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.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
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? "
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