Daily Dharma Dosage

Abandoning The Three Faults Of A Vessel

A vessel might have the following three faults: (1) being upside down or (2) though held right side up, being dirty; or (3) though clean, having a leaky bottom. If it has these faults, then even though a rainfall from clouds assembled by the deities falls on it, the rain will (1) not go inside; or, (2) go inside, but be unable to fulfill its function – to be drunk, etc.- because it is contaminated by filth; or, (3) not be polluted by filth, yet not remain inside and drain away.

Similarly, even though you are staying in a place where the teachings are being explained, there is no great purpose in your hearing the teachings if you (1) do not pay attention; or, (2) though paying attention, misunderstand what is heard or listen with a bad motivation such as attachment; or, (3) though lacking these faults, do not solidify the words and meanings taken in at the time of hearing but let them fade due to forgetting them and so forth.

Therefore, free yourself from all of these faults.

The remedies for these three faults are indicated in the sutras in three phrases: “Listen well, thoroughly, and hold it in mind!” Moreover, as the Bodhisattva Levels sets forth, listen while wanting to understand everything, staying one-pointed, attentive, with your mind focused, and reflecting with complete composure.

Youths Learning on Compassion and Kindness

The youths from the Omni class at BW Monastery learnt about compassion and kindness through the discussion over videos of 3 different scenarios. 

The students learnt that the intention is a very crucial component on how we can perceive the situation and what we should do to be compassionate to others.

EXPLORE

What should we do if we are unable to understand the Tripitakas and twelve branches of Buddhism scripture? Our teacher taught us that, we can contemplate on the purpose of the Dharma, because there is a purpose for everything. So how should we understand it? We should explore its purpose closely and in depth.

IF NOT FOR THE EXCELLENT TEACHERS

Never Just Play A Musical Instrument Only For Ourselves

“We should never submerge ourselves in our personal emotions of joy, anger, sadness or grief, just like playing a musical instrument only for ourselves. Instead, we should care for more and more sentient beings. Besides, in the process of helping others, pay attention, take note, sometimes you will suddenly realize that it is actually that person helping you. The hurdle and struggle that you could not overcome in the past have been unknowingly resolved in the process of helping others.”

Let me raise an opposite view: “ It’s better that I don’t help others, the more I help, the more problems I have. My life seems to suffer more and more!” Is this the reality? Then perhaps when you are helping others, the more you help, the more problems you have. Why?You begin to lend a helping hand to many people, and what did you realise at this point? You are in a mess, your pace is in a mess and your heart is in a mess, thus your suffering increased. Why did your suffering increase? Because you have carried a heavier load than before.However, don’t forget that your mental capacity at this juncture is strengthened as well. Once you make a breakthrough over this hurdle, you will be able to carry the loads for more people. Alternatively, you may take a break here and admire yourself [for what you have accomplished], and you will find out, “Well! I have already outperformed myself.”

You come to realize that living for yourself alone is after all not that joyful!

Read the original article in full at https://bwmonastery.org.sg/global-lamrim-ii/2019/4/22/lecture-no-0032

Practicing The Dharma Like Landing An Aircraft 

Take the landing of aircraft for instance, the airplane flies at high altitude at a certain speed, and when it lands, there is the inertia force of dashing forward, on and on, and will then gradually slow down. It is impossible for an airplane to come to a full stop right after landing, otherwise, that might cause problems. Thus, there are several steel wire ropes laid across the flight deck to rapidly decelerate the aircraft.

If our mind in a way were the fighter aircraft, what kind of pulling force does it require to halt us right on this Dharma ship?

While you are fully occupied with lots of mundane tasks just like the aircraft soaring high up in the air, how fast could you land on the aircraft carrier and listen to the teaching? The carrier can carry us to the shore of the unsurpassable enlightenment. How soon you could land, also takes practice.

Hence, those steel wire ropes are very crucial. The design and making of these steel wire ropes are very sophisticatedly precise. To stop the fighter aircraft running at high speed on the runway, you can imagine how important these ropes are! That is why later on people named it as the fighter pilot’s “lifeline” because if it can’t halt the fighter aircraft, the airplane will land short and race all the way into the ocean. Thus, these steel wires are very important.

Thus, what exactly is this steel wire rope, the rope or the lifeline that can halt us quickly? Is it the blessing power from the teacher? Is it my faith? Is it my aspiration for virtue? Or is it something else?

Are you grabbing onto that rope? Did you see the rope? The rope is crucial because it would quickly halt you in a very short timeframe and make you stay focused on the teaching!

An Abbot's Advice When Dealing With Troubles

Original discourse by Venerable Jing Yuan

When we encounter a troublesome matter, quieten down and observe ourselves. What is the major thing that has happened? Consider if there is an even more major concern that is happening at that time.

Have you discovered the two following points? No.1 – I have already taken refuge in the Three Jewels. No. 2 – I apply correct views and mindfulness.

As disciples of the Three Jewels, the things that we ought to do are to take refuge in the Three Jewels, and be vigilant in and uphold our correct views and mindfulness. These are the most major matters.

If we take refuge in the Three Jewels, there will be assurance in our voyage of life.

If we are able to apply correct views and mindfulness, our quality of life will remain at a high level, thus, enabling us to utilize our life of leisure and opportunity in the most satisfying way.

If we can do that, we will not be obstructed and blinded by troublesome matters.

Venerable Jing Yuan is currently the abbot of BW Monastery in Singapore. The original discourse of this article is in chinese and can be found here: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8Gv6DUOYsbinpcsAnlOMQw

Listening to the Dharma Amidst Distractions

Are we able to shift our attention away from various hectic conditions, and quickly stay focused on the teaching? How quickly can we collect ourselves?

Maybe you were angry or sad, or burned out or you were tied up and can’t let go, so on and so forth. There seem to be many things distracting you from being focused. So, we have to force ourselves. But what does it mean to “force ourselves”? It is to deliberately guide our minds to stay attentive to the teaching.

So, it all depends on how quickly we can switch our minds. For some people, upon hearing the teaching, they can immediately become fully attentive. <Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment> says that such a state is like a thunderclap coming out of the clear sky in the wilderness; a small animal would suddenly focus its entire attention. It is described as “like an animal hearing sudden noises” – everything else is halted, and the animal becomes attentive to the sound.

Our listening to the teaching should be like that — all the other objects of concern just disappeared, except for the teaching that is in our minds or by our ears.

Pursuit Of The Dharma

"The desire we seek to cultivate is that which directs us to the pursuit and yearning for the Dharma. It is the essential foundation for motivating joyous perseverance and with it; our attainment of true Dharma benefit becomes available." - Master Jih-Chang

“So why did we develop such strong sense of desire and yearning for the Dharma? This is because we have understood the concise principles, and able to apply it physically and mentally – observing our mind. What kind of perspectives should we use to view our surroundings? It should be said that, be it judging (someone/something) or recalling the kindness (of someone), what kind of right views should be used when doing these?

Hence, if we are in a situation where we can adequately adjust our mindset, or when facing certain dire situations at our wit’s end, and we receive insights and then suddenly find some hope –  all these can be obtained from the Dharma. And this is how we can develop the yearning aspiration for Dharma.”

Once we gradually practice this, in the deep corner of our hearts, there will at least be an understanding that has risen from our surroundings. At times, there could be the development of a better understanding of ourselves. Another example would be, say, you may be extremely tired and your mind wishes to rest for a while. But after listening, you feel that your energy has slowly regained and not feeling that tired anymore. This is because when listening to the Dharma, it will allow the extremely tired mind to receive rest and adjustment, these are the benefits that the Dharma bring to us.  

"To become proficient at cultivating the core of cultivation requires listening to teachings and contemplating extensively, understanding the teachings, and grasping clearly the perfect and complete good qualities of the teachings in vast quantities, including stages of the path. Besides, the ability to integrate the teachings in the mind is a requirement." - Venerable Jingyuan

Hurting Others = Hurting Ourselves

“Trumpeting the errors of others not only frustrates and enrages oneself but also hurts others.” – Venerable Jing Yuan

The original discourse can be found here:  https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/wZavquFj_mJ5JvmWGLs23A

If dharma teachings interest you, catch more snippets at BW Monastery – https://bwmonastery.org.sg/discourses/

” Without planting virtuous seeds in previous lifetimes yet expecting glorious fruition of karma is a foolish mentality. ” – Venerable Jing Yuan

The original discourse can be found here:  https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/2Z4Z1s0e3E8hepzJhEBjMQ

If dharma teachings interest you, catch more snippets at BW Monastery – https://bwmonastery.org.sg/discourses/

The Process Of Meditation

“Meditation is not simply sitting there and contemplating. The genuine objective of meditation is to transform our thinking through contemplating with focus, thus changing our perception – Focus, Contemplate, Transform. Continuously contemplate and establish the correct views. Transform our minds according to the correct views, and then create new karma. This is the process of meditation.” –…

“Meditation, reading the scriptures or being generous to sentient beings may appear to be practising according to the Buddha-Dharma, but these may not be genuine cultivation. It depends on our aspiration and intention, not on external behaviour. If our heart is pure and pristine, then our behaviour becomes pure and pristine. “ – Venerable Jing Yuan

The original discourse can be found…

Dharma Enrichment Series : How Difficult Is It To Obtain This Human Life Of Leisure And Opportunity?

Why is this human life of leisure and opportunity so precious? Because it is difficult to obtain, and it has great significance once we have obtained it. In the scriptures, the Buddha used many analogies to describe how difficult it is to obtain this human life of leisure and opportunity.

The Buddha states in the Bases of Discipline (Vinaya-vastu) 209 that those who die in the miserable realms…