I was reading the Zen Inspiration and find the following helpful.
Where does a pacified or non-pacified mind come from when mind itself is non-existent?
Non-existent of permanent self. Everything is dependent on causes and conditions. So why be unhappy and think of what is over.
I want to apologise to Ajahn Keng for not being able to attend the virtual retreat with Ajahn Keng. Yesterday and today I feel unwell with fever and flu.I was sneezing whole day and I was just diagnosed with covid. 😞 Fortunately, I can watch question and answer session with Ajahn Keng, a humorous Singaporean forest monk.
Today is the seventh day of the first lunar month which is known as 人日 renri (literally translated as human birthday, the day human beings were created based on Chinese customs.
REPENTANCE
懺悔偈
All the harm I have ever done, since time immemorial, Are caused by greed, anger, and ignorance,
And produced through my body, speech, and will, Now I confess and amend all.
往昔所造諸惡業 皆由無始貪瞋痴 從身語意之所生 一切罪障皆懺悔
Heart Sutra is based on the translated texts by Venerable Master Xuanzang during the Tang dynasty, 1400 years ago. Heart Sutra is the shortest sutra with 260 Chinese characters. Though it is a short sutra, it is deeply profound.
There are a total of 28 videos for this Heart Sutra lecture by Venerable Guan Cheng
Every cause is because of your thought. Every thought when you habituated all the time, becomes your character, your personality. Your destiny is determined by your character.
Don't just listen without reasoning. Watch your cause, watch your thought. If you germinates thoughts of diligence, it comes to be good cause. Purify our mind.
Strong ego causes suffering. Nothing stays. Nothing is impermanent. Not even your body.
Today I watched the video by Ajahn Keng to remind myself on Buddha's teaching. I must observe the five precepts and be mindful of my actions as it can affect others.
Interesting Dhamma talk by Ajahn Keng, an eminent Forest monk. I always look forward to his dhamma talk as he is humorous and share his meditation experiences.
In this talk, he share about transfer merits after meditation and to be polite.
Don't be complacent with your life. Use this human body to do good and meditate.
You can watch from the Facebook link here. It would be good to post in youtube as sometimes the Facebook page might lagged.
Last year December, on an even day, I finally went to Kwan Im Thong Hood temple at Bugis to pray. Due to social distancing measures, you can only go to the temple on even days- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday if your NRIC number end with even numbers and odd number on odd days. Only 50 people are allowed in the temple at any time.
Now the temple is barricaded with those safety barriers and you need to bring your TraceTogether tokens or apps. They also don't accept any flowers or fruits offering due to covid19 safety measures. But you can donate money.
I like to go to the temple to get the amulet especially when I travel to overseas. It just makes me feel safe. I also like to go there to pray and thanks Kuan Im bodhisattva for her help.
You can go their Facebook page at here https://www.facebook.com/kwanimthonghoodchotemple to find out latest update.
