Do not look down on small virtuous acts

"The Venerable Moggallana inquired the devas what meritorous acts had they done which led them to their rebirth in a celestial realm. They mentioned small acts involving virtues such as honesty, patience and generosity."

- The Dhammapada (By Buddha)


Commentary by Ada:

Do good in our thoughts, speech and actions everyday in our daily activities. Consistent acts of goodness will bring us ease of mind, happiness, good health and wisdom (since we are free from negative emotions!). Doing good is also like being a touch of lamp, our kindness will light up the hearts and minds of others - bringing them joy, hope and love. And when they pay it forward and help others, our world will be a much more better place to live in. Conversely, small acts of bad deeds can multiply a million times in the other direction as well.

Cheers to a happier, healthier and better you and a more beautiful world 😊

Photo Credits:
https://www.google.com.sg/search?dcr=0&biw=1309&bih=710&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=O9w0WvXNK4uAvQSzuI6oBw&q=moggallana+deva&oq=moggallana+deva&gs_l=psy-ab.3...3937.4608.0.4797.5.4.0.1.1.0.116.426.0j4.4.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.3.226...0i5i30k1j0i24k1.0.2FcWDBI92pg#imgrc=k0x7IZCJW-QiAM:

Are sutras Buddhadharma? 经书是佛法吗？

Are sutras Buddhadharma? Yes but only a part of Buddhadharma. Will our modern methods used to relieve modern afflictions be written in sutra written 2500 years ago? Impossible! Hence, sutras may not fully represent Buddhadharma but the underlying meaning should be learnt and applied in our daily lives.

Similarly, in Bodhi Meditation, the Meditation of Greater Illumination (MGI) is not written in sutra. But MGI is Buddha Dharma because it relieves people of suffering. It cannot be considered unorthodox just because it is not written in sutra. This applies for all other methods used to help sentient beings.

In the sutras, it is stated not to attach to Dharma (法执). What does it mean? It means the Dharma (method/wisdom) in Buddhism is not found in literature/sutras on the surface. One must understand deeply the underlying meaning in the sutras, apply them in meditative state, practice them fervently, realise for oneself and liberate oneself from their afflictions. Most modern scholars used Western “evidence based approach” to find wisdom in text! They find some sentences in sutra and compare it to another source to prove if that is correct or wrong. This defeats the purpose of learning BuddhaDharma. BuddhaDharma is meant to help people and not for studying in this way. This is what is meant by attachment to Dharma. An old saying in Taoist text say, “ Tao that can be described is not universal and eternal Tao, Name that can be named is not universal and eternal name.  道可道，非常道；名可名，非常名.” The state of Zen (Tao) cannot be described in the text but the text still tried its best to explain this state. One cannot use the sutras or texts to define BuddhaDharma and what is not in the sutra is not BuddhaDharma!

 There was a man who asked, “Where is the moon?” The other man pointed to the moon. One cannot grab the man’s hand and say that’s the moon. Similarly, sutra merely points to the goal of enlightenment. It cannot be used to define enlightenment.

What then is Buddhadharma?

Buddhadharma is:

1) All encompassing compassion

2) Benefit all sentient beings

3) Liberate from suffering and attain bliss.

More information available at:

1) Master Jin Bodhi Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/jinbodhiworld/

2) Official Bodhi Meditation Website

http://puti.org

http://putihome.org

Thoughts on Life

Inspirational thoughts from Ada:

It's a great blessing to be alive and healthy, to have the opportunity to do right things we’ve done wrong in the past, and to do good to build merits for ourselves and the communities we live in.

It’s very important to keep a happy and grateful mind every day, regardless of the circumstances. Even if you cannot achieve much at the end of the day, at least you’re happy and your happiness can bring joy to others around you. There’s also so much in life to be thankful for… we can’t be where we are today without the help of others (parents, friends, teachers, and so many others!). Think more of the good moments and forget about the bad quickly. Keep life simple and happy. 😊

What is Buddhadharma? 什么是佛法？

"Buddhadharma is:

All encompassing compassion

Benefit all sentient beings

Liberate from suffering and attain bliss. "

- Master Jin Bodhi

" 佛法是：

大慈大悲

利益众生

离苦得乐"

- 金菩提禅师

Commentary by Jerome:

In the Buddhist texts, there are 84,000 dharma (methods) to treat 84,000 afflictions. But do we know all the 84,000 dharma (methods)? No!

Dharmas are methods used to help people relieve their suffering.  These methods differ for different people from different times. For example, people from 2500 years ago have different problems from modern people. People of the past worry about physical and living conditions but modern people suffer from emotional stress.

There is an old saying, “ There is no fixed dharma. 法无定法. “  This implies that there are methods to help different group of people with different afflictions. One method may not apply to all.

Are sutras Buddhadharma? Yes but only a part of Buddhadharma. Will our modern methods used to relieve modern afflictions be written in sutra written 2500 years ago? Impossible! Hence, sutras may not fully represent Buddhadharma but the underlying meaning should be learnt and applied in our daily lives.

Similarly, in Bodhi Meditation, the Meditation of Greater Illumination (MGI) is not written in sutra. But MGI is Buddha Dharma because it relieves people of suffering. It cannot be considered unorthodox just because it is not written in sutra. This applies for all other methods used to help sentient beings.

In the sutras, it is stated not to attach to Dharma (法执). What does it mean? It means the Dharma (method/wisdom) in Buddhism is not found in literature/sutras on the surface. One must understand deeply the underlying meaning in the sutras, apply them in meditative state, practice them fervently, realise for oneself and liberate oneself from their afflictions. Most modern scholars used Western “evidence based approach” to find wisdom in text! They find some sentences in sutra and compare it to another source to prove if that is correct or wrong. This defeats the purpose of learning BuddhaDharma. BuddhaDharma is meant to help people and not for studying in this way. This is what is meant by attachment to Dharma. An old saying in Taoist text say, “ Tao that can be described is not universal and eternal Tao, Name that can be named is not universal and eternal name.  道可道，非常道；名可名，非常名.” The state of Zen (Tao) cannot be described in the text but the text still tried its best to explain this state. One cannot use the sutras or texts to define BuddhaDharma and what is not in the sutra is not BuddhaDharma!

There was a man who asked, “Where is the moon?” The other man pointed to the moon. One cannot grab the man’s hand and say that’s the moon. Similarly, sutra merely points to the goal of enlightenment. It cannot be used to define enlightenment.

Hence, I can fully appreciate how best to define Buddhadharma.

Buddhadharma is:

1. All encompassing compassion
2. Benefit all sentient beings
3. Liberate from suffering and attain bliss.  

More information available at:

1) Master Jin Bodhi Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/jinbodhiworld/

2) Official Bodhi Meditation Website

http://puti.org

http://putihome.org

Why are ancient copper coins round with squarish centre?

“Our ancestors told us, “Copper coins are round outside and have a squarish center.” This implies that when we do things, our mental state should be rationale inside (signifying squarish center). When we face external circumstances, we should try to perfect all our life circumstances and make them wholesome. (signifying round circumference)  We should not be flustered and this is very important. This is in accordance with our cultivation. If we become flustered, our cultivation and aspirations will be difficult to fulfill.”"

Zen Master Wu Jue Miao Tian

【 禪師說禪 】修行之道：外圓內方

老祖宗告訴我們，古代的銅錢都是外圓內方，意味著我們做人做事時，心裡要有原則，但對外要圓融世法，保持心不慌亂，這是很重要的，與修行相關，不能本末倒置，否則心亂了，修行就不能如願。

講述／悟覺妙天禪師

To read more:

https://www.zencosmos.com.tw/2017/12/master/11448/ 

Reference:

https://www.facebook.com/zencosmos/posts/1912060858811902

10 kinds of immorality 十恶业

Ten kinds of immorality 十恶业

1) Killing 杀生
2) Stealing 偷盗
3) Sexual Misconduct 邪淫
4) Lying 妄语
5) Slandering 两舌
6) Harsh Speech 恶口
7) Vain Talk 绮语
8) Covetousness 贪欲
9) Hatred 嗔恨
10) False View 邪见

Commentary by Jerome:
These 10 immoral acts causes negative karmic effect that predisposes one to suffering in future. Avoid them at all costs!
The first 3 immoral acts are bodily actions.
The next 4 immoral acts are verbal actions.
The last 3 immoral acts are mental actions.
Hence, mental actions also count as negative actions! Hatred can just be a single thought at one moment but that counts as an evil act done to. Therefore, it is important to develop one's mind for one's happiness in future.


Reference：
Photo: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/77/57/15/775715d0ceecd235fab0ebc4ed145883.jpg

Generosity

The starting point to accumulating wealth is to first be generous

「佈施」是「富貴」的開始！

#Generosity, #Wealth

#布施、#富貴

More information available at:

1) Master Jin Bodhi Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/jinbodhiworld/

2) Official Bodhi Meditation Website

http://puti.org

http://putihome.org