Perception and Perspective
1) I watched this on TV some years back : 2 mothers met and started talking (or rather, gossiping).
Mother A : Hello! Congratulations! I heard your son got married. How's the daughter-in-law?
Mother B (looking dejected) : Oh ... thanks. She's terrible! She's a lazy, good-for-nothing bum who does nothing but eats and sleeps the whole day. Can you imagine? My son even have to serve her breakfast in bed!
Mother A : Really?! That's terrible!
Mother B : Yah ... tell me about it. Hey! I heard your daughter recently got married, too. How's the son-in-law?
Mother A : Oh, he's such a good boy! He's so wonderful. My daughter doesn't need to do anything except eat and sleep the whole day. He even serves her breakfast in bed!
Mother B : Really?! She's so lucky!
2) Think back of a time when you were very happy, enjoying yourself and having fun.
Now, think of a time when you're sad, miserable, and maybe even heartbroken.
Notice when you're happy and enjoying yourself and having fun, time seems to pass so fast?
And notice when you're unhappy, feeling sad and miserable, time seems to drag its feet?
Why is that so?
Did time change its speed?
Or does it lie with you?
3) Why is it that people say a child who lived a life of 10 years is short, while a couple who's married for 10 years, long?
It's the same duration of 10 years, is it not?
So why is one considered long, while the other short?
4) Why is it that to a child, $1 can get you sweets, But to an adult, $1 can't get you anything?
5) Why are hospitals a place of death, but not the kitchens?
Animals lose their lives in the kitchens, don't they?
6) Why is it that the best Chinese/Mandarin must be from China, and a Yoga guru/teacher/instructor must be Indian, or from India?
I remembered about 2-3 years ago, a student, now a friend, revealed to me that when he first joined the Yoga class 4 years ago, he expected to see an old Indian instructor from India.
So, when he saw that the instructor is 'a young Chinese girl' (as he puts it) instead, he was shocked.
He wasn't expecting a young girl, much less a Chinese.
And he told me that at that time, he wondered how much this 'young Chinese girl' would know about Yoga.
Why do we think/perceive that only Indians know about Yoga?
And why must the instructor be old?
7) I suppose the best example would be my classes.
Those who had attended before would know what I'm talking about.
To me, my classes are simple, easy, gentle, and manageable.
Basic even.
But those who attend the class tend to find it otherwise.
I guess one of my students say it best when she told me,
"It's relative."
"Those who grasp at perceptions and views go about butting their heads in the world."
- The Buddha
"What's right?
What's wrong?
What's right, what's wrong lies in the minds;
All of your minds."
"Perception = Conditioning.
Whatever perspective (view) we have or take is due to our perception.
Which in turn is due to our conditioning.
Whatever perspective (view) we have towards people, things etc is conditioning from past experiences, memories etc."
"Whatever the mind perceives, the mind conceives,
the mind believes, and the mind achieves.
That's why the mind is the fore runner, the chief."
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Buddha; Nibbana
The Buddha; Nibbana
There's a Zen Koan which a monastic adapted, and which I'm going to adapt further and put an end/closing to it.
2 monks were watching a flag flying in the wind.
Monk A said, "The flag is moving."
Monk B retorted, "No, the wind is moving."
Since they can't decide who's right or wrong, they went to see their Zen Master.
The Zen Master said, "You're both wrong - Your minds are moving."
Then, the 3 of them went to see the monastic.
The monastic told them, "All 3 of you miss the point - Your mouths are moving!"
Unfortunately, so is that of the monastic's.
So, not feeling satisfied, the 4 of them went to see The Buddha.
The Buddha looked at the 4 of them, smiled, and closed his eyes.
Silence ........ Peace ........ Contentment ........
Unconditioned ........ Beyond and neither nor ........ Non-Duality ........
Ah ........ Nibbana ........
What Bliss !
"The attainment of Nibbana is the Ultimate goal of the Holy Life."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nana Sampanno
"Nibbana : Pure Eternal Bliss (Happiness, Contentment, Peace); transcending beyond body and mind.
It's like waking up from a sleep or dream which seems like a movie, an illusion (which is your life)."
"Buddhism : Removing suffering, attaining Peace, Happiness and Freedom (ie. Enlightenment)
It is a process of becoming Enlighten.
It's NOT a religion BUT a path of spirituality; a spiritual path of knowing, growing, understanding, realising and becoming Enlightened."
"Health is the highest gain;
Contentment is the greatest wealth.
The trusted (whether related or not) are the best kinsmen.
Nibbana is the Highest (Ultimate) Bliss."
- The Buddha
There's a Zen Koan which a monastic adapted, and which I'm going to adapt further and put an end/closing to it.
2 monks were watching a flag flying in the wind.
Monk A said, "The flag is moving."
Monk B retorted, "No, the wind is moving."
Since they can't decide who's right or wrong, they went to see their Zen Master.
The Zen Master said, "You're both wrong - Your minds are moving."
Then, the 3 of them went to see the monastic.
The monastic told them, "All 3 of you miss the point - Your mouths are moving!"
Unfortunately, so is that of the monastic's.
So, not feeling satisfied, the 4 of them went to see The Buddha.
The Buddha looked at the 4 of them, smiled, and closed his eyes.
Silence ........ Peace ........ Contentment ........
Unconditioned ........ Beyond and neither nor ........ Non-Duality ........
Ah ........ Nibbana ........
What Bliss !
"The attainment of Nibbana is the Ultimate goal of the Holy Life."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nana Sampanno
"Nibbana : Pure Eternal Bliss (Happiness, Contentment, Peace); transcending beyond body and mind.
It's like waking up from a sleep or dream which seems like a movie, an illusion (which is your life)."
"Buddhism : Removing suffering, attaining Peace, Happiness and Freedom (ie. Enlightenment)
It is a process of becoming Enlighten.
It's NOT a religion BUT a path of spirituality; a spiritual path of knowing, growing, understanding, realising and becoming Enlightened."
"Health is the highest gain;
Contentment is the greatest wealth.
The trusted (whether related or not) are the best kinsmen.
Nibbana is the Highest (Ultimate) Bliss."
- The Buddha
"Nibbana is the end of all having and lacking."
- Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo
"Nibbana - The Peak."
Sunday, June 8, 2008
The Cow That Cried
The Cow That Cried
I used to have a book.
Among all the stories in that book, the one that touches me, and left the deepest impression on me most, is the story "The Cow That Cried."
The writer teaches meditation to prisoners.
One particular day before the meditation class began, a criminal who he had never met before was waiting to speak to him.
This guy was huge, with bushy hair, beard and tattooed arms.
The scars on this man reflected the many violent fights he had been involved in.
He needed to speak to the writer regarding an encounter he had experienced a few days before.
To give the writer an idea of his background, he related his growing up years to the writer.
He told the writer that he had grown up in the violent streets of Belfast.
He was only 7 when he was first stabbed in the school compound.
The school bully demanded for his lunch money and he said no.
The bully took out a knife and asked a 2nd time.
Thinking that the bully was bluffing, he said no again.
The bully didn't asked a 3rd time.
He simply plunged the knife into the 7 years old's arm, drew it out and coolly walked away.
He told the writer that in shock, he ran to his father's house which was close by.
His unemployed father looked at the wound, and took him into the kitchen.
Not to dress the wound, but to take out a big kitchen knife, gave it to his son, and ordered the boy to go back to school to stab the bully back.
That was how he was brought up.
The prison he's in currently is for prisoners who are close to being released.
It's a prison farm where the prisoners could learn a trade in the farming industry so as to prepare them for life after prison.
The prison farm he's in is one that produces cows, sheep and pigs, and it has its own slaughterhouse / abattoir.
This giant, fearsome Irishman was the slaughterer.
The slaughterhouse has super strong stainless steel railings, wide at the opening, narrowing down to a single channel inside the building, just wide enough for one animal to pass through at a time.
Next to the narrow channel, raised on a platform, he would stand, with an electric gun.
Cows, sheep or pigs would be forced into the stainless steel funnel.
They would always scream, in their own way, and try to escape.
The animals could smell death, hear death, feel death.
When the animal is alongside the platform, it would be writhing, wriggling and moaning in full capacity.
Even though the electric gun could kill a large bull with a single high-voltage charge, the animal would never stand still long enough for him to aim properly.
As such, it was always one shot to stun, next shot to kill.
Animals after animals.
Day after day.
That was his job.
That particular day, they needed beef for the prisoners around Perth.
So they were slaughtering cows.
He was killing the cows as per normal until a cow came up like he had never seen before.
This particular cow was silent.
Not even a whimper.
Its head was down as it walked resolutely, voluntarily and slowly into position next to the platform.
It did not writhe or struggle.
Neither did it try to escape.
Once into position, the cow slowly lifted her head and looked right into the slaughterer's eyes.
Absolutely still.
The Irishman had never seen or came across anything like this before.
He went numb into confusion.
He couldn't lift his gun, nor could he take his eyes off that of the cow's.
He didn't know for how long, but as the cow held him in eye contact, he noticed something that shook him even more.
Cows have very big eyes.
And as he kept looking in the eye of the cow, he saw in the left eye of the cow, above the lower eyelid, water began to gather.
The amount of water grew and grew, until it was too much for the eyelid to hold.
It then trickle slowly down the cow's cheek.
At this point , the walls which the Irishman had built around his heart over the years, started crumbling down.
As he looked on in disbelief, he saw the same thing happening on the right eye of the cow.
The cow was crying.
At that moment, the slaughterer, too broke down.
He told the writer that at the next instant, he threw down his gun, swore as only prisoners know how, that the prison officers can do whatever they liked to him,
"BUT THAT COW AIN'T DYING !"
And from that day on, the slaughterer - the gigantic fearsome Irishman with a violent past, became a vegetarian.
The cow taught the Irishman what it is to care.
If you think about it, there's really not much a difference between us and the animals.
At the base level, we all began our lives from an egg.
Or, Look at it another way :
Take the example of the Korean Christian Missionaries who were kidnapped in Afghanistan last year (2007).
When the Taliban threatens to kill each and everyone of them, how did they feel?
How did the world feel?
It's not difficult for us to know and to understand that hurting, harming and/or killing any living being is a bad and cruel act.
If you were to observe carefully and closely, you will realise why some people behave the way they did, and where they 'inherit' their behaviour from, and where they were from previously.
When you can truly realise this Truth, you'll not want to hurt, harm or kill, or cause others to hurt, harm or kill.
"All tremble at punishment;
All fear death;
Comparing others with oneself,
One should neither kill nor cause to kill."
- The Buddha .
.
.
.
I used to have a book.
Among all the stories in that book, the one that touches me, and left the deepest impression on me most, is the story "The Cow That Cried."
The writer teaches meditation to prisoners.
One particular day before the meditation class began, a criminal who he had never met before was waiting to speak to him.
This guy was huge, with bushy hair, beard and tattooed arms.
The scars on this man reflected the many violent fights he had been involved in.
He needed to speak to the writer regarding an encounter he had experienced a few days before.
To give the writer an idea of his background, he related his growing up years to the writer.
He told the writer that he had grown up in the violent streets of Belfast.
He was only 7 when he was first stabbed in the school compound.
The school bully demanded for his lunch money and he said no.
The bully took out a knife and asked a 2nd time.
Thinking that the bully was bluffing, he said no again.
The bully didn't asked a 3rd time.
He simply plunged the knife into the 7 years old's arm, drew it out and coolly walked away.
He told the writer that in shock, he ran to his father's house which was close by.
His unemployed father looked at the wound, and took him into the kitchen.
Not to dress the wound, but to take out a big kitchen knife, gave it to his son, and ordered the boy to go back to school to stab the bully back.
That was how he was brought up.
The prison he's in currently is for prisoners who are close to being released.
It's a prison farm where the prisoners could learn a trade in the farming industry so as to prepare them for life after prison.
The prison farm he's in is one that produces cows, sheep and pigs, and it has its own slaughterhouse / abattoir.
This giant, fearsome Irishman was the slaughterer.
The slaughterhouse has super strong stainless steel railings, wide at the opening, narrowing down to a single channel inside the building, just wide enough for one animal to pass through at a time.
Next to the narrow channel, raised on a platform, he would stand, with an electric gun.
Cows, sheep or pigs would be forced into the stainless steel funnel.
They would always scream, in their own way, and try to escape.
The animals could smell death, hear death, feel death.
When the animal is alongside the platform, it would be writhing, wriggling and moaning in full capacity.
Even though the electric gun could kill a large bull with a single high-voltage charge, the animal would never stand still long enough for him to aim properly.
As such, it was always one shot to stun, next shot to kill.
Animals after animals.
Day after day.
That was his job.
That particular day, they needed beef for the prisoners around Perth.
So they were slaughtering cows.
He was killing the cows as per normal until a cow came up like he had never seen before.
This particular cow was silent.
Not even a whimper.
Its head was down as it walked resolutely, voluntarily and slowly into position next to the platform.
It did not writhe or struggle.
Neither did it try to escape.
Once into position, the cow slowly lifted her head and looked right into the slaughterer's eyes.
Absolutely still.
The Irishman had never seen or came across anything like this before.
He went numb into confusion.
He couldn't lift his gun, nor could he take his eyes off that of the cow's.
He didn't know for how long, but as the cow held him in eye contact, he noticed something that shook him even more.
Cows have very big eyes.
And as he kept looking in the eye of the cow, he saw in the left eye of the cow, above the lower eyelid, water began to gather.
The amount of water grew and grew, until it was too much for the eyelid to hold.
It then trickle slowly down the cow's cheek.
At this point , the walls which the Irishman had built around his heart over the years, started crumbling down.
As he looked on in disbelief, he saw the same thing happening on the right eye of the cow.
The cow was crying.
At that moment, the slaughterer, too broke down.
He told the writer that at the next instant, he threw down his gun, swore as only prisoners know how, that the prison officers can do whatever they liked to him,
"BUT THAT COW AIN'T DYING !"
And from that day on, the slaughterer - the gigantic fearsome Irishman with a violent past, became a vegetarian.
The cow taught the Irishman what it is to care.
If you think about it, there's really not much a difference between us and the animals.
At the base level, we all began our lives from an egg.
Or, Look at it another way :
Take the example of the Korean Christian Missionaries who were kidnapped in Afghanistan last year (2007).
When the Taliban threatens to kill each and everyone of them, how did they feel?
How did the world feel?
It's not difficult for us to know and to understand that hurting, harming and/or killing any living being is a bad and cruel act.
If you were to observe carefully and closely, you will realise why some people behave the way they did, and where they 'inherit' their behaviour from, and where they were from previously.
When you can truly realise this Truth, you'll not want to hurt, harm or kill, or cause others to hurt, harm or kill.
"All tremble at punishment;
All fear death;
Comparing others with oneself,
One should neither kill nor cause to kill."
- The Buddha .
.
.
.
"Anyone can be enlighten."
"Dhamma belongs to everyone (and anyone) who truly desires it.
The Buddha did NOT limit the possession of Dhamma to a particular individual.
Everyone (and anyone) who practises in the right way enjoys the same right of ownership."
- Venerable Acariya Mun Bhuridatta Thera
"He who seek his own happiness by harming others who also desire to have happiness will NOT find hapiness hereafter.
- The Buddha (Dhammapada v.131)
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Man and His Questions (Part 2) - God or Not?
Man and His Questions (Part 2) - God or Not?
There are 4 parts to the answer to the above question :
1) Got, so many until there are different realms for them.
2) To the god-believers, observe your minds when I say, "There's NO God."
To the 'no-god' believers, observe your minds when I say, "There is a God."
If a person's mind is fixed that there's a God/Creator, what use is there of anyone saying there isn't.
Would you accept?
And vice versa.
Besides, would you believe me?
Why should you believe me?
How do you know I'm telling the Truth?
What if I make a mistake?
Even if I'm telling the Truth, you may misunderstand me.
Or, for a person who's confused enough, you may end up being even more confused.
So, the best solution?
Go Meditate, Investigate and find out yourself, Avoid blindly believing others.
3) What difference does it make whether there's a God or not?
Does it make you more intelligent/wise?
Does it make you a better person?
Does it change you in any way?
Are you behaving well just because you feared there is a God and that He will punish you, and you will behave otherwise just because there isn't?
Is it really so important, necessary, whether there is a God or not?
( Read 'Man and His Questions - Part 1')
To me, what's important is what are we doing right here, right now, to make this world a better and more harmonious place for all sentient beings to live in, and what are we doing to our lives to make it more meaningful and beneficial for ourselves and others, such as become a better person,
A more loving husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter etc.
4) This question had been asked for so many years already - countless ages even.
Isn't it boring to ask the same question over and over and over again?
Don't you have better or more important things to do in Life, Your life, then to ask about The Origin of the Universe, is there a Creator God, The purpose of mosquitoes etc.
Some even fight and argue over it.
One side say their God is The One.
Another say theirs is The One.
The interesting thing is both are on opposite ends of the same spectrum.
No wonder President Lincoln said, "God can't be for and against the same thing at the same time."
( Read 'Why Fight?' )
Argue for so long.
Endless.
So, the last part to the answer to the question, "God or Not?", is
"No point answering."
(and really, there's no point asking, too.)
"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 subject to suffering left in the world, because anyone at all can pay homage and pray.
But since people are still subject to suffering while in the very act of making obeisances, paying homage and performing rites, this is clearly not the way to gain liberation."
- The Buddha
"Suppose a man were to toss a yoke with a single hole in it.
A wind from the East would blow it West.
A wind from the West would blow it East.
A wind from the North would blow it South.
A wind from the South would blow it North.
And suppose a blind sea turtle, which come to the surface only once in every century.
Now, what do you think would be the chance of the blind sea turtle, which rise to the surface once every 100 years, come up with his neck right through the hole of the yoke?
That's how rare and precious human rebirth is.
( Treasure it )
- The Buddha
"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
It is true according to immutable natural principles."
- Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
There are 4 parts to the answer to the above question :
1) Got, so many until there are different realms for them.
2) To the god-believers, observe your minds when I say, "There's NO God."
To the 'no-god' believers, observe your minds when I say, "There is a God."
If a person's mind is fixed that there's a God/Creator, what use is there of anyone saying there isn't.
Would you accept?
And vice versa.
Besides, would you believe me?
Why should you believe me?
How do you know I'm telling the Truth?
What if I make a mistake?
Even if I'm telling the Truth, you may misunderstand me.
Or, for a person who's confused enough, you may end up being even more confused.
So, the best solution?
Go Meditate, Investigate and find out yourself, Avoid blindly believing others.
3) What difference does it make whether there's a God or not?
Does it make you more intelligent/wise?
Does it make you a better person?
Does it change you in any way?
Are you behaving well just because you feared there is a God and that He will punish you, and you will behave otherwise just because there isn't?
Is it really so important, necessary, whether there is a God or not?
( Read 'Man and His Questions - Part 1')
To me, what's important is what are we doing right here, right now, to make this world a better and more harmonious place for all sentient beings to live in, and what are we doing to our lives to make it more meaningful and beneficial for ourselves and others, such as become a better person,
A more loving husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter etc.
4) This question had been asked for so many years already - countless ages even.
Isn't it boring to ask the same question over and over and over again?
Don't you have better or more important things to do in Life, Your life, then to ask about The Origin of the Universe, is there a Creator God, The purpose of mosquitoes etc.
Some even fight and argue over it.
One side say their God is The One.
Another say theirs is The One.
The interesting thing is both are on opposite ends of the same spectrum.
No wonder President Lincoln said, "God can't be for and against the same thing at the same time."
( Read 'Why Fight?' )
Argue for so long.
Endless.
So, the last part to the answer to the question, "God or Not?", is
"No point answering."
(and really, there's no point asking, too.)
"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 subject to suffering left in the world, because anyone at all can pay homage and pray.
But since people are still subject to suffering while in the very act of making obeisances, paying homage and performing rites, this is clearly not the way to gain liberation."
- The Buddha
"Suppose a man were to toss a yoke with a single hole in it.
A wind from the East would blow it West.
A wind from the West would blow it East.
A wind from the North would blow it South.
A wind from the South would blow it North.
And suppose a blind sea turtle, which come to the surface only once in every century.
Now, what do you think would be the chance of the blind sea turtle, which rise to the surface once every 100 years, come up with his neck right through the hole of the yoke?
That's how rare and precious human rebirth is.
( Treasure it )
- The Buddha
"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
It is true according to immutable natural principles."
- Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Man and His Questions (Part 1) - The Origin of the Universe
Man and His Questions (Part 1) - The Origin of the Universe
One day, a man called Malunkyaputta approached The Buddha and demanded that The Buddha explain the origin of the Universe to him.
If not, he'll cease to be His follower.
The Buddha calmly retorted that it was of no consequence to Him whether Malunkyaputta followed him or not, cos Truth need no followers, and Truth did not need any one's support.
To The Buddha, gaining knowledge about such matters was a waste of time cos such issues have no value for gaining spiritual wisdom - it doesn't help us to gain Enlightenment or Liberation, and man's immediate and critical task is to liberate himself.
To illustrate further, The Enlightened One explained,
"Suppose a man was shot by a poisoned arrow, but he refused to have the arrow remove until he found out everything about the person, who shot the arrow -
Was it a man or a woman?
Was it someone of noble birth, or a peasant?
Was the person tall or short? Fat or thin?
What about the family? How many sibling does the person have?
Was it a big bow, or a small bow, from which the person shot the arrow?
What was the bow-string made of?
What about the arrow? Was it made of rattan or of reed?
What kind of feathers did the person use to make the arrow? etc etc ........
Before he knows the answer to all these unnecessary questions, the poison would have entered his bloodstream and circulated throughout his whole system, and he would have died.
The thing to do is to remove the poisoned arrow first, "said The Buddha.
"It is more important to know what is important to know, and NOT what is unimportant."
"Learn what you should learn;
Practise what you should practise;
Remove what you should remove,
And know what is important.
Enlightenment."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
One day, a man called Malunkyaputta approached The Buddha and demanded that The Buddha explain the origin of the Universe to him.
If not, he'll cease to be His follower.
The Buddha calmly retorted that it was of no consequence to Him whether Malunkyaputta followed him or not, cos Truth need no followers, and Truth did not need any one's support.
To The Buddha, gaining knowledge about such matters was a waste of time cos such issues have no value for gaining spiritual wisdom - it doesn't help us to gain Enlightenment or Liberation, and man's immediate and critical task is to liberate himself.
To illustrate further, The Enlightened One explained,
"Suppose a man was shot by a poisoned arrow, but he refused to have the arrow remove until he found out everything about the person, who shot the arrow -
Was it a man or a woman?
Was it someone of noble birth, or a peasant?
Was the person tall or short? Fat or thin?
What about the family? How many sibling does the person have?
Was it a big bow, or a small bow, from which the person shot the arrow?
What was the bow-string made of?
What about the arrow? Was it made of rattan or of reed?
What kind of feathers did the person use to make the arrow? etc etc ........
Before he knows the answer to all these unnecessary questions, the poison would have entered his bloodstream and circulated throughout his whole system, and he would have died.
The thing to do is to remove the poisoned arrow first, "said The Buddha.
"It is more important to know what is important to know, and NOT what is unimportant."
"Learn what you should learn;
Practise what you should practise;
Remove what you should remove,
And know what is important.
Enlightenment."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Our immediate task is to attain Nibbana, and NOT to worry about our beginnings."
- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Middle Way
The Middle Way
Since it's Vesak week, I thought what better way to celebrate the occasion than to write/talk about the 1st Teaching of The Buddha - The Middle Way.
What is The Middle Way?
Imagine yourself driving in the middle lane of a 3-lane straight road, with cars on both sides.
Now, what happens if you steer your car too much, or all the way towards the left? (* sensual indulgence)
You may end up in a collision with the car on the left lane.
The result?
An accident (* Suffering to yourself and others).
Likewise, if you drive too much to the right (* self-mortification or torture), you'll also cause an accident by knocking the car on your right. (* again, suffering - to yourself and others).
So, what should you do?
All you need to do, or should do, is when you're too much to the left, move your steering wheel a bit to the right (* ie apply some self-restraint) so as to keep the car you're driving at the centre of your lane.
And, vice-versa (*ie apply a bit of loving-kindness, forgiveness and compassion to yourself and others when you're too overly critical, judgemental or torturing yourself.)
Unfortunately, many people do not maintain lane discipline.
They have a tendency to move too much to the left, and cause a collision,
Or, in order to avoid a collision, they quickly swerve their car to the right by turning the steering wheel too much and too fast.
So, they're constantly driving in a zig-zag manner, going from one extreme to another, and causing accidents.
Just like a pendulum bob : Always swinging from right to left, and left to right (*ie from one suffering to another), and never or rarely at the centre. (*ie never stopping to look, observe, analyse and investigate so as to understand).
Therefore, they're always suffering, or experiencing suffering.
Only very few can maintain lane discipline by staying at the centre,
Driving along The Middle Way -
The Buddha Way.
"This world is blind.
Here, there are few who clearly see.
As birds escaping from a net,
Few go to a blissful state."
- The Buddha
"When this world is ever ablaze,
Why the laughter, why the jubilation?
Shrouded in darkness,
Will you not seek The Light?"
- The Buddha
"Those who practise The Dhamma (Truth),
In line with the Well-Taught Dhamma (Truth),
They will cross over Death's Realm, so hard to transcend."
- The Buddha
Since it's Vesak week, I thought what better way to celebrate the occasion than to write/talk about the 1st Teaching of The Buddha - The Middle Way.
What is The Middle Way?
Imagine yourself driving in the middle lane of a 3-lane straight road, with cars on both sides.
Now, what happens if you steer your car too much, or all the way towards the left? (* sensual indulgence)
You may end up in a collision with the car on the left lane.
The result?
An accident (* Suffering to yourself and others).
Likewise, if you drive too much to the right (* self-mortification or torture), you'll also cause an accident by knocking the car on your right. (* again, suffering - to yourself and others).
So, what should you do?
All you need to do, or should do, is when you're too much to the left, move your steering wheel a bit to the right (* ie apply some self-restraint) so as to keep the car you're driving at the centre of your lane.
And, vice-versa (*ie apply a bit of loving-kindness, forgiveness and compassion to yourself and others when you're too overly critical, judgemental or torturing yourself.)
Unfortunately, many people do not maintain lane discipline.
They have a tendency to move too much to the left, and cause a collision,
Or, in order to avoid a collision, they quickly swerve their car to the right by turning the steering wheel too much and too fast.
So, they're constantly driving in a zig-zag manner, going from one extreme to another, and causing accidents.
Just like a pendulum bob : Always swinging from right to left, and left to right (*ie from one suffering to another), and never or rarely at the centre. (*ie never stopping to look, observe, analyse and investigate so as to understand).
Therefore, they're always suffering, or experiencing suffering.
Only very few can maintain lane discipline by staying at the centre,
Driving along The Middle Way -
The Buddha Way.
"This world is blind.
Here, there are few who clearly see.
As birds escaping from a net,
Few go to a blissful state."
- The Buddha
"When this world is ever ablaze,
Why the laughter, why the jubilation?
Shrouded in darkness,
Will you not seek The Light?"
- The Buddha
"Those who practise The Dhamma (Truth),
In line with the Well-Taught Dhamma (Truth),
They will cross over Death's Realm, so hard to transcend."
- The Buddha
"The Middle Way realised by The Tathagatha - Producing vision (Insight),
Producing realisation - Lead to Calm, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening,
To Nibbana."
- The Buddha (Discourse on Setting The Wheel o Dhamma in Motion).
.
I wish all an Enlightening Week.
Happy Vesak Day, Everyone!
With Metta
Maitre-light :)
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The Teacher and The Teachings (Part 3) - Inspiration vs Investigation
The Teacher and The Teachings (Part 3) - Inspiration vs Investigation
The last I heard, he's still searching.
There are many gurus, teachers, etc out there who are very charming, charismatic even, and the things they say can be very inspiring and motivating, it invigorates, 'powers' you up, energises .......
Whereas investigation, test, finding out for yourself is something that's long-term.
It lasts 'forever'.
An infinity, an eternity.
When we investigate, we realise, we awaken.
All in a moment.
And moment is timeless, it seems like an eternity.
And the lessons learnt (ie. the realisations) stay with us Forever.
The experience lingers and is Price-less (Free)
To me, a good teacher is one who not only inspires, but also encourages their students to investigate, to be independent, and to be free. (Read 'What is, What is not' and 'Mynah and her nestling')
And, a good student is one who investigates, try/test out the teacher's teachings to see if it really works, and if it's exactly as how the teacher explained.
That's how faith (in the teacher) comes about; not by or about believing blindly.
For me, Buddhism, or rather The Buddha's Teachings, is similar to Yoga.
It's pointless for the instructor to demonstrate the poses, and all that the students do, is stand by the sides, clapping and applauding in awe.
The students have to practise the poses.
Likewise, the Buddha's Teachings is for us to practise, not stand by the sides and praise His Enlightenment.
As The Buddha puts it so aptly, "You are NOT honouring me by offering flowers. You honour me ONLY by practising The Dhamma".
"You yourselves should make the effort;
The Tathagatas are only teachers.
Those who enter this Path and who are meditative,
"My Teaching is not to come and believe (or see),
But to practise."
- The Buddha
"Just as I do not take credit for how good my students are,
Likewise, I bear no liability for how bad they are.
Good or bad depends on themselves
And how much/little effort they put in."
"If I tell, you'll just hear or listen, and you'll forget (ear in, ear out);
If I teach and show, you'll see and you may or may not remember.
But if I involve you and make you do, you'll learn and you'll understand."
"Dhamma is (for) free;
Dhamma is for you and me and everybody.
In Dhamma there is No Secret.
For the gift of Dhamma is Price-less (that means, FREE)."
"Dhamma has a value beyond all wealth, and should not be sold like goods in a market place."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
"Those who truly believe in Buddhism are those who earnestly pursue Truth."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
"If one doesn't understand through practice, one wouldn't understand Buddhism.
Even if one learns (and memorise) the whole Tipitaka (the voluminous recorded teachings of The Buddha), one still will not know."
"Buddhism : Universal, Timeless Freedom.
The Dhamma - Buddha's Teachings : Universal, Timeless Truth."
"Dhamma can't taught; it has to be experience."
My sister has a friend who's seeking for answers, and he has attended many talks, workshops, seminars, readings by different renowned gurus, masters, etc, including famous motivational speakers.
There was once my sister asked him about the motivational speakers.
According to him, the motivational speakers are very good, but one has to go back again and again to be 'charged up' (and in my opinion, to be 'charged' as well), something which he can't afford to cos the charges were very expensive. (see what I mean?)The last I heard, he's still searching.
There are many gurus, teachers, etc out there who are very charming, charismatic even, and the things they say can be very inspiring and motivating, it invigorates, 'powers' you up, energises .......
But, only for a while, only at that instant.
When I reflected on it, I realised that inspiration is short-term.
It's like a drug, an intoxicant, where you need to 'take' it over and over again to feel 'high' and energised.
Whereas investigation, test, finding out for yourself is something that's long-term.
It lasts 'forever'.
An infinity, an eternity.
When we investigate, we realise, we awaken.
All in a moment.
And moment is timeless, it seems like an eternity.
And the lessons learnt (ie. the realisations) stay with us Forever.
The experience lingers and is Price-less (Free)
To me, a good teacher is one who not only inspires, but also encourages their students to investigate, to be independent, and to be free. (Read 'What is, What is not' and 'Mynah and her nestling')
And, a good student is one who investigates, try/test out the teacher's teachings to see if it really works, and if it's exactly as how the teacher explained.
That's how faith (in the teacher) comes about; not by or about believing blindly.
For me, Buddhism, or rather The Buddha's Teachings, is similar to Yoga.
It's pointless for the instructor to demonstrate the poses, and all that the students do, is stand by the sides, clapping and applauding in awe.
The students have to practise the poses.
Likewise, the Buddha's Teachings is for us to practise, not stand by the sides and praise His Enlightenment.
As The Buddha puts it so aptly, "You are NOT honouring me by offering flowers. You honour me ONLY by practising The Dhamma".
Since Vesak Day is round the corner, may I suggest and urge all who calls themselves 'Buddhists' to investigate what Buddhism, The Dhamma - The Buddha's Teachings, is truly about.
"Paccattam Veditabbo Vinnuhiti ( To be attained by the wise, each for himself.)"
- The Buddha
"You yourselves should make the effort;
The Tathagatas are only teachers.
Those who enter this Path and who are meditative,
Are delivered from the bonds of Mara."
- The Buddha"Whoever practises the Dhamma in accordance with the Way of the Dhamma,
He is truly the one who gives Puja (Offering) to the Tathagata (Buddha)."
- The Buddha
"My Teaching is not to come and believe (or see),
But to practise."
- The Buddha
"Just as I do not take credit for how good my students are,
Likewise, I bear no liability for how bad they are.
Good or bad depends on themselves
And how much/little effort they put in."
"If I tell, you'll just hear or listen, and you'll forget (ear in, ear out);
If I teach and show, you'll see and you may or may not remember.
But if I involve you and make you do, you'll learn and you'll understand."
"Dhamma is (for) free;
Dhamma is for you and me and everybody.
In Dhamma there is No Secret.
For the gift of Dhamma is Price-less (that means, FREE)."
"Dhamma has a value beyond all wealth, and should not be sold like goods in a market place."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
"Those who truly believe in Buddhism are those who earnestly pursue Truth."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
"If one doesn't understand through practice, one wouldn't understand Buddhism.
Even if one learns (and memorise) the whole Tipitaka (the voluminous recorded teachings of The Buddha), one still will not know."
- Ajahn Chah
"Buddhism : Universal, Timeless Freedom.
The Dhamma - Buddha's Teachings : Universal, Timeless Truth."
"Dhamma can't taught; it has to be experience."
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