering; also no I and no you. Descartes, the famous French philosopher, said, “I think, therefore, I am.” But if I am not thinking, then what?
(Holding the stick in the air and hitting the table)
Mountain is mountain. Water is water.
This means “form is form and emptiness is emptiness.” Everything is just as it is. So, we have three statements: Mountain is water, water is mountain. No mountain, no water. Mountain is mountain, water is water. Of these three statements, which one is correct? Which one is the truth?
KATZ! (Shout)
Mountain is high. Water is flowing.
Today I would like to thank all of you for coming here. Especially I would like to thank Chong Ah Sunim for having these talks every month. It must be very difficult to schedule monks, nuns, and teachers from all around the world. I appreciate his effort very much.
Most especially, though, I would like to thank my teacher, Zen Master Seung Sahn; today I am borrowing his dharma and sharing it with all of you. Seung Sahn Sunim has spent the last 40 years bringing this hidden treasure of Korean Buddhism to people all over the world. So I owe him a debt of gratitude.
Today I would like to speak a little bit about his lineage in Korea. So I will tell a few stories of Zen Master Man Gong, and his teacher, Zen Master Kyung Ho, who lived over one hundred years ago. Behind this temple here, in Gye Ryong Mountain, there are many famous temples. One of them is called Dong Hak Sa, where a lot of Buddhist nuns live and study the sutras. It has always actually been a sutra temple.
It is interesting to look at the shape of mountains.
I was a geology major in college, so I have some interest in topography, which is closely related to the Korea tradition of wind-water geography (feng shui).
Dong Hak Sa’s location is unique because there is one mountain which the temple is facing directly. It looks high and conical, like the point of a calligraphy brush, sticking up. It is actually called, ‘Mun Pil Bong’ or ‘Calligraphy Brush Mountain.’ Tradition has it that because it is there right in front of the temple, people who go that temple naturally just want to pick up a book and starting reading words. So that temple always has been a sutra study temple: not much Zen meditation practice but more sutra study.
Kyung Ho Sunim practiced there. First he was a student and then he became a sutra teacher there at a very young age. He was famous for being very unorthodox as well as quite smart, and he learned the sutras quickly. Normally in a sutra school, there is a very organized, correct and proper way of studying sutras. First, monks put on their ceremonial robes and kasas, and then sit properly and correctly. I see that you all do things very well here, that you have been taught by Chong Ah Sunim to follow the rules very carefully, so you will be very good in these sutra schools. But Kyung Ho was not like that. Instead of sitting properly and reading sutras upright, he would relax in the rest area room and would read the sutras lying down on his back. Some monks were very upset and told their Sutra Master, who then got very angry. “Kyung Ho! Why are you reading the sutra like that? That is very disrespectful! ” And Kyung Ho said, “Oh! No, teacher! I am not being disrespectful. If we read sutras like that, then our breath and our saliva can go all over the sutras but I want to care for them properly so I keep them over my head. ” So then what could the Sutra Master say? Anyways, Kyung Ho was like that. He was not your normal monk.
He got a very big question traveling through a town where everybody had died of cholera. Suddenly he realized that he had been studying the Buddha’s sutras which deal with life and death, impermanence, and questions like, ‘what are human beings?’ and ‘what is the truth?’ He had been studying these sutras for many years, and still he was afraid of dying. So he returned to his temple, Dong Hak Sa, and said to all of the monks, “I cannot teach you any more. Go away! ” ----------part 1
Sunday, September 30, 2007
A Buddha
In Tokyo in the Meiji era there lived two prominent teachers of opposite characteristics. One, Unsho, an instructor in Shingon, kept Buddha's precepts scrupulously. He never drank intoxicants, nor did he eat after eleven o'clock in the morning. The other teacher, Tanzan, a professor of philosophy at the Imperial University, never observed the precepts. When he felt like eating, he ate, and when he felt like sleeping in the daytime, he slept.
One day Unsho visited Tanzan, who was drinking wine at the time, not even a drop of which is supposed to touch the tongue of a Buddhist.
"Hello, brother," Tanzan greeted him. "Won't you have a drink?"
"I never drink!" exclaimed Unsho solemnly.
"One who does not drink is not even human," said Tanzan.
"Do you mean to call me inhuman just because I do not indulge in intoxicating liquids!" exclaimed Unsho in anger. "Then if I am not human, what am I?"
"A Buddha," answered Tanzan.
From 101 Zen Stories
Hahaha, this is really funny!!!
One day Unsho visited Tanzan, who was drinking wine at the time, not even a drop of which is supposed to touch the tongue of a Buddhist.
"Hello, brother," Tanzan greeted him. "Won't you have a drink?"
"I never drink!" exclaimed Unsho solemnly.
"One who does not drink is not even human," said Tanzan.
"Do you mean to call me inhuman just because I do not indulge in intoxicating liquids!" exclaimed Unsho in anger. "Then if I am not human, what am I?"
"A Buddha," answered Tanzan.
From 101 Zen Stories
Hahaha, this is really funny!!!
Tons of Sandballs each weighing a ton
Of late, there have been tons of sandballs flying all around me. No where to run, no where to hide. Only to dig my legs into the ground and hold my root while practicing taiji. All is well so far, thanks in no small part to my good Masters from Shinnyo-en who have taught me solid leg and foot work. However, my shoulders and waist ache from all the taijiing. Hopefully with such training, my skills can grow and I would finally be able to taiji the big balls of sand effortlessly without sustaining any major injuries.
With faith.
With strength.
With heart.
With faith.
With strength.
With heart.
Monday, September 24, 2007
The Great Bodhisattva Spirit
"Whatever you would have me do to benefit all beings, let me do it"
Tenzin Palmo
Tenzin Palmo
Sunday, August 19, 2007
The Great Way
I said: Where else is the Great Path if it is not before you? My friend said: Makes me feel like it is behind. I said: Oh yeah, where else is the Great Path if it is not all around you.
My mistake.
Thanks friend.
Zen Zazen Testimonials
Reading Philip Kapleau's Three Pillars of Zen really makes one want to start Zazen(Meditation) and experience their Kensho(initial awakening) immediately. It is just so inspiring!!! Especially the part of the stories and testimonies of Kensho. It seems so near yet so far, one more step one more step! When can i go?
Clowning around
Recently, my friend offered me a job as a clown giving out balloons for two days, 2hrs each time. When I heard about it, i thought it would be really fun and accepted it! Haha! It turned out to be so! With the paint on my face, I could do whatever i want! All the antics i have always wanted to do! It was truely liberating! Everyone should try it! What i had to do was just to walk around some shops near an MRT station and give out balloons. While walking, i could walk a dumb walk, march, run, chase after kids, play with the aunties, play with the shopkeepers. Play with adults, play with everyone i see. Act like a kid at my age, be a nice caring person and pat the head of a child, play with babies without regard to anything. The best part was when ppl started saying, " Haha, so cute!" Enjoy myself and get praised at the same time!!!! Hahaha! Where else can you get such a job??? Just let your creativity flow, let the inner child out, be super firendly and just play!! The motto of the job, "Make people Happy" It's so simple!
Friday, July 13, 2007
The Way + The Gateless Gate
Reading a lot,
hearing a lot,
one sees the way.
Seeing the way,
one points out the way.
Walking the way,
why is one not,
on the way?
Where is the way,
where is the way?
Wondering away,
one loses the way.
Wandering away,
further away...
What is the way?
How is the way?
Haven't one always been,
on the way?
Can't see the way,
can't feel the way.
Where is this way,
this formless way?
--------------------------
The Great way,
has no door.
Thousand ways to it,
Thousand ways from it.
Once past this gate,
One walks freely.
--------------------------
Where is the way?
the way indeed.
hearing a lot,
one sees the way.
Seeing the way,
one points out the way.
Walking the way,
why is one not,
on the way?
Where is the way,
where is the way?
Wondering away,
one loses the way.
Wandering away,
further away...
What is the way?
How is the way?
Haven't one always been,
on the way?
Can't see the way,
can't feel the way.
Where is this way,
this formless way?
--------------------------
The Great way,
has no door.
Thousand ways to it,
Thousand ways from it.
Once past this gate,
One walks freely.
--------------------------
Where is the way?
the way indeed.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Seeing smiles
After the storm,
the grass look greener.
Smile your sweetest while u can,
for it is here now and not tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be another day,
who knows what the world might bring,
happy that you are here today,
I hug you tight, like there is no other.
the grass look greener.
Seeing smiles,
hearing laughter.
Knowing that all of these will soon be gone,
like all else in the world which never stays.
Smile your sweetest while u can,
for it is here now and not tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be another day,
who knows what the world might bring,
happy that you are here today,
I hug you tight, like there is no other.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Anger, the double edged sword
Why be angry?
Hurts the mind,
hurts the body,
brings distress to other people,
brings disharmony between people.
Destroys yourself, destroys others.
Dangerous indeed...anger is..
Hurts the mind,
hurts the body,
brings distress to other people,
brings disharmony between people.
Destroys yourself, destroys others.
Dangerous indeed...anger is..
Thosand years of hate
Thosand years of hate,
all in the head.
Why don't you just let go,
Let go and be free.......
all in the head.
Why don't you just let go,
Let go and be free.......
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Distortion of time and space
Today, I finally realised how time and space can be distorted. What physicists have been trying to do!
It is very simple! Just close your eyes, sleep for a while, and time and space is changed. Time can move faster than normal in dreams. Space is different there too, one can never know the limit of it. Even if you decide to do an experiment to test time and space there, you would draw a different result. It's all very interesting! In sleeping, a new dimension of time and space is created! And if you are not awake and thus still fully in that dimension, your time and space is that of that dimension.
If you are awake, it changes. Say, sitting in meditation, with your eyes closed, not counting your breath but by other meditation methods, your time could change from moment to moment, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. You could control it at will if you are good enough. When you have certain kind of thoughts, like basking in the bliss of meditation, then time can be fast and the meditation is over, sometimes when your legs hurt or when you are bored, time moves very slowly. Like when you close your eyes, the only space that you know which exists it that which is housing your body. So, you cannot assume all around you is space. You don't know if it is or not without some basic assumption. Even if you open your eyes, the assumption is that the light and the eye sense and the mind correctly comes together and reflects the space in front of you so you can say that this is space. This is based on the above assumptions, note. If the assumptions fall, everything changes. Thus that's how one can control his time and space. It seems mind is the most important control factor here.
Let's say the mind changes and one becomes crazy and the eye sense does not link well with the mind. The mind could create illusions of confined or false space or elements that confuses and changes one's view of space and time. Thus, as you can see, space and time can be distorted and this distortion is not the same for everyone and depends on individuals.
It is very simple! Just close your eyes, sleep for a while, and time and space is changed. Time can move faster than normal in dreams. Space is different there too, one can never know the limit of it. Even if you decide to do an experiment to test time and space there, you would draw a different result. It's all very interesting! In sleeping, a new dimension of time and space is created! And if you are not awake and thus still fully in that dimension, your time and space is that of that dimension.
If you are awake, it changes. Say, sitting in meditation, with your eyes closed, not counting your breath but by other meditation methods, your time could change from moment to moment, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. You could control it at will if you are good enough. When you have certain kind of thoughts, like basking in the bliss of meditation, then time can be fast and the meditation is over, sometimes when your legs hurt or when you are bored, time moves very slowly. Like when you close your eyes, the only space that you know which exists it that which is housing your body. So, you cannot assume all around you is space. You don't know if it is or not without some basic assumption. Even if you open your eyes, the assumption is that the light and the eye sense and the mind correctly comes together and reflects the space in front of you so you can say that this is space. This is based on the above assumptions, note. If the assumptions fall, everything changes. Thus that's how one can control his time and space. It seems mind is the most important control factor here.
Let's say the mind changes and one becomes crazy and the eye sense does not link well with the mind. The mind could create illusions of confined or false space or elements that confuses and changes one's view of space and time. Thus, as you can see, space and time can be distorted and this distortion is not the same for everyone and depends on individuals.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
3 days 2 nights of fun with friends off Singapore
On the first day, we checked into B_ _ _ _ _ Resort. It was a little lok kok, but good enuff for us to stay in.
First day:
Tricked him, kena tricked by him and her and her sis. Sang karaoke. Ate 9 dollar chicken rice which they most likely counted wrongly. Sat his gan die's car to resort, gan die happens to be my school teacher, thot he was a little famaliar, but din asked in the end. Thanks gan die!! Checked
into resort, played Bridge which i could never guess who is my partner until it was so super obvious, talked abt monday tuesday, first, second, Qm very personal sharing. Glad to have u guys as frens :-) Rained, could not go out to cycle or roller blade. Talked, shared in the bed. complain abt bed, Dinner, late, walked a long way, shared food, noodles, cherry stalk, hot stingray. took cab out, became a father, bought bbq stuff, stole cherry stalk, tried for a long time to tie the knot, he could, me 2. bought many things, carlsberg Hieneken, yay bbq! Went back, merz cab. Marinade, chop stuff, thanks for your garlic and stuff, girls talk upstairs, dunno abt what. played pool, went to beach, sat on poncho, cooked, ate in paper cups, chips, shared, 10 percent, instant noodles, luncheon meat, stories which end abruptly, ant bluff, he also bluffing. went back, bathe, they slept, snored, we talked abt the Great Path, ah 5.30 already, sleep.
Day 2:
wake up, she was gone, he was gone, monday, impt, mcdonalds, subject registration. She was awake, so nice of her, help us wash all the stuff and boil water too. Dunno what else she did. Thanks anyway!! and give me blanket too! thanks!!Argh, wake up, manual alarm clock, qi lai le qi lai le qi lai le! qi lai le qi lai le qi lai le! go breakfast, dabao(stole) breakfast, eat eat eat, eat eat eat. Why he thin thin hungry all the time? Yay, roller blading time. crammed store, forgot ic, she went back to get. thanks!! though i voluntereed to go back, but i could never make it on my blades. bladed, yay! he fell and fell and fell, but got up and got up and got up! Yay jiayou!! Never give up, she 1 person took care of all of us. I dun care, blade far far away myself, sorry, but i wanted to improve my blading skills, played arm wrestling, pink knee guards.blade back, haha, she fell but only told us at night, but she fell in poise, din shi tai, so she said, whatever. up slope, down slope, i fell, i suspect roller blading is not so much of skill but on confidence, no confidence, fall, confident, anything goes. like i go down slope, too fast, then i scared, then fall. return blades, fall fall fall, get up get up get up. return blades. go swimming. play water, dive here dive there, suntan, play play play. collect bbq pit, changed to small one, kind ppl let us change, thanks guys!! thank you too for helping us save some money!! It's a real bargain!! Money to buy a space for frens :-) Frens, frens, my dear frens, love you so:-) bbq, start fire, nice queer pit with few ppl, happily, squatting down to eat. Genius!! Bow to Genius!! play games, where is this? finish food, ah full, chicken chop, sambal stingray. marshmallow biscuit. Small pit, few ppl but warm bbq nite. went cycling, yoohoo! speed around, repair bicycle, they already reach bowling alley, closed, bye to her, she has to go home, next day gotto work, u ok alone by yourself? yeah. Thanks a lot!! for all your help and sharing the cost of the bbq and also helping to stay over though u are working!!! Cycle back, play pool, rain sleep. wanna see sun rise.
3rd Day:
woke up early, dididididididid, noisy alarm watch. 6 am, call her up to see sunrise, dark, after rain, sit on stool, look out of door, cannot see anything, rain, shld have no sunrise, go back to sleep. wake up. nothing to do, start to pack stuff, Breakfast time again. Manual alarm clock. This time double side with blanket. qilaileqilaileqilaile, qilaileqilaileqilaile! hahaha, they all look seh seh haha! go extend bicycle renting time, eat mcdonald student breakfast, din know that existed. went back, pack up, return bike, check out. Take pictures by the pool, Sorry!!!! he's on the phone again, monday tuesday, everyday. take pictures. cab, go to her house. lie on floor, nice cool shiok. hehe funny ask money pic. Oh! so she is Qm icic. Bake cookies, make ice cream. Friday! time time time, got to go, heavy bag, sleepy head, going for meeting, and then meeting.
Had a great time with 3 of my good frens! Nice chalet, few ppl but we were close, and could share more, could do more. Best of my chalets!! One I enjoyed the most! Was away from Singapore, away from the stresses, away from everything. With good frens, having the time of my life. Thanks guys!!! May we always be this close or even better!!!!
First day:
Tricked him, kena tricked by him and her and her sis. Sang karaoke. Ate 9 dollar chicken rice which they most likely counted wrongly. Sat his gan die's car to resort, gan die happens to be my school teacher, thot he was a little famaliar, but din asked in the end. Thanks gan die!! Checked
into resort, played Bridge which i could never guess who is my partner until it was so super obvious, talked abt monday tuesday, first, second, Qm very personal sharing. Glad to have u guys as frens :-) Rained, could not go out to cycle or roller blade. Talked, shared in the bed. complain abt bed, Dinner, late, walked a long way, shared food, noodles, cherry stalk, hot stingray. took cab out, became a father, bought bbq stuff, stole cherry stalk, tried for a long time to tie the knot, he could, me 2. bought many things, carlsberg Hieneken, yay bbq! Went back, merz cab. Marinade, chop stuff, thanks for your garlic and stuff, girls talk upstairs, dunno abt what. played pool, went to beach, sat on poncho, cooked, ate in paper cups, chips, shared, 10 percent, instant noodles, luncheon meat, stories which end abruptly, ant bluff, he also bluffing. went back, bathe, they slept, snored, we talked abt the Great Path, ah 5.30 already, sleep.
Day 2:
wake up, she was gone, he was gone, monday, impt, mcdonalds, subject registration. She was awake, so nice of her, help us wash all the stuff and boil water too. Dunno what else she did. Thanks anyway!! and give me blanket too! thanks!!Argh, wake up, manual alarm clock, qi lai le qi lai le qi lai le! qi lai le qi lai le qi lai le! go breakfast, dabao(stole) breakfast, eat eat eat, eat eat eat. Why he thin thin hungry all the time? Yay, roller blading time. crammed store, forgot ic, she went back to get. thanks!! though i voluntereed to go back, but i could never make it on my blades. bladed, yay! he fell and fell and fell, but got up and got up and got up! Yay jiayou!! Never give up, she 1 person took care of all of us. I dun care, blade far far away myself, sorry, but i wanted to improve my blading skills, played arm wrestling, pink knee guards.blade back, haha, she fell but only told us at night, but she fell in poise, din shi tai, so she said, whatever. up slope, down slope, i fell, i suspect roller blading is not so much of skill but on confidence, no confidence, fall, confident, anything goes. like i go down slope, too fast, then i scared, then fall. return blades, fall fall fall, get up get up get up. return blades. go swimming. play water, dive here dive there, suntan, play play play. collect bbq pit, changed to small one, kind ppl let us change, thanks guys!! thank you too for helping us save some money!! It's a real bargain!! Money to buy a space for frens :-) Frens, frens, my dear frens, love you so:-) bbq, start fire, nice queer pit with few ppl, happily, squatting down to eat. Genius!! Bow to Genius!! play games, where is this? finish food, ah full, chicken chop, sambal stingray. marshmallow biscuit. Small pit, few ppl but warm bbq nite. went cycling, yoohoo! speed around, repair bicycle, they already reach bowling alley, closed, bye to her, she has to go home, next day gotto work, u ok alone by yourself? yeah. Thanks a lot!! for all your help and sharing the cost of the bbq and also helping to stay over though u are working!!! Cycle back, play pool, rain sleep. wanna see sun rise.
3rd Day:
woke up early, dididididididid, noisy alarm watch. 6 am, call her up to see sunrise, dark, after rain, sit on stool, look out of door, cannot see anything, rain, shld have no sunrise, go back to sleep. wake up. nothing to do, start to pack stuff, Breakfast time again. Manual alarm clock. This time double side with blanket. qilaileqilaileqilaile, qilaileqilaileqilaile! hahaha, they all look seh seh haha! go extend bicycle renting time, eat mcdonald student breakfast, din know that existed. went back, pack up, return bike, check out. Take pictures by the pool, Sorry!!!! he's on the phone again, monday tuesday, everyday. take pictures. cab, go to her house. lie on floor, nice cool shiok. hehe funny ask money pic. Oh! so she is Qm icic. Bake cookies, make ice cream. Friday! time time time, got to go, heavy bag, sleepy head, going for meeting, and then meeting.
Had a great time with 3 of my good frens! Nice chalet, few ppl but we were close, and could share more, could do more. Best of my chalets!! One I enjoyed the most! Was away from Singapore, away from the stresses, away from everything. With good frens, having the time of my life. Thanks guys!!! May we always be this close or even better!!!!
Friday, June 8, 2007
Reflections on Dhamma Talk given By Tenzin Palmo
As a homeowork for a project I am currently on, I was told to write a reflection on a Dharma talk and here it is:
Reflections on Dhamma Talk given By Tenzin Palmo on
Wisdom of Emptiness-Mother of All Buddhas
Broadcast Live at Women at Wisdom Lectures, San Francisco, CASeptember 5, 2002
Downloadable from: http://www.lamrim.com/tenzinpalmo/
In this reflection, I written my thoughts generated when I heard Tenzin Palmo’s lecture online. As I have also been reading many books by Zen Master Seung Sahn, and Tenzin Palmo’s Cave in the Snow, I would often make references to these books but I would have to say that what is written here are purely my thoughts and may or may not represent the correct view of Buddhism. If you find any mistakes along the way, please do tell me.
The lecture started with someone giving an introduction of Tenzin Palmo.
“My life is in the hands of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. Literally, I have handed it over. Whatever you would have me do to benefit all beings, let me do it”
And that was what Tenzin Palmo said. What a great Mahayana spirit!!! It is the hallmark of a true Bodhisattva. Sadhu! Rejoice! I bow three times in awe and respect.
As a nun, Tenzin Palmo has always owned nothing but the bare essentials to survive, living on the generosity of others. And she seems carefree, unlike us who have all the material comforts but still have so many worries. I remember once reading somewhere where Zen Master Seung Sahn said that monks have nothing to worry about as they have 4 million dollars already. All the temples in the world are their homes, so they have one million. Next, monks always receive clothes from their students so that is two million. Other than that, food and medicine is also always provided for by other people so they have already four million and are millionaires. This spirit is shown clearly by the actions and speech of Tenzin Palmo.
When Tenzin Palmo finally came on stage to talk, she very humbly said that all she can personally say about wisdom would perhaps only take 10 seconds. Which, sounds true, because what is there to talk about emptiness when it is empty. Furthermore, if one truly experiences emptiness, one understands it in less than a split second. If not 84000 hours are also insufficient. Another thing that I should mention here is that Tenzin Palmo never prepares for her lectures and they are totally spontaneous. That mentioned, she first started out with saying that wisdom is traditionally regarded as a female quality as it gives birth to enlightenment, but emphasizing that in reality wisdom is neither male nor female.
She mentioned of one interesting occasion when Thubten Rinpoche asked her if a table is empty by its nature or not, and if the mind was empty by its nature and asked which of the two was easier to perceive as empty. To which she answered yes to the first 2 questions and the mind to the second question. The Rinpoche then answered that she belonged on their side which is the Kagyu Sect of Tibetan Buddhism which is more meditative as opposed to the Gelug side which is more intellectual.
In the lecture, she defined emptiness as a lack of inherent nature by itself. This is because any object is the coming together of different parts. She then gives the example of a watch, which is a composite of the gears and hour hands and minute hands and we label it as a watch. She then goes on to demonstrate the lack of inherent nature of the watch by asking where the “watchness” of the watch is. To this, I find it rather strange. A watch is a watch. Yes, it is the coming together of a few dependent substances. But then, the coming together of the things creates a new thing which we call a watch. So what does she mean by the “watchnees” of the watch? It is called a watch because it serves a new function which is to tell time and the word watch is the name we use to call this watch, it is how we refer to it and it is how our human cognition recognizes things and function in this world. If we do not give names to form then how do we “make sense” of this world?
Next, she goes on to quote that famous phrase from the heart sutra, “Emptiness is Form and Form is Emptiness” which then reminds me of what Zen Master Seung Sahn used to say where at first in the heart sutra, it says the above phrase. Then it goes on to mention of non arising, non perishing, not dirty, not clean, and so on not not not. And this is actually a process of the development of a person’s mind where he goes to recognize Emptiness is Form and Form is Emptiness which he calls Theoretical Zen and then no form, no emptiness which he calls Tathagatha Zen and then Form is form and emptiness is emptiness which he calls Patriarchal Zen. At this state, one lives and perceives things just as it is, just as they are. I remember Tenzin Palmo giving an in depth explanation but it was all too difficult for me to comprehend and remember. I guess if one does not have the true experience of having seen such emptiness and practice to a high enough level, one would not understand. All understanding would only be conceptual if one does not have a true experience of it. As Venerable Cittara says, it is even worse if we have already such a conceptual knowledge and start to chase after it. Like that, we would never accomplish anything in meditation. We should always throw away all views and try it ourselves. Sometimes, we may even have built such a good mental image of the thing that we think we have achieved something but truly we are just super deluded.
I remember Tenzin Palmo once mentioned in her book that throughout her meditation, if you ask her what she has realized and she would just tell you the most mundane of truths! It is just that the level of realization and seeing these truths is different. And the seeing of this truth as it is, is really useful to them. I mean it helps them face the world and its problems, helps in their daily lives, unlike us. Like how is knowing that all phenomena has no intrinsic nature been useful to you at work or in school? Honestly think about it! If you cannot come out with an answer, then okay, we are still not there yet. The masters also say that if you have attained something from Buddhism then you have really not attained anything. So what is there to attain when enlightenment was already there in the first place? Did the Buddha teach anything? No he did not! But thinking that Buddha Nature is permanent and has also always been there is missing the point and being fixed and attached to words, names and forms. One must tread the thin line carefully, the line of the middle path.
Next, I remember her saying she was talking to a person and she told the person, “I am I and you are you!” To which, the person replied, “No! I am I and you are you!” This, I thought was so very true! Everyone views this world through the lenses or the filter of I and my views. That is how the human functions. However, she mentions here that when you talk about I, where is the I? If you examine your I, and try to find a solid tangible I, you cannot find it! Your hand, is it yours? No! After you die, it goes. Your thoughts, is it the you? If yes, is this I permanent? No! Your views change from time to time, as new experience comes in. So there is no permanent I which is present. The I just changes so very often. It is only a coming together of various factors like ones body, five senses and mind and other stuff.
Through her meditation, she is able to talk of her meditative experience. She speaks of it like watching a movie. She says that in our mind, there are just streams of thoughts going on and on like the show running in a movie. However, as you continue to observe your mind, you would find gaps between the thoughts where there is true awareness. Of course, when you first start meditating, there are no gaps between the thoughts and it is like a waterfall but as you progress, supposedly as it is said in the books, ones mind becomes calm. It is like a muddy pool of water where at first it is muddy and meditation helps to settle the mud, making the mind clear. She compares the mind to the sky where the thoughts are the clouds and the true awareness is behind the clouds. She says, when we are aware of something, there is still subject and object. However, Buddhism talks about non-dualism. One should enter the realm of the true nature of the mind and all dualism would dissolve. The true nature of the mind is the clear vast sky. Because the sky is vast and spacious, it is called empty. If you want to hold the sky, is it possible?? No! It has no solid identity. It is empty.
She says when there is this clarity; one sees the confusion of the state we dwell in. A Zen Master once said that his mind is like a clear mirror which reflects exactly what he sees. When one’s eyes are open, one sees all as Buddhas. If not, we would have a differentiating heart, differentiating all into good and bad, drawing those which are pleasant and rejecting those which are not and this causes suffering. It is like a filter. If you put in a filter, it traps stuff and then eventually it will clog up and get stuck. If you take the filter as a self with many views, then when the filter gets stuck and the water cannot pass through, then there is suffering, worries, pain, depression, all kinds of things. If there is no I, no so many views, no mental formations that trap stuff, then this suffering disappears. Where is everything? No! There is nothing. But to say there is nothing is wrong. To say that it is impermanent is wrong; to say that it is permanent is wrong. So what?
She says that at this state, she sees all beings suffering so much through their clinging mind. That is when compassion is generated in one’s heart, to help these people.
She says that meditation actually brings us back to the place which we started from, which we never actually left. We just have to slowly recognize this place. It is like an eye which always sees outside. It does not see itself. When meditating and looking into our mind, we see thoughts and feelings, but cannot see the clear luminous awareness behind this. They say God is within thyself. Can they actually mean this?? Without the sky, can the clouds exist?
Next, she extols us to use our lives to discover our innate wisdom and compassion. Use our relationship at the workplace, our social life, turn our everyday life into practice. A Zen Master once said, there is no good situation or bad situation. Every situation as long as you treat it as a practice and help people with it then it is a correct situation. This is Buddhism as its best. All time is practice. There is no time which is out of Buddhism.
She then goes on quote from Christianity saying, “God is within you! Whatever you think about God, it is not that. God is just another label but the realization is beyond words and concepts.” This always makes me wonder about the ultimate aim about Christianity and Buddhism. Are they both methods to the same goal? It sure seems like it to me and I think she thinks so too. Her last words before the end of the lecture were to ask us to do something useful to benefit others and this whole planet.
Next was the question and answer part. Here, someone asked her if she has ever wondered why she follows so closely to such a lineage as hers since all of them lead to the same goal. To that she answered, “In order to get to the top of a mountain, you have to follow a path, if not you will not reach anywhere.” How very true. That is how I see it too and why I started to practice in my tradition. Not recognizing the good conditions that one is presented with and always looking around, one can never reach anywhere. The only way is to start walking and stepping on the path. One may like to go around and explore different paths but if one keeps changing paths, one may never get to the top. So the surest way is to doggedly follow a path. And about a master, she says that there are things that we need that we would have never chosen to do by ourselves, so we need someone who sees us clearly and can guide us on the path and one who will give us what is important which we may just miss out unknowingly ourselves.
Next someone asked it was a challenge to bring a sense of inner balance to our daily lives after living in a cave and going back into society with all its distractions. My thoughts then drifted to something I read of not being attached to a quiet and simple life and at the same time not attached to a noisy and emotional high life. In all situations, the mind must always remain centered. The Buddha was comfortable when treated as a royalty when he gave talks in palaces and also just as comfortable in the forests. Next, she went on to elucidate on how it is a challenge to maintain the quality of awareness in our daily lives. We should thus use this as an opportunity to practice patience. Where else is a better place to practice? It is here where there are people pushing you and people irritating you that you can practice detachment, patience and tolerance. She said that it is to bring our mind back to the present. Start small and we can do it if we really want to. I always remember this story which has always inspired me. Everyday, a boy puts some sand in the middle of the train track. At first, it offers no resistance to the coming train, then after sometime, it offers a little resistance to the train, but the train still manages to push through it. Then as times goes by, one day, it will become a mountain and stop the train in its tracks. That is how our effort should be like.
Last of all, I remember that someone asked if peaceful demonstrations are all right and in line with Buddhism. To this she answered that if the demonstration is rooted in anger and irritation then it is bad. If it is rooted in compassion then it is good. She says it is easy for negative forces to take over. And that in peace movement if one has the heart that one is righteous and it is this righteous heart of one against others then the intention is wrong and is born of attachment to self which will eventually cause suffering but if it is from true unconditioned love and compassion then, only true compassion is projected out which is good and I personally feel would bring good results.
The lecture ended there. Hopefully this reflection has served its purpose well and may all be well and happy. As Zen Master Seung Sahn would end his letters, May you attain enlightenment soon and save all beings. May all be well and happy.
Reflections on Dhamma Talk given By Tenzin Palmo on
Wisdom of Emptiness-Mother of All Buddhas
Broadcast Live at Women at Wisdom Lectures, San Francisco, CASeptember 5, 2002
Downloadable from: http://www.lamrim.com/tenzinpalmo/
In this reflection, I written my thoughts generated when I heard Tenzin Palmo’s lecture online. As I have also been reading many books by Zen Master Seung Sahn, and Tenzin Palmo’s Cave in the Snow, I would often make references to these books but I would have to say that what is written here are purely my thoughts and may or may not represent the correct view of Buddhism. If you find any mistakes along the way, please do tell me.
The lecture started with someone giving an introduction of Tenzin Palmo.
“My life is in the hands of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. Literally, I have handed it over. Whatever you would have me do to benefit all beings, let me do it”
And that was what Tenzin Palmo said. What a great Mahayana spirit!!! It is the hallmark of a true Bodhisattva. Sadhu! Rejoice! I bow three times in awe and respect.
As a nun, Tenzin Palmo has always owned nothing but the bare essentials to survive, living on the generosity of others. And she seems carefree, unlike us who have all the material comforts but still have so many worries. I remember once reading somewhere where Zen Master Seung Sahn said that monks have nothing to worry about as they have 4 million dollars already. All the temples in the world are their homes, so they have one million. Next, monks always receive clothes from their students so that is two million. Other than that, food and medicine is also always provided for by other people so they have already four million and are millionaires. This spirit is shown clearly by the actions and speech of Tenzin Palmo.
When Tenzin Palmo finally came on stage to talk, she very humbly said that all she can personally say about wisdom would perhaps only take 10 seconds. Which, sounds true, because what is there to talk about emptiness when it is empty. Furthermore, if one truly experiences emptiness, one understands it in less than a split second. If not 84000 hours are also insufficient. Another thing that I should mention here is that Tenzin Palmo never prepares for her lectures and they are totally spontaneous. That mentioned, she first started out with saying that wisdom is traditionally regarded as a female quality as it gives birth to enlightenment, but emphasizing that in reality wisdom is neither male nor female.
She mentioned of one interesting occasion when Thubten Rinpoche asked her if a table is empty by its nature or not, and if the mind was empty by its nature and asked which of the two was easier to perceive as empty. To which she answered yes to the first 2 questions and the mind to the second question. The Rinpoche then answered that she belonged on their side which is the Kagyu Sect of Tibetan Buddhism which is more meditative as opposed to the Gelug side which is more intellectual.
In the lecture, she defined emptiness as a lack of inherent nature by itself. This is because any object is the coming together of different parts. She then gives the example of a watch, which is a composite of the gears and hour hands and minute hands and we label it as a watch. She then goes on to demonstrate the lack of inherent nature of the watch by asking where the “watchness” of the watch is. To this, I find it rather strange. A watch is a watch. Yes, it is the coming together of a few dependent substances. But then, the coming together of the things creates a new thing which we call a watch. So what does she mean by the “watchnees” of the watch? It is called a watch because it serves a new function which is to tell time and the word watch is the name we use to call this watch, it is how we refer to it and it is how our human cognition recognizes things and function in this world. If we do not give names to form then how do we “make sense” of this world?
Next, she goes on to quote that famous phrase from the heart sutra, “Emptiness is Form and Form is Emptiness” which then reminds me of what Zen Master Seung Sahn used to say where at first in the heart sutra, it says the above phrase. Then it goes on to mention of non arising, non perishing, not dirty, not clean, and so on not not not. And this is actually a process of the development of a person’s mind where he goes to recognize Emptiness is Form and Form is Emptiness which he calls Theoretical Zen and then no form, no emptiness which he calls Tathagatha Zen and then Form is form and emptiness is emptiness which he calls Patriarchal Zen. At this state, one lives and perceives things just as it is, just as they are. I remember Tenzin Palmo giving an in depth explanation but it was all too difficult for me to comprehend and remember. I guess if one does not have the true experience of having seen such emptiness and practice to a high enough level, one would not understand. All understanding would only be conceptual if one does not have a true experience of it. As Venerable Cittara says, it is even worse if we have already such a conceptual knowledge and start to chase after it. Like that, we would never accomplish anything in meditation. We should always throw away all views and try it ourselves. Sometimes, we may even have built such a good mental image of the thing that we think we have achieved something but truly we are just super deluded.
I remember Tenzin Palmo once mentioned in her book that throughout her meditation, if you ask her what she has realized and she would just tell you the most mundane of truths! It is just that the level of realization and seeing these truths is different. And the seeing of this truth as it is, is really useful to them. I mean it helps them face the world and its problems, helps in their daily lives, unlike us. Like how is knowing that all phenomena has no intrinsic nature been useful to you at work or in school? Honestly think about it! If you cannot come out with an answer, then okay, we are still not there yet. The masters also say that if you have attained something from Buddhism then you have really not attained anything. So what is there to attain when enlightenment was already there in the first place? Did the Buddha teach anything? No he did not! But thinking that Buddha Nature is permanent and has also always been there is missing the point and being fixed and attached to words, names and forms. One must tread the thin line carefully, the line of the middle path.
Next, I remember her saying she was talking to a person and she told the person, “I am I and you are you!” To which, the person replied, “No! I am I and you are you!” This, I thought was so very true! Everyone views this world through the lenses or the filter of I and my views. That is how the human functions. However, she mentions here that when you talk about I, where is the I? If you examine your I, and try to find a solid tangible I, you cannot find it! Your hand, is it yours? No! After you die, it goes. Your thoughts, is it the you? If yes, is this I permanent? No! Your views change from time to time, as new experience comes in. So there is no permanent I which is present. The I just changes so very often. It is only a coming together of various factors like ones body, five senses and mind and other stuff.
Through her meditation, she is able to talk of her meditative experience. She speaks of it like watching a movie. She says that in our mind, there are just streams of thoughts going on and on like the show running in a movie. However, as you continue to observe your mind, you would find gaps between the thoughts where there is true awareness. Of course, when you first start meditating, there are no gaps between the thoughts and it is like a waterfall but as you progress, supposedly as it is said in the books, ones mind becomes calm. It is like a muddy pool of water where at first it is muddy and meditation helps to settle the mud, making the mind clear. She compares the mind to the sky where the thoughts are the clouds and the true awareness is behind the clouds. She says, when we are aware of something, there is still subject and object. However, Buddhism talks about non-dualism. One should enter the realm of the true nature of the mind and all dualism would dissolve. The true nature of the mind is the clear vast sky. Because the sky is vast and spacious, it is called empty. If you want to hold the sky, is it possible?? No! It has no solid identity. It is empty.
She says when there is this clarity; one sees the confusion of the state we dwell in. A Zen Master once said that his mind is like a clear mirror which reflects exactly what he sees. When one’s eyes are open, one sees all as Buddhas. If not, we would have a differentiating heart, differentiating all into good and bad, drawing those which are pleasant and rejecting those which are not and this causes suffering. It is like a filter. If you put in a filter, it traps stuff and then eventually it will clog up and get stuck. If you take the filter as a self with many views, then when the filter gets stuck and the water cannot pass through, then there is suffering, worries, pain, depression, all kinds of things. If there is no I, no so many views, no mental formations that trap stuff, then this suffering disappears. Where is everything? No! There is nothing. But to say there is nothing is wrong. To say that it is impermanent is wrong; to say that it is permanent is wrong. So what?
She says that at this state, she sees all beings suffering so much through their clinging mind. That is when compassion is generated in one’s heart, to help these people.
She says that meditation actually brings us back to the place which we started from, which we never actually left. We just have to slowly recognize this place. It is like an eye which always sees outside. It does not see itself. When meditating and looking into our mind, we see thoughts and feelings, but cannot see the clear luminous awareness behind this. They say God is within thyself. Can they actually mean this?? Without the sky, can the clouds exist?
Next, she extols us to use our lives to discover our innate wisdom and compassion. Use our relationship at the workplace, our social life, turn our everyday life into practice. A Zen Master once said, there is no good situation or bad situation. Every situation as long as you treat it as a practice and help people with it then it is a correct situation. This is Buddhism as its best. All time is practice. There is no time which is out of Buddhism.
She then goes on quote from Christianity saying, “God is within you! Whatever you think about God, it is not that. God is just another label but the realization is beyond words and concepts.” This always makes me wonder about the ultimate aim about Christianity and Buddhism. Are they both methods to the same goal? It sure seems like it to me and I think she thinks so too. Her last words before the end of the lecture were to ask us to do something useful to benefit others and this whole planet.
Next was the question and answer part. Here, someone asked her if she has ever wondered why she follows so closely to such a lineage as hers since all of them lead to the same goal. To that she answered, “In order to get to the top of a mountain, you have to follow a path, if not you will not reach anywhere.” How very true. That is how I see it too and why I started to practice in my tradition. Not recognizing the good conditions that one is presented with and always looking around, one can never reach anywhere. The only way is to start walking and stepping on the path. One may like to go around and explore different paths but if one keeps changing paths, one may never get to the top. So the surest way is to doggedly follow a path. And about a master, she says that there are things that we need that we would have never chosen to do by ourselves, so we need someone who sees us clearly and can guide us on the path and one who will give us what is important which we may just miss out unknowingly ourselves.
Next someone asked it was a challenge to bring a sense of inner balance to our daily lives after living in a cave and going back into society with all its distractions. My thoughts then drifted to something I read of not being attached to a quiet and simple life and at the same time not attached to a noisy and emotional high life. In all situations, the mind must always remain centered. The Buddha was comfortable when treated as a royalty when he gave talks in palaces and also just as comfortable in the forests. Next, she went on to elucidate on how it is a challenge to maintain the quality of awareness in our daily lives. We should thus use this as an opportunity to practice patience. Where else is a better place to practice? It is here where there are people pushing you and people irritating you that you can practice detachment, patience and tolerance. She said that it is to bring our mind back to the present. Start small and we can do it if we really want to. I always remember this story which has always inspired me. Everyday, a boy puts some sand in the middle of the train track. At first, it offers no resistance to the coming train, then after sometime, it offers a little resistance to the train, but the train still manages to push through it. Then as times goes by, one day, it will become a mountain and stop the train in its tracks. That is how our effort should be like.
Last of all, I remember that someone asked if peaceful demonstrations are all right and in line with Buddhism. To this she answered that if the demonstration is rooted in anger and irritation then it is bad. If it is rooted in compassion then it is good. She says it is easy for negative forces to take over. And that in peace movement if one has the heart that one is righteous and it is this righteous heart of one against others then the intention is wrong and is born of attachment to self which will eventually cause suffering but if it is from true unconditioned love and compassion then, only true compassion is projected out which is good and I personally feel would bring good results.
The lecture ended there. Hopefully this reflection has served its purpose well and may all be well and happy. As Zen Master Seung Sahn would end his letters, May you attain enlightenment soon and save all beings. May all be well and happy.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Reflections on YEP trip to Laos
Laos, a place that started out with half built houses, abandoned buildings and magnificently coloured and decorated temples with many nagas or dragons. Going around Laos, I realized that the buildings are all very short. And the tallest would be a hotel which is not exactly very tall too. That which I had just described is the main city so not to imagine the rest of the other provinces. It seems to me that Laos is not really developed and is really quite backward, not seeing any fast food outlets around. However, the strange thing is that the food and other commodities are not really cheap compared to the other Indochinese countries. Asking around, it seems that the economy was spoiled by the westerners.
Upon entering the school, I was also taken aback by the state of the school. Although the school is located in the city, it does not resemble the impression of what a city school should look like. Its tables and chairs were all made of wood. Their construction was also fairly rough and did not seem like the work of a trained carpenter, but more of an amateur. There were broken benches and tables around while some others were already shaky and showed signs of giving way. The school…..although the main buildings were not too badly built, what it contained was not so.
On the first day, when we started teaching in the school, I was surprised to find that the whole class was rather noisy and disorganized even though the trainee teacher was there. Nevertheless, to her, it seemed like an everyday thing. She would just shout at the top of her voice, while smiling, playing games with them. The students all seem to be enjoying themselves together with the teachers. However, when we took over the trainee teachers, they were only too happy hand over the class to us.
During the teaching of the class, I noticed that the class is actually rather spontaneous and lively. However the standard in the class is usually quite uneven. There is usually one kid who is exceptionally good in English. This kid would usually answer most of the questions and the other kids would try to get the answer from that kid. However, the kids at Nong Duang school are generally not really hardworking. This is apparent as although when we teach, we usually revise what they have learnt and copied previously but they always have to refer back to the book to find the answer to our question.
The other thing that surprised me is that when the exams were coming, the teachers stop going to class and the students just come to school and play around until it is time to go home for lunch. After lunch, they would come back to school and play more while we ‘English’ teachers would try our best to teach although they are not really interested to learn. I can never understand how the kids could play while their exams are coming. They seem to have a disregard for results and exams it seems.
In Laos, when we helped out in the construction, I found the kids and contractors to be very friendly and amiable. Other than that, they were quite a relaxed bunch of people. That seems to be the whole culture of the Laos people where they take their time to do things slowly at a leisurely pace. Comparing that with Singapore, I see that the pace of life in Singapore is much faster than them. Everyone is rushing their work to increase productivity. As such, the natural consequence would be that Singapore would have a better economy compared to them.
While we were there, we went to see one of the local festivals called the rocket festival. It was a festival where the locals would shoot rockets into the sky and where males cross-dress as females to irritate the gods so that they would send down lightning and thus rain. During the festivities, Lao beer was a staple. Everyone was making merry and drinking Lao beer. Lao beer during lunch, Lao beer during diner. In fact, it seems to me that they drink the beer the whole they and yes, they have an incredible alcohol tolerance capacity. That seems to be what they do a lot.
Now back to the people and kids of Laos. In the midst of allthe drinking and merry making, one can see that the Lao people is still fiercely traditional, with strong family values. It truly surprises me where everyday, I see the Laos kids and teachers and principal and everyone going back home for lunch. That is almost unthinkable in Singapore. In Singapore, I think it is also likely the case that even if one wants to go back home for meals, they would not find any piping hot meals waiting for them at home as most likely there would be no one to cook meals at home as everyone is working. However, that is the natural consequence of the demands of an island nation with a thriving economy.
All in all, it is difficult to compare Laos and Singapore because both countries have different sizes and function differently. The people there are relaxed and stress free while the people here are very stressed and work at a very much faster pace. And the difference is clearly reflected in our economies. As it is always with human nature, people are always looking to improve themselves. As such, the young in Laos are now trying very hard to master English in the hope that they may be able to get a better job and thus pay. I find them to be rather curious about the world outside of Laos and maybe that’s why they are already slowly lapping up western, Korean, Japanese and other cultures. In 10 years time, with the zest the youths there are displaying, I think Laos would have changed as more of them try to explore the world. Erosion of family values? Better sanitary, better economy? But at what price? That leaves to be seen.
Upon entering the school, I was also taken aback by the state of the school. Although the school is located in the city, it does not resemble the impression of what a city school should look like. Its tables and chairs were all made of wood. Their construction was also fairly rough and did not seem like the work of a trained carpenter, but more of an amateur. There were broken benches and tables around while some others were already shaky and showed signs of giving way. The school…..although the main buildings were not too badly built, what it contained was not so.
On the first day, when we started teaching in the school, I was surprised to find that the whole class was rather noisy and disorganized even though the trainee teacher was there. Nevertheless, to her, it seemed like an everyday thing. She would just shout at the top of her voice, while smiling, playing games with them. The students all seem to be enjoying themselves together with the teachers. However, when we took over the trainee teachers, they were only too happy hand over the class to us.
During the teaching of the class, I noticed that the class is actually rather spontaneous and lively. However the standard in the class is usually quite uneven. There is usually one kid who is exceptionally good in English. This kid would usually answer most of the questions and the other kids would try to get the answer from that kid. However, the kids at Nong Duang school are generally not really hardworking. This is apparent as although when we teach, we usually revise what they have learnt and copied previously but they always have to refer back to the book to find the answer to our question.
The other thing that surprised me is that when the exams were coming, the teachers stop going to class and the students just come to school and play around until it is time to go home for lunch. After lunch, they would come back to school and play more while we ‘English’ teachers would try our best to teach although they are not really interested to learn. I can never understand how the kids could play while their exams are coming. They seem to have a disregard for results and exams it seems.
In Laos, when we helped out in the construction, I found the kids and contractors to be very friendly and amiable. Other than that, they were quite a relaxed bunch of people. That seems to be the whole culture of the Laos people where they take their time to do things slowly at a leisurely pace. Comparing that with Singapore, I see that the pace of life in Singapore is much faster than them. Everyone is rushing their work to increase productivity. As such, the natural consequence would be that Singapore would have a better economy compared to them.
While we were there, we went to see one of the local festivals called the rocket festival. It was a festival where the locals would shoot rockets into the sky and where males cross-dress as females to irritate the gods so that they would send down lightning and thus rain. During the festivities, Lao beer was a staple. Everyone was making merry and drinking Lao beer. Lao beer during lunch, Lao beer during diner. In fact, it seems to me that they drink the beer the whole they and yes, they have an incredible alcohol tolerance capacity. That seems to be what they do a lot.
Now back to the people and kids of Laos. In the midst of allthe drinking and merry making, one can see that the Lao people is still fiercely traditional, with strong family values. It truly surprises me where everyday, I see the Laos kids and teachers and principal and everyone going back home for lunch. That is almost unthinkable in Singapore. In Singapore, I think it is also likely the case that even if one wants to go back home for meals, they would not find any piping hot meals waiting for them at home as most likely there would be no one to cook meals at home as everyone is working. However, that is the natural consequence of the demands of an island nation with a thriving economy.
All in all, it is difficult to compare Laos and Singapore because both countries have different sizes and function differently. The people there are relaxed and stress free while the people here are very stressed and work at a very much faster pace. And the difference is clearly reflected in our economies. As it is always with human nature, people are always looking to improve themselves. As such, the young in Laos are now trying very hard to master English in the hope that they may be able to get a better job and thus pay. I find them to be rather curious about the world outside of Laos and maybe that’s why they are already slowly lapping up western, Korean, Japanese and other cultures. In 10 years time, with the zest the youths there are displaying, I think Laos would have changed as more of them try to explore the world. Erosion of family values? Better sanitary, better economy? But at what price? That leaves to be seen.
4 Noble Truth???
One day, two birds, Ah Jiao and Ah Gong were perching on a tree branch somewhere in Ang Mo Kio.
Suddenly, while looking at the auntie of the HDB flat hanging her clothes to dry, Ah Jiao, had a revelation , and asked Ah Gong,"Hey Ah Gong, the Buddha said that there are 4 Noble Truths. But I can't remember them now. Do you know what the heck are those 4 noblest and most important and the most universal truth in this whole wide big blue world?"
Ah Gong was stunned!! And replied,"Huh????" Scratching his stomach with his beak, he replied,"Hmmm...Let me see............AH!!! I know!
1st and most important truth: I need to eat!!"
Thinking harder, he carried on,"By why the heck do I always need to eat?? Morning eat, afternoon eat, night also eat!! Eat eat eat, whole day eat. AH!!!! I know because i feel hungry!!
So the Second truth is: I am hungry so I eat!!"
Ah jiao,"Hmm....sounds perfectly logical to me so far..."
Ah Gong,"There are still a third and fourth one.....hmm.....that's tough!! Eh eh!!! I know!! After eating, digestion, then I feel this urge to shit!
So, Third truth is: I feel the urge to shit!!
and finally,
the Final truth is :I shit!
Hahaha, there!! Your four noble truth!!!"
Ah Jiao,"Hmm....wow!! Incredible!! The 4 Noblest Truth!! Ok now I know the 4 Noblest Great Big Truths. But it seems to me that this is really nothing much, isn't this all common sense? It goes without saying!! Knowing these truths, I still do it over and over again. So what is the use of these 4 Great Big Noble Truth?? Why the h*** do you get hungry anyway? "
Suddenly, while looking at the auntie of the HDB flat hanging her clothes to dry, Ah Jiao, had a revelation , and asked Ah Gong,"Hey Ah Gong, the Buddha said that there are 4 Noble Truths. But I can't remember them now. Do you know what the heck are those 4 noblest and most important and the most universal truth in this whole wide big blue world?"
Ah Gong was stunned!! And replied,"Huh????" Scratching his stomach with his beak, he replied,"Hmmm...Let me see............AH!!! I know!
1st and most important truth: I need to eat!!"
Thinking harder, he carried on,"By why the heck do I always need to eat?? Morning eat, afternoon eat, night also eat!! Eat eat eat, whole day eat. AH!!!! I know because i feel hungry!!
So the Second truth is: I am hungry so I eat!!"
Ah jiao,"Hmm....sounds perfectly logical to me so far..."
Ah Gong,"There are still a third and fourth one.....hmm.....that's tough!! Eh eh!!! I know!! After eating, digestion, then I feel this urge to shit!
So, Third truth is: I feel the urge to shit!!
and finally,
the Final truth is :I shit!
Hahaha, there!! Your four noble truth!!!"
Ah Jiao,"Hmm....wow!! Incredible!! The 4 Noblest Truth!! Ok now I know the 4 Noblest Great Big Truths. But it seems to me that this is really nothing much, isn't this all common sense? It goes without saying!! Knowing these truths, I still do it over and over again. So what is the use of these 4 Great Big Noble Truth?? Why the h*** do you get hungry anyway? "
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Dear Laos
Dear Laos,
How are you doing? Hope you are well. How are your roads? Your traffic accident rates? How are your firs? Your Nong Duang school? Your cute and adorable kids? Your flies? Hope they are all fine and doing well.
It has been some time since we returned and I still cannot find my dear book which was always at hand. Strange that it would leave my hand. Wonder where it went. Anyway, it was nice to know you and to run around on your body. Thanks for all the warmth you have given us and always being so accomodating towards us. We are one bunch of really fun people. However as always it seems we have to leave you and come back to the lion's body filled with trees so tall and gray. It is hot here and the lion does not bathe as often as you it seems.
On return, the time did not stop. It just carried on moving, sib pai, mong keng, sam sib pai. Whoosh, Work, letters, so many things to do. We try to remember the old days but they are just there. No use looking around so much. It is the now and from now on. This weekend the trees would smell as great, as the people would be too. There is much to rejoice about and to be happy.
With Metta,
Emanrohe
How are you doing? Hope you are well. How are your roads? Your traffic accident rates? How are your firs? Your Nong Duang school? Your cute and adorable kids? Your flies? Hope they are all fine and doing well.
It has been some time since we returned and I still cannot find my dear book which was always at hand. Strange that it would leave my hand. Wonder where it went. Anyway, it was nice to know you and to run around on your body. Thanks for all the warmth you have given us and always being so accomodating towards us. We are one bunch of really fun people. However as always it seems we have to leave you and come back to the lion's body filled with trees so tall and gray. It is hot here and the lion does not bathe as often as you it seems.
On return, the time did not stop. It just carried on moving, sib pai, mong keng, sam sib pai. Whoosh, Work, letters, so many things to do. We try to remember the old days but they are just there. No use looking around so much. It is the now and from now on. This weekend the trees would smell as great, as the people would be too. There is much to rejoice about and to be happy.
With Metta,
Emanrohe
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Leting go......
Today, I read an article,I don't remember it fully, but it is something to this extent
Let go a little, a little more peaceful
Let go a lot, a lot more peaceful
Let go everthing, everything is peaceful.
Then i saw a blog,
which wrote:
i tink i oso gotta let go la..haha...
i have learnt to let go...
let go of unhappiness and accidents....slowly...
Looking at it brings many feelings to my heart,
Feelings of love, feelings of clinging, feelings of not wanting to let go. Unable to let go.
Unable to let go.....let go of what?
Let go of the good feelings it brought, the warmth, the joy.
Unable to let it go.....
But what is it bringing me now?
Only more struggles, more suffering, more pain.
Let go of the past,
Let go,
Let go of the present..
Let go.........
Let go of the future......
Letting go, letting go brings joy.
It brings a silent smile to your heart. It is warm, full of warmth and love.
Letting go of the present, past and future, does one truely feel the present for what it is.
Let go.....let go.......do not hold on to it any longer, it is not worth it......
Release it, just as it were, nothing.....
It was purely a feeling, nothing, release it......why hold on to it......
Release, release it.......
Let go a little, a little more peaceful
Let go a lot, a lot more peaceful
Let go everthing, everything is peaceful.
Then i saw a blog,
which wrote:
i tink i oso gotta let go la..haha...
i have learnt to let go...
let go of unhappiness and accidents....slowly...
Looking at it brings many feelings to my heart,
Feelings of love, feelings of clinging, feelings of not wanting to let go. Unable to let go.
Unable to let go.....let go of what?
Let go of the good feelings it brought, the warmth, the joy.
Unable to let it go.....
But what is it bringing me now?
Only more struggles, more suffering, more pain.
Let go of the past,
Let go,
Let go of the present..
Let go.........
Let go of the future......
Letting go, letting go brings joy.
It brings a silent smile to your heart. It is warm, full of warmth and love.
Letting go of the present, past and future, does one truely feel the present for what it is.
Let go.....let go.......do not hold on to it any longer, it is not worth it......
Release it, just as it were, nothing.....
It was purely a feeling, nothing, release it......why hold on to it......
Release, release it.......
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Wisdom to see
Trying to help someone,
i destroy another,
Without the wisdom of seeing,
I cock up.
But through this,
We learn,
we gain,
hopefully we all can gain,
not at the expense of another.
i destroy another,
Without the wisdom of seeing,
I cock up.
But through this,
We learn,
we gain,
hopefully we all can gain,
not at the expense of another.
Thinking too much, forward backwards, where are you now?
Today, I was thinking, should ask my mum to help out at the temple to cut vegetables and such to accumulate more merits and mix around with more ppl cos she is a bit down lately.
But, doing so, there would be no one to take care of my grandmother since my mum is doing the job now. It is said that it is hard to repay one's parents and one should not neglect them. And so my mum misses out the chance to go accumulate merits.
But then again, bouncing the thought here and there? Didn't it all end up here, at the same place again, where you started?
Whatever you are doing now, do it well, do it with your full heart, your full self. With mindfulness. Then whatever you are doing, you are walking on the path of the Buddha, it does not matter what you are doing, it does not make a difference.
But, doing so, there would be no one to take care of my grandmother since my mum is doing the job now. It is said that it is hard to repay one's parents and one should not neglect them. And so my mum misses out the chance to go accumulate merits.
But then again, bouncing the thought here and there? Didn't it all end up here, at the same place again, where you started?
Whatever you are doing now, do it well, do it with your full heart, your full self. With mindfulness. Then whatever you are doing, you are walking on the path of the Buddha, it does not matter what you are doing, it does not make a difference.
Karma, the net, the consequence, the wisdom
Today, we had a session where we were supposed to think abt what is the effect of us going to the under developed countries. Are we going to bring gifts to distribute there? What if it is not enough? Then how should we distribute? Should be distribute by meritocracy(which inevitably introduces this part of the culture of our country to them)? Or should we do a lucky draw so all is equal? Or should we just give the gifts to the teachers there to distribute however they like so we do not introduce and new things from our society into our culture?
Thinking, thinking, many good and bad points were raised abt both methods. Tick tock tick tock, like a pendulum. We should introduce the culture of more developed countries to them, isn't that what they want by allowing more overseas community service teams to go there? But we should respect their culture, and not destroy it by bringing in outside cultures etc. What if they crave for more advanced things? What if they are influenced by new thoughts? They are changing themselves, by adopting and leaning english so why are we worried about introducing our culture and the bad effects? Ultimately, we are just a team there, 2 weeks and gone. Our influence may just be a ripple in their ocean of life journeys. It may be just so insignificant. Or it may be a deadly virus, which once introduced, poliferates and kills all the wildlife in the sea. Who knows? Who can see so far into the effects of our actions?
Planting a seed in their minds, they need conditions to grow, they need the right environment and many other factors to make them maybe yearn for the culture we have. How can we tell such effects of these actions who grew up in a totally different culture by just sitting there and thinking. We were merely speculating with our limited intelligence, with our limited wisdom. How could we have taken so many things into account in the same time?? It is like a net, all conditions connected and we are just seeing part of it. And we dare to speculate, sitting on our butts???!!!!!!
The aim of the exercise was to reflect on our actions, but based on our small minds and wisdom we try to imagine the wide and intricate net of the future? Of the effects our actions might bring? We base on but a small action to predict a future so complicated?
This kind of reflection! What an utter waste of time!! Time better used to develop the required wisdom.
But then again, realising such, was time truely wasted? Was i not reflecting? What was i actually doing? I actually reflected and learnt from the exercise. So was time actually wasted?? Not so it seems. Haha, how interesting. Because of one action(karma) so many effects, so far reaching, it is not immediately obvious.
Haha! Karma, interesting isn't it? Haha!
Thinking, thinking, many good and bad points were raised abt both methods. Tick tock tick tock, like a pendulum. We should introduce the culture of more developed countries to them, isn't that what they want by allowing more overseas community service teams to go there? But we should respect their culture, and not destroy it by bringing in outside cultures etc. What if they crave for more advanced things? What if they are influenced by new thoughts? They are changing themselves, by adopting and leaning english so why are we worried about introducing our culture and the bad effects? Ultimately, we are just a team there, 2 weeks and gone. Our influence may just be a ripple in their ocean of life journeys. It may be just so insignificant. Or it may be a deadly virus, which once introduced, poliferates and kills all the wildlife in the sea. Who knows? Who can see so far into the effects of our actions?
Planting a seed in their minds, they need conditions to grow, they need the right environment and many other factors to make them maybe yearn for the culture we have. How can we tell such effects of these actions who grew up in a totally different culture by just sitting there and thinking. We were merely speculating with our limited intelligence, with our limited wisdom. How could we have taken so many things into account in the same time?? It is like a net, all conditions connected and we are just seeing part of it. And we dare to speculate, sitting on our butts???!!!!!!
The aim of the exercise was to reflect on our actions, but based on our small minds and wisdom we try to imagine the wide and intricate net of the future? Of the effects our actions might bring? We base on but a small action to predict a future so complicated?
This kind of reflection! What an utter waste of time!! Time better used to develop the required wisdom.
But then again, realising such, was time truely wasted? Was i not reflecting? What was i actually doing? I actually reflected and learnt from the exercise. So was time actually wasted?? Not so it seems. Haha, how interesting. Because of one action(karma) so many effects, so far reaching, it is not immediately obvious.
Haha! Karma, interesting isn't it? Haha!
Coincidence? Or was it meant to be?
Recently, I am involved in an overseas community project and we were supposed to do a book drive today.
Early this morning, i had to buy two plastic bags of ice and bring it to a rather famous temple. So i decided to take a cab there. When i got into the cab, i told the driver that i was going to the temple. Hearing that, he started asking me what i was going to do there and the conversation progressed into buddhism. Happily, we shared our views and when we reached the temple, the cab driver refused to accept my money and said that he was happy to have met me and he takes it as donation to the temple as well as to my cause. How amazing is that!!
What is even more amazing is i had missed 2 cabs to get into that one. The first cab was in a far lane and could not change lane to my side of the road in time as another vehicle was obstructing his way. As for the second cab, i had a choice between choosing it and the third cab. The third cab was doing a u-turn and while the second cab was a Mercedes cab. Thinking that the Merc cab would be more expensive, i waited for it to pass before flagging for the third cab and got my free ride. Is this a coincidence? Or was it meant to be?? Haha, how interesting.
Early this morning, i had to buy two plastic bags of ice and bring it to a rather famous temple. So i decided to take a cab there. When i got into the cab, i told the driver that i was going to the temple. Hearing that, he started asking me what i was going to do there and the conversation progressed into buddhism. Happily, we shared our views and when we reached the temple, the cab driver refused to accept my money and said that he was happy to have met me and he takes it as donation to the temple as well as to my cause. How amazing is that!!
What is even more amazing is i had missed 2 cabs to get into that one. The first cab was in a far lane and could not change lane to my side of the road in time as another vehicle was obstructing his way. As for the second cab, i had a choice between choosing it and the third cab. The third cab was doing a u-turn and while the second cab was a Mercedes cab. Thinking that the Merc cab would be more expensive, i waited for it to pass before flagging for the third cab and got my free ride. Is this a coincidence? Or was it meant to be?? Haha, how interesting.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Trudging through the sand
Too much to do
too little time
Too much to learn
too slow to understand
Too much to juggle
too difficult to handle
Too much to do
too slow to do
Victory on one side,
failure on the other
How should I go, where should I step.
Perservere they say,
victory only goes to those who survive through hardships.
And so we go on...
too little time
Too much to learn
too slow to understand
Too much to juggle
too difficult to handle
Too much to do
too slow to do
Victory on one side,
failure on the other
How should I go, where should I step.
Perservere they say,
victory only goes to those who survive through hardships.
And so we go on...
Friday, March 9, 2007
Teachings of the Buddha
Do you know? The teachings of the Buddha is everywhere to a zen master, it permeates all things to a zen master. Actually not only zen masters all realised masters.
The interesting thing is that this masters can relate all things to the Dharma. Sometimes, they can be teaching the Dharma through very ordinary activities, like sweeping the floor, chit chatting, and many other normal daily activities, they also always use daily activities to illustrate the Dharma, to give analogies of the Dharma, they don't need to quote from the sutras or books or anywhere else,it is original content! How amazing!!
The interesting thing is that this masters can relate all things to the Dharma. Sometimes, they can be teaching the Dharma through very ordinary activities, like sweeping the floor, chit chatting, and many other normal daily activities, they also always use daily activities to illustrate the Dharma, to give analogies of the Dharma, they don't need to quote from the sutras or books or anywhere else,it is original content! How amazing!!
Entering the Kingdom of God
Hello blog, long time no see.
It has really been some time.
That day i was reading Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh's book. He talked abt entering the Kingdom of God. Haha! The Land Immovable, by understanding impermenance. It was a good one.
Not being attached to ideas of God or Buddha. It is interesting. Buddhism is everywhere. If u are practicing the Dharma, the Buddha is everywhere. In the trees, in the cup, in the computer. It is even in the teachings of Christianity, Muslim, or other religions. To see the Buddha everywhere, i think one should be quite close. If one takes all activities as practicing the Teachings, whether Christianity or Buddhism, then one should improve quite greatly. Seeing the God everywhere, one is in Heaven.
One should have an open mind.
Nothing binding you,
One is free!
No attachments,
No fear,
Where is death??
Haha!
It has really been some time.
That day i was reading Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh's book. He talked abt entering the Kingdom of God. Haha! The Land Immovable, by understanding impermenance. It was a good one.
Not being attached to ideas of God or Buddha. It is interesting. Buddhism is everywhere. If u are practicing the Dharma, the Buddha is everywhere. In the trees, in the cup, in the computer. It is even in the teachings of Christianity, Muslim, or other religions. To see the Buddha everywhere, i think one should be quite close. If one takes all activities as practicing the Teachings, whether Christianity or Buddhism, then one should improve quite greatly. Seeing the God everywhere, one is in Heaven.
One should have an open mind.
Nothing binding you,
One is free!
No attachments,
No fear,
Where is death??
Haha!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Zen and Vajrayana
It is interesting to see how both traditions are similar in their methods. Both use very intricate methods which are dangerous without a proper guide. A lot of emphasis is placed on the guide and a lot depends on the skill and wisdom of the guide or teacher. In both lineages, there is a transmission, both beyond words, beyond concepts, fully experiential. Interesting, interesting.
Reading sutras
It seems to me that when reading sutras, it is not to read as a third person. One should read as the person involved, as the person asking the questions. When the Buddha answers, He answers to you and you understand. Be there, where He is turning the Dhamma wheel. To read as a third person, one would be totally out of the whole story and it is difficult for one to understand to the fullest extent what is expressed. Be within the sutra when reading it. Not without.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Seeing it clearly
Explore your mind,
penetrate your thoughts,
break through the clouds,
into the heart. see it clearly.
Recognise it.
What does it look like?
Walk.
penetrate your thoughts,
break through the clouds,
into the heart. see it clearly.
Recognise it.
What does it look like?
Walk.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Good times
Just now as I was bathing, I suddenly realised just how good my life is.
I get to study in a school, studying the subjects i choose, thoroughly enjoying some.
Studying with good friends who always help me out and keep me company.
Having good family members who share their experiences with me, whom teach me many things.
Having following a good Buddhist temple, which really pushes me to practice.
Having a good country with a great transport system which allows me to get from place to place so easily, without giving me any trouble of having to worry about how i should get to the place.
Having great teachers who try their best to teach us. Although some of them can't produce very good results, they still try.
Having the opportunities for me to practice the Buddhist teachings.
Having the great opportunity to pass the last 1 year safe and sound and even growing.
Having the great opportunity to return to the temple again after 1 year for the winter training and having the great opportunity to hear the Shinnyo Kyoshu-sama chant the Mitsugon-in Hotsuro Sange no Mon(Mitsugon-in words of repentance). The calmness of his voice, which reminds of the strength of the mountains, the vastnes of the skies, the calmness lakes, the deep of the oceans.
And being in the schools' Buddhist society, which made me research for articles and quotes for gratitude which I think was what made me reflect.
What can I say?
I really have really been blessed and incredible opportunities are presented to me.
Thanks everyone.
May all have the same or even better conditions and blessings than me.
With Gassho.
I get to study in a school, studying the subjects i choose, thoroughly enjoying some.
Studying with good friends who always help me out and keep me company.
Having good family members who share their experiences with me, whom teach me many things.
Having following a good Buddhist temple, which really pushes me to practice.
Having a good country with a great transport system which allows me to get from place to place so easily, without giving me any trouble of having to worry about how i should get to the place.
Having great teachers who try their best to teach us. Although some of them can't produce very good results, they still try.
Having the opportunities for me to practice the Buddhist teachings.
Having the great opportunity to pass the last 1 year safe and sound and even growing.
Having the great opportunity to return to the temple again after 1 year for the winter training and having the great opportunity to hear the Shinnyo Kyoshu-sama chant the Mitsugon-in Hotsuro Sange no Mon(Mitsugon-in words of repentance). The calmness of his voice, which reminds of the strength of the mountains, the vastnes of the skies, the calmness lakes, the deep of the oceans.
And being in the schools' Buddhist society, which made me research for articles and quotes for gratitude which I think was what made me reflect.
What can I say?
I really have really been blessed and incredible opportunities are presented to me.
Thanks everyone.
May all have the same or even better conditions and blessings than me.
With Gassho.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Lovely night, lovely love...
The rain has just stopped
the floor was still wet
the cockcroach hobbbled across the road
the night was just cool and quiet.
I approached the stairs,
and saw a girl and a guy sitting by the stairs,
the girl was in the guy's lap.
looking up to the night sky,
as they chatted,
thier hearts and souls intertwined.
I appear,
only to break the moment,
I quickly run up the stairs,
wishing that I was invisible,
all so that their moment will last.
May all live the moment fully.
May all be well and happy.
And sorry to the couple!!
the floor was still wet
the cockcroach hobbbled across the road
the night was just cool and quiet.
I approached the stairs,
and saw a girl and a guy sitting by the stairs,
the girl was in the guy's lap.
looking up to the night sky,
as they chatted,
thier hearts and souls intertwined.
I appear,
only to break the moment,
I quickly run up the stairs,
wishing that I was invisible,
all so that their moment will last.
May all live the moment fully.
May all be well and happy.
And sorry to the couple!!
Dream of my inner heart
Somewhere through the prayer last night, I remembered or rather was reminded of remembering all other beings as one's mother. And to repay their kindness(an effect of doing research for the Buddhist Awareness Week at NUS).
The above mentioned, entails giving them respect and many other actions like not losing my temper, keeping my usual great big ego in check etc. However, while sleeping last night, I dreamt of myself at home, argueing with my parents over what i do not remember. But it was a big arguement. We were shouting, or rather, I remember I was shouting, not too sure about them. There were none of the usual check barriers that I have in place in daily life, everything just came out.
Now what does that mean?
That I still tend to do that and that is a further reminder to strengthen what I gainded from my prayer?? Or is it my inner demons, that although I try to put barriers in place, the inner demons, inner poisons are still not cured?? Very difficult, very difficult.........can't put my hand on it.
Anyhow, I'll just work on what I promised. And words of advice for me would be to harmonise. Harmonise, harmonise, harmonise!!! I'll work on it!!!!!!
The above mentioned, entails giving them respect and many other actions like not losing my temper, keeping my usual great big ego in check etc. However, while sleeping last night, I dreamt of myself at home, argueing with my parents over what i do not remember. But it was a big arguement. We were shouting, or rather, I remember I was shouting, not too sure about them. There were none of the usual check barriers that I have in place in daily life, everything just came out.
Now what does that mean?
That I still tend to do that and that is a further reminder to strengthen what I gainded from my prayer?? Or is it my inner demons, that although I try to put barriers in place, the inner demons, inner poisons are still not cured?? Very difficult, very difficult.........can't put my hand on it.
Anyhow, I'll just work on what I promised. And words of advice for me would be to harmonise. Harmonise, harmonise, harmonise!!! I'll work on it!!!!!!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Healing
Today, my brother was sick, and I was just thinking if I should do a chant for him.
In the japanese esoteric buddhist tradition, they have a healing ritual called the kaji ritual. As its name suggests, it is supposed to be used for healing of sicknesses.
But i was thinking, on what kind of illness should the kaji ritual be performed? Flu? cough? cancer? AIDS?
Should we do it for even small illness??? Hmm........ I don't think so. Those we should let it run themselves out right?
So what if the person is healed?
Usually the aim is so that the person can practice the Teachings of the Buddha more easily.
But, sometimes, through the illness, the person grows. But then again, the person must recover to pass on this experience and knowledge right?
So it is good after all to do a prayer for the illness after all? I should think so. Ultimately, it still depends on his karma. If his bad karma is too strong, and the conditions are right, no prayer can rearrange that kind of situation.
But what abt for a bad guy, once he recovers, then he will go back to his bad actions. Then should we pray too? Hm....i still would stand on the positive side and say we should and if he should recover, we should then try to reform him.......
May there be no causes for people to have illness,
May there be good causes for people to practice the Dharma,
May all be free from suffering,
May all be well and happy!
With Gassho
In the japanese esoteric buddhist tradition, they have a healing ritual called the kaji ritual. As its name suggests, it is supposed to be used for healing of sicknesses.
But i was thinking, on what kind of illness should the kaji ritual be performed? Flu? cough? cancer? AIDS?
Should we do it for even small illness??? Hmm........ I don't think so. Those we should let it run themselves out right?
So what if the person is healed?
Usually the aim is so that the person can practice the Teachings of the Buddha more easily.
But, sometimes, through the illness, the person grows. But then again, the person must recover to pass on this experience and knowledge right?
So it is good after all to do a prayer for the illness after all? I should think so. Ultimately, it still depends on his karma. If his bad karma is too strong, and the conditions are right, no prayer can rearrange that kind of situation.
But what abt for a bad guy, once he recovers, then he will go back to his bad actions. Then should we pray too? Hm....i still would stand on the positive side and say we should and if he should recover, we should then try to reform him.......
May there be no causes for people to have illness,
May there be good causes for people to practice the Dharma,
May all be free from suffering,
May all be well and happy!
With Gassho
Speech,chanting
It is said that your speech affects the efficacy of the chant.
To those who want their chanting to be effective,
the secret is in the watching of your speech.
And I had better watch mine....
To those who want their chanting to be effective,
the secret is in the watching of your speech.
And I had better watch mine....
The wind
The cool wind blows, my hair flows with the wind and as I enjoy the wind, my spirit is lifted, bliss.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Our merit fields
Parents, teachers, and all beings, our teacher of the humility, respect, compassion, filial piety,perserverance and etc.
Thanks to all!! Glad to have you all as my teachers!!!
Thanks to all!! Glad to have you all as my teachers!!!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Wake up call
This morning, I woke up at 10am.
10am, the time when I should be out of my house to my taiji lesson.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
In my mind:
10am, the time when I should be out of my house to my taiji lesson.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
In my mind:
- Why didn't my mum wake me up????????!!!!!!!!!!!!
- (Looking around) She is not in. Nobody's in.
- Oh yeah! They had to go temple this morning.
- Then why didn't she set an alarm clock to wake me up??!!
- How could she just go off??
- Doesn't she know that I have to go to taiji this morning????????!!!!!!!!
- Hold on a minute, why am I blaming her?
- Did I tell her to wake me up?(No)
- Then why am I blaming her??
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Looking somewhere else, I trip before the trash in front of me.
Zen??
Your search among books, word upon word, may lead you to the depths of knowledge, but it is not the way to receive the reflection of your true self.
When you have thrown off your ideas as to mind and body, the original truth will fully appear. Zen is simply the expression of truth; therefore longing and striving are not the true attitudes of Zen.
-Dogen, "The Practice of Meditation"
From "Teachings of the Buddha," edited by Jack Kornfield, 1993. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As are those engaged in the higher practices of Vajrayana, Theravada, and all Buddhism.
When you have thrown off your ideas as to mind and body, the original truth will fully appear. Zen is simply the expression of truth; therefore longing and striving are not the true attitudes of Zen.
-Dogen, "The Practice of Meditation"
From "Teachings of the Buddha," edited by Jack Kornfield, 1993. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As are those engaged in the higher practices of Vajrayana, Theravada, and all Buddhism.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Of past conditions, of not knowing
I say Mr BYJ is zen like. My friend says he is Theravadin. I think he is more zen like.
Actually now that I look back, he is more Theravadin. So why did I insist he is more zen like?
Is it because I like zen more and know how the middle path is expressed in zen (past conditioning) better than how it is expressed in Theravada?
Partly i think.
Is it because I feel he should be a Mahayanist as he loves animals?
Can't be sure, a lack of penetrative wisdom. Nevertheless,it is an erroneous assumption.
Or is it because I am plain stubborn that I reject all other views other than my own?
Yes, and I think this should be the main reason.
Actually now that I look back, he is more Theravadin. So why did I insist he is more zen like?
Is it because I like zen more and know how the middle path is expressed in zen (past conditioning) better than how it is expressed in Theravada?
Partly i think.
Is it because I feel he should be a Mahayanist as he loves animals?
Can't be sure, a lack of penetrative wisdom. Nevertheless,it is an erroneous assumption.
Or is it because I am plain stubborn that I reject all other views other than my own?
Yes, and I think this should be the main reason.
A non-buddhist
Mr BYJ claims that he is not a Buddhist. Because when he was a Buddhist previously, he held on to too many views and concepts of Buddhism. But Buddhism is about non-attachment. About impermanance. About non-self. Holding on to so many concepts, how can he be a Buddhist? Thus, he deconditions himself.
So, Mr BYJ is not a Buddhist.
So, Mr BYJ is not a Buddhist.
the uncurable kind medicine man
One upon a time, a person with a terrible diarrohea met a local medicine man. The local medicine man, was very kind and gave the sick man some oral medicine which he knows is an antidote to diarrohea. However the medicine man has never been to med school before and so is not so well trained so he does not know how to use injection. But he knows that the medicine is used to treat diarrohea because his teacher taught him that and his family members have used it before and it works.
Anyway, the sick man does not trust the medicine man because he looks like a begger and smells like the weeds in his backyard. So the sick man pushes the medicine away. But the medicine man is really a compassionate medicine man and really wants to cure the sick man so he grabs the sick man's mouth and gorges the medicine down the sick man's throat. The sick man is furious and the thought of eating the medicine man's dirty weeds makes him so super disgusted he throws up the medicine right away.
Finally after much convincing, the sick man swallows the medicine willingly. But the next time he visits the local river to relieve himself, he sees the medicine floating down the river with the brown milk he had just produced. And 5 minutes later, he is back at the river again.
He is furious again and looks up the medicine man for a fight, claiming that the medicine man is a useless quack! And that he should not have wasted his time and energy before with the medicine man!
End of story........
Great Compassion, Great Wisdom, Great Methods, train hard and cultivate! 加油！
Anyway, the sick man does not trust the medicine man because he looks like a begger and smells like the weeds in his backyard. So the sick man pushes the medicine away. But the medicine man is really a compassionate medicine man and really wants to cure the sick man so he grabs the sick man's mouth and gorges the medicine down the sick man's throat. The sick man is furious and the thought of eating the medicine man's dirty weeds makes him so super disgusted he throws up the medicine right away.
Finally after much convincing, the sick man swallows the medicine willingly. But the next time he visits the local river to relieve himself, he sees the medicine floating down the river with the brown milk he had just produced. And 5 minutes later, he is back at the river again.
He is furious again and looks up the medicine man for a fight, claiming that the medicine man is a useless quack! And that he should not have wasted his time and energy before with the medicine man!
End of story........
Great Compassion, Great Wisdom, Great Methods, train hard and cultivate! 加油！
Induced reflection
Today, we had a discussion where we talked abt the biasness of science and the notion of showing how the other's belief is flawed. It was interesting to see how each one of us analysed the whole situation according to our own sets of beliefs.
------------>
Some say that science is biased because it is based on the assumption of how we as human beings intepret the world around us based on our senses which is true!
Some say it is impossible to analyse something without first establishing the truth in some 'assumptions'. Which I totally agree too.
So how should we live our lives? Actually more often than not, i find myself leading my life taking the assumptions eg. 'science as the truth' if not, how do we move on? There is nothing to build upon to come to a next step or conclusion.
Even in Buddhism, they always say middle path, middle path, empty but not empty. Do not hold yourself to a concept, beyond concepts. The ultimate, while saying it as the ultimate is wrong. A Buddha nature exists in everyone which is permenant but nothing is permenant.. When was it there? However strange this may seem, believe me,this makes perfect sense. If you do not get it, never mind. Do not be too concerned because this is purely garbage.
In any religion, we have to start from somewhere, some fundamental building block which can be said as an assumption. In saying so, i mean, if we say to experience things to know it is true and real , and not because of tradition or teachers. That is based on the fact the the experience you have is accurate, which is truely not, as experience is a relative thing. But nevertheless, it is the one and only most accurate yardstick that we as human beings have.
------------>
Some say that science is biased because it is based on the assumption of how we as human beings intepret the world around us based on our senses which is true!
Some say it is impossible to analyse something without first establishing the truth in some 'assumptions'. Which I totally agree too.
So how should we live our lives? Actually more often than not, i find myself leading my life taking the assumptions eg. 'science as the truth' if not, how do we move on? There is nothing to build upon to come to a next step or conclusion.
Even in Buddhism, they always say middle path, middle path, empty but not empty. Do not hold yourself to a concept, beyond concepts. The ultimate, while saying it as the ultimate is wrong. A Buddha nature exists in everyone which is permenant but nothing is permenant.. When was it there? However strange this may seem, believe me,this makes perfect sense. If you do not get it, never mind. Do not be too concerned because this is purely garbage.
In any religion, we have to start from somewhere, some fundamental building block which can be said as an assumption. In saying so, i mean, if we say to experience things to know it is true and real , and not because of tradition or teachers. That is based on the fact the the experience you have is accurate, which is truely not, as experience is a relative thing. But nevertheless, it is the one and only most accurate yardstick that we as human beings have.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
That which got me started
Read 2 blogs lately, both of people who ask themselves questions but derive no answers.
Something which troubled me lately too.
When we have a problem of the heart, maybe of missing someone or something, or of losing someone or something. To rationalise the problems with our mind, to use thoeries to try to solve the problem, use some some religious doctrine. Would these actually work??? I ask myself. But the basis of feelings is not from logic. It does not seem to work, it is more like running away from the problem and trying to convince oneself of something that one has already been convinced of.
So what is the method? To suppress the thoughts? To run away from it and hope it disappears? To address it in the face? I have no idea. Let us penetrate the mind and explore it deeply. Know thy thoughts, know thyself.
Tmr is a good day. Just as today is. Be well!
Something which troubled me lately too.
When we have a problem of the heart, maybe of missing someone or something, or of losing someone or something. To rationalise the problems with our mind, to use thoeries to try to solve the problem, use some some religious doctrine. Would these actually work??? I ask myself. But the basis of feelings is not from logic. It does not seem to work, it is more like running away from the problem and trying to convince oneself of something that one has already been convinced of.
So what is the method? To suppress the thoughts? To run away from it and hope it disappears? To address it in the face? I have no idea. Let us penetrate the mind and explore it deeply. Know thy thoughts, know thyself.
Tmr is a good day. Just as today is. Be well!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)