Jendhamuni - Buddhism and inspiring quotes

Buddha and the Venerable Ananda, washing a monk

Comment July 25, 2016

The Buddha and the Venerable Ananda, washing a monk suffering from dysentery

37. The Buddha and the Venerable Ananda, washing a monk suffering from dysentery

One monk was suffering from dysentery. As he did not wait upon others, there was no one to wait upon him. The Buddha, accompanied by the Venerable Ananda, went round inspecting the buildings of the monastery and saw the ailing monk sleeping in filth. Immediately the Blessed One sent the Venerable Ananda to fetch water and Himself poured water while the Venerable Ananda scrubbed and cleaned him. The Buddha and the Venerable Ananda thus did their duty of ministering to the sick. Having washed and cleaned the monk, the Blessed One held him by the head, while the Venerable Ananda took hold of his feet and placed him on a couch. The Buddha had the monks assembled and exhorted them thus:—”You have no parents nearby to wait upon you, and if you do not wait upon one another, who will do so?” And then the Blessed One admonished them as follows:— “Whosoever, Brethren, would wait upon me, he should wait upon the sick”.

THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF BUDDHISM
by ASHIN JANAKA BHIVAMSA (Aggamahapandita)
Artist: U Ba Kyi | Link to this post
It is not the world but attachment

Comment July 25, 2016

It is not the world but attachment to it which is the root of all misery. – Swami Nityaswarupananda
Be mindful, be compassionate

Comment July 24, 2016

When life is good do not take it for granted as it will pass. Be mindful, be compassionate and nurture the circumstances that find you in this good time so it will last longer. When life falls apart always remember that this too will pass. Life will have its unexpected turns. ~Ajahn Brahm
Buddha causing Baka Brahma to change his wrong views

Comment July 24, 2016

The Buddha causing Baka Brahma, a higher God, to change his wrong views

36. The Buddha causing Baka Brahma, a higher God, to change his wrong views

Baka Brahma was the chief of the first realm of higher gods. He was of the view that his realm was the highest and that he himself and his realm were everlasting, not knowing that there were higher realms above his own. The Blessed One visited the Brahma world and in the midst of an assembly of higher gods pointed out to Baka Brahma, “There are realms of higher gods above yours. The whole Brahma world of higher gods including your realm is not permanent”. Then the Blessed One continued his discourse to Baka Brahma by saying, “I know how you have come into being and what your powers are. But, there are higher gods superior to you in status and power”. Finding that all his views were wrong, Baka wished to show his own powers and said. “I will make myself invisible”. He made several attempts to become invisible, but without success. The Blessed One then said, “I will now show you that I can make myself invisible”, and instantly the Buddha disappeared from view and preached to him a sermon while remaining invisible.

THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF BUDDHISM
by ASHIN JANAKA BHIVAMSA (Aggamahapandita)
Artist: U Ba Kyi | Link to this post
Calm and insight

Comment July 23, 2016

Meditation is like a gym in which you develop the powerful mental muscles of calm and insight. ~Ajahn Brahm

Forest monk Bhikkhu Pamutto and novice monk Ananda

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH AJAHN CHAH

Question: I’m trying very hard in my practice but don’t seem to be getting anywhere.

Answer: This is very important. Don’t try to get anywhere in the practice. The very desire to be free or to be enlightened will be the desire that prevents your freedom. You can try as hard as you wish, practise ardently night and day, but if it is still with the desire to achieve in mind, you will never find peace. The energy from this desire will be a cause for doubt and restlessness. No matter how long or how hard you practise, wisdom will not arise from desire. So, simply let go. Watch the mind and body mindfully but don’t try to achieve anything. Don’t cling even to the practice of enlightenment.

Question: What about sleep? How much should I sleep?

Answer: Don’t ask me, I can’t tell you. A good average for someis four hours a night. What is important, though, is that you watch andknow yourself. If you try to go with too little sleep, the body will feel uncomfortable and mindfulness will be difficult to sustain. Too much sleep leads to a dull or a restless mind. Find the natural balance for yourself. Carefully watch the mind and body and keep track of sleep needs until you find the optimum. If you wake up and then roll over for a snooze, this is defilement. Establish mindfulness as soon as your eyes open.

Q: How about eating? How much should I eat?

Answer: Look at your food as medicine. Are you eating so much that you only feel sleepy after the meal and are you getting fatter every day? Stop! Examine your own body and mind. There is no need to fast. Instead, experiment with the amount of food you take. Find the natural balance for your body. Put all your food together in your bowl following the ascetic practice. Then you can easily judge the amount you take. Watch yourself carefully as you eat. Know yourself. The essence of our practice is just this. There is nothing special you must do. Only watch. Examine yourself. Watch the mind. Then you will know what is the natural balance for your own practice. Continue reading →
If you know how to let go

Comment July 23, 2016

If you know how to let go and be at peace, you know everything you need to know about living in the world. ~Ajahn Brahm
What we do today…

Comment July 23, 2016

Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most. ~Buddha
The truth of the matter

Comment July 23, 2016

A lot of anger comes from not seeing the full picture, from not understanding the truth of the matter. ~Ajahn Brahm

Juvenile and adult Asian elephants photographed by a camera trap in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary in 2009. WWF Cambodia
Venerable Moggallana taming the king of dragons

Comment July 23, 2016

Venerable Moggallana taming the king of dragons, Nandopananda

35. Venerable Moggallana taming the king of dragons, Nandopananda

Nandopananda, king of the dragons, was dwelling on Mount Meru in magnificent splendour and luxury like a god. He was full of anger. One day while he was in the midst of his pleasures surrounded by dancing female dragons, the Buddha, together with a retinue of monks with supernatural powers, traveled by air to Tavatimsa heaven and passed over their heads. This made the king of the dragons very angry, and he coiled his body roundMount Meru and Tavatimsa heaven and covered them.

In the midst of their aerial journey, the holy monks could not see Tavatimsa heaven which was covered by the dragon-king. They knew this and asked the Blessed One to allow them to tame him, but did not get the permission. Only the Venerable Moggallana got the permission when he requested the Buddha. He then turned himself into a dragon, with a body much larger than that of the dragon-king, and coiling himself round the dragon-king’s body, began to crush him down. By this and other means he tamed the dragon-king and taught him a good lesson. He then brought him to the Blessed One and made him take refuge in the triple gem, namely, the Buddha, the Doctrine and the Order of Monks.

THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF BUDDHISM
by ASHIN JANAKA BHIVAMSA (Aggamahapandita)
Artist: U Ba Kyi | Link to this post
W-a-t-c-h

Comment July 23, 2016

W — Watch your Words.
A — Watch your Actions.
T — Watch your Thoughts.
C — Watch your Companions.
H — Watch your Habits.

~Unknown

RFA/Saut Sokprathna

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Shantidevas’ Bodhisattva vows

Should anyone wish to ridicule me and make me an object of jest and scorn why should I possibly care if I have dedicated myself to others?

Let them do as they wish with me so long as it does not harm them. May no one who encounters me ever have an insignificant contact.

Regardless whether those whom I meet respond towards me with anger or faith, may the mere fact of our meeting contribute to the fulfilment of their wishes.

May the slander, harm and all forms of abuse that anyone should direct towards me act as a cause of their enlightenment.