Completion

Completion



What I'm feeling now is beyond words.

But some of the lyrics of the song 'One Moment in Time' by Whitney Houston describe what and how I feel.

Please note that some parts have been changed to express my feelings more completely.



"Each day I live

I want it to be

A day to give

The best of me


I'm only one

But not alone

My finest day

Is yet unknown


I broke my heart

In every 'game'

To taste the sweet

(Instead) I taste the pain


I rise and fall

Yet through it all

Nothing's changed

Everything's the same


In the past,

I wanted it all

No time for rest

But now,

I lay down my plans

And leave the chance

Here in my hands


I want one moment in time

When I'm more than what I thought I could be

When all of my dreams I discard it away

For I know the answer lie deep within me


Give me that one moment in time

When I'm through with 'destiny'

I know I can be a winner

If only I let 'me' be


Let me seize that one moment in time

And make it shine

And in that one moment of time

I will feel

What's Eternity


And that's also when

I know

I will be free ........

I will be free ........"

"Health, contentment and trust are your greatest possessions;

And Freedom your greatest joy.

- The Buddha

"Health is the highest gain.

Contentment is the greatest wealth.

The trusted, whether related or not, are the best kinsman.

Nibanna is the highest bliss."

- The Buddha

Competition and Consequences - (Part 2) Consequences

Competition and Consequences - (Part 2) Consequences



You know, some people have a huge "apple pie" in front of them already.

Yet, they're not satisfied.

They can't even finish or cope with their own "apple pie".

Yet when they look to the right, they see someone with a "strawberry pie", and they want it.

Then, they look to the left, they see another with a "blueberry pie", and they want it, too.

Be careful ...

If you can't even handle your own "apple pie", avoid hankering or coveting after others' "pies".

You may get "indigestion".

The stress and competitive nature of our current world creates an atmosphere of greed and unhappiness, selfishness and immorality.

As I said in 'Let's talk about Love' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/01/lets-talk-about-love_09.html, there's too much negativity right now.

Let's all take the call of the government and be an entrepreneur.

An entrepreneur of positivity, that is.

I assure you you'll earn lots of money.

Why else do you think motivational speakers are earning big bucks?

The negativity market is saturated already.

Too much depression, too much sorrows, sadness and pain, too much anger, enmity and hate.

You'll not be profitable selling negativity.

The places where I used to work, a lot of negativity.

Lots of gossiping and complaining.


Like I said in "Let's talk about Love" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/01/lets-talk-about-love_09.html,

One gossips, all gossip.

One complains, all complain.

I always smile and laugh all the time.

The staff likes to talk to me.

Even the aunties say that when they see me smile/laugh/happy, it makes them happy and want to smile.

Trust me, positivity is a rare commodity.Sell it!

No money in your bank account, never mind.

But I assure you, you'll earn lots of good karma.

People will love you.

Of course there are those who say or call me names like, "You siow(mad) or what?!" "Crazy woman!" "You forgot to take your medicine hah?" "Time to take your medicine!"

I just laugh it off and forgive them.Sometimes, I join in the fun too and reply, "Ya! Ya!" :)

They don't realise that I'm not the one with 'illness', they are.

They are drowning themselves in negativity, always unhappy, unsatisfied, suffering in samsara, chasing after all those material things, coveting after all those 'have-nots'.

And because they're unhappy, they want others to be unhappy and suffering like them, too.

Very sad.

The world is filled with so many of such people.

And when they see or find someone who's truly happy and smiling, they don't like it.

They get uncomfortable.

They think or feel that this odd one out must be mad or crazy.

If only they realised that they're the ones who don't get it.

That their world is just too negative and miserable, and that there's no light or happiness in their world.

Always distract the mind with positive happy thoughts, and in the process, you'll increase your immune system and not fall sick so easily.


Remember this Always :

Thoughts = A B C

If you keep thinking negative thoughts, it'll affect your speech and deeds (A: Action).

And when you keep speaking and acting in a negative manner, it becomes B - your Behaviour.

Once you continue to behave in a negative way,

It becomes a habit, then over a period of time,it becomes You - the Consequence. (C)

In other words,

Thoughts become you.

You are what you think.

So be careful.


Cos' negative thoughts and emotions gives out negative energy which affects the whole atmosphere and they usually hurt not just others, but also ourselves.

Likewise, positive thoughts and emotions gives out positive energy.

So, Be Positive, Stay Happy and Smile Always!

Cos' our Mother Earth needs and depends on You - Your positive energy that is.

* (Please refer to "Earth" - Do you know she's in pain - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/02/earth.html).




"Man can change the whole atmosphere according to his thoughts, speech and actions.

In this respect, man not only can mould himself, but also adjust the destiny of the whole world."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda




"Just as the light of a single candle can light a million zillion other candles without itself getting extinguished,

So the Kindness, Compassion and Happiness of one, too, can spread to the whole world."




"Physical conditions are largely determined by mental states.

The body is what a man makes by the form of his thoughts."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda




"We are what we think;

All that we are arises with out thoughts,

We make the world."

- The Buddha




"Think not lightly of evil, saying :

It will not come to me.

Drop by drop the pitcher is filled.

So the fool becomes saturated by evil,

Little by little he gathers it.

The wise man gathers worthy thoughts and deeds,

Bit by bit he builds his pile of Happiness."

- The Buddha




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

- The Buddha

Competition and Consequences - (Part 1) Competition

Competition and Consequences - (Part 1) Competition



We're told we live in a highly competitive society/world by people of authority - our parents, our teachers, our government, our bosses etc etc etc.

To compete, we have to move/act fast. If not, we'll lose out and be last.

In the process, we live in a fast society/world where everything is fast.

We eat fast, we drink fast, we talk fast.

Even going in to the MRT is fast.

Not forgetting the speed at which some get their seats - super fast.

In the midst of all these 'fastness', we lose our temper fast, we lose our health fast, we lose our minds fast, we lose our morality and virtues fast.

And the result?

We also die fast.



Don't get me wrong.

Efficiency is one thing.

Being over efficient is another.

Moderation is the key.



Cos' with the fast pace comes the effects - ailments of not just the body, but worst, the mind.

I've heard of many stories of people who behaved in a mentally unsound way.

I've come across a few myself.

I'm sure you have, too.

They're not necessarily poor or uneducated.

As a matter of fact, most seems educated, speaks perfect crisp English, looks well-off and established.



To me, Aids, cancers, heart diseases etc are not the only illnesses we should be concerned about.

Mental illness and the prevalence of it is also something we should all be wary of cos' it's rising in an alarming rate.

In fact, it should take precedence over the rest.

All the stress and fast pace of the rat race of our modern world where inventions and decisions are made in a split second are producing factories of 'lunatics', so to speak.

Just a few examples :

Why do you think people get angry and hit their computers when their computers crash or break down?

Or, scold the traffic light when it turns red?

Temporary insanity, that's why.



People are tired.

Everyone is tired.

Tired from all the rushing about, from having to do things all the time, that there's no time to rest, to take a breather, or to appreciate the beauty of the little nature that's still around us, that grows alongside of us.

Everyone is mentally exhausted, drained, burnt-out, and therefore, 'insane'.

My question is, why do we have to 'fight' to be first?

Why don't, or can't we 'fight' to be last?

Or, better yet, to be in the middle?

Being fast is easy.

The world is moving fast enough as it is, perhaps we should have a competition to see who's the slowest, or who can sit still and do nothing for the longest time.

I'm sure the Meditating monks and nuns who truly practise the way will win this hands down.

Someone once suggested that we should have a soccer league of compassion : If the team wants the ball, you pass it to them.

If they can't score, you score it in your own net for them.

I think that that will be a really interesting soccer match to watch.

Notwithstanding the above, why even fight or compete at all in the first place?

Why go to wars with each other?

There is no victory in war.

The victors rejoice.

The defeated sulk and vow revenge.

Round and round the cycle goes, history repeating itself and never ends.


As the Buddha says,

"Victory breeds hatred.

The defeated live in pain.

Happily the peaceful live,

Giving up victory and defeat."



How nice it would be if everyone 'fights' to be loving and kind, to be gracious and compassionate, to be helpful and generous,

And not fight out of anger, hate, jealousy, grudges, greed, or because of history, or because the authorities or gurus say so.

Then this world will be a much happier and more peaceful place to live in.

Don't you think?

Then and only then will there peace on Earth and love for all sentient beings.

Everyone wants to change the world, but no one wants, or is willing to change themselves.

We tend to only complain and look at other's faults/mistakes, but we fail to see our own.

If only we realise that to effect a change in the world, we have to change ourselves first.

Cos' everything begins with the (individual) mind, and therefore, will have to end with the (individual) mind.

There's actually and really no need for competition.

To have prosperity in any country, just follow the simple advice given by The Buddha below :

"When the ruler of a country is just and good, the ministers become just and good.

When the ministers are just and good, the higher officials become just and good.

When the higher officials are just and good, the rank and file becomes just and good.

When the rank and file become just and good, the people become just and good."

- The Buddha






"The ultimate source of all happiness and misery is the individual mind.

Individual happiness is conducive to the happiness of the society.

The happiness of the society means the happiness of the nation.

The happiness of nations leads to the happiness of the world."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda






"It is not that something is wrong with the world, but something is wrong with us."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda

.

.

"Have faith and things will come to you;

Not in excess, but just enough."

.

.

"Believe that there is plenty on the planet for everyone.

Avoid behaving like you have to grab everything in sight in case there is not enough, or none, left for you."

.

.

"Self conquest is better than world conquest, and renunciation of the world better than accumulation of all riches of the world."

- The Buddha

Compassion

Compassion



On April 15th, I received an sms about a pet shop closing down and that the remaining dogs to be given away.

If not, they'll be put down.

If you had read my previous entry, "The Boomerang Effect (Part 2)", you would know it hits a soft spot in me and touches on a raw nerve.



Upon receiving that sms, I quickly forward it out, en masse, hoping to save the dogs.

A few of my friends replied and were very willing to help, or adopt.

It was most heartening and comforting to see people extending their hands out to help.

It touches my heart to know that there are people out there who cares about these other beings who share our Earth.

Yet, on the same evening, I received a phone call from a friend who told me that the sms is not true.

I was getting a bit suspicious myself cos' I called the number a few times, and sms the lady, but the phone's off and I receive no reply for the sms.

That's when I double check with the friend who forwarded me the message.

But he assured me it's true.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt.



However, the next day, Monday evening, another friend of mine sms me that it's a scam, and not to forward the message out.

I was confused. I do not know whose words to believe.

But, I sent out an apology sms nonetheless - I didn't want to mislead anyone.

I was kind of sad.

Why would anyone want to forward messages like these?

But what brightens my night was quite a number of my friends replied, telling me, "No worries, it's ok" etc etc etc.

Two actually told me the sms is true. Real.

I supposed by now we all know that the sms was Real.

Cos' on Sunday (22/04/07), the Sunday Times reported about it, and also about how that sms stirs up a storm on half of Singapore.

The report also stated that there's concern that some unscrupulous others may use a similar tactic to attract business.

To such a person, I say, "I forgive you. Please avoid lying or cheating to get business, cos' it's bad for your business, name and karma. Remember the cry wolf story? People may believe you once, twice, but never the third time. Once bitten, twice shy. So please consider carefully."



All in all, what I learned from this entire episode is :

There's hope for Human kind.

Humanity and Compassion is still very much alive and kicking in this supposedly cold and brutal world of ours.

Compassion Won!

Thank you everyone!




PS:

For those of you who want or wish to adopt or keep a pet, please know that getting is easy;

Loving and taking care of them, being a devoted and responsible owner is the hard part.

I've kept pets from my childhood days to adult years.

My first dog came into my life when I was 9.

Animals are very much a part of my life.

It's a lot of hard work, a huge responsibility that requires time, commitment and patience.

But along with it, you get endless pleasures and teachings of becoming a better human being, which money cannot buy.

Not forgetting the unconditional and universal love which only they, the animals, could give to you.



Animals are like babies.

Only difference is human babies grow up to become toddlers, children, teenagers and adults.

Animals don't.

They're babies till the moment they pass away.

They're dependent on you throughout their lives, for the rest of their lives.

So please consider carefully before adopting one.

Thank you.

The Boomerang Effect (Part 2)

The Boomerang Effect (Part 2)



1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, Year 2000.

The darkest days of my life.

I was practically living in Hell.

Nothing was going right.

As a matter of fact, everything was going wrong, falling apart.

Family, career, relationships, Health, money etc etc.



It could not have been worst.

It was also during this period that I did the most cruel and mean thing to my 2 most trusted friends - Sushi and Vicky.

I put them down.

I remember that day very clearly - as if it was only yesterday.

I remember how Vicky did not struggle or put up a fight.

He just lie there and allow himself to be injected.

I was crying and telling him I was sorry, over and over again.

I'll always remember his face as he looked at me, 'telling' me,

"No matter what you're going to do to me, I forgive you."

I wished he had bitten me a bit just as Sushi did, during the struggle.

That would have made it a bit easier.

But he did not.

And that was what made it so hard.

He trusted me, and I betrayed his trust.

Both their trust.



Imagine someone is about to kill you,

and all you do is look them in the eye and tell them,

"Whatever you are going to do to me, please know that I forgive you."



Or, if President George W. Bush and the rest of the world were to say to Osama bin Laden and all the terrorists,

"Whatever all of you are doing to us, we forgive you."



Can any of you do that?

Vicky did.

And he's a dog - a being of the animal realm.

That was total, pure, unconditional, universal love which he gave to me.

And that's also why I dedicate and wrote in my entry "Love" that animals, especially dogs, are the best teachers of Love.

Vicky knows how to love.

He knows what Compassion, Kindness, Forgiveness is.

I don't.

What a joke.



As a human, I am supposed to understand morality, have higher intelligence, but my dog surpassed me in both.

His heart is purer and greater than mine.

I am very ashamed of myself.

I did consider the option of giving them to the SPCA.

But I could not.

They were both abandoned before : Sushi - tied with a raffia string to a pipe/pillar at the void deck of a block in Bishan.

Vicky was found wandering in the park near my house on the night of Christmas Day.



For 2 weeks after I found them, I advertised in the papers, walked them, to find their owners.

I could not find the owner of Sushi but I found that of Vicky's.

They didn't want him anymore, so they just dumped him in the park.

I could not subject them to another abandonment. They would be devastated.

In addition, I could not trust anyone with them.

They were my babies.

I do not know if the next person would abuse them, neglect them, or abandon them, yet again.

I've read too many cases of animal abuse, and seen too many cases of owners giving up their pets at the SPCA, also abused and neglected.

Some have only one eye.

The vets who volunteered at the SPCA would do their best to 'save' the other eye, if possible.

But sometimes, they could not cos' the eye was too badly infected.

Due to neglect.

Others had to have one leg amputated.

Or, sometimes, they come with just 3 limbs, due to accidents and owner's carelessness.

Yet others would have wounds that were not properly treated.

Or huge patches of scalded wounds, with skin hanging.

There were also many others who were starved till their ribs were sticking out.

Some were so afraid of people. So timid. So scared.

It was not just physical abuse, but also mental and emotional abuses which these animals went through.

Yet all these animals, dogs in particular, bear no hate or resentment towards their owners or people.

There were people who would come to the pound to adopt dogs, and would laughed at them, or make cruel and mean crude jokes about them.

And to think that these people are parents who came with their children, driving big expensive cars.

I wonder how their children will be when they grow up.

'What kind of society are we living in?' I asked myself.

It was obvious they were not sincere or serious about adopting animals.

They were only there to exhibit their wealth and/or arrogance.

But who am I to reprimand or reproach them.

As a volunteer, I could only wish that no animals befall into their un-compassionate, unfeeling and indifferent hands.

I could not bear to allow that to happen to Sushi and Vicky.

Not my babies.

I was at my wits' end.

As I signed the papers at the clinic, my mind was so blank. I was numbed.

I didn't know what was happening.

It's like you're under so much pressure that your mind just conked out. I was like a zombie.

When the recep at the clinic looked at their details, Sushi 2yrs, Vicky 1 and the half years (I do not know their age, I merely put down the number of years I kept them) asked me, "May I ask why do you want to put them down? They're so young and healthy."

I looked at her and the tears just flowed.

I could not answer her. I could tell no one of my difficulties.

If I had a choice, I would not have done that.

My circumstances then didn't allow me.

Time was not on my side to think of any other options.

Putting them down, I felt, was the best and only option I was left with which will cause them the least suffering.

I wish I was practising meditation and had some knowledge of Dharma then.

I believe I would have handled my situation a lot better and not buckle under all that pain and pressure I was facing.

Those of you who know me know that I am an animal lover.

I love animals, especially dogs, since I was a child.

I would feed the strays in my neighbourhood. I would never hurt or harm them.

Yet now, I am putting my two babies down.

How ironical is that?

For so many years, I asked myself,

"Why hasn't the boomerang come back to punish me? Why so long?"

I suppose it already came back.

I just didn't 'see' it.

I am being punished.

By myself.

I've carried this with me for the past 10 years.

They say time will heal all wounds.

To me, all that I know is that this wound is still very raw and fresh.

Several times, I thought I've let it go. Forgiven myself.

But who am I kidding?

I was merely covering the wound with a band aid, a plaster.

I've always donated money to the SPCA.

The year of their death, even though I was dead broke, I still donated, this time in memory of them.

Even up to now.

I was a volunteer for the SPCA.

I chose to help out in the pound so that I can be close to the animals.

Especially the dogs.

I would take care of them, talk to them, keep their cages clean, clean up after them, play with them, cradle them, hug them, stroke them till they fall asleep.

In between, they always give me a free 'facial' with their tongues as well.

I don't mind the dirt, the stench or the drooling saliva.

It always makes me feel so happy.

But even that didn't ease the pain.

If it did, I would not be crying now as I write this.

For so many nights, I have cried.

For so many days, my tears just flowed.

There were times when I take walks in the park and the tears would just roll down my cheeks when I think of that day.

It was a horrible, awful thing which I did. Unforgivable.

And I make no excuses for it.

It was not just betrayal. It was murder.

I committed murder. I took 2 lives. The lives of 2 innocent, harmless, defenceless creatures who loved and trusted me. I was a murderer.

It doesn't matter what all you readers would think of me.

Hate me even, and I would say, "Please do."

Cos' perhaps that could help ease my pain, my guilt.

I am no angel.

I am not as great or fantastic as what some of you may perceive me to be.

I am just an ordinary human being who makes mistakes cos' she wants her family and loved ones to be happy.

One of my students commented that she's afraid of chicken pox because of the scars.

I suppose that's what most people are afraid of, too.

However, to me, physical scarring is nothing.

It's the mental and emotional scars which you carry with you for the rest of your life that's worst.



Likewise, just as I told a student and friend that it's easy to forgive others, and that it's easy for others to forgive you.

But to forgive yourself, that's the hardest.

I should know.

It's been 10 years and I've not forgiven myself.



There are many things I can let go of.

I can let go of all the hurt and pain that's inflicted upon me, I can let go and forgive all who hurt and treat me me badly, bearing no hate, resentment or grudges against them.

But this?

I can't. It's hard.

I can forgive others, but I can't forgive myself for this one mistake I made cos I've erred too deeply.

I blame no one for the difficulties which I was going through during that time which led me to my decision.

I bear full responsibility for it.

Now, I can only use The Buddha as my guide.

As the story goes, he was into ascetic practice, torturing and starving himself, hurting himself, his mind, his body.

Until one day, he decided that it's not working out.

And he started being kind and compassionate to himself.

That was when his 5 friends left him, thinking he has gone soft and not serious about his practice.
But it was because he was kind and compassionate and gentle to himself that's why he could achieve a deep meditation which led him to Enlightenment.

To Freedom.

The Buddha said that "there's no such thing as an unforgivable deed. Only lessons to be learned."

I supposed that's also why they also call him, 'The Compassionate One'.

"Acknowledge, Forgive, and Learn never to do it again."

So says The Buddha.

I've acknowledge my mistake.

I've learned from it and I never repeat it.

It's the middle part - forgive myself, which I could not do.

For 10 years, I've been punishing myself. Hating myself for being so 'weak' and useless that time. For being so poor.

Yet, I'm still suffering, in pain, full of guilt and remorse.

Does punishing myself, being harsh to myself work? Has it helped?

No, it does not.

It has not.

I know I should do what the Buddha did - the Middle Way. The Buddha Way.

Be kind and compassionate to myself.

It's just that at this moment, I can't. I don't know how.

The Buddha is the Enlighten One.

The Noble One.

Like I wrote in "Attachment vs Freedom" - "The Buddha's a Noble Man. Me? I'm not noble."

Will there ever come a day when I learn to be kind and compassionate to myself, my mind, my heart, and to forgive myself? I don't know.

But I hope I'll figure it out, someday, somehow ........

I suppose by now all of you would know what "Boomerang' means :

Karma - the good and wholesome, or the bad and unwholesome deeds that we do.

Please avoid making the stupid mistakes which I made,

especially that of hurting or harming any being.

I wish all well and happy.

To Sushi and Vicky :

Please know that 'jie jie' is so so so very sorry.

Wherever both of you are, I pray and wish that the Buddha's light will always shine and bless and protect and guide the two of you.

I Love You.

The Boomerang Effect (Part 1)

The Boomerang Effect (Part 1)


1) Many years ago, I told a lie. Intentionally.

An acquaintance of mine made fun of me in front of others.

The usually calm and composed me caved in to foolishness and egoism.

I knew it was wrong, but I allowed my folly and ego to take control of me.

Tit for tat.

When people hurt us, we hurt them back. (It's only logical, right?)

Wrong.

I regretted it.

The boomerang came flying back to me, fast and furious.

The lie spreads like wildfire.

I had to answer questions from many people, including a direct confrontation with the victim.

Boy! That was tough.

From then on, I always watch my speech, my thoughts, and most important of all, my motives.

I keep my big mouth shut.

I refuse to make another silly mistake of false and mindless, heedless speech.

I was a 'young ginger' then.

If I had been as 'old' then as I am now, and had meditated and read about Dhamma then, I would have ignored and forgiven her.

Laughed with the group of them even, and not be 'sucked' into their political games and control dramas.

But I pay my penance now by writing it down in my blog, revealing it to the whole world.

No wonder The Buddha set it down as one of the Precepts,

"Avoid idle chatter and false speech."

Very wise indeed.



2) When I was a school going kid, I would give up my seats to the elderly. (Please understand, I still do - give up my seats to those who need them)

So, imagine my surprise when one day, years later, while I'm on a crowded bus, carrying all my 'barang barang' (my haversack and my yoga mat), someone tapped me on the shoulder.

I turned.

It was an old man.

He's alighting at the next stop, and he asked me to take his seat.

There was so many others who were standing, yet he asked me!

I thanked him gratefully and thought nothing about it.

But many times after that, when I'm on crowded buses, the elderly always alert me to their seats, or the seats next to them and invite me to sit, even though there are so many others who are standing, some even nearer to them.

When that keeps happening, you know it's not a coincidence.

I realised then that the boomerang which I threw many years ago has come back to find me.



"If you want to be happy, if you want good things to come to you,

Then BE GOOD. DO GOOD."

"Good begets good.

Evil begets evil.

This is a Universal Law."

- The Buddha

The 'M' Word

The 'M' Word



Meditation is catching up.

Lots of people are doing it.

Some are cashing in on it.

Earning big bucks teaching it.

I wonder if people are aware that Buddhist monks and nuns are teaching it for free?

But human nature is such that if something is free, it means it's not good.

The more you have to pay, the better it must be.

I can attest to that.

Cos' I used to give free yoga sessions outdoors.

The turnout is always miserable.

I must be a really lousy instructor.


The Buddha restarted the trend on meditation 2552 yrs ago.

He and his disciples taught it freely.

If the Buddha and his lineage of monks and nuns can teach meditation free-of-charge (read : Priceless), doesn't that make you wonder "why can't the rest?"

But that's another subject matter.

What I'm curious about is : "How many of those who practise meditation understand what meditation really is?"

Let's try something else.

Yoga.

It's very popular nowadays.

Many are doing it. Have been doing it.

The question is, " Of the many who are doing, how many know what they are doing?"

Many who go for yoga classes nowadays have the following syndrome :

1) It's trendy, it's fashionable, everyone's doing it, so I also must do. (read : Ego)

2) I want to do strange, difficult, complicated poses. This instructor teaches that. He/She must be very good. (read : stroking the Ego of both the instructor and the student. Ego)

3) Comparison : How come others can do, I can't. My pose is nicer than others. (read : Ego, Ego, Ego!)

Notice it's all external, physical?

That's not yoga.

Yoga is not just the cultivation of the body, but more importantly, the cultivation of the mind.

I always say the following in class:

"It does not matter whether you can or cannot do the poses. Go for the experience."

"Avoid comparing yourself with others. It's because we are different, that's what makes us special."

It's all about you.

No one and nothing else.

I am external. I am Nothing.

Never depend on me.

If you depend on me, one day when I'm gone, what are you going to do?

The next instructor comes along, you depend on the next instructor.

The next instructor leaves, you depend on the next, next instructor.

And the next, next, next instructor .....

Forever you'll be depending on an instructor, on someone.

And be manipulated by them like a puppet on a string.

Depend on no one.

Depend only on yourself.

If you do from the heart, feel from the heart, the energy flows

And you'll not need an instructor. You don't need me."


(Think : Kalama Sutta - Investigate. Find out for yourself. Experience. Avoid blindly believing others. )



Just as I wrote in "Let's Talk about Love" -

"Only you hold the key. Only you can set yourself free.

You Alone is the light in the dark. No one can light the path for you Except Yourself."


Likewise with religion.

To be fair, I'll use Buddhism, and my observations of some of those who call themselves "Buddhist" for my example.

To me, Buddhism is a way of Life.

Dhamma - the right way of living.

How you live your Life right.

How you live your life in accordance to Nature's Laws. (Dhamma).

It's not just about chanting, prostrating/number of prostrations, going to the temples to pray, ceremonies, rites and rituals etc.

That's just scraping the surface.

It does help a bit but it's not enough.

That's more to it.

It goes far deeper than that.

A lot more deeper than that.

To me, it's pointless to do All of the above if one acts as follows :


1) In "Why oh Why?" I mentioned how, during Chinese New Year's Eve, devotees pushed and shoved each other just to be the first to put their joss sticks in the urn of the Kwan Yin Temple at Waterloo Street.

And, the irony of how in the Temple of Compassion, none is displaying it.

Kwan Yin is well known to all to be the Goddess of Compassion, of Mercy.

What I mean is, when you truly pray to a being that represents kindness and compassion, surely the qualities of kindness, gentleness, compassion and virtues would 'rub' onto you.

You'll want to emulate that being.

Be like that being.


2) Open mouth, close mouth : Amituofuo (Amitabha Buddha)

Yet gossips, tell lies, speak ill and spread rumours about others, slandering others. (Breaking of 4th Precept : Avoid idle chatter, harsh and false speech, and malicious gossip.)

Or, one hand with beads chanting away, rushed and sit herself down on a double seat, putting her bag on the empty seat next to her, oblivious and totally ignore that there may be others who may need that seat. (Breaking of 2nd Precept : Do not take what is not given. No 'stealing'.)

As a Buddhist, if we truly practise and follow the path as set down by Gautama Buddha (more commonly known as Shakyamuni Buddha, or The Buddha) 2552 years ago, we'll be watching our thoughts, our speech and body actions, if not all the time, at least most of the time, we'll be mindful.

Please understand : To me, Amitabha Buddha and the Pureland Teaching is an okay teaching.

The thing is, How many are truly practising it?

The essence of it?

How many actually understand the meaning behind the teaching?

Or what the teaching is about?

This, is what I'm saying.

It's not about just reciting/chanting the Buddha's name, and then totally neglect and/or not pay attention to your mind, your thoughts, speech, actions, intentions etc which creates Kamma.

What I'm saying is,

You mouth the Buddha, but are you behaving like one (a Buddha)?

Or at least, doing your best to be like one.

Likewise, Pureland.

As the name suggests, it's a land that's Pure.

Therefore, those who reside there would, or should be Pure.

With Pure minds.

Perhaps we should all start to think about working on purifying our minds first before thinking about being born in a Pureland.

Go back to basics : The Four Noble Truths, and The Noble Eightfold Path (Please refer to my 6th and 7th entry)



Like I wrote in "Life Lessons" :

"Focus on the journey (i.e our deeds - kamma) and not the destination (Pureland);

For the lessons lie in the journey and NOT the destination."

Please avoid or thinking there's an easy way out.

There's no "Fast Pass'. (Sorry).


A few years back, a lady pushed me, and rushed past me when the MRT door opens, just so that she can sit on the only seat available in that particular car.

As I was standing, I noticed the nicely coloured polo tee she was wearing.

It attracted me not because of the colour, but because of the words on it : "Love and Compassion".

Huh?!

Ya, I know, you are surprise. So was I.

She was wearing 'Love and Compassion', but it makes a person wonder if she saw, noticed, knew, or realised what she's wearing, doesn't it?

Then, she proceeded to talk on her mobile, so that everyone can hear, that she's going for the '3 steps, one bow' ceremony.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with what this ceremony is about, I'll briefly explain :

It's a ceremony conducted on the eve of every Vesak Day by certain Buddhist temples to remind Buddhists that The path to Enlightenment is a long, hard and tedious one.

That we need to Persevere, be Patient and keep Practising The Dhamma, the Teaching of the Buddha despite all the difficulties so as to reach Enlightenment.

Going back to the lady - I do hope that that's not her usual behaviour.

And I sincerely wish her the very best on her journey to Enlightenment.

I believe many of you would have met, seen, or come across people like them - regardless Buddhists or otherwise, who tarnish and spoil the name of their faiths, beliefs, or religions through their speech and actions.

However, having said that, I believe the above examples are those of a few 'black ignorant sheep'.

I'm very sure that there are many others out there who are practising the teachings of their faiths/beliefs/religions wholeheartedly, mindfully and Wisely.


The point I want to make is : It's NOT important what you say your religion is.

It can be Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Love, Kindness, Compassion, Peace etc etc etc.

You can call it whatever you want.

Give it fanciful impressive names, and/or descriptions even.

BUT, are you practising 'it'?

Do you know the 'M'eaning behind it?

Or , are you just mechanically practising and hiding behind the name and the congregation just to boost your own ego?


Words are 2 dimensional. Physical.

Go beyond Physical.

Go into the heart of things. Deep within.

Just like some of those who do yoga.

They're just doing it.

They're not doing it.

They're just doing the poses. Physical.

They don't know what they're doing, they don't know what they learn, and they don't know what the instructor is talking about ......

And that makes me wonder -

How many of you are reading this blog?

Or, are you just reading it? ..

"Physical alone is not enough. Go beyond physical.

Practise not the word.

BUT the meaning behind the word.

The essence of it.

Go/Search deep within."

. .

.

"People may know;

But how many understand?

Of the few who understood, how many 'see'?

Of the few who 'saw', how many realise?

Of the few who realised, how many, will be, 'Awaken'?" .

"Expecting Salvation through prayers, worshipping, animal sacrifices and offerings to idols in the name of gods and so forth are selfish acts.

One must expect salvation (only) through the observance of precepts, self-training, discipline, a righteous way of living, by radiating loving kindness to others, purification (meditation) and by selfless and noble acts."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda

.

.

"However many holy words you read,

However many you speak,

What good will they do you,

If you do NOT Act upon them."

- The Buddha

.

.

"You are not honouring Me by just offering flowers.

You honour Me ONLY by practising the Dhamma."

- The Buddha

..

.

On this Vesak Day 2007,

May the Light of Eternal Wisdom, Truth and Compassion shine and illuminate on this Earth Once More.

Let there be peace on Earth,

Love for All Sentient Beings.

May All Beings have the chance to meet with the Ultimate Truth (Dhamma),

Learn the Ultimate Truth (Dhamma),

Practise the Ultimate Truth (Dhamma),

Realise the Ultimate Truth (Dhamma),

And May All Beings Be Enlighten soon.

This, I wish For All Sentient Beings.

Have an Enlightening Vesak Day Everyone!

With Loving-Kindness,

Maitre-Light