Beyond Life and Death

I'm very happy with my new book purchase at Orchard Road today by Jet Li LianJie, Beyond Life and Death, Jet Li looking for Jet Li. Jet Li is a Chinese-born Singaporean who is successful actor, former 5-time Wushu champion.  I hope there is a book signing event in Singapore. Even though this book is in traditional Chinese and has to be read from right to left instead of the usual left to right and Simplified Chinese, I decided to buy as I wanted to read immediately and the bookstore staff are not sure when the Simplified Chinese version will arrive in Singapore. Anyway, I can recognise the traditional Chinese characters which have more strokes. 

In this book,  Jet Li shared his quest for the truth and happiness. Like him, we have affinity with Buddha's teaching (佛缘). We find Buddha's teaching helpful in solving personal problems and clarifying many questions I had. I really enjoy listening and reading the dhamma.  Why are some people so talented in certain field? In education, we talk about prior knowledge.  Perhaps their consciousness still retain  prior knowledge they acquired in their past lives. Our bodies are like hardware like mobile phone and it will break down and our consciousness are like the software or data that retain contents like knowledge and karma of previous hardware.  It reminds me of the Heart Sutra verse, no birth no death, just transformation in states

Shakyamuni Buddha was born a prince with great wealth and power but he realised power and wealth can't end universal suffering of aging, sickness and death. He spent 7 years searching for the truth and end to suffering and he found it-the Noble Eightfold Path ( Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration) to end suffering and he spent 49 years teaching people using differentiated teaching to people of various abilities from the poor to the royalty. Buddha taught people not to believe him or supposedly  by him but to investigate and find out if it relate to your experience. He only taught and shared his discovery on how to end suffering and anyone can also achieve if they practise what he shared.  

Jet Li pondered why his billionaire friends are still so upset despite their wealth? No matter how rich a person is, he or she can't escape death. You only own the wealth temporarily. Poor and rich people still have worries and suffering. Poor people worry about 3 to 4 figures and the rich people worry about millions or billions of dollars. A rich person still strive to earn more and this 'greed' or insecurity make them even want more which lead to more craving and greed. There is also 无常 or impermanence as there is always change. Day by day, we change with age. Understanding this, I appreciate this moment. I'm currently younger than the next moment. 

I know I have to go beyond the book knowledge. For now I meditate at home. I have to go for meditation retreat at a temple hopefully by next year. 

I totally agree with him.

Interesting insight from the monk. Why didn't I think of that?  I need to focus more on practice. Hopefully next year, I can go to meditation retreat in temple. I do hope to visit China Mount Putuo or Taiwan Fo guang shan.

Great interview and I hope it can inspire you

Heart Sutra : Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form 色即是空, 空即是色

I would like to share with you one of the verses from the Heart Sutra, "Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form 色即是空, 空即是色". I find that it is helpful to me in the daily life. At least you don't feel angry or sad for long. I like listening to Buddha's teaching on the truth and universe especially after it has been verified by survivors who saw their past lives and scientists who discovered the vast universe.

The body is the aggregates of eye, nose, ears, tongue, body and mind. How your mind reacts to the environment. The eye, nose, ears, tongue, body and mind are conditional causation. How do you react when you hear something nice or bad? Do you react and create bad or good action? Some things to contemplate about it. 

Once you can perceive the five skandhas are empty, you are free from suffering. Or at least you won't be so affected by the environment for example gossips or what you see and comparing with others on who can afford the most expensive thing. Only then will you be truly free and not be affected by  what you hear, see and many more.

Our bodies are just like hardwares. We are existing in this body for at most 100 years. This is temporary identity and not the real you. The real you is pure consciousness free of all the temporary dust or worries that affect you in the current body. Body is like hardware that play the movie of your life and your spirit or soul is the software that went through different hardwares. We have been through many past lives. With the advance of technology especially in healthcare, many people who died and returned back to life shared that they saw their many past lives during their near death experience. You can read the sharing by Anita Moojani on Dying to be Me and real life accounts by people from this near death experience here. 

We are here for at most 100 years, so do good as what you give our you will get back. If you are lucky, you pay back the karma debt in the current life else you have to go through rebirth again to pay back karma debt. Just be kind and do good if you don't have any religion. 

Lecture 20 by Venerable Guan Cheng

I highly recommend Anita Moojani's book on Dying to be Me. She struggled with cancer for four years and miraculously survived after she chose to be back to live fearlessly.

Singapore Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple

Yesterday was the first day of Chinese lunar month of  August. I decided to go to Kwan Im temple at Waterloo street to pray since I haven't visit the temple for many months. Luckily the temple opening hours is from 7am to 6.30 pm and I managed to pray at the temple after work. 

This temple started in 1884 and was last renovated in 1983.

From Wikipedia, "The temple's main worship is Cundi, a manifestation of Kuan Yin. It also worship Damo and Hua Tuo. A statue of Tathagata Buddha is also placed behind Kuan Yin. On top of the altar there is also the Four Heavenly Kings."

Alms Round at Tampines

My friend shared with me that Buddhist monks from the Palelai Temple will go to Tampines Blk 823 Tampines Market for alms round on every Monday morning from 8.15 am to 8.45 am. This alms round practice started during Shakyamuni Buddha time, more than 2500 years ago. It is to teach the monks to be humble and also provide opportunity for people to learn about Buddha's teaching and make merit by giving. 

So during the June holidays, I brought some rice packets, a bottle of cooking oil to offer to the monks at Tampines market with my friend. I couldn't explain it but I felt light-hearted and joyful after offering the requisites to the monks. Please take note that real Buddhist monks don't accept money in the street. They accept cooked or/and uncooked food. 

 

When giving, you practise generosity. There are also different form of giving like giving advice, effort, or providing a listening ear. 

I believe and strive to follow Buddha's teaching on Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold paths, rebirths and karma .Some people say Buddhism only talk about suffering which is not true. Buddha shared solution too and that is the path out of suffering is to follow the Noble Eightfold paths, one of which is Right or Skilfull Action which also include 5 precepts for lay Buddhists. One of the five precepts is no sexual misconduct. So if you follow the precept, by not committing  extramarital affair, you are not causing unnecessary suffering to your spouse and children. 

 

Buddha advised not to blindly believe. Investigate and see if it is true first. I realised the truth of Buddha's teaching after reading books like Dr Raymond Moody, Life after Life, Dr Brian Weiss, Many Lives, Many Masters and Near-death experiences website here, shared by those survivors who shared about their past lives. From the book, some shared how their current body moles were related to past life injuries which I read in some Buddhism books. I think I have affinity with Buddha (与佛有缘） as I enjoy listening to dharma talks. Also I can relate to the dharma teaching. I enjoy listening to dharma talks by Ajahn Keng and Venerable Sheng Yen.

Back to the alms round. If you want to offer requisites to the monks during their alms round, you can visit Palelai temple website here. https://palelaibuddhisttemple.org/visiting-palelai/#weekly-activities 

Monks went for alms round at Tampines Blk 823 on every Monday, 8.15 am to 8.45 am. Image from here. Please be respectful to monks. Real monks don't accept money. They accept food. 

You can find out more about Buddhism from Buddhist monk.

10 Daily Reminders For a Better Life

My friend Mr T shared with me this informative vide on 10 daily reminders by a practising Theravada monk. I find it helpful so I'm sharing with you all. Below is a short summary of what venerable Nick Keomahavong shared. I hope you find the video below helpful to improve your habits and life. 

1. Reminder 1 - How was our thoughts, speech and action?

We must pay attention to our thoughts, speech and action. The way we think, speak and our behaviours, these actions create karma. There are consequences and effects.

Reminder 2 - Not being choosy and using essentials with care and consideration

Don't be wasteful and careless and mindless. Have a sense of gratitude for the food and supplies you have available and also make use to care for it. Use it wisely. Be considerate of the resources we have and not be wasteful. 

Reminder 3 - What can we do to improve our conduct, what bad habits to give up, and what good habits to develop?

Everyday look at the bad habits you have and then try ways to improve it. Reflect on the habits that need changing. What can you do to change your behaviour? Increase your mindfulness. 

Reminder 4 - How well did we observe the precepts?

Thervada Buddhist monks need to observe 227 precepts to keep them on track in developing their mind, to hold up to standard and training. For lay Buddhists, we just observe the 5 precepts as follow:

1- No harming of life

2- No stealing

3- No false speech

4- No sexual misconduct

5- No intoxicants - will not lead to carelessness

If you hold the 5 precepts, it limits the worries. There is no outside interference and you are more worry free.

Reminder 5 - What would the Buddha say about our conduct and observance of precepts?

The Buddha was a regular person who attained enlightenment in our human realm. What would Buddha think of our behaviour. Reflect on our day. What do we need to improve our life?

Reminder 6 - Remind ourselves that we are bound to be parted from all.

Everything we do, we tend to cling to it, hold on to it to be attached to it be it relationship or thing. When the time comes to depart, you will all depart from these things. Use this to ground yourself. All the money, possession that you have, you can't take it with you when you depart. When you understand the above, then it start to change and structure how you function in your daily life. 

Reminder 7 - Remind ourselves that we all live under the Law of Kamma

We must continuously remind ourselves that we all live under the law of kamma, therefore we must choose to do only virtuous things in thought, speech and action. Regardless of what traditions or religions you are from, there is the law of kamma. That with every action, there is a reaction. It is important to remind ourselves with this universal truth. When you do good, it has positive fruit and vice versa. Use this to guide your action moving forward. 

Reminder 8 - What good have we done today to purify our mind?

Need to remind ourselves that time is passing. What good have we done today to purify our mind? If you have the opportunity to do good, do it now. This lifetime is very short. Don't take it for granted. 

Reminder 9 - Have peace and quiet – physically and mentally – and to set aside time for meditation. 

Take the time to just settle down and meditate.

Reminder 10 - How well did you meditate?

Main focus is to train the mind. To see reality as it is. You can use journal to keep track of meditation experience. What was your mindset like?

10 Daily Reminders For a Better Life  A Monk’s Approach

The Practice of Contemplating the Five Aggregates as Empty

If you understand the Heart Sutra, you be more at ease 自在。 Heart Sutra reminds me that the five aggregates namely,  form, feeling, perception, mental formation and consciousness are empty. Like it or not, everyday we are growing older. This physical body that we are residing in are not permanent. 

This identities of who you are is temporary based on the body you reside now. It is not the real you. The real you is unchanging and bright. So why be unhappy with things that are also impermanent? Just let go. There are times when I feel sad, but after some time, just let go of the sadness and be happy. 

From Master Sheng Yen who explained the Heart Sutra.

“Perception” means notions, reflections and thoughts. It changes over time and space. Therefore, there is no need to be attached to it.    

The five skandhas, namely form, feelings, perceptions, volitions and consciousness continually provide five occasions for craving and clinging. Two types of craving and clinging characterize the human mind: 1) Craving and clinging to form and 2) Craving and clinging to mind. Clinging to form is the domain of the form skandha; the remaining four skandhas constitute the domain of the mind and the clinging to mind is generated in those four realms. All our grasping, manifested in our attachments and aversions, is generated and developed due to the activity of these four skandhas. Craving and clinging emerge at birth, and the Buddhadharma aims to sever them.

 “O Sariputra! Form does not differ from the void, and the void does not differ from the form. Form is the void, and the void is form. 

The same is true for feelings, perceptions, impulses and consciousness. O Sariputra, the characteristics of the void is not created, not annihilated, not impure, not pure, not increasing, not decreasing. 

 Therefore, in the void there are no forms and no feelings, perceptions, impulses and no consciousness: there is no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind; there is no form, sound, smell, taste, touch or idea; no eye elements, until we come to no elements of consciousness; no ignorance and also no ending of ignorance, until we come to no old age and death; and no ending of old age and death. 

Also, there is no truth of suffering, of the cause of suffering, of the cessation of suffering or of the path. There is no wisdom, and there is no attainment whatsoever. Because there is nothing to be attained, a Bodhisattva relying on Prajnaparamita has no obstruction in his heart. Because there is no obstruction he has no fear, and he passes far beyond all confused imagination and reaches Ultimate Nirvana. 

All Buddhas in the past, present and future have attained Supreme Enlightenment by relying on the Prajnaparamita. Therefore we know that the Prajnaparamita is the great magic Mantra, the great Mantra of illumination, it is the supreme Mantra, the unequaled Mantra which can truly wipe out all suffering without fail.” 

 Therefore, he uttered the Prajnaparamita mantra, by saying: “Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasemgate Bodhi-svaha!” 

观自在菩萨，行深般若波罗蜜多时。照见五蕴皆空，渡一切苦厄。舍利子，色不异空，空不异色，色即是空，空即是色，受想行识，亦复如是。舍利子，是诸法空相，不生不灭，不垢不净，不增不减。是故空中无色，无受想行识，无眼耳鼻舌身意，无色声香味触法，无眼界，乃至无意识界。无无明，亦无无明尽，乃至无老死，亦无老死尽。无苦集灭道，无智亦无得。以无所得故，菩提萨埵，依般若波罗蜜多故，心无罣礙，无罣礙故，无有恐怖，远离顚倒梦想，究竟涅槃。三世诸佛，依般若波罗蜜多故，得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。故知般若波罗蜜多，是大神呪，是大明呪，是无上呪，是无等等呪，能除一切苦，眞实不虚。故说般若波罗蜜多呪，卽说呪曰：揭谛揭谛，波罗揭谛，波罗僧揭谛，菩提萨婆诃。 

Happy Vesak Day 2023

In Singapore on today Vesak Day,  Buddhists commemorate  the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Gautama Buddha. The compassionate and kind Buddha had spent 49 years teaching the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold path to end suffering. Buddhism or Buddha's teaching is not about pessimism. There is a way to end suffering and that is to follow the Noble Eightfold path which helps to end rebirth. 

Before enlightenment, Buddha spent 6 long years practicing asceticism and long fasting, causing his body to be weakened. One day, he heard someone playing a string instrument and came to the realisation that the Middle Path is the way for achieving the liberation of body and mind.  

"Cultivation is like playing a musical string instrument. The string will snap if it is too tight, or not make any sound if it is too loose. Indulgence in sensual pleasure or extreme penance are attachments. The Middle Path is the way for achieving the liberation of body and mind." 

After attaining enlightening, Buddha had compassionately taught sentient being the Four Noble Truths. He reminded us to think and investigate his or others' teaching before accepting it.

On the night of enlightenment, Buddha attained the ability to recollect his past lives at dusk. In late night, Buddha attained the second knowledge which is the passing away and rebirth of beings according to their actions and closer to dawn, Buddha attained the knowledge of the destruction of mental defilements and came to be the fully self-awaked Buddha. Buddha had compassionately spent the next 49 years teaching sentients being the path to end suffering with the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold path. More than 2500 years later, with the advance of technology and past lives regression, it verified what Buddha had taught about rebirths and karma- cause and effect.  If you want to read about rebirths, you can read Dr Brian Weiss's book like Many Lives, Many Masters which touched on individual and collective karma and rebirths. 

The Four Noble Truths are

1) The truth of suffering. Like it or not, both rich and poor go through suffering. The suffering of old age, not getting what you want, separation, sickness.

2) The truth of the  cause of suffering (craving, anger and delusion)

3) The truth of the end of suffering. (There is a way to end suffering) 

4) The truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering is the Noble Eightfold paths.

The Noble Eightfold paths which helps to develop Sila (ethical conduct), samadhi (mental discipline or meditation) and panna (wisdom) are as follows

1) Right thought

2) Right understanding

3) Right Speech (Refrain from lying, gossip, idle, harsh speech. If one has nothing helpful to say, be silent)

4) Right action (moral, honorable and peaceful conduct)

5) Right livelihood (Honest living, Refrain from making a living that harm others like selling weapons, intoxicating drinks and toxins)

6) Right effort (prevent unwholesome state of mind)

7) Right mindfulness (be aware and mindful of one's thoughts and feelings

8) Right concentration (meditation)

By the way this year Vesak Day is very special to our family as my 3rd young brother is married to his beloved wife. I forgot about one of the five precepts. I took a glass of red wine. At the end of the wedding, I just had a short meditation. 

One must be mindful and consistently practise and reflect on Buddha's teaching.