Interesting Questions and Answers

Ajahn Keng is a Singaporean forest monk. Many years ago, he was given only two years to live by his doctor when he was 21 years old. Now he is in his 50s.  He found Buddha's teaching which helped him and he recovered. You can listen to this interesting Question and Answers session with Ajahn Keng.

Heart Sutra: No aging and death, and no ending of aging and death

Suffering comes mostly from the mind. Recently I was upset. I realised it is not healthy to be jealous, it is a form of affliction. I decided to reread on the Heart Sutra and it does helps to reduce affliction. 

From the Heart Sutra- 无无明，亦无无明尽，乃至无老死，亦无老死尽- There is no ignorance and no ending of ignorance. And no ending of aging and death. 

It means you shouldn't dread birth and death. Birth and death is actually not dreadful. It is only dreadful when you have afflictions, when you have fear, when you are confused, in this stage of ignorance. 

To be free of affliction is to attain liberation. 

I reminded myself of this Chinese say, "命里有时终须有 命里无时莫强求" which means what is meant to be yours, will be yours. If it is not meant to be yours, no matter how hard you work hard for it, it will never be yours. It reminded me of how Gautama Buddha's father tried to stop Prince Siddhattha from leaving the worldly life. He tried to shield him from the suffering of life by giving him the best in the palace. Fortunately Prince Siddhattha followed his purpose in life. 

So just let go. Use wisdom to end affliction.

Maha-parinibbana Sutta: Last Days of the Buddha

Today is the 15th day of the lunar month and it marks the day the Buddha entered parinirvana. Today I spend the day to meditate and reflect on Buddha's teaching.

From Access Insight. Click here to read more. 

Maha-parinibbana Sutta: Last Days of the Buddha

The World's Echo

12. And when the Blessed One had passed away, simultaneously with his Parinibbana there came a tremendous earthquake, dreadful and astounding, and the thunders rolled across the heavens.

13. And when the Blessed One had passed away, simultaneously with his Parinibbana, Brahma Sahampati[60] spoke this stanza:

All must depart — all beings that have life Must shed their compound forms. Yea, even one, A Master such as he, a peerless being, Powerful in wisdom, the Enlightened One, has passed away.

14. And when the Blessed One had passed away, simultaneously with his Parinibbana, Sakka, king of the gods,[61] spoke this stanza:

Transient are all compounded things, Subject to arise and vanish; Having come into existence they pass away; Good is the peace when they forever cease.

15. And when the Blessed One had passed away, simultaneously with his Parinibbana, the Venerable Anuruddha spoke this stanza:

No movement of the breath, but with steadfast heart, Free from desires and tranquil — so the sage Comes to his end. By mortal pangs unshaken, His mind, like a flame extinguished, finds release.

16. And when the Blessed One had passed away, simultaneously with his Parinibbana, the Venerable Ananda spoke this stanza:

Then there was terror, and the hair stood up, when he, The All-accomplished One, the Buddha, passed away.

17. Then, when the Blessed One had passed away, some bhikkhus, not yet freed from passion, lifted up their arms and wept; and some, flinging themselves on the ground, rolled from side to side and wept, lamenting: "Too soon has the Blessed One come to his Parinibbana! Too soon has the Happy One come to his Parinibbana! Too soon has the Eye of the World vanished from sight!"

But the bhikkhus who were freed from passion, mindful and clearly comprehending, reflected in this way: "Impermanent are all compounded things. How could this be otherwise?"

18. And the Venerable Anuruddha addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Enough, friends! Do not grieve, do not lament! For has not the Blessed One declared that with all that is dear and beloved there must be change, separation, and severance? Of that which is born, come into being, compounded and subject to decay, how can one say: 'May it not come to dissolution!'? The deities, friends, are aggrieved."

"But, venerable sir, of what deities is the Venerable Anuruddha aware?"

"There are deities, friend Ananda, in space and on the earth who are earthly-minded; with dishevelled hair they weep, with uplifted arms they weep; flinging themselves on the ground, they roll from side to side, lamenting: 'Too soon has the Blessed One come to his Parinibbana! Too soon has the Happy One come to his Parinibbana! Too soon has the Eye of the World vanished from sight!' But those deities who are freed from passion, mindful and clearly comprehending, reflect in this way: 'Impermanent are all compounded things. How could this be otherwise?'"

19. Now the Venerable Anuruddha and the Venerable Ananda spent the rest of the night in talking on the Dhamma. Then the Venerable Anuruddha spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: "Go now, friend Ananda, to Kusinara, and announce to the Mallas: 'The Blessed One, Vasetthas, has passed away. Do now as seems fitting to you.'"

"So be it, venerable sir." And the Venerable Ananda prepared himself in the forenoon, and taking bowl and robe, went with a companion into Kusinara.

20. At that time the Mallas of Kusinara had gathered in the council hall to consider that very matter. And the Venerable Ananda approached them and announced: "The Blessed One, Vasetthas, has passed away. Do now as seems fitting to you."

And when they heard the Venerable Ananda speak these words, the Mallas with their sons, their wives, and the wives of their sons, were sorely grieved, grieved at heart and afflicted; and some, with their hair all dishevelled, with arms upraised in despair, wept; flinging themselves on the ground, they rolled from side to side, lamenting: "Too soon has the Blessed One come to his Parinibbana! "Too soon has the Happy One come to his Parinibbana! Too soon has the Eye of the World vanished from sight!"

Heart Sutra- The Five Skandhas

Happiness only comes when the mind is at peace. Not incessant craving for material things. 

 

Pacified Mind from Zen Inspiration

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. 

达摩祖师

Question and Answer by Ajahn Keng 13 February 2022

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. 

Happy Birthday to All. 初七人日

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.

In Teochew tradition, we will eat seven different types of vegetables to celebrate. This year besides seven vegetables, my mum also prepared yusheng and also yummy fried mianxian or vermicelli.

I think I have to start to lose weight. Since the Chinese New Year, I have gained a few kilograms with all those feasting on pineapple tarts, cookies, chocolates and yummy food.

As I reflect on this special day, it reminds me of Buddha's teaching. Buddha said it is rare to attain the human body. I must be mindful of my thoughts and words and do more kind deeds.

“𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙; 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙖, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙;”.

On this special day, I like to recite this Repentance verse and apologise to all whom I had directly or/and indirectly hurt by my speech. Pardon me, as those born in Rooster year tend to be honest and blunt.

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

Seven different vegetables

Fried mianxian or vermicelli

Yusheng with abalone

                                           Tossing the yusheng with my family