The Second Aniversary of the passing away of Bhante Suvanno

Today BMBMC remembered the late most Venerable Bhante Suvanno Maha Thero by conducting a simple Pindapata ceremony by inviting 12 bhikkhus.Later, a Sanghikadana was performed to these bhikkhus. Many devotees joined in this memorial ceremony that started at 9 am with a Paying Respect Ceremony followed by Pindapata. An eulogy by Bro Kusala followed by a Dhamma talk by Sayadaw U Sumana

Jambukhadaka Samyutta

Tonight talk (which happened to be the last one by Ven Sayadaw U Vimala at BM Buddhist Meditation for this year 08/09) is about Nibbana Sutta (full detail about this Sutta can be view at this site http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an09/an09.034.than.html). This Sutta is given by Ven Sariputta. This occasion a wanderer named Jambukhadaka asked 2 questions to the Venerable Sariputta. The first question (which most of Buddhists ask or were asked) is 'What is Nibbana'. Venerable Sariputta replied that Nibbana is the destruction of greed, hatred and delusion. Nibbana is not a place or colour or shape. A person that attained Nibbana is the one that had destroy all defilements (greed, hatred and delusion) and he will no longer undergoes any rebirth. This is an important point in that in Buddhism there is no creator god. Beings exist in form and mind due to craving (or presence of defilements). Without form and matter, there will be no worry and thus no suffering. An Arahant never had to worry about food, clothing or shelter as an Arahant no longer had craving. 

The second question asked is how to reach Nibbana. The reply given by Venerable Sariputta is the Noble Eightfold Path that is Samma Ditthi, Samma Sankappa, Samma Vaca, Samma Kammanta, Samma Ajiva, Samma Vayama, Samma Sati and Samma Samadhi. With this, Sayadaw advised us practise the Noble Eightfold Path during our meditation. For example, we must have Right Understanding to achieve Nibbana when we meditate. We also should take the 5 precepts before we meditate. We must have Right Concentration and Right Mindfulness when we meditate that is the object of our meditation must be form and matter, not nothingness. 

Lastly, Sayadaw advises us to have Samvega dhatu, the religious emotions. The 8 religious emotions should be contemplated and they are (1) rebirth (2) old age (3) sickness (4) death (5) suffering in four woeful states (6) suffering of previous lives (7) suffering of future lives and (8) suffering regarding the need to search for food, clothing and shelter. The constant contemplation of the samvega dhatu will ensure that we do not fall into the laziness trap and therefore had the energy to meditate.

SADHU! SADHU! SADHU!

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)