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Buddha Vacana – Sacred Literature of Buddhism

Learning to listen (Bonus video inside)

Sometimes what people need from us is a listening ear.

I know how that feels like, to really just need to share something with someone.  Ok, I felt that way like maybe twice in my whole life, but I digress.

A long long time ago, I read this interesting book “Men Are from Mars, Women . . . → Read More: Learning to listen (Bonus video inside)

七个包子的故事

从前有两个志同道合的朋友,麦佳柔泥和佳碧。 有一天,他们俩约好一起吃午餐。由于佳碧知道麦佳柔泥从小就喜欢吃包子,所以两人不约而同地决定午餐就吃包子!佳碧给自己点了一个大包,也为好朋友点了一样的大包。

那一天,麦佳柔泥非常饿,很快地就把大包给吃完了。但是他还是觉得有点饿,便请佳碧为他点多一个大包。吃完了第二个大包之后,麦佳柔泥还是觉得有点饿,又再一次请佳碧为他点多一个大包。。。就这样,麦佳柔泥吃了第三个大包,第四个大包,第五个大包,第六个大包,一直到第七个大包。

这时候,佳碧不禁松了一口气,心想:我的好兄弟终于吃饱了,没想到他的胃口竟然那么大。。。但是麦佳柔泥似乎有些心思。

“好朋友,你在想什么?是不是要我再点多一个大包啊?”

“我在想。。。我是吃了第七个包子才觉得饱。早知如此,我就不该吃了前六个大包,只吃第七个包子就好了呀!”

“别傻了!你是因为吃了前六个大包,再吃第七个大包才觉得饱!”

“真的吗?但是我吃了第一个包子后还是觉得饿, 吃了第二个还是觉得饿,第三个, 第四个, 第五个和第六个也不例外。直到吃了第七个大包后,才觉得饱的呀!”

朋友们,想一想你拥有的技能或能力。不论它是多么的微小或独特,它必须是你所拥有的。这个技能或能力并非是我们一出世就拥有的,所以回想一下你是如何地培训这个技能或能力。是谁在你的身边帮助了你?你在培训当中需要些什么资源吗?又是谁帮助了你获得这些资源呢?是你自己争取到的,还是他人给你的,或者是他人把它卖给你的?

这个技能或能力,你是从某个人,某本书或网页学习到的呢?若你 能够明白使用的语文,还能依然地学习吗?就如阅读这篇文章,你若没有学习华语,便无法阅读甚至明白这篇文章。因此,学习华语是阅读与及明白这篇文章的一个先决条件。

对于大多数人来说,你会发现,几乎所有我们今天所拥有的能力不仅仅是我们自己努力的结果,而是经过我们自己的努力与及很多很多个人,组织,资源的功劳。但是往往,我们不认识这些人,甚至对他们浑然不觉。

当我们反思我们今天的成就,我们可能会感激我们生活中的少数的几个人。但是,当我们更深一层地反思,我们便会意识到我们就像故事里的麦佳柔泥,把成功全归结到最后一个人或团体。事实上,错综复杂的相互关联的依赖关系只能进行建模或抽象的居多,而即使是这样,我们简单的生活其实涉及到很多个别的因素而成就的。

今天,我们庆祝教师节。但是我们要明白,我们生活中的老师不仅仅是课室里的老师而已。就如七个包子的故事,我们生活中的每一个人都教过了我们某些东西,多亏他们的功劳,我们才会拥有今天的成就。我们应该向佳碧学习,感恩我们生活中的每一个教师。解决饥饿不单单是第七个包子的功劳。

在中阿含《连车经》,舍利弗尊者(Ven. Sariputra)及菩那尊者(Ven. Punna)一樣的思择七种清净法,各为彼缘后而究竟解脱涅槃。经中,菩那尊者用了七连车為比喻,述说了波斯匿憍萨罗王(King Pasenadi Kosala)以七连车从舍卫城(Savatthi)到沙只城(Saketa)去。国王并非以任何一辆车抵达目的地,而是以七连车通行。这部经也就以此喻而得名。

所以,我的朋友啊,仔细看看你的生活。联想一下七个包子的故事,要感恩帮助你成长和成熟的老师们。我们要感激许多人,朋友和陌生人,大,中,小,看到的和看不见的,近及远。

让我们用爱和同情,发出内心的感激和喜悦,祝每个老师教师节快乐!

汉译:燏

英文原稿 The Story of Seven Buns

参照 Majjhima Nikaya 24 PTS: M i 145 中阿含《连车经》 Ratha-vinita Sutta: Relay Chariots ~ translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.024.than.html Image courtesy of http://www.foodmayhem.com/2008/02/wei-chuan-mini-buns.html . . . → Read More: 七个包子的故事

Dharma Course: Water Repentance Puja

Dear friends, join me in this Dharma course on the Water Repentance Puja 水懺, starting June, every Friday for 8 sessions.

We’ll share the practice of repentance found in Buddhism and how that can help us find inner peace in our life.

Of Buddhism and Businesses

A few groups of students interviewed me recently to find out how, if any, does buddhism or buddhist values affect singaporean businesses? Below are some thoughts.

Subtly, Buddhist values such as love, compassion and simplicity has brought awareness to people over the last 25 over centuries. It is said that Steve Job’s iconic style . . . → Read More: Of Buddhism and Businesses

Heart Sutra make up class survey

This survey is for students of Heart Sutra 2013 @ Singapore Buddhist Federation. Survey will close on Friday 24 May 9am. Poll is closed.  Do help to inform your fellow students.

BFAS or What we call Potluck

Bring Food And Share

Hello Everyone!

We are having the luncheon tomorrow (Saturday 25th May 2013) at the . . . → Read More: Heart Sutra make up class survey

You have a Choice

In our life, we have a choice.  Are we going to go through 9 hours of work grumpily or cheerfully?

Are we going to study for 3 to 4 years of undergrad studies just to earn a degree that we use only once for our first job, or are we going to actually learn . . . → Read More: You have a Choice

Recruitment: Buddhist College of Singapore Lecturer

The Buddhist College of Singapore is looking for lecturers to teach “Buddhism and Social Work” and “Buddhist Esoteric Teachings”.

Buddhism and Social Work

(2 Sep 2013 – 17 Jan 2014)

MA / MPhil / PhD in relevant discipline Minimum 2 years’ teaching experience Able to teach in Mandarin

Job Scope

Conduct consultation hours at . . . → Read More: Recruitment: Buddhist College of Singapore Lecturer

Understanding and Patience

I’m not a very understanding person and I lack patience.  So this week, I’m going to work on these two areas.  May those who manage to rile me, visit me and give me a hand in my training! 

Photos ~ A snap of the past

A friend recently ask me why I would want photos that do not contain myself in it.  That got me thinking.  Yes, why?

At its simplest, photos provide a visual snapshot of a time from the past.  It allows us to relive those moments and remember the events, the places, the conversations, and most . . . → Read More: Photos ~ A snap of the past

Kindness on the streets of Russia [Reddit]

Something to learn from our comrades from Russia.

It’s not just horror and gore coming from the Russian dash cams.

Reference

http://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/1dm6t3/its_not_just_horror_and_gore_coming_from_the/