Category: Short Notes summary of Dharma audio file

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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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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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Bro. Teoh’s Sunday class’s recording dated 14th Jan 2018

Dear All Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our last Sunday’s 66th lesson of the 6th Patriarch Platform sutra recording dated 14th Jan 2018 for sharing by all. The following important short notes link and its details are enclosed below for your easy reading, listening and understanding:

https://broteoh.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Short-Notes-Teoh-WPCS-180114.pdf

Short notes for 66th lesson of the 6th Patriarch Platform sutra (Sunday class dated 14.1.2018): 

Audio mp3 : https://broteoh.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/66-6th-Patriarch-14-Jan-2018.mp3 

Whiteboard Note : https://broteoh.com/wp-content/uploads/66-6th-Patriarch-14-Jan-2018.jpg

  1. Samadhi is different from concentration

Samadhi is a mind which is “unwavering and collected“. It is a free mind without thought where the mundane mind is silent and not active. Whereas, concentration (or Samatha mind state) is a conditioned mind in Appana concentration. The mind is a focused mind in one-pointedness or absorption concentration. One is then in the Jhana or absorption mind states.

There must be an understanding that Samadhi always exist in one’s true mind but it is obscured (or clouded) by the mundane mind. Hence to realize Samadhi, one only needs to be silent and aware.

Most people seek peace and special experiences like seeing light (or nimitta), experiencing calmness and stillness during meditation but what they do not understand is, when they do that, they are actually focusing via effort and energy field to isolate the mind to abide within so that it is peaceful and calm but there is no clarity of awareness within. This will lead to suppression of delusion and negativity of mental states via strong mental concentration and absorption and one cannot live life with this type of mind state. Then one will not be able to develop the wisdom via mindful observation because all the latent tendencies (or anusaya) are being suppressed and they are not rooted out as yet.  

Actually, one does not need to do concentration or absorption meditation because the mind on its own will return to its original state of inner peace and stillness before the stirring if we can just stop feeding it with anymore heedless thinking or thought energy.

  1. Surangama Sutra

“Perception of form is consciousness, whereas its non-perception is wisdom”

2.1 Explanation for “Perception of form is consciousness”

Worldly perception is by the mundane mind via our mental consciousness, i.e. we can perceive the world via our mundane mind’s seeing consciousness. Our brain which is basically memories and memories are our accumulation of experiences – Good and Bad. They are our views, opinions, conditionings, scars of memories, traditions, our belief systems, our phobias, our insecurity, our fears, worries and anxieties etc. including our greed, hatred and various type of emotional negativities.

Since thoughts are response to memories hence perception via the thought comes from memory and that’s how mental perception comes to be with every moment of consciousness. Hence mundane perception of mental form is consciousness. Take for example the seeing consciousness – how do you know it is a Buddha image? Via memory isn’t it? Then you stir your mind via inputting your content of consciousness according to your views, opinions and conditioning accumulated within your brain or memory. Therefore, when we use our mundane mind to see via our memories, we are not seeing the truth or the reality and we cannot see things as they are because we are perceiving what we see according to our conditioned mind which are full of words, concept, views and opinions, dualities and conditionings, etc.

Hence ‘acting according to memory is not acting at all. One should act with wisdom instead.    

Sometimes these conditioned memories, views, opinions, scars of memories and fears, etc. are also accumulated in our subconscious and when there is condition to trigger them, those conditioned memories etc. will arise and your mind will stir accordingly. If we act according to these conditioning, views, opinions, etc. it will result in us not acting according to wisdom. We are merely perceiving things via our old conditioning or habitual tendencies, resulting in wrong perception in every moment of consciousness. Take for example, when a past phobia is triggered, one will panic based on previous experience. But if one just develop the wisdom to act via careful observation or heedfulness then one can just stopped reacting or stirring one’s mind and just stay silent to inquire into what just happened? One will have the understanding to realize that “when conditions are like that, things will be like that” because the reality IS or Truth IS. There will be wisdom and one will not be afflicted like before by the old habitual way of heedless living. Then when one become more skillful in this new way of heedful living, one can move on to the next step to trace the origination factors then retrospectively reverse them, so that we will not fall into the same trap again in the future. 

2.2 Explanation for “Non-perception is wisdom”:

Non-perception is not using the mundane mind to see. It is using the direct seeing via the pure awareness or silent mind to ‘see things as they are’ (to see truth, to see the reality), without being influenced by our views, opinions, belief system and conditioning, etc. When we see things via the true mind there is no discrimination or distinction between good and bad because there is no words or concept of duality to arise those deluded thoughts. Everything just follows nature’s laws; only mighty Nature rolling by.

3.0 Question and Answers session after meditation

Question 1: Bro Song shared his experience of having strong sankhara activities all of a sudden despite after having a period of very stable mindful and heedful daily mindfulness living. These sankhara activities arise for no apparent reason and he was fully aware of their arising and also his subtle mind movements and reactions within and he did not know how to deal with them at that time apart from ‘allowing it to be’ until he heard Sis Mindy’s last Sunday question to Bro. Teoh regarding her experience at the cittanupassana retreat that she attended recently.

He then understands that the real cittanuppasana is not ‘thought observing thoughts’ but instead the mind is aware of all the mind states or content of consciousness as they arise. When the content of consciousness has greed one is aware of its arising (or stirring of the mundane mind), so that one’s mind (which is in sati) is sensitive. Then the habitual subtle stirring will weaken as one develops this mindfulness until it is very stable. Then one can contemplate deeper into the arising sankhara (or what happened) to understand that this was actually a test from his cultivation or nature.

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

From: Sister Lee Siew Gaik

https://broteoh.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/66-6th-Patriarch-14-Jan-2018.mp3

or at:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/67wk1lw7vpx8zte/66%206th%20Patriarch%2014%20Jan%202018.MP3?dl=0  

66 6th Patriarch 14 Jan 2018.MP3

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Short notes summary of Tuesday class dated 9.1.2018

Subject: Re: Short notes for Tuesday class sharing dated 9th January 2018

Dear Sister Yoon Chun,

Short notes summary of Bro.Teoh’s Tuesday class dated 79.1.2018

Thank u so much for your below draft short notes and I am pleased to forward herewith the edited version below for our sharing. A word file attachment is also enclosed above.

Short notes summary of Bro. Teoh’s Tuesday class Dharma sharing dated 9.1.2018: 

Session 1: Puja and Meditation

1.1 Puja (Buddhist devotional practices)

The main purpose of Puja chanting is to develop the following:

  1. To cultivate Faith (saddha) in the Buddha and his Teaching;
  2. To cultivate the spiritual zeal (viriya) to learn the Dharma after seeing the importance of learning such teaching;
  3. To develop mindfulness (sati) and cultivate wholesomeness like generosity, paying respect to great beings and rejoicing (in the goodness, kindness and generosity of others) during puja;
  4. To renew our 5 precepts and the taking of refuges in the Triple Gems;
  5. Making of puja aspirations (via understanding the significance of all our puja offerings) to help us progress along the path of Dharma;
  6. Puja can help us calm and compose our mind to develop the Faith and wisdom.

1.2 Meditation

    • The main purpose of Meditation is to train the heedless thinking mind to be peaceful, calm and aware within (the silent mind) to see things clearly (or as they are) to develop the wisdom to liberate our mind.
    • Important Meditative instructions were given to help yogi understand what they are doing in the name of meditation.
    • Always remember to Relax body and mind to experience the silence and the peacefulness. Just Feel with the silent mind and relax.
    • The purpose of mind sweeping method is to de condition the heedless thinking; then combining with metta to bring about inner peace and inner well-being (positive energy field) and Anapanasati training is to stabilize the sati (silent mind).
    • A well trained mind listens to you and can serve you well.
    • Mind experiencing piti, sukha, tranquility and stillness (passadhi).
    • What are methods, techniques and objects of meditation for? They are only skillful means to train the mind to be in sati and in the state of heedfulness.
    • One only need to train the mind when the 5 spiritual faculties are not stable yet.

 

  • Without the spiritual faculties the opposite 5 mental hindrances will be there to make one heedless and think a lot – reason why these people need methods and techniques and object of meditation to anchor their mind so that it does not wanders off and become heedless.

 

    • If you do this type of meditative training via just relaxing and silencing your mind, your mindfulness can become very sensitive and it can even detect your heart beat or pounding of your heart without the need of a stethoscope. Then as you silent your mind and relax into it more and more, the pounding will slow down.
    • ‘…Then you move your attention back to your chest or heart area. This is a very important location within your body. This is where your life-force arises and passes away. This is where the seat of consciousness resides and how you become conscious – from there it arises. This is also where your heart beat is; your life-force pumps your heart beat. Your life-force comes from your supportive karma that you inherit. If this supportive karma or life-force energy does not come then your heart will stop it will not beat.
    • So we have to silent our mind and just feel our heart area, feel it soothingly relax and silent everything. If you can detect whatever vibration or your heart beat, you just silent everything and stay there to develop the stability of your silent mind. If you do this type of meditation or meditative training… (Normally as doctors they need the stethoscope to magnify the heart beat pulse so that they can feel it)… but if you can meditate to be mindful and very aware you don’t need any stethoscope. You can just relax and silent your mind then u can feel and be aware of your own heart beat very clearly including its pounding etc. Then as you silent your mind more and more, the pounding will slow down until it becomes very quiet and very still. Then you don’t need to do anything but just stay there and silent everything to meditate because this is the silent mind which is also the meditative mind.‘
    • Continuous mindfulness leading to absorption of mind  …..
    • Uppacara and appana Samadhi …..

 

  • Relax into every mind state that arise and let the mind return to its original state of stillness, tranquility and silence.

 

Session 2 Dharma sharing proper and Q and A

    • Try to maintain whatever inner peace, inner calmness and inner awareness that you have developed through this meditative training. You need to make use of these trained mind states to live your life then your life will change; your life will become very different. If you can have this type of mind which is always peaceful, calm (with very little or no thinking), constantly aware and sensitive to life; sensitive to your inner thought movements; your emotion and everything else, then you will become a very beautiful being. You will understand many things then you will have no more problems because the slightest movement of your mind towards the 2 extremes you can feel it straight away. We call this mind the trained thinking mind, the worldly or mundane mind.
    • There are 2 aspects to our mind; one is your true mind, the silent mind that can be aware and can understand many things; and the other is the mundane mind, the thinking mind, the worldly mind that thinks a lot and creates a lot of problems and emotions for us because of our lack of understanding. But the moment we understand, this thinking mind becomes different, it understands and it can be trained; and when it is trained it becomes very quiet and still which means – previously it does what it like but now it listen to you and it can serves you just like a trained dog.
    • In a similar way if we train our mind, it will listen to us. If you want it to be silent, peaceful it will just do that. You want to be relaxed, at ease and do whatever you want to do, it will just obey you. So this mind will serve you well (be a very good servant to you.)
    • Meditation is to learn to transform this heedless thinking mind that is full of wrong views and delusion into a mind that has the clarity, the wisdom and the understanding not to be deceived by what you see, hear, smell, tactilely feel and think. This is what the Buddha called wisdom or understanding.
    • When you understand you are no longer foolish; you won’t get yourself into trouble anymore. The Most important thing one need to do is to meditate to understand clearly what is life all about. All of nature’s laws that govern all of our life and existence need to be understood first. When we understand these laws it is like we understands the secret of life then we will know how to live in accordance with these laws.
    • Importance of understanding the Law of karma (moral causation) to realize the importance of taking care of karma and how via taking care of karma one can improve and transform one’s life.
    • If you take care of karma, karma will take care of your life.
    • Various types of Dukkha or suffering caused by the 8 realities of life and existence when one confronts them without proper understanding.
    • Caused of suffering is due to one’s attachment to the 5 aggregates of form & mind via one’s self-delusion.
    • Nature always gives and gives. Nature is full of Love and compassion.
    • We should appreciate, have gratitude and cherish what nature has given to mankind. Man & Nature must harmonize because we come from Nature and we are actually ONE with Nature; if man destroys nature, then nature will destroy the human race. We should live in harmony with Nature then we will not be faced with much nature’s disasters and environmental problems.
    • Understanding the 5 Aggregates of Form and Mind as taught by the Buddha. Its two aspects: 1st aspect as a physical human being and the 2nd aspect as a mental 5 aggregates via understanding the thought (consciousness and its content).

 

  • To understand the 4 aggregates of mind one must inquire – what can your mind do?

 

    • Our true mind is just spacious awareness (when the mundane mind is not or ceases to be) – when we are without thoughts, when our views, opinions and the conditioned mind are not interfering with our pure perception.
    • Thought which is focus awareness and its content is limited, narrow and finite because it is based on the mundane mind’s perception that shrinks our true mind’s spacious awareness into a finite spot where the conditioned mind’s content of consciousness are inputted or deposited.

 

  • Enlightened beings act according to understanding n wisdom. They don’t discriminate or act according to memories because ‘acting according to memory is not acting at all’.

 

    • This Buddhist teaching is based on Natures laws and it is experiential and very scientific, not base on tradition, superstitions and beliefs.
    • Did anyone suffer from depression during Buddha’s time?

 

  • There is no such thing as a ‘Problem’ if we do not perceive it with fear and negativity. When we accept what happened as part of life realities then we can be at peace. Then our mind will not stir and our thought will not project the fear, worry and anxiety etc. then we can have clarity of mind to make better decision and act with wisdom and understanding following Noble 8-fold path via inquiring further: How can we resolve this amicably and what are our options? How can we resolve issues there and then via making good decisions to move on?

 

  • This body of ours is not a permanent unchanging entity hence it is not “Me”. It is makeup of the 4 elements that goes the way of nature, subject to old age sickness and death.
  • Do not view life through our wrong views, accumulated memories and delusion. No need to arise the fear and worry for they will not help us resolve issues amicably. Will instead cause anxiety and fear leading to depression. It is better to take the necessary steps to address issues via wisdom and accept whatever the outcome via doing what need to be done to take care of karma.
  • Life can be really meaningful and beautiful when we have the Dharma understanding. One can then live life to the fullest to experience all the pristine beauty and wonders of life.

    End.
    (Note: The draft short notes for the above was prepared by Sister Hooi Yoon Chun)

  • Bye! and with metta always,Teoh