Reiki is not religious. Anyone can practice any religion and still use and benefit from Reiki. Reiki is founded by Mikao Usui.
Reiki is not massage or ref. Reiki is reflexology. Reiki is an energy healing system and not manipulative system. Reiki energy is the energy of love.
Reiki works to heal at the level of our energy to the root of any disease, imbalance or disharmony.
Energy fields emitted by the body is becoming more popular now with the advent of alternative medicine and New Age philosophies. Reiki is intelligent and heals what is needed even if you consciously don’t know what you need.
The recipient draws the right amount of energy to the place where it is needed.
Reiki does not harm any one, it always provides help in a safe and natural way.
Reiki helps healing a physical illness, emotion, spiritual development.
Relaxation is probably the primary reason that people try Reiki. After Reiki , we feel
calmer. Different people have different reaction from Reiki
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Email: mittaforlife@gmail.com Online Sharing: mittaforlifeonline@gmail.com Distant Reiki: mittaforlifeonlineReiki@gmail.com
Labels
- Health Talk (85)
- Mitta Activities (64)
- Up Coming Activities (19)
- Recipe (9)
- Video (6)
About Mitta
- Mitta For Life
- 19, Solok Trengganu, 10460, Penang, Email: mittaforlife@gmail.com Helpline: 012-4758-636, 016-477-1288, 04-2822-087, Malaysia
- Email: mittaforlife@gmail.com OnlineSharing:mittaforlifeonline@gmail.com Distant Reiki: mittaforlifeonlineReiki@gmail.com ***** ***** FREE ACTIVITIES (2pm- 5pm) ***** <1st.Sat> Free Breast Examination, Counselling,REIKI,Needlework Crafts *** <2nd Sat> Free Breast Examination, Counselling,REIKI, Needlework Crafts *** <3rd Sat> REIKI, Needlework Crafts ******* <4rh Sat> REIKI, Needlework Crafts ****** <5th Sat> REIKI, Needlework Crafts *******Additional Activities (4pm-5pm)****** (1st Sat): Breathing Exercises ************* (2nd Sat): Group Sharing ***************** (3rd Sat): Recipe Sharing ****************** (4th Sat): Laughing Therapy *********
247 comments:
1 – 200 of 247 Newer› Newest»Can reiki help mental depression?
Dear friend,
Mitta centre is set up specially to cater for cancer patients. Mitta open on every Sat & Wed.(2 pm~5pm)~ counselling & reiki
On 28th JUNE 2009 (Sunday)there is a Health Camp at Mahindarama Buddhist Temple (8.30 ~ 12 noon) Mitta will also be participating in the Health Camp.~ Blood test, talk by a dietician, massage, etc.....
Mitta will have a counter in the Lecture Hall. There will be exhibition on breast cancer, activities of mitta and also 10 minutes reiki for public.
Anyone can just walk in. If you are free, please do drop by. Thank you .....meeli
Interesting question, "Can reiki help mental depression?"
No easy answer is possible. We live in a dualistic world and for every 'Yes' there is an opposing 'No'points of view. Likewise, the other way round. Is easy to put it down to one's belief systems. And psychosomatism has a lot to do with it too.
The ugly truth is, we tend to attribute to searching outside self or attributing external blames and/or causes, elements, etc. etc. Try taking ownership. The more one reacts to one's mental depression, the more identity and form it takes and becomes a 'Self' in its own right! It then controls you and ultimately leads you to destruction. Solution: look within, take control. Reiki and all other therapies are 'tools' one may use and such tools are only as good as the operator using it.
But how to look within and take control? Empowering yourself with extensive information is good but like a well charted map, does not take the traveller a step unless he walked it. So why not learn to control your mind? And when you learn to control your mind, you can control your depression - and that is provided you are still with it.
I supposed your next question is how to control one's mind.
Hi anonymous as meeli has explained earlier, the centre is to cater for ca patients, u may wan to come an talk to our fellow practitioners????? if you did not make it to our little exhibition on the 16th of june at Mahindrama Buddist Temple, you hv to move yourself to our centre,lovey,c u soon.
Hello anonymous
Mental depression-What do you mean by mental depression? How do you recognise mental depression?
In response to 3.47PM posting on 'How do you recognise depression'.
There are many types of depressions. It is not possible to discuss them here as the subject is too large. Suggest you read it up in a decent book on psychiatry.
Dear friends,
noticed there are so many anonymous how about giving yourslef a nickname easier for us to refer if there is someone with very interesting suggestion.
Example the person who wrote about controlling own's mind. This is indeed very interesting. I for one also like to hear and learn more of the subj, Mr. Anonymous....lemon
Hi there Lemon,
I tried setting up my ID but the site gave me hassle. Will try again using the name 'Whynot' if it works.
So you want to know how to control your mind. Is easy. [Is it??].Stop it thinking. Still your mind, no thoughts; and when you can hold it long enough, something phenomenal you will experience. Our biggest problem is our mind is in control over us all the time. When was the last time your mind is absence of thoughts? It only happens rarely like while in deep concentration or focus or during hypnagogic stage of sleep.
By the way, I'm talking about controlling one's own mind and NOT 'mind control' which is a totally different topic/subject.
And when one has mastery over one's mind, our mind becomes calm and abiding, one achieve peace and harmony. Likewise, many manifestation of our physical and mental illnesses can also be overcome this way.
Posted by 'whynot'.
I would like to start a new topic but do not know how to start a new page or thread in here. So I shall continue in this "Reiki" column.
The year 2012AD is a subject of much speculations this present day. From the likes of Nostradamus' prediction of forces of impending Armageddon to the Mayan's apocalypse 'End of Days'; from the NASA reports to the many prophecies and doomsday predictions.
Has anyone any views on this? Let's hear it.
Hello y knot
Do we have to fast forward to 2012 already? All the more reason why we have to work hard to remove all evil thoughts? cat-meow-meow
Hi Noisy Cat
Sorry, all the meowings cannot fast forward time. And we as the householders cannot remove evil thoughts and temptations either. So please stop dreaming or asking for the impossible!
So what is left? You tell me. Cats are supposed to have ultra high consciousness, so meow it out to me. Tks Kitty Kat.
Hai whynot,
You wrote "Stop it thinking. Still your mind, no thoughts;...."
Thoughts cannot be easily stopped, unless you are in transquility, or died.
I would agree with you if we can be aware of our thoughts. Or unless you mean "day dreaming"....maybe....
Even when we sleep we often dream so how to stop?
You are right, the mind is controlling us. So we have to learn how to control the mind.
Any good suggestion? .......lemon
Mr. whynot
Dont go so far. Unpredictable tomorrow. Dont go to space
Come back to earth. ......moo
2012 is ot that far. Only a few more years. We will have more wrinkles, greyer hair.
Going to be a "depression" shares going to fall. Business will suffer badly.Food shortage and unrest crops up unexpectedly. Weather unpredictable
hugh earthquake, tsunami will visit the coastal areas again.
whynbot..You mentioned stop our thinking but you stir up our imagination again. So how to stop thinking? .....tic tac
Hello Lemon, Moo & Tic Tac,
Thanks for writing. Most interesting thoughts n contributions from you. Keep it up and keep it going. Let's generate more like minded discussions.
Well, my frineds, you CAN stop your thoughts. Many have done it. When in deep meditation, you achieve that, then you go into nimitta and the jhanas. People in comas and came back often accountted such events.
Reply to Lemon: You can learn how to control your mind by watching your sensations and your breath while in meditation. So go for it!
Reply to Moo: What makes you think I'm a bloke? You addressed me as 'Mr. Whynot' Am I that transparent? LOL!
And don't worry, I'm learning to live in the fully presence of the eternal 'Here and Now.' Are you? :)
Reply to Tic Tac: Yes, I'm stirring up your imaginations. You cannot stop your thoughts permanently. So while you are thinking, may as well have a directed or concentrated thought which is also a form of meditation. Agree?
Gee... you have a pretty gloomy view of 2012. Cheer up, mate, our world is not going to end, I assure you that! Remember the birth of this millennium was supposed to be the end of planet earth? Well, we are all still here alive and kicking! :). But I do agree we are at the brink of self destruction to our fragile and endearing Mother Earth. She is suffering and in pain. And we must help Her.
How? I see 2012 as the awakening of our Higher Consciousness in direct response to Her needs. The elements and forces are set in place for such movements and is going to be huge! This is in line with Christianity's coming of the second Jesus Christ which to me is not the embodiment of another Person arriving but this awakening of our Higher Consciousness. Perhaps the Boy Buddha (in India) will be ready by then to teach again. In 1996 the discovery of the recluse Russian Anastasia was another. Thailand built the world's biggest temple that sits a million and all over the world present day, meditation and prayers centres are mushrooming. Quantum science has identified 2012 as the turning point in humanity's consciousness. In summary, we need to be part of it to be in this momentous movement and awakening. We have to do our bit. Are you?
And now to you All: Hahaha! Have I stirred up more thoughts than you can handle?
Oh! By the way, I'll be away on our annual winter camping this 20th to 28th. (Oops! The key word here is 'winter'. Which countries are in winter this time of the year?). Will try to catch up with you All upon my return. Meantime, smile, keep happy, be sane and stay alive, cultivate and grow with this 2012 renaissance.
Good night.
Posted by whynot.
Hello whynot,
You are indeed a stirrer! I think you are an interesting person to know and I really enjoyed reading your postings. You apprear quite knowledgeable and well informed. But you are not letting out too much, you just kept stirring us on.
Is very refreshing to have you chatting in here. And I for sure will be reading everything you will be writing and please let us into it more. Don't just dangle the carrot, I am salivating.
Enjoy your camping. I'll be waiting for your next posting when you return.
Hungry Man
OOoo hungry man start chewing on your carrot to stop excessive flow of saliva...... am sure you have something to share too........ come on out with it, lets hear your stories cat-meow-meow
Hi Cat-meow-meow
I kept chasing the carrot but cannot reach it. I'm still trying and some call me as a 'silly donkey'. I even tried emergency brake so it can swing back to my mouth but the line was too short. Damn! Hence, my knowledge is very limited. I thirst to learn more. May be you should let out too. While whynot is away, let me hear your story instead. Whynot also said cat has ultra high consciousness, so tell us.
hungry man.
Hello Bloggers,
I'm back and disappointed this column 'died' its natural death while I was away, with nil contribution except for host meeli's message which incidentally is a jolly good idea for ease of reference.
This is the trouble with most of our lives - busy, busy, busy, and having no time to stop and smell the flowers. We become very adept at rationalising and justifying our actions and soon cannot see the trees from the woods. Yet, when we consciously slow down, there is clarity and there is time - the rose smells extra sweet! What have we been missing all our lives! Why are we rushing to get there and for what purpose? Why are we not living?
All it takes is just perhaps a couple of minutes of your time in between tasks to get into here and do a post to keep our topics going and learn something from each other.
So, come on fellow bloggers, do your bit.
TOPIC: START LIVING
whynot said Why are we rushing to get there and for what purpose? Why are we not living
good topic, it affects our daily lives. Must cari $$$ so fly here & there like busy bee. No money how to talk? Who pays for expenses
....kopi oh
Re: Start Living
Wonder how many of us just rushed thro almost all our daily chores eg with reasons must do this, must do that, dont have enough time?
I am one of them too. To think about it there are so many disadvantages: temperamental, frustation, aging, restless, recklessness, worry,etc... The beauty of things, objects, events, persons just passed me without much appreaciation & acknowledgement.
When i appreaciate the object/situation etc i feel more calm,relax back to myself more joy in me. This made me a much happier person. Afterall what is life for? One day i will die, why not smell the joy in my heart. Whenever i feel happier & grateful, i become more forgiving, loving, accepting as it is - the feeling and sweetness at the Moment.
This i can do when i am alone. While doing things, eg typing, i would stop after sometime and come back to myself/body. "Where is my mind, do i feel any bodiy sensations"? Just looking at my computer table and i realised the beauty and function of the keyboard, etc. I begin to be grateful & appreciate it Then back again typing. This is wonderful feeling, have any of you tried?
Is this the "Living" you mean - whynot?
However, sometimes i get trigger off by external objects . Example when doing something suddenly another voice start to nag, nag, nag ..... oops there it goes again.
How can this be overcome?
Another thing i like to share is these days when i organise or participate in any event,or do my job/duty i would do my best, and tell myself "Without Expecation" - just let the result be.
With this concept at the back of my mind, , i feel less stressful and usually the result turns out to be more successful & fruitful.
Lets hear from others. .....meeli
Topic: Start Living
Kopi O is flying here & there cari cari $$$ Last year was 60cents these days it costs me 80cents.
Without money quite difficult to live by. Everything seems to increase except for our salary.
dear kopi o - while earning your best its good to balance our lives. Health can be affected too. Then what is the point of having poor health with all the $$$ simply cannot enjoy the fruit of our effort. The key word is "balance"
............ lemon
Topic: Start Living
Sitting down in one corner meditating; is a very good foundation to keep mind focus or watch the mind.
However, daily practise is as important as meditation. Our daily routine takes up most of our time, from the time we get up in the morning, to the time we sleep at night. In between doing our daily routines interacting with people, are we aware of our thoughts, speech or action?
Sitting down, we meditate for an hour or more; but when we get up from meditation, and doing our job are we mindful? Daily chores is the best time for us to practise; and gauge how we fare.
In between our duties do we stop for "gaps" - stop and look back
on our bodily actions or even our thoughts?
When we get irritated do we reflect back what causes it. How would we deal or react to it ? Do we see reality AS IT IS ? Or do we see only what we want to see or hear? Jumping into conclusion for everything that goes against our desire or thoughts ? Commenting on the other's error?
I acknowledged i am not a good meditator, but i am putting an effort to be mindful and be open, trying my best to make my life more spiritualy meaningful.
My mind often runs or affected by external objects or happenings. I noticed that if i am mindful from moment to moment, i have lesser unnecessary flying thoughts. At least i can pull back to my moment of living. The reality of NOW
I maybe wrong, what i wrote is just my thoughts at this moment.
I am open & hope to learn from you as we share along. To march on in life if there is a supportive group will be encouraging.
What you have learnt and find it to be beneficial please share with the rest. .....meeli
Hello Community,
My apologies for the silence past few days. Had major pc problems.
Read with interest recent postings/response. Thank you.
I concur with the wisdom of having a 'balance' to our lives. As you know, we live in a dualistic world and what is right and what is wrong? Is only relative and perspectives. Taking on the forces means only more troubles and miseries to ourselves. So, welcome to the world of "..but.." and homoestasis is in order. That is Mother Nature's Law of Balance.
Meeli: Your last posting self-answered most of my intended response to you. We are into like-minded mindset? (Scary!)
In summary, YES! What I am talking about is living fully in the present moment, moment to moment to moment, being fully aware of one's sensations and our mind. I learnt this can be achieved by being able to 'let go' of all those controlling factors and circumstances - be not a control freak! Learn to see things 'as it is' and not as how we want it to be. Keeping it simple. Be liberated, be free!
Talking about the reality of Now, have you read this book 'The Power of Now' by Eckhardt Tolle? Highly recommended. - Whynot
Dears...
I have a problem, how to solve it.
I said something wrong accidentaly to my son & he is angry with me. He feels hurt. It hurts me too. What should i do ? ...thirsty
Hello Thirsty,
You should not trust anyone to solve your problem(s) for you and you do not need others to interfere/meddle into your personal afffairs either! Seeking opinions and ideas is all you can receive but ultimately you have to walk the walk yourself.
Well my friend, to err is human, unless to forgive is against your policy! We all make mistakes, so what? So, forgive yourself! The more concerned you are, the more you perpetuate the situation. Apologies (just don't dramatise it)and then let it be. Your son's anger will soon pass and time and wisdom will soon heal the misunderstanding. By the way, how old is he?
Hope my little support to you helps. - Whynot.
Hi Thirsty,
I can share with you what if i face this problem. But it is you who has to decide what is best.
Firstly i would keep calm, sit comfortably. Reflect on "what did i say that anger or hurt him"?. Ask mentally "Was he hurt because of what i said"? (Is it true that i hurt him?) Pause and take time to analize. (Dont rush....as you reflect).
Maybe right huh..? He has shown on his facial / bodily expression. Ask again : "Can it really be true that my words hurt him "??... (double check)
Or is this just my preception?
If it is perception, why carry on our shoulder? We suffer.
"Let it go, what is done is done". Learn from it and be more aware of words in the future. Forgive yourself.
We often love our parents, spouse and children or friends, how often do we love ourselves?
We have to love ourselves too! Loving ourselves mean we can forgive ourselves for wrong doings.(but must try to repent)
If we dont learn to forgive ourselves, we will suffer most the time. Do we not want to be Happy?
When we can forgive, we will be more open to Accept - What it is as it is. We understand Reality.
I dont know how old your son is.
I assume that he is in his teens or adulthood. Perhaps he was already roasted up by external factors, eg work, social life etc. And what you said just burst the bubble.
Give him space. Time will heal. Nothing is permanent. Send your love through prayers, spread it through thoughts and action. Its good to learn how to speak with kind words & consideration. Good to appologize too.
Wish you the best. ....meeli
Thanks
My son had meals with me.
Feel so happy. Thank you for the good encouragement & sharing.
......thirsty
Hi again Thirsty,
Good to hear common sense soon prevails. And life back to normalcy again. But not wanting to be a party pooper, just to remind you that 'this too will change' sooner or later. Nothing is permanent in this world - another of Mother Nature's natural law, the Law of Impermanence! "Annica, annica, annica" remember that. :)
Oledi bought recommended book
"Power of Now"
Now reading, but cannot get the "being" Look at my car , fron to back still it is a car. What is "being"?
......ice cream
Hello Ice cream,
Just read on and it will soon materialise into your understanding. The term was used loosely and broadly and may appear confusing initially, but given time, you will grasp the concepts in its application.
Please do read with an open mind, pause and contemplate and read on digesting it well. It is not a novel or work of fiction to be read like a story book.
May you profit from it. When you have finished this book, I got another to recommend you, this one comes in a series of 8 books (so far, the 9th is still in the writing) and it introduce you to the realistic side of the real truths.
Tell me when you are ready.
Hi whynot,
I read with interest your input here. You are still indeed a stirrer. Is this your trademark to keep challenging us? You are indeed doing well.
In your last posting to ice cream you mentioned about "the realistic side of the real truth". I sort of know something about real truth like death and taxations are the only constant permanence in our world while everything else is impermanent but what is the realistic side of the real truth then? Now I cannot sit still and dying to know. Please explain.
Hungry man.
Hello Hungry man,
Ahhh.... that would be telling then, would it not? By telling, it stops stimulating discussions. And may be that's exactly what I should do now and not explain. Perhaps others in our community here can try to give their points of view. So Guys, go on kiss and tell.
hehehe! Hungry man, now have I made you hungrier??
Sorreeee
posted by Whynot- the stirrer and a pain in the neck. LoL.
We are made of "mind & body"
"Mis-Thoughts" create "Dis-Eases" indirectly affecting our health in the long run.
Before DIS-EASE turn Cancerous, we hope to alleviate it. Thought patterns affects our Health.
When this blog was created, we hope to reach the community as a support, and a share & care group to mitta friends.
Coincidentally, Whynot brought up this book "Power of NOW" This will benefit a bigger circle of the community!
"Mindfulness leads to Awareness
Awareness leads to Understanding
Understanding leads to Realisation"
~ to free ourselves from suffering.
This is only achieveable through practice
Only those who help themselves, will get help. Many want to free from the bondage of suffering, disatisfaction, etc just that they have not found a suitable method, or confused over the number of methods. If we are keep an open mind, we will find a suitable path.
We hope to practise, discuss; at the same time share experiences. Those who have gone through and found peace in their daily lives or solve their problems, please share with us.
In sharing, there is no right, no wrong, its only an experience to the other party. We learn as we grow, discuss and develope. In the end it is still up to each individual what they choose in life.
Dear Whynot; we will be happy if you can sail us through this discussion. What say you ?
....meeli
Aiyo, 8 more books to buy? Soon a hole in my pocket lo!!
...tic tac
lets request mitta to start a library shelf. then can borrow books from centre
.....robin
Cannot finish book in 3 days.
whynot share with us. Those who have not read the book or have not finish the book can learn from your experiences too.
.....ice cream
Robin and all concern
Plse, not library, u can start ur own private book circulation club. Anyway theres not going to be that many books to start a library.8 books dont warrant a library....
cat meow meow
Hi whynot,
If I get to know your true identity and where you live, I'll try to pay you a visit and perhaps have a heart to heart, knee to knee talk. For now, please stop winding me up (only kidding).
If I kiss would you tell?
topic: 'The Power of Now'
Hello Ice cream and Others,
It took me over a fortnight to digest the book. The book is far better than the CD which when listening to, one can miss out essential points and has no time to contemplate. So, forget the CD and read the book instead is my strong recommendation.
How to discuss the book with someone who has not read it? And when one having read it, picks up relevant points pertaining to oneself, is it not? We all have personal experiences in life unique to oneself. However, what we can do is broadly discuss some of Eckhardt's teaching.
Essentially, Eckhardt's message is not new except that he presented it very well and relevant to present day line of thoughts. He supported it well with different perspectives from the very ancient to the present day teaching of various religions. He also awaken many consciousness within us to grasp life's essentials.
You can log onto 'mastering the power of now' website and join the like minded minds in discussions.
Hope this helps.
Whynot dear, you wrote "However, what we can do is broadly discuss some of Eckhardt's teaching".
Thought you could bring up some points from the book for discussion. True not many have read the book yet. Through discussion it can help those who are not in reach of the book yet.
Good to touch the lives of others by discussing what is pertinent to our community. Like to kick it on Whynot?
....lemon
Aiya.... all tension, all the arousement suddenly...blob it goes.
you can do better than this Whynot.
Reconsider again, Whynot, we are all waiting with excitement......kopi o
Hello Meeli and Fellow Bloggers,
Oopsie! You are asking a lot from me. I'm only a simple person with a simple mind and a simple soul. Being a simple person, how can I help the complicated sail through his/her complicated issues and/or problems in life?
If there is any one thing I can share with you all is to KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid! :)) One thing I learnt in life is we make it out more than what it is to be. It has been conditioned into us since our early days to seek sensory escape and pleasure. This increasing level of escape soon takes on an identity formation of its own which we call a 'self'. This Self (the Ego really or 'I') soon controls us, consumes us and ultimately lead us to destruction. So, when one can see through this pseudo self, then one is in a position to be liberated.
We all have different life experiences and coping stragegies. Question is, are we realistic and being true to ourself or are we into self fufilling prophecy? Key is being able to 'let go' and to keep it simple - as simple as possible. Once such clarity is with us, our mind can see through and guide us to the light. Remember, there is no such thing as darkness. There is only brightness. It is through the absence of light that darkness exist. St Paul said "Through light itself becomes light". [this is from the book 'The Power of Now'].
Echkardt Tolle expounded in his book that through the realisation of the power of now that we can change and start to live. This is not a new idea, Siddharta taught this 2500 years ago. Jesus said the same thing too but in different format.
So what's new? What is new to me is that we have reached a stage with the awakening of this consciousness to change. The elements and forces are all in place for this momentous leap which will begin in 2012 - even quantum science has identified it. The likes of Eckhardt Tolle are only agents here doing the preparatory work laying the foundations. Hence, we have to be part of it. "You got to be in it to win it."
I think I have said enough. This forum is open to all to discuss. Let's do it.
Thank you Kopi O and thank you Lemon.
Just saw your posting came in as I was writing away. I think my last posting (just did) has directly and indirectly answered your question.
Now we are all happy bunnies?
Hi,
Its wonderful!! Whynot has started it rolling.
E. Tolle mention the shifting of dualistic world ~ unconsciousness to consiciousness vice versa. Was just wondering, when the whole excitement of Whynot having raised our interest then Whynot had a second thought...to roll it or not..
For those who had read the book did you ponder awhile, watch your feelings (being aware of the state) or were you restless.
How did your mind react? Did you see what E. Tolle was trying to explain to us? How easily our mind is being influenced by external situation / object.
Excitement makes me breath faster, with quick short breath. I too was hoping so much Whynot could raise the sail and start the engine.
I regain my consciousness, accepted the situation. Just watched my feelings. It took awhile just to observe. Mm... interesting..
All good intentions will attract the good results. (Law of Attraction) Thank you Whynot for rolling this forum. Have a strong intuition that this will help and touch many .
In fact i tried to enter the web -Power of Now but couldnt go in - The link appears to be broken. Coming back to this blog, was thinking of trying to persuade Whynot again, but he/she has agreed. Thank you .....meeli
Hi Meeli,
I sense you are into vipassana meditation. You mentioned consistently about watching one's sensations. Such mind concentration is centering and grounding into the reality of the moment - the eternal Now and in so doing, heightened our higher consciousness. This is good 'meditation' in itself.
Pls tell me a little more about yourself and your meditation. Your 'secrets' are safe here with all of us because we only operate under a pseudonym - is it really safe? haha!
OK OK, to be fair, I cultivate vipassana meditation myself. Meantime, having a mental block as I could not go beyond bangayana [spelling]. Been as far a first jhana only I think, if not lost somewhere in nimitta. Can you help?
Hi All,
I feel provocative at the moment and would like to throw another spanner in the works before I head for slumberland.
INFECTION: Avoid the Unhappy and the Unlucky.
You can die from someone else's misery - emotional states are as infectious as diseases. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.
Recognise the fortunate so that you may choose their company, and the unfortunate so that you may avoid them. Misfortune is usually the crime of folly, and among those who suffer from it there is no malady more contagious: Never open your door to the least of misfortunes, for, if you do, many others will follow in its train..... Do not die of another's misery.
[So much of me being a simple person. And what has compassion has to do with above?].
Good nights, Folks.
Yours wickedly,
whynot.
Good evening, i was given to know about this site where anybody who wants to share their knowledge can log in and voice up.
This is about sharing, a form of dana [pali word for charity] where we share our knowledge without borders and restrictions.
In every aspect of dana, it is the initial mind state where one overcomes one's own selfishness.
Let me share this hands-on found information about cancer. In my opinion, cancer is a disease of the mind. It is where the stress level exceeds the limit the body or mind can take. When i mention stress, i am taken to include anger, envy, hatred, jealousy, unsatisfactoriness, resentment, unwholesome actions, unskillful actions, negative volitional thoughts and all that stuff. It also includes all thoughts that arises in the mind that one thinks the world is pointing a knive at them.
Such negative thoughts create unhealthy cells in the body viz allowing the mind to think that all the worldlings are against them; and in the midst they have to retaliate back or reciprocate that negative thought.
Such resentment can heighten the level of cells in the body turn against the body.
Dana is the best form of curing cancer! We can allow our mind to think positive, throwing away all unwholesome and unskillful negative thoughts. One can practise the bliss of letting go off all these resentment. One can practise the act of forgivingness -- forgiving whoever causes our mental suffering. One can inhale or take a deep breath of fresh air in the early hours of the morning and exhale or flush out all the unwholesome and unskillful thoughts in the mind. Do it in an environment fill with lush greeneries.
Do this repeatedly every day and you will find yourself recharged after a week. WHY? because you are inhaling large amount of oxygen and flushing out all the toxic air, carbon dioxide and #&*@% in your body.
REMEMBER, the lack of oxygen in the body is the culprit for cancer cells to arise. How can you know whether you have enough oxygen in your body? There are some tell tales signs like breathelessness after a few minutes of brisk walking: a simple cut on your skin causes the blood to flow non-stop which means that your oxygen in your blood is low; when you wake up from bed you feel a certain numbness in your head; and perhaps you feel breatheless for no reason.
Well, oxygen is our 'lifeblood'. Too much toxins in the blood causes the above tell tale signs. it could end up cancerous or some diseases will set in inside the body when your immune is low.
I always believe that a good immune system inside the body is not sufficient. It should also include a good inhalation of oxygen [is free of charge if you know where to get it], an affordable nutrition programme [one that is cellular in nature] and an excellent disposal system [dispose toxins using an effective antioxidant, regenerative tea and metabolism booster]
Most of us have unusual constipation problems. This is very dangerous and can put you on the track to a terminal disease such as cancer.
well, i am not a doctor but have good hands-on experience helping cancer inflicted friends. some of them have recovered and some of them have prolonged their life slightly longer but nevertheless pass off painlessly.
that is so much for the time being. good nite.
freeofcharge
TELL YOURSELF .....
Out there in the world, there is nothing for us to take but there is something in us to give.
REMEMBER, forgiveness is for ourselves not others.
... there is something in us to give, yes, pledge and donate your organs to save a life of a fellow being. this is the highest act of dana, too.
re: Eckhart Tolle Teachings (Power of Now)
Hi Community,
To those of you interested in attending E Tolle's 'Silent Local Group' session where you meet, meditate of a little while, then listen to or watch his audio or visual recording, meditate again then depart, there is a group in KL. Contact S Rmamkrishna at: srebliss@yahoo.com or his work email at: sredharan.ramakrishna@exxonmobil.com.
For other groups on file, go to: http://www.eckharttolle.com/eckharttolle-groups and look it up.
Here is hoping this little feedback helps.
With metta
Whynot
Whynot dear, whether it is vipasana or cittanupasana i am practising at this moment, i am not sure. Perhaps i have combined both.
I must say congratualations to you Whynot, if you have reached 1st. Jhana. Good to further your practise cos once a person reached 1st. jhana, 2nd & 3rd jhana is not too far away. If you have the insight of the 3 universal characteristics you can be sure you have attain the 1st. stage of saintood - sotapana.
I have not reached any jhana yet. From a book reference, those who had reached 1st.Jhana: Lust, Ill-will , Sloth & torpor have vanished, so too is your speech.
Many sotapana, wants to be by themselves (initially) as they look at the society as "mad, defiled, hopeless,uncurable,etc." As time pass by, they will over come their mental thoughts/understanding when further wisdom arise. They will come out to the society again. Upon meeting with friends some may comment that he/she has changed, "such a snobbish character...." But its just one of the stage a sotapana experience.
If all dhamma teachers keep to themselves then how are they going to help those who need nurturing, knowledge enrichment or even development?? What a waste.....
Its only through one's experience, one can give a better understanding of knowledge sharing and explaination to others.
Having some basic Dhamma knowledge & when i read the book "Power of Now", i feel very happy as E. Tolle has explained it well to my understanding. I have a clearer picture of the word "Religion", and also how my "monkey" mind works. Hopefully i can progress from here.
Blogger He said: "..forgiveness is for ourselves..." I learnt that if within us is this little culprit/guilt (we are not good enough,we are bad... etc...) which we dont forgive, or let go, it is difficult for us to move ahead.
Its like; there is a cup with some stale or cold tea, which we have to empty, before new fresh or even hot tea can be poured in (to its maximum). Enjoy drinking the hot tea....
If we can forgive ourselves, its not too difficult for us to forgive others. We are the same.
Its the same understanding that free us, and our hearts will be touched.
If i have given a wrong interpretation of jhana or wrong explaination, those who have a better knowledge in Dhamma, or through your experiences, please correct me cos i too want to learn. We are all learning from each other. ....meeli
hi all
those who have reached some form of jhana, think that they have and start to interpret what they have achieved. in my opinion, that is not so.
those who have attained jhana do not know that they have. only a third party will know and acknowledge that that person has attained. well, i would presume that a person who attains jhana will not mixed with us, worldlings, as they have a celestial attainment which is so refine in character, thoughts and even 'rupa'.
these people [who have attained jhana[s]] might even contemplate whether they want to mix with us, lest they are mistook for some 'cracko', 'nerd' or 'nincompoop' talking rubbish [words of wisdom which we might mistook for nonsense because we are not true to ourselves and our senses wants to listen to 'rubbbish' rather than wise words. kindly acknowledge that wisdom are words that prick our very inner feelings because our inner feelings are very very defiled. those who are not defile will always feel happy when such prickly words are spoken]
see, if you are at the threshold of attaining jhana, you are actually at the doorsteps of attaining. and i mean you can even agitate whether that is jhana or not - whether to enter or not to enter. however, those who have attained will just take it as 'let jhana be it', i know that is jhana but i will not attach to that jhana. i will just let jhana be it and move on. then, jhana will move from first level to the next level and the next level and the next level and so on and so on.
by the time he realised it that he has gone through those fleeting moments of non-attachment ... he might end up being a sotapanna. and if he is still not attach to that state and keeps on moving, the next thing he knows is 'he is the knowing one, the all knowing one' and then, with a 'pop' in the mind, he has achieve a state of knowing that there is no-knowing neither there is knowing. that is, perhaps, arahant. by then, that person might not acknowledge that there is such a thing call 'world'! he will just pass off and bye bye to all of us here, scribbling and thinking and trying to know what jhana is all about.
happy meditating
Hi Meeli,
Yes, I agree with you wholly. It is indeed a great shame that the dhamma teachers will not tell you much about jhanas as they deem is a personal journey. I suspect they themselves have not experienced it and therefore does not know. When I first went into nimitta (unknowingly and totally unprepared) it scared the living sh*t out of me! I lost my breath few times and rushed back to wakefulness in panic. All the teacher say to to me was "...is only annica" and not to be worry about it. Later, I lost all my 5 senses and went deeper into 1st jhanas and pulled myself back to reality trembling with fear! Still they will not explain to me my strange experience. Even to the sanghas, one can only ask a dying sangha in his/her last moment has s/he attained the jhanas and to what level. Why must this be so guarded? This is no such big enigma anyway!
My problem now is I'm stuck and cannot go back in. Tried not to expect it for some 4 years now, still does not work. I've no one to turn to for guidance at this point in time. Searching for a mentor/sangha teacher to guide me.
Truth is, I am not seeking anything special. And I don't really care about what you referred to as sotapana experiences. I just want to be simple and earthy, just being me. I enjoyed the nimittas and the jhana experiences because it was a phenominal experience/journey and something very profound. You get to visit your True Mind which is infinite, crystal clear and bright. No two person's experience are the same, I was told, so is very difficult to explain. It is something to be experienced. The closest I can relate to is like dying and crossing over to the other side and coming back to account for it. My mother once died, then came back later and what she accounted was identical to my experience. So I now understood it in this way. My bestman died on the table (at surgery, crossed over and was zapped back to life. His account, though a little different, was largely similar too.
Yes, E Tolle explained issues rather well in his book, that was why I recommended this read. OK, he is not perfect and out profiteering, but is the essence of his teaching we want to learn. Please at no time look to him like God! His words and teaching are not original.
re: monkey mind... would you like to really tame it? QED only lah. In fact, is far easier to tame the monkey mind than the coarse sensations - Mr Pain! Here is how I did it. Give no importance to the monkey mind, total focus on the pain when in deep meditation. Just DO NOT move no matter what happened, even if your bones break! Suddenly you experience 'bungayana [spelling] which it total dissolution of all pain and the other 4 senses/sensations, absolute tranquility sets in - nibbanic peace. If you can hold this long enough, you slip into nimitta then into jhana. That was the most beautiful experience and was so pure and bright, words cannot describe it. You get to know your True Mind and is mind blowing.
OK. I've shared with you very briefly my experience. Is no big secret anyway and no big deal either. Can anyone else also share yours too?
Yeah... there is wisdom in what 'he' said. But that is a different story to our discussion in here.
Hello He,
Just read your posting. It must have come in while I was writing away.
Your point of views sounded rather Tibetan to me, I mean your orientation in your practice.
And yes, what you wrote was very much what I have read too. The arahant, non-returner, winning stream stages, etc. Gee... it has been so long ago I read about it I can't even remember now.
Nowadays, I meditate because I can escape into my own mind, be at peace with myself and my environment and Mother Nature.
Wait for me, you have gone so far. Still stuck with book. Page 22 "You can then allow the emotion to be there without being controlled by it. You no longer are the emotion; you are the watcher, the observing presence."
....but i still want to give my opinion! Am i still controlled by my "ego self" ?? Anyone? ..
....kopi o
Hi Kopi O,
Yes! You are, like all of us! LoL. Only difference between you and I is that you are addicted to your caffein in your black kopi while I can let it be. hehe!
What E Tolle is trying to say is to be totally detached - becoming the watcher. Learn to observe objectively, uninvolved, unquestioningly, with no thoughts, no feelings, no enmotions, just watch and panna (wisdom of insight) will come to you. In another word, be equanimous. During and while in meditation, you can literally feel yourself stepped outside of your own body and becoming the watcher just observing objectively. Is an OBE experience! (Not 'Order of the British Empire' but "Out of Body Experience").
Got it now? Because you want to comment or give your opinion, your ego is still in play.
hi trailers
jhana or no jhana, nimita or no nimita. all these are only the manifestation of the five senses, which in turn put it into the mind [just like putting words into somebody's mouth]
the mind is the forerunner of all things. on that basis it runs wild if left uncheck. it runs up to being egoistic, if the five senses go uncheck, feeding the mind with unskillful thought, unwholesome thoughts.
if we can forgive our long accumulated knowledge of the dhamma, let it stacked on the shelves of our mind, put it frozen in one sphere in our mind, shut the doors and leave our mind open. really open as in thinking out of the box. well you can say that you go back to square one. yes, start everything again.
wow, you must be crazy asking me to do that!
see, those words are 'self', the attachment of this rupa called body and its five senses thus arising –– one has thus read, thus understood, thus contemplated, thus pondered, thus '?', thus '!', thus '#' and this and that and, perhaps, not so 'thus realised'.
if we can just leave what we have learnt aside and just watch our mind within us, perhaps watch our citta.
just plain watching just like you're are watching a movie. but this time round, you watch that 'movie' not because you are drawned to watch it, not because you want to watch it, not because somebody told you that you must watch, not because ??????? you have a reason to watch BUT you watch it just to kill time.
aaaaah, you watch it for no reason, you watch it just because you just want to kill the time, you watch it just to fill the space. you watch it just to see those fleeting moments pass away.
now, when you watch that movie, you do see but not seeing? you do hear but not hearing? you do feel but not feeling? you do speak but words could not come out of your mouth? you smell but there is nothingness in the smelling. hark! you think you are crazy. but you are not.
you are simply present there, feeling that the body is present there, your mind is there, but your mind refuses to acknowledge what the five senses have captured.
aaah, that is just part of practising non-attachment [if your mind is aware of the surrounding and presence], if you can do that, you can practically tame your mind to do thus, not controlling your mind not to acknowledge.
it comes natural. quite like this. if you persistently go about doing it, it will come to one point where all worldly attachments cannot penetrate your mind.
then you will ask? am i insane to do that? No, you are not insane. at that stage your mind will not be attached to external things but will turn to the internal things, that is this fathom body of ours called the 'body'.
when your focus is on this body, the mind will explore what this body is all about? the hair, the skin, the bones, the limbs, everthing.
after all this exploration, the mind will tend to question itself -- all this constituents of this thing called body cannot exist without the mind and subsequently the five senses that feeds the mind.
at this juncture the mind will then be taken aback! 'mind' i know you are the forerunner of all conditions, volitional and intentional. i know that you are here, devoid of attachment to the world outside this body, devoid of attachment to this body, recognising that the mind is the owner of this body.
the mind will then recognise that this body need to live, need to exist, need to survive; what then is this body? this body is all about nutrition and water that keeps it in a state of 'alive'
having understood that, the mind will then recognised that if this body were to come to a standstill -- a sudden blankness might arise in the mind --- nothingness -- what is the use of attaching to this body -- what is keeping this body alive?
at this juncture, the only thing that the mind is aware is the breath that moves in and out of this body. it sees the air thus coming in and the air thus going out, the air thus going in and the air thus going out, etc, etc, etc.
to be continued in a second . . . .
back again this second . . . .
now the mind recognises that phenomena -- what phenomena is that? hmmmmmmn, it cannot be described here.
why not you try it. why not you give yourself a try. maybe you will find an answer to it. maybe you might not.
if you 'might not find it' -- then you can blame yourself that 'fear' has arisen along the way. i want this body, i do not want it to die, i do not know where i want to be if i die, i do not know what it is like to be nothingness, etc, etc.
do not ask me how, why, what to do. the only thing that is present in that state it calmness. there should not be fear in calmness. if there is fear in calmness, most probably you are still attach to this world of noise, the sound of birds chirping, the sound of your fingers tapping hard on the keyboard, the sound of the air conditioning humming in the room, the terrible heat from the sun causing the roofing to crack abruptly, the whizzzing of the spinning harddisk on your laptop or computer. . . ..
suddenly, the ring from the alarm clock broke the almost silence in your room. you 'wake up' to a state of sudden shock from the ring. either you acknowledge that you are aware of that alarm clock ringing and that you are not shock. congratulations, your mind is aware of the surroundings even if it goes exploring the depths of this body.
if you come out of a sudden shock and get agitated or angered by that stupid clock -- well, go back and practise more, keep on trying. your mind is not at peace and not mindful of your existence.
better luck next time.
you have the right not to accept my opinion, my thoughts, my explanation, my everything! you have the right to disagreeeeeeee.
have a nice weekend ahead.
hi whynot
as long as we have this body and mind, nama rupa, we have to accept the nature of this existence.
the all-knowing one did not erase this universal truth that there is this body, there is this mind, there are all those defilements in all those beings out there chasing after this world. the more they chase, the more the world chase after them.
the all-knowing one stood steadfast and with his right palm raised, STOP! all that arises in this world arises because of these five fingers of mine raised here --- the five senses!
and that all these five senses needs to be checked and hold back by the doctrine i professed, panca silas, the five precepts.
only by stopping these five's can you walk the path in peace as you can see from the picture of the all-knowing one walking with its five fingers [palm] pointing to the ground. the all-knowing one has calmed the five's. HE has put to rest the five's
are we prepared to keep the fives? ha ha ha, someone out there will tell you that i can keep and restrain the fives on might right hand BUT not on my left hand.
ha ha ha ha ha
there are a few bloggers who mentioned 'i try to avoid this and that'.
would suggest that they don't avoid it. you can avoid it now, but it will still come back and you are going to avoid it again. how many times are you going to do that? it is not going to end ---- eh, it is coming again, i have to avoid it!
in the conscious mind, the problem is not solved. it is still lingering in the mind, the root of avoiding is still there. the sight [that is the eyes] will tell you --- eeeh, it is coming back again, and your mind will say 'avoid it' again and again, year in and year out!
on the other hand, suggest you go through it, but this time you open up your mind and acknowledge it, greet it and UNDERSTAND IT. while you UNDERSTAND IT, you REALISE that this is the problem and i am not attaching to it, i know it is 'you' and will acknowledge it is 'you' BUT i will not attach to you. you are not in me and you are not me.
you can call that wisdom! [i could be wrong, i could be bluffing you!]
aaah, the mind has overcome that situation and the next time it comes, i will just acknowledge it that this is the nature of things, i will pass by you and you will never be inside me, i will walk pass you and bye bye.
bye bye
Kopi O chi au... (1 cup coffe please...)
Dhamma is deep and profound. For a beginner we start with the very basic - keeping the 5 precepts.
These act as a guage to our conduct or moral. And is very important.
As we move on there is the deeper interpretation of the 5 precepts (refined)- perhaps someone can take the oppotunity to explain it for the benefit of others too.
In other words there are many stages one has to climb up to reach the top of hill. (Nibbana)
So just as you put forth your question, what Whynot & He explained is very deep. If you are able to understand their explaination is very good. However, if you are still new to Dhamma, let me explain as easy as ABC
Once you can be aware of your negative emotion arising, (which is a sign of improvement in your mindfulness)You acknowledge it. Being able to accept it, your mind is less agitated. Whatever the next action you take or words used, eventually the tone of your voice will be more pleasing; rather than being caught with your rising voice,shouting... bla...bla....etc..
Maybe the ego is still there, (which made you wanting to express your thoughts) but being aware of it, made the ego smaller.
We learn as we go, putting effort in our awareness daily. Gradually, the ego becomes smaller and smaller ...
If i am not mistaken only arahants have completely shed their ego.
Anagami, Sakagami, or Sotapan
(3rd, 2nd & 1st. stage of sainthood) still have ego in them, but very much reduced compare to the unenlighten beings, like us .
Dont worry kopi o, we are all learning to develop ourselves spiritually. A child will fall many times before he can walk steadily, by himself
We are here to give each other the support .
.......good night...
What if we put on our thinking caps and discuss the 5 precepts in our daily lives. We tend to learn more throught discussion. ...
tic tac
Hi Tic Tac,
Essentially is like the 10 Commandments which is directive with the 'Thou shall NOT...' Here is asking you more realistically to 'Refrain from....'. Personally, I think it is quite clear and self explainatory, really.
Here below is the 8 Verses for you (and others) to share/benefit from:
The Eight Verses
Verse I
With the determination to accomplish,
The highest welfare for all sentient beings,
Who excel even the wish-granting gem,
May I at all times hold them dear.
Verse II
Whenever I associate with someone,
May I think myself the lowest amongst all,
And hold the other supreme,
In the depth of my heart.
Verse III
In all actions may I search my mind,
And as soon as Klesha or delusion arises,
Endangering myself and others,
May I firmly face and avert it.
Verse IV
When I see beings of wicked nature,
Pressed by violent sin and affliction,
May I hold these rare ones dear,
As if I had found a precious treasure.
Verse V
When others out of envy treat me badly
With abuse, slander and the like,
May I suffer the defeat,
And offer the victory to others.
Verse VI
If someone whom I have benefited
With great hope hurts me very badly,
May I behold him
As my supreme Guru.
Verse VII
May I directly and indirectly
Offer benefit and happiness to all my mothers,
May I secretly take upon myself,
The harm and suffering of the mothers.
Verse VIII
May all this remain undefiled by the stains,
Keeping in view the Eight wordly principles,
May I, by perceiving all dharmas as illusive,
Unattached be delivered from bondage, samsara.
I think our danger here is not to fall into joss-stick Buddhism. Many lay people due to ignorance or whatever, just have blind faith! And it is just as dangerous having a little knowledge and started preaching!
Here I go again, kicking off another topic for discussions!
whynot.
Hello He,
Sorry could not respond to you earlier, being pressed for time.
Anyway, Mr He, aiyaya, why you so long winded and academic in your attempt to explain? What you wrote seems to me to appear out of some pages of a book/chapter. When your nose itch, why try to scratch it with your arm around the back of the neck? Kinda difficult, isn't it? We are lay people here attempting to understand via discussions and sharing of points of view; such heavy material you wrote are meant for theosophical students, novice monks/nuns and sanghas. Try to keep it simple would benefit our larger community, don't you think so again? Let's show some humility so others can beneift from our input, boleh kah?
Cheers
Whynot
re: KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)
Salutation to you Meeli for explaining some points in discussion in simple 'ABC' form. You've done well and with convictions. Hip hip hooray!
Perhaps, in response to Tic Tac's request to discuss the 5 precepts, here is it again in perspective and summary:
Essentially, one should try to cultivate this 3 Trainings:
Sila (morality),
Samadhi (Concentration and mastery of the mind) &
Panna (Wisdom, insight that purifies the mind).
The primary Sila is the 5 Percepts of:
- abstain from killing any being,
- abstain from stealing,
- abstain from sexual misconduct,
- abstain from wrong speech,
- abstain from all intoxicants.
The 3 Kinds of Wisdom we seek are:
- wisdom gained by listening to others
- intellectual, analytical understanding
-wisdom based on direct personal experience.
The Noble Eightfold Path to cultivate are:
- right speech
- right action
- right livelihood
- right effort
- right awareness
- right concentration
- right thought
- right understanding.
Well, well, well, I think above is simple enough and self explanatory. Of course the community can discuss at length till we turn blue in the face and perhaps more confused but remember, words are only words in itself. Need to walk the walk.
May you all be happy, peaceful and liberated.
With metta & upekkha
whynot :-)
hi whynot
ooops, sorry if you find those hard to swallow. well those writing comes to mind as the questions start to go deeper. thank you for the compliments.
talking about precepts, it is probably a good topic to discuss.
before we go into that, the concept of buddhism can be summarised into 3 simple lovely words which everyone of us can put into practise with an open heart. no rituals, no rites, no joss-sticks, no joss paper, no cleansing, no mambo-jambo, no fear, no, no, no and the list goes on.
the 3 simple words are
1. Dana or an act of sharing or simply charity
2. Sila or morality
3. Bhavana or mental cultivation.
dana is simply giving what is hard to give, be it tangible or intangible. how many of us can practise dana in a different perspective, away from just offering of alms to the monks. dana is a very big lettered word.
dana also encompasses this moment now. as i write and share with all bloggers out there, dana is performed. time is shared here. space is shared here. knowledge is shared here. if the blogger does not have a charitable heart, he or she will not be here sharing time, space and knowledge. he or she would not be here sacrificing his or her time sitting in front of the computer sharing the space, as in space in this cyberspace, and the knowledge one has accumulated.
this is dana.
on another form of dana, the offering of service is also a noble deed. as one walks along a road and sees a blind person [irrespective if that person is dark or fair, tall or short, male or female, good looking or handicapped] waiting to cross the road, one offers to guide the person to cross the road is a wholesome action of dana. one offers time and space and effort to perform that meritorious deed. it is not easy to do that. not many people can do that. i mean doing it with loving kindness [metta], doing it with compassion [karuna], doing it with appreciative joy or sympathetic joy [mudita] and doing it with calmness or equanimity [upekkha].
aaah, these four mental states of metta, karuna, mudita and upekkha puts that person in a wholesome mental development and steadfast.
you have seen dana in this form. there is also another aspect of dana, the common dana of offering food to the monks.
with these four mental states, let us manage the dana for the monks.
performing dana needs certain mental understanding.
the first being volitional thought, that you want to offer food to the monk and in the midst share the merits thus accumulated to all beings, especialy beings born in the woeful states. one is performing that dana with respect, respect for the recipient [in this case is a monk].
the second being offering the dana with care -- putting an effort to check out what the recipient needs. it should be a necessity, needful, suitable and convenient.
thirdly, make sure it is of quality. should it be spicy, moderate and totally non spicy! should it be vegetarian, meat or seafood? should it be dry or soupy? whatever the decision, one should make sure that the food offered is conveniently consumed by the recipient. one can prepare it boneless, in neat 'eatable' sizes [not chunky pieces where the person has to struggle to eat it, tearing or biting the meat attached to the bones, etc]. one can prepare it from fresh resources, not those that you have left in the fridge for the last few weeks that you find of no use for it! and you want to offer to the monk! put in great effort to go to the market to get your ingredients.
there are instances where one will ask somebody to get the ingredients. along the way that somebody did not fulfil the needs and you get angry! see, it is better you do it mindfully with your very own effort to complete that volitional thought in the first instance.
to be continued . . . .
fourthly, after preparing the food, offer to the monks with your own hands, offer it with joy that you have come a long way to putting the volitional thought and effort to complete thus far. at the moment of offering, feel the joy within yourself that you are going to offer this 'masterpiece' to a holy one, who has renounced the world, who has opted to seek the truth founded by the all-knowning, enlightened one. at the moment of offering, keep your mental state as calm as possible. as you offer, the monk will say sadhu to you, an excellent effort. after you have remove your hands from the offering, will you say sadhu [excellent, that i have thus performed]. now in your mental state, share the merits thus accrued with all the beings of past that have passed away who needs these merits to reborn in a happy realm.
after completing all these four actions, the last thought in the mind is understanding. the intentions of doing dana has been performed and that the recipient has received it with happiness and his needs are well offered. this brief understanding brings to mind that one has a charitable heart, free from defilements, ill will, stinginess. one has performed it with the four states of mind in action.
such an action will attract good karma. rejoice in that effort and the 4 qualities of that dana performance are:
1. the performer will enjoy good health and long life
2. the performer will have a pleasant appearance
3. the performer will enjoy happiness
and
4. the performer will enjoy an abundance of energy to do more good.
that completes the dana of offering food to the monks.
well, give yourself some thought and see what dana can your perform other than the above.
like:
offering to take an accident victim to the hospital.
offering to sent a heart problem neighbour to the hospital instantly.
offering to help to perform good housekeeping for your parents.
tending to the needs of your parents.
seeing to the needs of love ones.
helping to clear the lallang at the temple grounds.
helping to be a voluteer at an old folks home.
and so on.
one small story of dana.
many a time, as parents, we promise our children of a meal, a whole hearty meal. we take the children to the restaurant and allow the children to have their choice of food. when the food finally arrived on the table in front of the child, the child feels happy, with saliva oozing in the mouth. the child then engage itself in the meal.
hark! the parents interfere in the meal and says to the child, i think you can't finish and i shall take a portion away? before the child knows, the food is taken away.
aaaah, that is hijacking the effort of performing a dana to the child. you have openly offered to treat your child for a hearty meal and along with it you have stopped short of that effort. give it some thought.
however, some might say that i know the child cannot finish the food, that is why i interfere. the best effort is to ask the child whether he or she can finish that portion. if he or she cannot, then teach them that before eating, take off that portion that you cannot finish and offer it to somebody, rather than offering leftovers to somebody. that effort is skillful and teaches yourself to perform a clean dana and also the child to practise dana.
dana, dana, dana.
will you be performing some form of dana in a short while?
have a nice day.
yep!
offer dana to those worthy of receiving.
yo ! i am new here. why everyone here think so deep one ? why people see things outside and not inside? the buddha see the world for quite long........ . but in the end buddha said seeing the world is running with the world. one go against the way will end up destroying oneself. at last one must come back to the one... the one is not the buddha or whoever up there but seeing your ownself. the one is the knowing one. angmoh say it is the soul, but not the soul. the inner body. who know's that u are alive ? who know's u are siting, eating etc. the mind ? the heart ! all wrong ! if it is the heart who knows the heart? if it is the mind then who know's the mind? it is the knowing one..... who is the knowing one ? it is the conciousness of one person. thats how the buddha know the future, the past the present, thanks to the knowing one. yesterday is history, tommorow is a gift now is the knowing.......
Kanok :D
Whoa! The last two postings by He and Hor are most interesting and thought provoking into the mundane and ultra-mundane.
And when I put both your names together, it became 'He Hor' (sounds of laughter). LoL! Solly, me being velly silly n cheeky & disrespectful. Plis forgive me.
Now jokes aside....
He: You wrote very well and with clear presentation. I understood you fully and I think I know where you are coming from. My question to you is, do you actually think of all these whenever you perform dana? If you do, would not there be lacking of pure mental volitions? It appears ego may comes into presence to assess and analyse each dana intentions before is performed. Well, whenever I perform a dana service, I did it with mindfulness and because I wanted to do it and never think of how I may benefit or accumulate good karma. And I never expect anything in return either. I did it because I just enjoyed giving/doing it or seeing/ making someone happy or comfortable. That's it and simple as that! Why do you have to analyse into such details? I'm confused.
And by the way, I do not find what you wrote "hard to swallow" - to quote you. Would you believe I understand perhaps more than you perceived? What I'm struggling to comprehend is why you write as if there is a motive. No need one lah! Keep it simple, keep it mindful, keep it pure and with good mental volition. :)
Hor: Alamak! Now you are confusing me even more. Who is the 'Knowing One'?? In Christianity, it is God the Creator. Buddhism does not think that way. So please enlightened me. Could the answer be one's Higher Self or OverSelf? Or is it our Higher Consciousness? You did hint the Eternal Now is the Knowing. I cannot grasp that fully yet. Please explain. Tks.
Okay, Folks, way past me bedtime. Need me beauty sleep to stay beautiful and young so my ego can be inflated. Nite, nite.
[Eh! I'm only kidding on my second last statement, OK? So please don't anyone of you write in and blast me. :). ahem!].
whynot.
hi whynot
'hard to swallow', eh, i mean the earlier deep stuff which you mentioned that it was extracted from a book? nope?
anyway, performing dana is good but we also need to understand the purpose of dana --to cultivate good karma and to support the sangha so that the sasana can be prolonged and that we can realise the sublime truth.
sadhu to your dana performance without expecting anything back. it is good. well, sharing the the 'effects' of performing dana is for the interest of newcomers who need some consolation when they ask themselves --- why should i perform dana?
mindfulness is definitely good in that it gives us a lot of 'leeway' or options, alternatives and choices.
many of those who could not grasp bhavana in the early stages of understanding buddhism can practise mindfulness.
what is mindfulness? we can practically practise in everyday. one very good example of mindfulness in our everyday life is the things we do practically everyday. have came across some people who can come home and simply leave their keys [be it house, car or motorbike] everywhere and anywhere. when they are about to go out, you can practically see 'yakkha' looking high and low for the keys. why say that they are 'yakkha' -- you can see the character changing, balls of fire being hurled around the house, screams everywhere shouting 'who took my keys', 'where the @#$%&# are my keys'
are those familiar around your surroundings? aaaah, if you are mindful these balls of fire will not exist.
on the other hand, this also apply to handbags, computer bags, shoes, slippers, clothings and practically anything.
it all starts at home. how many of us can mindfully place all things in their rightful places so that we can manage our lives better? do we need the 5S as preached by the japanese working habits? do we need to attend all those mind control programmes and pay the 'hell' of a price and follow up with a series?
do we need naggy spouses or parents to remind us to sort out our bad habits of haphazard placing?
all in all, buddhism has an excellent solution and that most people think that buddhism is very ritual and full of rites. NO, it is about our self, what this self is about, why this self?
see, mindfulness is a plus point which all buddhist must practise. look around in our daily routine, when we are mindful, we can go about having a very happy, easy going life. we know when to eat, when to play, when to sleep and when to meditate. YES mindfulness will put you in a very peaceful inner self when you are mindful?
MINDFULNESS -- it all begins at home, not at retreats, dhamma classes and seminars.
hi
all fired up?
mindfulness is definitely good in that it gives us a lot of 'leeway' or options, alternatives and choices.
when one is mindful, one will have a very clear sense of choice. just like you are trapped in a moment between doing dana and sharing dhamma with some friends. which would you choose.
the choice should be sharing dhamma with your friends. who knows, after listening to the sharing of dhamma, your friend might just pass away on the way home with a heart attack!
that is not a joke and had that experience in the past. i was happy that the sharing have, at least, put that friend pondering about dhamma and the teachings of the dhamma by the Buddha when the stroke struck him. he could be probably pondering the dhamma and did not feel the painful stroke?
now if i had been to the dana, i would have missed the good deed. at the dana, my mental state might not be that mindful, or perhaps, wandering aloof. BUT at the dhamma discussion, it is happiness to share dhamma and the bliss of sharing is all around you.
what say you?
choices are what we make of. one can choose, as the above stories tell.
mindfulness also offers leeways for us to act. just like you are walking along a path. suddenly you have that urge to keep left, and by that act, you have missed a tree branch falling over your head [on the right side of the path]. there, you say you are lucky. well, i would say that because you protect the dhamma, the dhamma protects you. the unseen beings, be it devas or earth bound spirits, are there to influence your thoughts, helping you to make that move because when you perform you dana, you have inevitably share merits with all being in and around you, seen and unseen.
or perhaps, you have shared merits with all beings residing in and around your home -- may they be well and happy.
see, that is the essence of performing a good deed. the westerns might just say, a good deed deserves another. or some might say, god loves those who are cheerful givers without asking anything in return.
the sublime dhamma is just so pleasing, so refine and perfect that there is not a moment that we can pass without acknowledging that the dhamma is around us.
mindfulness is just free of charge as taught by the Buddha. you need not pay a fee for attending the seminar. you need not fly to kuala lumpur or some remote city to attend the course. it is all here at your doorsteps.
it is sad that a lot of westerners have extracted clippings of the dhamma, rebrand it and take it as their own and market it as such and such a seminar.
heard of the 'the secret', the 'law of attraction' and all those best seller books.
the Buddha knew about all these and all we need to do is go indepth into HIS teachings.
mindfulness, it is well pass 10.30pm but when you are fired up to share dhamma, there is practically no such thing as time and space.
want some more chat?
hi whynot
My question to you is, do you actually think of all these whenever you perform dana? If you do, would not there be lacking of pure mental volitions? It appears ego may comes into presence to assess and analyse each dana intentions before is performed.
well, this might be true initially. but as the days pass by, as you perform more dana, those thoughts would just pass by in fleeting moments.
one friend once asked -- what is mindfulness and for that matter nibbana?
she was a medical student. asked her what are the duties of a doctor at the operation room. she could not answer. right! you have not graduated and have not gone into practise. it is just like understanding and have not realised the dhamma.
if you have graduated, even that you only understood the procedures, you need to realise it, perhaps after 5 years.
after 5 years, i will ask you -- 'is the operation painfull, how long will it take?' she might just at the spilt of a second say, it is all right and does not take more than an hour!
well, that is realisation. all those years of study and experiences of 10 years are dictated in just a split second!
see, mindfulness is just phenomena. you may take a long time to grasp initially, but the more you practise, the more it is second to nature.
every dana is a new experience if you know what dana is all about. a first dana, you might share the merits with your past departed relatives. the next could be shared with your colleagues of past who have pass away. and yet the next could be sharing with some pets that have passed away. the next could be those who have perished in an earthquake. the next could be sharing with those war torn residents, etc. etc.
see, the sharing goes from personal to your surroundings, to the country and nation to the whole world and then to the other realms.
pure mental volitions need not be pure after all. when you know about equanimity, it is the calmness of performing that deed, the bliss within that calmness is important. when that arise, ego is not there. it does not even exist because calmness overcomes everything.
DANA -- Done And Nicely Administered!
Hi Meeli,
A little request. Is there any possibility of you as webmaster number all postings? Makes cross referencing so much easier.
When the time comes and is happening now, it helps to say 'in response to posting no. xyz' or 'replying posting abc'.
Thanks Mee.
with metta n upekkha infinitum
whynot.
Selamat pagi He (& the wider community),
Thank you so much for your clear explanation of dana and mindfulness. I'm sure the greater community esp those new to Buddhism will get a better grip of it now. That's your good dana in this space. And may you take comfort in realising I appreciate it too. :))
One thing, mind you, that I've learnt over the years is to only tell the right story to the right person in the right way, at the right time and in the right context. I've also learnt not to bring up religion or say is about or from Buddhism/Buddhist teachings especially amongst foreigners (eg Christian, Muslim, etc)as the guarded ones will shut/put you down. I've lived in a foreign land long enough to realise this. A hard learned mindfulness lesson!
And finally, to answer your last question, He, in total honesty, I just do my dana as best I could in view of prevailing circumstances and as mindful as I can. [Too many legislatures restricts us]. So long as the purpose is served and the one receiving it is happy and safe, that's all to it. I do not second thought all those as per what you described. I do not look for rewards or think of my accumulating good karmas (in fact, I almost do not believe in it). I did it because I wanted to and take benefit seeing the receipents happy. However, I am also very mindful not to negatively reinforced them into dependencies and hence boost my ego. So perhaps like you, I'm more into empowering them into self sufficieny via teaching and self help. (I work with a voluntary organisation helping the intoxicated and the street kids). My 'religion' is kindness if you like and empowering them. That's all.
I'm into keeping it simple, lah. :))
whynot
ps. By all means, He, if you got the time, go on and continue to post for the benefit of all. I just hope the others just get involved more instead of us the only two yapping away! C'mon, where are you all?
Of late we have had too many heavy duty Buddhist and meditation discussions. Time to lightened up, Folks. Can I now enlightened you with a light hearted joke that even God enjoyed the good laugh? Here goes:
GOD ENJOYS A GOOD LAUGH!
There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:
1. He called everyone Brother
2. He liked Gospel
3. He didn't get a fair trial
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:
1. He went into His Father's business
2. He lived at home till he was 33 3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God
But then there were also 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:
1. He talked with His hands
2. He had wine with His meals
3. He used olive oil
But then again there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:
1. He never cut His hair
2. He walked around barefoot all the time
3. He started a new religion
But then there were yet another 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was an American Indian:
1. He was at peace with nature
2. He ate a lot of fish
3. He talked about the Great Spirit
But then again there exist 3 further equally good compelling arguments that Jesus was Irish:
1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.
But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 proofs that Jesus was a WOMAN:
1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was virtually no food
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it
3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was still work to do....
Can I get an AMEN! ??
Why not?
From Whynot. :))
Hello Bloggers,
I got some time to spare before I call it a night and log off. Perhaps for the benefit of those new to Buddhism, I will try to expand on an earlier topic about observing and keeping the Precepts.
Essentially what is Precepts? It is a behavioural code followed by Buddhists. They provide an ethical framework for a practitioner's life. Taking precepts involves making a commitment to the life of training, and is generally done in a formal ceremony. There are different levels of precepts, but the first level that people take is generally considered fundamental to the Buddhist lifestyle. These 5 precepts concern not taking life, not stealing or misappropriating property, not being sexually irresponsible, not speaking unwisely and not using intoxicants. There are higher levels of precepts that describe more spiritually commited lifestyles, but these vary in different traditions. Often they are elaborations, reflecting the spirit of the first five. Some higher precepts also involve renunciation of various things to which a person might feel attachment, such as luxurious surroundings, cosmetics, or even personal ownership of possessions.
Keeping precepts is a fundamental practice, both because in a broad sense the precepts define a life that is ethical and not harming to others, and also because precepts offer a benchmark against which a practitioner can develop awareness. As a person progresses in practice, they often become increasingly conscious of how they constantly fail in subtle ways in their attempts to keep the precepts. For instance, it is impossible to avoid being implicated in many acts of killing that happen in the world. We cannot walk across a field without treading on small creatures or eat a meal without knowing that some animal has probably died in its production, even if we are vegetarian. We cannot prevent mice getting caught in the big harvesting machines or insects falling into grain hoppers. Suffering is inevitable. The precepts thus become a means by which the practitioner both modifies his/her behaviour and increases sensitivity.
Although there is no reason why a person who is not living a Buddhist life choose to take Buddhist precepts, everyone's ethical behaviour conditions their mental states. Ethical questions are therefore very relevant to psychological growth.
The Buddhist precepts provide an ethical code that is not very different from the values most people hold. If a person lives in ways that go against such values, they are probably creating a lot of misery for themselves and others around them as a result.
Hope above helps you in your understanding in the process.
Good night.
Whynot
whynot have a joke!
in the realms of the learned, those philosophers and psychologist, they seems to be carrying a lot of burden on their shoulders -- pondering, after all these years, that they have had god guiding them all this while.
is there a god? hark, one philosopher once told me -- you and me are human, you and me can be gods too, you and me have discussed and shared all matters pertaining to the nama-rupa under the sun, under the moon and where else, but heaven?
the psychologist then said, between us, we knew much about the aspects of the mind and how it moulds our actions via the 5 senses. however, things we do not know. let us leave it to god!
of ancient, among man, many were dumb but somehow, somebody, some where, someone is smart. he was smart to make a fast move. this smart fella was too smart to outwit the dumb fellas and wanted the latter to obey him. however the dumb will not give in to his fancies [smartness]. in order to convince them to listen to him, the smart fella told the dumb fellas that between them anything they did not know is definitely known by somebody called 'god'. the dumb fella was convinced. the smart fella added that god doesn't want them to know how he acted and that is why he cannot be seen.
convinced, the dumb fella asked, where is he? the smart took advantage of the situation and start the ball rolling by saying that he only communicates with him and only when he comes, i [the smart fella] will tell him.
aaaah, see the logic.
did god created man or man created god?
good nite, god bless you have a good night sleep!
the 5 precepts is simple and yet so profound when expounded.
the first precept of abstaining from killing is easily grasped even for a simple beggar on the streets. but what is killing in a wider perspective? you see somebody with a gun, a knife, a bomb, anything that can take one's life away. well that is really simple.
now, let us go deeper. did we, at one time in the past, hated somebody? the hate is so strong that the volitional thought of hatred, even the consciouness is deeply rooted. not only that, the action of speech reinforces that point 'i hate that person' but you did not say it out and hoped to keep your fourth precept well! so you did not say it out BUT you are going to administer a silent attack on that person.
your silence can really cause the 'hated' to feel barred or even bored to death. aaah, you see here 'death'. well, in hokkien is 'keak see lang'
on another note, that person not only hated the person but, might even speak about the hatred to somebody. and that somebody decides to take action on behalf of his friend. so the later performs the killing and the 'hated' dies. see, instead of one person breaking the precept, another person is drawn into break the precept of killing by merely breaking the fourth precept of wrong speech.
see the point? killing is not necessarily one's own effort but one's speech, too.
now, if we take a look back at what are the deeds we have unknowingly done in the early years of our life, indirectly causing the death of a fellow human, it is better to repent.
abortion is also another aspect of killing. causing someone to commit suicide, too.
let us take one step backwards to see how the act of killing goes.
first, there is the volitional thought and consciousness of taking the life of a being. [the intention].
second, that you are consciously aware that the being is living, alive. [the object].
third, you speak of the act and performs the act of taking the live of that being. [the act].
fourth, at the point of performing the act, the being is alive. [the object].
fifth, the being's live is taken and is dead. [the act has resulted].
now, all the conditions of the above must apply and the result is death. the first precept is broken.
that is very simply explained. let us take one precept at a time. digest one properly and thoughtfully and then move on to another. any comments from anybody out there?
it is no use taking the precept but not being able to understand the uniqueness of this action of killing.
good nite.
every living being including those that are handicapped or retarded value their life.
the fact that we are called living being, we endured a silent code that each and every being values its life and wants to be alive.
no being, in its own right, has the right to take the life of another, just because one hated, deluded, envious, jealous, etc, etc. and that we cannot act on behalf of an external being that says that we can and have to take that life! nobody can act on behalf of god unless god himself!
however, a being that takes the life of another will likewise be sought after by another who wants to take his life. see, this is a vicious cycle and is called the ocean of samsara, killing one after another, then another, then another . . . . . there is no end.
all these killings arises from the three roots of evil, that is greed, hatred and delusion. and these three are the soldiers of a simple three lettered word called EGO. not only this, the first precept of killing is also influenced by the other precepts of stealing, sexual misconduct, wrong speech and self intoxification!
let me not go too fast. give yourself some thought. sigh! the first precept is the toughest to digest!
Selamat pagi He,
Thanks for your joke. "Bloody good one, mate!" Livens things/site up a little and is refreshing:)) Anymore?
Your poignant question in your joke is smimlar to the classic: Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?
The message we all can learn from your joke is this: That the 10% will always seek to control the 90%. Lead and not be led. Second in line is not good enough in the line up for if the first fella farts, the second fello cops it! Being last in the line and trailing so far behind, s/he looks back and seeing no one else behind him/her, thinks s/he must be first then! hahaha!
Cor.... you are a sick man, Whynot! Have a happy day, Folks!
Hi again He,
Thank you for your clarity in expanding on the Precepts. As profound and as insightful as you may write, as intellectual and academic as you may express it, as disecting and probing as you may delve into, the newcomers to Buddhism may find it all to perplexing to comprehend. Hence I believe in the simpler version of 'KISS' that all lay person can grasp. Even Siddharta when he was teaching, he taught differently to the different groups.
Now that I'm sucked into your vortex of discussion, I shall share my two bobs expanding on the story of Ego [Self Image] as a Condition. Hopefully, it can clarify further your good point.
Everyone has their story. The personal story is a particular expresion of the self-structure, closely related to self-image. It is a myth about how the current self has come into being. It may be also a myth about the person's present and future situations. The story of the self differs from the original lived experience in that it is always highly interpreted and selective. It is as if we take an assemblage of detials from our past history and embroider them into a picture in which we are the central player, cast in whatever role seems to best fit with our current identity. The self-story is a creative and dynamic process. As our current mentality changes, so too we write and rewrite our histories, becoming perhaps the victim on one occasion, the hero on another. Events and personalities become significant markers in the tale. A single interaction may symbolise a relationship. A single day may represent a summer. We pass the images before our mind eye's and are in turn affected be them. That which is recorded in our personal history becomes larger than life, pregnant with implications. All describes, and ultimately creates, the Self.
The self-story is a dialogue. It is the accumulation of images from which we construc personal meaning and thus insulate ourselves from potential unexpected dangers. By telling the tale, we rehearse our abilities to cope with adversity and to fall on our feet in difficult circumstances.
The self-story and other personal mythology create powerful conditions. Through the story, identity is created and maintained. This dictate how a person anticipate experiences, acts, and subsequently interprets those acitons. Becoming aware of the self-stories we are carrying allows us to review this situation. As we become more aware in this way, we may change the story or work to break free of its limiting aspects.
So our Ego is not necessary a bad thing. It can be the limiting precusor or an instrument of dynamic change. It's a choice we can make.
For those of you who like some black humour, here is something you can take up. It really works!
AMAZING SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES
1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.
2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.
3.. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.
4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.
5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.
6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.
7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM .
DAILY THOUGHT:
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS
Happy day. :)
Whynot
it looks like we are the only two chatterboxes. HE said WHYNOT the rest jump on board!
perhaps, they find it too deep to digest or they doubted the opinions. anyway, that is what blogging is about. discard what you do not believe or agree and accept those you do.
if you do agree, share with us your experiences and fairy tale. all of us learn our life lessons from our very own actions and could be very painful, bitter or even sweet. if we can learn from our fellow beings, i supposed it will lessen the blows!
REMEMBER, EXPERIENCE is the best teacher. it will tell you not to repeat a bad mistake. EXPERIENCE will also ask you to continue to do that if it brings lots of happiness to others and yourself!
BET ON IT, your tuition teacher or any other teacher CANNOT beat that EXPERIENCE!
your usual teacher could be so naggy and long-winded like me [at last i have put it on the blog and need not repeat verbally] and could get a heart attack if the blood boils up! aaaaah, who is the murderer?
think about the first precept and this could help pink panther [aka Inspector Jacques Clouseau] to solve backlogged mysteries! ha ha ha ha he he he he
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Hello He and All the Others,
HE is very right in his assessment and WHYNOT recognise same and is musing over why not YOU Others jump on board this happy ship?
HE: I think we should ease off on our heavy talks for a while so the Others can come in. May be is too deep for many to disgest too soon and we are going at supersonic speed that they cannot catch up. Hey, if you cannot catch up and is last in the queque, looking forward there is no one and looking behind there are no one too, so you must be .....??? lol. [had you been following closely our chats, you will be in the humour]. So what say you HE that we err on the lighter side of life first? "When living is uncertain, eat dessert first" I often say.
Cheers, pal.
Whynot
On the lighter side of life, tell me HE how you come to use such a handle and I'll tell you how I come to choose mine.
"Show me your water hole and I will show you mine" a quote from the
'Carry On' series - British comedy.
whynot
whynot, he he he he!
which aspect of the handle would you like to know?
he he he he
Whynot,
I am not the webmaster. This blog is only possible with my friend's help. Have forwarded msg. to her.
Sorry was very busy during the weekends.
Catch up with you guys later.
...meeli
Hello He,
Oh you're very funny. Perhaps the underside? hohoho!
I chose my handle 'Whynot' because I believe in indualism and generally most people tend to be opinionated. I've always challenged people's point of view so they may see the other side of the story. So why not use the name 'whynot'? Good eh?
Now I've disclosed my waterhole, you 'expose' yours! hahaha!
'Av a jolly good day, mate.
whynot
Thank you, Meeli.
Now we are all the wiser.
with metta n upekkha infinitum
whynot
Phew,
Between why not n he.....
both of you will start a storm....
Thnk goodness with the wkend rain,the weather has cooled.
cat meow meow
Hi Cat Meow Meow,
Storm? What storm? I ain't see no storm coming, just some unpredictable clouds and the ever changing wind directions.
Nah, we are only having a healthy does of heavy discussions. I can tell you where to buy your life insurance policy to keep up with our loads. haha!
Good of you to come on board. You have been quiet for a while. Do I suppose when your mating season heat is on, you'll be meowing away in the night with the calls of 'Mau' and 'ta'mau'. hohoho!
Please forgive me for being cheeky. Thank goodness we are invisible in cyberspace (here) or I'm a dead duck! Oops!
Whynot the stirrer (as Hungry Man thinks I am.) And where are you Mr Hungry Man? Why you no talk in here anymore? Hellooooooo.
he he he he!
hey, it sounds like one having a sinister smile or grin! ha ha ha ha
i am used to expounding norms and looking at the other side of coin, just like you. the choice of accepting or discarding is in my own hands. being soaked in a missionary school for thumpteen years, i was bombarded daily by the evangelist so much so the pastor was my class teacher for some years. the teacher was very patient but did not get to transform me. he even got a student to entice me to accept the creed. it was those wonderful years of challenging the norm that i polished up myself believing that no one can decide my destiny except my own actions!
well, well, well, he he he he, i saw every of the evangelist's move and non came close to my heart. you might ask why?
during the toddler age, i was not given in to friction. i did not like reading books because most of it is 'fake'. they planted fairy tales in your brains and lead you to believe there is paradise here and now or even beyond. it is just unbelievable. i saw children crying, i heard cats meowing during rainy seasons! i was struck frightened when dogs were biting and attacking each other [only in teenage that i knew they were on heat and that they could not control it or perhaps it was not within their control or choice].
i heard pots and pans flying in the early hours in the neighbourhood. what the @#$%&# is this? this is life, full of unsatisfactoriness. everyone tried to search for happiness externally but failed miserably.
but then, within my heart, there was so much peace amidst all those cling, clang out there. what is this peace that lingers inside? why i have to cry myself to sleep in the darkest hours to be awaken the next day to find that it is another day again. just like the movie, everyday is a Tuesday!
still, i can smile and laugh inside that peace is still here within me. he he he he. the choice is still mine.
laughter is the best medicine, afterall.
after my A levels, i happened to spend sometime at the biggest library. i came across a book, a bright yellowish book, short and stout on the shelves. it was half the height of most books and fairly 1.25 inch broad. i was standing there staring at the gutter of this 'brightly lit' book that says 'the light of asia. true to its words, it was the light on the shelves among those dull coloured books.
it seems that the rest of the books, thin and skinny were looking down at that stout fella and seems to be saying 'nobody wants you, you are such thick-headed that it takes years to finish reading!' he he he he. but they were wrong. i was amazed and decided to pick it up!
the name at the bottom of the gutter read Sir Edwin Arnold. i could see my mind running wild as to why a mat-salleh tells about the light of asia. why a westerner? i thought they could be better telling fairy tales and evangels.
a 'mad-sailor' talking about the Buddha, had reached the shores of asia. probably he was attracted to this beacon of light after days and days in the ocean of samasara!
ha ha ha ha.
this sailor is definitely better than james cook or for that matter raffles or francis light. the latter three did not see the light but found land that they thought was paradise away from home!
sir edwin arnold soon found paradise and knew life is so much better there! he he he he
so, what was the watering hole? did you see what was inside that hole? did the water in the hole tell you about your destiny that you are fated to blog here.
ha ha ha ha
he he he he
why not?
hey
while i was blogging, some beings were heated out there. he he he he meow meow, tak mahu.
anyway, ernest hemingway inspired me to write the way i want it to be, the style, the belief, the cup of tea the way you want it to be.
has anyone of you out there happen to know this romantic guy who was a pulitzer prize winner and a world war 1 veteran? forget his friction books like the old man and the sea.
he was short of landing on the shores of asia. instead he opted to abandon ship and landed in france. he thought the french ladies were romantic. he got himself in a lot of trouble with them. know what -- most monks disrobe because of women! hemingway was too fast to act, at least he should have consulted sir edwin arnold. Hemingway says, 'yes Sir'.
ha ha ha ha
read his personal biography -- the biography of ernest hemingway and you will like his love stories. aaaah, if you like his love stories, well, you could just be a busybody. but, if you love his style of writing, then you are somebody who could make people he he he he in the blog.
whynot
he he he he
Oops.... was watching a movie. 2 cowboys slinging their guns. "bang bang" ....
Wiser to keep to the side and stay away. At table i was enjoying my 'kopi o' and ordered 4 roti canai home. Paid for the 4 pcs.
Reaching home, opened the packet and instead of 4 there were 5 pc.
In my head, there were 2 selves -
Ordered 4 roti but was given 5 Left ear ringing - should i pay the extra? I was given!
On the right side, "pay, you will break your precepts"
Left ear - No need la, he is a mamak!
Which action do you think i choose?
oh...have to go out now will continue later..
...roti canai
Hello He,
Thank you for sharing your experience that made you a more enlightened person today. You can identify and see yourself and your good cultivations in 'The Eight Verses' I posted on the 11th July at 1255hrs. Every adversity, every challenge in our life is only a test. Pass it and one excel and go on to the next. Fail, is okay, just try again. Same story here, I too had major issues with the Catholic Church because I asked too many questions and challenged their norm. I was a lousy soldier to them, not obedient enough. We fell out of bed eventually due to lack of conformity. hehe - those were the days!
I also concur that seeking externally only yield illusions and delusions, you called it unsatisfactoriness. Look within and the truth is in there all along. That is the beauty of the dhamma.
Back to what I said earlier, in my youngsters days, I was brought up with joss-stick Buddhism and forced to pray to idols and the dead (Cheng Beng). All the beatings did not break my spirit, instead it drove me to Christianity. I went the full circle and now back to Buddhism in this later stage of my life, this time, the real thing! Who to thank? The mat-salleh and their writings. It was they who taught me via their books the dhamma. And if I dare say, the mat-salleh/angmoh seems to have a higher understanding of the dhamma!
re: the waterhole. Cor blimey... you are funny. Well, what I saw was my reflection firstly. Hey, that's the real me and that was the person I wanted to really know! Looking deeper and past me, I saw to the bottom of the waterhole,the clarity and the details in there! Those were the real truths. I was home. Now, Mr HE, I disclosed my waterhole locationa and how it saved my life, you still have not disclosed yours. C'mon, be a sport. And psst! my waterhole has no crystal ball in it, keep that secret!
Just don't you get distracted by the cats making all those racket outside. Is only their mating games they play. Let it be.
Good night.
Whynot
Hello Roti Canai,
Two weeks ago when we were camping, we made roti canai with lentil curry. All sat around and ate as it was made/cooked. That's life!
Are you sure you are not a tease? Wrote and ask for bloggers opinion to your course of action while you sneak out to be continued later. Was that 'sneaking out' a strategy to wait for feedback from others?
OK. I think you opted to accept your good fortune having received an extra piece. You was already home before you realised the extra. You have not done anything wrong or premeditated. So why the guilt and why the question? Perhaps the mamak did not even realised his mistake. This is real trivia and a waste of mental energies delving into the banal. When you truly understand the Precepts, you would not have had this vacillation.
Perhaps you should cross refer HE's explanation on his point/topic in discussion and my posting earlier today at 0855hrs for a more comprehensive understanding.
Anyone else has other opinions?
Cheers Mate & Good Night.
Whynot
whynot
buddhism in me was further enforced with sir edwin arnold's clear explanation of ehi-passiko. that topic put my feet cemented firmly on the buddha-dhamma and nothing else. there was no turning back and it was good sailing all those years.
one thing is very clear -- every act of dana without any volitional thought of expecting something back works wonders and 'miracles'. eh i do not believe in miracles but the type of miracles where karma returns back its favour of gratitude via a human being.
by this act, many people put their trust in me. i was given lots of leadership opportunities over the years. some were sincere BUT some were taking advantage [of me]. those who took advantage of me were dissapointed when i laid them by the roadside [so called jettison them!] so that i can continue my path without them.
they felt miserable but then i have no choice. associating with a fool will draw me into becoming one.
looking back, was that person a fool or i am a fool myself.
see, with the EGO camouflaging me, sometimes i might put on a disguise in doing good but inside me -- i might be real filthy! am i that person? am i a hypocrite? am i a reborn dr jekyll or mr hyde?
he he he he
if we can look within ourselves as we take each step forward, we can use the 5 precepts, the 4 noble truths, the 4 brahma viharas, the 4 foundation of mindfulness, the noble 8 foldpaths, the 10 paramis, the 10 wholesome actions, the 10 meritorious deeds, ecetera, ecetera, only then can we check our progress.
every check, there is a waterhole -- for me to bend over to look at myself. not only that, i can see the reflection of the skies behind my back. something is peeping over my shoulders! the heavens are watching me! well, if the progress is shameful, the reflections will remind me to steer back to the path. no detour, please!
these will constantly knock my head -- am i doing the right thing? as what the buddha taught!
as long as we have not renounced the world, the 5 senses shall and will go astray. astray? yes, i could here the cat meowing away into the night! [jokingly lah]
have you heard of ajahn tate? he once mentioned that our mind, the brains in our head is quite thick headed! more often than not, the heart will sway the decisions made by the mind. michael buble did mention in his album together with pussycat dolls!
he he he he
alamak, how to pull it back? if it is done at the expense of the mind, then we are in deep trouble. see, the heart can easily sway decisions. when the contract is signed, we have to honour it! alas, that is how the heart goes.
however, if the mind is smart and make friends with the heart --- ''heart, heart, heart, listen to me now, i want you to back me up. if you want this body, you better listen to me.'' the heart has no choice but to play by the rules.
only when the heart is united with the mind can you see the true nature of the dhamma as taught by the buddha.
and when these two entities are united, and when our mind can see the true nature of the mind thoughts that arises, only can we understand the concept of non-self!
sorry-lah, whynot. i think i have dived too deep and our mates could not catch up! better wait for them!
he he he he.
the waterhole is too deep, better wait for them.
whynot i take a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Roti canai,
I bet you didnt pay for the other piece. If my guess is right, tell me i will buy you another roti canai
....tic tac
Roti canai
are you pulling my legs. You got style roti canai..... waiting for response. Creative mind lo...
Neh....or are you trying to read our minds? Trying to be a stirer like Whynot. Lately HE has been commenting his piece too.
You paid for it didnt you? (my guess only....) ....ice cream
Gee...gee..gee....
What would you have done? ....
It took me 1 day to decide. To kill my guilt i went back to pay it. The owner looked puzzled as most would not have paid. Some called me stupid but i cleared my conscience.
Had i not tasted dhamma guess i would not have paid it.
The same incident happened in my teens, and i went off with it. Naughty me...Feeling the me is smart......
With dhamma now, i have to take the correct action. Realised the party 'Mamak' has nothing to do with me. Its just my excuse i have the third party to justify my action.
My teachers would be happy if they knew the correction action i took.
Their discusions/teachings have not gone to waste.
.....roti canai
Sadhu.....roti canai.
After paying it you sleep better that night?
Reading this blog, HE brought up very good points on Killing precept. I didnt realise it. So fine touch. Have to be careful with my speech.. No play play....
People try to put on a different self in temple, churches or mosque,- The "spritual self"
At home, @#..&*..!!. comes out.
its a good point to note. Be myself where ever i am. So familiar with families and unaware of this minor fact.
Thank you HE.....ice cream
Confusing...2 schools of thought.- puting asipration or without when doing dana. ??
Both also have their reasons. What have others got to say.??
Looks like have to experiment it and see the result. But sometimes, take a long time for result to happen. Will it then be too late?
....lemon
Here is an occasional 'What do you think?' series of article that may interest some readers. I'll try to post them whenever I receive them. Whynot.
Experiences To Savor
Magical Moments
Most of us are adept at seeing the big picture. Caught up in the hectic pace of modern life, we feel compelled to immediately distinguish what is important from what is not. The assessment is an easy one to make when we are mired in the daily grind—everything relating to success seems significant and everything else seems comparatively trivial. But what is most precious in this life cannot be measured in affluence or influence. The truly noteworthy events in our lives are often the least momentous yet the most wonderful. They are the magical moments in which we are simply awestruck by the wonderment of life. Though our perception of magical moments may be blocked by worldly concerns, our days are filled with such moments. To experience them fully, we need only open ourselves to their existence.
Magical moments are not measured by the composition of an experience but rather by our reaction to it. Since such moments come and go quickly, they should be consciously savored and noted. They stick with us only when we recognize the impact they have had on our mood, our day, and our lives. In such instances, we may find we are suddenly and blissfully aware that we have evolved or that those around us have changed in some positive way. We may stand in awe at the beauty of a familiar object or derive great pleasure from an everyday activity. Or we may witness incidents of supreme kindness and compassion that do not directly involve us yet touch our hearts intensely. Nature is a constant source of magical moments. When we cherish such occurrences, we condition ourselves to take note of them when they happen and appreciate the value they add to our lives.
An idea for increasing your awareness of the magical moments in your life is to record all such happenings in a journal kept for that purpose. As these moments are personal, your journal can be a documentation of small joys or a testimony of grand revelations. You may begin to notice that there is more magic in your life than you initially imagined. In striving to make the most of each of these magical moments, you grant yourself permission to experience new levels of joy, surprise, tenderness, and personal fulfillment.
What do you think?
Hi all
No play play.... listen to this conversation with Yama [you know who is it? its symbolic]
''Yama said: have you done any good deeds while you were a human? the newcomer shivers at the sight of yama and could not uttered a word. for one more time, yama asked whether the newcomer had done any good deeds as a human. the newcomer, still shivering, said i had a bad conscious thought for the monster in law. i yearn to kill her. i hated here so much so i did not even want to talk or greet her. i told my husband to quickly enter the room and ignore her. [come one, she is your husband's mother? walau-eh?] luckily for me, she died a few months later? yama, in a harsh choked voice said 'what?' in a loud resounding echo.''
many of us, often than not, think or presume that it is always monsters in law rather than mother in law. whatever it is, allow the other party, i mean mother in law or father in law, to prove their innocense rather than jumping into conclusion that they are monsters in law. if they are not, then it is your blessings. if they are really monsters, then be the monster slayer [ooops, i mean tamer!]. use your dhamma knowledge and tame the monster. only by using metta, karuna, mudita and upekkha that we can conquer the worst scenario.
as the teaching of metta prevails, it can create magical moments. moments of joy and beauty that is lasting, that we can still live in harmony. if it does not, let metta do the magical stint.
all of us can and are able to say metta to this and that person but never to ourselves. if we can allow ourselves to forgive ourselves, this world will be a happier place for you and me.
just like the movie about 'sleeping with the enemy'. we are actually sleeping with our enemies all our lives but not aware of it.
the minute we turn up at the doorsteps of this human realm, we are returning the favour or vipaka, of our past actions. everyone we meet, everyone on our kin's list has something for us to return the favour or collect the favour. or perhaps, return the burden or collect the burden.
in the truest sense of the word, as practising buddhist, be it returning or collecting, let us not create further karma by exercising our power of choice --- you must do that for me, you must clean up for me, you must pay me, you must marry me, you must and the list goes on. eeeh, that is really ego and that ego can create havoc in this very life, if you allow conditions to persists. learn how to let it go. take it easy, make it simple in your actions, do not burden anybody wherever possible. you will reduce the karmmic energy.
on the first precept, as explained earlier in a refined manner, we can now see a better picture of killing. and i am happy that most of the bloggers here are able to see the light, especially the one who can enjoy a nice fun filled ice cream! cheerio!
aaaah at least you have passed the first hurdle on the way to enlightenment. enlightenment is all about the ability to understand and realise our mistakes one by one, slowly but surely, persistently but definitely --- one day i will reach there.
bye bye
roti canai, at least you have left behind the burden of returning the money. notice what? you are able to walk peacefully and can even go back for the roti canai without fear or favour. maybe, your nice action in the past might prompt the canai mamak to give you preference on your order, perhaps, more eggs, perhaps with special attention or perhaps advertise your good intention. even that, do not attach to those words. acknowledge it that the dhamma has proven its worth. share that joyful moment with all beings you can think off.
wait for my next explanation of the 2nd precept of stealing. in the meantime, anyone out there wants to share any of their understanding of this precept.
i can see gee gee gee gee
he he he he
Hi HE,
Aiyoh and velly susah lah if you have to go through the checklist to ensure you've done the right thing. No need to cross all the 't's and dot all the 'i's one lah. Too many words and too many intellectualisation may ended up doing very little and more words instead. 'Just do it' like what Nike said. Just do it with good and pure mental volition in itself is wholesome enough I think. So long as no being is harmed and we are kind to all, is good enough by any measurement. I do charity work all the time and if I have to think of and check off the list of the 8 fold path and the paramis, etc. etc each time, nothing gets done, mate.
OOOOooo.... I will refrain from talking about the Ego for it is a BIG subject and many would perhaps switch over and surf something more interesting.
Sorry, I've not heard of Ajahn Tate but I do have Michael Buble's CD because I love his voice. I know of Ajahn Chan and Ajahn Brahm.
I don't like big and deep waterholes because I cannot swim! LoL!
re: Monster-in-law: Do you know there is actually a cactus plant named the 'Mother-in-Law Stool'?? It has long and very prickly spikes!
Have a good evening & a good night.
Whynot
Hello Whynot(and He),
I am here and I am still around. Been following both your discussions and He's. It does get a little too heavy for me usually. I am afraid I am not as learned as the two of you. If you can slow down and talk in more simpler terms, many more can understand and follow. I get very lost in what you both are talking about. But they are good though.
Thanks again.
Hungry Man
whynot
EGO is big business if you understand ENOUGH GOING OVERBOARD.
if you have been going overboard a bit, then you will know when is enough?
he he he he
wow, where on earth are you? at 5pm malaysia time, you are saying good nite. well, what time do you sleep? or perhaps i should ask, are you somewhere in the middle of the pacific ocean? or perhaps, gold coast. this is approximately the time you need to go to bed!
or one of those atolls in the pacific. wow, you do have wifi there to blog! are you staying in tree tops? running about naked holding your laptops positioning it so that you can connect to the satellite to blog and surf.
by the way, the waterhole there is real BIG, not only EGO! you need to take swimming lessons. ha ha ha ha
yo hoooo, i am just on the underside!
hungry man having mee and kopi-o, ice cream with lemon and roti canai, playing tic-tac-toe with the cat meowing. whynot?
ho ho ho ho, what a way to group up for a chat. ha ha ha ha he he he he [hope you are all not offended? apologies lah]
oooops, you need to read all to be able to understand what we are yakking about under the moonlight. can you see the moon in the evenings for the past few days at your place?
with the moonlighting, perhaps we are a bit lunatic. ha ha ha ha
we were just yakking from tree tops and middle of the ocean. the sway of the branches and the waves could have shaken a bit of our senses to go overboard. sorry lah for the deep trances [or trenches]
you can always throw us a line and we will pick up from where you drop off!
PS. a bit of humour is the best medicine for sane people like us. agree whynot? whynot join in the humourous side of life!
he he he he
Hi again HE (and Everyone else),
I particularly love the way you put us all together in your last posting. Here is my version for a laugh and some good clean fun:
Whynot Hungry man Tic-tac-toe around the meowing Cat and He Ice cream the Roti Canai with Lemon and Kopi O? That would make a sensational dish and a good arrgh! hahaha!
Hey, do we need them to throw us a life line, HE? Are we drowning yet? I can thread water till someone pulls the plug and drain off the water in the ocean. Then you all can walk over to visit me on the other side. I can only wait so long and need to go searching for my beauty sheep - err... I mean sleep. I ain't no Kiwi, you know?! hahaha!
Good guess, HE. You are very sharp. I'm not living in Tanah Melayu and you picked it up. If you recalled, I did mentioned I was away three weeks ago on our winter camping holiday and was hoping someone will pick it up but no one did - or at least no one asked me anyway, until now.
And may I asked where is your hideout/bunker? I don't even know where this Mitta Centre is? I know is in Malaysia but where? OK, OK, I was once a Penang boy. Fell foul with my former motherland (political reason)and abdicated for the UK. No regrets since.
Whynot the deserter? LoL!
whynot
thank you for the compliment, it is not sharp, simply mindful, mindful of the people around us, mindful of the time and replies.
i was a great follower of bertrand russell and read his biography for my A levels exam. he was probably one of the best philosopher of this century. maybe you should know him? if you don't then you are deep down in the pacific! ha ha ha ha
one of his best novels is WHY I AM NOT A CHRISTIAN which caused a stir worldwide. remember the one i mentioned about the smart fella and the dumbfounded lots. bertrand wrote on that topic and got famous over night. me too followed his footpath. i am very critical in my 12 years soaked in a methodist missionary school and why i am not a christian.
that nature moulded me to what i am today. i love expounding concepts of philosoply and psychology though i do not have a phd, master or bachelor's. the buddha dhamma gave me ample ground and knowledge for me to voice my mind thoughts.
eh whynot, i thought you were in dreamland zzzzzing away. how come you are back chatting.
cannot wait to read the blog-eh! funny-eh! why are you still hanging out here in malaysia via the blog? miss malaysia -eh, or are you looking for some fun, or are you missing on the roti chanai, kopi-o, lemon ice cream, cat meow meow, aaaaah, whatever.
i am hiding in a bunker, francis light left behind. you have to climb up here to feel the fresh air. ooops, ooo000h the deserter cannot come here.
by the time you read this, it will be good morning!
hehehehe
Hi Community,
The 45 lessons 90yo Regina Brett of Cleveland, Ohio wrote that Life had taught her:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God
never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one
is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you
did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,
we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
Perhaps many of us can learn from it too.
Whynot
Hi HE,
Yes, I've heard of Betrand Russell but must admit I've never read any of his books. [I've to do Julius Ceasar for my exam - how exciting!?]. Perhaps living in an island somewhere in the Pacific has something to do with it? We spend our days here idyllically Zzzzzing away our life watching sun rise and sun set and drinking moonshine under the moon. haha!
But be rest assured I do not have pot belly like the Islanders do because I do not take intoxicants. Down side here is, we do not have the light of Sir Francis to shine on us! We grope in the dark and shag sheep in the light! hahaha!
Sad me suffers from insomnia from too much a good life - a dis-ease of the mind! So at times to keep sane, I post in here at odd hours. And "NO" I do not miss M'sia a single bit. When I said goodbye to her few decades ago, till today I have had no regrets. My only regrets is missing the good food in Penang, the Pearl of the Orient! Two years ago, I chaperoned my ol'mother home to attend her sister's funeral in S'pore and we travelled by road all the way to Penang. I was 'depressed' over what I saw and experienced. My once lovely homeland I used to roam and play in as a kid when she was pristine and natural is now.... no comments!
The air quality over yonder paddock even up in Cameron Highlands, I'm afraid, is not that clean anymore. What has progress done, or more like what has the government done to it? Sad, very sad.
Sorry I could not post earlier. Been busy.
Cheers
whynot.
hi whynot
just out of curiosity, since you are out there in the pacific and under, have you been to vanuatu, new caledonia and solomon islands. these islands are very popular with penangites.
these islands are quite similar to penang in the early 18th century: unspoilt, unpolluted, an abundance of fresh air, perfect natural ventilation [provided the tsunamis don't come a visiting!] and beautiful sunshine.
have not been there but heard about it. got some friends migrated there. there are a handful who migrated to the bahamas and it is just beautiful, not only the weather but also the guitar-shaped beings! ha ha ha ha
can imagine you are zzzzinng under the swaying palms along those sunshine basked white sands of the atoll rims.
well, that is the life!
i can help you solve your insomnia if you can provide me with some information.
like, your career life, eating habits, members in the family, neighbourhood demographics and the longitude and latitude of your town.
oooops, am i asking too much! eh, sounds like i am one of those fbi, cia zooming on you. don't bother if you want to keep your identity.
anyway, the weather can cause some sleepless nights. in general, if the day's jobs is not completed to your heart's content, it can cause worriness and indirectly sleepless night because your sub conscious is still working behind your back [unknowingly, because you are not mindful] seeking a solution. if you can let go off that pressure, you can probably let go off the pressure on your mind!
it is not necessarily your workload, it could also not letting go off the days 'dreams', dreaming too much under the swaying palms in the midday sun! or perhaps moonshining into the wee hours of the morning. on the other hand, 2 or 3 days without sleep, i mean hardly any good sleep within 48 to 72 hours can cause months of insomnia.
i might not be a doctor but i have friends who are on those graveyard shifts in their early years of their career so much so they have to stay on the sleeping pills.
however, an elderly acupuncturist manage to cure them. a recent biotechnology research states that the excess stress level has penetrated the nervous system which may cause such problems. the obvious way is to detoxify and take some antioxidant, after which increse your body metabolic rhythm -- then you will feel that you have recharged and back to the life of a normal being!
if the problem persists, give me your email and i can give you a perfect solution. i do not wish to explain the long process here. it might bore some to stay away from this blog. he he he he
by the way, if any of you out there have a similar problem, whynot drop me your email!
aahhhh, this is dana -- sharing the experience without colours, borders and culture.
good night.
Hello HE,
Thank you so much for your kind concerns and good pointers n suggestions. They are not new to me. My insomnia problem has to do with taking kopi and chocolate. So have cut them down dramatically and helps a little. But my real problem is to do with RLS -'restless leg syndrome'. Google search for more info if you like. No known cure and of unknown aetiology. This cronic involuntary leg twitchings and crampings just when about to fall asleep stops me from sleeping and meditating! Whenever it hits, lucky to get some 2 to 3 hrs sleep per night. Few nights later, I crash out from exhaustion/fatigue and then back to square one again. Doctor can only prescribe sedatives and I only flush them down the toilet. Any solution(s)?
Vanuatu, Fiji, the Polynesian Islands and the others are still pristinely beautiful like you said and the locals are kind happy people. But very expensive to be there as tourists! These small islands are having rising ocean levels and sitting ducks of tsunamis. Thank goodness the current earthquake off NZ with fear of tsunami has been downgraded.
Sorry, got to go. Impt matters to attend to. Perhaps later....
whynot.
Hey, we are lucky to have Whynot (the western philosopher and He the Eastern philosopher) Like the Yin and Yang.
In Tao, there is the belief of yin and yang in elements (including our body) If balanced well, achieve the utmost benefit.
Like Tai chi, Qi Gong, etc...
While posting up our questions
their feed back / sharing, will enrich us with their view points. It is up to us to censor and polish what we need.
......tic tac
He,
My mother used to "potong" the ayam for festival celebration. She didnt know about the 1st. precept.
What would you suggest for her action done?
........moo
Whynot
What is the next book title you recomend for reading? 7 books to go...?
......kopi o
Halo halo..
If you were to ask your neighbour,
"What would give you peace of mind?" he might tell you,
"A vacation in Bermuda !" or
"An extra hundred grand would give me peace!", or
"A new Ferrari would make me content!"
But going places – and getting stuff – it is usually a temporary solution ...
Peace of mind rarely comes from getting more stuff.
Getting more stuff usually leads to wanting even more stuff!
Peace of mind starts with being grateful for what we have right now.
GRATITUDE is POWER
When we are thankful for what we have - for the friends we have, and for the things we've got, we attract more good people and good things!
People who always complain about what they DON'T HAVE, stay stuck. Complainers attract more things to complain about! It is a law of life. It's hard to explain, but you can observe it around you. We get more of what we dwell upon.
That's why all the spiritual masters have taught the same lesson ...
"Start by being thankful. Be happy with what you have now, and more will come your way."
It's practical advice.
Every time you say a silent "thank you" you become more peaceful – and more empowered.
Keep Sharing
July 16, 2009
Alive In Joy
Dispelling Drama
There are scores of people in the world who seem to be magnets for calamity. They live their lives jumping from one difficult to the next, surrounded by unstable individuals. Some believe themselves victims of fate and decry a universe they regard as malevolent. Others view their chaotic circumstances as just punishments for some failing within. Yet, in truth, neither group has been fated or consigned to suffer. They are likely unconsciously drawing drama into their lives, attracting catastrophe through their choices, attitudes, and patterns of thought. Drama, however disastrous, can be exciting and stimulating. But the thrill of pandemonium eventually begins to frustrate the soul and drain the energy of all who embrace it. To halt this process, we must understand the root of our drama addiction, be aware of our reactions, and be willing to accept that a serene, joyful life need not be a boring one.
Many people, so used to living in the dramatic world they create, feel uncomfortable when confronted with the prospect of a lifetime of peace and contentment. The drama in their lives serves multiple purposes. Upset causes excitement, prompting the body to manufacture adrenaline, which produces a pleasurable surge of energy. For those seeking affection in the form of sympathy, drama forms the basis of their identity as a victim. And when drama is familial, many people believe they can avoid abandonment by continuing to play a key role in the established family dynamic. The addiction to drama is fed by the intensity of the feelings evoked during bouts of conflict, periods of uncertainty, and upheaval.
Understanding where the subconscious need for drama stems from is the key to addressing it effectively. Journaling can help you transfer this need from your mind onto a benign piece of paper. After repeated writing sessions, your feelings regarding the mayhem, hurt feelings, and confusion often associated with drama become clear. When you confront your emotional response to drama and the purpose it serves in your life, you can reject it. Each time you consciously choose not to take part in dramatic situations or associate with dramatic people, you create space in your inner being that is filled with a calm and tranquil stillness and becomes an asset in your quest to lead a more centered life.
What do you think?
Hi Tic Tac,
Terima kaseh for your comment and kind thoughts but, hey, hey, hey, we are no philosophers! I think HE agrees with me too. We are only trying to share in here to help enlighten others along their journey.
Tic Tac, you are getting tic toc in here (meaning getting involved in posting n sharing) and please continue ticking and tocking away! The pendulum don't stop!
Cheers, mate
whynot
Hi,
My Xperience: The moment i couldn get confirmation of a certain flight. My heart pum...pum...pum..faster. I was agitated. I couldnt sit still.
Phoning / sms -ing, here & there wanting a quick reply from the agent.
Recalled a spiritual cd - "Flowering of the Mind" Took a deep breath, just kept watch.....
ah.. yes... notice this tiny energy swirling inside my heart. The more i think about it the stronger it gets. And i tend to put blames on others. The author calls it pain body feeding on the energy
I watched again. Its like this little "self" wanting something but cannot get it. Like a little child banging when not given the toy.
The deeper i watched, its not so bad. "THIS IS NOT ME, THIS IS NOT MYSELF, THIS IS NOT WHAT I AM." Just the little ego self wanting its way, like an aquarium with a gold fish splashing its tail splash..ing splash.ing ... .
The water is perturbed
Without reacting, i kept watching. Realised that i should just let it be. The Reality Is "the flight cannot be confirm" So..... why allow the misery me feeling restless?
Its not so bad afterall ... i had a good experience. I enjoy "Watching" the tiny me
This is what Buddhism teaches us to "Look Inside"
Anyone tried?
....meeli
Hello Kopi O,
They are 'The Ringing Cedar Series' and the first book is "Anastasia".
This is the Russian version of their Enlightened Spiritual Being who was discovered in the mid '90s. Anastasia came to save our world from heading into the brink of self destruction and disaster. She offers some real practical solutions like how to cure your own diseases using nature's help to child rearing, avoiding ecological disasters, love and heaps more. It is a book to be read with an open mind and pause to contemplate. It is not a novel.
Enjoy the series.
whynot
Hello 'Keep Sharing' - and I think you did not intend this as your ID. It would help if you have one, so much easier to direct replies to, etc. Just click on the 'Choose an Identiy' Name/URL below and insert your handle in the 'Name' box. Tks, buddy.
I could not agree with you any less. In my younger days, all I want was 'MORE'. Today, I realised the less 'baggage' I carry, the lighter my load and the happier I journey through life. Hence now I'm a simple person with a simple mind and a simple soul. I tried to keep things as simple as possible. Why complicate issues and creat more hassle for oneself?
This is also what Meeli who just posted is refering to. Why feed into this pain body (E Tolle explained it very well in his book) and give it more identity? Why allow it to control you when you should be in control?
re: silent thank you. Do you know I also say 'thank you' to my car for safely taking me from A to B each time? Even non being needs respect. By so doing, I learn to appreciate what I have more.
Cheers, mate.
Whynot
Hi again Tic Tac,
Further to what I wrote earlier in my reply to you, had another thought. I was reading your last paragraph again and this came to my mind: Bismark once said, "Fools say that they learn by experience. I prefer to profit by others' experiences." Hmmm... I wonder what Meeli has to say about this?
Well, we all know there is much to be known, life is short, and life is not life without knowledge. It is therefore an excellent device to acquire knowledge from everybody. Thus by the sweat of another's effort, you win the reputation of being the 'Man of the Moment.'
So, to sum up, you are telling us all to learn to use the knowledge of the past (from others) and you will look like a genius, even when you are really just a clever borrower? hahaha!
Hey, Mr Hungry Man, am I going to get a posting from you once again saying I'm a real stirrer? "Go on, Punk, make my day!" (Dirty Harry)
whynot - the stirrer!
moo -ooo-ooooo
before i feed the moo, let me interrupt by providing you on this news about Deepa Singh and then Kohinoor Singh, now Ani Lhosang Dolma. will not brief you on this person but it is better for all out there to read about this person. check it out on google search.
now i've got a cow in the studio! have to find a way out for this moo moo.
moo's mother used to "potong" the ayam for festival celebration. She didnt know about the 1st. precept. What would you suggest for her action done?
when i was young, i like to go to the market. there was this lady who has a brood of chicks for sale. my dad would then buy 5 chicks for me to 'play'. it was really fun seeing them growing up. i was cheeky and took the chicks out for hunting. they were naturally good hunters. i just leave them near the kitchen and they would run about searching for crawlies, especially the cockroaches and insects. it was natures way of maintaining equilibrium of the animal realm.
as days go by, the chicks will eventually be ready for the dining table. i felt sad about it but it was not in my consciousness to do the killing. the very thought was food and how it will serve to cure the hunger for the family. i was once asked to do the killing. i tried but i did not do a good job. the chicken was able to walk around with the head drooping down! eeeek!
after that, i never wanted to do the job until today.
one lesson we can learn from here. the first condition of volitional thought of killing is not there. or should i say, i was too ignorant of what killing was about. however, my mum chanted some prayers that this is a human world and that we have to kill the chicken for food. may the chicken be reborn in a better realm. [translated from the taoist prayers]
there is killing around us, especially the butchers and fowl slaughterers. most of them i have interviewed mentioned that they have no choice, they need to support the family and that they lack the education to change their job. after the interview, they have consciously decided to look for alternatives [job]. by the way, before i interviewed them, they have no qualms killing, but after the interview, they have started to be reluctant.
however from a karmic point of view, the bad karma arising from killing is not an excuse. the slaughterer has to accept and go through that karma in this life or next. however, on the other hand, the slaughterer has no intention to kill but have to do it as a means of supporting the family. the family comprises human beings. to be able to provide food for humans [especially a husband to the wife and to the children and also the parents] do accumulate good karma. but the killing is classified as unwholesome action. here you can see that the provision of food for loved ones overweigh the act of killing the chicken.
to be continued .....
mooooooo . . . continuing
nevertheless, killing is not encouraged. on a lighter note, if a dengue mosquito comes by and bites you; are you not going to kill it? it takes a bit of logic to understand the worth of the human life. if that being does not contribute to the survival of a fellow human and should killing be performed, it is all right [in the interest to protect the human breed].
just like killing elephants. most of them are quite tame and are 'compassionate' --- will one sane human kills it for any reason [of course, some will kill it for the sake of its tusk or ivory, which is intentional killing]. moreover the elephant has contribute to human kind in efforts to drag heavy logs from the inner jungles to the rivers.
however, pest are still all right to kill as if they are not rid of, the human race are at stake? but that does not mean i give you the authority to kill!
to expound the understanding, we will take an example to illustrate here. i knew of a chicken slaughterer in the market. she has to do the job to support her family of 9 'mouths'. initially she was a taoist. when she saw monks coming to the market to beg for alms, she realised that it was a good intention to provide food. [she heard about dhamma from a friend] . she did the dana in good faith and right understanding. this act of wholesome action cannot trade off her job as a slaughterer.
as years go by, she became a devout buddhist and manage to seek a job as a dish washer at a restaurant. she said that though the pay is slightly lower than the other, she does not mind. one day, she found out that she has lumps on her neck and was diagnosed as cancerous -- lymphoma. the announcement from the doctor gave rise to her understanding that her past actions of slaughtering chicken via the knife on the necks has taken effect on her. her immediate act of killing has ripen in this very life and she saw the karma coming back for her.
she was very brave and said that she has to face the circumstances and conditions in this life rather than 'postphoning' to the future. due to her good immediate karma, her lifespan of 3 months as diagnosed by the oncologist was extended to 4 years. her understanding of the dhamma and subsequently karma opens up her mind to the realisation of the dhamma. her last 4 years was seen practising dana, sila and bhavana. she passed off with minimal pain [as most cancer patients experience heavy unbearable pain].
on another story, a housewife had to slaughter chicken in the namesake of prayers to the gods [according to her husband wishes]. her husband passed off due to shortage of breadth [coincidentally, the guy is an instigator in the killing of the chicken for prayers --- which constitute wrong view] when her husband passed away, she changed her practices. however, she was conscious that one day, her death would be similar to what she did to the chicken! but she said that she is prepared to face it. she told her friends and children that in case she gets involved in a sudden accident, she request them not to rescue her!
true to her words, one day she was knocked down by a learner on a motorbike 'L- license'. she suffered some serious injuries to the head. with her good deeds, some passers by took her to the hospital and informed her children. at the hospital she was on life-support and the heartbeat on the machine was weak. one of her children saw the condition and chanted some suttas before requesting her to leave peacefully which she did after the chanting and passed off.
see, understanding of the dhamma gives us liberation in times of difficulties, especially during life-support aid. in both cases, they understood the impermanence of this body and the vipaka one has to bear when the time comes.
to be continued
moooooooing, the last part
in your case of your mum, you can guide her by providing her with dhamma practices. how? encourage her to perform dana together with you. do not force her. if she does not want to go, use your skillful means to convince her. skillful like, taking her for morning breakfast and then tell her that you have to send some food to the temple before dropping her back home. only at the temple you say that it is dana and this dana is done on behalf of her. allow her to offer the food. make the occasion as happy as possible.
remember, happy at the beginning, in the middle and after -- in doing dana.
after a few visits, she will get to know the benefits of her actions and might move away from her old habits. take it easy and make it simple in your actions. simplicity can proof to be a miracle?
do not tell her straight that slaughtering of chicken to offer to gods is bad. if she has good past parami, she will understand and realise herself. this is definitely better. if she corrects it under a heavy heart, the root of that action still stays in her mind.
her past parami also depends on conditions of her present action which can be enhanced by your effort. you being in the circle of buddhism, itself gives rise to good actions, wholesome actions and skillful action -- in itself is good parami! strive on with diligence. if you succeed [i wish you can], sadhu to you. if you cannot, persevere on the basis of your loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity practices. sadhu to you likewise.
a third story to tell.
i know of a guy who is an expert in choosing live seafood at restaurants. he practically knows what is fresh and how to kill to get the freshness of the kill! one fine day, karma has caught up with him. he feels a sudden pain in his stomach. he went for a check up and the doctor could not find out anything wrong with him, but to do a colonoscopy examination. in the process, complications crops up and his health declined. he practically screams at every pain that attacks. just wonder whether those seafood like crabs and fishes scream when they are slaughtered? we could not know as there is no sound or screams. BUT when the reverse in on our body, one will realise the bad karma that comes back. the pain was so unbearable that he passed off.
this is one aspect of killing without knowing the re-action of killing, the intention arises from greed to eat in this case above.
in buddhism, there is no such thing as an excuse of not knowing. well there is no excuse for ignorance. just blame it on your past karma. even if you get somebody to forgive your sins, the mere actions on your part has already being performed and karma will take its course [of re-action]
in the case of your mum, no need to worry so much. get her to follow the footsteps of the buddha dhamma. her slaughtering is for the sake of the family. if you can tell her that it is not necessary to perform that anymore as less and less of you are eating [on the pretext] and it is a waste. allow her to take the next course of action. if she still persists but decide that a roast chicken will do, then you get a roast chicken for her. do not place an order of the chicken earlier as you will entice or encourage indirectly the person to kill for your sake of the order.
just take it easy, go to the market and look for one. if you kind find one, go tell your mum that all the chicken has been sold out. perhaps, she will ask to buy 'kueh' as a replacement. aaaaaah, then you have swayed her thoughts and action for the better.
happy trying and don't worry too much of her coming karma!
do not hesitate to ask, whynot might have some tips? whynot
Hi All,
Some of us may already know this but am posting it here for those not in the know.
Is a prediction but nevertheless, do take some heed and necessary precaution just in case. Share it with others.
My apologies this space does not display images of diagrams and pictures. So you only get the written text.
Quake and Tsunami Predicted on July 22 2009
Hello there. I just wanted to let you know that please stay away from the beaches all around in the month of July. There is a prediction that there will be another tsunami or earthquake hitting on 22 July 2009. It is also when there will be sun eclipse. Predicted that it is going to be really bad and countries like Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak), Singapore, Maldives, Australia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Philippines are going to be badly hit. Please try and stay away from the beaches in July. Better to be safe than sorry. Please pass the word around. Please also pray for all beings.
to be continued.....
Quake and Tsunami Predicted 22 July 2009
The eclipse quake theory is as follows, When the gravitational force of the sun and moon are both pulling on a plate that has not had series of recent earth quakes, the extra pull is all that is needed to "pop the seam" and cause a major quake.
Japans tectonic plates 6+ Magnitude Quake on 22 July 2009 at 3:00 pm Local Japanese time. This will be follower by two level 5+ Earthquakes and a Tsunami between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The tsunami will start out in the pacific ocean (to the South East of Japan ... Along the fault line) and hit all the islands to the south west of Japan, Indonesia and even reach New Zealand. The major quakes will actually be along the fault lines in the Ocean. The theory that the gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon pulling together will do the following things. 1. Lift the tectonic plates
2. Cause the tide to rise more than usual 3. Cause an underground molten magma tide to dip and raise the plates following the water tide. Taken all the time data from the Nasa eclipse site into an excel spread sheet four the four tectonic plates in the region. Assumed an hour delay for each event following the lunar eclipse, and then summed the values. I assumed that the events would last longer for the fluids, water and molten magma than for dry land. And then summed the values four all 4 plates where Japan sits.
The blue path above shows the lunar path that will achieve the full solar eclipse at around 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Red dots show where the solar eclipse will be full. The theory is based on gravitation pull and the earth's tectonic plates A solar eclipse means that the moon is blocking the sun. The moon has enough gravitational pull to cause the tides other natural phenomena on earth. The sun has enough gravitational pull to keep the earth in orbit. The theory is that during a solar eclipse, the moon has the Sun's added pull on the earth's tectonic plates. When the Sun and Moon are together on one side of the planet, they pull together and lift up the earth's tectonic plate, just beneath the eclipse. This causes the plate to shift upward, and then an earth quake when the lifted plate gets the little extra push (lift) it needed to move over its neighboring plate. The theory may be hair brained, or it might actually have some pull to it. (pun intended) I'd like to do a simulator game to find out.
Online Documents for the Eclipse Quake Theory The closest thing you find online (in reference to the eclipse earthquake theory) is this one: India planetary angular momentum theory. The problem is, its not exactly the same theory... its not a "solar eclipse" causing the earthquake, its the moon inline with the gravitational pull of the other planets.
Making the simulator The TGEA model earth would be a basic dts sphere. It would then have some curved meshes (dts objects) mounted to on it to simulate the shifting continental plates. The model earth and moon would respond to real game physics for gravity to simulate an orbit. The dts mesh plates would also respond to the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. In the TGEA simulation, the sun could simply be a fixed gravitational spot (and source of light). Some plates are known to be on top, and others to be on the bottom where they meet, so this is kind of important. To do it right, the tectonic plate meshes would need to have collision detection much better than a simple bounding box. It can't be built to actual scale (distance between a scaled down version of the earth and moon is too great for a basic TGEA map), and the physics can only approximate the real pull... but a basic approximation of the theory could be done.
to be continued.....
Then you feed in the eclipse data so the moon is orbiting correctly... and let the simulation begin on a certain date. Eclipse and earth quake data below.
Quote : On Wednesday, 22 July 2009, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. After leaving mainland Asia, the path crosses Japan's Ryukyu Islands and curves southeast through the Pacific Ocean where the maximum duration of totality reaches 6 min 39 s. A partial eclipse is seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes most of eastern Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Ocean.
eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Maps/US2/43.45.-111.-109_eqs.php You could do it for past earth quakes to see the correlation too. If anyone wants to do this game, by all means go for it. Who knows? You might even get a government grant to fund its development. The image above shows a total eclipse in South East Asia July 2009. (It starts right over the plates between India and Burma). Bangladesh may be a mess this summer. We see the seam right in the middle of the pacific where the eclipse is in full effect. Wonder if a major earthquake would create a tsunami for Japan and New Zealand. If this theory is right then Japan would get a both a quake and a tsunami this summer. It’s really curios to see if there is anything to this theory. This one article Russian confirm planetary angular momentum theory ... seems kind a half baked. World Earthquake Maps Simulations SCEC Southern California Earthquake Center
Video of Earthquake, and Tsunami Simulation Disaster machines: Simulating earthquakes M7.0 Earthquake Simulation for Hayward Fault, California TGEA 1.8.0 looks much better than any of the other computer simulation software we've seen so far. a thought that we could use shaders to show the stress and pull of the moon on the earth's plates. When the moon hits the seams we could use an earth quake shader like the last video with the ripple. Parting Thoughts Wikipedia Tides The tidal forces are also stronger when the sun and moon are inline. The thought is that the liquid hot magma beneath the tectonic plates must also follow a similar principle. The earth rotates beneath the moon faster than the moon orbits the earth. So in theory a few hours before / after the eclipse you could have some shifting in the tidal magma beneath the tectonic plate. The whole day of 22 July 2009 will be interesting. The earth will rotate in the summer so that the northern hemisphere is facing the sun. The moon will cross over 3 distinct tectonic plates known for earth quakes on that day. It’s perfectly possible there will be some pretty heavy earthquakes in those regions on 22 July 2009
Thank you for reading above. Just don't overact, is only a prediction!
Our prayers: May Mother Earth be kind and have compassion for her children.
Morning All,
Posting here is the occasional "What Do You Think?" series of articles:
July 17, 2009
Observing Evolution
Allowing Others To Walk Their Paths
Watching a loved one or a peer traverse a path littered with stumbling blocks can be immensely painful. We instinctively want to guide them toward a safer track and share with them the wisdom we have acquired through experience. Yet all human beings have the right to carve their own paths without being unduly influenced by outside interference. To deny them that right is to deny them enlightenment, as true insight cannot be conveyed in lectures. Rather, each individual must earn independence and illumination by making decisions and reflecting upon the consequences of each choice. In allowing others to walk their paths freely, you honor their right to express their humanity in whatever way they see fit. Though you may not agree with or identify with their choices, understand that each person must learn in their own way and at their own pace.
The events and circumstances that shape our lives are unique because each of us is unique. What touches one person deeply may do nothing more than irritate or confound another. Therefore, each of us is drawn to different paths—the paths that will have the most profound effects on our personal evolution. If you feel compelled to intervene when watching another human being make their way slowly and painfully down a difficult path, try to empathize with their need to grow autonomous and make their own way in the world. Should this person ask for your aid, give it freely. You can even tell them about your path or offer advice in a conscious loving way. Otherwise, give them the space they need to make their own mistakes, to enjoy the fruits of their labors, to revel in their triumphs, and to discover their own truths.
The temptation to direct the paths of others is a creature of many origins. Overactive egos can convince us that ours is the one true path or awaken a craving for control within us. But each person is entitled to seek out their path leading from the darkness into the light. When we celebrate those paths and encourage the people navigating them, we not only enjoy the privilege of watching others grow—we also reinforce our dedication to diversity, independence, and individuality.
Hello HE (and MOO),
A very well written and clear explanation, HE! Salutation, amigo! And I fully agree with you. I'm sure now MOO is empowered with deeper understanding and you have demonstrated to him/her the dynamics of the dhamma to facilitate spiritual growth, understanding and cultivation. Is for MOO to take up the progression now.
Understand it or not, killing (and death)is inevitable. The lower the realm the being is in, the less choice they have and the higher their inevitability and suffering becomes. Just taking a shower, washing your hand or brushing your teeth, we are killing millions of organisms in each acts! Do we need to feel guilty? In the oceans, plankton supports life and the bigger fish eat the smaller fish. That's the Way/Order of Mother Nature. We have to learn to accept it 'as it is'. So long as our act is wholesome and clean of bad mental volitions, is okay while we are at the ignorant level. But we must endeavour to understand the dhamma and take corrective measures.
The Power of Knowledge liberates you! [then cross refer my reply to Tic Tac posted yesterday at 1523hrs. second last para. hehe!]
Hi Community,
In fact, all of us have to 'cari makan' inorder to survive. And in the mainstream, encounter many mistakes in the process of learning. Reproduced below is an insightful letter from an employee's perspective to the employer. And if you are the employer, please do take heed.
Believe it or not, I didn’t wake up this morning thinking that my main goal for the day was to go to work and make mistakes. I really don’t like making mistakes. No one I know does. However, I believe that trying new things requires both experimentation and learning. Whether we like it or not, along with learning comes the proverbial “learning curve.” And along with that comes occasional errors. Therefore, I really need you to treat my mistakes (as long as they’re unintentional and low in negative impact) as learning opportunities instead of MAJOR performance problems.
I know that you want me to be open to change – to be willing to try new ways of doing things. And I do understand that getting behind change is truly important to the success of our business. But sometimes I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I don’t change or seem willing to step out of my status-quo comfort zone, you’re unhappy. If I do change or try something new, but don’t get it just right the first time, you’re unhappy again ... and I feel like a failure.
Can you see the tough spot I sometimes find myself in? No action can result in trouble. Less-than-perfect action often produces the same thing: trouble. In those situations, it’s generally safer to choose the lesser of two evils – to do nothing rather than risk making a mistake.
Here are a few things that you can do to help me deal with this dilemma:
Assume that my mistakes are unintentional unless you have evidence to the contrary.
Don’t punish me if I’ve done the best I can.
Treat me the way you would like to be treated if you tried your best but unfortunately erred.
Constructively help me identify what I can do to avoid repeating any mistake I make.
Give me a chance to fix the problem.
If you do these, I’ll be even more willing to try new things, embrace change, and improve my overall performance. And as a result, I’ll feel good about myself ... and about you. I will feel like I’m learning and growing, and that your goal is to support me – rather than punish me.
So, if I do make a mistake, I wish you would just remember that I did so with the best intentions. Your support will help me learn from it rather than run from it.
And finally for now, a quote for today:
"It is not enough to create good words.
The real value of values comes from consistently walking the talk."
~David Cottrell
Selamat pagi whynot and he
My goodness, you are up to your tricks yet again. I have to laugh at what you replied to tic tac. Indeed you are a stirrer!
And where do you and he find the time to write so much? I also wonder what would happen to this site without the two of you? I know many of us are not contributing much, just bystanders watching, receiving and only taking. I do feel a little ashame not being able to share as I would not know what to write. Terima kaseh to the two of you so much for teaching us. You give life to this site.
hungry man
Hi Hungry Man,
Thank you for your compliments.
Is okay if you find it difficult to articulate well in here in writing. Believe me, is not easy to write especially when you want continuity of thoughts and flow of substance. At times I too get lost and all muddled up and have to rewrite and that is only natural. But with practise, it does get easier and better hopefully. Important thing is not to be afraid to try. So go ahead and try put some of you thoughts in here, if badly put, so what? We understand.
If I can share with you a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt who said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent". How true!
Enjoy your day.
whynot
hi hungry man
thanks for the compliment. my pleasure to share [its dana]. are you hungry for info? ha ha ha ha [jokingly].
writing is quite easy as long as you have the information or perhaps the experience or perhaps have an eye for detail when you are a good listener.
not many people can lend a ear for somebody in trouble. it is also another form of dana. you give time and space and even your 'ears' to someone to pour out their woes. at the end the person feels better. if you can, pour out some dhamma for them to savour, it is the best medicine!
it looks like whynot has been very frequent for the last 48 hours. are you on holiday? or your insomnia has charged you up! he he he he. looks like you have been reading and reading and sharing and sharing. keep it up, at least we can pick up pieces of info hear and there and lessen our reading!
where is the cow now? supposedly grazing in the field of dhamma, and too busy with it. have not heard the mooo-ing. no news is good news! ha ha ha ha. eh, perhaps slowly digesting the 'chicken' [not use to eating other than grass] well, it is a good sign, then.
whynot, it was good of you to highlight the employer-employee relationship. as employees, we should not be afraid to take the challenge to change. it all boils down to knowing your job well, thoroughly -- down under, top over, side around, left to right, inside out and outside in ...... aaaaah, then you are equipped with all the possibilities for change if one angle does not work out, you can shover it aside and try another.
well, mindfulness is a definite pre-requisite for change, however minor it can be but will make a world of difference. why i say that.
take this example. cooking. how many of us do cooking? if you are given some meat, some vege, some water, some salt, some sugar, some spices and a pot [of course]! to many, it is simply everything inside and put to boil. well that person is simply dumb, not taking into consideration the effort to prepare in properly, this person can be liken to a person who wants to do dana but just walk over a convenience shop and pick up some food and just offer -- no effort, and not sensitive to the needs of the receipient.
yet, on the other hand, another would just look at all those ingredients and ponder how to go about. not only that but wasted days trying to think of a solution. well, this person has not put in effort to open up the mouth to ask. at least all of you here is not in this category! ha ha ha ha
yet, another would just put in the hardest stuff and mix it with water and boil. then comes the softer ingredients. yes, that is logically correct by not wise? this person choose to see the solution as it is, as how the eyes observe but without using the brains [or the mind]
to be continued in a second. let me sent this to cyberspace first.
back again
the final person puts in all the knowledge and starts to boil the water together with the spices to simmer and brings out the aroma and taste. the covers up the pot. next, to cut the meat into thinner slices [to reduce the time for cooking] while marinating it with salt or sugar. after putting the slices of meat inside to continue boiling for a while, he adds in the vege and does not cover the pot. this allows the vege not to overcook. he then picks up a spoonful to taste before he further adds the salt and sugar before serving. know what? he has put in so much effort, mindfully and with volitional thought for the recipient [not a monk here!] when he offers, he does it with happiness, with satisfactoriness, with kindness, with even compassion, etc.
see, the last person has been very mindful, careful and skillful. if an employee can be so meticulous as in mindful, careful and skillful, the effort to change is part and parcel of the delivery system. he or she knows how to go about change and not just dump everything in a haste.
these type of people are not afraid of change, because they know they job well and thoroughly.
well, are you ready for change. ha ha ha ha.
i have been reinventing how to present facts in a way a person can understand, and changing the way a a person is able to perceive.
do not be afraid to change or speak your mind, you will pick up the finer points along the way. by the time you are at the end of the tunnel, you can see the light better.
good nite! ooops, the day is still long.
he he he he
whynot
your explanation of the eclipses and the tectonic plates and the physics of push and pull are familiar topics at the A levels, geology subject. wow, your are sure an arts student with scientific application.
all in all, simply stay away from the water borne, already the h1n1 is giving so much trouble. looks like this year, the water element, including those moisture hanging and flying around in the air has the upper hand.
can we blame on the 'cracko' scientist for causing all these upheavels -- like breaking up the O2, H20, H, etc. elements of this mass called the earth's atmospheric layer.
can we trust them to take care of the future generations? can we trust our lives with them? well, i would say that they have done so much havoc, they can only temporary say yes to you, while they are in their twilight labs figuring out how to put the essentials back to where they are from. these essentials are the nature of the universe. we should not be too smart to alter the substrates. they thought that they can play god. even god has is missed-interpretations. there were many mentions of the world is coming to an end when i was in the primary years. the date was year 2000.
now we are into 2009 and going 2010 and we are still yakking, laughing, chatting, sharing, 'gossipping', etc here. what world ends?
the only world that ends is the world within us. this is real deep dhamma. each one of us have our very own 'world'. what we want to be and decide how we want it to be, this world is going to end the very day our rupa [body] says yes!
as one ajahn [meditation master] professes "ONLY THE WORLD ENDS". it is not the physical world, but the world which we decide to shape in this nama-rupa [mind and matter] that is going to end. it takes place every now and then, in the past, in the present and also into the future; BUT we are always blind to it. we have been creating a lot of worlds, again and again, trying and trying, but we never changed the way we want to look at it.
if we want, we can do it. how? only the Buddha Dhamma can help us. it goes back to our previous discussions of dana, sila and bhavana.
wow, at least these discussions link us back to where we started and also give us the light to understand.
got it. if you cannot understand, take it easy. one day you will.
whynot, are you into the swim? or swing?
he he he he
hi all
let me chat about the 2nd precept of stealing. most of us assume that stealing is an easy precept to abstain from.
as long as i do not take anything without permission, then i am safe. that's quite true to a certain extent. however, if the items or things you want with intention and volitional thought of acquiring and that you consciously know that there is no owner to it!
and that you think it is safe and start to ask, loudly, --- anybody owns this[?], going once, going twice going thrice, --- nobody owns it, well, then i will take it.
does that sound familiar? well, you can call to mind that in such a situation, the owner could be an unseen being who could not speak because of the lack of the five senses and does not have a rupa.
take the jungle, for instance. you take a walk in the jungle, fully aware that there are delicious or 'deluptuous' durians in there. and you have check via your mind that nobody owns the jungle. all these thoughts are played out by your very own five senses and the mere root of evil --- greed -- wanting to eat durians, die to eat durians. the fruit is so temptingly, uuuuuhhhhhhhhhh. maybe the jungle ones are more 'virgin' and you want to try.
see, that is how far our five senses can go? it is so gross, so uncultivated, so nude, so uncontrollable, wow, wow, wow . . . . . . luckily it is not a female being!
so, as planned, you purposely [volitional action in play now] chose to take that particular track because your nose has sniffed the scent of the durian. now you will realised that the mind is the forerunner, followed by the nose.
next, your eyes begin to scan the trees above you and all round the thick jungle. and you are exceptionally mindful! ha ha ha ha!
and your eyes move to the undergrowth, scourching for signs of the prickly ones. [just like those movies you've watched -- alien versus predator!?]
the fourth senses just could not resist the thought, the smell and the sight, and begins to fill with saliva, mouthwatering and ggrrrrrrrrrrrr.
aaaah, watch that, see that, it is so uncontrollable. imagine, one is so 'animalistic' [if there is such a word]
all of a sudden your ears picked up a heavy thud on the ground, [just like the radar picking up the stealth when it steers out of course]. your ears [the stealth secret sound amplifier] take a second scan and make sure it is from that certain direction. on normal days, your ears is simply deaf to the calls of your loved one, but today, it is exceptionally and significantly sharp like the stealth secret sound amplifier. that sudden thud could be heard as loud at the skies rumble with thunder? ha ha ha ha
now, having got the mind and the four senses secured on the location, your hands go for the stealth, steal, i mean. you are to quick to zoom in on the perfect coordinates, ravaging the undergrowth savagely. not even the garmin could locate it with all its supersonic satellites up there.
aaaah-ha, all there goes the five senses with the leader, the mind. you grab the durian from the ground, sniffed it as the saliva starts to drooooped. the mind thought just could not resist and sends a strong message to the hands - cut it, pierce open it, move in -- MARA is taking over you -- BUT then, because of your past parami, the mind turns its back on you with a sudden uproar --- HAVE YOU MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE OWNS UP TO THAT DURIAN?
to be continued,
i supposed you have started to wet or whet by now. he he he he
i'm back
well, well, well, have you got the answers?
i supposed the jungle could not give you an answer. mara will tempt you to quickly draw out your three arrows from the quiver -- who owns this please show up, going once, going twice, going thrice.
now you watch your mind how it administer the rights to the durian, quickly and uncanningly fast, letting off the three arrows from the quiver. [the quiver is your mind and the arrows are your roots of evil!]
not even the devas in the jungle could hold control over the speed of your mind thoughts.
the next thing you can imagine is your fingers are dipping down on the yellowish flesh just as the aroma filled the atmosphere. your tongue sticks out as your head moves over to your fingers [not your fingers moving over to your mouth!] there is a diffence in the latter action --- explore it and you will have the answers.
see, this act of stealing is so rampant in us, every moment and every day. you can say that i dont steal but subconsciously, the five senses is all the more conscious and ever alert to pounce on the roots of evil.
that is the scenario of stealing. look around our surroundings wherever you are. have you at any one moment in the past say to your friend that the pieces of cakes in the tupperware is so delicious. before you finish your sentence speaking to your friend, your fingers have already arrived at the cakes. before your friend give you the right to the cakes, it is already in the mouth.
imagine how coarse is our precept of stealing. unknowingly, we put that act in disgrace to our mind!
you can laugh out loudly now. ha ha ha ha.
just like i have mentioned earlier, the stealing of food from our children constitute stealing.
maybe i repeat it here. you promised your children to a nice sumptuous dinner. you ordered the food for your children. your children are so happy to have their very own meal all to themselves as promised. when the food arrives, you partake their food without asking permission from your child. how will your child feel? they have the right to the food! you have given them the right to order and they presume it is all theirs. but two pairs of hand with one holding a spoon and the other a fork, dipped down on the food and scooped a large portion away and say ''give mum a bit!''.
now, what have you done to your precepts? the child might consciously and silently say, what is this act all about? greedy pig! what the @#$%&#?
see, again, we take for granted our actions on others as if it is an unsounded truth or right that you can enforce anytime, anywhere on anybody!
this is really very upsetting. furthermore . . . . .
eeeeh let me send this to cyberspace first and allow those being out there to digest it.
he he he he
what? some more, walah-eh????????
on stealing!
back again
in the last two postings, the mere action of stealing is so unmindfully acted on. the mind does the stealing.
now let us move on to a relationship of stealing! an example to illustrate a deed. all names are fictitious here.
ready?
say, i know two guys, Alan and Beng. alan is the first guy i know. i gave him all the attention to him, all i can give. along the way, beng comes into the relationship. i could not resist it but to give [steal] a portion of the attention to beng.
now, who is stealing?
alan might be suspecting something amidst by asking me 'you don't seem to be your normal self'
see, the mind starts to separate the feelings because of stealing. the feelings for alan has lessen and filled up for beng.
alan will start to feel unattended and persistently bring up the question 'are you all right?'
now, this is very tricky, all the precepts are broken here. first we have the stealing. next it will be the lying.
i will have to tell a lie to keep beng secretly. if alan asks too much, i have to come up with a thousand and one reasons. this is breaking of the fourth precept of wrong speech [commonly known as lying]
then, one day, i feel i do not love alan anymore. alan will feel upset and do the most impossible thing. alan commits suicide. well, well, well, i have broken the first precept, also
i may not be able to take it, seeing alan dead. so i approach beng for consolation/comfort. in the most upsetting moment, i went intoxicating myself with beng, hanging out boozing away into the wee hours of the night. mentally i am letting hell looooooose!
along goes the next scene, sleeping with beng and enjoy the sensual pleasure. even that it was so pleasurable. what is pleasurable, the five senses or the mind?
one month later, the period skipped [not mindful because of the sensual relationship] pop goes the doctor congratulating me. what the @#$%&# is all this. now, who is to be blamed? i have broken all the precepts. please help me? god, please help me?
mind, mind, mind. no body can help me except myself. do you think you are going to abort that innocent being inside the womb. the moment of conceiving, life begins.
behind the scene ends......
WHAT THEN ARE THE PRECEPTS. if we can take a thorough look at the precepts, the Buddha knew the 5 senses together with the mind, is so dangerous. that is why the 5 precepts are the minimum basics for all humans, irrespective whether you are a king or a layman, a monk or a beggar. we do not need 10 commandments. with 5 you are not able to manage it, no point asking for 10!
GOT IT.
well, you can always see the Buddha putting up his right palm and supposedly say stop to you, telling you 'only 5 precepts', very very basic. can you do it?
if you cannot, the Buddha will put his palms down with the five fingers pointing to the ground, walking away --- down you will go, below the human realm - animals, hungry ghosts, spirits and avici hell [woeful state].
am i telling you a scary story like elms street?
now that is the 2nd precept of stealing.
have to send this to cyber, will be back again.
hi, am back again.
one more aspect. if we go to a retreat and we see a very well composed, learned, cultivated monk, out of our obsession, we take a shot of that monk without asking permission. that is stealing. it could be a weighty karma. allow ourself, respect ourself by just asking for permission. it that very hard to do? or you want to open the doors of the woeful states.
the choice is yours. you yourself will decide. nobody can help you, not even the unknown person behind the 4 wooden panels that forgive your sins in the name of god!
forgive yourself and abstain. i would not like to use the word repent. it sounds like you have made a very very bad grave action or mistake and you have to turn over a new leave.
abstain is a better word because all of us have made many mistakes in the past and we ask ourselves for forgiveness and try to abstain from it.
give it a thought and let us hear from all of you. otherwise my and whynot yakking into the days ahead.
have a nice weekend. if you find this interesting, keep the comments coming. otherwise, we take it as uninteresting!? what say you whynot?
it seems like the rest are stunt by our rounds of ???????????.
Hi Meeli and those interested,
The site for the free course in 'Mastering The Power Now' is back on and working now.
Here is the link for you:
www.masteringthepowerofnow.com
With metta n upekkha infinitum
whynot
Hi All,
Here is a little story for you with a moral:
Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a female village moneylender. The female Moneylender, who was old, fat and ugly, fancied the farmer's handsome son,Cliff.
So she proposed a bargain.
She said she would forego the farmer's debt if she could marry his son. Both the farmer and his son were horrified by the Proposal.
So the cunning female moneylender suggested that they let Providence decide the matter. She told them that she would put a black Pebble and a white pebble into an empty moneybag. Then the son would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
If he picked the black pebble, he would become her husband and her father's debt would be forgiven.
If he picked the white pebble he need not marry her and his father's debt would still be forgiven.
But if he refused to pick a pebble, his father would be thrown into jail
They were standing on a pebble-strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As she picked them up, the sharp-eyed son noticed that she had picked up two Black pebbles and put them into the bag.
She then asked the son to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the son? If you had to advise him, what would you have told him?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
The son should refuse to take a pebble.
The son should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the moneylender as a lying,backstabbing female cheat.
The son should pick a black pebble and sacrifice himself in order to save his father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking.
The son's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if he chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend to the son to do?
Well, here is what he did....
The son put his hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, he fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
'Oh, how clumsy of me,' he said. 'But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.'
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that he had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit her dishonesty, the son changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
MORAL OF THE STORY:
Most complex problems do have a solution.
It is only that we don't attempt to think.
"A man is but a product of his thoughts." - M. K. Gandhi
Hi HE (& All),
My life is hazy at the moment from lack of sleep! Slept for 8 hours last night (on and off) but tonight I'm on duty again (voluntary work) working with the intoxicated and the street kids till 0100hrs. And tomorrow morning was supposed to go hiking and climbing some mountain with our Walking Group but I think I'm too exhausted at the moment. Must take rest or this ol'pack of bones won't have it! :((
re: tsunami. I did not write that article. I merely posted it for the attention of all to be mindful. I pray that it does not happen.
re: employee letter. I did not write it either. Again I only posted it for the same reason.
re: your contribution/writing on the 2nd precepts n others. You explained it well and with mindfulness and left few stones unturned. Salutation to you but....aiyo, with the likes of me not very much myself at the moment due to this ratchet insomnia, I got lost many times after reading a few paragraphs . Is a little bit lenghty and daunting at times I think. What do others think? C'mon Folks, speak up and let us have your feedback. Are we groping in the dark or leading you down the wrong path deceiving ourselves you are picking up well? Speak up or forever hold ye peace! Or are you Folks so desensitised by our 'boring?' chats that no one is reading it?
I think for the next few days I'm gonna take it easy for a while. You can continue your posting and I'll try to keep abreast. This will also give others the opportunity to put in their few bobs. So, "Go on, Punk, make HE's day" hehe.
with metta n upekkha infinitum
whynot
Forwarding a message from God:
To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: GOD
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE
This is God. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you. I do Not need your help. So, have a nice day.
I love you.
P.S. And, remember...
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.
If you find yourself stuck in traffic, don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work; think of the man who has been out of work for years.
Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.
Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.
Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.
Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.
Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!
Should you decide to share my message with a friend; Thank you. You may have touched their life in ways you will never know!
Now, you have a nice day...God
Hi All,
I would like to share this ol'classic story I came across with you all:
The Wooden Bowl
I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson.
The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table.
But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and
failing sight made eating difficult.
Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.
Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.
He asked the child 'What are you making?'
Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.'
The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.
For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family.
And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
--------------------------
On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life.'
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
I've learned that when ever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pain, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch some one.
People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug or just a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
ooo000ooo
"Let the blessings of dhamma be with you and guide you always." -whynot
ThanksHe
Yes i am around but on night duty.
Sleeping the whole day, night go to work.
Hope i can convince my mother to do more dana.
......moo
Someone close send me this piece and I'm posting it here for your attn:
Best Religion Award for 2009???
> Buddhism won “The Best Religion In The World” award on the
> 15 Jul 2009, Tribune de Geneve
>
>
> The Geneva-based International Coalition for the
> Advancement of Religious and Spirituality (ICARUS) has
> bestowed "The Best Religion In the World" award
> this year on the Buddhist Community.
>
>
>
>
> This special award was voted on by an international
> round table of more than 200 religious leaders from every
> part of the spiritual spectrum. It was fascinating to note
> that many religious leaders voted for Buddhism rather than
> their own religion although Buddhists actually make up a
> tiny minority of ICARUS membership. Here are the comments
> by four voting members:
>
>
>
>
> Jonna Hult, Director of Research for ICARUS said "It
> wasn't a surprise to me that Buddhism won Best Religion
> in the World, because we could find literally not one
> single instance of a war fought in the name of Buddhism, in
> contrast to every other religion that seems to keep a
> gun in the closet just in case God makes a mistake. We were
> hard pressed to even find a Buddhist that had ever been in
> an army. These people practice what they preach to an
> extent we simply could not document with any other
> spiritual tradition."
>
>
>
>
> A Catholic Priest, Father Ted O'Shaughnessy said from
> Belfast , "As much as I love the Catholic Church, it
> has always bothered me to no end that we preach love in our
> scripture yet then claim to know God's will when it
> comes to killing other humans. For that reason, I did have
> to cast my vote for the Buddhists."
>
>
>
>
>
> A Muslim Cleric Tal Bin Wassad agreed from Pakistan
> via his translator. "While I am a devout Muslim, I can
> see how much anger and bloodshed is channeled into
> religious expression rather than dealt with on a personal
> level. The Buddhists have that figured out." Bin
> Wassad, the ICARUS voting member for Pakistan 's
> Muslim community continued, "In fact, some of my best
> friends are Buddhist."
>
>
>
>
> And Rabbi Shmuel Wasserstein said from Jerusalem, "Of
> course, I love Judaism, and I think it's the greatest
> religion in the world. But to be honest, I've been
> practicing Vipassana meditation every day before minyan
> (daily Jewish prayer) since 1993. So I get it."
>
>
>
>
> However, there was one snag - ICARUS couldn't find
> anyone to give the award to. All the Buddhists they called
> kept saying they didn't want the award.
>
> When asked why the Burmese Buddhist community refused the
> award, Buddhist monk Bhante Ghurata Hanta said from Burma
> , "We are grateful for the acknowledgement, but we
> give this award to all humanity, for Buddha nature lies
> within each of us." Groehlichen went on to say
> "We're going to keep calling around until we find
> a Buddhist who will accept it. We'll let you know
> when we do."
Are there angels ? Do you believe in them? Is it a myth or real ?
Some call it our spiritual guides.
When i believe that i have a guardian angel; life is smoother, & less obstacles. Any opinion?
...... kopi o
An occasional article for you to contemplate upon:
July 21, 2009
Learn and Let Flow
We Don’t Need To Suffer
The idea that we have to suffer or live in poverty in order to be spiritual is an old one and can be found in the belief systems of many philosophies. Most of us carry this idea around subconsciously, and we may be holding ourselves back from financial or emotional well-being, believing that this is what we must do in order to be virtuous, spiritually awake, or feel less guilty for the suffering of others.
While it’s true that there can be a spiritual purpose to experiencing a lack of material well-being, it is rarely intended to be a permanent or lifelong experience. What we are meant to find when material or emotional resources are in short supply is that there is more to our lives than the physical realm. Intense relationships and material abundance can distract us from the subtler realm of the spirit, so a time of deficiency can be spiritually awakening. However, once we recognize the realm of spirit, and remember to hold it at the center of our lives, there is no reason to dwell in poverty or emotional isolation. In fact, once our connection to spirit is fully intact, we feel so compelled to share our abundance that lack becomes a thing of the past.
If you find that you are experiencing suffering in some area of your physical life, perhaps your spirit is asking you to look deeper in your search for what you want. For example, if you want money so that you can experience the feeling of security but money keeps eluding you, your spirit may be asking you to understand that security is not to be found through money. Security comes from an unshakable connection to your soul. Once you make that connection, money will probably flow more easily into your life. If relationships elude you, your spirit may be calling you to recognize that the love you seek is not to be found in another person. And yet, ironically, once you find the love, your true love may very well appear. If you feel stuck in suffering to live a spiritual life, try to spend some time writing about it. The root of the problem will appear and it may not be what you expected. Remember, the Universe wants you to be happy.
What do you think?
Hello Kopi O,
I agree with you no less!
In all, is only a matter of interpretation. Different religions interpret it differently. The Tibetan would say is your OverSelf or your HigherSelf or even your Higher Consciousness. Some even called it your True Self. The sum total of it all is one does psychologically and spiritually feel more 'secure' with such thoughts and beliefs system.
Once again, I fully concur with you. Enjoy your guardian angel. You can even meet him/her when in deep meditation.
whynot
kopi-o
Are there angels ? Do you believe in them? Is it a myth or real ?
Some call it our spiritual guides.
When i believe that i have a guardian angel; life is smoother, & less obstacles. Any opinion?
it is very simple to explain, kopi-o. when we protect the dhamma, the dhamma protects us.
let us go back in time. when He got enlightenment, He was reluctant to preach and share the dhamma. it is too profound and deep for humans to understand. however, the devas in heaven saw the arising of a super human being, one that has enlightened. the devas raced down from heaven and heralded the arising of the all knowing one.
and the devas wanted to listen to the teachings of the Buddha. and they, after hearing, approached to Buddha to teach the humans on this earth. only then did the Buddha reconsidered.
out of gratitude to the teachings of the Buddha which was brought down over 2550 years ago, well protected by the devas who have resided during the Buddha's time [the lifespan of the devas is equivalent to this progression - one day in heaven is equivalent to 100 years on earth]
therefore, as i am writing here, the devas are watching over our sharing of the dhamma. it is well over 25 days, pass noon, ??? hours, ??? minutes, ??? seconds!
as long as we speak the truth as preached by the Buddha, the devas are delighted and therefore return the favour to us by protecting us. if we call them 'angels' -- that is a way of symbolically assigned to them. however, in buddhism, they are still devas or heavenly beings.
as long as we do good and share the dhamma with all of you, the devas will shower us with lots of protection and guidance. by the way, do not attached to them, lest we are very obssessed with 'angels' and cannot think progressively with wisdom.
as long as you think or believe in angels, allow me to tell you to carry on the believe.
however, let me share this joke with you. i was once approached by evangels [eventually angels?] and they say god is watching over them. i replied that i know. thinking that i was on their side, they felt so relief. then i remarked -- i am an angel, too. with a bit of shock they stared at me. and i continued that i am also a god [the common god, so to say]! they took a few steps back and the three of them stared at each other thinking this person has gone cracko or even think i have gone against the word of god!
well, well, well, be there angels or gods or petas or yakkhas or azuras or manussas, there is thing called non-self. the attachment to this entity called 'self' is only temporary and will transmigrate to another entity. it is constantly migrating, until one day, we are so tired of it that we wish to seek the truth. that one day is now and here!
only when one day one takes the form of a human can one gain enlightenment. NOW, all of us -- value this body of ours and do good avoid evil. value this life, lest we fall trap to the workings of the karma.
hello angels our there, do not waste your time flying here and there, shooting arrows of love [if you have a quiver] lest one day you have exhausted all your merits, you will be tumbling down to this place, here and now called earth.
when you are on earth and with this rupa and all the five senses, you will be going down in your journey, if you exploit the five senses.
good night!
i have much to share on jhana. keep coming back here in the near future.alaysia
sometimes, we like to hide behind a veil, to comfort our senses, telling ourselves that there are angels to guide us.
who is hiding there? it is our five senses that manipulates out mind, thus creating that comfort zone where angels dwell.
he he he he. are we cheating ourselves as in our five senses. give a know on our senses and be awakened. aaaaaaah! the awakened one. that is the Buddha.
He has awakened himself with all these self-restraining thoughts, thoughts that cheat our five senses, longing for attachment to the comfort zone. thoughts that hide [with] us, causing our senses to be unable to see the reality of our existence.
let go off this attachment and we will feel better and more blissful than those angels out there. do you think they have a good job to do -- keep on shooting love arrows?
eh, we are impeding their growth to be reborn in a better realm. as long as they keep on shooting arrows of love, we have a BIG problem which arrow to accept? we will be engrossed and entrapped wherever we go. if you are a male, imagine that you will be falling for every women, lady or girl you set your eyes on everywhere [because the angels are with you, if they keep on shooting arrows of love]. is that frightening?
ha ha ha ha
likewise, the female will fall for every guy, boy or male. don't you think that is a terrible experience. if we can look deeper into it, it could be very coarsely animalistic [if there is such a word]. imagine looking at a male dog, sniffing every other bitch on the road?
he he he he. that is the reality of the human existence. the five senses, if go untamed can corrupt the mind. 'boh-chau---see', just like what the late venerable suvanno likes to say!
Hi All,
Here is a discussion paper base on Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s Talks, edited to this one page and has not been read or edited by the speaker for your contemplation.
Don't Shame The Buddha.
It is time to take stock. It is not important how
long you have been a Buddhist or who is your
teacher? The important thing is how much do
you really practice? Do you give up when
things are difficult? When someone tells you
something you do not like, do you push
yourself to listen, to open up? When someone
gets on your nerve, do you show patience and
not shout back?
It is nice and easy to be nice to someone who
is nice to you, but it is not easy to be nice to
someone who is not nice to you. If people
react negatively to you, and you react back
that way, you are just the same as them. But
you say, they started it first. But you
continued. What’s the difference?
Dhamma has to be in you. You can be in
Dhamma, but is Dhamma inside you? Do you
want to practice Dhamma or Samsara?
Time is short, opportunities will be lost. How
long do you want to hold on to your anger and
concepts? Stop looking for reasons not to
practice. Up to now, where did that get you?
The key to happiness is taking our strongest
affliction, working on it, and chipping it
away with time.
No matter how beautiful you are, you will not
be beautiful one day; no matter how rich you
are, it will be taken away at the time of death.
So if you were to die tonight, then what would
be the value of the things we have done from
the time we were born until now? Ask
yourself, “Did I live well? Did I love well?”
“I am a Buddhist” comes with
responsibilities and commitment. You
answer to yourself, for yourself and not to the
Buddha or your teacher.
whynot
that was a well extracted piece of dhamma, so simple and yet so deep. all the sufferings in and around us, spins from our very own ego, ego to conclude and make decisions on behalf of other, which actually does not belong to us. ego in attaching to all our 'self' with things that are beautiful, nice to taste, hear, touch, smell, see, listen and feel.
if one day, the opposite prevails, not nice to see, taste or eat, hear, listen, smell and feel, what will become of us, this very 'self'.
aaaah, if we can practise a bit, bit by bit today, and definitely one day, we can be in a state of equanimity --- neither the positive or negative can move this very 'self' of ours.
let the world evolve around us. as long as we stay neutral, happiness is ever present here and now. let us see how foolish or wise we are that all the existence of arising and cessation is in a constant flux.
let it be. let our mind think simple. this is the nature of the dhamma.
thank you whynot, you have extracted a piece of the essence of quality medicine for the mind! sadhu sadhu sadhu.
hi all
the extract of ICARUS on the article about the best religion of the world award is a SCAM.
well, what is that all about? it seems like some alien is bringing unhappiness into the fold of buddhism by making that 'nice' remark which could cause envy in the eyes of others.
[?] know of the 3 roots or evil -- greed, hatred, delusion. somebody out there might be deluded by that claim and along with it, hatred arises and 'greed' to bring down that claim.
well, well, well, as least the 'cooked' up story with the winner not claiming the prize or 'price'.
ehipassiko, check it out? google the info 'ICARUS' there is such a word but does not belong to the claim in this blog.
whatever it is, let us stay equanimity. one up! what say all of you here.
Hello HE,
Yes, that was indeed a good article.
Trouble is, we live in this modern times when western therapeutic approaches have tended to lay great emphasis on the individual building up her or his own self esteem and enhancing a positive sense of self - they encourage looking inward rather than out. Is time to challenge the value of such approach.
Most of us protect ourselves against being fully alive. Fearing loss and pain, we escape by withdrawing from experiences and distracting ourselves with amusements. We fall into habitual ways of acting and limit ourselves to the familiar. We create an identity which we think of as a 'Self', and in so doing imprison our life-energy. I'm sure we all know that the Ego is the 'Self' here and is in control.
Is is only by letting go to this attachment that we open ourselves to full engagement with life and with others. We step out of our self-made prison. We start to live.
John Lennon sang the song "Let it be" - if only we had listened.
Hello again HE,
I think you got it wrong here. I typed into Google 'International Coalition for the Advancement of Religion and Spirituality' and the article was there! It appeared quite legitimate.
Pleae correct me if I am wrong.
hi whynot
it is an hoax? anyway, i entered the site and got the information that leads to thailand. it was mentioned in short as ICARUS -- and that links to some mythological identity.
well ICARUS does not fit into that body called '''International Coalition for the Advancement of Religion and Spirituality''? where does the 'u' fit in. this is probably a giveaway.
well i have extracted this article from singapore:
Buddhism Is Best
Over the last few days I have received about 35 messages, mainly from friends and acquaintances but also from a few people unknown to me, informing me that Buddhism has been voted the best religion in the world. I opened the first of these messages which had a link which I didn’t bother to open.
I deleted all the other messages without opening. It must be the way I was bought up or something, but my first reaction of hearing this news was to think ‘By who?’ and my second was ‘Best for what?’ To me a statement like ‘Buddhism is the best religion in the world’ is on a par with statements like ‘Men smoke Drum’, ‘Prayer never fails’ or ‘Choice of a new generation’, i.e. it’s meaningless. And even if it were made as a result of a survey of religious leaders (and I couldn’t imagine Islamic, Jewish, Hindu or Christian leaders voting for such an idea. After all, if they believed that, they wouldn’t be Muslims, Jews, Hindus or Christians) it wouldn’t particularly move me one way or another.
I’m a Buddhist because I have found the Dhamma to be a complete, humane, convincing and practical philosophy of life that suits my disposition and needs perfectly, not because it won a straw poll. And even if 500 Nobel Prize winners voted it the worst religion in the world that wouldn’t shake my conviction one millimetre. This morning I received two messages headed ‘Buddhism Best A Hoax’ and these I did open and read and got the full story.
Apparently, this ‘Buddhism is Best’ claim was supposedly issued by a ‘Geneva-based’ organization called the International Coalition for the Advancement of Religion and Spirituality. God! A name like that should have been enough to make anyone suspicious. You know the old adage ‘the bigger the name the smaller the group’. And if not that, then ‘Geneva-based’. Geneva? Isn’t that where all those shady banks operate out of? So now the word on the street is that the ICARS doesn’t exits, that no vote was taken and that the whole thing is a hoax.
I wonder how many Buddhists got caught out?
Posted by Shravasti Dhammika at 6:32 PM
profile of this monk i knew who gave very logical philosophical talks around malaysia and singapore, and a good writer, too.
Shravasti Dhammika –
Location: Singapore
About Me
I am not the 5th or 9th reincarnation of a great lama, I have not recived any empowerments or initiations, I am not the holder of any lineage, I am yet to attain any of the jhanas, I am not a widely respected teacher, I am not a stream enterer (at least I don't feel like one)and I do not have many disciples. Nontheless, you may find some of my observations and musings interesting. I have been a Buddhist monk for 32 years and am the spiritual advisor to the Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society in Singapore.
you can google him and read his profile, or blog it at:
http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2009/07/buddhism-is-best.html
aaaaaah, at least [not last] we can put to rest that claim. well, if we could detached from that truth, we can be back at our very own funny, hilarious and 'enlightening' blog and continue blogging [or blocking?]
he he he he
hi whynot
everytime somebody says 'maybe i am wrong' -- i will be taken aback and explore those words.
just like the old english Idiom: One man's meat is another man's poison.
well it applies to the mahayanist and not on the theravadean. see, both are still buddhist.
here, both of us are not wrong! it is the media that reported that and instituted by a certain party is wrong in that they deceived us and caused a lot of hoooohhhhhhaaaaaa!
here, we can see the dhamma. the fact that everything good of the dhamma, we share. here, we are caught in that dilemma. and that the condition was created by our obsession and possessive nature.
another condition is, the creator [definitely not god, ha ha ha ha] had a very conscious volitional thought to create amusement out of our obsession. that person knew we will buy it. now, at least, after exercising our limited wisdom do we see the light in that article.
let us take a deeeeeeeep breathe and lay down that claim and continue with our blogging business.
happy blogging.
hi all
any good news for 22nd with the eclipses over which have stunted and induced fear among us. it is all over and everywhere seems to be quite and no news of any untoward incident.
aaaah, no news is good news!
or, perhaps, there is news but the affected is too stunt to say anything.
well, let us keep our minds open and see what comes in the next 24 hours. tgif! it is another weekend ahead.
enjoy your weekends and have a fun filled restday.
Hi
Regarding the questions on guardian angels. ...
Since i returned from Bgaya last year, Rev Mahinda encouraged us to share merits with all seen and unseen beings, including our guardian angels and devas of the coumpound.
Find that when i share merits with my guardian angels, i feel more "complete", "secured" as though i am being guided. Perhaps as He explained the guardian angels is our very own higher self.
Most christians pray or "talk" to God.One friend told me that she prayed to her God. By releasing her problems to her God, she felt
better after her prayers.
Guess most of us want to talk our problems to someone who can be trusted yet will not gossip and a good listener. The silent listener
By surrendering problems to our higher self through prayers, there is feeling of "release" They are more open to accept whatever comes to them.
In my school days, my christian friend use to "tongue talk" in her prayers. Its like mumbling and could hardly hear a complete sentence. Inside the church some ever cried out loudly, some beating their body. Wonder were they in trance? I was a bit frighten that time.
Christian friends pl response on this subj.
....meeli
hi meeli
the concept of the guardian angel, as i know is quite similar to the holy spirit. who is this holy spirit?
well, it is also the holy ghost and likewise is the spirit of god!
in some mainstream teaching [the trinity], the holy spirit is the 3rd person of the trinity and part of the godhead - or god the father and with god the son.
so, the holy spirit is conceptually the god. the equation to the holy spirit is god and therefore equals to guardian angel.
confusing eh? it is then elaborated that the holy spirit or guardian angel is one of the trinity and therefore is personal and also fully god! [read further down]
it looks like each christian has a personal god [also called guardian angel or holy spirit]. and that their duties are 'god fearing'.
the holy spirit encompasses:
1. conviction of sin, telling the person [un-redeemed] that if he does not go to god and ask for forgiveness, he is doomed to hell. that all of us are born sinners!
2. bringing one to conversion to the christian faith. the holy spirit brings the person to the christian faith -- the new believer as born again of the spirit or born again christian.
3. the holy spirit is believed to live in each individual believer and enables them to liave a righteous and faithful christian life.
4. the holy spirit inspires and interpretes the scriptures to the church or christian.
how then can we know where is the guardian angel or the holy spirit.
as experienced by most of you, the holy spirit is in you, follows and guide you, lives inside you, and some say that it is in the water [that is where baptism comes about].
the holy spirit is also in the clouds, in the light, in the wind and in some scriptures mentioned that the dove, too!
well, they are everywhere, so encompassing that any good arises out of this body, is the fruit of the holy spirit and it inspires the christian to believe and invite him into the folds of their lives.
i could be wrong in the above explanation. but i do not buy this concept.
i am here not to belittle anyone but to put it in its proper perspective as a person with sufficient education and driven by the concept of science. it looks like things that i do not know and neither you know is all placed in a spectrum of god.
well, well, well. from the point of science, we understand that all earthly creations are the actions of we humans, be it good or bad. we as humans have the ability to perform good or bad. aaaah, did god created man or man created god --- in my earlier expounding the realm of psychology.
got it? or god it!
hi meeli
god it or got it?
the guardian angel is for those who could not walk alone on this planet. they need some guidance and their 'soul' created this guardian angle so that they can rest assured that there is someone walking with them too. if the guardian angel is not there, at least they know that god is there.
uuuuhhhhhh?
could this be self-assurance, fear of the unknown, dare not walk alone, can fall back on someone [within us?] that this body is a gift from god and i need to protect it, therefore have to subscribe to this entity called god and surrender/listen to god.
it has been 12 years in those 'waters' [and did not come up baptised] and i still could not accept that i have to surrender myself to that 'unknown'.
could that guardian angel be our heart --- that very important aspect of life, in owning this rupa, the body, we need the heart. failure of which, we are better be dead?
this rupa comprises the five khandas or aggregates. this phenomena of clinging to this body gives rise to the five aggregates thus --- the first one being this important material form called body.
without this body, there is not point for us to talk about. therefore this body and its physical organism through which we can grasp, experience and note this world.
the buddha mentions that there are two aspects of this body: one, being the four primary elements that constitute this body --- as in:
1. the earth element -- this is the substance where our body makes up of --- the matter or the material body -- the degree of softness, hardness, roughness, smoothness, thickness and thinness'
2. the water element. matter without water is just plain powder or matter called particles. the water brings the property of the matter and particles together in cohesion and bind them together.
3. then again, earth and water is not enough -- it is just like mud or clay? well the heat element is the third in this body. it is one part of the element that gives rise to life. just like an egg -- without heat via incubation, the chicken will not be born. therefore if we have less heat in our body, the coldness sets in. heat is an essential part of this matter. just like the recent flu. if your body has excess heat, that means you are having a fever and that accounts for the 'birth of virus'. as the virus mutates and grow at the expense of heat, this body of matter has excesses of heat, the body passes off.
last but not least is the air element. it gives motion, it is in a state of flux and vibration. for this reason, the air element in the body exhibit a motion and reaction.
having all these are not enough. our body [as in matter] shares this very concept of 4 primary elements with the trees, the mountains, the hills, the forest, gases, liquids, forms of energy, etc. etc.
the difference between these two is that our body has the secondary elements of matter.
there are four categories.
first, it is the five sensitive tissues of the sense faculties – the five sensory receptors or five senses and their funtions – eyes can receive sight, nose can receive smell, ear can receive sound, tongue can receive taste and body can rec eive touch sensation or feeling.
second, is the first four of the sensory receptors providing data. your eyes receive the sight and it provides data as in colour; the sound as in loud, soft, soothing, noisy, etc; the smell data as in perfumed, stinking, fragrant, etc; and taste as in hot, cold, spicy, salty, sweet, etc.
the third being the life faculty - the faculty that vitalizes the body and keeps it alive. it is the heart!
the last but not least, the mental base of organs and nerve tissues that function and support consciousness in the thought process.
in summary, the mind is not a simple unit but a significantly important and strategic cooperation of activities involving four factors --- feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness.
now, can we call this guardian angel? or the holy spirit?
to be continued
next in the five khandas or aggregates after 1. matter or material form is 2. feelings.
feelings is the mental factor. in default, the matter bows in to the mental factor. in fault, the matter fails and thus ending that feeling, thus causing handicap, thereby causes unsatisfactoriness, suffering and regret.
Feeling has the function of deciding and experiencing the 'flavour' of an object, the effects and quality of that object.
There are three basic types of feelings - pleasant [arising out of metta, karuna or mudita], painful [or dukkha] and neutral feeling [or upekkha]
Feeling can further be subdivided by way of the sense faculty through which it originates: feeling which arises by contact with the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind.
the third of the five khandas is perception. it is the mental act of grasping the exacting quality of an object. it takes note of the object's features, it identifies and notes down in the mind.
perception is divided into 6 categories in the form of sense objects that it takes not of:
- perception of form
- perception of sound
- perception of smell
- perception of taste
- perception of touch, and
- perception of ideas
the fourth khanda is mental formation. earlier, we note that the matter, as in the heart and body 'surrenders' to the mind. the mind takes over as in perception and then mental formation -- that is the mind in control, arises volitional decision or factors.
the fourth khandha, mental formations is a complex, and in a nut shell, contains a number of volitional factors. there are 50 types of mental formations mentioned in the abhidhamma text [we will not touch on these]. spearheading these 50, is volition or will. this has and had been mentioned in most aspects of the dhamma that the mind is the forerunner of all things.
clearly, this is the mental factor that arouses us to act by way of body, as in action, or by mere speech. mental formations also include all different desires and emotions, including the wholesome and unwholesome actions [the roots of good or bad results].
the basic psychological roots of unwholesome actions are best described under 3 main catergories of greed, hatred and delusion. the basic roots of wholesome actions are acted upon dana, sila and bhavana or plainly mention as generosity, moral uplifting [can also include loving kindness] and wisdom via meditation.
the last of the 5 khandhas or aggregates is consciousness.
consciousness should be clearly understood here not to mix up with mental volition.
a simple explanation is that volitional thought arises in our mind, as in internal. a blind person has volitional thought but the fact that he or she is blind limits her actions, skillful or unskillful.
however, consciousness is that factor that utilises the five senses, as in external, helping the mind to decide base on wholesome or unwholesome efforts.
consciousness is divided into 6 types by way of its bases.
1. the eye consciousness - cognises visual objects, movement or stationary.
2. ear consciousness - cognises sound, moving to the 'epicentre' of the sound that arises.
3. nose consciousness - cognises smell.
4. tongue consciousness - cognises taste.
5. body consciousness - cognises tangible sensations, and
6. mind consciousness - cognises objects or concepts of our outer senses such as sight, sound, odour, taste and feeling, etc as well as mental objects such as beliefs, ideas, images, concepts, visualisational and abstract notions, etc.
here, you can clearly see that consciousness differs from perception. consciousness is the general awareness of objects where perception is the specific task or factors that grasp the object's distinctive qualities.
having understood this, when we take the 5 aggregates as a whole, it is about this nama rupa, mind and body. simply said, it is just like a robot.
knowing the robot cannot act on its own and needs a human to activate it to perform a task -- that very human is the guardian angel or holy spirit.
see the reasoning here, the concept thus describe!
on the other hand, if that robot is a humanoid, or cyborg or, better still, fully a human -- do we need 'somebody' to activate our task or action?
aaaah, that distinguishes buddhism from the rest. the 5 khandhas is an indepth and fully explained concept of this body. is there a soul?
the fact that our mind is 5% developed on the average human, that is where we need 'someone' to guide us. where the mind is fully developed, you do not need that 'someone'. moreover it is a burden.
why burden? most of us pray [and thou shalt fall prey] for guidance from an external being, be it out there or within as in a personal god.
if that 'someone' fails you or is not present when you need his help, who can you turn to? -- just because you need an inspiration to make the next move!
continue later?
i am back and hoped to finish this ???????????
take this simile.
one day a person with a personal guide [just in case some people are annoyed with the word god] set sail to the other shore, thinking the grass is greener over the other side. half way in the sea, the boat capsize. the only thought he has was that the personal guide will save him. but then, this personal guide unseen, not physically capable of saving him.
on the other hand, if that person is self reliant, then he sees the planks of the boat as a saviour!
so, that person was drowned and was summoned to the courts of the personal guide. he asked the personal guide -- i have been praying to you, why you prey on me?
i have been depending on you for guidance, why you were not there to guide me when i needed you most?
you may add that the grass is greener over there, it is only perception and your consciousness acted on your perception because of that mental formation of an object of delusion. and the feelings has prompted it to do likewise -- get a boat and see what is on the other side -- it is an 'unwholesome' thought of greed.
if all of us can be contented with what we have, this world will be a nice place to live. there will be nobody stating claims over the house, the land, the mountain, the sea, the tangible things that our greed yearns for.
don't you think so?
well, in summary, those who have a personal guide -- i shall not take their personal guide away, keep it if you like it, don't bother yourself with the above 5 khandhas. continue with your life as you deem fit.
moreover, with the above explanation, lest they are summoned to the courts and blamed me for acting on the second precept of killing. ha ha ha ha, uuuuuuuhhh? better for me to keep my precepts. eeeek i have already spoke out! well, well, well, take it as a philosophical thinking, it might not be true and totally rubbish.
eh, solly for the long self-discussion. it might disrupt your weekends. anyway, apologies to those who do not agree and sadhu to those who buys the idea and may all beings, seen and unseen share in the merits of expounding the universal truth of nature.
hi all
one more word, there is no excuse for being ignorant.
however, do not blame others for our ignorance. only you as in us, as in ourself, we can decide whether we want to be ignorant and lead a dumb life or stay informed and accumulate knowledge so that we are not foolish.
well, can you blame yourself that in those early secondary school days, how i wish i have studied harder and pay more attention to the teacher?
IF? IF? If? do not go on a blame game. enough is enough, so to say. all of us have equal opportunities to live up to our morality.
if we think that we are better off that the poor beggar on the streets, let us put on our thinking caps and look at it from another angle. they keep their precepts better than us!
if we think that we are educated and rich and the precepts are much easier to keep, take a look again at our actions and pleasure pursuits?
see, all humans, the two legged being you see walking on this planet, have equal rights and status to walk the path - the middle path - the path to fully awakened.
there is no segregation or discrimination in colour, education, social status, gender, place of birth, etc. it is the charter of free enquiry --- every one of us have the right to exercise free will as long as we do not instill on others or decide for others our beliefs. it is unto ourselves that we are wise. it is also unto ourselves that we are foolish, too.
have an exciting weekend! he he he he
Hi He
Since you have touced on the 5khandas.
Here is a question for you .
No one likes negative energies.
When defilement arise (anger/greed etc) What method do you use to transmute it?
..... tic tac
sharing a piece of information from bhikku bodhi, probably one of the best learned scholars of our time who understood the teachings of the Buddha in comprehensive detail.
here it goes:
the five aggregates of clinging.
allow ourselves, with an open mind, treat our very existence and experience analytically.
We have to dissect the being, our own individuality. The Buddha reveals that what we are, our being or personality, is a composite of five factors which are called the five aggregates of clinging. They are called the five aggregates of clinging because they form the basis for clinging. Whatever we cling to can be found amongst the five aggregates. These five function together as the instrument for our experience of the world. We cling to them as instruments of our experience in this life, and when they break up at death, due to that same clinging - the desire for enjoyment and for existence - a new set of aggregates, a new life arises to continue our experience in another existence. Thus we build up one set of aggregates after another, life after life, and in that way we accumulate Dukkha, the suffering, in the round of samsara.
The Buddha says that the five agregates have to be fully understood. This is the first Noble Truth, the truth of Dukkha. The five aggregates are our burden, but at the same time they provide us with the indispensable soil of wisdom. To bring suffering to an end we have to turn our attention around and see into the nature of the aggregates.
The five aggregates are:
1. Material form.
2. Feelings.
3. Perceptions.
4. Mental formations.
5. Consciousness.
These five aggregates exhaust our psychophysical existence. Any event, any occurrence, any element in the mind-body process can be put into one of these five aggregates. There is nothing in this whole experiential process that lies outside them.
All these four mental aggregates always exist together; they all depend upon one another. Whenever there is any experience of an object, at that moment there is present, simultaneously, a feeling, a perception, a cluster of mental formations and consciousness, the light of awareness.
Whatever we identify ourselves with, whatever we take to be 'I', or 'my self' can be found within these five agggregates. Therefore if we care to understand ourselves, what we have to understand is the five aggregates. To fully understand the five aggregates means to see them as they really are, and this means to see them in terms of the three characteristics of existence, that is, impermanence, unsatisfactoriness or suffering, and selflessness or non-self.
very well expounded and so simple and yet it carries with it wisdom. the unclouded mind, the unblurred seeing, the ungloved feeling, the untoxicated tasting, the soundless hearing, etc.
aaaaah, i can see the stars tonight, sailing and twinkling deep into the night. how i wish i can reach there to see what it is? ha ha ha ha
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
hi tic tac
let us play tic-tac-toe?
'' Since you have touched on the 5khandas. Here is a question for you. No one likes negative energies. When defilement arise (anger/greed etc) What method do you use to transmute it? ''
it is easy, do not toe the line!
well, when anger arise, look at our selves. why the anger arise? the anger arise because what we see, hear and spoken does not subscribe to our very own sets of creed, norms or understanding. that is why we reciprocate our seeing, hearing and speech by 'retaliation' - that is not correct, 'mine' is correct. it all boils down to our 'ego'.
you can see anger rising to its peak, the moment you draw out your ego, your sets of understanding and norms --- challenging the other party. if the other party have another set and starts to retaliate, you can see volcanoes bursting out of their seams.
the wise man will only acknowledge the external thoughts as --- those are your thoughts, they are not mine and they shall never be mine: stay put there and do not disrupt my state of calmness. as the wise man thus thinking, he walks away peacefully, well composed and acknowledge how deceiving is our 5 khandhas!
the same also goes with greed. greed arises because we want to fulfill the ego in us. the delusion that the greed is able to satisfy our needs. what needs are there? the needs arises because of our consciousness that arises out of mental formations of so-called 'bliss, happiness, satisfaction'.
these will then complicates into perceptions of clinging: i want it, it can give me satisfaction, i just want it ...... all arising out of feelings, that is the result of this body or material form. and this material form because of feelings and perceptions and mental formations together with consciousness, execute that very action of greed.
this is best explained in a male and female scene in a private room. take a look at each other in the naked form -- only the material body, no external objects as in clothings. watch your consciousness and then the mental formations, then the perceptions, then the feelings then the material form.
the moment you reach that understanding of the total 5 aggregates, what is the reaction? clinging, clinging, i want it, i cannot resist it, it is happiness, it is paradise, etc. etc.
but after the climax of the 5 aggregates where your greed has been fully achieved, what do you see in reverse -- the material form, the feelings, the perceptions, the mental formations, the consciousness --- the greed has died down? correct. what is there left? greed? it has died down. there is minimal greed. however another set of consciousness arises? if it is your wife, well!?
if it is your mistress! oooops what have i done. if it is a being, an innocent being on the streets? one may ask -- what is this all about? well, well, well, the act of rape is obvious.
all arising from our very base defilements called MOHA --- Make Others Hate A[u]s!
after the whole scenario, just take a closer look at what the 5 khandhas is all about. it is basically pleasing 'it' due to the urge of 'clinging'.
does that answer your question? as long as we respect ourselves that the other being has a right to his or her thoughts, that all those opinion should not be clinged onto us, we are very safe. if it clings, let it be. if you process it and offer our opinion, do it humbly. if the other person [as in object] get annoyed, move away. do not allow the 5 aggregates to pursue lest you want to see the results, it could be very ugly.
take 'fear' for example.
i know that that is fear. fear is not in me, fear is there. it shall not be in me. fear is not me. then you can see that the fear will not be inside you to create 'fear'
if you need assistance, blog again.
I see your point,and you mentioned
material form, feelings, perception, mental formation & consciousness.
Do they always go in a sequence?
I thought consciouness comes first?
...tic tac
hi tic tac
did you toe the line?
well, you are picking up the scent! the five khandhas always come in that sequence. consciousness does not come first. why?
take for example, you are on a first trip to a place you have not been before.
you set foot at the place, you are aware that it is real and not an illusion -- physically it is matter or material object.
the moment your eyes open, the material or matter object is there. you are excited that you have arrived, at last. the feeling thereby arises is the mental factor of knowing the mental 'flavour' of this place, the effective quality that your sense faculties have picked up. you see, hear, smell, taste, body contact and the mind. all these sense faculties immediately pick up the object. it is the excitement! it is just mere sensing, just like the camera -- it senses the object and it needs time to get the focus on the object.
this focus is the factor of perception. now the senses will start to pick up or grasp the quality of the object.
it will then feed the mental formation with the details. the mental formation will arouse the emotion or desire, it can be wholesome or unwholesome.
then the consciousness sets in. it is the general awareness of the place, in this instance. in this case, the scenery is wholesome and you have consciously like the place. it will be unwholesome if have consciously dislike the place arising from the unwholesome mental factor -- to destroy the place -- as in the case of religious jealousy, envy or even hatred.
see, in summary
1. material form --- arrived at the place, you have set foot and it is matter as in really physical as compared to a dream where it is only illusion.
2. feeling --- the senses pick up the objects as in trees, lakes and flowers and people, etc
3. perception ---- the senses zooms in on the object - its qualities and takes note of it, the tree is green, the lakes are blue, the flowers are blooming.
4. mental formation --- the volition or will arises as in desire, emotion -- wholesome or unwholesome. the trees are green and it is tall, young and so fresh. the lake is blue and the water is cool and crystal like, reflecting the sky, etc. the flowers are blooming in a multitude of colours, its scents are filling the air with fragrance, etc.
5. consciousness --- awareness of all the inputs from the above, the consciousness will start to decide what to do with the details where greed, hatred and delusion arises.
consciously, you can say you love the place. wholesomely you love it as it is, or perhaps, help to maintain those qualities.
however, consciously, you are jealous of such a place. unwholesomely, you start to spit everywhere, picking the flowers and throwing it away, pick up a pebble and throw it into the lake to cause ripples. probably shouting out loud to disturb the peace in the surroundings.
see, this is how the 5 aggregates reacts and acts on it. well consciousness is the last.
the above run-through is finely detailed, documented and segmented as to how the mind works from 1 to 5. you see the process. this is how the mind works.
hi tic tac
the five aggregates move so fast in the mind that we often take for granted what we see, hear, smell, taste, feel and thereby consciously absorb the object.
in real life, we tend to overlook these qualities because we have no time to stop, wait, look and see one by one. we just view or glance and move on. it sounds like time wait for no one.
the five aggregates train us to be aware of each and every object and in the midst, understand the nature of it. but many people, though 'understand the nature of it', does not really understand.
they will start to make a decision on the object, comment on the object, pass remarks on it, have mixed thoughts of how to use it, etc, etc, etc. not knowing that it does not belong to them. but they want to cling to them. this clinging gives rise to dukkha or suffering.
the moment we pass comment, we have started to create unwholesome thoughts. why? it does not belong to you and why you are doing that? they thought that they have a decision to make just because they do not understand the five aggregates -- they cling or attach to it as if it belongs to them.
see?
most of us do that everyday, every moment, every second. if we can start unclinging to all these, our mind will be free from all those unwholesome thoughts arising, suppressing each and every unwholesome thought that is about to arise.
aaaaah, it is so peaceful within us. the peace is within us. it is so calm and stable. we can see the arising of thoughts and the cessation of thoughts. we are able to suppress the unwholesome and unskillful.
don't you think that is bliss? we still acknowledge the beauty or ugliness of the matter or physical material but we will not get attach or cling to it. everything we see will not pollute our conscious mind. it is like ''let it be'' or ''make out thoughts simple''. do not complicate things as it is because we did not exercise our opinion arising out of clinging.
i hope i have make it clear, perhaps, a bit long winded.
have a nice weekend!
hi all
tried very hard to make it simple so that others are able to understand it. in the midst, hoped that i did not misinterpret it. if i do, kindly forgive me.
or better, share with me your approach. hey, i am still learning and will be learning until my days are numbered.
it is a pleasure to know and share dhamma. keeping it simple by sharing experiences. it might not apply to you because each of us have a different approach but the same path. some will jog along the path, some will walk, others will run, and yet some will rest along the way. somehow or other, we will meet at the top!
the nights seem to be quiet without the meow meow. whynot seem to be out of action. once a while i can hear the moo moo in a distance. and the scent of lemon has faded wthout the hungry man around. tic tac managed to toe the line. mee is getting thirsty looking for ??????? he he he he
hey
weekends are really weekends and all of us are out of contact, uuuuuuh
He, you explained Dhamma very well, and in details .
Curious, are you a monk or a Dhamma teacher???
Guessed you were once a monk must have disroped and now become a Dhamma Teacher. Right?
...roti canai
hi roti canai
oooops! miss out the breakfast menu - roti canai! eh, i thought you were having a haven of roti canai and forgotten to tread the path! [joking lah]
welcome back.
curious, eh i am no monk and not even a disrobed monk! maybe in the past life. perhaps when i grow old and nobody wants me, then i will become a monk. but then, whether they will accept white hairs as monks. when a person grows old, they might bring along some 'old habits die hard' and if i am a monk, most probably a lot of people have to bear with my old habits.
aaaah, maybe i go to the deep jungles and become one, die also never mind. afterall, what is this life but full of things to finish, obligations to finish, burden to finish, whynot finish [as in exhaust] myself. ha ha ha ha
he he he he.
maybe one day i will be robed in to come a dhamma teacher. in the meantime, let me speak my mind and share whatever there is to the dhamma with all of you. if i am a monk i have to restrain from talking dhamma related to human or family sufferings, lest i indulge in it and disrobe.
well, well, well, let the 'guardian angel' guide us? ha ha ha ha
he he he he
eeek, i thought i never believe in guardian angels lest i attach to them. see, it is best to release our burden, the bliss of letting go and walk freely like the rhinocerous. eh, there is a sutta of the rhinoceros --- he who dares to walk alone and fear nothing, can we he one?
i hoped that what i have shared would give all of you some grounds for thought and maybe with the practise and experience, you are able to share with me and perhaps, with all those out there.
experience is the best teacher and will be in the future. you can say that it is also history that teaches us to behave outselves today. got it.
hi roti canai, have you lived out of the roti canai and got enlighten? or are you still taking roti canai, indulge in it and enjoy the bliss, lest one day it is extinct.
ha ha ha ha
roti canai, do you know that your indulgence in roti canai, if you go deeper into your indulgence and why you are into roti canai -- you could gain a bit of dhamma, why not share with us your obsession and ???????? what not?
let me share with you a story of a layman who was so engrossed looking out of his house window into the gardens of a temple opposite his house.
every evening, he sees this monk who would sweep and sweep the gardens and then walks back to his kuti. he will leave the leaves there without throwing inside the dustbin. and every evening, the wind would blow up and mess the garden. the monk will do it again and again every evening?
he was so curious that he walks over to offer help to the monk one evening. the monk agreed to let him do the task while the monk will practise his walking meditation.
the man was so accomplished after having finished his task of sweeping the leaves in a heap, he sat down and wait for the wind to blow it off. but the wind was not present. he was looking north, south, east and west.
suddenly while he was watching one direction, the monk came by and kick up the heap of leaves. the man was so mad and wanted to scold the monk but was suddenly enlighten!
can you guess what was the message he had learnt from the effort and the mess up heap of leaves --- as an observer: as he was watching from his window and as a performer :as a sweeper there.
roti canai, anybody, out there want a roti canai,
after taking roti canai, maybe, it can help you asnswer the question? hopefully, ha ha ha ha
wait for all of your answers. have a nice weekend!
hi there
it seems so quiet here. is there anything wrong? or perhaps, everybody feel sad to hear of yasmin ahmad demise.
well, well, well, if anyone needs nutrition to keep the diseases away, you can speak to me.
nobody wants to get sick. correct? the moment you are down and in bed, you will probably burden everybody at home. the daily running of household chores are disrupted, family members are also disrupted in their time going about doing their daily routine.
burden, burden, burden. to keep yourself healthy or to rejuvenate your health, i can share with you my experience. ask and you will be informed.
you will also like to know that no amount of insurance can help to put back your health back to where you wanted it to be -- filled with energy and stamina to take life as it comes along.
so, take care of your health. do not allow the slightest symptoms of a heart disease, signs of aging, signs of lethargy and signs of breadthlessness tell you that your body is DOWN.
take that step to happiness by taking care of your health. the Buddha, after expounding the concept of the 5 aggregates, mentioned that this body needs to be taken care of so that we can perform our meritorious deeds, keeping our 5 precepts, etc, etc. --- and that is nutrition and water. two simple factors which we tend to overlook or take for granted. probably don't even bother by taking the extremes -- undernourish or overeating.
see, the dhamma is so universal. the middle path is always a position where you can see both extremes.
take care of your health. have a nice day.
Hai friends,
Lately there is the feeling of "sadness". Suddenly there is the awareness of so much suffering in the community.
One example : - In the temple, when i saw a old blind mother being helped by a very poor vision son (assumed) i felt for them. In my heart, there is joy cos they are still in touch with dhamma.
Happy on one hand yet very sad on the other side. The partially blind couple have to go through so much suffering. They are brave and take life as it comes. They took a bus / walk to temple They are so resilent!!
Wonder what was in their mind. Do they have any compliants or frustation ?
Yet there are others who dont appreciate their parents - who dont call up to talk to their parents or to check how they are doing. Dont even take the trouble to visit their old aged parents. They (the children and parents)seemed to live in a separate world.
The vision touched me so much. We have good health and sufficient income to live by, yet what then are we complaining about???
Many are not appreciative and grateful for the things in they have presently, there are so many dissatisfaction in the society today. Family problems etc...
I have stopped buying newspaper. The front page is Rape, Murder, govt. stuff, injustice etc....
Reading these these headlines make me very sad...
Have any of you experienced this feeling? Its difficult to explain only through your experience you can understand.
Is this part of dhamma we go through in life?
..... lemon
hi lemon
your life seems to be sour? ha ha ha ha, that is the taste of life from the lemon. ha ha ha ha
life always extract itself from the lesson of the dhamma - the universal truth of suffering.
allow me to share with you a simile.
if life is full of beds of roses, we will never understand dhamma and thereby will not even do good and avoid evil! right? look at some of the filthy rich in the world, suffering is seldom in their vocabulary or for that matter, they are chasing after the world, after the money, after the luxuries, after women, etc.
all these are illusion. all these are the symbolic manifestation of the 5 khandhas. all these are impermanent. take a look at our children. when they are toddlers, they are so cute and cuddly, when they enter teenage, we find them rough and playful, when they are adolescent, they abandon us for the greenier pastures of the own sex of the opposite sex.
if we can look back, we are constantly chasing after . . . . . what? all these are the illusion of our five senses.
so, as we see suffering, allow ourselves to acknowledge it but not attaching to it. when we see happiness, allow ourselves to congratulate others for finding happiness [not envy or jealousy]. take like as it is and not attaching to it will lead us to equanimity.
as we reflect on the above, we see the nature of the dhamma, the extremes in life. this lesson allow us to strengthen our confidence in the dhamma and set us on good footing to practise.
some of us might have bad tempered husbands or monsters-in-laws [i mean mother-in-laws], but life still carry on. with such people around, we know how to do good, lest you want to join them!
because of a negative condition arises, the positive condition will prevail, as explained above.
when a positive condition arises, the negative condition will prevail. just like when you get a promotion, not many will say congratulations to you. but there will be many who will feel envious, jealous or even hatred. attempts to bring you down will always be a condition that will arise sooner or later. understanding these negative/positive conditions, we are more prepared to face life as it is.
so, allow ourselves to stay neutral. non-attachment will push us forward. if we feel sad, lament on the sightings of evil people around, we are only attaching to them and not facing the reality of this worldly conditions. let it be, those are not our karma and vipaka, let us carry on with life and do what is best for us to prepare for a better realm of existence.
try and go back to buy the papers, read the news. there are good news and bad news. otherwise you can surf the internet for happenings around us. there are still good samaritans around us who are able to share the dhamma amidst all the topsy-turvy happenings around us.
take a look at the lotus. amidst the brackish water, the stinking pond, the clogged, muddy water, the lotus still blooms in all its beautiful splendour, untainted and not bringing with it the mud and slime it has been living in it in its lifespan.
well, we should be like the lotus, so much purity with its fragrance commanding the essence of equanimity that it is neither scented or smelly!
aaaah, that is the cultivation of the teachings of the Buddha. look around and try to find a white lotus flower, its petals are so soft and tender, you mind should be in that state.
take life as it comes along, there is a lot of lessons for us to learn. cheerio and face it.
he he he he
He,
Oh...... now i grasp what meditation is.
Meditation is not only sitting for 1 or 2 hours. We can also practise it in our daily duties, when any of our 6 sense button is pushed. Isn't this called mindfulness??
If we regret over any action (done). Do we contemplate on the "regretness" or the "action" ??
What do we watch? The "feeling" or "impermanence of things" ?
..... roti canai
hi roti canai
ooops, i might have said something wrong!
meditation, by way of various techniques, develop mindfulness, concentration, tranquility and insight.
mindfulness is a state of the mind developed through meditation. however, one can still practise mindfulness eventhough you do not have time for meditation.
mindfulness of the things that happen around you, mindfulness of the things that you are going to act on, mindfulness of the results of your actions -- are they creating happiness of sadness, satisfaction or unsatisfactoriness for others.
of course, if you can allot, initially, 5 minutes of your daily routine by just sitting down in a quiet place or corner in your home to release all the stress you have thus created during the day.
or you can allot 5 minutes before you go to bed for meditation. you can start off by taking a deep breadth, hold your breadth for a few seconds and then release it. after that, you can just stay that way, watching and looking at your mind. your mind will recall all the happenings during the day, just watch it go by, do not attach to it.
watch it just like you watch a movie. try to let go the happening in the watching. watch as if the actor is not you, even if it is you. just let those thoughts come and go. do not attach to it.
after a while you will feel that there will not arise anything, as in voidness. let it be. this state might come after some time of practise. some might have that experience early because they might have that skill in their past life or they are mindful of their actions during the day.
when you have calmed down yourself, then you turn your watching to the rising and falling of your breadth. like . . . . i can feel the air is coming through my nostril, i can feel the air leaves my nostril, then again, i can feel the air is coming through my nostril and then i can feel the air leaving it.
just watch it comes and goes. if you have to lie down to sleep, let it be. you will be surprised that the next morning you will be able to get up recharged!
practise it frequently and you will gain better mindfulness, concentration, tranquility and insight.
remember, as long as you do not attach to any of your thoughts, but just watch it as if you are in the movie, allow it to come and go, let it go and you will feel the bliss of letting it go.
continuing for roti canai
if you need more deeper understanding, get a monk to guide you.
each one of us have a different experience in meditation. do not be bothered about jhana, nimitta or all those 'wow, i experience the bliss of this and that'. those are simply summarised in one word called 'ego' --- let it go.
we practise meditation to calm ourselves from allowing our mind to run wildly like a monkey, tame our mind and thus taming our 5/6 senses.
you mentioned 'if we regret over any action you have done'. let us take one step at a time.
allow our mind to see the true nature of our actions. watch the actions, be it good or bad that we have done. initially, one who has not learned the five precepts will tend to fumble over some of the precepts. don't worry.
as long as you are mindful of the good or negative actions, take precautions not to repeat the negative. you can do so by putting in some understanding of your actions. understand why you have done it. look at it in a broader perspective why you did that. if it is wrong and go against the 5 precepts, abstain from doing it in the future. this understanding will give rise to realisation!
the more you analyse your actions via your mindfulness, each day is definitely a polishing day in that you are putting in effort to trim down your defilements that arises from your ignorance.
as the days go by, you will feel that your body is becoming lighter and lighter --- i meant the burden and work load is much lighter now. things that does not concern you will be deactivated. things that concern you, those that are bad will be stopped. things that are good to perform should be joyful and acted upon again and again.
these are the basics.
however, in my opinion, i always say that the word 'IF' should be taken out of your personal vocabulary. 'IF' always arises from our past actions, effort of regret, resentment or missed opportunity. well, well, well, whatever is past, let it pass. do not harp on it. STAY IN THE PRESENT and watch your actions.
you mentioned: If we regret over any action (done). Do we contemplate on the "regretness" or the "action" ??
here, if you contemplate on the 'regretness', you should bring out your five precepts and use it as your guide. if it breaks any of your precepts, acknowledge it and renew your precepts. abstain from doing so in the future. that is the action you should take.
you can still contemplate on your regretness of your action, but do not allow it to haunt you. move ahead.
however some might say that it is this minor regretedness that haunts all my life. understand your action and realise your mistake. the moment you realise it was a mistake, renew your precepts by chanting the five precepts to renew your wholesome action.
there is no point for you to keep the 'regretness' all your life. leave it behind and walk the path the Buddha taught us.
exercise your skillful means, those that are wholesome in action, cultivate it. those that are unskillful and unwholesome in thoughts, action or speech, ABANDON IT!
TO BE CONTINUED
hi roti canai
my previous 5 aggregates or 5 khandhas best explained your question.
regret always arise from our misguidance of our perception arising from our feelings. all these sums up to the mental formation. when left unchecked, the consciousness arises and thereby guiding our body to perform that deed and later regret doing it.
regret always have an element or degree of anger arising from greed, hatred and delusion. REMEMBER, anger is short of 'd' which becomes D-ANGER!
ha ha ha ha, how strange can words be!
so, because of this 'danger', we regret! contemplating on it will not solve the problem. understanding it and realising that very unwholesome action will 'enlighten' you to see the truth and not repeat it. see, it is the 'feeling' that causes this regret as in the 5 khandhas.
watching it as 'impermanence of things' has no significance here.
if we regret it, why should we do it. the element of regret can be retracked if we can fully understand every step of the mind process, as explained in the 5 khandhas.
wow, this is probably the only sharing over the last 7 days and today is already another weekend. have a nice weekend and take a good rest. if you need to blog, go ahead!
Howdy.....
Some of us are more intutive than others. Noticed that when my left ear itches it is usually some gossips or anything "negative" When my right ear itches it the "positive" things like friends thinking of me or want to contact me immediately.
Though my "6th sense" doesnt turn out to be 100% true, but the possibilities are high.
..
Hi,
2 months ago, TM (telekom malaysia) has offered a package -top up additional RM 10 to land line plus your streamyx you can call anywhere in malaysia without charges and no time limit.
TM NEVER tell the Truth.
This month i received my bill, i was still charged for calling KL. On the bill they print out MAXIS When i double checked with TM their reason was the area i called was covered by MAXIS and not TM and hence have to pay.
How would we know which line is covered by which Tele Company?
To me 03 - is KL, 05- is Perak etc...
Regarding this case, do TM break the 4th and 2nd precepts?
Any comments?
........lemon
Aiyo..yo...
Business man dont tell the whole truth now. You have to ask all sorts of questions. You dont ask you rugi.
Business rep. only tell the lucrative part. No one to blame, only accept your ignorance.
Same goes for any agreements. Must use magnifying glass to read the small prints.
Never trust anyone in this modern world full of crooks. They will sweet talk you. Before you notice it you will be "cut" on the neck
Next time be smarter.
Good that you have shared with us.
.....ice cream
hi all
of course, the 2nd and 4th precepts are broken. that is what the modern world is about, chasing after your money, money and mmmmmmuch more money.
however, they are quite sane in a sense that they will print in small prints 'terms and conditions apply'
ha ha ha ha
they will break the precepts but consciously they cover their @#$%& just in case we sue them.
well, well, well, as long as we are not attached to these worldly things, we have less suffering. if you do not subscribe to them, then the suffering is not there. and you need not seek other people's opinion.
you can go to luangta.com. this is run by the sangha from donations from the public. it is very transparent, at least for now. the radio station is funded by itself and always speak the truth -- at least you can hear truthful news and not about murder, deaths, rape, bombings, and all those @#$%&* what nots.
whynot, you have been in captivity for quite sometime or perhaps you do not have a good sparring partner?
see, face the real world, you have a choice to decide whether you need it or not --- take it and you feel the pinch, don't take it and you feel handicap. why? because of clinging to the world. attachment is suffering.
end of the day, can we forgo that small deceiving note. go, carry on with our lives and do not allow it to taint our path to liberation. take it as it comes along. one day we can let it go or move to better pastures!
he he he he
Hello HE and All,
I must be receiving your telepathic message so I took a peek at this site and saw your latest posting. Whalla! I'm still around!
Sorry, Folks, it was a nice 'break' for me from here for a while. It enabled me to do other things. Besides, I've been busy past few weeks.
Would like to share a good news with you all. I've the honour to cater/cook for two international visiting Zen Masters, one from the USA and the other from Korea this Oct/Nov. Will also be catering for the Workshop.
Wah, just noted some 30 postings since my absence from here. Too lenghty to read. So what's new in here?
re: trusting bussinessmen & TM. The business world is by and large a wicked world. Trust them at your own peril. Having said that, there are some 'angels' in there and they are a rare breed. So, my friends, exercise caution in all your affairs with them.
No promises, but I'll try to find time to visit here more often. I may have another project coming up that will take the better part of me away from here.
Stay tuned.
whynot :)
hi whynot
i agree in totality what you have mentioned and would like to add . . . . . . you have to be careful of the angels too.
they will go after your money BUT in a very polite manner – 'would you like to donate to the orphanage and bring cheer and joy to the ophans? christmas is round the corner!'
ha ha ha ha he he he he
an early christmas greeting in case you are chopping down christmas trees deep in the alpines!
hehehehehehe
Hello HE,
You're as lively and bubbly as ever. Like your good sense of humour.
No chopping down them Xmas trees. We got a plastic one!
re: donation. Far too easy just to give $$$ to charity. I was on duty yesterday (charity work) all day at the Races picking up the intoxicated and providing First Aid services. You give more hands on than money!
Smile and be happy
whynot.
Can any one help to me to arrange the messages so that the newer ones are in front and not towards the end??? ty cat meow meow
hi whynot
christmas trees are of the old thinking. [ooops????] for many aeons, the christmas tree has become an iconic symbol of merry making when snow falls in the northern hemisphere, sorry for those down south or under. it is the time where you see the trees are lit up with shiny little dolls, poodles, bottles, balls, cute figurines, etc --- all hung to bring cheer and joy as it twinkles in the night.
today, the so-called triangular tree or christmas tree is look upon as a symbol of joyful, fun-filled, holiday season feeling is near. so let our hair down and revel in the mood.
you get what i mean!
let me share this with you. the christmas tree season could be anytime of the year!
whenever there is a season to celebrate, especially with lights, do the same. look for a tree, a tall triangular shaped, start trimming it to look triangular, making sure that it has sufficient leafless twigs and an abundance of healthy leaves. [colour is not important, will tell you later]
the twigs will be anchor points for the twinkle little lights which you are going to wrap round the tree.
gather anything from tiny trinklets to your favourite dry cones. spray them with your most imaginative colours. then tie a thread to secure its position on the tree. the tree could be any tree in your compound. it could be spring season or autumn season or even tropical sunshine season. as long as the tree has healthy leaves, it will do lots of cheering up.
say, if you have a tree with multicolour leaves like the ficus tree, it will just be exciting. the ficus tree has very unique colours, especially those on malaysian soil. when it is budding, the colour is light yellow, eventually turning orange and then to golden brown, red, and moving to deep maroon and runs dark green and then to light green. the leave of the ficus is quite hardy.
see, you will have a nice 'christmas' tree in your compound all year round if you want, when you put in your effort to create your dreams. dreams are only dreams. it will only be a reality when you put your dreams to work.
hungry ghost month is down the days, you can create one for it? then comes along the mooncake festival where you can create another tree and take a shot of the silhoutte of the tree against the lunar 8th moon! when december is round the corner, you will probably have a collection of several types of 'christmas' tree, each one has a story to tell.
we, probably, should call it joyful tree or greeting trees or @#$%&* tree to fit the season of joy we wish to enjoy.
try this out, it could be just the latest trend in eco friendly products. you need not wait for christmas to be around, everyday is a joyful day.
oooops, whynot, i supposed that your plastic tree can act as a dummy model for your gardener to make up a real christmas tree.
ho ho ho ho, and a bottle of rum.
he he he he, and a bag of laughter.
ha ha ha ha, and the teeth keep falling off!!!!! huh huh huh huh
I came across this article and thought it suitable to be posted here. Let's contemplate on it.
What will Matter
Author: Michael Josephson
Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Re-what will matter
Unless a person has extreme qualities-obl or mother theresa, the rest of us who are plodding along will eventually be forgotten after the expiry date because there are too many activities and events that will move along with the flow of the living, at times the living will have to set a universal date to remember the souls of the dearest departed.....cat meow meow
Hi Meowing Cat,
I agree with you to a large extend that we as laities with all our distractions and habitual ways, soon will move on and the dearly departed forgotten. Hence I think what Michael Josephson is trying to impart is the qualities one left behind which he referred to as 'character' is what endures in our memories. Good example is Buddha himself or Jesus for that matter. Mother Theresa is another and so are many others. Does Michael Jackson the Whacko also counts?
whynot
meow meow,
At this moment, a friend is helping mitta to set up this blog. Have refered your comments to her. Hope that something can be done.
....meeli
Post a Comment