How do you motivate yourself in your practice ?
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Lately i have been leading a fairly peaceful life, enjoying sensory pleasure such as listening to music, watching drama and eating good food. I do not have the discipline to sit down and listen to a good audio dharma talk. Lest to say, meditating.
There is a lack of urgency.
How do you motivate yourself ?
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You can frequently contemplate on the "four thoughts that turn the mind":
http://www.khandro.net/practice_4thoughts.htm
Lama Ganga (d. 1988) The Four Foundations, "Thoughts That Turn the Mind . . . ." [Precious Human Birth]
In order to obtain the framework for the practice of dharma, this precious human existence, which, in being free and well favored, offers excellent opportunities, one must practice excellent virtue, since this is its karmic seed. Since the proportion of sentient beings that do practice virtue thoroughly is very small, the result, a free and well-favored existence, is difficult to obtain.When one considers the numbers of other sentient beings, such as animals, it is evident that human existence is just a remote possibility. Therefore, you should, above all else, work at dharma wholeheartedly so that the human existence now obtained is not wasted.
[Uncertainty of Life]
Furthermore, since life is uncertain, the causes of death are numerous, and one can't even be sure that death won't come today, one must exert oneself in the dharma right away. At the time of death, except for virtuous and nonvirtuous actions, nothing will follow, not wealth, food, possessions, nor land, body, or status. Since these are not even as helpful as a straw, there is not the slightest need for them.
[Karma]
After death, the power of karma causes one to experience birth in one of the six classes of beings. Whichever it is, there will be nothing but suffering, not even a strand of happiness. Since happiness and suffering infallibly develop from virtuous and non-virtuous actions, one should not do anything evil even at the risk of your life. One should practice only virtuous actions with great diligence. You should energetically train yourself in this kind of thinking.
[Abandon Attachment]
At the end of every period of meditation, perform the seven-branch prayer [which dedicates merit to others] as many times as you are able to. In post-meditation periods, put the points of your reflections into practice.
These instructions apply to all forms of preparation and actual practice.
~ Jamgön Kongtrul, trans. Ken McLeod. The Great Path of Awakening, 1993. (Incl. Chekawa's 7 Points of Mind-training.)
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Yeah. Actually something at the sgforum's headline prompt me to ponder, muse and to post this down.
"Life is uncertain. What if something happens to me and completely change my life. Am I ready for it ? Will i have the conditions to practise? "
I'm currently trying to strike a balance and identifying what are my priorities.
Sometime works and your passion ( other than Dharma ) can be empowering and it become a form of distraction.
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They say, its hard to have a human life, its even harder to get to hear the dharma
You are enjoying now, but have you thought that maybe just 30 minutes of your time every day can lead you to enlightenment and not having to go through samsara.
Make it a habit. If not FORCE yourself to do meditation. MUST have discipline.
Master Chin Kung say you should focus on your life's most important event which is going through endless cycles of rebirth, that is where the problem lies.Not thinking about life's other events/problems. Look at the bigger picture
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Mediation cannot be forced. Its not good that way
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Just need to have discipline.
Just like work and studies. We can get distracted, but we still need to get our work done everyday. So we must discipline ourselves to spend time each day meditating. This is important.
If we can set aside our distractions and spend hours on our work/studies/etc everyday, there is no reason we cannot set aside our distractions and focus some time on our meditation everyday.
If you can go on retreat, that is ideal. Otherwise try to meditate a specific amount of time everyday.
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Just need to have discipline.
Just like work and studies. We can get distracted, but we still need to get our work done everyday. So we must discipline ourselves to spend time each day meditating. This is important.
If we can set aside our distractions and spend hours on our work/studies/etc everyday, there is no reason we cannot set aside our distractions and focus some time on our meditation everyday.
If you can go on retreat, that is ideal. Otherwise try to meditate a specific amount of time everyday.
erh actually i just come back from a retreat.. two week ago. Have been going for quite a number of retreat as i want to cultivate the habit of meditating. However, i'm like having no sense of urgencies now.
Btw anyone know where can i buy a meditation cushion ?
Yeah my discipline is poor.
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Originally posted by Isis:
erh actually i just come back from a retreat.. two week ago. Have been going for quite a number of retreat as i want to cultivate the habit of meditating. However, i'm like having no sense of urgencies now.
Btw anyone know where can i buy a meditation cushion ?
Yeah my discipline is poor.
Don't follow your mind. When you are supposed to meditate, meditate. The mind will have excuses not to meditate, and it may even think it needs 'more urgency' to meditate, which is just more stories. You don't need a story for you to meditate. Just do what you need to do.
As my local dharma teacher used to tell us -- the mind is basically unreliable, and ever-changing, sometimes you think of something, then you change your mind later, and so on. So let's say you may have intended to meditate this morning but later something happens and you changed your mind. It's very very impermanent. But your Buddha-Nature, pure awareness is ever-present. So we must rely on awareness and not on our mind (�觉, ��心). Constantly be mindful, watch your mind, and don't get caught up by your mind's distractions, and so on.
But also it's not that buddha-nature and mind are two different things. My local dharma teacher also reiterates from the Avamtasaka Sutra, that Buddha, Mind and Sentient Beings are not three different things. The point is not to push away all thoughts but not get caught up by the mind. Thoughts still arise when required, but there is no abidance. But if you are distracted, that is an example getting caught up.
And as 元音�人 says, 所以开悟之�，妄想�妄念�妄心，都翻�我的佛性的妙用了。今天�给大家下个注解﹕妄心�妄想�妄念，�相就是妄。�过���相，所有一切�想都是我们佛性的妙用，所有一切�想都是�就一切事物的妙用，都是我们佛性的妙用。
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Thank you for posting on this topic, Isis. It is such an important topic.
The motivation to practice comes and goes. Inspiration to practice comes and goes. Because right now, our motivation to practice is very much based on particular conditions which are not lasting. We have yet to gain unshakeable confidence in the Dharma and the path, such that we will naturally engage in the practice.
The key to motivate ourselves to practice is in the generation of renunciation mind. The mind of renunciation is the ground for all Dharma practices. It's been said that "Revulsion is the foot of meditation". If we think hard enough about the faults of Samsara... not just Samsara, even in our human life...even living in such a privileged place like Singapore...if we really reflect on how unsatisfactory, how wu2 nai4 life really is......if we really observe the poeple around us and realise no matter what they have, they will still not be truly happy for a long time, all these reflections and realisations will really reduce our interest in samsaric pursuits. Therefore, it is very helpful to constantly contemplate on the 4 thoughts that AEN mentioned above.
In the beginning, we should establish some kind of a disciplined routine, like what everybody else mentioned above, as it'll help us "tide over the lazy times". It's very good if one could spend a fixed amount of time (e.g. 5-30min) just to contemplate on the 4 thoughts. Yet even more important than that, is to constantly bring to mind these 4 thoughts during our daily lives.
To quote one of my favourite teachers, Khenpo Yongzin Rinpoche, who said, "Dismantling the ego, is the unpaid full-time job of a Buddhist". He also said, "Daily activities can be used as accessories to our practice." Whether you are working for success in your career, or any other aspects of your life, it is absolutely fine, especially if you can use it as an accessory to your practice - the practice of renunciation, compassion and emptiness.
One of my teachers, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, also taught that for ordinary people like us, we should try to make aspirations as much as possible. We can always make daily aspirations to be able to continually generate motivation to practice. We can also make aspirations to have more "spiritual wealth" in our lives. Now, spiritual wealth, as he explained, can be really scary, cos it can be anything like divorce, bankruptcy, death or anything that will really turn us away from Samsara and thus give rise to the motivation to strive towards Buddhahood. So if we do not have the guts to pray for "spiritual wealth" yet, we can always aspire to "have the courage to wish for spiritual wealth one day".
The essence of it all is really using all the (imperfect) conditions that we have right now to give rise to more favourable conditions that will continually lead us to be in the company of good spiritual friends and have the external and internal conditions to practice.
Finally, to end it off, I wish to say that for you to even feel concerned about not being motivated to practice indicates that you are already inclined to practice. You already think that practice is good for you, which is why you are disturbed by not constantly feeling motivated. So that kind of disturbance is your "spiritual wealth". May you continually have that kind of disturbance and may the mind of renunciation grow on and on.
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A shorter & easier-to-memorize version of the 4 thoughts that turn the mind towards the Dharma:
Lama Khyenno Lama Khyenno Lama Khyenno
Now that I possess these freedoms and advantages so difficult to obtain and of such importance,
May I arouse my mind by remembering the impermanence of the universe and beings;
To free myself truly from the ocean of suffering of the three worlds,
Without confusing what is to be adopted and what is to be abandoned,
May I persevere in the path.
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erm how about cutting down on sensory pleasure ? After a day of working, my refuge could be the sensory pleasure such as watching TV and listening to music for relaxation. In the short run, it helps to relieve tension for a while. However, i tend to be pleasure-seeking. On the other hand, working life give some tension. It is okay to unwind in sensory pleasure ? but it isn't wise to be attached to it ?------------The reason why we are not Enlightened is because we are LAZY. We do not bother to bring ourselves back to the present because we're too fascinated by the games the mind is playing. Genuine renunciation is giving up our fond thoughts, all our delight in memories, hopes and daydreams, our mental chatter. To renounce that and stay naked in the present, that is renunciation.- Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
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Originally posted by Isis:erm how about cutting down on sensory pleasure ? After a day of working, my refuge could be the sensory pleasure such as watching TV and listening to music for relaxation. In the short run, it helps to relieve tension for a while. However, i tend to be pleasure-seeking. On the other hand, working life give some tension. It is okay to unwind in sensory pleasure ? but it isn't wise to be attached to it ?------------The reason why we are not Enlightened is because we are LAZY. We do not bother to bring ourselves back to the present because we're too fascinated by the games the mind is playing. Genuine renunciation is giving up our fond thoughts, all our delight in memories, hopes and daydreams, our mental chatter. To renounce that and stay naked in the present, that is renunciation.- Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Sensory pleasures themselves are mere conditioned arising and are not the problem. As you identified correctly, attachment is the real problem. Even if one were to live absolutely simply like a mendicant, one can still have lots of attachment, sometimes very subtle ones, e.g. being proud of living simply, thus one will still not be liberated from suffering. Identifying the real enemy is important, because then we know who to target.However, in the beginning, it is useful to reduce sensory pleasure, not because there's anything wrong with these pleasures, but really because of our strong habitual inclinations that can get strengthened as we indulge in these pleasures. But if you do decide to reduce sensory pleasures, do it knowing that your target is attachment and not those pleasures.
When you sometimes do enjoy sensory pleasures, try to keep in your mind contemplating how impermanent, illusory and transient they are. If possible, try at least for a few seconds, to watch your mind. Try to do those few seconds again and again, for as many times as possible. Watching the mind means knowing it without getting involved. Not getting involved means not following it to continue creating stories, as well as not rejecting it cos rejecting is also giving fuel to generate more thoughts. If you find yourself seeking pleasure, know it. If you give rise to a thought that "it's not good to be attached to sensual pleasures", know that thought. If you think that you are doing the right thing, know that thought. If a doubt arises that maybe I'm doing it wrongly, know that thought. If you have any bodily sensations or visions or any experiences, know it. If you feel happy about your experiences, know it. If you feel discouraged about your own practice, know it.
Whatever happens, just watch, just know, just be in the present. Do nothing. That is how we can use our daily lives to practise, in addition to the daily routine of sitting/whatever form of practice we have.
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Right...
As with anything do it with moderation, but what you do is not the problem (unless it's harmful or against the precepts), but the attachment. I know of enlightened peopleS (with 'S') who like music, movies, and so on. But I don't think they are attached to them.
But certainly, cutting down on unnecessary things is important, if you are a serious practitioner.
An excerpt from Dharma Dan:
http://www.interactivebuddha.com/faq.shtml
While I managed to do this stuff while having jobs, relationships, graduate studies, and the like, it was nothing resembling easy or cheap. I gave up nearly all of my vacation time for years to retreats, my career development was delayed, I spent much less time doing other things so that I could sit daily (such as TV, time with friends/family), there were relationship stresses, money that was borrowed and often very tight, and the like. I still think it was the right thing to do, but I recommend being realistic about what this may cost on many fronts, particularly if you have children, who, in my humble opinion, deserve your time and commitment. Sometimes it takes some time for people to gently strip their lives down a bit in healthy and non-destructive ways to make some more time for the dharma. Others will make radical changes and go off in wildly new directions. I generally recommend that people try to find a local sitting group and/or some kind of teacher. Each person, situation, and time is different, but carefully consider that the life you will awaken to is the actual, ordinary life you live, so make it a good one, and realize that when your spiritual quest is over, there is still the laundry.
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when meditation become a must, i agree with someone, let it be, if you feel your mind is distorted, automatically you need meditation, if you r good in the way who u r, i think just enjoy it.
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i never motivate myself to meditate, because i think it's natural thing, when you say motivate already it's a humiliation to buddhism, buddhism is a safty resort, when you r uncomfortable, it's always there, back you up, so if you feel right now, you r energetic, just do whatever comfort you, there is no degree or diploma in buddhism, it's wisdom, but compare wisdom, i prefer happiness,
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but sometimes, your happiness is disaster to other people, so sometimes you cannot get your happiness, when looking in outside, so there they r, we should look into inside, that's where dharma is
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Originally posted by rokkie:
when meditation become a must, i agree with someone, let it be, if you feel your mind is distorted, automatically you need meditation, if you r good in the way who u r, i think just enjoy it.
Everyone needs to practice, but not everyone realises it.
Why? Because even if they are happy right now, their happiness is impermanent, and they will eventually suffer again. They also cannot escape birth and death and the agony of death and sickness and loss, etc. They cannot escape from the wheel of suffering in samsara, and the cycle of rebirth.
And some practice Buddhism with the aim of feeling better in this life. That is no better than chasing for worldly benefits for this lifetime. It is a very limited vision.
As a teacher said,
Whoever is attached to a result for this life, is not a Dharma person.
The purpose of Dharma is liberation, not feeling better in this life. The purpose of Dharma is not the cultivation of mundane compassion, and so on.
The purpose of Dharma is to control afflictions, then overcome them, and finally, to attain a state of total omniscience and freedom.~ Loppon Namdrol
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Originally posted by rokkie:
i never motivate myself to meditate, because i think it's natural thing, when you say motivate already it's a humiliation to buddhism, buddhism is a safty resort, when you r uncomfortable, it's always there, back you up, so if you feel right now, you r energetic, just do whatever comfort you, there is no degree or diploma in buddhism, it's wisdom, but compare wisdom, i prefer happiness,
As long as you haven't seen hundreds or thousands or more of your past lives, you will still be under the illusion that samsara is a safe place for refuge. You will fail to see why Buddha said that Life is Suffering.
And hence you need to motivate yourself to practice, by contemplating on the four thoughts that turn the mind.
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Everyone needs to practice, but not everyone realises it.
Why? Because even if they are happy right now, their happiness is impermanent, and they will eventually suffer again. They also cannot escape birth and death and the agony of death and sickness and loss, etc. They cannot escape from the wheel of suffering in samsara, and the cycle of rebirth.
And some practice Buddhism with the aim of feeling better in this life. That is no better than chasing for worldly benefits for this lifetime. It is a very limited vision.
As a teacher said,
Whoever is attached to a result for this life, is not a Dharma person.
The purpose of Dharma is liberation, not feeling better in this life. The purpose of Dharma is not the cultivation of mundane compassion, and so on.
The purpose of Dharma is to control afflictions, then overcome them, and finally, to attain a state of total omniscience and freedom.~ Loppon Namdrol
happiness is impermanent, yes, but i think mature people could remember his happiness, forget unhappiness, and try to avoid unhappiness in the future, though some are unavoidable, like death,But as long as i enjoy a happy life in this countable life, i think it's enough,for some people, satisfy their desire maybe happy, but it's not true for me, after long time suffering in university, i happen to succeed pulling me out of this suffering, so in the future, no matter what i do, the first concern is always does this make me happy, and it's also one important criteria on how i will choose my job, many people have been dazzled by desire, they always want to earn more money, but they forget , earning more money, is trying to make your life better, after they realise that, they are already old, fat, and unhealthy, so i gonna to set some meaning in my life, i will do decent job, marry, have a baby, try every thing in this life could bring me happiness, i never believe such rebirth thing, i think it's an expedient way to teaching, so i gonna do meaningful thing in this life, don't care about next life, even there is a next life, as long as i do right in this life, i will get blessed in next life,
But i don't feel only meditation is the path, like i said 烦�是��，so when a person is happy, he should just enjoyed it, and make the happiness sustainable, note ,i am not talking about desire, it's happy,
Like i said is what you do defines you, even you meditate a lot you don't do good in life ,it's no use, so first you should make your parent happy, r you filial, r you obedient, it's mutual thing, if you happen to be borned in a not-so-good family, it's another thing,
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Everyone needs to practice, but not everyone realises it.
Why? Because even if they are happy right now, their happiness is impermanent, and they will eventually suffer again. They also cannot escape birth and death and the agony of death and sickness and loss, etc. They cannot escape from the wheel of suffering in samsara, and the cycle of rebirth.
And some practice Buddhism with the aim of feeling better in this life. That is no better than chasing for worldly benefits for this lifetime. It is a very limited vision.
As a teacher said,
Whoever is attached to a result for this life, is not a Dharma person.
The purpose of Dharma is liberation, not feeling better in this life. The purpose of Dharma is not the cultivation of mundane compassion, and so on.
The purpose of Dharma is to control afflictions, then overcome them, and finally, to attain a state of total omniscience and freedom.~ Loppon Namdrol
enjoy the result is not synonyms as attached, attached is a hard word, people should avoid, but it's up to what you could do, sometimes you have to be attached, it's not so big deal, there is no judge in after life to judge you, it's always you who suffer from what you do, why we need liberating, see the reality, but why see the reality is so attractive, it's that you can feel better, if it make you feel worse it's definitely not true darma, but some people are distorted, they are so eager to buddhism, forget there is a critiria named �难�佛，as long as you have a right mind, you should not discriminating non buddhist, maybe you should pity them, but if you see someone true happy, you should bless him. -
Originally posted by rokkie:
enjoy the result is not synonyms as attached, attached is a hard word, people should avoid, but it's up to what you could do, sometimes you have to be attached, it's not so big deal, there is no judge in after life to judge you, it's always you who suffer from what you do, why we need liberating, see the reality, but why see the reality is so attractive, it's that you can feel better, if it make you feel worse it's definitely not true darma, but some people are distorted, they are so eager to buddhism, forget there is a critiria named �难�佛，as long as you have a right mind, you should not discriminating non buddhist, maybe you should pity them, but if you see someone true happy, you should bless him.Seeing reality is not about feeling better in the sense that your life circumstances becomes more favourable or pleasant, but it is completely liberating from the illusion of a separate self or the illusion that all phenomena have inherent existence. Pain can continue to arise after enlightenment, like physical pain or sickness or death.
When you liberate from this illusion, there is no more reference points ('me'), even if pain arise it is seen they arise to no one and there is no abidance -- and hence one is no longer trapped or subject to suffering. It's a complete release from the self-centered reference point into the spontaneously manifesting and self-liberating nature of phenomena.
With insight there is bliss, but this bliss is not conditioned by pleasant or unpleasant states. It is the bliss of Clarity, which is the highest bliss of nirvana. This is not a 'feeling' that depends upon the perceived 'pleasantness' or 'unpleasantness' of our life and surroundings.
All feelings are impermanent and conditioned, but the clarity of our true nature never ceases.
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Originally posted by rokkie:
happiness is impermanent, yes, but i think mature people could remember his happiness, forget unhappiness, and try to avoid unhappiness in the future, though some are unavoidable, like death,But as long as i enjoy a happy life in this countable life, i think it's enough,for some people, satisfy their desire maybe happy, but it's not true for me, after long time suffering in university, i happen to succeed pulling me out of this suffering, so in the future, no matter what i do, the first concern is always does this make me happy, and it's also one important criteria on how i will choose my job, many people have been dazzled by desire, they always want to earn more money, but they forget , earning more money, is trying to make your life better, after they realise that, they are already old, fat, and unhealthy, so i gonna to set some meaning in my life, i will do decent job, marry, have a baby, try every thing in this life could bring me happiness, i never believe such rebirth thing, i think it's an expedient way to teaching, so i gonna do meaningful thing in this life, don't care about next life, even there is a next life, as long as i do right in this life, i will get blessed in next life,
But i don't feel only meditation is the path, like i said 烦�是��，so when a person is happy, he should just enjoyed it, and make the happiness sustainable, note ,i am not talking about desire, it's happy,
Like i said is what you do defines you, even you meditate a lot you don't do good in life ,it's no use, so first you should make your parent happy, r you filial, r you obedient, it's mutual thing, if you happen to be borned in a not-so-good family, it's another thing,
Being filial, moral, doing good and avoiding evil is important and is an essential part of the 8 fold path.
But when dealing with liberation it is *not* just a matter of morality, it is about seeing the nature of reality. Only then can purify all our afflictions that springs from the root ignorance.
All phenomena are impermanent, and as long as you think that this dream world is real and inherently existing and grasp on them, you will encounter endless suffering in this life and beyond. This is inevitable as long as you have not realised Emptiness. There will be no end to suffering as long as you still see things as existing inherently, as long as there remains the slightest amount of grasping.
And Right meditation is a means and aid to develope insights into the nature of reality.
Next you said you don't believe in rebirth and think that rebirth is just an expedient means, presumably to gain followers. But this is far from the truth. Rebirth is a reality, and there are countless practitioners who can remember their past lives. There are also scientific studies done and much evidence and proof that rebirth is a reality.
I personally know of many people who remember their past lives. When I met with our moderator Longchen in the past, he told me 4 of his immediate past lives. There were he even more lifetimes he remembered which he didn't tell me.
I won't talk about the last 2 lifetimes (3rd and 4th past life) he told me because he did tell me not to mention it. All I can say is that he was lived in Japan, and China, respectively. But in his immediate past life, he was a European involved in the Western mystical circles, and fought in World War 1 near Paris. He was also an artist then, he could remember painting in that past life (he is now in the Design industry in this life also). In the 2nd immediate past life, he was a monk in Tibet, the red hat sect. And this explains his interest in Dzogchen teachings in this lifetime.
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There are many methods, depends on your character.
If you are one that is very compassion, you can comtemplate on other people who is less fortunate than you. Have you ever read any news about someone very old age, only son die in earthquake. or someone who was mistreated, kena whacked until become handicapped. As a buddhist, you should know that there are many things you can do to help them. The greatest help that you can give them is by becoming a buddha.If like that still can't touch you, you can also think your guru or bodhisatva that you respect so much, contemplate on their kindness, you know that they want to see you practice the dharma and grow up spiritually. They been so kind to you, so how could you do something that upset them.
Alternatively, you can do something that is more challenging yet gives you greater return. You will likely face more obstacles, but it still worth it.
You can also get together more often with buddhist friends who practice diligently, pay more attention on their strength over you. Never ever see other people's mistake. You will realize how lack of practice you are.
Hope that helps. :) -
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Being filial, moral, doing good and avoiding evil is important and is an essential part of the 8 fold path.
But when dealing with liberation it is *not* just a matter of morality, it is about seeing the nature of reality. Only then can purify all our afflictions that springs from the root ignorance.
All phenomena are impermanent, and as long as you think that this dream world is real and inherently existing and grasp on them, you will encounter endless suffering in this life and beyond. This is inevitable as long as you have not realised Emptiness. There will be no end to suffering as long as you still see things as existing inherently, as long as there remains the slightest amount of grasping.
And Right meditation is a means and aid to develope insights into the nature of reality.
Next you said you don't believe in rebirth and think that rebirth is just an expedient means, presumably to gain followers. But this is far from the truth. Rebirth is a reality, and there are countless practitioners who can remember their past lives. There are also scientific studies done and much evidence and proof that rebirth is a reality.
I personally know of many people who remember their past lives. When I met with our moderator Longchen in the past, he told me 4 of his immediate past lives. There were he even more lifetimes he remembered which he didn't tell me.
I won't talk about the last 2 lifetimes (3rd and 4th past life) he told me because he did tell me not to mention it. All I can say is that he was lived in Japan, and China, respectively. But in his immediate past life, he was a European involved in the Western mystical circles, and fought in World War 1 near Paris. He was also an artist then, he could remember painting in that past life (he is now in the Design industry in this life also). In the 2nd immediate past life, he was a monk in Tibet, the red hat sect. And this explains his interest in Dzogchen teachings in this lifetime.
yes, i don't believe in rebirthing, i remember when i was in singapore , i read a sutra, said, people in the world are fool, they tend to do image worship, never go to the real dharma, so budha in order to saving them from suffering, he take this expedient way of teaching, saying there is hell and paradise, so that could scare the fool to do good in the life, and i once read an article, done by chinese scholar, said many of buddhism teaching actually 以事喻ç�†ï¼Œlike what is nirvana,贪嗔痴å�³ç�就是æ��盘，so i keep my opinion, some one said he remember his past life, but as some sutra said , some people have eye problem, they see something in the air, but actually there is no such thing, some people practice hard in meditation, so when they sleep, they dream about budha, they saw the imagine of buddha, but i don't think it's a good thing, so if you can actually prove there is past life, you will be the next nobel prize winner, i am not saying you guys are lying,but i don't believe, but as a matter of fact, what i think is not important, as long as you think what you do is right, keep going, since 过去，现在 未æ�¥ï¼Œéƒ½æ˜¯ç©ºï¼Œwhat the matter of remember the past lifes。 -
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Being filial, moral, doing good and avoiding evil is important and is an essential part of the 8 fold path.
But when dealing with liberation it is *not* just a matter of morality, it is about seeing the nature of reality. Only then can purify all our afflictions that springs from the root ignorance.
dealing with liberation is not just a matter of morality, yes, but if you even cannot fulfill the common morality conduct, don't talk about liberation, as least that's it for me, Kongzi said,�心所欲而�逾矩，he is talking about the relationship between morality and liberation, as he is in concern, he achieve both, liberated under rules, the rules actually mean morality, buddhism's morality is the highest, buddha said even there is a single person, haven't reside in paradise, i won't go before them, it's compassionate, so ignore, morality for the purpose of liberation is not right, real buddhist could achieve both. liberation is the highest form of morality, morality is the lower form of liberation.