Suddenly everyone wants to know the psyche behind these sports folks, what their favorites are, what books they read.  Ok, maybe not everybody wants to know, but at least the news people seem to be rather keen.  So who is driving who?  Are the readers driving the news or the journalists driving the content read?  Hmmm …

Regardless, I read of some athletes and how they excel in their field.  Without fail, the story would describe how they train for hours, days and years before they reach their present state of athletic perfection!  While some may have had a flair for their sports since young, non attained their excellence by sitting on their butts for the past 10 years! :p

This is something common in sports, in the arts, in sciences and yes, even in business!  In all fields, individuals excel through their diligence and repeated efforts, and even then only some succeed to . . . → Read More: So the Olympics is around the corner]]> With the Olympic starting in just two days, the whole world goes into a frenzy, soaking in every bit of Olympic titbits they can find, lavishing in the news of all the different sports man and woman people and the history and background of the Games.

Suddenly everyone wants to know the psyche behind these sports folks, what their favorites are, what books they read.  Ok, maybe not everybody wants to know, but at least the news people seem to be rather keen.  So who is driving who?  Are the readers driving the news or the journalists driving the content read?  Hmmm …

Regardless, I read of some athletes and how they excel in their field.  Without fail, the story would describe how they train for hours, days and years before they reach their present state of athletic perfection!  While some may have had a flair for their sports since young, non attained their excellence by sitting on their butts for the past 10 years! :p

This is something common in sports, in the arts, in sciences and yes, even in business!  In all fields, individuals excel through their diligence and repeated efforts, and even then only some succeed to be the very best.  So it makes me raise a brow when people come to me complaining that their practices fail to quell their anger … … after one week of trying!

Like the athletes, we should have patience when practising the teachings, willing to put in hours, days, months and even years to learn about ourselves, our strengths and weakness, our virtues and defilements, and in turn apply strenuous efforts to developing wholesome mental habits and subduing unwholesome ones.

As I like to tell people, practising Buddhism is not easy, but so is launching a space shuttle. If US can put a man on the moon, we can achieve much if we put our time, effort and mind to it.  And if the Buddha can do it, so can we!

The thing is, we don’t learn and practise Buddhism because it is easy or convenient.  We don’t.  And it isn’t on both counts.  We do so, because it is worth it.  Because until we fully learn to manage and tame our mind, we cannot be truly free.  And until then, while we can succeed as much as we can in our careers, and achieve all the goals we set for ourselves, we will not be truly at peace with ourselves.

Easier it is to conquer others and win the gold medal, but harder it is to conquer ourself — our pride, our emotions, our thinking, our mind.

So this Olympic, which medal are you after?  The medal of inner peace and bliss or the shiny one outside?

PS: The title may well be “The Olympic is here!” … but since I started this article before it started, I left it as it is.  Just so you know.

How true! When we get praises and support for our deeds, we tend to blind-sight ourselves and become even self-righteous at times. Ego and pride follows swiftly thereafter. This is somewhat like the blind leading the blind, the leader and the followers all go down the wrong path. One should note that the followers in this case, being blind themselves may not be able to tell that the leader is going down the wrong path and may possibly even urge him onwards, cheering up.

On the flip side, sometimes we may be doing the right thing but be criticised by the masses. A parable tells of this one sane person in a village of crazy people; this sane person’s opinion is deemed insane by the masses, who are crazy! Some versions tell of this sane person ultimately giving up sanity . . . → Read More: When the going gets good … …]]> Of late I recall what my Instructor Master said during our Upasampada (higher ordination), that in future if we get a lot of (material) support while servicing the community and/or practising, do not be quick to think that it is because of our cultivation or merit or that we are doing the right things, for Mara also has his supporters!

How true! When we get praises and support for our deeds, we tend to blind-sight ourselves and become even self-righteous at times. Ego and pride follows swiftly thereafter. This is somewhat like the blind leading the blind, the leader and the followers all go down the wrong path. One should note that the followers in this case, being blind themselves may not be able to tell that the leader is going down the wrong path and may possibly even urge him onwards, cheering up.

On the flip side, sometimes we may be doing the right thing but be criticised by the masses. A parable tells of this one sane person in a village of crazy people; this sane person’s opinion is deemed insane by the masses, who are crazy! Some versions tell of this sane person ultimately giving up sanity and becoming insane, just to be sane, while other versions tell of how this sane person decides to leave the village alone, choosing to remain sane.

Maybe sometimes when we face much difficulties and obstacles in life or our practices, it is not because we are wrong, but it is because we are right. How then can we tell? A better way is to not be swayed by the mass, but to reflect on the effect one’s practise have on oneself; or to reflect on one’s deeds. If the result is more ego, pride and defilements etc, then one may wish to rethink or seek one’s master for guidance; if the result is less ego, pride and defilements etc, then one can proceed and head for the next checkpoint.

So what do you think? Are you garnering support from Mara, or facing obstacles by ‘insane villages’?

Yesterday, Puay Khim commented to me that there is an interesting debate going on in some online forum about how it is wasteful or pointless or both to have a stupa cast in gold. The theme here is that Buddhism should focus on its teachings and not so much on devotional aspects that it becomes the main focus. Such views are commonly upheld by a strata of Buddhists who are supposedly the intellects. They are inclined towards Buddhism because of its teachings and see little value in devotional practises like chanting, prostrations or having Buddha statues or stupas built.

Some even go on to suggest that monks should likewise focus on 1) study and practise of the teachings in suttas (Sanskrit: sutras) and 2) meditation, and not spend much time, if at all, on prayer ceremonies and the likes. They reckon that since the Buddha and his monks in earlier days, did pretty much that, monks in present day should do likewise.

All these are fine and good, and for the most part, . . . → Read More: Putting one’s money where one’s mouth is]]> Putting money where one’s mouth is basically means showing due support for what we advocate. Also interpreted as “stop giving lip service and taking some real actions.”

Yesterday, Puay Khim commented to me that there is an interesting debate going on in some online forum about how it is wasteful or pointless or both to have a stupa cast in gold. The theme here is that Buddhism should focus on its teachings and not so much on devotional aspects that it becomes the main focus. Such views are commonly upheld by a strata of Buddhists who are supposedly the intellects. They are inclined towards Buddhism because of its teachings and see little value in devotional practises like chanting, prostrations or having Buddha statues or stupas built.

Some even go on to suggest that monks should likewise focus on 1) study and practise of the teachings in suttas (Sanskrit: sutras) and 2) meditation, and not spend much time, if at all, on prayer ceremonies and the likes. They reckon that since the Buddha and his monks in earlier days, did pretty much that, monks in present day should do likewise.

All these are fine and good, and for the most part, right. In my stay and study in Fa Yun Monastery for 3~4 years, that’s what we ever do: Study of the sutras and meditate. We don’t conduct elaborate prayers nor do we fund raise. Our primary interaction with lay people were through the occasional visitors who happen to see our signboard along highway 64 in Taos, New Mexico, US. Others include visits by our lay supporters who only come over like once or twice a year. We do have daily prayer chanting sessions but it’s part of our daily practice and not so much of an event. Interestingly enough, we regularly receive donations from kind donors, both monthly from Taiwan and on an adhoc basis from Americans or US based Chinese who know about us. Not everyone can fully comprehend or accept our lifestyle of near seclusion and simplicity, but enough people deem it worthwhile for them to support us. We get by.

United States is officially a secular country, with a secular constitution and a separation between state and religion. Americans are, however, predominantly Christians. In this manner, Buddhist monasteries do not get special consessions or free access to utilities and the likes. As non-profit organisations, Buddhist monasteries such as Fa Yun Monastery do get tax exemptions in certain areas. The bills however still need to be paid. Fortunately, with the support of kind donors, we get by.

Singapore is similar to US in that it is also a secular (state) country. While non-profit organisations do get certain tax concessions, religious people as a whole do not necessarily enjoy any special treatment. Electricity, water and gas do not come free, and someone’s got to pay the property tax. In recent years, land provisions allow only 30 year leases on new articles of land for religious usage in certain parts of Singapore. This mean that the money spent on the land asset dwindles down (or amortize as it is known in the accounting world) to zero after 30 years. Compare this with Buddha’s time where the king himself would offer plots of land for the sole usage of monks to reside in and it seem like there’s a huge divide here. Now, note that we are not here to scrutinize or judge the government’s allocation of land use or its policies, we’ll leave that to the politicians and economists. Rather, we are trying to identify the differences between the conditions that monks in Singapore are facing compared to Buddha’s time.

Besides apparent social differences, the kind of support given by the lay supporters also differ. While it may be arguable what good a stupa cast in gold can do for one’s peace and happiness or wisdom, it is undeniable that the devotees who willingly donated for its construction geniunely believed in what it stood for, if not at least they believed sufficiently in whatever peace happiness and wisdom it may confer unto them. The point here is not so much whether what they believe in is justified or not, but that they were not just casual commentators or paying lip service to a belief. They honoured their belief in gold. Try beating that.

Sure, intellects and the likes can go on about the rhetorics of how they are blinded by their belief, but the fact is that their contribution supports their beliefs. If there are those intellects who believe that monks should concentrate on the study and practise of the teachings in the sutta and meditation, then they should support accordingly. Without the appropriate support from the lay community, these monks will either have to move to other countries that support them or garner support from those who do.

So, I say, it’s about time to put one’s money where one’s mouth is. Go on and show your support to the cause that you believe in. There are monks in Singapore who are earnest about the practise.

Footnote:

This is not a solicitation for funds, but a reply to intellects who frown on devotional practises.

The author is a resident monk in Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery and gives Dharma classes and Meditation classes to a variety of audiences. While he do not actively practise or advocate devotional practises, he does not dismiss the positive effect it has on people and for the right audience, he sometimes even recommend such practises as a start, before moving them onto sutta study and meditation.

(continued … )

While it is heartening that he aspires to be a Dhamma teacher, it is important not to become one for the sake of being a Dhamma teacher. Or simply put, not to give Dhamma talks for the sake of giving Dhamma talks.

Consider the Buddha. He did not go forth and become a monk because he just decided to become a monk. He did so, wanting to find the cause of suffering, and to put an end to it. When he finally did, and became enlightened, he did not just go around teaching. He first considered the capacity of the potential receipients of the teachings. His two earlier teachers had already died and so he then decided to teach the Dhamma to the five ascetics who were previously his companions in the ascetic training.

The Buddha gave talks and advices to point the way to enlightenment, so that the listeners can be enlightened. He did not give talks just for the sake of talks itself. So Dhamma teachers, monastics and . . . → Read More: Don’t give Dhamma talks for the sake of giving Dhamma talks]]> So the other day, I was having a casual ‘one to one’ session with someone and he mentioned that he aspires to be a Dharma teacher.

(continued … )

While it is heartening that he aspires to be a Dhamma teacher, it is important not to become one for the sake of being a Dhamma teacher. Or simply put, not to give Dhamma talks for the sake of giving Dhamma talks.

Consider the Buddha. He did not go forth and become a monk because he just decided to become a monk. He did so, wanting to find the cause of suffering, and to put an end to it. When he finally did, and became enlightened, he did not just go around teaching. He first considered the capacity of the potential receipients of the teachings. His two earlier teachers had already died and so he then decided to teach the Dhamma to the five ascetics who were previously his companions in the ascetic training.

The Buddha gave talks and advices to point the way to enlightenment, so that the listeners can be enlightened. He did not give talks just for the sake of talks itself. So Dhamma teachers, monastics and lay alike, should take heed not to turn the Dhamma into a career, and to give talks for the sake of giving talks; but to give talks with the motivation or aspiration of showing the path, and guiding others in the practise, onwards towards Nibbana, Final Liberation.

In a similar vein, listeners of the Dhamma, monastics and lay alike, should not listen to talks for the sake of listening to it. They should aspire towards understanding the meaning of the talk, and practising them. To strive towards enlightenment. To make enlightenment their goal when they listen to Dhamma talks.
For a start, read this blog with the right intention. Perhaps start with baby steps, and make it your aim to see how you can apply the Dhamma to your daily life. See if you can use it on trivial matters, then move on from there.