Roshi Bassui wrote the following letter to one of his disciples who was about to die:
"The essence of your mind is not born,
so it will never die.
It is not an existence, which is perishable.
It is not an emptiness, which is a mere void.
It has neither colour nor form.
It enjoys no pleasures and suffers no pains.
I know you are very ill.
Like a good Zen student, you are facing that sickness squarely.
You may not know exactly who is suffering,
but question yourself:
What is the essence of this mind?
Think only of this.
You will need no more. Covet nothing.
Your end which is endless is as a snowflake dissolving in pure air."
In 1387 (at the age of 61), as Bassui was sitting in zazen meditation among his followers, he turned to them and shouted twice:
"Look straight ahead. What's there?
If you see it as it is
You will never err."
He then died.
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http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Monday, 20 May 2013
Present moment....
Present moment....
I was listening to the radio this morning and a brilliant doctor was discussing his lecture on the following
Four most important things to say in life
I forgive you
Please forgive me
Thank you
I love you
I cannot go through my life, which is so finite, holding on to things that were said or done causing emotions to be carried to my own or to your detriment
To forgive,
is not to forget,
but to enable me to get on with my life and to remind me that someone else's past actions do not reflect on the future and that I will not allow those actions to be repeated
Please forgive me
To ask for forgiveness is asking to forgive an action that we believe should never have happened and was usually due to outside influence
This is done to satisfy the ego
To be able to say sorry and apologize with humility is another matter
Apologizing doesn't always mean that we are wrong and that they are right, it is just we value that relationship more than we value our own ego
Our present moment is not to be affected by things that happened yesterday,
to be stewed over and over,
until all relationships are soured by past actions
Thank you
To be able to say thank you for your help,
the way keep the family together,
the way you behave when I am wrong
My thanks to myself and the Universe for a well life and for a well death
(He lived well and he died well)
My life and death shall not be affected by my past,
but be a present moment of life and all it has to offer.
I shall not let my tomorrow's be dictated to by events that have no bearing on my present moment and that is why I ask for forgiveness for past indiscretions
I love you
To utter these three sacred words is akin to spiritual renewal
To love all around us shows that we have let go of all the rubbish that stops us from being fulfilled as a person
This enabling is paramount for living a happy satisfied life
So, to all that think they have been wronged in any way,
please use these four most important things
I forgive you
Please forgive me
Thank you
I love you
With Metta
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
I was listening to the radio this morning and a brilliant doctor was discussing his lecture on the following
Four most important things to say in life
I forgive you
Please forgive me
Thank you
I love you
I cannot go through my life, which is so finite, holding on to things that were said or done causing emotions to be carried to my own or to your detriment
To forgive,
is not to forget,
but to enable me to get on with my life and to remind me that someone else's past actions do not reflect on the future and that I will not allow those actions to be repeated
Please forgive me
To ask for forgiveness is asking to forgive an action that we believe should never have happened and was usually due to outside influence
This is done to satisfy the ego
To be able to say sorry and apologize with humility is another matter
Apologizing doesn't always mean that we are wrong and that they are right, it is just we value that relationship more than we value our own ego
Our present moment is not to be affected by things that happened yesterday,
to be stewed over and over,
until all relationships are soured by past actions
Thank you
To be able to say thank you for your help,
the way keep the family together,
the way you behave when I am wrong
My thanks to myself and the Universe for a well life and for a well death
(He lived well and he died well)
My life and death shall not be affected by my past,
but be a present moment of life and all it has to offer.
I shall not let my tomorrow's be dictated to by events that have no bearing on my present moment and that is why I ask for forgiveness for past indiscretions
I love you
To utter these three sacred words is akin to spiritual renewal
To love all around us shows that we have let go of all the rubbish that stops us from being fulfilled as a person
This enabling is paramount for living a happy satisfied life
So, to all that think they have been wronged in any way,
please use these four most important things
I forgive you
Please forgive me
Thank you
I love you
With Metta
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Sunday, 12 May 2013
I want to give thanks.
I want to give thanks.
Heartfelt thanks to the people who work tirelessly in the service of others.
I have been in hospital twice in the last few weeks.
The level of care at both Epworth and Austin
were beyond my expectation.
The healing process was sped up considerably by the good grace and care
of most professional carers.
The dedication of a nurse who at three am when seeing me turn my light asked me if I would like a cup of tea.
The dedication of the tea man who on collecting my used cup asked me if I would like another and an extra biscuit.
Both of these extraordinary workers went out of their way to make me comfortable.
The amazing thing is that there was no ulterior motive, no extra benefit,
just care.
The admitting staff, the triage, the assisting doctors, anesthetic doctors and staff, senior and assistant surgeons, and nurses,
all created a seamless level of care and trust that made me feel most comfortable.
Having any health problem is not the best
and particularly when it ends in surgery.
I must say that there is no fear, no apprehension, when one is entrusted in such good care.
Thank you all.
Nathan Black
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Heartfelt thanks to the people who work tirelessly in the service of others.
I have been in hospital twice in the last few weeks.
The level of care at both Epworth and Austin
were beyond my expectation.
The healing process was sped up considerably by the good grace and care
of most professional carers.
The dedication of a nurse who at three am when seeing me turn my light asked me if I would like a cup of tea.
The dedication of the tea man who on collecting my used cup asked me if I would like another and an extra biscuit.
Both of these extraordinary workers went out of their way to make me comfortable.
The amazing thing is that there was no ulterior motive, no extra benefit,
just care.
The admitting staff, the triage, the assisting doctors, anesthetic doctors and staff, senior and assistant surgeons, and nurses,
all created a seamless level of care and trust that made me feel most comfortable.
Having any health problem is not the best
and particularly when it ends in surgery.
I must say that there is no fear, no apprehension, when one is entrusted in such good care.
Thank you all.
Nathan Black
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Monday, 29 April 2013
I want to share a dharma about how we can help others
I want to share a dharma about how we can help others
Most people want things for themselves
it's human nature to desire things
The Buddha said the cause of suffering is desire
Even our prayers are full of me me me and the things we desire
Heath wealth and happiness
A great man once said
If you want to be happy for an hour
Have a massage
If you want to be happy for a day
Go for a picnic
If you want to be happy for a week
Go to Bali
If you want to be happy for a month
Get married
If you want to be happy for a year
Win the lottery
But if you want to be happy for a lifetime
Help others
It is so much better to give than to receive
The Reverend Joel Osteen tells the following
A child from a poor family comes into Jacks grocer shop and looks at the fruit and veggies
Jack asks him what he wants but the child tells him he is only looking
Jack notices that the boy is holding some marbles
and tells the boy he will swap a bag of fruit for the marbles
The marbles are the boys pride and joy but his family was hungry so he offered them to Jack for the large bag of fruit
Jack told the boy that he only wanted red marbles and didn't like the blue ones the boy had
He told the boy to come back next week and bring red ones
The following week Jack handed the boy a large bag of vegetables and told the boy he wanted blue marbles not the red ones the boy had
This went on for months with Jack never accepting the boys marbles
Some fifteen years later Jack passed away and at his funeral there were three well dressed young men standing by the open casket
Each one in turn held Jacks hand
After the funeral the minister asked Jacks wife about the three red marbles he found in Jacks hand
She told him that jack had fed three families with fruit and vegetables for years in return for red marbles that he never took
It is so much better to give than to receive
A young man about fifteen years old was going door to door selling plastic containers that he had recycled
He explained that he did this after school to feed himself as he had no family
Some people felt sorry for him and gave him a dollar most just slammed the door in his face
At one house a girl answered the door and he stood speechless
She was so beautiful
The girl saw he was so thin and obviously starving and she offered him a glass of milk
He drank it down in one go so cold so delicious
It actually saved his life
Some twenty five years later the same girl had a life threatening growth in her brain
Unfortunately she could not afford the operation and there was only one doctor who specialized in the delicate area of her disease
The doctor stopped in to see her and the moment he saw her he said he would operate
The operation was successful and she was worried about the cost and how she could pay
On the bottom of the bill she received was a hand written note from the doctor
"paid in full with a glass of milk"
It is so much better to give than to receive
I heard about a poor family with five children
It was a struggle just for the food each week
The eldest boy wanted to go to Lunar Park for his birthday and the father had saved a dollar each week for a year just for this treat
They were so excited as they stood in line to get in
When it was the fathers time to pay he got such a shock at the price just to get in and he didn't have enough for the entrance fee
The man behind him tapped him on the shoulder and said in a quiet voice
"excuse me but $40 just dropped out of your pocket"
The father looked at him with tears in his eyes and said
"thank you so much
you are a saint
God will shine on you"
It is so much better to give than to receive
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Most people want things for themselves
it's human nature to desire things
The Buddha said the cause of suffering is desire
Even our prayers are full of me me me and the things we desire
Heath wealth and happiness
A great man once said
If you want to be happy for an hour
Have a massage
If you want to be happy for a day
Go for a picnic
If you want to be happy for a week
Go to Bali
If you want to be happy for a month
Get married
If you want to be happy for a year
Win the lottery
But if you want to be happy for a lifetime
Help others
It is so much better to give than to receive
The Reverend Joel Osteen tells the following
A child from a poor family comes into Jacks grocer shop and looks at the fruit and veggies
Jack asks him what he wants but the child tells him he is only looking
Jack notices that the boy is holding some marbles
and tells the boy he will swap a bag of fruit for the marbles
The marbles are the boys pride and joy but his family was hungry so he offered them to Jack for the large bag of fruit
Jack told the boy that he only wanted red marbles and didn't like the blue ones the boy had
He told the boy to come back next week and bring red ones
The following week Jack handed the boy a large bag of vegetables and told the boy he wanted blue marbles not the red ones the boy had
This went on for months with Jack never accepting the boys marbles
Some fifteen years later Jack passed away and at his funeral there were three well dressed young men standing by the open casket
Each one in turn held Jacks hand
After the funeral the minister asked Jacks wife about the three red marbles he found in Jacks hand
She told him that jack had fed three families with fruit and vegetables for years in return for red marbles that he never took
It is so much better to give than to receive
A young man about fifteen years old was going door to door selling plastic containers that he had recycled
He explained that he did this after school to feed himself as he had no family
Some people felt sorry for him and gave him a dollar most just slammed the door in his face
At one house a girl answered the door and he stood speechless
She was so beautiful
The girl saw he was so thin and obviously starving and she offered him a glass of milk
He drank it down in one go so cold so delicious
It actually saved his life
Some twenty five years later the same girl had a life threatening growth in her brain
Unfortunately she could not afford the operation and there was only one doctor who specialized in the delicate area of her disease
The doctor stopped in to see her and the moment he saw her he said he would operate
The operation was successful and she was worried about the cost and how she could pay
On the bottom of the bill she received was a hand written note from the doctor
"paid in full with a glass of milk"
It is so much better to give than to receive
I heard about a poor family with five children
It was a struggle just for the food each week
The eldest boy wanted to go to Lunar Park for his birthday and the father had saved a dollar each week for a year just for this treat
They were so excited as they stood in line to get in
When it was the fathers time to pay he got such a shock at the price just to get in and he didn't have enough for the entrance fee
The man behind him tapped him on the shoulder and said in a quiet voice
"excuse me but $40 just dropped out of your pocket"
The father looked at him with tears in his eyes and said
"thank you so much
you are a saint
God will shine on you"
It is so much better to give than to receive
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Monday, 15 April 2013
I love Osho
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 things that 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 who became a master archer searched his kingdom for a better archery teacher as sometimes he missed the target.
As he entered a village he saw many trees with circles and arrows in the exact middle of the circles.
He said "only the best archer can be this accurate, so perfect,
I must meet this man."
So he called the people and asked where is this great archer.
They all laughed.
"You must forget this man, he is the village idiot." They told the king.
The king told them that his archery was perfect and that he must see him.
The villages said;
"You don't understand his 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.
Thank you John
Thank you Osho
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
To my dear friend Carlo;
To my dear friend Carlo;
You asked me to report on my recent trip to Vietnam, with a thought of maybe going there next year.
From the moment I got there, I found a cacophony in total madness of movement and sound, as if this is the last moment of life.
It is, as if there is so much to do and so little time to do whatever has to be done.
The Buddha said to treat every moment as our last, but this is extreme.
All in such a hurry to get somewhere.
It seems that everyone in the city,
the entire population,
is on the move at once,
all a blur of people,
color and noise.
In the city of Ho chi Min there are eight million people and there are some six million motor scooters and its a fight just to get across the street.
I had to half close my eyes and just walk.
The scooters go around,
sometimes.
Vietnam has other benefits apart from the crush.
There are the smiles from the loverly people,
the food, the shopping, bargaining.
The friendliest will try to get an extra cent or two from you.
It's endemic, it's the culture and we would not have it any other way.
The Buddha advised not to be attached to anything.
The Buddha hadn't seen Ratchavadee resort.
Still we shouldn't be attached.
So my advice is to go to Thailand in March not February next year and we will not be attached to the month.
Vietnam is great for a visit but for me, not for a stay.
Love you and look forward to seeing both in Thailand next year.
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
You asked me to report on my recent trip to Vietnam, with a thought of maybe going there next year.
From the moment I got there, I found a cacophony in total madness of movement and sound, as if this is the last moment of life.
It is, as if there is so much to do and so little time to do whatever has to be done.
The Buddha said to treat every moment as our last, but this is extreme.
All in such a hurry to get somewhere.
It seems that everyone in the city,
the entire population,
is on the move at once,
all a blur of people,
color and noise.
In the city of Ho chi Min there are eight million people and there are some six million motor scooters and its a fight just to get across the street.
I had to half close my eyes and just walk.
The scooters go around,
sometimes.
Vietnam has other benefits apart from the crush.
There are the smiles from the loverly people,
the food, the shopping, bargaining.
The friendliest will try to get an extra cent or two from you.
It's endemic, it's the culture and we would not have it any other way.
The Buddha advised not to be attached to anything.
The Buddha hadn't seen Ratchavadee resort.
Still we shouldn't be attached.
So my advice is to go to Thailand in March not February next year and we will not be attached to the month.
Vietnam is great for a visit but for me, not for a stay.
Love you and look forward to seeing both in Thailand next year.
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
Friday, 8 March 2013
Kuan Yin miracle
Ratchavadee Resort 2013
I go on holiday to rest and write.
Holidays are one thing and sitting here in paradise waiting for inspiration is another.
The two just don't seem to mix as there are too many distractions.
The beach, the pool,
the food, from one to the other.
Then people want to talk and ask questions
Where are you from?
What are you writing?
Why are you so quiet?
Go away and leave me alone!
I read and reread, but my words seemed empty.
Too many distractions.
On my last day on the beach I had given up and was looking at some
photos of Kuan Yin and attached to one picture was the following story;
You may have heard it before but it needs to be read again as sometimes to be reassured that miracles can happen.
My thanks goes to the beautiful Kuan Yin Facebook page:
"Tess was only eight years old but she understood her mom and dad were talking about her brother's illness.
She knew he was very sick and there was no money to pay for an expensive operation.
They were moving to a small apartment as dad couldn't afford the house doctors or hospital bills anymore.
Tess heard them say that he wouldn't live without the surgery and no one would loan dad the money and he would die if he didn't have get a miracle.
Mom and dad were both crying.
Tess went to her bedroom and got the special glass jam jar from its hiding place in her cupboard.
She tipped the contents on to the bed and very carefully counted the contents.
She counted them three times as she had to be right and make no mistakes.
Tess put the coins back in the jar and tightened up the lid and placed the jar carefully in her school bag and slipped out the back door.
She walked the few blocks to the corner pharmacy.
Tess waited in line for the man to serve her.
When her turn came the man was really rude
"What do you want" he said sharply
She told him about her brother Andrew and how he had something bad growing in his head and how they had no money for the operation and only a miracle could save him
She asked the man how much does a miracle cost
and she has money and if it is not enough she can get more.
"We don't sell miracles here and I am so sorry I can't help you."
Tess was about to leave with tears welling up in her eyes when a well dressed man bent down and said,
"What sort of operation does your brother need?"
Tess said that she did not know but she had $1:11 and if that was not enough she could get more.
The man was Dr Carlton Armstrong a specialist in neuro-surgery and the pharmacists brother.
He asked Tess to take him to meet her mom and dad and said that $1:11 was the exact amount needed for a miracle.
The operation was a total success
Her mom and dad asked the surgeon how much was the cost and could they pay it in small installments?
He told them to ask Tess and that he had charged her for the operation.
When they asked Tess how she had paid she just smiled
Tess knew miracles cost $1:11
Tess is saving up just in case she is needed again to pay for a miracle"
Thank you to Kuan Yin for this and many other miracles
Metta
Nathan
Sent from my iPhone and
http://www.dharmamaster.com
With love
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