Jendhamuni - Buddhism and inspiring quotes

The Story of Cincamanavika

Comment April 19, 2023

Verse 176: For one who transgresses the Truth, and is given to lying, and who is unconcerned with the life hereafter, there is no evil that he dare not do.

The Story of Cincamanavika

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (176) of this book, with reference to Cincamanavika.

As the Buddha went on teaching the Dhamma, more and more people came flocking to him, and the ascetics of other faiths found their following to be dwindling. So they made a plan that would harm the reputation of the Buddha. They called the very beautiful Cincamanavika, a devoted pupil of theirs, to them and said to her, “If you have our interests in your heart, please help us and put Samana Gotama to shame.” Cincamanavika agreed to comply.

That same evening, she took some flowers and went in the direction of the Jetavana monastery. When people asked her where she was going, she replied, “What is the use of you knowing where I am going?” Then she would go to the place of other ascetics near the Jetavana monastery and would come back early in the morning to make it appear as if she had spent the night at the Jetavana monastery. When asked, she would reply, “I spent the night with Samana Gotama at the Perfumed Chamber of the Jetavana monastery.” After three or four months had passed, she wrapped up her stomach with some cloth to make her look pregnant. Then, after eight or nine months, she wrapped up her stomach with a round piece of thin wooden plank; she also beat up her palms and feet to make them swollen, and pretended to be feeling tired and worn out. Thus, she assumed a perfect picture of a woman in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Then, in the evening, she went to the Jetavana monastery to confront the Buddha. Continue reading →
Understanding the condition

Comment April 17, 2023

In order to be able to truly integrate one’s practice with one’s life, a few sessions of sitting meditation a day are simply not enough, because we live a twenty-four hour day, and an hour or two of practice just won’t give the right results. “Integrating”, on the other hand, means understanding the condition of “what is” in relation to life itself, without correcting it, so that every circumstance of one‘s life becomes an occasion for practice. — Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche
True friends are like diamonds

4 April 16, 2023

True friends are like diamonds—bright, beautiful, valuable, and always in style. — Nicole Richie
A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden. — Unknown

Celebrating Khmer New Year with my longtime friend Bopha and our beloved Upasika Pok Yath at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Buddhist Peace Meditation Center on April 16, 2023.

A true friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes while everyone else believes the smile on your face. — Unknown

Bopha and Jendhamuni celebrating Khmer New Year at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Buddhist Peace Meditation Center on April 16, 2023.

Continue reading →
The Story of Thirty Bhikkhus

Comment April 16, 2023

Verse 175: Swans travel in the sky; those with supernormal powers travel through space; the wise having conquered Mara together with his army, go out of this world (i.e., realize Nibbana).

The Story of Thirty Bhikkhus

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (175) of this book, with reference to thirty bhikkhus.

Once, thirty bhikkhus came to pay homage to the Buddha. When they came in, the Venerable Ananda, who was then attending on the Buddha, left the room and waited outside. After some time, Thera Ananda went in, but he did not find any of the bhikkhus. So, he asked the Buddha where all those bhikkhus had gone. The Buddha then replied, “Ananda, all those bhikkhus, after hearing my discourse, had attained arahatship, and with their supernormal powers, they let travelling through space.”

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 175: Swans travel in the sky; those with supernormal powers travel through space; the wise having conquered Mara together with his army, go out of this world (i.e., realize Nibbana). Continue reading →
Medicine for the soul

Comment April 15, 2023

Life is the greatest gift that could ever be conceived … A daffodil pushing up through the dark earth to the spring, knowing somehow deep in its roots that spring and light and sunshine will come, has more courage and more knowledge of the value of life than any human being I’ve met. — Madeleine L’Engle

Jendhamuni at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center on April 15, 2023

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. — Luther Burbank

Jendhamuni at home on April 15, 2023

Jendhamuni celebrating Khmer New Year at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center on April 15, 2023

Continue reading →
A garden is a grand teacher

Comment April 11, 2023

A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust. — Gertrude Jekyll

Life begins the day you start a garden. — Chinese proverb

Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years. — Unknown
The Story of the Weaver-Girl

Comment April 11, 2023

Verse 174: Blind are the people of this world: only a few in this world see clearly (with Insight). Just as only a few birds escape from the net, so also, only a few get to the world of the devas, (and Nibbana).

The Story of the Weaver-Girl

While residing at the monastery near Aggavala shrine in the country of Alavi, the Buddha uttered Verse (174) of this book, with reference to a young maiden, who was a weaver.

At the conclusion of an alms-giving ceremony in Alavi, the Buddha gave a discourse on the impermanence of the aggregates (khandhas). The main points the Buddha stressed on that day may be expressed as follows:

“My life is impermanent; for me, death only is permanent. I must certainly die; my life ends in death. Life is not permanent; death is permanent.”

The Buddha also exhorted the audience to be always mindful and to strive to perceive the true nature of the aggregate. He also said,”As one who is armed with a stick or a spear is prepared to meet an enemy (e.g. a poisonous snake), so also, one who is ever mindful of death will face death mindfully. He would then leave this world for a good destination (sugati).” Many people did not take the above exhortation seriously, but a young girl of sixteen who was a weaver clearly understood the message. After giving the discourse, the Buddha returned to the Jetavana monastery. Continue reading →
A habit that keeps the body and mind clean and delightful

Comment April 10, 2023

Cleanliness is a habit that keeps the body, mind, and environment neat, clean, and delightful and free from dirt and toxic things.
― Amit Ray

The clean person is not the one that runs away from dirt but one who takes the time and effort to tidy up a dirty environment.

The purpose of art, is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.

Ego is like dust in the mind, without cleaning that dust you can’t see.

Source: The Organizer
The Story of Thera Angulimala

3 February 7, 2023
Verse 173: He who overwhelms with good the evil that he has done lights up this world (with the light of Magga Insight), as does the moon freed from clouds.

kusalena: with good deed; the good in this context means Arahatta Magga, the fourth and final Path knowledge. (The Commentary)

The Story of Thera Angulimala

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (173) of this book, with reference to Thera Angulimala.

Angulimala was the son of the Head Priest in the court of King Pasenadi of Kosala. His original name was Ahimsaka. When he was of age, he was sent to Taxila, a renowned university town. Ahimsaka was intelligent and was also obedient to his teacher. So he was liked by the teacher and his wife; as a result, other pupils were jealous of him. So they went to the teacher and falsely reported that Ahimsaka was having an affair with the teacher’s wife. At first, the teacher did not believe them, but after being told a number of times he believed them; and so he vowed to have revenge on the boy. To kill the boy would reflect badly on him; so he thought of a plan which was worse than murder. He told Ahimsaka to kill one thousand men or women and in return he promised to give the boy priceless knowledge. The boy wanted to have this knowledge, but was very reluctant to take life. However, he agreed to do as he was told.

Thus, he kept on killing people, and not to lose count, he threaded a finger each of everyone he killed and wore them like a garland round his neck. In this way, he was known as Angulimala, and became the terror of the countryside. The king himself heard about the exploits of Angulimala, and he made preparations to capture him. When Mantani, the mother of Angulimala, heard about the king’s intention, out of love for her son, she went into the forest in a desperate bid to save her son. By this time, the chain round the neck of Angulimala had nine hundred and ninety-nine fingers in it, just one finger short of one thousand. Continue reading →
Equanimity embraces the loved and the unloved

Comment February 7, 2023

Equanimity embraces the loved and the unloved, the agreeable and the disagreeable, the pleasure and pain. It eliminates clinging and aversion. ― Jack Kornfield

To cultivate equanimity we practice catching ourselves when we feel attraction or aversion, before it hardens into grasping or negativity. ― Pema Chödron

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.