We are really fortunate in Singapore to have so many Dharma events in 1 weekend that we are spoilt with choices. A delay in registration for another event & a change of mind when notified of of Ven. Chodron's retreat.
As Venerable put it, she used to have to travel half the Earth to India to seek Dharma in the 1970s as well as the ancient Chinese Masters risking lives in ancient times walking across deserts to seek Dharma from India & return to China, we are really fortunate to be in retreats within an hour's travel, however, we should not take such good karma for granted.
I have decided to quickly pen down some points to share and serves as a reminder of what's learnt from the talk/retreat before I forget & have no time later, just like retreat a month ago which is still in draft with no momentum to complete it.:P
Pardon is sought for any misinterpretation or incorrect remembrance.
22 Oct 2010 7.30pm At Tai Pei Buddhist Centre -
"Our Precious Human Life"
We seek to become Buddha for benefit of all beings.
Our Enlightenment depends on each & every being, if we leave anyone out, our Bodhisattva motivation is incomplete.
Our Enlightenment also depends on every person we don't like. we must learn to like them.
Who hurts most? Ourselves by bearing the thought of dislike.
What is meant by Precious Human Life?
What is Precious?
The human life is Precious because we have the intelligence and good opportunity to meet the Buddha's teaching and apply it to nurse our own spiritual hearts.
Venerable gave a few examples that we should not take our present circumstances for granted.
Relating to a visit in Denmark to a defective ability children's home, the children benefited from the country's welfare scheme that they have all the good environment and overwhelmed by colorful lively toys and environment but ....
During the Soviet union days or China in just after Cultural revolution, the people had much difficulties to get in touch with Dharma.
Hence, we should not take our current conditions to be in contact with Dharma for granted.
We also always have the mindset to demand Others to be Perfect and that meant they have to do what we want them to do but when defending ourselves to be imperfect, we have the excuse that we are still practising.
In comparison to others who may not have the right conditions, we have the precious human life and should be appreciative of what we have and practise towards path of Enlightenment.
There is an interesting Q&A that as Buddhists, we are always striving towards practising compassion, would that become a point that would be abused by people of other religion?
We should be wise in avoiding unnecessary advantage taken of and the fundamental decision to help should be is the act benefiting anyone positively?
Most religion teaches us to be good so what had been claimed as practitioner of another religion, that person may had misinterpreted the basis of the religion just as a lot of us pray-pray Buddhist may proclaim ourselves as Buddhist but may not have understood/practise the true Dharma.
23 & 24 Oct 2010 10am -5pm At Tai Pei Buddhist Centre -
Skies of Merit Retreat
Retreat is the time for us to reorient strong friendship with ourselves.
Dharma is the salvation of suffering from real life understanding.
The Buddha is the Perfect Excellent Teacher of Experience. He was once like us but figured how to cut root of confusion, ignorance in his own mind and gain Nirvana. His Teaching is reliable as He did not make up the path. For those who had been to India pilgrimage trip, we know that it is not easy to walk and teach Dharma in India for 49 years.
The way to practice is taught by Ven. Chodron via introduction to:
Seven Limb Prayer
Reverently I prostrate with my body, speech and mind,
And presents clouds of every type of offering, actual and mentally transformed.
I confess all my negative actions accumulated since beginningless time,
And rejoice in the virtues of all holy and ordinary beings.
Please remain until cyclic existence ends,
And turn the wheel of Dharma for sentient beings.
I dedicate all the virtues of myself and others to the great enlightenment
Brief reasons for the Seven limbs & detailed illustration via the 1st few paragraphs of King of Prayers: The Extraordinary Aspiration of the Practice of Samantabhadra
Why bowing or prostration?
This act of Humble overcome our pride and train our minds to see good qualities of Triple Gem.
Ven. taught us Tibetan style of full prostration:
Put our hands together, the right hand represents compassion and the left hand represents Wisdom. The hands clasp with thumbs in hand symbolises holding the jewel of our Buddha nature and the space between our palms symbolises emptiness.
The hand will touch the 4 points:
Crown (one of the 32 signs of Buddha) to symbolise "I want to create merit";
Forehead, Throat, Heart (chest area) to symbolise purifying of our body, speech and mind.
Visualise
White light emit from the Buddha's forehead to ours & purifies our act of killing, stealing and sexual misconduct;
Red light emit from the Buddha's throat to ours & purifies our act of harmful speech;
Deep Blue light emit from the Buddha's heart to ours & purifies our mental negatives.
(A big poster of Amitabha Buddha was there to help us better visualise)
The prostration can be quick or slow with hands flat on ground & knees down , touch our head on the ground and push up quickly which symbolises coming out from Samsara quickly.
Why offering?
This act purifies our stinginess, creates merit & train our mind to give delight in giving.
Visualise the ordinary flowers transformed into Sparkling flowers and delicious food & fruits being offered to the Buddha.
A unique offering is to offer our loved ones to be under care of the Buddha versus one's care of attachment;
Offerings of protection helps beings who are lost or in danger;
Offerings of Love provides emotional support e.g. praise, encouragement or hug;
Offering of Dharma is the best as by guiding them to the path of liberation, they can practise & save themselves, one may also read the mantra & prayers aloud and pass Dharma books to friends;
It is important to offer irregardless of whether one is wealthy.
The motivation of giving & delight of giving...
Little bit with Big Heart example given where there was a king who imagined sand as gold dust & offered to Buddha and gained much merit.
Why confession?
This act of acknowledging our harmful actions, making repentance to not to repeat them reduces opportunities for bad karma to materialise.
Regret does not equate Guilt.
Regret is when one make a mistake , regret & move on (just like when one touches a hot surface, pain, regret the touch, and withdraw hand,
whereas guilt is when one makes mistakes & feel no one will forgive you... )
Remedial action e.g. making offerings to Buddha, prostration, meditation on Bodhicitta purifies and negates negative karma or reduces impact.
Harmful action arises because of overwhelm by attachment, anger & confusion.
Action is mistaken and need purification (just confusion) and not makes one an evil person.
Should have compassion fir yourself too.
Light from Buddha purifies one, cleans out fumes in one.
It is important to repent, to die without regrets and no fear.
Why rejoicing?
This reduces envy, jealousy and increases merit in delight of virtue of others.
See our good qualities and balance with confession.
Long term happiness depends on good karma.
Rejoicing increases more good karma & amplify virtue, counters jealous mind.
Why requesting Buddha to stay & teach?
We value all and do not take things for granted. There is usually practice of repeating the request to ask for teaching 3 times so as to show sincerity.
Why Dedication of merit?
Practice of generosity for sake of all sentient beings.
The more detailed form of the Seven Limb Prayers are being illustrated via the 1st few paragraphs of "King of Prayers":http://www.thubtenchodron.org/PrayersAndPractices/the_extraordinary_aspiration.html
I am really grateful for the compassion of Venerable to travel to S'pore to give the Teachings and the organisers and volunteers for organising the event in the comfort of an air-conditioned hall with good lunch provided. :-)
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