What is Buddha nature? It is there always within you no matter how many aeons of life you have experienced through. If you hold on to your possessions, your Buddha nature will never be reviewed. Only when you see the reality of your life as dream, illusion and maya, then your Buddha will shine forth and you are able go back your original source.
2
The Buddha taught eighty-four thousand different types of Dharma. What is the root of all the eighty-four thousand different Dharma teachings? In the terms of foundation vehicle it all comes down to the sslflessness of the individual. Because we cling strongly to a self, the afflictions arise. Because of these afflictions, we then experience many different types of suffering. In order to abandon t
he afflictions, we need to realise the selflessness of the individual. For that reason, the foundation vehicle teaches meditation on the selflessness of the individual.
The great vehicle teaches not just the selfless of the individual, but also the selflessness of all phenomena. The great works of middle-way philosophy use logic to teach that all phenomena are empty. They teach the sixteen different types of emptiness and so forth to show us how to discard the strong fixations we have. In order to discard our fixations, we need to realise the way things truly are. In order to realise that, we need to develop certainty through logical analysis which can then bring us to the realisation of emptiness.
The great vehicle teaches not just the selfless of the individual, but also the selflessness of all phenomena. The great works of middle-way philosophy use logic to teach that all phenomena are empty. They teach the sixteen different types of emptiness and so forth to show us how to discard the strong fixations we have. In order to discard our fixations, we need to realise the way things truly are. In order to realise that, we need to develop certainty through logical analysis which can then bring us to the realisation of emptiness.
3
An Indonesian judge by the name of Marzuki was sitting in judgment of an old lady who pleaded guilty of stealing some tapioca from a plantation. In her defense, she pleaded to the judge that she was done the deed because she was poor and her son was sick while her grandchild was hungry. The plantation manager insisted that she be punished as a deterrent to others.
The judge going through the docu
The judge going through the docu
ments then look up and said to the old lady, “I’m sorry but I cannot make any exception to the law and you must be punished.” The old lady was fined Rp. 1 million (USD 100) and if she could not pay the fine then she will be jailed for 2 and a half years as demanded by the law. She wept as she could not pay the fine.
The judge then took off his hat and put in Rp. 1 million into the hat and said “In the name of justice, I fined all who are in the court Rp. 50 thousand (USD 5.50) as dwellers of this city and letting a child to starve until her grandmother have to steal to feed her grandchild. The registrar will now collect the fines from all the accused.”
The court managed to collect Rp 3.5 million (USD 200) whereby once the fine was paid off, the rest was given to the old lady ….including the fine collected from the plantation manager.
The judge then took off his hat and put in Rp. 1 million into the hat and said “In the name of justice, I fined all who are in the court Rp. 50 thousand (USD 5.50) as dwellers of this city and letting a child to starve until her grandmother have to steal to feed her grandchild. The registrar will now collect the fines from all the accused.”
The court managed to collect Rp 3.5 million (USD 200) whereby once the fine was paid off, the rest was given to the old lady ….including the fine collected from the plantation manager.
4
The first thought that turns the mind is the comtemplation of the precious body, so difficult to find. It is very important to realise that we are very fortunate to have this precious body and we are not going to waste it. We need to make full use of to practice Dharma.
The second thought that turns the mind is the comtemplation of death and impermanence. During happy times, we get distracted by o
The second thought that turns the mind is the comtemplation of death and impermanence. During happy times, we get distracted by o
ur pleasure. But our happiness always changes in the end. Its nature is impermanent. There is nothing we can do when it ends off badly. Understanding and meditating on impermanence help us to adjust our life style. This will motivate us to learn the Dharma more seriously.
The third thought that turns the mind is the contemplation of karma. We often think that karma means we do not have any control, but it not really like that. Can we get rid of suffering? Yes, we can, because the cause of suffering is misdeeds and nonvirtue. If we give them up, we will gain freedom from suffering. Therefore if we properly take up virtue and give up wrongdoings, we can be happy and free of suffering.
The third thought that turns the mind is the contemplation of karma. We often think that karma means we do not have any control, but it not really like that. Can we get rid of suffering? Yes, we can, because the cause of suffering is misdeeds and nonvirtue. If we give them up, we will gain freedom from suffering. Therefore if we properly take up virtue and give up wrongdoings, we can be happy and free of suffering.
5
Anger is formless like sea wave, as it comes, it subsides at the next moment. Caught hold by anger you will burn off all the merits you have accumulated through aeons of life times. Just be aware of its coming and let it goes at the same time. If you allow it to enslave you, you are creating a lot of destructive damages for yourself and others as well. Just watch your thought, anger will be shy away.
6
~ Nisargadatta Maharaj
The ultimate religion is Self-realisation-it is
an unbroken and fearless
state of being.
This means to live with the
conviction that we are
pure Consciousness.
The ultimate religion is Self-realisation-it is
an unbroken and fearless
state of being.
This means to live with the
conviction that we are
pure Consciousness.
7
~ Nisargadatta Maharaj
The foundation of spirituality is Self-attentiveness.
What do you wish to gain by practicing spirituality?
Realise " That" which is the root of all
that is true and everlasting.
Otherwise, it is only entertainment.
The foundation of spirituality is Self-attentiveness.
What do you wish to gain by practicing spirituality?
Realise " That" which is the root of all
that is true and everlasting.
Otherwise, it is only entertainment.
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