Jendhamuni - Buddhism and inspiring quotes

Three types of ‘freely resting’

2 July 8, 2023

Tradition describes three types of ‘freely resting’. Let your body freely rest like a mountain. Let your breath freely rest like an ocean, meaning that your breathing is as totally unimpeded, like an ocean when its surface is undisturbed. Let your mind freely rest in awareness; in other words, rest in the nature of mind. ~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Jendhamuni at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center on June 29, 2023

Jendhamuni at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center on July 1, 2023
Pristine natural beauty

2 June 19, 2023

Jendhamuni at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center on June 18, 2023.

Some distance away is a white azalea bush which stuns me with its stately beauty. This is pristine natural beauty. it is irrepressible, seeks no reward, and is without goal, a beauty derived neither from symbolism nor metaphor and needing neither analogies nor associations. ~ Gao Xingjian

Jendhamuni at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center on June 18, 2023.

When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not. ~ Georgia O’Keeffe

Jendhamuni with Venerable Buddha Saddha and Upāsikā Chantha Kim at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center on June 18, 2023.
All that we love deeply becomes a part of us

2 May 30, 2023

May 30, 2023 — My grandma passed away 38 years ago today.

Jendhamuni at home on May 28, 2023.

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love. – Washington Irving

“What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” ~ Helen Keller

“It is not length of life, but depth of life”. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The ultimate enemies

Comment May 29, 2023

Who is the enemy? Ignorance, anger, attachment, and pride are the ultimate enemies; they are not outside, but within, and must be fought with the weapons of wisdom and meditative concentration. ~ 14th Dalai Lama
The Story of Kala, son of Anathapindika

Comment May 10, 2023

Verse 178: Far better than sovereignty over the earth, or far better than going to the abodes of the devas, or far better than ruling supreme over the entire universe, is (the attainment of) Sotapatti Fruition.

The Story of Kala, son of Anathapindika

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (178) of this book, with reference to Kala, son of Anathapindika, the well renowned rich man of Savatthi.

Kala, son of Anathapindika, always kept away whenever the Buddha and his company of bhikkhus came to their house. Anathapindika was afraid that if his son kept on behaving in this way, he would be reborn in one of the lower worlds (apayas). So, he enticed his son with the promise of money. He promised to give one hundred if the youth consented to go to the monastery and keep sabbath for one day. So, the youth went to the monastery and returned home early the next day, without listening to any religious discourses. His father offered him rice gruel, but instead of taking his food, he first demanded to have the money.

The next day, the father said to his son, “My son, if you learn a stanza of the Text from the Buddha I will give you one thousand on your return.” So, Kala went to the monastery again, and told the Buddha that he wanted to learn something. The Buddha gave him a short stanza to learn by heart; at the same time he willed that the youth would not be able to memorize it. Thus, the youth had to repeat a single stanza many times, but because he had to repeat it so many times, in the end, he came to perceive the full meaning of the Dhamma and attained Sotapatti Fruition. Continue reading →
Compassion and a good heart

Comment May 9, 2023

Since compassion and a good heart are developed through constant and conscious effort, it is important for us first to identify the favorable conditions that give rise to our own qualities of kindness and a good heart, as well as the adverse circumstances that obstruct our cultivation of these positive states of mind. It is therefore important for us to lead a life of constant mindfulness and mental alertness. Our mastery of these faculties should be such that whenever a new situation arises, we are able to immediately recognize whether the circumstances are favorable or adverse to the development of compassion and a good heart. By pursuing the practice of compassion in such a manner, we will gradually be able to alleviate the effects of the obstructive forces and enhance the conditions that favor the development of compassion and a good heart. ~ 14th Dalai Lama
Visakha Puja: Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing into Nibbana

2 May 5, 2023

Celebrating the birth, enlightenment and parinibbana of the Lord Buddha at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center on May 4, 2023.

Celebrating the birth, enlightenment and parinibbana of the Lord Buddha at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center on May 4, 2023.

Visakha Puja Day (Vesak) is one of the most important days in Buddhism and for Buddhists. It is the day Buddhists assemble to commemorate the life of the Buddha, and to give reverence to His purity, profound wisdom and immense compassion for all humankind and living beings by reflecting and using His teachings as guidelines for their lives. Visakha Puja Day also marks the anniversary of three significant events in the life of the Buddha – His Birth, Enlightenment, and Attainment of Complete Nibbana – that occurred on the 15th day of the 6th waxing moon. — Dhammakaya

Celebrating the birth, enlightenment and parinibbana of the Lord Buddha at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center on May 4, 2023.
The Story of the Unrivalled Alms-Giving

2 May 1, 2023

Verse 177: Indeed, misers do not go to the abode of the devas; fools do not praise charity; but the wise rejoice in charity and so gain happiness in the life hereafter.

The Story of the Unrivalled Alms-Giving

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (177) of this book, with reference to the unrivalled alms-giving of King Pasenadi of Kosala.

Once, the king offered alms to the Buddha and other bhikkhus on a grand scale. His subjects, in competition with him, organized another alms-giving ceremony on a grander scale than that of the king. Thus, the king and his subjects kept on competing in giving alms. Finally, Queen Mallika thought of a plan; to implement this plan, she asked the king to have a grand pavilion built. Next, she asked for five hundred white umbrellas and five hundred tame elephants; those five hundred elephants were to hold the five hundred white umbrellas over the five hundred bhikkhus. In the middle of the pavilion, they kept ten boats which were filled with perfumes and incense. There were also two hundred and fifty princesses, who kept fanning the five hundred bhikkhus. Since the subjects of the king had no princesses, nor white umbrellas, nor elephants, they could no longer compete with the king. When all preparations were made, alms-food was offered. After the meal, the king made an offering of all the things in the pavilion, which were worth fourteen crores.

At the time, two ministers of the king were present. Of those two, the minister named Junha was very pleased and praised the king for having offered alms so generously to the Buddha and his bhikkhus. He also reflected that such offerings could only be made by a king. He was very glad because the king would share the merit of his good deeds with all beings. In short, the minister Junha rejoiced with the king in his unrivalled charity. The minister Kala, on the other hand, thought that the king was only squandering, by giving away fourteen crores in a single day, and that the bhikkhus would just go back to the monastery and sleep. Continue reading →
You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure

2 April 21, 2023

Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. — Milano Monuments

Visiting my beloved father at his grave on April 20, 2023

You may be gone from my sight, but you are never gone from my heart. — Milano Monuments

My dear little sister’s grave on April 20, 2023

Continue reading →
The flower of humanity

Comment April 20, 2023

“Politeness is the flower of humanity.” — Joseph Joubert

“A flower does not use words to announce its arrival to the world; it just blooms.” — Matshona Dhliwayo

“In joy and in sadness, flowers are our constant friends.” —Unknown

“Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes.” — Clare Ansberry

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.