Month: March 2018

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RE:BroTeoh’s Tuesday class dated 13th March 2018

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our last night’s Tuesday class dated 13th  March 2018 recording for sharing by all.  Please do listen to the rather interesting and beautiful sharing  given.

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

From: Sister Hui Rong
Brother Teoh Tuesday Class on 13/03/2018 record :
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Re: Short notes for talk on 8th march 2018

Short Notes for Talk on 8th March

  1. Bro Teoh informed the Kalyanamittas that 4 new transcript books were recently printed for free distribution. One of them entitled `Importance of having mindfulness and heedfulness to cope with life’s problems and suffering’ (a method of stress release via meditation) was based on his dharma talk dated 23rd June 2013 held in SJBA. This book is very useful especially for those who have depression and suicidal tendencies problems. He further advised the Kalyanamittas to read through the book because it is a very good book.
  2. Bro Teoh shared certain pages of the book to emphasize the key points of the dharma especially on the importance of mindfulness, heedfulness, the essential dharma and the benefits of meditation in helping resolve ones life’s problems. He often stressed on the need to train the mind and apply mindfulness to live life following the Buddha’s teaching. Mindfulness alone is insufficient but when coupled with the Noble 8fold Path cultivation, it becomes Appamada or heedfulness. When this is cultivated, it will lead to enlightenment and help people (especially those with mental suffering, traumas and suicidal thoughts to overcome their problems).
  3. After the meditation session, Bro Teoh advised Kalyanamittas not to torture themselves unnecessarily during meditation. If they have learnt how to relax into every mind state that arise, then they will be able to face (or endure) bodily discomfort and pain with ease. If they need to change their posture, then do it mindfully. The agitated or disturbed mind is restlessness instead one should have a peaceful and silent mind to do the meditation.
  4. Bro Teoh reminded Kalyanamittas that if any of the mental hindrances of sensual desire, ill-will, sloth and torpor has arisen during the sitting meditation, they should just stay with it and be with it. If they can do that, the spiritual faculties of sati will take over. The shift of consciousness will happen and all of a sudden, the sleepiness can completely disappear. Hence, never suppress any mind state that arises. The true mind is originally peaceful and without thought. But, when we become heedless via holding onto the wrong views, the mental hindrances will arise. However, many meditators have been taught by certain traditions to note and label such mind states that arise as, `pain, pain, pain, and thinking, thinking, thing etc. By doing so, they give rise to verbalization and aversion which is a mental hindrance thus hindering the mind from entering the meditative state of inner peace and inner calmness.
  5. Another advice from Bro Teoh is to use the mind-sweeping method combined with metta to decondition the heedless thinking hence bringing about a peaceful mind state. When the mind is silent and sensitive, even the ticking of the clock and the beating of the heart can be heard distinctly. When the silent mind has entered sati, it can feel the slightest movement or stirring of the mind. Hence, heedfulness can be very well-established. We can see a big difference between a trained and an untrained mind. The mindfulness is so stable that we can see how sense experiences via delusion can condition us to react and stir our mind. All the essential dharma can also be witness and understood when we can see how the mind reacts due to one’s delusion. The awareness can be so stable that we become incapable of any negativity of mind state. As we continue to straighten our views and stabilize our heedfulness, wisdom will keep on arising. Such a mind can insight into phenomena and awaken to the three universal characteristics of impermanent, non-self, empty nature and suffering state. Even the late Chief, K.Sri Dhammananda did mention that the human mind cannot be trusted and when it is subjected to conditions, it can simply react. This shows how important it is for us to train this mind and have wisdom to live life without getting ourselves entangled in problems.
  6. Bro Jimmy reported that his second meditation experience was so different from the first time. He felt quite sleepy this time and during his sitting, he had a lot of worries as well as images of his colleagues appearing. Bro Teoh advised Bro Jimmy to stay with the sleepy mind state and maintain awareness as far as possible. If mindfulness is sharp, the shift of consciousness can happen. When we are skilful, we can even hear our own snoring and be in a meditative state during our sleep.
  7. Bro Teoh explained that whatever we give meaning to, we accumulate them into our memories, then it will trigger thoughts to arise for thoughts are response to memory. Thoughts come and go so they are impermanent. But through our greed, hatred and self-delusion, we cling via giving meaning to them, then we accumulate them giving rise to a conglomeration of wrong thoughts. These thoughts will condition us to have fear, worry, anxiety, sorrow and lamentation. Through self-delusion, we think we exist so we become egoic and selfish. Instead of wrong thoughts, we should apply right thoughts of generosity, gratitude, kindness, contentment etc. that bring about joy, harmony and well-being. Bro Teoh hopes that Bro Jimmy can develop a clearer understanding of the dharma by reading the books handed out to him during the session.

(Note : The above Short notes draft was by Puan Chee)

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Re: Bro Teoh’s 8th March 2018 Thursday class recording

Dear kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to oour last night’s Thursday class recording for sharing by all. Please do listen to the rather good sharing on 1 of  the 4 new transcripted books of mine that were recently printed for free distribution. The title of the book is:

Importance Of Having Mindfulness And Heedfulness To Cope with Life’s Problems And Suffering (A Method Of Stress Release Via Meditation)

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

From: Swee Aun
*if you missed Bro Teoh’s Thurs class Mar8, you can download at :*
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6th March 2018 Tuesday class recording

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links and short notes to our last night, 6th March Tuesday class recording for sharing by all.

Short notes for 6th of Mar 2018 Tuesday class Dharma Discussion

1. Sister Mimi shared her meditative experience at an earlier self-retreat (last month) in Ajahn Anan’s way place in Rayong, Thailand. On the 3rd days of the retreat onwards, she experienced calmness, spiritual joy & the blissful state of mind. Then later on she experienced the continuous mindfulness leading to the silent mind to realize the pure awareness mind which she realize is different from the mundane perceiving and thinking mind. She also said, she later after contemplation came to understand what non-attainment and the unreality of form and mind is and she also shared how she went into a blank state and manage to get a glimpse of what the cessation of mind…nirodha samapatti (extinction of feeling and perception) is.  Sadhu! x 3.

  1. Sister Anne Choong covered chapter 13 of ‘The life of the Buddha and his teaching’ on the topic ‘The Buddha’s Daily routine’. The Buddha’s daily routine is really extraordinary which no ordinary human being can do. His is full of love, compassion, wisdom and selfless sacrifices.
  2. Sister Han reintroduce the topic shared by Sister Huol Rung (earlier on), on the importance of cultivating Sila for discussion again. She said, Sila or precepts are related to the following essential dharma as taught by the Buddha: Dana, Sila and Bhavana and Sila, Samadhi and Panna of the Noble 8-Fold Path. Bro Teoh then re explained the importance of keeping precepts or Sila via quoting the Buddha’s advice as given in his chanting stating that: Precept is the source of spiritual happiness; Precept is the source of spiritual wealth and Precept is the source of spiritual peacefulness of mind. Bro Teoh also advocate the use of power of truth via Sila and aspiration to help us overcome our life difficulties, just like Venerable Angulimala’s case.
  3. Sister Huol Rung’s sharing: From the sharing given by Sister Anne she came to understand that the Buddha is very clear of his unselfish mission to benefit others and the world. Asked if we know our own present life’s spiritual mission or not?

(Notes: The draft short notes was prepare by Sister Yoon Chun)

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

From: Sister Hui Rong
Brother Teoh Tuesday Class on 06/03/2018 record :
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Short notes for WPCS 4th March 2018 Sunday class and Short notes for talk on 1st March 2018

Short notes for WPCS 4th March 2018 Sunday class

  1. The form and mind goes the way of nature, i.e. they are impermanent and therefore it is empty. If one grasp and cling onto the form and mind, it will lead to suffering. The mundane mind is the mental aspect of the 5 aggregates of form and mind. Feeling changes all the time hence the mind’s fleeting nature.
  2. All sensual pleasure is a prelude to suffering. Sensual pleasure means pleasure or desire derived from the conditions arising world just like your wealth, title, reputation, loved ones, etc. which are all impermanent.
  3. The above sentence is true only when one perceives the world with the deluded mundane mind, i.e. with no understanding.
  4. The above sentence is no longer true if there is understanding because there will be no attachment to the condition world. Understanding will free your mind.
  5. From Karma point of view, one must understand that our form and mind is subject to karma hence it has its duty towards nature and you can love your loved ones whole heartedly but you must have no attachment towards them.
  6. Shen Hsiu’s incorrect teaching:
  • Dwell with the mind. (By dwelling you make the mundane mind active hence no more silent mind);
  • Contemplate stillness. (Implies attachment to the calm state of mind);
  • Sit up all the time without lying down. (Not natural and cannot be in a state of relax to develop the daily mindfulness)

The true mind (which is the silent mind in pure awareness) doesn’t dwell. The silent mind is obscured when thought and emotion arise. The conditioned or focus mind in concentration is not free. Mind in Samadhi is free, collected and unwavering.

  1. Hui Neng’s true teaching:
  • Realize the true mind. Work on the true nature, not the body and the mundane mind.
  • The true mind does not dwell.
  • Not necessary to sit still but be mindful of all actions, movements and anything that arise in the midst of life (daily mindfulness). When you force yourself to sit, it is a conditioned state and there is resistance to the sitting.

The mind dwells when it perceives and when thought focuses on something and input the content of consciousness. However, we need to use the mind to live life, just do not proliferate the arising thoughts. Realise that a lot of the thoughts are unnecessary. Know how to use thoughts with wisdom to arise only the right and wholesome thoughts. Always accord and flow with conditions and act with wisdom following Noble 8-fold path.

  1. When the mind is calm, it has clarity and it is peaceful and happy. When there is no more mental hindrances, the spiritual faculties of sati will take over and the mind can be in sati to detect the very subtle mind and physical movements.
  2. Endurance via understanding is non-resistance. Moving to make yourself comfortable is not endurance. Just relax.
  3. If the mind is silent, nothing will disturb it, not even in the midst of a storm. The mind will not be drawn into any phenomenon. It will not be affected or disturbed by any conditions.
  4. Factors of enlightenment are: Sati (mindfulness) → Dharmavicaya (Dharma investigation) → Viriya (spiritual zeal) → Piti
  5. Fantastic meditative experiences and special feelings or sights during meditation should not be mistaken as a sign of progress unless it can give rise to wisdom. Usually it is just nature’s blessings and something to help increase the faith.

Short notes for talk on 1st March 2018

  1. Today is Chap Goh Meh, the last day of the CNY 2018 celebration. The lunar calendar of the Chinese culture has evolved through careful observation and astronomy. Bro Teoh said, over the last thirty years or so, civilization has evolved and progressed very rapidly. With the understanding of dharma, life can become very meaningful and beautiful. Our present Sasana is also very unique because this is the golden era where the consciousness has evolved beautifully and many cultivators will progress very fast. Bro Teoh mentioned that while surfing the internet recently, he came across a lot of wise people having the ability to share the rather profound teaching of Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching). Nowadays, the consciousness is so developed that people can understand this great teaching. Bro Teoh shared a video on Master Hsu Yun. The Master mentioned that when you meditate, behave like a ‘dead’ person and continue to develop the silent mind. Even when thoughts arise, do not worry but relax and be at ease. This also explains the opening verse of the Heart Sutra: `观自在菩萨 …. When Bodhisattva at ease (Avalokiteshvara) was cultivating the profound prajna paramita, he illuminated the five skandhas and saw that they are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty.’ So, the Bodhisattva is always at ease (自在菩萨). Real emptiness is to be awakened to. Technology has given us the opportunity to listen to such profound teachings.

 

  1. Bro Teoh emphasized the need to train the mundane mind so that we can use the trained mind state to develop the meditation in the midst of life and be aware every moment, every instant from within. Most human beings are not conscious of life but instead they are constantly lost in thought most of the time via thinking, reacting, planning and worrying about life. Without the dharma, we cannot cope with life. Most people focus and concentrate on what they want to achieve through hard work, striving diligently to be successful. This is the mundane way to develop success. However, the spiritual approach is to train the mind to see things clearly and act via wisdom instead of following what the mind tells us. Acting according to memory is not acting at all because our accumulated memories are either good or bad. When we react to life so often, these habitual tendencies will condition us to be heedless thus hindering the mind from entering the meditative state of inner peace and inner calmness.

 

  1. Bro Eric apologized for turning up late for the class. He mentioned that he was very angry during driving leading him to take the wrong way thus arriving late for the class. Bro Teoh make use of Bro Eric’s experience as conditions to share the dharma. When you are angry or unhappy, the evil roots are present, creating conditions for other things to happen. Without clarity and understanding, we will make wrong decisions. The thinking mind reacts very fast bringing about negative mind states that condition negative karma to arise. Anger is a very negative emotion. Bro Eric continued to explain that he had not been listening to the dharma for quite some time. Bro Teoh further explained that the habitual tendencies will arise due to long periods of heedless thinking. This will further condition the mind to `chatter’ and get caught in a cocoon of thoughts. When we are mindful, we are sensitive and aware. So, all these cannot happen. It is important to tell yourself, `I will never allow these ‘evil roots’ to arise no matter what happens.’ Hence, if we are not mindful, the evil roots will take over. We should bear in mind how to apply the following right effort to abandon the wrong thoughts:
  2. a) Think of the direct opposite wholesome thought (anger is not you but condition-arising);
  3. b) Think of the consequence of holding on to those wrong thought;
  4. c) Silent the mind and maintain awareness (this is the meditative approach);
  5. d) Trace the origination factors and retrospectively reverse it (the wisdom approach);
  6. e) Finally, if all these fail, then with your teeth clenched and tongue against the palate, abandon the wrong thought (by sheer will-power).
  7. To prevent such wrong thoughts from arising, we should straighten our views through reflection and contemplation. When we do this, one day, we can awaken to this wisdom and the mind will not behave in the old way anymore. Then, a new way of life takes over. This becomes mindful living because even the slightest movement of the mind can be felt. We must be determined to have this mindfulness to be aware. Then, we can transform from a heedless way to a heedful way of living. Finally, Bro Teoh reminded us to ask questions because it is the fastest way to learn the dharma because it sets the conditions for dharma to unfold. All of life is dharma and nature is our best and greatest teacher. Nature has its own set of nature’s laws so if we know these laws we will know how to live life and we will not get entangled in life.
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Re: March 2018 – Bro Teoh’s Cameron Highlands Meditation retreat notes and Programme

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Re: 69th lesson of the 6th Patriarch Platform sutra

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Re: Bro Teoh’s March 2018 Cameron Highlands Meditation Retreat Briefing

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Re: Master Hsu Yun (虚云) 老和尚禅修开示 – 回向 愿以此功德。庄严佛净土。 上报四重恩。下济三途苦。 若有见闻者。悉发菩提心。 尽此一报身。同生极乐国。

Dear Kalyanamittas,

The below video by Master Hsu Yun Lao He Shan is very good. Please do listen to it attentively to understand its deep meaning.

The following important pointers were given:

i) Understand the nature of the true mind

ii) To silent the mind to realize the true nature.

iii) Meditate like a ‘dead’ person.

iv) Importance of having the right view with regards to the Law of Karma.

v) Be at ease and relax during meditation.

vi) Do not fight, suppress or control the thoughts. Just let them be and the thinking will slow down on its own and finally cease.

There are a lot of similarity between what he teaches and what my nature shared.

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

From: Teoh Kian Koon <teohkiankoon@hotmail.com></teohkiankoon@hotmail.com>

Sent: 01 March 2018 03:31
Subject: Re: 虚云老和尚禅修开示 – 回向 愿以此功德。庄严佛净土。 上报四重恩。下济三途苦。 若有见闻者。悉发菩提心。 尽此一报身。同生极乐国。

For sharing by all. Master Hsu Yun’s teaching.

https://youtu.be/YUqhh1jbkFM
youtu.be
回向 愿以此功德。庄严佛净土。 上报四重恩。下济三途苦。 若有见闻者。悉发菩提心。 尽此一报身。同生极乐国。
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Bro Teoh’s Tuesday class dated 27th Feb 2018 CNYear Pot Luck gathering

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our last night’s Tuesday class recording for sharing by all.

With metta always,

Teoh

From: Sister Hui Rong

Brother Teoh’s  Tuesday class on 27/02/2018 (2018 CNY potluck) recording :
or AT:
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