white lotus

INVOCATION

2012-02-17T02:36:00.000-08:00

OPENING INVOCATION

Oh Buddha,
My spiritual master and refuge,
I seek your guidance,
Blessings and protection.

The Dhamma,
Holy saints and spiritual teachers,
Bodhisatta,
Dhamma protectors and devas,
I seek Your Blessings,
Guidance and protection.

Oh Blessed One,
Help me to set my Heart right,
May my actions and thoughts
Reflect your love and wisdom.

CLOSING INVOCATION

Oh Buddha,
My spiritual master and refuge,
I thank you for Your Blessings,
Guidance and protection,

The Dhamma,
Holy saints and spiritual teachers,
Bodhisatta,
Dhamma protectors and devas,
I thank you for Your Blessings,
Guidance and protection.

May the Buddha be at my head,
And the Dhamma in my heart,
And the Sangha by my side,
To protect and guide me always.

from Buddha Puja by Victor Wee

Bhante Jinadata's teaching

2012-01-14T05:30:00.000-08:00

From the discussion I had with Bhante Jinadata, this is what I have learnt: We should learn to tolerate the variance and varieties of views presented by people; learn to distinguish opinion from fact, train ourselves to discern conventional reality from ultimate reality; learn to know when to accept and when to act; dhamma per se is dry and not easily acceptable so dhamma has to be spiced up with mysticisms, customs and traditions, superstitions, etc to make it functional within a socity.

The frog, the centipede and the firefly

2012-01-08T04:35:00.000-08:00

Bhnate Jinadata gave us an analogy of how most people perceive their experience and ability in his talk at SP Dhamma Centre. Three animals, a frog, a centipede and a firefly, were exploring the world when suddenly each of them was covered by a coconut shell. In the darkness of the covered coconut shell, the frog jumped and its head hit the coconut shell and it exclaimed,"How marvelous am I for now I can reach the sky!"

The centipede could not jump like the frog but it could crawl and so in the darkness of the coconut shell it crawled to the coconut shell and it crawled around the edge of the coconut shell and then exclaimed,"How fantastic I am, I can crawl to the edge of the world!"

The firefly could not jump nor crawl but it could fly. As it flew around the dark, enclosed space of the covered coconut shell, it exclaimed,"How magnificent I am, I can lit up the whole universe!"

The moral of the story is that most of us perceive our knowledge, skill, ability or achievement like these three naive creatures.

(retold by hoh foo kong, not exactly as I had heard it)

Luang Phor Daeng Piyasilo (Koh Samui)

2011-04-17T03:25:00.000-07:00

LIFE HISTORY OF PHRA KHRU SAMATHAKITTIKHUN (LUANG PHOR DAENG PIYASILO)
Phra Khru Samathakittikhun (Luang Phor Daeng Piyasilo) was the son of Luang Pitak and Noi Heet Sa-ngarat in . He was born in Ban Ta-phau, Moo 5, Na Muang sub-district, amphur Koh Samui, changwat Surathani in 1894. His name was Daeng and his surname was Sichane. When he reached the age of 20, he was ordained as a novice monk at Wat Samwet , according to the Thai tradition that every man should be ordained at least once in his lifetime; he was a novice monkj for 2 phansa*. After leaving the monkhood, he married Khieu Thongthip in Ban Lamai, Maret sub-district, and subsequently they had six children from the marriage. He led a successful life as a layman; he was not only financially well to do but also well respected in the community
When living conditions were difficult during World War II, he did whatever was possible to help his neighbours such as donating clothing, medicine and other necessary items to them. After the war, Loung Por Daeng decided to dedicate the later part of his life to Buddhism and returned to the temple where he felt so at peace with. By then he was already fifty years old and his children were all grown up. He was ordained as a monk by Phra Khru Tipachan, the abbot of Wat Samret who was also the Chief Monk of Amphur Ko Samui, in 1944 (2487 B.E.).
At the beginning of the Buddhist Lent, he began to practise Samatha meditation in Yai Cave at the foothill of Khao Ma-ngaen under the guidance of his meditation teacher, Phra Khru Prayoon Thammasopit. He remained in Yai Cave for two years before moving to stay with Luang Pho Daeng Tisso at the monks’ abode at Hua Laem So. Luang Pho Daeng Tisso took him on a “Thu Dong” trip to seek the true Dhamma. This trip lasted for about a year and after that he took leave of Luang Pho Daeng Tisso. He returned to Wat Sila Ngu to develop it; this took 4-5 years., After that, he went on a thudong trip again and he found a very tranquil forest in Chaweng, so moved from Wat Sila-ngu to Chaweng wehere he built a small hut to practise samatha meditation for 3-4 years. Later he heard of Chao khun Phra Phimolatham of Wat Mahathat in Bangkok who had started a course in vipassana meditation. He went to Bangkok to become the disciple of Chao Khun Phra Phimolatham to study vipassana meditation until he was able to meditate and keep his mind in control for as long as 15 days without any physical movement. His body would then become as hard as wood.
In about a year of practising, Luang Pho Daeng became very learned and knowledgeable about vipassana meditation. His teachers agreed to allow him to disseminate Buddhism and a piece of land was bought in Bo-phut Sub-district, Ko Samui, for buiilding a wat for teaching vipassana meditation. This wat was called Wat Boontharikaram (Wat Phung Bua). Hence, the teaching of vipassana meditation was launched and it attracted a large number of followers comprising mainly of monks, novices and male and female lay devotees. Luang Pho Daeng resided at Wat Phung Bua for about 20 years and during the later part of his life he became seriously ill twice due to his aging body. Communication at Chawent at that time was very difficult. There was no doctor to treat him and when he became ill, his disciples would treat him in whatever way possible. Later, his disciples and his children implored him to move to Wat Khumaram (Khao Po) which was near his birth place.

Luang Pho Daeng, with his meditative ability, was able to foresee his time of death, so he ordered Nai Kaew and Nai Pet his attendants, to build an upright casket for him so that he could sit in meditation at the time when he was going to pass away so that he would not cause any problems to his children and disciples. No one took his instructions seriously because he appeared to be in good health in spite of his age. Five months later, Luang Pho Daeng gave Nai Kaew and Nai Pet another reminder to speed up with the building of his upright casket because the time for his passing away was imminent. They still refused to believe in his foreseeing of his own death, and so on thewaning moon of the fifth lunar month, he gave the final warning that he was going to pass away in the sixth lunar month. Again this warning fell on deaf ears as there had never been such a precedent phenomenon before. Everyone of his off-springs felt very sorry when he finally passed away on the date forewarned; they had not built the upright casket that was so much desired by him. He passed away on 6th of May, on the sixth day of the waning moon of the sixth lunar month of the year in the year of the ox, 2516 B.E. His total age was 79 years and 8 months.
Luang Pho Daeng had led an ascetic life for 29 years and 8 months. He was always true to his words, he was strict in his practice; he took only one meal a day and used only one container, his alms bowl, throughout his ascetic life from the first day of his ordination until the day he passed away.

His disciples remembered his teaching about comparing vipassana meditation to cleaning a mirror. When the mirror is polished and brushed daily, no dirt would taint it. Similarly, if a layman’s mind is empty and does not attach to anything, it, too, would remain clear like a polished mirror.

Due to certain inexplicable reasons, his body had not decayed after his death. Thus his off-springs and disciples seated his corpse in an upright casket that had been hastily made right after his death as he had wanted. His corpse was placed at the Sala at Wat Khumaram (Khao Po) in the “Nirvarna Room” according to his final instructions which he had written in advance.
He had written his final instruction as follows:
“Dated 27th September, 2515 B.E. , Wednesday, the fifth day of the waning moon in the year of the rat.
After I passed away, the casket for my corpse should be an upright one. If my off-springs and disciples want to carry out a merit-making and chanting of the 7 scriptures ceremony, let them do so. After everything has been completed, my corpse should be placed in the “Nirvana Room”. If it decays, it should be cremated and the ash collected. Chuan and Chamnong should hire Mani from Hua Thanon to build a stupa, not a monument for it is not as good as a stupa. Not too big but it should be durable and long lasting to serve as a pillar for Buddhism. I might disintegrate in terms of the 4 primary elements, but my mind and spirit still remains intact as a symbol of worship, for thee future generations so that they can follow the footsteps of Buddha’s teaching and attain final release from all suffering, the pathway to the ultimate nirvana, where there will be no rebirth, no aging, no sickness and no death- the final destination........... However, if my corpse does not decay, the whole casket could be kept as such, but it should be placed in the Nirvana Room but leave a wide space in front. ......................................”

Watching the Waves

2010-11-11T07:44:00.000-08:00

MONSOON HISTORY !!! Once I worked in Kelantan and my friends and I used to go to the seaside every Thursday evening to swim in the sea. The beach that we used to go to was Beach of Passionate Love (Pantai Cinta Berahi). However, during the monsoon season (Nov. to February) we could not swim in the sea as it was too rough and dangerous. Instead we would explore the beach during this time. On one occasion we saw some local villagers watching the waves breaking on the beach and then ran towards the sand to pick up coins washed up by the waves. Curious, I too tried to pick up the coins, however, I failed to pick any because the moment the waves recede, they wash the sand downwards and the sand would cover the coins. So, unless our eyes were very sharp, alert and vigilant, only then can we pick up the coins. This required skill and training. This activity of the villagers has remained vividly in my memory.

The Eight Right Paths

2010-05-14T00:49:00.000-07:00

According to Ajahn Chah, the eight right paths are our 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 nostrils, 1 tongue and 1 body. We must thread carefully on these 8 paths carefully and guards their doors carefully. Then we are walking on the 8 noble paths.

Why Let Go

2010-05-14T00:25:00.000-07:00

Why Let Go

I don't know.

Kalama Sutta

2010-05-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

Kalama Sutta

Do not believe in anything (simply)
because you have heard it.

Do not believe in traditions because they
have been handed down for many generations.

Do not believe in anything because it is
spoken and rumoured by many.

Do not believe in anything (simply) because
it is found written in your religious books.

Do not believe in anything merely on the authority
of your teachers and elders.

But after observation and analysis
when you find that anything agrees with reason
and is conductive to the good and benefit of one and all
then accept it and live up to it.

Buddha
(Anguttara Nikaya Vol. 1, 188-193 P.T.S. Ed.)

HOW TO LET GO

2010-05-07T01:47:00.000-07:00

HOW TO LET GO

I remember what Ajahn Brahm said about the storm that blew down the leaves from the trees. Some brown leaves were still clinging onto the branches while some green leaves were blown to the ground. Some people die young and some die old, it all depends on one's karma. When the supportive karma is exhausted, then it is time to change to another life or being. Life comes and life goes, the setting sun in one nation is the rising sun in another. There is no big deal, actually. What causes the pain and the discontent that we encounter is our attachment to our loved ones and our belongings. When we are able to detach ourselves from these, then we will experience less pain and stress. Non-attachment is really a state of mind and not the physical act of abandoning or discarding. In this respect, we have to learn to let go.

Your question was how to let go. Letting go means letting go of our attachments. What actually are we attach to? We are attach to sensual pleasures that draw our mind away through our sense doors, that is, our eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. We are also attached to emotional states such as love, hatred, jealousy, anger, aversion and desire. It is our attachment to these sensual desires and mental states that drives us to seek satisfaction or happiness externally or from the mundane level. In actual fact, we should direct our mind inwards, back to the body and back to the mind itself in order to find happiness and a greater satisfaction in life. What do I mean?

The sense objects around us cause our sense organs to perceive them or experience them through our senses. These experiences are actually neutral in itself. However, the nature of the mind is that it will evaluate these experiences and make some kind of a conclusion. When it concludes that the experience is good or wonderful, we will strive to experience more of it. However, if the experience is undesirable, we will detest the sense object. Let me give you an example. The durian , as a sense object of the eye and the nose is neutral. After a man has smelt it and tasted it, he will form a conclusion, such as, it is a very delicious fruit or it is the king of fruits. Henceforth, whenever he sees a durian, he will desire to taste it. Some people go as far as seeking better and better durians by going to orchards or distant locations to satisfy their heightened taste of durians. Sometimes when they visit a famous orchard like those on Penang island or in Perak and when the fruit is not really up to their expectations, they will feel angry or disappointed. So, these are mental states of desire and aversion.

Looks like I still haven't come to the part of how to LET GO. This can be learnt from Buddhist meditation and then applied to our daily life. The idea is to stop or severe the link between the experience and the thinking. You can do this by acknowledging the experience, such as by saying seeing, seeing or smelling, smelling and then let go. Do not let the sense experience creep into your evaluation process so that your mind will not form an opinion about the sense object, such as like or dislike. Just LET GO of the experience. The advantage of meditation is that we have an object of meditation to revert to after we have let go. In daily life, we do not have a fix object , so what is the object that we should revert to after we have let go? We keep our mind focused on what we are doing at the moment, such as eating, walking or sitting. This is called keeping the mind in the present.

So, when we choose an object of meditation, such as our breath , we park our mind at this object. Whenever our mind wanders off out through our sense doors, we pull it back again to the object by acknowledging, generally by saying knowing, knowing and specifically by saying hearing, hearing or feeling, feeling. In this way, we train our mind to stay at a place and not wander off to form evaluations or create stories that are triggered off by the sense experience.

I have tried to explain how to let go based on the little knowledge that I have. If I have presented the wrong view, please correct me.
Foo Kong.

A Novice Monk

2010-04-28T03:53:00.000-07:00

Novice Monk

2010-04-28T03:27:00.000-07:00

That's me, a novice monk at Kek Lok Si temple, Penang in 1982. It was 2 week programme. I remember losing a lot of weight after this programme. I observed 8 precepts and had to wake up at 4.30 am.

A Novice Monk

2010-04-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

a

A Monk.
I was once a novice monk at the Kek Lok Si temple in Penang in 1982. It was for a duration of two weeks. Then I was involved in the Kelantan Buddhist Association and when a friend suggested the idea of being a novice monk to me, I took it up. During the two weeks I observed the eight precepts and lost a lot of weight. It was quite tough, the waking up early in the morning part but it was a wonderful experience.

LP Meechai and me

2010-04-20T00:57:00.000-07:00

LP Meechai is a popular monk among the Chinese community who seek his blessings to improve their business, fortune or health.

LP Meechai is from Surin, near the Cambodian border. LP has lived in a cave where there is also a big black snake. It is said that this snake will come to the foothill to accompany LP up to the cave whenever LP returns to the cave.

When LP performed prayer service at night at the Sg Petani centre, many orbs appeared (caught in the photos of many cameras).

I have met LP 3 times and was lucky to have taken this photo with him.

Luang Phor Meechai

2010-04-20T00:43:00.000-07:00

Luang Phor Meechai at Sg Petani centre

4 TYPES OF LEARNERS

2009-02-03T01:12:00.000-08:00

When I was reading a translated Tibetan text, there was a simile about the types of learners. Basically, there are 4 types:

a. Type 1 learners are like an overtirned jars, no matter how much water you pour on them, nothing is retained in them. This refers to the students who cannot remember anything. Whatever you teach them today is forgotten the next day. For these type of students, you can't keep pouring water onto them, you have to overturn the jar.

b. Type two learners are like upturn jars with holes in them, whatever water you pour into them will eventually leak out. This refers to students who listen and forget easily. Whatever you say goes in one ear and comes out through the other

c. Type 3 learners are jars that contain some poison in them, whatever water you pour into them becomes contaminated. This refers to students who obtained some knowledge from outside the classroom such as from their tuition teachers, mass media, friends or parents. They become confused when you teach them your method or give them a different view from what they have learnt.

d. Type 4 lrarners are like empty upturned jars, whatever water you pour into them is fully retained in them.. This refers to students who are eager and willing to learn what you teach them. They will remember well what you teach and have good retention power.

So, what kind of learner are you?

TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE

2009-01-21T01:07:00.000-08:00

There are basically 2 types of people in this world: one who loves to cheat and the other who loves to be cheated. I shall discuss this from the point of education.

In our many years of experience as educators, we found that there are some unscrupulous people out there who are out to make a fast buck, prying on naive students who cannot separate the wheat from the chaff. They attend tuition classes where the teachers are incompetent, teachers who leak test questions to them and teachers who promised them that they would be able to obtain leaked public exam questions.

There was a tuition teacher who told students that he has obtained leaked examination questions for a public exam. He claimed that the examination body had set 3 sets of questions: the first set was the actual exam papers and the other were for contingency purposes, such as a leakage in the first set. He claimed that he had obtained 2 of the 3 sets and students who wished to obtain the question papers would have to attend his special tuition class where he would teach them how to answer the questions as well. Many gullible students swallowed the bait, line, hook and sinker as well. They left their normal tuition classes and derailed their personal revision programmes to attend such a class. At that moment they felt happy (to be conned) and the tuition teacher felt happy too ( to con these students). However, the so called leak questions did not appear in the actual public examination. When confronted with the accusation of a sting, he claimed that the THIRD SET of questions were used by the examination body. BEWARE OF SUCH SWINDLERS.

BOGUS MONKS

2008-07-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

In this world there are 2 categories of people: those who love to con and those who love to be con.

The bogus monks are those who love to con and those who give to the bogus monks are those who love to be con.

In order to identify a bogus monk, we must know what is a real monk.

1. A real monk who is on his alms round (pindapat) will not go from table to table to table and restaurant to restaurant with an almsbowl.

2. A real monk usually does not accept money in the almsbowl: the almsbowl is for food not money. Many monks do not touch money nor accept any money while on pindapat.

3. A real monk does not go on pindapat at all times of the day. They only take solid food before lunch. They do not eat after lunch so they do not go on pindapat after lunch.

There are a few bogus monks, including Chinese Mahayana bogus monk in a long robe, in Sungai Petani.

Bogus monks actually destroy Buddhism as they give the religion a bad name.

Give with Wisdom.

FOOD OH FOOD

2008-07-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

Choice of food in Sg Petani is rather limited. Breakfast, for example, is limited to wan tan mee, kueh teow soup, loh mee, tar mee, hokkien mee, fried kuih teow or siu mai. Wow, quite a lot, come to think of it. Perhaps I am choosy about food or my choices are limited. Talking about food makes me sleepy, what a boring subject, zzzzzzzzzzz

Why not talk abouy Buddhism, that is more interesting. For example, what are nagas, do they really exist?

Success!

2008-07-24T06:52:00.000-07:00

Wow! I published my first blog. That is what I call a success.