Buddhism As Education

To speak most correctly, we cannot really learn from scriptures, from techniques or from those various teachings if we are to be truly successful. To successful reap any benefits for real, we must learn in the thing itself, namely the actual prison. Study the actual dukkha in itself, that prison itself. So, we would better look for and find this prison, which is what are we going to talk about. At this point, we are confronted by two choices: are you going to learn from outside or are you going to learn from inside? The distinction is crucial. The Buddha said that we must study from inside. The external learning is from books, ceremonies, practices and things like that. Everything that we must learn, the Tathagata has explained in terms of the body which is still alive. That means a living body, with a living mind, not a dead one. That's where real learning takes place, so learn there. Learn from that inside, which means learn within yourself while you are still alive, befor...

It may be just one simple word, but upadana is the most important thing. The heart of Buddhism is just uproot or cut off this upadana. Then dukkha will be finished. Please understand that this is the heart of all Buddhism, it is found in every sect and school. Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism or whatever kind of Buddhism you like, they are different only in name or in the external ceremonies and practices. But inside, it is all the same thing: the cutting off of upadana. Do not be sad, do not be disappointed or anxious, do not make trouble for yourself thinking that you haven''t being able to study all the schools of Buddhism. Do not worry if you haven't been able to study Buddhism in Tibet, in Sri Lanka, in Myanmar, in China or any other locations. It is a complete waste of time. There is just one single essence or heart of it all, namely to eliminate upadana. The labels of Theravada, Mahayana, Zen, Tibetan and Chinese reflect on...

You must recall the words "salvation" or "liberation" used in all religions. The final goal of all religions is salvation or emancipation, or whatever word most suitable in each language. But all these words have the same meaning, getting saved. All religions teach salvation. Then, from what are we saved? We are saved from spiritual prison. The thing that all of you want and need - even right at this moment - is the thing called "freedom" or "liberty", which is simply escape from prison. Whether a physical, material prison or a mental, spiritual prison, the meaning is the same. In all cases, we want freedom. Those who lack of wisdom can see and fear only physical, material prisons. But those who have wisdom to look deeper will see how much more terrifying and dangerous the spiritual prison is. Really, we can see that hardly anybody is locked up in ordinary jails, while everyone in the world is caught in the spiritual prison. For instance...

The Karma Norbuling Buddhist Centre (KNBC) had recently held its two-days Amitabha Chang Chok and Mahakala Pujas from 19 August to 20 August 2012 at the association's premises in Alma, Bukit Mertajam. The entire event was conducted by Venerable Khedup Rinpoche with the assistance of his two Lamas from Nepal. The pujas were held in conjunction with the 7th Lunar Month which began on last Friday with the purpose of conducting prayers and to create merits for the deceased, family ancestors, to reduce our karmic effects as well as to pray for the wondering spirits and unborn babies who had passed away prior to birth. Apart from conducting the pujas, Khedup Rinpoche also give a brief explanation on the meaning and reason of this puja was conducted, the meaning and significance of the mantra and sutra chants and a short dharma discourse. Auspicious lamp offering is also part of the event. After the pujas, Khedup Rinpoche led the devotees in transf...

Zambhala is a wealth deity and an emanation of Buddha Ratnasambhava. He has increasing quality and is the essence of generosity. His aspirations are to help the poor and those suffering from ill torture. There are five Zambhala : red, yellow, black, white and green. Zambhala vows to bring wealth, prosperity, success and fortune to sentient beings and to destroy obstacles. He also increases spiritual wealth including luck, long life and wisdom intelligence. Benefits of the Five Zambhala Wish-fulfilling Wealth Vase and Zambhala Wealth Pouch The five Zambhala Wish-fulfilling Wealth vases (contain many holy substances such as life woods, mantra rolls, holy pills and relics, medicines, precious metals and stones, five colours cloths, etc) and the Zambhala Wealth Pouches (contain precious stones, Zambhala pendants and mantras, medicines, etc) will be blessed during the Zambhala Puja. These vases and pouches are believed to possess the positive energy to attract luck and fortune. A...

The empowerment of Buddha Manjushri is an opportunity to receive special blessing from the Wisdom Buddha so as to develop and increase our own inner wisdom. This wisdom has the power to answer all of our questions, and overcome our doubts and hesitation. In particular, the wisdom that realizes ultimate truth has the power to liberate us once and for all from the bondage of our ignorance and bestow upon us the everlasting joy of enlightenment. Awakening to the ultimate truth of how things really exist is the path to permanent inner peace.

Chenrezig is looked upon as the manifestation of the loving-kindness and compassion of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. He has a special affinity with beings in samsara  and can manifest into various forms to help beings who are in varying kinds of needs. The Buddha prophesied that : The Great Compassionate Bodhosattva (Guan Shi Yin Pusa) will manifest as Karmapa to liberate all sentient beings from samsaric sufferings. Therefore, the practice of Chenrizig is particularly very important in the Karma Kagyu Lineage. Om Mani Padme Hung, the six-syllable mani mantra of Chenrezig represents the loving-kindness and compassion of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifested as sound. Chanting the mantra is like practicing the six perfections and is able to close the doors to the six realms. In this life, one is able to remove obstacles, have success in life, harmony in family, healthy and prosperous, and all wishes fulfilled. In the next life, it is certain that one will be able to take ...

In conjunction with Yu Lan Pheng Festival, Heong San See Temple shall be performing a series of Puja with the aim of promoting Filial Piety, pray for the World Peace, as well as to transfer merits to the deceased, thus release them from the sufferings and be reborn in a higher realm. The Grand Sad-Dharma Pundarika Puja will be held from the 25th day of the Sixth Lunar Month to the 2nd day of the Seventh Month, corresponding to from the 12th August to 18 August 2012, from 8.00 pm to 9.30 pm. The Compassionate Water Repentance Puja and Mong Sun will be held on the 3rd day of the Seventh Month, corresponding to 19th August 2012, from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm. Lamp lighting and prayer to release the deceased from sufferings and be reborn in a better realm would also be incorporated into these Pujas. Devotees who wish to sponsor and donate for the Puja and contribute to the Dana, kindly register with Heong Sun See Temple at No 428 Jalan Tanjung Tokong Lama, 10470 Penang or call 04-8999...

The Penang Karma Norbuling Buddhist Association will be holding its annual Amitabha Chang Chok Puja from 19 August 2012 to 20 August 2012. The program highlights are mentioned as below: 19 August 2012 (First Day) 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm - Amitabha Chang Chok Puja 20 August 2012 (Second Day) 10.00 am to 12.00 pm - Amitabha Chang Chok Puja 12.00 pm to 2.30 pm - Break 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm - Amitabha Chang Chok Puja (Continue) 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm - Mahakala Puja 7.00 pm to 9.30 pm - Amitabha Chang Chok Puja The two-day Amitabha Chang Chok Puja will be conducted by the association's resident master, Venerable Khedup Rinpoche and his Lamas. Remembrance of the deceased will be conduct in the following method: Deceased name place at Amitabha Shrine Family Ancestry Deceased Name place at General List Karmic Creditor Wondering Spirit/Unborn Baby Puja Sponsor Auspicious Lamp Offering The event will be carried out at the association's centre situated at No 15 & 1...

Mind and matter, though closely associated, are entirely two distinct entities; very different in terms of their nature, cause and functions. Unlike matter, which is composed of physical constituents such as atoms and molecules, the mind has no such physical quantity. It composed of its own continuum only, just as a wheat requires a grain of wheat as seed for its substantial cause, so does mind always require an earlier moment of its own type as its main cause. Matter can never become consciousness and vice versa. But this does not mean that matter could exist independently from the mind. It is on this point that many well-respected western scientist have made a fundamental error. Their obsessive conviction in measuring every physical phenomenon in their basic constituents lead them to believe in the existence of absolute space and time, totally independent of the subjective mind. Matter exists because mind perceives it; and mind exists because there is a matter to be perceive...