What Happens To ........ (Part 2) : An Evil-Doer
The various hells are the most painful locations of the level of sensuality.
Among their special torments is the induced anticipation of respite and release - an anticipation repeatedly thwarted.
'Bhikkhus, the fool/evil-doer misbehaving by body, speech and mind, at the break up of the body after death, goes to decrease, is born in hell.
The warders of hell give him the Fivefold Binding :
That is two hot iron spikes are sent through his two palms, and two other hot spikes are sent through his two feet and the fifth hot iron spike is sent through his chest.
On account of this he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings.
Yet he does not die until his demerit finishes.
Next the warders of hell conduct him and Hammer him.
On account of this he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings.
Yet he does not die until his demerit finishes.
Next the warders of hell take him upside down and Cut him with a Knife.
On account of this too he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings.
Yet he does not die until his demerit finishes.
Next the warders of hell yoke him to a cart and make him go to and fro on a ground that is Flaming and Ablaze.
On account of this too he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings.
Yet he does not die until his demerit finishes.
Next the warders of hell make him ascend and descend a rock of Burning Ambers.
On account of this he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings.
Yet he does not die until his demerit finishes.
Next the warders of hell throw him upside down into a boiling, Blazing pot of Molten.
There he is cooked in the molten scum, and he on his own accord dives in, comes up and goes across in the molten pot.
On account of this too he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings.
Yet he does not die until his demerit finishes.
Next the warders of hell throw him to the Great Hell.
The square Great Hell has four gates and is divided in two - Enclosed by iron walls, is closed with an iron lid.
The floor spreads for seven hundred miles,
And it stands there everyday.
A fire springs from the eastern wall of the Great Hell to scorch the western wall.
A fire springs from the western wall to scorch the eastern wall.
A fire springs from the northern wall to scorch the southern wall.
A fire springs from the southern wall to scorch the northern wall.
A fire springs from the bottom to scorch the top and a fire springs from the top to scorch the bottom.
There he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings, yet he does not die until his demerit comes to an end.
Bhikkhus, after the lapse of a very long time, it happens that the eastern door of the Great Hell opens.
Then he runs with great speed, in doing so he burns his outer skin, inner skin, flesh, nerves, and even the bones smoke even if he pulls himself out, it happens.
When he finally gets there, the door slams shut.
There he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings, yet he does not die until his demerit comes to an end.
Bhikkhus, after the lapse of a very long time, it happens that the western door of the Great Hell opens.
Then he runs with great speed, in doing so he burns his outer skin, inner skin, flesh, nerves, and even the bones smoke even if he pulls himself out, it happens.
When he finally gets there, the door slams shut. ( Similarly with the Northern & Southern Gate )
There he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings, yet he does not die until his demerit comes to an end.
Bhikkhus, after the lapse of a very long time, it happens that the eastern door of the Great Hell opens.
Then he runs with great speed, in doing so he burns his outer skin, inner skin, flesh, nerves, and even the bones smoke even if he pulls himself out, it happens.
He escapes through that door.
BUT, parallel and together with the Great Hell is the Hell of Excreta and he falls into that.
In it there are needle mouthed living things, that pierce the outer skin, then the inner skin, after that the flesh, the nerves and even the bones and they eat the bone marrow.
There he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings, yet he does not die until his demerit comes to an end.
Parallel and together with the Hell of Excreta is the Hell where hot ashes rain, he falls into that.
There he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings, yet he does not die until his demerit comes to an end.
Parallel and together with the Hell where hot ashes rain, is the Simbali forest, more than seven miles tall, it has thorns sixteen inches long, aflame and blazing, he climbs on them and goes to and fro on them.
There he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings, yet he does not die until his demerit comes to an end.
Parallel and together with the Simbali forest, is a Forest of Swords. He enters that.
The leaves that fall with the wind, cut his feet, hands, feet and hands, ears, nose, ears and nose.
There he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings, yet he does not die until his demerit comes to an end.
Parallel and together with the forest of swords is a Huge Salt water river. He falls into that.
In it he is carried up stream and down stream.
There he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings, yet he does not die until his demerit comes to an end.
Then the warders of hell pull him out with a hook and ask him.
'Good man, what do you desire?’
He says, 'Sir, I'm hungry.’
The warders of hell open his mouth with hot iron spikes and pour into his mouth burning, Flaming Iron Balls.
They burn his lips, mouth, throat, chest, the intestines, the lower intestines and they come out with the insides.
There he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings, yet he does not die until his demerit comes to an end.
Then the warders ask him.
'Good man, what do you desire?’
He says, 'Sir, I'm thirsty.’
The warders of hell open his mouth with hot iron spikes and pour into his mouth burning, Flaming Molten Copper.
They burn his lips, mouth, throat, chest, the intestines, the lower intestines and they come out with the insides.
There he experiences sharp piercing unpleasant feelings, yet he does not die as long as his evil deed is not exhausted.
Then the warders of Hell throw him back to the Great Hell once more.
In the past to the King of the Under World it occurred thus :
"To those who do evil in the world, these various punishments above are given.
O! If I gain humanity.
O! If the Thus Gone One, perfect and rightfully enlightened is born in the world.
O! I should associate That Blessed One.
O! The Blessed One should teach me and I should know That Teaching."
'Bhikkhus, I say this NOT hearing from another recluse or brahmin or contemplative.
On the contrary, I tell you this just as I have known for myself, seen for myself, penetrated for myself
And so I say it.’
- http://www.mahindarama.com/e-tipitaka/Majjhima-Nikaya/mn-130.htm
"Indeed, by doing wrong to those who should NOT be wronged,
One is sure to suffer MORE for it."
- The Buddha
"Whoever harms a harmless person,
One pure and guiltless,
Upon that very fool the evil recoils,
Like fine dust thrown against the wind."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 125
"Not in the sky, nor in mid-ocean, nor in a mountain cave,
Is found that place on earth
Where abiding,
One may escape from the consequences of one's evil deed."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 127
"Whatever harm a foe may do to a foe,
Or, a hater to a hater,
Yet an ill-directed mind
Can do oneself far greater harm."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 42
"Some are reborn as human beings,
THE WICKED are reborn in WOEFUL states,
The Righteous go to blissful states,
And those who are free from mental defilements pass away into Nibbana."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 126
"He who does harm with weapons to those who are harmless and should NOT be harmed,
Will soon suffer any of these 10 EVIL cosequences.
He will be subject to
- Acute pain,
- Disaster,
- Bodily injury or
- Grievous sickness, or
- Loss of mind, or
- Oppression by the king, or
- Heavy accusation, or
- Loss of relatives, or
- Destruction of wealth, or
- Ravaging fire that will burn his house.
Upon the dissolution of the body, the fool will be reborn in HELL."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 138 - 140
"10 kinds of evil deeds :
- Killing,
- Stealing,
- Sexual misconduct,
- Lying,
- Slandering,
- Harsh speech,
- Vain talk,
- Covetousness,
- Ill-will, and
- False belief."
- The Buddha
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
What Happens To ........ (Part 1) : A Fool
What Happens To ........ (Part 1) : A Fool
- http://www.mahindarama.com/e-tipitaka/Majjhima-Nikaya/mn-129.htm
"The ignorance with which the fool is obstructed, the craving with which he is conjoined, through which this body results:
That ignorance has not been abandoned by the fool; that craving has not been destroyed.
Why is that?
The fool has NOT practiced the holy life for the right ending of stress.
Therefore, at the break-up of the body, he is headed for a [new] body.
Headed for a body, he is not entirely freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair.
I tell you, he is NOT entirely freed from stress & suffering. - SN 12.19
- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya 12:19 .
I find the following Teachings by The Buddha extremely important, and especially relevant.
As such, I'm reproducing it here and over the next few weeks to share with everyone.
Hopefully reading it, we can all learn something from it, and be more aware.
Happy reading!
"I heard thus.
At one time The Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by Anathapindika in Jeta's grove in Savatthi. The Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus from there.
'Bhikkhus, these three are the marks, characteristics and attainments of the fool.
What are the three?
The fool has foolish thoughts, foolish words and foolish actions.
If the fool was not with foolish thoughts, words and actions, how are the wise to know this good person is a fool, an unworthy one.
Since the fool thinks, speaks and acts foolishly, the wise knows he is a fool.
The fool experiences unpleasantness and displeasure here and now in three ways.
Bhikkhus, if the fool is with a crowd, in the street corner or a junction, and if the people there were talking some current topic,
And if he destroyed living things, took the not given, misbehaved sexually, told lies and took intoxicating drinks, it occurs to him -
These things the people are talking are evident in me too.
This is the first instance that the fool experiences unpleasantness and displeasure.
Again, bhikkhus, the fool sees an offender taken hold by the king and given various kinds of torture, caned and whipped, flogged with the jungle rope, flogged with the soiled stick, hands severed, legs severed, or both hands and legs severed, ears and nose severed, put in the boiling gruel pot, shell tonsured, put in Rahu's mouth, garlanded with the blazing garland, hands scorched, the bark dress given, put with snakes, putting hooks in the flesh, cutting pieces of flesh from the body, driving a spike from ear to ear, beating to make the body like straw, immersing in the boiling oil, giving to the dogs to be eaten, raising on a spike alive until death, and cutting the neck with the sword;
Bhikkhus, then it occurs to the fool - for the reason of doing evil, this robber, evil doer is punished. If the king gets hold of me, I too will be subjected to these same punishments.
This is the second instance that the fool experiences unpleasantness and displeasure.
Again, bhikkhus, when the fool is relaxed on a chair, on the bed or on a cover on the floor, he thinks of his misbehaviour by body, speech and mind.
At such times they press on him heavily.
Like the shadow of a huge mountain peak, would fall on the earth heavily in the evening.
In the same manner when the fool is relaxed on a chair, on the bed or on a cover on the floor, he thinks of his misbehaviour by body, speech and mind.
At such times they press on him heavily.
Bhikkhus, then it occurs to the fool -
I did not do good and merit. Didn't dispel the fear of the frightened, did evil bloody faults and later I will reap their results.
He grieves, laments, beats his breast and comes to bewilderment of mind.
Bhikkhus, this is the third instance that the fool experiences unpleasantness and displeasure.
Bhikkhus, there are beings that go on their fours and grinding grass dry or wet with their teeth, eat it.
Who are such beings?
They are horses, cattle, donkeys, goats, deer or any other animals that go on their fours and eat grass.
The fool greedy for tastes, do evil things and after death are born in the company of the four footed and eat grass.
Bhikkhus, there are animals that eat excreta.
They run sniffing the smell of excreta, thinking we will eat that and that, like the brahmin that runs for the smell of a sacrifice thinking, "We will eat here! We will eat here!"
In the same manner animals that eat excreta, run sniffing the smell of excreta, thinking we will eat that and that.
Bhikkhus, what are the animals that eat excreta?
They are cocks, pigs, dogs, foxes and any other animals that eat excreta.
The fool greedy for tastes, do evil things and after death are born in the company of the animals that eat excreta.
Bhikkhus, there are crawling things that are born, live and die in the dark. Bhikkhus, what are the crawling things that are born, live and die in the dark?
Beetles, worm maggots, earth worms and similar crawling things are born, live and die in the dark.
Fools greedy for tastes, do evil things and after death are born in the company of those born in the dark.
Bhikkhus, there are things that are born, live and die in the water. Bhikkhus, what are the things that are born, live and die in water?
Fish, turtles, crocodiles and similar beings are born, live and die in water.
Fools greedy for tastes, do evil things and after death are born in the company of those born in water.
Bhikkhus, there are things that are born, live and die in excreta. Bhikkhus, what are the things that are born, live and die in excreta?
Things that are born live and die in rotten fish, in rotten flesh, in rotten bread, in a dirty village pool.
Fools greedy for tastes, do evil things and after death are born in the company of those born, live and die in excreta.
- http://www.mahindarama.com/e-tipitaka/Majjhima-Nikaya/mn-129.htm
"The ignorance with which the fool is obstructed, the craving with which he is conjoined, through which this body results:
That ignorance has not been abandoned by the fool; that craving has not been destroyed.
Why is that?
The fool has NOT practiced the holy life for the right ending of stress.
Therefore, at the break-up of the body, he is headed for a [new] body.
Headed for a body, he is not entirely freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair.
I tell you, he is NOT entirely freed from stress & suffering. - SN 12.19
- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya 12:19 .
.
"I seek after nothing;
For what is the use of seeking anything when I have everything within myself?
The Fool, however, always make a religion of money.
Thinking nothing of others or of the means by which to obtain that money."
- Venerable Ajahn Mun.
.
"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
.
.
"For the person who is perturbed by evil thoughts;
Who is exceedingly lustful, greedy, covetous;
Who contemplates pleasant, pleasurable things,
Craving increases more and more.
Surely, he makes the bond of Mara - The Evil One, stronger."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 349.
.
"People beset with craving are terrified like a hare caught in a snare;
Held fast by fetter and bonds,
They undergo dukkha ( round of rebirths ) again and again for a long time."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 342
.
.
"The man who gathers flowers ( of sensual pleasure ),
Whose mind is entangled,
Death carries him off
As a great flood sweeps away a sleeping village."
- The Budddha, Dhammapada verse 47.
.
"The Fool, on account of false views,
Scorns the Teachings of The Arahants, The Buddha, The Noble Ones, and The Righteous,
Produces fruits like the bamboo,
Only for self-destruction."
- THe Buddha, Dhammapada verse 164.
.
"That deed is not well done,
When, after having done it,
One regrets,
And when weeping, with tearful face,
One reaps the fruit thereof."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 67.
.
"So, when a fool does wrong deeds,
He does not realise their evil nature;
By his own deeds the fool is tormented,
Like one burnt by fire."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 136.
.
"The skill of a fool can only harm him;
It destroys his merit and his wisdom ( lit. it severes his head )."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 72
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Actor ........ Hell of Laughter
The Actor ........ Hell of Laughter
In relation to my opening entry for this year, "You Say Monkey or Not, lah?!" ( http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/01/you-say-monkey-or-not-lah.html ),
I would like to share with everyone a teaching which The Buddha, The Blessed One, gave to Talaputa, the head of an acting troupe, which I find is very interesting.
For those who aspires to be in the limelight, but didn't make it, or quite make it, perhaps after reading this entry, you'll heave a sigh of relief and thank your good kamma instead.
For those who hopes to be in the limelight, perhaps you'll change your mind or think twice after reading this.
And, for those who are (already) in the limelight,
Well ........
What can I say?
Except ........
Good luck to you!
Happy Reading and Enjoy! :)
"On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel's Sanctuary.
Then Talaputa, the head of an acting troupe, went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side.
As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One:
"Lord, I have heard that it has been passed down by the ancient teaching lineage of actors that
'When an actor on the stage, in the midst of a festival, makes people laugh & gives them delight with his imitation of reality, then with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in the company of the laughing devas.'
What does the Blessed One have to say about that?"
"Enough, headman, put that aside. Don't ask me that."
A second time... A third time Talaputa, the head of an acting troupe, said:
"Lord, I have heard that it has been passed down by the ancient teaching lineage of actors that
'When an actor on the stage, in the midst of a festival, makes people laugh & gives them delight with his imitation of reality, then with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in the company of the laughing devas.'
What does the Blessed One have to say about that?"
"Apparently, headman, I haven't been able to get past you by saying,
'Enough, headman, put that aside. Don't ask me that.' So I will simply answer you.
Any beings who are not devoid of passion to begin with, who are bound by the bond of passion, focus with even more passion on things inspiring passion presented by an actor on stage in the midst of a festival;
Any beings who are not devoid of aversion to begin with, who are bound by the bond of aversion, focus with even more aversion on things inspiring aversion presented by an actor on stage in the midst of a festival;
Any beings who are not devoid of delusion to begin with, who are bound by the bond of delusion, focus with even more delusion on things inspiring delusion presented by an actor on stage in the midst of a festival;
Thus the actor — himself intoxicated & heedless, having made others intoxicated & heedless —
With the breakup of the body, after death, is reborn in what is called the Hell of Laughter.
But if he holds such a view as this:
'When an actor on the stage, in the midst of a festival, makes people laugh & gives them delight with his imitation of reality, then with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in the company of the laughing devas,' that is his WRONG VIEW.
Now, there are two destinations for a person with wrong view, I tell you:
Either Hell or the Animal womb."
When this was said, Talaputa, the head of an acting troupe, sobbed & burst into tears.
The Blessed One said: "That is what I couldn't get past you by saying, 'Enough, headman, put that aside. Don't ask me that.'"
"I'm not crying, lord, because of what the Blessed One said to me, but simply because I have been deceived, cheated, & fooled for a long time by that ancient teaching lineage of actors who said: 'When an actor on the stage, in the midst of a festival, makes people laugh & gives them delight with his imitation of reality, then with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in the company of the laughing devas.'
- SN 42.2: Talaputa Sutta — Talaputa the Actor
* Read "Nobody Me" ( http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/08/nobody-me.html )
"Conquered by gains, offerings, and fame, his mind consumed,
He looks down on other well-behaved monks.
That will be for this worthless man's long-term suffering and harm.
That's how cruel gains, offerings, and fame are :
A harsh, bitter obstacle to the attainment of the unexcelled rest from bondage."
- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya 17 : 5
"A man who is greedy for fields, land, gold, cattle, horses, servants, employees, women, relatives, many sensual pleasures,
Is overpowered with weakness and trampled by trouble,
For pain invades him as water, a cracked boat."
- The Buddha, Sutta Nipata 4:1
"There is the case where a certain monk is conquered by gains, offerings, and fame, his mind consumed.
He finds no pleasure whether he goes to an empty dwelling, to the foot of a tree, or to the open air.
Wherever he goes, wherever he stands, wherever he sits, wherever he lies down,
He is sunk in misery.
That's how cruel gains, offerings, and fame are :
A harsh, bitter obstacle to the attainment of the unexcelled rest from bondage."
- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya 17:8
"O Bhikkhus!
Gains, offerings, glory, praise are all harsh and fierce.
They are a danger preventing the achievement of the highest bliss of liberation - Nibbana."
- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya - Labha Sakkara Samyutta
"Fame, fortune, power, glory, praise and recognition are the real evils of the world -
They are truly the evils that will destroy us."
"When there's praise, there will be blame;
When there's fame, there will be ill-fame.
When there's happiness, there will be sorrow;
AND, when there's fortune, misfortune will quickly follow."
- The Buddha
*** Actors do not just mean artises. It also mean those people who act and pretend to be something they're not.
In relation to my opening entry for this year, "You Say Monkey or Not, lah?!" ( http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/01/you-say-monkey-or-not-lah.html ),
I would like to share with everyone a teaching which The Buddha, The Blessed One, gave to Talaputa, the head of an acting troupe, which I find is very interesting.
For those who aspires to be in the limelight, but didn't make it, or quite make it, perhaps after reading this entry, you'll heave a sigh of relief and thank your good kamma instead.
For those who hopes to be in the limelight, perhaps you'll change your mind or think twice after reading this.
And, for those who are (already) in the limelight,
Well ........
What can I say?
Except ........
Good luck to you!
Happy Reading and Enjoy! :)
"On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel's Sanctuary.
Then Talaputa, the head of an acting troupe, went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side.
As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One:
"Lord, I have heard that it has been passed down by the ancient teaching lineage of actors that
'When an actor on the stage, in the midst of a festival, makes people laugh & gives them delight with his imitation of reality, then with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in the company of the laughing devas.'
What does the Blessed One have to say about that?"
"Enough, headman, put that aside. Don't ask me that."
A second time... A third time Talaputa, the head of an acting troupe, said:
"Lord, I have heard that it has been passed down by the ancient teaching lineage of actors that
'When an actor on the stage, in the midst of a festival, makes people laugh & gives them delight with his imitation of reality, then with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in the company of the laughing devas.'
What does the Blessed One have to say about that?"
"Apparently, headman, I haven't been able to get past you by saying,
'Enough, headman, put that aside. Don't ask me that.' So I will simply answer you.
Any beings who are not devoid of passion to begin with, who are bound by the bond of passion, focus with even more passion on things inspiring passion presented by an actor on stage in the midst of a festival;
Any beings who are not devoid of aversion to begin with, who are bound by the bond of aversion, focus with even more aversion on things inspiring aversion presented by an actor on stage in the midst of a festival;
Any beings who are not devoid of delusion to begin with, who are bound by the bond of delusion, focus with even more delusion on things inspiring delusion presented by an actor on stage in the midst of a festival;
Thus the actor — himself intoxicated & heedless, having made others intoxicated & heedless —
With the breakup of the body, after death, is reborn in what is called the Hell of Laughter.
But if he holds such a view as this:
'When an actor on the stage, in the midst of a festival, makes people laugh & gives them delight with his imitation of reality, then with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in the company of the laughing devas,' that is his WRONG VIEW.
Now, there are two destinations for a person with wrong view, I tell you:
Either Hell or the Animal womb."
When this was said, Talaputa, the head of an acting troupe, sobbed & burst into tears.
The Blessed One said: "That is what I couldn't get past you by saying, 'Enough, headman, put that aside. Don't ask me that.'"
"I'm not crying, lord, because of what the Blessed One said to me, but simply because I have been deceived, cheated, & fooled for a long time by that ancient teaching lineage of actors who said: 'When an actor on the stage, in the midst of a festival, makes people laugh & gives them delight with his imitation of reality, then with the breakup of the body, after death, he is reborn in the company of the laughing devas.'
- SN 42.2: Talaputa Sutta — Talaputa the Actor
* Read "Nobody Me" ( http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/08/nobody-me.html )
"Conquered by gains, offerings, and fame, his mind consumed,
He looks down on other well-behaved monks.
That will be for this worthless man's long-term suffering and harm.
That's how cruel gains, offerings, and fame are :
A harsh, bitter obstacle to the attainment of the unexcelled rest from bondage."
- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya 17 : 5
"A man who is greedy for fields, land, gold, cattle, horses, servants, employees, women, relatives, many sensual pleasures,
Is overpowered with weakness and trampled by trouble,
For pain invades him as water, a cracked boat."
- The Buddha, Sutta Nipata 4:1
"There is the case where a certain monk is conquered by gains, offerings, and fame, his mind consumed.
He finds no pleasure whether he goes to an empty dwelling, to the foot of a tree, or to the open air.
Wherever he goes, wherever he stands, wherever he sits, wherever he lies down,
He is sunk in misery.
That's how cruel gains, offerings, and fame are :
A harsh, bitter obstacle to the attainment of the unexcelled rest from bondage."
- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya 17:8
"O Bhikkhus!
Gains, offerings, glory, praise are all harsh and fierce.
They are a danger preventing the achievement of the highest bliss of liberation - Nibbana."
- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya - Labha Sakkara Samyutta
"Fame, fortune, power, glory, praise and recognition are the real evils of the world -
They are truly the evils that will destroy us."
"When there's praise, there will be blame;
When there's fame, there will be ill-fame.
When there's happiness, there will be sorrow;
AND, when there's fortune, misfortune will quickly follow."
- The Buddha
*** Actors do not just mean artises. It also mean those people who act and pretend to be something they're not.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Will The (True) Dhamma 'Vanish'?
Will The (True) Dhamma 'Vanish'?
I discovered the following Teaching by The Buddha to one of His Eminent Arahant disciples -
Venerable Maha Kassapa -
In which The Buddha gave 5 conditions that will result in the 'vanishing' of The Dhamma - His Teachings.
Which 5?
"On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery.
Then Ven. Maha Kassapa went to the Blessed One and on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side.
As he was sitting there he said to The Blessed One,
"What is the cause, Lord, what is the reason, why before there were fewer training rules and yet more monks established in final gnosis (The Path to Arahantship), whereas now there are more training rules and yet fewer monks established in final gnosis (The Path to Arahantship)?"
"That's the way it is, Kassapa.
When beings are degenerating and the True Dhamma is disappearing, there are more training rules and yet fewer monks established in final gnosis.
There is no disappearance of the True Dhamma as long as a counterfeit of the True Dhamma has not arisen in the world,
BUT there is the disappearance of the True Dhamma when a counterfeit of the True Dhamma has arisen in the world.
Just as there is no disappearance of gold as long as a counterfeit of gold has not arisen in the world, but there is the disappearance of gold when a counterfeit of gold has arisen in the world;
In the same way, there is no disappearance of the True Dhamma as long as a counterfeit of the True Dhamma has not arisen in the world,
BUT there is the disappearance of the True Dhamma when a counterfeit of the True Dhamma has arisen in the world.
1 "It's not the earth property that makes the True Dhamma disappear. It's not the water property... the fire property... the wind property that makes the True Dhamma disappear.
2 It's WORTHLESS people who arise right here [within the Parisa - i.e. the Monastics and the Laypeople] who make the True Dhamma disappear.
The True Dhamma doesn't disappear the way a boat sinks all at once.
"These five downward-leading qualities tend to the confusion and disappearance of the True Dhamma.
Which five?
There is the case where the monks, nuns, male lay followers, & female lay followers live without respect, without deference, for the Teacher ( i.e. The Buddha ).
They live without respect, without deference, for the Dhamma...
for the Sangha...
for the Training...
for Concentration ( i.e. meditation ).
These are the five downward-leading qualities that tend to the confusion and disappearance of the True Dhamma.
"But these five qualities tend to the stability, the non-confusion, the non-disappearance of the True Dhamma.
Which five?
There is the case where the monks, nuns, male lay followers, & female lay followers live with respect, with deference, for the Teacher ( i.e. The Buddha ).
They live with respect, with deference, for the Dhamma... for the Sangha... for the Training... for Concentration.
These are the five qualities that tend to the stability, the non-confusion, the non-disappearance of the True Dhamma."
I discovered the following Teaching by The Buddha to one of His Eminent Arahant disciples -
Venerable Maha Kassapa -
In which The Buddha gave 5 conditions that will result in the 'vanishing' of The Dhamma - His Teachings.
Which 5?
"On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery.
Then Ven. Maha Kassapa went to the Blessed One and on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side.
As he was sitting there he said to The Blessed One,
"What is the cause, Lord, what is the reason, why before there were fewer training rules and yet more monks established in final gnosis (The Path to Arahantship), whereas now there are more training rules and yet fewer monks established in final gnosis (The Path to Arahantship)?"
"That's the way it is, Kassapa.
When beings are degenerating and the True Dhamma is disappearing, there are more training rules and yet fewer monks established in final gnosis.
There is no disappearance of the True Dhamma as long as a counterfeit of the True Dhamma has not arisen in the world,
BUT there is the disappearance of the True Dhamma when a counterfeit of the True Dhamma has arisen in the world.
Just as there is no disappearance of gold as long as a counterfeit of gold has not arisen in the world, but there is the disappearance of gold when a counterfeit of gold has arisen in the world;
In the same way, there is no disappearance of the True Dhamma as long as a counterfeit of the True Dhamma has not arisen in the world,
BUT there is the disappearance of the True Dhamma when a counterfeit of the True Dhamma has arisen in the world.
1 "It's not the earth property that makes the True Dhamma disappear. It's not the water property... the fire property... the wind property that makes the True Dhamma disappear.
2 It's WORTHLESS people who arise right here [within the Parisa - i.e. the Monastics and the Laypeople] who make the True Dhamma disappear.
The True Dhamma doesn't disappear the way a boat sinks all at once.
"These five downward-leading qualities tend to the confusion and disappearance of the True Dhamma.
Which five?
There is the case where the monks, nuns, male lay followers, & female lay followers live without respect, without deference, for the Teacher ( i.e. The Buddha ).
They live without respect, without deference, for the Dhamma...
for the Sangha...
for the Training...
for Concentration ( i.e. meditation ).
These are the five downward-leading qualities that tend to the confusion and disappearance of the True Dhamma.
"But these five qualities tend to the stability, the non-confusion, the non-disappearance of the True Dhamma.
Which five?
There is the case where the monks, nuns, male lay followers, & female lay followers live with respect, with deference, for the Teacher ( i.e. The Buddha ).
They live with respect, with deference, for the Dhamma... for the Sangha... for the Training... for Concentration.
These are the five qualities that tend to the stability, the non-confusion, the non-disappearance of the True Dhamma."
** Maitre-light : It is little wonder then that The Buddha - The All-Knowing and Seeing One spoke/forewarned of such a time when The True Dhamma - His Teachings, will vanish ........
Read "The Future" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/11/future.html
Notes
1. Gold, of course, does not go out of existence simply because there is counterfeit gold. What happens is that it goes out of use:
People find that counterfeit gold is easier to use. An added implication of this statement may be that as long as there is only genuine gold, people will not doubt its authenticity.
When there is both genuine and counterfeit gold, doubts will arise as to what is genuine — all gold becomes doubtful — and people will end up using whichever is easier or more to their liking.
2. The point here is that the True Dhamma will not disappear through natural disasters, such as landslides, floods, fires, or windstorms.
For an account of how people in the time of the Buddha understood natural events in terms of the four properties, see MN 28.
** It deserves to be noted that, according to this text, the male and female lay followers are also preservers of the Dhamma.
We may conclude from this that even when the True Dhamma has come to oblivion among the monks, it will still remain alive when honored and practiced by the laity.
* Read
1) 'Why Like That?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/11/why-like-that.html
2) 'How Much Is 'True'? - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-much-is-true.html
3) 'Truth ........ Not! - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/05/truth-not.html
4) 'Smart ........ Not! - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/05/smart-not.html
"Thus the ultimate authority in judging a teaching is NOT whether the teaching can be found in a text.
It lies in each person's relentless honesty in putting the Dhamma to the test and carefully monitoring the results.
The survival of Buddhism and the survival of the Dhamma are two different things.
People like Ajahn Mun - willing to make whatever sacrifices are needed to discover and practice the Dhamma on its own terms - are the ones who have kept the Dhamma alive.
Of course, people have always been free to engage in Buddhist traditions in whatever ways they like,
BUT those who have benefited most from that engagement are those who,
Instead of reshaping Buddhism to fit their preferences,
Reshape themselves to fit in with the customs and traditions of THE NOBLE ONES."
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Sunday, June 6, 2010
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
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
Sunday, May 30, 2010
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,
"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
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
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