Teacher Teacher

Teacher Teacher


In the course of my life, I've come across many people who wants/likes to teach,

Regardless whether they have the innate ability or not.

I remember a yoga 'master', whose classes I used to attend.

On several occasions, he told me,

"XXX is so good because I made them."

He would attribute the success of certain students who are popular and 'good' at yoga, to himself.

However, not once did he talk about those who are not so good.


There was once I had a one-on-one session with him.

Again, he brought up the subject of how teachers are the ones who 'make' the students.

I told him I disagreed.

I told him the students play a part as well,

That it's not wholly the teacher's effort.

As a matter of fact,

Majority of the credit goes to the student's diligence.

He got pretty upset, and kept insisting that it's ALL the teacher's credit.

In order to soothe him down and to maintain harmony,

I smiled and kept quiet.


If you think about it, it's true -

Based on his argument,

If the students are good wholly because of the teacher,

Then doesn't it also follow that the students are bad because of the teacher?

Many people I come across only want praise and to take credit for things.

When it comes to liability or problems or mistakes,

It's always somebody else's fault.

Never theirs.

NONE wants to bear/shoulder it.

It's sad, isn't it?

Like I said in 'I'm Not Good' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/11/im-not-good.html,

"In good, there's bad; In bad there's good".

2 sides of the same coin.

When you have one, you'll have the other.

This is part of the 8 worldly conditions -

Just the way things are.

However, alot of people, in their want to be somebody,

Only paint/see/fantasise the beautiful picture/result of things.

They only want and dream of the good, the pleasant, the gifts they'll receive, the praise, the adoration etc.

They don't want/see/include the 'bad'.

Like I said in 'The Teacher and The Teachings Part 2' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/05/teacher-and-teachings-part-2-teachings.html,

"With power comes responsibility.

But how many can,

And are willing to be responsible,

Not just for the good,

But ALSO for the bad

That comes along with it?"


To me, it's always a principle that,

"Just as I do NOT take credit for how good my students are,

Likewise, I do NOT bear the liability for how bad they are.

I do my best in teaching/guiding them to the best of my ability;

Good or bad depends on how much,

Or how little,

Effort they put in."




"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, Dhammapada verse 276




'There are three frames of reference that a Noble One cultivates,

Cultivating which he is a teacher fit to instruct a group.'

There is the case where The Teacher —

Out of sympathy, seeking their well-being —

Teaches The Dhamma to his disciples:

'This is for your well-being, this is for your happiness.'

His disciples do NOT listen or lend ear or apply their minds to gnosis.

Turning aside, they stray from The Master's message.

In this case The Tathagata is not satisfied nor is he sensitive to satisfaction,

Yet he remains untroubled, mindful, & alert.

This is the first frame of reference...

Furthermore, there is the case where The Master —

Out of sympathy, seeking their well-being —

Teaches The Dhamma to his disciples:

'This is for your well-being, this is for your happiness.'

Some of his disciples do NOT listen or lend ear or apply their minds to gnosis.

Turning aside, they stray from The Master's message.

But some of his disciples listen, lend ear, & apply their minds to gnosis.

They do NOT turn aside or stray from The Master's message.

In this case The Tathagata is not satisfied nor is he sensitive to satisfaction;

At the same time, he is not dissatisfied nor is he sensitive to dissatisfaction.

Free from both satisfaction & dissatisfaction,

He remains equanimous, mindful, & alert.

This is the second frame of reference...

Furthermore, there is the case where The Master —

Out of sympathy, seeking their well-being —

Teaches The Dhamma to his disciples:

'This is for your well-being, this is for your happiness.'

His disciples listen, lend ear, & apply their minds to gnosis.

They do NOT turn aside or stray from The Master's message.

In this case The Tathagata is satisfied and is sensitive to satisfaction,

Yet he remains untroubled, mindful, & alert.

This is the third frame of reference...

'There are three frames of reference that a Noble One cultivates, cultivating which he is a teacher fit to instruct a group.'

Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said.

— MN 137

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 137




"As a solid rock is unshaken by the wind,

Even so The Wise are unshaken by praise or blame."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 81




"A person governed by Dhamma is self-sufficient,

And is able to find peace and bliss in ALL circumstances.

There is NOTHING which can disturb and upset the mind

Which has been Absolutely Purified

And which is UNshakeable."

- Venerable Ajahn Mun




* * * Read

1) 'Motherhood' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/01/motherhood.html

2) 'The Path' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/03/path.html

3) 'The Buddha - Dead or Alive?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/01/buddha-dead-or-alive.html

4) 'The Buddha, Nibbana' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/06/buddha-nibbana.html

Decline of Countries

Decline of Countries


Looking at the state of many countries today,

I see how countries rise and fall,

Due to the ignorance/foolishness of the rulers and its people.

I recall the incident in The Ratana Sutta ( http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2006/09/ratana-sutta-buddha.html),

Where the country Vesali, before they met with The Buddha,

Was faced with 3 major diasters -

Famine/Drought, Evil spirits and an outbreak of Epidemic -

All because the ruler and the people do not know The Buddha's Teachings on the factors of non-decline.

As such, I feel it's good to put these factors down in my blog so that we can all be more aware.

Happy Reading!


The Aparihaniya-Dhamma / The Factors of Non-Decline

Thus have I heard -

Once The Blessed One dwelt at Rajagaha, on the hill called Vultures' Peak.

At that time the king of Magadha, Ajatasattu, son of the Videhi queen,

Desired to wage war against the Vajjis.

He spoke in this fashion:

"These Vajjis, powerful and glorious as they are, I shall annihilate them, I shall make them perish, I shall utterly destroy them."

And Ajatasattu, the king of Magadha, addressed his chief minister, the brahmin Vassakara, saying:

"Come, brahmin, go to The Blessed One, pay homage in my name at His feet, wish Him good health, strength, ease, vigour, and comfort, and speak thus:

'O Lord, Ajatasattu, the king of Magadha, desires to wage war against the Vajjis.

He has spoken in this fashion:

"These Vajjis, powerful and glorious as they are, I shall annihilate them, I shall make them perish, I shall utterly destroy them."'

And whatever The Blessed One should answer you, keep it well in mind and inform me;

For Tathagatas do not speak falsely."

"Very well, sire," said the brahmin Vassakara in assent to Ajatasattu, king of Magadha.

And he ordered a large number of magnificent carriages to be made ready, mounted one himself, and accompanied by the rest, drove out to Rajagaha towards Vultures' Peak.

He went by carriage as far as the carriage could go, then dismounting, he approached The Blessed One on foot.

After exchanging courteous greetings with The Blessed One, together with many pleasant words, he sat down at one side and addressed The Blessed One thus:

"Venerable Gotama, Ajatasattu, the king of Magadha, pays homage at the feet of the Venerable Gotama and wishes Him good health, strength, ease, vigour, and comfort.

He desires to wage war against the Vajjis, and he has spoken in this fashion:

'These Vajjis, powerful and glorious as they are, I shall annihilate them, I shall make them perish, I shall utterly destroy them.'"

(Conditions of a Nation's Welfare)

At that time the Venerable

Ananda was standing behind The Blessed One, fanning him, and The Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ananda thus:

"What have you heard, Ananda:

Do the Vajjis have frequent gatherings, and are their meetings well attended?"

"I have heard, Lord, that this is so."

"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

"What have you heard, Ananda:

Do the Vajjis assemble and disperse peacefully and attend to their affairs in concord?"

"I have heard, Lord, that they do."

"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

"What have you heard, Ananda:

Do the Vajjis neither enact new decrees nor abolish existing ones, but proceed in accordance with their ancient constitutions?"

"I have heard, Lord, that they do."

"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

"What have you heard, Ananda:

Do the Vajjis show respect, honour, esteem, and veneration towards their elders and think it worthwhile to listen to them?"

"I have heard, Lord, that they do."

"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

"What have you heard, Ananda:

Do the Vajjis refrain from abducting women and maidens of good families and from detaining them?"

"I have heard, Lord, that they refrain from doing so."

"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

"What have you heard, Ananda:

Do the Vajjis show respect, honour, esteem, and veneration towards their shrines, both those within the city and those outside it, and do not deprive them of the due offerings as given and made to them formerly?"

"I have heard, Lord, that they do venerate their shrines, and that they do not deprive them of their offerings."

"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

"What have you heard, Ananda:

Do the Vajjis duly protect and guard the arahants, so that those who have not come to the realm yet might do so, and those who have already come might live there in peace?"

"I have heard, Lord, that they do."

"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline."

And The Blessed One addressed the brahmin Vassakara in these words:

"

Once, brahmin, I dwelt at Vesali, at the Sarandada shrine,

And there it was that I taught the Vajjis these seven conditions leading to (a nation's) welfare.

So long, brahmin, as these endure among the Vajjis, and the Vajjis are known for it, their growth is to be expected, not their decline."

Thereupon the brahmin Vassakara spoke thus to The Blessed One:

"If the Vajjis, Venerable Gotama, were endowed with only one or another of these conditions leading to welfare, their growth would have to be expected, not their decline.

What then of all the seven?

No harm, indeed, can be done to the Vajjis in battle by Magadha's king, Ajatasattu, except through treachery or discord.

Well, then, Venerable Gotama, we will take our leave, for we have much to perform, much work to do."

"Do as now seems fit to you, brahmin."

- http://www.mahindarama.com/e-tipitaka/Digha-Nikaya/dn-16.htm

- The Buddha, The MahaPariNibbana Sutta, Digha Nikaya 16




"The society whose material development has outstripped its mental (spiritual) development

Is sure to experience turmoil, crimes of violence, corruption, cheating etc.

Progress in the knowledge

Or the increase of gadgets for bodily comfort

Are but the increase of the fires that serve only to burn those who feed them."

- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"If there's prosperity in our hearts,

Then the world can live in happiness and peace.

But if there's only material prosperity,

It (material prosperity) can't give the world any happiness (and peace),

But make the world more hot and troubled than before."

- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"The world comes to ruin only if people's spiritual values comes to ruin first.

When spiritual values deteriorate,

Then everything people do becomes just another means of destroying the world

And subverting Dhamma (Truth)."

- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"Money (greed) does NOT make the world go round.

Money (greed) makes the world go DOWN.




"Ground the people and children in Wisdom, Morals and Virtues,

Success and Happiness will follow.

Ground the people and children in Greed, Hatred and Delusion,

Sadness, Sorrow, Pain and Suffering will ensue."




"Contrary to popular conventional and humanistic beliefs,

Prosperity is NOT about

And does NOT mean

External wealth or worldly possessions;

Prosperity is, and mean Inner Virtues and Morality."



* * * Read

1) 'Purpose/ All We Need to Do ........' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/11/purpose-all-we-need-to-do-is.html

2) 'The Four Noble Truth' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/09/four-noble-truths.html

Spot The Mara

Spot The Mara


I recall once an ex-student of mine who proudly related an account about her young teenage daughter to the class.

Her young daughter, 12 years of age then, met with my student's boss.

When the young girl saw that the boss was being chauffeured, she asked,

"How come my mother has to drive her own car, while you are being chauffeured?"

At that, the boss replied,

"That's because I'm the boss!"

Hearing that, the girl in her growing up years said,

"When I grow up, I also want to be boss."


Now, compare this with the following -

What The Buddha said to His Order of Bhikkhus

When they spoke in awe about the reverence and respect that The Buddha received from the devas, nagas, Brahmas, and humans alike -

How each group tried to outdo each other in paying homage to The Buddha :

"O Bhikkhus, such a wonderful manner of making obeisance to me is NOT attributable to my glories as a Buddha .....

It's attributed to the beneficial results which I, as a Bodhisatta, accrue, due to the good I've done in past existence."


Looking at the 2 replies,

Who do you think will benefit the recipient/s more?

Who, do you think truly cares for them, and is for their long-term welfare and benefit?

Who do you think understand and correctly expound on the cause and effects/results of things?

Who is exhibiting/showing the virtues of true humility, and the benefits of doing good?

Who is encouraging conceit, vanity, laziness and sensual indulgence?

And, last but NOT least,

Who, do you think, is the Mara here?




"If by giving up a lesser happiness,

One may behold a greater one,

Let The Wise Man give up the lesser happiness

In consideration of the greater happiness."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 290




"Dig up the roots of craving

Just as one who wishes to have the fragrant root digs up the birana grass.

Don't let Mara destroy you again and again.

As the flood destroys the reed."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 337




"I seek after NOTHING.

For what is the use of seeking anything

When I have everything within myself?"

- Venerable Ajahn Mun




"(But) for ignorant minds,

Vanity and self-delusion always do them a world of harm.

Their greatness lies in body, birth, name, rank or self-importance .....

This is why there is so much trouble and turmoil everywhere."

- Venerable Ajahn Mun




* * * Read

1) 'What Do These ALL Mean? - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/03/what-do-these-all-mean.html

2) 'Kamma Kamma Part 2' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/04/kamma-kamma-part-2-lucky.html

Few and Many

Few and Many


"Riches destroy the Foolish

But NOT those who seek the other shore (i.e. Nibbana)."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 355



As he was sitting to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said to The Blessed One:

"Just now, Lord, while I was alone in seclusion,

This train of thought arose in my awareness:

'Few are those people in the world who, when acquiring lavish wealth,

Don't become intoxicated & heedless,

Don't become greedy for sensual pleasures,

And don't mistreat other beings.

Many more are those who, when acquiring lavish wealth,

Become intoxicated & heedless,

Become greedy for sensual pleasures,

And mistreat other beings.'"


"That's the way it is, great king! That's the way it is!

Few are those people in the world who, when acquiring lavish wealth,

Don't become intoxicated & heedless,

Don't become greedy for sensual pleasures,

And don't mistreat other beings.

Many more are those who, when acquiring lavish wealth,

Become intoxicated & heedless,

Become greedy for sensual pleasures,

And mistreat other beings."


That is what The Blessed One said.


Having said that, The One Well-Gone, The Teacher, said further:

"Impassioned with sensual possessions,

Greedy, dazed by sensual pleasures,

They DON'T awaken to the fact

That they've gone too far —

Like deer into a trap laid out.

Afterwards it's BITTER for them:

Evil for them the result."

— SN 3.6

- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya 3.6




"Hard is the life of a modest one

Who ever seeks Purity,

Is Detached, Humble, Clean in life,

And Reflective."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 245

Monkhood is NOT equal to Enlightenment

Monkhood is NOT equal to Enlightenment

.

A couple of years back, I met up with an ex-student who made the following comment :

"It's sad that XX and XX are doing this, considering they're enlightened."

My reply to him was,

"They're NOT enlightened. It does NOT mean they're monks means they're enlightened."

On the spot, I corrected my ex-student's wrong view.

During that time, 2 highly acclaimed renowned monks who are heading their own group of monastics,

With vast number of followers and supporters,

Were in the news because of some wrong doing.

One is even a leader.

Now think about it :

If the monks were truly enlightened,

They would have given up on name, fortune, fame, recognition, power, glory, land, estate and praise etc,

And NOT hanker, covet or thirst after them.

For a truly enlightened one, there would be NO Such thing as mine (clinging/attachment),

I (conceit/ego), and self (wrong/false view).

They would have let go.

(P.S. As a matter of fact, not only are they NOT enlightened, they're also NOT, and NOT FIT to be monks.

As The Buddha said,

"How can an ill-disciplined man who utters lies be a monk? He's NOT a monk."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 264. )

Like I said in 'Why Can't They?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-cant-they.html,

"Many monastics nowadays are simply riding on the good name of The Buddha and His Savaka Arahants,

And taking advantage of it."

As Ajahn Boowa himself said,

"Even monks have defilements." (Read 'Dhamma is ..... ' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/12/dhamma-is.html)

Notwithstanding the present time,

Even in The Buddha's time,

There are the Ariya Bhikkhus (meaning : Noble Enlightened Bhikkhus - Bhikkhus who have attained at least Stream Entry)

And ordinary Bhikkhus (i.e. ignoble, unenlightened normal worldlings).

The Buddha, upon the request of Venerable Sariputta, His First Chief Disciple,

Said in one of the verses as He expound The Buddhavamsa,

"Dear Son, Sariputta,

There are certain bhikkhus,

Who even in my lifetime,

Have to depart life as mere trainees without having attained Arahatta-phala (Arahantship).

They are reproached by The Wise."

Why?

Bacause as I quoted The Buddha in "Mara's Tenfold Army" - 17/01/11 :

"And there are recluses who die still as worldlings amidst the monastic materials of sensuality

In the form of the 4 requisites :

Lodging, food, clothing and medicine,

Because they CANNOT give them up."

So you see, it does NOT mean that a monk don the yellow robe means that the monk is enlightened,

Or have an elevated status.

Monks do go to woeful states on account of their unwholesome, unrighteous deeds and behaviour. (See the 2 Dhammapada accounts below).

So, enlightened or NOT, please watch carefully.

.

Dhammapada Verse 240

Ayasa' va malam samuttthitam - tadutthaya tam'eva khadati

Etam atidhona carinam - saka kammani nayanti duggatim.

Just as rust is formed from iron, and corrodes the iron from which it is formed,

So also, his own deeds lead the transgressor to a lower plane of existence.

XVIII:3 A monk who was born as an insect (Tissa)

Once there was a monk in Savatthi named Tissa.

One day, he received a set of fine robes and was very pleased.

He wanted to wear them the next day, but he died that very night,

And because he was unduly attached to the fine set of robes,

He was reborn as an insect and lived within the folds of the robes.

As there was no one to inherit his belongings,

It was decided that the other monks should share this particular set of robes.

When the monks were preparing to share it out among themselves,

The insect was very much agitated and cried out,

"They are destroying my robes!"

The Buddha, on hearing his cry by means of his Supernormal powers of hearing,

Advised the bhikkhus to dispose of the robes only at the end of seven days.

On the eighth day, the robes that belonged to Tissa were shared out by the bhikkhus.

Later, the Buddha explained the reasons for his admonition.

"Tissa was attached to this particular set of robes at the time of his death and so he was reborn as an insect for a few days and stayed in the folds of the robes.

When you all were preparing to share out the robes,

Tissa the insect was very much in agony and was running about to and fro in the folds of the robes.

If you had taken the robes at that time,

Tissa the insect would have felt very bitter against you and he would have had to be born in a suffering state.

Now, however, he has been reborn in a happy state due to his previous Kamma and that is why I have allowed you to take the robes.

Indeed bhikkhus, attachment is very dangerous;

As rust corrodes iron from which it is formed, so also,

Attachment destroys one and sends one to lower forms of existence.

A bhikkhu should not indulge too much in the use of the four requisites or be attached to them because attachment will delay the process of mental purification.’

.

Dhammapada Verse 337

Manujassa pamutta carino - tanha vaddhati maluva viya

So plavati hurahuram - phalam iccham'va vanasmim vanaro.

The craving of the person addicted to careless living grows like a creeper.

He jumps from life to life like a monkey in the forest looking for fruit.

Yam esa sahati jammi - tanha loke visattika

Soka tassa pavaddhanti - abhivattham'va biranam.

Whoever in this world is overcome by this wretched clinging thirst,

His sorrows grow like birana grass after rain.

Yo c'etam sahati jammim - tanham loke duraccayam

Soka tamba papatanti - udabindu'va pokkhara.

But whosoever in this world overcomes this wretched craving so difficult to overcome,

His sorrows fall away from him like water-drops from a lotus-leaf.

Tam vo vadami bhaddam vo - yavant' ettha samagata

Tanhaya mulam khanatha - usirattho'va biranam

Ma vo nalam va soto' va -maro bhanji punappunam.

Therefore, I say to you:

Greetings to you all who have assembled here!

Dig up the root of craving just as one who wishes to have the fragrant root digs up the birana grass.

Don't let Mara destroy you again and again, as the flood destroys the reed.

XXIV:1 The golden fish with stinking breath (Kapila)

One day, some fishermen of Savatthi caught a fish with a beautiful golden body.

Since the fish was so beautiful, they presented it to the king who in turn took the fish to The Buddha.

As soon as the fish opened its mouth, a foul smell spread all around the Jetavana monastery.

The king then asked The Buddha why such a beautiful fish should have such a foul smell.

The Enlightened One then revealed that the fish in one of his past existences was a learned bhikkhu named Kapila during the time of Kassapa Buddha.

Because of his deep knowledge of The Dhamma, he had gained much fame and honour.

He also became very conceited and looked down upon the other bhikkhus.

When the other bhikkhus pointed out to him what was proper or not proper,

He invariably retorted, ‘How much do you know?’

Implying that he knew much more than those bhikkhus.

In the course of time, most of the bhikkhus avoided him.

On one occasion, the bhikkhus did not join him when he was reciting The Fundamental Precepts for the bhikkhus (i.e., The Patimokkha).

Observing that the bhikkhus remained silent, Kapila said,

'There is no such thing as Sutta, or Vinaya.

It makes no difference whether you listen to The Patimokkha or not'

And left the congregation.

Thus Kapila was hindering the development and growth of The Teaching (Sasana).

For his misdeeds, Kapila had to suffer for a long period life after life.

The Buddha then explained that because Kapila had taught the sublime Dhamma to many,

He had been endowed with a golden body as a fish,

But because he had reviled and abused the bhikkhus and The Dhamma

He was afflicted with a stinking breath.

The Enlightened One then delivered a discourse on the benefits of combining learning with practice.

.

.

"It is better for one to eat a red-hot iron ball burning like a flame,

Than to eat almsfood offered by the people,

If one is WITHOUT morality

And UNrestrained in thought, word and deed."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 308

.

.

"Though much he recites The Sacred Texts,

But acts NOT accordingly,

That heedless man is like a cowherd who counts others' kine.

He has NO share in the fruits of The Holy Life."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 19

.

.

"Any loose act,

Any corrupt practice,

A life of dubious holiness -

NONE of these is of much benefit."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 312

.

.

"Many men wearing the yellow robe up to their necks

Who have an evil disposition

And are unrestrained in thought, word and deed

Are reborn in a woeful state

On account of their evil deeds."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 307

.

.

"Just as kusa grass wrongly grasped cuts the hand,

Even so the monkhood wrongly handled

Drags one to a woeful state."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 311

.

.

"Not wandering naked,

Nor matted locks,

Nor filth,

Nor fasting,

Nor lying on the ground,

Nor dust,

Nor ashes,

Nor striving to squat on the heels,

Can purify a mortal who has NOT overcome doubts."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 141

.

.

"He is NOT therefore an Ariya (Noble) if he harms living beings;

Through his harmlessness towards ALL living beings,

Is he called an Ariya (Noble)."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 270

.

.

"Not by a shaven head does an undisciplined man who utters lies become a monk.

How can one who is full of desire and greed be a monk?"

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 264

.

.

"He is NOT thereby a bhikkhu merely because he seeks alms from others;

By following The Whole Code of Morality,

One certainly becomes a bhikkhu,

And NOT merely by seeking alms."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 266

.

.

"Though gaily decked if he should live in peace,

With passions subdued,

And senses controlled,

Certain of The Four Paths of Sainthood,

Perfectly Pure,

Laying aside the rod in his relation towards ALL living beings,

A Brahmana indeed is he,

An ascetic is he,

A bhikkhu is he."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 142

.

.

"From craving springs grief,

From craving springs fear;

For him who is WHOLLY free from craving,

There is NO grief,

Much less fear."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 216

.

.

"The bhikkhu who is calm in body,

Calm in speech,

Calm in mind,

Who is well-composed,

Who has given up worldly things,

Is truly called

'A Peaceful One'."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 378

.

.

"The person who wears dust-free robes,

Who is lean,

Whose veins stand out,

Who meditates Alone in the forest, -

Him I call a brahmana."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 395

.

.

* * * Read

1) 'Saving Others' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/07/saving-others.html

2) 'Taking Refuge' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/08/taking-refuge.html

3) 'The Ratana' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/06/ratana.html

4) 'The Teacher and The Teachings Part 1' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/04/teacher-and-teachings-part-1-teacher.html

5) 'The Teacher and The Teachings Part 2' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/05/teacher-and-teachings-part-2-teachings.html

Liar Liar

Liar Liar


As he was sitting to one side,

King Pasenadi of Kosala said to The Blessed One:

"Just now, Lord, as I was sitting in judgement,

I saw that even affluent nobles, affluent brahmans, & affluent householders —

Rich, with great wealth & property,

With vast amounts of gold & silver, vast amounts of valuables & commodities, vast amounts of wealth & grain —

Tell deliberate lies with sensual pleasures as the cause, sensual pleasures as the reason,

Simply for the sake of sensual pleasures.

Then, the thought occurred to me:

'I've had enough of this judging! Let some other fine fellow be known for his judgements!'"


"That's the way it is, great king!

That's the way it is!

Even affluent nobles, affluent brahmans, & affluent householders...

Tell deliberate lies ........ simply for the sake of sensual pleasures.

(And) That will lead to their long-term harm & pain."

That is what The Blessed One said.


Having said that,

The One Well-Gone, The Teacher, said further:

"Impassioned with sensual possessions,

Greedy, dazed by sensual pleasures,

They don't awaken to the fact

That they've gone too far —

Like fish into a trap set out.

Afterwards it's bitter for them:

Evil for them the result."

— SN 3.7

- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya 3.7
.

"He who is stained with defilements

Without self-control and Truthfulness,

Is NOT worthy of wearing the yellow robes."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 9




"Not by a shower of gold coins does contentment arise in sensual pleasures.

Of little sweetness, And painful, are sensual pleasures.

Knowing this, the wise man finds no delight even in heavenly pleasures.

The disciple of The Fully Enlightened One delights in the destruction of craving."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 186-187




"Easy is the life of a man who is shameless,

Bold like a crow,

A fault finder, insolent, impudent and corrupt."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 244




"Bhikkhus! One who has abandoned the course of telling The Truth,

And pursued the course of telling lies.

Has Also forsaken the advantages of attainment of Nibbana

And rebirth in the worlds of deva and humans,

And as such, there is NO immoral act that these people,

Destined for the planes of woes,

Will NOT dare to perform."

- The Buddha, The Discourse given by The Buddha after Cincamanavika's false accusation.


* * * Read

1) 'The Future' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/11/future.html

2) 'Honesty and Courage' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/01/honesty-and-courage.html

3) 'How Buddha Taught Part 3 : Rahula' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-buddha-taught-part-3-rahula.html

Mara Tries To Stop The Buddha From Sharing The Dhamma/Truth

Mara Tries To Stop The Buddha From Sharing The Dhamma/Truth


Despite The Buddha's victory over Mara,

Mara refused to concede defeat.

Unrepentent and filled with vengence and conceit,

Mara relentlessly continued to hound and attack The Buddha,

And tried to stop The Buddha from sharing The Dhamma throughout The Buddha's life.

There was an exchange between The Buddha and Mara just after The Buddha enlightened the 5 ascetics and others,

Which I find is very cute -

One of shameless sour pettiness,

The other of firm integrity.

As such, I'm putting it down to share with all.

Enjoy!


Mara (thinking to himself) : 'As if planning to wage a big war, this monk Gotama (i.e. The Buddha) is sending out 60 Arahants to disseminate The Dhamma.

How will I be if all the 60 Arahants teach The Dhamma as planned by the monk Gotama?

I shall now deter the monk Gotama from doing so!'


So thinking, Mara went to the presence of The Buddha.


Mara : 'O monk Gotama! You are bound and caught in all the snares of impurities such as craving and greed,

BUT especially the snare of craving and greed for sensual pleasure of devas and the humans.

You are tied down in the bondage of kilesa (i.e. defilements) in my prison of the 3 existences!

O monk Gotama, you will not for that reason be able to escape in any way, from my domain of the 3 existences!'


The Buddha : You evil Mara! I, The Buddha, am, in fact, one who have successfully and completely free myself from ALL the snares of such impurities as craving and greed said by you.

I have cleared myself from the snare of craving and greed for sensual pleasure

Especially of the devas and the humans.

I am also one who Truly escaped,

Once and for all,

From the bondage of kilesa in the prison of the 3 existences.

As a matter of fact, I have totally vanquished you in this battle of kilesa.

You have in fact suffered total absolute defeat!'


Mara : O monk Gotama! Such a snare as passion/lust is generated in the minds of ALL beings and NONE is capable of escaping from it.

Even individuals and monks who possess high knowledge and great supernatural powers are bound.

You, monk Gotama, is likewise bound by me.

And I shall kill you with that snare of passion.

You shall in no way, escape from my domain of the 3 existences.'


The Buddha : You evil Mara, heretic and murderer of all beings in the world.

There are undeniably the 5 objects of sensual pleasure -

Various sights, sounds, taste, odours/smells, and contacts,

Which can delight and give pleasure to the devas and humans.

Your threat of passion will only be able to bind those who are NOT freed from craving and greed for attachment and enjoyment of the said 5 objects of sensual pleasure.

I, The Buddha, however, am entirely freed from craving, greed, desire, passion and lust for the attachment and enjoyment of these 5 objects of sensual pleasure.

In this context therefore, I have TOTALLY vanquished you.

You have, whether you admit it or not,

Suffer Absolute DEFEAT !!'


Looking sad and dejected, Mara muttered to himself :

'The Glorious Buddha has known me for what I am.

The Buddha of Truth has known me for what I am!"

With that, Mara disappeared from the presence of The Buddha.




" 'O Ascetic Gotama, if you know the good secure path leading to Nibbana,

Go alone.

Why do you want to teach others?'

'O Mara, however hard you try to stop/hinder me, I shall keep on teaching The Dhamma - The correct Path leading to Nibbana.

If I am asked about the good Path and Nibbana, which is free from death

By the devas, humans and Brahmas, who are desirous of reaching Nibbana,

I Shall Teach them.' "

- The Buddha, The Padhana Sutta




"And I discovered that profound Truth,

So difficult to perceive, difficult to understand,

Tranquilizing and sublime,

Which is NOT to be gained by mere reasoning

And is visible ONLY to The Wise.

The world, however, is given to pleasure, delighted with pleasure, enchanted with pleasure.

Truly such beings will hardly understand

The Law of Conditionality, The Dependent Arising of Everything,

Incomprehensible to them will also be The End of existence conditions;

The forsaking of every substranum of rebirth;

The fading away of craving, detachment, extinction, Nibbana.

Yet there are beings whose eyes are only a little covered with dust -

They will understand The Truth."

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya Sutta no.26
.

"He who is free from craving and from attachment,

Who is skilled in the knowledge of the significance of terms,

Who knows the grouping of letters and their sequence,

Is indeed called, 'One who has lived his last,

A man of great wisdom,

A Great Man'. "

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 352




"Through many a birth in Samsara have I wandered in vain

Seeking the builder of this house of life.

Repeated birth is indeed suffering!

O house builder you are seen -

You shall build NO house ever again.

For thy rafters are broken

Thy ridgepoles shattered.

My mind has reached The Unconditioned

I have attained The Destruction of Craving! "

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 153/154




* * * So, on this Lunar New Year,

As you go about enjoying yourselves through the 5 Senses,

Do remember The Buddha's words,

If you do NOT want to be bound by Mara.

Have A Happy 'Sensual-Free' Lunar New Year, Everyone!

With Love,

Maitre-Light