1. Watch the nature of mind

    6 April 17, 2021

    So stay right here, you lucky people,
    let go and be happy in the natural state.
    Let your complicated life and everyday confusion alone
    and out of quietude, doing nothing, watch the nature of mind.
    This piece of advice is from the bottom of my heart:
    fully engage in contemplation and understanding is born;
    cherish nonattachment and delusion dissolves;
    and forming no agenda at all reality dawns.
    Whatever occurs, whatever it may be, that itself is the key,
    and without stopping it or nourishing it, in an even flow,
    freely resting, surrendering to ultimate contemplation,

    ~ Longchenpa

  2. The Story Concerning the “Words of Exultation of the Buddha”

    Comment April 15, 2021

    Verse 153: I, who have been seeking the builder of this house (body), failing to attain Enlightenment (Bodhi nana or Sabbannuta nana) which would enable me to find him, have wandered through innumerable births in samsara. To be born again and again is, indeed, dukkha!

    Verse 154: Oh house-builder! You are seen, you shall build no house (for me) again. All your rafters are broken, your roof-tree is destroyed. My mind has reached the unconditioned (i.e., Nibbana); the end of craving (Arahatta Phala) has been attained.

    The Story Concerning the “Words of Exultation of the Buddha”

    These two verses are expressions of intense and sublime joy felt by the Buddha at the moment of attainment of Supreme Enlightenment (Bodhi nana or Sabbannuta nana). These verses were repeated at the Jetavana monastery at the request of the Venerable Ananda.

    Prince Siddhattha, of the family of Gotama, son of King Suddhodana and Queen Maya of the kingdom of the Sakyans, renounced the world at the age of twenty-nine and became an ascetic in search of the Dhamma (Truth). For six years, he wandered about the valley of the Ganges, approaching famous religious leaders, studying their doctrines and methods. He lived austerely and submitted himself strictly to rigorous ascetic discipline; but he found all these traditional practices to be unsound. He was determined to find the Truth in his own way, and by avoiding the two extremes of excessive sensual indulgence and self-mortification*, he found the Middle Path which would lead to Perfect Peace, Nibbana. This Middle Path (Majjhimapatipada) is the Noble Path of Eight Constituents, viz., Right view, Right thought, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness and Right concentration. Continue reading →

  3. Just as space is infinitely vast, so too is the number of sentient beings

    1 April 14, 2021

    Just as space is infinitely vast, so too is the number of sentient beings. Yet we tend to think that the only relationships we have with other beings are the tiny number, comparatively, that we have at present. Wherever we live, we like a few people, dislike a few others, and ignore all the rest. Based on this prejudiced and very limited perception of others, we keep giving rise to attachment and aggression. Thus we accumulate karma, the driving force of samsara.

    If we could see the endless sequence of lives we have led in the past, we would know that there is not a single being on earth who has not been our father or our mother, not only once but many times over. To return the love and great kindness they have shown us, we must cultivate love and compassion for all of them, as the great enlightened ones do. Above all, we should aspire from the depths of our heart to be able to bring them to perfect enlightenment, without leaving a single one of them behind. The merit arising from such an aspiration is in proportion to the number of beings, so the wish to liberate innumerable beings can engender an immeasurable amount of merit.

    ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

  4. Kodhavagga: Anger

    Comment April 7, 2021

    221. One should give up anger, renounce pride, and overcome all fetters. Suffering never befalls him who clings not to mind and body and is detached.

    222. He who checks rising anger as a charioteer checks a rolling chariot, him I call a true charioteer. Others only hold the reins.

    223. Overcome the angry by non-anger; overcome the wicked by goodness; overcome the miser by generosity; overcome the liar by truth.

    224. Speak the truth; yield not to anger; when asked, give even if you only have a little. By these three means can one reach the presence of the gods.

    225. Those sages who are inoffensive and ever restrained in body, go to the Deathless State, where, having gone, they grieve no more.

    226. Those who are ever vigilant, who discipline themselves day and night, and are ever intent upon Nibbana — their defilements fade away. Continue reading →

  5. The Story of Thera Laludayi

    Comment April 6, 2021

    Verse 152: This man of little learning grows old like an ox; only his flesh grows but not his wisdom.

    The Story of Thera Laludayi

    While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (152) of this book, with reference to Laludayi, a thera with little intelligence.

    Laludayi was a bhikkhu who was dim-witted and very absent-minded. He could never say things which were appropriate to the occasion, although he tried hard. Thus, on joyful and auspicious occasions he would talk about sorrow, and on sorrowful occasions he would talk about joy and gladness. Besides, he never realized that he had been saying things which were inappropriate to the occasion. When told about this, the Buddha said, “One like Laludayi who has little knowledge is just like an ox.”

    Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

    Verse 152: This man of little learning grows old like an ox; only his flesh grows but not his wisdom.

    Dhammapada Verse 152
    Laludayi Thera Vatthu

    Appassutayam puriso
    balibaddova grati
    mamsani tassa vaddhanti
    panna tassa na vaddhati.

    Source: Tipitaka

  6. Just let go and go where no mind goes

    1 April 5, 2021

    All these forms—appearance emptiness
    Like a rainbow with its shining glow
    In the reaches of appearance emptiness
    Just let go and go where no mind goes

    Every sound is sound and emptiness
    Like the sound of an echo’s roll
    In the reaches of sound and emptiness
    Just let go and nowhere no mind goes

    Every feeling is bliss and emptiness
    Way beyond what words can show
    In the reaches of bliss and emptiness
    Just let go and go where no mind goes

    All awareness—awareness emptiness
    Way beyond what thought can know
    In the reaches of appearance emptiness
    Let awareness go—oh, where no mind goes.

    – Khenpo Tsultrim Rinpoche

  7. A genuine concern for the other person

    1 April 5, 2021

    Shifting your concern from your own well-being to include a genuine concern for the other person can transform your relationships, and it can also transform you as a person. You can become a person who provides well-being to others, and who shoulders the burden for others, too. This is a very uncomplicated shift in outlook that can completely reorient your relationships. I think this outlook might yield the healthiest relationships of all.  – 17th Karmapa

  8. Piyavagga: Affection

    Comment April 3, 2021

    209. Giving himself to things to be shunned and not exerting where exertion is needed, a seeker after pleasures, having given up his true welfare, envies those intent upon theirs.

    210. Seek no intimacy with the beloved and also not with the unloved, for not to see the beloved and to see the unloved, both are painful.

    211. Therefore hold nothing dear, for separation from the dear is painful. There are no bonds for those who have nothing beloved or unloved.

    212. From endearment springs grief, from endearment springs fear. For one who is wholly free from endearment there is no grief, whence then fear?

    213. From affection springs grief, from affection springs fear. For one who is wholly free from affection there is no grief, whence then fear?

    214. From attachment springs grief, from attachment springs fear. For one who is wholly free from attachment there is no grief, whence then fear? Continue reading →

  9. The Story of Queen Mallika

    Comment April 3, 2021

    Verse 151: The much ornamented royal carriages do wear out, the body also grows old, but the Dhamma of the Virtuous does not decay. Thus, indeed, say the Virtuous among themselves.

    1. dhammo/dhamma: The nine Transcendentals, viz, the four Maggas, the four Phalas and Nibbana. (The Commentary)

    The Story of Queen Mallika

    While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (151) of this book, with reference to Mallika, queen of King Pasenadi of Kosala.

    One day, Mallika went into the bathroom to wash her face, hands and feet. Her pet dog also came in; as she was bending to wash her feet, the dog tried to have sex with her, and the queen appeared to be amused and somewhat pleased. The king saw this strange incident through the window from his bedroom. When the queen came in, he said angrily to the queen, “Oh, you wicked woman! What were you doing with that dog in the bathroom? Do not deny what I saw with my own eyes.” The queen replied that she was only washing her face, her hands and her feet, and so was doing nothing wrong. Then she continued, “But, that room is very strange. If anyone went into that room, to one looking from this window there would appear to be two. If you do not believe me, O King, please go into that room and I will look through this window.” Continue reading →

Hermit of Tbeng Mountain

Sachjang Phnom Tbeng សច្ចំ​​ ភ្នំត្បែង is a very long and interesting story written by Mr. Chhea Sokoan, read by Jendhamuni Sos. You can click on the links below to listen. Part 1 | Part 2

List of Khmer songs