tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-130037372024-03-19T17:56:50.588+07:00Inspiring ThoughtsThoughts and Stories that will change your lifedavid ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-42185066512240609022007-08-21T13:25:00.000+07:002008-12-10T13:46:33.858+07:00The Buddhist Flag<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0O4LZLpjIb2qSmIqwOKkaHYYTIUQ6eP36MQUarDYXOQoiuNBU9H_ScjTCQb6k46GnhIKuoXbDuC_cR61qm22X9p1MlBCqXDhutWYy2ZYySKi6IJcylGLIX2pwDLI8BIyXUJjyFg/s1600-h/buddhist_flag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0O4LZLpjIb2qSmIqwOKkaHYYTIUQ6eP36MQUarDYXOQoiuNBU9H_ScjTCQb6k46GnhIKuoXbDuC_cR61qm22X9p1MlBCqXDhutWYy2ZYySKi6IJcylGLIX2pwDLI8BIyXUJjyFg/s400/buddhist_flag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101036472329332402" border="0" /></a>The most prominent colour concept in Buddhism is that of the <em>rainbow body</em>, which is the highest level of meditative achievement wherein the body is transformed into pure light. The rainbow body is the highest achievement other than <em>Nirvana</em>, which is the essential end-goal for Buddhists. Since the “pure light” on the spectrum contains all colors, and is white, to possess a rainbow body means to possess all colors, and to do some means meditating on colors that embody specific teachings.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> The principle colors involved in Buddhism are Blue, Black, White, Red, Green, and Yellow, and each — except for Black — are aligned to a specific Buddha. Associated with the Akshobhya Buddha and the healer ‘Blue Buddha,’ Blue represents tranquility, ascension, the infitine, purity, and healing. Over all, the colour represents wisdom, but light and dark blue have different meanings. The light blue that Buddhists meditate upon is said to be no better represented than by turquoise. It speaks of the limitless heights of ascension, but it is opaque as earth, holding the wisdom of the earth and sky within it. Simultaneously, it embodies the duality of living and dying. This colour change this stone undergoes — from light exposure or skin oil — is thus a reminder of human life. Wearing the stone is thought to give the wearer long life, and it is believed to absorb sin.<br /><br /> Black in Buddhism is not so different from Western Culture in that it refers to darkness and hate. Meditating upon hate, anger, and darkness may not seem like the path to peace, but the principle revolves around coming to an understanding. Learning, rather than revelling in the black of ignorance, is the path to clarity and truth. Black is often used as a reminder of conquest by not annihilation, but turning evil into good. Black is most commonly found in <em>black paintings</em>, more specifically <em>black thangkas</em>, which are representations of deities, usually. Gold outlines and vibrant colors against a black background seemed even more capable of portraying other-worldly manifestations than those typically on plain, white backgrounds. Seen to the left is a female Bodhisattva who rids of miseries and disasters.<br /><br /> White is representative of the principles of purity, as in Western Culture, but it is also considered the colour of knowledge and longevity. It is consider a colour of extremes, associated with the cold of snow and the smelting of metal. White is associated with the Buddha Vairocana. According to Buddhist legend, Buddha’s mother, Maya, dreamt of a white elephant touching her right side before Buddha was born. Elephants, associate with rain clouds and fertility, are seen as good fortune, and following that the elephant was white meant purity and learnedness for the child. Because of this dream, seeing a white elephants spells remarkable fortune, which holds truth whether in reference to mysticism or not, as they are quite rare. The white elephant is thought to be Buddha descended from the heavens.<br /><br /> The colour red symbolizes lifeforce, preservation, fire, and sacred things or places. Also riddled with duality, fire can represent warmth and comfort, but can also be a destructive force. Red is associated with the Buddha Amitabha. Throughout Tibetan culture, red is a marker of sacred areas, and a true mark of a Buddhist scared area are the simplistic, tall gates at the entrances. We also see this colour on the garments on the monks. It is believed to be a protective colour, like that of shamanistic wards.<br /><br /> Green denotes youth, vigour, action (Karma), and harmony. Because it is the colour at the middle of the spectrum, it is also represents balance and is associated visually with the lush trees. Green is associated with the Buddha Amoghasiddhi.<br /><br /> Yellow is the colour that possesses the highest symbolic quality because of the saffron colour of the monks’ robes. Previously a colour worn by criminals, it was chosen as a symbol of humility and separation from materialistic society. It symbolizes renunciation and desirelessness. Because it is also the colour of the earth, yellow denotes stability and grounded nature.<br /><br />Coming to understand the principles represented by these colors, applying that wisdom to life, and being free from desire is how the Rainbow Body, and possibly Nirvana, is achieved.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/08/20/colors-of-religion-buddhism/">Original Link</a><br /><br /></div>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-2175336515403783092007-07-26T09:22:00.000+07:002008-12-10T13:46:33.988+07:00A Buddhist RPG<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13GUsEpmt6IRk3gjAyYehT6sc5m0FYtUsclCJgu0LNtw7gMMoIL7R4Udaq5JqOJM1GMbVYdX-nHZ9A5y7gvv9foDWbGQbx2EelWvK41uib7j77TnATLncV8IXWwxRFbXDIiaW3A/s1600-h/buddhistrpg.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13GUsEpmt6IRk3gjAyYehT6sc5m0FYtUsclCJgu0LNtw7gMMoIL7R4Udaq5JqOJM1GMbVYdX-nHZ9A5y7gvv9foDWbGQbx2EelWvK41uib7j77TnATLncV8IXWwxRFbXDIiaW3A/s400/buddhistrpg.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091325576735389010" border="0" /></a>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-16484915053312452392007-07-04T12:26:00.001+07:002007-07-04T12:28:21.932+07:00Dewi Lestari: Kisah retret 5 hari bersama Thich Nhat Hanh di Hongkong<div style="text-align: justify;"> Monday, May 28, 2007<br /><br />Meniti Jalan Tengah<br /><br />Sebuah e-mail saya terima bulan Maret lalu, info tentang retreat lima hari<br />bersama Master Zen Thich Nhat Hanh di Hongkong. Hati saya seketika<br />terangkat, intuisi saya berkata: pergi. Saya pengagum karya-karya beliau,<br />tapi tidak mempelajarinya secara mendalam. Bisikan kedua datang dari guru<br />sekaligus sahabat saya, yang juga berkata: pergi.<br /><br />Bahkan hingga saya menginjakkan kaki di Hongkong pada tanggal 11 Mei lalu,<br />menempuh perjalanan satu jam lebih ke Wu Kai Sha, dan meletakkan koper<br />saya di dalam kamar yang akan dihuni bersama lima orang lain selama lima<br />hari ke depan, saya masih belum tahu pasti apa yang saya cari, dan apa<br />yang akan saya dapat.<br /><br />Tercatat sekitar 400 orang yang menginap di kompleks retreat, 400 orang<br />datang pulang-pergi, plus 60 anggota Sangha yang didatangkan dari Plum<br />Village. Ini memang retreat skala besar. Hampir 900 orang berkumpul di<br />dalam aula setiap harinya. Suasana riuh dan tempo cepat yang membungkus<br />kami seketika bertransformasi seusai Thich Nhat Hanh muncul dan memberi<br />orientasi tentang "Five Mindfulness Trainings" yang akan kami jalankan<br />selama retreat. Tidak hanya dalam bentuk penjelasan tapi juga pengalaman<br />langsung yang akan dijalankan lewat meditasi berjalan, meditasi duduk,<br />makan, minum teh, bicara secukupnya, dibantu oleh energi kolektif Sangha<br />yang hadir membaur dengan para peserta.<br /><br />900 orang lalu mulai bergerak dalam keheningan, dalam tempo lambat, dengan<br />bungkukan hormat dan tangan berpose anjali, diiringi bunyi bel yang<br />sesekali digaungkan untuk mengingatkan semua orang berhenti beraktivitas<br />dan pulang pada irama napasnya. Lambat laun saya mulai memahami mengapa<br />saya memilih pergi.<br /><br />Sungguh, tidak ada kegiatan "luar biasa" yang saya lakukan di sana. Kami<br />sarapan, bermeditasi duduk dan berjalan, mendengarkan ceramah, makan<br />siang, istirahat, berdiskusi dalam kelompok kecil saat sore, makan malam,<br />tidur. Namun hidup seolah-olah ingin menunjukkan bahwa sesungguhnya setiap<br />hari adalah ritual kesadaran. Dan kita telah melewatkan kegiatan-kegiatan<br />sederhana ini bagai angin ribut yang menyapu padang bunga. Angin yang<br />berlomba menuju ruang kosong tanpa tahu banyaknya keindahan yang gugur di<br />bawah sana. Dan selama lima hari kami dilatih untuk menahan laju angin<br />badai ini, kembali menjadi udara yang bergerak semilir agar sempat<br />memetiki bunga-bunga cantik yang selama ini tumbuh tanpa disadari di<br />padang hidup kita.<br /><br />Pemamahan itu pun terus membulat dari hari ke hari. Mulai saya mengerti<br />mengapa guru saya menyuruh saya pergi. Pada bulan Maret, beberapa hari<br />sebelum info tentang retreat tersebut tiba, saya terlibat percakapan<br />dengannya, dan Sang Guru berkata: Remember that nature isn't just about<br />drives and impulses. Reality shouldn't be perceived as all restriction or<br />compromise, but as a pathway to ensure your safety towards your highest<br />purpose. And as the middle path walker you should be aware of the dynamic<br />between your inside and the outside world. To walk safely and respectfully<br />means you take both realms into consideration. Dan ketika saya bertanya<br />balik, koridor apa yang harus saya pakai, jawabannya singkat saja: five<br />precepts.<br /><br />Lima Sila ini telah digaungkan Sang Buddha sejak 2500 tahun lalu, sekilas<br />pintas tak jauh berbeda dengan Ten Commandments, atau nasihat standar<br />orang tua: Jangan membunuh. Jangan mencuri. Jangan berbohong. Jangan<br />berbuat asusila. Jangan mengonsumsi apa pun yang melemahkan kesadaran. Dan<br />terkadang, dengan konteks zaman yang jauh berubah, pola pikir yang<br />memodern dan kian canggih, sungguh tidak mudah mengerti kedalaman<br />perintah-perintah singkat itu, bahkan terasa naif dan tidak realistis.<br /><br />Kita sering lupa, bahwa penderitaan dalam kehidupan manusia, begitu juga<br />kebahagiaan yang didamba semua manusia tetap sama, terlepas dari zaman<br />Abraham manusia naik unta dan sekarang manusia terbang dengan Boeing.<br />Lebih riskan lagi, terkadang kita terjebak dalam pencerahan sebagai<br />momentum. Kita lupa bahwa menjadi tercerahkan melibatkan disiplin dan<br />praktek yang dijalankan seumur hidup. Kita tersesat dalam "spiritual"<br />sebagai konsep tinggal telan, dan mengabaikan aspek "spirit" yang tak<br />lepas dari "ritual".<br /><br />2500 tahun telah berlalu, guru-guru yang merupakan emanasi dari<br />kebijaksanaan Sang Buddha telah hadir dan pergi, dan saya bersyukur dapat<br />bertemu dan berpraktek langsung dengan salah seorang guru yang berhasil<br />menerjemahkan Lima Sila ke dalam pengertian modern. "Five Mindfulness<br />Trainings" yang dirumuskan Thich Nhat Hanh tak lain adalah penerapan Lima<br />Sila dalam konteks zaman sekarang, sebagaimana bernamaskara dijembataninya<br />menjadi ritual bersyukur pada bumi, orang tua, dan leluhur. Triratna<br />dijembataninya menjadi ajaran cinta kasih, pemahaman benar, dan komunitas<br />yang harmonis. Pada saat itu baru saya mampu mengapresiasi apa yang telah<br />dilakukan Thich Nhat Hanh selama ini. Beliau mampu menghidangkan kemurnian<br />ajaran Dharma dalam kemasan masa kini, tanpa mengintimidasi, tanpa<br />kehilangan otentisitas.<br /><br />Sejak lama saya menerima dan menyepakati ajaran Sang Buddha. Namun<br />Mindfulness Retreat menjadi titik balik bagi saya. "Five Mindfulness<br />Trainings" bukan kesaktian atau momen tunggal pencerahan yang<br />sekonyong-konyong menghajar kesadaran, melainkan komitmen harian dan kode<br />etik yang, jika dijalankan dengan setia, niscaya akan membuahkan mental<br />yang bersahaja, bermakna, dan peka. Sesuatu yang masuk akal dan konkret<br />untuk mewujudkan hidup damai yang didamba semua makhlukterlepas apa pun<br />bentuk dan keyakinannya. Bagi saya, koridor tersebut relevan untuk konteks<br />hari ini dan relevan pada setiap masa.<br /><br />Hari terakhir retreat. Sejak pukul setengah enam pagi semua peserta<br />berkumpul dalam aula. Kami, yang memilih untuk berkomitmen pada lima<br />praktek kesadaran, duduk berlutut. Dan saat saya bernamaskara, mengucapkan<br />komitmen saya, hati sayalah yang sesungguhnya bersujud mensyukuri<br />setidaknya tiga hal. Pertama, saya berkesempatan terlahir menjadi manusia.<br />Kedua, saya berkesempatan mengenal ajaran kebenaran dan kasih. Ketiga,<br />saya berkesempatan untuk meniti jalan tersebut.<br /><br />Kita dapat berdiri jauh dari jalan itu, membayangkan untuk meraihnya satu<br />hari tanpa menggerakkan satu pun kaki. Kita dapat berdiri begitu dekat<br />dari mulut jalan, tapi kabut tebal menghalangi pandangan hingga kita<br />berdiam lama tanpa berbuat apa-apa. Kita dapat melancong ke tepi jalan<br />itu, berfoto sejenak, lalu pergi untuk menambah koleksi tempat-tempat<br />wisata kita. Dan kita dapat pergi ke jalan itu, menitinya perlahan,<br />langkah demi langkah, tanpa terbebani iming-iming yang menanti di ujung<br />sana, dan hanya mengapresiasi komitmen dan upaya kecil kita setiap hari.<br />Memetiki bunga-bunga mungil yang selama ini terabaikan, menahan laju angin<br />badai yang senantiasa menggusur kaki ini keluar dari koridor. Jalan Tengah<br />dicari bukan hanya demi filosofi, tapi bukti untuk dijalani.<br /><br />Teks "Five Mindfulness Trainings" saya renungkan berkali-kali selama<br />retreat, bahkan saya menangis jika perlu. Ada keindahan yang tak<br />tertampung tubuh ketika pemahaman ini mengutuh. Perjalanan hidup saya…<br />pertemuan saya dengan sahabat sekaligus guru saya… hingga selembar tiket<br />elektronik yang menerbangkan saya ke Hongkong… tampak sebagai rangkaian<br />penggalian untuk kembali menemukan apa yang telah tertimbun oleh debu<br />batin dan waktu: vajrapermata yang bersemayam dalam diri. Terakhir, saya<br />bernamaskara bagi mereka, bagi kalian, bagi kita, bagi semua makhluk, yang<br />dengan caranya masing-masing telah menjadi guru terbaik saya.<br /><br />* Teks lengkap dari "Five Mindfulness Trainings" dapat dilihat di situs<br />resmi Plum Village: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.plumvillage.org/">www.plumvillage.org</a></div>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-4303077280755868112007-05-18T14:37:00.000+07:002007-05-18T14:39:14.859+07:00Da Vinci's Guide to Healthy LivingIf you want to be healthy observe this regime.<br /> Do not eat when you have no appetite, and dine lightly,<br /> Chew well, and whatever you take into you<br /> Should be well-cooked and of simple ingredients<br /> He who takes medicine is ill advised.<br /> Beware anger and avoid stuffy air.<br /> Stay standing a while when you get up from a meal.<br /> Make sure you do not sleep at midday.<br /> Let your wine be mixed with water, take little and often,<br /> Not between meals, not on an empty stomach.<br /> Neither delay nor prolong your visit to the toilet.<br /> If you take exercise, let it not be too strenuous.<br /> Do not lie with your stomach upward and your head<br /> Downward. Be well covered at night,<br /> And rest your head and keep your mind cheerful.<br /> Avoid wantonness and keep to this diet.<br /><br />=Da Vinci=david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-26666717563294088882007-03-16T16:06:00.000+07:002008-12-10T13:46:34.173+07:00A True Hero<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYENngSXti0YOUKYzxKgNU5gnYOIuclYswa31iUqFRmUhhjrasPTrjMSNPk4UFMzU79bZvtfOzqX9rTPHEJBQjtqBJ4MeRRsmluDC1gkhfXltIYvsR-PC-3xlasHzRiiekDyYjkA/s1600-h/Irena+Sendler.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYENngSXti0YOUKYzxKgNU5gnYOIuclYswa31iUqFRmUhhjrasPTrjMSNPk4UFMzU79bZvtfOzqX9rTPHEJBQjtqBJ4MeRRsmluDC1gkhfXltIYvsR-PC-3xlasHzRiiekDyYjkA/s320/Irena+Sendler.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042446634033527074" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="headline"><span class="bodyFont"><span class="headline"><b>W</b></span>ARSAW, Poland - Irena Sendler saved nearly 2,500 Jewish children from the Nazis, organizing a ring of 20 Poles to smuggle them out of the Warsaw Ghetto in baskets and ambulances.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> The Nazis arrested her, but she didn’t talk under torture. After she survived the war, she expressed regret - for doing too little.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Lawmakers in Poland’s Senate disagreed Wednesday, unanimously passing a resolution honoring her and the Polish underground’s Council for Assisting Jews, of which her ring of mostly Roman Catholics was a part.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Poland’s goverment-in-exile set up the secret organization in 1942 to help save Jews from the Nazi-established ghettoes and labor camps.<br /><br /></span></span><span class="headline"><span class="bodyFont">Anyone caught helping Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland risked being summarily shot, along with family members.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> The resolution honored Sendler for organizing the ”rescue of the most defenseless victims of the Nazi ideology: the Jewish children.”<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Sendler, now 97 and living in a Warsaw nursing home, was too frail to attend but sent a letter read by Elzbieta Ficowska, one of the children she rescued.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> ”Every child saved with my help and the help of all the wonderful secret messengers, who today are no longer living, is the justification of my existence on this Earth, and not a title to glory,” Sendler wrote. ”Over a half-century has passed since the hell of the Holocaust, but its specter still hangs over the world and doesn’t allow us to forget the tragedy.”<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> President Lech Kacyzinski said in an address to senators that Sendler is a ”great hero who can be justly proposed for the Nobel Peace Prize.”<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> After smuggling the children out of the ghetto and placing them with non-Jewish families, Sendler wrote their names on slips of paper and buried them in jars in a neighbor’s yard as a record that could help locate the children’s parents after the war. The Nazis arrested her in 1943, but she refused _ despite repeated torture _ to reveal their names.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> In 1965, <a class="under" href="http://news.bostonherald.com/search/?keyword=Israel&searchSite=pubdate"><b>Israel</b></a>’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial awarded Sendler one of its first medals given to people who saved Jews, the so-called ”Righteous Among the Nations.”<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> She was given the honor in 1983 after Poland’s communist authorities finally agreed to allow her to travel abroad.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> ”I think she’s a great lady, very courageous, and I think she’s a model for the whole international community,” Israel’s ambassador to Poland, David Peleg, said after the ceremony. ”I think that her courage is a very special one.”<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Poland was once home to around 3.5 million Jews, most of whom were killed in the Holocaust.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> After World War II, many Polish Jews suppressed their identities and married into the Roman Catholic majority, fearful of postwar pogroms and the anti-Semitism of the Moscow-backed communist regime.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td height="8"><spacer type="block" height="8" width="8"></td></tr></tbody></table> Allegations of anti-Semitism in Poland have continued to the present day. </span></span>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-44215779144266880362007-01-23T09:19:00.000+07:002008-12-10T13:46:34.395+07:00The happiest man in the world?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6icn5JmbMuX97mb7pPG6HhD0b157Aw0gEaIuV1J16JQ8EFbCBkqP9P8jaLrnHT6D9BajtobAtJMvetNwkrT7rHtKZbAi2i4sqooXN0TiJ2iWPr096cgRIXY9iUw3pfiY3NitJg/s1600-h/the+monk+and+philosofer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6icn5JmbMuX97mb7pPG6HhD0b157Aw0gEaIuV1J16JQ8EFbCBkqP9P8jaLrnHT6D9BajtobAtJMvetNwkrT7rHtKZbAi2i4sqooXN0TiJ2iWPr096cgRIXY9iUw3pfiY3NitJg/s320/the+monk+and+philosofer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5023047074897066434" border="0" /></a><br /><h2><span style="font-size:85%;"> ... and you can learn how he does it, says academic-turned-Buddhist monk</span></h2>By Anthony Barnes<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Published: 21 January 2007</span><h4> </h4> <div class="bodyCopy"> <div class="articleButton"> <div style="position: absolute; top: 313px; visibility: visible;" id="articlebutton" class="ad"> </div> </div> <div id="bodyCopyContent"> <p> To scientists, he is the world's happiest man. His level of mind control is astonishing and the upbeat impulses in his brain are off the scale. </p> <p> Now Matthieu Ricard, 60, a French academic-turned-Buddhist monk, is to share his secrets to make the world a happier place. The trick, he reckons, is to put some effort into it. In essence, happiness is a "skill" to be learned.</p> <p>His advice could not be more timely as tomorrow Britain will reach what, according to a scientific formula, is the most miserable day of the year. Tattered new year resolutions, the faded buzz of Christmas, debt, a lack of motivation and the winter weather conspire to create a peak of misery and gloom.</p> <p>But studies have shown that the mind can rise above it all to increase almost everyone's happiness. Mr Ricard, who is the French interpreter for Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, took part in trials to show that brain training in the form of meditation can cause an overwhelming change in levels of happiness.</p> <p>MRI scans showed that he and other long-term meditators - who had completed more than 10,000 hours each - experienced a huge level of "positive emotions" in the left pre-frontal cortex of the brain, which is associated with happiness. The right-hand side, which handles negative thoughts, is suppressed.</p> <p>Further studies have shown that even novices who have done only a little meditation have increased levels of happiness. But Mr Ricard's abilities were head and shoulders above the others involved in the trials.</p> <p>"The mind is malleable," Mr Ricard told The Independent on Sunday yesterday. "Our life can be greatly transformed by even a minimal change in how we manage our thoughts and perceive and interpret the world. Happiness is a skill. It requires effort and time."</p> <p>Mr Ricard was brought up among Paris's intellectual elite in the 1960s, but after working for a PhD in biochemsitry he abandoned his distinguished academic career to study Tibetan Buddhism in the Himalayas.</p> <p><img src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/dciam/My%20Documents/the%20monk%20and%20philosofer.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/dciam/My%20Documents/the%20monk%20and%20philosofer.jpg" alt="" />A book of philosophical conversations he conducted with his father Jean-François Revel, The Monk and the Philosopher, became an unlikely publishing phenomenon when it came out in France in the late 1990s.</p> <p>Mr Ricard is to publish his book Happiness for the first time in the UK next month. </p> </div> </div>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1164882273850429852006-11-30T17:23:00.000+07:002006-11-30T17:24:33.863+07:00The Big Question: Why are we here ?<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/13NPZ5Nv_fc"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/13NPZ5Nv_fc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1162375637370268812006-11-01T17:04:00.000+07:002006-11-01T17:08:11.776+07:00The man behind the mission<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3900/1126/1600/Ajahn%20Brahm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3900/1126/320/Ajahn%20Brahm.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />by NISSARA HORAYANGURA, Bangkok Post, Oct 29, 2006<br /><br />Bangkok, Thailand -- Who's reading Ajahn Brahm's book? A very mixed<br />crowd - Germans, Chinese, Thais, any number of people literate in the<br />eight languages into which his book has been translated. Executives,<br />students, psychologists, even Christian chaplains.<br /><br />"Last month, a<br />Catholic priest in Adelaide phoned me especially to thank me for the<br />book because he uses it in his chaplaincy work," Ajahn Brahm says,<br />sounding both delighted and a bit amazed. "When you get praise from<br />Christians, you think, wow, this book is actually making those bridges<br />between different religions."<br /><br />With his knack for presenting Buddhist teachings without being too<br />"Buddhisty" - conveying their wisdom in universally relevant ways - he<br />makes a skilful bridge-builder (if an imperfect bricklayer).<br /><br />Whether travelling around the world giving talks or based at his<br />monastery in Australia, where only two per cent of the population is<br />Buddhist, Ajahn Brahm is actively involved in interfaith dialogue,<br />although he would rather not use the term "dialogue".<br /><br />"It's friendship, actually," he says.<br /><br />He tells of a particularly close friendship he has with the Catholic<br />abbot of a Benedictine monastery just north of Perth. Both being<br />entertaining speakers, they regularly do public talks together as "The<!-- D(["mb"," \nTwo Abbots", a sort of two-man spiritual-comedy act. \n \nThe concept is catchy, but also inspiring. "People see a Buddhist abbot \nand a Catholic abbot sitting together, talking about similar things, and \nbeing obviously friends. And they love it." \n \nThe two abbots\' close friendship also makes it possible to have that \n"interfaith dialogue" more effectively. Ajahn Brahm observes that at \nmany interfaith gatherings, one has to "tread on eggshells" out of fear \nof causing offence. \n \n"But our friendship has gone way beyond that now. We know each other \nwell enough that we\'re not afraid to disagree. He can say whatever he \nlikes. He\'s my friend and I refuse to be offended. \n \n"He can say, \'I don\'t believe in reincarnation!\' And I can say, \'I don\'t \nbelieve in God!\' And we both win, because we know exactly what we mean," \nhe says with a laugh. \n \nDebates about God\'s existence aside, another sticking point some \nBuddhists - particularly orthodox Theravadans - may have in truly \nrespecting other religions is their belief that the only way to achieve \nultimate liberation is through the practice of insight meditation, which \nis not found in other religions. \n \nWhen this point is raised, Ajahm Brahm immediately responds, "That\'s \ncalled conceit." \n \nHe then goes on to quote an inarguable authority - the Lord Buddha. \n"Once the Buddha was asked that question - \'Can you become enlightened \nin other traditions?\' And he gave this beautiful answer: \'Wherever \nthere\'s an eightfold path, wherever you practise a bit of meditation, \nsome virtue, some wisdom, there you\'ll find people becoming \nenlightened."\' \n \nStill, that watch-word "meditation" was mentioned, was it not? Yes, but \nAjahn Brahm is keen to demystify "meditation". Many times in his talks, \nhe emphasizes that there is nothing magical or esoteric about it. \nMeditation is simply stilling the mind. "It\'s a fundamental freedom of",1] ); //--></script><br />Two Abbots", a sort of two-man spiritual-comedy act.<br /><br />The concept is catchy, but also inspiring. "People see a Buddhist abbot<br />and a Catholic abbot sitting together, talking about similar things, and<br />being obviously friends. And they love it."<br /><br />The two abbots' close friendship also makes it possible to have that<br />"interfaith dialogue" more effectively. Ajahn Brahm observes that at<br />many interfaith gatherings, one has to "tread on eggshells" out of fear<br />of causing offence.<br /><br />"But our friendship has gone way beyond that now. We know each other<br />well enough that we're not afraid to disagree. He can say whatever he<br />likes. He's my friend and I refuse to be offended.<br /><br />"He can say, 'I don't believe in reincarnation!' And I can say, 'I don't<br />believe in God!' And we both win, because we know exactly what we mean,"<br />he says with a laugh.<br /><br />Debates about God's existence aside, another sticking point some<br />Buddhists - particularly orthodox Theravadans - may have in truly<br />respecting other religions is their belief that the only way to achieve<br />ultimate liberation is through the practice of insight meditation, which<br />is not found in other religions.<br /><br />When this point is raised, Ajahm Brahm immediately responds, "That's<br />called conceit."<br /><br />He then goes on to quote an inarguable authority - the Lord Buddha.<br />"Once the Buddha was asked that question - 'Can you become enlightened<br />in other traditions?' And he gave this beautiful answer: 'Wherever<br />there's an eightfold path, wherever you practise a bit of meditation,<br />some virtue, some wisdom, there you'll find people becoming<br />enlightened."'<br /><br />Still, that watch-word "meditation" was mentioned, was it not? Yes, but<br />Ajahn Brahm is keen to demystify "meditation". Many times in his talks,<br />he emphasizes that there is nothing magical or esoteric about it.<br />Meditation is simply stilling the mind. "It's a fundamental freedom of<script><!-- D(["mb"," \nall human beings." He likens it to getting out of a speeding car and \nwalking. When you\'re riding in the car, you can only see the world \nwhizzing by through the window, the details blurred. Once you slow down, \nonce you still the mind, you can see more clearly. \n \nBuddhism has no monopoly on meditation. He points out that meditation is \nso popular nowadays that there are meditation groups in Christian and \nother faiths, so non-Buddhists can practise it within a tradition \nthey\'re comfortable with. \n \nNor does Buddhism, or any religion, have a monopoly on truth. \n \n"Now, you can actually bottle water and sell it. But you can\'t bottle \ntruth and sell it. Religions try to do that. [They say] \'We\'re the only \nones who\'ve got the truth. So we\'ve got the franchise, and no one else \ncan sell it."\' \n \nJust as water is the same, no matter what bottle it\'s in (and no matter \nwhat those clever marketers say), so truth is the same, no matter what \nreligious container it\'s in - love, peace, harmony, forgiveness, \nfreedom. \n \nMaking that distinction between the containers and the contents is the \nkey to avoiding inter-religious strife, he says. So much conflict is \ninstigated when others attack one\'s own containers - the symbols, texts, \nicons of one\'s religion. But one need not get upset if one can remember \nthat they are just symbols, and focus on maintaining the contents, the \nteachings. \n \n"When the Taliban destroyed the Bamyan Buddha statues, Buddhists did not \nallow themselves to seek revenge, because that would, in fact, mean the \nTaliban had succeeded not only in destroying the containers, but also \nthe contents." \n \nSimilarly, he says, "A Muslim might say, \'I don\'t like those cartoons \n[referring to the controversy over offensive caricatures drawn of the \nProphet Muhammad], but it\'s more important that we\'re friends. \nForgiven.\' Wouldn\'t it be wonderful if that happened?"",1] ); //--></script><br />all human beings." He likens it to getting out of a speeding car and<br />walking. When you're riding in the car, you can only see the world<br />whizzing by through the window, the details blurred. Once you slow down,<br />once you still the mind, you can see more clearly.<br /><br />Buddhism has no monopoly on meditation. He points out that meditation is<br />so popular nowadays that there are meditation groups in Christian and<br />other faiths, so non-Buddhists can practise it within a tradition<br />they're comfortable with.<br /><br />Nor does Buddhism, or any religion, have a monopoly on truth.<br /><br />"Now, you can actually bottle water and sell it. But you can't bottle<br />truth and sell it. Religions try to do that. [They say] 'We're the only<br />ones who've got the truth. So we've got the franchise, and no one else<br />can sell it."'<br /><br />Just as water is the same, no matter what bottle it's in (and no matter<br />what those clever marketers say), so truth is the same, no matter what<br />religious container it's in - love, peace, harmony, forgiveness,<br />freedom.<br /><br />Making that distinction between the containers and the contents is the<br />key to avoiding inter-religious strife, he says. So much conflict is<br />instigated when others attack one's own containers - the symbols, texts,<br />icons of one's religion. But one need not get upset if one can remember<br />that they are just symbols, and focus on maintaining the contents, the<br />teachings.<br /><br />"When the Taliban destroyed the Bamyan Buddha statues, Buddhists did not<br />allow themselves to seek revenge, because that would, in fact, mean the<br />Taliban had succeeded not only in destroying the containers, but also<br />the contents."<br /><br />Similarly, he says, "A Muslim might say, 'I don't like those cartoons<br />[referring to the controversy over offensive caricatures drawn of the<br />Prophet Muhammad], but it's more important that we're friends.<br />Forgiven.' Wouldn't it be wonderful if that happened?"<script><!-- D(["mb"," \n \nFollowing an incident where US soldiers allegedly flushed a copy of the \nKoran down a toilet, Ajahn Brahm was asked what he would do if someone \nflushed a Buddhist holy book down a toilet. \n \n"Call a plumber." \n \nNational Institute of Education (Singapore) <a>http://www.nie.edu.sg</a><br />\nDISCLAIMER: The information contained in this email, including any attachments, may contain confidential information. This email is intended only for the use of the addressee(s) listed above. Unauthorized review, dissemination or any other use of the information contained in this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error or have reason to believe that you are not authorized to receive it, please notify the sender by return e-mail and promptly delete this e-mail. Thank you. </div> \n <div>\n <div>\n <a>\n Back to top </a>\n </div> <a>\n Reply to <font>sender</span>\n </a> |\n <a>\n Reply to <font>group</span>\n </a> |\n <a>\n Reply <font>via web post</span>\n </a><br />\n <a>",1] ); //--></script><br /><br />Following an incident where US soldiers allegedly flushed a copy of the<br />Koran down a toilet, Ajahn Brahm was asked what he would do if someone<br />flushed a Buddhist holy book down a toilet.<br /><br />"Call a plumber."david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1162374880532082852006-11-01T16:53:00.000+07:002006-11-01T16:54:40.543+07:00Enlightment"Once the Buddha was asked that question - 'Can you become enlightened<br />in other traditions?' And he gave this beautiful answer: 'Wherever<br />there's an eightfold path, wherever you practise a bit of meditation,<br />some virtue, some wisdom, there you'll find people becoming<br />enlightened."'david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1157616804945686322006-09-07T15:09:00.000+07:002006-09-07T15:13:24.960+07:00Grant yourself a moment of peace,<br />and you will understand<br />how foolishly you have scurried about.<br /><br />Learn to be silent,<br />and you will notice that<br />you have talked too much.<br /><br />Be kind,<br />and you will realise that<br />your judgement of others was too severe.<br /><br />= Ancient Chinese Proverb =david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1156146234394386902006-08-21T14:32:00.000+07:002006-08-21T14:43:54.406+07:00MarriageSince I became a celibate monk, I have married many women.<br /> Part of my job as a Buddhist monk is to perform the religious part of Buddhist marriage ceremonies. According to my tradition of Buddhism, a lay Buddhist is the official marriage celebrant, but many of the couples regard me as the one who married them. So I have married many women and many men as well.<br /> It is said that there are three rings to a marriage: the engagement ring, the wedding ring, and the <span style="font-weight: bold;">suffer-ring</span> !<br /> So trouble is to be expected. When there is trouble, the people I have married often come to talk to me. Being a monk who likes an easy life, I include in my marriage service the next three stories, intended to keep the three of us out of trouble for as long as possible.<br /><br />=Opening The Door of Your Heart=<br />by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/103-1958621-6627060?ie=UTF8&index=books&rank=-relevance%2C%2Bavailability%2C-daterank&field-author-exact=Ajahn%20Brahm">Ajahn Brahm</a><br /><br />ps: one of the stories is the "Commitment" story i post before this.david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1156143722655773182006-08-21T13:51:00.000+07:002006-08-21T14:02:02.666+07:00CommitmentMy view of relationships and marriage is this: when the couple are going out, they are merely involved; when they become engaged, they are still involved, maybe more deeply; when they publicly exchange marriage vows, that is commitment.<br /><br /> The meaning of marriage ceremony is the commitment. During a ceremony, to drive home the meaning in a way peoply usually remember for the rest of their lives, I explain that the difference between involvement and commitment is the same as the difference between bacon and eggs.<br /><br /> At this point, the in-laws and friends start to pay attention. They begin to wonder, 'What has bacon and eggs got to do with marriage ?' I continue.<br /><br /> 'With bacon and eggs, the chicken is only involved, but the pig is committed. Let this be a pig marriage.'<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0861712781/sr=1-1/qid=1156143354/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-1958621-6627060?ie=UTF8&s=books">=Opening The Door of Your Heart=</a><br />by Ajahn Brahmdavid ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1153706000227074692006-07-24T08:52:00.000+07:002006-07-24T08:53:20.243+07:00Everyday is Special Day<span style="font-size:78%;color:#0000bf;">Tiap Hari Adalah Istimewa<br />By Ann Wells (Los Angeles Times)<br /> <br />Kakak iparku membuka laci lemari pakaian kakakku yang paling bawah, lalu mengambil sesuatu terbungkus tissue putih dan mengulurkannya kepadaku sambil berkata: "Ini pakaian dalam yang sangat spesial."<br /> <br />Kubuka bungkusan itu, dan kutemukan sebuah pakaian dalam yang sangat menawan, lembut, terbuat dari sutera, disulam tangan, dengan tali sangat lembut. Tag harga masih tertempel, dengan kode-kode penjualannya yang rumit.<br /> <br />"Jane membelinya 8 atau 9 tahun yang lalu, dan belum pernah memakainya.Katanya ia ingin memakainya untuk suatu kesempatan yang sangat istimewa.Yah, rasanya inilah hari yang istimewa itu," kata kakak iparku lemah.<br /> <br />Ia mengambil pakaian dalam itu dari tanganku, dan meletakkannya di tas tempat tidur, bersama dengan pakaian lainnya yang kami persiapkan untuk dibawa ke rumah duka. <br />Ia memegang pakaian dalam itu sejenak, dan dengan tiba-tiba ia menutup laci tersebut keras-keras sambil berkata keras padaku:</span><span style="color:#0000bf;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong> "Jangan pernah menyimpan sesuatu yang istimewa untuk kesempatan istimewa. Hidupmu tiap hari adalah istimewa." <br /></strong> <br />Aku terus ingat kata-kata tersebut sepanjang upacara pemakaman dan<br />hari-hari sesudahnya. Saya membantu dia dan keponakan-keponakan saya untuk melewati hari-hari berkabung setelah kematian kakakku yang mendadak. Aku juga terus memikirkan mereka sepanjang penerbanganku kembali ke California dari kota Midwestern di mana kakakku tinggal. Aku juga memikirkan hal-hal yang belum sempat didengar, dilihat atau dikerjakan oleh almarhum kakakku.<br /> <br />Aku juga memikirkan hal-hal yang sudah ia kerjakan tanpa menyadari Bahwa hal-hal tersebut sungguh sangat spesial. Aku terus memikirkan kata-kata kakak iparku, dan sepertinya kata-kata yang ia ucapkan saat hatinya penuh duka tersebut telah mengubah hidupku. Mendadak sepertinya aku telah membaca sedemikian banyak buku tetang kehidupan.<br />Aku lalu memandang ke luar jendela dan menikmati pemandangan udara yang indah, tanpa pusing lagi memikirkan bagaimana kebun kesayanganku yang telah kutinggal pergi beberapa hari.<br /> <br />Sesampai di rumahku sendiri,aku lalu menyempatkan diri untuk lebih Banyak berkumpul dengan keluargaku dan teman-temanku, dan langsung mengurangi kegiatan rapat-rapatku. Apabila diperlukan, hidup ini semestinya dipenuhi pola-pola untuk pengalaman tentang kenikmatan, dan bukan pertahanan serta beban. Sekarang saya mencoba untuk memperhitungkan waktu dengan lebih teliti dan mensyukurinya. <br /> <br />Aku tidak "menyimpan" sesuatu. Kami bahkan menggunakan chinawares<br />(piring-piring buatan cina) dan koleksi kristal kami setiap hari, tanpa<br />menunggu ada pesta, ada tamu atau lainnya. Ketika kami kehilangan uang, ketika kran air bocor, ketika bunga camelia kami mekar, adalah saat-saat yang kami istimewakan.<br /> <br />Saya pergi ke pasar memakai pakaian yang indah, jika memang sedang ingin. Semua kami lakukan tanpa rasa sayang yang berlebihan terhadap barang-barang tersebut. Teorinya, kalau saya kelihatan lebih berada daripada orang-orang di sekitarku, saya juga akan menjadi tidak pelit terhadap diriku sendiri. <br /> <br />Saya tidak hanya memakai parfum kalau pergi ke pesta. <br /> <br />Pelayan di toko bangunan, tukang sayur di pasar, teller di bank, dan<br />teman-temanku di pesta, memiliki hidung yang berfungsi sama. Kata-kata "suatu hari kelak" ataupun "hari-hari ini", mempunyai makna yang sama bagi saya. Jika ada hal-hal yang layak didengar, ditonton, dibaca atau dikerjakan, saya akan berusaha mendengar, menonton, membaca atau mengerjakannya sekarang juga.<br /> <br />Saya tidak tahu apa kira-kira yang akan almarhum kakakku apabila ia tahu bahwa keesokan harinya ("besok" adalah kata-kata yang tidak pernah kita bayangkan akan tidak terjadi) ia sudah tidak akan ada lagi di dunia ini. Mungkin ia akan menelpon seluruh keluarganya dan beberapa teman dekatnya, mungkin ia akan menelpon teman-teman lamanya dan meminta maaf akan kesalahan-kesalahan yang ia lakukan di masa lalu. Saya bahkan juga membayangkan bahwa ia justru akan pergi ke sebuah restoran cina yang sangat ia sukai.<br /> <br />Tapi semua itu hanya perkiraanku saja. Kita tidak pernah tahu. <br /> <br />Hal-hal tersebut pasti akan membuat aku marah bila belum dapat saya lakukan padahal saya tidak memiliki waktu lagi. Marah karena selama ini saya selalu menunda pertemuan-pertemuan dengan teman-teman baik saya, meskipun Saya sangat ingin berjumpa dengan mereka.<br /> <br />Marah, karena selama ini saya jarang membalas surat-surat yang saya terima. Marah dan menyesal karena selama ini saya jarang sekali mengatakan pada isteri dan anak-anakku, betapa Saya menyayangi mereka. Kini saya selalu mengusahakan untuk tidak menunda atau menahan hal-hal yang sekiranya akan menambah keceriaan, kesulitan atau kesedihan dalam hidup ini. membuat saya tertawa.<br /> <br /></span></span><span style="color:#0000bf;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Dan setiap pagi, begitu saya membuka mata, saya katakan pada diri saya sendiri, bahwa hari itu adalah hari yang spesial. Setiap hari, setiap menit, setiap nafas, adalah benar-benar anugerah yang indah dari Tuhan.<br /></strong> <br />Jika anda menerima mail ini, pasti karena ada orang yang peduli dan Sayang kepada anda. Jika anda selama ini terlalu sibuk, cobalah berhenti sejenak.<br /> <br />Sempatkan beberapa menit saja memikirkan orang-orang yang dekat di hati anda, teman-teman yang telah memberikan warna pada hidup anda, guru, pembimbing, siapapun. Kalau perlu, forward email ini kepada mereka, just to show that you care.<br /> <br /></span></span><strong><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#0000bf;">"Good friends must always hold hands, but true friends do not need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there." </span></span></strong>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1138260696355882902006-01-26T14:29:00.000+07:002006-01-26T14:31:36.366+07:00Paradox of Our AgeWe have bigger houses but smaller families;<br />more conveniences, but less time;<br />We have more degrees, but less sense;<br />more knowledge, but less judgement;<br />more experts, but more problems;<br />more medicines, but less healthiness;<br />We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour.<br />We built more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication;<br />We have become long on quantity, but short on quality.<br />These are times of fast foods but slow digestion;<br />Tall man but short character;<br />Steep profits but shallow relationships.<br />It's a time when there is much in the window,<br />but nothing in the room.<br /><br />- His Holiness Dalai Lamadavid ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1134632229389638772005-12-15T14:35:00.000+07:002005-12-15T14:37:09.400+07:00How can we be happy ?When the Buddha spoke to people who were interested in happiness— which some people are — they said, “How can we be happy?” He said, “Well, one way is to understand the law of karma. If you cultivate generosity, kindness, awareness and giving. you will be happy because you’ll learn that it’s pleasant, and also the way that karma works is that your world will become more of a cycling rather than fear and holding.You will discover happiness in this generosity.” He said, “If you’re kind to people, if you maintain a basic level of non-harming — what’s called Virtue — if your words are honest andhelpful, if your actions are truthful and helpful and based on kindness,your world will start to become kind. Inside you’ll feel kinder and happier; outside people will treat you that way. The law of Karma is one of the first things you observe if you practice mindfulness and awareness.This is one thing you can discover through practice.<br /><br /><em>Siddharta Gotama</em>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1134628566030698352005-12-15T13:34:00.000+07:002005-12-15T13:36:06.040+07:00Belief<div style="text-align: justify;">There’s a story of a pious man who very much believed in God.<br />One day, at the place where he dwelled, it started to rain heavily and it<br />rained and rained, and a big flood came. He went from the first floor to<br />the second floor of his house and the water rose until he was on the roof.<br />Someone rowed by and said, “Get in, my friend, I’ll save you; the water<br />is rising.” He said, “No, I believe in God; I really have faith; I believe.”<br />So he sent the rowboat away.<br /><br />It rained more and the water got all the<br />way up to his neck. Another rowboat came by, picking up people. “Get<br />in, my friend, I’ll save you.” “No, thank you. I have trust. I have lived<br />my whole life. I believe in God; no need.” The rowboat went away. It<br />got up to his nose so he could just barely breathe. And a helicopter came<br />over and lowered down a rope.“Come up,myfriend, I’ll save you.” “No,<br />thank you. I believe, I have faith, I trust.” So the helicopter went away.<br /><br />It rained some more and he drowned. He goes to heaven after that.<br />Soon after that he gets an interview with God. So he goes in, and he sits<br />down and pays his respects, and then he says, “You know, I just don’t<br />understand. Here I was your faithful servant. I was so trusting, and<br />prayed, and so believing, and I just don’t understand what happened to<br />me.” And he recounts all of his circumstances. “Where were you when<br />I needed you?”<br /><br />God looks up and kind of scratches his head and says,<br />“I don’t understand it either. I sent you two rowboats and a helicopter.”</div>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1133831699237428692005-12-06T08:14:00.000+07:002005-12-15T13:38:49.473+07:00INGAT PERATURAN NO. 5<div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><pre><span style="font-family:Arial;"><tt>Suatu hari Sang Guru sedang rapat dengan seorang rekan bisnisnya.<br />Di tengah-tengah rapat, tiba-tiba seorang anak buah Sang Guru masuk ke <br />ruang rapat sambil tersengal-sengal dan dengan kalut dia melaporkan <br />sesuatu kepada Sang Guru. <br />Sang Guru menjawab: "Ingat peraturan nomor 5."<br />Mendengar ini, anak buahnya kontan jadi tenang, meminta maaf, dan mohon diri. <br />Sebentar kemudian, seorang anak buah lainnya dari Sang Guru <br />menginterupsi rapat dan dengan resah mengeluhkan suatu masalah yang <br />tampaknya membuatnya berbeban berat. <br />Sang Guru menjawab: "Ingat peraturan nomor 5." Mendengar ini, anak <br />buahnya kontan jadi tenang, meminta maaf, dan mohon diri. <br />Sejenak berlalu, lagi-lagi seorang anak buah yang lain dari Sang Guru <br />menerobos ke ruang rapat dan dengan penuh kekesalan menyampaikan uneg- <br />unegnya kepada Sang Guru. <br />Sang Guru menjawab: "Ingat peraturan nomor 5." Mendengar ini, anak <br />buahnya kontan jadi tenang, meminta maaf, dan mohon diri. <br />Menyaksikan peristiwa itu, rekan bisnis Sang Guru tidak tahan lagi <br />untuk mengungkapkan rasa penasarannya.<br />Ia bertanya: "Apa sih peraturan nomor 5 itu?" <br />Sang Guru menjawab: "JANGAN SERIUS-SERIUS AMAT LAH." <br />"Ooo, itu peraturan yang bagus," ujar rekan bisnisnya seraya mengangguk- angguk,<br />"lalu, apa bunyi peraturan-peraturan lainnya?" <br />"Nggak ada sih, itu aja!" sahut Sang Guru sambil tersenyum lebar. <br />Cerita di atas mengajarkan kepada kita banyak hal mengenai kelapangan <br />hati. Dalam keseharian hidup, kita senantiasa berkecimpung dengan hal- <br />hal yang membuat kita cemas dan kesal. Andaikata kita bisa meletakkan <br />setiap permasalahan kita dalam perspektif yang benar-benar esensial dan <br />bernilai, kita akan bisa berpikir dengan lebih jernih. <br />Sebuah studi menunjukkan bahwa "penyebab kecemasan" orang-orang adalah: <br />- hal-hal yang tak pernah terjadi: 40% <br />- hal-hal yang silam dan tak bisa diubah: 30% <br />- perasaan takut sakit: 12% <br />- hal-hal sepele atau kurang beralasan: 10% <br />- masalah yang nyata/betulan: 8% <br />Jadi, survei membuktikan: 92% adalah kecemasan semu nan sia-sia! <br />Seiring dengan tumbuhnya kedewasaan spiritual kita, kita akan semakin <br />menyadari kenyataan bahwa sehebat apa pun, kita dan segala atribut kita <br />bukanlah pusat dari alam semesta. Dengan pemahaman ini, tatkala kita <br />menghadapi kecemasan atau kekesalan, kita bisa mengingatkan diri bahwa <br />apa yang terjadi pada kita bukanlah hal yang bersifat "personal". <br />Alam dan kehidupan berjalan secara tidak memihak. Semakin kita mampu <br />menyelaraskan diri dengan jalannya kehidupan, akan semakin damai dan <br />bahagialah kita. Kalau kita senantiasa ingat "peraturan nomor 5", kita <br />akan lebih mudah untuk terus bangkit dan melenggang dalam segala <br />terpaan hidup. <br />Be happy! <br />Illuminata ini disumbangkan oleh: HANDAKA VIJJANANDA di BANGKOK. <br />Untuk mendapatkan Illuminata secara teratur dan gratis, kirimkan email <br />kosong ke: <a href="http://us.f517.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ehipassiko_foundation-subscribe@yahoogroups.com&YY=33276&order=down&sort=date&pos=0">ehipassiko_foundation-subscribe@yahoogroups.com</a>.<br />Anda akan segera mendapatkan email dari yahoo yang menanyakan konfirmasi Anda; <br />silakan "reply dan send" dalam tempo tidak lebih dari 7 hari. <br />Illuminata disajikan oleh Ehipassiko Foundation, suatu yayasan <br />nonprofit nonsektarian yang bermisi mewujudkan Belas Kasih dan <br />Kebijaksanaan melalui penerbitan buku, media elektronik, ceramah,<br />dan program pelajar asuh. Buku-buku Ehipassiko tersedia di Gramedia atau <br />dapat dibeli online di www.karaniya.com. Keuntungan layanan online: <br />hemat 10%, bebas ongkos kirim, dan praktis.</tt></span></pre></div> <div> </div>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1133084028330259302005-11-27T16:30:00.000+07:002005-11-27T16:33:48.343+07:00Life* Hidup adalah kesempatan, gunakan itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah keindahan, kagumi itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah mimpi, wujudkan itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah tantangan, hadapi itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah kewajiban, penuhi itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah pertandingan, jalani itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah mahal, jaga itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah kekayaan, simpan itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah kasih, nikmati itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah janji, genapi itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah kesusahan, atasi itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah nyanyian, nyanyikan itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah perjuangan, terima itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah tragedi, hadapi itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah petualangan, lewati itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah keberuntungan, laksanakan itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah terlalu berharga, jangan rusakkan itu.<br /><br /> * Hidup adalah hidup, berjuanglah untuk itu.<br /><br /> "We can do no great things, only small things with great love. "<br /> --Mother Teresadavid ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1131599795746794362005-11-10T12:15:00.000+07:002005-11-10T12:23:24.443+07:00BISA MATI KAPAN SAJA<div style="text-align: justify;"> <pre><span style="font-size:110%;"><tt>Seorang pria mendatangi Sang Guru, "Guru, saya sudah bosan hidup. Sudah<br />jenuh betul. Rumah tangga saya berantakan. Usaha saya kacau. Apa pun<br />yang saya lakukan selalu berantakan. Saya ingin mati saja.<br /><br />"Sang Guru tersenyum, "Oh, kamu sakit." "Tidak Guru, saya tidak sakit.<br />Saya sehat. Hanya jenuh dengan kehidupan. Itu sebabnya saya ingin<br />mati."<br /><br />Seolah-olah tidak mendengar pembelaannya, Sang Guru meneruskan, "Kamu<br />sakit. Dan penyakitmu itu dinamakan Alergi Hidup."<br /><br />Banyak sekali di antara kita yang alergi terhadap kehidupan. Kemudian,<br />tanpa disadari kita melakukan hal-hal yang bertentangan dengan norma<br />kehidupan. Sungai kehidupan ini mengalir terus, tetapi kita<br />menginginkan status-quo. Kita berhenti di tempat, kita tidak ikut<br />mengalir. Itu sebabnya kita jatuh sakit. Kita mengundang penyakit.<br />Resistensi kita, penolakan kita untuk ikut mengalir bersama kehidupan<br />membuat kita sakit. Yang namanya usaha, pasti ada pasang-surutnya.<br />Dalam hal berumah tangga, bentrokan-bentrokan kecil itu lumrah.<br />Persahabatan pun tidak selalu langgeng. Apa sih yang langgeng, yang<br />abadi dalam hidup ini? Kita tidak menyadari sifat kehidupan. Kita ingin<br />mempertahankan suatu keadaan. Kemudian kita gagal, kecewa, dan<br />menderita.<br /><br />"Penyakitmu itu bisa disembuhkan, asal kamu ingin sembuh dan bersedia<br />mengikuti petunjukku," kata Sang Guru. "Tidak Guru, tidak! Saya sudah<br />betul-betul bosan. Saya tidak ingin hidup," pria itu menolak tawaran<br />sang guru.<br /><br />"Jadi kamu tidak ingin sembuh. Kamu betul-betul ingin mati?" "Ya,<br />memang saya sudah bosan hidup." "Baiklah, kalau begitu maumu. Ambillah<br />botol obat ini. Setengah botol diminum malam ini, setengah botol lagi<br />besok petang. Besok malam kau akan mati dengan tenang."<br /><br />Giliran pria itu jadi bingung. Setiap guru yang ia datangi selama ini<br />selalu berupaya untuk memberikannya semangat hidup. Yang satu ini aneh.<br />Ia malah menawarkan racun. Tetapi karena ia memang sudah betul-betul<br />jemu, ia menerimanya dengan senang hati. Sesampai di rumah, ia langsung<br />menenggak setengah botol "obat" dari Sang Guru. Dan... ia merasakan<br />ketenangan yang tidak pernah ia rasakan sebelumnya... Begitu santai!<br />Tinggal 1 malam, 1 hari, dan ia akan mati. Ia akan terbebaskan dari<br />segala macam masalah. Malam itu, ia memutuskan untuk makan malam<br />bersama keluarga di restoran Jepang. Sesuatu yang sudah tidak pernah ia<br />lakukan selama beberapa tahun terakhir.<br /><br />Pikir-pikir malam terakhir, ia ingin meninggalkan kenangan manis.<br />Sambil makan, ia bersenda gurau. Suasananya santai banget! Sebelum<br />tidur, ia mencium istrinya dan berbisik, "Sayang, aku mencintaimu."<br />Esoknya bangun tidur, ia membuka jendela kamar dan melihat ke luar.<br />Tiupan angin pagi menyegarkan tubuhnya dan ia tergerak untuk melakukan<br />jalan pagi. Pulang ke rumah setengah jam kemudian, ia melihat istrinya<br />masih tertidur. Tanpa membangunkannya, ia masuk dapur dan membuat 2<br />cangkir kopi. Satu untuk dirinya, satu lagi untuk istrinya. Karena pagi<br />itu adalah pagi terakhir, ia ingin meninggalkan kenangan manis! Sang<br />istri pun merasa aneh sekali. Selama ini, mungkin aku salah, "Maafkan<br />aku, sayang."<br /><br />Di kantor, ia menyapa setiap orang. Stafnya pun bingung, "Hari ini boss<br />kita kok aneh ya?" Dan sikap mereka pun langsung berubah. Mereka<br />menjadi lembut. Karena siang itu adalah siang terakhir, ia ingin<br />meninggalkan kenangan manis! Tiba-tiba, segala sesuatu di sekitarnya<br />berubah. Ia menjadi ramah dan lebih toleran, bahkan apresiatif terhadap<br />perbedaan pendapat. Tiba-tiba hidup menjadi indah. Ia mulai<br />menikmatinya. Pulang ke rumah petang itu, ia menemukan istri tercinta<br />menungguinya di beranda. Kali ini justru sang istri yang memberikan<br />ciuman kepadanya, "Sayang, sekali lagi aku minta maaf, kalau selama ini<br />aku selalu merepotkan kamu." Anak-anak pun tidak ingin<br />ketinggalan, "Pa, maafkan kami semua. Selama ini Papa selalu stress<br />karena perilaku kami."<br /><br />Tiba-tiba, sungai kehidupannya mengalir kembali. Seketika hidup menjadi<br />sangat indah. Ia mengurungkan niatnya untuk bunuh diri. Tetapi<br />bagaimana dengan setengah botol yang sudah ia minum? Ia mendatangi Sang<br />Guru lagi. Melihat wajah pria itu, Sang Guru langsung mengetahui apa<br />yang telah terjadi, "Buang saja botol itu. Isinya air biasa kok. Kau<br />sudah sembuh! Jika kau hidup dalam kekinian, jika kau hidup dengan<br />kesadaran bahwa engkau bisa mati kapan saja, kau akan menikmati setiap<br />detik kehidupan. Hilangkan egomu, keangkuhanmu. Jadilah lembut,<br />selembut air, dan mengalirlah bersama sungai kehidupan. Kau tidak akan<br />bosan. Kau akan merasa hidup. Itulah rahasia kehidupan. Itulah jalan<br />menuju ketenangan. Itulah kunci kebahagiaan."<br /><br />Pria itu mengucapkan terima kasih, lalu pulang untuk mengulangi<br />pengalaman sehari terakhirnya. Ia terus mengalir. Kini ia selalu hidup<br />dengan kesadaran bahwa ia bisa mati kapan saja. Itulah sebabnya, ia<br />selalu tenang, selalu bahagia!<br /><br />Tunggu. Kita semua SUDAH TAHU bahwa kita BISA MATI KAPAN SAJA. Tapi<br />masalahnya: apakah kita SELALU SADAR bahwa kita BISA MATI KAPAN SAJA?<br />Nah!<br /><br />Be happy!</tt></span></pre> </div>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1125555721308939452005-09-01T13:18:00.000+07:002005-09-01T13:22:01.316+07:00Love Is Stronger . . .<div style="text-align: left;">Having a goal based on love is the greatest life insurance in the world.<br /></div> <div align="left"><br />If you had asked my dad why he got up in the morning, you would have found his answer disarmingly simple: "To make my wife happy."<br /><br />Mom and Dad met when they were nine. Every day before school, they met on a park bench with their homework. Mom corrected Dad's English and he did the same with her math. Upon graduation, their teachers said that the two of them were the best "student" in the school. Note the singular!<br /></div> <div align="left"><br />They took their time building their relationship, even though Dad always knew she was the girl for him. Their first kiss occurred when they were 17, and their romance continued to grow into their 80s.</div> <div align="left"> </div> <div align="left"><br />Just how much power their relationship created was brought to light in 1964. The doctor told Dad he had cancer and estimated that he had six months to one year left at the most. "Sorry to disagree with you, Doc," my father said. "But I'll tell you how long I have. One day longer than my wife. I love her too much to leave the planet without her." </div> <div align="left"><br />And so it was, to the amazement of everyone who didn't really know this love-matched pair, that Mom passed away at the age of 85 and Dad followed one year later when he was 86. Near the end, he told my brothers and me that those 17 years were the best six months he ever spent. </div> <div align="left"> </div> <div align="left">To the wonderful doctors and nurses at the Department of Veterans' Affairs Medical Center at Long Beach, he was a walking miracle. They kept a loving watch on him and just couldn't understand how a body so riddled with cancer could continue to function so well.<br /></div> <div align="left"><br />My dad's explanation was simple. He informed them that he had been a medic in World War I and saw amputated arms and legs, and he had noticed that none of them could think. So he decided he would tell his body how to behave. Once, as he stood up and it was evident he felt a stabbing pain, he looked down at his chest and shouted, "Shut up! We're having a party here."<br /></div> <div align="left"><br />Two days before he left us he said, "Boys, I'll be with your mother very soon and someday, some place we'll all be together again. But take your time about joining us; your mother and I have a lot of catching up to do."<br /><br />It is said that love is stronger than prison walls. Dad proved it was a heck of a lot stronger than tiny cancer cells. Bob, George and I are still here, armed with Dad's final gift.</div> <div align="center"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A goal, a love and a dream give you total control </span><span style="font-style: italic;">over your body and your life.<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />By John Wayne Schlatter<br /></div> </div><p><br /></p>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1125418816565232282005-08-30T23:20:00.000+07:002005-08-30T23:31:33.116+07:00Samatha or Vipassana ?<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><!--StartFragment --><tt>A rare blessing </tt></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><tt>by Danai Chanchaochai, Bangkok Post, Aug 18, 2005</tt></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><tt><br /> As humans, we have the chance to practice all four foundations of<br />mindfulness<br /><br />Bangkok, Thailand -- This week we have yet another important<br />question for Phra Acharn Manop Upasamo, with an answer that reminds us<br />why Vipassana meditation is so important in the practice of Buddhism.<br /><br />Question: You said there are two main types of meditation: deep<br />concentration (Samatha) and mindfulness (Vipassana). Why did Lord<br />Buddha say that Vipassana is "the only way" to escape the endless<br />cycle of suffering?<br /><br />Answer: Because deep concentration meditation will not lead you to<br />any wisdom or insight. More worrisome though, is the fact that people<br />who achieve an advanced level of deep concentration meditation lessen<br />their chances of developing real insight that leads to enlightenment.<br /><br />First, advanced deep concentration meditation means your mind will<br />reach the state of jhana or a simple, non-questing, tranquil state of<br />mind. When Samatha practitioners reach this stage in their meditation,<br />they feel completely detached and unaffected by sensations and<br />feelings of the ordinary world, and they remain in that state for a<br />long time. When your mind is in this dormant mode, naturally you are<br />not likely to learn anything.<br /><br />On the other hand, Vipassana, mindfulness meditation, is just that.<br />Your mind is totally awake and you are being continuously mindful of<br />what happens to your body and your mind. In other words, you are<br />learning something about your body and your mind with every<br />observation you make, in every little moment of your life.<br /><br /></tt><tt> Now, what's next? If you were to continue to practise Samatha<br />meditation throughout your life and reached the advanced level of the<br />simple, non-questing, quiet state of mind, you would be reborn as an<br />Arupa Brahmin or Asanyata Brahmin, both a type of higher being. These<br />two types of Brahmin have two distinct characters: they represent the<br />tranquil state of mind with no physical body and have a very, very<br />long life.<br /></tt></span> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <pre><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><tt>The state of being: having no substantial body form like that of humans<br />beings means that they would be unable to practice Vipassana. This is<br />because to practice mindfulness, we need to be able to practice all four<br />foundations: body, feelings, mind and mind objects. So the life of a Brahmin<br />is nothing more than mere existence. Just as when they practiced Samatha,<br />they can learn nothing. </tt></span></pre> <pre><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><tt>Lord Buddha foresaw that his doctrine would survive no more than 5,000 years.<br />But a Brahmin's life is much longer than that.<br />This also translates into their missing out on the opportunity to learn how<br />to practise Vipassana meditation and permanently escape from the cycle of birth,<br />and in so doing, from rebirth and all suffering. </tt></span></pre> <pre><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><tt>A good example is that of Lord Buddha's former teachers, Arara Dabos and<br />Utaka Dabos. After Prince Sidhartha was ordained and went in search of<br />how to end all suffering, he went to study in many schools, the last being<br />that of these two teachers who were prescribing deep concentration meditation<br />as "the way." Because of his strong determination, Prince Sidhartha was able<br />to reach the highest level of jhana but felt something was still missing.<br />He found that he could not completely rid himself of the kilesas,<br />or mental defilements, by simply practicing deep concentration meditation.<br />He could only suppress them by this form of meditation. But once out of that<br />trance state of mind, all the suffering of life remained the same.<br />Therefore, he set out on his own and, by trial and error, concluded that<br />mindfulness meditation was the answer and eventually, by this method,<br />achieved enlightenment. <br /><br />Once enlightened, Lord Buddha thought of his two<br />teachers. He wanted to go back and teach them - to help them escape all<br />suffering. However, he discovered that they had already died and were reborn<br />as Brahmin. It was then that Lord Buddha expressed his sorrow for both of them,<br />for they could not be reached or taught. By the time their life cycles as Brahmin<br />ended and they were ready to be reborn again, Lord Buddha's religion would<br />already cease to exist. <br /><br />Therefore, all of us should be happy that we were<br />born as human beings in this life, and having discovered the truth of Buddhism,<br />been given the opportunity to learn and practice Vipassana. Lord Buddha said<br />these are the world's rarest blessings. Why? Because as a human being, we have<br />the chance to practice all four foundations of mindfulness. In this respect we<br />are better off than those who are born in the same state as Lord Buddha's two<br />teachers. <br /><br />So use your four foundations of mindfulness well. The path to<br />dhamma made possible by Vipassana arises out of the accurate observation of<br />how we see, smell, hear, taste, touch and feel. From right observation comes<br />right understanding of cause and effect. Our ears hear a voice and the mind<br />determines what it is, generating an emotional response that results in a<br />physical reaction. If we can step back with a "detached" attitude and observe<br />what's going on in a non-judgmental fashion, then we are practicing Vipassana.<br />That is a knowing state of mind, and our first step to eventual enlightenment. <br />So please, maintain your meditation. You have the rest of your life to practice.<br />--------------------<br />The teachings of Phra Acharn Manop Upasamo are transcribed and<br />translated for Dhamma Moments by Nashara Siamwalla</tt></span></pre> </div>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1120917559888594302005-07-09T20:54:00.000+07:002005-07-09T20:59:19.900+07:00Digging in the Dung by Ajahn Brahm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3900/1126/1600/brahm_ajahn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3900/1126/320/brahm_ajahn.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><b> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">When I was a schoolteacher, my attention was drawn to the student in my class of thirty who came bottom in the end-of-year exams. I could see that he was depressed as a result of his performance, so I took him aside.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">I said to him: 'Someone has to come thirtieth in a class of thirty. This year, it happens to be you who has made the heroic sacrifice, so that none of your friends have to suffer the ignominy of being bottom of the class. You are so kind, so compassionate. You deserve a medal.'</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">We both knew that what I was saying was ridiculous, but he grinned. He didn't take it as such an end-of-the-world event any more.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">He did much better the next year, when it was someone else's turn to make the heroic sacrifice.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Unpleasant things, like coming bottom of our class, happen in life. They happen to everyone. The only difference between a happy person and one who gets depressed is how they respond to disasters.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Imagine you have just had a wonderful afternoon at the beach with a friend. When you return home, you find a huge truckload of dung has been dumped right in front of your door. There are three things to know about this truckload of dung:</span></p> <ol><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">You did not order it. It's not your fault. </span> </li><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">You're stuck with it. No one saw who dumped it, so you cannot call anyone to take it away. </span> </li><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">It is filthy and offensive, and its stench fills your whole house. It is almost impossible to endure. </span></li></ol> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">In this metaphor, the truckload of dung in front of the house stands for the traumatic experiences that are dumped on us in life. As with the truckload of dung, there are three things to know about tragedy in our life:</span></p> <ol><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">We did not order it. We say 'Why me?' </span> </li><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">We're stuck with it. No one, not even our best friends, can take it away (though they may try). </span> </li><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">It is so awful, such a destroyer of our happiness, and its pain fills our whole life. It is almost impossible to endure. </span></li></ol> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">There are two ways of responding to being stuck with a truckload of dung. The first way is to carry the dung around with us. We put some in our pockets, some in our bags, and some up our shirts. We even put some down our pants. We find when we carry dung around, we lose a lot of friends! Even best friends don't seem to be around so often.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">'Carrying around the dung' is a metaphor for sinking into depression, negativity, or anger. It is a natural and understandable response to adversity. But we lose a lot of friends, because it is also natural and understandable that our friends don't like being around us when we're so depressed. Moreover, the pile of dung gets no less, but the smell gets worse as it ripens.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Fortunately, there's a second way. When we are dumped with a truckload of dung, we heave a sigh, and then get down to work. Out come the wheelbarrow, the fork, and the spade. We fork the dung into the barrow, wheel it around the back of the house, and dig it into the garden. This is tiring and difficult work, but we know there's no other option. Sometimes, all we can manage is half a barrow a day. We're doing something about the problem, rather than complaining our way into depression. Day after day we dig in the dung. Day after day, the pile gets smaller. Sometimes it takes several years, but the morning does come when we see that the dung in front of our house is all gone. Furthermore, a miracle has happened in another part of our house. The flowers in our garden are bursting out in a richness of colour all over the place. Their fragrance wafts down the street so that the neighbours, and even passers-by, smile in delight. Then the fruit tree in the corner is nearly falling over, it's so heavy with fruit. And the fruit is so sweet; you can't buy anything like it. There's so much of it that we are able to share it with our neighbours. Even passers-by get a delicious taste of the miracle fruit.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">'Digging in the dung' is a metaphor for welcoming the tragedies as fertilizer for life. It is work that we have to do alone: no one can help us here. But by digging it into the garden of our heart, day by day, the pile of pain gets less. It may take us several years, but the morning does come when we see no more pain in our life and, in our heart, a miracle has happened. Flowers of kindness are bursting out all over the place, and the fragrance of love wafts way down our street, to our neighbours, to our relations, and even to passers-by. Then our wisdom tree in the corner is bending down to us, loaded with sweet insights into the nature of life. We share those delicious fruits freely, even with the passers-by, without ever planning to.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">When we have known tragic pain, learnt its lesson, and grown our garden, then we can put our arms around another in deep tragedy and say, softly, 'I know.' They realize we do understand. Compassion begins. We show them the wheelbarrow, the fork, and the spade, and boundless encouragement. If we haven't grown our own garden yet, this can't be done.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">I have known many monks who are skilled in meditation, who are peaceful, composed and serene in adversity. But only a few have become great teachers. I often wondered why.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">It seems to me now that those monks who had a relatively easy time of it, who had little dung to dig in, were the ones who didn't become teachers. It was the monks who had the enormous difficulties, dug them in quietly, and came through with a rich garden that became great teachers. They all had wisdom, serenity and compassion; but those with more dung had more to share with the world. My teacher, Ajahn Chah, who for me was the pinnacle of all teachers, must have had a whole trucking company line up with their dung at his door, in his early life.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Perhaps the moral of this story is that if you want to be of service to the world, if you wish to follow the path of compassion, then the next time a tragedy occurs in your life, you may say, 'Whoopee! More fertilizer for my garden!'</span></p></b> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">This article was excerpted from <b>Opening The Door Of Your Heart</b>, ?2004, by <b>Ajahn Brahm</b>. (Forthcoming North American edition, "Who Ordered this Truckload of Dung?: Inspiring Wisdom for Welcoming Life's Difficulties" published by Wisdom Publications, </span><a href="http://www.wisdompubs.org/"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">www.wisdompubs.org</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> )</span><br /></span></p>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1119075966175040042005-06-18T13:21:00.000+07:002005-06-18T13:26:06.180+07:00KAN SEKARANG SUDAH BISA<pre><tt>Di sebuah kampung nelayan, pada suatu pagi, seorang profesor bisnis<br />yang sedang berlibur bertemu dengan seorang nelayan yang tengah<br />membereskan hasil tangkapannya. Sang profesor tidak tahan untuk tidak<br />menyapanya, "Hai, kenapa kamu selesai bekerja sepagi ini?" "Saya sudah<br />menangkap cukup banyak ikan Pak," jawab nelayan itu, "cukup untuk<br />dimakan sekeluarga dan masih ada sisa untuk dijual."<br /><br />"Lalu, setelah ini kamu mau apa?" tanya profesor itu lagi. Jawab sang<br />nelayan, "Habis ini saya mau makan siang dengan istri dan anak-anak<br />saya, setelah itu tidur siang sebentar, lalu saya akan bermain dengan<br />anak-anak. Setelah makan malam, saya akan ke warung, bersenda gurau<br />sambil bermain gitar bersama teman-teman."<br /><br />"Dengarkan kawan," ujar sang profesor, "jika kamu tetap melaut sampai<br />sore, kamu bisa mendapat dua kali lipat hasil tangkapan. Kamu bisa<br />menjual ikan lebih banyak, menyimpan uangnya, dan setelah sembilan<br />bulan kamu akan mampu membeli perahu baru yang lebih besar. Lalu, kamu<br />akan bisa menangkap ikan empat kali lebih banyak. Coba pikir, berapa<br />banyak uang yang bakal kamu dapat!"<br /><br />Lanjut profesor, "Dalam satu dua tahun kamu akan bisa membeli satu<br />kapal lagi, dan kamu bisa menggaji banyak orang. Jika kamu mengikuti<br />konsep bisnis ini, dalam lima tahun kamu akan menjadi juragan armada<br />nelayan yang besar. Coba bayangkan!"<br /><br />"Kalau sudah sebesar itu, sebaiknya kamu memindah kantormu ke ibu kota.<br />Beberapa tahun kemudian perusahaanmu bisa 'go public', kamu bisa jadi<br />investor mayoritas. Dijamin, kamu akan jadi jutawan besar! Percayalah!<br />Aku ini guru besar di sekolah bisnis terkenal, aku ini ahlinya hal-hal<br />beginian!"<br /><br />Dengan takjub, nelayan itu mendengarkan penuturan profesor yang penuh<br />semangat itu. Ketika profesor selesai menjelaskan, sang nelayan<br />bertanya, "Tapi Pak Profesor, apa yang bisa saya perbuat dengan uang<br />sebanyak itu?"<br /><br />Ups! Anehnya sang profesor belum memikirkan konsep bisnisnya sejauh<br />itu. Cepat-cepat dia mereka-reka apa yang seseorang bisa lakukan dengan<br />uang sebanyak itu.<br /><br />"Kawan! Kalau kamu jadi jutawan, kamu bisa pensiun. Ya! Pensiun dini<br />seumur hidup! Kamu bisa membeli villa mungil di desa pantai yang indah<br />seperti ini, dan membeli sebuah perahu untuk berwisata laut pada pagi<br />hari. Kamu bisa makan bersama keluargamu setiap hari, bersantai-santai<br />tanpa khawatir apa pun. Kamu punya banyak waktu bersama anak-anakmu,<br />dan setelah makan malam kamu bisa main gitar dengan teman-temanmu di<br />warung. Yeaaa, dengan uang sebanyak itu, kamu bisa pensiun dan hidupmu<br />jadi mudah!<br /><br />"Tapi, Pak Profesor, kan sekarang ini saya sudah bisa begitu…," lirih<br />sang nelayan dengan lugunya.<br /><br />Kenapa kita percaya bahwa kita harus bekerja begitu keras dan menjadi<br />kaya raya terlebih dahulu, baru kita bisa merasa berkecukupan? Apakah<br />ada "tujuan yang lebih mulia" dari apa yang Anda lakoni saat ini?<br />Apakah itu benar tujuan mulia atau sekadar dalih rasa takut untuk<br />menjadi apa adanya? Untuk merasa berkecukupan, apa sekarang ini tidak<br />bisa?<br /><br />Be Good Be Happy!</tt></pre>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1118233245254471632005-06-08T18:58:00.000+07:002005-06-08T19:20:45.256+07:00Maafkan Bila Aku Mengeluh<p align="justify">Hari ini, di sebuah bus, aku melihat seorang gadis cantik dengan rambut pirang. Aku iri melihatnya. Dia tampak begitu ceria, dan kuharap aku pun sama. Tiba-tiba dia terhuyung-huyung berjalan. Dia mempunyai satu kaki saja, dan memakai tongkat kayu. Namun ketika dia lewat - tersenyum. </p><p align="justify">Oh Tuhan, maafkan aku bila aku mengeluh. Aku punya dua kaki. Dunia ini milikku.</p><p align="justify">Aku berhenti untuk membeli bunga lili. Anak laki-laki penjualnya begitu mempesona. Aku berbicara padanya. Dia tampak begitu gembira. Seandainya aku terlambat, tidaklah apa-apa.Ketika aku pergi, dia berkata, "Terima kasih.Engkau sudah begitu baik. Menyenangkan berbicara dengan orang sepertimu. Lihat saya buta. </p><p align="justify">"Oh Tuhan, maafkan aku bila aku mengeluh. Aku punya dua mata. Dunia ini milikku.</p><p align="justify">Lalu, sementara berjalan. Aku melihat seorang anakdengan bola mata biru. Dia berdiri dan melihat teman-temannya bermain. Dia tidak tahu apa yang bisa dilakukannya. Aku berhenti sejenak, lalu berkata, "Mengapaengkau tidak bermain dengan yang lain, nak ?"Dia memandang ke depan tanpa bersuara, lalu akutahu dia tidak bisa mendengar.</p><p align="justify">Oh Tuhan, maafkan aku bila aku mengeluh. Aku punya dua telinga. Dunia ini milikku. Dengan dua kaki untuk membawa aku ke mana aku mau. Dengan dua mata untuk memandang mentari terbenam. Dengan dua telinga untuk mendengar apa yang inginkudengar.</p><p align="justify">Oh Tuhan, maafkan aku bila aku mengeluh.</p><div align="justify"><i>-Anonymous-</i></div>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13003737.post-1117909626069972272005-06-05T01:22:00.000+07:002005-06-05T01:27:06.073+07:00ChildrenAnak-anakmu adalah bukan anak-anakmu.<br />Mereka adalah putra-putri kehidupan,<br />Yang merindukan dirinya sendiri.<br />Mereka datang melaluimu, namun tidak darimu.<br />Meskipun mereka bersamamu,<br />Mereka bukanlah milikmu.<br />Engkau boleh memberikan cintamu pada mereka,<br />Tapi tidak pemikiranmu.<br />Karena mereka memiliki pemikiran mereka sendiri.<br />Engkau boleh berusaha menyamai mereka,<br />Namun janganlah berusaha membuat mereka<br />Sama denganmu.<br /><br /><u>-Khalil Gibran-</u>david ciamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519348061009672856noreply@blogger.com0