How Foolish Can We Get (Part 4) - The Couple and The Donkey

How Foolish Can We Get (Part 4) - The Couple and The Donkey




Once, there was a couple who went to the market and bought a donkey.

They tied a rope round the donkey's neck and happily brought the donkey home, walking alongside with it.



On the way home, the man overheard a boy telling his mother that the couple was stupid, that they should ride on the donkey, and not walk together with it.

On hearing this, the man quickly got up on the donkey, riding it so as to avoid looking stupid.



As they travelled on, they met an old lady who scolded the man for being heartless riding the donkey and making his wife walk.

So, the man quickly got down and up went the wife.



After walking a short distance, they came across an old man who reprimanded them - saying the man, as the head of the household, should be the one riding the donkey, not the wife.

After much discussion, the couple decided that both of them would ride on the donkey.




Pleased with their decision, the couple happily rode along, and was very sure that no one else would pass any more remarks about them.

However, along came a lady carrying her pet dog.

Looking at the couple with utter disgust, the lady commented.

"Poor donkey, your owners are so cruel, both riding on you and you alone have to bear both their weight ......."

Hearing that lady's comments, and not wanting to appear cruel and inhumane, the couple got down and decided that perhaps the best solution was to do what the lady did - for them to carry the donkey instead.

And so they did.



Everything went smoothly until they reached a river.

While crossing the river, the donkey became afraid and began to struggle.

In the end, all three fell into the river.

"When you blindly believe, follow and/or do whatever people tells you,

You're either like animals - constantly living in fear,

Or like a puppet - with no mind of your own;

Or both."

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"Those who easily believe others are said by The Buddha to be foolish."

- Ajahn Chah

"Avoid being affected by, or listening blindly to, what others say."







"One should not accept anything with mere faith;

But one should use one's common sense and intelligence before accepting anything."

- The Buddha

How Foolish Can We Get (Part 3) - The Wedding

How Foolish Can We Get (Part 3) - The Wedding


Once upon a time, there lived a very rich family in the city.

The rich family got to know a good and honest girl from a nearby village and arranged for their son to marry her.

As the girl was both beautiful and virtuous, the wealthy family was sure they could not find a better wife for their son.

They picked a date for the wedding and the bride's family agreed to meet them in the village on that day.


Now, this rich family had a fortune-telling master whom they always consult.

So, when the fortune-telling master found out that they had selected the wedding day without consulting him, he became angry.

When the wedding day arrived, the master, dressed in his finest clothes, visited the family.

After congratulating them with fake sincerity, he took out his star charts and examined closely, calculating seriously, with his brows furrowed.

Shaking his head, and looking very grim and concern, he told the family that by not consulting him, they had chosen the worst possible day of the year for a wedding, and that it would lead to a terrible and disastrous marriage.

Frightened by what the master said, the rich family quickly sought his advise and guidance.

He told them that they should not hold the wedding without his approval, and because they had not sought his advice earlier, they had offended the gods. As such, they had to pay heavily.

He told them that he needed to perform several ceremonies to appease the gods they had offended.

He also forbade them from going to the village to inform the bride's family.

Overwhelmed with fear, the rich family believed the master completely and did as they were told.

They dutifully remained at home and forgot all about the wonderful qualities of the intended bride.

In the meantime, the bride's family had prepared everything for the wedding ceremony in the village.

When the agreed upon hour arrived, there's still no sign of the groom or his family.

The bride's family waited and waited until their patience run dry.

It finally struck them that the groom and his family were not coming after all.

The bride's family was furious and felt humiliated.

"This is so insulting! These city people picked the date and time and never show up. Why should we wait for them? We'll marry our daughter to an honourable and hardworking man in the village."

They quickly arranged for a new marriage and celebrated the wedding.

Meanwhile, after a whole week of lavish and extravagant ceremonies and much feasting, the fortune-telling master, happy and satisfied that the rich family had obeyed him, and also with the amount of money and expensive gifts he had received, he told the family that now they can hold the wedding.

The rich family immediately went to the village and asked for the wedding to take place.
However, the villagers refused.

"You picked the date and time. Then you disgraced us by not showing up!" argued the villagers.

"But our family priest told us that last week was an unlucky day for a wedding. For the whole of last week, we had spent a lot of money to appease the gods. So now he assured us that today is the luckiest day for a wedding. Please, can we have the bride." implored the rich family.

"You have no honour. Why should we trust you? Anyway, it's too late now cos' our daughter has married another." The villagers replied.

The 2 families began to argue.

At that moment, the king's advisor happened to pass by.

Seeing him, the 2 families asked him to help settle their dispute.

After listening to the accounts from both sides, the wise advisor said,

"The good fortune is in the bride, not the stars, or the gods, or the tree, or the fortune-teller. You fools have followed the stars, the gods, and the fortune-teller, and what happened? You lost a very good bride. If not for your own fear, foolishness and superstitious, the stars, the gods, the tree and the fortune-teller can do nothing!"




"Fortune and blessings come from positive actions, not from stars."




"Fools wait for a lucky day;

To the wise, everyday is a lucky day."

- The Buddha




"Hard work is the luckiest star.

Consulting stars and lucky days in order to achieve success is a waste of time."

- The Buddha





"To do your best to help yourself is better than to rely solely on the stars or external sources."

- The Buddha





"Wheresoever fear arises, it arises in the mind of the fool,

Not in that of the wise man."

- The Buddha





"The fault is not in our stars but in ourselves."

- Shakespeare




"Anyone can overcome all his difficulties if he knows how to make use of his intelligence and will-power."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda





"Man must overcome all his problems and difficulties by his own efforts and NOT through the medium of deities, spirits, astrology or fortune-telling."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda





"Whatever the mind perceives, the mind conceives, the mind believes, and the mind achieves;

As such, an ignorant mind achieves ignorance and a wise mind achieves wisdom."





"If the water in the rivers (such as the Ganges) could really wash away sins and suffering, then the turtles, crabs, fish and shellfish living in those sacred rivers ought by now to be freed of their sins and sufferings, too.

And, if a man could eliminate suffering by making offerings, paying homage, and praying, there would be no one subjected to suffering in the world, because anyone at all can pay homage and pray.

But since people are still subjected to suffering while in the very act of making obeisances, paying homage, and performing rites, it only goes to show that this is clearly not the way to gain liberation.

- The Buddha

How Foolish Can We Get (Part 2) - The Trap

How Foolish Can We Get (Part 2) - The Trap


There's a kind of monkey trap that's being used :

A coconut is dug out and attached by a rope to a tree or stick in the ground.

At the bottom of the coconut a small slit is made and some sweet food is placed inside.

The hole at the bottom of the coconut is just big enough for a monkey to slide in his open hand, but does not allow for a closed fist to pass out.

The monkey smells the sweets, reaches in with his hand to grasp the food but is unable to withdraw it cos the clenched fist can't pass through the opening.

When the hunters arrive, the monkey becomes frantic yet he can't run away.

If you think about it -

There is no one keeping that monkey captive, except the force of its own greed and attachment.

All that it needs to do is open its hand.

But so strong is the force of greed in the monkey mind that only a rare monkey will be able to let go.

Do you think the monkey is stupid/foolish?

If you think the monkey is stupid/foolish,

Then Remember -

That's how you are ..............

When you can't/refuse to let go!



"Holding on is not just about physical material things;

But also about the holding on to Fixed/False Views, Ignorance, Grudges, Anger and Hate, Power, Fame and Fortune,

Which is just as bad, if not worse."



"The practice of Dhamma is to change our attitude towards Life and to give up attachment to worldly concerns."




"The more we are unattached to the happiness of this life,

The more we will have happy peaceful lives."




* (Note : By the way, this entry is NOT to encourage anyone to use the above method to trap monkeys or any other beings, cos' that's an inhumane thing to do.)

How Foolish Can We Get (Part 1) - Super Power or Super Ignorant?

How Foolish Can We Get (Part 1) - Super Power or Super Ignorant?


One day, while the Buddha was sitting by the bank of a river, he met an ascetic who had practised austerities for about 25 years.

Seeing the Buddha, the ascetic immediately demonstrated and exhibited his prowess by crossing the river back and forth, walking on water.

Looking at the ascetic, The Buddha asked, "How long did it take you to acquire such powers?"

"25 years," came the haughty reply.

The ascetic was pleased that he caught the Buddha's attention.

"Wow! That's a long time ........" said The Buddha.

"Of course!"

"Is that what you had received for all your years of effort?" The Buddha asked again.

"Yes!" The ascetic proudly replied, that now at last, he could cross the river by walking on water.

To that, The Enlightened One said, "Hmmm ....... But for all your years of effort and hard work, this gain is insignificant, since anyone can cross the river using a ferry for a fare of one penny!"

"A little power soon goes to the head of one who's not used to it."

- The Buddha



"There is no miracle as great as the miracle of a wicked man transformed."



"A person who's still subjected to greed, anger and delusion and have access to unusual power will NOT only bring harm to himself, BUT also to the society at large."



"Psychic abilities are merely gifts which we all have.

If you have them, it's because you just happen to discover yours earlier than others due to your past diligent practice and good kamma (deeds).

It does not mean you are special or have special abilities."




"When you constantly try to impress others with your knowledge, powers, abilities, skills, talents etc, you are like a monkey performing tricks to and for the amusement of others."



"You can have all the visualisations, symbols, powers etc.

But with no real comprehension and realisation of The Dhamma (Truth),

You can and will never be enlighten;

Neither will you have wisdom or find real true happiness."



*
"Let us begin the new Lunar year with a little more wisdom and less foolishness and ignorance.


Have a Happy Lunar New Year everyone!

Live, Love, Laugh and be Happy Always!







With all My Love and Kindness (Metta)

Maitre-light :)

Baking a cake

Baking a cake

A monastic used the simile of baking a cake to explain about karma and what we do with our life.

He mentioned that some people had the top grade, highest and best quality of ingredients, yet they bake an awful cake.

While others who have the worst possible kind of ingredients, yet they bake a delicious cake.

Some people are very fortunate, yet they still complain that life is unfair to them, mistreated them.

They don't appreciate, or are grateful with what they have, and they make a mess out of it.

Yet there are others who make use of the little and limited ingredients that they have, and are happy, contented and successful.



I don't have good ingredients, too.

As a matter of fact, some of my ingredients were so bad.

But I never lament on those ingredients.

I'm only grateful that I have them.

Cos' there are others who don't even have the necessary ingredients to work with.

I won't say my cake is fantastically delicious of fanciful.

But I know at least it's simple and edible.



Forget about other people's cake.

Avoid being so concern about their cake.


What about your cake?

What does it taste like?






"Man himself is responsible for his own happiness and misery.

He creates his own heaven and hell.

He is master of his own destiny, child of his past and parent of his future."

- Sayadaw U Thittila







"Life is what we make out of it - we are responsible for everything in our life."







"Success is not due to luck.

You determine what your luck is.

That means : You determine if you succeed or not."







"To understand and endure suffering is to end suffering.

To enjoy and spend blessings is to end blessings."







"Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines.

But it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes."

- The Buddha







"Karma is not fixed.

Karma can be changed."





"G-Plan (God's plan) ?

How about your plan?"

"We are our own master.

Our future depends entirely on ourselves.

Nobody can take care of our future lives;

And the present rests on our own shoulders."

- The Buddha






"According to the seed that is sown,

So is the fruit ye reap there from.

The doer of good will gather good,

The doer of evil, evil reaps.



Sown is the seed and planted well,

Thou shalt enjoy the fruit there of."

- The Buddha (Samyutta Nikaya 1 : 227)

Heaven Or Hell

Heaven Or Hell


About 5-10 years ago, while I was nursing myself back to health, I would take walks in the park.

During one of those walks, I had an insight - Heaven and Hell.

It was a simple but powerful insight.

And a timely one, too.


Cos' during that time, a very good friend of mine had a relationship issue, and every night, my friend would call me, crying and sobbing away.

So that night, when my friend called me, I decided to share my insight with my friend, to encourage my friend.

Mid-way through our conversation, when my friend paused for a few sobs, I asked my friend,

"What do you think Hell is like?"

My friend was stumped by my question.

"Terrible, awful ........" came the halting reply.

"Miserable, sad, suffering, lots of sorrows and tears, right?" I asked my friend once more.

"Yes ........", my friend was bewildered :

What was I up to? Why am I asking such questions? Where is the relevance?

Any by now, the sobs have stopped.

"You know what?! You're in Hell right now ........ Welcome to Hell !" I said cheekily to my friend.

My friend screamed at me, "M ........!" and laughed.


That was the first time in so many weeks I heard my friend laugh.

I do not know if my friend understand the insight.

But at least my friend seemed much better after that.

And I'm happy for my friend.

What is Heaven? What is or Hell?

When you live your life in pain, anger, hate, fear, suspicion, misery, jealousy, sadness, tension, stress, worries, and all the other negativity,

You are in Hell.


When you live your life with joy, happiness, peace, calm, contentment, love, kindness and all the other positivity,

You are in Heaven.


Do you want to live your life in Heaven, or in Hell?

You decide.




"Why live your live in tears and sorrows, when you can live it in laughter and joy?"




"Heaven is a place on Earth."

- Belinda Carlise

(Unfortunately, so is Hell. Heaven or Hell, it's all in the mind - YOUR mind.)





"Suffering is what we create out of ignorance;

And, Happiness is what we create out of Wisdom."




"The wise man makes his own heaven while the foolish man creates his own hell here and hereafter."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda

"All phenomenon depends on the mind.

A Hell realm, or Heavenly Palace?

Ultimately, they are all the same."

Motherhood

Motherhood


I believe by now all of you would know that I'm a Yoga instructor.

In the course of my work, some of my students, who are parents, told me I don't understand what it is like to be a parent, cause I'm not one.

However, I disagree.



As an instructor, I feel that I'm like a mother.

And all my students, my children.

Some of them are babies, others toddlers, or much older.

And each of them get different attention and treatment from me.



It is not just about them learning what I know, but also about me knowing each one of them, and what and how much each of them can cope with.

I remembered once a student (a very good student with huge potential) asked me in class, "Why do I keep focusing on her?"

Yet another time, another student asked me after a class, "Why am I so kind and nice to one, and so 'fierce' towards another? It seems so unfair."

My reply was, "Cos' one is still a baby and the other, a child."



If you come in contact with babies before, you'll know what babies are like -

Not cute, not adorable, not pure, not innocent, not cuddly.

That's all physical.



But rather, they know NOTHING.

Yet, they think they know and understand everything.

They can't even stand, let alone crawl, yet they want to go out and play and skip with their older siblings.

They can't wait to grow up.



As I've mentioned in "Mynah and Her Nestling", in parenting, we're loving and educating our kids.

Therefore, right discipline at the right time is paramount, a necessity.

There are times when I'm firm with the 'babies', especially when the situation calls for it.

But usually, I'm stricter towards the 'children', cos' babies don't understand, but children do.



To many, it may seem and appear that I'm unfair, that I show favouritism - that I'm so kind and patient and gentle to some, and so strict and demanding on others.

In Reality, I'm just being a mother to all her children, and expressing my love for them the best way that I can.

And that is, for those who are old enough - for them to learn to be independent, and to guide each and everyone of them to reach their potential.

That's, what Motherhood is to me.





"Knowledge without moral discipline is harmful to society."

- Venerable Kanugolle Rathanasara




"Always take your time in learning things.

It's not about learning it fast, but about learning it well."

"My learning principle : Learn, Master, Perfect, Re-learn.

That way I'm always a learner, a student, a beginner.

And that also means I have no space for EGO."