2. Every Second

    20 July 7, 2013

    Every second that you live you are never going to get back. You are never going to get to change what you said, didn’t say, did, or didn’t do. Live how you want to live. Act how you want to be remembered, because you never know how long or short you are going to be here. ~Emily Doberstein


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  3. Those who cause me suffering

    Comment July 7, 2013
    leaf

    Photo source: www.tickzo.com

    Those who cause me suffering
    Are like Buddhas bestowing their blessings.
    Since they lead me to liberating paths,
    Why should I get angry with them?

    “Don’t they obstruct your virtuous practice?”
    No! There is no virtuous practice greater than patience;
    Therefore, I will never get angry
    With those who cause me suffering.

    If, because of my own shortcomings,
    I do not practice patience with my enemy,
    It is not he, but I, who prevents me from practicing patience,
    The cause of accumulating merit.

    —Shantideva

  4. Funeral service for Ven. Ros Yan

    3 July 6, 2013

    Nothing is Permanent

    One of the Buddha’s most profound sayings is “Nothing is Permanent“. The Buddha observed this in all facets of life – the fact that everything changes, nothing lasts forever, or for merely more than a moment.

    What we can learn from the saying? One thing for me is understanding that anything we might try to hold on to may be gone or changed in just a moment’s notice. So I think we should carefully watch the attachment we have to the happiness or satisfaction we get from certain objects, or from a relationship or even from a state of being we might be in.

    Ven. Ros Yan funeral service

    Funeral service for Ven. Ros Yan, in Newtown, Connecticut on July 6, 2013.

    Even our own personal lives will eventually come to an end. I think that understanding this can help to just live in the present moment. Without attachment to what has gone on in the past, and without trying to expect too much from our future existence. One never knows where our current path will lead. So what we can do is just observe what is happening right now, from moment to moment.

    Ven. Ros Yan funeral service

    Funeral service for Ven. Ros Yan, in Newtown, Connecticut on July 6, 2013.

    This also helps those who may be going through any state of suffering. That the suffering will eventually pass, too, because it is also impermanent as is everything else. It can be a hopeful message in times of turmoil or sadness.

    If we can reach a state of detachment from things and expectation and daily life, and just accept that everything changes, then we will be better able to deal with the eventual changes along the way. A great quote and idea to meditate on!

    By Eric, June 26, 2011
    Source: http://www.buddha-quotes.com

     

  5. Virtuous deeds and merit

    1 July 6, 2013
    Photo source: http://www.hdwallpapersarena.com/

    Photo source: http://www.hdwallpapersarena.com/

    All the virtuous deeds and merit,
    Such as giving and making offerings,
    That we have accumulated over thousands of aeons
    Can be destroyed by just one moment of anger.

    There is no evil greater than anger,
    And no virtue greater than patience.
    Therefore, I should strive in various ways
    To become familiar with the practice of patience.

    If I harbor painful thoughts of anger,
    I shall not experience mental peace,
    I shall find no joy or happiness,
    And I shall be unsettled and unable to sleep.

    —Shantideva (687-763 C.E.)

  8. From time to time

    433 July 5, 2013

    From time to time, to remind ourselves to relax, to be peaceful, we may wish to set aside some time for a retreat, a day of mindfulness, when we can walk slowly, smile, drink tea with a friend, enjoy being together as if we are the happiest people on Earth. This is not a retreat, it is a treat. During walking meditation, during kitchen and garden work, during sitting meditation, all day long, we can practice smiling. At first you may find it difficult to smile, and we have to think about why. Smiling means that we are ourselves, that we are not drowned into forgetfulness. This kind of smile can be seen on the faces of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

    I would like to offer one short poem you can recite from time to time, while breathing and smiling.

    Breathing in, I calm body and mind. 
    Breathing out, I smile. 
    Dwelling in the present moment 
    I know this is the only moment.

    ~Thich Nhat Hanh


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  10. Rain Rain Rain

    33 July 5, 2013

    Rain, Rain, Rain, come again and again,
    In the winter, in the summer and in spring,
    Come with joy, fall with happiness and go with sorrow,
    Rain, Rain, Rain come again and again.
    Rain, Rain, Rain come to relive earth's pain,
    Rain, Rain, Rain come to make nature happy,
    Rain, Rain, Rain come to make livings happy,
    Rain, Rain, Rain come again and again.
    Rain, Rain, Rain don't go away,
    Rain, Rain, Rain I hope you will stay,
    Rain, Rain, Rain come again and again.
     
    ~by Vikram Pratap Singh


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Live & Die for Buddhism

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Me & Grandma

My Reflection

This site is a tribute to Buddhism. Buddhism has given me a tremendous inspiration to be who and where I am today. Although I came to America at a very young age, however, I never once forget who I am and where I came from. One thing I know for sure is I was born as a Buddhist, live as a Buddhist and will leave this earth as a Buddhist. I do not believe in superstition. I only believe in karma.

A Handful of Leaves

A Handful of Leaves

Tipitaka: The pali canon (Readings in Theravada Buddhism). A vast body of literature in English translation the texts add up to several thousand printed pages. Most -- but not all -- of the Canon has already been published in English over the years. Although only a small fraction of these texts are available here at Access to Insight, this collection can nonetheless be a very good place to start.

Major Differences

Major Differences in Buddhism

Major Differences in Buddhism: There is no almighty God in Buddhism. There is no one to hand out rewards or punishments on a supposedly Judgement Day ...read more

Problems we face today

jendhamuni pink scarfnature

Of the many problems we face today, some are natural calamities and must be accepted and faced with equanimity. Others, however, are of our own making, created by misunderstanding, and can be corrected...