Bro. Teoh's Kalyanamittas

Brother Teoh’s 26 May 2019 Sunday Class outline Short Notes

Book Reference: Cultivating the Bodhisattva Way (14^th Lesson), Page 96-102

1.       Without wisdom, you will not have true renunciation and compassion.
When there is wisdom, renunciation and compassion manifests automatically.

• 1. Without love, compassion and wisdom, the egoic mind/self-centredness will escalate and suffering will keep increasing and spreading.

      

2.       This Buddha sasana of Sakyamuni, is the best window to break free and to establish one’s nature firmly on the path of dhamma.  Through this window, we can also develop the understanding and faith to walk this Bodhisattva way firmlywith ease.

• 1. We should constantly ask: “Which stage of bodhi mind development are we at?”
  2. We should aspire with utmost sincerity, faith and understanding to plant the seed of Bodhi deep into our nature to walk the Bodhisattva way by taking the 4 basic vows and all the other special aspirations and additional vows as given by Bro Teoh via his special printed format/notes to us. 

     
     These vows and aspirations are very important because: 

     “These are the Dharma understanding I need to have.”
     “These are the Right Views I need to understand.” 

     “I’m going all out to plant this seed of Bodhi to take this Bodhisattva vows sincerely, so as not to miss this window of opportunity, so that every life when this nature comes (whether choose to come or has to come), it will have these right  dharma understanding and vows to go this way.”

  3. Renew your vows every day, until it is instilled in your heart (may take about 3 months): 

• Read through your Bodhisattva vows’ notes with a sincere mind to reaffirm your vows and aspirations. 
• To renew your Four Great basic Vows and all your other aspirations and affirmations with understanding to stabilize and remember them firmly until you can recite them without having to refer to the notes anymore. 

3.       The seed of Bodhi will grow – nourished through wisdom and compassion to arisethe bright Bodhi mind.
Your aspirations and vows will bring forth the way.

4.       Strive on to be Spiritually Alive (free mind that understands – i.e. can settles downand becomes still on its own),
Spiritually Luminous (clarity of mind – no clinging to self or non-self) and
Spiritually Potent (overflowing with wisdom)

5.       Silent Illumination is the experience of Boundless Spaciousness (awareness without a centre)
(meditative mind that is fully aware and very sensitive to the slightest internal stirring/movements  as well as external stimuli or sense data impringing.)

• 1. We cannot experience the mind as infinitely vast, if our mind is swamped with discursive thinking (preoccupied with narrow-minded views and heedless thinking – no longer aware)

  2. We cannot experience the environment as infinitely vast, if our mind constantly discriminate among sense objects (swayed by discriminative thoughts, implies lacking in equanimity)
  3. If your meditation does not give rise to wisdom, then you are missing the point entirely because only wisdom can shapes a person’s understanding and character to make them more noble in every aspect of their life. They will be humble, kind, sincere, honest, patient, forgiving, exude wholesomeness, etc. They will also have contentment, respect and gratitude and are veryresponsible (having right duties).

  4. Awareness based Meditation has nothing to do with concentration and absorption. Silent without illumination is Samatha meditation. Illumination is awareness.
  5. Signs of progress – a good check is: “Have I become more peaceful, calm and happy or have I become more egoic? Do I still have theevil roots of like and dislike, anger, frustration, unhappiness anddiscrimination?”

6.       The topic on confronting old age, sickness and death as shared by Sister Mun Yuen in her whatsApp was discussed.  Sis Chwee commented that such similar messages have been widely circulated in the social media and that there is nothing new in this.   

7.        Bro Teoh then asks “Without the Dhamma, would you be able to overcome suchlife’s challenges?” 

8.       Sis Chwee replied: ‘for someone who has a strong attachment to the “self” (atta), he or she would not be able to accept aging as a reality and may likely suffer unless they have no choice but to finally accept such reality; however such acceptance by them is very different from those who have the dhamma. When we understand (that there is no real identity of a “self”), then there is no more need to justify such acceptance and we can even act with true compassion and understanding to help others (when conditions allow).  

9.       Bro Teoh shared some experiences from people confronting death, including a Kalyanamittas who had to confront disease and death when she was at the prime of her career. (For details please listen to the recorded sharing.)

10.   Sis Chwee urge everyone (the old as well as the young) to cultivate the understanding of the 4 noble truths early, as death may come knocking anytime, unexpectedly.

11.   Without the Dhamma, you cannot understand life, and you won’t know how to live life. Worst of all, you may not know how to die, as you do not understandwhat death is, and you will fear it. Also who die and what die?

12.   When there is condition for you to encounter the Buddha Dhamma, you should go deep into it and develop all the understanding. Otherwise it is a waste, not being able to make use of it to help yourself, help your loved ones, and others with affinity, so that you may be a blessing to all and you can do your duties towards nature, fellow living beings, the world and the universal consciousness.

13.   Sis Padmasuri shares that at first she thought she had understood the 4 noble truths, until she was recently tested by a very personal life’s challenge again. She finally reacted towards the additional responsibilities piled upon her when condition was rather harsh.

14.   Sis Chwee applauds Sis Padmasuri for facing her challenge with courage andhonesty. She adds that every age has its own challenges, and as we overcome each challenge, we learn and grow to be better versions of ourselves.

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