I cannot stop people from doing evil,
neither can i force people to do good.
1997.
10 years later, I think I am right - Just Let go - let it be, let it be, let it be - music, please
===========
We spent time preparing for examination, in which only a small percent of the syballus is asked during the examination.
After over a decade studying, after we graduate with degree,Master, we utilise less than 10 percent of what we learn.
Singaporean male spent two and a half year of National service for the defence of Singapore, preparing for war so that it will not happen.
We spent time worrying about the future, worrying about this, about that.
We spent time preparing for things that might never happen.
The only thing certain is this life is death.
Why don't you spend some time preparing for it ?
---------------------------------
Death is the most liberating moment of your life.
If i had no body, i had less suffering.
--------------
From a monk :
Imagining you had to take care of a person, spoon feeding him, washing him, etc, day in , day out.
Will you feel tired ?
Now think,
Ain't you doing the same thing - taking care your body , day in , day out ?
Think,
Isn't this tiring ?
------------------------
Some people are interested in opening their third eye, to see " things" .
For me, super natural senses are just a by product of your practise. it should not be the aim for your practise.
-------------
Service with Honour - motto of National Junior college
In serving, serve
In killing, kill.
==================
Unlearn to learn.
Die to live.
Empty to be full.
----
Are you aware of your heart beat ?
Are you aware of your breathing ?
Are you aware that this earth is buddha land ?
=================
early
Early birds catches the worm.
Early worms got caught by birds.
===================
good and bad.
To a fisherman, the net is his livelihood.
To a fish, the net is a killing field.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
passing clouds -Berkelah Fall on 8 Aug 1992.
We skip lecture to go to Berkelah Fall on 8 Aug 1992.
As it was public holiday and there are a number of other groups from Singapore , Guan Soon and George? was relieved of their heavy back pack and tasked to be advance party to "chop" the camp site.
After a few hour hike, we apporoach the camp site and Guan Soon was sitting relax over a rock,
saying
" All the good sites are taken"
we pulled our long face.
Then he said cheekily
" But We got the best site "
When the other groups arrives, they are packed into a same area like refugee camp, While ours is like chalet.
Heaven and earth.
-------------------
It was rainy season and there are rain clouds flying down the valley.
George joked Passing clouds. and i think there is only a slight drizzle on one of the afteroon
So, "passing clouds" become the word of that trip
As it was public holiday and there are a number of other groups from Singapore , Guan Soon and George? was relieved of their heavy back pack and tasked to be advance party to "chop" the camp site.
After a few hour hike, we apporoach the camp site and Guan Soon was sitting relax over a rock,
saying
" All the good sites are taken"
we pulled our long face.
Then he said cheekily
" But We got the best site "
When the other groups arrives, they are packed into a same area like refugee camp, While ours is like chalet.
Heaven and earth.
-------------------
It was rainy season and there are rain clouds flying down the valley.
George joked Passing clouds. and i think there is only a slight drizzle on one of the afteroon
So, "passing clouds" become the word of that trip
A Thousand Paths to Zen - book
Make a nice big fire, chuck all your Buddhism on it, and warm yourself in its glow
Sound of one hand clapping.
"Rather than bother with that", she said, " Clap both hands and get on with it"
181
---------------
Religions control people to made them behave in a certain way. Zen sets people free to behave just like people.
It is dangerous to let people be themselves ? Won't they steal, rape and murder ? But they do that ( often in the name of religion) anyway.
231
Don't struggle to be a someone , Just realise you are no one.
242
The world does not need improvement.
You does not need improvement.
When you understand that,
both you and the world will be much improved.
301
People feel threatened and rush to the defence of their God, as if god wasn't big enough to take care of himself.
308
Zen won't make you walk on water or fly, but who need it ?
A bit of grass can float and any bug can fly.
330
Meet a devil and pat his head -
How will he stop being a devil without your help ?
301
Zen buddhism ( as opposed to Zen) has sutra, prayers, candles , drum and incense.
But all these are just props. The play can be performed without them.
374
Would you have a water fight with your friends if people are dying of thrist?
On receiving a stupid answer, Huang po give his student a slap.
" How uncouth you are !" shouted the student.
" What a fool to distinguish between couth and uncouth" and he gave him another slap.
Birth & rebirth
" Why aren't they enjoying a world of birth, renewal, youth and beauty"
409
In a synagogue, I was asked to cover my head, in a church to bare it, in a temple to remove my shoes. Is god so free to care about my head or feet ?
easy going man of tao, abondoned learning and does not strive.
neither avoid false thoughts nor seek true.
ignorance is the reality of buddha nature.
And this illusory, changing, empty body is the dharma body.
People like to get rid of bad ideas and attached to good ideas like love, trust, loyalty.
http://www.bokkilden.no/SamboWeb/produkt.do?produktId=1050718&rom=MP
Sound of one hand clapping.
"Rather than bother with that", she said, " Clap both hands and get on with it"
181
---------------
Religions control people to made them behave in a certain way. Zen sets people free to behave just like people.
It is dangerous to let people be themselves ? Won't they steal, rape and murder ? But they do that ( often in the name of religion) anyway.
231
Don't struggle to be a someone , Just realise you are no one.
242
The world does not need improvement.
You does not need improvement.
When you understand that,
both you and the world will be much improved.
301
People feel threatened and rush to the defence of their God, as if god wasn't big enough to take care of himself.
308
Zen won't make you walk on water or fly, but who need it ?
A bit of grass can float and any bug can fly.
330
Meet a devil and pat his head -
How will he stop being a devil without your help ?
301
Zen buddhism ( as opposed to Zen) has sutra, prayers, candles , drum and incense.
But all these are just props. The play can be performed without them.
374
Would you have a water fight with your friends if people are dying of thrist?
On receiving a stupid answer, Huang po give his student a slap.
" How uncouth you are !" shouted the student.
" What a fool to distinguish between couth and uncouth" and he gave him another slap.
Birth & rebirth
" Why aren't they enjoying a world of birth, renewal, youth and beauty"
409
In a synagogue, I was asked to cover my head, in a church to bare it, in a temple to remove my shoes. Is god so free to care about my head or feet ?
easy going man of tao, abondoned learning and does not strive.
neither avoid false thoughts nor seek true.
ignorance is the reality of buddha nature.
And this illusory, changing, empty body is the dharma body.
People like to get rid of bad ideas and attached to good ideas like love, trust, loyalty.
http://www.bokkilden.no/SamboWeb/produkt.do?produktId=1050718&rom=MP
health & wealth
When we are young, we forgo our health to earn monies.
When we are old, we use monies to buy back health.
-------------
Some companies pay employee way above market median.
But the employee work 12 or more hours a day, and including weekends.
If you do some simple calculation, the hourly rate (pay) is less , and i think they are less productivity.
But some people just cannot forgo the pay and "prestige" in working in MNCs.
People Like to cling to things, when at the death bed, there is nothing that you can cling to, only your practise.
It is extremely difficult to let go.
--------------
If people just work for monies, all be be bankers and lawyers.
There will be no engineers.
-----------------------
A man, who was diagnosed with some illness, went to see a monk.
He say " I will fight to win, I will overcome, I will recover "
The monk say coolly:
" Why must you fight? Why must you always win ? Why can't you live peacefully with the disease ? "
When we are old, we use monies to buy back health.
-------------
Some companies pay employee way above market median.
But the employee work 12 or more hours a day, and including weekends.
If you do some simple calculation, the hourly rate (pay) is less , and i think they are less productivity.
But some people just cannot forgo the pay and "prestige" in working in MNCs.
People Like to cling to things, when at the death bed, there is nothing that you can cling to, only your practise.
It is extremely difficult to let go.
--------------
If people just work for monies, all be be bankers and lawyers.
There will be no engineers.
-----------------------
A man, who was diagnosed with some illness, went to see a monk.
He say " I will fight to win, I will overcome, I will recover "
The monk say coolly:
" Why must you fight? Why must you always win ? Why can't you live peacefully with the disease ? "
般 若 心 经 - 心无挂碍 Heart sutra
心无挂碍
无挂碍
无心
无
------------------
心无挂碍
Heart sutra
The mind has no worries
No worries
No mind
No
Nothingness
If the water is too pure, there will be no lotus
Lotus rise beyond mud and is not stained by the dirt.
If there is no mud, there is no lotus.
Is is the dirty mud of this samsara world that make the lotus plant grow and blossom.
-----------------------------------------------------
Avoid Evil, do Good, purify the mind.
Avoid Evil so that you have a quiet mind.
Do Good so that you have a strong mind.
There is no good, no bad.
no mind.
No.
nothingness
================
Since all is void, Where do the dust alight ?
=================
We avoid evil.
We cling to goodness -fame, wealth, family, justice, freedom, good friends, good dharma, good teacher
Clinging so hard until we cannot live without the goodness , and will fight and die for it.
Cling so hard until we do not know how to let go.
-----------
Babies come to this world clinging their fists.
Adults leave this world with open palms.
-from a article
------------------------------
Stage 1. you are attached to other's evils deed, You hate them.
Stage 2. you are attached to your righteousness. Thing should be done this way, I am right, they are wrong.
Stage 3. You are angry.
Stage 4. You are frustrated.
Stage 5. I am practising, they are not. Let them suffer their own karma.
Stage 6. You are depressed.
Stage 7. You are struck.
struck
struck
struck
Stage 8. Buddha was hurt by his disciple, Jesus was crucified on a cross. Grandhi was assassinated.
Stage 9. If the water is too pure, there will no fish - 水清无鱼 Chinese saying
Stage 10. Bingo.
End of game.
=======================
If the water is too pure, there will no lotus
=====================
If there is no mud, there is no lotus.
Is is the dirty mud of this samsara world that make the lotus plant grow and blossom.
-----------------------------------------------------
Avoid Evil, do Good, purify the mind.
Avoid Evil so that you have a quiet mind.
Do Good so that you have a strong mind.
There is no good, no bad.
no mind.
No.
nothingness
================
Since all is void, Where do the dust alight ?
=================
We avoid evil.
We cling to goodness -fame, wealth, family, justice, freedom, good friends, good dharma, good teacher
Clinging so hard until we cannot live without the goodness , and will fight and die for it.
Cling so hard until we do not know how to let go.
-----------
Babies come to this world clinging their fists.
Adults leave this world with open palms.
-from a article
------------------------------
The mind game
Stage 1. you are attached to other's evils deed, You hate them.
Stage 2. you are attached to your righteousness. Thing should be done this way, I am right, they are wrong.
Stage 3. You are angry.
Stage 4. You are frustrated.
Stage 5. I am practising, they are not. Let them suffer their own karma.
Stage 6. You are depressed.
Stage 7. You are struck.
struck
struck
struck
Stage 8. Buddha was hurt by his disciple, Jesus was crucified on a cross. Grandhi was assassinated.
Stage 9. If the water is too pure, there will no fish - 水清无鱼 Chinese saying
Stage 10. Bingo.
End of game.
=======================
If the water is too pure, there will no lotus
=====================
Saturday, February 9, 2008
engaging compassionately with the world
' Life beyond the cloistered walls of ritual and religious formality offers me
infinite possibilities for engaging compassionately with the world."
Even buddha and his sangha had their share of competitive clashes. In fact, one of buddha's disciple tried to poison the buddha.
The appointment of the sixth ancestor as dharma scucessor was so resented that he
had to flee the monastery for his life.According to legend, a mob of monks ran
after him, prepared to kill him.
Imagine, Buddhist monks who devote their entire lives to "the Dharma" - the first
law is to do no harm - running after a brother monk with the intention of killing
him.
Clearly, dharma and karma are a piece, and it's our task, to learn how to swing back and forth with their ever changing play.
pg 79, Grassroots Zen.
http://books.google.com.sg/books?id=pK-3LntvcsQC&dq=grassroots+zen&pg=PP1&ots=sMQ_VagWPS&sig=t2OPagb9aN0-ccAUJ-l7mN_67t8&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com.sg/search?hl=en&q=grassroots+zen&btnG=Search&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail#PPP7,M1
infinite possibilities for engaging compassionately with the world."
Even buddha and his sangha had their share of competitive clashes. In fact, one of buddha's disciple tried to poison the buddha.
The appointment of the sixth ancestor as dharma scucessor was so resented that he
had to flee the monastery for his life.According to legend, a mob of monks ran
after him, prepared to kill him.
Imagine, Buddhist monks who devote their entire lives to "the Dharma" - the first
law is to do no harm - running after a brother monk with the intention of killing
him.
Clearly, dharma and karma are a piece, and it's our task, to learn how to swing back and forth with their ever changing play.
pg 79, Grassroots Zen.
http://books.google.com.sg/books?id=pK-3LntvcsQC&dq=grassroots+zen&pg=PP1&ots=sMQ_VagWPS&sig=t2OPagb9aN0-ccAUJ-l7mN_67t8&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com.sg/search?hl=en&q=grassroots+zen&btnG=Search&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail#PPP7,M1
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