Tsa Tsa Making Workshop

Every Sunday Modern Buddhist Fellowship organizes tsa tsa workshop.

Tsa tsa is an images of holy Buddha statue made of clay, ivory or cement.

It's been 3 months since we started this workshop and so far, we have produced beautiful tsa tsa's of dharma protector Vajrapani, Medicine Buddha, Chenrizeg, Tara and much more.

Yesterday, was another successful day for us.

Migtsemathon in the morning followed by a very nice lunch provided by Uncle Charlie and then took the Basic Buddhism Test conducted by our in-house teacher Josh Sim.

In which all of us passed and I can really say we are learning a lot.

And then we spent our whole afternoon making tsa tsa until 8pm, did our dharma dedication and that concluded our ‎Sunday. Now if you are interested in joining us PLEASE COME AND JOIN US.

Not only you gain tremendous benefits in making tsa tsa, u will also learn how you can turn your bad luck into Good ones. Wanna learn about how KARMA works?

This is the right place for you to learn. So if in any case you are in ‎Singapore don't hesitate to drop me a message. We have enthusiastic members around, you will never get bored. ツ

Buddhism for man in society

SOURCE: Buddhism Path To Peace

This religion can be practiced either in society or in seclusion.

There are some who believe that Buddhism is so lofty and sublime a system that it cannot be practiced by ordinary men and women in the workday world. These same people think that one has to retire to a monastery or to some quiet place if one desires to be a true Buddhist.

This is a sad misconception that comes from a lack of understanding of the Buddha. People jump to such conclusions after casually reading or hearing something about Buddhism. Some people form their impression of Buddhism after reading articles or books that give only a partial or lopsided view of Buddhism. The authors of such articles and books have only a limited understanding of the Buddha's Teaching. His Teaching is not meant only for monks in monasteries. The Teaching is also for ordinary men and women living at home with their families. The Noble Eightfold Path is the Buddhist way of life that is intended for all people. This way of life is offered to all mankind without any distinction.

The vast majority of people in the world cannot become monks or retire into caves or forests. However noble and pure Buddhism may be, it would be useless to the masses if they could not follow it in their daily life in the modern world. But if you understand the spirit of Buddhism correctly, you can surely follow and practise it while living the life of an ordinary man.

There may be some who find it easier and more convenient to accept Buddhism by living in a remote place; in other words, by cutting themselves off from the society of others. Yet , other people may find that this kind of retirement dulls and depresses their whole being both physically and mentally, and that it may therefore not be conducive to the development of their spiritual and intellectual life.

True renunciation does not mean running away physically from the world. Sariputta, the chief disciple of the Buddha, said that one man might live in a forest devoting himself to ascetic practices, but might be full of impure thoughts and 'defilements'. Another might live in a village or a town, practising no ascetic discipline, but his mind might be pure, and free from 'defilements'. 'Of these two,' said, Sariputta, 'the one who lives a pure life in the village or town is definitely far superior to, and greater than, the one who lives in the forest.' (Majjhima Nikaya)

The common belief that to follow the Buddha's Teaching one has to retire from a normal family life is a misconception. It is really an unconscious defense against practising it. There are numerous references in Buddhist literature to men and women living ordinary, normal family lives who successfully practised what the Buddha taught and realized Nibbana. Vacchagotta the Wanderer, once asked the Buddha straightforwardly whether there were laymen and women leading the family life who followed His Teaching successfully and attained the high spiritual states. The Buddha categorically stated that there were many laymen and women leading the family life who had followed His Teaching successfully and attained the high spiritual states.

It may be agreeable for certain people to live a retired life in a quiet place away from noise and disturbances. But it is certainly more praiseworthy and courageous to practise Buddhism living among fellow beings, helping them and offering service to them. It may perhaps be useful in some cases for a man to live in retirement for a time in order to improve his mind and character, as a preliminary to moral, spiritual and intellectual training, to be strong enough to come out later and help others. But if a man lives all his life in solitude, thinking only of his own happiness and salvation, without caring for his fellowmen, this surely is not in keeping with the Buddha's Teaching which is based on love compassion and service to others.

One might now ask, 'If a man can follow Buddhism while living the life of an ordinary man, why was the Sangha, the Order of Monks, established by the Buddha?' The Order provides opportunity for those who are willing to devote their lives not only to their own spiritual and intellectual development, but also to the service of others. An ordinary layman with a family cannot be expected to devote his whole life to the service of others, whereas a Monk, who has no family responsibilities or any other worldly ties, is in a position to devote his life 'for the good of the many'.(Dr. Walpola Rahula)

And what is this 'good' that many can benefit from? The monk cannot give material comfort to a layman, but he can provide spiritual guidance to those who are troubled by worldly, family emotional problems and so on. The monk devotes his life to the pursuit of knowledge of the Dhamma as taught by the Buddha. He explains the Teaching in simplified form to the untutored layman. And if the layman is well educated, he is there to discuss the deeper aspects of the teaching so that both can gain intellectually from the discussion.

In Buddhist countries, monks are largely responsible for the education of the young. As a result of their contribution, Buddhist countries have populations which are literate and well-versed in spiritual values. Monks also comfort those who are bereaved and emotionally upset by explaining how all mankind is subject to similar disturbances.

In turn, the layman is expected to look after the material well-being of the monk who does not gain income to provide himself with food, shelter, medicine and clothing. In common Buddhist practice, it is considered meritorious for a layman to contribute to the health of a monk because by so doing he makes it possible for the monk to continue to minister to the spiritual needs of the people and for his mental purity.

How to Practice Random Acts of Kindness

Source: wikiHow


Random acts of kindness are a means by which we make a deliberate attempt to brighten another person's day by doing something thoughtful, nice, and caring for them. Kindness is a way of showing others that they count and that even in the face of hostility and selfishness, you're making a stand for kindness.

Originally associated with Anne Herbert, who is said to have once written "Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty" on a place mat in a restaurant, this concept has become an organized celebration through various events around the world, as well as referring to a general call to action in the name of kindness. And you don't need to wait for someone else to instigate a day or week of celebrations to practice random acts of kindness; you can put them into play any time you like!

By doing kind acts for others, you're helping to create kindness-aware communities that value generosity of spirit and action and kindness toward others as essential parts of a healthy community. Here are some suggestions for encouraging others with your random acts of kindness.

Be kind.

Kindness as an attitude is infectious. When you're willing to share your kindness, others will be inspired by your example and think about doing something as kind themselves. Fan that flame by being kind to everyone.





Be thoughtful.

Random acts of kindness can be shown through thoughtfulness about the needs of others. How many times do you wish someone could have been more thoughtful before they did or said something? Try to be an example of this for others to follow.




Put someone else first. If you get to the grocery store check-out line at the same time as someone else, you can decide to smile and wave them through first.
When you're stuck in traffic and the last thing you want to do is let a car get in front of you, just remember that somebody else had to let you in, and repay the favor to the next person!


Use your manners as a form of kindness.
Manners aren't dead, they've just been forgotten in many ways. Yet, manners are the bedrock of courteous and kind relations and their use is an indication of respect for others. Hold doors open for others, hold an umbrella over someone in the rain, and be on time for everyone you've promised to meet.




Say thank you. Whenever anyone does something for you, be grateful and let them know it.


Give out compliments generously.

There's usually an awkward silence when you're stuck in an elevator or waiting in a queue with a stranger. Instead of staring at the floor, find something you like about the other person and compliment him/her on it. Not only will it make him/her feel good, it just might kick off a conversation with a new friend.





Surprise your neighbor by telling him or her how pretty he/she looks today.
Tell your boss how truly clever he/she is – and mean it!
Tell your assistant how truly clever he/she is and mean it. Praise any subordinate who's stayed late or done anything extra on the job honestly. Notice those things.
Praise your child for her/his skills and good thinking. Make it something out of the blue that you've noticed rather than run-of-the-mill schoolwork or chores.
Write a handwritten note to a friend or family member telling them how much you care about them.
Think about people who quietly make a difference to your community and thank them.
Think of all the people in your life whose faces and names you'll never know but who serve and protect you day after day.




Send some prepackaged treats like donuts or pastries to your local police station, paramedics, or fire department, with a card letting them know how much you appreciate their service to the community. But make sure to also acknowledge the people we take more for granted that make things tick- consider thanking your garbage man or janitor. (Since homemade desserts could be contaminated, unless they know you such homemade treats probably won't be eaten, so it's best to buy something from a reputable bakery.)
Send your child's clean and good condition toys and books to a local preschool. Say thank you to the early childhood carers and teachers who do so much for young children.
Pop over to your neighbor's house with a freshly baked cake. Yes, your neighbors are an important part of your community and they make a difference just by being about. Acknowledge their importance and role in your life.


Cheer up the lonely.

Lonely people are everywhere, in all walks of life, of all ages. Helping lonely people to feel wanted is a hugely rewarding random act of kindness.





Write a letter to a stranger. It only takes a few minutes to write, but a letter can make someone Else's day, or even their week. Think of all the people who are lonely, isolated or just in need of cheering up: soldiers fighting overseas, kids in juvenile detention centers or elderly people in nursing homes. Do a simple search online and you'll find services that will provide you with list of people who'd love to hear from you.
Pay for someone Else's coffee in the queue. If they've got time, offer them a chat.
Visit a retirement home and spend time talking to the residents. You could offer to read to them, sing for them, or even get them involved in writing poems, stories, or a playing on a wiki!


Volunteer.


Offer helping hands. Do you ever see homeless people and feel overwhelmed by your inability to make a difference? Even if you can't save them all, you can do a lot with one small act. Buy a pair of gloves or dig up an old blanket, and give them to someone who's living in the cold streets or to any organization that serves the homeless.




Clean up without being asked. The next time you see someone littering, don't just shake your head and look the other way. Pick up the litter and throw it away, and while you're at it, look around the street for any other trash that needs to be removed. If you take a walk, take a plastic grocery bag so you can collect the trash that would otherwise just make you unhappy, and know that you're doing a random act of kindness for the people who will come through after you!
Make up food parcels for people in need.
8Shower a coworker with kindness. Offer to take them out to lunch or shout them a beer after work. Finish off something for them so they can go home early for their kid's birthday party.






If your coworker has had a horrible day, buy them some flowers or give them a warm hug to make them feel better. Everyone needs just a little extra love sometimes.
Take freshly baked muffins or cookies in to work and share them with your coworkers, staff, and others.


Share a little wealth around.

Why not surprise someone completely by paying for something they were expecting to pay for? Here are some fun suggestions:



Pay for the coffee and cake for the table next to yours at the local cafe.
Pay for the movie tickets of the people in the line behind you.
Pay for the entrance fee for some children and their parents waiting to get into the zoo.
Pay for the parking for the car next to yours. Feed the meter if it's allowed to stop someone from getting a ticket!


Give your family a break.


There are lots of kind things you can do for your loved ones. Some of these can include giving them a break from the more mundane chores around the house so that they can do something different for a change.




Make them breakfast in bed.


Wash their car(s).
Do the weeding while a family member's at work.
Promise to do the dishes for a week – without complaining!
Print out a photo of them and write exactly why it's so special to you, why they're so special to you. Tell them how that moment shows how important they are to the whole world

Hold a friends night-in.

Order pizza for everyone, and play board games or watch movies together. Treat them to a special cake at the end in honor of the friendships that each of you share together.






Send a message.


Write down your favorite poem on happiness or jot down some thoughts on hope, then leave it somewhere for a stranger to find. You could also leave a message in a favorite book you've enjoyed, letting someone else know they can have the book to read and hope that they love it as much as you did; leave the book somewhere for them to find.







Forgive somebody.

You'd be amazed at the ripple effect an ounce of forgiveness can have in your life and in the lives of others. Unburden yourself of the past and think kind thoughts again about that person.



Share a smile.


When meeting a new person, or even chatting with an old one, express joy. Show that you're happy to be with them, and that they make you happy.







If you meet someone grumpy and frowning, give them your smile. Ask them if they're having a hard day, commiserate with them, and wish them better luck from this point on. Don't see it as their bad mood reflecting negatively on you; instead, make it about how you can help them to feel better.


Expect nothing.


The greatest act of kindness is the one that is freely given because you care about another person and want them to be happy and you don't expect anything in return. The thing about kindness is that it has its own rewards and will improve your sense of well-being and happiness; what more could you possibly want?

Bai Fangli: Selfless donation to poor students

Bai Fangli: Selfless donation to poor students

SOURCE: CHINA.ORG.CN
For almost twenty years, to save up for his donations, Bai Fangli peddled his pedicab everyday.

His devotion started in 1987 when he was 74 years old. Bai had prepared to retire and say goodbye to his job.

But after coming back to his hometown, a group of children working in the field aroused his attention.

Bai's daughter, Bai Jinfeng said:" He asked why the children didn't go to school. And our relatives told him that it was because they were too poor to afford tuition. My father was worried so he decided to donate 5,000 yuan to the schools in our hometown. But for him, it was all he owned."

As soon as he returned to Tianjin, Bai went back to work. All of his earnings went to support the needy students.

His sons and daughters tried to persuade him to change his mind, as they wanted him to enjoy a relaxing life. But the father turned a deaf ear to them.

Bai Jinfeng also said:" At that time, he went out at dawn and wouldn't return until darkness fell. He earned 20 to 30 yuan each day. After returning home, he put his earnings in a place carefully."

Bai had always felt regretful that he was illiterate. So he hoped the next generation could change their destiny with education.

Bai Fangli: Selfless donation to poor students

Later on, to increase his effort to assist students in need, Bai moved to a simple room near the Tianjin Railway Station. He waited for clients 24 hours a day, ate simple food and wore discarded second-hand clothes he found.

At the age of 82 years old, to his children's surprise, Bai made another decision.

He founded an education support fund with the help of loans.

But his life driving a pedicab continued.

Xu Xiuxiang, one of the workers of Education Support Fund, said:" He never forgot when to give money to the schools and often urged us to give his earnings to the school. Each time he gave the money he felt very happy and said he had completed his mission again."

In 2001, he drove his pedicab to Tianjin YaoHua Middle School, to delivering his last installment of money. Nearly 90 years old, he told the students that he couldn't work any more. All of the students and teachers were moved to tears.

Bai Fangli said:" I hope the students could study hard and get a good job, and then make contributions to our country."

A long journey of supporting and aiding students lasted two decades.

In 2005, he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Although he had kept none of his earnings for himself, he was left with his selfless spirit and love.

Pitbull saves 2 women (barangay Lapasan Philippines)

The children in the Fronteras household refer to their dog as "kuya" ("big brother"), and he certainly proved it on the day he sacrificed his life to protect the family.

On Monday, Feb. 12 at around 2 p.m., "Chief", an American Pit Bull Terrier, rescued Liberata la Victoria, 87, and her granddaughter Maria Victoria Fronteras from a deadly cobra which had entered their house through an opening in the kitchen.

Liberata la Victoria and Chief had been watching TV on the sofa when suddenly Chief jumped up and alerted her to the presence of a cobra less than 10 feet away. Maria Victoria rushed in and pulled her grandmother into a separate room, hoping the snake would leave.

But when Maria Victoria later emerged from the room, she was terrified to find the cobra poised about two feet away. Equally startled, the cobra expanded its hood and appeared to be spitting venom as it prepared to strike.

"The snake was in front of us, maneuvering a deadly attack," says Maria Victoria. "I screamed out loud to ask for help." 1

That's when from "out of nowhere", Chief dashed between the cobra and the two women, using himself as a shield against the cobra's attacks. Chief then seized the cobra by the neck and slammed it into the floor, killing it.

But for Chief it was a Pyrrhic victory. In the struggle, he sustained a fatal bite to the jaw, and moments later he began gasping for breath and collapsed.

The family sought the help of a veterinarian, but they were told that nothing could be done. According to the vet, the bite was too close to Chief's brain, and the venom had already spread. Maria Victoria called her husband Marlone who, stunned by the news, rushed home immediately.

Ian de la Rama, a friend of the family, says it was less than 30 minutes from the time Chief had been bitten that he "went wobbly and lost control of his organs," 2 urinating and defecating uncontrollably. Yet he still kept clinging to life.

It wasn't until Marlone arrived that Chief finally let go.

Ian de la Rama describes, "Chief gave his two deep breaths and died. He was fighting and saving his last ounces of breath to see a glimpse of his master for the last two seconds of his life." 1

Ian adds that the last thing Chief did as he gazed up at Marlone was wag his tail.

Youth Who Threw Homeless Man's Rabbit Into Dublin River, Gary Kearney, Sentenced

Source: The Huffington Post

A youth has been sentenced to four months' detention for throwing a homeless man's rabbit into a river.

The animal's owner, John Byrne, had been begging on Dublin's O'Connell Bridge when his pet Barney was snatched from his arms and callously thrown into the River Liffey.

The 37-year-old risked his life by jumping in after his beloved pet and giving him the kiss of life before both were rescued by firefighters.


John Byrne gave his rabbit the kiss of life

Gary Kearney pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court today to animal cruelty and torture.

The 20-year-old, who is originally from Crumlin, also admitted breach of the peace during the incident on July 3 2011.

Sentencing Kearney, Judge Bryan Smyth said it was a serious matter.

Kearney's solicitor, Maura Kiely, said her client apologised for his behaviour

Outside the court, Byrne, who has been living on the streets for 23 years, said he was in shock when he saw his pet swimming around in circles, looking up at him.

"I wasn't going to leave him there," he said. 

"I had to get him, I had to jump in to get him.

"Barney died in my arms.

"I got him under the bridge and gave him the kiss of life."

Within days he was given a Compassionate Citizen Award for going above and beyond the call of duty to help an animal in need.

His story touched the hearts of thousands of people nationwide, with many offering donations and food.

Kearney was charged under the Protection of Animals Act, that he did cruelly torture or terrify an animal by throwing Barney in the Liffey.

The court heard that Kearney was brought up in care, has 138 previous convictions and is already in detention at St Patrick's Institution.

Byrne said the sentence sent out a clear message to people who abuse animals that they will not walk out of court laughing.

He said he was begging on O'Connell Bridge in Dublin's main thoroughfare with Barney and his dog, Lily, when the rabbit was flung into the river below.

"I was scared. Wouldn't anybody going into freezing cold water?" he said.

"And there is a seal there that would have eaten Barney.

"I can swim and I'd done life-saving before. Only for that I was gone. The current would have pulled me under."

Byrne, who now has three dogs, said Lily will not go out begging with him since the incident.

Instead, another dog, Roxy, is regularly spotted with Byrne and three-year-old Barney on Dublin's streets. But none of them will go back near the Liffey.

"I've always had animals on the street with me to keep me company and to keep me happy," Byrne added.

"I think the world of animals, and rabbits are very intelligent.

"I treat them like they're my kids. They get everything, they're spoiled rotten like kids."

John Carmody, of animal rights group Aran, said Kearney should also have been given a psychological evaluation and a ban on owning animals for life.

"But we are delighted this guy was given four months," he said.

"It sends out a strong message."

COMPASSION (karuna) in action! A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

Source: Buddhism - Path to Peace

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I
honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought
about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the
door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could
hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before
me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like
somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had
lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.
In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the
cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to
treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an
address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any
family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very
long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building
where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when
they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse
that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and
would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm
tired.Let's go now'. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It
was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed
under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting
her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was
already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a
door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in
thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had
gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I
had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in
my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what
others may consider a small one.

Some Thoughts About Relationships

Never make promises then you break them with your spouse. It is the best way to destroy something good. Tsem Rinpoche

The best way to love someone is to be the best you can be. In all relationships, being the best can only boost your partner’s trust in you. ~Tsem Rinpoche

Love is a word used lightly sometimes. Love must entail loyalty, compassion, genuine care, sharing and honesty. Tsem Rinpoche

In all relationships, honesty is most important. If you are honest, your relationship will grow stronger and better with time. ~Tsem Rinpoche

What you get out of a relationship is what you put into it. You want it to be positive then treat your partner with respect, loyalty, honesty and good communications. Tsem Rinpoche

It takes a years to earn the trust of your spouse, but one selfish mistake to break their heart. Then years to regain their trust again. Just be honest from the beginning and always be loyal. Tsem Rinpoche

There is so much samsara out there, why bring more samsara into your relationship with your partner. Tsem Rinpoche

Everyone has so much pain already. No one is not damaged goods. So why bring more pain to your partner. Love, cherish and respect your partner by being honest and always communicating. Tsem Rinpoche

I am sorry is ok once, twice but not three times. If you are always apologizing, maybe you are not respecting the relationship you are in. Either respect your relationship or create a prison. It’s up to you. Tsem Rinpoche

Love is intentional. So are affairs out of marriage. You choose what you want. But remember, whatever you choose will come back to you if you are choosing for selfish reasons. Tsem Rinpoche

No one forced you to have a relationship. So do not make excuses for hurting your partner. Take responsibility for all your actions starting with your partner. Tsem Rinpoche

When you can’t keep a relationship and it always ends after a while. That is your subconscious saying you really don’t want a relationship but you are using this as perhaps an excuse to avoid some bigger issues. Tsem Rinpoche

All things are avoidable, it’s how selfish we are not to avoid it…Tsem Rinpoche

When we look back and see how many partners we have changed, we can be sure it is a sign we have not fulfilled what we should be doing in life. Finding partners is just a delay tactic perhaps for what we should really be doing..Tsem Rinpoche

Partners and spouses are only ok to have when we are ok. Tsem Rinpoche

Sometimes deep seeded insecurities manifest in us not being able to keep a relationship and we keep changing them. We should work on ourselves instead of finding more partners to hurt. Tsem Rinpoche

The best way to hurt yourself and your partner is when you use them to hide behind your selfish avoidances. Tsem Rinpoche

When you are comfortable with yourself and you can be by yourself, that is when you know you are ready for a real relationship. It’s not about the other person, it’s about how you have accepted yourself first. Tsem Rinpoche

If you hurt your partner in anyway and blame it on a outside reason, it is a clear indication you are covering your deep selfishness. Tsem Rinpoche

You deserve what you give. The universe owes you nothing. But you owe the universe everything. Be comfortable with that thought first and then seek friends. Tsem Rinpoche


BLOG SOURCE:

KARMA

BUDDHIST KARMA
 Blog Source


INTRODUCTION


"I am the owner of my karma .
I inherit my karma.
I am born of my karma.
I am related to my karma.
I live supported by my karma.
Whatever karma I create, whether good or evil, that I shall inherit." The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya V.57 - Upajjhatthana Sutta


"Countless rebirths lie ahead, both good and bad. The effects of karma (actions) are inevitable, and in previous lifetimes we have accumulated negative karma which will inevitably have its fruition in this or future lives. Just as someone witnessed by police in a criminal act will eventually be caught and punished, so we too must face the consequences of faulty actions we have committed in the past, there is no way to be at ease; those actions are irreversible; we must eventually undergo their effects."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, from 'Kindness, Clarity and Insight'


The Sanskrit word Karma (or kamma in Pali) literally means action. In Buddhism however, karma mainly refers to one'sintention or motivation while doing an action. The Buddha said:


“It is volition that I call karma; for having willed, one acts by body, speech, and mind.”

AN 3:415, from In the Buddha’s Words, p. 146.


(In the west, the word karma is often used for the results of karma; the Sanskrit words for the effects or results of karma are 'vipaka' or 'phala'. )


The shortest explanation of karma that I know is: 'you get what you give'. In other words; whatever you do intentionally to others, a similar thing will happen to yourself in the future. Causing suffering to others will cause suffering to ourselves, causing happiness to others will result in happiness for oneself.


Perhaps our biggest to understanding or even believing in karma may be time. The 're-actions' or results of our actions usually show up with a big time delay, and it becomes extremely hard to tell which action caused which result. Actions done in a previous life can create results in this life, but who can remember their past life, and who can tell exaclty which action caused which result? For ordinary humans, the mechanisms of karma can be intellectually understood to some extent, but never completely "seen".


The idea behind karma is not only found in Buddhism and Hinduism; it seems that the Bible certainly conveys the same essence. although here God is the medium that links actions to their results:


Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A person reaps what he sows.

(Gal. 6:7)

All things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

(Matthew 7:12)
 
Also the 'Golden Rule' of Confucianism makes a similar statement:


Tzu-kung asked, "Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life?"

Confucius answered, "Is not reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others."'

From His Holiness the Dalai Lama's book Path to Bliss:

"Some people misunderstand the concept of karma. They take the Buddha's doctrine of the law of causality to mean that all is predetermined, that there is nothing that the individual can do. This is a total misunderstanding. The very term karma or action is a term of active force, which indicates that future events are within your own hands. Since action is a phenomenon that is committed by a person, a living being, it is within your own hands whether or not you engage in action."


You can find suggestions for a meditation on karma (or other subjects) in the List of Sample Meditations.
  WHY BELIEVE IN KARMA?


Simply said, if we chose to ignore the workings of karma, we tend to create many problems for ourselves.

For example, if we like to have something expensive, but we cannot afford it, it becomes very tempting to steal. If we are smart and attentive enough, we may never be caught stealing. However, by stealing, (according to the law of karma) we create problematic situations for ourselves in the future, like poverty, or being the victim of robbers. Therefore, if we chose to ignore karma, the results of our actions will still haunt us.


Every mainstream religion teaches us about the consequences of our actions. The explanations may differ, but does it really matter in the end whether the law of karma causes us trouble or God himself in his final judgement?


When we meet with big problems; disease, loss of family or friends, getting trapped in a war or natural disaster. At those times, we suddenly wonder: "Why me?" The law of karma does not look for a reason outside ourselves for our good or bad fortune, it simply explains our own suffering as a result of our negative deeds towards others, and our happiness as a result of our actions to help others.


Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Unknown source


Two of my personal favourite reasons to believe in karma, are that it represents ultimate justice as everyone will harvest the results of their actions, and even if karma would not exist, as long as I try to avoid negative actions, the world would be a better place to live in for everyone anyway.


Science itself comes with another argument for karma. In physics. like every other Western science, there is a direct causal relationship between action and reaction. It may be interesting to look at the next explanation of the four laws of karma and see how "scientific" it sounds.

 
As the Buddha taught:


"Do not think a small sin will not return in your future lives.

Just as falling drops of water will fill a large container,

The little sins that steadfast accumulate will completely overwhelm you.

Do not think a small virtue will not return in your future lives.

Just as falling drops of water will fill a large container,

The little virtues that steadfast accumulate will completely overwhelm you."


The Auspicious or Endless Knot (see image on the right) symbolises the nature of reality where everything is interrelated and only exists as part of a web of karma and its effect. (It can also be seen as an auspicious sign for long life, as it is endless.)
HOW KARMA WORKS

A very good and succinct explanation by Geshe Tashi Tsering in his book The Buddha's Medicine for the Mind: Cultivating Wisdom and Compassion:

"Intention is the most important of all mental events because it gives direction to the mind, determining whether we engage with virtuous, non-virtuous, or neutral objects. Just as iron is powerlessly drawn to a magnet, our minds are powerlessly drawn to the object of our intentions.

An intention is a mental action; it may be expressed through either physical or verbal actions. Thus, action, or karma, is of two types: the action of intention and the intended action. The action of intention is the thought or impulse to engage in a physical or verbal act. The intended action is the physical or verbal expression of our intention. Karma actually refers to the action of intention but in general usage it includes the intended action and the seeds that are left in the mind as a result.

How do we accumulate karmic seeds? Every physical and verbal action is preceded by mental activity. Goodwill motivates a kind gesture; ill will motivates nasty words. Ill will is the intention to cause mental, emotional or physical harm. Thus, before and during a bad action, ill will is present in our mind. The presence of ill will before and during this act has an impact and influence on the mind due to which a certain potential is left behind. This potential is a karmic seed, a seed planted in our mind by physical, verbal or mental action. The strength or depth of this seed is determined by a number of factors, including how strong our intention is, whether we clearly understand what we are doing, whether we act on our intention and whether the physical and verbal action is completed.


Seeds will remain in the mind until they ripen or are destroyed. Seeds left by negative mental events and actions can be destroyed by the four opponent or antidotal powers. The most important of these four powers are regret for the negative act and a firm resolve not to act that way again in the future. Seeds left by positive mental events and actions can be destroyed by anger.

Even if we do not act on a negative intention, a karmic seed of diminished potency is still left in the mind. This incompleted seed is easier to remove. If it is not destroyed, a negative seed will eventually produce an unpleasant and negative effect while a postive seed will produce a pleasant and positive effect. Karmic seeds do not go to waste even after one hundred aeons. They will come to fruition when the time comes and the conditions assemble.

Actions motivated by the wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings and dedicated to that end have a special feature. The positive effects of such an act will be experienced many times over without being exhausted. For this reason, virtue dedicated to complete enlightenment is likened to a magnificent tree that bears fruit every season without fail. Such virtues will bear fruit until Buddhahood is attained."


A fragment of the The Sutra of the Causes and Effects of Actions by Shakyamuni Buddha, from Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archives that probably conveys the idea very straight-forward:


"Then the Buddha spoke to Ananda thus, “This question that you are asking--it is all on account of a previous existence, in which every one’s mind was not alike and equal. Therefore, in consequence, the retribution is of a thousand and a myriad separate and different minds.

Thus the person who in this world is handsome comes from a patient mind, and the ugly comes from amid anger; the needy come from meanness.

The high and noble comes from prayer and service, and the lowly and base comes from pride.

The great and tall person comes from honor and respect and the short-legged person comes on account of contempt.

The person who hinders the bright splendor of the Buddha is born black and thin; and the one who tastes the food of the fast is born deprived of food.

The person who is too sparing of fire and light is born infirm; the one in whose eyes fault always appears is born night-blind.

The person who slanders the Law is born dumb; and the person who does not want to hear the Law is born deaf. .....

The person who is compassionate is born long-lived, and the one who kills living beings is born short-lived.

The one who gives gifts is born rich.

The one who gives a gift of horse and carriage to the three jewels has many horses and carriages.

Then the person who reads and asks about the sutra is born intelligent; but the stupid person comes from an animal existence.

The person who cannot stay in his place comes from among the apes; the one who binds the hands and feet of living beings is born paralyzed in hand and foot.

The person who is of evil passions comes from snakes and scorpions; the one who keeps the precepts (sila) is complete in the six kinds of organ, but the person who breaks the precepts is incomplete in the six kinds of organ.

The unclean person comes from the existence of pigs; the person who likes song and dance comes from among actors. The one who is greedy comes from dogs; the one who eats alone, their neck is goiterous.

The one who castrates living beings has incomplete pudenda; the one who on one side abuses his superior has a short tongue.

The one who seduces the spouse of another, after dying falls among the geese, and a person who commits incest will fall into the existence of sparrows."
THE FOUR LAWS OF KARMA


Results are similar to the cause. Simply said, when I cause other people harm, I will harvest suffering myself. It is important to note here, that "positive" actions are defined as actions that have happiness as a result; "negative" actions are defined as actions that lead to suffering as a result.
No results without a cause. As is obvious within science, things do not just appear out of nothing.
Once an action is done, the result is never lost. Similarly as above, things do not just disappear into nothing.
Karma expands. Once we have an imprint of an action in our mind, it tends to be habit-forming. As is often said in wars for example, killing the first enemy is tough, but after a handful, one quickly loses count and it becomes "normal". Also psychology often stresses a similar point when e.g. explaining actions of adults from their childhood experiences. WHAT IS NEEDED FOR KARMA TO RIPEN?
A previous action, or karmic potential.
Conditions: the circumstances must be available before I can undergo a specific result (vipāka).
A deluded mind. Without delusions in our mind, we will never experience the results of previous actions. This happens to Arhats and Buddhas; their minds have been purified from delusions, and they are beyond the realm of karma.


It should be realised that without any karma to ripen at all, we could never experience anything unpleasant - most likely, when this occurs, we are in a blissful state of nirvana or full enlightenment. WHAT DECIDES THE SEVERITY OF THE RESULTS?


The severity of the results of our actions depends on various factors:
Our intention or motivation - the intention is the most important aspect by far, as karma is mainly connected to the intention of the action, be it positive or negative.
The nature of the action: obviously, gossiping is less severe than killing.
The actual deed: whether we kill in self-defence or sadistically torture someone to death does make a difference, usually this directly related to intention.
The basis or object: it does make a difference whether we kill our mother or an ant.
Repetition; how often do we repeat the action, which reinforces the habit, and makes even killing feel less negative.
Doing the reverse: if we always behave negatively to others and never try to do any good, consequences will be severe.


How we experience the result of an actions does depend on our other actions in life. For example, if we experience the result of being hungry for a day, there is a huge difference whether we experience this as a malnourished person in a hopeless situation, or as a healthy fast for an obese person. WHAT DECIDES WHEN A CAUSAL EFFECT WILL OCCUR?


From: The Four Noble Truths by His Holiness the Dalai Lama:


Question: "Could Your Holiness please explain why the result of karma is sometimes instant and why on other occasions we have to wait lifetimes before the causal effect occurs?"

Answer: "One factor would be the intensity of the karmic action itself. Another factor is the extent to which the various other conditions that are necessary for that karma to ripen are complete, and this is dependent, in turn, on other karmic actions. Vasubandhu addressed this in the Abhidharmakosha, in which he states that, generally speaking, the karmic actions which are the most forceful tend to produce their effects first. If the intensity of a karmic action is euqal to that of another karmic action, then the result of the action with which the individual is most familiar tends to ripen first. However, if two karmic actions are equally forceful and equally familiar, then the one that is committed earlier tends to produce its results first."

WHAT IS "GOOD" AND "BAD" KARMA?


Interestingly enough, the Buddhist answer to this question forces you to think and decide for yourself.

Positive actions are defined as their result being a pleasant experience, negative actions are defined by their unpleasant results.

Obviously, the results mentioned here are unlikely to come immediately (so-called 'instant karma' is considered rare), instead the karmic result may take lifetimes to ripen. For example, if I steal an ice-cream and enjoy eating it afterwards, the enjoyment is not a karmic result of stealing the ice-cream; it may be the result of helping someone else long ago. The karmic result of stealing an ice-cream is an unpleasant experience, such as being robbed.


In A Living Buddhism for the West, Lama Anagorika Govinda expresses another approach:


"All the suffering of this world arises from a wrong attitude.

The world is neither good or bad.

It is only the relation to our ego that makes it seem the one or the other."


This approach relates to the way our mind perceives the world; see the page on delusions. WHAT CAN I DO TO REMOVE PREVIOUS NEGATIVE KARMA?


Nobody likes to suffer, so we all like to rid ourselves of negative karmic potential.

There are several possibilities, and in fact we may need to try and apply all of these methods as much as we can:
To avoid having negative thoughts that lead to negative actions in the future, we need to observe and control our own thoughts and behaviour, and destroy our negative attitudes.
Similarly, we can observe/study (meditate) our own mind and encourage positive thoughts that lead to positive actions.
We can avoid negative karmic seeds to ripen by purifying it, using the four powers of purification (see below). Although this does not eliminate the negative karmic actions, it can avoid the results to occur.
Ultimately, when we realise emptiness directly (see the page on Wisdom), and remove all our delusions, we are not under the control of past karma anymore. THE FOUR POWERS OF PURIFICATION


The purification practices found within Buddhism are not unlike the practices applied in many other religions. The most essential mental factor that one requires is sincerity or honesty with oneself. When one wants to purify past negative karma, one has to do some action with the correct motivation.

This is summarised in the following Four Powers of Purification:
Power of the Object: One should practice thinking of all sentient beings one may have hurt. Traditionally, one remembers all sentient beings and the Three Jewels of Refuge (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha), by generating compassion for all sentient beings and taking refuge.
Power of Regret: This should not be senseless guilt or self-recrimination, which are said to be useless emotional torture. What is intended here is to examine oneself and one's actions and to recognise that negative actions done in the past were very unwise.
Power of Promise: As a logical consequence of the above, one should promise not to repeat these negative actions. It is good if one can promise to avoid a negative behaviour for a specific time, or at least promise that one will put effort in avoiding repetition. Not being honest at this stage makes the practice useless or even harmful to oneself.
Power of Practice: Basically any positive action with a good motivation can be used as practice. Traditionally in Buddhism, one can practice e.g. making prostrations (throwing oneself to the floor - as a means to destroy pride), making offerings (to counteract greed), reading Buddhist texts (to counteract ignorance and negative thoughts), reciting mantras etc.


It is often explained that one needs to clear a field by purifying it from rocks and weeds, then planting seeds by study and meditation, giving water and fertiliser by doing positive actions, and automatically new harvest will grow.
PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES OF KARMA


"What fisherman looks for water in dry, dead riverbeds?

He who hopes for spiritual progress, but cultivates neither wisdom nor merit."
His Holiness the 7th Dalai Lama, from 'Songs of spiritual change' translated by Glenn Mullin.


To begin with, I need to understand that I cannot immediately change my present situation, but I should understand that:
The reason why I am experiencing this is only due to my own actions in the past, my mind filled with delusions or positive thoughts, and the right circumstances for the karma to ripen.
I can chose to have a selfish reaction to my situation and create my own suffering in the future.
I can chose to have a reaction considering others' welfare and create happiness for myself as well in the future.
If I react without thinking, it is easy to create negative results for the future, and even make that a habit.
The others whom I like to blame for hurting me, are merely the circumstances that make my negative karma ripen.
Understanding karma means that I have full responsibility for everything that happens to me in the past, present and future.
Positive thinking and acting will do others and myself much more good than being negative and acting that way.


"Karma is not something complicated or philosophical.
Karma means watching your body, watching your mouth, and watching your mind.

Trying to keep these three doors as pure as possible is the practice of karma."

Lama Thubten Yeshe, "The Bliss of Inner Fire"
FATE IS IN OUR HANDS - A PARABLE


In a time long past, there was an old monk who, through diligent practice, had attained a certain degree of spiritual penetration.

He had a young novice who was about eight years old. One day the monk looked at the boy's face and saw there that he would die within the next few months. Saddened by this, he told the boy to take a long holiday and go and visit his parents. 'Take your time,' said the monk. 'Don't hurry back.' For he felt the boy should be with his family when he died.

Three months later, to his astonishment, the monk saw the boy walking back up the mountain. When he arrived he looked intently at his face and saw that they boy would now live to a ripe old age.

'Tell me everything that happened while you were away,' said the monk. So the boy started to tell of his journey down from the mountain. He told of villages and towns he passed through, of rivers forded and mountains climbed.

Then he told how one day he came upon a stream in flood. He noticed, as he tried to pick his way across the flowing stream, that a colony of ants had become trapped on a small island formed by the flooding stream. Moved by compassion for these poor creatures, he took a branch of a tree and laid it across one flow of the stream until it touched the little island. As the ants made their way across, the boy held the branch steady, until he was sure all the ants had escaped to dry land. Then he went on his way. 'So,' thought the old monk to himself, 'that is why the gods have lengthened his days.'

7 Ways to ingore insults

As a person with sensitivity, a blogger, and also a human, I receive much opinions and feedback from others. Some are very nice, honest, deep and some seem like personal attacks. Well in life, the reality is there are just some people who have their own issues and instead of dealing with them, they like to hurl attacks on others. They think that by giving pain to others, they rid themselves of their own pain, but to the contrary it does not. They actually ‘enjoy’ being not nice and hurting others purposely. I guess that is their space at the moment. It would be ok if they stay in their own space, but it’s when they come to yours you have to deal with it.

So other people’s behaviour should not disturb our goals, passion and equilibrium. We can refuse their negativities in this way:

1. What is the truth?

Contemplate what was said about you. Even if unpleasant. Is it constructive? Is there any grain of truth in what they said. Ignore how they said it. Be honest and think about whatthey said. In the end, if you apply it, will it benefit you? If it will, turn it around and make changes in yourself instead of fighting their words and them. If you make the changes within yourself, then no more attacks of this nature. If their words were meant to hurt you and it has no truth in it, then take it as self improvement and move on. Realize they are who they are and you don’t have to feed into it. Criticism from positive and negative sources can be fuel for self reflection leading to improvement. Take it as that. Nothing in life is easy or idyllic.

2. The source.

Does this person deserve to be understood and your time? Are they jealous of you? Cannot accept your success? Cannot accept your kind disposition? Does not like the way you do things? What is the source of their hurtful words? Take a moment to assess why this person is doing what they are doing. You can’t psycho-analyze everyone but this one is on your front doorstep. If you can understand why this person is so negative towards you, it will help you to let go. Maybe they had been hurt or something really horrible happened in their lives and took it out on you from convenience. Maybe it was not about you. Maybe you triggered their hidden emotional baggage accidentally. Maybe you had offended them unknowingly and apology is due. Maybe their philosophy is different, but you are entitled to your own. Knowing why helps. If you cannot find out why, then move on.

3. Accept yourself and be better.

Whatever we think of ourselves will become expression (words, etc.). Words become action. Action become results. So our thoughts about ourselves are a priority. If we always say we cannot, could not and/or avoid, then that is the message we send to ourselves which will fruition into results or the lack of it. Which means we are nowhere or we limited ourselves. If we always have self esteem that is low, then work hard, get success, stand up straight, don’t take defeat and through these methods build our self esteem. Self esteem is built from hard work and success. Big successes come from small everyday successes. Be on time. Keep your promises. Do your work without mistakes. Make everyone around you happy. Build integrity at all costs. Be kind. These methods will make you feel good about yourself and when you feel good then when others criticize to hurt you, it has no effect. Because you know it’s not true. Love yourself by achieving. Start with I can, will and achieve. This will translate into words, action then results. Be kind to yourself and love yourself the right way by results then insults become empty words that hardly ever irk you. You know where you are now, don’t be angry and realize it can improve. Accepting yourself doesn’t mean being stagnant. Know where you are, and target where you want to be and move towards it.

4. Talk to your support.

If you have been kind, then you should have friends or people you go to for support. Support doesn’t mean draining them with your “poor me” stories. Pity parties are terrifically out of style and never going to be in vogue again for you. So abandon any pity party faces, body language and tactics. Easy way to let go and empty out the hurtful is with someone you like and trust. Share with them and let it out. Once it’s out, then you should be lighter. Mind you this is only part of the solution.

5. Reward yourself.

Watch a movie. I love horror. Go shopping. Read a book, do some meditation, go for a walk, eat something you like (nevermind the diet for today!), watch a good Youtube documentary, solve someone else’s problem, contribute to a charity, or just have ice cream. Be good to yourself and have fun. Let it go. Enjoy. They don’t control you. You control you. You are allowed to be happy. You don’t need their approval. Their words are about themselves projected onto you perhaps.

6. What is important?

Remember what is your goals and what is important to you. Remember what matter at the end of the day, and are you going to let some criticism derail your goals and what matters? Look at your parents, teachers, mentors, pets, friends, children, and things that matter to you. Don’t give these people who are nasty any importance at all. Give what is important importance and move on!! If you don’t move on, the nasties win!! Remember your promises and words of honour. Remember your goals.

7. Be in charge of yourself.

You know, you don’t have to accept any ‘gifts’ people give you that you don’t want. Especially if it is something that was meant to hurt you. Granted, easier said than done. When they leave the nasty package at your door and you open it, there it is and what can you do? Without your permission, people can still make you feel bad. That is the truth no matter what the old adage is. If you are carrying guilt, emotional baggage, and holding on, then when they say something close to home, it can hurt you.

So you have to go to a deeper truth. That is, you are affected because they said something close to home or something that was true that you avoided to deal with. You have to deal with yourself. You have to overcome yourself and your baggage. Because you can’t avoid what others see or think. Some may see the truth in you and some may not, but the point is,is there something in you unpleasant for them to see? You can’t avoid everyone. If you let go of your baggage, if you improve, then there is nothing to be criticized anymore. You have to empower yourself and reclaim yourself the right way. You can meet 300 persons and everyone will have an opinion of you. Some opinions may be true and some are not. But you will get 300 opinions of you. But your opinion of yourself is most important based on truth. Based on your hardwork on yourself.

Letting go of hurtful words and criticisms is possible although hard. With time, easier. Practice makes perfect. Accepting constructive criticisms are part and parcel. Let go of our baggage, fears and hiding. Open ourselves to bigger and better things. Let the radiance of wonderful people fill us up as we fill them up. If we do this, then criticisms won’t bother us much anymore.


Tsem Rinpoche


BLOG SOURCE:

Love, Relationships and Non-attachment.

Is it possible to be in a committed sexual relationship and follow the Buddha’s teaching on non-attachment? 

Does loving someone deeply by definition mean we’re attached to them?

I met my fiance 3 years ago and we have been happily together until now. Though there are times when we have some disagreement but we always find ways to solve it. Am I attached to him? You bet I am. If he were to die tomorrow, of course I would be devastated. And am I completely unselfish in my regard for him? If I were honest, I’d have to say no. After all, what if he were to come home one day and say, “Priscilla I met a new woman and we love each other very much.” A completely other-regarding response would be, “I’m happy for you!” No, I couldn’t possibly imagine saying that.

My understanding of attachment is that it’s not about what we have or don’t have, but what our expectations of them are.

So does that make me a bad, overly-attached Buddhist? I would argue no.

First of all, let’s clarify what the Buddha said about sexual relationships. He said that a man and a woman in a loving, supportive relationship are like a pairing of a god and a goddess.1,(Anguttara Nikaya IV: Punnabhisanda Vagga: Pathama Samvasa Sutta.) 2(As an aside, I don’t interpret the Buddha’s use of the words “a man and a woman” here to mean that he disapproved of homosexual relationships. In this particular case, he was speaking to a group of husbands and wives. Although there’s no record of him explicitly addressing the topic of homosexuality, more generally, it seems his criteria for a positive relationship is that it’s between two individuals who love, respect, and support each other.)

Hardly sounds like disapproval, does it? It turns out the Buddha encouraged people to engage in relationships and enjoy them to their full extent. His teachings imply that all human relationships are wonderful opportunities to practice loving-kindness, generosity, and mutual support. A long-term committed one was all the more an opportunity to go deeper in one’s understanding and cultivation of these qualities.

So then what is non-attachment in a loving, committed relationship? My understanding of attachment is that it’s not about what we have or don’t have, but what our expectations of them are. As unenlightened people, we live with a persistent delusion that people and things will provide us with more happiness and satisfaction than they really can. And this is where we get tripped up.

…real contentment can only come from within ourselves. A partner can’t provide that for us, and to expect it will only lead to disappointment.

So for example, how much am I using my partner’s love to fill a void in my own love and acceptance of myself? A truly healthy individual is one who is complete by herself, and doesn’t need to depend on anything or anyone else to feel whole and content. I don’t mean we should go it alone and isolate ourselves from others. I mean simply not to depend on someone or something external to me as a necessary condition for my happiness.

But the fact is I’m not enlightened. Sure, it’s great to know what the ideal is, but very few people are actually there. I’m sure not. We all have times when we come up against feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, or insecurity. It’s a very normal human response to try to compensate for these unpleasant feelings by using a partner’s love to cover them over. But the truth is, real contentment can only come from within ourselves. A partner can’t provide that for us, and to expect it will only lead to disappointment.

But does that make it wrong to succumb to our habits of attachment? Perhaps this is the subtle effect of Judeo-Christian conditioning on the Western mind, but I often hear people judging our very human imperfections as somehow wrong – things to be ashamed of or gotten rid of at the very least.

A relationship with a partner, because it’s by nature where we open ourselves completely to another person, is a great working ground for understanding the true nature of self and other.

I see it differently. I’m not enlightened, I’m not perfect. I still live under the delusion that David will be with me forever. I depend on him from time to time to fill emotional voids that I’m unable to fill on my own. But through my growing understanding of non-attachment, I’m seeing more clearly what I’m doing. And I understand, at least intellectually, that my views don’t accurately reflect the way things really are. For me to be out of alignment with that reality is to create my own suffering. There’s nothing wrong with that – maybe uninformed and unwise, but not wrong. So I continue to work toward becoming a more complete individual who is capable of standing on her own. There is no good or bad here — simply a natural, human process of growth as it’s taking shape for me.

So let’s not get caught up in our ideas of what attachment should or shouldn’t look like, what’s right or wrong. Let’s not lose sight of the forest for the trees. A relationship with a partner, because it’s by nature where we open ourselves completely to another person, is a great working ground for understanding the true nature of self and other. When we have our defenses down and allow ourselves to be vulnerable to another person, we have the opportunity to explore deeply the nature of our own egos, desires, and expectations. We can challenge ourselves to aspire toward an enlightened relationship — one which is marked by a pure, unselfish, and unconditional love. What emerges is a partnership of strong individuals who don’t NEED each other, but openly give and take in loving support of one another.

Whether you eat meat or not is your choice. But eat, knowing where the meat comes from and how it arrived at your plate.

POSTED BY: MARTIN CHOW

Yesterday I posted a link on my FB to tell people about what animals go through in order to serve as food for humans. And guess how many Likes, Share and Comments the post received? Zero. I was talking to a very good friend and she tells me that people just do not want to be confronted with the ugly truth and that such images puts people off. And that there are already too many such animal abuse pictures/videos. She was suggesting that people like to see pictures of cute furry little animals...and I reluctantly agree. although I did wonder why these cute animal pics have not done squat to stop animals from being slaughtered.
However I could not stop thinking about what she said, and in my mind, seeing cute pictures of animals just reinforces the delusions we have of ourselves. We like to see what is cute and we avoid what is ugly, especially when that ugliness reflects the human character. And in that way, we kid ourselves into delusion and within our delusion and denial, a lot of cruelty are being committed.

The pictures below are taken from the video...a very short one. It shows a cow in sheer terror as its throat is being slit and then it grimaces and shuts its eyes in sheer pain as blood spurts out of its throat. What we are seeing is a sentient being, just like we are sentient beings, being tortured and killed.

Why do we turn away from these images? Why? It is because at the end of the day, our sensitive feelings are more important than the lives of others. We say we practice Dharma, we say we are kind people, we say we abhor cruelty, we say we like to help where we can. But ultimately 99.9% of people will turn away just when their attention is needed.

In the end we suffer, because we become immune to cruelty, we become de-sensitized. If that is true, then let's not pretend we are good people. Let's just acknowledge we are hypocritical cowards pretending to be good people. It doesn't have to be that way.

A few minutes witnessing such terrible torture endured by fellow sentient beings will do nothing to harm us. If anything it will revive our conscience and compassion. Do yourself a favour, do these animals who cannot defend themselves a favour, do the humanity a favour.

Pleas watch this video so that you know, so that you are reminded of your own goodness, so that you become inspired to practice the first rule that Buddha taught, Do No Harm.

I ask my FB friends to please Like and Share this link. If there is not much we can do to make the world a kinder place, then let's not refuse to do what we CAN do which is to execute 2 simple clicks in the name of Compassion. Whether you eat meat or not is your choice. But eat, knowing where the meat comes from and how it arrived at your plate.

I grew up in an environment where people are ignorant about the importance of animal lives. I have been taught that animals are killed for food and feast offerings. I was a Christian. And in the bible, animals are killed and burnt to serve as an offering to God.

Genesis 15:9-10

God tells Abram to kill some animals for him. The needless slaughter makes God feel better. 


When I became a Buddhist I have been overwhelmed about the teachings about animal cruelty and killings. Buddhist practices loving kindness to all beings without selfish attachment. Buddhist refrain from eating meat out of loving kindness for living animals, not because there is something unwholesome or corrupt about an animal's body. In other words, the meat itself is not the point, and under some circumstances compassion might cause a Buddhist to break the rules.

For example, let's say you visit your elderly grandmother, whom you have not seen for a long time. You arrive at her home and find that she has cooked what had been your favorite dish when you were a child -- stuffed pork chops. She doesn't do much cooking any more, because her elderly body doesn't move around the kitchen so well. But it is the dearest wish of her heart to give you something special and watch you dig into those stuffed pork chops the way you used to. She has been looking forward to this for weeks.

I say that if you hesitate to eat those pork chops for even a second, you are no Buddhist.

When I was a girl growing up in rural Philippines, livestock grazed in open meadows and chickens wandered and scratched outside hen houses. That was a long time ago. You still see free-ranging livestock on small farms, but big "factory farms" can be cruel places for animals.

Breeding sows live most of their lives in cages so small they cannot turn around. Egg-laying hens kept in "battery cages" cannot spread their wings. These practices make the vegetarian question more critical.

As Buddhists, we should consider if products we purchase were made with suffering. This includes human suffering as well as animal suffering. If your "vegan" faux-leather shoes were made by exploited laborers working under inhumane conditions, you might as well have bought leather.

The fact is, to live is to kill. It cannot be avoided. Fruits and vegetables come from living organisms, and farming them requires killing insects, rodents and other animal life. The electricity and heat for our homes may come from facilities that harm the environment. Don't even think about the cars we drive. We are all entangled in a web of killing and destruction, and as long as we live we cannot be completely free of it. As Buddhists, our role is not to mindlessly follow rules written in books, but to be mindful of the harm we do and do as little of it as possible.