Category: Tuesday class

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Brother Teoh’s 11th Dec 2018 Tuesday class

Dear Kalyanamittas,
Below are the audio and outline short notes links for our Tuesday class dated 11th Dec 2018 recording for sharing by all.

Brother Teoh’s Tuesday class dated 11th December 2018 Outline Short Notes

Reference Book: The Buddha and His Teachings – REASONS TO BELIEVE IN REBIRTH (Chapter 24, Page 412)

1.        The text highlighted cases that indicated the existence of past lives through:

  1. special children with some memory of their previous births;  
  2. people with multiple personalities, spirit communication & possession
  3. past life regression via hypnosis;
  4. Special people & prodigies like the Buddha, Confucius, Mozart, etc.

2.       To contemplate. Who is reborn? To find out for ourselves whether there is really rebirth base on what we can see and observe in life and not depend on the Buddha’s teaching.

3.       Sis Han asked how Anita Moorjani’s consciousness left her body. Was it with mindfulness? Bro Teoh replied that it was through her past cultivation and affinity with her dead father’s nature that enable her to have that type of experience of her true nature manifesting. She actually died but because of her special condition she was able to develop the understanding before returning to her body to become alive again. 

4.       Sis PG mentioned about the dark side of certain illusionists.

5.       Bro Vincent asked about good and bad luck (‘Yi wan tai’ in Cantonese) that we face. According to Bro Teoh, it is all our good and bad karma ripening, nothing to do with “Feng Shui” and our luck or predestined horoscope or fate. It is only our virtues that will protect us.

(Above draft outline short notes are by Sister Yoon Chun)

Bye! and with metta always,
Teoh
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BROTHER TEOH’S 4TH DEC TUESDAY CLASS

Dear Kalyanamittas,
Below are the audio and outline short notes link to our 4th Dec 2018 Tuesday class recording for sharing by all.

Brother Teoh’s 4 December 2018 Tuesday Class Short Notes

Ref book: The Buddha and His Teachings BY NARADA – REASON FOR BELIEVE IN REBIRTH (Chapter 24, Page 408)

1.   Buddha taught Rebirth based on his own experience, especially on the night of his Enlightenment. During the first watch, he perceived many of his own past lives up to more than a hundred thousand. In the next hour, he perceived how lives in one plane disappeared but reappeared in another existence and how they passed on according to their deeds of their previous lives. This is a verifiable Truth.

2.       It is craving that conditioned rebirth. Ignorance (Avijja) conditions cravings – the 3 types of cravings.

       The 5 Mental Hindrances arise due to Ignorance. The nutriments for avijja are the 5 mental hindrances.

3.      PG and Han confirmed their belief in rebirth via their own “Deja vu” experience. Bro Teoh too shared his similar personal experience when he was at Han Shan Shi (temple) in China in the year 2000.

4.      Padmasuri shared her experience of her recent 7 days retreat at Dharma Drum Mountain Monastery in Taiwan. She was very happy and relaxed because she was able to rejoice in many of the very beautiful dhamma teachings and experiences learned while there even though she had to squeeze into a very narrow space to sleep and having close proximity plus having to face the snoring and noises of other yogis. She learnt how to apply dhamma in daily life by not reacting to and complaining about uncomfortable situations. 

5.      Bro Teoh also related a similar meditative training event where he and all other yogis had to go through an “eyeballs to eyeballs” experience with unknown people.

6.      J. Krishnamurthi said, ‘it is only via relationships that we can learn about our self’. While in relationship with nature, society, humanity (like our friends, colleagues, loved ones, neighbours, etc.), we learn to see our reactions to sense experiences, our emotions, suffering, sorrow and lamentation, our desires, our fear, anxiety, selfishness, cunningness, greed, phobia, insecurity, violence etc. basing on our wrong views, opinions, conditionings etc. This is self-knowledge. 

7.      We should have gratitude towards all things especially the following:

  • Nature’s great loving kindness. Nature just give and give; the air we breathe and the water we get to drink to sustain our life all come from nature and it is given free to us.
  • The government and Society. They provide us with the health services, transportation, infrastructures, education system, food chain, law and order and other important services, etc. We should have gratitude, contentment and joy when partaking and using such facilities and services provided by the government and society.
  • Our parents who had given us life, care for us, provide and sacrifice for us.
  • Those who have been kind, generous and caring to us.

(Above draft outline short notes was done by Sister Hooi Yoon Chun)

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh
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Bro Teoh’s 30th October 2018 Tuesday class

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio link and Avijja sutta link to our 30th October 2018 Tuesday class for sharing by all.

Audio link: https://broteoh.com/wp-content/uploads/Teoh-Tue-181030.mp3

Avijja sutta: https://broteoh.com/wp-content/uploads/Avijj%C4%81-Sutta.pdf

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh
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9th Oct 2018Tuesday class (The buddha and his teaching)

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Bro Teoh’s 2nd Oct 2018 Tuesday class

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Bro Teoh’s 25th Sept 2018 Tuesday class

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links to our 25th Sept 2018 Tuesday class recording for sharing by all:

*If you missed Bro Teoh’s Tue Talk on 25 Sept, you can download at:*
https://broteoh.com/wp-content/uploads/Teoh-Tue-180925.mp3  or at:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rkpsjnlcaeyow6w/Teoh%20Tue%20180925.MP3?dl=0

Outline short notes audio link: https://broteoh.com/wp-content/uploads/Short-Notes-Teoh-Tues-180925.pdf

Website: broteoh.com 

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

From: Teoh Kian Koon <teohkiankoon@hotmail.com></teohkiankoon@hotmail.com>
Sent: 28 September 2018 07:13
Subject: Re: 25 September 2018 Tuesday Class outline Short Notes

Dearest Soo Yee and all,

Below and attached are the edited outline short notes for sharing by all:

Brother Teoh’s 25 September 2018 Tuesday Class outline Short Notes 

Book Reference: The Buddha and His Teachings – The Working of Kamma (Chapter 20, Page 376) 

1.       10 meritorious deeds in everyday life (kusala kamma):

  • Generosity / Giving (dāna),
  • Morality / Keeping precepts/virtue (sīla),
  • Meditation / training the mind to be in full awareness (bhāvanā)
  • Reverential Salutation / Paying due respect to those who are worthy of it (apacāyana),
  • Service / Helping others perform good deeds (veyyāvacca).
  • Transference of merit (pattidāna),
  • Rejoicing in others’ good actions (anumodanā),
  • Hearing the doctrine (dhamma savana),
  • Expounding the doctrine/truth (dhammadesanā) and
  • Straightening one’s own views (ditthijjukamma).

2.       3 important factors wholesome to have while performing meritorious deeds:

  • Done with joy throughout or at all time – before, during and after (Somanassa-sahagatam)
  • done with wisdom (Naya-sampayuttam)
  • unprompted/spontaneous (Asankharikam)

3.       Briefly run through of 5 jhanic factors, 5 Rūpa­Jhānas and 4 Arūpa Jhānas from the text.
4.       [— Recording time 1:36:16 —]

Question: Sister Han asked about how can one navigate between wholesome and unwholesome karma (when one is still not skilful) in the context of counselling andhelping others?  

Answer: When one is not skilful (without clear understanding/wisdom), do not be too eager to help or share:

  • Beware of the over-eagerness to help
    – usually this desire/craving to help others comes from your ego
    – it is self-delusion that can condition this type of karma
  • Beware of giving due to pity: – usually end up being a good-hearted-fool. The wise one only helps when there is condition to help. Done with understanding following conditions, not forced or motivated by one’s emotion.
  • Be honest, sincere, and upright (to avoid unnecessary karma):
  • If you are not sure then just be sincere and say you do not know. But if you still want to advice then you can say, ‘basing on my understanding now, I belief the meaning of the teaching is ……’ or “This advice may not be suitable for all, but from my experience and current understanding, I feel for you what may help is……”
  • Don’t carelessly quote what others say; especially when you are unsure/without clear comprehension of the subject matter.

5.       In this condition world/existential world, one must accord and flow with wisdomthose conditions that arise :

  • When the supporting conditions are not present (e.g. timing is not right or there is no condition) then do not
    forcefully impose your views, advice, or help (especially when the party you want to help is not willing to listen).
  • The below rather important Diamond sutra’s 4 lines stanza should be clearly comprehended:

 

一切有為法，

如夢幻泡影，

如露亦如電，

應作如是觀。

YI QIE YOU WEI FA,

RU MENG HUAN PAO YING,                RU LU YI RU DIAN,

YING ZUO RU SHI GUAN.’

All are conditioned dharma (within the conditioned world)

They are like dreams, illusions, bubbles and shadows;

Like dew-drops and a lightning flash;

You should contemplate it thus.

 

(Above outline short notes draft was prepared by Sis. Soo Yee)

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

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Bro Teoh’s 18th Sept 2018 Tuesday class sharing

Dear Kalyanamittas,

Below are the audio links and outline short notes link to our 18th Sept Thursday class recording for sharing by all.

Audio links: https://broteoh.com/wp-content/uploads/Teoh-Tue-180918.mp3

or at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/expoke0svauo4nn/Teoh%20Tue%20180918.MP3?dl=0

Outline short notes link:

https://broteoh.com/wp-content/uploads/Short-Notes-Teoh-Tue-180918.pdf
www.dropbox.com
Shared with Dropbox

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh

From: Teoh Kian Koon <teohkiankoon@hotmail.com></teohkiankoon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: 18 September 2018 Tuesday Class outline short notes

Dearest Soo Yee and all,

Enclose below are the edited short notes for sharing by all:

Brother Teoh’s 18th September 2018 Tuesday Class outline Short Notes 

Book Reference: The Buddha and His Teachings – The Working of Karma (Chapter 20, Page 367) 

  1. Creation of negative Karma – the 10 evils often committed by a heedless person are : 

 [Via  Actions]

1.   killing (pānātipāta)

 

 

2.   stealing (adinnādāna)

 

 

3.   sexual misconduct (kāmesu  micchācāra)

      

 

[Via Speeches ]

4.   lying (musāvāda)

e.g. Deceitful, Dishonest, Two-faced

 

5.   slandering (pisunavācā)

e.g. Insult, Vilify, back biting

 

6.   harsh speech (pharusavāca)

e.g. Vindictive, Hurtful and strongly worded speeches, Threatening

 

7.   frivolous speech (samphappalāpa)

e.g. Irresponsible words, Instigative

 

[Via Thoughts ]

 

8.   covetous and selfish thoughts(abhijjhā)

 

e.g. Possessiveness, Desire, Lust

 

9.   ill-will or anger and hatred (vyāpāda)

e.g. Spite, Enmity, Malice, Cruel

 

10. false or deluded view (micchā ditthi)

e.g. Crooked, Misleading, Biased, Denial
  1.  Recording time 1:09:25 

[Question]

On the topic of killing, Sis Chwee asked whether the definition of “a living being” is characterised by having a cognitive mind.

 

[Answer]

Plants also have consciousness (mono), exhibit sensitivity and responds to environment (e.g. experience suffering). However, in this context, “a living being” refers to beings that breathe, i.e. having a life force. Note: the word “pānā” from the word pānātipāta and Ānāpānā sati.

2 Recording time 1:17:38 

[Question]

On the 5 conditions necessary to complete the evil act of killing, Bro Chin How asked regarding the scenario of “having only the intention to kill, but the actual action to kill was performed by someone else”.

 

[Answer]

The precept here is not ‘thou shall not kill’ but is ‘I undertake the training rule to abstain from killing.’ So a heedless person with the mental intention to kill, inadvertently develops the actions of killing (e.g. instigate or hiring someone else to kill) born of his negativity of mind state also commits the act of killing even though the killing was done by others. For mental intention (cetena) can leads to Karma.                     If you can kill, it means you don’t have love and compassion. Only an evil, deluded and selfish person kills.

 3. Recording time 1:29:15   

[Question]

Sis Chwee shares her experience regarding how she finds it very difficult to deal with the tiny ants at her home, and she just had to apologetically get rid of them.   

 

[Answer]
  • Bro Teoh advises her to cultivate Mindfulness leading to wisdom, thereby enabling her to develop the sensitivity towards all life forms via consciously nurturing LOVE and COMPASSION borne of WISDOM (the understanding to choose kindness, wholesomeness and virtues over karmic negativity);
  • Our untrained mind is heedless due to our years of accumulatedgreed, hatred, fear and delusion; this heedlessness leads tokarmic negativity. In order to de-condition/de-program this heedless outflow of negative mental intentions via our habitual tendencies and heedless reactions to sense experiences we need to cultivate the four foundation of mindfulness leading to heedfulness to arise the wisdom (yoniso manasikara) needed for us to straighten our views.
    E.g. with kayanupassana, the moment a physical (or kaya) movement begins or arise (e.g. the intention leading to the action to kill), you will become aware and able to discern clearly to arise the choice not to kill; hence a wise and mindful person will not be able to violate the precept of killing.

 > Short discussion regarding birth as a lady or a female by all; reason for such birth and its pros and cons. Also why some of our Kalyanamittas choose to remain as single ladies this life. For more detail please do listen to the full recording. The discussion was led by Bro Teoh after sister PG’s comment on her disagreeing with what the text said regarding female birth.

 4. Recording time 1:54:03 

[Question]

Sis PG shares her observation of counter dependent karmic roles. That is since these victims have karmic conditioning or potential from their previous lives to be afflicted so why not just let it be?  

[Answer]

Karmic potential need conditions for its fruition or arising. A victim being hurt by another, does not necessarily mean the victim has previously hurt that other person. In fact, it is often someone elsealtogether. Dependent on the different conditions that arise, everybody may encounters karma in varying manner. Likewise, when there is no condition, nothing happens to that person. This means if you have the dharma understanding to avoid the conditions for negative karma to arise then those karmic potential may not ripen.

 5. Recording time 2:11:10 

[Question]

Sis Chwee shares her observation that 99.99% of sales people often talk rubbish and they lied.

[Answer]

If the salesperson had first verified that it is indeed a good andbeneficial product, then sales become a profession where there is no need to lie to do well. The usefulness of the product is most important and sincerity of approach during sale will bring in the sale. Not the commission. This is what right livelihood is all about.

 > If you are truthful and sincere, you will have less condition to commit negativity of karma. But more importantly, you need wisdom to balance truthfulness because even if you are truthful, but with a tainted/biased (selfish) mental intention, you are still prone/tempted to creating negative karma. 

 (Above outline short notes draft was prepared by Sis. Soo Yee)

Bye! and with metta always,

Teoh