Why Are There So Few Arahants ( i.e. Fully Enlightened Ones )

Why Are There So Few Arahants ( i.e. Fully Enlightened Ones )


I came across the following Sutta by chance and I find it very interesting and extremely relevant.

As such, I'm reproducing it here to share with everyone.

Enjoy!


"Though the Buddha had highly praised Kassapa's ability as an exponent of the Dhamma, there were three occasions when Kassapa hesitated to instruct the monks after being asked by the Buddha to do so.

He did not refuse because he wanted to avoid the effort and distraction of teaching, but because he found that those particular young monks were unresponsive to his admonitions.

In the first of the three instances, Kassapa said that it had now become difficult to speak to some of the monks;

They were not amenable to advice, were intractable, and did not accept admonitions with respect.

He had also heard that two monks boasted of their skill in preaching, saying:

"Come, let us see who will preach more profusely, more beautifully, and at greater length!"

When the Buddha was informed about this by Kassapa, he had these monks summoned and brought them back to reason, making them give up their immature conceit (SN. 16:6).

Hence we can see that Kassapa's negative report turned out to be of benefit to those monks.

It was not done just for criticizing others.

On the second occasion, too, Kassapa did not wish to instruct monks who were not amenable to admonishment, who lacked faith in the good, who lacked shame and fear of wrong-doing, who lacked energy and understanding as to the good.

This was a statement in general about a certain section of the monks, without reference of individuals.

Of these monks Kassapa said further that, in their state of decline, they are like the waning moon that daily loses in beauty (confidence), in roundness (shame), in splendor (fear of wrong-doing), in height (energy), and in width (wisdom) (S.16:7).

Also on a third occasion the Buddha asked Kassapa to instruct the monks, and Kassapa expressed his reluctance for the same reason as before.

It seems that this time, too, the Buddha did not urge Kassapa to change his mind and admonish the monks, but He himself spoke of the reasons for their conduct:

"Formerly, Kassapa, there were elders of the Order who were forest-dwellers, - living on almsfood, wearing rag-robes, using only the threefold set of robes, having few wants and being contented, living secluded and aloof from society, energetic, and they praised and encouraged such a way of life.

When such elders or younger bhikkhus visited a monastery, they were gladly welcomed and honored as being dedicated to the practice of the Dhamma.

Then those who thus welcomed and honored those noble monks would also strive to emulate them in their ways of life, and this would be of great benefit to them for a long time.


"But nowadays, Kassapa, those who are honored when visiting a monastery are NOT monks of austere and earnest life, BUT those who are well known and popular and are amply provided with the requisites of a monk.

These are made welcome and honored, and their hosts try to emulate them, which will bring them harm for a long time.

Hence one will be right in saying that such monks are harmed and overpowered by what does harm to a monk's life."

— Samyutta Nikaya 16:8

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/hecker/wheel345.html#ch5


* Read

1) 'Why Can't They?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-cant-they.html

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




"Ananda! If everyone practices the Dhamma in accordance to the True Dhamma,

There will be no lack of Arahants in this world."

- The Buddha




"Only here is there purity" — that's what they say —

"No other doctrines are pure" — so they say.

Insisting that what they depend on is good,

They are deeply entrenched in their personal truths.

Seeking controversy, they plunge into an assembly,

Regarding one another as fools.

Relying on others' authority,

They speak in debate.

Desiring praise, they claim to be skilled.

Engaged in disputes in the midst of the assembly,

— anxious, desiring praise —

The one defeated is chagrined.

Shaken with criticism, he seeks for an opening.

He whose doctrine is [judged as] demolished, defeated, by those judging the issue:

He laments, he grieves — the inferior exponent.

"He beat me," he mourns.

These disputes have arisen among contemplatives.

In them are elation, dejection.

Seeing this, one should abstain from disputes,

For they have no other goal than the gaining of praise.

He who is praised there for expounding his doctrine in the midst of the assembly,

Laughs on that account & grows haughty, attaining his heart's desire.

That haughtiness will be his grounds for vexation,

For he'll speak in pride & conceit.

Seeing this, one should abstain from debates.

No purity is attained by them, say the skilled. ( Sn 4.8: Pasura Sutta — To Pasura )

- The Buddha, Sutta Nipata 4:8

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.4.08.than.html

Smart ........ NOT

Smart ........ NOT !


In the previous entry, "Sense ........ NOT !", I mentioned that we are so proud of our intelligence, achievements that we even include certifications as the 1st in our 7Cs of must-have.

In the same entry, I also asked what's the point of having all these Cs when the one most important C - "Cow-sense" ( i.e. Common sense ), is lacking.

It does seems that the more knowledge we have, the more foolish and ignorant we become, doesn't it?

We have lesser wisdom, and we can't think/or discern.

Why do I say that?

Otherwise, why do we blindly believe and not question on all the practices, rites, rituals, ceremonies that's going on/around?

Take funeral :

On the one hand they chant and call out Amituofuo ( Amitabha Buddha ), blasting his name all the way to the crematorium.

Yet when they're there, or thereafter, they pray to dizangwangpusa ( Earthstore Boddhisattva ) and burn hell notes.

Doesn't make sense.

Shouldn't that fella be in Amitabha's Pureland ( as the teaching so claimed ) learning the Dhamma from the so-called Amitabha Buddha, enjoying the bliss of Pureland ( where everything is PURE ), by now?


With the blasting of Amituofuo, surely the Amituofuo would have heard them - afterall, The "Buddha" is not deaf - and receive them with open arms in his so-called Paradise / Pureland?

Or ushering them to his Paradise/Pureland?

So why pray and chant to the supposedly dizangwangpusa who's supposedly to be in-charge of helping/enlightening Hell beings?

Some pray and call out/chant dizangwangpusa even when they're alive - As if they've already reserved a slot for themselves in hell.

They must have done pretty bad kamma all their lives such that they know they'll definitely go down to Hell, bound for hell for sure.

And those family members who burn hell notes, TVs, handphone etc for their deceased loved ones -

They must really think very badly and have a really low and very bad opinion of their loved ones -

To think that they're in Hell, bound for Hell, definitely in hell, and still in hell after all these years.
( * Dizangwangpusa must be doing a damn darn job - considering that all these beings are still in Hell after so many years - and he has enlightened none of them. Either that, or they must be damn stupid. )

Otherwise, why do they burn hell notes for them year after year if not because you think they're there - in hell ?

Why hasn't it ever occur or cross their minds that their deceased loved ones may be in Heaven enjoying themselves, not needing a single thing.

Why only Hell?

For all you know, they may even have taken rebirth as the family's latest addition - be it pet or human.

And how do you know if the hell notes are legal tender, the TVs, handphones etc will work?

Don't they need a service provider, or someone to do the connection?


An ex-student once told/shared with me that a monastic told her whatever she wants to tell her deceased sister, to tell it to dizangwangpusa - for him ( i.e. dizangwangpusa ) to relay/pass the message to her sister.

My goodness!

If that's the case, isn't the dizangwangpusa very not free?!

Considering the number of people who die every day.

And, isn't it presumptuous and most unkind and uncompassionate of the monastic to suggest that my ex-student's sister is in Hell?

Fortunately, my ex-student was wise/discerning enough (at that time) not to do as told;

Otherwise, it'll really be stupidity at its best.


As Ajahn Mun succinctly told a disciple of his,

"You are called a Maha ( Great, or one who can read Pali, scriptural language )

But where is the knowledge you studied from the scriptures now?

What is it doing that you cannot call it to your rescue?

What a waste of time and effort for that title of Maha you've got!

The purpose of knowledge is to make use of that knowledge in time of an emergency,

But what kind of knowledge is your knowledge?

It's practically useless.

You are going to die and all that knowledge which you took so much time to gain cannot be called on to help you.

What was the purpose of your studying?

I am not a Maha, not even of the lowest grade ( there are 9 grades altogether ).

What I have with me are only the 5 themes of Meditation ( Hair of the head, hair of the body, nails, skin and teeth ) taught to me by my Preceptor on my ordination day.

It seems the more you learn, the weaker you become, weaker even than an uneducated woman."

( Taken from the book, "The Venerable Phra Acharn Mun Bhuridatta Thera - Meditation Master", written by Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa, page 194 )





"Ignorant worldlings, lacking in knowledge,

Do not know the ( real ) unique qualities of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha,

And so they are like the blind;

But the wise, having knowledge,

Are like people with sight."

- The Buddha.

.

.

"The fool who knows that he is a fool is for that very reason considered wise;

The fool who thinks that he is wise is called a fool indeed."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 63





"When you blindly believe, follow and/or do whatever people tells you,

You're like an animal - constantly living in fear,

Or like a puppet - with no mind of your own."





"Beings who see fear in what is not to be feared,

And see no fear in the fearsome,

Embrace false views and go to a woeful state."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 317





"In the unessential they imagine the essential.

In the essential they see the unessential -

They who entertain ( such ) wrong thoughts NEVER realise the essence."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 11





"The man of little learning grows old like the ox -

His muscles grow; his wisdom grows not."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 152





"Few among men are they who cross to the other shore ( Nibbana ).

All the others only run up and down the bank on this side."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 85





"Indeed, not by any means of transport can one go to the place one has never been before ( i.e. Nibbana );

But ( only ) by thoroughly taming oneself,

The tamed one can get to that place ( Nibbana )"

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 323





"Ignorance - The Greatest taint."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 243



*In short, BE WISE.



** Since we're in the midst of Vesak, let us all be like The Buddha and His Savaka Arahants, and contemplate -


As The Great Supreme Master, The Buddha Himself said,

"Contemplatives - that's what they call us - and that's what we should answer when people ask us...." - Majjhima Nikaya 39


So, let us all spend the day in solitude, and take a moment to contemplate on

- Life;

- The Meaning of Life;

- What is, and what is NOT The Truth;

- What is, and what is NOT the actual Dhamma - The Buddha's Teachings.



Happy Contemplating, Everyone!

Love, Maitre-light

Sense ... NOT

Sense ........ NOT !


Do you go for courses?

Attend seminars, forums etc?

Have you ever wonder what's the purpose of pursuing all these certifications or higher education?

Is it so that you can climb the corporate ladder, get that promotion, show that you're smart, intelligent, boost your ego?

Or is it so that with higher education, you'll be able to hopefully think and become more discerning and a better person?


I look at the world today and wonder what's the point of having all these awards, certification, achievement, accolades or what have you,

When we don't even have the decency or sense to give way to others, say 'Excuse me', 'Please' and 'Thank you'.


Take a very obvious example :

People in their professional and executive gear and make-up, crowd round the MRT doors and push their way in despite alighting passengers;

Or, not even have the sense to move in to the middle of MRT cars leaving the area around the doors clear so that people can board/alight easily.

It's funny we're so highly educated, intelligent and full of certificates with so many awards and achievements to our name,

Yet we don't have the sense to be patient, to wait or give way.


Take another example :

A friend brother got married some time back.

Both the brother (in his 30s) and wife (in her 20s) are from the top 2 local universities which pride themselves of academic excellence, and both are holding professional jobs, one in the government sector, and another in private sector.

One day, the brother called my friend and asked, "We tried frying chicken wings today, how come the chicken wings got no taste, ah?"

My friend asked the brother if they marinated the chicken with some salt or sauces before frying.

The exact reply from the brother was, and I quote, "You mean must one ah?"

Strange isn't it?

The creme de la creme of the country/society, the nation's pride - does not know that chicken ( or any meat for that matter ) needs to be marinated first before it can have taste.

We're so proud of our intelligence and achievements and certifications that we even include certificates as the first in our 7Cs of must-have.

We have the sense to study for certs/awards etc; sense to work for money, make money, sense to dress ourselves in branded beautiful clothes and drive big beautiful expensive cars, to make a name for ourselves, to look rich and beautiful, to be rich and famous etc.

We have the sense to do ALL of the above.

Yet there's one very important sense we do not have, and that's very much lacking -

"Cow-sense" (i.e. common sense).




"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."

- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"And for ignorant minds, vanity and self-delusion always do them a world of harm.

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

But NEVER did their wisdom grow correspondingly large so that it would be conducive to bliss and peace,

Both for themelves and for others.

Worse still, wisdom is neglected and forgotten.

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

- Venerable Ajahn Mun

.

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"Acariya Pannavaddho told me that he had one regret.

He said that it was a shame that Westerners ( * Maitre-light : and to me, the whole world ), who are so clever when it comes to worldly affairs, are so stupid when it comes to spiritual ones.

Even though The Buddha's Teaching is ( far ) superior to everything that the world has to offer, very few Westerners ( and the whole world ) make an effort to learn about it.

He felt that this was their own Kamma, their own misfortune.


When people use their intelligence solely for material purposes, they remain ignorant of matters of real substance - spiritually they are very stupid.

This he felt was their own misfortune.

And he was exactly right.


It is impossible to equate worldly intelligence with the wisdom of Dhamma.

The kilesas ( defilements ) are one thing, and Dhamma is another.


Acariya Pannavaddho told me he wanted to see intelligent people turn away from the world and turn their attention to the practice of Buddhism ( Buddha's Teachings ).

If those people would practise Buddhist Meditation ( as taught by The Buddha ), they could greatly benefit the world we live in.


His main regret was that so few showed an interest.

He saw them as very intelligent in one way and very stupid in another."


- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa's eulogy for Venerable Acariya Pannavaddho, taken from,

"Wisdom Develops Samadhi - A Guide To The Practice of the Buddha's Meditation Methods." written by Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno, page 38-39






"Riches destroys the foolish;

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

By his craving for riches,

The fool destroys himself,

As he would destroy others."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 355

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"That which is made of iron, wood or hemp,

Is not a strong bond, say the wise;

The longing for jewels, ornaments, children and wives/husbands,

Is a far greater attachment."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 345

.

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"For the person who is perturbed by evil thoughts,

Who is exceedingly lustful/greedy/covetous,

Who contemplates pleasant/pleasurable things,

Craving increase more and more.

Surely, he makes the bond of Mara - the evil one, stronger."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 349

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"When a knowledgeable person turns to evil ways,

He or she is liable to cause more strife and trouble to the country than the uninformed person who does the same thing.

An ignoramus who doesn't do evil

Is better than a learned man who uses his knowledge for evil means."

- Ajahn Tate

.

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"The society whose material development has outstripped its mental development is sure to experience turmoil, crimes of violence, corruption, cheating etc.

Progress in the knowledge or the increase of gadgets for bodily comfort are but the increase of the fires that serve only to burn those who feed them."

- Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno

.

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"Anyone in possesion of great wealth but unable to deal with it properly,

Is in the same position as someone holding a firebrand.

The fire will inevitably burn down from the ignited end to scorch the hand that grasps it."

- Ajahn Tate

.

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"Good scholars should only explore and enquire for knowledge that is concerned with weighty, significant issues that may lead to the enrichment of people's lives.

They shouldn't be aiming for knowledge to increase their social position or status."

- Ajahn Tate

..

* Read "The Society and Its System" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/04/society-and-its-system.html

Truth ... NOT

Truth ....... NOT !

Many people wonder the significance of The Buddha's acceptance of food just before His Supreme Enlightenment.

The Buddha went through 6 years of strict, extreme ascetism with very little food to the point of near starvation.

What made Him finally choose/made the decision to eat?

The answer is very simple -

It's the mind, NOT the body. ( Read "Nibbana is......" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/12/nibbana-is.html )

The Buddha realised that starving himself is not the answer/way to Full Enlightenment/ Purification/Transcension/Nibbana

Cos you do need this body/physical form to do/continue your practice, BUT without over-indulgence, or sensual passion/indulgence/clinging.

Nowadays, there are some people who advocates/teach/say that not to eat certain foods/groups of food, as that would take/result in us going to the lower realms, and/or attract negative beings etc. due to the smell of such foods.

For goodness sake!

If by eating/consuming certain foods, we would end up in a lower/Hell realm etc, The Great Compassionate Buddha would have told/taught/expounded that.

Why didn't He?

Why did He instead teach us the Law of Kamma, and tells us to "Avoid ALL evil, Cultivate good, and to Purify our minds"?


The reason you end up in a lower realm is because of your own wrong doing and evil ways -

Kamma ( Read "Kamma Kamma Part 4 - What Happens When" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/05/kamma-kamma-part-4-what-happens-when.html) -

It has got absolutely nothing to do with the kinds of food, pungent or not, that you eat/consume.

Likewise, you attract negative forces/beings is because your heart/mind is negative/defiled itself.

What do you expect?

Birds of a feather flock together.

The reason your mouth stinks, is because,

Apart from the physical ailments of digestive/excretive or dental issues,

You lie, you cheat, you bad mouth, gossip, carry tales, backstab, spread malicious gossip, speak untruths and use harsh angry speech.

It has got nothing to do with the food.

Likewise, the reason your body smell, is, apart from the fact that it's dirty, smelly and filthy in the first place, ( Read "The Body" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/03/body.html)

Because of your unskillful, unwholesome, unvirtuous and immoral ways, deeds, and actions.

The fault lies in us, NOT in the food.

STOP deceiving, deluding and fooling yourself and blaming on the food ( Read " The Blame Game" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/07/blame-game.html ) when you should be looking and examining your own thoughts, speech and actions.


Just as it's not that something is wrong with the world, but something is wrong with us, (Read "What Do We Expect? - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-do-we-expect.html)

Likewise, it's not that something is wrong with the food, but that something is wrong with us.

You don't have to believe me.

Try doing the 13 Dhutanga ( Purification ) practices allowed by The Buddha and see the results for yourself.


There are many untruths/fallacies that had been, and are going, passing and spreading around.

Stop blindly believing and following.

Start asking and investigating.

Think! Think! Think!

Reflect! Reflect! Reflect!

See! See! See!

Investigate! Investigate! Investigate!

Kalama Sutta! Kalama Sutta! KALAMA SUTTA!




"Man's mind is given to so much self-deceit ( and conceit ) that he does not want to admit his own weaknesses.

He will try to find some excuse to justify his action and to create an illusion that he is blameless.

If a man really wants to be free,

He must have the courage ( and humility ) to admit his own weaknesses."

- Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda




"There are the scents of sandalwood, tagara, lotus and jasmine;

But the scent of virtue surpasses ALL scents."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 55





"Humans have brains, but we have no sense."





"Easy to do are things that are evil and NOT beneficial to oneself;

But very difficult indeed, to do is that which is beneficial and good."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 163





"In the unessential they imagine the essential;

In the essential they see the unessential -

They who entertain such wrong thoughts NEVER realise the essence."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 11




"And how is striving fruitful, how is exertion fruitful?

There is the case where a monk, when not loaded down, does not load himself down with pain, nor does he reject pleasure that accords with the Dhamma, although he is not fixated/infatuated with that pleasure.

He discerns that

'When I live according to my pleasure, unskillful mental qualities increase in me & skillful qualities decline.

When I exert myself with stress & pain, though, unskillful qualities decline in me & skillful qualities increase.

Why don't I exert myself with stress & pain?'

So he exerts himself with stress & pain, and while he is exerting himself with stress & pain, unskillful qualities decline in him, & skillful qualities increase.

Then at a later time he would no longer exert himself with stress & pain.

Why is that?

Because he has attained the goal for which he was exerting himself with stress & pain.

That is why, at a later time, he would no longer exert himself with stress & pain.

MN 101: Devadaha Sutta — To Devadaha

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 101
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"The foolish man, who on account of false views,

Scorns the teaching of the Arahants, the Noble Ones, and the Righteous,

Produces fruit like the bamboo -

Only for self-destruction."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 164

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"For a person of wrong view, there is one of Two destinations, I tell you :

Hell, or The Animal womb."

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 57.

ajjhima Nikaya 101

The 13 Dhutanga ( Purification ) Practices / The Ascetic Practices ( Dhutanga )

These are the ascetic practices as listed in the standard text books.

It must be understood that their purpose in every case is to counteract specific defilements ( kilesa ).

So they are to be applied by each practitioner as and when he finds need for them.


1) Wearing robes that are patched up and mended.

2) Wearing only the 3 robes and no others.

3) Getting one's food by going on the alms round. (Pindapata)

4) Not omitting any house on the alms round.

5) Eating food only once a day, at one sitting.

6) Eating only out of the alms bowl.

7) Having eaten food to one's satisfaction, one refuses any further food.

8) Living in the forest.

9) Living under a tree.

10) Living in the open. Not at the foot of a tree, nor under a roof.

11) Living in a charnel ground.

12) Being satisfied with any bed or resting place that falls to one's lot.

13) The sitters practice. In other words, sitting, standing or walking, but never lying down.


(Taken from "Patipada or The Mode of Practice of Venerable Acharn Mun" by Venerable Acharn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno, page 565)

Kamma Kamma (Part 4) : What Happens When ........

Kamma Kamma (Part 4) : What Happens When ........


"The taking and harming of life — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades.

The slightest of all the results coming from the taking and harming of life is that,

When one becomes a human being, it leads to a short life span.

"Stealing — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades.

The slightest of all the results coming from stealing is that,

When one becomes a human being, it leads to the loss of one's wealth.

"Illicit sexual behavior ( i.e. sexual misconduct )— when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades.

The slightest of all the results coming from illicit sexual behavior is that,

When one becomes a human being, it leads to rivalry & revenge.

"Telling falsehoods ( i.e. lying ) — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades.

The slightest of all the results coming from telling falsehoods is that,

When one becomes a human being, it leads to being falsely accused.

"Malicious tale-bearing — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades.

The slightest of all the results coming from malicious tale-bearing is that,

When one becomes a human being, it leads to the breaking of one's friendships.

"Harsh speech — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades.

The slightest of all the results coming from harsh speech is that,

When one becomes a human being, it leads to unappealing sounds.

"Frivolous chattering ( i.e. idle chatter, gossiping ) — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades.

The slightest of all the results coming from frivolous chattering is that,

When one becomes a human being, it leads to words that aren't worth taking to heart.

"The drinking of fermented & distilled liquors — when indulged in, developed, & pursued — is something that leads to hell, leads to rebirth as a common animal, leads to the realm of the hungry shades.

The slightest of all the results coming from drinking fermented & distilled liquors is that,

When one becomes a human being, it leads to Mental Derangement."

— The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya VIII.40 (AN 8.40)





"Sabbapapassa akaranam
To Avoid ALL evil
Kusalassupasampada
To Cultivate good
Sacitta pariyodapanam
To Purify one's mind
Etam Buddhana Sasanam
This is the Teaching of ALL The Buddhas."

- The Buddha

"I am the owner of my Kamma, Heir to my Kamma;

Born of my Kamma, related to my Kamma;

Abide, supported by my Kamma.

Whatever Kamma I shall do,

Whether good or evil,

Of that I shall be The Heir."

- The Buddha

Kamma Kamma (Part 3) : Prove It - Show Me The Kamma

Kamma Kamma (Part 3) : Prove It - Show Me The Kamma


One day, after a discourse, a man got up from his seat and told Maitreya,

"I like Buddhism. But I find the part on kamma very difficult to believe and accept. Can you prove it?"

Knowing that the man is short and bad tempered, egoistic and vain, and is highly unvirtuous,

Maitreya asked the man,

"Sir, has anyone ever commented on your looks?"

Startled, the man stammered,

"Er ........ no. Well, maybe they do find me attractive, but they never tell me."


Smiling along, Maitreya continued,

"Do you think you're handsome, good looking?"

Touching his hair and brimming with conceit, the man replied in mock/fake humility,

"I think I'm OK looking - just the average kind of guy, you know. But of course there are days when I look awful - bad hair days, you know what I mean?"


Smiling gently, Maitreya asked again,

"If given a choice, would you like to be better looking, look better?"

Bemused, the man replied earnestly,

"Well, of course! I'm sure anyone would."

Nodding the head, Maitreya went on,

"Well, then lose that temper of yours, avoid getting angry so often, and learn to be more virtuous by making an effort in keeping the 5 Precepts. And that's, kamma for you!"




"Kammassaka - Beings are owners of their own kamma."




"Anger makes a person look ugly;

Jealousy makes a person look sour;

AND, hatred makes a person look bitter."




"If you want beauty, then be kind, be virtuous, be nice.

Avoid anger, enmity, ill-will, jealousy and hate.

If you want wealth, then be generous - genuinely, unconditionally.

Avoid being stingy, selfish and greedy.

If you want health and longevity, then give life, save lives, and avoid hurting, harming and/or killing any being.

AND,

If you want wisdom, then learn to question,

Avoid intoxicating yourself, and very importantly,

MEDITATE !

Kamma Kamma (Part 2) : Lucky ...

Kamma Kamma (Part 2) : Lucky ...


Before everyone gets scared off by my previous blog, 'Kamma Kamma (Part 1) : Oh no!' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/04/kamma-kamma-part-1-oh-no.html,

Please wait.


In 'Kamma Kamma Part 1', I was talking about the unpleasant part -

The part which most people find hard to swallow,

And maybe even accept as well.

But rightly so.

Cos in the course of our lives, we would all have done/committed wrong/evil.

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

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

Likewise Kamma.

Kamma is very fair.

In fact, it's the fairest, most unbiased, unprejudiced law of justice in the whole universe.

Why?

Simply because it's Nature's Law.

So now, let's go to the other side - the good/ pleasant side.


Just as I say, when we do things to others, we're doing things to ourselves.

Likewise, when we do things FOR others, we're doing for ourselves.

Everything's the same - just in the reverse order/way -

Meaning : The more good we do, the more good will come to us.

It's that simple.

Just as The Buddha said in Dhammapada verse 2,

"If one speaks or acts with pure mind,

Because of that, Happiness follows one,

Even as one's shadow that never leaves."


So, if you want good things, pleasant things to come to you,

Then do good. Be good.




"Kamma can be changed -

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, remember to continue to do good."





" ........ the way to goodness is open for ALL people who want to be good,

No matter how badly they have behaved in the past."

- Thanissaro Bhikkhu

* P.S ... Lucky :)