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Bro Teoh’s 10th July 2018 Tuesday class sharing

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our 10th July 2018 Tuesday class recording for sharing by all. Also enclose below are the outline short notes:

Outline short notes for Tuesday class dated 10th July 2018

  1. Bro Teoh walked us through the outline short notes of thu class on jun 28th and sun class on jul 1st.
  2. Sis PG continued her sharing on the subject of kamma from pages 343 to 347 of the reference text, ‘The Buddha and his teachings’, relating to the 5 Universal lawsor panca nyama. The text suggested transmigration to next life which is incorrect but should be just normal rebirth, as we dont have a permanent unchanging soul that transmigrate. We need  to realize the true mind before we can inherit from our spiritual nature.
  3. Sis PG asked how kamma propels people to be leaders, presidents and prime ministers. Bro. Teoh explained that most of these leaders use their very strong and determined ‘will power’ to aspire or will for it to arise.

(above outline short notes prepared by Sister Yoon Chun)

Bye! with metta always,

Teoh

From: Sister Hui Rong
Brother Teoh Tuesday Class on 10/07/2018 record :
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Bro Teoh’s 8th July 2018 Sunday class sharing

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our last Sunday class recording for sharing by all. Also enclosed below are the outline short notes.

8 Jul 2018 Sunday Class Outline short notes

1. Recap of short notes from 1st Jul 2018 Sunday Class – regarding path and fruition, mindful investigation, and overcoming sloth and torpor, mental hindrance.

2. Recap of short notes from 28th Jun 2018 Thursday Class – regarding developing daily mindfulness.

[ Starting lesson proper, 79th lesson of 6th Patriach Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra, pg 395 ]

3. Samadhi of One Mark

a. like a lotus flower rising above the lotus pond’s surface

b. while in the midst of marks, do not cling and be deluded by Mark/Duality

c. instead, remain tranquil / calm, accord and flow with the conditions that arises and ceases

4. Samadhi of One Conduct

a. daily mindfulness

b. sincere (not deceiving)

c. uniformed (not bias)

d. unmoving bodhimandala (stable wayplace to cultivate wisdom)

5. Sister Tammy’s sharing about office work where she concentrates alot, and is experiencing busy mental activities even after working hours, e.g. during the evening meditation classes.

6. True “Samadhi” borne of wisdom is beyond thought, which is very different from… “Appana samadhi” which is a conditioned state with the 5 Jhanic factors of vitaka (applied thought), vicara (sustained thought), piti (spiritual calmness), suka (blissfulness of mind), ekagata (one pointedness of mind).

a. Many people get trapped in this type of thought based samatha meditation; i.e. going into one-pointedness or absorption of mind type of meditation. Such thought based meditation cannot lead to the real meditative silent mind (which is a truly free mind).

b. “seemingly no thought” borne of focusing; i.e. a conditioned state borne of one-pointedness concentration (Not a natural state, Not a free mind)

c. Still within the field of thought; No thought is still a thought because who says that there is no thought? It is the thought (i.e. thought thinking there is “no thought”). This is Not awareness / mindfulness.

d. The other type is the absorption meditation borne of very strong continuous mindfulness absorption meditation where the mind is fully absorbed into a very still state of appana samadhi. The body is like a statue unmoving and it is not a free mind in pure awareness hence it does not develop wisdom/understanding; without wisdom, defilements still have power over you. This type of meditation does not lead to the cultivation of the Noble 8-fold path. The 5 spiritual faculties, 7 factors of enlightenment and the 4 Noble Truths understanding are not there.

7. Sister Karen shares her joyful experiences of getting to take part in the recent 14 days Samaneri novitiate program and how the renunciation training helped to reduce her heedless thinking and thereby making her mind calm.

8. Bro Teoh emphasizes importance of maintaining the cultivation of a very stable daily mindfulness by having a good daily spiritual/religious routine in the midst of fulfilling our daily duties.

9. Sister Padmasuri’s sharing on gratitude towards Kalyanamittas for helping out in the shaving ceremony, and her reflection on the reality of the physical body and the hair and how it can becomes a burden to others.

10. Bro Teoh sharing on how to develop the proper contemplation on the form and mind linking it to the 5 daily contemplations as taught by the Buddha.

11. Sister Alicia’s sharing of her recent trip to Seoul, Korea.

(Outline prepared by Sis Soo Yee)

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

From: Sister Lee Siew Gaik.   To listen to 8th July 2018 audio file:
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Bro Teoh’s 3rd July 2018 Tuesday class sharing

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our 3rd July 2018 Tuesday class recording for sharing by all. The outline short notes are as below:

Below are the edited outline short notes for our Tuesday class dated 3rd July 2018.

3rd July 2018 Tuesday Class Outline short notes

A. Reading and sharing of the below daily quotes from J. Krishnamurti :

  1. “Extraordinary Seeing”
  • direct seeing; alertness, attentiveness; just aware; seeing things as they are leading to direct knowledge and vision of the reality (Nanadassana).
  • an insight to be realised; coming upon it unknowingly, there is no effort, noseeking and no experience involved;
  • innate to the free mind which is still, e.g. the beating of our hearts (there is no active doing or ‘will’ behind its arising)
  • “without seeking” is the only way to find it.
  • this ‘extraordinary seeing’ is not something that can be practiced.
  • the mind is highly sharpened, highly awake, no longer dependent upon any experience to keep itself awake.

2. “The Active Still Mind” 

  • the mind can only be silent when it has understood the process of (psychological) time and that requires watchfulness/mindfulness/awareness
  • the really still mind that is astonishingly active, alive, potent in understandingphenomena and their flow; capable of “Extraordinary Seeing”
  • such a mind is verbally free; free from experience and knowledge; understands thefact, as it is, without translating, without condemning and without judging; andbeing free such a mind is an innocent mind.
  • It is only such a mind that can perceive that which is true, which is beyond time.

3.  Bro Teoh advised the class to attentively read through the outline Short notes dated  21st June 2018 (Thursday class) to develop the clear understanding of therather beautiful dhamma shared.

B. Discussion proper led by Sister PG  from the Reference book: The Buddha and His Teachings – Kamma (Chapter 18, Page 340)

  1. Nature’s law has its own selection
  • Kammic energy is needed for the production of the foetus
  • We (2 aspects of form and mind) are the heirs of our own kamma
  • Accumulated Kammic tendencies inherited, over the course of previous lives, could influence our physical features and mental characteristics, it could also nullify the potentiality of the parental cells and genes
  • The law of Kamma, important as it is, is only 1 of the 24 causal conditions (paccaya) as described in the Abhidhamma pitaka.
  • The law of kamma is very intricate and requires great wisdom borne of awareness from a silent mind to understand.
  • The enlightened pure mind is free, i.e. not afflicted due to non-grasping to the form and (mundane) mind (borne of wisdom).

2.  Sister Chwee’s questions on karma regarding Sakyamuni Buddha’s last meal, and about the other 23 causal conditions were discussed.

3. Bro Teoh’s sharing on the understanding and  workings of our mother Earth’s “planetary consciousness”

  • summation of all the beings’ consciousness on Earth give rise to the planetary consciousness.
  • to change the world, the individual must change; i.e. begin with ourselves.

(Outline prepared by Sis Soo Yee)

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Bro Teoh’s 1st July 2018 Sunday class recording

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links with the outline short notes to our last Sunday class’s recording dated 1st July 2018 for sharing by all.

The 6th Patriarch’s Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra lesson 78 dated 1st July 2018 outline short notes              (Pg 394-395 Chapter X Final Instructions)

  1. Brother Teoh went through the J. Krishnamurti daily quote on Extraordinary seeing(same as direct seeing, i.e. to see things as they are without interference from past experiences and the thoughts).
  2. Brother Teoh did a detail review of the outline short notes for Thursday class dated 21 June 2018.
  3. When there is mental stirring, one cannot be aware.
  4. Whatever that is logical, may not always be the truth. Knowledge is not wisdom.
  5. Only wisdom or understanding frees one from suffering. If one merely tells oneself not to be angry when one is angry, this will not help as this is a form of suppressionnot wisdom because when similar issues or conditions crops up again, anger would still arise. However, if one understands via acceptance of the fact that things and peoples are just the way they are, then anger cannot arise. One will not react with anger to any other situation again after having those understanding. 
  6. Brother Teoh explained the difference between Path and Fruition enlightenment stages. Under the 7 stages of purification or satta visuddhi, there is a stage called ‘Purification by knowledge and vision of what is path and not-path (maggamagga-nanadassana-visuddhi). Path leads to wisdom and enlightenment whereas non-Path leads to delusion and deviant path. Path here means your cultivation is on the right path leading to enlightenment and when you are on the path your enlightenment factors will keep on arising. One must have already got a glimpse of Nibbana or the cessation of Form & Mind to be on the path. Fruition here means having reached the completion of cultivation of the Path leading to stability of understanding that can enable one to share and teach those understanding.
  7. If one is on the right Path, the 7 main factors of Enlightenment of: (1) Sati(Mindfulness),                            (2) Dhammavicaya (Investigation of Dharma), (3) Viriya (Spiritual Zeal), (4) Piti (Joy), (5) Passadhi (Tranquillity of the mind), (6) Samadhi (collected and unwavering mind) and (7) Upekkha (Equanimity borne of wisdom) will keep arising.
  8. All the four stages of sainthood enlightenment of Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anāgāmi and Arahant have their own Path and Fruition. The 4 stages of sainthood enlightenment linking the 10 fetters that bind living beings to samsara were also explained.
  9. Brother Chin How asked whether he can contemplate while doing walking meditation after he has reached some point of calmness? Brother Teoh adviced Brother Chin How to find this out himself (meaning   investigate   into it) instead of waiting for his answer. The question should not be what one should be doing. If he wants to do the walking meditation to develop mindfulness then just go ahead and do. He should just walk naturally until the body and mind become one(without the thought saying that it wants to be mindful) as often advised by Brother Teoh. Once that happened then the form and mind that is in sati will know what sati is without words. If he wants to contemplate then just contemplate via a calm mind in creativity. Just do and the result will automatically arise if he has done them correctly with the appropriate faith, sincerity and understanding.
  10. Sister Tammy asked:  i) After doing the mind sweeping method cum metta meditation to de condition  the   heedless thinking the mind is calmer then I am is supposed to stabilise it via Anapanasati. But I am averse toward Anapanasati so is there other way to   stabilise  the mindfulness? Brother Teoh advice Tammy that any method (or skilful means) and technique that she is familiar and comfortable with, she can use them. There are no hard and fast rigid rules. It all depends on the individual’s preference. ii) If there is sloth and torpor during meditation what must I do? Brother Teoh: ‘what do you normally do?’ Tammy replied, I try to open my eyes? Brother Teoh: Does it help and are you able to stabilise your mindfulness?Tammy: Sometimes it helps to keep me awake but I still can’t stabilise my mindfulness. Brother Teoh: Can you remember what I used to advice you all when it comes to sloth and torpor? You are supposed to inquire! What is sloth and torpor? It is one of the 5 mental hindrances, right? So don’t try to suppress or fight it or do away with it via aversion or disliking it. In doing so you are creating another mental hindrance of aversion. This is delusion. Why can’t you develop the acceptance of it via understanding  that without the 5 spiritual faculties the mental hindrance will continue to arise; so don’t create the mental hindrance of aversionunnecessary? Understanding this, you can then apply the 5 ways to overcomeunwholesome thought as taught by the Buddha. 1st way is to think of the direct opposite wholesome thought or spiritual faculty of viriya to overcome it. If this is not effective then the 2nd way is to think of the consequence of allowing this mental hindrance of sloth and torpor to stay in your mind. It will hinder your mind from entering the meditative state of inner peace and awareness, right? So you have to abandon it via the 3rd way which is the awareness way. Just be aware of the sloth and torpor or be with it via maintaining silence to be at peace with it (without arise any aversion). Without aversion there is no mental hindrance then sati will take over. When this happen all of a sudden there will be a shift inconsciousness that can result in great awareness in your mind leading to clarity and viriya then the sloth and torpor is totally gone. This cultivation is base on the 4th foundation of mindfulness (dhammanupassana), 1st category of practice on ‘mindfulness of the 5 mental hindrances’. When the mental hindrance of sloth and torpor is present you just aware – imply no aversion towards it. Just maintain awareness and be at peace with the sloth and torpor and when the shift of consciousness occurs you will know how the arisen mental hindrance of sloth and torpor cease to be. You will also come to know how the earlier haven’t arisenmental hindrance comes to be because before you meditate there is no sloth and torpor. So you will understand that sloth and torpor is dependent origination due to lack of viriya or your body too tired. Once you ‘see’ these in the meditation you will understand how to root out this sloth and torpor.(Above outline short notes was prepared by Sister Mun Yuen)

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

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Bro Teoh’s 28th June 2018 Thursday class recording

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our last night’s Thursday class  dated 28th June 2018 recording for sharing by all. The sharing is very good and highly recommended by Bro Swee Aun so please do listen to it attentively. Also enclose below are the outline short notes:

Outline short notes for our Thursday talk dated 28th JUNE 2018

  1. Bro Teoh read through the 21st June 2018 Thursday class outline short notes and explained certain key points as he reads them. One of the key point is on: Anger, fear, phobias, greed and other emotions were never you because they were not present before the stirring of the mundane mind. These emotions were not inherent within your true They are actually conditioned arising mind states, dependent-originating following the 12 links or paticca samuppada as taught by the Buddha. With this understanding, one can just allow such mind states to settle down on their own to enable one to realize that natural state of inner peace, stillness and tranquility before the stirring.
  2. Bro Teoh pointed out that a common mistake among cultivators is to ask such questions (when they want to learn meditation): ‘what meditation do you teach? Is it vipassana?’ Bro Teoh reiterated that vipassana cannot be practice because it is an insight or ‘Vi’ means the 3 universal characteristics of nature and ‘passana’ means to insight into. Hence, ‘vipassana is an insight and not a practice. Such questions comes from the thought that doesn’t understand. For vipassana is an awakening, an insight wisdom that arises when the mind is silent and just aware to insight into phenomena. The awareness will be aware of what is going on within the mind. There is no thought, mind or knowledge involved in this realization. It is just an insight into truth when the mind becomes so quiet, sensitive and mindful. Most meditations are thought-based which use thoughts to come up with methods and techniques to meditate. Then who meditates? The thought meditates via following the series of instructions given not knowing that these methods and techniques are just skilful means to anchor and train the mind. Without this basic understanding, one will think that one is `practicing the so-called meditation’ or doing vipassana.
  3. According to the Buddha, meditation is very simple when you understand. It is just developing heedfulness. Just train the mind to be ever mindful and use this trained mind to cultivate the Noble 8-fold Path. As we progress with more right views, avijja (ignorance) is weakened, then the next link which is sankhara (mental activities) will be less so there is more awareness and less heedless habitual thinking. Without the habitual thinking, one is aware most of the time. With the further straightening of one’s views to weaken the avijja further, the stillness of mind will grow more and more until one day, when avijja is no more the awakening happens.
  4. Some people have their past cultivations to support them. People like Sariputra, Kondanna and the five ascetics were able to awaken through listening or reflecting on the Buddha’s words via Suttamaya panna and Cintamaya panna (the 1st and 2nd turning wisdom). But most normal cultivators will need to stabilize their 2nd turning wisdom to realize the silent mind to awaken to the three universal characteristics. Hence, whether awakening is via Suttamaya panna, Cintamaya panna or Bhavanamaya panna depends very much on the individual’s past cultivations.
  5. When one’s spiritual faculties are developed, the minute we sit, awareness is already present. One only needs to stabilize it. The determination to be ever mindful to cultivate the Noble 8-fold Path will keep cultivators on track leading to the awakening when the conditions are met.
  6. However, if the spiritual faculties are not present, then one cannot meditate unless one uses a skilful means or technique to overcome the five mental hindrances The five mental hindrances hinder one from entering the meditative state of inner peace and inner awareness. Then the question arises why one has the mental hindrances. The reason is due to the habitual thinking mind creating thoughts through avijja. The mind-sweeping method is an effective tool because it can help decondition the heedless thinking mind. There are no thoughts involved.  As thinking reduces, the mind becomes quieter but this state is still not stable. This is why a skilful mean or an object of meditation is needed to stabilize this mind. The Buddha recommended anapanasatti. Eventually, the mind becomes more and more quiet leading to passadhi and eventually stillness of mind. This is the meditative mind which can make one mindful while in the midst of life.
  7. Once the mind enters sati, there is no need to use any object of meditation anymore. Many people are so fearful when they experience no breath. This is actually a sign of good progress. Bro Teoh mentioned that his nature gained this understanding through his own past cultivation even though he had no prior knowledge of meditation at that time. He went into absorption the first time he did that. But later, another Thai monk cum teacher Phra Ajahn Yantra taught him the highest meditation via developing the daily mindfulness and this made him realize that his mind was still in a conditioned state of appana samadhi. Bro Teoh decided to release the concentrated mind state energy he was in and use the silent mind to meditate via the daily mindfulness while in the midst of life. His sati was so stable that even the most subtle movement of mind could be detected. He was fully aware throughout the day. At every moment of sense door consciousness and perception, he was in sati. The awareness and phenomena moved as one and there was no thinking at all. There was just pure awareness in every moment of sense perception.
  8. Human beings can only do one thing at a time. We are either silent without thought or busy caught up with the thought-process. We react very fast to our sense perceptions due to our habitual tendencies and self-delusion. Instead of using the mind to live life and think only when necessary, we have given thought so much meaning that it has dominated our life to think, stir and react every time we come into contact with sense experience. Through our daily constant stirring of the mind via likes and dislikes (as these are mental hindrances) they will prevent us from entering the meditative state of inner peace and inner awareness, thereby making us
  9. Mental suppression, concentration, noting, verbalization etc. will cause the thought to be even more active. Bro Teoh used the analogy of swimming with a float to explain how one should meditate. Applying Archimedes’ Principle to swimming, the weight of the water displaced by our body is equal to the up thrust (buoyancy force) created. If we just relax and do not struggle, this up thrust which is equivalent to the mass of water displaced by our body will push the body up because the natural state of the body is buoyancy i.e. the body is lighter than water. (Similarly the natural state of the mind is tranquility, stillness and aware). If we know how to relax, we can swim easily. Similarly, meditation becomes very easy if we just relax and silent (i.e. do not struggle or try to ‘meditate’ via verbalization). The moment we are without thought, we are already aware. So, there is no need to try and be aware.
  10. The float is useful to assist us to swim at first. Similarly, methods and techniques in meditation are skilful means like the float. Initially, one may need them but eventually, we have to give them up. As long as we don’t give up all these methods and techniques or any object of meditation, we will never understand how to meditate. Once the mind has enters sati, there is no need for a meditation object to anchor the mind anymore. It is already aware naturally.
  11. Master Hui Neng’s approach takes us directly to the true mind. Without thought, we are already aware and that is your true mind. Then one can see clearly with mindfulness how avijja (mainly self-delusion) cause one to react and stir one’s mind thereby creating the mental hindrances. These mental hindrances are the source of evil roots. Avijja arises due to our wrong views. So, Bro Teoh advised us to straighten our views first. When sankharas cease, we can then insight into phenomena. Most of you have been taught the traditional thought based meditation until you are so It makes you belief that meditation must involves the thought not knowing that it is this thinking or chattering mind that you use to meditate is the one creating more sankharas to delude you.
  12. In the field of meditation and spirituality, thinking is not needed. What is needed is Thinking is only necessary for us to use it to live life, to develop skill and knowledge and perform certain mechanical tasks in life. Thought is a tool for us to use hence the user of thought is very important. If the user of thoughts is wisdom then thoughts become right thoughts.
  13. Bro Teoh mentioned the sad case of a college student who shot himself in the toilet recently. Such cases happen due to avijja (lack of understanding) and this shows the power of thought which can delude and deceive us into acting out foolishly. It is not about being rich or poor. A lot of such cases are due to karmic consequences from the past.
  14. It is important for cultivators to understand that no amount of practice can free us. It is only understanding or wisdom that can free and liberate one’s mind.

(Above draft was prepared by Puan Chee.)

Bye! and with metta always,
Teoh
From: Bro Swee Aun
*if you missed Bro Teoh’s Thurs class Jun28, you can download below, highly recommended*
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Bro Teoh’s Tuesday class recording dated 26th June 2018

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our last Tuesday class dated 26th June 2018 recording for sharing by all. The outline short notes are as below:

Outline short notes for last Tuesday (26th June 2018) talk presented by Sis PG Lim on Kamma – from pg 337 to 340 of the book ‘The Buddha n his teaching’

1. Our various actions impact our future lives e.g. mercilous killing causes short life, non-killing, compassion, kindness and love cause long life, Hurting and harming others cause one to be born with illnesses and disease, faith overcomes fear, etc. Thus these variouos karmic vipaka result in inequality in life.
2.Sis PG asked why Mongallana did not face retribution for parricide committed in his past life. Bro Teoh’s replied to her was very good. Please do listen to the sharing. Reason why Bro Teoh said ‘the Law of kamma is very complex and complicated and it can only be understood by a Sammasambuddha or a great cultivator’.
3. Sis Han shared that the very poor especially some of those in India where she saw are deprived of the 4 simple basic needs of life. She reflected on karma and understood that they were born under such conditions because they lack merits. 
 
4. Bro Teoh advise us to see through the danger of not taking care of karma via being heedless most of the time. We all should always be mindful of this law of karma so that we will constantly follow the advice of the Buddha to avoid all Evil (by keeping our precepts), hasten to do good deeds (preferrably unprompted) and purify our mind via meditation.

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

From: Sister Hui Rong
Brother Teoh Tuesday Class on 26/06/2018 record :
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Bro Teoh’s Sunday class recording dated 24th June 2018

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our last Sunday’s recording for sharing by all. Its outline notes are as follows:

Outline short notes for the 6th Patriarch’s Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra dated 24th June 2018. (Page 386-395 Chapter X Final Instructions):

  1. Duality is created by the mundane mind via words. E.g. If you arise the concept of “darkness” (the cause), then the opposite which is “brightness” will arise (effect).
  2. Whatever that can be created, is false because it is dependent originating, a causal phenomenon hence it is impermanent.
  3. When there is wisdom, one sees things as they are. Without wisdom, one sees things through one’s views and opinions and one’s conditioning (false).
  4. When one does not understand, one will indulge in duality.
  5. Within movements, there is non-movement. This is the similar to those sayings, “in the midst of activities, there can be stillness (true mind) and ‘in the midst of sound and vibrations there can be silence (of mind).
  6. When one does not create via the mundane mind, there is silent.
  7. Bro Teoh shared his understanding on how one can deal with the death of someone close (can be one’s loved ones or one’s teacher):
  • Death is just a separation of the consciousness from the physical body of the form and mind. There is no reality behind the death process. There is no such thing as ‘my’ parents, Teacher, Buddha etc. in the ultimate sense.
  • But within the conditioned world, the segmented (form and mind) life does exist and it has its own ‘reality’ within the existential world. There is such a thing as Life even though it (the human being) is impermanence (dependent originating) and is subject to Karma.
  • They only become like ‘real’ when one gives meaning to this segmented life’s form and mind (the human being) via self-delusion borne of ignorant. The mundane mind via ignorant cling on to them then all these: “my parents, Teacher, Buddha etc.” exist and hence emotions can arise in one who is deluded.
  • What we can do is to expressed our gratitude (via wisdom) towards our deceased loved ones and teachers by recalling to mind all the blessing, protection, guidance, love and sacrifice etc. that they had given us. We can also share and invoke the power of merits for our loved ones to have a better life in the hereafter instead of lamenting.
  • How do you thank your Teacher? The best way to thank them is by cultivating diligently and sincerely. As per the Buddha’s advice ‘he who sees the dharma sees me’.
  • The form and mind is just a ‘tool’ for us to use but do not be deceived by them. When the causes and conditions for their arising have come to past, they will cease to be. So no amount of sorrow and lamentation will bring back the dead.

8. Formal meditation is mainly just to train the mind to be mindful until it is very stable(ever mindful) even in the midst of life.

9. Sis Padmasuri’s requested Bro Teoh to explain the meaning of the sentence “to use the mind but yet not be deceived by it”. Bro Teoh explained that this form and mind is karmically conditioned for us to come to this conditioned world for us to use but we should not be deceived by it (the thoughts and duality that the mundane mind creates). To live life, we need to arise the thought to perceive, arise concepts etc. but the user of thoughts is most important and it must have the wisdom connected to it to enable it to have the understanding to avoid all evils, develop right views, right thoughts etc. to free the mind via the 4 right efforts. Cultivating these noble 8-fold path factors is most important.

10. Wrong thoughts are thoughts that condition one’s evil roots, fear, worry, anxiety etc. We must be able to be aware of all these wrong thoughts that will make us evil as they arise within our mind states.

11. Right thoughts are thoughts that bring about love, compassion, sincerity, contentment, gentleness, pleasantness, kindness, generosity, understanding leading to harmony etc. – thoughts which are free of the 3 evil roots.

12. Wanting things your way = grasping and clinging.

13. Committing the Teachings to memory = knowledge, which is not the same as wisdom which is to be realized and awaken to.

14. Real Meditation only starts after mindfulness is established. Constantly reflect and contemplate on the essential dharma to understand clearly (pariyati) before one can cultivate the N8FP correctly to cease all suffering in the here and the now.

15. The objective of Mahayana chanting is to cultivate the 5 spiritual faculties of saddha, viriya, sati samadhi and panna to understand spiritual teaching.

(Above draft outline short notes are prepared by Sis. Mun Yuen)

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

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Bro Teoh’s Thursday class dated 21st June 2018

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our last night’s Thursday class (21st June 2018) recording for sharing by all. According to Bro Swee Aun it is  *Highly recommended,  a good summary on what is meditation?* Also attach is the outline short notes as below:

OUTLINE SHORT NOTES for Thursday class dated 21 JUNE 2018

A. INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE MEDITATION

  1. According to Bro Teoh, it is very important that we understand what is meditation and what is it that we are doing in the name of meditation? Essentially Meditation consists of two parts:
  • If we still need to train the mind to be mindful, then train it using the mind-sweeping method followed by metta to decondition the heedless thinking
  • If the mind is already trained, we can meditate straight The key points in meditation are to relax into every mind state that arises, then maintain silence and awareness within to develop the wisdom. The wisdom or understanding will unfold naturally when one is HEEDFUL  2.The mind’s original state before the stirring and reactions of mind, is already stillness, silent and aware. So, just let every mind state that arise settle down on its own. There is no need to do anything (such as focusing, noting, concentrating etc.) but just maintain awareness within. If an object of meditation is needed to anchor the mind, one can use Anapanasati (mindfulness of the in and out breath). Very soon, the mind will calm down and return to its original state of silent inner awareness. When one does not give any mental energy to the thought or mundane mind, the silent mind will develop on its own and one’s meditation will progress naturally leading to sati and The silent mind can meditate on its own. One will then experience piti, sukha and passadhi which is tranquility or stillness of mind (the silent or meditative mind). When passadhi stabilizes the mind will enter sati, then one can be ever mindful in the midst of life and activities to cultivate the daily mindfulness.

B. INSTRUCTIONS AFTER MEDITATION

  1. Bro Teoh advised fellow Kalyanamittas not to be gullible by following meditation instructions blindly. We have to understand what we are doing in the name of meditation. Without heedfulness, we cannot All meditation starts off with the training of the mind to be heedful as per dhammapada verses 21, 22 and 23.
  2. One needs to understand how to cultivate heedfulness. First, train the mind to be mindful and then stabilize it to be ever mindful. Next, use this trained mind to cultivate the Noble 8-fold Path in the midst of life.
  3. To be ever mindful and constantly meditative are essential qualities of mind states for one to realize the supreme born-free Nibbana as stated by the Buddha via his dhammapada verse 23.
  4. If the mental hindrances are still present, the cultivator must develop the opposite five spiritual faculties to counter them. Puja can help cultivators develop them. Faith in the Buddha and his teaching will arise when we reflect on how wonderful and unique a being, the Buddha is. This will encourage us to have the viriya to strive on diligently to train the mind to be mindful and then stabilize it to arise the Samadhi, leading to the wisdom.
  5. The Buddha emphasized the importance of heedfulness via his dhammapada verse 21.
  6. When the mind settles down, it becomes so quiet that it will enter sati. When that happens, the mind in sati is not only aware but ever mindful. One can then use this trained mind state to meditate via the daily mindfulness while in the midst of life. There is no need to train the mind anymore because this trained mind in sati can be heedful in the midst of life on its own already. This stable mindfulness coupled with the silent mind can enable one to insight into the three universal characteristics of anicca, dukkha and anatta.
  7. Hence, the word vipassana which means to insight into or awaken to the three universal characteristics is not a practice but an understanding. One cannot practice vipassana to reach enlightenment because it is not a doing. Practice is a repetitive doing via following a series of instructions to do things – which is mechanical in nature.
  8. However, most people have been taught to meditate using thought-based methods and techniques to realize the so-called awakening. These are all samatha and energy field practices involving focusing, concentration and suppression, resulting in jhanic states, absorption of mind and fantastic meditative mind states and experiences.
  9. According to Bro Teoh, there is no need to focus or force the mind into any form of practice. One only needs to relax into every mind state that arises and maintain awareness to realize the silent (true) mind. The moment one is without thought, one is already aware. So, there is no need to try to practice to be aware. Any form of doing or practice is by the thought and by doing so thoughts make the mind active again so sati which is awareness before the knowing cannot be developed via such thought-based practices. Sati is to be understood.
  10. We tend to give meaning to almost everything we perceive hence we accumulate them via memory through our conditioned thinking and attachment. Thought is response to memory so the mind via delusion reacts, stirs, grasps, clings and attaches to everything thoughts create causing one to be heedless most of the time.
  11. Once we see all these happening in our meditation, we will then understand the need to straighten our views via understanding the Buddha proclaimed of: ‘Sabbe sankhara aniccam, sabbe sankhara dukkham and Sabbe dhamma anatta’. That is: all off sankhara (mental states and activities) are impermanent, lead to suffering when we want things our way and understands that even this body and mind also does not belong to us, then the mind with such understanding will starts to behave differently. It will relinquish the grasping and clinging borne of delusion.
  12. One cannot practice to be wise neither can one practice letting go or to have non-attachment because only wisdom frees. Without wisdom one will hold, cling and attached. Who practice? The thought which is egoic practice. Who need to let go? Only the one who holds right? When there is wisdom one will not hold so is there any need to let go? Only deluded people practice letting go!
  13. Similarly, meditation is not about practice. It is about training the mind to become silent so that it can insight into phenomena. But, most people are so gullible that they are impressed by words and flowery dharma to the extent that they meditate without knowing exactly what they are doing.
  14. The four supports for awareness based meditation are: relax, aware, maintain awareness 24/7 (during waking and sleeping moments) and trust. Initially, it is difficult to be aware during sleeping moments. But as one’s mindfulness becomes so stable, it is possible to carry that state into the sleeping states.
  15. Bro Teoh cautioned on the dangers of doing thought based energy-field meditation because though it can make one’s mind very powerful, but it cannot liberate one from suffering. One can be drawn into the psychic field of psychic powers thereby conditioning more craving and delusion leading to suffering later on.
  16. Question by Bro Pan – Why is it important for cultivators to locate the gateway to our self-nature?

Bro Teoh’s answer:

  • This is only necessary for those who wish to walk the Bodhisattva way. The first three supports for awareness based meditation are sufficient for those who wish to walk the sainthood way while the fourth support is for those who wish to walk the Bodhisattva way.
  • The gateway leads to one’s nature and it is a very unique point because whatever energy that one has accumulated or developed will be neutralized once it goes through the gateway before being turned into pure energy. It is a beautiful outlet for trapped energy. The pure energy will on its own activate the chakras and nadis, making one feel fresh, still and energized from within. Transformation of consciousness will occur and even the cultivator’s health will improve greatly because the pure energy has the potential to heal one of all diseases and discomfort during that time. However, the body which goes the way of nature will eventually get sick, grow old and die over time. This again shows the nature of impermanence.
  • Master Hui Neng’s teaching takes us direct to the true mind. Enlightenment is beyond thought and mind so when people lack the understanding that there are two minds, they become gullible, cultivating with the mundane mind – doing thought-based meditation which are still within the field of thought.
  • Bro Teoh advised Bro Pan not to think too much about the question he had asked because when one’s mindfulness is still not stable, one cannot understand what this is all about. Even to see the dependent origination is so difficult because everything happens so fast. When contact arises, it is not just feeling that arises but is accompanied by the 7 universal mental factors (or cetasikas) which arise simultaneously. It is not a single-dimensional event but multi-dimensional. Only a trained mind that is still (having a very stable sati) can detect and understand all these. It becomes so sensitive that even the slightest very subtle mental stirring or movement can be detected straight away. The form and mind which is connected to the true nature will understand what is happening, thus giving rise to the wisdom which is connected to the form and mind. Eventually because of this wisdom connected, the phenomenal world loses its power to deceive the form and mind (or ‘cultivator’) who has realized the enlightenment.
  • Without this training, one can only understand through theory and knowledge. The true mind is clouded by the thinking (sankhara) which are your emotions and thoughts, etc. Through the meditative silence, one can understand how the condition-arising mind has been deceived by avijja again and again. As one keeps on straightening one’s views regarding kamma niyama, citta niyama and dharma niyama, one’s form and mind becomes wise. With this wisdom, it will understand that this form and mind is not me and not real. It is subject to karma and goes the way of nature (anicca, dukkha, anatta).
  • It is important to plant the seed of Bodhi (Bodhi mind) deep within our nature so that life after life when we have to come or choose to come, we can inherit our past spiritual cultivation. Unlike the karmic nature which follows us life after life immediately after birth, the spiritual nature can only be inherited after the body and mind is connected to the true nature through the silent mind via meditation.
  • Trust is most important for one who walks the Bodhisattva path. Through trust, one can connect to the true nature and inherit ones past spiritual cultivations just like what has happened to Bro Song many years ago. When that happens, he can understand a lot of things especially those profound teachings and dharma which he did not understand before, even after reading through them many times.
  • Bro Teoh emphasized the need to understand the basic essential dharma of the Buddha. Otherwise we will be wasting our time going into meditation (just like what happened to the four monks during Bodhidharma’s time who sat in meditation not understanding what they are doing in the name of meditation).                                                                    17.  No amount of sitting can transform us if we lack the wisdom. So, it is not the posture that matters but one’s wisdom which enables one to break free from one’s delusion and suffering. As long as we do not understand that we have two minds and we keep on cultivating using the mundane mind, we are wasting our time.                                       18. All dharmas arise from the self-nature. Wholesome and unwholesome and all forms of duality arise from this nature. If we cannot understand this basic teaching, we can forget about meditation. All forms of thought-based meditation will not lead us to the true awakening.                 19. All the essential dhammas spin off from the Four Noble Truths. So, it is important that we understand the basic essential dharma of the Buddha which have so often been emphasized by Bro Teoh in all his talks. Especially the 3 right views of kamma niyama, citta niyama and dharma niyama.                                                                           20.Finally, this talk is a like a revision for everyone to reinforce their understanding so that your understanding can go deep into their nature. We should continue to aspire, invoke vows and affirmations via power of merits to have the causes and conditions to have these right understanding life after life so that you can still cultivate accordingly with understanding even when the sasana is not around because it is very difficult for this form and mind to encounter the genuine Buddha dhamma to cultivate. Planting the bodhi seed deep within our minds will also create conditions for us to be reborn with this kind of understanding so that we can continue to perfect our nature life after life without having to fear getting lost again during the periods devoid of the Buddha sasana.

(Above draft outline notes were prepared by Sister Puan Chee.)

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

From: Bro Swee Aun
*if you missed Bro Teoh’s Thurs class Jun21, you can download at :
or at:
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Bro Teoh’s Tuesday class dated 19th June 2018 recording

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our last Tuesday class dated 19th June 2018’s recording for sharing by all. The outline short notes as prepared by Sister Yoon Chun are as below:

Outline short notes for our Tuesday class dated 19th June 2018

  1. A discussion session on Law of kamma was held where the following topics were discussed :
  • Cause of Inequality in life resulting from the effects of kamma.
  • Even children or siblings or twins with similar DNA live different lifestyles and have different characters and personality.
  • Bro Fong asked: can kamma be created without intention? He sighted a Mahayana case of an incident that occured to Nagajuna as an example of indirect effect of kamma.
  • Sis Chwee commented on the wrongs committed by certain politicians who seems to have escaped the effect of Kamma vipaka.
  • Sis Alicia asked how can Buddhists avoid/overcome the kammic effect of killing ants and termites to prevent damage to property and for cleanliness. Bro Teoh gave 3 important and useful advices to overcome the above.
  • Direct and indirect kamma.

2. Bro Teoh explained the great complexities of Kamma and emphasized the importanceof acting with right and appropriate wholesome mental intention. The key to understanding the effect of kamma depends entirely on understanding one’s mental intention behind. Hence one’s mental intention is most important because according to the Buddha ‘it is mental volition or intention that he calls kamma’.

  • The following five conditions are necessary to complete the evil of killing :     i. there must be a living being, ii. knowledge that it is a living being, iii. intention of killing, iv. effort to kill, and v. consequent death.
Bye! and with metta always,
Teoh
From: Sister Hui Rong
 
Brother Teoh Tuesday Class on 19/06/2018 record :
or at:
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Bro Teoh’s Sunday class dated 17th June 2018

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our last Sunday 17th June 2018 recording for sharing by all. The outline short notes are as below:

Outline short notes for lesson 76 of the 6th Patriarch’s Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra dated 17th June 2018 – Chapter X Final Instructions (Pages 383-385):

  1. Bro Teoh does a recap over the outline short notes dated 27th May 2018. Thisshort notes are very important because it summarizes to us all the understanding needed for cultivation.
  2. To understand meditation, one should start from the mind, i.e. investigate what this mind is. To understand the 2 aspects of mind, the silent/true mind and the mundane mind. The silent mind does not need sense data to function and isindependent of thoughts and conditions. The mundane mind is the opposite, it is dependent origination and it requires sense data and other related conditions to function.
  3. When the mundane mind is active, one cannot see the silent mind because one is lost in thoughts. When the mundane mind ceases, the silent mind will manifest.
  4. Mundane mind is the forerunner of all things. Through the mundane mind, wholesome and unwholesome thoughts arise, depending on one’s understanding and delusion.
  5. Consciousness and its content = Thoughts. Mental formation or activities (sankhara) that arise due to stirring of the mind clouds the silent mind.
  6. The N8FP cultivation is to develop right views (or wisdom) to remove all creationsof mind borne of wrong view to make the mind still so that one is always aware in the midst of life to arise the wisdom needed to realize the supra mundane mind (after the mundane mind ceases).
  7. Right view is very important because it leads to right understanding to enable one to cultivate correctly.
  8. Take care of Karma by avoiding all evils via keeping one’s precepts. Understand clearly what constitute evil then apply the 4 right efforts and cultivate mindfulness to constantly purify one’s mind.
  9. When the true mind arise, there is clarity and calmness. One is then able to see things as they are to awaken to the Truth without the interference of thoughts.
  10. When there is no duality, there is no creation of wholesome and unwholesome. Then there is no unwholesomeness to get rid of or any need to practice letting go or non-attachment.
  11. Duality: when this arise, that arise. When this ceases, that ceases.
  12. Observe to see clearly that everything within the condition world is dependent origination.
  13. When one attaches to words like non-duality, emptiness, practice letting go, non-attachment, etc. (which are viewed as wholesome), one will try to practice them to realize such states. This is wrong view borne of attachment to dharma and is not the way to cultivate. The proper way is to understand that duality is just a conceptcreated by the mundane mind and it exists within the mundane world. That is ‘duality is to be understood’ and only wisdom frees – nothing else.
  14. The ‘moment you understand you are free’ – no more need to practice non-attachment or letting go etc. The truth is there is no duality of wholesome and unwholesome when the mundane mind does not create. When this is understoodthen there is no need to try to get rid of unwholesomeness, no need to practice letting go etc. For understanding or wisdom cannot be practiced. It has to be awakened to.
  15. Understanding does not involve memory so don’t try to remember and retrieve Dharma from memory because ‘acting according to memory is not acting at all’. One should always act with wisdom and nothing else.
  16. Without wisdom, there is no real virtue.
  17. Do not refrain from thinking. The problem is not the thought. It is the user of thoughts which is more important. The user of thoughts must be wise to enable the arising of right thoughts. Thoughts are required in the conditioned world for one to live life.
  18. Use understanding to let the thinking or mundane mind settle down by itself. Do not force the mind to be still or quiet.
  19. Bro Song shares his recent experiences involving his cultivation. Bro Teoh rejoice with his good progress and advise him to remember to relax further into whatever mind states that arise, then maintain awareness or silence, leading to the 4thsupport of Trust throughout and always remember – ‘don’t try to know’ what is happening while meditating. The understanding will arise or unfold by itself.
  20. Sister Adeline’s question on whether contemplation and reflection are thought based cultivation. Bro Teoh’s reply it is ‘not’ because when the mind is heedful and peaceful with clarity within as a result of the stability of one’s daily mindfulness,one is calm and one can reflect, contemplate and inquire mindfully into all things clearly. Truth or dharma is everywhere – in the midst of life and nature so why can’t you see?
  21. Advise in a nutshell for true cultivators :

    – Cultivate the Bodhi mind with strong faith and sincerity until it is very stable.
    – Develop daily mindfulness until it is very stable and ‘don’t try to know’
    – Stabilize one’s formal meditation via the 4 supports of Relax, Aware (or mindful), 24 hours and Trust    until one can locate one’s gateway to one’s nature clearly.
    – After that learn to listen from the heart (stay at the heart with inner awareness within and remain silence at all time).
    – Reflect and contemplate all dharma until very clear (after coming out of formal meditation).
    – Experience all transformation with awareness and understanding from within.
    – Do not listen to questions from the thoughts/duality.
    – Have faith, sincerity and perseverance.

(Draft outline short notes was done by Sister Mun Yuen)

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh