Saturday, August 29, 2009

Be one's Refuge

Tonight Sayadaw U Vimala tells an interesting story based on the Dhammapada Commentary regarding being one's refuge.

In this story there is a Bhikkhu and his mother who is also a Bhikkhuni, both of whom eventually attained Magga-Phala

The mother was once a rich man's daughter who was married to a man. Without realising that she is pregnant, she managed to get her husband's permission to be ordained as a Bhikkhuni. Unfortunately, she was ordained in Devadatta's monastery. Her pregnancy resulted in her being expelled by the community of monks and nuns in Devadatta's monastery.

Without giving up her hope to be a Bhikkhuni, she proceed to Jetavana Monastery and after being examined by Visakkha, Ven Upali admitted the mother as a Bhikkhuni because her pregnancy had nothing to do with her breaking any rules.

Eventually she gave birth to a son, but with the baby in a nun's community being inappropriate, the baby boy was then adopted by King Pasenadi.

Seven years later, the boy asked about his parentage and after realising that he had been born in a monastery, he decided to be ordained as a Samanera Kumarakassapa.

He learn and practised diligently with the Lord Buddha as his teacher. His diligence even took him to Himalaya Mountain but to his despair, he did not gain any progress.

Seeing this, his friend from previous lives who is now a Brahma, came down to him and give him a set of 15 questions which Ven Kumarakassapa has to ask the Buddha for the answers.

With these questions as a guide, Ven Kumarakassapa succeeded in his quest to attained Magga Phalanyana

Meanwhile, the mother had been in grief for her affection toward her son in the monastery. One day, during the alms round in Savathi, both mother and son met each other.

The Bhikkhuni due to her affection to the son, called out to Ven Kumarakassapa and even hold on to the Venerable's robe and follow him around.

Seeing that his mother is overcome with affection for him, Ven Kumarakassapa decided to apprehend his mother harshly saying "It is wrong for a Bhikkhuni to be overwhelmed by affection to her son"
After repeating this many times, the Bhikkhuni realised that affection to her son is fruitless, that one has to strive for your own self. The mother became an arahant.

Sayadaw said that this story tells us to be a refuge to ourselves and not seek refuge from others. The mother like most parents hope that their children will be their refuge but sometime they can be disappointed.

Sayadaw said that our good deeds are our best refuge. Dana , Sila and Bhavana are our refuge. Lastly, Sayadaw said that we must also make an effort to seek out good teachers just like the mother who without giving out when being expelled by Devadatta seek to be ordained by the Buddha.

May you be well and happy always

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Protect Oneself Protect Others

Tonight talk by Sayadaw U Vimala is about protect oneself to protect others. From the Sedaka Sutta Sayadaw tell us how the Buddha uses the story of a acrobat and his pupil to point out the need for one to protect oneself so that one can protect the other. How can bhikkhus protect others? the Buddha asked and answered that it can be done by practising the 4 Foundation of Mindfulness. Here, we as practising Buddhists have to protect ourselves. The Buddha only shows us the way, Sayadaw said. The Buddha cannot save us. When we practised Satipatthana Meditation, and reached Magga Phala, we can protect ourselves. Others will emulate us and here, we indirectly help to protect others.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Ananda Sutta

Tonight talk by Sayadaw U Vimala is about Ananda Sutta. According to this sutta, Ven Vangisa addressed Ven Ananda about sensual lust that had invaded Ven Vangisa's mind and how to eliminate this. Ven Ananda answered (in 4 verses) that is to avoid seeing beautiful things, but also most of all, one has to be mindful. Sayadaw said that in doing meditation, one can practice what is advised by Ven Ananda by looking at any object as impermanent and subjected to change.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

10 packages of Highest Blessing

Tonight I heard an interesting talk by Sayalay Agga Nani about Sila at Bukit Mertajam Buddhist Meditation Centre. Sayalay uses Mangala Sutta to show us the importance of Sila. Sila is found in each and every part of Mangala Sutta, said Sayalay. What is interesting is Sayalay describe Mangala Sutta in 10 parts that comprise of the 38 Highest Blessing. Each verse is a packagae by itself and Sayalay explained them as such with further emphasis on the presence of Sila in each of these 10 packages. For example in the first verse,
    Asevanā ca bālānam
    Panditānañca sevanā
    Pūjā ca pūjaneyyānam
    Etam mangalamuttamam
Sayalay pointed out that one not only had to dissociate with the fools but had to associate with the wise. However if one do not honour those worthy of honour (the wise) then one cannot get the benefit of the association and thus will not get the highest blessing. So in this verse, Sila can be found in the act of honouring the wise.
Another example, the 7th verse
    Āratī viratī pāpā
    Majjhapānā ca samyamo
    Appamādo ca dhammesu
    Etam mangalamuttamam
This verse definitely contains Sila. One has to abhor and avoid evil and abstains from taking intoxicants, but most importantly, must also be diligent in righteousness in order to have the highest blessing.

I feel happy to hear this talk by Sayalay that not only explain the component of Sila in Mangala Sutta and the importance of Sila but also show how Mangala Sutta can be interpreted as 10 packages of 38 Highest Blessing.

Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Atthangga Magga

In a short talk before dana, Ven. Sayadaw U Vimala give a talk on the importance of having Noble Life namely the Noble 8 Fold Path not only in Bhavana but also in Sila and Dana. Sayadaw explain that in doing Dana, a devotee must understand and reflect on the virtues of the Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha and Kamma and Vipaka. In doing that, a devotee will have the Noble 8 Fold Path when he is performing dana. If the devotee is happy before perfoming dana, during and after the performance of dana then he will have the Noble Life in him.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Dhammadinna Sutta

Tonight I heard Sayadaw U Vimala give a talk about Dhammadinna Sutta just after our meditation class. In this Sutta, a group of people led by Dhammadinna requested Lord Buddha to give a talk. The Buddha ask them to study the Dhamma deeply. Dhammadinna and followers told the Buddha that they have no time to study the Dhamma in fullness. Instead they requested the Buddha to give them a more easier one so that they can comprehend the Teachings of the Buddha.