Buddhism As Education

Than Hsiang Temple will be holding its annual vegetarian festival at its premises from 29 September to 7 October. All devotees are most welcomed to grace this event. For further details kindly contact : Than Hsiang Temple. 132, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia. Tel: 604-6414822; Fax: 604-6421896

The Seberang Jaya Buddhist Association in Butterworth will be organising a blood donation campaign this Sunday on 21st September, from 9.00am to 2.00pm. The address of the association is as below: - Seberang Jaya Buddhist Association No 2999 Mukim 1 Jalan Todak Seberang Jaya 13700 Prai. Tel: 04-3976449 All devotees, friends and members are most welcome to participate in this event.

Almost five hundred years ago, in China, a father sat down to write to his son. He wanted his son to know what had happened in his life. Many years before, when he was very young, he went to a temple and at that temple, he met a very distinguished man. He naturally paid his respects to this gentleman who in turn told him: “You are supposed to pass the imperial examination next year, why are you not studying?” Mr. Liao-Fan, for that was the father's name, asked the gentleman his name, where he was from, and how he was able to know what Mr. Liao-Fan was supposed to do. Mr. Kong, for that was the gentleman's name, told him that he knew how to predict what was going to happen, and that he was supposed to teach this art to Mr. Liao-Fan. Mr. Liao-Fan went home and being a respectful and filial son told his mother everything that it happened. His mother wisely told him: “Invite the gentleman to our house, but before we believe what people tell us, we need to first test them to make su...

This simple, convenient, and effective way to prac;tice Buddha Recitation is especially suitable for those who find that they have little time for cultivation. It helps us to be mindful of Buddha Amitabha, and brings us quiet joy. We begin when we wake up. Sit up straight and clearly recite “Amituofo” ten times with a calm and focused mind, aloud or silently. We repeat this process eight more times, each time doing one round of ten recitations. Recite nine times daily at these times: Upon waking up Before breakfast After breakfast Before work Before lunch After lunch Before dinner After dinner Upon retiring The key is regularity; disruption of this practice will reduce its effectiveness. When we recite consistently without interruption, we will soon feel an increase in our purity of mind, wisdom, and serenity. Diligent practice of this method, together with unwavering belief and vows, can ensure fulfillment of our wish to reach the Western Pure Land.

In recent years, our world has become beset with calamities and our lives increasingly filled with suffering and unhappiness. As times goes on, these adversities will become more and more severe. Someone asked how the Great Compassionate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas liberate all people from their pain. We need to understand the real meaning of liberation. It does not mean that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will deliver food when we do not have enough to eat, or clothes when we do not have enough to wear. Then how do they help us? By teaching us how to overcome greed, anger and ignorance so that our minds will no longer be deluded, but awakened. By teaching us of the Law of Cause and Effect. To end our suffering, we first have to know what causes it. As human beings, we undergo the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death. We suffer hardships, do not attain what we seek, are parted from our loved ones and find ourselves in the presence of those whom we resent or even hate. We are sur...

There are three types of fire puja that can be requested as follows :- 1.Jinsik, jin (giving/offering) sik (burning). Within this there are 5 different types: peaceful,expansive ,magnetising, wrathful and multi (combination of the four). Jinsik fire puja is usually done on a Lama's recommendation or at the end of a long retreat. 2.Sang (purify) This is the purification of the environment, your own physical body and mind which is done through using offerings and fire. Sang fire puja is helpful if there are problems with your business, personally your energy is low, or you feel you are unpopular. It is also a practice done for the environment in times of drought, floods, crops being damaged by insects, cyclones or any kind of inauspiscious circumstances. 3. Sur. This is the dedication to hungry ghosts or the deceased. Hungry spirits can only eat through smell, so by placing offerings of smell in the fire, they can be satisfied. Sur puja is done when a relative or friend dies, especia...

As it was stated in the Sutra of Generosity, one will attain the Heavenly Eyes of clarity and purity, one will obtain the Wisdom of Clarity and Discrimination when they offer the lamps to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. As it was also stated in the Sutra of Different Distribution, one will obtain ten virtues and merits by offering a lamp to Thatagathas. They are : 1. To illuminate the world as a bright lamp of the dharma. 2. To have perfect eye sight without any defects. 3. To obtain Heavenly Eyes easily. 4. To attain the discriminative wisdom, which knows the difference between virtues and non-virtues. 5. To liberate oneself from dullness and ignorance. 6. One will not be confused and bewildered by outer phenomena. 7. One will not reborn into a place of darkness and stupidity. 8. One will obtain great merit and great virtues. 9. One will reborn into the Heavens (especially the 2nd Heaven - Trayatrimsa). 10. One will swiftly attain the great bliss of Nirvana.

The merits and benefits of Fire Puja are as follows :- 1. As special skillful means in Vajrayana Buddhism. 2. To offer to Buddhas, Bodhisattvas deities, dakinis and protectors. 3. To swiftly attain the mundane and supra-mundane accomplishments. 4. To attain the power and activities of 'pacification'; to pacify all obstacles of our minds and bodies and to subdue all evil deeds and negative karma. 5. To attain the power and activities of 'increasing' to increase one's merit, wisdom, life span as well as our wealth and prosperity. 6. To attain the power and activities of 'magnetizing', to attract the essence and substances of power, longevity, fame and harmonious relationship. 7. To attain the power and activities if 'subjugation', to destroy all misdeeds, evil karma and demonic forces and obstructions.

Historical and Spiritual Significance by: Dhammasami, Bhikkhu Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Center, London (Aug 2005) Today we have been engaged in a series of programs that are part of the Kathina robe-offering ceremony. It is important that we understand about what we are doing -- in this particular case, about the Kathina ceremony; to be aware of some thing we are undertaking is Buddhist way of doing things, which is technically called Right Understanding. There is more chance for Right Understanding when Right Mindfulness is present. So today it is nothing but appropriate for us to reflect on the practice of Kathina -- the Theravada traditional robe-offering ceremony. The word 'Kathina' is Pali in origin. It means a frame used in sewing robes those days in India. However, before we talk about this Kathina let us look at some other monastic practices related to it so that we can understand Kathina ceremony in a broader perspective. Practice Of Retre...

Mahindarama Buddhist Temple of Penang will be holding its Annual Kathina Offering on 19 October (Sunday) from 7.00am - 3.00pm. The sponsorship of robes will be RM120.00 per tray. All Buddhist devotees are welcomed to participate in this annual offering. For further information on this event, kindly contact the below address:- Mahindarama Buddhist Temple 2. Jalan Kampar 10460 Penang Tel: 042825944 Email: admin@mahindarama.com Website: http://mahindarama.com

Namo Aryavalokitesvaraya Bodhisattva Mahasattva Mahakarunakaya ( 3 times ) Namo ratnarayaya/Namo aryavalokitesvaraya/Bodhisattvaya/mahasattvaya/mahakarunikaya/Om/sarva abhayah/sunadhasya/Namo sukrtvemama/aryavalokitesvaragarbha/Namo nilakantha/(Siri)Mahabhadrasrame/Sarvathasubham/ajeyam/sarvasattvanamavarga/mahadhatu/Tadyatha/Om avaloke/lokite/kalate/Hari/mahabodhisattva/sarva sarva/mala mala/(Masi) Mahahrdayam/kuru kuru karmam/(Kuru) Kuruvijayati/mahavijayati/Dharadhara/dharin suraya/Chala chala/mama bhramara/muktir/Ehi ehi/chinda chinda/harsam prachali/Basa basam presaya/hulu hulu mala/Hulu hulu hilo/sara sara/siri siri/suru suru/Bodhiya bodhiya/bodhaya bodhaya/Maitreya/nilakantha/dharsinina/Payamana svaha/siddhaya svaha/mahasiddhaya svaha/Siddhayogesvaraya svaha/nilakanthasvaha/Varahananaya svaha/simhasiramukhaya svaha/Sarvamahasiddhaya svaha/cakrasiddhaya svaha/Padmahastaya svaha/nilakanthavikaraya svaha/Mahasisankaraya svaha/Namo ratnatrayaya/Namo aryavalokitesvaraya svaha/Om sidd...

Mantras are a sound manifestation coming from emptiness. They are the authentic sound of emptiness.From the point of view of the absolute truth and of emptiness itself, the mantra does not have any existence. There is neither sound nor mantra. Sounds and mantras, as with all other forms of manifestation, are located in the relative realm that arises from emptiness. In the relative realm, sounds, although devoid of their own entity, have the power to designate, name, and act on the mind. When, for instance, someone tells us "You are a fine person" or "You are very disagreeable," the words "fine" or "disagreeable" are not "things." They are only sounds that are not either "fine" or "disagreeable" in themselves, but simply evoke the thoughts of "fine" and "disagreeable" and produce an effect on the mind. Similarly, in the relative domain mantras are endowed with an infallible power of action. Mantras...

On the 4 September, being an associate member of Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia (YBBM), I received a copy of the latest Berita YBAM volume 119 from October 2007 to April 2008 from the Young Buddhist Association Malaysia (YBAM). After going through the articles of Berita YBAM, I noticed two of the reports on pages 12 and 15 that interest me and I decided to check and study them deeply to ascertain the events and happenings written. Upon reading the reports of the events, which involved the construction of the Puzhao Buddhist Vihara, I was gravely upset, saddened and disappointed, despite after 51 years of Merdeka on our nation, we were supposed to have a Malaysia which were to be for all Malaysians, but what I had found out is we were still restricted in terms of religious activities, movements and the construction of places of worship. Then, I took a few seconds looking at the federal constitution which I had. Even though the religious freedom of non-muslims are guaranteed and enshrin...

The Buddhist Educational System What is the ultimate goal of the Buddha's teachings? It is to attain the Perfect, Complete Enlightenment. Transliterated from Sanskrit, it is called Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Out of respect, this phrase was maintained in its original form rather than translated. There are three stages within this enlightenment: “Proper Enlightenment”, “Equal and Proper Enlightenment”, and “Perfect, Complete Enlightenment”. The Buddha told us, that although scientists, philosophers and religious scholars may have reached a good understanding about life and the universe, this realization is neither complete nor proper. Why? Although they have obtained some understanding, they are far from having freedom from worries, from ending their afflictions. They still indulge themselves in the Five Poisons of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt. They remain mired in all the troubles of human relationships and are swayed by personal feelings. In other words, they are hum...

Currently, there are at least five forms of Buddhism. The first form is the traditional Buddhism I have just discussed. It is the education of the Buddha's teachings. This original form is rarely seen today. The other four forms are deviations of this one. The second form is religious Buddhism. Although originally not a religion, it has become one in the past few hundred years. Today, it is difficult to deny this. Why? The external form of Buddhism today is indeed that of a religion. It is no longer the education found in a traditional way place where cultivators had up to sixteen hours a day for both lessons and cultivation. The lessons included listening to lectures and discussions. The cultivation session included either Buddha name chanting or sitting meditation. Study and cultivation were used hand in hand to strive for the right and proper understanding and practice, to purify practitioner's minds and to eventually attain the state of enlightenment. Since the monks and nu...

This question arises in all those who wish to better understand it. Buddhism is a most virtuous and perfect education directed by the Buddha towards all sentient beings in the universe. This education covers a boundless range of phenomena and principles that is much broader than what is currently studied in modern universities. In regards to time, it encompasses the past, present and future. In regards to space, it encompasses everything from our daily lives to the infinite universe. Buddhism is an education of the wisdom and understanding of life and the universe. It is not a religion. The teachings of Confucius concerns one lifetime. The teachings of the Buddha cover infinite lifetimes. How can we tell that Buddhism is an education? Today, the terms teacher and student are only used in school. However, we call Buddha Shakyamuni, our Original Teacher. We call ourselves students, as did our predecessors in ancient China. This is unlike religions in which the god and his or her disciple...

The Pure Land school of Mahayana Buddhism is widely practiced in Asia. Though still in its formative years in the West, its roots extend all the way to ancient India.We generally think in terms of only one Buddha: Sakyamuni, who lived about 2500 years ago. But, since any sentient being can awaken and innumerable numbers have, there are innumerable Buddhas. Sakyamuni Buddha, after his enlightenment, explained that he saw not only his past lifetimes but also how the future would unfold. Sakyamuni saw people in our time having more afflictions, worries, and wandering thoughts. Our deep-seated bad habits, having become even more entrenched over thousands of lifetimes, make liberating ourselves solely by our own efforts almost impossible. He knew that to end one’s problems and attain lasting happiness many people would need the help of another Buddha: Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Life. Almost all of the teachings by Sakyamuni were the result of his being asked a quest...

This is the kind of Buddhism predominant in the Himalayan nations of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and also Mongolia. It is known as Vajrayana because of the ritual use of the vajra, a symbol of imperishable diamond, of thunder and lightning. At the center of Tibetan Buddhism is the religious figure called the lama, Tibetan for "guru"," source of another of its names, Lamaism. Several major lineages of lamas developed, beginning in the ninth century with the Nyingma-pa. Two centuries later, Sarma-pa divided into the Sakya-pa and the Kagyu-pa. Three hundred years later, one of Tibet's revered lamas, Tsong-kha-pa, founded the reforming Gelug-pa. Tibetan Buddhist Lineages • Nyingma-pa Tracing its origin to the Indian adept, Guru Padma-sambhava, who came to Tibet in 817 C.E. at the invitation of King Trisong Detsen (742-797) in order to subdue the evil forces then impeding the spread of Buddhism. This lineage of Buddhism is uniquely Tibetan in that many aspects of the tra...