I had never abused fish, gong, nor bell before, and hurried to try and be hastily taught by a friend of mine before show time. Education be damned, I ended up flustering about and striking the thing about twice as much as I should have. Rolling Stone praised my "rock steady baselines and infectious hooks," but Buddhist chanting it was not. It was one of the most horrifyingly embarrassing experiences I have ever weathered and I regret not skipping town and hopping a freight train the morning of.

And nobody who wasn't wearing robes knew the difference.

Unable to hide my shame, I promoted it to anyone who would listen afterwards. After confessing my eighth note punk rock Buddha beats to one friend, he noted, "Oh, maybe that's why I got into it more than I usually do."

My problem was that I wanted to do it right. It wasn't such a big deal that I did a poor job, I instead was flustered because I could have done so much better if I had the opportunity to practice. I wanted to be able to stand before the crowd and have the hammer swing from elegantly tuned muscle memory.

I feel this might be my anxiety as a Western Buddhist coming out: I read all about Buddhism before I visited a temple, I consulted manuals and charts before I sat down to meditate, and I learn my chanting by knowing the meaning of every word or character. I am so anxious about entering the ritual space that so many do not have to recollect entering, that I want to be prepared and face things on my own terms.

But there are not books on Chinese Buddhist Liturgical Music. No "Dharma Percussion for Dummies." You have to be a student, and you have to have a teacher.

You have to screw up.

When trying to learn the chants we were doing that morning, I was taught to memorize the beats by tapping my hands against my knees. The gong, the bell, the wooden fish - these are sacred instruments that are not to be played outside a Dharma service. They call all living being in the ten directions to come and listen to the teachings of liberation and truth. One does not "practice" on them.

The physicality of the hammer and the fish, the distance between the two and the proper amount of force: these were my greatest roadblocks before my performance. I was touching them in this way for the first time. I couldn't help but be jumbled and rusty!

After the great fish disaster of 2008, the various monastics in my life kept providing me more and more opportunities to play the fish at different services. I turned them all down. I had my practice anxiety: How could I be asked to fail so completely and so systematically while valuing the sacred space created by these foible-free rituals?

It was only after the requests stopped that I came to realize that this is the way Buddhist music is taught in this community, and that it happens no other way. Even if I could achieve my practices perfection, it wouldn't be the same. I would be like the self-taught garage guitarist with a `rippin solo who can't play with a band because he can't keep time. Chinese Liturgical education is constructed to prevent `rippin fish solos.

One moment, on that fateful day in May, we were transitioning from one chant to another, and I had simply, blanketly forgotten how to do it. My Dharma friend and teacher, playing the bell and gong across the alter, exercised some quick thinking and played the fish and bell part using the two instruments at his disposal.

And nobody who wasn't wearing robes knew the difference, or they wouldn't have at least. They wouldn't have if the two of us weren't smiling.

Mrs Tng

Karen

Doreen & Siew Yong

Chew Eng

Siew Sien

Annie

Angela

Madam Lim

Alice and Miss Low

Linda

Cindy

Buddhism is the main religion here, and fast growing: The number of people aged 15 and up who said they were followers jumped from 27 per cent of the population in 1980 to 31 per cent in 1990. In 2000, the last census, the figure was 43 per cent, or 1.1 million people.

...

Buddhist converts told The Straits Times that the religion offered comfort in the face of uncertainties and disasters, and a constant reminder to look beyond the materialism of the rat race and to attain calmness and happiness through meditation and reflection.

Read the full article here.

Belajar menghasilkan sebuah foto yang 'simple and clean'

]]> http://oasisdamahana.wordpress.com/2008/05/24/vesak-is-the-most-important-festival/ Sat, 24 May 2008 09:17:57 +0000 oasisdamahana http://oasisdamahana.pt-br.wordpress.com/2008/05/24/vesak-is-the-most-important-festival/ Vesak is the most important festival observed by Buddhist all over the world.
It is celebrated to commemorate the birth of prince Siddhartha and his enlightment and passing away.
On the Vesak day millions of Buddhist in the world observe various
religious practices. Prince Siddhartha was born at Lumbini park in the city of Kimbulwath
in early days in India. His parents were king Suddhodana and queen Mahamaya.
He attended Buddhahood at Buddhagaya. In this year the Vesak poya day fell on 19th of May. So , the Srilankan
Govermant had request to celebrate a Vesak week. In order to that, our school principal organized some useful programs.
On the first day we decorated the school and houses. We decorated the Shrine with tissue streamers and the statue of lord Buddha. The Buddhist flags were raised.
We made Vesak lanterns. So our school was lighted with Vesak decaration.
We decorated not only school but also our homes and temples with Vesak decorations during
this week.

Maha Paan (Bread) Dansala.

A group of our friends felt extremely generous last year, and we started a "kos" dansala for Vesak. This year, (after learning the hard way that cleaning 18 jack fruits is no fun) we decided to switch to a simpler, "Paan and Lunu(Onion) Sambol".

225 loafs of bread. 40 kg of onions. A total of 900 quarters of bread given out to citizens of Sri Lanka. I think that's a decent "punya karmaya". :-) Although I must say I was teary eyed through most of it. Specially when peeling those darn onions. :-D Unfortunately we couldn't save up all the "Paan waati" for pissu.

Other Dansalas

After obtaining a few merits we decided to stop over and cash some of those in. It wasn't a difficult task, coz there were dansal all over in Colombo. Many "drink dansal" that we stopped and taseted their offering along the way.

Luckily enough, one of our friends had a relation who was giving out a much larger scale "Bath Dansala". So using the influential powers we managed to skip the cue, and help our selves to hot hot, vegetable fried rice, potato thel dala, soya curry, kadala (gram), chutney and chillie-paste. All served into chafing dishes, buffet style. Now that was a feast.

Later I managed to take some pics of the behind the scenes actions. My gosh, we were humbled at the effort we saw, and figured maybe in another 50 years, we could convert out minuscule dansala into one of similar standard/running.

End of the day, abt 5 dansals conquered. Now that is what you call "Dansal Wandanawa" (Worshiping Dansal).

Vesak Asiri all over CMB

Filled to the brim, and tired out to the max, Cindy and I still managed to catch some Vesak Decor on the way home along Baudhaloka Mw and surroundings. Although traffic was hectic, the mad cyclists were the worst.

Phew... well that's it folks. Hope this post leaves you at peace, no matter what reliogion you believe in. :-)

Buddha Purnima - Buddha's Birthday - Buddha Jayanti - Vesak - Visakh Bochea - Visakah Puja - Saga Dawa - Waisak - Phat Dan - Ka Sone La Pyae - Fo Dan - Vixakha Bouxa 2008

Buddha Jayanti / Buddha Purnima is considered a sacred day celebrated in rememberance of Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment and his passage into Nirvana. Buddha is considered the ninth incarnation (avatar) of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism and his Birthday Festival is celebrated in the fourth lunar month of Vaisakh (April or May) on the first full moon of that month. Budha Purnima is celebrated every year at Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's ashram in India and was celebrated on May 19th 2008.

Pictures of Buddha Purnima 2008 At Prashanti Nilayam, Puttaparthi, Sathya Sai Baba Ashram

"Buddha" is also spelled as: Budha, Buda, Budda, Booda, Buda

I'm going to be vegetarian for at least a month to accumulate merits for them. Sitting there teary-eyed whenever the news come on doesn't help much. At the same time I feel more happy knowing I'm not eating the flesh of fellow sentient beings. :)

Donated some money to Firefly Mission. Just read their email updating donors on the situation:

We have finally managed to contact our partners in compassion in Myanmar They are all safe and have started their ground work preparing to help us distribute medicine and relief supplies.

I read on their website the volunteers there pay for humanitarian trips themselves and that's really admirable.

From KMSYM:

Buddhist Explanation on Natural Disasters

Natural disasters such as cyclones and earthquakes are results of human beings’ incessant greed and hatred that has accumulated over infinite eons.

What Can Buddhists Do?

Immediate

1. Dedicate merits to victims.

2. If you wish to help in any other ways, it is best to donate cash.

Cash donations enable charities to buy the most needed type of food, medicine, clothing, shelter materials and other supplies.

By buying relief products locally or regionally, charities can reduce shipping costs and more rapidly deliver assistance.

Long Term

We can avert future natural disasters by acting now. Be kind and compassionate, be grateful to all and lead a simple and environmentally sustainable lifestyle with few wants.

May all sentient beings find peace and refuge in times of calamity. Let's all be grateful for every little thing that we have.

Semoga Semua Mahkluk Berbahagia

Since its the Vesak Festival In Sri lanka,I Thought i will honor the great Man "Mohideen Baig (1919–1991)"

He was Muslim and moved to Sri Lanka from Tamil Nadu.He wasn't a Buddhist, But He sang a lot of Buddhist Devotional songs(Budhu Bathi Gee). Because of his nature to support other cultures, he was one of the most influential multicultural/"multi-religious" figures in the Sri Lankan art history.

Some say His Song "Buddan Saranan" Is The Longest Song In Sri lanka...

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him."

"Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue."

"Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace."

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."

"The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings."

and for me, the most pertinent at this time in my life...

"Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace."

and from the 14th dalai lama, tenzin gyatso, whose book the art of happiness: a handbook for living i am currently reading and loving. one key thing that i've picked up from him is that we confuse pleasure with happiness. one needs to ask themself if what they are doing will make them happy or give them fleeting pleasure. and to understand this one must train their mind, which takes time. of course, that's a very unappealing idea to us americans - to not get it instantly - but, as the buddha said "there are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting."

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them."

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

"I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life."

"It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act. There are two aspects to action. One is to overcome the distortions and afflictions of your own mind, that is, in terms of calming and eventually dispelling anger. This is action out of compassion. The other is more social, more public. When something needs to be done in the world to rectify the wrongs, if one is really concerned with benefitting others, one needs to be engaged, involved."

"In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher."

"Encountering sufferings will definitely contribute to the elevation of your spiritual practice, provided you are able to transform calamity and misfortune into the path."

and one that i particularly relate to as a christian viewing buddhism through a philosophical not religious lense...

"Don´t try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are."

what an amazing man. it's incredible how the chinese propaganda machine has tried to portray him as some kind of ayatollah-esque religious dictator, or instigator of violence. the nation of tibet may have mixed religion & politics with some unsavory results (i'm not sure as to how much if any, it's hard to find unbiased info on this - though i will say while i support the freedom of tibet, i do not support any type of theocracy), but this is a man who was forced to flee at the age of 24. this is a man whose entire message is based on peace and compassion. doubting that is like doubting gandhi and trying to sling mud on his name. this is a man who in the face of having his home stolen, a million of his brothers & sisters - many unarmed monks & nuns living in monasteries - murdered, and being forced to live in exile that he can say "i do not hate them, i pity them". a true man of peace. i feel blessed to have lived during the lives of men like him and pope john paul II and women like mother teresa. what wonderful examples of how we should be living, of what life really should be about.

Perayaan Hari Wesak di Segamat, Johor agak berlainan di tempat lain kerana mereka tidak meraikan di tokong-tokong untuk bersembahyang tetapi mereka meraikan disesebuah tempat khas seperti di "Local Buddha Building Centre". Saya tidak kelihatan sebarang sami yang memakai pakaian sami berwarna oren dan kuning tetapi saya melihat sami berpakaian berwarna hitam. Saya dan rakan baru saya iaitu Adha telah bergegas ke festival Buddha untuk mengambil gambar festival tersebut. Pada mulanya saya agak gementar untuk ke sana kerana saya berfikir perkara negatif sedangkan Adha tidak menunjukkan sebarang reaksi negatif untuk mengambil gambar. Dia seorang yang "main hentam". Hahahahaha... Saya amat gembira bertemu dengan dia kerana saya kembali yakin dan berani untuk bertembung dengan orang luar serta berkomunikasi. Akhirnya saya mempunyai teman untuk mengambil gambar walhal sebelum ini saya keseorangan..

As you all might know that today is Vesak Day. It is the day where all the Buddhists commemorate the 3 significance events which took place, corresponding to the three watches or periods of the night : the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha. (as some might still know or remember).

I almost forgot what those three events are when I went to the temple this morning. I only recalled 2 of them, until my friend told me the correct complete events that happened 2500 years back.

That I hardly remember those events and merely went to the temple with some feeling of ignorance, for me is such a remorse. I felt ashamed of myself. Then I asked myself, what I am doing in that temple, common practices like praying then what? Okay Buddha bathing.. then what? I am just doing those without any consciousness and mindfulness of what exactly the meaning of those.

This made me looked back when I was still a kid in primary school and the teaching of Buddha was first introduced to us. However, if I remembered correctly that most of the times we are taught to memorize those teachings without fully understand the significance behind everything. Probably they assumed we as a kid will be hard to comprehend those teachings. So, I was being left with very patchy information about everything.

In my process of growing up as a young adult, I received quite some knowledge about religious from observing my friends, listening to teachers, and people who are reliable to give out credible information. I learned now the meaning of each practices that we do in Vesak Day and ordinary days. Why do we burn incense? Why do we light up candle? I read about it and it makes more sense now than before. At least I will know next time when I offer flowers in the altar is not just to make it looks beautiful.

The flowers which are offered at the shrine are fresh, fragrant and beautiful at the time when they are placed before an image but will soon become withered, scentless and discoloured. The offering of flowers reminds the Buddhist of the impermanence of things, an important teaching of the Buddha.

Although I still found it difficult to understand the nature of human life and continually compare and contrast different religions. At the end of the day, I can't find an easy answer to my very question: The purpose of life.

If you asked me when I began to ask this question yesterday, I would say that I didn't even know. But, today when I read through and googled information about Vesak Day (which I feel like knowing so little about it) I realized the reason when and why I keep asking this question.

This question is exactly everyone will ask (I am sure you do).

When? Since the first time I acknowledged the impermanence of everything in our lives, some time back when I was in my last year of high school.

.

That day was my last day in school, laughing and chatting around, taking lots lots of pictures together with my close friends, classmates and teachers. I remembered the atmosphere in the class that day was so happening and cheering. I assumed that morning everyone were too excited about taking pictures and running around the school to greet those friends who were going to study abroad, that no one realized today, 2 years after that, some people might have lost contact with those they were taking picture with, those they hugged with, those they played with, or even those they talked with all the time. Where is the best time then? when we were still classmates and we were still together? After that...?

That day I was so sad and cried together will some of my close friends. We were too happy for those days we have spent together in class, every moments that we have spent seemed to make us felt so hard to leave. Now, I admit that we will not be the same anymore. When can we ever meet again and spent time like that? Okay, let say in reunion, one day, two days? After that?

We are too satisfied and too naive that we forgot there's a lot of things we can't control in our lives. Their (other people) time, decision, schedule, place can separate us and those satisfaction will never be able to always be there for us.

Everything will slowly change, some cease some start, some dulled some sparks...

No matter how hard u try to preserve it, it will always left you with either scar or memory...

Packages, I called it.

Well, I begin to sound pessimistic again. But, what the point I want to make here is that life is not something that we have to regret or confuse about. We will always know happy n sad as a package, know love and hatred as a package, know loyalty and betrayal as a package. We see beautiful and ugly as a package, see dark and bright as a package. Only when we are mindful that those things are subject to change, we will feel happy about everything. But that is not the end of the story...

Remember that happy come as package with sad.

There is Four Noble Truth, the heart of the Teachings of the Buddha I have read which I found so related to my state condition until today.

Our life or the whole process of living is seen as a flux of energy comprising of the Five aggregates, namely the Aggregate of Form or the Physical process, Feeling, Perception, Mental Formation, and Consciousness. ... are constantly in a state of flux or change.

....

When we become aware of the unsatisfactory nature of life, we would naturally want to get out from such a state. ...we begin to seriously question ourselves about the meaning and purpose of life. This will lead us to seek the Truth with regards to the true nature of existence and the knowledge to overcome unsatisfactoriness.

... therefore, the purpose of life is to put an end to suffering and all other forms of unsatisfactoriness - to realise peace and real happiness. Such is the significance of the understanding and the realisation of the First Noble Truth.

It is still a long story to go... But at least today, more or less I begin to understood that there is no need to feel lonely or sad when my family is far away from me, when I walk back to hall alone, no one accompany me going somewhere, or I haven't found someone that always be there for me. Because everything is revolving like a wheel, you can't expect to be always at the top of the wheel if you want to walk this life.

Treasure your life and when you got time, start to think about how to sail it...

I haven't go on to the second stage of Noble truth since I found it too chim for me to applied.. haha.. I am not prepared to take that big step. I will take a little baby step may lead me the right way anyway... Maybe I will understand and applied those 4 Noble Truth by the time I am 70s... hehe.. :) (OMG, Do I sounds like I am going to be Bhikhunni? No lah hor.. still acceptable.. :D)

Happy Vesak Day! :D

read more : here

rhynchan~

For 364 days most ‘Buddhists’ in South - encouraged by the government itself - invariably monger war. They see absolutely nothing wrong in killing human beings (Yes, Tamils too are human beings – in case someone has forgotten) More the numbers, more jubilant they are. ‘200 TIGERS KILLED’ makes a reason for celebrations, as if the killing gives them a sort of eternal joy. They may never feel Tamils too are made of flesh and blood and prone to suffering just like themselves. It will be surprising if they actually understand some of these so-called ‘tigers’ are innocent civilians (one of the obvious targets of any war) or even armed – they were forced to take arms largely because that was the only means of survival. (Most militant Tamil youth have not joined LTTE on their free will. They were forced to join at the gun point, mosty as children)

Many Budhists dress in white today –  for Vesak - visit the temples and promise “Panathipatha Veramani Sikkha-padam samadiyami” – that they do not harm even a fly. Even those who promote war for 364 days do so.

For 364 days they revere machine guns. For one day they take ‘Nava Guna Vela’ and chant ‘Karaneeya Metta Sutta’ – which tells that one needs to love any other living being with the kindness of a mother towards her only son. Strange. Isn't it?

The politicians who push war with unceasing force probably never know, or perhaps pretend not to know, those who get killed (from both sides) are largely boys and girls of the age of their own children. (who may be enjoying the overseas life.)

For Vesak the government bans selling meat for a week, at least thinking it would decrease the number of cows and hens that get killed, but never thinks of declaring a ceasefire in the war front for the period. Why? Is this because our war mongers give a higher value to the life of a cow than the life of human being?

When we were small our parents, specially the strict Buddhists, never brought us guns as presents. Today guns and those who carry them are hero worshipped. At exhibitions military weapons are demonstrated to students the big way. Pregnant women are expected to get up and offer them seats in public transport. How low our society has gone!

The poets in Sri Lanka few decades ago described ‘Budu Guna’ in their work. The poets of today demand Tamil blood. There was one ‘monk’ who wrote a song,  few years back, that sure way to attain Nibbana is to go to war carrying a weapon!   

This is the damage the 30 year old war has done to our society.  

The Sinhalese Buddhist society we see today is not the one most of the adults saw when we were children. We see a very different society where the only doctrine is ‘KILL, KILL and KILL’. That is all our children are taught. Through media, at schools and most unfortunately at some temples too.

Many talk about the low levels the lay society has gone into. Hardly anybody seems to understand how pathetic  the Sanga society has become now, largely because of politics. Bhikkus entering politics could have been the worst ever happened to Buddha Sasana for its claimed 2,500 years of history. No other period in Sri Lankan history have seen such a detriment in Sanga society. Not even the Kandyan period where the Buddhist monks started living semi-lay lives as ‘ganninanses’. Thanks to few opportunistic leaders of Jathika Hela Urumatya.

The above photograph tells it all. It was taken at a JHu protest. Can anyone assume this ‘monk’ saying ‘Suvapath Veva!’ as he is supposed to say?

We celebrate Vesak in the middle of an ongoing civil war. Many ‘Buddhists’ in South today are in ‘Sil’ mode, but tomorrow surely they will change to ‘kill’ mode. This is the reality of our lives.

At least may this Vesak day bring some wisdom to these war mongers!

May they understand the futility of war and the need to enter into a political solutions without making more and more people miserable!

May they understand the power of ‘ahimsa’ against the power of ‘war’!

May they chant ‘BUDDHAM SARANAM GACHCHAMI’ instead of ‘YUDDHAM SARANAM GACHCHAMI’!

Siyalu sathvayo niduk vethva, neerogi vethva, suvapath vethva!

Instead of a public holiday, Melbourne celebrates the event on the weekend closest to the day -which happens to fall on the full moon in the month of May this year. A lot of activities were held at the Federation Square all weekend and I managed to go for a visit this morning. As I arrived, I was greeted by an interesting 'display' on the ground. There were many metal discs acting as weighted base with slender flexible wire spikes sticking perpendicularly upwards. The discs are arranged on the ground to form big concentric circles.

Some of these spikes had a large green (plastic) leaf - to signify a Bodhi tree leaf -an important tree in the Buddhist tradition because it was under one such tree that Buddha achieved his enlightenment. Each leaf is threaded through the spike and in the wind, this field of green leaves waves serenely. Upon closer inspection, you can see that the leaves had handwriting on them. For a gold coin donation, one can obtain a leaf, write one's wish or message using a texta and then thread it through one of the empty spikes; adding to the growing collection. This 'field of enlightenment' was said to be 'realised with an Australian industrial designer' as a special participative project/installation. Apparently at the end of the day, the leaves will be collected and taken to the Fo Guang Shan Melbourne main temple (in Yarraville) for blessings.

Needless to say, I added my leaf.

Further into Fed Square there was a large statute of Buddha and many queue to pray in front of it. Lining the base of this giant statute were a row of little Buddhas, each standing in a pond of water. The idea is for the person praying to also bathe this statute with the water using a provided ladle. Its suppose to wash away one's sins. I also bought some vegetarian food and according to tradition, some believers will be going vegetarian tomorrow. So tonight I prepared a big pot of vegetable curry, consumed for dinner and also enough for lunch and dinner tomorrow.

Despite my often skeptical stance towards organised religions, I do profess a deep connection to the buddhist philosophy. While the rituals described above are simply just that, I think that they provide some psychological comfort when confronted with the uncertainties of life. It is no more different than the rituals I described in a recent post about cleaning the desk, burning some oils, making a cup of tea to get oneself into writing mode.

Há algumas semanas escrevi aqui sobre a celebração de Vesak - ou Saka Dawa Düchen, para os tibetanos- que alguns estariam agendando para 20 de abril ao invés de 19 maio (noite da próxima segunda-feira).

Sou meio crítico com relação a algumas coisas. Muita gente considera "in" dizer que é budista, andar com um mala (rosário com 108 contas) no pescoço ou no pulso como adereço e sair dizendo "namastê" para todo mundo que encontra pela frente como se estas coisas mostrassem certo grau de refinamento espiritual. Lembro de um grupo do qual fiz parte e olhava para as meninas pensando "Barbie vai à Índia" - eu sei, eu sou horrível...

O Vesak mesmo é uma data que reúne muitas pessoas em diferentes locais porque é considerado auspicioso e, por "auspicioso", os grupos se reúnem pensando que a vida vai mudar num passe de mágica através de cantos e oferendas.

Já publiquei algo sobre as Fases da Lua em outro post, aproveitando um texto da Márcia Mattos, sendo que e o fato da Lua Cheia culminar "a semente e o potencial inaugurado na Lua Nova" vai além dos empreendimentos pessoais. Neste sentido, gosto muito da leitura dos judeus com relação à Roda do Ano, onde cada intervalo entre uma Lua Nova e outra (o mês judaico) traz uma proposta de crescimento que se desenvolve em espiral - a cada ano você passa pelas mesmas coisas em um outro nível de entendimento - e, na Lua Cheia, o perfeito alinhamento entre as dimensões espirituais permite pleno acesso à energia que se encontra à disposição no período.

No momento em que este post é escrito, estamos na noite do dia 13 de Iyar, sendo Iyar um mês inteiramente dedicado ao refinamento pessoal. Já estava escrevendo toneladas de coisas sobre Pessach, Shavuot e a Contagem do Ômer, mas deixo isso para outra ocasião para não embolar as coisas - "dai a Buddha o que é de Buddha"... rsrs

Osho tem um texto interessante sobre felicidade em que diz que a Iluminação se dá quando você desiste de ser infeliz. Parte deste discurso, extraído do livro Alegria - A Felicidade Vem de Dentro (Ed. Cultix), transcrevo a seguir. Os negritos são por minha conta.

As pessoas seguem em frente criando grandes problemas a partir do nada. Conversei com milhares de pessoas sobre seus problemas e ainda não me deparei com um problema real! Todos os problemas são falsos, você os cria, pois sem problemas se sente vazio, sem problemas não há nada a fazer, nada com o que brigar, nenhum lugar para ir. As pessoas vão de um guru a outro, de um mestre a outro, de um psicoterapeuta a outro, de um grupo terapêutico a outro, pois, se não forem, se sentirão vazias e de repente sentirão a vida como se ela não tivesse sentido. Você cria problemas para que possa sentir que a vida é um grande trabalho, um crescimento, e você precisa batalhar arduamente.

Lembre-se: o ego pode existir apenas quando ele batalha, quando ele luta. E, quanto maior o problema, quanto maior o desafio, mais o seu ego se ergue, se eleva.

Você cria problemas; os problemas não existem. E agora, se você me permitir, nem copos d'água existem. Isso também é um truque seu. Você diz: "Tudo bem, não há tempestades, mas há copos d'água" . Não, nem mesmo copos d'água existem, eles são criação sua. Primeiro você cria copos d'água a partir do nada, e depois cria tempestades a partir deles.

E os sacerdotes, os psicoterapeutas e os gurus ficam satisfeitos, pois todo o negócio deles existe por sua causa. Se você não criar copos d'água a partir do nada e, depois, se não transformar seus copos d'água em tempestades, qual será o sentido dos gurus o ajudarem? Primeiro você precisa estar na condição de precisar de ajuda.

Por favor, observe o que você está fazendo, que tolice você está fazendo. Primeiro você cria um problema, depois vai em busca de uma solução. Apenas observe por que você está criando o problema. Exatamente no começo, quando você está criando o problema, está a solução; não o crie! Mas isso não terá apelo para você, porque então você de repente é atirado contra si mesmo. Nada a fazer? Nenhuma iluminação, nenhum satori, nenhum samádi? E você está profundamente inquieto, vazio, tentando se preencher com qualquer coisa.

Você não tem nenhum problema, e somente isso precisa ser entendido.

Neste exato momento você pode abandonar todos os problemas, pois eles são criações suas.

Assim, dê uma outra olhada para seus problemas. Quanto mais fundo você olhar, menores eles parecerão ser. Continue a olhá-los, e, aos poucos, eles começarão a desaparecer. Continue a fitá-los e, de repente, você descobrirá que existe o vazio; um belo vazio o envolve. Nada a fazer, nada a ser, porque você já é o que tinha de ser.

A iluminação não é algo a ser alcançado; ela é apenas para ser vivida. Quando digo que atingi a iluminação, simplesmente quero dizer que decidi vivê-la. Basta! E desde então eu a vivi. Trata-se de uma decisão de que agora você não está interessado em criar problemas, e isso é tudo. Trata-se de uma decisão de que agora você acabou com toda essa tolice de criar problemas e de encontrar soluções.

Toda essa tolice é um jogo que você está jogando contra si mesmo. Você mesmo está se escondendo e procurando, é os dois parceiros do jogo, e você sabe disso! E por esse motivo que quando digo isso você sorri, dá risada. Não estou falando algo ridículo; você entende isso e ri de si mesmo. Observe-se rindo, observe seu próprio riso; você entende o que estou dizendo. Precisa ser assim, pois se trata de seu próprio jogo: você está se escondendo e tentando se encontrar.

Você pode se encontrar neste exato momento, pois é você mesmo que está se escondendo.

É por isso que os mestres do Zen batem nas pessoas. Sempre que alguém vem e diz: "Gostaria de ser um buda", o mestre fica com muita raiva. A pessoa está pedindo uma tolice, ela é um buda. Se Buda vier a mim e me perguntar como ser um buda, o que se espera que eu faça? Eu baterei em sua cabeça! "A quem você pensa que está enganando? Você é um buda".

Você é um grande criador de problemas... apenas entenda isso, e, subitamente, os problemas desaparecem. Você está perfeitamente em forma, você nasceu perfeito. Esta é toda a mensagem: você nasceu perfeito, a perfeição é a sua natureza mais profunda. Você precisa apenas vivê-la; decida e viva-a.

TEYATA OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI SHAKYAMUNI YE SOHA

Lenawara Rajamaha Viharaya is one of the most picturesque temples within my electorate. Situated in a pleasant village environs 5 km along Anguruvathota Road, from the Raigama junction in Panadura - Horana Road, this temple virtually takes one to Rajarata. It is difficult to think such environment ever exist so close to Colombo.

Lenawara Temple is positioned at the top of a natural rock. It can only be reached by climbing a long flight of steps similar to what one sees at Mihintale.

There is enough evidence that this had been a flourishing religious institution during the days of king Parakramabahu VI. An inscription by the king at Sunetradevi Pirivena at Pepiliyana records grants made to “Raigam nuwarabada Lenawara gallena Viharaya”. Archeological Department goes even further in naming it the foremost temple in the Western province during the Polonnaruwa period.

Difficult to think it survived the Portuguese era during which almost all Buddhist buildings were demolished. Some ancient arts in a cave can clearly be dated to few centuries back. This can be one artifact that remained. It is more logical to assume that the other parts of them temple was built more recently. The shrine room was built in 1946, as indicated above the main entrance to it. Perhaps the other buildings can be dated to earliest 1930s except the cave with arts – including the images of the Gods Vishnu, Kataragama, Saman and Vibhishana.

The sections of the temple are at several different levels. Lowest level hoses the ‘avaasa geya’. This shows some signs of 1040s architecture. Then one climbs few steps to reach the next level with ‘bana maduwa’. About 10 m above is the shrine room, with a long reclining Buddha statue. The door way made of carved stones. Bo Tree is nearby but to the Chaithya is another drastic climb. At this top level one can have a panoramic view of Bandaragama.

If one takes a turn to right about 30-40 m from the road to shrine room, few more caves on the crock can be seem. The largest is known as ‘Bamunu Lena’ or the cave of the Brahmin. According to local legends a Brahmin with South Indian origins named ‘Ramasundara’ has once lived in this cave. His specialty was treating catarrh. (catarrh = inflation of the mucuous membranes lining the nose and throat, causing an excessive discharge of thick mucus. In Sinhala we call it ‘peenasa’) This Brahamin was also believed to have complied a book on treating catarrh called ‘Peenas Vedakama’ in gold plates to be donated to the king. As this ‘waraya’ (donation) took place in a ‘lena’ the place is believed to have the name ‘Lenawara’.