Shavasana - The Art of Dying

Shavasana - The Art of Dying


Shavasana - Corpse pose.

My students' favourite pose.

All my students love this pose.

They always can't wait to lie down, to go into this pose;

So that they can sleep.

Sleeping time, they call it.

Sometimes, in the mid of other poses, they'll ask when will they get to lie down.

Or, to quote some,

"Haven't lie down yet, ah ?!!"


I wonder if they know that this pose is practising to die -

Preparing for death.

After all, it is the corpse pose,

And death is 'sleeping', isn't it ?


Before everyone gets panicky and give up yoga completely,

May I also add that shavasana is also a kind of meditation -

Sleeping/lying down meditation.


I remember when I was 10, my grandpa died.

It was said that he passed away peacefully in his sleep.

And I can understand why.

Cos' he settled everything.

My grandpa was a very good, honourable and respectable man;

And I love him very much.


A yoga session can be liken to our life :

Sometimes hard and tiring, maybe even demanding (Sun salutation);

Sometimes difficult and painful (holding of poses).

Sometimes calm and peaceful (balancing poses);

Sometimes relaxing and easy (restorative poses).

The final part, is of course, to die.

The only thing/question is,

Can we die peacefully and happily (like my grandpa) ?


Some of my students, the moment they lie down, they fall asleep.

And even snore.

These are the really smart ones.

Cos' they let go easily.


There are others who can't even keep their eyes closed.

They have to open their eyes and think think think.

Even with their eyes closed, you can see that they're still absorbed in their thinking.

These are the ones who have a lot of stress and worries.

Who can't let go,

Who have a lot of unfinished business.

And, they'll also have a hard time when it's time to go.

Of course the ideal is to totally let go.

Of the body, the mind (the knower), the senses, the world, past and future.

But how many of us can do that ?


A lot of my students say they feel very relaxed in shavasana.

I wonder if they'll feel the same when it's time to die.

And if only they'll like dying as much as they like being in the 'corpse pose'.







"Death with detachment is the death of all worries and sufferings."

- Venerable Ajahn Mun

"You are getting old.

Your body is like a withered leaf.

Your life has come to an end now.

To the presence of death you are setting out.

Be wise and develop your devotion and spiritual way of life.

Make an island unto yourself.

Strive without delay;

Become wise.

Having removed (all) impurities and being free from moral defilements,

You'll no longer be subject to rebirth and decay."

- The Buddha

"What is to be done, is done;

Now you can rest."

"RIP : Rest in Peace."

"Death is nature's way of telling us to slow down;

And STOP."

"When it's time to die, die.

Happily and peacefully;

Knowing all the love, joy and

Happiness you've brought to people's hearts,

And the help and service you've rendered them."

Isn't She Lovely ?

Isn't She Lovely ?


In The Buddha's time, there was a very beautiful courtesan by the name of Sirima.

She's so beautiful, and all the men were so smitten by her, that they would bid thousands of gold coins just to spend a night with her.

One day, The Buddha heard that on the previous night, Sirima had died suddenly.


The Buddha then instructed King Kosala, the king reigning that time, not to cremate Sirima's body; but to keep it safe at the cemetery for 4 days, and to ensure that no animals would get near it.

On the 4th day, The Buddha requested that the king assemble all the people of that city to the cemetery.

At the appointed time, the Buddha arrived at the scene with his disciples.

Upon his arrival, The Buddha asked the king to auction Sirima's body to the crowd.

Though not quite understanding, but having absolute faith/conviction in The Buddha - The Wise and All-Knowing Enlightened One,

The King began the auction, indicating an initial value of a thousand gold coins.

When the request for bids came, there were no bidders.

The king then lowered the price to 500 gold coins.

Still there were no bidders.

Finally, he brought it down to one gold coin, yet there were no bids at all !

When the king offered the body freely to the people,

None wanted it.


That's when The Buddha, seeing the lack of response and interest, pointed to Sirima's body - which by now is bloated and oozing with strange fluids and emitting a foul smell - asked the crowd,

"Isn't she lovely? Isn't she beautiful?"

Startled, the crowd kept silent, hanging their heads down low.

And that's when, and also how The Wise Teacher taught the people the impermanence of beauty, the illusion of beauty, the foolishness, and the futility of being overwhelmed, bewitched and obsessed by beauty.

So, the next time you see a pretty woman / handsome man walk on by,

Remember The Buddha's words -

"Isn't she/he 'lovely'? Isn't she/he 'beautiful'?"




"This two-footed, filthy, evil-smelling, filled with various carcasses, oozing out here-and-there body:

Whoever would think on the basis of a body like this,

To exalt himself or disparage another:

What is that, if not blindness?"

- The Buddha, Sutta Nipata I.11




"The Buddha liken the body to a sack of grains with holes on either ends;

Don't squeeze too hard cos' something may come out from the bottom end !"

- (See Majjhima Nikaya 10),

- http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.than.html



"The fool, beset by ignorance, thinks it (i.e. the body) beautiful.

But when it lies dead, swollen, livid, cast away in a charnel ground,

Even relatives don't care for it."

- The Buddha, Sutta Nipata I.11

"What's there about a body?

Actually, Nothing much.

Except Hair of the head, hair of the body, nails, skin and teeth.

No, really, what's there about a body?

Hmmm....okay, nothing much -

But just Decay, Disease, and Death.

And really,

That's ALL there is to the body."

"If you examine the human body, you'll find that it is no different from a tree or a mop.

Just as the leaves of a tree, and the fibers of the mop head falls off,

We drop hair everyday.

So, you want to know / understand the human body?

Go look at a tree;

Or better yet, go study the mop."

The 3 Characteristics

The 3 Characteristics


The Buddha has a disciple who prides himself in knowing all of The Buddha's Teachings.

One day, The Buddha paid him a visit to discuss some things.

At the end of the discussion, the man looked at The Buddha and said,

"Oh! You also got white hair. You know, I used to have white hair, too, until ... "

And proceeded to tell The Buddha how his friend recommended him a shampoo, and how after regular usage, his crowning glory is now black again.

"Shiny and soft, too," he said, beaming with pride and touching his hair with love and affection.

He also told The Buddha that now, he's the sole distributor for this wonderful, magical shampoo which will make a person look young again.


The Buddha absorbed it all quietly.

Realising that The Buddha was not interested in buying his shampoo, the man dropped the subject.

About a week later, The Buddha visited the disciple again.

Mid-way through the conversation, the man again mention excitedly to The Buddha about his shampoo - how everyone is buying his shampoo, that it's so popular that it's almost out-of-stock, that he's a walking model for his shampoo, all his business plans etc etc.


The Buddha listened on patiently.

After he had finished, The Buddha asked him gently,

"Just wondering, what are the 3 Universal Characteristics/Laws?"

Surprised, the man thought,

"The Buddha is testing me. Luckily I remember ... "

"Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta," the man answered confidently.

Then, The Buddha asked again,

"What do you mean 'Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta'?"

"Huh?! How can The Buddha forget? He's the one who taught it. Ah ... must be losing His memory - He's growing old, look at His whole head of white," thought the man.

"Impermanence, Suffering/Discontent and Not-Self/Non-Self," replied the man with ease.

"Sorry, can you repeat that again?" requested The Buddha.


The man sighed.

"Not only is The Buddha old, His hair white, His memory failing, but He's losing His hearing, too!"

"Impermanence ! Suffering/Discontent ! Non-Self/Not-Self !" repeated the man loudly to The Buddha's ears so that The Buddha could hear.

Tilting His head, The Buddha nodded in the man's direction, and gently said,

"Oh ! Impermanence, eh?" (pause)

Then, looking deeply into the man's eye,

"Suffering/Discontent ... " (pause)

And, smiling knowingly,

"Non-Self/Not-Self ..... I heard it.... Did you ?!!"

"Subjected to change are all conditioned things,

Impermanence is the nature of ALL things.

When there's birth, there will be death.

Understand, Realise, and Be Awaken."




"The Buddha does not speak when people are not ready, and/or willing to listen or understand."

"Wherever you go, as long as you have the itch (craving),

You'll have suffering !"

- The Buddha

"From craving springs grief,

From craving springs fear.

For him who is wholly free from craving,

There's no grief, much less fear."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 216




"When there's nothing to own,

There's no having or losing.

And when that's the case,

Where will there be any suffering?"

- Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo




"We came with nothing, we leave with nothing.

Nothing lasts,

Nothing is forever,

Nothing matters,

Nothing is important."




"Those who are ignorant - they attach and hold;

Those who are wise - they accept and let go."

"What goes up will come down;

Whatever that comes along will go away.

Whatever that begins, too, will end."
.

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"All conditioned things, without exception,

Are subjected to birth, ageing, disease and death."

- The Buddha



"There are 5 things, great king, that cannot be gotten by a contemplative, a priest, a deva, a Mara, a Brahma, or anyone at all in the world. Which 5?

- May what is subject to ageing not age;

- May what is subject to illness not grow ill;

- May what is subject to death not die;

- May what is subject to end not end;

- AND, may what is subject to destruction not be destroyed.

These are the 5 things that cannot be gotten by a contemplative, a priest, a deva, a Mara, a Brahma, or anyone at all in the world."

- The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya v.49

Why?

Why?


Actually, this world is a strange place. People are strange.


1) Do you notice that when children want to urine, the parents let them pee everywhere and anywhere?

From drains to food centres, to sinks and basins in the washrooms, to MRT door (this was reported in one of the electronic media in 2007), and lifts etc etc.

Recently, I saw them perform the 'act' below the overhead bridge as well - 2 kids in total - one after another - with the blessings and encouragement from their parent/guardian, eventhough the shopping mall is just across the road.

Actually, not just the kids are doing it.

Even Adult males, too!

I witness them myself - both out in the open, in the full view of passer-bys and the public - one at a bus-stop, and another under a tree at the park I frequent.

The bodies 'belong' to the children (and men), doesn't it?

The children (and men) should be able to control and say not to urine.

But they can't.

Why?


2) My students 'complain' to me about the aches and pain they feel/experience during or after the class.

And that makes me wonder :

The body is ours, is it not? So tell the body not to ache.

But we can't.

Why?


3) As teenagers we have pimples/acne.

As we age, we have wrinkles, white hair and our teeth start dropping.

The body is ours, right?

So ask the face not to have pimples. Why pay money seeing a doctor, a dermatologist, eating anti-biotics, etc?

Likewise, ask the head not to grow white hair. Why waste money colouring the hair?

Tell the skin also not to have wrinkles or to sag. Why waste money on botox?

Tell the teeth not to drop or fall. Why spend money on dentures?

Why?


4) I know a few people who are plump, and who wants to be thin.

I also know of people who are thin and who wants to grow fat.

There are tall people who wants to be a bit shorter, and there are short or average height people who wants to be tall.

Actually, it's very simple.

Just tell it all to the body.

Just give the body the instructions to be tall, thin, fat or short as and when you wish or want it to.

Just give it the configuration of how much taller, shorter, thinner or fatter.

Easy, right?

Body is ours, right?

Can't?

Why?


5) People complain about cancer, heart problems, high blood pressure, constipation, and all sorts of diseases and ailments.

I wonder if they've tried telling their bodies not to fall ill :

Tell the body must poo-poo, cannot be constipated cos' bad for health; (*Honestly, if the body doesn't want to poo, let it be)

If you have an important meeting coming up the next day, and you feel yourself coming down with a flu, tell the body cannot have flu cos' got important meeting to attend; (*Actually, isn't that good? Cos' meetings are boring and a waste of time anyway. ;) ........ )


If you want to look pretty, tell the body cannot have chicken pox cos' it'll make you look ugly. (*But if you ask me, I think having chicken pox is fun :

Read ........

"Chicken Pox and Me" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/03/chicken-pox-and-me.html,

"Mindfulness or Mindlessness" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/03/mindfulness-or-mindlessness.html,

"Myth or Truth?" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/03/myths-or-truths.html )

Does the body listen?

No?

Why?

"Not me, Not mine, Not I,

Not Self.

Anatta !"

(And that, by the way, is the reason 'Why'.)

"Nothing

Exist Nowhere

Just a light in the dark."

"When you strip off everything,

What's left, is Nothing.

You'll find there's nothing there;

There's No One there."

Why Buddhism / Buddha's Teachings

Why Buddhism / Buddha's Teachings

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On Good Friday 2008, I met a Brazilian couple who's touring Singapore, and we had an exchange.
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They are Christians. And I, a Buddhist.
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The interesting thing was I met them in a "so-called" Buddhist temple ( 'so-called' because there's nothing Buddhist in and/or about it ), and they were keen and open to know about Buddhism.
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In the course of our conversation, I mentioned briefly about The Kalama Sutta - Not believing blindly in what's being taught/said, rather, through our own observation and investigation.

That's when the husband commented, "That's the thing about Buddhism - To be able to question and not having to accept and believe blindly. It's very good."

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That night, and the next morning, I thought about my exchange with them, and realised there are obvious differences between Buddhism (i.e. The Buddha's Teachings) and other religions.

And I supposed that's also why despite spending 12 of my growing (school) years in a Catholic/Christian environment, I remain steadfast as a Buddhist. i.e. a practitioner of The Buddha's Teachings.

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1) No God / Supreme Creator etc. Only ourselves. We're responsible, in-charge. We take responsibility for our thoughts, speech and actions - all our deeds.
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2) The Buddha - The Buddha is a human being who became enlightened, free from all bonds and fetters, from samsara, from suffering. He himself said he's no God, nor angel, nor anybody's messenger.
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He's someone who became 'awake' through his own effort.
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I remember when I was in college, a good friend and classmate who's a Christian mentioned to me how we can pray to The Buddha when he's not even a God but just a normal human being.
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I didn't answer him then cos' to me, harmony of the relationship was more important.
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But precisely so - The Buddha is not a God yet he was able to free himself.
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And he taught his path/method of liberation freely and tirelessly throughout his lifetime so as to free others as well.
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That's why we worship (not pray) and pay respect to him, our Teacher, who guide and show us the way, and also for all his wonderful qualities and virtues and what he represents :
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Truth, Morality, Purity, Loving-Kindness, Wisdom, Light.
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3) The Kalama Sutta - We do not have to agree/accept/believe what the Buddha say or taught. He was the most liberal teacher.
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He encourage and told us we have the right to question and investigate His teachings.
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And only upon careful observation, analysis and investigation, if we find that the teaching agrees with reason, and is for the good and benefit of one and all, and does no harm, then we accept it, adopt it and abide by it.
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(Read The Kalama Sutta - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2006/12/kalama-sutta-karma.html )
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4) Kamma (Volitional acts, intentional deeds) - Contrary to some misconceptions, this is not some theory created or invented by The Buddha.
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Kamma is a universal nature law of justice.
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The Buddha realised through his Enlightenment that such a nature law exist, and thus taught it to us to inform us the existence of such a law of justice -
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That we reap what we sow : Do good, good results; do evil, evil results.
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He taught it out of compassion for us so that we'll avoid evil, cultivate good so that we'll not meet with evil/woeful consequences.
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In addition, he also taught that, contrary to popular belief, kamma can be changed - that it's not fixed or fatalistic.

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If you've done wrong/evil, dilute it with good.

If you're suffering now, humble yourself down and do more good.

AND, if you're enjoying now, continue to do good.
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5) No Unforgivable sin, only lessons to be learnt - The Buddha is the most Compassionate and Forgiving Teacher to date.
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As He said so aptly, "Evil doers are not wicked by nature. They do evil out of ignorance." and, "Acknowledge, forgive, and learn never to do it again."
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These are the Teachings of the All-knowing One, who knows that as long as we're in samsara, we all make mistakes cos' no one is perfect (pure) as long as they're not enlightened yet cos' we all have defilements and the 3 poisons of anger, greed and delusion, and also deluded by ignorance (avija).
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Important thing is we feel remorse/regret/sorry for the deed (i.e. thoughts, speech and action) done, forgive (ourselves and others) and learn never to repeat/do it again.

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6) Rebirth - Many lives, many realms for us to learn our mistakes, and experience. A chance for us to make good of our mistakes and to purify our minds until we become enlightened. No eternal life nor condemnation to eternal hell.
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7) No commandments or rules to follow - Only precepts/guidelines based on logic and sense : Just as we do not want others to hurt or harm us, we also refrain/avoid/abstain from hurting/harming others.

(Read Should We Gamble - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/11/should-we-gamble.html)

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8) Buddhism does NOT convert people. People convert themselves to Buddhism.

Just as The Buddha taught the monks,

"Monks! This holy life is NOT practised for the sake of deceiving the public; Nor for the sake of gaining their respect; Nor for the sake of gains, offerings, and fame; Nor for the sake of defeating other sectarians.

This holy life is lived for the sake of Restraint, Abandoning, Dispassion, and the Cessation of Suffering."


And as He also said to Malunkyaputta, "Truth need no followers/support."

(Read Man and His Questions Part 1 : The Origin of the Universe - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/05/man-and-his-questions-part-1-origin-of.html )


Likewise, as Ajahn Maha Boowa said, "Truth is true based on immutable natural principles."
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9) Buddhism is not by/through blind faith/devotion/belief in teacher, teachings, or scriptures or books, but by/through our own observation, investigation, analysis, experimentation and experience.
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The Buddha specifically discouraged blind faith/devotion to a teacher or teaching.
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As He said,

"The Tathagatas (Teachers) only show the way", and

"Paccattam Veditabbo Vinnuhiti" i.e. to be self-realised and attained only by the wise, each for himself.

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And, "He who sees The Dhamma, sees The Buddha", that all the teachings are NOT found in books, scriptures (or the Tipitaka), but in our fathom long body :

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"In this very one fathom long body along with all its perceptions and thoughts, I proclaim to you The World, The Origin of the World, The Cessation of the World, and The Path leading to the Cessation of the World." - The Buddha

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10) Real Happiness can be found in the here and now. We can experience it Now.
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We don't have to wait for some future time or place.
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As long as we truly understand and realised the 4 Noble Truths, walk the Noble Eightfold Path, we can be happy and free (i.e. enlightened) this very lifetime.


As The Buddha taught, "Dhamma is Sanditthiko" i.e. seen by oneself, in the Here and Now.
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* To Miriella and Christian, this one is for you. Cheers, pals !






"As a student of comparative religions, Buddhism is the most perfect one the world has seen."
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- Dr Carl Jung




"Of the great religions of the world, I prefer Buddhism,
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Especially in its earliest form."
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- Lord Bertrand Russell




"If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism."
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- Albert Einstein




"Buddhism - The Buddha's Teachings - The Dhamma, is the most comprehensive and complete teaching that the world has ever seen, and will ever need."
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"Buddhism - The Buddha's Teachings, The Dhamma, The Truth, does not belong to Buddhism, the religion, alone.
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It belongs to All."
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"Dhamma belongs to everybody who practises in the right way."
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- Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"The Path that the Buddha showed us is, I believe, the only path humanity must tread if it is to escape disaster."
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- Jawaharla Nehru .





"Lord Buddha's message of truth, peace, compassion and tolerance is as relevant (today) as it was many centuries ago.
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Rampant materialism and the pursuit of individual success at all costs, have eroded the ties of brotherhood and community.
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In these circumstances, it is necessary to remember and propagate the message of compassion of Lord Buddha so that hatred can be replaced by love, strife by peace, and confrontation by cooperation."
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- Dr Amadou - Mahtar M'Bow .
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"Buddha's message of compassion and devotion to the service of humanity is more relevant today than at any other time in history.
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Peace, understanding and a vision that transcends purely national boundaries are imperatives of our insecure nuclear age."
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- Javier Purez De Cuullar .
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"It is Buddhism as we find it actually recorded, not a hypothetical primitive system, which still forms a challenge to other religions."
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- Bishop Gore, "Buddha and The Christ" .
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"All monotheistic religions start with certain assumptions, and when these assumption are contradicted by the growth of knowledge, it increases sorrow.
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BUT Buddhism starts with no assumptions.
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It stands on the firm rock of facts, and can therefore never shun the dry light of knowledge."
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- Prof. Lakshimi Narasu .
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"I was never on the point of embracing Buddhism, but I found, and still find, it infinitely more satisfying than the Judeo - Christian philosophy."
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- Robert J Hawke
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"The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology.
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Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity.
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Buddhism answers this description."
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- Albert Einstein .
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"One of the 1st scholars to begin the work of translating the Pali literature into English, was the son of a well-known clergyman.
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His object in undertaking the work was to prove the superiority of Christianity over Buddhism.

He failed in this task but he achieved a greater victory than he expected.
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He became a Buddhist.
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We must never forget the happy chance which prompted him to undertake this work and thereby make the precious Dhamma available to thousands in the West.
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The name of this great scholar was Dr Rhys Davids."
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- Venerable A Mahinda .
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"Buddhist or not Buddhist, I have examined every one of the great religious systems of the world, and in none of them have I found anything to surpass, in beauty and comprehensiveness, the Noble Eightfold Path and the 4 Noble Truths of the Buddha.
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I am content to shape my life according to that path."
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- Prof. Rhys Davids .
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"If I knew the Buddha would be speaking here tomorrow, nothing in the world could stop me from going to listen to him.
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And I would follow him to the very end."
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- J. Krishnamurti .
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"The most striking thing about the Buddha is almost a unique combination of a cool scientific head and profound sympathy of a warm and loving heart.
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The world turns more and more towards the Buddha, for He alone represents the conscience of humanity."
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- Moni Bagghee, "Our Buddha" .
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"For Asia to be not for Asia but for the whole world, it has to relearn the message of the Buddha and deliver it to the whole world.
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His love, his boundless love went out as much to the lower animal, to the lowest life as to human beings.

And he insisted upon purity of life."
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- Mahatma Gandhi .
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"In the Buddha you see clearly a man, simple, devout, alone, battling for light, a vivid human personality, NOT a myth.

He too gave a message to mankind universal in character. Many of our best modern ideas are in closest harmony with it.

All the miseries and discontents of life are due, he taught, to selfishness.

Before a man can become serene, he must cease to live for his senses or himself. Then he merges into a greater being.

Buddhism in a different language called men to self-forgetfulness 500 years before Christ.

In some ways, he was nearer to us and our needs.

He was more lucid upon our individual importance in service than Christ and less ambiguous upon the question of personal immortality."

- H G Wells.
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"The Buddha has only shown the way to salvation and it is left to each individual to decide for himself if he would follow it."
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- Prof. Lakshimi Narasu




To The Buddha
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I will follow Him
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Follow Him wherever He may go
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There isn't an ocean too deep
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A Mountain so high
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That it keeps me away ........
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I will follow Him.

Do You Believe in God?

Do You Believe in God?


There are many ways to answer this question, but I'm going to narrow it down to 2 :

It all depends on how a person define the word 'God'.


1) If 'God' implies a Supreme Being/Creator, then my answer is, "Nah, I believe in myself."

BUT,

2) If "God' means 'Good Old Dhamma (Truth)', then my reply is, "Oh yes! Definitely!"







"By self do you censure yourself ;

By self do you examine yourself ;

Self, indeed, is the protector of self.

Self, indeed, is one's refuge.

Control, therefore, your own self.

As a merchant controls the noble steed."

- The Buddha







"By oneself is evil done,

By oneself is one defiled.

By oneself is evil left undone,

By oneself is one purified.

Purity and Impurity depends on oneself.

No one can purify (or impurify) another."

- The Buddha






"Therefore, Ananda, each of you should remain with your self as an island, your self as your refuge, without anything else as a refuge.

Remain with the Dhamma as an island, the Dhamma as your refuge, without anything else as a refuge."

- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya XLVII.13

"Thus, unlike a religion where trust involves the belief that the deity will provide for one's salvation - either through grace or as a reward for unquestioning obedience,

Trust in the Buddha and belief in His Teachings means that one's salvation is ultimately one's own responsibility."

- Thanissaro Bhikkhu

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"There is no power greater than the results of our own actions."

- Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno









"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
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"Beings knowing wrong as wrong and what is right as right, embrace
(right) views and go to a blissful state."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 319






"The gift of Dhamma excels ALL other gifts."

- The Buddha







"Dhamma gives the world nothing but support and protection."

- Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno







"Dhamma is what will make this world an oasis of Goodness."








"Dhamma represents The Truth.

If we relinquish all that is false and hold only to that which is true,

Then both the people in our society and the monks (and nuns) who uphold the sasana (the Dhamma - The Teachings of The Buddha)

Will live in peace."

- Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno

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"May the Dhamma last as long as my sons and grandsons,

And the sun, and the moon will be,

And may the people follow the path of the Dhamma,

For if one follows the path,

Happiness in this and in the other world will be attained."

- King Asoka .

.

..

.

"The opportunity to listen to the Dhamma is considered valuable both because it is rare and because it yields great benefits.

Hard is the chance to hear the True Dhamma."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 182

.

.

"There are those 5 rewards in listening to the Dhamma.

Which 5?

- One hears what one has not heard before.

- One clarifies what one has heard before.

- One gets rid of doubt.

- One's views are made straight.

- One's mind grows serene.

These are the 5 rewards in listening to the Dhamma."

- The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya verse 202

AND,

"To obtain these benefits, one must come to the Dhamma both with the Right kammic background and with the Right attitude."

- The Buddha

Where's God?

Where's God?


One day, after a discourse, when Maitreya was about to leave, a man quickly got up from his seat and asked to allow his question, saying that it is very important.

Maitreya kindly agreed.

Then, the man, in a loud and booming voice, asked, "Can you tell me where's God?!"


Smiling, and in a calm and composed manner, Maitreya replied, "Sir, is it important? So what you know where God is. Does it solve any problem? What problem does it solve?"

At that, the man reminded Maitreya in a challenging tone that it's Q and A. (Questions and Answer)


Responding in a gentle, serene and peaceful manner, Maitreya replied again,

"I don't deny it's Q and A, that's why I'm asking. What makes you think Q & A means all of you ask and I answer? Why can't it be the other way round - I ask, and all of you answer. It's still Q & A, is it not? Besides, why can't I answer a question with a question? It's still an answer, is it not? Why be so fixed on your views, ideals, opinions and beliefs?"

(Read Perception and Perspective - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/06/perception-and-perspective.html )

"Even if I were to answer your question, would you believe me?" Maitreya continued.

"Well ......... of course!" said the man, stuttering, unsure of himself.

"Why should you believe me?"

"Cos they said you're The Buddha, that you know everything!" came the unhesitating reply.

"You believe just because people say I'm the Buddha? That I know everything? So if everyone here says they're the Buddha and that they know everything, are you going to believe everyone of them, and everything they say, as well? Never blindly believe."

(Read The Kalama Sutta - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2006/12/kalama-sutta-karma.html )

"Are you gullible?" Maitreya went on.

"No! Of course not!" replied the man in defense.

"Do you want to be gullible, then?"

"Of course not!"

"Good! Then avoid and never blindly believe others. Find out for yourself. If you want to know how to find out for yourself, I can teach and show you the way, that is only if you're willing to learn.

But, if you only want to blindly believe, then don't come to me. Come to me only if you want to investigate and find out for yourself.

But may I suggest that before you find out where's God, find out about yourself first, alright?"

And that's how Maitreya show the man where God is.


Do you want to know where's God?

Go find out yourself !

"We need not struggle to find happiness and contentment in other places or other realms - which is merely creating images to deceive ourselves, causing us to develop a strong craving which promotes the cause of suffering that becomes the greed which burns us and causes us so much misery.

The happiness that is known and experienced in the heart is a happiness which is already sufficient and complete."

- Ajahn Maha Boowa

"If we look for suffering, we'll find suffering.

If we look for happiness, we'll find happiness.

Whatever we really look for, we find.

After all, these things all exist in the world, don't they?

So why shouldn't we be able to find them?

- Ajahn Maha Boowa






"We're not here to make money,

Or to get married and have babies;

To make friends and/or enemies,

Or to eat,drink and be merry.

We're here to find a way out -

So as to help others find their way out."