Originally posted by yamizi:
Many buddhists I'd met often discuss on the issue of practice. Many
will think that to practice means must take part in meditation
retreat, group chantings, attending talks on by famous monks,
become long-term vegetarian, etc. I'm not saying that they are not
practice, but I think they are more like complimentary and not the
core and primary practice that we should be doing.
Buddha's Teachings is to change our lives. It's the adjustment of
lifestyle. The lifestyle is not about going through ritualistic
motions but rather how can we deal with life challenges. From the
sutras, we know that our root problems are derived from greed,
aversion and ignorance, so how can we apply the Buddha's Teachings
in our lives? To have lesser greed, one must know the needs and
wants in life, and learn to be more generous and sympathic to those
who are less-fortunate compare to us, etc. I find that this is then
the real practice.
I only mentioned a few ways of practising. I agree, there are
more. To get to know more ways that suits them, perhaps they can
join some buddhist organization, they can learn while making more
dharma friends.
Pls take note doing good deeds and live as a good person
will not liberate yourself from samsara, it will
only give you good karma so you will go to heaven or have some kind
of rewards be it financially, relationship, appearance and so on.
If next life, who knows you are provoked by a bad guy or influenced
by terrible situation, you may start to kill.
Originally posted by yamizi:
So before we assume others have not taken refuge and/or started
practising Buddhism, who knows they may have already been doing it
and far better than us, whether or not do they know that what they
are doing are buddhistic or not?! It's what we do through our
actions, speech and thoughts that determines whether or not are we
buddhists. Let not the training ground be defined as temple or
shrines, but anywhere and everywhere are training grounds that are
giving us the chances and conditions to purify our actions, speech
and thoughts. To detach ourselves away from sufferings.
I can't assume who has or has not taken refuge or practise.
Perhaps those who haven't not, pls consider it.
I went to this dharma centre a few times, they are good indeed, it
is located very near to aljunied MRT.
http://www.humanbliss.com.sg/knowledge_activity.htm
JenChen Buddhist Blissful Culture Centre
No. 30 Citiraya Centre, Geylang Lorong 27, #05-01
