Universal Love (Metta-sutta)

He who is skilled in good and who wishes to attain that state of Calm should act (thus):

He should be able, upright, perfectly upright, compliant, gentle and humble.

Contented, easily supported, with few duties, of simple livelihood, controlled in senses, discreet, not impudent, he should not be greedily attached to families.

He should not commit any slight wrong such that other wise men might censure him. (Then he should cultivate his thoughts thus:)

May all beings be happy and secure; may their minds be contented.

Whatever living beings there may be- feeble or strong, long (or tall), stout, or medium, short, small, or large, seen or unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born and those who are yet to be born- may all beings, without exception, be happy-minded!

Let not one deceive another nor despise any person whatever in any place. In anger or ill-will let not one wish any harm to another.

Just as a mother would protect her only child even at the risk of her own life, even so let one cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings.

Let one's thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world any hatred, without any enmity.

Whether one stands, walks, sits or lies down, as long as one is awake, one should maintain this mindfulness. This, they say, is the Sublime State in this life.

Not falling into wrong views, virtuous and endowed with Insight, one gives up attachment to sense-desires. Verily such a man does not return to enter a womb again.

(Suttanipata, I. 8)

 

 

Visiting Nirvana

My wife and 14 month old son went to Malaysia on Saturday morning and left both my daughter and me at home last weekend. There were several places I thought of bringing her- Buddhist temples, my office playground, shopping mall, my friend's home to play X-Box Kinetic and another friend of mine's workplace in a Buddhist columbarium.

After fetching her from her abacus class, we had a quick lunch- packet of chicken rice which mummy bought, in nearby void deck as she told me that she was hungry. After lunch, we headed to Nirvana Memorial Garden to meet a secondary school friend who I had not met for many years. He showed me around together with my daughter. Although it is a columbarium, Nirvana Memorial Garden does not instill the feeling of departure of love ones with many statues, paintings and picture of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. My daughter actually told me that she like the environment there, which dispel my initial fear of bringing her to a columbarium. After my meeting with my long lost friend, I decided to join him in giving those people I will be reaching out to with a peace of mind when the departure of love on comes.

Death is a topic that many of us do not plan for nor even discuss about. Few of us conduct pre-planning about our death and matters like where and how our ashes are to be handled and stored.

I have heard of stories about siblings wanting their deceased parent to have funeral and choice of columbarium based on their own personal preference, instead of the deceased. In most cases, this occurs because the lack of pre-planning of the deceased when they were still around.

In Buddhist practices, I think of my death as a matter of "checking out" of my physical body which is full of filth and depending on my own personal karmic actions and practices, rebirth will occur. It is my vow and desire to be reborn in Western Paradise where Amitabha is teaching Dharma upon my departure from this samsara.

Namo Amitabha!

3 Things NOT to have for a Happy Journey

In order to have a pleasant ride and journey on the road, we have to control our internal environment as external environments are beyond our control- aggressive drivers, bad weather and road conditions, traffic jams, just to list a few.

Here are 5 things we can control within ourselves to have a happy and joyful journey despite whatever is happening around you:-

1. Greed
When we are on the road and need to be in a hurry, we want more time and space. When this wants become excessive, we may become greedy and wanting more time and space than needed.

2. Anger
Driving angrily is not only dangerous to yourself, it is also a hazard to fellow road users, including pedestrians. We should practice paramita of patience and give way to emergency vehicles and pedestrians, even when we have the right of way.

3. Ignorance
We should follow traffic rules and regulation at all times on the road. This is a form of paramita of precept observation, meaning to be law abiding- no speeding, no illegal parking etc.

Driving without the above 3 poisons will bring much joy in your journey.
Try it and share your experience in below comments.

The Dhammapada- 277

 
 


'All conditioned things are impermanent',

When one sees this in wisdom,

Then one becomes dispassionate towards the painful.

This is the Path to Purity.

 

 

 

 



The Dhammapada- 24

Whosoever is energetic,

mindful,

pure in conduct,

discriminating,

self-restrained,

right-living,

vigilant,

his fame steadily increases.

The Dhammapada- 26

Fools, men of little intelligence,

give themselves over to negligence,

but the wise man protects his diligence as a supreme treasure.

The Dhammapada- 25

By endeavor,

diligence,

discipline,

and self-mastery,

let the wise man make (of himself) an island that no flood can overwhelm.