Reflection - Five Precepts and At Ease 自在

Recently I came to appreciate this Buddha's teaching that attachment to thing or person that are by nature impermanent brings suffering. Once you can let go, you can truly be free and at ease. no longer worrying. Because if you are constantly worrying about losing it, it only bring you suffering. What is meant for you, will always be yours. You don't have to worry about others snatching. If the thing is not meant for you, why worry about losing. It is just wasting energy and time. As a Buddhist, I strive to practise the five precepts;

1) To refrain from destroying living creatures. 

2) To refrain from taking that which is not given.

3) To refrain from sexual misconduct 

4) To refrain from incorrect speech (lying or gossiping)

5) To refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness. (Oops, I only drink wine during wedding dinner)

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If you can practise the five precepts, you will be happy. At least, it gives you peace of mind. 

I look at people who are happily married for decades are happy because they trust each others. Only trust and commitment to each others help cement happy marriage. 

Life is Uncertain. Dhamma Sharing by Ajahn Keng

In this dhamma sharing video, Ajahn Keng shared about karma and the uncertainty of life. 

This week, I experienced this uncertainty of life when my lovely pet who has been with us for the past 12 years just passed away suddenly this Saturday. He looked alright this Friday. I should do more by buying more of his favourite snacks instead of giving just dried cranberries and talked to him more. I could do better.

Life is really uncertain. Try to fulfill what your pet or loved one wants if it is not unreasonable request. Then one will not have regret. Always treat every encounter like the last cause you never know when is the last meeting.

May this merit of sharing the dhamma be dedicated to my deceased chinchilla, Ah Ji （阿吉). May he attain better rebirth.

Ajahn Keng: Dhamma at Sydney Museum

Ajahn Keng is a forest monk who gives very interesting dhamma talk around the world. I hope he be back to Singapore soon in November and December to give dhamma talks. 

In this video, he shares really interesting insights. He shared about cremation in open air overseas but many people dare not watch the cremation. Only the monks watched. This process makes you reflect on your life. The nature of life. The body after cremation just turn to dust floating in the air, back to nature. At one with nature.

This body of mine doesn't last forever. One day I have to say goodbye to it. I don't even own this temporary body. Who am I to own other? As I ponder about this, I just let go and not get so attached to people or things. This is not easy and needs lots of reminder.

I think I will go for the 8 precepts during the holidays. My friend has been asking me to attend the 8 precepts at the temple several times.

I will update this post later this week when I'm free. Meanwhile, do watch this interesting Dhamma talk.

Cherish your life. Do good with this precious life.

If you like to read about Buddha's teaching, you can visit my other blog on Buddhism here.

Karmic Power and the Unconscious

Sometimes I wonder why some normally nice people could be rude to some people they that they dislike. Why is it that some people could never be friends. 

In this video,  Master Sheng Yen shared shared that sometimes how we behave could be because of karmic power that affect us unconsciously. 

I try to be mindful and think first before I react angrily as I remind myself of Right Speech. To be kind and refrain from speaking if I have nothing nice to say. 

As the host shared, if we act on the whim of out unconscious and its underlying karma, we will forever be mired in the cycles of cause and effect.

Letting Go

 When you let go, you are allowing something that is meant to be in your life to enter into your life and you feel at ease. I would like to share an adage by Buddhist Venerable Master Sheng. Hopefully you find it useful too. 

"面对它,接受它,解决它,放下它。"

"Face it, accept it, deal with it, let it go."

Image from Big Panda, Tiny Dragon by James Norbury

The Journey Big Panda and Tiny Dragon

 I had a wonderful day reading at the bookshop yesterday. I spent fruitful hours reading the latest magazines and books like The Journey Big Panda and Tiny Dragon which is an inspiring book on coping with change and obstacles in this beautifully illustrated book inspired with Buddhism philosophy. Sometimes, having  a great friend or spouse to navigate this life journey makes it much more palatable. 

Interesting Talk by Ajahn Brahm

I enjoy dhamma talk by Ajahn Brahm. Many years ago, I attended a dhamma talk at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.  He has a degree in theoretical physics from Cambridge University but became a monk in 1974. He is humourous monk who share interesting dhamma talk. 

In this video, he talk about out-of-body experiences that others experience via meditation or near-death experiences. Many people who experienced Near-death experiences also talked about out-of-body experiences. You can read about interesting near-death experiences here.

Many who survived after experiencing near-death experiences, gained insight to living. For example, Ajahn Brahm also shared about the best selling author Anita Moojani who wrote the book Dying to be Me. Her cancer disappeared after she experienced near-death and she realised what caused the cancer. She decided to just live fearlessly and be herself instead of trying to meet others' expectations.