Wednesday, January 20, 2016
An illuminating quote from "What Buddhists Believe" (2002)
“Venerable, What do Buddhists believe?”
He replied, “Buddhists do not believe anything!”
Puzzled, the man asked, “ Then why did you write this book?” Ven Dhammananda smiled and said, “Well, read the book and see for yourself whether there is anything in Buddhism simply to believe.”
The man then asked “Alright then, what do Buddhists do?”
Ven Dhammananda replied, “Well, first they study, then they practice and finally they experience” (pariyatti, patipatti, pativedha).
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
a rough journey
In January, 2013 I made up my mind to be a Buddhist monk and to seek full ordination in Mid America Buddhist Association (MABA)
The Abbot of MABA agreed the next month.
In may, I sold my house and resigned from my tenured position.
On June 28th, two day before I was to move into MABA, I received a call from Fort Sill wherein my younger was receiving basic training that said my son has brain tumor, stage four.
The next two days, grabbed whatever was at hand and handed over the house to the new owner, I and my wife, who was also seeking ordination in MABA, began our 147-day journey (still counting) of on-the-job training in a real life situation.
By all measures, this test has been harsh and blunt. There were multiple times when I started to question many things: the decision, the timing of events, the unfolding of everything, my belief and my determination to a new life., among many others.
These question, many remain unanswered, drove my back to this blog after having nearly abandoned it for such a long time.
Time to restart what I have initiated several years ago with a right intent.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sitting to lower risk of heart attack
「靜坐」 心臟病發、中風機率減半 (原文來自"人間福報") 2011/6/29
【本報綜合外電報導】心臟病為全球十大病因之一，刊登在《內科醫學檔案》的一份報告指出，就靜坐對心臟病患所產生作用進行九年的研究結果顯示，靜坐減少了一半死亡、心臟病發和中風的機率。此外，美國一項研究發現，打太極拳有助慢性心臟衰竭患者提升生活品質。
科學家針對二百零一名美國黑人男性和女性進行追蹤，這些人平均年齡五十九歲，都有心臟動脈狹窄的問題。這些實驗對象維持目前的靜坐，並隨機被編入靜坐組或控制組，而後者接受「傳統的衛生教育課程」。
研究人員比對這二組後發現，從事「超覺靜坐」的實驗對象死亡、非致命心臟病發，以及中風的機率減少了百分之四十七。
研究人員表示，靜坐組實驗對象的血壓、壓力和憤怒情緒大幅降低，可能有助於上述結果。
此外，波士頓進行的研究指出，每周結伴打二次、每次一小時的太極拳，能明顯改善情緒和自信心。
主導這次研究、任職於貝斯以色列女執事醫療中心的葛蘿莉亞‧葉說，太極是項安全的運動，也比較容易持續練下去，在改善瘦弱、健康失調的收縮性心力衰竭病患的日常鍛鍊、生活品質、自我效能和情緒上，有其價值。
而先前已有多項研究顯示，打太極對有高血壓、全身肌肉無力和壓力太大的人，也頗有幫助。
【本報綜合外電報導】心臟病為全球十大病因之一，刊登在《內科醫學檔案》的一份報告指出，就靜坐對心臟病患所產生作用進行九年的研究結果顯示，靜坐減少了一半死亡、心臟病發和中風的機率。此外，美國一項研究發現，打太極拳有助慢性心臟衰竭患者提升生活品質。
科學家針對二百零一名美國黑人男性和女性進行追蹤，這些人平均年齡五十九歲，都有心臟動脈狹窄的問題。這些實驗對象維持目前的靜坐，並隨機被編入靜坐組或控制組，而後者接受「傳統的衛生教育課程」。
研究人員比對這二組後發現，從事「超覺靜坐」的實驗對象死亡、非致命心臟病發，以及中風的機率減少了百分之四十七。
研究人員表示，靜坐組實驗對象的血壓、壓力和憤怒情緒大幅降低，可能有助於上述結果。
此外，波士頓進行的研究指出，每周結伴打二次、每次一小時的太極拳，能明顯改善情緒和自信心。
主導這次研究、任職於貝斯以色列女執事醫療中心的葛蘿莉亞‧葉說，太極是項安全的運動，也比較容易持續練下去，在改善瘦弱、健康失調的收縮性心力衰竭病患的日常鍛鍊、生活品質、自我效能和情緒上，有其價值。
而先前已有多項研究顯示，打太極對有高血壓、全身肌肉無力和壓力太大的人，也頗有幫助。
Thursday, April 14, 2011
In March 2011, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet announced that he would formally relinquish his political leadership role in the Tibetan exile government, a political decision, yet in my opinion, duly reflects his inner spiritual strength.
Upon making the announcement, and while being interviewed, the Ven. described himself as follows: "I am a simple Buddhist monk — no more, no less." Granted, from an outsider's point, his life is anything but simple. Yet, the point is: he is able to maintain a mindset as such. It takes long-term meditation to train the mind before one can calmly but confidently reaffirming such a self-identity.
Let's not put too much emphasis on his past political career, if you intend to learn something from the Ven. from a pragmatic perspective. Instead, start your mindful training now, see you can confidently, but very consciously, identify yourself as "I am what I am, no more and no less" in three years. Cheers!
Upon making the announcement, and while being interviewed, the Ven. described himself as follows: "I am a simple Buddhist monk — no more, no less." Granted, from an outsider's point, his life is anything but simple. Yet, the point is: he is able to maintain a mindset as such. It takes long-term meditation to train the mind before one can calmly but confidently reaffirming such a self-identity.
Let's not put too much emphasis on his past political career, if you intend to learn something from the Ven. from a pragmatic perspective. Instead, start your mindful training now, see you can confidently, but very consciously, identify yourself as "I am what I am, no more and no less" in three years. Cheers!
Friday, December 25, 2009
A Look at Christianity, Through a Buddhist Lens
This is only a brief except from the New York Times that I happen to have read today.
Very interesting point from a religious point of view.
Many of us have a long tendency of boasting the superiority of one's own beliefs and downplaying those of others. I hope this particular article could shed some light on our relative narrow minds.
_________________________________________
By PETER STEINFELS
Published: October 9, 2009
Five decades ago, Paul F. Knitter, then a novice studying to become a Roman Catholic priest, would be in the seminary chapel at 5:30 every morning, trying to stay awake and spend time in meditation before Mass.
Last Wednesday, at the same hour, he was sitting on his Zen cushion meditating in the Claremont Avenue apartment he occupies as the Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions and Culture at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
A few hours later he was talking about his pointedly titled new book, “Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian” (Oneworld). The book is the outcome of decades of encounters with Buddhism — and of struggles with his own faith.
Born in 1939, Mr. Knitter began his path to the Catholic priesthood at age 13, studied theology in Rome during the years of the Second Vatican Council, was ordained in 1966, completed a doctorate in Germany and began a long and influential career as a scholar addressing questions of the relationship between Christianity and other world religions.
He received permission to leave the priesthood in 1975, taught for many years at Xavier University in Cincinnati and after his retirement was invited to Union Theological.
“Am I still a Christian?” he asks in his new book. It is a question posed over the years by others, including some unhappy officials in the Vatican. But the question, he writes, is also “one I have felt in my own mind and heart.”
“Has my dialogue with Buddhism made me a Buddhist Christian?” he writes. “Or a Christian Buddhist? Am I a Christian who has understood his own identity more deeply with the help of Buddhism? Or have I become a Buddhist who still retains a stock of Christian leftovers.” (more details can be obtained from NYT)
Very interesting point from a religious point of view.
Many of us have a long tendency of boasting the superiority of one's own beliefs and downplaying those of others. I hope this particular article could shed some light on our relative narrow minds.
_________________________________________
By PETER STEINFELS
Published: October 9, 2009
Five decades ago, Paul F. Knitter, then a novice studying to become a Roman Catholic priest, would be in the seminary chapel at 5:30 every morning, trying to stay awake and spend time in meditation before Mass.
Last Wednesday, at the same hour, he was sitting on his Zen cushion meditating in the Claremont Avenue apartment he occupies as the Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions and Culture at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
A few hours later he was talking about his pointedly titled new book, “Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian” (Oneworld). The book is the outcome of decades of encounters with Buddhism — and of struggles with his own faith.
Born in 1939, Mr. Knitter began his path to the Catholic priesthood at age 13, studied theology in Rome during the years of the Second Vatican Council, was ordained in 1966, completed a doctorate in Germany and began a long and influential career as a scholar addressing questions of the relationship between Christianity and other world religions.
He received permission to leave the priesthood in 1975, taught for many years at Xavier University in Cincinnati and after his retirement was invited to Union Theological.
“Am I still a Christian?” he asks in his new book. It is a question posed over the years by others, including some unhappy officials in the Vatican. But the question, he writes, is also “one I have felt in my own mind and heart.”
“Has my dialogue with Buddhism made me a Buddhist Christian?” he writes. “Or a Christian Buddhist? Am I a Christian who has understood his own identity more deeply with the help of Buddhism? Or have I become a Buddhist who still retains a stock of Christian leftovers.” (more details can be obtained from NYT)
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Giving
And we think that "giving" is for those seeking a good future life to practice occasionally. Doctors are already using it for treatment purposes. Specifically, it treats physical symptoms by taking care of the patient's mentality via enhancing the person's meaning of life.
Published in Nov. 30, 2oo9 by the New York Times, a recent article described a female was treated after weeks of fatigue, insomnia, pain and preoccupation with her symptoms, by a very unusual prescription: gave a gift a day for 29 days — things like making supportive phone calls or saving a piece of chocolate cake for her husband. She detailed all the experiences in her new book: “29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life” (Da Capo Press).
Oftentimes, I came across Buddhists that appear to be committed to the intellectual teachings of Buddhism yet fail to appreciate another even more crucial aspect: to practice the teachings in their everyday life. Giving apparently falls in this category. It is attainable rather easily. Yet, we often downplay the importance of seemingly easy matters.
I urge everyone in this Happy Academy to read that article, ponder upon the idea and get going do something similar.
Published in Nov. 30, 2oo9 by the New York Times, a recent article described a female was treated after weeks of fatigue, insomnia, pain and preoccupation with her symptoms, by a very unusual prescription: gave a gift a day for 29 days — things like making supportive phone calls or saving a piece of chocolate cake for her husband. She detailed all the experiences in her new book: “29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life” (Da Capo Press).
Oftentimes, I came across Buddhists that appear to be committed to the intellectual teachings of Buddhism yet fail to appreciate another even more crucial aspect: to practice the teachings in their everyday life. Giving apparently falls in this category. It is attainable rather easily. Yet, we often downplay the importance of seemingly easy matters.
I urge everyone in this Happy Academy to read that article, ponder upon the idea and get going do something similar.
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