DAILY READINGS 11th May 2008

Recollect the immeasurable Buddha,
Be believing,
And with the body filled with joy,
You will always be uplifted.

Recollect the immeasurable Dhamma,
Be believing,
And with the body filled with joy,
You will always be uplifted.

Recollect the immeasurable Sangha,
Be believing,
And with the body filled with joy,
You will always be uplifted.


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - BIRTHDAY

To you, whoever you are, whose birthday is coming… before you celebrate... is it now one more year towards your death and rebirth or is it one more year towards your liberation from rebirth?

DAILY READINGS 10th May 2008

The doer of good rejoices here, rejoices there,
Rejoices both here and there.
He rejoices and is glad
As he recollects his own good deeds.

The doer of good delights here, delights there,
Delights both here and there.
The thought: "Good I have done"
Fills him with delight.
He delights all the more
When he goes to the realm of bliss.


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - UNMERRY-GO-ROUND

The possible reasons why you are still riding in the unmerry-go-round of life and death (Samsara) :

1. You have not got sick and tired of the ride yet.
2. You have forgotten how sick and tired of the ride you were.
3. You enjoy it now, not realising you will get sick and tired of it.
4. You are sick and tired of it but don't know how to get off.
5. You are in the process of getting off.
6. are actually a great Bodhisattva in disguise as an ordinary sentient being, secretly saving others.

Well, which fits you? Hope it is 5 or 6.

DAILY READINGS 9th May 2008

One who endures abuse, violence
Or punishment without resentment,
And whose power & protection is patience,
Him I call a true Brahmin.


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - LIVING JOYOUSLY

My personal "secret" of living joyously is through realising that all is empty of any lasting nature. This is all a dream that everyone lives in, because everything seems so real; and yet nothing is real in the sense we see it to be. Is this not a "real dream" then? All is a constant flux of change, big and small. Live lightly and gently. I'm not asking you to not live life dead seriously. This is seriously a dream as long as we are seriously deluded. Have a great wish to wake up. Don't take life seriously as in attaching to this and that, as if all were real for you to have and hold. Remember that your perception of reality is not really reality. Nothing is what it seems. In that sense, take your likes and dislikes, tastes and biasnesses lightly. Nothing is this world came with labels and we do not have to label everything. Be glad to receive whatever you do, realising that it is a gift conditioned by your own karma. And when you have to, be glad to let go. Don't take anything too seriously-not even yourself! (but be serious about practising the Dharma) Strong craving and hatred are signs of taking too many things too seriously. The unmindful crave and hate ceaselessly while the Enlightened are ever steady, smiling graciously. Be gracious because graciousness is happiness. Who is more gracious than the Enlightened? Learn graciousness from them. Enlightenment is total joy unbound, but living lightly is a joy already. And it is the path of joyous living that leads to the greatest joy of all, the cool cool bliss of Enlightenment.

DAILY READINGS 8th May 2008

As water is balanced, unshaken, untroubled and quite pure by nature, even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation, dispelling trickery, cajolery, insinuation and dissembling, should be well poised, unshaken, untroubled and quite pure by nature.

As water is poised, cool by nature, even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation, out of compassion for all creatures and seeking their welfare, should be possessed of patience, love and mercy.

Again, as water makes the impure pure, even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation, whether he be in the village or the forest, should in all circumstances be one who, being without transgression, gives no reason to be reprimanded by preceptor or teacher.

And again, as water is desired by everybody, even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation, because he has few wishes, is content, aloof and solitary in meditation, and should be one who is constantly much desired by the whole world.

And finally, as water gives trouble to no one, even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation should do no wrong by body, speech or thought that produces in others strife, quarrels, contention, disputes, neglected meditation or dislike.


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - TRANSGRESSIONS

The Sixth Patriarch of Zen, Venerable Master Huineng said, "the transgressions of others are my transgressions. But my transgressions are mine alone."

That others have transgressions (misgivings), is in a way our fault, as we have not Enlightened ourselves to be able to help them enough. However, we should never blame others for not becoming Enlightened to help us. Blaming each other never created more Enlightened beings. A truly helpful person never complains about others, just like the Bodhisattvas don't! They just see what they can do to help the situation.

The state of the world lies in the hands of the individual. Don't just complain you don't know what the world is coming to. The transgressions of the world belong to the world. The world is responsible for them all and you are part of the world. You are just as responsible as any one else for the state of the world. Before you ask what the world is coming to? Ask what are you coming to.

DAILY READINGS 7th May 2008

It is good from time to time to review one's own faults; it is good from time to time to review another's faults. It is good from time to time to review one's own attainments; it is good from time to time to review another's attainments.


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - FOR YOU

The reason why the Buddha came into our world, though He might have came before your birth, is for YOU. The reason why the myriad countless Bodhisattvas are still around is because YOU are still unenlightened and that they are still hopeful, believing that YOU will be Enlightened one day. And they are ever around, helping you in a million ways unknown by you. In hope that one day, you will be like them, helping to free all other sentient beings. This is the unseen power so invisible, yet so potent. This is the power of Compassion.

The priceless Triple Gem is YOURS. All the sutras are spoken for YOU. All the Venerables are YOUR teachers.
EVERYONE REJOICE!

DAILY READINGS 5th May 2008

There are these two gifts, the worldly and the spiritual, and of these two, the spiritual gift is highest. There are these two sharings, the worldly and the spiritual, and of these two, the spiritual sharing is the highest. There are these two acts of kindliness, the worldly and the spiritual, and of these two, the spiritual act of kindness is the highest.


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - EHIPASSIKO

Ehipassiko is a Pali (a dialect in the Buddha's time) word that means "Don't just Believe; Come and See." It sums up the Buddhist spirit of free enquiry. This spirit is the belief that all things should not be taken upon face value. They should be thoroughly investigated before accepting them as Truth.

Many Buddhists are proud that Buddhism has this spirit. But some might get carried away such that they use it as a weapon against other religious beliefs, proclaiming all religions without the Ehipassiko spirit as useless. While to a certain extent they are sometimes right, they might forget to apply that teaching in their own personal practice of the Dharma. They might end up the very ones who accept the Buddhist teachings on face value! Remember that the Buddha Himself beseeched us to test His teachings for Truth as one would test whether a metal is pure gold! His encouragement of us to test His teachings is not meant to leave us impressed with His open liberal attitude such that we end up not testing His teachings! A healthy skeptic is a healthy Buddhist.

As Zen Master Dogen taught,

Great Doubt-Great Realisation
Little Doubt-Little Realisation
No Doubt-No Realisation

DAILY READINGS 5th May 2008

There are two things that burn the conscience. What two? Say a person has done immoral acts of body, speech or mind, or has failed to do virtuous acts of body, speech or mind. When he thinks of this he burns with remorse.


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - ALLERGY

An allergy is defined as an abnormal sensitivity to a substance which is normally tolerated and generally considered harmless. Here are some facts about allergies:

1. Allergies sometimes run in families.
2. Allergy can develop at any age.
3. Anything can cause an allergy.
4. Allergies are generally harmless.
5. Allergies can be prevented.

I developed this strange rash two days back. The doctor was unsure whether the rash was a pox. He told me to apply the cream he'd be prescribing me and to see him again the next day if more rashes came up.

I realised that almost everyone had some form of allergy in the widest sense. An allergy is simply something that makes your body (or mind) freak out in some way. I don't know what hit me, but I guess my body freaked out at something I came in contact with, thus the rash outbreak. Most people have common allergies like dust, pollen, animal fur... But some people have "weird" allergies. They might be allergic to the smell of a bus seat, a sweaty handshake, a hug...

Relating to the points above on allergy,

1. I think allergies sometimes run in families simply because members in families are linked karmically. There are similarities in "karmic lineage" (birds of a feather flock together).

2. Allergies can develop at any age simply because we freak out at different things at different times. For example, you had a bad experience first time tasting a durian at five years old and ever since, you freak out at the sight and smell of a durian! You might feel dizzy or nauseous. Another could develop such an phobia-allergy when he tastes it at say, fifty-five years old!

3. Anything can cause an allergy because each of us are karmically unique. Together, there are more than 1001 things under the sun that can make us freak out because there are so many different things we feel aversion to.

4. Allergies are generally harmless. Well, what we feel averse or hatred to, is only in our minds-like inner demons haunting us.

5. Allergies can be prevented. Of course! Aversion, as one of the three poisons, along with craving and ignorance, can be eradicated. Keep an open mind and heart. Learn to embrace all. Mind over matter. Even bodily reactions can be overcome with control of the mind!

Remember-Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are never "allergic" to any thing or situation. If they were, they would be unable to save all sentient beings.

DAILY READINGS 4th May 2008

Now, Asibandhakaputta, a follower of Nigantha Nataputta, came to where the Lord was and the Lord asked him: "What doctrine does Nigantha Nataputta teach his disciples?"

"Lord, Nataputta teaches that whoever kills, steals, commits sexual misconduct or lies - that person goes to hell. According to how one habitually acts, one goes to one's destiny."

"But if you say that as one acts habitually one goes to one's destiny, then according to Nataputta's teaching no one would go to hell. What do you think? If a man say, kills by day or night or from time to time, which time is the most habitual to him, when he kills or when he doesn't kill?"

"Well, Lord, the time when he is not killing is most habitual to him."

"Now, say a teacher teaches a doctrine such as this and a follower has faith in such a teacher. That follower would think: 'My teacher says that whoever kills, steals, commits sexual misconduct or lies goes to hell. Now I have done these things so I am bound to go to hell.' And so, holding this view, not giving it up, thinking it, not letting it go he does go to hell. But say a Tathagata arises in the world. He censures, strongly censures killing, stealing, sexual misconduct and lying, saying, 'Abstain from these things.' Then say a follower has faith in such a teacher, that follower would think: 'The Lord in many ways censures, strongly censures killing, stealing, sexual misconduct and lying, saying: "Abstain from these things." Now I have done such things. That is not well done, it is not good. Moreover, I may be remorseful when I remember that such deeds cannot be undone.' Thinking in this way, he abandons such deeds. In this way he goes beyond evil deeds. By abandoning killing, he abstains from killing, by abandoning stealing he abstains from stealing, by abandoning sexual misconduct he abstains from that, by abandoning lying he abstains from that also. By abandoning backbiting, harsh speech, and idle chatter he abstains from that. By abandoning greed, he becomes generous, by abandoning hatred he becomes kind, and by abandoning wrong view he becomes one with perfect view. This noble disciple, freed from greed and hatred, not bewildered but mindful and concentrated, abides suffusing the four quarters of the world, above, below, across, everywhere, all beings, the whole world with a mind filled with love, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity that is widespread, grown great. Just as a strong conchblower with but little effort gives notice to the four quarters, in the same way, nothing whatsoever is left out of that love, that compassion, that sympathetic joy or that equanimity."


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - REPENTANCE

If we were to all be truly repentant, in a flash, Samsara would disappear. Samsara is the manifestation of unrepentant sentient beings' delusions. Yet repentance has to begin somewhere- the individual. True repentance is simply the clear recognition of all of one's misgivings, coupled with sincere resolution not to repeat the same mistakes. Your personal Samsara will start fading, your wheel of life and death start slowing down-slow enough for you to get off. The common mistake of repentance is the heart of repentance being "true" only for a while. We think we learnt when we never really learnt.

DAILY READINGS 3rd May 2008

One strong in faith but weak in wisdom has uncritical and groundless confidence. One strong in wisdom but weak in faith errs on the side of cunning and is as hard to cure as one whose sickness is caused by a medicine. When the two are balanced, one has confidence only where there are grounds for it.


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - BEYOND THE HORRIDS OF LIFE

"The secret of happiness is to face the fact that the world is horrible, horrible, horrible."

That was a quote by Lord Betrand Russell, dubbed by many as the greatest philosopher of the 20th century. He seems to be referring to the First Noble Truth of life in his own way.

The secret of happiness, according to the Buddha is realising the Four Noble Truths:

1. Life is full of dissatisfactions,
2. They have their causes in our wanting (greed) and not-wanting (hatred), that comes from our ignorance,
3. The end of dissatisfactions is possible, &
4. The way to end dissatisfactions is the Noble Eightfold Path.

I guess that makes Lord Buddha the greatest "philosopher" of all time. And that was 2,540 years ago.


4Repentance

If we were to all be truly repentant, in a flash, Samsara would disappear. Samsara is the manifestation of unrepentant sentient beings' delusions. Yet repentance has to begin somewhere- the individual. True repentance is simply the clear recognition of all of one's misgivings, coupled with sincere resolution not to repeat the same mistakes. Your personal Samsara will start fading, your wheel of life and death start slowing down-slow enough for you to get off. The common mistake of repentance is the heart of repentance being "true" only for a while. We think we learnt when we never really learnt.

DAILY READINGS 2nd May 2008

Just as this body is supported by material food, depends upon it, cannot be without it - even so, the five hindrances are supported by their own food, depend upon it, cannot be without it. And what food gives rise to sense desire, or nourishes sense desire already arisen? It is unsystematic attention to the alluring features of things. And what food gives rise to ill-will, or nourishes ill-will already arisen? It is unsystematic attention to the repulsive features of things. And what food gives rise to sloth and laziness, or nourishes sloth and laziness already arisen? It is unsystematic attention to regret, drowsiness, languor, heaviness after meals, laziness of mind. And what food gives rise to restlessness and worry, or nourishes restlessness and worry already arisen? It is unsystematic attention to irritation of mind. And what food gives rise to doubt, or nourishes doubt already arisen? It is unsystematic attention to things based on doubt and uncertainty.


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - MESS

I don't want it to be such that I came into this world to mess it up. There is a place for everything and everything should be in its place.

Many Mothers dread their children inviting their friends home (a home is a private world) because they "touch touch" everything. Things get "misplaced" when removed from their original positions. In fact, things get "depreciated"-the soft drink stains the sofa, the family photo's frame gets fingerprints all over, little brother's game set's joystick becomes loose, sister's book collection gets dog-ears, bits of snacks are on the floor... you know what I mean. Mum ends up clearing up the mess for you and your "friends!" Why don't we just learn to put things back exactly where we found them? (The Second Precept-respect for others' property). Don't step on ants on the pavement (The First Precept-respect for life). Don't make your friend's girlfriend think you are better than him when you are not (The Fourth, Third precept-respect for truth and relationships), don't get drunk and drive (The Fifth precept-respect for clear-mindedness)...

We either come into this world and make a difference or we don't. A life that makes no difference is rather pointless; and the differences we can make are either for the better or worse of the world. Every time I enter a world that is "not mine," such as someone's home or office, even a restaurant, the streets... (any place that is not my home), I try to take the effort not to mess it up in any way. That I see as part of basic morality. Don't want to make any mess of any form anywhere in this world or the next.

The next step from not creating a mess is clearing up your own personal mess. My personal mess is my collection of bad habits from my greed, hatred and ignorance spiritually harmful to myself (others not involved-I already told you I try hard not to mess up others' lives in any way!).

The next greater step is helping others to realise their personal mess and the mess they are creating in the world, helping them learn to clear it all up. This is the Bodhisattva ideal.

I think of the Buddha as one major mess-clearer. He cleared messes perfectly-in fact, He Enlightened. He came into our world in a time when men were seriously messed up in their hearts and minds. It was when dozens of systems of religions and philosophies were abound, and no one really knew what was real and worth living for.

If we were to all clear up our personal mess, and help each other do the same, there would be no mess left.

DAILY READINGS 1st May 2008

One who is serious is a believer, not an unbeliever. One who is serious is energetic, not lazy. One who is serious has firm mindfulness, not distracted. One who is serious has clear comprehension, not confused comprehension. One who is serious has strong wisdom, not weak.

When you have established these five things in yourself, you should also make six things grow within you. You should recollect the Tathagata like this: "Such indeed is the Lord, a Noble One, a fully enlightened Buddha, with perfect knowledge and conduct, happily attained, a knower of the worlds, guide unsurpassed of men to be trained, a teacher of gods and men, a Buddha, the Lord."

You should recollect the Dhamma like this: "Beautifully taught is the Lord's Dhamma, immediately apparent, timeless, of the nature of a personal invitation, progressive, to be attained by the wise, each for himself."

You should recollect the Sangha like this: "Happily faring are the Lord's disciples, straightforwardly faring are the Lord's disciples, correctly faring are the Lord's disciples, methodically faring are the Lord's disciples, namely, the four pairs of individuals, the eight types of persons. These disciples of the Lord are worthy of offerings, hospitality, gifts, salutation with folded hands; they are an incomparable source of goodness in the world."

You should recollect your own virtues as being complete, whole, unspotted, untarnished, freedom-giving, as being praised by the wise, pure and leading to concentration.

You should recollect your own generosity like this: "It is a gain for me. Indeed, it is a great gain that amidst those overcome by meanness, I live at home with the mind cleaned of meanness; I am open handed, pure-handed, delighting in sharing, one to ask a favour of, one who rejoices in giving things."

Again, you should recollect the gods in this way: "There are the gods of the Four Great Kings, the Thirty-three Gods, the gods of Yama, the gods of delight, the gods who delight in creation, those who have power over the creations of others, those in the company of Brahma and those beyond that. I, too, have the faith, the virtue, the learning, the generosity, and the wisdom by which these gods, on dying here, were reborn there in heaven."

At a time when a noble disciple recollects all these things, his mind is freed from greed, hatred and delusion. At that time, his mind is straight and fixed upon those things, and with a straight mind he ­expresses the gladness of the good, the gladness of the Dhamma, and the gladness that goes with Dhamma. In one who is glad, joy arises; because of joy, the body is tranquil; with tranquil body one is happy, and the mind of one who is happy is concentrated. About a person like this, it is said: "The noble disciple who recollects the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, who recollects virtue, generosity and the gods - that disciple dwells evenly among folk who dwell unevenly."


DAILY ENLIGHTENMENT - EFFORT

About the Perfection of Effort in practice in the Noble Eightfold Path. Effort-Have you put in enough? If you are asking this question, then you have most likely not put in enough effort. One who has put in enough effort is ever at ease. If you are not asking this question, you are either Enlightened or is plain lazy to some extent! Put in more effort!