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MoonCentral
(Archive : Mar 2005)
For
Someone Whose Loved One Passed Away
When such things happened, one can try one's best to just gently
reflect on the futility of wallowing in misery and chant out of love
and sincerity. It is really the best thing that can be done. Moments
of grief will well up and fall away now and then. Let them come when
they come. But when chanting, be as single-minded as possible. Take
breaks for griefing if needed. Hopefully with one's sincerity in chanting,
one's loved one will be touched and follow one's chanting to attain
rebirth in Pureland. May we meet our loved ones in Pureland, if we make
it our common destination. -zlyrica
31/03/05
11:20 PM
For a Friend Coming Out to His Family
Guy like this gal
Gal dislike that guy
Guy dislike this gal
Gal like that guy
Guy like this guy
Gal dislike that gal
Guy dislike this guy
Gal like that gal
Like and dislike
Greed and hatred
Attraction and repulsion
Attachment and aversion
No desire is superior
No desire is inferior
Just Samsara
Just same Mara
In you
In me
-shiqin
31/03/05
10:52 PM
Riding the Dragon
Posted an article by a master on the true meaning of emptiness in
Buddhism in a forum - an oft-misunderstood subject. The renown master's
words add weight of authority to the message. The article was sent by
a friend. Both us thought it was a good idea to put it up.
zL: Was thinking of it too haha! Wise minds think alike?
Z: Maybe! Well, fools often think alike too haha!
zL: We're fools because we are still in Samsara.
We're wise because we know we can
ride on the "dragon of the Dharma" out of Samsara! Yay!
-zlyrica
31/03/05
01:04 AM
Movie Test
Movies allow us to study human expression and reactions, to experience
the virtually emotional from the comfort and safety of our seats. A
question that used to intrigue me is whether the heart can really "think"
or is it controlled by the mind? Why do some react this way while others
in another? Why such evil, why such goodness?
After getting to know Buddhism, I found my question to be really trivial.
I mean there are 101 reasons why one reacts in the way s/he does, but
the motives are always based on the 3 roots of evils (greed, hatred
and delusion) or our pure Buddha-nature (of generosity, loving-kindness
and wisdom). As unenlightened beings, our Buddha-nature is often clouded
by the 3 roots, but we are always in control - we choose which to work
with or to outshine another. For example, jealousy is a blend of greed
(for what one does not have) and hatred (for others having what we want),
over-shadowing our Buddha-nature. Another example is when generosity
goes hand in hand with loving-kindness, giving greed and hatred no chance
to take lead.
Perhaps the reactions we get from watching the
good and evil shown in the movies could be good indicators of where
we are heading on our spiritual path. The ultimate destination
is and should not be anything less than Buddhahood. How far or near
are we now? What are the results of your "movie
test"? Do evil or good dominate your mind as you watch?
Do you enjoy the good or evil scenes more? Which scenes haunt and
stick? -zlyrica
Comments: Hmmm, watching a "good"
or "evil" act on the screen and reacting with a particular
"feeling flavor (s)" i.e. sadness or outrage over an "evil"
act is what our conditioning and physiology will predictively evoke.
In my book, no emotions are intrinsically "bad" (although
intense fear/anger/grief are certainly unpleasant!) It's the unskillful
behavior that results from lack of ability to greet these feeling with
gentle matter of factness that should be our primary concern. :-) -lindastell1
31/03/05
12:51 AM
Let us
Wisdom lets us be detached from the samsaric.
Compassion lets us stay and help the samsaric. -stonepeace
31/03/05
12:40 AM
Roundabout
The roundabout of Samsara gives you as many
comebacks as you want - for the better, if not, for worse. How's
this round coming to be? Are you spinning more out of control, or gaining
more momentum towards escape velocity, to swing out at a tangent? -zyrius
31/03/05
12:08 AM
Hard to Say Sorry, Hard to Say Thanks
Only after you have tried your best to seek forgiveness
from the one you are sorry to, can you really forgive yourself.
Otherwise, you are just letting yourself off the hook too easily.
Only after you have done your best to thank appropriately
the one you are grateful to, are you really appreciative.
Otherwise, you are just taking kindness too much for granted. -shiqin
30/03/05
11:53 PM
Why Are Some So Deluded?
Why are some so deluded? It is past and present karma at play. It
is past karma because it is partially delusion resultant from the past
- which carries over inclinations to embrace fallacies. It is present
karma because it is delusion presently fortified through not wishing
to open one's mind to the possibility that one might be entertaining
fallacies as truth. One thus "maintains" his delusion.
Closed minds cannot progress spiritually. -zeph
28/03/05
12:01 AM
Hazard
Reflection after slipping and scraping my knee:
I'm very hazardous to myself... through my (un)mindful
(in)actions.
In fact, I'm always my greatest hazard. -zlyrica
27/03/05
09:42 PM
Apology
As much as the one who harmed another needs to apologise,
the one who is harmed should not need an apology. -stonepeace
27/03/05
09:32 PM
Best of Intentions
The only thing we can be certain of in this
world is our best of intentions. Even the hoped for fruition
of ideal consequences from our best of intentions are uncertain - since
things often do not always turn out the way we expect in the short run.
In the mean time, we have to trust that good begets good eventually
- till we are convinced totally. -zyrius
27/03/05
09:13 PM
Say Sorry
Repentance includes expressing apologies to those you did wrong
to by action or inaction. It is not simply the practice of saying sorry
to the Buddha or the practice of "letting go", pretending
what happened was empty, when it is clear that both parties have not
realised emptiness. -stonepeace
27/03/05
08:55 PM
Shitty Business
Warning: Slightly eeky material ahead...
About to remove bowels at a cubicle, I realised there was a huge chunk
of you know stuck in the toilet bowl. Reeling in disgust, I went to
another cubicle. As I lowered myself, it struck me that that could had
been my "crap" - since I came in a while ago. I probably did
not flush properly. After finishing my business, I returned to flush
it - afterall, it was my own shit - I'm responsible for my own shit.
Suddenly I remembered that I did my business elsewhere just now - not
there. But what the heck. So what if it is not my own shit? I tried
to flush it - but it didn't budge. The longer it stays in place, the
more it hardens, the less easily removed it becomes. Looks like it's
the cleaner's business now. But could I have helped more? What is your
threshold of ability to handle the shitty? Especially that which is
not yours? What if there is no cleaner? Aren't we all cleaners? To what
extend will you clear the crap in this world? The problem is not the
shitty, but our aversion to it. -zeph
26/03/05
01:24 PM
Evil
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil
is that good men do nothing. -Edmund Burke
All that is necessary for men to become evil
is to be indifferent to the triumph of evil. -stonepeace
25/03/05
11:45 PM
Beta Version
Beta
Version : A not-quite-ready-to-be-released software or web page,
but one that the programmer/author would dearly love some user commentary
on.
For how long is moonpointer.com going to be in its beta version? (Yes,
this is not our alpha yet.) For how long are you
going to be a beta release in this yet another round of rebirth?
Beta version number incalculable point incalculable! The best is yet
to be - alpha release - the ultimate release - from Samsara! Hurry hurry!
Make haste but be mindful! (Do comment on this beta version here, and
on this beta version of me. I would dearly love some commentary on both.)
-shian
23/03/05
11:53 PM
To An Aspiring Buddhist Freelance Writer
If you give more works freely and they get circulated, it looks
good on your portfolio - and that gives more ground for charging others
- when more see and appreciate your works, realising you are worth hiring.
The more we give, the more we get - it's the karmic law of generosity
at play really. You have to always check your intention - Sharing
the priceless Dharma should always be above getting paid a price to
do so. -zyrius
23/03/05
11:39 PM
For a Reason
Yes, everything that happens, does happen
for a reason.
The reason is that you had created the cause for it to happen.
Case closed set of cause and effect.
Sorry for the anti-romanticism here.
But what is the purpose of that which happened?
Here comes the truly romantic part...
Its purpose is entirely up to you to intepret -
be it a divine revelation or a mundane one.
Everything that happens, happens for a reason,
and for the purpose you choose.
What was the reason of reading this?
What is the purpose of knowing this? -shiqin
23/03/05
11:31 PM
Fish Creature Haiku
Every fish
Has a wish
Not to be on a dish. -Ong
Hui Min
Every animal
Has the manner
Of fear... when getting killed. -zlyrica
No creature
Wish the future
Of being... a menu feature. -zeph
23/03/05
11:11 PM
Worth Doing
If it is worth doing, just do it.*
If it is not worth doing, just don't do it.
If it is not worth doing but you have to, just do it anyway.
-stonepeace
*Just do it - with equanimity (without like or dislike)
20/03/05
05:07 PM
The New "F" Word
Instead of using the popular anagram of "fcuk" to express
exasperation, here is my proposal - use "flux." Why, because
"flux" refers to "change", and much of our exasperation
comes from our anguish at unexpected changes in life - even though Anicca
(characteristic of constant change of all phenomena) is a universal
truth. It sounds less vulgar too, when in use, and reminds us of Anicca.
Just substitute it as you would for expressions which would otherwise
contain the notorious "F" word. For example - "What
the Flux is going on here?!!!" Samsara - get the flux out
of there! Attain Nirvana! (Say! If I ever create a magazine, I'll call
it "Flux.") -zeph
Comments: Flux; hmmm I like that :-)
It reminds me to be mindful of the dellusion of the congealed self and
invites me to look a little closer at the phenomena evoking painful
aversion or clinging. -lindastell1
15/03/05
11:51 PM
Dunno
Feeling :-| Really dunno :-]
or :-[ Good or bad? Dunno. :-|
-zyrius
12/03/05
01:23 PM
What Empiness Really Means in Buddhism
"Emptiness" is one of the most often misunderstood, yet
most important teachings in Buddhism - because the full realisation
of this truth leads to nothing less than liberation in Enlightenment.
Misunderstanding it, however, results in delusion, the opposite of Enlightenment.
Realising the true nature of Emptiness is thus crucial for all Buddhists
- it is the core of the wisdom of Buddhadharma (the Buddha's teachings
on phenomena that leads to Enlightenment, ie. True Happiness.)
Emptiness
does NOT refer to physical emptiness such as open space. Emptiness is
NOT physical nothingness. Emptiness refers to first and third aspects
of the Three Universal Characteristics
[Anicca, Dukkha (dissatisfaction due to not realising Anicca and Anatta)
and Anatta], which describe everything in the universe - both the mental
(of mind) and material (of matter). Emptiness combines the reality of
Anicca (the truth of the constant changing of all mind and matter from
moment to moment) and Anatta (the truth of the lack of fixed, lasting
self-nature or substantiality, in all mind and matter due to Anicca).
In short, Emptiness means everything (all phenomena) is "empty"
of any substantiality due to constant change. As taught clearly in the
Heart Sutra, "...the Five Aggregates (composites of the universe
- mind and matter) are all empty.... Form is Emptiness. Emptiness is
Form..." "Form" here refers to physical phenomena that
is constantly fluxing. This fluxing also applies to the other four mental
aggregates of feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness.
Thus, "forms" are still here, though changing all the time.
In other words, forms are always "forming" or "unforming"
- always transforming. This clearly does NOT mean
there is nothing; just that there is nothing substantial. When we realise
this, we will function in this world without delusion (but with wisdom),
and with no attachment and aversion (but with generosity and compassion)
with respect to any phenomenon. This itself is the state of Enlightenment.
An example of Emptiness at play is how clouds come and go. Clouds, which
have form, are actually changing all the time (shape-shifting, changing
state by becoming rain...), and are thus unsubstantial, lacking in fixed
nature. All other material and mental phenomena (eg. thoughts) are likewise
when perceived clearly enough - including "you" and "me."
Knowing and seeing this in totality, and we become free as freedom can
be. -shian
12/03/05
11:47 AM
Lending Money
SMS reply to a friend : Can afford only $___. I am realistic even
in helping. I don't even know where you live - an example that I don't
know you well enough. So I need you to sign an IOU. Prevents bad karma
and strained friendship. I hope you understand. (The offer was thanked
for but rejected later.) -zyrius
08/03/05
12:57 AM
MoonTip #27
There is essentially no such thing as a writer's
block because you can always write about the "writer's block".
Start writing wherever you are and see where it leads you to. Delve
deeper and deeper and you will discover something enlightening. -shian
08/03/05
12:50 AM
MoonTip #26
It hit me that...
All the truly useful writing in the world has
to be about the Four Noble Truths in one way or another, with
or without the technical Dharma terms. Such writing will naturally be
about how we have dissatisfactions now, their causes, what we really
want and how we can go beyond the unhappiness to reach happiness. Any
other writing, no matter how fascinating a read, is unfortunately frivolous,
unpractical, does not better anyone's life... ultimately in vain.
(See
other
MoonTips) -shian
08/03/05
12:12 AM
Movie Dharma
Here you are - a list of almost 50 Dharma-inspired
movie reviews. Lots of missing pictures. But this is just a sneak
preview. They will all be archived properly in moonpointer's presently
bare movie
section soon enough... when I have the time... sigh. -shian
08/03/05
12:03 AM
Nightmare of the Quest for the Precious Shirt
I had a strange nightmare of sorts. I was
holding onto a prized shirt on a bus, on a trip to some significant
unknown occasion. So special it was that I decided to wear the shirt
only when I reach there. To my dismay, by a swerve of the bus, the shirt
slipped from my hand and went under a seat. Looking under the seat,
it became as big and dark as the space beneath a bed. I had to crawl
in to look for the shirt. In my wild random scavenging with outreached
hands, never seen before creepy-crawlies ran pass me. Mixed feelings
of both fear and interest arose in me. I spent more time looking at
the bugs than wholeheartedly looking for the shirt. As I got tired of
the bugs, they gradually lessened. Suddenly, I realised the shirt was
there all along, tucked in a corner. It was so obvious that I was shocked
I didn't see it earlier. I grabbed the shirt and got out.
My dream analysis: The precious shirt was
like the garment of the poor man in the Lotus Sutra parable, in which
a gem, which represented Buddha-nature, was sewn into its hem without
his knowledge. It was worn by him without knowing he had something so
precious with him all the while - something that he could had used to
do away with all his (spiritual) poverty. The fussed over shirt in the
dream was the precious gem itself. I was delaying the "use"of
it - saving it for some vague future occasion. This is procrastination
of spiritual progress to realise Buddha-nature.
The travelling bus represented the ongoing journey of life. The sudden
swerve represented unexpected twists of fate in life, during which we
lose sight (or grip) of the precious. The unexpected wide space below
the seat represents how the darkness of our delusion is often wider
and deeper than we are conscious of. The bugs represented distracting
stray thoughts steaming by, which though fascinating, are no point hankering
after. When I got tired of the bugs, they naturally lessened - as the
more I mentally "chased" after them, the more I entertained
and perpetuated an endless flow of them. The presence of the shirt became
obvious without the distracting bugs - just as the "full moon"
of Buddha-nature becomes obvious when the "dark clouds" of
defilements clear away. It is there all along.
A truly wonderful dream! It had the elements of a mystery-adventure
thriller! It didn't make much sense in the dream. But I'm sure the deeper
meaning is as above. The main lesson is not to be distracted by the
non-essentials of the spiritual life and not to procratinate practice
for substantial progress. I did not think up this analysis - everything
just fell into place, with every element in the dream being a specific
metaphor. Amazing how our mind works - even in dreams!
We
are dreamers dreaming smaller dreams within the larger dream of life.
Our mission is not to dream on, but to wake up bit by bit, layer by
layer, to higher and higher consciousness, to break the bubbles of delusion,
one within another, one after another... till we burst free of them
all, till we come face to face with absolute reality.
-shian
03/03/05
03:20 PM
Fear of the Unknown
Last night, I felt a shudder of fear when I saw a vague reflection
of a dark shadow moving in the reflection of the kitchen window. Without
needing to turn around, I realised in the next instant that it was a
pair of shorts hanging nearby, fluttering in the wind entering from
the window. The feeling of fear dissipated almost as quickly as it arose.
Understanding the true nature of things vanquishes
fear. By understanding everything thoroughly, we realise that all phenomena
is empty of any substantial characteristics. This is how we become truly
free of fear entirely, including the fear of death. When one
loses the fear of death, one becomes free of life and death - because
the cycle or rebirth is perpetuated by attachment to life and fear of
death (which is a kind of aversion). -zyrius
03/03/05
02:49 PM
Leap of Faith
If one wants to inspire trust in a stranger, one first has to trust
that stranger.
Someone has to make that crucial leap of faith to bridge the chasm of
distrust.
It is always easier for you to make that leap, than to hope the other
will. -zyrius
03/03/05
02:33 PM
Real Relics Real Faith
I read in a discussion list an ongoing argument about the authenticity
of relics. I hate to say this - but that is the result of faithlessness,
mixed with thinking too much. Was presented a a couple of the Buddha's
relics from a forest monastery last year. There was no clear cut way
to know if the relics were from the Buddha. Nevertheless, we had good
faith in the abbot's good faith in us, in generously sharing his abundance
of relics with us to inspire us to be diligent Dharma-practitioners.
The Buddha had taught that the best offering to Him is to practise the
Dharma well. The Buddha's presence is now represented by His
relics on the home shrine.
The next day, after receiving the relics home in a glass stupa, a distinct
third piece appeared. It was small, bright and different in colour from
the first two pieces. We affectionately called it "baby relic".
Recently, we saw some of the Buddha's relics enshrined elsewhere. Surprisingly,
they (at least 50 pieces) looked just like baby relic. They are family!
I think the above is unlikely to happen to anyone doubtful about any
relics. The truth is, what is more important than the physical reality
of any relics is the mental reality of sincere faith. I think the
Buddha's perpetuation of His relics through multiplication is an ingenious
and truly compassionate way of reminding us to have faith in the Triple
Gem. -shiqin
03/03/05
02:12 PM
Lust
This happened a few years ago... I know a monk in the Buddhist circle.
During a private confrontation, he admitted to a serious misgiving -
for almost having an affair with a female friend. He apologised profusely,
and was glad that we were resolving the matter discretely. It was disgusting
when he gave a weak excuse of my friend being "open" in her
ways, which he read to be suggestive or tempting.
I have to admit I lost respect for him. I used to like his talks - because
it was just talk not walked - at least not well-walked enough in the
realm of monastic ethics of celibacy. The Dharma, however, is not the
same as the Dharma teacher - that is why the Buddha taught us to rely
on the Dharma and not the personality of its messenger. The Buddha also
said that even if a leper holds a torch in a dark
forest, we should follow the light - because the light is still light
- what we need. Whoever it is who holds it up for us to see is inconsequential.
I warned the monk firmly that if I'm to ever discover him repeating
something similar, I will disclose him publicly through my connections
in the Buddhist circle. Nasty? No. The threat wasn't a self-righteous
act. I was just doing what I could to protect him from doing more wrong.
Am also protecting the integrity of Buddhist clergy on the whole and
their followers. I have not been in contact with him since. I hope our
encounter urged him to re-affirm the need to practise genuinely to eradicate
the defilement of lust. I know it isn't always easy - even for monks.
We are largely reborn in Samsara out of lust too
- lust for life, lust for love, lust for all kinds of highs.
-zyrius
Comments: Gosh... it's sad indeed,
but its also bad karma to speak like that to a monk. I try to see all
problems as my teachers. If I get angry or upset over a situation, it's
due to my attachment, anger and ignorance. Try to practice compassion
and thank him (in your heart) for allowing you to practice non-attachment
to Buddhist clergy. If you felt anger, then there is indeed strong attachment.
If there is no anger but only compassion in your heart then there is
wisdom there. -TM
Reply: "Warned firmly" -
not take him by the collar. There was an amicable discussion with no
raised voices or waved fists. If there was no compassion, I would have
disclosed without meeting him. On the other hand, I did not feel like
a saint.
03/03/05
01:55 PM
Riding Above the Waves of Karma
It was unbearably hot, but there wasn't anything i could do as the
seats in the shade on the boat were fully occupied. There were only
two things i could do - to accept the weather with a mind of equanimity,
being at ease with it, or to frustrate myself with the weather beyond
my control. Since it would take the boat a while to reach the destination,
i decided to meditate. With the chanting of "Om Mani Padme Hum"
playing from the speakers onboard, i found myself easily entering into
a calm state. Slowly, my tensed body relaxed. Even as the boat swayed
with the slightly choppy waves, they did not disturb my mind at all.
There was no fear of falling from the chair, and the heat from the blazing
sun like arrows of piercing fire suddenly turned into soft rain-like
nectar bathing my skin... There was this clarity
of non-attachment and non-aversion, a total bliss of equanmity, as i
conquered my otherwise negative feelings at that moment. I was no longer
a karmic victim of circumstances - i was the master of my circumstances,
by rising above the circumstances. i was riding above the sea
of turbulent waves of karma. "Up" there above from the turmoil,
everything is calm. -zlyrica
03/03/05
01:20 PM
Laptop Personalisation
I was passed a hand-me-down laptop after my last computer conked
out. I decided against spending time and effort setting up fancy stuff
like wallpaper and screensaver in it. Due to the followng reasons, I
had became much more dispassionate about the "new" laptop
I got -
1. It's second-hand with prior personalised settings.
2. My previous computer was meticulously configured but it died suddenly
with the settings lost.
It might happen again - any time too.
3. I might have to hand-it-down to someone who might not like any new
settings I created.
4. It's not "my" laptop anyway - it's for work! In fact, nothing
is "mine!"
This dispassion wasn't of disdain - just an objective and equanimous
sensibility of acceptance with minmal like and dislike. It wasn't as
if I didn't care about the laptop, but I didn't "over-care"
with the frills of fancy settings, which are changed from time to time
anyway, subject to fickleness of choice.
Surprisingly, I handled the death of the previous computer quite well.
But it wasn't true detachment - as I wasn't sure what information inside
was precious. I had forgotten. Is that detachment of another kind? Or
sheer unmindfulness? Anyway, whatever could be salvaged was salvaged.
There's nothing to do about what was lost. Life goes on... but at this
rate, I know the next inevitable loss, whatever it may be, will be handled
even better. -shiqin
02/03/05
03:45 PM
Scattering Seeds
A website like a passive Arahant helping those who come to him.
A mailing list like an active Bodhisattva scattering seeds of wisdom
with compassion. -zyrius
01/03/05
03:29 PM
The
Raft of the Dharma
Fools need the Dharma but do not know it.
The enlightened know the Dharma and do not need it.
Many are in between the duo -
sometimes clinging to the Dharma,
sometimes letting go too soon. -stonepeace
01/03/05
03:21 PM
Not Yourself
If you do not feel like yourself today, who
are you?
If you felt like yourself yesterday, who was it? -stonepeace
Fingerprint-scanning to enter a building at work, it failed to recognise
me. Is it that I am not myself today? Yes, in the sense that I am not
mindful enough today - I did not place my finger properly on the scanner.
-zeph
01/03/05
03:11 PM
Perfection of Wisdom
The perfection of wisdom is to realise there
is no wisdom to attain. -stonepeace
01/03/05
03:08 PM
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