Bro Teoh’s Tuesday class dated 24.4.2018

 1. Announcement of forthcoming Sunday’s Dana at Sister Hui Rong’s house.

• Sister Hui Rong was concern that the turnout could be very low. Bro Teoh advice her not to worry because Dharma works in the strangest of ways; if it is meant to be, it will be and conditions will arise accordingly. Of course the more the merrier, but few also no problem because we can have a more informal house dana.

2.1 Difference between blind faith and true faith

• confidence based on understanding  is true faith
• unshackling the first 3 of the 10 fetters that bind living beings to Samsara

2.2 Reference of “oneself” in Dhammapada v145

• Understanding the 2 aspects of form and mind are required for cultivation

2.3 Paying respect with understanding is NOT idol worshipping. Its benefits are:

• strengthens faith
• cultivates humility
• It is one of the 10 meritorious actions
• 4 things grow: Ayu (long life), Vanno (fair complexion), Sukham (happiness), Balam (spiritual strength)

2.4 Noble 8-fold path

• A very beautiful and rather comprehensive meditative understanding – covering all aspect of life
• leads to wisdom and realization of the supra mundane (the unconditioned)

2.5 Buddhism – Teachings of the Buddha is the Dharma which is the Truth

• pointing direct to the mind (the 2 minds – mundane mind and true mind)
• Explaining the ultimate of mind.
• 3 ultimates of the mundane mind are rupa, citta and cetasika
• The ultimate of the supra mundane or True mind is Nibbana.
• Returning to the source (to realize Nibbana) > via cessation of the mundane mind to realized the unconditioned.

2.6 Nature’s universal laws – first 2 are scientific laws

• physical order [utu niyama] and biological order [bija niyama] of nature

2.7 Nature’s universal laws – next 3 are spiritual laws

• law of karma [karma niyama] (Do good begets good and do evil begets evil)
• law of the mind [citta niyama] (12 links / paticca samupada)
• law of truth / Dharma [dhamma niyama] (4 noble truths, etc.)

3. Sis Soo asks – if it is “not via memorizing” the teachings then does it means it is kept in the subconscious?

Bro Teoh’s answer: No it is not via memory. The key to understanding the Buddha teaching is via the 4 noble truths which is the essence of the Buddha’s teaching and all his other teachings (the essential Dharma) springs off from there:

• initially develop the learning of the teaching via Pariyatti (phase 1 of Dharma)
• then put it into practice via direct observation, reflection and contemplation on your life experiences (like the 8 realities of life & existence, 5 Daily contemplations, etc.) to develop Patipatti (the 2nd phase of Dharma)
• then you can really relate and internalize the deep understanding of his teaching via experiencing them in Life. (e.g. birth and death of every breath and every pulse of life; the appearing of every phenomenon when conditions arise and its disappearing when the fragile conditions are no longer there; seeing all physical, mental and nature’s flow; how karma at work, etc.)
• silent your mind and trust your nature, NO NEED TO REMEMBER because when one awakens the understanding or the wisdom is always connected to the form and mind and acting according to memory is not acting at all.

4. Sis Soo shares her personal real life experience concerning her relationship with her son and how she was able to overcome it amicably via having right view.