Our life is as short as a breath

Our life is as short as a breath

Recently I saw an old woman at the temple pass into unconsciousness in a split second. She looked as normal as could be then suddenly she became unconscious. An ambulance was called and people were all around her. It was scary to watch. I suppose this is what we call impermanence.

My mother was all good until Thursday 20/07/2012 when she had a heart attack. My father told me if that is the end of her that I didn’t need to feel sad because soon or later they have to leave us. My mother was holding my hand at her hospital bed said: “Don’t feel sad if I am going. I have live up to this ripe age and be happy for what is coming.” I totally understand impermanence but was still sad at the thought of her departing.

 Yes, the impermanence is the law of permanence. Things are changing every a split of a second.  Our body and mind never stop changing. We shouldn’t grasp our past. Our past has long gone. Yesterday is no longer belongs to us. It is history. We also shouldn’t grasp onto our future as it has not yet to come. We should live fully, wholeheartedly in our present moment but we should not grasp because it keeps changing. Each moment is a precious moment in our lives. Our lives are as short as a breath therefore we should live fully and wholeheartedly. For when we get lost in thoughts of the past or future, life passes us by.

Past, Present and Future Dim Sum

(Note: Dim Sum is some kind of Chinese refreshment. Sum means mind in Chinese.)

Not sure if you have heard about this zen story, it is about an old woman who was a dim sum seller. One day Deshan Xuanjian (a zen master) came to buy dim sum from this old woman. The old woman asked him what he was carrying. He said: “Diamond sutra commentary!” the old woman said: “Diamond sutra said the past, present and future mind can’t be grasped. What Sum do you want to have for your refreshment?” Deshan Xuanjian couldn’t answer the old woman. The old woman said: “I am sorry. Please go somewhere else to buy your Dim Sum.”

Later Deshan Xuanjian went to study under Longtan Chongxin and enlightened eventually. The old lady’s Zen dim sum had inspired his enlightenment.

The most beautiful sound

At a dim light

I watched my mother’s breath

Up and down her soft body moved

I never consider

Snoring is the most wonderful sound

But tonight

Snoring from her ensured me

She is still alive

I closed my eyes

Meditated on her snoring

I never know

Her snoring is such beautiful sound on earth

To be or not to be a vegetarian

To be or not to be a vegetarian

I really don’t want to write about this but there are people asking me or having a go at me because I am a vegetarian.

Yesterday my workmate, who calls herself as a long term Buddhist (with more than 30 years practise in Buddhism), had a go on me because I am a vegetarian. This is not her first time. This is the Nth time she has done it. She asked me whether I knew there are many enlightened human who are/were not vegetarian. She confronted me and asked me if I knew that although people can be vegetarian but do bad deeds. That being a vegetarian does not make me a good Buddhist. That often vegetarians will suffer from vitamin deficiencies….

On the other hand, my other friend who is also a Buddhist is absolutely baffled at why some monks eat meat whilst others don’t. Does that mean she needs to cook meat to offerings to cater for monks who do eat meat? Some monks say we shouldn’t be attached to being a vegetarian; we should eat what is convenient for us.

I have to make a stand here. Firstly I am vegetarian not because of religion. I was a vegetarian long before I called myself a Buddhist. I am a vegetarian because I don’t want to cause harm to others. I saw a movie clip in the slaughter house and I also read many articles about how people farm their animals. That is the reason I became a vegetarian. I take no precept in this. I eat anything with no face. I make no fuss when I find my food has onion, garlic or leek although I don’t like their smell. Unlike some Buddhists they won’t eat food with this type of vegetable. I am a vegetarian not because I want to be enlightened.

Secondly I am vegetarian because there is choice that I can make. You can say I am attached to this. Whenever I am presented a choice, I will choose vegetables. When there are occasions where people present me with vegetables with meat I will eat the vegetables and leave the meat for others. I make no fuss in this as long as people don’t force me to swallow down the things that I don’t want to swallow. Finally I have been vegetarian for more than ten years and haven’t had any vitamin deficiencies. This also applies to my children.

I know in the Tipitaka, there are some texts regarding with what meat the Buhikku should eat. Here is one of them: Majjhima Nikaya 55.5 The passage reads as follows: "I say that there are three instances in which meat should not be eaten: when it is seen, heard, or suspected that the living being has been slaughtered for the bhikkhu. I say that meat should not be eaten in these three instances. I say that there are three instances in which meat may be eaten: when it is not seen, not heard, and not suspected, that the living being has been slaughtered for the bhikkhu."

We can argue at Buddha’s time, Buddha didn’t say lay/monk/nun couldn’t consume meat. We can say I am not guilty as I do not kill but you are killing the animal indirectly. Why? The reason is because if there is a demand then someone must supply. If we consume meat then there is a demand for meat on the shelf for us to buy. Okay we can say I didn’t ask you to slaughter the animal for me; I didn’t hear when you slaughter the animal and I didn’t see you slaughter the animal. But because we buy it, so someone has needed to slaughter. Someone has to do this dirty job for us because we consume meat.

Why can’t we see this instead of pestering about being vegetarian and the meat issue? If we want to eat meat then accept it and EAT. We don’t need to find excuses and have a go at others. I never have a go on people who eat meat or who are meat lovers. So what if a person’s eating habits is different from us. Being a vegetarian is my personal choice and I don’t need to tell people why I want to be a vegetarian for DOG’s sake. (You may ask why I wrote this article even though I don't want to tell people why I am a vegetarian. The nature of this article is quite contradictory but long over due.)

02/11/2011

人在江湖身不由己

人在江湖身不由己

You can't always do as you like, one has to compromise in this world.

This is load of shit when people say this! My brothers keep using this as an excuse for not doing their duties. Mum was sick last week; she needed people to nurse her by her bedside. I was there 7 nights sleeping on the armchair and yet my own brothers told me “They can’t always do as they like once they have family of their own.” Am I not married? Do I not have children of my own? My children are much younger than anyone of theirs. Do I not have a fulltime job? I needed to ring up my boss to ask for carer’s leave. I had to leave my children home alone. My eldest brother is retired at home; lives next door of my parents’ home but could not even look after mum for a night. This is bullshit!

Whoever says “You can't always do as you like, one has to compromise in this world.” is finding an excuse. An obstacle doesn’t have to stop us. If we face it, accept it, work on it and overcome it. We can find time if we want to. Nothing can stop us if we want to do something, unless we are not willing to do it, we can do it. I compromise in this world and still find my own way to do things I ought to do. Nothing is impossible if we want to do it, we can do it.

The teachings from Bhikkhu Dae In in Shravasti

In the little quiet town, Shravasti, we arrived at a peaceful and humble Korean Temple. During our stay in this Korean Temple, we were fortunate to listen to a Dharma talk from Master Dae In. Master Dae In explained how our mind is like the sky. When the sky becomes dimmed by clouds, it is known as our troubled mind. As humans, we exert our brains beyond our limits. We become delusional as we allow our thoughts to roam endlessly. Clouds come and go in the sky, yet when thoughts arrive into our mind we naturally grasp on to them. That is why we are not happy.

Today, many people crave to attend and rush to some guru in Bodh Gaya. Many have forgotten the true nature of the guru. If this guru passed away, who are they going to chase after? We need to remember one thing: we all have Buddha nature. We don’t need to run after anyone. We need to ask ourselves ‘who am I?’ We need to understand ourselves. Through meditation, one can reveal oneself. Following our troubled mind will only bring us suffering and unhappiness. One must have a calm, silent and clear mind.

How to perceive beggars?
There are two things one must understand:
1) We all have Buddha nature, including beggars. In fact, beggars are also human beings. We discriminate ourselves as Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian and so on. When we cremate our body, can we distinguish whether the ashes are from a beggar, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean or from a particular person? In terms of Buddha nature, we are all the same. However, our conditions are different. Why are there beggars? Why am I not a beggar? Why are we different? Our karma can explain our differences from each other.

One needs to remember our Buddha nature. It is just like a flower. A flower is a flower. However, when we become judgmental we identify them as roses, orchids, lilies and many more. A flower is like Buddha nature and a rose is a flower. Orchid is a flower. Lily is a flower. In this respect, a beggar has Buddha nature. We all have Buddha nature.

2) Knowing in our heart that we can give, yet one may choose not to when they see a beggar, they are a beggar themselves. If we do not embrace a compassionate heart and willing to donate, we are beggar ourselves. Although we may not appear to be a beggar but our mind is like a beggar. Instead of giving, we are only keeping and protecting selfishly what we have. When we see a beggar, we need to embody a compassionate and a willing to donate mind. We need to learn to open our heart for others. We do not need to linger thoughts of how they can escape poverty; whether from their generation to next generation. When we give money to a beggar, we have to feel fortunate and thankful for this opportunity to offer. We must thank them for opening our hearts and nurturing our compassionate heart. If we had no beggars, where would we find the opportunity to give and cultivate our compassionate heart? It is just like if the world had no suffering beings. How can a Bodhisattva accomplish their vows? Although we might believe that beggars are suffering immensely, Bodhisattvas perceive all of us as suffering beings.

Before leaving the Korean temple, Master Dae In gave us the final teaching- Silence. Silence is the best Dharma. Some may be confused and wonder why. Silence gives us the opportunity to reflect upon ourselves in a serene and silent tone. With this mind we can live out a better life on a daily basis.

Amla - Phyllanthus emblica (syn. Emblica officinalis)( 余甘子)

Amla, better known as Indian Gooseberry, is widely used in the Ayurvedic medicine (a traditional medicine system in India) system of India. Amla is extremely rich in vitamin C, having thirty percent more than oranges. It’s packed with many vitamins, minerals, tannins and other helpful nutrients. Amla also works well for inflammation. It is a good anti-inflammatory for joints especially. This potent herb is also used to reduce fevers, strengthen the heart, control blood sugar, treat urinary tract infections and improve eyesight. (reference from http://www.herbslist.net/amla.html)

On the way to Vulture Peak, Thay bought some amla fruits for us because we all had sore throat. Thay told us Indians use this fruit as a herbal medicine to cure sore throat. The taste of amla is incredible. The taste of amla fruit is sour, bitter, sharp, astringent, and it is quite fibrous but the after taste is incredibly sweet. The sweet sensation lingered in my throat and between my teeth, it was amazing. I was dumbfounded by how the fruit soothed my throat.

In my opinion, a person who embodies the sentiments of an amla is one who faces their hardships with persistence and courage. Despite of meeting many adversities in one’s life, one will eventually taste the sweetness of success. I believe the meaning of this fruit correlates to the life of the Buddha. Siddhartha gave up his luxurious life and lived as an ascetic for six years. During those six years he practiced with all his might, seeking the answer to end suffering. Through endless meditation he reached Buddhahood and discovered the ‘Middle Path’ .

There are many Chinese idioms for this fruit:

• Light at the end of the tunnel
• Bitterness finishes, sweetness begins (苦盡甘來)
• Pleasure comes through toil

31/12/2011

Can Buddha Dharma (teachings) help the poor?

Someone asked me this question and I have no clue how people will react with my answer. I believe that Buddha Dharma can help the poor. Although living in poverty, a person can still be happy. A person who is wealthy can be unhappy. Buddha Dharma is teaching us how to accept what we have, how to see things as they are not as what we want them to be, and learning how to let go. Buddha taught us Anicca (impermanent), Dukkha (unsatisfactory/suffer) and Anatta (non-self). If we understand the truth then whatever condition we are in, our mind can be content and happy. Although Buddha Dharma cannot bring wealth and things into our daily life, it can make our mind rich and happy.

Why did Buddha strive to reach enlightenment? He strived for enlightenment because he saw all these sufferings and wanted to find a way out from it. I am sure at Buddha’s time, there would be as many beggars as there is today. Buddha illustrated the best example to us by how he became poor, yet could still be happy. He gave up his luxurious life and became a beggar. Buddha begged for food and lived under a tree. All he had was a cloth which he wore on his body and an alm bowl. Buddha always had a serene and happy mind because he understood the truth - Anicca, Dukkha and Anatta . He did not discriminate what was good or bad. His mind had transformed into ‘Pure Land’. No matter how harsh the condition was, the Buddha kept a peaceful mind.

Although there are many poor people in India where Buddha became enlightenment, that doesn’t mean they understand Buddha’s teachings. Buddha Dharma is a mind training exercise, not something that will make you become wealthy.

31/12/2011