I am already a good person, why must I practise dharma?
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Goldevil told me that he is already a good person, why should he practise the dharma? His life is quite meaningful already and he abides by the 5 precepts.
I think some people here may have similar thinking, thats why I am sharing here a short answer by my Master.
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Hao ren is good but hao ren does not mean you are wise and happy.
Hao ren is also subjected to six love lust desire.. anger, greed, delusion. -
don ask why...
just do it -
Translation:
The Best of the Best must still practice Buddhism
Q: I'm living without problems with clothes and food, I treat others well, others treat me well, my life is happy, why should I practice Buddhism?
A: You treat others well, others treat you well, your marriage's relationship is very well, life is happy, but there is something you cannot do and cannot say: "the present is very well, so I will not get sick, I will not die." We should know that to practice Buddhism, most importantly is to liberate from birth and death, seek liberation, open our wisdom, walk the Bodhisattva way, that is why we still have to practice Buddhism, learn (to be like a) Bodhisattva. Though your life is well, but you are now in the human realm, if you want it to be better, you can seek rebirth in heaven, for that you have to practice the 10 virtuous deeds and avoid doing any evil deeds. But to be further, though ascending to the heavens is better, it is not ultimate, for when your celestial blessings have finished, you will still fall, so how? We have to seek liberation, walk the Bodhisattva way, until attaining Buddhahood -- that is the best and most ultimate, that is why all worldly beings must practice Buddhism. -
If Buddha dharma cannot be substanstianted then why must human practice it?
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Who said so?Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:If Buddha dharma cannot be substanstianted then why must human practice it?
Precisely because the Buddha taught us it is possible to end suffering, it is possible to realise reality, and provided us the way, we must walk the path ourselves to attain it. Then we can substantiate it.
Similar goes to physics, chemistry, biology, or any subjects. Obviously if something can't be substantiated, which means that it is merely a claim and yet there is no way for any of us to reach enlightenment, then theres no point pursuing further. But the Buddha has shown us the way and that is why we should practise, this path has been walked by countless enlightened sages.
Related recent topic: http://buddhism.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=283392&page=4[/url] -
omg , i become topic .
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agreed !!!Originally posted by Isis:Hao ren is good but hao ren does not mean you are wise and happy.
Hao ren is also subjected to six love lust desire.. anger, greed, delusion. -
i never wanna cease practising dharma .Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Goldevil told me that he is already a good person, why should he practise the dharma? His life is quite meaningful already and he abides by the 5 precepts.
I think some people here may have similar thinking, thats why I am sharing here a short answer by my Master.
the fact that i abides to 5 percepts is also a form of dharma practise .
i meant that the impact on my life is great .
i begin to see things different and changed some of my bad habbits .
i wont stop unless i die .
touchwood * -
That's great, but we should not see Buddhism as merely about abiding precepts, though that must be the foundation.Originally posted by goldevil:i never wanna cease practising dharma .
the fact that i abides to 5 percepts is also a form of dharma practise .
i meant that the impact on my life is great .
i begin to see things different and changed some of my bad habbits .
i wont stop unless i die .
touchwood *
More importantly, knowing that mind is the source of all good and evil, source of all our experience in samsara, one should practice the purification of the mind, keeping a steady awareness that is mindful moment to moment of our mind, speech, action, not grasping on anything. Buddha is one with perfect, complete awareness. We should practise to be like him.
May I ask what right views one must possess to learn Buddhism, and how one can attain the right knowledge and right views?
Learning Buddhism needs right knowledge and views
"Buddha" means "perfect awareness". Learning Buddhism is to eradicate self serving and evil habits, unfold oneÂ’s wisdom, seek liberation, practise the Bodhisattva Path and eventually attain the Supreme Buddhahood. Thus, we need to have the correct concept. If one practises according to what is said, and advances steadily, this is having the right knowledge and right views. If one worships blindly and does not understand what is Buddhism, what the Dharma is, and even believes in heterodox doctrines, this is being superstitious and not what Buddhists pursue.
What is "awareness"? It means having "a purified mind". Even if a speck of dust flies by, the mind is so pure that we know about it. This is awareness. Buddha is one with great awareness. For example, when a flower blossoms in another world, or indeed in any of the *Buddha-world, Buddha can see it extremely clearly, as if it is happening right in the middle of his palm. In fact learning Buddhism is very simple, so simple that people find it hard to believe and even harder to practise.
*Buddha-world: Mt Sumeru and its seven surrounding continents, eight seas and ring of iron mountains form one small world; 1,000 of these form a small chiliocosm; 1,000 of these small chiliocosms form a medium chiliocosm; 1,000 of these form a great chiliocosm, which thus consists of 1,000,000,000 small worlds.
(http://www.jenchen.org.sg/learning.htm#views)
Liberation must be ungoing in our daily lives, we should not simply be satisfied with little improvements and stop progressing. Keep on practise
I hope when you have time, to read through the articles in http://www.jenchen.org.sg/voiceofbliss.htm as well as the 'jen chen buddhist digest' -- http://www.jenchen.org.sg/ -
How do i define a "good person" here is by abiding morality.
And by practice sila ( moral ) help in developing concentration.
Lessen the chances of being remorseful, guilt , regret which disturb the mind. -
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
k !!!
That's great, but we should not see Buddhism as merely about abiding precepts, though that must be the foundation.
More importantly, knowing that mind is the source of all good and evil, source of all our experience in samsara, one should practice the purification of the mind, keeping a steady awareness that is mindful moment to moment of our mind, speech, action, not grasping on anything. Buddha is one with perfect, complete awareness. We should practise to be like him.
[b]May I ask what right views one must possess to learn Buddhism, and how one can attain the right knowledge and right views?
Learning Buddhism needs right knowledge and views
"Buddha" means "perfect awareness". Learning Buddhism is to eradicate self serving and evil habits, unfold oneÂ’s wisdom, seek liberation, practise the Bodhisattva Path and eventually attain the Supreme Buddhahood. Thus, we need to have the correct concept. If one practises according to what is said, and advances steadily, this is having the right knowledge and right views. If one worships blindly and does not understand what is Buddhism, what the Dharma is, and even believes in heterodox doctrines, this is being superstitious and not what Buddhists pursue.
What is "awareness"? It means having "a purified mind". Even if a speck of dust flies by, the mind is so pure that we know about it. This is awareness. Buddha is one with great awareness. For example, when a flower blossoms in another world, or indeed in any of the *Buddha-world, Buddha can see it extremely clearly, as if it is happening right in the middle of his palm. In fact learning Buddhism is very simple, so simple that people find it hard to believe and even harder to practise.
*Buddha-world: Mt Sumeru and its seven surrounding continents, eight seas and ring of iron mountains form one small world; 1,000 of these form a small chiliocosm; 1,000 of these small chiliocosms form a medium chiliocosm; 1,000 of these form a great chiliocosm, which thus consists of 1,000,000,000 small worlds.
(http://www.jenchen.org.sg/learning.htm#views)
Liberation must be ungoing in our daily lives, we should not simply be satisfied with little improvements and stop progressing. Keep on practise
I hope when you have time, to read through the articles in http://www.jenchen.org.sg/voiceofbliss.htm as well as the 'jen chen buddhist digest' -- http://www.jenchen.org.sg/[/b] -
Are you it is an end to suffering or a paradigm shift from suffering? It just shift the human psyche from suffering and still doesn't end the root cause.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Who said so?
Precisely because the Buddha taught us it is possible to end suffering, it is possible to realise reality, and provided us the way, we must walk the path ourselves to attain it. Then we can substantiate it.
Similar goes to physics, chemistry, biology, or any subjects. Obviously if something can't be substantiated, which means that it is merely a claim and yet there is no way for any of us to reach enlightenment, then theres no point pursuing further. But the Buddha has shown us the way and that is why we should practise, this path has been walked by countless enlightened sages.
Related recent topic: http://buddhism.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=283392&page=4[/url] -
An animal can also say, I am alive and I am surviving, what is so great about being a human?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Goldevil told me that he is already a good person, why should he practise the dharma? His life is quite meaningful already and he abides by the 5 precepts.
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nice defination .Originally posted by Isis:How do i define a "good person" here is by abiding morality.
And by practice sila ( moral ) help in developing concentration.
Lessen the chances of being remorseful, guilt , regret which disturb the mind. -
interestingOriginally posted by AndrewPKYap:An animal can also say, I am alive and I am surviving, what is so great about being a human?
maybe next time AndrewPKYap be a dog , I see if He can recite Amitabha Sutra just be barking ? \
asking the obvious question
brain dunno put where liao -
You are very simple minded. You cannot read just what I wrote, you have to read what I wrote with reference to the the quote above my statement.Originally posted by bohiruci:interesting
maybe next time AndrewPKYap be a dog , I see if He can recite Amitabha Sutra just be barking ? \
asking the obvious question
brain dunno put where liao
Get it? Or do you need more explanations before you can understand?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Goldevil told me that he is already a good person, why should he practise the dharma? His life is quite meaningful already and he abides by the 5 precepts.
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Great answer!Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:An animal can also say, I am alive and I am surviving, what is so great about being a human? -
It is a paradigm shift that dissolves the root cause of suffering: ignorance.Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:Are you it is an end to suffering or a paradigm shift from suffering? It just shift the human psyche from suffering and still doesn't end the root cause. -
Ya.. because he is blind to the world.Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:An animal can also say, I am alive and I am surviving, what is so great about being a human?
Let me relate a story..
...IÂ’m going to tell you first about AnandaÂ’s elder brother
Sundarananda, since I havenÂ’t introduced him to you yet.
Sundarananda got along very well with his wife Sundari; they stuck
together like glue. All day long they stayed right beside one
another, they were so compatible. In fact, to distinguish him from
Ananda. Sundarananda was given the name Sundari’s Nanada –
Sundarananda.
The day came when the Buddha went to cross Sundarananda
over. He took up his bowl and went to SundaranandaÂ’s home to beg
for food. When Sundarananda saw the Buddha coming, he
withdrew from his wife and said, “Wait a bit, I am going to make
offerings to the Buddha.”
His wife said, “You are going to make offerings to the Buddha?
Come back immediately. Don’t go and then not come back.” “Of
course, I’ll come right back,” Sundarananda said.
Sundari then spit on the dirt floor and said, “You’d better be
back before that dries, or I won’t let you in my bed.”
Sundarananda heeded the command and said, “I’ll be back right
away, for sure.” And he took vegetables and rice to fill the
BuddhaÂ’s bowl.
He went to fill the bowl, but how was he to know that the
Buddha would act so strangely? The Buddha used his spiritual
power. Every time Sundarananda took a step forward to place the
food in the BuddhaÂ’s bowl, the Buddha backed up, so that
Sundarananda couldnÂ’t reach the bowl. Sundarananda kept
advancing to keep up with the Buddha, and in just a few steps they
arrived at the Jeta Grove, despite the fact that it was a long way
from SundaranandaÂ’s house. Once they got there, Shakyamuni
Buddha said, “Don’t go back. You stay here with me and leave the
home-life.”
Sundarananda was shocked; he got goose-flesh. “Impossible,”
he said emphatically. “I can’t stay. Sundari is waiting for me. I can’t
remain here and leave home.”
The Buddha said, “You can’t leave home? Let me show you
some things and see what you think.” He took Sundarananda to a
place where there were hordes of monkeys. “Which is more
beautiful,” the Buddha asked him, “these monkeys or your wife
Sundari?”
“Obviously Sundari is more beautiful,” replied Sundarananda.
“How could Sundari be compared to a monkey?”
“Quite right,” the Buddha agreed, and took him to the heavens.
As they strolled among they noticed one particular palace was
bustling with activity as servants scrubbed and polished. There
were also 500 heavenly maidens in that palace, each one exquisite
beyond compare.
“Why are you doing all this cleaning?” Sundaranda asked one
of the servants.
“We’re getting this palace ready for the Buddha’s cousin
Sundarananda,” they replied. “After he cultivates he’ll come to
heaven to enjoy his blessings. These 500 heavenly maidens will be
his wives.”
Sundarananda was ecstatic.
“Tell me, Nanada,” the Buddha said to him, “which would you
say is more beautiful, Sundari or these heavenly maidens?”
“These maidens, obviously,” Sundarananda replied. “Why,
compared to these maidens, Sundari is as ugly as a monkey.”
“Fine,” said the Buddha, “this place is being readied for you.”
After they finished touring the place the Buddha took his cousin
down to the hells. There they saw two ghosts heating a cauldron of
oil. One of the ghosts was sound asleep and although the other one
was awake, he didnÂ’t have his eyes open. Nanda sized up the
situation and thought to himself, “these ghosts are suppose to be
tending the fire under that cauldron, but theyÂ’re not doing their job
at all. Boy, are ghosts lazy!” Then he meddled a bit and nudged one,
saying, “What are you doing this for?”
The little oneÂ’s droopy eyes popped open and glared at him.
“What’s it to you?” he snapped.
“I just wondered,” said Sundarananda.
“You gotta know, huh? Okay, I’ll tell you. The Buddha’s got a
cousin whoÂ’s cultivating the blessings of people and gods. HeÂ’s
going to get born in the heavens and enjoy 500 years of heavenly
blessings before he falls. Once he topples, however, heÂ’ll come all
the way down to hell and when he gets here, weÂ’re supposed to
have this pot hot. He’s to be deep-fried alive.”
Sundarananda was horrified and his hair stood on end. He
suddenly understood the whole picture and thought, “Those
heavenly maidens are ravishing, but 500 years of bliss with them
isnÂ’t worth it if IÂ’m eventually going to end up in a pot of boiling
oil. I’d better follow the Buddha, leave home, and be a monk.” So
he forget about Sundari and left home.
In order to rescue Sundarananda, the Buddha had to accompany
him to the heavens and the hells...
~ The Shurangama Sutra, commentary by Ven Hsuan Hua
Sundarananda later attained the goal of Arhatship, liberation, Nirvana. -
The Buddha said to Ananda, “Ananda, don’t be nervous.
Ananda, donÂ’t be upset. YouÂ’re asking what it is that is able to
investigate, arenÂ’t you? Now I will tell you in detail. It is your
perception of false appearances based on external objects.”
“False” means it is unreal. The mind that investigates is not your
self nature; it is not your true mind. It is merely a more subtle form
of false thinking which makes distinctions. The shadow of external
objects deludes your true nature and has caused you from
beginningless time to your present life to recognize a thief as
your son. You have mistaken the false perception of externals for
your son, and so you have lost your eternal source. You have lost
all your gems, all your family heirlooms; your basic, permanently
dwelling, unchanging true mind. The meaning here is the same as it
was above: itÂ’s not that you have actually lost it; it just seems to be
lost. This causes you to undergo the wheelÂ’s turning. Because you
are unaware of your own family treasure, you do not know how to
make use of it, and so you rise and sink on the turning wheel of
birth and death. The wheel governs you and turns you, and you
cannot transcend its cycle. That is why you are the way you are
now. This life, next life, life after life will follow that same endless
turning, suddenly high, suddenly low, suddenly above, suddenly
below. Sometimes you are born in the heavens and sometimes you
fall back to earth. There is a saying that goes:
Out of a horseÂ’s belly
into the womb of a cow.
How many times back and forth
have you passed by YamaÂ’s halls,
As you go from ShakraÂ’s palaces
down into YamaÂ’s pot?
~ The Shurangama Sutra, commentary by Ven Hsuan Hua -
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
This is interesting but do not go overboard and start to become delusional. Heaven and earth and hell is not one not two not three... but it is also one, two and three...
[b]The Buddha said to Ananda, “Ananda, don’t be nervous.
Ananda, donÂ’t be upset. YouÂ’re asking what it is that is able to
investigate, arenÂ’t you? Now I will tell you in detail. It is your
perception of false appearances based on external objects.”
“False” means it is unreal. The mind that investigates is not your
self nature; it is not your true mind. It is merely a more subtle form
of false thinking which makes distinctions. The shadow of external
objects deludes your true nature and has caused you from
beginningless time to your present life to recognize a thief as
your son. You have mistaken the false perception of externals for
your son, and so you have lost your eternal source. You have lost
all your gems, all your family heirlooms; your basic, permanently
dwelling, unchanging true mind. The meaning here is the same as it
was above: itÂ’s not that you have actually lost it; it just seems to be
lost. This causes you to undergo the wheelÂ’s turning. Because you
are unaware of your own family treasure, you do not know how to
make use of it, and so you rise and sink on the turning wheel of
birth and death. The wheel governs you and turns you, and you
cannot transcend its cycle. That is why you are the way you are
now. This life, next life, life after life will follow that same endless
turning, suddenly high, suddenly low, suddenly above, suddenly
below. Sometimes you are born in the heavens and sometimes you
fall back to earth. There is a saying that goes:
Out of a horseÂ’s belly
into the womb of a cow.
How many times back and forth
have you passed by YamaÂ’s halls,
As you go from ShakraÂ’s palaces
down into YamaÂ’s pot?
~ The Shurangama Sutra, commentary by Ven Hsuan Hua [/b] -
Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:This is interesting but do not go overboard and start to become delusional. Heaven and earth and hell is not one not two not three... but it is also one, two and three... ok...
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Paradigm shifts does not end the root cause to any thing.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:It is a paradigm shift that dissolves the root cause of suffering: ignorance. -
You weren't listening. The quantum shift in perception, enlightenment, ends the root cause of suffering, ignorance, which in turn ends suffering.Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:Paradigm shifts does not end the root cause to any thing.