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Thursday, October 23, 2003
Monday, August 04, 2003
Greater Happiness
If by renouncing a lesser happiness
one may realize a greater happiness,
let the wise one renounce the lesser,
having regard for the greater.
-Dhammapada 290
We do not rise above our present "happiness" because we do not clearly see what is the greater happiness, and are thus unwilling to put in effort to attain it.
If by renouncing a lesser happiness
one may realize a greater happiness,
let the wise one renounce the lesser,
having regard for the greater.
-Dhammapada 290
We do not rise above our present "happiness" because we do not clearly see what is the greater happiness, and are thus unwilling to put in effort to attain it.
Becoming Stone
The observer, when he seems to himself to be observing a stone, is really,
if physics is to be believed, observing the effects of the stone upon himself.
-Bertrand Russell
When I see a stone
and still my mind like it is still,
I do not see a stone-
I become the still stone.
I experience stonepeace;
I become stonepeace.
-Stonepeace
The observer, when he seems to himself to be observing a stone, is really,
if physics is to be believed, observing the effects of the stone upon himself.
-Bertrand Russell
When I see a stone
and still my mind like it is still,
I do not see a stone-
I become the still stone.
I experience stonepeace;
I become stonepeace.
-Stonepeace
Anonymous Blogging
Y: If my identity can be protected, I am free to circulate my online diary.
Z: You can always set up a site which no one knows belong to you- Eg. something like "watcanisay.blogspot.com" or something- and publicise it like a great discovery! But make sure the stuff are smewhat beneficial of course- Dharma-ish is good.
Y: If my identity can be protected, I am free to circulate my online diary.
Z: You can always set up a site which no one knows belong to you- Eg. something like "watcanisay.blogspot.com" or something- and publicise it like a great discovery! But make sure the stuff are smewhat beneficial of course- Dharma-ish is good.
Double Eyelids
A few months ago, a friend suddenly discovered I have double eyelids. Asking my Mum, she confirmed I used to have single eyelids. How bizarre. "Shit" doesn't just happen in life- "Strange" happens. Just when you might think mine was a freak case, this friend also had double eyelids sudddenly, a few years back. Strange karma. Karma can work strangely. I winder what causes did we create to experience these effects.
A few months ago, a friend suddenly discovered I have double eyelids. Asking my Mum, she confirmed I used to have single eyelids. How bizarre. "Shit" doesn't just happen in life- "Strange" happens. Just when you might think mine was a freak case, this friend also had double eyelids sudddenly, a few years back. Strange karma. Karma can work strangely. I winder what causes did we create to experience these effects.
Why Use Dharma Labels?
The Dharma is whatever is true (in line with reality) or in line with the Buddha's teachings. So in this sense, the famous people you quote are indeed speaking the Dharma in line with BuddhaDharma, even if they do not know it. But when we share the Dharma, is it better to share it with or without Dharma terms and labels (subtle or not so), with or without quoting the Buddha or famous Buddhists?
If the objective is just to share the Dharma in the short run, it might be okay to share it without Dharma labels or quoting the Buddha and famous Buddhists. If the objective is to share the Dharma in the long run, it might be a better idea to share it with Dharma labels or quoting the Buddha and famous Buddhists- because it lets the reader know that the wisdom shared is Buddhist, that he can discover more wisdom in Buddhism.
Otherwise, the reader is learning Dharma in bits and pieces from quotes from different people and religions... He might feel lost, thinking they are all the same, not knowing that Buddhism teaches the ultimate Truth, missing the point that we are trying to point him to Buddhism.
The Dharma is whatever is true (in line with reality) or in line with the Buddha's teachings. So in this sense, the famous people you quote are indeed speaking the Dharma in line with BuddhaDharma, even if they do not know it. But when we share the Dharma, is it better to share it with or without Dharma terms and labels (subtle or not so), with or without quoting the Buddha or famous Buddhists?
If the objective is just to share the Dharma in the short run, it might be okay to share it without Dharma labels or quoting the Buddha and famous Buddhists. If the objective is to share the Dharma in the long run, it might be a better idea to share it with Dharma labels or quoting the Buddha and famous Buddhists- because it lets the reader know that the wisdom shared is Buddhist, that he can discover more wisdom in Buddhism.
Otherwise, the reader is learning Dharma in bits and pieces from quotes from different people and religions... He might feel lost, thinking they are all the same, not knowing that Buddhism teaches the ultimate Truth, missing the point that we are trying to point him to Buddhism.
It’s Not Only Words
Words have the power to heal or destroy.
What do yours do?
Every word matters.
Every lack of a right word matters.
Even a pause matters.
Thus the Buddha taught us to reflect in the fourth precept-
Are our words true, harmonious, gentle and constructive?
Or are they false, divisive, harsh, and useless?
[1] What one knows to be
unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial, unendearing & disagreeable to others,
one should not say.
[2] What one knows to be
factual, true, unbeneficial, unendearing & disagreeable to others,
one does not say.
[3] What one knows to be
factual, true, beneficial, but unendearing & disagreeable to others,
one has a sense of the proper time for saying.
[4] What one knows to be
unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others,
one does not say.
[5] What one knows to be
factual, true, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others,
one does not say.
[6] What one knows to be
factual, true, beneficial, and endearing & agreeable to others,
one has a sense of the proper time for saying.
- With paraphrased excerpts from Abhaya Sutta (The Buddha’s Discourse on Right Speech)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/majjhima/mn058.html
Words have the power to heal or destroy.
What do yours do?
Every word matters.
Every lack of a right word matters.
Even a pause matters.
Thus the Buddha taught us to reflect in the fourth precept-
Are our words true, harmonious, gentle and constructive?
Or are they false, divisive, harsh, and useless?
[1] What one knows to be
unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial, unendearing & disagreeable to others,
one should not say.
[2] What one knows to be
factual, true, unbeneficial, unendearing & disagreeable to others,
one does not say.
[3] What one knows to be
factual, true, beneficial, but unendearing & disagreeable to others,
one has a sense of the proper time for saying.
[4] What one knows to be
unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others,
one does not say.
[5] What one knows to be
factual, true, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others,
one does not say.
[6] What one knows to be
factual, true, beneficial, and endearing & agreeable to others,
one has a sense of the proper time for saying.
- With paraphrased excerpts from Abhaya Sutta (The Buddha’s Discourse on Right Speech)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/majjhima/mn058.html
Win-Win Wins!
Do you see winning as a personal achievement?
Or do you see helping others to win a greater achievement?
Must there be a losing for there to be winning?
Why can’t we all win together?
If you lose,
can you win mentally by accepting defeat?
If you win,
can you win by not letting pride go to your head?
If someone loses to you,
can you win him as a friend with your compassion?
If someone wins you,
can you win by rejoicing in his happiness?
“Greater than one who wins a hundred battles,
is one who conquers oneself.”
Thus the Buddha won the toughest battle,
by realising the truth of Anatta (non-self/selflessness/egolessness).
He teaches that True Happiness
is bringing happiness to one and all selflessly-
for sharing your happiness doubles your joy
while bringing joy to others!
Do you see winning as a personal achievement?
Or do you see helping others to win a greater achievement?
Must there be a losing for there to be winning?
Why can’t we all win together?
If you lose,
can you win mentally by accepting defeat?
If you win,
can you win by not letting pride go to your head?
If someone loses to you,
can you win him as a friend with your compassion?
If someone wins you,
can you win by rejoicing in his happiness?
“Greater than one who wins a hundred battles,
is one who conquers oneself.”
Thus the Buddha won the toughest battle,
by realising the truth of Anatta (non-self/selflessness/egolessness).
He teaches that True Happiness
is bringing happiness to one and all selflessly-
for sharing your happiness doubles your joy
while bringing joy to others!
Buddha Reminder
What would you do now that I remind you
that the Buddha said we are all hidden Buddhas,
that we unawakened ones are the same as Him in essence?
Be respectful then, to all.
Would you fall to your knees and worship all?
Afterall, you are a sleeping Buddha yourself.
Be respectful then, and awaken Him.
Don't cry tears of joy?
Afterall, tears will not awaken the Buddha within;
Calming the passions will.
Would you kiss the ground the Buddha walked upon?
Afterall, there is no place He never walked on
in His countless previous lives, to perfect Himself.
Treasure where you stand upon-
it is already holy ground.
What would you do now that I remind you
that the Buddha said we are all hidden Buddhas,
that we unawakened ones are the same as Him in essence?
Be respectful then, to all.
Would you fall to your knees and worship all?
Afterall, you are a sleeping Buddha yourself.
Be respectful then, and awaken Him.
Don't cry tears of joy?
Afterall, tears will not awaken the Buddha within;
Calming the passions will.
Would you kiss the ground the Buddha walked upon?
Afterall, there is no place He never walked on
in His countless previous lives, to perfect Himself.
Treasure where you stand upon-
it is already holy ground.
Reconnection
The person waiting for an apology,
even if he is right,
is perhaps as egoistic as the one who cannot apologise,
even if he is in the wrong.
The wronged but magnaminous reconnects like nothing happened.
The spiritual challenge is not waiting out for the other person to reconnect;
the winner is the first to reconnect.
It is good for oneself to forgive from another even if no apology was given.
It is good for oneself to seek forgiveness from another if one is wrong.
It is good for oneself to seek forgiveness from another even if he seems unaffected.
Repentance cleanses your heart.
Repentance brings joy to the wronged and the "wrong-er".
The person waiting for an apology,
even if he is right,
is perhaps as egoistic as the one who cannot apologise,
even if he is in the wrong.
The wronged but magnaminous reconnects like nothing happened.
The spiritual challenge is not waiting out for the other person to reconnect;
the winner is the first to reconnect.
It is good for oneself to forgive from another even if no apology was given.
It is good for oneself to seek forgiveness from another if one is wrong.
It is good for oneself to seek forgiveness from another even if he seems unaffected.
Repentance cleanses your heart.
Repentance brings joy to the wronged and the "wrong-er".
The Emperor's New Art
As long as even just one person, even if it is just the artist, sees something as a piece of "art", it is art in the instant- even if it does not follow popular taste. Perhaps then, art is the result of attachment. Even if the emperor is seen as an ignorant fool parading naked in his new "clothes", the "clothes" were beautiful to him- before he woke to his senses. Art then, is just something we hold in our mind as special, "better" than the non-art.
As long as even just one person, even if it is just the artist, sees something as a piece of "art", it is art in the instant- even if it does not follow popular taste. Perhaps then, art is the result of attachment. Even if the emperor is seen as an ignorant fool parading naked in his new "clothes", the "clothes" were beautiful to him- before he woke to his senses. Art then, is just something we hold in our mind as special, "better" than the non-art.
Common Denominators
It's personally apalling to me how many Buddhists do not see the 3 Universal Characteristics as the common denominators in defining reality. If a Buddhist does not bear these chaacteristics often in mind, I think there is something very wrong. For such fellow Buddhists, let's go back to the basics of the Dharma. We need to realise how the trio affect our lives, and see them clearly.
It's personally apalling to me how many Buddhists do not see the 3 Universal Characteristics as the common denominators in defining reality. If a Buddhist does not bear these chaacteristics often in mind, I think there is something very wrong. For such fellow Buddhists, let's go back to the basics of the Dharma. We need to realise how the trio affect our lives, and see them clearly.
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