I am using the 3R technique when practicing with emotions...
sometimes when the emotion is strong, I struggled, found it hard to refrain from the storyline, found it hard to just return to the physical moment... struggling back and forth back and forth
today as I was struggling with this particular emotion, it dawned on me there is nothing to do, there was absolutely nothing to do, forget about the methods and techniques and 3R...
little insight on impermanence, in this case, the impermanent nature of our emotions, they come and go...
nothing has changed actually, yet...
a little smile on my face =)
Amituofo.
He's on his way back home
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Reflection on the 4 Reminders
The 4 Reminders are preliminary practices in the Tibetan Tradition. I have found them incredibly useful in reminding myself the importance and urgency of Dharma practice on a daily basis.
1. Precious Human Rebirth
2. Impermanence
3. Karma
4. Samsara
1. On our precious human rebirth, especially after reading Lama Zopa Rinpoche's book, I feel immensely grateful for the precious human rebirth, having the 8 freedoms and 10 richness, and knowing therefore how difficult it is to obtain such a rebirth. This is the first message of the urgency of practice.
2. On impermanence, the Tibetan saying comes to my mind, "Tomorrow or next life, which comes first I don't know." Impermanence reinforces the message, highlighting the fragility of the human life.
3. On Karma, understanding that we are having this lifetime must be due to diligent efforts made in past lives, and that without diligent efforts this lifetime, causes to encounter the Dharma will not be created for future lives. Meaning if I waste this precious opportunity to do Dharma practice, I am not just wasting this one lifetime, but that I am potentially squandering countless past lives' efforts as well as future lives. Much more is at stake than I can imagine.
4. On Samsara, understanding the nature of Samsara is suffering. If I do not practice then untold suffering awaits in future lives.
All these comes together as:
1. Being grateful for this precious human rebirth
2. Wishing that my life & practice will be of benefit to all
3. Reinforcing my aspiration for rebirth in Amituofo Pure Land
1. Precious Human Rebirth
2. Impermanence
3. Karma
4. Samsara
1. On our precious human rebirth, especially after reading Lama Zopa Rinpoche's book, I feel immensely grateful for the precious human rebirth, having the 8 freedoms and 10 richness, and knowing therefore how difficult it is to obtain such a rebirth. This is the first message of the urgency of practice.
2. On impermanence, the Tibetan saying comes to my mind, "Tomorrow or next life, which comes first I don't know." Impermanence reinforces the message, highlighting the fragility of the human life.
3. On Karma, understanding that we are having this lifetime must be due to diligent efforts made in past lives, and that without diligent efforts this lifetime, causes to encounter the Dharma will not be created for future lives. Meaning if I waste this precious opportunity to do Dharma practice, I am not just wasting this one lifetime, but that I am potentially squandering countless past lives' efforts as well as future lives. Much more is at stake than I can imagine.
4. On Samsara, understanding the nature of Samsara is suffering. If I do not practice then untold suffering awaits in future lives.
All these comes together as:
1. Being grateful for this precious human rebirth
2. Wishing that my life & practice will be of benefit to all
3. Reinforcing my aspiration for rebirth in Amituofo Pure Land
Friday, August 7, 2015
The Perfect Human Rebirth
Just read the book: The Perfect Human Rebirth by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Highly recommended to recharge our motivation to do Dharma Practice as it will remind us of the preciousness of the perfect human rebirth and not to waste this precious opportunity to practice.
This quote from within the book sums it up:
When we understand the freedoms and richness we have with this perfect human rebirth and how difficult it is to find this life again, there is no way we can feel any comfort unless we are practicing Dharma.
General Reflection after reading:
1. To waste this precious human rebirth is to squander the efforts of past, present life and future lives.
2. Grateful for this perfect human rebirth, I pray that may my life be of benefit to all beings.
Specific Reflection for practitioners like me seeking Pure Land rebirth:
4. Core daily practice must revolve around daily reminder of re-birth aspiration.
I vow that, along with other Pure Land cultivators,
I will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss,
See Amituofo, escape Birth and Death,
And rescue all, as the Buddha does.
5. Dedication of Merit to all beings.
May the merit and virtue accrued from this work adorn Amituofo Pure land,
repay the four great kindness above,
and relieve the suffering of those on the three paths below.
May those who see or hear of these efforts generate the Bodhi-mind,
spend their lives devoted to the Buddha Dharma,
and finally be reborn together in the land of Ultimate Bliss. Amituofo.
Both reflections done under the following context:
3. Tomorrow or next life which comes first, I don't know.
Highly recommended to recharge our motivation to do Dharma Practice as it will remind us of the preciousness of the perfect human rebirth and not to waste this precious opportunity to practice.
This quote from within the book sums it up:
When we understand the freedoms and richness we have with this perfect human rebirth and how difficult it is to find this life again, there is no way we can feel any comfort unless we are practicing Dharma.
General Reflection after reading:
1. To waste this precious human rebirth is to squander the efforts of past, present life and future lives.
2. Grateful for this perfect human rebirth, I pray that may my life be of benefit to all beings.
Specific Reflection for practitioners like me seeking Pure Land rebirth:
4. Core daily practice must revolve around daily reminder of re-birth aspiration.
I vow that, along with other Pure Land cultivators,
I will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss,
See Amituofo, escape Birth and Death,
And rescue all, as the Buddha does.
5. Dedication of Merit to all beings.
May the merit and virtue accrued from this work adorn Amituofo Pure land,
repay the four great kindness above,
and relieve the suffering of those on the three paths below.
May those who see or hear of these efforts generate the Bodhi-mind,
spend their lives devoted to the Buddha Dharma,
and finally be reborn together in the land of Ultimate Bliss. Amituofo.
Both reflections done under the following context:
3. Tomorrow or next life which comes first, I don't know.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Latest naunce of my daily practice routine
It has evolved to the following nuancing currently:
1. Renewing Vows - Repentance, Bodhisattva Vows and Rebirth Aspiration
2. Reciting Amituofo - 10 recitation method
3. Illuminating Silence - Staying present for a short while, with breath &/or sounds as anchors
4. Dedications of Merits
5. Reading - For weekend evening practice, I would try to end with a short article.
End of formal practice. Steps back into the busy and chaotic Daily Life:
6. Conscious Pause: It is easy to underestimate the extent of our waking sleep. Occasionally, I become aware of my waking sleep, but usually I will just fall back into the waking sleep immediately. So the practice here to make the intention to stay conscious for a while more.
7. Transforming Negativities - During the day, I try to watch out for the manifestation of negative emotions, recognise, refrain, and feeling the physical discomfort, relax into the present moment. I find the quote "like a dream; like an illusion" very helpful.
And just today, when I slipped into an well grooved habitual anger pattern, and when I recognised what was going on, I started to lament "I should be beyond this by now", and then a question popped into my mind like a koan, "who should be beyond this?", ha-ha a tiny moment of insight for me and I laughed quietly to myself at my folly...
Tendency to slip back into old negative habitual energies remains strong. To motivate my practice I need to now and then remind myself of the preciousness of this human life:
8. Reminding Precious Human Life - The Tibetan Quote is still very helpful - "Tomorrow or next life. Which comes first, I don't know."
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
1. Renewing Vows - Repentance, Bodhisattva Vows and Rebirth Aspiration
2. Reciting Amituofo - 10 recitation method
3. Illuminating Silence - Staying present for a short while, with breath &/or sounds as anchors
4. Dedications of Merits
5. Reading - For weekend evening practice, I would try to end with a short article.
End of formal practice. Steps back into the busy and chaotic Daily Life:
6. Conscious Pause: It is easy to underestimate the extent of our waking sleep. Occasionally, I become aware of my waking sleep, but usually I will just fall back into the waking sleep immediately. So the practice here to make the intention to stay conscious for a while more.
7. Transforming Negativities - During the day, I try to watch out for the manifestation of negative emotions, recognise, refrain, and feeling the physical discomfort, relax into the present moment. I find the quote "like a dream; like an illusion" very helpful.
And just today, when I slipped into an well grooved habitual anger pattern, and when I recognised what was going on, I started to lament "I should be beyond this by now", and then a question popped into my mind like a koan, "who should be beyond this?", ha-ha a tiny moment of insight for me and I laughed quietly to myself at my folly...
Tendency to slip back into old negative habitual energies remains strong. To motivate my practice I need to now and then remind myself of the preciousness of this human life:
8. Reminding Precious Human Life - The Tibetan Quote is still very helpful - "Tomorrow or next life. Which comes first, I don't know."
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Lucid Dream
Had a
lucid dream last night. Haven't had one for quite a while.
Had two interesting experiences in that dream.
First was spiritual.
Having became lucid, I tried to see what happens when I chant Amituofo.
The sky was suddenly filled with thousands of golden shining Amituofo.
Was awed and inspired.
Amituofo.
Second was more mundane.
Yesterday evening was reading a book on gravity with my son.
So I played with gravity a little.
Just need to "de-gravity" objects I looked at, and the object floated.
E.g. when I looked at cars, they flipped into the sky without gravity.
Interesting ha-ha
But this all lasted for a short time only, I later on slipped back unconscious into the dream again...
lucid dream last night. Haven't had one for quite a while.Had two interesting experiences in that dream.
First was spiritual.
Having became lucid, I tried to see what happens when I chant Amituofo.
The sky was suddenly filled with thousands of golden shining Amituofo.
Was awed and inspired.
Amituofo.
Second was more mundane.
Yesterday evening was reading a book on gravity with my son.
So I played with gravity a little.
Just need to "de-gravity" objects I looked at, and the object floated.
E.g. when I looked at cars, they flipped into the sky without gravity.
Interesting ha-ha
But this all lasted for a short time only, I later on slipped back unconscious into the dream again...
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Recognize, Refrain, Return
A particular nuance:
1. Recognize that I am caught in a self-centred dream
2. Holding onto the self-centred thoughts, exactly the dream! - Refrain
3. Return to the mind before thinking - Only go straight Don't Know...
Sometimes when I am caught in a strong emotion, even with recognition that I am caught in an emotion, it is not exactly easy to refrain from holding onto the thoughts (e.g. angry thoughts) because they seem so solid, so real and so juicy!
It is therefore helpful to remind that I am caught in a self-centred dream.
Or to remind myself that this is "like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a reflection" (as extracted from a line from the diamond sutra.
Such reminders can help to put the emotional outburst into a more balanced perspective and makes it easier for me to transit from recognize to refrain and returning to the here and now.
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
1. Recognize that I am caught in a self-centred dream
2. Holding onto the self-centred thoughts, exactly the dream! - Refrain
3. Return to the mind before thinking - Only go straight Don't Know...
Sometimes when I am caught in a strong emotion, even with recognition that I am caught in an emotion, it is not exactly easy to refrain from holding onto the thoughts (e.g. angry thoughts) because they seem so solid, so real and so juicy!
It is therefore helpful to remind that I am caught in a self-centred dream.
Or to remind myself that this is "like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a reflection" (as extracted from a line from the diamond sutra.
Such reminders can help to put the emotional outburst into a more balanced perspective and makes it easier for me to transit from recognize to refrain and returning to the here and now.
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
Friday, March 13, 2015
Update on My Daily Practice Routine
It has evolved to the following nuancing currently:
1. Renewing Vows - Rebirth Aspiration
2. Reciting Amituofo - One round of 108 chanting beads
3. Illuminating Silence - Staying in presence for a short while, with breath & sounds as anchors
4. Dedications of Merits
5. Reading/Listening to Dharma Talk - For evening practice, I would normally end with reading a short article or listening to a dharma talk on YouTube.
End of formal practice. Steps back into the busy and chaotic Daily Life:
6. Conscious Pause: It is easy to underestimate the extent of our waking sleep. Occasionally, I become aware of my waking sleep, but usually I will just fall back into the waking sleep immediately. So the practice here to make the intention to stay conscious for a while more, one useful technique is the "three breaths practice" where I commit to staying aware for three full breaths, with the breath as anchor.
7. Transforming Negativities - During the day, I try to watch out for the manifestation of negative emotions, recognise, refrain, and feeling the physical discomfort, relax into the present moment
Tendency to slip back into old negative habitual energies remains strong. To motivate my practice I need to now and then remind myself of the preciousness of this human life:
8. Reminding Precious Human Life - The Tibetan Quote is very helpful - "Tomorrow or next life. Which comes first, I don't know."
9. Reflecting on my dual practice of Chan & Pure Land:
Chan practice guides me on the way of life;
Pure land faith provides me with the purpose of this lifetime
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
1. Renewing Vows - Rebirth Aspiration
2. Reciting Amituofo - One round of 108 chanting beads
3. Illuminating Silence - Staying in presence for a short while, with breath & sounds as anchors
4. Dedications of Merits
5. Reading/Listening to Dharma Talk - For evening practice, I would normally end with reading a short article or listening to a dharma talk on YouTube.
End of formal practice. Steps back into the busy and chaotic Daily Life:
6. Conscious Pause: It is easy to underestimate the extent of our waking sleep. Occasionally, I become aware of my waking sleep, but usually I will just fall back into the waking sleep immediately. So the practice here to make the intention to stay conscious for a while more, one useful technique is the "three breaths practice" where I commit to staying aware for three full breaths, with the breath as anchor.
7. Transforming Negativities - During the day, I try to watch out for the manifestation of negative emotions, recognise, refrain, and feeling the physical discomfort, relax into the present moment
Tendency to slip back into old negative habitual energies remains strong. To motivate my practice I need to now and then remind myself of the preciousness of this human life:
8. Reminding Precious Human Life - The Tibetan Quote is very helpful - "Tomorrow or next life. Which comes first, I don't know."
9. Reflecting on my dual practice of Chan & Pure Land:
Chan practice guides me on the way of life;
Pure land faith provides me with the purpose of this lifetime
May all of us continue to enjoy our practice and be well and happy.
Amituofo. =)
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Friday, January 30, 2015
Simply This.
Conversation between Patrul Rinpoche and Nyoshul Lungtok.
High up in the mountains above Dzogchen Monastery, it was a beautiful night. The dark blue sky was clear and the stars shone brilliantly. The sound of the solitude was heightened by the distant barking of dogs from the monastery below.
Rinpoche: Do you see the stars up there in the sky?
Nyoshul: Yes.
Rinpoche: Do you hear the dogs barking?
Nyoshul: Yes.
Rinpoche: Do you hear what I am saying to you?
Nyoshul: Yes.
Rinpoche: Well, the nature of Dzogchen is this: simply this.
High up in the mountains above Dzogchen Monastery, it was a beautiful night. The dark blue sky was clear and the stars shone brilliantly. The sound of the solitude was heightened by the distant barking of dogs from the monastery below.
Rinpoche: Do you see the stars up there in the sky?
Nyoshul: Yes.
Rinpoche: Do you hear the dogs barking?
Nyoshul: Yes.
Rinpoche: Do you hear what I am saying to you?
Nyoshul: Yes.
Rinpoche: Well, the nature of Dzogchen is this: simply this.
Saturday, January 24, 2015
A tibetian saying that i had been holding close to my heart in recent weeks
"Tomorrow or Next Life, which comes first, I don't know."
Amazing quote that inspires me to maintain some form of spiritual practice on a daily basis.
The lessons of impermanence, mortality, karma as well as the preciousness of our human life, comes to my mind when I recall the quote, which makes it such a great spiritual reminder.
1. Coming & going, such is our human life. I know, at least at the intellectual level, that I can actually attain nothing, with nothing to attain at all in this life, where life is really but a dream. But yet I can get so serious, so caught up in my self-centred dreams, most of the time.
2. Before I know it, this dream is over, and will descend into the next dream (next life begins)... A great master said, "If you want to know your next life, look at your present actions." And yet most of the time I don't pay attention to my actions, and without the light of consciousness, they become habits and habits become my character and will eventually shape my next life...
3. So this quote is a great reminder to do something, right now! While I still have the chance! Don't leave it to tomorrow, it may be too late!
4. So morning and night, despite being tired (struggling to get up to work or struggling not to fall asleep in the evening) I tell myself, wake up wake up, Om Mani Peme Hung x108!
5. Don't waste this wonderful opportunity to rest in our unborn Buddha Mind, sitting quietly, breathing in, breathing out, birds chirping, crickets calling, cars zooming past in the background, being just this moment...
6. Finally don't forget about my aspiration to seek rebirth in the Blissful Pure Land in the next life! Amituofo x10!
May all of us be well and happy always, remember to rest in our unborn Buddha Mind, wake up and be free from suffering!
Amituofo.
Amazing quote that inspires me to maintain some form of spiritual practice on a daily basis.
The lessons of impermanence, mortality, karma as well as the preciousness of our human life, comes to my mind when I recall the quote, which makes it such a great spiritual reminder.
1. Coming & going, such is our human life. I know, at least at the intellectual level, that I can actually attain nothing, with nothing to attain at all in this life, where life is really but a dream. But yet I can get so serious, so caught up in my self-centred dreams, most of the time.
2. Before I know it, this dream is over, and will descend into the next dream (next life begins)... A great master said, "If you want to know your next life, look at your present actions." And yet most of the time I don't pay attention to my actions, and without the light of consciousness, they become habits and habits become my character and will eventually shape my next life...
3. So this quote is a great reminder to do something, right now! While I still have the chance! Don't leave it to tomorrow, it may be too late!
4. So morning and night, despite being tired (struggling to get up to work or struggling not to fall asleep in the evening) I tell myself, wake up wake up, Om Mani Peme Hung x108!
5. Don't waste this wonderful opportunity to rest in our unborn Buddha Mind, sitting quietly, breathing in, breathing out, birds chirping, crickets calling, cars zooming past in the background, being just this moment...
6. Finally don't forget about my aspiration to seek rebirth in the Blissful Pure Land in the next life! Amituofo x10!
May all of us be well and happy always, remember to rest in our unborn Buddha Mind, wake up and be free from suffering!
Amituofo.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Three spiritual books that have influenced me the most
1. The compass of Zen by Zen Master Seung Sahn - the teachings of Master Seung Sahn started me on the path of Zen, his teaching of 'don't know mind' continues to be my spiritual compass. The core of his teaching is always the essence of Mahayana Buddhism - "how do we wake up and help this world? The point of meditation practice is to help us realise our original nature so that we can help everyone be free from suffering". And he always extorts us "from moment to moment only go straight don't know, which is clear like space, try, try, try for ten thousand years, nonstop, get enlightenment and save all beings from suffering". I bow in appreciation of the deep teachings of this great Bodhisattva. I continue to practice under his Zen school in Singapore.
2. Being Zen by Ezra Bayda - teachings of him and other teachers from the Ordinary Mind Zen School, and noteworthy Gregg Howard, whom I studied with during one recent one year stay in Brisbane, have always focused on integrating Zen with the realities of everyday living. Their teaching have enabled me to close the gap between sitting on the cushion and dealing with the messiness of my everyday life. Working with emotional distress and everyday difficulties has become my core practice and is very meaningful and transformational. I am eternally grateful to Ezra and Gregg for helping me integrate Zen into my life, moment to moment.
3. The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche - While Zen came into my life since my late teens, Tibetan Buddhist and Pure Land teachings came into my life in a profound manner only recently in my mid-thirties. Reading this book profoundly influenced the direction of my spiritual practice because it revolutionise the whole way I look at death and afterlife. Previously I was not ready to contemplate meaningfully about death and afterlife, for the earlier part of my life, raised in a family grounded in modern science thinking and not believing in afterlife, made me not take this topic too seriously. After many years of Zen practice as well as old age catching up on me, while Zen does not touch on much on this topic, but interestingly I think, meditation practice has subtly open my mind space and made my mind more receptive to the kind of teachings in the Tibetan book of living and dying. Reflecting on these teachings, I have adopted the dual practice of Zen and Pure Land, meaning while I continue Zen practice, I also aspire to rebirth in the Blissful Pure Land after this life. Deep gratitude to Sogyal Rinpoche, Tulku Thondup (author of Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth) and Jing4 Kong1 Fa3 Shi1 for this aspect of spiritual practice. Essentially this practice means aspring to rebirth in a place which will be very conducive for continued spiritual practice (a pure land). To me, this seems a natural extension to my current spiritual practice.
2. Being Zen by Ezra Bayda - teachings of him and other teachers from the Ordinary Mind Zen School, and noteworthy Gregg Howard, whom I studied with during one recent one year stay in Brisbane, have always focused on integrating Zen with the realities of everyday living. Their teaching have enabled me to close the gap between sitting on the cushion and dealing with the messiness of my everyday life. Working with emotional distress and everyday difficulties has become my core practice and is very meaningful and transformational. I am eternally grateful to Ezra and Gregg for helping me integrate Zen into my life, moment to moment.
3. The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche - While Zen came into my life since my late teens, Tibetan Buddhist and Pure Land teachings came into my life in a profound manner only recently in my mid-thirties. Reading this book profoundly influenced the direction of my spiritual practice because it revolutionise the whole way I look at death and afterlife. Previously I was not ready to contemplate meaningfully about death and afterlife, for the earlier part of my life, raised in a family grounded in modern science thinking and not believing in afterlife, made me not take this topic too seriously. After many years of Zen practice as well as old age catching up on me, while Zen does not touch on much on this topic, but interestingly I think, meditation practice has subtly open my mind space and made my mind more receptive to the kind of teachings in the Tibetan book of living and dying. Reflecting on these teachings, I have adopted the dual practice of Zen and Pure Land, meaning while I continue Zen practice, I also aspire to rebirth in the Blissful Pure Land after this life. Deep gratitude to Sogyal Rinpoche, Tulku Thondup (author of Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth) and Jing4 Kong1 Fa3 Shi1 for this aspect of spiritual practice. Essentially this practice means aspring to rebirth in a place which will be very conducive for continued spiritual practice (a pure land). To me, this seems a natural extension to my current spiritual practice.
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