Meditation is catching up.
Lots of people are doing it.
Some are cashing in on it.
Earning big bucks teaching it.
I wonder if people are aware that Buddhist monks and nuns are teaching it for free?
But human nature is such that if something is free, it means it's not good.
The more you have to pay, the better it must be.
I can attest to that.
Cos' I used to give free yoga sessions outdoors.
The turnout is always miserable.
I must be a really lousy instructor.
The Buddha restarted the trend on meditation 2552 yrs ago.
He and his disciples taught it freely.
If the Buddha and his lineage of monks and nuns can teach meditation free-of-charge (read : Priceless), doesn't that make you wonder "why can't the rest?"
But that's another subject matter.
What I'm curious about is : "How many of those who practise meditation understand what meditation really is?"
Let's try something else.
Yoga.
It's very popular nowadays.
Many are doing it. Have been doing it.
The question is, " Of the many who are doing, how many know what they are doing?"
Many who go for yoga classes nowadays have the following syndrome :
1) It's trendy, it's fashionable, everyone's doing it, so I also must do. (read : Ego)
2) I want to do strange, difficult, complicated poses. This instructor teaches that. He/She must be very good. (read : stroking the Ego of both the instructor and the student. Ego)
3) Comparison : How come others can do, I can't. My pose is nicer than others. (read : Ego, Ego, Ego!)
Notice it's all external, physical?
That's not yoga.
Yoga is not just the cultivation of the body, but more importantly, the cultivation of the mind.
I always say the following in class:
"It does not matter whether you can or cannot do the poses. Go for the experience."
"Avoid comparing yourself with others. It's because we are different, that's what makes us special."
It's all about you.
No one and nothing else.
I am external. I am Nothing.
Never depend on me.
If you depend on me, one day when I'm gone, what are you going to do?
The next instructor comes along, you depend on the next instructor.
The next instructor leaves, you depend on the next, next instructor.
And the next, next, next instructor .....
Forever you'll be depending on an instructor, on someone.
And be manipulated by them like a puppet on a string.
Depend on no one.
Depend only on yourself.
If you do from the heart, feel from the heart, the energy flows
And you'll not need an instructor. You don't need me."
(Think : Kalama Sutta - Investigate. Find out for yourself. Experience. Avoid blindly believing others. )
Just as I wrote in "Let's Talk about Love" -
"Only you hold the key. Only you can set yourself free.
You Alone is the light in the dark. No one can light the path for you Except Yourself."
Likewise with religion.
To be fair, I'll use Buddhism, and my observations of some of those who call themselves "Buddhist" for my example.
To me, Buddhism is a way of Life.
Dhamma - the right way of living.
How you live your Life right.
How you live your life in accordance to Nature's Laws. (Dhamma).
It's not just about chanting, prostrating/number of prostrations, going to the temples to pray, ceremonies, rites and rituals etc.
That's just scraping the surface.
It does help a bit but it's not enough.
That's more to it.
It goes far deeper than that.
A lot more deeper than that.
To me, it's pointless to do All of the above if one acts as follows :
1) In "Why oh Why?" I mentioned how, during Chinese New Year's Eve, devotees pushed and shoved each other just to be the first to put their joss sticks in the urn of the Kwan Yin Temple at Waterloo Street.
And, the irony of how in the Temple of Compassion, none is displaying it.
Kwan Yin is well known to all to be the Goddess of Compassion, of Mercy.
What I mean is, when you truly pray to a being that represents kindness and compassion, surely the qualities of kindness, gentleness, compassion and virtues would 'rub' onto you.
You'll want to emulate that being.
Be like that being.
2) Open mouth, close mouth : Amituofuo (Amitabha Buddha)
Yet gossips, tell lies, speak ill and spread rumours about others, slandering others. (Breaking of 4th Precept : Avoid idle chatter, harsh and false speech, and malicious gossip.)
Or, one hand with beads chanting away, rushed and sit herself down on a double seat, putting her bag on the empty seat next to her, oblivious and totally ignore that there may be others who may need that seat. (Breaking of 2nd Precept : Do not take what is not given. No 'stealing'.)
As a Buddhist, if we truly practise and follow the path as set down by Gautama Buddha (more commonly known as Shakyamuni Buddha, or The Buddha) 2552 years ago, we'll be watching our thoughts, our speech and body actions, if not all the time, at least most of the time, we'll be mindful.
Please understand : To me, Amitabha Buddha and the Pureland Teaching is an okay teaching.
The thing is, How many are truly practising it?
The essence of it?
How many actually understand the meaning behind the teaching?
Or what the teaching is about?
This, is what I'm saying.
It's not about just reciting/chanting the Buddha's name, and then totally neglect and/or not pay attention to your mind, your thoughts, speech, actions, intentions etc which creates Kamma.
What I'm saying is,
You mouth the Buddha, but are you behaving like one (a Buddha)?
Or at least, doing your best to be like one.
Likewise, Pureland.
As the name suggests, it's a land that's Pure.
Therefore, those who reside there would, or should be Pure.
With Pure minds.
Perhaps we should all start to think about working on purifying our minds first before thinking about being born in a Pureland.
Go back to basics : The Four Noble Truths, and The Noble Eightfold Path (Please refer to my 6th and 7th entry)
Like I wrote in "Life Lessons" :
"Focus on the journey (i.e our deeds - kamma) and not the destination (Pureland);
For the lessons lie in the journey and NOT the destination."
Please avoid or thinking there's an easy way out.
There's no "Fast Pass'. (Sorry).
A few years back, a lady pushed me, and rushed past me when the MRT door opens, just so that she can sit on the only seat available in that particular car.
As I was standing, I noticed the nicely coloured polo tee she was wearing.
It attracted me not because of the colour, but because of the words on it : "Love and Compassion".
Huh?!
Ya, I know, you are surprise. So was I.
She was wearing 'Love and Compassion', but it makes a person wonder if she saw, noticed, knew, or realised what she's wearing, doesn't it?
Then, she proceeded to talk on her mobile, so that everyone can hear, that she's going for the '3 steps, one bow' ceremony.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with what this ceremony is about, I'll briefly explain :
It's a ceremony conducted on the eve of every Vesak Day by certain Buddhist temples to remind Buddhists that The path to Enlightenment is a long, hard and tedious one.
That we need to Persevere, be Patient and keep Practising The Dhamma, the Teaching of the Buddha despite all the difficulties so as to reach Enlightenment.
Going back to the lady - I do hope that that's not her usual behaviour.
And I sincerely wish her the very best on her journey to Enlightenment.
I believe many of you would have met, seen, or come across people like them - regardless Buddhists or otherwise, who tarnish and spoil the name of their faiths, beliefs, or religions through their speech and actions.
However, having said that, I believe the above examples are those of a few 'black ignorant sheep'.
I'm very sure that there are many others out there who are practising the teachings of their faiths/beliefs/religions wholeheartedly, mindfully and Wisely.
The point I want to make is : It's NOT important what you say your religion is.
It can be Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Love, Kindness, Compassion, Peace etc etc etc.
You can call it whatever you want.
Give it fanciful impressive names, and/or descriptions even.
BUT, are you practising 'it'?
Do you know the 'M'eaning behind it?
Or , are you just mechanically practising and hiding behind the name and the congregation just to boost your own ego?
Words are 2 dimensional. Physical.
Go beyond Physical.
Go into the heart of things. Deep within.
Just like some of those who do yoga.
They're just doing it.
They're not doing it.
They're just doing the poses. Physical.
They don't know what they're doing, they don't know what they learn, and they don't know what the instructor is talking about ......
And that makes me wonder -
How many of you are reading this blog?
Or, are you just reading it? ..
"Physical alone is not enough. Go beyond physical.
Practise not the word.
BUT the meaning behind the word.
The essence of it.
Go/Search deep within."
. .
.
"People may know;
But how many understand?
Of the few who understood, how many 'see'?
Of the few who 'saw', how many realise?
Of the few who realised, how many, will be, 'Awaken'?" .
"Expecting Salvation through prayers, worshipping, animal sacrifices and offerings to idols in the name of gods and so forth are selfish acts.
One must expect salvation (only) through the observance of precepts, self-training, discipline, a righteous way of living, by radiating loving kindness to others, purification (meditation) and by selfless and noble acts."
- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda
.
.
"However many holy words you read,
However many you speak,
What good will they do you,
If you do NOT Act upon them."
- The Buddha
.
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"You are not honouring Me by just offering flowers.
You honour Me ONLY by practising the Dhamma."
- The Buddha
..
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On this Vesak Day 2007,
May the Light of Eternal Wisdom, Truth and Compassion shine and illuminate on this Earth Once More.
Let there be peace on Earth,
Love for All Sentient Beings.
May All Beings have the chance to meet with the Ultimate Truth (Dhamma),
Learn the Ultimate Truth (Dhamma),
Practise the Ultimate Truth (Dhamma),
Realise the Ultimate Truth (Dhamma),
And May All Beings Be Enlighten soon.
This, I wish For All Sentient Beings.
With Loving-Kindness,
Maitre-Light
