Buddhism As Education

Although all sentient beings have the Buddha nature (potential to become Buddha), their minds are clouded by ignorance since beginning. From ignorance springs craving (greed) and aversion (hatred), which cause us to be continually greedy for life and its illusory pleasures while hating or rejecting death and other displeasure. Each moment of ignorance was produced from the preceding moment without a beginning. Although ignorance has no beginning, it can be eradicated through attainment of Wisdom in Enlightenment.

Our mind that carries over from life to life has no beginning - its continuity is infinite. Each moment of our mind is a continuation of the previous moment. Who we are and what we think and feel depends on who we were yesterday. Our present mind is a continuation of the past mind. One moment of our mind was caused by the previous moment of our mind. This continuity can be traced back to childhood and even when we were a foetus in our mother's womb. Even before the time of conception, our mind stream existed in another body. Using the example of a number line, looking left from position zero, there is no first negative number and looking right there is no last number - one more can always be added. Likewise, our mind stream has no beginning or end. We all have had countless past rebirths and our mind will continue to exist infinitely. By purifying our mind stream, we can make our future existence better and better.

Our Mind that carries over from life to life has no beginning, its continuity is infinite. Each moment of our mind is a continuation of the previous moment. Who we are and what we think and feel depends on who e were yesterday. Our present mind is a continuation of the past mind. One moment of our mind was caused by previous moment of our mind. This continuity can be traced back to childhood and even when we were a foetus in our mother's womb. Even before the time of conception, our mindstream existed in another body. Using the example of a number line, looking left from position zero, there is no first negative number, and looking right, there is no highest last number, one more can always be added. Likewise, our mindstream has no beginning or end. We all have had countless past rebirths and our mind will continue to exist infinitely. By purifying our mindstream, we can make our future existence better and better.

We know what is like to feel miserable and that is exactly how others can feel when they are experiencing the results of their own destructive actions. Out of empathy and compassion, we should definitely help. Though others created the causes to experience their difficulties, maybe they also created the causes to receive help from us. We are all alike in wanting happiness and trying to avoid pain. It does not matter whose pain or problem it is, we should try to relieve it. For example, to think "the poor are poor because of their own past lives' miserliness. I would be interfering with their karma if I tried to help", is a cruel misconception. We should never rationalize our own laziness, apathy or smugness by misinterpreting cause and effect. Compassion and universal responsibility are important for our own spiritual development and world peace.

Yes, but this does not mean that all relationships are predetermined. We may have certain karmic predispositions to feel close to or to have friction with certain people. But this does not mean that our relationship with them must continue along same lines. If we are kind to those who speak ill of us and try to communicate with them, the relationship will change, creating positive Karma that will bring happiness in the future. We are not karmically bound to others, there are no special people who are the one and only one for us. Since we had many past lives, we have had contact with every being some time before. Our relationship with any particular person also change constantly. However, past karmic connections can influence our present relationship. For example, if someone has been our spiritual mentor in a past life, we may be drawn to that person in this lifetime and when he or she teaches us the Dharma, it may have a very strong effect on us.

Purification is very important s it prevents future suffering and relieves guilt. By purifying our Minds, we are able to be more peaceful and understand the Dharma better. The four opponent powers used to purify negative imprints or seed are: 1. Regret 2. Determination Not to Repeat the Action 3. Taking the Threefold Refuge and Generating Compassion towards Others 4. Actual Remedial Practice (Positive actions including Meditation and Chanting) The four opponent powers must be done repeatedly. As we have done many negative actions, we cannot expect to counteract all of them at once. The stronger the four opponents powers are, the firmer our determination not to repeat the action and the more powerful the purification will be.

When seeds, even small ones are planted in the ground, they will eventually sprout, unless they do not have the needed conditions for growth such as water, sunlight and fertilizers. The ultimate way to uproot karmic imprints or seeds is by meditation on the emptiness of inherent existence. This is the way to purify disturbing attitudes and the karmic imprints completely. At our level, this may be rather difficult, but we still can stop the harmful imprints from ripening by purifying them. This is like preventing the seed from receiving water, sunshine and fertilizer. Doing much good too can dilute the ill effects of negative Karma.

When we see dishonest people who are wealthy or cruel people who are powerful, or kind people who die young, we may doubt the law of Karma. But many of this results we experience in this life are results of actions in previous lives and many of the action we do in this life will only ripen in future lives i.e. this is called long term Karma. Short term Karma is that which show results within a short term of time. The wealth of dishonest people might be the result of their generosity in past lives. Their current dishonesty is however leaving karmic seeds for them to experience poverty in their future lives. Likewise, the respect and authority given to cruel people is due to positive actions they did in the past. In the present, they are abusing their power, thus creating the cause for future pain. Those who die young are experiencing the result of negative actions such as killing done in past lives. However, their present kindness is planting seeds or imprints on their mainstreams for t

The Buddha gave us general guidelines about the results of various actions. For example, the Buddha taught us that killing causes a short life and generosity results in wealth. However, only a Buddha's omniscient Mind can understand the complete dynamics of Karma. There is flexibility in functioning of actions and their results. While we know that constantly insulting others, for example bring us unfortunate rebirth, just exactly what form we will be reborn into varies. If the action was very heavy, for example, with strong anger we abused many people and felt gratified that we had hurt their feelings, the result will be more unpleasant than if we casually teased someone and later regretted our insensitivity. The conditions present at the time that karmic seed ripens also influences what specific results it brings.

The law of Karma does not apply to "mindless" actions such as walking, sitting or sleeping. Such actions do not produce effects apart from the actions themselves. However, Karma applies to intentional thoughts one thinks. Similarly, accidents are considered neutral Karma because they are unintentional. However, we should always work towards increasing our mindfulness such that accidents do not occur. Karma is not inflexibly fixed - it does not mean fate or predetermination. Intentional actions at some time or other produce their effects when favouring conditions exist. Though people in their present lives are experiencing the effects of their past actions (Karma), it is possible to change, reduce or increase the effects of these past actions through present actions which can affect the immediate future and future lives. Understanding the law of Karma helps one realize that we are whatever we make ourselves to be. We are entirely responsible for our own destiny.

Karma is both collective and individual. Collective Karma is action done together as a group. For example, a platoon of soldiers may kill together. The results of this action can be experienced together as a group, often in future lives. Yet each members of the group thinks, speaks and acts differently, thus also creating individual Karma, the result of which he will experience for himself. There is no one that decides the "rewards and punishments" for what we do. We create the causes of our actions and we experience their results. We are responsible for our own experience. The Buddha discovered the law of Karma, he did not create it. By teaching us the law of Karma, the Buddha show us how to work within the functional of cause and effect in order to attain True Happiness and avoid pain.

There are ten unwholesome actions which should be avoided if one does not wish to create negative Karma: 1. Killing 2. Stealing 3. Sexual Misconduct 4. Lying 5. Tale-bearing 6. Harsh speech 7. Idle talk 8 Craving (greed) 9. Aversion (anger) 10. Wrong views There are ten wholesome actions which one ought to strive to do in order to create positive Karma. The ten wholesome actions also include the avoidance of the ten unwholesome actions: 1. Charity 2. Self-restraint 3. Meditation 4. Reverence 5. Service 6. Transference of merits 7. Rejoicing in others' merit 8. Listening to the Dharma 9. Teaching the Dharma 10 Straightening one's views

Karma affects our future rebirth and influences what we experience during our lives: how others treat us, our wealth, social status, etc. Karma also affects our personality and character: our talents, strong personality traits and habits. The kind of environment we are born into is also influenced by Karma. We are according to what we have done and we will be according to what we do. If an action brings pain and misery in the long term for oneself and others, it is unwholesome or negative Karma. And if it brings happiness, it is wholesome or positive Karma. Actions are not inherently good or bad. They are only so according to their motivations and consequences they bring. Whatever happiness and fortune we experience in our lives comes from our own positive actions, while our problems results from our own negative actions.

Today, four Rinpoches from the Palme Gon Monastery based in Qinghai, China was invited to conduct liberation, prayer and a mini fire offering at the Palme Gon Buddhist Society, in Bagan Lallang, Butterworth at 6.00 pm. After the liberation, prayer and the fire offering, a transference of merits was carried out to benefit all the living beings.

Chinese New Year Lamp Lighting From 13 February 2010 to 22 February 2010. Methods of participation: RM 50.00 or donation of any amount. All proceeds will go to the Free Clinic Fund. Kindly make cheque or money order payable to: Than Hsiang Fund 132 Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang. Tel: 04-6414822, Fax: 04-6421896 Email: thfund@thanhsiang.org Chinese New Year Eve Buddha Name Recitation Cleansing ceremony for Chinese New Year Lamp Lighting, Dharma session, Chanting and Buddha Name recitation. Date: 13 February 2010 Time: From 10.00 pm to 12.15 am Chinese New Year One Day Retreat Buddha Name recitation, Circumambulation, Meditation, Noon Offering, Dharma session. Date: 14 February 2010 Time: From 9.00 am to 6.00 pm Buddhist Chinese New Year Celebration Date: 20 February 2010 Time: 2.30 pm Venue: Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Phor Tay Hall Highlights: 1) Lion Dance Performance 2) Blessing Service 3) Dharma Talk 4) Entertainment Programmes 5) Light Refreshments 6) New

In conjuction with the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year next month, Heong Sun See Temple, Penang will be organising a Lamp Lighting event to pray for World Peace, Good Fortune and Elimination of Hindrances and Obstacles. A "Three Thousand Buddha Repentant Puja" will be conducted from 16 February to 18 February 2010 (from the 3rd day to 5th day of the first month of the Chinese Lunar Calender). All devotees, their families and friends are cordially invited to participate in the above meritorious activities. The funds collected from the above activities will be utilised for the educational fund of the temple. Strings of activities to kick start the Chinese Lunar New Year are as follows:- 13 Feb - 8.00pm to 10.30pm : Bai Yuan 14 Feb - 11.00am to 2.oopm : Vegetarian Food 15 Feb - 7.00am to 4.00pm : House to House Visit and Greetings 16 Feb to 18 Feb - 8.00am to 3.30pm : 3000 Buddha Puja 18 Feb - 7.00am : Ti Gong Prayer For further information, you may call them or visit them as fo

Date: 8 January (Friday) - 10 January 2010(Sunday) Conducted by : Ven Tulku Senge Tenzin Rinpoche Venue : Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur Organised by : Ratnashri Buddhist Centre No.5, Jln 1/3, Petaling Jaya, 46000, Selangor Or contact 012-2187938 / 012-2151389 / 016-3326549 / 016-2028088 / 017-8833116