A HYPOTHETICAL MURDER

I myself are not convinced with modern day man made laws but prefer to take thing happens at its own course, i.e. let nature takes its own course.

Just look at a hypothetical example, which is happening in real life. A man who murder another man, when caught, face the modern day man made laws, goes on trial, and is not sentenced to death as the trial judge found the evidence produced to him are not beyond reasonable doubt. The murderer escaped death sentence, walk out as a free man. What’s next? Will this means the murderer really free from his own conscience?

If there is such a thing of going on trial of the murderer in religion point of view, I believe there is no such sentence as ‘hang until dead’ for a murder but let nature takes its own course. That summed up my understanding of “Law of Kamma” founded by my great teacher, Buddha.

Repent and do more good deeds is the way to go for a murderer, if he is fortunate not to be caught, or convicted under modern day man made laws.

Having said the above, we still need to observe our own actions and not to disregard man made laws, if we choose not to be unfairly convicted.

Easiest way is to observe the 5 precepts of Buddha’s teachings, and let nature takes its own course from there.

ANICCA MEANS IMPERMANENCE

"Anicca" is pronounced "ah nicha" in Pali, meaning impermanence!!

I FOUND A JEWEL - BHANTE KOVIDA

I practise Bhante Kovida Qi Gong

Bhante comments on his book...
Some people will be surprised and puzzled while others, no doubt, will be shocked and upset with my explanation of certain topics such as khamma and rebirth, since many teachers explain these topics otherwise.

My thoughts on these subjects should not be viewed as concrete truths but rather as different ways of looking and reflecting on aspects of the Dhamma. We should, after all, keep an open and inquiring mind, and resist the easy temptation of clinging to views and opinions. We must always be alert to the persisting habit of the clinging/craving mind because it's really not important what we think and want to believe. What really matters, and what the Buddha kept reminding people, is that our minds and hearts are peaceful and free from suffering and dis-ease, ego pride, arrogance and conceit, and blessed with the four sublime states of loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity.

Another jewel that I found,

"When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. And that's my religion. - Abraham Lincoln"

HAPPY WESAK DAY

Thanks to tanco.com for this picture.

To me, Buddhism is about nature. It is not important to find out how, who or when nature was created.

Being living creature of higher intelligence than others, we human need to know how to co-exist or blend with nature. We need to respect life of other living beings. (By the way, it is we human that 'self-acclaimed' that we are of higher intelligence than others).

But things don’t work out so perfectly in the real world where we kill animal for food, encroach into jungle and spoil their habitats, clear up forest to cater for our needs and so on.

That is why Buddha told us not to adopt his teachings blindly without understanding and self realisation. To understand Buddha’s teachings fully is not an easy task and it is near impossible.

But at least, if we can do things moderately and with clear conscience, I should say that we have contributed quite a bit to mankind. Just remember, what goes around, comes around, if you don’t believe in ‘Law of Karma’ discovered by Gautama Buddha.

There is no point if you ask for forgiveness for sins committed from God, you need to clear your sins by doing good deeds.

HAPPY WESAK DAY

KARMA - I LIKE THIS EXPLANATION

Karma is a word from the philosophy of many Indian religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism). The basic theory is that the universe runs according to certain laws, all described by one word 'Dharma' (Sanskrit) or 'Dhamma' (Pali). The basic theory is: 'cause and affect'. The laws (Dharma) decide what affect is beget from a given cause. Karma is the 'cause' part of this theory. In other words, your actions - mental, vocal and physical are your Karma (plural).

Please note that in the Buddhist philosophy, Dharma does not 'punish' or 'reward' anyone. The concepts of good and bad don't exist here. For example, gravity is one of the laws of the universe, and if you jumped off a building and killed yourself, we wouldn't say that gravity was punishing you.

Selfless service will help 'improve' my Karma.

More interpretation of Karma go here

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=karma&page=1

LAST DAY OF 2007

Today is the last day of the year 2007. To sum it up, it is not a 'too bad' year in career wise except for the passing of my father. Up to this moment, my heart is still aching when recalling those moments of his suffering in hospital bed hooking to respirator and medical equipment. Come to think of this, one may says it is pointless thinking of those moments, but it is easier said then done.

Well, some time I just wonder how nice if 'someone' is powerful enough to end these sufferings of living beings. I don't think anyone can do that. That is the reason why I doubt there exist a God. If God is so powerful, He in fact should eliminate sufferings and make all of us all rich, healthy, long life and so on. I may offend some people for saying this, who have faith in God. Anyway, for those who found faith in God, it is good for them. At least they can confide in Him in time of sorrow and helplessness.

Anyway, I hope everyone of us has a nice ending for 2007 and a good start of 2008. In fact, Gary's Garden pineapple plant start to bear fruit again a few days ago and custard apple plant bearing fruit for the first time. Could this be a good omen for me? Hope so, hehe.

花开花谢，不执著

An article of Master Sheng Yen of Dharma Drum Mountain. 以下是是圣严法师, 法鼓山的作品

世间的万事万物，不论是山川大地、环境中的任何事物与现象、我们的身体、思想、心理反应、…..等，都是在不断的变动之中，没有一样是永恒不变的，甚至包括所谓的原则、真理，也会随著时空的不同，而阶段性的有差异。到了该改变的那一刻，应该要放下的就要放下，不需执著。

　　但是要做到不执著谈何容易，该如何袪除执著呢？不妨试著从理性的分析，和对自己身心的体验，来练习袪除执著。

　　所谓理性的分析，就是用「因缘」的观念，来理解事物的真相。因缘是指一切的现 象，不论生理的、心理的或自然社会的现象，都是时间和空间之下所产生的种种关系，是由许许多多因缘条件和合理而生的，无法单独发生，也不会突然出现，更不 会永远不变地存在；只要其中一项因缘条件改变，牵一发而动全身，原本你以为绝对不会变的事物，就会有了变化。

　　另外一种则是用体验的方式。我们体验自己生命的过程，会发现人的生命从小一直到老，到死为止，都在不停地变化，自己的身体、生理在变，观念也在变。

　　例如一个人，本来是小男孩、小女孩，然后是少男少女，然后变成中年男子妇女， 最后变成老先生、老妇人，不断、不断地在变，如果要执著，究竟要执著哪一个呢？究竟是十六岁的是我呢？还是八十岁的才是我？其实都不是，因为十六岁的时候 已经过去，八十岁的现在也会过去，所以根本不需要执著。

　　从身体的变化可以更进一步来体验心理和观念的改变。从小开始，我们就不断在受教育，也不断受到环境、父母、老师以及时代变迁的影响，几乎没有一个观念是属于自己的，都是外来讯息的累积，然后才成为自己的想法。

　　而这些想法也是会变的，例如当你和别人谈话，对方提出一个你前所未闻的新观念，你听了以后，脑中的现法可能因此转变，不要说昨天的看法和今天的看法不同，可能这一刻的你和前一刻的你就不一样了。

　　不论从理论上来分析，还是从对自己的体验，都可以证明，没有一个永恒不变的我，甚至没有一个「我」存在，那又有什么好执著的呢？

　　不过虽然因缘在变化，但是当下还是有暂时的现象存在。就像一朵花，你今天看它可能好漂亮、好可爱，可是过了几天，它就凋谢，不漂亮、不可爱了，可能要换另外一朵花。既然知道事实如此，就不需要对这朵花太执著。因为花开、花谢，是自然现象，不需要太多的执著。

------摘自《找回自己》--花开花谢，不执著

100TH DAY OF DAD'S PASSING

This coming 7/07/07, Saturday will be my dad's 100th day of passing. Co-incidentally, my wife had a dream of my dad waving goodbye to her and at the same time, reminding my wife to tell me to wear more clothing. Well, such gesture touched me so much that my dad still care for me even though he is gone. Perhaps he knows this coming Saturday is the last time he will remain with his family, after this, his soul will be elsewhere. For me, this coming Saturday will be sort of 'reunion' for my dad before we bid farewell to him.

I believe that although physically he is gone, spiritually he is still around, he is in my heart forever. My kids believe their 'Ah Kong' is still with them and my youngest daughter will call out loud 'Ah Kong' when I say 1,2,3.....3,2,1 and 1,2,3 to her. My family had the privilege to live with my dad all these while. Thanks dad for all your love.....bye.

DO NOT BELIEVE IN ANYTHING SIMPLY.....

I found this posting by one named 'surfwarrior' who was commenting on http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-s/2006/07/from-bad-to-worse.htm , read on, I agreed with surfwarrior :-

"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." - Buddha

surfwarrior, I hope you won't mind I copied your posting in mine.....thanks

WHAT IS KAMMA?

I found this article and would like to share with all of you, please read with open mind, I am not supporting anyone........

Kamma means 'action'. The Law of Kamma means that there are inescapable results of our actions. There are deeds of body, speech or mind that lead to others' harm, one's own harm, or to the harm of both. Such deeds are called bad (or 'unwholesome') kamma. They are usually motivated by greed, hatred or delusion. Because they bring painful results, they should not be done.

There are also deeds of body, speech or mind that lead to others' well being, one's own well being, or to the well being of both. Such deeds are called good (or 'wholesome') kamma. They are usually motivated by generosity, compassion or wisdom. Because they bring happy results, they should be done as often as possible.

Thus much of what one experiences is the result of one's own previous kamma. When misfortune occurs, instead of blaming someone else, one can look for any fault in one's own past conduct. If a fault is found, the experience of its consequences will make one more careful in the future. When happiness occurs, instead of taking it for granted, one can look to see if it is the result of good kamma. If so, the experience of its pleasant results will encourage more good kamma in the future.

The Buddha pointed out that no being whatsoever, divine or otherwise, has any power to stop the consequences of good and bad kamma. The fact that one reaps just what one sows gives to the Buddhist a greater incentive to avoid all forms of bad kamma while doing as much good kamma as possible.

Though one cannot escape the results of bad kamma, one can lessen their effect. A spoon of salt mixed in a glass of pure water makes the whole very salty, whereas the same spoon of salt mixed in a freshwater lake hardly changes the taste of the water. Similarly, the result of a bad kamma in a person habitually doing only a small amount of good kamma is painful indeed, whereas the result of the same bad kamma in a person habitually doing a great deal of good kamma is only mildly felt.

This natural Law of Kamma becomes the force behind, and reason for, the practice of morality and compassion in our society.