Reflection on Lay Buddhist Communities (2)

Q1: Is my religion better than yours?

Last month a friend who shared that he met a group of Korean ladies who confronted him in a food stall to 'preach' to him. He said he didn't want to make them felt bad thus he listened to their 'preaching' for a while and gently dissuaded them to leave his table.  I thought he was nice to do that, in my honest opinion, youth are energetic and simpler in critical thinking. In my younger days, i might be even more naive than this group in my enthusiasm in learning some basic teachings of world religions.  Somehow, i have greater affinity with Buddhist teachings, but appreciate universal truths expounded in world religions and sound philosophical thoughts and good cultures.

Q2: Is my teacher (master/guru) better than yours?

Last month, one young Lama travelled with Kunde Rinpoche to this region. This Lama follows Gelukpa school.  We served him, contributed to his basic needs etc. like any other Lamas happened to come here with Tulku or Khenpo.  I happened to receive them at the airport, later we by-passed a Buddhist Centre and we stopped to pay homage to the Three Jewels. One of the young men came out and greeted us when we entered the Centre. It happened a small group of lay Buddhists of the Centre's members  were having a practice program going on.  We paid homage to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas. We looked around, there is a Zopa Rinpoche's photo in significant size displaying on a portable display stand at the side of the main shrine.  i had a short chat with one lady (who happened to study in the same univ. of different program) and then gave a small token for their up-coming puja in a designated box, and later we left - admiring the well-established learning place.  Kunde Rinpoche praised to us that Zopa Rinpoche is a very good and generous Master. In my curiosity, i asked a question, Kunde Rinpoche explained to me that in Vajrayana tradition, the Guru is very significant.
I got to know that one of my good friends whom i know affiliated to this Centre is now the president of this centre.  In retrospection, many years ago, she had kindly invited me to the other branch centre at another side of this city.  Somehow, my affinity was not strong to make a connection. We are good friends, had been learning traditional Buddhist teachings together for many years.  Though our spiritual path have taken a different approach within a same tradition, I have high regards and respect in her practise of compassion and socially engaged activities based on Universal principles of kindness and compassion.

Later in self contemplation, I appreciated Acho Rinpoche's and his students open-heartedness in receiving all guests of different Buddhist schools and traditions.  He has shown kindness and dignity in upholding the Sangha Spirit even though he was recognized as the third incarnation of Horthang Tashi Monastery Retreat Centre Abbot, by Kunde Rinpoche, and confirmed by H.H. Dzogchen Rinpoche and H.H. Sakya Trizin.

Contemplating thus, i thought as a lay buddhist person, i need to remind myself not to forget to fold palms as a symbol of greetings to other fellow practitioners.  Otherwise, the practice of prostration to the Buddhist shrine does not train me a little of less 'self' and no less than ritual symbolic interaction in sociological lens.

Tashi delek 吉祥如意

Reflection on Lay Buddhist Communities (1)

In a nutshell, the current research trend of academic scholoarly publishing is Collaboration, across states, countries even continents and among multi-disciplinary researchers. This morning, after my Buddhist prayers, this thought arised. I scribbled onto my four foundation practice record books.
In reflection, it seems to me that the globalized trend in scholarly publishing has its relational implication to lay Buddhist communities and organizations in this country, even this region - cooperation and collaboration. Otherwise, the lay Buddhist communities may tend to be segmented, even unconsciously driving towards sectarianism.

Irrespective of one's personal major practice is Theravad, Mahayana or Vajrayana Schools, spiritual collaboration among lay Buddhist communities and organizations springs from open heartedness, humanity, loving-kindess, compassion and altruistic joy.  Imagine an organic collaboration has evolved from essence and quintessence of the Buddha's teachings, the Dharma is representative in differing forms for diverse psychological human beings, it is transforming the facets of the Dharma into amazing shining lights across time, beaming into space and embracing lay Buddhists in engage societies, dharma learnings & practising.

for reflection:

"People are not logical. They are psychological - Anonymous"

Tashi Delek

Dreaming in the Nights

Last year i asked Kunde Rinpoche of Dream State Practice in his newly published book (Q26, p.54-p.60), A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection / H.E. Kunde Rinpoche; Translated by Geshe Lhakdor and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam

In some kind of self-satire, laughingly i said that i have been sleeping a lot in my life thus far, and i think may be i have the affinity for Dream State Practice.  Kunde Rinpoche briefly explained the overview of this practice, and requested me to read his book, Q26 - What is the manual of instruction of clear light dream practice of the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection?
Later, i did read once, and i found it is such a high end mental cultivatin method that it probably take me another life time to learn? But i have been rather curious with dreams, especially those auspicious narrations i heard and read about dreams of those respectful and recognized Buddhist Masters and Practitioners.

Last month on 12 March 2012, i received 3 missed calls from India, later followed by a text message from Kunde Rinpoche. I returned call, and he said that he dreamt of me.  i informed him i was safe, and take the opportunity to requested him to do Smoke Puja to transfer merits to all Sentient Beings as 13 March 2012 was the third year memorial service for my late mum. I was very moved of his compassion towards his student always, i bowed down to the Guru, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha in tears of joy.
I contemplated and curiously asked myself: 'was there anything happening to me lately',and jokingly i narrated to a Buddhist friend that mentally i tried to recall lately was there any obvious near-danger in experience? (especially i had a rather 'miraculous' road accident before and a few near and missed ones). The next few days, something did happen. I sailed through calmly in human unneccessary confrontations - it was the Blessings of the Guru and the Three Jewels.
Later i joined the Naga Puja conducted at the Dzogchen Samten Chokling Centre by Khenpo Kunga Tashi Rinpoche with 2 Lamas from Nepal Dzogchen Monastery.  When i returned, i drove and sent one of the Lamas to another Buddhist Centre at Kuala Lumpur - i had a breakthrough of my fear to drive to the congested city of somewhere i had no sense of its direction (may be it is time i get a good GPRS to save time in going round and round like samsara).
After I read the book of Kunde Rinpoche in last July, daily i make an effort to do short practices at my little space of a Buddhist shrine. Lately, one day after my Buddhist Puja late evening session, i went to my belcony and watch the sky - no moon, but i see the right-side sky space facing outside the window of my Buddhist shrine little room which was rather bright compared to the other side of the belcony, before 12.00AM.  Curiously, i photographed the 2 sides of the sky space.  The pictures were beautiful, with many blue orbs. The next day i read a news that there was a Tsunami alarm in South-East Asia, Indonesia last night.  In my pious feeling, i thanked the Buddhas & Bodhisattvas for their Blessings of calming the vibrating earth!

Dreaming in the Night (1)
One day in half-asleep, neither dreaming nor not dreaming, many spicious orbs appearing in my mental state while i was sleeping.  i woke up as if i had not been sleeping.  i thought may be i was in Bodhigaya for the Kalachakra 2012, after the 10-day festival, we spent long hours in the Mahabodhi Temple and some of the photographs we have taken were delightedly auspicious and spacious.

[Bodgaya, Photographed by Sonam Yeshi, 11 Jan. 2012] 

[Bodgaya, Photographed by Kunde Rinpoche, 11 Jan. 2012]

Dreaming in the Night (2)
This week, one day incidentally i found this picture which i had forgotten the location of my storage  drive after it was given to me in 2009.  This is a beautiful picture of Dzogchen Master in the lineage of transmission of Lama Yangtig, Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso 罗珠仁波切 [p. 67-68] (i had also uploaded this picture to Kunde Rinpoche's blog under the page of 'My Root Lama').

That night i dreamt of this image smiling to me in white smoke dues, i woke up feeling neither sleeping nor not sleeping - was i dreaming? :)-D) :

[Photograph provided by Kunde Rinpoche in 2009

(Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso 罗珠仁波切) ]

There is a Chinese saying '日有所思，夜有所梦'[translation: Your thoughts in day time would be manifested in night dream]. But my heart was joyful after the seemingly dream, as if this highly attained Dzogchen Master had touched my head compassionately!

May the merits of this auspicious dream be shared with all who have affinity with Dzogchen Practice (Great Perfection Practice), and May the merits be dedicated to All Sentient Beings to be Peaceful.

Tashi Delek 吉祥如意

(written after the Buddhist Puja prayer on the 1st Day of Lunar Calendar in the month of April 2012)

Zen 禅 - A reflection

This is a beautiful modern Zen classics:

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."  - Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind / Suzuki Roshi
Reference:
http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Shunryu-Suzuki/dp/1590308492/ref=pd_sim_b_1/179-3144804-4631810#reader_1590308492
When i was in high school, i appreciate poetry/poems, especially related to 'chan' 禅. later i found reading classic Chinese literature, the aesthetics in the poems by poets who were influenced by Zen Buddhism 禅宗 gave me peaceful feeling when reading it - i was facinated by the let-go of eight worldly conditions of these practitioners.  When i was interested in Buddhism, besides Jataka Stories, the Zen stories made me laugh, but the meanings could be as deep as the ocean - that was my impressions. 

I thought this is a beautiful Zen Center and i added into my favourite website of  this blogroll:
San Francisco Zen Center - Tassajara
http://www.sfzc.org/tassajara/

Kobun Chino Otogawa - Zen Master/Teacher
Much has been broadcast of the technologgy icon, the late Steve Jobs whose great contribution to ICT and human innovations in technology.  I remember while i was returning from India last November, in the airflight, i read a local newspapers reported how the simple minded local folks was somewhat believed in a local medium of praying for the late Steve Jobs shift reincarnation, the participants had to bite an apple (and thrown to the ocean?) and also paid RM50.00 for this ritual - it sounded amusing of our ignorant towards this Tech Icon, i thought...

Incidentally, i came across this insightful article in PLoS BLOG, written by Steve Siberman (Thanks for this meaningful post):
"What Kind of Buddhist was Steve Jobs, Really?"
http://blogs.plos.org/neurotribes/2011/10/28/what-kind-of-buddhist-was-steve-jobs-really/
(accessed 9 March 2012)
I like the picture of this Zen Master posted in this site, i felt he is a great Buddhist Master, having changed the lives of  many people who had affinity with him....
May be it is wiser to start learning Meditation (any tradition) rather than paying RM50?

Read this heart moving commencement address at Stanford University by Steve Jobs in 2005:
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html

Personally, i felt that he is a great man not merely of his artistic innovations in information communication technology, but also the spiritual quest he had spent in his life, the greatest moment was when he was at his business height, he accepted 'death' is inevitable for every one... - that may had made his life such meaningful and fulfilled besides trusting his heart and intuition?...

Email from a friend - A reflection (2)

Posted on 25 February 2012


As i was reflecting on this earlier post which i had just amended for clarity, also i recall sometime ago, another friend email me:
"... I went to library this morning after having a discussion with xxx [o] regarding my thesis. After going through the book of A Garland of Flowers: Questions &Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection, answers of Question 8 really captured my attention*:


Q: How should one mediate on death and impermanence?
A: When you die, you have no choice but to wander all alone on the great path of your future life without a single companion.
........
Regards
xxx


Note:
 o= [omission]. Though this email content is published with permission (email communication 25 Nov 2011) from the friend, the omission is done with good intention.
*p.22 - Book Title: A Garland of Flowers: Questions &Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection / H.E. Kunde Rinpoche; Translated by Geshe Lhakdor and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam [ISBN: 978-967-10552-0-5], 2011.

I am thankful to this friend, though he said himself not knowing much of Buddha's teachings, his refelctive manner in reading has reminded me 'Wisdom arises through reflecting on the Buddha's teachings' 思慧.  I have much to learn from him - Thanks a lot, my Friend.

Tashi Delek 吉祥如意

Email from a friend - A reflection

Lately, when i received an email from a friend:"...FYI, one of my sis is diagnosed with Sarcoidosis now. She is taking Prednisone and ..."
In later communication， i was informed she is  reading 地藏王經Di Zang Wang Jing[地藏菩薩本願經] for her sister.
At that juncture, I have no idea at all what it is, thus i google the word 'Sarcoidosis' at the search engine. i am moved of her loved towards her sister, besides medical care, she provide spiritual supports.


In refelction, over these 2 years, friends and people i know either shared in emails or in person about how someone closely related to them diagnosed with certain serious physical sickness or sudden death, and how it had affected their lives. Among these diseases: cancers, heart attack, stroke......
Historically and in the Buddhist Sutra, The Buddha spoke of The Four Noble Truth. The First Noble Truth is the Truth of Suffering in cyclic existence...But we probably have to keep reminding that the Buddha had also expounded The Cause, The Cessation of Suffering ane The Path leading to Cessation of Suffering, realistically, as remedies to the phenomenon of cyclic existence - a reflection...

In our prayers, May she recover soon..
OM MANI PADME HUM

(to share, i found some websites link of this Sutra, [in Chinese])
http://book.bfnn.org/books/0016.htm
http://www.dizang.org/xj/dzj.htm
http://buddha.goodweb.cn/music/musictxt/dizang.asp [MP3]

May the merits of reciting the Sutra be shared with all Sentient Beings...
但愿一切众生离苦得乐
阿弥陀佛！

Preserving Sacred Pilgrimage Sites - a Novel effort

New website added under favourite category, heart-touching beautiful photographs in this site, initiated by a heartful researcher cum author, Matteo Pistono
Preseving Sacred Pilgrimage Sites and Traditions
http://nekorpa.org/

There is one beautiful picture of Kirti Monaster, surrounding by green mountains in the below link, must view... but need to check when this picture was photographed? i am just wondering is this serene greenery scene & environment being preserved as seen visually in this picture?
source:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/111028/tibet-china-buddhist-monks-self-immolations-kirti-monastery (view:18 Feb. 2012)
Though it was an archiac news, that was an article for all concerned to reflect with human heart...

May All Beings be Well and Happy,
May All Beings be Compassionate
Above all,
May the Precious Sangha Jewel
be Respected and Protected
Like One's own Precious Life
With Utmost Human Dignity!

OM MANI PADME HUM