Editor's Note - Dharma Resources - Kong Meng San Phor Kark See ...
Editor's Note - Dharma Resources - Kong Meng San Phor Kark See ... Editor's Note - Dharma Resources - Kong Meng San Phor Kark See ...
The Merits of Producing Buddhist Teachings and Buddha Images 1. One’s light karmic misgivings will dissolve, while heavy ones lighten. 2. One will be protected by devas, and be unharmed by natural and man-made disasters. 3. One will always be free from the suffering of hatred and vengeance. 4. One will be unharmed by yaksas, evil spirits and wild beasts. 5. One’s mind will be at peace, free from harm and nightmares. 6. One’s complexion will be radiant. 7. One will be full of auspicious energy. 8. One who practises the Dharma wholeheartedly will have adequate living necessities. 9. One’s family will be harmonious and be blessed with fortune and wisdom. 10. One who practises what one preaches will be respected and loved by all. 11. One who is dull-minded will gain wisdom. 12. One who is ill will gain health. 13. One who is poor will gain wealth. 14. One will be free of being reborn in the negative realms. 15. One will be able to help others grow in wisdom and gain great merits in doing so. 16. One will always be able to learn the Dharma, till one’s wisdom and spiritual penetrations are fully grown and one becomes a Buddha. Dear Reader, “The Gift of the Dharma Excels All Other Gifts.” Do you wish to offer this greatest gift to others, so that more can be touched by the beauty of the Dharma, and be inspired to lead happy and meaningful lives If so, you can share in the production costs of AWAKEN Magazine for free distribution. Simply photocopy this page, fill in the sponsorship form and mail it back to us together with your cheque or money order. All cheques and money orders should be made payable to “Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery” and sent to: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery AWAKEN Magazine 88 Bright Hill Road Singapore 574117 For overseas readers, please send bankdrafts in Singapore currency. Please include S$10 for bank charges. Please note that the monastery is NOT able to accept cheques in foreign currency. You can also donate online via eNets or Giro at http://www.kmspks.org/kmspks/donation.htm (*Please key in ‘For the printing of Awaken Magazine’ under the Other Payment Remarks column and type in the donation amount in the Other Payment Amount column). If you have any enquiries, please call 6849 5300 or e-mail: awaken@kmspks.org Name: E-mail: Highest educational level: Occupation: Address: Tel: (O) (H) (Hp) Amount: (Cash*/ Cheque No: ) Do you require an official receipt (Yes* / No) *Please delete where appropriate Would you like to receive emails on upcoming talks, retreats or other events of the monastery (Yes* / No) *Please delete where appropriate Where did you obtain this magazine Issue 13 A W A R E N E S S P L A C E T H E O N E - S T O P W E L L N E S S S A N C T U A R Y D E D I C A T E D T O A W A K E N I N G Y O U R I N N E R W I S D O M , P E A C E A N D W E L L B E I N G . NOURISH YOURSELF, PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY - BY SAVOURING OUR WIDE VARIETY OF INSPIRATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL BOOKS, RELAXING MUSIC CDS, AND VARIOUS OTHER HOLISTIC PRODUCTS. BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY OF HEALING WITH US! COME EXPERIENCE THE BLISS OF REBIRTH - INTO A NEW LIFE OF LIMITLESS JOY AND TRANQUILLITY. living ever y moment with awareness Awareness Place W W W. A W A R E N E S S P L A C E .C O M AWARENESS ENTERPRISE PTE LTD 88 BRIGHT HILL ROAD SING APORE 574117 OU TLE T 65 6452 1732 OF F ICE 65 6849 5347 / 4 8 / 49 / 50 FA X 65 6553 1961 AWARENESS PLACE • BRAS BASAH BLK 231 B AIN S TREE T 01-63 BR A S B A S AH COMPLE X SING APORE 180231 TEL 65 6337 7582 FA X 65 6337 8546 AWARENESS PLACE [ WELLBEING] BLK 231 B AIN S TREE T 03-39 BR A S B A S AH COMPLE X SING APORE 180231 TEL/FA X 65 6336 5067 Feature awaken Issue 13 • January – April 2009 41
Ven. Dr Chang Qing, Dean of Academic, Assistant Professor of the Buddhist College of Singapore gives us a basic understanding of this simple and yet profound method of Buddhism. The Basics of ZEN Meditation Feature awaken 42 T here are eight schools of thought that are institutionalised in Chinese Buddhism. However, Pure Land and Zen Buddhism are the more influential of the eight schools that more people around the world practise. In Buddhism, Pure Land is considered an “easy-path” ( 方 便 道 ) to attain enlightenment. Many Buddhists maintain the idea that this school of thought only emphasises on repeatedly chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha. Doing so, is tantamount to gaining entrance into the Pure Land when they finally perish from worldly life. Unfortunately, it is not as effortless as what they envisage. Before anyone can ascend to the Pure Land, some prerequisites have to be met. Similarly, Zen Buddhism also prevails everywhere. Let us focus our attention on “Zen meditation” ( 禅 坐 ). Zen and its many names Zen meditation is known by many names. It is called dhyana in India, Chan ( 禅 ) in China and Zen in Japan. So what is so mystical about Zen Zen signifies the elimination of evil and generation of merits. In Tachi-tu-lun (Mahaprajna paramita-sastra), Zen is described as the “Practice of Contemplation”( 思 惟 修 ). The new connotation is “Silent Deliberation” ( 静 虑 ). One of the Buddhist treatises regarded Zen as the origin for non-arising of the deluded mind. In other words, Zen could be deemed as pure-mind, wisdom, Dharma and truth. In reality, “Zen meditation” ( 禅 坐 ) and “Meditation” ( 静 坐 ) are two very different entities. “Meditation” is akin to “pilates”. There are no underlying religious elements, and its main objective is to exercise the body and perhaps to cultivate mental health. In Buddhism, “Zen Meditation” is to practise the reflection of the Buddha’s teaching (Dharma) while meditating. Zen symbolises wisdom by contemplating the Dharma with meditation in order to generate wisdom. The above explanation spells out the crucial difference between the two kinds of meditation. The purpose and function of Zen According to Master Sheng Yen, the purpose of Zen is to neutralise the deluded mind. In Buddhism, delusion is the main source of affliction and leads to worldly suffering. External and internal objects are the main culprits of delusion. By practising Zen meditation, we could
- Page 1 and 2: Editor’s Note Have you ever wonde
- Page 3 and 4: Is it Important to Take Refuge in t
- Page 5 and 6: Emergency Preparedness Training for
- Page 7: Show your guests that vegetarian fo
- Page 11 and 12: Reaching Out, Crossing Boundaries B
- Page 13 and 14: overhaul to our draft. It worked an
- Page 15 and 16: practised before you, I’ve seen m
- Page 17 and 18: From ancient times to the present,
- Page 19 and 20: there is hope. I firmly believe tha
- Page 21 and 22: If we have taken refuge and are pro
- Page 23 and 24: To Face Ageing (Jara) T oday, I had
- Page 25 and 26: The Guide ADAPTED BY | Esther Thien
- Page 27 and 28: Buddhist Tales awaken 60 The Man an
- Page 29 and 30: BY | Esther Thien READ “Because t
- Page 31: Glossary awaken Amitabha (Amida, Am
The Merits of Producing Buddhist<br />
Teachings and Buddha Images<br />
1. One’s light karmic misgivings<br />
will dissolve, while heavy ones<br />
lighten.<br />
2. One will be protected by devas,<br />
and be unharmed by natural and<br />
man-made disasters.<br />
3. One will always be free from<br />
the suffering of hatred and<br />
vengeance.<br />
4. One will be unharmed by yaksas,<br />
evil spirits and wild beasts.<br />
5. One’s mind will be at peace, free<br />
from harm and nightmares.<br />
6. One’s complexion will be radiant.<br />
7. One will be full of auspicious<br />
energy.<br />
8. One who practises the <strong>Dharma</strong><br />
wholeheartedly will have<br />
adequate living necessities.<br />
9. One’s family will be harmonious<br />
and be blessed with fortune and<br />
wisdom.<br />
10. One who practises what one<br />
preaches will be respected and<br />
loved by all.<br />
11. One who is dull-minded will gain<br />
wisdom.<br />
12. One who is ill will gain health.<br />
13. One who is poor will gain wealth.<br />
14. One will be free of being reborn<br />
in the negative realms.<br />
15. One will be able to help others<br />
grow in wisdom and gain great<br />
merits in doing so.<br />
16. One will always be able to learn<br />
the <strong>Dharma</strong>, till one’s wisdom<br />
and spiritual penetrations are<br />
fully grown and one becomes a<br />
Buddha.<br />
Dear Reader, “The Gift of the <strong>Dharma</strong> Excels All Other Gifts.”<br />
Do you wish to offer this greatest gift to others, so that more can be touched by the beauty of the<br />
<strong>Dharma</strong>, and be inspired to lead happy and meaningful lives If so, you can share in the production<br />
costs of AWAKEN Magazine for free distribution. Simply photocopy this page, fill in the sponsorship<br />
form and mail it back to us together with your cheque or money order. All cheques and money orders<br />
should be made payable to “<strong>Kong</strong> <strong>Meng</strong> <strong>San</strong> <strong>Phor</strong> <strong>Kark</strong> <strong>See</strong> Monastery” and sent to:<br />
<strong>Kong</strong> <strong>Meng</strong> <strong>San</strong> <strong>Phor</strong> <strong>Kark</strong> <strong>See</strong> Monastery<br />
AWAKEN Magazine<br />
88 Bright Hill Road Singapore 574117<br />
For overseas readers, please send bankdrafts in Singapore currency. Please include S$10 for<br />
bank charges. Please note that the monastery is NOT able to accept cheques in foreign currency.<br />
You can also donate online via eNets or Giro at http://www.kmspks.org/kmspks/donation.htm<br />
(*Please key in ‘For the printing of Awaken Magazine’ under the Other Payment Remarks column and<br />
type in the donation amount in the Other Payment Amount column).<br />
If you have any enquiries, please call 6849 5300 or e-mail: awaken@kmspks.org<br />
Name:<br />
E-mail:<br />
Highest educational level:<br />
Occupation:<br />
Address:<br />
Tel: (O) (H) (Hp)<br />
Amount: (Cash*/ Cheque No: )<br />
Do you require an official receipt (Yes* / No) *Please delete where appropriate<br />
Would you like to receive emails on upcoming talks, retreats or other events of<br />
the monastery (Yes* / No) *Please delete where appropriate<br />
Where did you obtain this magazine<br />
Issue 13<br />
A W A R E N E S S P L A C E T H E O N E - S T O P<br />
W E L L N E S S S A N C T U A R Y D E D I C A T E D T O<br />
A W A K E N I N G Y O U R I N N E R W I S D O M ,<br />
P E A C E A N D W E L L B E I N G .<br />
NOURISH YOURSELF, PHYSICALLY AND<br />
SPIRITUALLY - BY SAVOURING OUR WIDE VARIETY<br />
OF INSPIRATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL BOOKS,<br />
RELAXING MUSIC CDS, AND VARIOUS OTHER<br />
HOLISTIC PRODUCTS. BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY OF<br />
HEALING WITH US! COME EXPERIENCE THE BLISS<br />
OF REBIRTH - INTO A NEW LIFE OF LIMITLESS JOY<br />
AND TRANQUILLITY.<br />
living ever y moment with<br />
awareness<br />
Awareness Place<br />
W W W. A W A R E N E S S P L A C E .C O M<br />
AWARENESS ENTERPRISE PTE LTD<br />
88 BRIGHT HILL ROAD SING APORE 574117<br />
OU TLE T 65 6452 1732<br />
OF F ICE 65 6849 5347 / 4 8 / 49 / 50<br />
FA X 65 6553 1961<br />
AWARENESS PLACE • BRAS BASAH<br />
BLK 231 B AIN S TREE T 01-63<br />
BR A S B A S AH COMPLE X SING APORE 180231<br />
TEL 65 6337 7582 FA X 65 6337 8546<br />
AWARENESS PLACE [ WELLBEING]<br />
BLK 231 B AIN S TREE T 03-39<br />
BR A S B A S AH COMPLE X SING APORE 180231<br />
TEL/FA X 65 6336 5067<br />
Feature<br />
awaken<br />
Issue 13 • January – April 2009<br />
41
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