Saturday, December 21, 2013

Reflecting the Year 2013, Thank You, Buddhas!

So fast a whole year has almost gone. Actually it has always been like that, right? Time flies in a blink of an eye. This year has been very challenging personally for me. All the stress and frustration - work related - it's been an ordeal. It's supposed to be a good year for me. Others with the same "sign" are getting promotions and elevated status - workwise. But me? I seem to be getting the exact opposite. It's foretold in the stars actually. I saw it coming, and I find that having the dharma in mind really helps in such times. I kept my composure as best I could and meditation helps keep my sanity. Despite all these, I want to thank the Buddhas and protectors for all the blessings received this year. Indeed I realise that something negative may only appear that way on the surface. But deep down, it could actually be beneficial. I have a feeling it'll be good in the end, but it won't be so fast, we'll see how things go next year. I have to think more long term, instead of short term solutions or reaction. Same as you, I am not getting any younger. Just as I planted some seeds about 20 years ago that grew today, if I don't plant the proper seeds NOW, I wouldn't enjoy the kind of "fruit tree" and "flowers" that I will need 20 years from now. Miracles don't happen suddenly without causes and conditions from our side. This is what I am convinced of. Despite it will be some what of an initial setback next year, and my work is expected to be crazy like hell, can't take holidays as and when I like anymore, but hopefully, looking at it long term, it will bring more stable prosperity (in all sense of this word, not just in terms of wealth). But we'll see this comes at what cost. Namo Amitabha! And thank you to all my dharma friends for the support and prayers - for those who had helped me in one way or another. I promise that despite my busy schedule, my connection with the dharma will never break. If I can just wake up every morning feeling that I am waking up to help all sentient beings, and add to that, keep a stable mind resting in the understanding of nature's emptiness reality, that would be all the practice that I need. Even if I die without any enlightenment, I will have no regret, having only my mind in relative and ultimate bodhicitta on daily basis. Amitabha! Amitabha! Amitabha! HAPPY NEW YEAR and MAY BUDDHA BLESS! MAY ALL HOLY GURUS LIVE LONG AND STABLE LIFE! Thank you once again to my Buddha-Protectors! _/\_

Monday, December 9, 2013

PLEASE PRAY FOR KHENCHEN's RECOVERY and LONG LIFE


 
Important message from HE Garchen Rinpoche:

"While walking in Lapchi, Ven. Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche fell through a decaying wooden bridge and badly injured his hips and legs. He was initially in a hospital in Kathmandu and now being cared for at Rinchen Ling monastery. As an offering to Khenchen Rinpoche, Garchen Rinpoche requests that each of us accumulate 10,000 White Tara mantra and dedicate them for him.
 
Rinpoche would like evryone to know that Khenchen is one of our most precious Drikung lamas. He studied for many years at a university at Varanasi, India and HIs Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang RInpcohe enthroned him as a Khenchen, a high scholar, at Jangchubling in Dehradun.
 
Presently, Khenchen is Retreat Master at His Holiness' new Milerepa Retreat Center in Germany. "  - message from Drikung Kagyu Link facebook dated Dec. 7, 2013.
 
The White Tara mantra goes like this: Om Tare Tutare Ture Mama Ayur Punye Jhana Pushting Kuru Svaha. The deity above is Arya White Tara and is strategically placed above Khenchen's head as if blessing Khenchen to quickly recover from the injuries!  
 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Strong Vows Keep Us From Burning Out


I thought I want to share this short clip here and also so that I can easily watch it if I get burnt out due to my job or life situations. From this clip titled as "How not to burn out" in Youtube, we learn that it is important to have great compassion and strong sustained vows to keep us going and going. As Barry said, better to cut out the "I" and just focus on "How to help". Ideas of good and bad also causes burning out. Namo Amitabha!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

See Beyond Your Own Religion

I feel that people who have a religion (or profess to have one) must learn to listen to other religions, and not be too obssessed with protecting and promoting our own alone. A lot of times we get into an emotive faith and just stubbornly refuse to listen to others. It is not surprising to me, therefore if many so-called persons who fought and kill to protect their religion or God or their religious sanctity are found languishing in the depths of hell, rather than heaven. And being fair, I do not exclude the possibility of Buddhists being too "possessive" of Buddhism or their particular traditions, until they cannot see the wisdom in other religions/traditions. So, try to see beyond your own religions. Don't make sweeping statements/rulings, or whatever else, without an actual study of the facts. 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Yes! Yong Vui Kong spared the death sentence!

Having written 4 separate posts on the subject, I am glad to have supported his cause. The sentence by the judge was what I had envisioned, i.e. to give mules a second chance to repent by converting the death sentence to life imprisonment as well as the caning. Let the death sentence be reserved for those drug masterminds who manufacture the addictive drugs, sell it for his own wealth and remains unrepentant.Yong just had to be able to take the caning. The Singapore concept of only letting go of pure mules, and not those who go beyond the role of mules is correct, and is in line with my philosophy and belief as written previously. I salute the judge and Singapore AG for doing the right thing. I have seen people from Singapore reading my posts and if I had contributed in even a small way to give not only Vui Kong but others like him, that would have achieved my purpose. However they must seriously repent because third chances don't come by anymore. And I cannot support a third chance anymore.

Reference:http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/first-drug-offender-on/886162.html

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Chanting the Wind, True Renunciation

This morning around 6.30 to 7.15 am, in between sleep and wake state, I had the most auspicious realisation of what it means to be truly reciting the Great Compassion Mantra. I also discovered what really is Kuan Yin Bodhisattva's "Left Home Day" is. You see, today is the 9th month and 19th day according to the Chinese calendar. I realised that to be truly chanting the great compassion mantra is to have bodhicitta in our heart. And if you read the founder of the Drikung Kagyu, Jigten Sumgon's Gong Chik text, bodhicitta is much more than merely having compassion. If you have true bodhicitta in your heart, then your are truly reciting the mantra, and not like the parrot that merely repeats the mantra. So, that is probably what is meant by "chanting the wind", a phrase used by a Korean Zen Master in a poem I read somewhere. When a person with bodhicitta recites a mantra, it becomes so embued with skillful power that it can bless sentient beings. It's power not in the sense of strength power or destructive power, rather it is development power or soothing power. It builds our inner strength, rather than overt physical strength. "Left Home Day" of Kuan Yin Pu Sa is not about her leaving the palace to be a nun. It is about us putting our bodhicitta aspiration into action for all sentient beings around us. We are leaving the comfort of ego feeding and ego ambitions. Forsaking these and embracing the greater need of doing something for others, I believe this is the actual renunciation. Donning a robe and shaving the hair are mere external appearances. Not to say that the robes and shaving the hair are not important, but the heart essense of renunciation does not lie in external appearances. I leave this notes for your thoughts. Good day! Namo Kuan Yin Pu Sa! 

Sunday, September 22, 2013

A Study on the Practice of Praying to "Datuk Kong" in Malaysia

Rather than for me to copy the entire paper by Ms Wendy Choo Liyun, which is not practical because of its length, I thought I should just let you guys click on the link as below. It is commonly spelt as "Datuk Kong", although the paper spelt it as "Datuk Gong". It's the same. Also the practice is common throughout Malaysia, although the paper title centres on the practice in Malacca only.  

http://courses.nus.edu.sg/course/histdd/notes/CHOO.htm

Monday, September 16, 2013

LOOK INSIDE : A Dharma Talk by Zen Master Dae Kwang

We often think that the Buddha's life and our lives are different. We think that their situation and ours are different. Actually both of our situations are the same, except maybe that none of us here (referring to the audience) is a prince. However, we all want a good situation and wants to keep it forever, even though we know the wind will not always blow our way, so to speak. Situations will change. The Buddha realised that and saw no way out. So the Buddha left his princely home. We may not be like the prince but during meditation, even for 5 minutes, during that space of time, our mind has "left home". And furthermore, in many times of our lives, we will always encounter moments whereby we have this big questions about life itself. Whether it be when tough decisions that you have to make in your life, or when life does not seem so meaningful to you, basically these are the same life questions that beseeched the Buddha. These questions served as our wake up call. Similarly for the 6th patriarch Hui Neng. He was just a poor man selling wood for a living. Materially he was quite the opposite of the Buddha who was a prince. Hui Neng did not come from a rich family. But he too had a wake-up call when he heard a line of Diamond Sutra being recited one day by a wondering monk. So, for most people they have their chance encounter with Buddhism.

Before there were Buddha images, the Buddha was represented only by an empty space or the Buddha's foot with a dharma wheel on it. This has a meaning. Life big questions often cannot be answered by thinking alone. You see, there are two types of questions. One is "thinking question" and the other "before thinking question". Questions "before thinking" cannot be answered by thinking. Zen is a set of techniques that point to the answers and ask us to find the answers ourselves. Doctors check what is wrong with us and then prescribed medicines. They don't take the medicines for us. Similarly the Buddha cannot practice and find answers for you. You have to look for them yourself, but he can point the way. Hence there is no explanation to solve all of our problems. All the fingers pointing to the moon are to get you to look up at the moon. It's not to let you admire or examine the fingers. And when you do look up, you will be awakened by the moon, just as the Buddha did. You might think that the Buddha was incredibly stupid to leave a good situation. But he looked inside. That is the Buddha's message to us to look inside of us, instead of outside. And that is the meaning of the image of a foot of the Buddha. So, look inside.
- dharma talk by Zen Master Dae Kwang in Malaysia on 6 Sept, 2013. (note: the prepared from notes taken during the teaching. Any mistakes are mine. I have tried to retain as much of the original spirit and teaching style as possible. I have edited it to be suitable for publication, and is not a verbatim of the actuall talk. Also I have taken the liberty to tentatively label the title as above.)

Monday, September 9, 2013

Having Unwavering Faith without Attachment

A lay Buddhist remarked to me that more people are attracted to Tibetan Buddhism due to the Sangha/Lamas giving blessings via giving empowerments and conducting Pujas of various kinds. On the other hand, in Zen, there is less of such things. You mostly have to do it yourself, like chanting and meditating yourself. She pointed out to me there is this contrast between this two traditions. My respond to that is you need both elements. Helping others through all these means and at the same time, they must practice themselves. You can't depend on receiving blessings all the time. Some day you will run out of blessings and you better be able to handle it when it happens. Tibetan Buddhist teachers must emphasize more on "self-help", and many teachers actually do. It's just lay students can't help themselves but end up chasing after merits, blessings and collecting empowerments. It's so much easier for most people to just hitch ourselves to a deity or God and you only need to put your one hundred percent faith on it for your liberation. It's called 'salvation' in others. So much easier than not having anyone to depend on, other than a clear mind, right? That's why Zen disappeared in China and Japan, and in danger of disappearing in Korea too. Many Koreans have converted to Christianity and it's not difficult to see the reason. Everything is about going the easier and faster way now. On the other hand it is said that without blessings, no attainments is possible. Indeed, life itself can be very miserable without blessings. So definitely we need to have oceans of blessings, only we should not do something good with attachment to its merits. We just do it. So it's good to pray to external deities such as Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, protectors, etc, but we must also develop some inner strength to remain steadfast and calm should something bad happens to us. We should not start blaming or questioning the deity. This was what I meant by people becoming dependent on external entities. Develop strong faith without any attachment. We should, in particular, use prayers, offerings and rituals to help others. Invoke the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Protectors, etc for this purpose. This is also in line with compassion. Does this make any sense to you?

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Surau demolished

Check this link below. The said "surau" has been demolished. This is just for information.

Link: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/08/28/surau-kota-tinggi-demolished.aspx

Friday, August 23, 2013

A lesson for Singaporean and Malaysian Buddhists

The below Joint Statement was issued by the Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Council following the incident as reported in the news link below. Even though there was  a press release, it was only published in the Chinese papers. I never seen it reported in the English or other papers, whih is a pity because I think the message is very good and skillfully worded to promote understanding and harmany amongst the races and religions. It was an unfortunate incident and I do hope that all Singaporean Buddhist centres, associations and temples would take heed NEVER EVER AGAIN to use the Muslim properties. Even if you had no other place to do your prayers, do it in the open field, open sky, under rain or heat. Please decline even if there is a kind muslim who invite you to do prayers in their halls. As you can see from this case, you never know how it will turn out. As far as I am concerned, I have never ever come across any Buddhist group in Malaysia or Singapore that uses the mosque or surau for their prayers. Malaysian Buddhists and Malay muslims in Malaysia have always had a very good, cordial and harmonious relationship. There wasn't any problems. And it would be highly irresponsible for anyone to cause a rift in our harmony by stirring up hatred and anger. This was the first time I heard of such a case in Malaysia. So, I do really think this is an isolated case. I pray that people be more kind, more forgiving, more understanding of others, and taking the softer approach to educate and counsel, instead of all that negative emotions.  What is the lesson learned? For me, it is to always plan ahead and book your venues properly. Don't let the owner tell you to use a surau or church instead, and you simply accept it. Insist on it if you have booked earlier. If not, better to cancel the event, or hold it in the open field. This is better than let unscrupulous third parties put a wrench into an otherwise peaceful relationship. This is a first time a Malaysian monk has to apologise, and for something we, Malaysians, never did anything wrong. Strangely the Sangha and Buddhist associations in Singapore never say anything, which I find unacceptable. Well, at least they should now give proper advice to their temples and centres. This is put here in my blog only for record purposes, i.e. as an archived historical item. Other than that, it is something we do not want to remember or talked about ever again. Lastly, I just want to remind Buddhists that the defilement in the mind is much more important than any external defilements. That is the teachings of the Buddhas. We care about purity of the mind much more than external purity. Let us remember that, and appreciate that we are Buddhists. Thank goodness.  

Date: 14 August 2013

Joint Statement by MBCC:
The Council urges everyone to view the incident in perspective and dedicate more effort to promote awareness and understanding among different religious group


The Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Council (MBCC) expresses regret over the incident where a surau at a resort in Kota Tinggi, Johor, was allegedly being used by Buddhists to perform a religious service with the permission given by the resort operator. 

The resort operator and the Buddhists involved in the incident were reportedly from Singapore and therefore, may not be aware that their actions may hurt the sensitivity of some Malaysian Muslims and may cause disharmony amongst the multi-racial and multi-religious community in Malaysia. The Council urges any foreigners who wish to perform religious services in Malaysia to respect and be more mindful of the sensitivity of the locals. As this incident is an isolated case involving foreigners, it must not undo the good harmony and respect that Malaysian Buddhists and Muslims generally have for each other all these while.


The Council reiterates that this is an unfortunate incident that happened out of lack of the understanding amongst the adherents of different religions and urges everyone to view the incident in perspective and to resolve the issue in an amicable way. The Council also urges the public, including those in the social media, to heed the call by the authority not to aggravate the situation further. In such situations, where there could be ignorance by the parties involved, the Council urges the authorities to educate and provide counselling or guidance, instead of meting out harsh punishments.

In light of other recent incidents which had given rise to anger and disharmony, this latest misunderstanding underlines the need for more inter-faith dialogues to prevent further uneasiness. In particular, greater focus should be given to the Malaysian education system to properly introduce different major religions to all students in order to promote awareness and understandings of the various major religions in Malaysia.

Members of MBCC: Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia, Vajrayana Buddhist Council Malaysia, Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Fo Guang Malaysia, Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia, Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society, Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia.
 
News links:

Friday, August 9, 2013

The Destination of Killers and Murderers







 
These are images of hell meant to help you digest what is in store for anyone who commits any murder or serious crime. LOOK AT IT CAREFULLY and THINK BEFORE YOU KILL SOMEONE! The consequences are dire. In Buddhism, you don't die that easily. Actually practically, this position is the same position as that of Christianity and Islam. According to them, if you are punished to hell, they burn there for eternity.  It's so long that in practical terms, it is forever. So, not much difference. And even when you eventually die after thousands of millions of years, you will be reborn there again and again for the same duration. That is why those gun shooters and murderers don't realise what karma they have created. If they do, they will shiver in fear just knowing where they will be going soon. It does not matter whether they are convicted by our human courts or not. Karma functions without a judicial court, where human errors in decisions are possible.Please remember that.

Sources of pics: -
http//maximumwage.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/this-is-what-hell-is/
http//simplyquiet.blogspot.com/2011/04/lenten-reflectionhell-exists.html
gospelofprovidence.com
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FileDepiction_of_Hell_(detail).jpg
http:// meghitchcock.blogspot.com/2010/08/buddhism-hell_30.html
http:// www.flickriver.com/photos/gwendalcentrifugue/5078437918/
http:// visboo.com/buddhist-hell-2.html
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/gwendalcentrifugue/5078438014/

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Don't React Negatively to Others Who Mocks Us

Every religion praises their respective God everyday. Same for Buddhists. We chant, "O - The Blessed One, the Supremely Enlighted One, Leader of Gods and Men, Arahant, etc etc". There is always this tendency to defend our religions at the expense of others. We think that it is our duty to do so, otherwise we will be punish to hell later when we die. Many times we have seen crime being committed in the name of defending the sanctity of our respective God. The fact that others are kidnapped, killed, stabbed, or whatever does not matter to us. We feel threatened when we see other religions start spreading their "gospel" or some of our members got converted. Sometimes we feel we need to amend the laws of the nation to protect our own religions, at the expense of others. But all these crime and hate cannot be accepted, even if it was to protect our own.
 
What believers do, it actually reflects upon his or her God. Buddha is only as enlightened as our Buddhists' actions, speech and thinking. If we commit killing or hurt others, even though we do it for the sake of our religion, in actual fact we are belittling our own religion. We will be making a mockery of our own religion. Due to our silly, impulsive and emotional actions, we will make our religion seems like it never teaches us the way of patience, tolerance and wisdom. What wisdom? The wisdom to forgive those who mocks us. The wisdom to guide those immature people who makes fun of our religion. The wisdom to provide the true picture of our religion to those who cannot yet see it. But only to make them understand and not to convert them. I truly believe that only when our actions are virtuous and holy, are we truly praising our Lord. This is something many don't understand. They don't get it. So people get into conflicts over religions. If people want to burn in hell, there is not much we can do. So why try to convert others so much? Give them time to believe what they want and if our Lord is that great, he will know what to do. We don't have to decide for Him and take the law into our own hands. People are not as compassionate as they think they are. The moment someone says something against what they want to hear, they easily get agitated and angry. Then they feel they want to take revenge. This "revenge and punish 'em" attitude is very bad and shows that we never practice our own religions properly.We should not react negatively to others who ridicule us. Have patience. Instead of anger, show them mercy and compassion. Instead of urging the authorities to put them in jail, try instead to put them into good institutions under the guidance of proper mentors or counselling where perhaps they can learn something about citizenship, nation building and harmony. Try instead to turn them into good model people. You try to push them more, the more they will hate you. So that is not the way to transform people. If we want to be saints and bodhisattvas, we need to have the wisdom in knowing how to guide stubborn, immature persons into good, positive persons. Only if that does not work out, maybe you need to be a little bit hard on them. Just a little. If that still does not work out, then a little harder. In this way, we give chance for people to transform themselves into better persons. We should not straight away punish people very harshly without first trying the soft way (of changing their wrong attitudes).
 
So what I suggest above, may it serve to truely praise The Lord, if what I say is true! May the Buddha continue to turn the wheel of dharma! So, to those radical Buddhists in Myanmar, Sri Lanka or elsewhere, I pray that they think it over before they do anything negative against others. Same for the other way around. We try to live in harmony with all kinds of sentient beings! May there be peace!

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Helping People By Being A Medium

Referring to this news below, I think helping people is good. I am just not sure if the spirit that goes into him during trance is really the deity "Zhang Fei". That's all.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/27/Businessman-finds-unusual-calling-He-turns-into-Taoist-medium-to-help-others.aspx

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Bodhgaya bombing : Buddhist Leaders in Myanmar Must Act More Wisely

Recently the holiest of Buddhist holy sites got bombed. Yes, the Mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya, Bihar, India was bombed and 2 monks were injured. According to the Indian police, the Indian Mujahideen group claimed responsibility. Apparently they were unhappy about the muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar who were said to be mistreated by the ethnic Rakhinese, who are Buddhists. Soon after the incident, very quickly we see Buddhist teachers and holinesses issuing public statements urging patience and compassion for the perpetrators. I feel what is missing is their public messages condemning the violent acts by Buddhist Rakhinese towards the Rohingyas. Of course, the Rohingyas have their violent actions too. But being Buddhists, we must chide our own people. Failure to chide our own people is indirectly supporting them. I am happy that His Holiness the Dalai Lama were among the first major Buddhist leader to condemn any Buddhist leaders in Myanmar who are responsible for the attacks on any Muslims in Myanmar. It showed that he is a fair person. The actions by those few aggressive Buddhists in Myanmar do not realise that their actions have a vast implication on other Buddhists outside of Myanmar. For the first time, the Times magazine had recently published detailed account of a Buddhist terrorist in its cover article entitled  "The Face of Buddhist Terror". For the first time in the history of Buddhism, a Buddhist with robes of a Theravada Sangha, had been branded as a terrorist. This is such a big shame! These people has tarnished the peaceful and tolerant impression people of other religion had, until now, towards Buddhism. I hope they will know that the majority of Budhdist people are peaceful and will not seek aggressiveness as a solution. I believe it is only these small group of irresponsible monks and laypersons in Myanmar that keep on inciting hatred towards the Rohingyas. I believe the same goes to a small group of irresponsible people who incite hatred towards the Buddhist Rakhinese. No matter what they do, the Buddhists must not be emotional and re-act wrongly towards them.

With the bombing of the Mahabodhi temple, I fear for the safety of Buddhist holy sites. The police in India particularly must be more vigilant. Buddhist leaders in Myanmar must act more wisely and be more accommodating towards the Muslims. The same goes for the Rohingyas. If they are not accommodating and terrorise Buddhists, they will create their own hellish karma that they will suffer sooner or later. That is for sure. But Buddhists must find a way to uphold the peace in society in a smarter way than being aggressive or violent. I know it is easier said than done, but they should try peaceful means to resolve their crisis. At least I don't think it has come to a situation when non-peaceful means need to be considered. Not yet. They have not even come together in a roundtable conference to seek peace. That is all I can say. 

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Returning to the "Original Teachings" of the Buddha?

Question: Actually I am looking for any information mention about Bardo in the SUTRA. Why information of reincarnation to different realms is published openly where the information for bardo is kept as secret? Aren't they interconnect in the reincarnation process?
Answer: The way I understand it is like this. Buddhism is different from other religions. In other religions, they look into their holy books and they want to be able to quote exact words as spoken/ written. But Buddhism is about the inner experience. The words spoken/written is only an original guide. Original broad principles. But time will always evolve. There will be new things. The way people behave and think will be different too. Even though the principles of the dharma is changeless as contained in the spoken/written words, how we apply the guidance to different times and different people will depend upon our skillful means. The way dharma is applied will need to evolve too. The original wheel is probably made of rock. But today it has evolved into other types of material and more sophisticated. Is today's tyre then a counterfeit product? Of course not. But it is still based on something round made of rock founded by the cave men millions of years ago. Similarly, even though Bardo (and other tantric teachings) is taught by Guru Rinpoche or other tantric masters, neverthless these are based on the Buddha's fundamental teachings to cut greed, anger and delusion. As long as you achieve successfully in cutting greed, anger and delusion, it is a Buddha's teachings. Now, which Sutra tells us to cut greed, anger and delusion? It should not be difficult for you to find out yourself. Anything that increases greed, anger, delusion, is not, even though you can find them quoted in wonderful "Sutras". At least this is my humble opinion. My apologies if this isn't correct.

Note: My intention of giving that response was not to answer all t=of his questions. Rather I wanted to close the gap of any attempt by fundamentalist Theravadians (not referring to the person who asked the question, because I know he is not one. But there are others in the forum) to question the authenticity of the Mahayana teachings. For me, to say that only Theravada is the true teachings of the Buddha, and Mahayana teachings are fake and we have to rely solely on the scriptures existing at the time of the Buddha is as ridiculous as insisting that we drive only the type of car built by Henry Ford. The rest of the modern cars existing today, these fundamentalists would refer to as counterfeit products. Certainly ridiculous!

The True Measure of Spiritual Progress - Cutting of Defilements

Someone recently asked me 2 questions (as below) and my response is as such: -

1.Just want to know if bardo teachings is written in any Theravada or Mahayana sutras?

My reply: I don't think there is any specific Theravada suttas on bardo per se, but I stand to be corrected. As for Mahayana sutras(I think you meant Chinese Mahayana), I really can't answer that. My knowledge is not enough. But if you want to know if there is any Vajrayana Sutras on bardo subject,again I shall not attempt to answer that. But I am curious why you want to know. The Buddha already said it clearly in Kalama Sutta " Don't believe anything just because it is written in a holy book".

2. How do you relate the Bardo states with cut greed, anger and delusion?

My reply: Why do you practice Buddhism at all? Anything I practice, I tell myself it has to result in reduction of the three root vices. Whether you are alive or dead/in the bardo, you cut greed, anger and delusion. No matter which tradition we go to, we will never go wrong if we stick to this universal principle of cutting greed, hatred/anger and delusion.

It's Buddhism 101 actually. The 2 replies I have given above is something others can provide too. Nothing special. You and I are the same level in training. If I say something wrong, then you correct me. That's how we learn from each other, right?
The above Q&A were given due to an earlier question posed more generally to others. This will be shared in another blogpost because I want to emphasise on the issue of the "originality of the Buddha's teachings".
 
Further thoughts on the subject:-
I used "cutting of greed, anger and delusion" (inclusive of various kinds of attachments and defilements) is because I do not want to use "attain enlightenment/liberation". In the Tibetan Book of the Dead, it is explained step by step what happens after death and what does the person expect to experience in the intermediate states. It tells us how the Buddha in the disguise of various peaceful and wrathful deities try to help the deceased to recognise the nature of mind and thus achieve liberation. But the text also recognise that if the deceased has the various attachments and delusions, it is very difficult for the deceased to recognise the nature of reality and mind. Hecne, my intention is to bring us back to the basic of understanding what is "attaining liberation or achieving enlightenment". It is nothing more than cutting of of our attachments and delusions. We should not think of it is any superstate of consciousness. That is how bardo practice is linked to cutting of greed, anger and delusions, i.e. achieving liberation through realising the nature of reality. We can only realise it when the former are cut off.

I am somewhat disappointed with Buddhists who in spite of their years of meditation and practice as well as vast knowledge in the dharma, still display such arrogance and bad attitude that goes contrary to their status as a senior practitioner. They have so much attachments, anger, jealousy, other delusions but they don't realise it. I suspect one to be on the verge of going "chou fuo ru mo", or "...crazy" in simple English. That is why I am more keen to measure wisdom (no matter what practice we do or which tradition we are in) in terms of how much defilements that have been reduced. There is not much point in being able to understand deep emptiness concepts but ... the behavior is still the same. There is no transformation in your behavior and attitude towards others.
 
This is what is happening in Myanmar. Despite being learned in the so-called "original" teachings of the Buddha, and deep vipassana meditation practices, some monks there still incite hatred towards their Muslim brethren and some even allegedly kill others to protect their Buddhism, race, or whatever they think they are protecting. How can this be? Those people are a disgrace to Buddhism. I hope there are only a few of them. What a shame!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Important Quotes from Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche - Pt2

The right view is: anything you see / hear / smell / taste / touch etc., all seemingly appear and arise. Like that. There is no reason. Sometimes things just come and go. If we lack such knowledge, we will have problems.
 
So the right view is just being satisfied with the realization and understanding that things are seemingly there but not truly there. Without right view, we can’t develop our practice.
The many forms of Vajrayana activities such as empowerment and puja, are all based on right view.

Practice does not mean being inside a room, shutting the door. You say that you have no time. Of course you have no time for that, I can understand. I also have no time. ‘Time’ means you are not wasting. Each and every time, you are mindful. Make it meaningful. This is Dharma practice.
 
When you face any problem or intolerable pain and suffering, think of the right view. These problems do not truly exist, they are just reflections of negative thoughts. Because of ignorance, dualism, the dualistic point of view, we feel suffering.

Without this, as in Western countries, without support from the right view, they force themselves through their meditation. Sometimes they say that they are flying. That is wrong, that is an illusion. Too much makeup. Fake meditation. You feel that you are flying, then you stop, and bye-bye. Very dangerous. Therefore, to avoid such mistakes, be on the safe side. Go along with the right view, right instructions, and right meditation. Be on the safe side, and it will be perfect.

You will not engage in negativities because of correct view and correct meditation. With correct meditation, you are totally trained well. With the right view, your mind is very clear, very mindful. Because you are mindful, your physical movement will spontaneously or naturally transform into virtue. So these three––right view, meditation and conduct––are general practices for all Buddhist practitioners.
Treat all experiences equally: Everyday you go through different experiences. Most of the time it’s unhappy, while happy times are very little.
So you become Buddhist in order to get rid of this, not simply for blessing. It is not like the master gives you something, you eat, and then tomorrow you feel something. Or after drinking something, you immediately feel nauseous or sweaty. Then you think that the deity has come to you, and you become very powerful.

According to the instruction of Indian master Nagarjuna, he said that good practice means managing any circumstance that comes to you. Whatever it is good or bad, happy or unhappy, whatever circumstances arise, you equally accept them. This is proof of good practice. If you are happy when good circumstances come, and when bad things happen you go to the master and ask him to bless you, this is wrong practice. 

There is no need to prevent unexpected negative circumstances. 

If an individual introduces to you the ultimate truth or true nature of mind, and you yourself realises or experiences the true nature of mind, then effortlessly or spontaneously that person becomes your root guru.

There is no nomination, no voting; it is not like roaming in shopping centres, thinking: “Can I buy this?”
 
When an individual introduces to you the true nature of the mind, and you realize it, then even if you deny it, that person is spontaneously your root guru. You can’t deny.
 
It is only at the moment when you realise or recognise the true nature of mind, then at that moment, you call “root guru”. Until then, no matter what happens, you still call “guru”, not “root guru”. 

However, in order to prolong your life through the receiving of the Amitayus empowerment, you need to generate Bodhicitta to help many sentient beings. If you are simply reciting the Amitayus for your own enjoyment, there is no guarantee.
 
Do not think that Amitayus is simply a Buddha for long life. It goes along with reason, depending on conditions.
The continuity is very important. It is not just when you are sick you pray to the medicine Buddha. When you are unsuccessful, you practise a certain deity. That would be wrong practice, wrong view.
 
Sometimes you misunderstand what tsok means. You think that tsok means enjoying the fruit, biscuit and delicious food. Actually long time ago, tsok was when the great masters gathered in caves, together with dakas and dakinis, enjoying all kinds of food. Not only delicious food, but also dirty food, mixed together and ate them. Because of the power of their knowledge and realisation, they had to power to transform the impure into pure. We have dualism––the notion of good and bad, clean and dirty. We want the clean, but don’t want the dirty. That is dualism, which keeps us far from reality. To avoid such dualism, we practise tsok to transform the poison into medicine, transform the dirty into clean. I also do not have such power. We imitate.
Practice does not mean being alone in a jungle or remote area. Practice means having to deal with our everyday life, having to face difficult situations. It is important to practise the Dharma in our daily lives, it is much faster than practising alone in a cave. Inside the cave, how to know where your practice is going? Tell me. You can’t. You say that there is no anger so far, then when you meet with unpleasant people, your anger arises. Therefore, it is not practical. We need to use everyday circumstances. We need good and bad people, pleasant and unpleasant people.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Important quotes from Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche - Pt 1

 
These are teachings by Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche during an empowerment of Chig She Kun Drol (Knowing One Thing, Everything is Liberated) given in Johor Bahru in April 2010. Will add on bit by bit.


So do not waste your life anymore, do not waste time. Every year, we remain at the same level, still the same mindset, still an ordinary person, we have never changed.
 
The Buddha was very professional, but he skilfully taught according to our abilities. He never said that we must practise in a certain way, but gave us choices. All these choices have the same purpose. 

Deities do not truly exist, but we cannot say they are not there: There are many deities and Dharma protectors in peaceful and wrathful forms––none of them truly exists.
 
Though we say that they do not truly exist, we cannot say that they are not there.
 
The mother is very kind, always using nice words, giving sweet talk. But if the child doesn’t listen, sometimes the mother will beat the child. But this beating is not out of hate, but because of having more compassion. That is the only option that the mother has. Similarly, the ‘wrathful’ form is symbolism for greater compassion, not anger.
 
Are you a Dharma practitioner in your daily life? You simply say that you're a Buddhist without considering this. Even though you have ‘Buddhism’ as your identity, you lose the meaning of ‘Buddhism’, yet claim that you are a genuine Dharma practitioner. This does not make much sense.
 
Relatively, this deity is very special for the curing of diseases especially paralysis, and for dealing with certain harmful beings in Tibet. However, do not think that this deity is a ‘paralysis specialist’. That is a big mistake.
 
Sometimes receiving too much blessings spoil you. You think that there is no need to practise the Dharma, your guru will help you. You see him touching your head and you think you are fine. 

Sunday, June 2, 2013

I love Buddhism but...

I love Buddhism but .... I love "Do good, Avoid doing bad, enhance purity of heart" better. Anything that promotes these 3 values is enough for me. It does not need to be called "Buddhism". It does not even have to be a religion or spiritual thing. It can be secular ethics. If we can live by these ideals, we will be in harmony with anyone, irrespective of religion. At the same time, we will be upholding our Buddhist religion's core principle. Why so? Because doing good, not doing bad and purity of heart are basic human values. His Holiness the Dalai Lama always emphasise on this point to focus more on our core values as human beings and go beyond our narrow concepts of race, religion, state or nation.

For Pest Control Companies: How to Kill with Compassion (if at all)

 
For Pest Control Companies: How to Kill with Compassion (and in a way that can be done by anyone irrespective of religion)
These words above (in red) are based on the Buddha's advice to "Do good, avoid evil, and purify the mind". I twig it a little bit to make it a bit less religious sounding. In fact, it can be used like a mantra to benefit sentient beings. I was thinking how to advice pest control companies on how to kill with compassion, in a non-religious way. These people who operate pest control companies need not be Buddhists, and they are of various religious or secular background. I thought of these words as above. They can just recite it over their pesticides or chemicals. Hopefully it will benefit the pests that they will be killing. I was thinking that if people need to kill, my advice is to kill with compassion.  But if possible (should there be another way), don't kill.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Forgiveness is a Bodhisattva Quality

Lately I realise that in order to be a bodhisattva we need loads and loads of forgiveness. Yes, I need to be able to forgive sentient beings. When we see the atrocities committed and stupidity of sentient beings, it is very easy to give up on them and even getting angry with them. That's where the quality of forgiving comes in. Forgiving someone comes from true compassion. Despite the stupidity of many sentient beings, as well as their endless greed and anger, bodhisattvas must have a big heart to look over their actions and persevere to cross them over to the true path. In other words, you don't take too hard whatever wrong they did. You still give them a chance over and over again. This is what I mean by "forgiving them". It does not mean they don't have to suffer their bad karma after you have forgiven them. In Buddhism, it is not like that. If you are married to a spouse and have children, you will understand a little of this forgiveness I meant. And maybe even for umarried people, if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend or partner, you probably need to have lots of this forgiveness quality in you to make the relationship work. Otherwise it will just collapse over trivial matters.  
 
This comes from my own realisation of my own situation at home and at work. We just need to forgive people and move on. Not to say that we let them continue with whatever wrong they did, but rather for your own training as an apprentice bodhisattva to train in your paramitas (perfections) of patience, effort and perseverance. Forgiveness is a quality of wisdom, not of weakness. When I realise my own vulnerability to afflictive emotions, it is so much easier to forgive others. You can tolerate only if you can forgive others. When you forgive others, there is no more hate. You are no longer suppressing anger and wanting to seek revenge. You just let it go. You do your best and then let go even that. Many problem often ensues if we harbour anger and seeks revenge. I am sure you have read of deaths and unwanted incidences happening over trivial matters. Many people make mountains out of mole hills. A recent case is a son who came home drunk and quarrelled with his mother over the air-conditioning. Her mother too did not handle the situation well and beat his son. The son then pushed her and accidentally killed his mother. What a pity! There are many other examples whereby the persons want to seek justice over some trivial matters but end up making matters worse. Sometimes it is better to just forgive the person(s) and just let go. Control our tendency to go emotional. As the saying goes - to forgive is divine. Indeed, it is. So, forgive, forgive and forgive! This is what I have learned.

P/S: I just got to share this recent true story. A man was reportedly drunk and driving at around 12.30am. He was driving across a bridge when suddenly he thought that another car was trying to cut him. He drove on but stopped suddenly in the middle of the bridge. The other car also apparently stop. He got out of his car and walked towards the other car angrily. But suddenly a third car came from the opposite direction and hit him. He died and lots of blood split unto the bridge. It's such a sad incident. I need to share this beause I know many people get upset when others try to cut them, or we perceive others are trying to cut us. We will chase after the other car and try to over take them again. I have to write this to also remind myself not to do such stupid things. Sometimes we think we can just get our way by being fearless, but let me tell you this. Others are even more fearless than you ever will be. They may even have a gun and they don't hesitate to take it out and shoot you. Is it worth it then to die in an angry state of mind? You will be reborn as a demonic spirit. That man probably will be one, haunting the bridge. Amitabha! First of all, don't drink until drunk. Secondly, control our emotions and forgive. Whoever wants to cut, let them have the way. It's okay. Why go mad?

Monday, May 27, 2013

Wesak Day Procession 2013




 
These are all pictures taken during the Wesak Day procession in Penang on 24 May 2013, the day Malaysians (and many other countries) celebrate Wesak Day. Even though there are less floats, less participating teams, and somewhat disorganised, nevertheless I feel perhaps we still need to be thankful that we still have such events going on in our country. We need to emphasise on gratitude and harmony, rather than mere criticism and promoting hate culture.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

The Dalai Lama condemns attack on Muslims in Myanmar

Finally, we have a major Buddhist leader who condemns the violence perpetrated (or instigated) by Rakhinese Buddhist monks on the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. But as the Dalai Lama said (and which I had also mentioned in my previous post), this fight is not religious in nature (like the crusades), rather it is political in nature.
 

Also read this:-

http://www.thestateless.com/2013/05/dalai-lama-condemns-buddhist-violence.html

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Maintaining A Clear Mind During The General Election

I send this message to a group of Vajrayana Buddhists and received quite a few positive comments and likes. Unfortunately this message only reaches a limited number of people. By right this sort of message should come from Buddhist associations to advise their members. So, I can only do what I can. The rest is up to individuals. A day or two after my initial message, explosions happened during a political talk and at a political centre. That's what happens when people get too emotionally afflicted in this general election. Read on:-
 
As our nation prepares itself to elect a new government, we find ourselves drowned in a sea of hate messages. In this age of social media, the hate messages spread even more quickly like wild fire. It is so easy to lose ourselves in this frenzy of election campaigns. It does not help that even Buddhist practitioners and organisations participate in spreading this unhealthy culture of focusing on negativities. It is therefore, high time that someone takes on the unenviable task of urging the citizens to promote the positives, rather than negatives. The hate level may be at risk of getting out of hand as
it was reported in the papers that people even fight over a flag pole. Therefore it is so important to watch the conduct of our body, speech and especially, mind. I am also not a saint. I am also tempted to get into the frenzy of elections and lose my mind in the process. But suddenly, in recent days, I am
reminded that as a Vajrayana practitioner, I should see everyone as Buddhas. This is a Vajrayana method of practice. I am reminded that I am only choosing among Buddhas and will vote for the Buddha closest to my heart. None of them are devils. Instead of all the hate and anger, we should love more and condemn less. Emphasize more of equanimity and less cursing. If we take care of our mind, we will not find ourselves with a load of unnecessary negative karma at the end of the election. If we can practice this, then we can have our peace. This is spiritual maturity. With that reminder to myself, now I can rest in silence. Now I can try to maintain my clear mind and pure vision. Clear mind… pure vision…clear mind…. pure vision…

I leave you with a quote from His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa.

"When your attention is not on yourself, but others, then you are asking for trouble. Happiness or suffering is all within, no one except yourself can make you happy, sad, angry or emotional…" - Peace is Every Step. Quote from his facebook.

Spread love, compassion, joy and equanimity. Not hate, anger, lies and greed. I bow down to all of you – I am sorry if there is any transgression!

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Jade Buddha Comes to Penang

Some photos on the recent (6 - 14 April 2013) Jade Buddha held in Penang Times Square, Penang. Enjoy!
  




Monday, April 8, 2013

A Pure Aspiration Prayer To the Triple Gem: For the Benefit of Departed Ones

A Pure Aspiration Prayer To the Triple Gem: For the Benefit of Departed Ones
 
On this occasion where descendants remember, honour and respect their departed ones,
Representing my family and my line of ancestors and departed ones,
I offer these delicious food, beautiful clothes, precious jewels and precious metals,
Visualized in my mind,
Made of paper,
Or real,
I offer them all to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats,
And all holy objects and representations of the Triple Gem.
May all of these items be transformed immediately,
Those burned in a fire,
and those that are not,
Turning into delightful objects
Through sacred words,
Pleasing to the Blessed Ones.
May They be delighted!
And taking this opportunity
To repent deeds done in error,
Committed by body, speech or mind,
Representing myself, my family and my line of ancestors,
All the way up,
We sincerely repent and regret!
May all sentient beings be blessed on this day called "Cheng Beng"! 
Om Ah Hum! Om Ah Hum! Om Ah Hum!
 
As I burn those offerings,
I think of the kindness of my parents, their parents and foreparents before that
Until time immemorial...
I think of the kindness of the Buddhas and my Precious Gurus,
It is so much more.....
"Infinite" would be inadequate to describe their compassionate deeds
Spanning the three worlds and beyond.
Even though some of these offerings are made of only paper,
I pray my sincerity in this pure aspiration,
Is capable of transmuting those ashes into pure blessings,
Thanks to what I have learned from Bodhisattva Samantabhadra,
Whose great aspirations and pure deeds,
Fill the myriad Buddha lands with pure gold.....
Liberating uncountable number of sentient beings! 
Even though I am not the great Samantabhadra,
May my humble aspiration not be any less!
May all sentient beings be blessed on this day of "Cheng Beng"!
Om Ah Hum! Om Ah Hum! Om Ah Hum!
 
In front of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats,
And the holy Triple Gem,
I am sorry if I am not a good descendant to my ancestors and departed ones,
But I do my best to benefit them
The way I know how....
It is just a simple offering -
Several types of fruits,
Some dishes with plates of rice,
A few cups of coffee,
Some clothes made of paper,
And gold and silver ingots made of paper.
Importantly engaging the pure ones to recite prayers,
But also personally reciting the Amitabha Sutra, Great Compassion Dharani and the Heart Sutra.
Hopefully may my departed ones and ancestors benefit from reciting those liberating words!
Dedicating the merits to them all,
May they be free from sufferings of the three lower realms!
May they be free from physical and mental sufferings of all kinds!
May they be able to meet with the Kind Gurus who are able to teach and transform them! 
May they have the merits and virtue to continue on the Path till final, complete enlightenment!
May all sentient beings be blessed on this day of "Cheng Beng"!
Om Ah Hum! Om Ah Hum! Om Ah Hum!
 
- this aspiration prayer was first written by me on 7 April 2013 but later it was extended to this version today (8 April 2013). For whatever it is worth, may all benefit from it! 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Sangha leaders in Myanmar must advice the local Buddhists


http://news.yahoo.com/myanmar-government-struggles-contain-anti-muslim-hostility-102445366.html

Referring to the news above, I want to state my stand here that I think that there is something utterly wrong somewhere if you were to wear a robe of a Buddhist monk but holds a knife at another's throat threatening his life, just because of a difference in faith. It means the monastic robe is not longer sacred and it does not hold much meaning to him anymore than just another normal clothes that lay people wear. It's the fault of people who think they hold the original and truest teachings of their religious founders for all major religions. Even if everybody else profess the demonic teachings, the saints must learn to live in harmony with the "lost souls". But even the gods cannot live in harmony with the demons. How can humans? How can we so long as our religious teachers keep harping that other teachings are wrong and destined to burn in hell? And our Buddhist leaders, especially certain Theravada teachers, have only superficial harmony with others from another tradition. Therefore, how can they live peacefully with others from another religion, if you can't even be in harmony with your fellow Buddhists? The incidents of intolerance and killing by Buddhists monks reported in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and anywhere else is indeed a shame to the principles taught by the Buddha. If they care so much of the originality of the Buddha's teachings, why is it that they are not holding to such a fundamental teaching of the Buddha? Their Buddhist monk leaders have clearly not done enough to teach this to their students or disciples. They emphasize more on their ethnicity in the fight with other ethnics in their country. But they forget they are also Buddhists and people will see this as Buddhist monks fighting and killing. I pray they come to their senses and learn to live peacefully with others. The "Buddhas" must learn to live peacefully with the "Maras". You can't eliminate all Maras. Ultimately they come from our afflictive emotions. Rightful thing is to deal with that first.

I am not saying the Buddhists are entirely to be blamed for this issue. I think I have explored this issue in an earlier post on the matter. So I will not repeat it here.
 
Rightful thing to do is for the Sayadaws to speak up and advice the local Buddhists properly in order to contain the violence in Myanmar. Their silence is deafening. I think the local Rakhinese Buddhists generally look up to the Buddhist Masters and will listen to their advice if they speak up. I think even if the Sri Lankan or Thai chief monks were to speak up, and if the news reach Myanmar, I think the Buddhists in Myanmar will listen. I think even Ajahn Brahm and the other European monks should speak up too. When violence is happening and it involves the Buddhist faith, they cannot remain secluded in their forest retreats. I find it utterly disturbing that Buddhists can go on their usual business as if nothing concerns them. Where is their compassion? It's not only about the Myanmar Buddhists, but the dignity of the entire Buddhism as a religion is at stake here. Other faiths will say "Look at the violence you guys have done in Myanmar. Despite all the talk about the peace in Buddhism, your monks can even kill others.... Your peace is a fake.... BUDDHISM IS A FAILURE". If the Sangha leaders remain silent, it clearly shows they do not have the bodhicitta that Mahayanists talk about. But if they do possess this quality, they must do something about the situation. I think. What do you think? But my advice is likely to fall on deaf ears. This blog post is unlikely to reach anywhere. When people who are in a position to do something don't do what they are suppose to do, what can small flies like me do? Hence the least I can do is to write my advice in my blog.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

The Dalai Lama: Re-think Our Traditional Buddhist Ways


This is the first part of five that records the interview between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Hyon Gak Sunim. Hyon Gak Sunim is a disciple of Zen Master Seung Sahn but has left Kwan Um School of Zen to be largely on his own. So this video means a lot to me because both Buddhist traditions have made much impress on me. Watch all five parts. In his message, I think the Dalai Lama is trying to encourage Zen tradition to think out of the box and not just follow centuries old tradition. Since the society nowadays is very much grounded on logic and scientific thinking, try to introduce some "words and speech" kind of study into Zen, although traditionally Zen is "beyond words and speech". He is not asking us to abandon it altogether, merely introduce other elements to make it more relevant to our society. All Zen Masters should pay heed of this advice. In Korea especially, many youths are attracted to Christianity and have converted. Christianity is definitely easier to understand. Korean youths might find Zen Buddhism confusing especially those puzzling Zen koans. We must adapt to our times in order for Buddhism to survive. I am not sure if His Holiness has said it or not, but I think the same is true of Tibetan Buddhism.

Also another point brought up by His Holiness is the need to identify ourselves with broader concepts, ultimately identifying ourselves a "humans", rather than narrower concepts like religion, race or politics. For example, Theravadians, Mahayanists, Tibetan Buddhists, Protestants, Catholics, Sulus, Sabahans, Chinese, Malay, etc. We should broaden it to Buddhists, Christians, Asians, etc. Then broaden it even further to just Humans.  He pointed that it is because we identify ourselves to these narrow concepts that often people fight. We fight because we want to defend our narrow little concept. We destroy each other for our own ego. In the end we achieve nothing, and indeed, everything may be destroyed. He used the example of North and South Koreans. They are the same race and the same country, but because of their narrow political identity, they end up being enemies. It's ridiculous if you think about it. Asean talks about achieving an Asean Community in 2015 or 2016, but if one country still desire to claim land that belongs to another country all these years, then what does that tell you about that community? It's superficial. There's no unity at all. Asean Community is a dream and will stay a dream if people don't let go of their selfishness, attachment and ego. So, please think about the message given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Liberation of the Penis: What is its true nature?

This is something just came into my mind in a flash of a moment. So I better write it down in case I may forget. If you are a man and you find it difficult to understand the concept of emptiness, hopefully you will find this blog post useful. All guys have something in common that women don't. Do you know what it is? A penis. Commonly referred to as the dick. What is the nature of a dick? Is its nature long and hard or short and soft? Representing "form" is "long and hard". Representing "emptiness" is "short and soft". So, putting it similar to the passage in the Heart Sutra,
 
"Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Form is nothing but emptiness. Emptiness is nothing other than form."   
 
"Long and hard" penis is "short and soft" penis. "Short and soft" penis is "long and hard" penis. "Long and hard" penis is nothing but "short and soft" penis. "Short and soft" penis is nothing other than "long and hard" penis.
 
You probably know that both "long and hard" and "short and soft" are both part of the penis with only the conditions surrounding it that makes it either "long and hard" or "short and soft". For example, once the conditions for "long and hard" disappears, the "short and soft" appears". Once you get excited again, the conditions for "long and hard" re-appears.  Once you understand this, you have a little bit of understanding of form and emptiness. Where has your long and hard penis gone to when the short and soft one appears? In reality, it has not gone anywhere. It's right there within the short and soft dick.  Where is form? Where is emptiness? Different conditions but yet not apart from each other. Where is the Buddha Nature when you experience samsara? It is similarly right there within samsara. Only the conditions are not there for you to experience it. Where has samsara gone to when you experience the Buddha Nature? Actually samsara has not gone anywhere. Once you make a vow to re-enter samsara for the sake of all sentient beings, you will experience samsara again. As Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche said - samsara and nirvana are two sides of the same hand. In our context here, I will put it as "samsara and nirvana - two conditions of the same penis". Once you have understood the conditions surrounding your body, you will no longer be bound (as in attached) by them. You will be free from the problems of attachment to long and hard penis versus short and soft penis. You will be free once you are in control of the conditions that causes them. And you should be in control because in reality we are in control of our actions, thoughts and speech. Only when we are confused, we are controlled by those conditions. And we end up being slaves to our desires. For example, you think there is something special about long and hard penis and you start to be horny. That's the problem. In the early morning when guys have an erect penis, if you just let it rest as it is and don't re-act towards the conditions that arise, they will subside soon later. So conditions come and go. Once we understand the nature of those conditions and not let it muddle our thinking or actions, we will not be controlled by these conditions. Hopefully we can be free of being slaves to ourselves. Yes, be free. Be a Master to ourselves. Not slaves. Think about it. So, we have successfully (I hope) used a somewhat unusual way to point to the dharma. My apologies if anyone find this offensive. But in reality, the dick is part of the man's anatomy and it is neither derogatory nor otherwise. It is just what it is - a penis! The Zen Master's answer to "Which is the true nature of a penis?" would be to just wag his own penis, or pee right there and then!  He is demonstration control and function of a penis. In this case, there is no need for words and speech. That is Zen.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Buddhist Should Pray for Sabah Issue to be Resolved Peacefully

Malaysia has been relatively peaceful so far. Nature has been good to us. we don't have volcanoes or affected by the hurricanes that some nations suffer every year. We only have floods. We don't have problematic states seeking independence and insurgents here. But the recent situation in Sabah could potentially change all that peace we have enjoyed so far. It was attacked by a group of intruders trying to claim Sabah as thier homeland. However it is foolish if anyone thinks it is just a Sabah issue and therefore only they have to worry about it. This is so wrong. It is every Malaysian's issue. It could potentially drag on and cause more lives. So it will be ashamed if I am the only person suggesting Buddhists to dedicate their prayers for peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sabah. Buddhists cannot sit down and see events unfold. The least we could do is dedicate the daily prayers we do. That is what I am doing. Nothing special, but yet I am doing something on my part for the nation. And you will notice that I said that we pray for the situation to be resolved peacefully. I did not pray for those intruders to die. As a Buddhist, I believe in compassion and forgiveness. If they surrender, I hope we will let them go back to their actual homeland, i.e. the Phillipines. I always believe in giving criminals a chance to change for the better. Only if they don't change, will the full force of karma befalls them. And how sad that will be because lives many lives may be affected. Not just them but people who defend our country. Nobody wants to die in a battle field. So lets pray hard for common sense and wisdom to prevail. Malaysia did not annexed forcefully Sabah from them like the way Kuwait was annexed by Irag last time, or like the way China attacked Tibet in 1959. I feel that if anything it is the people of Sabah who should determine the future of Sabah. And that had been done in 1962 whereby the Cobbold Commission had determined that the people of Sabah wanted to join Malaysia. Hence the issue of the Sultan of Sulu, even if they are the rightful heirs, should not arise anymore. The people of Sabah had spoken way back in 1962 and they want to be part of Malaysia. Not Sulu. Any terrotorial claim to any land that is inhabited, must take into account what is best for the people there, and not just mere geographical or historical evidences. This is my personal opinion.
 
I call upon every Buddhist brothers and sisters to dedicate your daily prayers for the conflict in Sabah to be resolved peacefully and the Sulu intruders to return to the Phillipines peacefully. May no further persons die in the conflict! OM MANI PADME HUM!  
 
Source: