Holy Not 2

Holy Not 2


Many people always proclaim themselves as so pure, so good, so HOLY etc, That they NEVER do wrong.

We always portray oursleves as good, blameless, faultless/flawless, when in Reality we're NOT.

ALL of us have made mistakes, done wrong, told a lie etc.

But we never admit to them or our past misdeeds.

We always point the finger at other people ( Read "Not Me" ),

And even the weather ( Read "Saying A Prayer" ).

Or conveniently forget and even ignore them.

If only we have the courage and humility to admit to our mistakes and misdeeds wholeheartedly and genuinely ( Read "Honesty and Courage" ),

We'll realise we're NOT so holy afterall.



*** Read

1) Mr CEO or Cleaning Auntie - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/03/mr-ceo-or-cleaning-auntie.html

2) Why Not - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2011/04/why-not.html

3) What A Joke - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-joke.html

4) Truth/Honesty - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/07/truth-honesty.html

5) Wrong View - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2011/06/wrong-view.html

Being Slapped

Being Slapped


An ex-student once made this remark about me :

That I'm the kind who when people slap me on the right, I'll turn my face the other way to let them slap me on the left as well.

I recall that the morning after the meeting,

I thought about her remark, and said to myself :

"I wouldn't do that. I'm not so stupid. People slap me on the right, I still let them slap me on the left,

That's pure stupidity.

Only a stupid fool would do that.

Now, What would I do?

I'll look them coolly in the eye, tell them I forgive them, turn and quietly walk away.

That's what I'll do.

Now that's Wisdom with Compassion/Loving-Kindness.


* P.S.

And for those who are fond of slapping others/people, I urge you to be careful.

Cos the evil that you do FOLLOWS you,

FLIES BACK to YOU.


*** Read

1) Whacko Wacko - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2011/05/whacko-wacko.html

2) Kamma Kamma Part 1 - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/04/kamma-kamma-part-1-oh-no.html

3) Why Not - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2011/04/why-not.html

4) What A Joke - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-joke.html




"Forgiveness is the HIGHEST form of LOVE -

It is to the one who forgives that WISDOM comes....

Freedom comes,

FINAL VICTORY COMES."




"Love - soft and gentle;

Calm and cool;

Patient and kind;

Quiet and peaceful."




"If you can keep yourself calm and quiet,

Like a broken gong which is no longer resonant,

You are sure to realise Nibbana;

There will be no harshness in you."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 134




"Among the hateful, we be PEACEFUL."

- The Buddha




"For a TRULY enlightened one,

There's NO such thing as

MINE (clinging/attachment);

I (conceit/ego); and

SELF (wrong/false view).

- The Buddha

Being Stupid

Being Stupid


I remember there was a period of time I was guiding this student of mine,

And he would always say he's stupid when he can't comprehend what I was explaining to him.

There was once, when he used that excuse for the umpteenth time,

In exasperation, I told him this :

"Yes, you WERE stupid. BUT, are you going to be stupid, REMAIN stupid for the rest of your life?!"

Like I said in "Life's Lessons",

"What are we going to do about it?

Many people meet with setbacks, misfortunes, failures in life, or accidents, terminal illnesses etc, And ALL that they do is keep asking themselves 'Why'; sinking themselves deeper in sadness, depression, self-pity and delusion.

Some don't even try. They just slump back, give up and do nothing."

If only they use it as an opportunity to learn, to rise and become wise.




"This is the way leading to Discernment:

When visiting a priest or contemplative, to ask:

'What is skillful, venerable sir? What is unskillful?

What is blameworthy? What is blameless?

What should be cultivated? What should NOT be cultivated?

What, having been done by me, will be for my long-term harm & suffering?

Or What, having been done by me, will be for my long-term welfare & happiness?'"

— MN 135

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 135


*** Read

1) I ask, I Answer (Q & A Part 1) - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/11/questions-and-answers-part-1-i-ask-i.html

2) Wise vs Fools - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/08/wise-vs-fools.html

3) Smart Not - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/05/smart-not.html

4) Sense Not - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/05/sense-not.html

Where's God Part 2 : In Your Mind

Where's God Part 2 : In Your Mind


I like the blog, "Where's God?" very much cos I feel it challenges.

As such, I'm producing a sequel to it.

Enjoy!


One day, after a discourse, when Maitreya was about to leave, a man quickly got up from his seat and asked to allow his question. That it is very important.

Maitreya agreed.

Then, in a loud and booming voice, the man asked, "Can you tell me where's God?"

Smiling, and in a calm and composed manner, Maitreya replied, "In your mind."

Puzzled, the man asked Maitreya for clarification : "What do you mean 'in my mind'?"

Maitreya looked on at the man and gently replied,

"Sir, if the idea of 'God' is NOT created by you in your mind, perceived and conceived by you in your mind, such that you accepted and believed in it,

Then where else can 'God' be if it's NOT in your mind?!"




"Whatever the mind perceives, The mind conceives;

The mind believes, And the mind achieves;

That is why the mind is the forerunner, the CHIEF."




"Mind is the forerunner of ALL good and evil states;

Mind is chief.

Mind-made are they."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verses 1 & 2



*** Read :

"Man and His Questions : God or Not?" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/06/man-and-his-questions-part-2-god-or-not.html

Maitreya Part 5 : No Power

Maitreya Part 5 : No Power

Taking the cue from 'Maitreya Part 3' and 'Maitreya Part 4', I would like to adapt it even further ........

One day, a man stood up in front of an assemblage and asked Maitreya, "People say Buddhas have powers. What power do you have?"

Looking at the man, Maitreya replied,

"Sir, people because of power, hurt, harm, kill and destroy;

People because of power, lie, steal, cheat, delude and deceive;

People because of power, become haughty, greedy, conceited and treat people with condescension;

People because of power, act, pretend, fake and undertook the path of false and abandon the path of Truth and Honesty ........

I have NO power.

I LET GO of power."

"从古事到现在,

人们 -

为了钱,

为了权,

为了名,

为了利 -

不择手段,

对家人

作出伤天害理的事."

"人们 -

想钱想到疯;

想性/色想到疯;

想权想到疯;

想名想到疯;

想利想到疯.......

到头来,

还不是一场空?"

"People are crazy, crazy in the brain.

People are mad, SO MAD they do NOT realised they're MAD."

A 'Don't Know' One

A 'Don't Know' One


I like the blog, 'I Don't Know' very much.

I thought it was very fun.

As such, I'm going to produce a sequel to it.

Enjoy!


One day, someone went to see Maitreya with the intention to put forth certain questions on specific subjects.

The person was confident Maitreya would be able to answer them cos 'Buddhas are The All-Knowing Ones', they're supposed to know everything.

Person : Do you know X?

Looking at the person innocently, Maitreya replied honestly, "No".

Person : Do you know Y?

Pursing the lips and thinking really hard, Maitreya, then letting out a sigh, relented and shaking the head, answered, "No".

Person (getting very frustrated by now) : What about Z? Surely you know Z?

Furrowing the eyebrows, Maitreya tried to think again. This time even harder. Then, letting out an even bigger sigh,

Maitreya finally replied sheepishly, "Eh ........No........"

Exasperated, the person screamed at Maitreya :

"You don't know anything! What kind of a Buddha are you?!"

Grinning cheek to cheek, Maitreya chuckled happily,

"A 'Don't Know' One!"




"I don't care, I don't know;

I don't bother to desire or to hold.

I take no passion, I take no delight;

I take no interest in smell, touch, sound, taste and sight.

For I know, they're ALL NOT MINE!"




"I don't know up, I don't know down.

I don't know in, I don't know out.

I don't know high, I don't know low;

All I know is, Accept and Let Go!"




"I don't know young, I don't know old.

I don't know rich, I don't know poor.

I don't know top, I don't know bottom;

All I know is, "Do good, good results. Do evil, evil FOLLOWS."

Holy ... NOT

Holy ... NOT ! People say Tibet is a holy place. I say what's so holy about that place? There's NOTHING holy about that place. People say Israel is a holy land, a promised land. Is it? Look at the fighting/wars that's been raging on there for so many years. How holy is that? What kind of a promised land is that? People say River Ganges is holy. Is it? How come it's so dirty, smelly and filthy? How come all the creatures residing in it are still suffering? How come those who bathes and washes themselves in it are still foolish? People say Mecca is holy. Is it? If it is, why do so many people die there year after year due to stampedes? So holy? Or is it? "Victory breeds hatred. The defeated live in pain. Happily the peaceful live, Giving up victory and defeat." - The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 201 *** Read : 1) 'Pureland Paradise' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/04/pureland-paradise.html 2) 'If Only' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/04/if-only.html 3) 'Truth Not' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/05/truth-not.html