knowlege is important: Past deeds story of the Buddha

knowlege is important: Past deeds story of the Buddha: "One time, disaster struck the city Vesali hunger, beginning with a long dry season and harsh.  As a result of drought that almost all the c..."

Read More

Past deeds story of the Buddha

One time, disaster struck the city Vesali hunger, beginning with a long dry season and harsh. As a result of drought that almost all the crops failed and many people died of starvation. This was followed by the spread of epidemic diseases. Because the public no longer able to handle the disposal of the corpses, the stench in the air attract the attention of the giants. Population Vesali face disaster damage inflicted by famine, disease, and also the presence of giants. In the grief and anguish, they try to find perlindungan.Mereka think to seek help from various sources, but eventually they decided to invite the Buddha.

A group led by Mahali messenger, a prince of the tribe Licchavi, and the son of Brahmin's head was sent to King Bimbisara to ask the Buddha is

Read More

Vajrayana Buddhist meaning of Patience by Tulku Tsori Rinpoche

Tulku Tsori Rinpoche

From a Vajrayana Buddhist point of view there are 3 levels of patience.

The first level of patience is what we all know to be tolerance. To be able to listen to someone without interjecting and understanding that persons point of view by putting oneself in their shoes and just being tolerant and patient.

The second level of patience is action! Yes, believe it or not action. To be benefitting others through your actions. This level of patience is not about waiting, and waiting, and then waiting, and waiting , waiting , and waiting some more.....that is not patience, that is laziness.....so if you know how to help others, to put others first, if you see a need and can benefit others through your actions and you do it for them, no matter how long it takes,

Read More

The Dalai Lama, Science, Buddhism and the Kalama Sutra.

One of the reasons I am a Buddhist, is in how the DL answers the first question about science and Buddhism. He is asked, "What if science confirms something that contradicts your faith?"*Note: Sutta and Sutra refer to the same thing but are from two different ancient languages.

James: How many belief systems out there are willing to adapt when new scientific proof contradicts their teachings? Not many. The Dalai Lama's sane and realistic response echoes one of my favorite sutras, the Kalama Sutra. It also happens to be a large chunk of the foundation of my Buddhist belief. In short, it is a sutra that echoes the scientific method of testing and observation. It is the Buddha talking about doubt, but not in the pejorative way that some religions do. He was asked by villagers in an Indian town, how do we know which teachers to believe? He told them not to believe teachers simply because they are teachers, or traditions simply because they are long held ones, nor from sutras simply because they are said to be beneficial. At the same time, we shouldn't trust either our own preferences because they are almost always based on wrong perceptions of what is helpful and less helpful.

So, how does he advise us to know if we should practice Dharma? After hearing or reading about the Dharma, he advises that we put the teachings into practice for a time and contemplate on how they affect our lives. I feel this is best explained in the Ambalatthika-rahulovada Sutta:

Whenever you want to do a bodily action, you should reflect on it: 'This bodily action I want to do — would it lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both? Would it be an unskillful bodily action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it would lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both; it would be an unskillful bodily action with painful consequences, painful results, then any bodily action of that sort is absolutely unfit for you to do. But if on reflection you know that it would not cause affliction... it would be a skillful bodily action with pleasant consequences, pleasant results, then any bodily action of that sort is fit for you to do. -From the Ambalatthika-rahulovada Sutta: Instructions to Rahula at Mango Stone. Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

This same sutta instructs us further on the matter and I encourage you to read its entirety; it's not that long, really, I promise). However, since we can't always rely upon our mind and practice to interpret actions as either skillful or unskillful, we should check the conclusions we reached from contemplation against the experiences of wise ones. How do you know if said, "wise ones" are indeed, wise and trustworthy? Well, try investigating the Cula-punnama Sutta for answers, which says:

And how is a person of no integrity endowed with qualities of no integrity? There is the case where a person of no integrity is lacking in conviction, lacking in conscience, lacking in concern [for the results of unskillful actions]; he is unlearned, lazy, of muddled mindfulness, & poor discernment. This is how a person of no integrity is endowed with qualities of no integrity. -From the Cula-punnama Sutta: The Shorter Discourse on the Full-moon Night. Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Keep in mind, however, that the Kalama Sutta isn't Buddha saying to go out and do whatever you want because the "Buddha said I didn't have to listen to anyone." That is not what he is saying. This sutta doesn't replace doctrines like the Four Noble Truths, the Three Jewels and the Eightfold Path, but it does give us a realistic blueprint for how to practice spirituality without being duped by charlatans and zealots.

***By the way, "wise ones" aren't automatically Buddhist teachers or spiritual teachers, at all. The Cula-punnama Sutta goes on further to speak of other qualities of a wise person you can trust. It is quite exhaustive with examples, so if you want further details, I encourage reading the entire sutta. It's another short one, so please don't be daunted by the fact that these are ancient suttas. They are extremely understandable and approachable thanks to the tireless efforts of the great Theravada monk Thanissaro Bikkhu. All the quotes I've used in this post come from his greatly appreciated translations. I am also grateful to the Shambhala SunSpace who posted this video on their excellent blog. Thanks for the idea!!

(bowing)

~Peace to all beings~

Read More

The Story of Two nun Yang Menjapa Mantra

Living Buddha Lian Sheng,
Grand Master of ZhenFo Zong

From the book of the 20 works of Maha Acarya Lian Sheng Quoted by Zhiwei Zhu

  This story is very interesting, but I do not see it with eyes own. This story is told by a nun in San Cu. Please read it. Believe it or not, it's up to you.
  There were two nuns who meditated on the mountain. They do not read Silk, nor nian-fo (dhikr Buddhist name). They only concentrate menjapa mantra only. The one named Ce Yin, the other named Ce Seng.They both had sworn that they will not go down the mountain before themachieve inner enlightenment.
  Many years passed already. The two nuns from the age of young women have entered middle age. Ce menjapa special Yin Compassion (Ta Pei Cou). 

Read More

Kaka Jataka

"In the never ending fear ..." - This story is told by the Master when it dwells in Jetavana, about a wise adviser. These events continued from Bhaddasala-Jataka.
At a time when Brahmadatta reigned in Benares, Bodhisattva is reborn as a crow. One day, the priest king went out of town and into a river. He was a shower there. And after the scent and perfume himself, he put on his clothes and returned to the city. On the road tunnel located at the city gate there are two small birds such as crows and they said to his companion. "I intend to pollute these brahmins head". "Oh, do not do so, the real Brahmin is a great person, and evil deeds which will cause great resentment. If you are angry with him, he can destroy the whole nation", said the other crow. "I have to do it", said the first crow.
"Well, you must watch", and another crow flew away immediately.At a time when it is under the Brahmin bastion, the crow dropped the dirt. In great anger, Brahmins were immediately put the hatred of all crows. 

Read More

Change Others

"Every time you try to change others," said
Teacher, "ask yourself this: What
will be given by the change is: pride, pleasure,
or my benefit? "

He told this story to them:

A man willing to jump off a bridge. A police officer
rushed over to him, "Do not! Do not!" Connect the
police, "Do not do that. Why is a young man like
you who have not even yet alive, to think for
plunge into the water? "

Read More

change others

"Every time you try to change others," said
Teacher, "ask yourself this: What
will be given by the change is: pride, pleasure,
or my benefit? "

He told this story to them:

A man willing to jump off a bridge. A police officer
rushed over to him, "Do not! Do not!" Connect the
police, "Do not do that. Why is a young man like
you who have not even yet alive, to think for
plunge into the water? "

"Because I am tired of life."

"Well, listen to me. If you jump into the river,
I have to jump also follow you to save you.
Understand? The water was cold. I have just recovered from
pneumonia. Know what I mean? I could die. I
has a wife and four children. Do you want to live with
the burden of thinking like this? Of course not. So listen
me. Be good people. Repent and God will
forgive you. Go home. Well, in yourselves and in
the deserted house, hang yourself. "

(small talk for a moment, Anthony de Mello,
Publisher Canisius, Matter 1, 1997)

Read More