Pure Land Practice Method as Advised by Mahasthama Bodhisattva

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Thereat the World Honoured One said to the great Bodhisattvas and chief Arhats in the assembly: 'I want you, Bodhisattvas and Arhats who have practised my Dharma and have reached the state beyond study, this question: "When you developed your minds to awaken to the eighteen fields of sense, which one did you regard as the best means of perfection and by what methods did you enter the state of Samadhi?"'
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Mahasthama, a son of the Dharma king, who was the head of a group of fifty-two Bodhisattvas, rose from his seat, prostrated himself with his head at the feet of the Buddha and declared: 'I still remember that in the remotest of aeons countless as the sands in the Ganges, there was a Buddha called Amitabha who was succeeded by eleven other Tathagatas in that kalpa. The last one was called the "Buddha Whose Light Surpassed that of the Sun and Moon"; he taught me how to realize the state of Samadhi by thinking exclusively of (Amitabha) Buddha. By way of illustration, if a man concentrates his mind on someone else while the latter always forgets him, both may meet and see, but without recognizing, each other. However, if both are keen on thinking of each other, their keenness will grow from one incarnation to another until they become inseparable like a body and its shadow. The Tathagatas in the ten directions have compassion for all living beings and always think of them, like a mother who never ceases thinking of her son. If the son runs away, her thoughts of him will not help. But if he also thinks of her with the same keenness, they will not be separated in spite of the passing of transmigration. If a living being remembers and thinks of the Buddha, he is bound to behold Him in his present or future incarnation. He will not be far from the Buddha and thus without the aid of any other expedient, his mind will be opened. He is like a man whose body, perfumed by incense, gives out fragrance; hence his name "One Glorified by (Buddha's) Fragrance and Light." From my fundamental cause-ground and with all my thoughts concentrated on the Buddha, I achieved the patient endurance of the uncreate. (This is why) I help all living beings of this world to control their thoughts by repeating the Buddha's name so that they can reach the Pure Land. As the Buddha now asks about the best means of perfection, I hold that nothing can surpass the perfect control of the six senses with continuous pure thoughts in order to realize Samadhi.'
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- Surangama Sutta

Meeting of the minds

After many years, Ian and I finally met up yesterday in Singapore where he transitted on his return to Jakarta. I saw a very different person from the man I knew 7 years ago, from his thinking to his aspiration towards life and buddhahood.

One thing that touched me was when Ian spoke of his dreadful experience of witnessing live chickens being slaughtered and how he had chanted for their relief from suffering and having good rebirths, his eyes were beaming with tears of compassion. Deep within his heart, he wanted to break free from the life of causing this suffering but he has to live his fate of serving his parents and their family restaurant business. As the only son, it would be unfillial to leave his parents and abandon the business leaving his old folks to fend for their living.

The path to end of suffering is indeed filled with obstacles, however I believe with his determination to get through these difficulties, he would see the light at the end of the tunnel eventually. Good luck, Ian!

Do you have a bad day?

Recently, I spent slightly more time to read on Buddhist stories particularly on this book written by Ajahn Brahm titled "Open the door of your heart". It is more than a Buddhist book, it taught us the way of life, very much aligned to Buddha's teachings on achieveing happiness and peace. Many of these stories are close to my heart, I could relate to them either in my own self experience or those that I have came across in others' lives. Many life problems cause pain and suffering, but our perspectives will shape the eventual outcomes - Happiness or Misery.

Few days ago, my wife was sharing with me the treatment she and her colleagues received in their company. Their superior flared up on them for outcome of a decision made by the management. The exact word she used to describe her position was "Shit Hole". Amusingly, she then said, "Shit Holes are important!" I could'nt help but burst out in laughter. She continued "Without Shit Holes, people will be all bottled up with Shit, get constipated and really frustrated. Shit Holes serve a key purpose!". I think not many people could take a step back from their misery to look at their problems from a different plane.

Vegetarian, a matter of choice

I would like to share my experience on taking vegetarian food mentioned in Ian's previous posting. Since two years back, I decided that I will refrain from animal's meatfrom midnight till 5pm daily. I try to keep to this regime except for very special occasions.

How did I get started? My Master ever commented, for each meat meal, we would consume the meat of at least one living being. So assuming we live for 60 years and take meals with meats 3 times a day, that works out to be 65,700 living beings. Few days back, I saw an advertisement on medical checkup, it said, the amount of meat each adult consume on the average is roughly about his/her body weight. It is also evident that many health problems are associated to the consumption of animal flesh and meat products. So whether it is for the sake of health or reduction in negative karma, I think that was a decision I have made.

I can tell you that it is not easy to stick to this regime. My family, friends and colleagues were amused by my insistence initially and it did posed problems when we dined together. I told myself to minimise any inconvenience to people around me by not insisting on pure vegetarian eating outlets but really refrain from meat. Over time, they have learnt to respect my choice and even my wife follows my regime on weekends.

Hope I have not scare anyone by the numbers. Just hope that each of us carry less 'burdens (negative karma)" with us when we are done with this lifetime.

Namo Amituofo!

The Challenges We Face In Our Daily Practice Towards Buddhahood

Namo Amituofo!

I believe most of us face many challenges in our daily practice towards buddhahood. May it be small and negligible to some big difficulties that may hinder our bodhidharma path. This is proof that we have countless bad karma that may come at anytime to claim it's debt. We may not know when it will come but in most cases the more serious we get in our practice, the more it comes to hinder us.

My biggest obstacles is actually my family. First of all, we have a restaurant business, as you know we sell meat. So killing directly or indirectly is difficult to avoid. I need to go to the market to order some chicken, pork or fish. Although I do not kill directly, those animals are killed because of my business demand.

I can actually choose to leave the business, but I am the only son and I'd be considered unfilial if I do so. What a dilemma! So, whenever I buy meat, I quietly chant Amituofo for those animals, hoping the merit will bring them to better realms. I also vow that after I reach sukhavati, I will come back to this saha world to help those beings escape.

I also have difficulties being a vegetarian. I myself still love eating meat, and my family does not welcome the idea of vegetarian. I find it difficult and inconvenient for me and for my family if I alone become a vegetarian, because we eat together all the time. Well, at least I'm still
able to force myself to avoid meat on my once a week chanting day with the buddhist society.

Those are the more obvious obstacles that I have. Some others are less challenging to me. Like driving, traffic in Jakarta is a mess and whenever I drive, I must keep reminding myself not to be impatient with the surrounding. Another issue is with the political situation. Whenever I read the newspaper, I keep telling myself that this is my own karma that I must live in such a country with political turmoil.

I have been quite successful in this area, I've learnt not to complain too much about my surroundings and keep my emotion cool all the time.

I remember another incident where my mobile phone got stolen from my hand. In theory I know that this is the result from my own karma, but when it happened on me, I couldn't sleep for 3 nights. My mind kept thinking about the incident and I kept cursing the thief who snatched my phone.

From then on, I avoid all kinds of stealing, hoping that such an incident will never fall on me again. The most successful effort that I achieved is not to buy pirated movies, software and games. In Jakarta, pirated products are so easy to find and everybody is buying without guilt. At first, it's really difficult to do, especially with me so used to buying them. Later on, with much discipline, I can say I'm quite successful and satisfied with my effort.

One thing that is still bugging me the most is sexual misconduct. I'm sorry I'm not going to discuss this further now. Perhaps sometimes in the future when I'm successful in dealing with this issue, I'll write more.

I'm sometimes also dissatisfied whenever I give my friends advises and kindly rejected. Most of my friends here are from my old school and our beliefs are different. Actually, I tried my best to give objective advise without any religion point of views at all. But since our underlying concept towards life is different, my advise becomes irrelevant and unacceptable to them.

Like recently just happened, I gave an advise to a friend who is quite desperate in getting a child after so many years of marriage and age problem. I thought, if I told him about karma, it wouldn't make sense to him. So I carefully chose "4 Lesson From Liao Fan" to inspire him. This is an auto-biography and it almost has no religion content at all.
I told him how Liao Fan changed his own fate from childless to 2 children.

I encouraged him to practice according to Liao Fan's method of doing good deeds to change destiny and getting what you desire the most. Well, he was grateful to my effort, but I knew he didn't accept it.

I used to be disappointed whenever this happened to me. I used to be unhappy if others doesn't take my advise. Later on, after hearing to Ven. Wu Wen speech on "according to fate and destiny" in helping beings. I realised how beings have different quality and upbringing. If they can't accept your advise now, perhaps in the future they will. So there's no need to be unhappy about it.

Perhaps in the past countless lifetimes, I was also in that position. Where I didn't take any advise from a buddhism perspective, but today, my fate and destiny has matured, and I am now a devoted buddhist.

There are many many more challenges that we face daily. The important point is, like Ven. Wu Wen always says "If your heart and mind are in peace, this world becomes a peaceful place, if every thought is for others, you are a boddhisatva and this world becomes sukhavati."

Namo Amituofo!

Why I Chose Pure-Land Buddhism

Namo Amituofo!

To continue on my last posting, I would like to share on Venerable Wu Wen dharma talk which made me a strong Pure-Land follower today.

As I mentioned before of how I was confused at Mahayana Buddhism. I just couldn't take the idea of chanting a Buddha's or Boddhishatva's name, reading any particular sutta and becoming a vegetarian would bring any benefit to me as a person living in this world.

Although I like the mystical and out-of-the-ordinary side of Mahayana Buddhism, the practices just couldn't fit into my too-logical mind.

Before I listened to Ven. Wu Wen dharma talk, I was still practicing on Theravada tradition. I strongly believe in karma, the four-noble truth and re-birth. I used to go to a theravada temple once a week to practice meditation.

Then I had this thought in my mind, with my kind of practice and dedication towards this particular dharma door, will I reap results in this lifetime? Don't talk about escaping from re-birth, with my so little time of practice and hectic daily routines, I wouldn't even come close to reaching the first Jhana in my meditation practice.

So a friend told me we can re-born as human and keep on practicing until one day we reach enlightenment. That sounded acceptable, only there's no guarantee. Especially with the current society we are living in. All things and people around us only rise our greed, hatred and deepen our ignorance. It's difficult for us to keep all the five sila, no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no intoxicating drink and food.

No killing, also includes the smallest insects and bacteria. Don't talk about killing another human being, I believe most of us can avoid this easily. What about those annoying mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, ants and many other. How many households don't stock up insecticide in their homes? Let's also not forget eating meat, although we don't directly kill the animal for their meat, but our appetite indirectly do the killing. We share the sin of killing with the killer.

No stealing, yes we can avoid stealing directly from somebody's purse or house, but there are other small stealing we don't even realise we do. The very obvious small stealing we often overlook are pirated software, music, games and movie. Although we are not the pirates who steal the product and distribute them for personal profit, we share the crime and sin by using.

No sexual misconduct, now this is a very very, I repeat, extremely difficult to avoid. There's no need for me to elaborate further.

No lying and false speech, we do this everyday naturally, most of the times without even noticing. Since we were young, we lie to avoid being scolded and punished. The proof speaks for itself, how many of us in this world have tounges which can reach our nose? According to Buddhist sutta, Sakyamuni Buddha had a tounge which could cover his entire face and the tip could reach his hair line. This is the results of countless lifes without uttering a single lie and false speech.

No intoxicating drink and food, many people smoke and get drunk everyday. Although this is the less serious sila from the other four, we still have to be careful not to break it.

No wonder it is said in the sutta that to get a human life is like a blind turtle from somewhere in the bottom of a vast sea floating up to the surface and hit a wooden plank floating somewhere on the surface of the vast sea. Why this simile? Because to get a human life, we must perform the five sila.

Now as you are reading this, means you have got a human life, so in the past countless of lifes you ever kept the five sila. So in this life if you don't keep it again, means you don't want to be re-born as human.

With this fact, how can I be sure to be re-born as human and continue my buddhist practice until I reach enlightenment? I started to feel down-hearted, I felt as if I lost the ground I'm standing on. My hope for salvation is diminishing.

So I started to look deeper into Pure-Land Buddhism. At first it was also difficult to accept, especially after my relative said this "if I believe in Pure-land and Amitabha, how do I differ from those god-centric believer?". Yes, he was right in saying so, in Pure-Land teaching, we believe in Amitabha's power and compassion to bring us to Sukhavati heaven.

Even Sakyamuni Buddha said this dharma door (Pure-Land teaching) is difficult to believe. He was not saying this to human beings, he was mentioning those Boddhisatvas who embarked from "Self-Power" method to reach enlightenment. If it's so difficult to believe even for Boddhisatvas, what about us?

I had doubt also once, but quickly casted it aside. I thought, if I can trust Sakyamuni Buddha like my own father, why can't I trust this Pure-Land and Amitabha? It all came out of his mouth when he was preaching "Amitabha Sutta" and he was a person who never lied.

In fact if you notice, this is the only topic that he preached without his disciple asking. Other sutta started because someone asked him about something. On top of that, it is also the only topic that he preached for more than once. He wanted to stress the importance of this particular dharma door.

In another sutta, Sakyamuni Buddha also mentioned that his teaching will last for 10,000 years. When the first 2000 years have past, Buddhism is starting to weaken, therefore the period we live in now is called Dharma-Ending period.

All of his sutta will be gone one by one starting with Shurangama Sutta. The last sutta to be gone is Amitabha Sutta. It is because of Sakyamuni Buddha's compassion that this sutta is kept to the last. By the end of the 10,000 years, when all of his teaching is totally gone, only the name "Amitabha" will last for another 100 years. It is also because of his compassion to save human beings before the world comes to a dark period where there's no salvation at all. If you miss this chance to be saved, then you must wait for millions of years till Maitreya Boddhisatva is born in this world to become the next Buddha.

When I read the above, it gave me a boost in confidence to learn more. Especially after watching some documentary videos on real people who practiced Pure-Land and really were picked-up by Amitabha Buddha to be born in Sukhavati heaven.

After listening to Ven. Wu Wen Dharma talk on Limitless Life Sutta, my faith in Pure-Land Buddhism was firmly established. I'd like to deeply thank him for his effort in elaborating this wonderful sutta to the subtlest details. Because of his talk, I finally fully understood the aim and meaning of Pure-Land and Amitabha Buddha. All my remaining confusions and doubts on Mahayana Buddhism have been totally cleared.

In essence, Pure-Land Buddhism is based on Amitabha Sutta, Limitless Life Sutta and Contemplation on Buddha Amitabha Sutta spoken directly by Sakyamuni Buddha. He said that in the western part of this universe, there is a Buddha named Amitabha. Before becoming a Buddha, Amitabha was a bikku named Dipamkara. Bikku Dipamkara made 48 vows to save all beings in the universe.

He promised if he couldn't realised all the 48 vows without exception, he wouldn't become a Buddha. The fact there is now a Buddha named Amitabha, it proofs that Bikku Dipamkara has become Amitabha Buddha and all his 48 vows have become realities.

One of the most important vows is the 18th vow. He says, "If, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the lands of the ten quarters who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, desire to be born in my land, and call my Name, even ten times, should not be born there, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment. Excluded, however, are those who commit the five gravest offences and abuse the right Dharma.".

Just by this one vow alone, it gives us all the assurances of salvation for our next life. Isn't this vow a huge bargain for all of us? Other Dharma doors require us to cut clean all our desires and troubles with the mind, whereas Pure-Land only requires us to chant Amitabha name for at least ten times upon our death. Then Amitabha will pick us up to be re-born in his Sukhavati heaven.

By this doesn't mean that other Dharma Door are inferior. It's just which one is more suitable to us. Just like going to the pharmacy, there are many medicines there. Each one cures different illnesses. Before taking just any one of them, we must know what is our illness and what is the suitable medicine to cure it. By wrongly taking a medicine, the result is not good, even fatal. It's the same with our living condition today, we live in the Dharma-ending age where good deeds are little and bad deeds are everywhere. Our delusions are getting heavier and more complex.

The most suitable Dharma Door to cure our problems today is Pure-land method. We do not need to cut clean all our desires and troubled mind, we just need to control them and upon our death remember to call out Amitabha Name, then we will be reborn in Sukhavati.

It all sounds so easy, is it really that easy? Amitabha says that a person must not lack in good merit, good root and good fate to be born in Sukhavati heaven. It means we must have done countless of good deeds and been practicing Pure-Land Method in our past countless lifetimes in order for us to believe in it this life.

It is said that, it is difficult to get a human life, it is even more difficult to encounter Buddhist teachings, it is the most difficult to hear Pure-Land teaching and believe whole-heartedly in it. So today, if we can fully believe in Amitabha, do not waste this opportunity, we must be re-born in this lifetime. Because if we wait till the next, it is dangerous. We'll never know when we'll get a human life again.

So why do we need to be re-born in Sukhavati heaven? Let's look at some other vows Amitabha made. In essence, beings in Sukhavati have unlimited life-span and there is no bad realms, means we will life forever and will not be reborn as animals, hungry ghosts or hell beings. Beings there are all Boddhisatvas, there is no wrongdoings and Dharma teachings are available as wished. This is the perfect world, in which we will not retrogress in our practice towards Buddhahood.

I hope this posting is enough to introduce you to Pure-Land Buddhism. I am in no position to convince any reader to believe in this wonderful teachings. I would encourage you to search and read further from other sources widely available on the net or Buddhist Center near to you.

Below is the link to a nice commentary on Limitless Life Sutta by Venerable Master Jin Kong.
http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/passages.pdf

May the merit and virtues accrued from this work
Adorn the Buddha's Pure Land,
Repaying the four kind of kindness above,
And relieving the sufferings of those in the three paths below.

May those who see and hear of this,
All bring forth the heart of understanding,
And live the teachings for the rest of his life,
Then be born together in the land of ultimate bliss!

Homage to Amitabha Buddha!

My Path Towards Pure Land Buddhism

Namo Amituofo!

Before posting on this topic, I was thinking of writing an introduction to Pure Land Buddhism, what it is about, how to practice and what is the aim in this dharma door. However, I was hesitant in doing so.

I was worried that I might not convey the right message to our readers. It might confuses or even creates misunderstanding especially to a non Pure Land practinioner. Hence unintentionally chopping off the dharma seeds to the readers and creating bad karma on myself. So I decided to leave the theory to other sources widely available on the net, I will try to find the links and put it on the main page.

So here I am writing my own personal experience from a pre-buddhist to where I am now.

To start, I want to say that I was educated in Jakarta in a non buddhist school. I have been thougt on a god-centric belief for 14 years, during which I always had difficulties believing. I sincerely tried to accept the teaching and take it to my life, but just couldn't. Don't get me wrong, the teaching is good, it teaches people to do good and avoid bad. It just how it suits personal liking, like Buddhism suits more for me.

Until I graduated from Indonesian education system, I didn't have any strong belief towards any religion at all. I couldn't accept the god-centric teaching and neither could I accept my family belief in going to the temple and praying to those statues requesting for health, money, security, etc. etc.

Going to the temple and pray, has been my family tradition for generations. Whenenever I followed my father to a temple, I always had this thought in my mind, how could statues give wealth, health and security to me? I always remember how my school teacher used to tell us, in the event of fire in the temple, who is going to help whom? Is it the statues helping the people, or the people carrying the statues. At that time, I thought that was logical, so I couldn't accept my father so called "Buddhism" belief either.

At that time, I just believed that there's a higher being out there who created everything, or else how could you explain the existence of our universe? I also believed in doing good and avoid bad in order to go to heaven and avoid hell. I basically tried to avoid being called an atheis.

So then I went to Aberdeen Scotland for my University. It was then I took a big turn in my life towards Buddhism. I met a guy named Eric Chia Chin Leong, a Malaysian who was a Buddhist. I knew he was practicing buddhist meditation. I who was a non believer at that time, was curious about Buddhism. So I remember clearly one question I asked him which changed my life forever. It was Eric who brought real Buddhist teaching to my life.

Eric, if you are reading this, I have been trying hard to look for you. I lost your contact since your graduation. I just want to thank you deeply for changing my life.

The question to Eric was, whether or not Guan Gong (chinese god of war) and Kuan Yin (Avalokitesvara Boddhisatva) really exist. I asked this based on my disbelief towards the deities in the temples my father used to bring me. The answer to this question just "clicked" to my mind. At that instant, seemed like a thick curtain was lifted up from my mind and I totally accept the teaching with all my heart. It was like all my doubts and unanswered questions were cleared instantly.

From then on, I often asked Eric more questions regarding Buddhism and sometimes followed him to meditate. I remember also there was a tibetan monk named "Tilak" who was studying in Aberdeen Uni. So we approached him and discussed Buddhism together. I would like to thank Tilak for all those discussions, it would be great if he can find and participate in this blog.

I had thirst towards all Buddhist books available in the book store and libraries. I read many many Buddhist books. I was always in search for Buddhism, I was always hungry to learn more.

However at that time, all I read was the general knowledge of Buddhism. About Karma, sila, samsaric life, dying, etc. I didn't really go into a particular dharma door and practice further.

After graduation, I worked in Singapore where I met Kelvin (Miao Ying). I was busy working in Singapore so I kind of put Buddhism on pause mode then. I remember the only Buddhist thing I did during my stay there was going to Kim Yam Road Buddhist Lodge every morning for a simple pray before going to work. Because I happened to rent a room just at the opposite of the lodge. That's just about as Buddhist as I got then, still very much on the surface.

After 5 years of working there, I went back to Jakarta to help my family restaurant business. Just before I left, I went back to the lodge to sort of "Returned the Favour" for pleasant and smooth stay in Singapore. It was then I picked up some Mahayana Books available there for free.

I started exploring on Buddhism again with those books. I guess it was the Mahayana teaching that gave me a new excitement, since I have always fond of the mystical and out-of-this-world side of Buddhism. Some of the books I took was, "The Sutta on Medicine Buddha", "Amitabha Sutta", "Explanation on Heart Sutta", "Ksitigarbha Boddhisatva Sutta" and others.

I was crazy again searching for Buddhist materials from the internet, downloaded all the sutta, printed them and read them all. I read almost all sutta from the Tripitaka, from Theravada tradition, Zen, Esoteric and Mahayana. I especially liked the Ksitigarbha (Di Zang Wang) sutta and I cried the first time I read it. I was so touched by his vow to save beings by going into hell where no one else is willing. He also has many other vows which benefit all beings greatly. I was so touched by him, that I too vowed to help his mission and to replace his position when he became a Buddha one day.

I was also very interested in Amitabha sutta, Limitless Life Sutta and Contemplation on Amitabha Buddha sutta. I started to also like Amitabha. When I read on Avalokitesvara (Guan Yin), I also like him. Similary with Samantabhadra (Da Shi Zhe) and Manjusri (Wen Shu She Li) Boddhisatva. So I started to pray to all of them.

Right then, another confusion again arose in my mind. I was thinking if I pray to all the boddhisatvas and Buddhas, chant their names and read their sutta at appropriate occasions, what difference do I make with going to the temple and pray to all those statues? I was again in search for real and meaningful Buddhism.

Again I went towards Theravada Buddhism for it's logical and straight forward practices, although I was always fond of Mahayana teachings. I guess I am the kind of person who can't just trust at something so easily, I need proof to belief.

Until my uncle brought me to Amitabha Buddhist Society branch in Jakarta, where I found the answer. The first time I went to the society, I was excited to see so many Mahayana books and CDs available for free, so I took home quite a lot of them.

When I listened to Ven. Wu Wen dharma talk on Limitless Life Sutta, I found all the answers to my doubts and confusions in Mahayana Buddhism. I finally found the right dharma door for me and I have been practicing Pure-Land ever since. I put down all other dharma doors and concentrate on Pure Land teaching.

I would like to sincerely thank the Amitabha Buddhist Society for opening branches all over the world and sharing Mahayana teachings to everybody who is interested. If not because of them, I would still be wandering at the entrance towards Buddhism.

Well, that's it for now. My story towards being a Pure-Land follower. I hope whoever reads this may also share his/her biography. I will talk more on Ven. Wu Wen teachings on my next posting. Thank you.

Namo Amituofo!

Nice Dharma Musics From Youtube

Came across this nice video to share with our readers. You can mouseover to see more videos. Enjoy!

Namo Amituofo!

A Story On Cause & Effect

Namo Amituofo!

Heard a story from Ven. Jing Jie while travelling to work today.

A young Chinese scholar, Chen was making his way to the capital for the annual imperial examination. While resting, he met a fortune teller who asked him where he was going. Chen thought "Why not I find out if I could pass the examination?" The fortune teller looked at his mian xiang (face), and replied sternly "Young Man, my advice to you is to make your way home to have a last reunion with your folks. You don't have much time left."

Chen was depressed by what he heard. He dropped the idea of taking the examination and headed home. When he was approaching the river, he saw a woman carrying two toddlers trying to drown herself and her children. Chen stopped the woman, asking why she wanted to end her life. The woman wept "My husband asked me to sell the pig for 10 taels, which I did. Only did I realised the 10 taels were fake metals plated with silver. He would kill me for that. I rather end my own life rather to die from his beating."

Chen thought, since he was dying, he asked the woman to show him the fake money. Quietly, he swapped her bag of money with his. "Oh, Madam, the 10 taels are real. Bite them if you don't believe", exclaimed Chen. The woman did as told and was surprised to discover that what Chen said was true. She thanked Chen and left happily with her children.

Continuing his journey, Chen chanced upon a deserted temple. Seeing that the sun has set, he decided to take shelter for the night at the temple. Not long along, Chen dozed off due to exhaustion. Out a sudden, he heard someone shouting his name. When he opened his heavy eyes, he saw a figurine resembling Kuan Gong (the Chinese God of War), approaching him and furiously shouting "Get out of the temple!" In shock, he hurried out of the temple. The moment he set his foot out the premise, the temple pillars started to give way and in minutes, all that remained was ruin. When Chen recovered from state of shock, he felt a sense of relief and calm. He thought since he has escaped death, why not try his luck at the imperial examination.

On his way to the Capital, he met the same fortune teller. The fortune teller was surprised to see a change in Chen's mian xiang. He told Chen, "Young man, the shine on your forehead is extraordinary, different from 2 days back. You must have done a great charitable deed. Trust me, go for the examination, you will make it with flying colours." Chen followed the fortune teller's advice and he really became the top scholar of the year.

This story tells us that though we may suffer misfortune due to our past negative karmic actions, our kind deeds in this lifetime could possibly delay the ripening of negative karma. This gives us time to focus on our cultivation to transcend to the western paradise.

Namo Amituofo!

Introduction

Namo Amituofo!

My name is Ian with my partner Kelvin, we created this blog "Namo-Amituofo.blogspot.com" as a means to share Pure Land Buddhism theory and practice with anybody who visits this blog.

We are devoted Pure Land Buddhism disciples inspired by the Venerable Master Jin Kong and Venerable Wu Wen with the Amitabha Buddhist Society Singapore and Jakarta.

This blog is intended to be used as a place to share the knowledge of Pure Land teachings and also the many challenges in our daily practice.

Anybody is welcome to participate in this blog, whether you are a Buddhist or a non-Buddhist.

People from different Dharma door, ie. Therevada, Zen, Esoteric, Tian Tai, are also welcome to share your knowledge and view.

If you are a non-Buddhist, take this blog from the daily practice perspective, ie. how we deal with our surroundings, be it good or bad. Just remember, Buddhism is not a religion, it is a teaching on practical ways to deal with life and it's daily occurences.

Lastly, PLEASE NOTE some rules on posting to this blog:
1. You are welcome to share your knowledge and common views on a particular posting topic. However, please remember NOT to excessively use your personal opinion or judgement, because opinion and judgement from a troubled mind, produces a troubled and biased answer.

2. People's background and knowledge are different, so if someone disagrees with your view, please do not get upset and do not start to offend each other. Remember a saying, "If you see everybody else as a layperson, then you are a layperson. But if you see everybody else as a boddhisatva then you yourself is a boddishatva".

Thank you for your participation.
Namo Amituofo!