Buddhism As Education

Karma Norbuling Buddhist Centre (KNBC) which is situated in Alma, Bukit Mertajam has held its Wesak celebration from 23rd May to 24th May 2013 commencing with the Buddha Bathing and Circumambulation ceremony on the Wesak Eve Night and followed by Liberation of Live, Lamp Lighting and the 16 Arahant Puja. Members and devotees of KNBC later joined in the Wesak float procession at about 6.00 pm in the Bukit Mertajam town centre. Meanwhile at Cherok To'kun, also in Bukit Mertajam, Nandaka Vihara Meditation Society also held its Wesak celebration with numerous activities, which includes, Dharma Talk, Dana, Sanghikadana and Chanting of Suttas. The celebration also includes other merit making activities, like Offering of Robes and Sangha Requisites by the devotees.

If there is a threat, we should seek refuge from it. Similarly in the context of spiritual practice, to protect ourselves from the threat of an unfavourable rebirth, we should seek refuge in the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Buddhism teaches three different levels of refuge. The first is where we seek protection from the immediate threat of the suffering of rebirth in a lower realm of existence. Inspired by the greater fear that this possibility evokes, we seek refuge in the Three Jewels in order to avoid it. This level of refuge is relevant to initial scope of practitioners, whose goal is to attain an upper rebirth. When we think of the lower realms of existence, we should not think of some place far away in the distant future. All that actually lies between the present moment and the next life is simply the continuity of our breath. The moment we stop breathing, when we breathe out an don't breathe in, the next life is right there in front of us. It is not a m...

According to the Buddhist tradition, the subtlest workings of karma are evident only to the omniscient minds of the Buddhas; ordinary beings have no way of understanding karma as its deepest levels. Therefore, in order to be deeply convinced of the truth of the law of karma, you need to have a deep conviction in the validity and efficacy of the Three Jewels of Refuge; the basis of your spiritual practice must be strong faith in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. This faith is not developed from the words of the Buddha alone but, as we have seen, on the basis of your own critical analysis. If you look at the Buddha's teachings, you can discern two basic objectives: the secondary, temporary objective is to help sentient beings gain upper rebirths, but the primary, ultimate objective is to lead them to complete liberation from samsara. When you examine the Buddha's teachings on the complex issue of negative emotions and how to counter them, you can see that these matter are evident...