The Buddha,
I have heard,
said in the following Sutta;
"You're overjoyed if you get what you want.
If you don't, you writhe,
a hunter pierced
by your own arrow,
born of desire, engendering desire, desire driven.
No matter what you long for: a house, land, livestock, gold, serfs, servants, slaves,
men, women, family, (innocent things of themselves) the longing overwhelms you till troubles bear down
and suffering follows like water rushing into a leaky boat.
But if you're mindful,
you evade desire
as easily as side-
stepping a snake.
You're free of the world's sticky traps.
Be mindful.
Abandon desire.
Bale out the boat
& reach the further shore.
Sutta Nipata
................
I was recently asked by a young man;
"Why do I feel so guilty?"
My answer;
"Why are you so fearful of your future?"
He felt guilty, he said, because his parents had struggled for years,
to save, to pay for his tuition overseas.
"Would I find a job,
after graduation.
Would I be able to pay them back?"
"Would my work pay enough?"
"Would I have enough money to get married?"
In his mind it wasn't enough to be an A grade student.
It wasn't enough he was about to leave on an adventure of a lifetime.
All he thought about was future failure and the consequences.
So the outcome, in his mind, must be failure, remorse and loss.
Fortunately, he asked the question as to why he feels the way he does.
Help is always only a question away..
It is the questions we ask that are important.
We know the answers
but look for confirmation as most of us don't trust our own perceptions.
We don't believe we are capable or good enough.
What will people say?
What will happen should I fail?
So now, how do we help this young man with his question?
Will his thoughts be at peace with our answers?
Our answer starts with the statement that we can only react to a picture, or a scenario, that we create in our mind.
We then add to the fact of what we now believe is true, as it comes from our own imagination.
Should the thought creation be a positive one then it will have a positive outcome.
A negative thought process brings a negative result.
It is therefore crucial to only allow good thoughts, good speech, and good behavior, to be our way of life.
Just like
The Buddha
said it should be.....
Metta
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
I am inspired by many people.
I am inspired by many people.
Recently I was immersed in a mindful hand movement meditation that was shown to me by my friend Phra Fred.
As I was in my practice,
a thought came to search for the compassionate thoughtful monk who passed on the practice.
There is a biography of the monk written by the doctor who was not only his student but also who looked after him till his death.
Dr Vatana Supromajakr faithfully wrote down thoughts from this great monk over many years of their friendship.
Here are a few that came to me as I meditated.
Deceived By Thought
Venerable Luangpor Teean said that we human beings are always thinking, just like the ever-flowing current of a river.
Being lost in and deceived by thought,
he said, is like continually scooping out water and storing it up for no good use.
But if we have sati, (awareness) seeing thought immediately,
as it really is, it is like the water flows freely and passes on by.
Being lost in and deceived by thought gives rise to suffering.
Suffering
In discussing Samudaya, (the second Noble Truth, the cause of suffering) Luangpor placed an object in his hand and then clenched his hand tightly around it,
making a fist.
He then turned the fist over and opened his hand and showed the thing dropping to the ground, he pointed out,
"This is suffering."
We understand immediately that suffering is a thing that we conceive, and assume, and seize firmly, and then we realize that it can be released and gotten rid of.
Luangpor said that someone who can understand this quickly is one with wisdom.
Working With Awareness
Luangpor declared,
"All of us have duties and responsibilities that the society we live in requires us to fulfil, and this is normal.
Performing our duties with sati, will produce results that are completely satisfactory, the best possible results."
Luangpor was a great and most unusual man from whom I have learnt a great deal.
My thanks to the doctor and Fred.
With Metta
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Recently I was immersed in a mindful hand movement meditation that was shown to me by my friend Phra Fred.
As I was in my practice,
a thought came to search for the compassionate thoughtful monk who passed on the practice.
There is a biography of the monk written by the doctor who was not only his student but also who looked after him till his death.
Dr Vatana Supromajakr faithfully wrote down thoughts from this great monk over many years of their friendship.
Here are a few that came to me as I meditated.
Deceived By Thought
Venerable Luangpor Teean said that we human beings are always thinking, just like the ever-flowing current of a river.
Being lost in and deceived by thought,
he said, is like continually scooping out water and storing it up for no good use.
But if we have sati, (awareness) seeing thought immediately,
as it really is, it is like the water flows freely and passes on by.
Being lost in and deceived by thought gives rise to suffering.
Suffering
In discussing Samudaya, (the second Noble Truth, the cause of suffering) Luangpor placed an object in his hand and then clenched his hand tightly around it,
making a fist.
He then turned the fist over and opened his hand and showed the thing dropping to the ground, he pointed out,
"This is suffering."
We understand immediately that suffering is a thing that we conceive, and assume, and seize firmly, and then we realize that it can be released and gotten rid of.
Luangpor said that someone who can understand this quickly is one with wisdom.
Working With Awareness
Luangpor declared,
"All of us have duties and responsibilities that the society we live in requires us to fulfil, and this is normal.
Performing our duties with sati, will produce results that are completely satisfactory, the best possible results."
Luangpor was a great and most unusual man from whom I have learnt a great deal.
My thanks to the doctor and Fred.
With Metta
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Gatekeeper Yin
Gatekeeper Yin
and the Silent One....
Yin Xi, nicknamed Guan Yinzi, was also called Guan Yin or keeper of the pass.
The Annals of History, tells of his receiving scripture from Laozi, and refers to Yin Xi as
Prefect of the Pass Yin.
About 70km west of Xi'an, at Louguan Tai, there is a temple by a mountain range that claims to be the place where Yin Xi was the Gatekeeper.
When Laozi arrived at Louguan Tai on his path out of the world, Yin Xi persuaded him to write a book, the result being the 'Dao De Jing.'
Laozi then disappeared westward, riding on an ox.
Guan Yinzi, once said;
"As for people who are good at playing the 'Qin,'
if they are sad, then the sound is filled with pathos;
if they are thoughtful,
then the sound is hesitant;
if they are resentful,
then the sound is irresolute;
if they are yearning,
then the sound is elegantly grand.
This sadness, thoughtfulness, resentment and yearning does not come from hands, from bamboo, from silk, or from wood:
it comes from having the heart matched with the hand and the hand matched with the object."
"People who have Dao,
are always centered
in the Dao."
...........
One last time....
All of a sudden,
he appeared.
He was dressed differently, his robes pulled around him like a shroud, his head covered in a cowl of faded yellow robe.
He acknowledged me with a slight movement of his head, almost a nod.
I thought I heard him say;
"we meet for the last time seeker, you must listen well."
The Silent One then told me the following;
....Master Lieh Tzu asked Gatekeeper Yin;
'Only the perfect man can walk under water and not drown, can walk on fire and not burn and can pass over a multitude of lives without fear,
how is this possible?'
Gatekeeper Yin replied,
'It is because he preserves his original breath and this has nothing to do with his knowledge, his work, his persistence, or his bravery.'
'Everything has a face, form, sound and colour, but these are just appearances."
"So, now I ask you, Gatekeeper, how is it possible that this thing,
or that thing, are separated from each other?'
'Indeed why should each thing be viewed as the first of all beings?"
Gatekeeper Yin continued
"They are just forms and colours and nothing more.
However, everything arises from what is formless and descends into that which is changeless.
If we grasp and follow this, using it to its fullest extent, nothing can stand in our way!
It means being able to reside within limits,
which have no limit,
be secluded within boundaries, which have no beginning, go to where both the beginning and the end of all life is;
We then must combine essential nature, nourish our original breath,
and harmonize virtue.
By following this path,
we can commune with the origins of all life.
We will then guard our unity with Heaven, and our spirit will be without fault.
Nothing can get inside and attack us.
We must retreat to the serenity of Heaven,
and as a result,
nothing can cause us harm.
We must recognize that everything under Heaven is united.
It is possible to be rid of punishment and execution, of chaos, violence and war,
this is the Dao.
However, we must not cast aside the Heavenly,
and ignore the human aspect;
Only then will we draw closer to the realization of Truth.'
.................
"This is a Dharma I share with you, seeker.
It is from the writing of Chung Tzu who lived over two thousand three hundred years ago.
I thought it appropriate to the situation all face right now."
The Silent One then said, "Understand what I have just said and you too will become the perfect man."
With that,
he disappeared.
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
and the Silent One....
Yin Xi, nicknamed Guan Yinzi, was also called Guan Yin or keeper of the pass.
The Annals of History, tells of his receiving scripture from Laozi, and refers to Yin Xi as
Prefect of the Pass Yin.
About 70km west of Xi'an, at Louguan Tai, there is a temple by a mountain range that claims to be the place where Yin Xi was the Gatekeeper.
When Laozi arrived at Louguan Tai on his path out of the world, Yin Xi persuaded him to write a book, the result being the 'Dao De Jing.'
Laozi then disappeared westward, riding on an ox.
Guan Yinzi, once said;
"As for people who are good at playing the 'Qin,'
if they are sad, then the sound is filled with pathos;
if they are thoughtful,
then the sound is hesitant;
if they are resentful,
then the sound is irresolute;
if they are yearning,
then the sound is elegantly grand.
This sadness, thoughtfulness, resentment and yearning does not come from hands, from bamboo, from silk, or from wood:
it comes from having the heart matched with the hand and the hand matched with the object."
"People who have Dao,
are always centered
in the Dao."
...........
One last time....
All of a sudden,
he appeared.
He was dressed differently, his robes pulled around him like a shroud, his head covered in a cowl of faded yellow robe.
He acknowledged me with a slight movement of his head, almost a nod.
I thought I heard him say;
"we meet for the last time seeker, you must listen well."
The Silent One then told me the following;
....Master Lieh Tzu asked Gatekeeper Yin;
'Only the perfect man can walk under water and not drown, can walk on fire and not burn and can pass over a multitude of lives without fear,
how is this possible?'
Gatekeeper Yin replied,
'It is because he preserves his original breath and this has nothing to do with his knowledge, his work, his persistence, or his bravery.'
'Everything has a face, form, sound and colour, but these are just appearances."
"So, now I ask you, Gatekeeper, how is it possible that this thing,
or that thing, are separated from each other?'
'Indeed why should each thing be viewed as the first of all beings?"
Gatekeeper Yin continued
"They are just forms and colours and nothing more.
However, everything arises from what is formless and descends into that which is changeless.
If we grasp and follow this, using it to its fullest extent, nothing can stand in our way!
It means being able to reside within limits,
which have no limit,
be secluded within boundaries, which have no beginning, go to where both the beginning and the end of all life is;
We then must combine essential nature, nourish our original breath,
and harmonize virtue.
By following this path,
we can commune with the origins of all life.
We will then guard our unity with Heaven, and our spirit will be without fault.
Nothing can get inside and attack us.
We must retreat to the serenity of Heaven,
and as a result,
nothing can cause us harm.
We must recognize that everything under Heaven is united.
It is possible to be rid of punishment and execution, of chaos, violence and war,
this is the Dao.
However, we must not cast aside the Heavenly,
and ignore the human aspect;
Only then will we draw closer to the realization of Truth.'
.................
"This is a Dharma I share with you, seeker.
It is from the writing of Chung Tzu who lived over two thousand three hundred years ago.
I thought it appropriate to the situation all face right now."
The Silent One then said, "Understand what I have just said and you too will become the perfect man."
With that,
he disappeared.
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Saturday, 17 May 2014
A special day.....,
My father passed away forty years ago on this day.
My mother was born on this day in 1913.
My love and respect for both has not diminished with time.
I remember their faces and voices as though it was yesterday.
My thoughts and prayers are with you whose parents are living.
There is time left to show them love and respect before it's too late.
For those who are estranged from loved ones, find love in your heart, find time for a call.
The benefits are too many to list here, but the feeling of letting go old animosity is overwhelming.
Please make this day special with a thought for lost love ones.
A special day, to be able to call, to share love with those who are with us.
May you all be guarded and guided, on this,
my most special day.
With Metta
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Anguttara Nikaya
Anguttara Nikaya
"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 -
................
Karma......
A wealthy and arrogant young merchant came to visit a famous Monk.
People who came to the Monk usually came to ask for guidance in their service to the Buddha,
or for advice and blessing in their material affairs.
This visitor lost no time in telling the Monk that he had no special needs or problems that needed neither intervention,
or blessing.
Business had bought him to the area and he had heard so many stories about this famous Monk, his curiosity led him to see for himself.
The Monk said:
"Well if there is nothing I can help you with, at least stay a while and listen to a story"
The man agreed and the Monk began:
"Once upon a time,
there were two childhood friends who were inseparable as they grew up, however as they became adults,
their ways parted.
One became wealthy,
the other, very poor.
In order to save his family from hunger, the poor man sought out his childhood friend and asked for help.
The wealthy man did not hesitate.
"Didn't we always promise each other that we would remain friends forever and share everything we have?"
He then offered his friend half his fortune.
As so often happens with the passing of time,
the wheels of fortune reversed, and the one who was wealthy now became poor, and the one whom he had helped, became even more wealthy.
Confident that he would receive the same help he gave his friend, he asked his now wealthy friend for help.
His friend however refused to part with anything, not even food.
Time again witnessed a reversal of fortunes,
so that the poor man became rich and the rich man became poor,
and each returned to their original situations.
It happened again,
of course, that the poor man felt the hopelessness of despair, and went to his friend for help,
to beg his forgiveness.
He was readily forgiven, but this time he was asked to sign an agreement that if he were in need of help again,
his friend would share his blessings with him.
In the passage of time, once again, the two men experienced reversals of fortune.
True to form, the man who had signed the agreement refused to honor it, and his friend and his family found themselves homeless,
and penny less.
Years passed and the two men died.
When they came before the heavenly court to account for their lives,
the mean spirit of the selfish mans life weighed heavily against him, and he was condemned to eternal punishment.
The kind and forgiving friend was sent to his eternal reward in paradise.
However the good friend could not accept the destiny of his friends soul and asked the Heavenly court to reconsider, as he still loved him, and didn't wish to see him suffer on his account.
The heavenly court was in an uproar, this was an unusual case and the only way to solve it was to return both men back to earth, so the sinful one could have one last chance to atone for his outrageous behavior.
So the sinful man was returned as a wealthy prideful merchant,
and the other,
as a common beggar.
And so it came to pass that the righteous beggar knocked on the door of the rich man begging for food.
He had not eaten for days and he was close to starving but was rudely and callously turned away.
And so the beggar died..
At this point of the story the rich man asked the Monk to stop.
"No more", he cried with a lump in his throat.
"Yesterday I turned away a beggar from my door and later I heard he was found dead in the street.
Was he the beggar in your story?"
No answer was necessary.
By now the tears were flowing freely and the man was overcome with remorse and repentance.
He was desperate to know what to do to make amends for his shame.
The Monk explained that his former friend,
the beggar,
had a widow and fatherless children,
and that he was to go and give three quarters of his fortune to the family in order to atone for his sins"
.........,,,
Karma does work in mysterious ways.........
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
"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 -
................
Karma......
A wealthy and arrogant young merchant came to visit a famous Monk.
People who came to the Monk usually came to ask for guidance in their service to the Buddha,
or for advice and blessing in their material affairs.
This visitor lost no time in telling the Monk that he had no special needs or problems that needed neither intervention,
or blessing.
Business had bought him to the area and he had heard so many stories about this famous Monk, his curiosity led him to see for himself.
The Monk said:
"Well if there is nothing I can help you with, at least stay a while and listen to a story"
The man agreed and the Monk began:
"Once upon a time,
there were two childhood friends who were inseparable as they grew up, however as they became adults,
their ways parted.
One became wealthy,
the other, very poor.
In order to save his family from hunger, the poor man sought out his childhood friend and asked for help.
The wealthy man did not hesitate.
"Didn't we always promise each other that we would remain friends forever and share everything we have?"
He then offered his friend half his fortune.
As so often happens with the passing of time,
the wheels of fortune reversed, and the one who was wealthy now became poor, and the one whom he had helped, became even more wealthy.
Confident that he would receive the same help he gave his friend, he asked his now wealthy friend for help.
His friend however refused to part with anything, not even food.
Time again witnessed a reversal of fortunes,
so that the poor man became rich and the rich man became poor,
and each returned to their original situations.
It happened again,
of course, that the poor man felt the hopelessness of despair, and went to his friend for help,
to beg his forgiveness.
He was readily forgiven, but this time he was asked to sign an agreement that if he were in need of help again,
his friend would share his blessings with him.
In the passage of time, once again, the two men experienced reversals of fortune.
True to form, the man who had signed the agreement refused to honor it, and his friend and his family found themselves homeless,
and penny less.
Years passed and the two men died.
When they came before the heavenly court to account for their lives,
the mean spirit of the selfish mans life weighed heavily against him, and he was condemned to eternal punishment.
The kind and forgiving friend was sent to his eternal reward in paradise.
However the good friend could not accept the destiny of his friends soul and asked the Heavenly court to reconsider, as he still loved him, and didn't wish to see him suffer on his account.
The heavenly court was in an uproar, this was an unusual case and the only way to solve it was to return both men back to earth, so the sinful one could have one last chance to atone for his outrageous behavior.
So the sinful man was returned as a wealthy prideful merchant,
and the other,
as a common beggar.
And so it came to pass that the righteous beggar knocked on the door of the rich man begging for food.
He had not eaten for days and he was close to starving but was rudely and callously turned away.
And so the beggar died..
At this point of the story the rich man asked the Monk to stop.
"No more", he cried with a lump in his throat.
"Yesterday I turned away a beggar from my door and later I heard he was found dead in the street.
Was he the beggar in your story?"
No answer was necessary.
By now the tears were flowing freely and the man was overcome with remorse and repentance.
He was desperate to know what to do to make amends for his shame.
The Monk explained that his former friend,
the beggar,
had a widow and fatherless children,
and that he was to go and give three quarters of his fortune to the family in order to atone for his sins"
.........,,,
Karma does work in mysterious ways.........
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Sunday, 11 May 2014
Perfect archery..,
It is more than twelve months since I wrote this story and I think it's worth repeating....
I love Osho, and my friend John sent me a wonderful
set of quotes and photos of this great man.
Thanks John
Osho is one of my heroes.
He is so out spoken about everything, love, laughter and all the things a spiritual person wants to hear.
All the things that we think are missing from our lives, Osho reminds us how to cure our ills,
by letting go with laughter and love.
In a book about Zen,
Osho talks about how archery and swordplay can be as meditative as sitting.
A great king became a master archer.
He searched his kingdom for a better archery teacher as even though he was good, sometimes he missed the target.
After a long search he entered a village and saw many trees with circles drawn on them.
There were arrows in the exact middle of the circles.
He thought that only the best archer can be this accurate, so perfect,
I must meet this man.
He called the people of the village and asked them where is this great archer.
They all laughed.
The villagers told the king to forget this man,
he is the village idiot.
The king told them that his archery was perfect and that he must see him.
The villages told the king that he didn't understand the fools archery.
First he shoots the arrow and then he draws a circle around it.
Of course it is perfect.
Always perfect.
We told him this is not right, but he said his way is simple, you never miss.
............
There are many ways to be accurate. Some clever,
some smart, and some just dumb luck.
It's all in the perception.
The most important thing is to be a person of excellence,
an accurate person.
Thank you John
Thank you Osho
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
I love Osho, and my friend John sent me a wonderful
set of quotes and photos of this great man.
Thanks John
Osho is one of my heroes.
He is so out spoken about everything, love, laughter and all the things a spiritual person wants to hear.
All the things that we think are missing from our lives, Osho reminds us how to cure our ills,
by letting go with laughter and love.
In a book about Zen,
Osho talks about how archery and swordplay can be as meditative as sitting.
A great king became a master archer.
He searched his kingdom for a better archery teacher as even though he was good, sometimes he missed the target.
After a long search he entered a village and saw many trees with circles drawn on them.
There were arrows in the exact middle of the circles.
He thought that only the best archer can be this accurate, so perfect,
I must meet this man.
He called the people of the village and asked them where is this great archer.
They all laughed.
The villagers told the king to forget this man,
he is the village idiot.
The king told them that his archery was perfect and that he must see him.
The villages told the king that he didn't understand the fools archery.
First he shoots the arrow and then he draws a circle around it.
Of course it is perfect.
Always perfect.
We told him this is not right, but he said his way is simple, you never miss.
............
There are many ways to be accurate. Some clever,
some smart, and some just dumb luck.
It's all in the perception.
The most important thing is to be a person of excellence,
an accurate person.
Thank you John
Thank you Osho
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Dong-Shan's death....
Dong-Shan's death....
Realizing he was about to die, Dong-Shan bathed, shaved his head, put on his robe and began to die.
Immediately all the monks began to wail.
Dong-Shan opened his eyes and said:
"A mind unattached to things is the true practice!
People struggle in life and make much of death.
What's the use of lamenting?"
The monks continued to wail, so Dong-Shan decided they needed a 'delusion banquet'.
It went on for seven days.
Finally Dong-Shan sternly told his monks:
"You have made a great commotion over nothing. When you watch me die this time, don't make a noisy fuss."
When they were settled, he then left the room,
sat down, and died.
.................
The monks didn't notice,
they were silent,
within their practice.
A Zen story
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Realizing he was about to die, Dong-Shan bathed, shaved his head, put on his robe and began to die.
Immediately all the monks began to wail.
Dong-Shan opened his eyes and said:
"A mind unattached to things is the true practice!
People struggle in life and make much of death.
What's the use of lamenting?"
The monks continued to wail, so Dong-Shan decided they needed a 'delusion banquet'.
It went on for seven days.
Finally Dong-Shan sternly told his monks:
"You have made a great commotion over nothing. When you watch me die this time, don't make a noisy fuss."
When they were settled, he then left the room,
sat down, and died.
.................
The monks didn't notice,
they were silent,
within their practice.
A Zen story
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
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