He mentioned that 3 non-virtuous actions, namely 3 bodily, 4
speech and finally 3 mental. One of the speech mentioned was idly
chatter. I would like to know why as idle chatter considered
non-virtuous. And regarding mental, why was it considered a
non-virtuous thinking can lead to bad karma (i suppose this is what
he meant) "Sexual misconduct" as non-virtuous action. How do u
realli define it...i understood that misconduct with married
partners is definitly led to bad karma but does that apply to
before-marriage sex too?
Idle chatter is unvirtuous bcos in idle chatting/gossiping you
often discuss Shi4 Fei1 of all kinds of things... an as result you
may hurt other people unknowingly, whether or not the person is
present. We should be mindful of our speech. Idle speech does no
good in along the way we create lots of speech karma. Therefore
Mindfulness of Speech is very important. Speech should be used to
comfort/console people. Used for the right purpose.
Kinds of speech to be avoided by
contemplatives
"Whereas some priests and contemplatives, living off food given in
faith, are addicted to talking about lowly topics such as these --
talking about kings, robbers, ministers of state; armies, alarms,
and battles; food and drink; clothing, furniture, garlands, and
scents; relatives; vehicles; villages, towns, cities, the
countryside; women and heroes; the gossip of the street and the
well; tales of the dead; tales of diversity [philosophical
discussions of the past and future], the creation of the world and
of the sea, and talk of whether things exist or not -- he abstains
from talking about lowly topics such as these. This, too, is part
of his virtue.
"Whereas some priests and contemplatives, living off food given in
faith, are addicted to debates such as these -- 'You understand
this doctrine and discipline? I'm the one who understands this
doctrine and discipline. How could you understand this doctrine and
discipline? You're practicing wrongly. I'm practicing rightly. I'm
being consistent. You're not. What should be said first you said
last. What should be said last you said first. What you took so
long to think out has been refuted. Your doctrine has been
overthrown. You're defeated. Go and try to salvage your doctrine;
extricate yourself if you can!' -- he abstains from debates such as
these. This, too, is part of his virtue."
-- DN 2
Ten wholesome topics of conversation
"There are these ten topics of [proper] conversation. Which ten?
Talk on modesty, on contentment, on seclusion, on non-entanglement,
on arousing persistence, on virtue, on concentration, on
discernment, on release, and on the knowledge & vision of
release. These are the ten topics of conversation. If you were to
engage repeatedly in these ten topics of conversation, you would
outshine even the sun & moon, so mighty, so powerful -- to say
nothing of the wanderers of other sects."
-- AN X.69
Before-marriage sex is ok AS LONG AS you only do it with your
PARTNER. 
Meaning no casual sex or sex other than your
partner or spouse. Extra-marital affair is also Sexual Misconduct.
And not to forget, YOU MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PREGNANCY. Abortion
is also very bad karma - it is actually killing. Sex is only when
you are prepared to start a family... it is merely a biological
function to reproduce.
Mahayana Sutra of the three superior heaps
Why was there names of pagan gods, "Water Deities" and "God of
water deities" be use as an object to "postrate"? I thought
buddhism not suppose to worship any higher beings?
I do not know what water deities is that? Pls tell us which
deity did the book say...
But in Buddhism we DO prostrations to the Buddha, the Bodhisattvas,
etc. It's not worshipping.
In fact there is a practise called 3-steps-1-bow, sometimes
monasteries do that. Or in Tibet you should know that there are
pilgrims who prostrate hundreds of miles for years.
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol7no3e.htm
2. What is the significance of cultivating the
3-steps-1-bow?
It has broad significance. In simple terms, it is to eradicate
pride and ego.
The 3-steps-1-bow is a very good method of cultivation. In
cultivation we seek to let go of the Three Minds [2] and eliminate
the Four Forms [3]. At the time of practising this method, the mind
of the past, the present and the future does not exist.
Furthermore, the ego-form, human-form, sentient being-form and
time-form are also non-existent. When we cultivate the
3-steps-1-bow in reverence of the Manjusri Bodhisattva, we only
have the Manjusri Bodhisattva in our mind.
As Buddhism practitioners, we demonstrate our reverence of the
Buddha by, for example, bowing or prostrating before the Buddha.
There is yet a very important purpose in paying reverence to the
Buddha in this way, and that is to eliminate our pride and ego. If,
as practitioners of Buddhism, we continue to harbour pride and ego,
then it shows that we have not cultivated enough.
When we practise in this way, we will begin to experience changes
in our lives. For example, people who used to be egoistic and
conceited will become mellowed with humility and modesty. It is
only when a person has become humble and modest that he gradually
finds changes and progress in his conduct as a person and in his
dealings in all matters. At the same time, his wisdom will begin to
grow.
In the past, in China, many of the well-cultivated monks cultivated
the 3-steps-1-bow method. They did not perform the practice just
for an hour or a day, but they could take years at a stretch. Each
day, they cultivated the 3-steps-1-bow method, and the pilgrimage
might take 2 or 3 years or even longer. Hence, when we aspire to
become Buddha, we have to learn and cultivate like them, with such
determination. This would hasten the goal of Buddhahood. However,
not many people can do the same.
[1] 3-steps-1-bow method: Practitioners take three steps as they
recite the name of a Bodhisattva or Buddha and then prostrate their
body in reverence.
[2] The Three Minds: (i) the past is gone and cannot be grasped.
(ii) After this moment, the present becomes past and also cannot be
grasped. (iii) The future is not here yet and therefore cannot be
grasped too.
[3] The four forms: Form Characteristics; (i) Everybody has an
ego, this is the ego- form. (ii) When we see another person, we
arise in our mind the human-form. (iii) When thoughts arise in our
mind, we produce the sentient being-form in our mind. (iv) The
continuity of these thoughts through time gives rise to the
time-form.
