'Ghost marriage'

An Eternal Now SG

fact is some how or rather , merely uttering the word 'Amitabha' all the way can contribute to non-confusion/samathi.
example, that there are Ah Gong Ah Ma who don't have much understanding in Buddhism, when told to recite HONESTLY (plus a little understanding), and they do so as told. May say they follow blindly, but if the path is right, it's right no matter what. in a way even though they are lower class, without so many teachings to confuse them, they can reach Samadhi faster than a middle class learner like us. Great Masters who had complete the leaning process of middle class are higher class people. Great Masters can reach samadhi anytime. Lower class and higher class have this kind of advantage, while middle class is a bit no up no down per se.

Yes I agree that learning and samadhi is really quite different. Samadhi requires a complete one mind state - only 'Amitabha'... at such a state subject and object falls apart.

Knowledge can even become an obscuration (there are two kinds of obscuration: defilement obscuration and knowledge obscuration or so called suo-zhi-zhang).. some people think too much. In the Zen tradition, the Kuan Um tradition often says 'keep this Don't Know mind'.

Keeping a "don't know" mind means cutting off all thinking. Cutting off all discursive thoughts takes us to the wellspring of our true nature, and brings us to the present moment.

An Eternal Now SG

Originally posted by sanath:

no, the recitation of the Name of Amitabha, whether by a well-cultivated practitioner, or whether by a person who has just encountered the Name, even at his/her death-bed, is the same, because the Name is dedicated to us from Amida Buddha. To say that there is a difference would be to add on our own calculations to the Buddha's Vow-Power.

I see...

bohiruci SG

Sinwei , maybe i would like to said ,Reciting Amitabha does have its Samadhi
and by what i was taught on tientai , Amitabha recitation is a form of understanding the arising and falling of matter

That would be symbolise why in the Amitabha Sutra ,there are birds in the Western Paradise who basically is transformation by Amitabha vows
to enable Western Paradise Resident to achieve Confidence in reciting the Buddha's name

laoda99 SG

Originally posted by sinweiy:

From the Tibetan Book of death or from examples of near-death-experience, scenario is like this, when a [b]very faithful christian die, the mind also recollect all the past deeds and guilts that he/she commited, then normally manifestation of deptors(yuan ching zai zu), unwholesome spirits, appearance of hell/animal/ghost realms will start first. the person start to feel guilty, suffering, then due to the faith of Jesus saying that God had died for their sins, the victim suddenly felt at ease and calm mind. then all the evil realms also disappear, and slowly the surrounding transform into heavenly realms.

so somehow or rather, faith do work for christian, but result is the most heavenly realms. However do note that if the christian only outside appearance got faith but inside half-passed faith and still commit unmoral deeds, than this is not going to work.

learning from the lesson between the 2 teachers.
Amitabha Buddha also uses this similar technic like jesus in the sense that He can cleanse a huge amount of one's evil karma. So the devotees can at the deathbed, be some what feel at ease from bad karma manifestation. and during the bardo state, beings are formless and hence Amitabha can pick one up to Land of Utimate Bliss very easily.

Amitabha's Land of Utimate Bliss is the manifestation of our own mind! What you wish the next realms to be like, so will beings with similar thinking gather together in Land of Utimate Bliss. Smile

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[/b]

I am a Christian, however I do not believe this is what Heaven is all about.

BTW, Christ never come to cleanse our "karma".

Angelo09 SG

thats pretty bad news eh. so what does this christ gives you?

and how much do you understand about your new or old testament?

do you truly believe in faith? has christ revealved 'himself' to you yet?

or, all these while, do u choose to believe in something you dont understand in. or cant see, feel or touch? much lest to comprehend?

do you have a choice to believe in him?

or is this, 'god's will'?

that you read the bible. and dont understand it.

and yet have the cheek to challenge

other's religion.

think, next time. before you shoot your mouth off.

sinweiy SG

Originally posted by laoda99:
I am a Christian, however I do not believe this is what Heaven is all about.

BTW, Christ never come to cleanse our "karma".

this is what it's recorded and given from a group of same people who surprisingly have the similar Near-death-expericence (NDE).

and well u got to read carefully, i didn't say 'Christ come to cleanse karma' btw.. rather 'He die for one's "Sin".'

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sinweiy SG

Originally posted by Angelo09:
---snip---

Amituofo!/\

i'm sorry, i think we don't encourage sarcasticism in this forum. as for us buddhist, it's unwholesome speech.

- THE FOURTH PRECEPT -
Respect for Truth; Not to Lie; to be Truthful

I undertake the training rule to abstain from false speech
(and other unwholesome modes of speech, so that I will communicate positively)

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and inability to listen to others, I undertake the precept to cultivate loving speech and deep listening to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve them of their suffering. I will speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy and hope. I am determined not to spread news, criticize or condemn on that which I do not know for certain. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord in family or community. I will make the effort to reconcile and resolve conflicts big and small.

http://www.buddhistinformation.com/be_a_lamp_upon_yourself.htm

Thank you for cooperation.

ps: it's also in the S'pore law, know there's a guy recently who was jail or fine for saying bad things to other religion. and this applies to other religion to us as well. So be careful.

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concerned_man SG

Buddhism is never forceful about It's teaching to people. No worries about not believing in it. "Lai Zhe Bu Ju. Qu Zhe Bu Liu". I am beginning to appreciate the commonly used words in the Buddhist community. "Sui Shun Zhong Shen, Sui Xi Gong De".

Buddhism is one of the most peaceful and harmonious ancient tradition in the world. Buddhism also share many similiarities with Hindus, Taos and Confucius values. It is also now a time where there are many inter-faith dialogs in almost every part of the world.

To maintain a good social stability, it is important that we must respect and be tolerable about the views and teachings of all lawful religions.

Cheers,

Amitabha

laoda99 SG

I am not here to challenge other's religion, do u feel challenged when I disagree with someone else here?

But I would like to state that some of the forumers' views here about heaven are not what Christians believe in. These are more like "new age" concepts rather than Christian views.

laoda99 SG

oic...so sorry...think I misread.... Mr. Green

sinweiy SG

funny, i don't know which forumer refering, but if say Buddhism's heaven is "new age" concepts. mind u that from the historical time line, Christian's is 'new age' of Buddhism which is dated 500-1000 years earlier than Christian concept.

that say, Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.

judge not, and you urself be judge. if one judge other to be so-and-so, not knowingly they themselve are judge to be so-and-so as well. have to take a look at the mirror first before judging.

and New Age religion is new age religion, quite different from the Real Buddhism. people somehow have this 'common' misunderstanding of Real Buddhism.

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SnowFlag SG

I don't think it is a practice of Taoism Laughing

sinweiy SG

ur are right. real Taoism should not be like this.
that's why i state with a slash. Taoism "/ "folk believe. slash mean 'or'. maybe it's a mixed with folk believe.

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laurence82 SG

How come a discussion of ghost marriage dwell on the christian faith also?

iveco SG

For a Christian, Karma is the act of reaping what we sow. We do good and God will reward us handsomely when we go to Heaven.

By the way, I have heard about people marrying a rooster because their bethrothed one passed away just before the customary wedding ceremony could take place.

coolbluewater SG

I believe some do practise Ghost Marriage, just that it's not common known nor encourage by the others. It's probably a religion of their own, where somebody took bits and pieces from Taoism and Buddhism and formed a new one, under the label of the old entity. Of course, phenomenon can't be explained with out wisdom, so things that we see could mean something else.

SnowFlag SG

So it is not taoism........ i think the deities in taoism won't allow that too. Mr. Green

sinweiy SG

Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
so called suo-zhi-zhang).. some people think too much. In the Zen tradition, the Kuan Um tradition often says 'keep this Don't Know mind'.

Keeping a "don't know" mind means cutting off all thinking. Cutting off all discursive thoughts takes us to the wellspring of our true nature, and brings us to the present moment.[/b]

yes, t'is how dharma/Buddhism is different from other worldly teachings in the sense that in end we also need to let go of dharma. here one attain a form of wisdom. wisdom? what wisdom? no. concept of "wisdom" also need to let go. Wink
that say the raft of dharma is only to bring us to the 'other shore'. when reached the other shore the raft also have to let it go.

It was what happen to grand Tripitaka Master Lian Chi at His later life.
He said: "Tripitaka? no more, let other people realised. 84000 gates? no more, let other people cultivate. Those who don't wish to escape the 3 realms can learn all these. i however had let all studying go. One who truly know the truth of birth and death and wish to transcend the 3 realms, would honestly stay with Buddha remembrance/recitation. Hence at the end, He kept only a book of Amitabha Sutra and recite "Namo Amitabha" all the way. "
http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index.php?showtopic=14769&hl=

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An Eternal Now SG

This story reminds me of my master who had a rather similar story.

http://www.jenchen.org.sg/learning.htm

What is learning Buddhism and what is the study of Buddhism?

Learning Buddhism and the study of Buddhism

Learning Buddhism and the study of Buddhism are two different things. There are many educated and knowledgeable people who treat Buddhist scriptures or sutras as subjects for research. This is call the study of Buddhism, and was especially popular after Buddhism spread from China to Japan. The Japanese people felt that they were scientifically advanced and incorporated science in their research and analysis on Buddhism. Thus, they produced many research works on Buddhist studies. However, by merely treating Buddhist principles as subjects for research, and in the absence of cultivation and self-realisation, it is not possible to attain enlightenment.

Shortly after I was ordained as Buddhist monk, I too liked to read books on Buddhism. I amassed a great number of books and papers in preparation to write my own books. However, I was admonished by my Master, the Venerable Dong Chu. He commented, "Shen-Kai, you seem to be researching on Buddhism." I replied, "Thats right, Master. I wish to write books on Buddhism!" Master continued, "Do you know of any Buddha who attained the Supreme Enlightenment through research? Which patriarch became what they are through research? Come, put them aside." I wasnt quite sure what Master meant by his words and I asked, "What shall I do with these books then?" Master replied, "Wait till the day you establish your own mission, put them in the library and let others read them." I continued to query, "What shall I do now?" Master replied, "You should learn from the Buddha." I asked, "How do I learn from the Buddha?" This was his reply, "Whatever the Buddha does, that is what you learn." I began to understand that I should learn and practise what the Buddha taught.

Over the years I have written many books and I wrote them in the same manner as I speak. I write whatever comes to the mind. This is the difference between learning Buddhism and the study of Buddhism. But, I hope those who research on Buddhism would not forget to learn and practise Buddhism as well. Similarly, we who learn and practise Buddhism should also not forget to study Buddhism. If we excel in both areas, then we become good practitioners of Buddhism.

An Eternal Now SG

I realise our forum has a tendency to get off topic very quickly Laughing

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