ANYONE CAN GO TO HEAVEN, JUST BE GOOD!

last SG · 2010-08-08T21:38:50+00:00

The aforementioned book is explaining to some Buddhists having alternative to be born as heavenly beings due to their lack of self confident to attain enligh...

Beautiful951 SG

Apart from being good and understand that all things are not permanent, purifying the mind, are there any other things that have to be done to attain nirvana? Like having to learn some dharma or something like that?

By the way, the description of supernatural powers are rather similiar to practising psychic abilities.

Rooney9 SG

I rather attain Nibbana than go to heaven as my goal.

likeyou SG

Sometimes, one's do a bad karma without knowing it.

When one's died, he has to go for punishment, heavy or light.

zero thought SG

By the way, the description of supernatural powers are rather similiar to practising psychic abilities.

The teaching of all Buddhas are:
1)To avoid evil,
2) To do good,
3) and to Purify the Mind.

Learning and practicing the Dharma comprises all the above 3 points and will lead to nirvana. The goal of any Buddhist meditation practice is not to develop supernatural powers, but to end the cycle of birth and death.

An Eternal Now SG

Like zero thought says, other and avoiding evil and doing good, to be liberated we must purify the mind.

Of what?

Afflictions, defilements - greed, hatred, ignorance, habitual energies, and the 'ignorance' part includes the delusion of being a Self or things as having independent existence. All these things are binding us to the endless cycle of samsaric rebirths, unless we purify our minds of those binding afflictions.

Liberation and purification is only possible through practicing Buddhism and attaining enlightenment, realizing our true nature.

We must learn the correct teachings, and practice correctly.

You can read some of the articles at http://www.jenchen.org.sg/ for a start, they are simple to understand and practice.

Your goal should be liberation and Buddhahood, not supernatural powers. Many non-Buddhist teachings teach about developing psychic powers but these things do not lead to liberation, enlightenment, or end of suffering.

Enlightenment is highly achievable even today, you just need to know the teaching and method and then practice it. That is why it is important to understand the dharma.

wisdomeye SG

Let's put it this way, when you die, supernatural powers are not going to be of much use. It is like money, beauty, fame etc. All these supernatural powers are transient. And also, without wisdom, supernatural powers are not consistent and not 100% within one's control, also they can fade away when certain conditions are no longer there. Basically, it is like good luck... sometimes have it, sometimes no.

One teacher once said, if you are seeking psychic powers, just go and knock your head on the wall and die. When you are in the bardo, you have alot of supernatural abilities eg. knowing others thoughts etc... of course this is just humour... don't take it seriously hor...

When we practice, whatever form of Buddhism, the minimum criteria is confidence in facing death. I myself feel that this is the benchmark and thing to work towards... of course i am not saying Dharma people are so life-denying and only focus on death... but this is a very 100% sure future situation we have to face, so while we treasure life and enjoy it, if we have some sense, we should also make sure our enjoyment continues longer into the future than only this life...

psychic powers is like a short-lived kick... if you have it, then what next? One should always think like that. With afflictions in one's mindstream, no matter how external changes, we will always be suffering... therefore, you should think twice about what you wish for... or you may simply be getting a very lousy bargain for all your time, life and energy invested.

Rooney9 SG

we should strive and attain Nirvana as our goal. no more coming again to this samsara.

Beautiful951 SG

How do I get rid of hatred, anger, how do I do it? Should I just ignore it like supress it?

Rooney9 SG

How do I get rid of hatred, anger, how do I do it? Should I just ignore it like supress it?

ill will, envy, jealousy, sloth and torpor as well. first note you are aware if the feelings. when u r angry, ask urself this questions first. who are u angry with? r u angry with the person who offended you, his head, hair, face, body, legs etc. try meditation using metta loving kindness. radiate your loving kindness to those who doesnt like u as well.

Beautiful951 SG

Oh thanks. I will try that.

2009novice SG

There are different form of bliss. Some short/transient, not-so-intense pleasurable sensations can arise, but those are not considered jhana. Rapture can pervade your entire body very intensely... a very intense kind of pleasure beyond anything you have experienced in ordinary life (better than sex, as some teachers put it). It is rapture born not from indulging in sensual pleasures, but pleasure born from absorption. When you reach that it is first jhana - to even reach this level you need to attain certain level of concentration to the point of absorption. As you get into higher levels the joy becomes ever more subtle and turns to equanimity, etc.

The bliss of Nirvana however is very different. It is the bliss of clarity to put it in Thusness's words.

As for supernatural powers: you need to gain mastery of 4th Jhana, and then with directed thought and resolution you can manifest the powers (listen to http://personallifemedia.com/podcasts/236-buddhist-geeks/episodes/3665-buddhist-magic-what-possible). However, don't practice with the goal of attaining supernatural powers. Not even jhanic bliss should be your ultimate aim (jhanas are still samsaric, conditional states) - just treat them as a sweetener in your practice, as Thusness told me.

Your goal of practice should be nothing short of enlightenment and liberation.

Actually i am curious about Hell is all about.... although we all know liberation is our goal.

An Eternal Now SG

There are many many levels of hell. If you do not keep your 5 precepts, and create many bad karmas, you will go there after death.

Each lifetime in these Narakas is twenty times the length of the one before it.

These Narakas by no means exhaust the tale of possible sufferings. Some sources describe five hundred or even hundreds of thousands of different Narakas. In Chinese Buddhist texts, the numbers and types of Narakas were elaborated in a variety of creative ways; see Di Yu for examples of this sort of treatment.

The sufferings of the dwellers in Naraka often resemble those of the Pretas, and the two types of being are easily confused. The simplest distinction is that beings in Naraka are confined to their subterranean world, while the Pretas are free to move about.

2009novice SG

Scary... yet very curious to see.. nevermind.. if meditation really can bring me there... just jk

Amitayus48 SG

在《六度集经》中，佛也告诉众比丘：我生生世世奉持诸佛至孝之行，功德崇高，福德隆盛，所以我成为天中之天，三界独步。

　　佛在《贤愚经》中教导阿难："出家在家，慈心孝顺，供养父母，计其功德，殊胜难量。所以者何？我自忆念过去世时，慈心孝顺，供养父母，乃至身肉济救父母危急之厄，以是功德，上为天帝，下为圣主，乃至成佛，三界特尊，皆由斯福。"
　　佛成道之后，仍然在人天众生前示现孝亲的行为。

　　佛首先度化父亲净饭王，因担心父王不信佛法，就特意派优波离尊者来到王宫，腾身虚空，显现种种神通，天龙八部也示现了种种庄严供养，由此折服净饭王因富贵滋生的世俗念头，让他安心皈依三宝。之后，佛以超越世间的般若智慧，为父王阐明了世间苦、空、无常的真理，最后劝父王和族人修行净土，以深信切愿一心称念阿弥陀佛，求生极乐世界。

SoulDivine SG

"Supernatural abilities" is one of the reasons why I will meditate everyday, as frequent as I can and for as long as I can. I have became a meditation addict

Omniscience and the Cultivation of Supernormal Powers

To others it is called "supernatural abilities", to me it is "natural abilites" and I must get my natural abilities back as soon as possible, else I will not be able to find the answers I seek in this lifetime.

I strongly encourage everyone to practice meditation everyday, its urgent!

Beautiful951 SG

What are the five precepts again?

By the way, in a website I read that if at the time of death, your mindset is good you can be reborn at a better place is that true?

http://www.aimwell.org/Books/Pesala/Rebirth/rebirth.html

This is the link.

sinweiy SG

How do I get rid of hatred, anger, how do I do it? Should I just ignore it like supress it?

Buddha taught the three principle/pillars:- precepts/discipline, deep concentration and wisdom.

Concentration comes from holding precepts. With concentration, one can bring forth wisdom.

This three principle of precepts/discipline, concentration/stillness and wisdom help sever the three posions of greed, hatred and folly RESPECTIVELY.

hence concentration or stillness or to be able to control oneself sever hatred and anger. and to have stillness, u need discipline oneself.

the five MORAL precepts/discipline are not to kill, steal, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. More detail:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Precepts

one can also practice disciplining one's mind as in Meditation. :)

Rainbow Jigsaw SG

"Supernatural abilities" is one of the reasons why I will meditate everyday, as frequent as I can and for as long as I can. I have became a meditation addict

Not just meditate, but also being open to the answers that people get when they meditate. :)

Rainbow Jigsaw of Life

sinweiy SG

八難 The eight conditions in which it is difficult to see a Buddha or hear his dharma: in the hells: as hungry ghosts; as animals; in Uttarakuru (the northern continent where all is pleasant); in the long-life heavens (where life is long and easy); as deaf, blind, and dumb; as a worldly philosopher; in the intermediate period between a Buddha and his successor. Also 八無暇.

just clarifying my post....MCK said, only the 4 formless realms do not have Buddhas/bodhisattvas go and visit. the other heavens still have many.

wisdomeye SG

"Supernatural abilities" is one of the reasons why I will meditate everyday, as frequent as I can and for as long as I can. I have became a meditation addict

Hi SoulDivine,

Recommend you a book to read... it's available as a free ebook online.. it's the story of a Female Arhant named Mae Chee Kaew.

http://www.forestdhammabooks.com/

Mae Chee Kaew - Her Journey to Spiritual Awakening & enlightenment

I think it may give you some pointers on your spiritual path.

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