1. Vipassana meditation

    Comment June 29, 2015

    Vipassana meditation at the Peace Meditation Center, Wat Kirivongsa Bopharam in Massachusetts.

    by Ajahn Chah

    Meditation is not separate from the rest of life. All situations provide opportunity to practice, to grow in wisdom and compassion. Ajahn Chah teaches that the right effort for us is to be mindful in all circumstances without running away from the world but to learn to act without grasping or attachment.

    Furthermore, he insists that the foundation of a spiritual life is virtue. Although virtue is neglected in our modern society, it must be understood and honoured as a fundamental part of meditation. Virtue means taking care so that we do not harm other beings by thought, word, or deed. This respect and caring puts us into a harmonious relationship with all life around us. Only when our words and deeds come from kindness can we quiet the mind and open the heart. The practice of non-harming is the way to begin turning all life situations into practice.

    To further establish our lives on the Middle Way, Ajahn Chah recommends moderation and self reliance. A life of excess is difficult soil for the growth of wisdom. To take care with the basics-such as moderation in eating, sleeping, and in speech-helps bring the inner life into balance. It also develops the power of self-reliance. Don’t imitate the way others practice or compare yourself to them, Ajahn Chah cautions; just let them be. It is hard enough to watch your own mind, so why add the burden of judging others. Learn to use your own breath and everyday life as the place of meditation and you will surely grow in wisdom.

    Meditation in Action

    Proper effort is not the effort to make something particular happen. It is the effort to be aware and awake in each moment, the effort to overcome laziness and defilement, the effort to make each activity of our day meditation.

     

     

  2. Palm facing down

    Comment June 26, 2015

    Palm facing down is to help people, palm facing up is to ask for help;
    helping brings happiness while begging brings pain.
    ~Master Cheng Yen

    naturemoving

  3. Awareness is your refuge

    Comment June 26, 2015

    awarenessbuddhism

    Awareness is your refuge:
    Awareness of the changingness of feelings,
    of attitudes, of moods, of material change
    and emotional change:
    Stay with that, because it’s a refuge that is
    indestructible.
    It’s not something that changes.
    It’s a refuge you can trust in.
    This refuge is not something that you create.
    It’s not a creation. It’s not an ideal.
    It’s very practical and very simple, but
    easily overlooked or not noticed.
    When you’re mindful,
    you’re beginning to notice,
    it’s like this.

    Ajahn Sumedho

     

     

  4. Does not last long

    Comment June 26, 2015

    Lies are like flowers in full bloom, they look beautiful but do not last long.
    ~Master Cheng Yen

    rainscene

  5. Do not be afraid

    Comment June 26, 2015

    Do not be afraid of too much work, but of meddling too much in others business.
    ~Master Cheng Yen

    Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

    Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

  6. The following virtues

    Comment June 25, 2015

    Always bear in mind the following virtues: understanding, forgiving, gratitude, contentment, and treasuring ones blessings. ~Master Cheng Yen

    Buddha and Ananda

     

  7. One thing is very beautiful on your face

    Comment June 25, 2015

    It’s not that people stop smiling when they grow old. The fact is that people
    start looking old when they stop smiling.

    One thing is very beautiful on your face.
    Eyes… no, Lips… no, Cheeks… no, Then what?
    It’s your smile, so keep smiling! ~hamariweb

    Jendhamuni playing with water062415b

     

  8. Mindfulness and concentration

    Comment June 25, 2015

    Some people do not know the difference between “mindfulness” and “concentration.” They concentrate on what they’re doing, thinking that is being mindful. . . . We can concentrate on what we are doing, but if we are not mindful at the same time, with the ability to reflect on the moment, then if somebody interferes with our concentration, we may blow up, get carried away by anger at being frustrated. If we are mindful, we are aware of the tendency to first concentrate and then to feel anger when something interferes with that concentration. With mindfulness we can concentrate when it is appropriate to do so and not concentrate when it is appropriate not to do so. ~Ajahn Sumedho

    Buddhateaching

  9. Moral cultivation

    Comment June 25, 2015

    The sunlight is bright, our parents love is great, a gentleman’s forbearance is strong,
    a person who lacks moral cultivation is arrogant. ~Master Cheng Yen

    sparklinglotus

  10. Conquer ourselves, don’t try to conquer others

    Comment June 24, 2015

    In training ourselves as those who have left the world, we must learn to give up all forms of evil, giving up all those things which are the cause for enmity. We conquer ourselves, we don’t try to conquer others. We fight, but we fight only the defilements; if there is greed, we fight that; if there is aversion, we fight that; if there is delusion, we strive to give it up. This is the inner battle, fighting with defilements. But there are very few people who fight like this. Most people fight with other things, they rarely fight defilements. They rarely even see them. When it comes to Dhamma practice we don’t harbor resentment and enmity amongst ourselves, but instead let go of all forms of ill-will in our own actions and thoughts, freeing ourselves from jealousy, aversion and resentment. Hatred can only be overcome by not harboring resentment and bearing grudges. ~Ajahn Chah

    Jendhamuni nun dress062115b

     

Live & Die for Buddhism

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Me & Grandma

My Reflection

This site is a tribute to Buddhism. Buddhism has given me a tremendous inspiration to be who and where I am today. Although I came to America at a very young age, however, I never once forget who I am and where I came from. One thing I know for sure is I was born as a Buddhist, live as a Buddhist and will leave this earth as a Buddhist. I do not believe in superstition. I only believe in karma.

A Handful of Leaves

A Handful of Leaves

Tipitaka: The pali canon (Readings in Theravada Buddhism). A vast body of literature in English translation the texts add up to several thousand printed pages. Most -- but not all -- of the Canon has already been published in English over the years. Although only a small fraction of these texts are available here at Access to Insight, this collection can nonetheless be a very good place to start.

Major Differences

Major Differences in Buddhism

Major Differences in Buddhism: There is no almighty God in Buddhism. There is no one to hand out rewards or punishments on a supposedly Judgement Day ...read more

Problems we face today

jendhamuni pink scarfnature

Of the many problems we face today, some are natural calamities and must be accepted and faced with equanimity. Others, however, are of our own making, created by misunderstanding, and can be corrected...

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