We are our own enemy A dog saw his own reflection in a pond when he went to drink. He was frightened by this reflection and ran away. After a while it came back again to see if that ‘dog’ has gone. He did it so many times that at a point of frustration, it rushed into the pond to chase that ‘dog’ away. Thus drowning itself.
Recognizing our weakness We are like a useless sword. A sword cannot cut itself. Just like our EGO, it cannot liberate itself until someone reminds us. Therefore Buddha’s 84,000 trainings to achieve liberation.
Look at oneself We tend to look at the happenings around us and got dragged in. It instigated our emotions, anger and desires because of ignorance, thus lost our peace of mind.
Postcards A friend went on vacation sent you a postcard. This is about the place he visited. Therefore all religions are like a vacation destination and friends sent postcards to show us the beauty of the place. You have to be there to see for yourself or else, it is simply a useless postcard.
Sex and Death How alike the groans of Love to those of the Dying – Malcolm Lowry
The Other Shore Few among men crossed over to the Other Shore. Many of us just ran up and down this shore talking about the Other Shore.
Wants Men can never have what he wants…because…he wants everything. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush BUT, did we ever learn this simple wisdom? That is how ‘gamblers’ fall into eternal pits.
I like this one… Men use ‘subjective’ to mean anything personal, idiosyncratic or just plain wrong. ‘Objective’ is supposed to be back-up by observations. To think what is ‘objective’ only exists in your own mind, not that of others. You imagine everything in your own mind, you cannot imagine all that is not in your own mind…..SO where is ‘objectivity’?
The Truth of ‘Now’ The past and future do not exist. There is only Now and that is what there always has been and always will be. Do not follow the past, no matter how glorious. Do not preempt the future but work hard Now for it.
Finally… Search others for their virtues and search oneself for vices. We tend to see others wrong and forget the kindness that person has done for us. We never say “what have I done wrong BUT he is Wrong!”
This is a different way of singing priase to Varjasattva. I love this mantra and now hearing it in rap form is wonderful.
The song title is 'Reincarnation' and it is sung by Singa Rinpoche...
VAJRA SATTVA SA MA YA = The Vajrasattva samayas
MA NU PA LA YA VAJRA SATTVA = Grant your protection Vajrasattva.
TE NO PA TISITTHA DRI DHO ME BHA WA = Remain firm in me.
SU TO KA YO ME BHA WA = Make me totally satisfied.
SU PO KA YO ME BHA WA = Increase the positive within me.
ANU RAKTO ME BHA WA = Be loving towards me.
SARVA SIDDHIM ME PRA YATSA = bestow all the Accomplishments.
SARVA KARMA SU TSA ME = As well as all the Activities.
TSITTAM SHRE YAM KU RU = Make my mind virtuous!
HUM = Is the heart essence seed syllable.
HA HA HA HA = symbolizes the four Boundless, four Empowerments, four Joys, and the four kayas.
HO = Is the sound of joyous laughter in them.
BHA GA WAN SARVA TA THA GA TA = Bhagawan, All the tathagatas.
VAJRA MA ME MUNTSA = Vajrasttva don’t abandon me.
VAJRI BHA WA = I pray that I may become a Vajra holder.
MA HA SA MA YA SATTVA = Great Samaya Sattva.
AH Signifies uniting in non-duality.
All beautiful music singing praise to venerate the Buddhas creates joy and hold fast one's faith in the religion. It reminds us of the compassion and Bodhicitta of the Victorious ones which we can aspire to be. With this merits, I rejoice. May all beings who see, hear of recite this mantra be purified of their negative actions, may they be free from sufferings and attain Enligntenment.
I do not have a pet at home. I find them emotionally draining. Please don’t think that I do not love animals, I do. Especially dogs, so so for cats and as for the more exotic ones, I am apprehensive or I am scare to handle them.
Keeping a pet is a family decision. Some members can accept and some can’t, so I gave up because I know my pet will not be taken care of lovingly when I am away. I kept some fishes and although fishes are not dogs (dog will ran to you, you can rub them, touch them, hug them and bring them out with you) but they are adorable. As for fish, it is an indoor thingy. However my one and only fish seems to know me. When other approached the fish tank, it moved backward but when I walked towards the fish tank, it swam round and round the tank in fast speed. It also moves towards me when I put my face towards the tank. I love ‘it’ to bits. I managed to keep it for three years and virus attacked. I tried saving it but it died.
I had a friend who kept a chinchilla. This rat family is slightly larger than rats. There was a pair. My friend loves it to bits. Well, this animal is so small and they are fragile. So one was attacked by virus and the ear started rotting. She took Cin to Vet but it died. Subsequently the other one died of loneliness after a few days. She cried for days.
Another of my friend had a cat the size of Garfield. She is so big and fat and very snobbish. Don’t you touch her without her Mistress around or she will claw you. Her size is big enough to frighten you, let alone her fierce look. So do not think that house pet are harmless and tamed, some are not. Well this cat named Kus was found breathless and the Mistress took her quickly to a Vet. Kus did not make it. No amount of CPR could revive her, she died yesterday. Her Mistress sent me a distressed SMS…that Kus passed on. She was so sad and had to arrange for pet burial. Kus will be cremated.
So PET BURIAL is big business. I think it is right to treat one’s pet decently. After all the years, the pet is like part of the family. Giving it a proper burial is a must and it also depends on your pocket. I have friends who just buried their dogs in the park, or gardens after doing a prayer ceremony for the departed. Keeping a pet is therapeutic. Pets are exceptionally good for people who need a companion. Keeping a pet give you something to look forward to after a day of hard work. You feel great when you reach home and your dog is waging its tail crazy. When you are sad, you hug your dog and she quietly let you do so sensing that you are down. You can confide in your dog and talk rubbish and the dog will look at you with soulful eyes. Rest assured it won’t repeat what you said.
Cats lovers will be wondering that in my world probably I only know about dogs and they are right. I am sorry. I find cats lack loyalty and a sense of belonging and their insolent attitude is not for me. You open your door and your cat will disappear in a minute. Some come back but some don’t. I have a friend whose beautiful cat disappeared for three months. When we thought that someone must have stolen it, it came back with fur dirty, smelly, and skinny. Yup! It went gallivanting, casanova around and forgets about the Owner. How did it finds its way home????
Of course I have a friend who kept some Terrapins. Many people who are ignorant think that this is a tortoise or a turtle…no! Terrapins are carnivorous. So don’t put your finger in front of his mouth or he will bite it off.
The richer friends’ families kept Koi. I have a friend who turned their swimming pool to a Koi pool. WoW! This fish can turn out to be a giant. They are so big and yet so graceful. Watching them swimming around is a good mind relaxing past time. I like those with spots, the one color ones are pretty too. I was wondering how did the fish get its gold color? There must be certain amount of gold to get that color – Hum.m.m. probably it had gold in its stomach! DON’t you dare cut one up to see, I am only assuming.
Of course there are snakes, parrots, Dragon Fish, Spider (tarantula), ball python, Turtles, scorpions, porcupines, crocodile….etc. You name it, People will want to keep if the authority allows it BUT some keep without the authority knowing it.
I would love to keep a porcupine. I saw one on my trip to Sri Lanka. Never laid an eye on a real thing before. It is not a small thing, it is large. The Owner tied it on a string for all to view. You have to pay something, so this porcupine is money making pet. I saw the pines, lovely! They can be used to make products, it is quite hardy. I think a porcupine suits me well….I like pines. It is not an animal to keep around, it is surely no pet BUT you will love one when you saw it.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
At the place where I go to do my worship, there is this lady who always brought her deaf, mute and subnormal son with her. He is a grown up boy but because of his handicap and look, people shun him. A mother’s love is immeasurable. She knew that people would look down on her or her boy but she still brings him around. Although he could not hear nor speak but he happily turned the Dharma wheel. No mother would want an abnormal child and I knew the heartache and hardship she is facing both at home and at work. As for the boy, he could be violent as I saw that aspect of him and he beats up his mother as well in time of frustrations. However his mother do not want to forsake him, she keeps him by her side and brings him around so that he has outdoor activities as well. The Mother told me that even her own siblings look down on her for having a child as such. This ached my heart. The boy did not ask to be born this way. To Buddhist this is Karma but we cannot be hard or cruel just because someone is serving his Karma. Today he is used to me sitting in front of him and every time when I am late, he laid out my cushions and my prayer table for me. This is acceptance and it formed a friendship. I rejoice!
Below is a story sent to me by my papa? You may have read it before…but I want to share it here so that many others, who have not, can read it.
Our behavior is a CHOICE.
At a school dinner that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech.
'When not interfered by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection, yet my son, Shaun, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?' The audience was silent by the question.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shaun, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.' It is only with imperfection that we see kindness and beauty….
He told the following story:
One day, Shaun and I had walked past a park where some boys were playing baseball. Shaun asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shaun, but as a father I knew if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached the boys and asked but not expecting much The Leader said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shaun struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and the boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shaun's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shaun put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shaun's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shaun was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, will they let Shaun bat?
Surprisingly, Shaun was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shaun didn't even know how to hold the bat properly. However, as Shaun stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shaun's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in so Shaun could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shaun swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shaun. As the pitch came in, Shaun swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling,
'Shaun, run to first! Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shaun ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled,
'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shaun awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shaun rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shaun ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming,
'Shaun, Shaun, Shaun, all the Way Shaun!!!'
Shaun reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted,
'Run to third! Shaun, run to third!'
As Shaun rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming,
'Shaun, run home! Run home!'
Shaun ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father with tears rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'. Shaun died three months later.
P/s…..
We all have opportunities every day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice. Do pass along a little spark of love and humanity in this World to make it warmer for all.
We are our own enemy
