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Cause : True Happiness

Here are some thoughts to share, after attending Singapore's “Happiness and its Causes” pre-conference, as conducted by Ven. Matthieu Ricard. (The below is loosely based on his presentation, with mostly personal spin-off thoughts.) According to various studies, most people return to their baselines of habitual (un)happiness despite having experienced the highs and lows of life – e.g. striking the lottery and becoming handicapped. Yes, contrary to the popular belief that a single windfall or a single devastating experience can make or break our lives for better or worse forever, it just doesn't often work that way. This is so as our (un)happiness is essentially an internal state determined by how we position our mind; not as much conditioned by external circumstances as we imagine.

The baseline of (un)happiness is a self-set “benchmark” where one's (un)happiness is based upon the worldly goodies that one has, and that one wishes to have. As worldly goodies do not bring permanent happiness, while one clings to this possibility, one simply returns to this baseline time and again when the worldly goodies fail to deliver happiness. Of course, this is done in vain. Shockingly yet consolingly, even losing a leg falls in the category of “external circumstances”. We might climb the curve of feeling high or slide down the slope of depression for a while, but we almost always inadvertently return to what Freud would call “common unhappiness”. Yes, the austere-looking Freud never claimed he had a solution for the human condition of Dukkha (existential dissatisfaction). Thank goodness the gently smiling Buddha found the solution!

more...

Life : So Far

In “The Simpsons Movie”, Bart was dared by Homer to skateboard naked around the neighbourhood. When Bart got arrested, Homer picks him up. This was the dialogue they had:

Bart: This is the worst day of my life.
Homer: Worst day of your life so far!

In a paradoxical way, Homer's remark was both rubbing salt in the wound while somewhat consoling at the same time. This is actually a rather smart way of seeing our misfortunes – to realise they are not necessarily that bad. But does it also mean things will be worse in time? We'll see... At the end of the movie, Homer saves the day and his marriage, and plants a loving kiss on Marge:

Marge: Mmm... best kiss of my life.
Homer: Best kiss of your life so far!

This is the other side of Homer's happy-go-lucky “philosophy” – things might become worse; but things might become better too. If the possibilities run on a two-way street, why do we become so upset over how terrible things are at the moment, or so attached to how sweet life is at the moment? It is wiser and kinder to ourselves to live with less aversion and attachment to whatever life presents. Of course, we should not become the usual slacker that Homer is in the process!

Related Articles:

Just Like That (The Mani Man Story)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thedailyenlightenment-realisation/message/145
Only For Now
http://moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=2619
Homer's Sudden Enlightenment
http://moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=1902
God or Not?
http://moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=1666

Philosophy : What Is?

Japan Adventures (16) : Walking the Path of Philosophy

Winnie: What's so philosophical about this “Philosopher's Walk” (Higashiyama-Ku: Path of Philosophy)?
Minnie: Obviously, you're not a philosopher!
Winnie: Chay!
Minnie: It's the walker, not the walk, that makes the walking philosophical!
Winnie: Well, I can also philosophise about the beautiful scenery here - the river, trees, pathway...
Minnie: But if it's Zen philosophy being practised, “when walking, just walk” – don't philosophise!

Higashiyama-Ku is a famous must-see trail in Kyoto with its entrancing neighbourhood houses, shops, cafes, restaurants, museums and parks along the way. It's a great way to see some of the most important Buddhist temples in Kyoto too. The route was named so as the philosopher Kitaro Nishida (who specialised in Zen and moral philosophy) used to enjoy sauntering along it. Well, there's no need to muse over what he could had mused over - as there is much to inspire you along the way. It's interesting that various guidebooks would suggest different detours you can take from the “standard” route, so as to digress slightly to see places of interest in the vicinity. Different routes for different folks! What path of philosophy do you choose in life? Does it digress from taking the Middle Path?

Next Adventure: http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10
Previous Adventure: http://moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=2627

Adventures : Zeph Tales (19)

Continued from http://moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=2626

Why It's Sensible to Have Faith in Karma

While surfing the net for a quick rational proof of sorts that would convince him that there is the law of karma (or moral cause and effect) at work in life, Zeph stumbled across two pithy articles in www.TheDailyEnlightenment.com :

The Paradox of Fairness

If you believe in the universal law of karma,
life is always fair to all.
Everyone experiences their just deserts.

If you believe in the universal lack of karma,
life is just as fair to all.
Everyone experiences their unjust deserts. - Stonepeace

Comments :

1. Paradioxically, universal unfairness would be universal fairness - because it is impartial.
2. Whether life is fair or not, it cannot be denied that it is most kind and wise for one and all to put in the right efforts to do what is best for one and all.
3. If everyone were to choose to believe life is totally unfair, and give up in despair, or start being unfair to each other, what would the world become? Such a world, that we would not like, we should not play a part in creating.
4. If life is unfair, even the more should we uphold fairness, which will affect one and all, including you... eventually. Incidentally, that itself is karma, the moral law of cause and effect at work!

more...

Craving : Need It?

The moment you “need” it most
is not when you have it,
but when you don't,
when you crave it -
whatever it is.

The wise clearly discern
the differences
between needs and wants.

Suffer : Don't Make

Don't make suffering.
Don't make suffering yours.
Don't suffer.

Related Article:

Suffer Well (and You Won't Really Suffer)
http://www.moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=593

Mad : Awaken to Truth

Thoughts that came to mind after seeing “Hide and Seek” on TV,
which is a thriller of how a psychotic father was not “aware” that he murdered his wife,
while the young daughter knew it all -

Would you dare tell a mad man he is mad?
Would he think you are mad?
Would it further madden him?

Would the mad awaken by themselves?
Would it not be mad not to try to awaken him?
Would you transform your fear to compassion?

Cults : Warped “Buddhism”

Was helping a friend with his Masters' thesis on the topic of Buddhist cults....

Q: What do you think defines a Buddhist cult?

A: A “Buddhist cult” is really an oxymoronic term, as it is not really “Buddhist” in nature. If it were so, it would not be a “cult” in the first place. That said, a “Buddhist cult” in the usual sense of usage would refer to an organisation that is founded upon seemingly Buddhist principles, that actually include deviations from orthodox Buddhist teachings.

Q: What do you think accounts for their growth?

A: The growth of Buddhist cults is possible only when orthodox Buddhism is not growing fast enough to educate the general public as to what is and what is not real Buddhism. In other words, rampant growth of Buddhist cults is ironically conversely conditioned by the slackness of Buddhist organisations.

Q: Who are the people most likely to fall prey to these cults?

A: Those most likely to fall prey to Buddhist cults are those who have some interest in Buddhism, while not clearly knowing enough of orthodox Buddhism to discern what is true Buddhism, to sift the false teachings from the true.

more...

Rites : Funeral Blues?

Here is something hopefully interesting, from an email interview conducted by students from Nanyang Technological University...

Q: What rites do children have to fulfil for their Buddhist parents during their funerals?

A: True Buddhist funeral rites are very simple. The funeral should be kept peaceful. Chanting of sutras and names of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is usually done to help connect the deceased to the Dharma, to facilitate a good rebirth. Charity should also be done in the name of the deceased to dedicate merits of goodness to better help make a good rebirth possible. Surprisingly to many Chinese, the offering of joss sticks is really optional – though it is usually done as a Chinese custom. This thread of related discussion should be useful -
http://moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=2478 (Please read the comments too.)

Q: If children who belong to different faiths refuse to participate in these rites, what would you do?

A: I have not heard of such incidents in person so far. But as above, there are really minimal rituals needed. If the children refuse to participate, they can alternatively arrange monastics or even lay Buddhists to do the chanting. The only thing fellow Buddhists can do to persuade reluctant children to facilitate the rites is to remind them that their deceased parent (if his or her consciousness is not yet reborn) might feel very upset by the lack of preferred rites, that they should respect the deceased's final wishes – as a basic practice of filial piety and upholding religious harmony (at home) one last time for the parent's sake. Whether the children believe in the rites or not is another issue. We need to remember the Buddhist parent does not have faith in the children's religion anyway, should they enforce their religious rites instead. If non-Buddhist children do not force their parents to follow their faith when they are alive, why should they do this when they are deceased? It is not only insensitive, but ineffectual as well.

Parenting : Defense & Reason

Jon: I heard a mother scolding her child for not hitting back when he was hit at a playground by another kid. She didn't even know if it was her child's fault that he was hit in the first place.
Don: Yeah... poor parenting - not looking for reason, not resorting to reason... before resorting to violence.
Jon: What would you do if you were the parent?
Don: I would teach self-defense (not offense) and reasoning skills to my child! (This is not "turning the other cheek; it's turning to reason.)
Jon: The bad parenting reminds me of this from
http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=12,7381,0,0,1,0 -

I and the public know
What all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return.

Meditation : Beginner's Mind

H: There was an experiment in the 1970s where seasoned Zen practitioners and a control group connected to an electrode. A bell rang, after which an electric shock was administered. This routine was repeated several times. The scientists discovered that the control group showed signs of anxiety after the bell rang, as they anticipated getting a shock, while the Zennies showed no such anxiety. Some thought that Zen meditation destroys one's ability to learn from one's experience.

S: This is a good example of the skilful maintenance of “beginner's mind” in Zen meditation - that does not cling to preconceived ideas. Actually, the experiment illustrates not so much of Zen meditation destroying “one's ability to learn from one's experience”, but how it can train the mind to “unlearn”. Of course, this is dangerous if we don't learn to take precautions from potential dangers.

However, a good Zennie in the experiment should had wisely run this thru his/her mind already, before the experiment began - “Hmmm... I'll be getting an electric shock whether I anticipate it in fear or not. If so, let me make peace with the inevitable by switching to 'beginner's mind' mode, which erases such useless fears, so as to accept the shock graciously, calmly.” The mind that is wise unlearns the unnecessary, while not clinging to knowledge that is useful; merely taking it as a reference point - which can shift; unless it is some timeless truth like the 3 marks of existence.

This reminds me of the Sallatha Sutta :
http://accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn36/sn36.006.than.html , where the Buddha says its unwise for a person physically shot by an arrow to aggravate the pain mentally by clinging to it. In the case of the experiment below, there is clinging to the pain that was to come. Here are 6 more simple everyday cases of how suffering is optional even when pain is inevitable - http://tinyurl.com/65oa5h

Related Articles:

Suffering Labour Pains
http://www.moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=2495
A Throbbing Toothache
http://www.moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=2479

Rebirth : Curse or Blessing?

Comment:

An argument is that if we believe in rebirth,
we have countless lives to get it right.
Why bust our hump to get it right today?

Reply:

Because we might be reborn endlessly,
rebirth can be an infinite “curse”.
Because we have endless rebirths to get it right,
rebirth can be an infinite “blessing”.

So what is rebirth?
Is it good or bad?
It is intrinsically empty of any fixed characteristics.

However, the more you are reborn,
the harder it might be to break free of rebirth,
when you become addicted to it, “stuck” to it.

Equanimity : Same Love?

How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

- W.H. Auden (The More Loving: September 1957. Lines 8-12)

Loving without seeking reciprocation...
Loving more than wanting to be loved... is great love.
You will never know if you can do it till you try.
Little by little, may our love pervade all directions for all time.

Troublesome : What Is?

Someone happened to have quite a bunch of packed free toothpicks to give away.
While going around to do so, he came to my desk...

He: Do you use toothpicks?
Me: Nope.
He: Aiya, you environmentally-friendly folks are troublesome.
[As he wanted to give the toothpicks away quickly.]
Me: Nope - the environmentally-unfriendly folks are the ones troublesome - for the planet!