Buddhism As Education

It is perhaps necessary to emphasize the fact that the Buddha took some pain in emphasizing that the teaching that he was giving to the world was a middle path which avoided the extremes and perversity of the Brahamanical and monastic creeds, which were prevalent during his time. It was also a path which offered possibilities of progress for every mortal. The Buddha's own exposition of the path need to be reproduced for correct guidance. "It is neither the practice of sensuality a low and unworthy way, nor the practice of asceticism. There is a middle path, Bhikkhus, avoiding these two extremes a path which bestows understanding which leads to peace of mind, to higher wisdom, to Nirvana. It is right view and knowledge, right aims and motives, right speech and right conduct, right means of livelihood, right effort, right mind control and right meditation". Again and again has the Buddha emphasized on the fact that his path is a middle way. He says, :the Tathagata av...

Tomorrow 11 March 2012 corresponding to the 19th day of the Second Lunar Month is the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Kuan Yin Pu Sa). During this day, beings from the other continents will be waiting to receive the merits generated by us in order to go into the better realms and to seek for reborn for a better. In this case, let us all gather today and tomorrow's auspicious days to carry out various good deeds for the benefit for all beings by participating and sponsoring for liberation of animals, sutra and mantra chanting, make your wish, lighting your candles and oil lamps, offering of flowers and fruits. After these activities, do remember to past your merits gained from the good deeds that you had done for the day for the betterment of all beings around you. Remember, it is never short of merits if you recite to past them to others. In fact you will definitely gain even more when you share and past your merits around. Om Mane Padme Hung! Om Mane Padme Hung! Om Mane Padme Hung! O...

There is much Dukkha (Sufferings) in the world which is our own doing, we can certainly eradicate it. We can also assuage a lot of Dukkha which is other people's doing. To a world in the grip of Dukkha, the Blessed One has brought the message of deliverance. The Buddha truly stated, "Just one thing do I teach, suffering and deliverance from suffering". In another immortal saying the Buddha had declared "Bikkhus, as the great ocean has put one taste, the taste of deliverance (Vimuthi)". Let us therefore reverently and in full faith listen carefully to His teachings and follow Him steadfastly. For we have His assurance and more than that we hardly need. "I have found the hidden way to truth and trodden it. The truth is here before my eyes for it is very part of me. I have proclaimed to all men how it may be found. Let those who have grown weary of illusion follow in the self-same way".

We have to make a beginning, howsoever humble, with this great truth which is very hard to understand and harder still to live with. We have to understand and grasp the truth that all waters of the ocean are one water and one body of the water, so it is with this universal teeming life - there can be no single separate unit or body of life in it. And as with the sea whose waters are in constant motion and through that motion have many waves and ripples on its surface, so it is with this life, it has the appearance of innumerable self existences on its surface. Seeing therefore so far as our small power would permit us, let us all grow a little nearer to that peace which comes to those who begin to live selflessly, who cease to be tossed with the waves of their own desire. We can hardly change the world for better, we can scarcely increase the fund of human happiness unless we cease to live for self. A man''s life in its lower reaches has been lived, whatever justification did e...