Issattha Sutta

Thus had I heard in this talk on Issattha Sutta given by Sayadaw U Vimala at Bukit Mertajam Meditation Centre. In this talk, Sayadaw U Vimala described how King Kosala had asked the Buddha with 2 questions regarding dana. 

For me, this talk about Issattha Sutta teaches us not only the importance

 of performing dana but also to perform it correctly. 

The Buddha mentioned that when a 

person performs dana, the most impo

rtant factor is his mind

at the time this meritorious act is performed. A mind that is clear and happy without defilement is important. Sayadaw stressed that Dana means giving with pure intention with honourable mind - mind in peace and with the aim to gain magga phala. 

Although dana is a kusala act, the person given to is also important. In this Sutta, the Buddha stressed that the person that the dana is performed to must be of good moral and virtue. He should had abandoned the 5 fetters (namely sensual pleasure, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and doubt) and he possessed 5 factors that are sila, samadhi, panna, fruit of arahanta and knowledge of the fruit of arahanta.

From this Sutta, I had learnt that when performing dana, one had to be pure in his mind and also to ensure that the dana performed to a virtuous and moral person so as to complete what dana (a meritorious act) is all about according to the teaching of the Buddha.

The full detail of Issattha Sutta can be viewed in these sites http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn03/sn03.024.than.html and http://www.vipassana.com/canon/samyutta/sn3-24.php

Kathina Day

Yesterday (19 October 2008) was the Kathina Day for BM Meditation Centre. We are very lucky to have 9 Bhikkhus for this auspicious day. 

Sayadaw U Vimala gave a talk on the virtues of Sangha and the benefit of Kathina. 

One interesting point in Sayadaw's talk is that there are two types of Sangha: the Ariya Sangha and the putthujana Sangha. 

Ariya Sangha comprises of the Noble Ones namely Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anagami and Arahant. 

Offering of Kathina robes is an offering to the Ariya Sangha.

Son of Mahadana

Yesterday Dhamma Talk by Sayadaw U Vimala is about the story of the son of Mahadana. In this talk, Sayadaw pointed out the teaching of the Buddha regarding the need of performing good Kamma in this present life. Taking the example from this story, the couple who had become poor after squandering their riches, could had gain in wealth and even attain sainthood, had they perform good deeds (Kamma). From this talk, we should note that past good Kamma is important but so do present Kamma. Sayadaw mentioned that people tend to think that Kamma is about the past actions and we today are reaping their results. This is not the case as Buddha did taught us that present Kamma (good and bad) is important for whatever result from the past to reapen. This is more true for good Kamma as conditions created at present is important. I think the couple had some bad Kamma in the past and as a result were born in families that do not know how to teach their children the skill of life or religious needs. Today, parent tend to spoilt their children without teaching them the skill of life or moral values. Hence this talk is very relevant to us. Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Cundasukarika Vatthu

Thus have I heard from Sayadaw U Bhumivamsa about Kamma and Cundasukarika Vatthu. Cunda was a butcher during the Buddha time and after 55 years becoming a butcher, he suffered terribly before his death. He is reborn in Avici Hell. His son attained Anagami after listening to the Dhamma by the Buddha even though he did not do any good deeds. The children of the butcher's son did not attain any stages of Sainthood even though they too listen to the Buddha. This story illustrate the working of Kamma namely the 4 types of Kamma namely 1. Ditthadhammavedaniya Kamma (Immediately Effective Kamma); 2. Upapajjavedaniya Kamma (Subsequently Effective Kamma); 3. Aparāpariyavedaniya Kamma (Indefinitely Effective Kamma) and; 4. Ahosi Kamma (Ineffective Kamma).
Sayadaw also relates this to the 7 thought moments in citta where the first thought moment give rise to ditthadhammavedaniya kamma, the seventh to upapajjavedaniya and the five intermediates give rise to apparapariyavedaniya kamma.

Very enlightening talk. Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.

http://www.vimokkha.com/dhammapada1.htm

Lessons from Khujjuttara

The story of Khujjuttara is very interesting. Buddha uses Khujjuttara as a model of good and bad. Khujjuttara accumulated merits from her good deeds such as offering her bangles as alms bowl holders and serving the Pacceka Buddhas with good intention. However, Khujjutara suffered from her bad deeds such as animating the humpback Pacceka Buddha and ordering an Arahant to work for her. This story can be read from the book Dhamma Padetha (Purposeful Dhamma) by Sayadaw U Kundala (www.inwardpath.org)

Kamma

Today I am lucky to be able to hear the talk on Kamma given by Sayadey at BMBMC. Sayadey admonishes the importance of Buddhists to know what Kamma is as this knowledge will ensure that good Kamma be conducted. Every conscious action has 7 javanas that will conditioned the results of our next existance. For example the first of these javanas will condition our present situation and the 7th javana will condition our next situation. Sayadey mentioned types of Kamma, namely the Garuka Kamma, Asanna Kamma , Acinna Kamma and Katatta Kamma. Sayadey had to shorten the talk due to lack of time and hopefully we can still hear more on Kamma from Sayadey.
Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.
For further reference, here is a link on Kamma by Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw. http://www.bodhiwiki.org/wiki/Kamma

Pray to ancestors (Cheng Beng)

In today's talk, venerable sayadaw gives a talk in regards to the traditional Chinese culture of Cheng Beng (pray to ancestors).
Buddhists in performing this tradition should performing it with understanding. Sayadaw says that our ancestors should be respected for their sacrifices to us when they are alive. Our ancestors are our lineage of culture and tradition that needs to be kept and cherish. Therefore, Cheng Beng is the time to remind us on our duty towards our ancestors.
In Buddhism, death is the beginning of birth for one who is still in the cycle of samsara. Sayadaw mentioned that we as living relatives can only do one thing for our departed relatives that is transferring of merits. The transference of merits can only be done after one has performed a meritorious deeds (akusala kamma). Once in a Dhamma talk, it is mentioned that only dana (of alms-giving) merits can be transfered.
Merits can only be transferred to the petas (hungry ghosts). Sayadaw says that there are 12 types of hungry ghost in Buddhism and only one type of hungry ghost can benefit from merits transfered by their relatives.
Today, Venerable Sayadaw also talked about how one can be reborn as hungry ghosts. One can be reborn as a hungry ghost if one has strong attachment to things in their previous life. Sometime a hungry ghost remain a ghost due to this strong attachment.
Since not every one can benefit from tranference of merits, performing this akusala deed is not a waste as we must understand that we have many relatives in our past lives that may enjoy the benefit when we do transferring of merits.
The Bukit Mertajam Buddhist Meditation Centre will be conducting a dana ceremony tomorrow at 11.00 am and may the performance of dana by the devotees resulted in good merits that can be shared to all the hungry ghosts. May all beings be well and happy and may all beings escape from this wheel of samsara and attain Nibbana.
SADHU, SADHU, SADHU