Pureland Paradise

Pureland Paradise


In 'The M-Word' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/04/m-word.html, I spoke about people who want/hope to be born in pureland.

I also mentioned that perhaps we should all start to think about working on purifying our minds FIRST before thinking about being born in a Pureland.

Actually, there's no need to go around searching for a paradise or pureland.

As I said in 'What Do We Expect?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-do-we-expect.html,

"If the hearts and minds of the people are pure, the world will be pure."

And as I quoted Ajahn Maha Boowa in 'Where's God?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/08/wheres-god.html,

"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 experience in the heart is a happiness which is already sufficient and complete."

And,

"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.

Afterall, these things all exist in the world, don't they? So why shouldn't we be able to find them?"



So, where's Pureland?

It's right here - in this world - in the hearts and minds of us ALL.




"The deluded person recites the Buddha's name seeking rebirth there (i.e. the Pureland);

While the wise person purifies his own mind."

- Mahayana Sixth Patriarch Sutra

.

"Reborn = re-Birth = SUFFERING ( cos you are born again )."

**As The Buddha taught :

"From ignorance as a requisite condition come fabrications...

From birth as a requisite condition, then old age & death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair come into play.

Such is the ORIGINATION of this entire mass of stress & suffering." - SN 12.35

.

"All phenomenon begins from, and depends on the mind.

Heaven, Hell, or Pureland Paradise?

You decide."





"A beautiful world can only be seen through the eyes of a pure, happy and contented heart."




"Fools, men of little intelligence, give themselves over to negligence,

But the wise man protects his diligence as a supreme treasure.

Therefore, one should NOT be negligent, nor be addicted to sensual pleasures.

The man who meditates with diligence attains much happiness."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 26, 27.

.

.

"The ordinary man always sees the darkness and the misery of this world,

But the yogi sees the grand beauty and the real nature of the world."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda.

.

.

"The wise one dispels negligence by means of mindfulness;

He ascends the Tower of Wisdom.

And being free from sorrow, looks at the sorrowing beings.

Just as one on the mountain top looks at those on the plain below,

So also, The Wise One (The Arahant) looks at the ignorant."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 28

.

.

"While the fool enslaves himself,

The Wise seeks his way out."

.

*** Read "Heaven or Hell" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/01/heaven-or-hell.html

If Only ........

If Only ........


This entry is in relation to the previous entry, 'What Do We Expect?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-do-we-expect.html.

To me, if only the world has knowledge of the Buddha-Dhamma, practise the Buddha-Dhamma,

The world would not be in the state it is in today.

As I said in 'Why Buddhism / Buddha's Teachings' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-buddhism-buddhas-teachings.html,

"The Buddha's Teachings - The Dhamma, is the most comprehensive and complete teaching that the world has ever seen, and will ever need."


And as I quoted Jawaharla Nehru and Javier Purez De Cuullar in the same blog,

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

(Jawaharla Nehru)


And,

"Buddha's message of compassion and devotion to the service of humanity is MORE relevant today than at any other time in history.

Peace, understanding and a vision that transcends purely national boundaries are imperatives of our insecure nuclear age."

(Javier Purez De Cuullar)


But, regardless of what's being said (in praise) of The Buddha's Teachings/Dhamma,

No one can express the need for The Buddha's Dhamma as fluently and eloquently as Ajahn Maha Boowa in one of his teachings.

As such, I'm reproducing an excerpt of that teaching here to share with all.

Hopefully, we can all learn a little something from it and make small, BUT necessary changes to ourselves, a little bit at a time,

So that this world can be the fun and joyful place the way it was supposed to be;

The way it really is.

Enjoy ! :)


The following is taken from the book, "Kammatthana - The Basis of Practice" by Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa, page 159-161.

"In desiring that people should be good, no one can surpass the Lord Buddha. The Teaching which he gave the world was only so that everyone could be virtuous, good and happy. He did not want the world to be troubled and harmed, which results from wrong-doings due to ignorance of the way of conducting oneself.

If anyone had listened to the Teaching of the Lord Buddha, either from His own mouth or from the scriptures, and had belief in the principle of truth there presented, they would each then try to correct and improve themselves so as to be a good person.

That is to say, any person so practising will be good; so with the first person that takes it up and likewise with the second person, etc.

However many family members there are, when each receives the Teaching and training to be good, then that family is also good; and likewise in a village, town or country.

Then there is no need to ask any more about the peace and happiness of that country, for it must definitely follow from the goodness of all the people who do good.

But on the other hand, the various kinds of hardship and unhappiness also only arise out of wickedness. The extent of how many wicked people there are corresponds to the number of 'disturbers of society'.

The more there are, the more hellish the world becomes.

It is then dark both in the night and daytime and in a constant state of agitation.

There is no need to go and search after hell for it is being constructed right there in the Hearts of people, and then scattered and extended everywhere, turning everything into fire.

This is Wrong; not right or proper.

If it were in accordance with the Buddha-Dhamma, these things would NOT occur.

There would not be any need for judges, court of appeal, or even the supreme court, for there would be no cases to settle, because each one has the intention to be virtuous and all try to listen to reason for virtue's sake.

In talking to each other, whether amongst the young and old, man or woman, ordained or householder, there would be understanding.

The reason for this deep understanding is due to the understanding of the good and bad that is within the Heart.

There would only be the wish and intention to see in the way of reason, truth, reality, and virtue.

It would be easy to listen and understand, and in conduct it would be always fair and equal with no need for secrecy.

The world, however, does not follow the Heart's wish.

Wherever one goes, there are only complaints about Dukkha (suffering) and troubles.

The whole world is in a state of confusion and unrest even though everyone studies and searches for knowledge.

But this knowledge does not bear any usefulness except only in using it to burn oneself, for these types of knowledge are not permeated with Dhamma.

They do not have Dhamma as a support, brake, accelerator, or guide.

Therefore, they just go on their own way (Yatha Kamma) without any limit or bounds.

When one thinks and investigates in this way, one will come to see how important and valuable is the Dhamma of the Lord Buddha.

If one were just to try and conduct oneself so as to be a good person, even though one was still not capable of teaching others to be good, this practice in the way of virtue alone will provide peacefulness wherever one goes and whatever circumstances maybe, one will be peaceful and happy which is the correct result from one's practice.

Therefore, happiness arises with such people.

There are different levels of such peacefulness,

And everyone is capable of experiencing the ordinary level if the intention and effort are put forth for these experiences to arise.

One should not overlook oneself, for this is a happy world, peaceful and worth living in, full of fun and joy."

- Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"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/(is) 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





"Mettanca Sabba Lokasmin
Let thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world;
Manasam-Bhavaye apari-manam
Above, below and across (and beyond)
Uddham adho ca tiriyanca
Without any obstruction,
Asam-badham averam asa-pattam
Without any hatred, without any enmity."

- The Buddha, Karaniya Metta Sutta - The Discourse on Loving Kindness





"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

What Do We Expect?

What Do We Expect?


People complain that the world is degenerating.

Well, what do we expect?

If we're all defiled, evil, wicked, selfish, stingy, greedy, lustful, immoral, unvirtuous, pretentious, sly, cunning, scheming etc,

Naturally, the world will be defiled, evil, wicked, selfish, stingy, greedy, lustful, immoral, unvirtuous, pretentious, sly, cunning, scheming etc.

What do we expect?


In 'The World' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/03/world.html, I said it all depends on each and every one of us to make a difference - To become a better person/being.

In 'The Boss' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/03/boss.html, I said we're in-charge.

We're the ones who make the world what it is today,

The state it is in today.

So, what do we expect?

Important thing is what are we going to do about it?

What can we learn from it?

So that we never repeat it.

Good or bad, it depends on us -

Each and every one of us.

If we want the world to be good,

Then we got to do more good, be good -

Ourselves FIRST.


* Read :

1) "Questions and Answers Part 3 - The Core Of Existence - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/12/questions-and-answers-part-3-core-of.html

2) "How Will We Know" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2006/11/how-will-we-know.html

3) "Life - The Ironies, What Truly Matters, And Its Purpose" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/07/light-ironies-what-truly-matters-and.html

4) "What are we going to do about it Part 1 : Our climate, Our environment, Our Earth and us" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-are-we-going-to-do-about-it-part-1.html

5) "What are we going to do about it (Part 2) : People Power" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-are-we-going-to-do-about-it-part-2.html.




"If the hearts and minds of the people are evil,

The world will be evil;

BUT, if the hearts and minds of the people are pure,

The world will be pure."




"If ever people should be able to see plainly the results of evil and good kamma (i.e. volitional/intentional actions) as they see other material things,

They would most certainly be horrified at evil kamma and stay away from it,

The same as they dare not touch fire.

They would also be eager to do good which has the power of cooling, and which results in happiness.

There would NOT then be so much trouble and misery as there is in the world today."

- Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno






"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 become just and good.


When the rank and file are just and good,

The people become just and good."

- The Buddha





"May I have no enmity,

May I have no hurtfulness.

May I have no troubles of mind and body,

May I be able to protect my own happiness.


Whatever beings there are, may they have no enmity.

Whatever beings there are, may they have no hurtfulness.

Whatever beings there are, may they have no troubles of mind and body;

Whatever beings there are, may they be able to protect their own happiness.

May I be at peace, May ALL beings be at peace."

- The Metta Chant






"Mettanca Sabba lokasmin
Let thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world;
Manasam-bhavaye apari-manam
Above, below and across (and beyond)
Uddham adho ca tiriyanca
Without any obstruction,
Asam-badham averam asa-pattam
Without any hatred, without any enmity."

- The Buddha, The Karaniya Metta Sutta - The Discourse on Loving-Kindness

The Body

The Body



"The livers and intestines of even the most attrative people,

If paraded down a walkway, would never capture a title in a beauty contest;

If featured in an advertisement,

They wouldn't sell."

- Thanissaro Bhikkhu

.
.

Have you ever wonder what the body really is?

In 'Isn't She Lovely' ( http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/09/isnt-she-lovely.html ), I said that it is nothing but Hair of the head, hair of the body, nails, skin and teeth.

In the same entry and in "Body Burden - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/02/body-burden.html, I also mentioned that it's nothing but Decay, Disease, and Death.

If you think about it, the body is really nothing but dead stuff.

Ajahn Boowa said this body is a cemetry.

And he's right.


Look at all the food we eat - plants, animals, fruits etc - it's ALL dead.

Unless you are barbaric, inhumane, cruel, evil, wicked (and demonic) enough to eat them (the animals) alive. (Read "The Cow That Cried" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/06/cow-that-cried.html)

And I am not suggesting you do,

Cos if you do, please do remember Kamma and its manifold implications. (Read "Kamma" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/03/kamma.html)


In "Pile of Dung" ( http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/09/pile-of-dung.html ), I described the body as nothing but a pile of dung which we decorate, beautify, and enhance in both smell and looks.

In "Food for Thought" ( http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2006/12/food-for-thought-chew-on-it.html ), I also mentioned that regardless of what and who we are (i.e. our status, position, designation etc) in this life, when we die, we all end up as nothing but fertilizer for the soil.

Ajahn Boowa said this body is nothing but shit and urine.

Likewise, Ajahn Mun, his predecessor, also describe this body as an assemblage of excrement, urine and filth. (Read "Body Burden" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/02/body-burden.html)

They're so right!

The Buddha and His Arahants are so right.

They saw through something which we all missed, or deny, or refuse to see/admit. (Read "Truth/Honesty" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/07/truth-honesty.html )


So what's there about the body?

Nothing much, but just a piece of shit.

And really, that's what the body REAL-ly is -

A piece of shit.




"There is the case where a monk reflects on this very body, from the soles of the feet on up, from the crown of the head on down, surrounded by skin, and full of various kinds of unclean things :

'In this body there are head hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, tendons, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, pleura/membrane, spleen, lungs, large intestines, small intestines, gorge, faeces, bile/gall, phlegm,pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, skin-oil, saliva, mucus, fluid in the joints, urine."

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 10 and Samyutta Nikaya L I.20




"Eating, drinking and tasting are not important tasks -

Their result is body-waste."

- Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno





"The body is nothing but a waste-making/producing machine."

"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 I11.

.

"Behold this beautiful body - a painted image

A mass of heaped up sores,

Infirm, full of hankering -

Of which nothing is lasting, permanent or stable.

Fully worn out is this body,

A nest of diseases, and fragile.

This foul mass breaks up;

Truly, life ends in DEATH."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 147, 148.

.

.

"There is the case where a monk — having gone to the wilderness, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty dwelling — reflects thus:

'This body was many pains, many drawbacks.

In this body many kinds of disease arise, such as:

Seeing-diseases, hearing-diseases, nose-diseases, tongue-diseases, body-diseases, head-diseases, ear-diseases, mouth-diseases, teeth-diseases, cough, asthma, catarrh, fever, aging, stomach-ache, fainting, dysentery, grippe, cholera, leprosy, boils, ringworm, tuberculosis, epilepsy, skin-disease, itch, scab, psoriasis, scabies, jaundice, diabetes, hemorrhoids, fistulas, ulcers; diseases arising from bile, from phlegm, from the wind-property, from combinations of bodily humors, from changes in the weather, from uneven care of the body, from attacks, from the result of Kamma; cold, heat, hunger, thirst, defecation, urination.'. — AN 10.60

- The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya 10:60..

.

.

"A healthy negative image sees that ALL bodies,

No matter how attractive, young, or healthy they may seem at the skin level,

Are composed of the very same parts,

All equally unattractive.

- Thanissaro Bhikkhu

.

.

The Boss

The Boss


Have you ever wonder who's the boss?

No, not the one in the office; Or the one at home.

Rather, the one who decides - what to do, the things to say, how to act.

We do.


We're the ones who decide whether we want to carry out our thoughts, our emotions.

We're the ones in-charge of ALL our speech, actions and deeds.

We decide whether or not we want to commit/perform good or evil, wise or foolish, skillful or unskillful acts and deeds.

We're the ones who decide whether we want to react (and how we are going to react), respond, fight or let go.


Take an example :

If we have a tendency towards unskillful acts, it's up to us whether we want to pull on the brakes and put a stop to it. (Read "Stop" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/02/stop.html)

So, if we have a habit to tell lies, carry tales - which is unskillful,

The next time we want to tell tales, it's up to us to stop ourselves and not carry out the untruthful act. (Read "Should We Gamble?" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/11/should-we-gamble.html )


Likewise, if we tend towards genuine, unconditional giving (Read "Giving" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/08/giving.html),

Which is a skillful act,

Even if people were to stop/discourage us,

We give anyway, for the joy of it.

So you see, in the final analysis,

Despite all our habitual and kammic tendencies,

Who's really the one in-charge, The Boss?

We are.



"We are the ones who create this world;

We are the ones who make this world what it is today.

So let's create a whole new world that's filled with Love, Kindness, Compassion, Joy, Peace and Wisdom;

And let us ALL bring Love, Kindness, Compassion, Joy, Peace,

And most important of all, Wisdom,

Back to this place we call "Home", once again."





"We are the ones who do good and evil,

So we must be responsible for our own external behaviour.

We ourselves are the ones who receive the results of the good and evil of

whatever work or actions we do."

- Venerable Ajahn Khao Analayo





"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




*P.S..Just as I said in

'What are we going to do about it (Part 2) : People Power' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-are-we-going-to-do-about-it-part-2.html

and

'Happiness and the Path/Way to Happiness' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/01/happiness-and-way-to-happiness.html ,
.

"I Loving and Kind, You Loving and Kind;

Soon, the whole world will be Loving and Kind."

The World

The World



" ... is aflame."




"Subjected to change are all conditioned things;

Impermanence is the nature of ALL things." .

.

The world is conditioned/impermanent.

And therefore, it can be changed.

From good it can become bad,

From bad become good.

It all depends on us - each and everyone of us -

To make a difference.

(* Read "How will we know?" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2006/11/how-will-we-know.html )




"Born to a world of suffering,

To suffer.

Whoever thinks this world is ( all ) enjoyment,

What is that, if not blindness?"

"This world is blind :

Here there are few who clearly (truly) see.

As few birds escape from the net,

Only few go to blissful state."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada 174.

.

.

"Where is the world?

The world is situated on suffering."

- The Buddha





"When the world is ever ablaze,

Why the laughter? Why the jubilation?

Shrouded in darkness,

Will you not seek The Light?"

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 146






"Come, look at this world,

Resembling an ornamented royal chariot.

Herein fools are sunk,

But for the wise there is no attachment."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 171.

.

"In this one very fathom long body with all its thoughts and perceptions,

O Monks! 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






"Mind is the forerunner of all good and evil states.

Mind is chief;

Mind-made are they."

- The Buddha






"The world is in a constant state of change, and that changing world is situated

right here in the bodies and minds of us ALL."

- Venerable Ajahn Mun

The Heart

The Heart


It is here where it all began

And it's here where it'll all end.
.

It is here where all secrets lie

It is here where all answers lie

And it is here where The Truth lies.


If you want Love, it is here where you'll find Love.

If you want Joy, it is here where you'll find Joy.

And, if you want Peace, it is here where you'll find Peace -

The Heart.




"Nothing, Exists nowhere, Just a light in the dark."




"We came with nothing

We leave with nothing

Nothing lasts,

Nothing is forever

Nothing matters,

NOTHING is important."





"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





"High and low I've searched,

Far and wide;

Up and down,

Left and right.

I found you at last!

The Heart."




"Buried deep within our hearts is a light -

A light of Love, of Joy, and of Peace."