A Pebble’s Pure Land: May 2020

Friday, May 29, 2020

Is it really that easy?

Recently I read an article about someone said being enlightened by grass picking. This just reminded me of a friend who commented on some thien/zen monks: “Oh, you don’t need to practice just live in a natural way. That is practice!” She stated this is misleading for the new buddhists.

Years go I had a friend who was from the Yi Guan Dao (Tian Dao/Thien Dao) group. She said: “You just need to become a member. We show you the triple gems then your name will be placed in heaven and removed from hell.

Is it that easy? I have to ask REALLY? Just grass picking, just live life naturally and just be a member of cult then I will be in heaven or enlightened.

Living life naturally is a way of practice in Zen tradition. Let’s discuss the conditions involved.

“The reality shows me that it is very simple, though we work hard all day long, but if we always know how to be cautious, pay attention and observe clearly everything, we can still live fully with the dharma. present - that is, depending on predestination, as Buddha taught. Because careful consideration is the precepts, full attention is concentration and clear observation is wisdom. ” (Excerpt from "Teacher and Student Letter - Letter No. 2" - HT Thich Vien Minh)

“Thực tế cho thầy thấy một điều hết sức đơn giản là dù lao động quần quật suốt ngày, nhưng nếu chúng ta luôn biết thận trọng, chú tâm và quan sát rõ ràng mọi sự mọi vật thì vẫn có thể sống trọn vẹn với pháp hiện tại – tức sống thuận pháp tùy duyên, như Phật đã dạy. Bởi vì thận trọng chu toàn là giới, chú tâm trọn vẹn là định và quan sát rõ ràng là tuệ”

(Trích “Thư Thầy Trò – Thư số 2” – TT Thích Viên Minh)

If we can be cautious, pay attention and observe clearly on everything, we can still live fully for the present moment. This is the way of practice. To Zen masters this is their way to live life. To them there is no need to do any ritual or chanting or even sitting meditation. Meditation to them is be cautious, paying attention and observing clearly on everything, everywhere and every moment. To them is a piece of cake but to us, can we do it? Of course we can but there are prerequisites.

At least we need to know and understand the basics of the Four Noble Truths (suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering and the path that leads to end of suffering). Through sitting meditation we can experience the suffering, through suffering we see the arising and passing away (the impermanence) and furthermore we experience the non-self in this phenomenon. From sitting meditation we also build up our awareness and equanimity. Once we master the skill then we can be cautious, paying attention and observing clearly on everything, everywhere and every moment. We can use it on the 4 postures - walking, standing, laying down and sitting.

In this world there has no free lunch mate! I drink tea a few times per day. I remove grass with my bare hands all the time and I live my life as naturally as I can but still cannot reach enlightenment.

How can we live our life to the fullest?

This morning my husband and I did the usual walk. We walked to the park. I asked him how can we live our lives to the fullest?

He answered: “We don’t need a lot of money to live fully. We need to have enough money for our health, daily needs and money to feed our hobbies.”

I asked him what is enough?!

He then asked me how do you live your life to the fullest?

I told him there is a zen monk Thich Vien Minh who says: always know how to be present, mindful, pay close attention and observe everything clearly, then we will be able to live fully here and now.” (HT Thich Vien Minh - luôn biết thận trọng, chú tâm và quan sát rõ ràng mọi sự mọi vật thì vẫn có thể sống trọn vẹn với pháp hiện tại)

To be able to live in this hectic world we need to be able to multitask. At work and at home this skill is essential, is it not?

Lately a nun called and asked me do I still listen to the 110 mp3 on Abhidharma. I told the nun no, I couldn’t understand and couldn’t hear very well from the mp3. She said, “What a pity! Can you please give it a try again?” I told myself I have to give it another go as she was so enthusiastic.

Well I didn’t tell her I was baking a cake while I vacuumed and listened to the Dhamma talk. I laughed to myself. How could I understand and could hear the mp3 while I vacuumed? So as promised, instead of my normal meditation at 4:30am, I sat and listened to the mp3 in the dark. One mp3 each morning, closed my eyes and paid total attention to the sound. My mind had no inner dialogue, I knew I was listening. It was clear and easy to understand. Every morning during that hour I was present, paid close attention and observed clearly on the sound. I found Abhidharma acceptable. I have no language barrier. At least I knew what it was about. When I looked at the diagram of Abhidharma I knew they are not only colours and numbers.

So how can I live my life to the fullest? I told my hubby just be aware and observe what I do here and now and less multitasking!