Being Humble

Being Humble

Seeing how cocky, egoistic, arrogant, conceited and haughty everyone has become nowadays,

And how modesty/humility is very much lacking in all of us -

Be it from young to old, or high to low,

I feel I would like to share with everyone something I read which left a very deep impression on me.

It's about a novice Arahant who at a tender age of 7 is Fully Enlightened with amazing supernatural abilities.

Yet his only wish is "May no one knows me."

In an age and time when everyone is fighting to be in power, to be in control, to be in the limelight;

Want to be in power, in control, in the limelight;

Seeking attention, power and control through different sources and means,

His words overwhelms me.

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

Enjoy!

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[Sumana:]

When I was seven

& newly gone forth,

Having conquered with my power

The great powerful serpent,

I was fetching water for my preceptor

From the great lake, Anotatta,

When The Teacher (i.e. The Buddha) saw me & said:

"Look, Sariputta, at that one,

The young boy coming there,

Carrying a pot of water,

Well-centered within,

His practices — inspiring;

His bearing — admirable.

He's Anuruddha's novice,

Mature in his powers,

Made thoroughbred by a thoroughbred,

Good by one who is good,

Tamed by Anuruddha,

Trained by one whose task

Is done.

He, having reached the highest peace (i.e. Nibbana)

& realized the unshakable,

Sumana the novice

Wants this:

'Don't let anyone know me.'" — Thag 6.10

- Theragatha 6.10

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* * * Note :

Of course there are people who are very good at pretending, acting humble,

When in Truth/Reality they're NOT. ( Read "Giving" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/08/giving.html ).

There are also those who seems very nice on the outside,

When in Truth/Reality, they're the Real devil/Mara in disguise. ( Read "How To Be Ugly" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-be-ugly.html )

Either way, to these attention seekers and 'fakers',

All that I can say is,

"Please read 'The Actor'" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/06/actor-hell-of-laughter.html

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"This Dhamma is for one who is modest,

NOT for one who is self-aggrandising."

- The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya 8.30

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"Everybody wants to be a somebody;

BUT Nobody wants to be a nobody."

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"Avoid walking with your nose so high up that you do not know where you're going,

Or what you're stepping on (dung), or into (quick sand)."

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"For those who are conceited and heedless,

The corruptions increase."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 292

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"As a solid rock is unshaken by the wind,

Even so The Wise are unshaken by praise and blame."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 81

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"A mountain, no matter how tall,

Is always beneath the feet of the person who climbs it."

- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno

Of Wrongful Views and Practices

Of Wrongful Views and Practices


In line with my previous entry, 'You See What I See?', I would like to bring up a Teaching by The Buddha on wrong views and practices.

Something for everyone to seriously consider, given the number of myriad kinds of views and practices out there now.

Perhaps it's time All of us, especially those who call themselves 'Buddhists', contemplate carefully on.

Like I said in 'Taking Refuge' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/08/taking-refuge.html,

"Be like a dry sponge.

BUT be a sponge that absorbs clean, clear pure fresh water;

NOT a sponge that absorbs dirty muddy water."

Enjoy!



"Then Punna, a son of the Koliyans and an ox-duty ascetic, and also Seniya a naked dog duty ascetic, went to The Blessed One,

And Punna the ox duty ascetic paid homage to The Blessed One and sat down at one side,

While Seniya the naked dog-duty ascetic exchanged greetings with The Blessed One,

And when the courteous and amiable talk was finished, he too sat down at one side curled up like a dog.

When Punna the ox-duty ascetic sat down, he asked The Blessed One:

"Venerable sir, this naked dog-duty ascetic Seniya does what is hard to do: he eats his food when it is thrown on the ground. That dog duty has long been taken up and practiced by him. What will be his destination? What will be his future course?"

"Enough, Punna, let that be. Do not ask me that."

A second time... A third time Punna the ox-duty ascetic asked The Blessed One:

"Venerable sir, this naked dog-duty ascetic Seniya does what is hard to do: he eats his food when it is thrown on the ground. That dog duty has long been taken up and practiced by him. What will be his destination? What will be his future course?"

"Well, Punna, since I certainly cannot persuade you when I say 'Enough, Punna, let that be. Do not ask me that,' I shall therefore answer you.

"Here, Punna, someone develops the dog duty fully and unstintingly, he develops the dog-habit fully and unstintingly, he develops the dog mind fully and unstintingly, he develops dog behavior fully and unstintingly.

Having done that, on the dissolution of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of dogs.

But if his view is such as this:

'By this virtue or duty or asceticism or religious life I shall become a (great) god or some (lesser) god,'

That is wrong view in his case.

Now there are two destinations for one with wrong view, I say:

Hell or The Animal womb.

So, Punna, if his dog duty is perfected, it will lead him to the company of dogs;

If it is not, it will lead him to Hell." MN 57: Kukkuravatika Sutta — The Dog-duty Ascetic

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 57




"You should not think that The Lord Buddha ever behaved in an abandoned manner, like all people in the world, where they like to adjust and change their manners and behaviour depending on the people and circumstances they come across.

When people have completely lost all interest in Dhamma, they are capable of doing all kinds of evil without having any sense of remorse or shame at all.

It is people of this kind who are capable of doing great harm to their own companions and to Buddhism ( Sasana - The Buddha's Teachings ), by depending on the yellow robe and the requistes as their means of living and destroying themselves.

Because Dhamma does not adapt to ancient or modern times, for "Dhamma" is just "Dhamma", and the "world" is just the "world",

And they have always been thus and they do not change and adapt.

But distorting The Dhamma to suit their desires or fancies without any thought of looking to see whether it is appropriate or not

Is the same as the practice of "jumping the queue",

And the results which they are anxious to attain will be out of line,

Like a broken queue,

Or the wrong way round, and useless ........

This is nothing but the way to destroy themselves entirely,

Due to going the easy way and taking short cuts as one likes

And doing the practice in the manner of "jumping the queue".

- Venerable Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta Thera




"Sahâ vassa dassana sampadâya
For him with acquisition of Insight,

Tayassu dhammâ jahitâ bhavantî
Three things are abandoned, namely,

Sakkâya-ditthi vici-kicchi-tanca
Self-illusion, doubt and

Sîlabbatam vâpi yadatthi kinci
Indulgence in (wrongful) rites and ceremonies, whatever there are.

Catû hapâyehica vippa muttô
From the four states of misery, he is absolutely freed,

Cha câbhi thânâni abhabbo kâtum
And is incapable of committing the six heinous crimes.

Idampi Sanghê ratanam panîtam
Truly, in the Sangha is this precious jewel.

Etena saccena suvatthi hôtu
By this Truth, may there be Happiness!"

- The Buddha, The Ratana Sutta - The Discourse of Jewels

You See What I See?

You See What I See?


During my visit to Mongolia in 2008, we were led on a tour to the local temple.

There were dharma wheels placed at the entrance of the temple.

Before entering, the local guide gave a detailed explanation about how the dharma wheel came about.

She explained that long ago, a very high lama, being bogged down by his administrative duties and had no time to do his chanting,

Feeling guilty, one day he thought of this idea that if he were to write the chants on a piece of paper, stuffed them in a hand-held wheel and spin them,

Then it's considered that he has completed his chanting for the day.

He thought/felt that this would be an easy and quick way for him to complete his day's quota of chanting without feeling guilty.

From the tone and expression on the guide's face, it was clear that they were in awe of the lama's 'wisdom', and thought it highly ingenious.

Or is it?

Anyway, this entry is not about whether it was an ingenious idea or not.

Rather, it's about the invention of the dharma wheel, how it came about, and more importantly, does it - the dharma wheel - help.

It is pretty obvious that the invention of the dharma wheel comes from a normal worldling, and not some supernatural causes which some sectors would like have us believe.

And, it is also apparent that The Buddha did NOT teach this method/practice.

Cos if chanting and/or turning/spinning the dharma wheel is the way to higher birth and/or maybe even Enlightenment,

The Buddha, being The Rightly Self-Awakened One, The All-Knowing One and The Compassionate One,

Who discovered and realised The Dhamma - The Truth - all by Himself, would have taught it.

Discovered and invented it ( the dharma wheel ) Himself even.

Why didn't He?

Why did He instead teach/expound The Law of Kamma, to Avoid All Evil, Cultivate Good, and for us to Purify our minds ( through the Dhutanga Kammathana Practices )?

( Read "Truth ... Not!" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/05/truth-not.html


As The Great Teacher Himself said,

"Anyone could pay obeisances etc ( and chant ) cos this is something anyone could do.

BUT if people are still suffering after having done that, obviously this is NOT the way to the cessation of suffering."


As I mentioned in "Truth ... Not!", "There are many fallacies, wrong/false views/practices out there",

The only thing is whether we see them.

* * *P.S. And I almost forgot -

Remember : False Views, according to The Buddha, is one of the 10 evil deeds listed down by Him;

And a person with false views would end in woeful states/consequences.

As The Wise Teacher Himself said in several Nikayas,

"There are 2 destinations for a person with false views :

Hell, or The Animal Womb."

( Read 'Going To Hell' - 25/10/10, see Majjhima Nikaya 57, Samyutta Nikaya 42:2 and 42:3 )

The one who has, and practices it is bad enough,

What more the one who thought of, invented, perpetuates, propagates and spreads it.

Oh my goodness!



"If the water in rivers ( such as The Ganges ) could really wash away evil deeds and suffering,

Then the turtles, crabs, fish, and shellfish living in those 'sacred' rivers ought by now to be freed of their evil deeds and sufferings too.

And, if a man could eliminate suffering by making offerings, paying homage, ( chanting ), and praying,

There would be no one subject to suffering left in the world,

Because anyone at all can pay homage, ( chant ), and pray.

But since people are still subject to suffering while in the very act of making obeisances, paying homage and performing rites ( and ceremonies ),

Clearly this is NOT the way to gain liberation."

- The Buddha




"This is the direct path for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow & lamentation, for the disappearance of pain & distress, for the attainment of the right method, & for the realization of Unbinding —

In other words, The Four Frames of Reference.

Which four?

There is the case where a monk remains focused on the body in & of itself — ardent, alert, & mindful — putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world.

He remains focused on feelings... mind... mental qualities in & of themselves — ardent, alert, & mindful — putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world. — MN 10

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 10




"A person without ardor, without concern, is incapable of self-awakening, incapable of Unbinding, incapable of attaining the unexcelled security from bondage.

A person ardent & concerned is capable of self-awakening, capable of Unbinding, capable of attaining the unexcelled security from bondage.

Without ardor, without concern,lazy, with weak persistence,full of sloth & drowsiness,shameless, without respect:

This sort of monk is incapable of touching the supreme self-awakening.

But whoever is mindful & wise,absorbed in jhana,ardent, concerned, & heedful,cutting the fetter of birth & aging,touches right here & now the unexcelled self-awakening." — Iti 34

- The Buddha, Itivuttaka 34




"Clinging to sense pleasures,

To sensualities,

Seeing no blame in the fetter,

NEVER will those tied up in the fetter

Cross over the flood so great & wide. — Ud 7.3

- The Buddha, Udana 7:3




"I saw — by means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human —

Beings passing away & re-appearing,

And I discerned how they are inferior & superior, beautiful & ugly, fortunate & unfortunate in accordance with their kamma:

'These beings — who were endowed with bad conduct of body, speech & mind,

Who reviled The Noble Ones,

Held wrong views and undertook actions under the influence of wrong views —

With the break-up of the body, after death,

Have re-appeared in the plane of deprivation,

The bad destination, the lower realms, in Hell. — MN 19

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 19




"Monks! This holy life is NOT practised for the sake of deceiving the public,

Nor for the sake of gaining their respect,

Nor for the sake of gains, offerings, and fame,

Nor for the sake of defeating other sectarians.

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

- The Buddha

The Duties of a Monk/Monastic

The Duties of a Monk/Monastic


It's been a good 2-3 years now since I first read the book, 'Patipada or The Mode of Practice of Venerable Acharn Mun' by Venerable Acharn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno.

There was a teaching by Ajahn Boowa in the book under the chapter on 'A Short Biography of Venerable Acharn Kow' (page 320-322), which caught my attention.

Something I find highly relevant.

As such, I felt it's good to reproduce it here in my blog to help everyone have a better understanding of what the duties of a monk/monastic should, and ought, to be.

Enjoy!



"The receiving of visitors and the interaction between those Bhikkhus who are acknowledged teachers and the many lay people who come from all over the place to visit them is in most cases very debilitating and somewhat of an ordeal for these teachers for the whole time while these visitors are with them.

For these visitors come with all sorts of preconceived views and attitudes and generally they are very anxious to get confirmation of what they want in their own hearts.

They never think of the difficulties and the disturbance that they cause in the teacher's normal daily routine, which means that they are often more disturbed than the water in a well or pond.

If the teacher shows no sympathy for them they feel resentful and think that he dislikes them, that he is conceited and does not welcome guests as a Bhikkhu should do, for the purpose of overcoming his conceit and his dislike of others.

Moreover, they then build up a dislike of him within their hearts and they spread this about telling everybody, which leads to endless harm.

Those Bhikkhus who should be praised and respected and who are of great value to the lay people, may then become Bhikkhus who are under accusation without any court that can try the case and pass judgement.

The fact of the matter is that Bhikkhus are ordained for the purpose of bringing benefit both to themselves and to the world and NOT for remaining quiet, easy-going and unconcerned.......

Generally, when lay people visit a Bhikkhu, they are likely to come complete with their tendencies of character, pretensions, conceits and problems quite uninhibited.

So they make trouble for the Bhikkhu by unloading their complaints and criticisms, expecting him to agree with them and to act accordingly, without ever considering whether it is morally right or wrong.

This is due to their fundamental trait of having no interest in reason or morals— which are the first things that should be considered.

Whenever any desire or want arises which requires the help of a Bhikkhu, they never think how the ways and customs of Bhikkhus and lay people differ —

For the Bhikkhus have the principles of Dhamma and Vinaya to guide and direct their actions.

So the ways and customs of Bhikkhus are the Dhamma and Vinaya which shows them what they should do, and they must always think of what is right or wrong, good or evil and consider whether any proposed thing should or should not be done.

But lay people have no “Dhamma or Vinaya” within them to act as a guiding principle to control their actions and so, generally speaking,they tend to rely on what they like and want as their guide......

Such as asking him to give them a number for the state lottery — which is an activity that conflicts with the Bhikkhu's Dhamma and Vinaya.

Or by asking Bhikkhus to make love potions which cause a man and woman to love each other;

Asking Bhikkhus to tell them an auspicious time when they will have good luck and become wealthy—

Or for any one of a thousand other purposes;

Asking Bhikkhus to do their horoscope and to advise them about their affairs;

Asking for magic spells and sayings to make them invulnerable to bullets, knives, pointed weapons and clubs;

Asking for “holy water” to be sprinkled on them to annul perils, danger from enemies and bad luck; and all sorts of other things such as these.

For all these things conflict with the characteristics and customs (which means the Dhamma and Vinaya) of any Bhikkhu who gives in to them......

In particular, a Dhutanga Bhikkhu who is intent on gaining understanding,Dhamma and freedom, following the lineage of Venerable Ajaan Mun is NOT in the least interested in all these kinds of things.

In fact they look on them as being enemies to the right way of progress and as things which increase the delusions of people.

In the worst case these things could lead to the destruction of the Bhikkhu and of the religion (Sāsana) for all to see,

If, for example people started calling them “lottery number Bhikkhus” and the “lottery number religion”, or “love potion Bhikkhus and religion” — and the rest.

This would make the Bhikkhus and the religion seem disreputable and it would cause its value to deteriorate steadily and inevitably.

This is the kind of result that can come from doing these things."

( 'Patipada of The Mode of Practice of Venerable Acharn Mun' by Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno, page 320-322 )

http://www.luangta.com/English/site/books/book6_patipada/Patipada-Chapters_10to12.pdf




"Being involved in construction work and asking for money from the people are NOT the duties and responsibilities of a recluse who must strive for NOTHING else but mind development and insight."

- Venerable Ajahn Mun




"In particular, The Lord Buddha said that construction work and building projects are an enemy and detrimental to the work of a recluse.

This is recorded in the Maha Khandhaka Vinaya."

- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa




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

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 39




"Now with what Four factors of stream-entry is the disciple of The Noble Ones endowed?

There is the case where the disciple of The Noble Ones is endowed with unwavering faith in The Awakened One:

'Indeed, The Blessed One is worthy and rightly self-awakened,

Consummate in knowledge & conduct,

Well-gone,

An expert with regard to the world,

Unexcelled as a trainer for those people fit to be tamed,

The Master of divine & human beings,

Awakened, Blessed.'


He is endowed with unwavering faith in The Dhamma:

'The Dhamma is well-expounded by The Blessed One,

To be seen here & now,

Timeless,

Inviting verification,

Pertinent,

To be realized by the wise for themselves.'


He is endowed with unwavering faith in The Sangha:

'The Sangha of The Blessed One's disciples who have practiced well...

Who have practiced straight-forwardly...

Who have practiced methodically...

Who have practiced masterfully —

In other words, the four types [of Noble disciples] when taken as pairs,

The eight when taken as individual types —

They are The Sangha of The Blessed One's disciples:

Worthy of gifts,

Worthy of hospitality,

Worthy of offerings,

Worthy of respect,

The incomparable field of merit for the world.'


He is endowed with virtues that are appealing to The Noble Ones:

Untorn, unbroken, unspotted, unsplattered, liberating, praised by the wise, untarnished, leading to concentration."

— AN 10.92

- The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya 10.92




"For a disciple who has conviction in the Master's message & lives to penetrate it,

It is a principle that,

'The Blessed One is the Master, I am a disciple.

He is the one who knows, NOT I.'

For a disciple who has conviction in the Master's message & lives to penetrate it,

The Master's message is healing & nourishing.

For a disciple who has conviction in the Master's message & lives to penetrate it,

It is a principle that,

'Gladly would I let the flesh & blood in my body dry up, leaving just the skin, tendons, & bones,

But if I have not attained what can be reached through human firmness, human persistence, human striving,

There will be NO relaxing my persistence.'

For a disciple who has conviction in the Master's message & lives to penetrate it,

One of two fruits can be expected:

Either gnosis here & now,

Or — if there be any remnant of clinging/sustenance — Non-Return.

— MN 70

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 70

Going To Hell

Going To Hell


Taking the cue from my earlier entry 'How Do You Know' ( http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-do-you-know.html), I would like to add a twist to it.

Student : I almost can't make it for class today.

Maitreya : Oh! Why?

Student : My sister asked me to go for chanting.

Maitreya : Chanting? What's the occasion?

Student : 7th Month.

Maitreya : 7th Month? What chanting is that?

Student : You know there's this Earth Buddha that's in-charge of Hell?

Maitreya : Di Zang Wang Pu Sa - Earth Store Boddhisattva

Student : "Yes ... you know eh?" ( Smiling, looking very pleased ).

Maitreya : But why? Are you a good person, or a bad/evil person?

"Good, of course!" exclaimed the student, offended.

"Then why are you praying, calling, reciting, chanting for someone who's in-charge of Hell?

Only bad/evil people go to Hell. By praying/calling/reciting/chanting to 'him', aren't you informing him of your impending arrival? Aren't you telling him to expect you?

Most important of all, aren't you directing your mind to Hell?

My goodness! You are confirm going to Hell!"



"As The Buddha learned on the night of His Awakening , actions follow from views.

Thus clinging to habits and practices is often combined with clinging to views about the results that those habits or practices will yield.

If the underlying view is wrong, it can lead to even greater suffering than what is engendered by the habits and practices based on it."

- Thanissaro Bhikkhu




"I saw — by means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human —

Beings passing away & re-appearing, and I discerned how they are inferior & superior, beautiful & ugly, fortunate & unfortunate in accordance with their kamma:

'These beings — who were endowed with bad conduct of body, speech & mind, who reviled the Noble Ones, held wrong views and undertook actions under the influence of wrong views —

With the break-up of the body, after death, have re-appeared in the plane of deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell." — MN 19

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 19




"Now, there are two destinations for a person with wrong view,

I tell you :

Either Hell or the Animal womb."

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 57, Samyutta Nikaya 42 : 2 and 42 : 3




"We need NOT struggle to find happiness and contentment in other places or other realms -

Which is merely creating images to deceive ourselves,

Causing us to develop a strong craving which promotes the cause of suffering

That becomes the greed which burns us and causes us so much misery."

- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"The 10 evil deeds :

- Killing

- Stealing

- Sexual Misconduct

- Lying

- Slandering/Divisive Speech/Malicious Gossip

- Harsh Speech

- Vain Talk/Idle Chatter

- Covetuousness

- Ill-Will

- False/Wrong View."

- The Buddha

Gratitude To Parents

Gratitude To Parents


Seeing how wayward children are nowadays, and how parents are NOT disciplining them, but over-indulging and pampering (more like spoiling) them,

I feel it's high time, and an immediate and urgent need for me to bring out a teaching by The Buddha.

No matter how well, or badly, our parents may have treated us in the past, or treats us,

So long as we follow what The Buddha has expounded in this Teaching i.e.

Conviction ( in Kamma & The Triple Gems ), Virtues/Morality, Generosity, and Discernment/Wisdom,

We would have repaid our debt to them.

Read through the Teaching and reflect on it carefully.

Enjoy!

Kataññu Suttas: Gratitude

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an02/an02.031.than.html


"Monks, I will teach you the level of a person of no integrity and the level of a person of integrity. Listen & pay close attention. I will speak."

"As you say, lord," the monks responded.

The Blessed One said: "Now what is the level of a person of no integrity?

.

A person of no integrity is ungrateful, doesn't acknowledge the help given to him.

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This ingratitude, this lack of acknowledgment is second nature among rude people. It is entirely on the level of a person of no integrity.

"A person of integrity is grateful & acknowledges the help given to him.

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This gratitude, this acknowledgment is second nature among fine people. It is entirely on the level of a person of integrity.

"I tell you, monks, there are two people who are not easy to repay.

Which two?

Your mother & father.

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Even if you were to carry your mother on one shoulder & your father on the other shoulder for 100 years, and were to look after them by anointing, massaging, bathing, & rubbing their limbs, and they were to defecate & urinate right there [on your shoulders],

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You would NOT in that way pay or repay your parents.

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If you were to establish your mother & father in absolute sovereignty over this great earth, abounding in the seven treasures, you would NOT in that way pay or repay your parents.

Why is that?

Mother & father do much for their children.

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They care for them, they nourish them, they introduce them to this world.

BUT
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Anyone who rouses his unbelieving mother & father, settles & establishes them in Conviction;

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Rouses his unvirtuous mother & father, settles & establishes them in Virtue;

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Rouses his stingy mother & father, settles & establishes them in Generosity;

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Rouses his foolish mother & father, settles & establishes them in Discernment:

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To this extent one pays & repays one's mother & father."

- AN 2.31-32: Kataññu Sutta — Gratitude

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an02/an02.031.than.html

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.

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"Treasure and Cherish when we have something,

.

And when it's gone,

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Be Thankful and Grateful for having had it Once."

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** Read

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1) 'The Mynah and Her Nestling' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/11/mynah-and-her-nestling.html

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2) 'What is, What is Not' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/09/what-is-what-is-not.html

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PS : The above Teaching does NOT only apply to our parents, BUT also applies / extends to people who have helped us, been kind to us -

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If we can encourage / establish them in

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Conviction in Kamma, The Triple Gems ( The Buddha, The Dhamma and The Sangha i.e. The Noble Ones ),

.

Generosity,

.

Morality / Virtue, and

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Discernment / Wisdom,

.

We would have repaid our 'debts' to them.

The New Generation Monks

The New Generation Monks


I've always enjoyed Ajahn Mun's Teachings. I always find it highly inspiring and motivating. It cuts through the core and really peppers you up - that is if you can take the spice of it.

Truly an Arahant - a pure, worthy and Fully Awakened/Enlightened One.

A Proud and Noble disciple of The Buddha - The Perfectly Enlightened One.

Below is one of those Teachings which I find/feel is most relevant in this time and age.

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

Hopefully it can inspire those of you who are to be inspired, and give you the additional punch to walk in the footsteps of The Buddha - The Greatest Man/Being Alive, The Supreme Teacher, The Supreme One.

Enjoy!



"If you want The Truth, but refuse to investigate it because you are afraid of pain, how will you ever discover where the Truth lies?

The Lord Buddha succeeded in realizing the Truth by thoroughly investigating everything, NOT by whining about everything like this useless monk now disgracing himself.

Where did the Buddha ever state that reaching a true understanding requires moaning and groaning?

I didn't study many books, so perhaps I missed it.

Where in the suttas does it refer to moaning and groaning?

If any of you who are well versed in the scriptures comes across a passage where it states that the Buddha extolled the merits of moaning and groaning, please point it out to me.

Then I won't have to teach monks to trouble themselves about investigating pain and putting up with difficulties.

You can all just moan and groan until the Truth arises to fill the whole universe.

We can then witness the appearance of wise, sagacious individuals who have succeeded in reaching magga and phala by the power of their loud moans and groans.

They will be in a position to question the legitimacy, and the current relevance, of the Dhamma that Lord Buddha proclaimed over 2,500 years ago.

"The Dhamma of these latter-day sages will be a new, modern Dhamma whose attainment requires no troublesome investigations.

All that's required to attain magga and phala is a chorus of moaning and groaning, a method suited to an age when people prefer to seek righteous results from unrighteous causes – a pernicious attitude consuming the whole world today.

Before long there won't be enough room on the planet to hold all these modern-day sages.

I myself have an old-fashioned mentality.

I trust what the Lord Buddha taught and dare not take any shortcuts.

I am afraid that, as soon as I put a foot forward, I would fall flat on my face – and die there in disgrace.

That would be immensely heartbreaking for me.” - Venerable Ajahn Mun

( The Spiritual Biography of the Venerable Phra Acharn Mun Bhuridatta Thera, page 347 - 348, written by Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno )

- http://www.forestdhammabooks.com/book/1/BioMun/6.pdf




"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."

- The Buddha, MN 101: Devadaha Sutta — To Devadaha - The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 101




"For a disciple who has conviction in the Master's message & lives to penetrate it, it is a principle that,

'The Blessed One is the Master, I am a disciple.

He is the one who knows, NOT I.'

For a disciple who has conviction in the Master's message & lives to penetrate it,

The Master's message is healing & nourishing.

For a disciple who has conviction in the Master's message & lives to penetrate it, it is a principle that,

'Gladly would I let the flesh & blood in my body dry up, leaving just the skin, tendons, & bones,

BUT if I have NOT attained what can be reached through human firmness, human persistence, human striving,

There will be NO relaxing my persistence.

'For a disciple who has Conviction in the Master's message & lives to penetrate it,

One of two fruits can be expected :

Either gnosis here & now,

Or — if there be any remnant of clinging/sustenance — Non-Return.

— The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 70




"Though much he recites the sacred text,

But acts NOT accordingly.

That heedless man is like a cowherd that counts others' kine.

He has NO share in the fruits of The Holy life."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 20




"Many men who wears the yellow robe up to their neck

But has an evil disposition and is unrestrained in thought, word and deed

Ends up in a woeful state on account of their evil deed."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 307



** Read

1) "The Future - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/11/future.html

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

3) "You Say Monkey Or Not Lah?!" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/01/you-say-monkey-or-not-lah.html