In Ezra's book: The Authentic Life, while acknowledging that the essence of practice is to be open to whatever arises, he mentioned that sometimes, when we are caught in addictive thought patterns, we might have to change gears, the use of the phrase "Don't go there" as a sword to cut off thinking (driven by the addictive thought patterns) can be useful. Over and over again, "Don't go there", after a while the addictive cycle will be broken. Then when the mind cools down, we can return to "just being".
Sharing some thoughts after reading the above, from my own recent experience, having included mindfulness of the Buddha's name (Amituofo) into my repertoire of practice techniques, I have found that 'Amituofo' can also be skilfully used as a sword to cut off addictive thought patterns and bring me back to the present moment. Obsessive thinking arises, 'Amituofo', then noticing the whole-body breath, ahhh... present moment wonderful moment...
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
He's on his way back home
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Smiling Dwelling of the Heart
Sharing a little moment during the one day intensive today,
one moment of smiling, hands together, bowing to a Tibetan Monk (because there was a Tibetan group practising in the same building).
He did the same.
One human being smiling and bowing to another.
Simple & authentic moment.
In that moment, a deep feeling of peace and joy came over me.
I then recall that my Dharma Name given by Plum Village is "Smiling Dwelling of the Heart".
So this is what it means...
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
one moment of smiling, hands together, bowing to a Tibetan Monk (because there was a Tibetan group practising in the same building).
He did the same.
One human being smiling and bowing to another.
Simple & authentic moment.
In that moment, a deep feeling of peace and joy came over me.
I then recall that my Dharma Name given by Plum Village is "Smiling Dwelling of the Heart".
So this is what it means...
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
5 Steps to Letting Go of Emotional Difficulties
Sharing this practice based on what was written in Ezra Bayda's latest book: The Authentic Life.
I am halfway thru it, it is very good, so go grab it at your nearest bookstore!
I am sharing this after sitting a one day intensive with Gregg Howard (another Charlotte Joko Beck's Dharma successor) who also shared about the 5 steps during his Dharma talk. This is a very important part of my own spiritual practice, I spoke about the 3 R in another post earlier (based on Ezra's wife's teaching and is a variant of this 5 step approach) and for past couple years, I have been using a variant of this approach to work with my emotional difficulties. I am grateful to Ezra's clarification of this approach in his latest book as well as grateful to Gregg for refreshing it during today's Dharma talk.
When emotional difficulty arise...
1. Notice it! From my own experience, recognising it is not necessarily an easy task. Sometimes anger outbursts come and go without any light of awareness being shine on it at all. It is also during such times that I realise the extent of my "waking sleep".
2. Seeing it as our path. This is about overcoming our resistance to practice. Our habitual energies can be so strong that we might choose to wallow in our anger rather than to seeing it as our practice. I also find myself many a times stuck at this stage, noticing but choosing to continue to wallow in my vexations. Another realisation of the extent of my "waking sleep".
3. Clarifying our beliefs. Getting this far is quite an achievement. Sometimes asking "how is it supposed to be?" shines light on where I am stuck. Other times this stage may be just a realisation of "its xxx again." where I catch myself playing out some of my "favourite tunes". Sometimes it is not so clear. In any case, from my experience, it is important not to get stuck at this stage as it may mean more ruminating which adds fuel to the fire of the emotion.
4. Experiencing. What I see as the most important step. At this stage we move beyond the thinking mind and return to feeling the physical energy of the emotion. When the emotion is intense, it can be quite difficult to stay present with the physical sensations. But when I am to do so, to fully experience the emotion such as anger, the energy usually dissipates. For more intense emotions, it may not dissipate, but definitely I can feel the energy becoming more porous and more workable.
5. Letting go. The whole process is about letting go of the emotion. But to say to me "let go" when I am caught up in an emotional storm is unlikely to be very useful! We want to let go but we cannot. So this is where this 5 step comes into play. It can truly help us to let go of vexations in our life. While I am still very much a beginner in this practice, but having tasted some of the lower hanging fruits, I must say that this has become one of my primary practices.
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
I am halfway thru it, it is very good, so go grab it at your nearest bookstore!
I am sharing this after sitting a one day intensive with Gregg Howard (another Charlotte Joko Beck's Dharma successor) who also shared about the 5 steps during his Dharma talk. This is a very important part of my own spiritual practice, I spoke about the 3 R in another post earlier (based on Ezra's wife's teaching and is a variant of this 5 step approach) and for past couple years, I have been using a variant of this approach to work with my emotional difficulties. I am grateful to Ezra's clarification of this approach in his latest book as well as grateful to Gregg for refreshing it during today's Dharma talk.
When emotional difficulty arise...
1. Notice it! From my own experience, recognising it is not necessarily an easy task. Sometimes anger outbursts come and go without any light of awareness being shine on it at all. It is also during such times that I realise the extent of my "waking sleep".
2. Seeing it as our path. This is about overcoming our resistance to practice. Our habitual energies can be so strong that we might choose to wallow in our anger rather than to seeing it as our practice. I also find myself many a times stuck at this stage, noticing but choosing to continue to wallow in my vexations. Another realisation of the extent of my "waking sleep".
3. Clarifying our beliefs. Getting this far is quite an achievement. Sometimes asking "how is it supposed to be?" shines light on where I am stuck. Other times this stage may be just a realisation of "its xxx again." where I catch myself playing out some of my "favourite tunes". Sometimes it is not so clear. In any case, from my experience, it is important not to get stuck at this stage as it may mean more ruminating which adds fuel to the fire of the emotion.
4. Experiencing. What I see as the most important step. At this stage we move beyond the thinking mind and return to feeling the physical energy of the emotion. When the emotion is intense, it can be quite difficult to stay present with the physical sensations. But when I am to do so, to fully experience the emotion such as anger, the energy usually dissipates. For more intense emotions, it may not dissipate, but definitely I can feel the energy becoming more porous and more workable.
5. Letting go. The whole process is about letting go of the emotion. But to say to me "let go" when I am caught up in an emotional storm is unlikely to be very useful! We want to let go but we cannot. So this is where this 5 step comes into play. It can truly help us to let go of vexations in our life. While I am still very much a beginner in this practice, but having tasted some of the lower hanging fruits, I must say that this has become one of my primary practices.
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Ten Recitation Method
Sharing Venerable Master Chin Kong's recommended practice for busy lay people:
This simple,
convenient, and effective way to practice Buddha name chanting is especially
suitable for those who find that they have little time for cultivation. The
chanting helps us to be mindful of Amitabha Buddha. It brings us joy.
We begin when we
wake up. Sit up straight and clearly chant “Amituofo” ten times with a calm and
focused mind, aloud or silently. We repeat this eight more times throughout the
day. Each time we chant “Amituofo” ten times.
The key is
regularity; disruption of this practice will reduce its effectiveness. When
we recite consistently without interruption, we will soon feel an increase in
our wisdom, serenity, and purity of mind. Diligent practice of this method
together with unwavering belief, vows, and living a moral life can ensure
fulfillment of our wish to reach the Western Pure Land.
So there, no excuses no time to practice?
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Tea
This cup of tea in my two hands -
mindfulness is held uprightly.
My mind and body dwell
in the very here and now.
(verse from Thich Nhat Nhan)
Sipping the cuppa tea, slurppp...
Ahhh...
How wonderful...
When our mind is not clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best moment of your life.
(Wu-men's famous line)
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
mindfulness is held uprightly.
My mind and body dwell
in the very here and now.
(verse from Thich Nhat Nhan)
Sipping the cuppa tea, slurppp...
Ahhh...
How wonderful...
When our mind is not clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best moment of your life.
(Wu-men's famous line)
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
凡所有相，皆是虛妄
I was caught in an emotional storm earlier, quite a big one, was totally caught up in it.
Practicing with emotions took a back seat...
But as I stump into a corner completely caught up in the terrible storyline, I started including into my awareness breathing and bodily sensations...
Not sure how long but the gloominess suddenly lifted all of a sudden...
Like an eureka moment... but I can't put my finger on it how it happened... it just did...
A moment of reflection and this thought came to my mind
in any case, the children song is also saying the same thing I think ha-ha: row row row your boat, gently down the steam, merrily merrily merrily merrily , life is but a dream...
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
Practicing with emotions took a back seat...
But as I stump into a corner completely caught up in the terrible storyline, I started including into my awareness breathing and bodily sensations...
Not sure how long but the gloominess suddenly lifted all of a sudden...
Like an eureka moment... but I can't put my finger on it how it happened... it just did...
A moment of reflection and this thought came to my mind
凡所有相，皆是虛妄
in any case, the children song is also saying the same thing I think ha-ha: row row row your boat, gently down the steam, merrily merrily merrily merrily , life is but a dream...
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Dual Practice of Chan & Pure Land
Recently did some reading on rebirth and related Buddhist stuffs.
Not sure why but the pure land tradition which I had long been aware of, suddenly made perfect sense to me.
Based on beliefs in karma and rebirth, pure land tradition is about resolving to attain rebirth in the pure land to study under Amituofo, where Amituofo has created a place that is perfect for spiritual practice and allows one to practice without regression.
Based on my own spiritual practice over more than 10 years, I have experienced all sorts of regressions over days, months and years due to internal (laziness, cravings, frustrations etc.) and external (overwhelming work schedule, family responsibilities etc.) conditions that are non-conducive for spiritual practice.
Since I believe in rebirth, so why not aspire to a better rebirth in a place that offers the most conducive environment for spiritual practice?
Henceforth, while I continue to practice Chan(Zen), mainly through the methods of mindfulness of the body and breath, I have included the method of mindfulness of the Buddha's name (recitation of Amituofo) into my repertoire of practice techniques.
My practice philosophy has also been adjusted to:
Committed to the path of learning to live authentically;
Supported by mindfulness of the body & breath.
Faith in & aspire to seek rebirth in Amituofo's Pure Land;
Supported by mindfulness of the Buddha's Name.
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
Not sure why but the pure land tradition which I had long been aware of, suddenly made perfect sense to me.
Based on beliefs in karma and rebirth, pure land tradition is about resolving to attain rebirth in the pure land to study under Amituofo, where Amituofo has created a place that is perfect for spiritual practice and allows one to practice without regression.
Based on my own spiritual practice over more than 10 years, I have experienced all sorts of regressions over days, months and years due to internal (laziness, cravings, frustrations etc.) and external (overwhelming work schedule, family responsibilities etc.) conditions that are non-conducive for spiritual practice.
Since I believe in rebirth, so why not aspire to a better rebirth in a place that offers the most conducive environment for spiritual practice?
Henceforth, while I continue to practice Chan(Zen), mainly through the methods of mindfulness of the body and breath, I have included the method of mindfulness of the Buddha's name (recitation of Amituofo) into my repertoire of practice techniques.
My practice philosophy has also been adjusted to:
Committed to the path of learning to live authentically;
Supported by mindfulness of the body & breath.
Faith in & aspire to seek rebirth in Amituofo's Pure Land;
Supported by mindfulness of the Buddha's Name.
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
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