Exposure to the suffering world

Had a quick chat with a girlfriend, who said she wanted more balance in her life. More balance in the sense of being exposed to the world out there.

I didn’t say this to her, but I was thinking in my heart, why would you want to be exposed to all the sufferings out there in the world? Will it really give you a broader perspective? And so what if it does?

But I admit I came from a different angle.

Coz I have always felt that the world is filled with endless suffering, and having us simply knowing about it, doesn’t do much. (I am the pessimist that doesn’t quite believe 1 person can change the world; actually that can be done, but that’s another entry all together)

It’s true that it can give you perspective; all things being relative. But unless you know how to, and is ready to integrate it into your life in a positive manner, a lot of things can go wrong with that sort of exposure.

The super sympathetic/empathetic can spiral into depression at the state of suffering and unfair treatment. The self-centred might think that others deserve it, and the fact that they aint suffering, means that they are better than the rest. The man on the street might acknowledge the suffering, but it gets buried below all the work stress and indignities that he is facing in life.

Once the fundraising charity TV programmes are over and the hotlines closed, how many of us actually remember the beneficiaries and their needs before the next year’s show comes around?

It is almost a fact that we live in our little little worlds, which we magnify simply because we are in them. And we view all from our perspective, which obviously is limited, but thinking that we are so Big and Great.

We do need exposure alright. But the type and method and integration should be carefully strategized (if such a thing can ever be done). At the end of the day, your intention matters the most.

What are you looking at getting out from exposure to the world? Are your fundamentals sound and able to “protect” you from destruction by the very world that you want to be exposed to?

Doing your practice in the original spot

KMSPKS is organizing a 8 precepts retreat in Bodhgaya in December. And I was debating over attending it. Until a fellow classmate in my Buddhism class said that it was a waste of money flying over to India for a retreat that could have been held in Singapore itself.

Well, guess that’s true to a certain extent. There is also another view that you gain greater merits when you are practicing in the spot where the Buddha had attained enlightenment.

I suppose at the end of the day, all the above doesn’t matter. If you are sincere in practicing, it makes no difference where you are. The sincere Bodhicitta wish to practice should be all that matters.

How to use New Media so as not to increase idle chatter?

This was a question posted by the Venerable, which I in turn post to you. (Well, I dont have an answer to it)

Idle chatter: could be defined as pointless thoughts/speech that only stirs up our greed, craving, hatred, etc.
E.g. Gossip about the dress that a star wore down the red carpet. Totally pointless and might result in us craving for that dress, for that body, for the fame...

New Media: typically the online media that is widespread, viral in nature
E.g Facebook, Twitter

A lot of what is going on online could be classified as idle chatter. We go online to update/check our status or find out what our friends are doing at this point in time. But is it important? It seems pretty pointless to me. It could be our self-centred nature that leads us to have to inform the whole world that I am bloggin right now.

So is there actually a way to tap on new media to reduce idle chatter?
Your guess is as good as mine, tho I would like to hear your tots

I use HARSH speech

Learnt about RIGHT Speech, which has the following components:
i) False speech
ii) Slanderous speech
iii) Harsh speech
iv) Idle Chatter

Amazingly, I actually practice/use harsh speech more than idle chatter. [Based on self-evaluation]

I committed myself to change (during the class), and I will be more mindful of my speech!
Hold me to it!

Do your sins need to be forgiven?

Depending on which religion you believe in, some inform you that you need to seek forgiveness for your sins, from some higher authority/being.

I am happy to share that Buddhism is of a different view. [In my opinion, the RIGHT VIEW].
There are only trangressions. NOT sins. And we do not need to receive punishment because we did not sin.

Because, who is to judge us. Who has the "authority" or power or moral strength to judge all of us and pronounce us as sinners? Any Tom, Dick or Harry? Well, I wont buy that argument, and any intelligent being wont.

I might have made a mistake based on the morals that the society subscribes to.
Yes, I have trangressed, but that doesnt make me a sinner!!!

I am a worry wart

After so long, I still tend to worry over the smallest things....
Even when I tell myself to live in the present, even when I focus on my breathing, even when I am sleeping...
I am still worrying....

But it's alright. I forgive myself, and I will try harder the next time!

普曦之诞

I was expecting something major to happen on the 31st of May. And well, I suppose many things did, in the course of a normal everyday life.

But on retrospect, I guess the most important event, of which happenings were already building up towards, was the crashing of my house of playing cards. I was totally wiped out.

What I tot was my life, was "me", came crashing down, as I realised that my fundamentals were wrong. When you do not have a solid foundation, every wind or tide that comes along can bring your world to destruction, and that was what had happened.

I built up my spiritual life based on a foundation of self-centredness. I am not afraid to share this, for I was/AM self-centred. And the path of spirituality does not allow for that. How could I have grown if everything was about me???
It's not too late to realise that, and I am slowly and painstakingly rebuilding my house, setting it in a solid and moral foundation. One of love, light and compassion.

It is my vow that I will bring love and light to all sentient beings. Amituofo