To be Enlighten

To be Enlighten


Once, a yoga master visited Maitreya and displayed his prowess.

At the end of the beautiful and awe-inspiring display of poses, Maitreya cheered and applauded the master saying, "Very good! Very good! Well done!"

The yoga master, swelling with pride, challenged Maitreya arrogantly, "Can you do that?!"

Now, we all know (or rather perceive) Maitreya to be this huge, fat guy with an enormous belly to match.

Given Maitreya perceived physique, it's not hard to understand that Maitreya can't perform those acrobatic asanas.

So, naturally, Maitreya replied honestly and humbly, "Oh no no no ...... of course not ......"

The audience and the students of Maitreya were shocked, sad and disappointed at the inability of their teacher.

In the background, someone was heard whispering, "But Maitreya's a Buddha! Surely a Buddha can do anything?"

At this point, the yoga master was so pleased with his 'power', he proclaimed smugly and loudly, "I won! I won! Maitreya, the Great Buddha-to-be is below me!"

Some of Maitreya's students and the audience were seen getting up and moving towards the yoga master.

Smiling gently and kindly, Maitreya quietly continued,

"But I'm sure if I practise hard enough, one day I will. It's just that I don't want or wish to. Poses are very nice to look at, but they are all physical ...... In which way do they benefit the world ...... in which way do they help me to be enlighten?"

"He who perform miracles (or psychic/supernatural powers) to gain followers are like tradespeople who employ dancing girls to sell their wares."

- The Buddha

"There is only one real magic - The magic of the Dhamma,

The teachings that can liberate the mind and put an end to suffering.

Any other magic is like the illusion of a card trick - it distracts us from the real game - our relation to human life, to birth and death, and to Freedom."

- Ajahn Chah

We have a choice

We have a choice



I have a friend who made promises to me, and did not deliver.

The first time, there was a phone call.

The second, an sms.

The third, nothing at all.

After the third deception, I was sad, hurt and disappointed.

I watched as my disappointment grew to upset to anger ......

Which led to my suffering.

" * 1st Noble Truth ... There is Suffering"

As I kept watching and reflecting.

I realised that my friend is just as my friend is.

It was my expectation and perception of my friend that led to my suffering.

With the understanding, I became at peace.

How often was it that we want to control and/or change things, people, events, and even our bodies, to suit our liking.

" * 2nd Noble Truth ... The Cause of Suffering"

And more often than not, we can't.

And so we get frustrated, become angry etc and therefore, we suffer.

The truth is, we can't control and/or change things, people, events that happen in our lives, or even our bodies.

But what we can control and change is our mindset, attitude, thoughts, feelings, response to it.

" *3rd Noble Truth ... The Cessation of Suffering"

We can choose to suffer;

Or, we can choose to be happy and peaceful.

" * 4th Noble Truth ... The Path to the Cessation of Suffering - Happiness"

For whatever reason my friend chose the path of deception on the 3 occasions, my friend did it out of Ignorance.

And all that I feel for my friend is Compassion, Forgiveness and Loving-Kindness.

To me, my friend will always be a friend.

"To be free is to love;

To love is to let go;

To let go is to forgive;

To forgive is to know it does not matter."

"Evil doers are not wicked by nature; They do evil because they're ignorant."

- The Buddha

"The more evil that comes to me, the more good will radiate from me."

- The Buddha

What's The Point?

What's The Point?



Many many years ago, Emperor Alexandra the Great was travelling towards India on his favourite horse, Busiphallus.

It was such a splendid and glorious event that everyone rushed to catch a glimpse of it.

Except one.



By the side of the road where the entourage marched, was a man clad in yellow, who slept through the whole commotion.

The emperor's attention was immediately turned to this one man who was unperturbed by the emperor's triumphant march.

Curious, The emperor rode up to the man.

When the emperor came near, that man calmly got up and sat down cross-legged.

The emperor asked, "Do you know who I am?"

The robed person replied, "No, I do not know you."

"I am Emperor Alexandra the Great," said the emperor.

The robed person calmly replied, "All right, What about it?"

"I possess all the land from Macedonia to India." said The Emperor.

The robed person asnwered, "So?"

"I am the lord of 9 great rivers in the land from Macedonia to India. All the fields, orchards and houses on this vast area of land belong to me."

The robed person said, "Emperor, may I ask a question or two?"

The emperor replied, "Yes, go on."

"Emperor, do you get hungry sometimes?" the robed person asked gently.

The emperor answered, "Why, yes of course!"

"When you are hungry, do you eat all the produce of the fields, orchards and lands you own?" he questioned.

The emperor replied, "No, of course not! I eat only a little food."




"Emperor, do you feel thirsty sometimes?" the robed person continued.

"Certainly!" the emperor replied.

"Do you then drink all the water in all the rivers you own when you are thirsty?" the robed person prodded.

"No, I only drink a little, enough to quench my thirst." was the emperor reply.



"Do you feel sleepy at times?" the robed person went on.

The emperor answered. "Yes, of course!"

"When you are sleepy, do you sleep on all the land from Macedonia to India?" the robed person queried.

The emperor replied, "No, of course not!"



To that, the Venerable finally asked, "Emperor, then what on earth is the meaning of all the material gains you have acquired?!"

"Better than absolute sovereignty over the earth,

Better than going to heaven,

Better than even lordship over all the worlds is the Fruit of a Stream-Winner. (First realisation of Nibbana)"

- The Buddha

"You can win all the battles,

You can win all the wars.

But there's no real victory until you conquer yourself."

- The Buddha

"Spiritual wealth is more important than physical/material wealth."

Why fight

Why fight


During the Civil War, both sides claimed that they have the Support of God.

Both sides believed that they were doing the right/righteous thing.

The sentiments were voiced so often, enough for President Lincoln to observe,

"God CANNOT be for and against the same thing at the same time."

This is what's happening now.

As a matter of fact, it has been happening since time immemorial.

And, it's still happening now.

Why do we have to fight all the time?

Why can't we live in peace and harmony and work together?

You fight me, I fight you - it's never ending.

In Chinese, 没完没了.

Endless.

The Buddha was right when he said, "Beginning-less, Endless."

Which is worse : the so-called natural disasters like earthquakes, or war and riots?

Bad as an earthquake or 'natural' disaster may be, it's during such times that people, regardless of class, caste, colour or creed, come together as ONE and help each other.

Amidst the chaos and confusion, people reach out to one another and become friends in need.

And in the process, become more trusting.

Whereas, during times of war or riots, there's only anger, hate, ill-will, suspicion, fear, insecurity and vengeance.

The source of any war or riots is always us - Humans.

T

hink about it:

The conditions that create it is us.

The igniting of it is us.

The doing is us.

And, the continuing of it is US.


What this means is:

We are responsible. It's all OUR fault.

What are we fighting for anyway?

Have you ever thought about that?


I'll tell you what the fights are for :

For satisfying our individual selfish, greedy, power-hungry and egoistic minds.

That's what the wars and riots are for.


Now, consider the opposite : LOVE

How nice it would be if everyone would just love.

Then there'll be no enemy, and that means there'll be no one to defeat, and no one to hate.

.

"Why fight? Why escape?

Why not be peaceful instead?"

"When there is power with no conscience, and greed with no limit, there will be killing with no end".

.

"A man who is not at peace with himself cannot be at peace with the world, and external wars have to continue in order to hide the fact from individuals that the real war is within."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda

.

"There can be no peace in this war-torn world (of ours) until the conflicts of man within himself are ended."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda

.

"War is created by the human mind and the same human can create peace with justice if only man uses his unbiased mind."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda

.

"As human beings, our task is to convince the world that peace is something which can be achieved NOT by conquering others, but by conquering our own selfishness."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda

.

"Hatred NEVER ceases through hatred in this world;

Through LOVE alone they cease.

This is an eternal law."

- The Buddha

"Victory breeds hatred.

The defeated live in pain.

Happily the peaceful live,

Giving up victory and defeat."

- The Buddha

.

"There is no victory in war -

The victors rejoice;

The defeated sulk and vow revenge.

Round and round the cycle goes,

History repeating itself and never ends."

Pile of Dung

Pile of Dung



Have you ever wonder what the Human body really is?

Some people may say it's flesh and bones.

To others, it's muscles, tissues, sinews, vessels, organs blah blah blah ...

Yet others may say it's made up of the elements : Earth, Wind, Fire, Water (and some also say Ether).

Without a doubt, they're ALL correct.

The Human body is all that.



Still, being a nosey poker, I would like to add to the list of answers above as to what a Human Body really is : A pile of dung.

Really.

If you read Food for Thought, you'll know I said, "Regardless of who or what we are, when we die, we are Nothing but fertiliser for the soil.

Exactly my point : Pile of Dung.



If the Human Body is not a pile of dung, why do we waste precious time and money wearing make-up, expensive clothes, doing up our hair etc?

Not just the ladies.

The gentlemen are doing it, too. Increasingly.

Why?



Because, the sight of dung is just too awful to see.

So, we need to dress/make it up to look good.

Let's try something else.



Why do we wear perfume or deodorant?

Have you ever smelt a pile of dung?

If you haven't, try smelling one; and you'll know the reason why.



How about why do you think some men exercise so hard to develop muscles?

And, generally ladies are always described as soft tofu.

Imagine a pile of dung left out in the sun for a few days.

How does it feel (to touch)?

Hard?

Ya, I thought so.

Figure out the 'soft' one yourself.



Do you go to toilet sometimes?

Have you ever listen attentively when you're in the toilets?

Do you noticed that some sounds are soft and gentle, while others hard, rough, loud and even forceful?

Last but not least, do you notice that we hardly taste or lick our bodies/ourselves?

Now we know why.

So you see, the human body is really nothing but a pile of dung.

In conclusion, the human body is actually Nothing but what is made up, and out from ourselves, our 'deluded' minds, and our senses.



So, the next time someone scolds or speaks harshly, or is mean to you,

Relax.

It's just a pile of dung scolding another pile of dung.

Nothing to be upset about.






"When challenged by fools, the wise ignores them."

Meditation

Meditation



Many years ago, when meditation was increasingly becoming popular in Western countries, a professor from Sweden was commissioned by his government to find out about meditation from all the famous meditation masters in Asia.

The professor visited several Theravadan forest Monasteries, seeking answers to a few questions regarding meditation.

One of the forest Monastery he visited was Ajahn Chah's Wat Pah Pong.



To the Venerable Ajahn Chah, the professor put forth his 4 questions :

1) What is meditation?

2) How do you meditate?

3) Why do you meditate?

4) What do you get out from meditation?




To the 4 questions, Ajahn Chah skillfully replied :

1) What is eating?

2) How do you eat?

3) Why do you eat?

4) What do you get out from eating?



That was most brilliant of the Venerable Master.

In fact, so brilliant were his answers that it inspired me to come out with something of my own :

Q : What is meditation?

A : What is poo-poo?


Q : How do you meditate?

A : How do you poo-poo?


Q : Why do you meditate?

A : Why do you poo-poo?


Q : What do you get out from meditation?

A : What do you get out from poo-poo!

"Clear the mind of all its defilements and you heal and free the body of all its ailments."

-The Buddha

"You know the telescope that scientists used to look at outer space?

Now turn the telescope around.

That's what meditation is about -

Looking into space ... Inner space ... YOUR space."

What is, What is not

What is, What is not

Love

Love is

- Unconditioned
- Letting go, setting free
- Acceptance
- Contentment and Forgiveness


Love is not

- Quantifiable; it is not measured by dollars and cents, or by any other physical, material means
- Conditioned and/or bound by views, opinions, beliefs, ideas etc
- Control, or the imposing of views and values
- Spoiling/pampering; it is not No discipline

**************************************

Education

Education is

- Literacy; learning to do things on our own, by ourselves; becoming independent.
- Being able to speck, read and write; communicate.
- Morals and values.
- Becoming a cultured and refine person who lives in harmony and is service to the world.


Education is not

- Competition.
- Being first/best.
- Labelling/branding/grading. (eg. elite/non-elite; normal/express/special; A/B/C/D/E/F etc)
- About money, Power and/or Status.

Love and Education plays a very important part in all aspects of our lives :


- In all our relationships with everyone
- In work and play
- In parenting
- In business
- In religion
- In governance


Yet, how many of us really understand what love and education really means?

How many of us, more often than not, fall into the trap of what they (love and education) are not.


Think about it :

If education is all about competition and being first, what usually follows is stress, anger, depression, anxiety, suspicion, low self-esteem, and all the other mental illnesses that's prevailing and afflicting in our modern society.

Education used to be about understanding, but now it's all about competition, achieving, being first and getting 'A's.

This results in separatism : I'm first, you're last. I'm good, you're bad/lousy. I'm higher/upper class, you're lower class. I'm superior, you're inferior. The list of labels goes on ........

The effects? Arrogance.

Or more aptly, cockiness for those who think they're better than others.

And builds resentment and jealousy for those on the other side of the fence.

In the end, it creates an immoral society with no values, and a people who are selfish and self-centred.



A country can be very good;

But education from the wrong/inappropriate perspective, and on the wrong/inappropriate footing, can destroy it.

Likewise with Love.

Do give it some thought.

"The wise ones focus on understanding and doing their best.

The foolish ones aim for 'A's.

Cos' if you think about it, at the end of the day, it's just a letter, a piece of paper anyway."

"Which is more important : Understanding a subject (or person)

or getting 'A's (showing off)?"