Thursday, March 31, 2011
The Power of Self Centredness ~ Ajahn Brahm
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Are you Ready to Go???
This is the textbook recommended for use in the Sutra Discussion class ~ In the Buddha's Words ~ An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon ~ Edited & introduced by Bihkkhu Bodhi. Well translated discourses with good theme organisation.:-) Enhanced further with Venerable's selection of discourses to discuss in the class.
---------
Sutta Discussion Lesson 3:
Are you Ready to Go? :-) .....
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The 3 Divine Messengers
Sutta Discussion lesson 2:
What is suffering?
the cyclic existence of Birth, Ageing, Sickness and Death.
-------------------------
An extraction from AN:3:35;I 138-40
...~~~~
King Yama questions a man, examines him and address him concerning the first divine messenger:"Didn't you ever see, my good man, the first divine messenger appearing among humankind?"
And he replies:'No , Lord, I did not see him."
Then King Yama says to him:"But, my good man, didn't you ever see a woman or a man , eighty, ninety, or a hundred years old, frail, bent like a roof bracket, crooked, leaning on a stick, shaily going along, ailing, youth and vigor gone, with broken teeth, with gray and scanty hair or bald, wrinkled, with blotched limbs?"
And the man replies:"Yes, Lord, I have seen this."
Then King Yama says to him:"My good man, didn't it ever occur to you, an intelligent and mature person, "I too am subject to old age and cannot escape it. Let me now do noble deeds by body, speech and mind?"
"No, Lord, I could not do it. I was negligent."
....
---------
King Yama again questions, examines, and addresses the man about the second divine messenger:"Didn't you ever see, my good man, the second divine messenger appearing among humankind?"
"No, Lord, I did not see him."
"But, my good man, didn't you ever see a woman or a man who was sick and in pain, seriously ill, lying in his own filth, having to be lifted up by some and put to bed by others?"
"Yes, Lord, I have seen this."
"My good man, didn't it ever occur to you, an intelligent and mature person, "I too am subject to illness and cannot escape it. Let me now do noble deeds by body, speech and mind?"
"No, Lord, I could not do it. I was negligent."
....
---------
King Yama again questions, examines, and addresses the man about the third divine messenger:"Didn't you ever see, my good man, the third divine messenger appearing among humankind?"
"No, Lord, I did not see him."
"But, my good man, didn't you ever see a woman or a man one, two or three days dead, the corpse swollen, discolored and festering?"
"Yes, Lord, I have seen this."
"My good man, didn't it ever occur to you, an intelligent and mature person, "I too am subject to death and cannot escape it. Let me now do noble deeds by body, speech and mind?"
"No, Lord, I could not do it. I was negligent."
"Through negligence, my good man, you have failed to to do noble deeds by body, speech, and mind. Well, you will be treated as befits your negligence . That evil action of yours was not done by mother, father, brothers, sisters, friends or companions, nor by relatives, devas, ascetics, or brahims. But you alone had done that evil deed, and you will have to experience the fruit."
------------------------------
Are we also been negligent?The Buddha being shaken by the 3 Divine Messengers~old age, sickness and death, renounced the world. They are termed Divine messengers as the 3 signs are legendary believed to be manifested by the heavenly beings to WAKE the Buddha up despite efforts made to conceal the signs from him.
Then came the discussion on
How do we prepare ourselves for the ageing, sickness and death of our loved ones?
1) Contemplate that we too may fall sick or die anytime.Sickness may also not come in sequence after old age. It can be without warning.
Ask yourself if you are diagnosed with cancer, how do you react?
Contemplate that we will grow old someday and our actions not as agile, hearing not that good, one will have to spend more energy communicating with us, so be patient and understanding towards them.
2) Appreciate our loved ones Now and show appreciation.Don't wait til they are no longer around then you regret not spending more time with them.
3) Fulfill our duties
Don't use the excuse that you are busy when they need your help to bring them to the doctor or trying to communicate to you.
Be glad that you are able to take care of them when you can.
Don't have the attitude that why it is me to take care of them when I have other siblings or why I as daughter or son-in-law is taking care instead of their own daughter or son.
Be happy that you have a chance to take care of them.
Don't, bec of taking care of a long ill patient, think why they haven't move on....
Imagine yourself in their position, you would also like someone to take care of you when you are old and not to just put you in an old folk's home unless in extreme cases when medical/professional care is needed.
4) Knowing and understanding Dharmaaids in achieving calmness in handling situations with understanding of impermanence, etc.
----------------
How do we prepare ourselves for ageing, sickness and death?
1) Contemplate that we may fall sick or die anytime, sickness is nothing to be afraid of. Illness may not cause one's death but fear may be the cause. Hence, a calm mind is important.
2) Take the 3 Refuge and 5 preceptsWith faith in Triple Gems, security is in our mind.
3) Giving
Giving merits generates merits, with merits, there is less likelihood of much suffering and higher possibility of meeting good doctors...
(example of a temple volunteer who suffers from a terminal illness and undergoes chemo but does not feel the side effects that most others experience;
I think this can be quite true, S has always been a kind hearted generous person, though she underwent a surgery recently and had some obstacles initially, she was recovering well)
pt 2 & 3 are also conditions of good rebirth.
4) Practise loving kindness and compassion
It helps to calm our mind, be purified of negative emotions and develop the mind.
5) Whatever not done properly get it done properly!
6) Make Aspirations for our rebirth.
E.g. for those who aspire to be reborn in Amitabha Buddha's Pureland to practrise chanting and dedicate merits to that destination.
For those who may not adorn Pureland, the following aspiration ia a wonderful one taught by the Venerable:
In all my lives until I attain Enlightenment/Buddhahood,
May I not be separated from the Triple Gems and pure spiritual masters,
and may I be able to continue with my spiritual practice
until Enlightenment.
~aspiration for good rebirth:-)
-----------------
Above is just brief recall on discussion in the class which may not be reflective of the enthusiasiam shown by the Venerables in incorporating a lively learning environment for us to learn Dharma with relevance to our daily lives.
(Pardon is sought for any misinterpretation/misunderstanding of Teachings)
http://kmspks.org/download/poster/2011%20EBC%20Poster.jpg
http://kmspks.org/download/poster/2011%20CBC%20A3poster.jpg
I am certainly glad that I had managed to meet good teachers over the past few years:-)
other related links: http://sunnyslove.blogspot.com/search/label/Dharma%20class
What is suffering?
the cyclic existence of Birth, Ageing, Sickness and Death.
-------------------------
An extraction from AN:3:35;I 138-40
...~~~~
King Yama questions a man, examines him and address him concerning the first divine messenger:"Didn't you ever see, my good man, the first divine messenger appearing among humankind?"
And he replies:'No , Lord, I did not see him."
Then King Yama says to him:"But, my good man, didn't you ever see a woman or a man , eighty, ninety, or a hundred years old, frail, bent like a roof bracket, crooked, leaning on a stick, shaily going along, ailing, youth and vigor gone, with broken teeth, with gray and scanty hair or bald, wrinkled, with blotched limbs?"
And the man replies:"Yes, Lord, I have seen this."
Then King Yama says to him:"My good man, didn't it ever occur to you, an intelligent and mature person, "I too am subject to old age and cannot escape it. Let me now do noble deeds by body, speech and mind?"
"No, Lord, I could not do it. I was negligent."
....
---------
King Yama again questions, examines, and addresses the man about the second divine messenger:"Didn't you ever see, my good man, the second divine messenger appearing among humankind?"
"No, Lord, I did not see him."
"But, my good man, didn't you ever see a woman or a man who was sick and in pain, seriously ill, lying in his own filth, having to be lifted up by some and put to bed by others?"
"Yes, Lord, I have seen this."
"My good man, didn't it ever occur to you, an intelligent and mature person, "I too am subject to illness and cannot escape it. Let me now do noble deeds by body, speech and mind?"
"No, Lord, I could not do it. I was negligent."
....
---------
King Yama again questions, examines, and addresses the man about the third divine messenger:"Didn't you ever see, my good man, the third divine messenger appearing among humankind?"
"No, Lord, I did not see him."
"But, my good man, didn't you ever see a woman or a man one, two or three days dead, the corpse swollen, discolored and festering?"
"Yes, Lord, I have seen this."
"My good man, didn't it ever occur to you, an intelligent and mature person, "I too am subject to death and cannot escape it. Let me now do noble deeds by body, speech and mind?"
"No, Lord, I could not do it. I was negligent."
"Through negligence, my good man, you have failed to to do noble deeds by body, speech, and mind. Well, you will be treated as befits your negligence . That evil action of yours was not done by mother, father, brothers, sisters, friends or companions, nor by relatives, devas, ascetics, or brahims. But you alone had done that evil deed, and you will have to experience the fruit."
------------------------------
Are we also been negligent?The Buddha being shaken by the 3 Divine Messengers~old age, sickness and death, renounced the world. They are termed Divine messengers as the 3 signs are legendary believed to be manifested by the heavenly beings to WAKE the Buddha up despite efforts made to conceal the signs from him.
Then came the discussion on
How do we prepare ourselves for the ageing, sickness and death of our loved ones?
1) Contemplate that we too may fall sick or die anytime.Sickness may also not come in sequence after old age. It can be without warning.
Ask yourself if you are diagnosed with cancer, how do you react?
Contemplate that we will grow old someday and our actions not as agile, hearing not that good, one will have to spend more energy communicating with us, so be patient and understanding towards them.
2) Appreciate our loved ones Now and show appreciation.Don't wait til they are no longer around then you regret not spending more time with them.
3) Fulfill our duties
Don't use the excuse that you are busy when they need your help to bring them to the doctor or trying to communicate to you.
Be glad that you are able to take care of them when you can.
Don't have the attitude that why it is me to take care of them when I have other siblings or why I as daughter or son-in-law is taking care instead of their own daughter or son.
Be happy that you have a chance to take care of them.
Don't, bec of taking care of a long ill patient, think why they haven't move on....
Imagine yourself in their position, you would also like someone to take care of you when you are old and not to just put you in an old folk's home unless in extreme cases when medical/professional care is needed.
4) Knowing and understanding Dharmaaids in achieving calmness in handling situations with understanding of impermanence, etc.
----------------
How do we prepare ourselves for ageing, sickness and death?
1) Contemplate that we may fall sick or die anytime, sickness is nothing to be afraid of. Illness may not cause one's death but fear may be the cause. Hence, a calm mind is important.
2) Take the 3 Refuge and 5 preceptsWith faith in Triple Gems, security is in our mind.
3) Giving
Giving merits generates merits, with merits, there is less likelihood of much suffering and higher possibility of meeting good doctors...
(example of a temple volunteer who suffers from a terminal illness and undergoes chemo but does not feel the side effects that most others experience;
I think this can be quite true, S has always been a kind hearted generous person, though she underwent a surgery recently and had some obstacles initially, she was recovering well)
pt 2 & 3 are also conditions of good rebirth.
4) Practise loving kindness and compassion
It helps to calm our mind, be purified of negative emotions and develop the mind.
5) Whatever not done properly get it done properly!
6) Make Aspirations for our rebirth.
E.g. for those who aspire to be reborn in Amitabha Buddha's Pureland to practrise chanting and dedicate merits to that destination.
For those who may not adorn Pureland, the following aspiration ia a wonderful one taught by the Venerable:
In all my lives until I attain Enlightenment/Buddhahood,
May I not be separated from the Triple Gems and pure spiritual masters,
and may I be able to continue with my spiritual practice
until Enlightenment.
~aspiration for good rebirth:-)
-----------------
Above is just brief recall on discussion in the class which may not be reflective of the enthusiasiam shown by the Venerables in incorporating a lively learning environment for us to learn Dharma with relevance to our daily lives.
(Pardon is sought for any misinterpretation/misunderstanding of Teachings)
http://kmspks.org/download/poster/2011%20EBC%20Poster.jpg
http://kmspks.org/download/poster/2011%20CBC%20A3poster.jpg
I am certainly glad that I had managed to meet good teachers over the past few years:-)
other related links: http://sunnyslove.blogspot.com/search/label/Dharma%20class
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