The video below is about the origin of Six Syllables mantra , Om Mani Padme Hum. The Six Words Great Enlightening Dharani is considered as the essential heart dharani of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Kuan Yin Pusa) and the root of all mantras. This video is based on the Mahayana Sublime Treasure King Sutra. Buddha said that reciting Om Mani Padme Hum, its merits and benefits are limitless and boundless. For example reciting the mantra can illuminate all wisdom and achieve perfect Bodhi and many more. For me after reciting Om Mani Padme Hum, I don't crave for meat and prefer vegetarian food. This mantra helps me to concentrate during meditation. At least I focus on reciting Om Mani Padme Hum instead of wandering thoughts; thinking about work or other things. Perhaps I have affinity with Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, every time I need help, I'll recite Kuan Yin Pusa and somehow I feel things get better.
When I was young, I didn't know that Buddhism is divided into two main Buddhist schools of thoughts namely the Mahayana (Great Vehicle) and Theravada Buddhism (School of the Elders). Mahayana Buddhism is based on the Bodhisattva path whereas the Theravada Buddhism on meditation to achieve self-enlightenment to be an Arhant. Growing up in a typical Chinese family in Singapore, we pray to Buddha, Kuanyin pusa or Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and other various Chinese deities like Earth god deity （土地公） and others deities. So my family is a typical Taoist family who also pray to Buddha and Kuanyin bodhisattva besides many Taoist deities. My parents are not able to explain to me the difference on Taoism and Buddhism so I started reading up on what is the difference. As I read more, I identify myself as a Buddhist. Instead of focusing on the differences of Mahayana and Theravada, I focus on the similarities which include the core teaching of Buddha which are the Four Noble truths, the Noble Eightfold path, observing the five precepts, three characteristics of existence, Karma, be mindful, meditate and just do good. After listening to both venerable masters Sheng Yen and Chao Khun Keng, both emphasised the importance of doing good and following on the precepts. I enjoy listening to Buddha's teaching from both Mahayana and Theravada venerable monks namely Venerable master Sheng Yen and Chao Khun Keng respectively. Sadly Master Sheng Yen passed on in 2009. But luckily there are many videos on Buddhism by Master Sheng Yen.
On the topic of karma, in the video, Do you want to be a ghost? by venerable Chao Khun Keng, he shared that a person who slaughter chickens for a living suffered from neck pain as he bent the neck of chickens before slaughter. After he stop selling chickens, his neck is no long in pain. In this life, I hope to share what I learned from the venerable monks with others on Buddha's teaching as it can help people just as Buddha's teaching has helped me. Since we do not own the current physical body forever, why must we hold on to anger and hatred forever? Just let go and send out good will and joy to others.
Master Sheng Yen on Mahayana and Theravada (Hinayana)
In Shakyamuni Buddha's time, Buddhism had not split into Mahayana and Hinayana, though Mahayana ideas were already circulating. The distinction between Mahayana and Hinayana and their later developments reflect the different ways of interpreting the Buddha's ideas and the precepts. While Hinayana Buddhism is a conservative form of Buddhism that adheres to Pali scriptures and the Buddha's original teachings, Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the Bodhisattva spirit in delivering senting beings and transforming the world.
Forest Monk Chao Khun Keng. I enjoy listening to his Dharmma talk
My ex-colleague shared with me a very interesting and inspiring video on a Dharma talk by Venerable Chao Khun Keng. Known as Phra Ajaan Keng, Chao Khun Keng is the first Singaporean ordained in the Thai Buddhist tradition and was conferred the ecclesiastical title of Chao Khun by the King of Thailand. I learned a lot from his interesting talk.
He is a humorous and engaging speaker and like typical Singapore, he uses mostly English with a mixture of Mandarin, Singlish and Hokkien (common Chinese dialect from the China Fujian province). He shared what he saw during his meditation and he why he has no doubt on the transference of merit.
I highly recommend that you listen to his talk as shared in the video below. I agree with him on the importance of meditation and not just read the sutras. I experienced the bliss of rapture joy during meditation and it made me realised one does not need much in life to be happy. Now I am happy sharing what I learned from dharma talks by Venerable monks who shared on Buddha's teaching. Buddha had selflessly spent more than 45 years on teaching the Dharma more than 2500 years ago.
I hope Venerable Chao Khun Keng is in Singapore and will conduct some more talks. I do have some questions to ask him.
Some quotes from this video by Chao Khun Keng.
When you meditate, then you can direct your mind from a very chaotic state and enter concentration. That is real. Enjoy the bliss of concentration.
With this support of concentration, are you able to see the truth of this five Skandhas your body, your feeling, your perception, your analytical mind and this consciousness?To say that this is not self, this is suffering if you are attached to it. And this is no self. Its not going to live forever.
Buddha always say We are our owner of our own action, heir of our actions, born of our action, related to action. Whatever we do for good or for bad, we must bear.
Its from your practise of meditation that you see through the eyes of the mind, the wisdom that arises from meditation.
Dhamma Talk at Singapore Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. This 2-hour video is a 1 hour talk and 1 hour question and answer session.
I enjoy listening to Taiwanese Master Lim Zheng Yi sharing on Feng Shui, Chinese metaphysics and Buddhism. I first got to know him from Taiwan variety talkshow and he is a very positive and knowledgeable Yijing master. In this video, he share Heart Sutra. He published a book on Heart Sutra with Buddhism painting. In this video, I learned one very important concept in Heart Sutra. To be a master of your life, you should observe your thought and not react to your thought.
