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 During the university semester breaks, I have the luxury to yum cha with my friends. And we often discuss about life. One afternoon, I was playfully pulling on a wrist bangle worn by one friend.
She tersely said "If it breaks, you pay for it ah!" I looked at her. And because we have been friends for many years, I was brave and frank enough to share with her a teaching, so simple and yet profound... and all it requires is a new attitude.
I said "CP, wouldn't it be so wonderful if we all have a more open and generous attitude to life. You could have said "Oh, do you like this bangle? If you really do, I will be happy to give it to you"."
If we can open our hearts instead of putting more cement to seal it against others, we will see the world quite differently. Fools are happy when acquiring wealth; wise people find happiness in giving it away.
A few days later, her sister heard this story. She with a twinkle in her eye, mischievously eyed my wedding ring and said "You said like this one ah... One day I will hold it to your word! Hehehe"
Ahh my dear friends, yes, we should all be generous, but we must NOT be stupidly generous. Wisdom and generosity must go together. Give when there is a need, NOT when you are taken for a fool.
To the 2 sisters, NOPE I am NO FOOL! Hahahaa!
 Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma SamBuddhasa, How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were to abide in equanimity,
Free of hatred and attachment!
May they abide in equanimity!
I myself will cause them to abide in equanimity!
May I be able to do this. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings had happiness and the cause of happiness!
May they have happiness and its cause!
I shall cause them to have these!
May I be able to do this. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were free of suffering and its cause!
May they be free of suffering and its cause!
I myself will free them from suffering and its cause!
May I be able to do this. How wonderful it would be if all sentient beings were never separated from the happiness of higher rebirth and liberation!
May they never separate from the happiness of higher rebirth and liberation!
I myself will cause them never to be separated from these!
May I be able to do this. Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
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 Death is a recurring theme in all my sharings. I must have touched on it at every Thursday service. As a doctor, our mortality is all too real; to me there is absolutely no reason to live in denial of this fundamental denominator of all living beings. But when I speak of my own mortality to my wife, she will scold me and hush me up... she loves me too much to picture this inevitable conclusion to our relationship.
But Death becomes the KEY that unlocks the door where the beauty and meaning of every living moment can be found.
The TRUTH - death's fundamental principle - is that our future is disappearing INSTANTANEOUSLY as soon as it appears. The ONLY way to be truly ALIVE is to embrace our own fatal adventure. Yes all of us are in a fatal adventure! No matter how exciting or boring or luxurious or simple this adventure is, there is only one conclusion before we begin all over again. This is how death teaches us to live; to do our very best, to be as kind, loving and compassionate as possible, to gain as much wisdom and insight in every moment; for it is ONLY THE PRESENT MOMENT that we truly have.
When we can see this, then all our petty quarrels and likes or dislikes seem insignificant.
In trying to live a Noble life at the present moment, we take care of the next and future 'moments' within THIS AND COMING lives. No one is born the same as the others, we are all unique in our personalities and inclinations, this is what we build from moment to moment, from life to life.
For the diligent student, one day soon or in the future, our Minds may evolve to perfection, freed from all Greed, Hatred and Ignorance. Then there will be no more ReBirths - reBecomings that bring us back to suffering and disappointments, to decay and Death. Meanwhile let us use Death as the teacher to make us better. After all, insurance agents do such a good job reminding us that we actually pay their company money!
Dhammapada Verse 6. Recollection of Death Brings PeaceStill others do not understand
that we must perish in this world,
those who understand this,
there quarrels are allayed.
Most of us are not prepared to face the reality of impermanence and death. It is because we forget the fact that our lives are transitory, that we quarrel with each other, as if we are going to live for ever. But, if we face the fact of death, we will then realize the folly of fighting when we ourselves are doomed to die. Excited by emotions and our thoughts being clouded, we cannot see the truth about life. ONLY when we see the truth, then and only then, will our thoughts become objective and freed from emotional discolouration.
 My Heartfelt respects to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. In order that I may be skilled in discerning what is good,
in order that I may understand the path to peace, Let me be able, upright, and straightforward,
of good speech, gentle, and free from pride; Let me be contented, easily satisfied, having few duties,
living simply, of controlled senses, prudent,
without pride and
Let me not do the slightest thing for which the wise might rebuke me.
Instead let me think: May all beings be well and safe, may they be at ease. Whatever living beings there may be, whether moving or standing still, without exception, whether large, great, middling, or small, whether tiny or substantial, Whether seen or unseen, whether living near or far, Born or unborn; may all beings be happy. Let none deceive or despise another anywhere.
Let none wish harm to another, in anger or in hate.
Just as a mother would guard her child, her only child, with her own life, even so let me cultivate a boundless mind for all beings in the world. Let me cultivate a boundless love for all beings in the world, above, below, and across, unhindered, without ill will or enmity. Standing, walking, seated, or lying down, free from torpor, let me as far as possible fix my attention on this recollection.
This is the divine life right here. Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
 The Buddha Dhamma stands alone among "religions" in that Heaven is NOT the final destination nor even a desired goal of the serious student. While HeavenS (Plural) exists, and that it is a far more pleasant place than the earthly realm, it too despite being 'heaven' is NOT free from suffering and decay.
There is much more happiness than suffering there, thats why its heaven but it too is subject to causes and conditions; it too is a conditioned state of existence. Residents in heaven stay there for a LONG2 time, so long that in comparison to our 3 scores and 10 years, it appears an 'eternity'. But nevertheless anything that came about from a cause will change as conditions change, and one day Heavenly existence too will end and one is reborn into another realm based on one's acts past and present. The ultimate goal of the serious student is Nibbana, the only UNconditioned state where there is no arising and cessation. It is "The ultimate Happiness" precisely because there is NO arising and cessation and there is NO dependence on the senses for gratification. It cannot be explained in words but can only be experienced by oneself. It is often said that an earthly existence is the best place for the training of the mind as we have both Happiness and Suffering here. I assume that all who are reading this is on earth. It is easier to understand and see the 4 Noble Truths in such a background. Apparently the bliss of the Heavens numb one to cultivation and discipline, and when the holiday ends, one is again pushed by the kammic forces to another realm just as it had led one to heaven previously. For many lay Buddhists however, a Heavenly existence does sound enticing, for almost everyone loves a holiday! The Buddha made it clear that there is no patent right on its passage there, and it is BY WORK and NOT by Faith alone that one is reborn there.
An old friend stated that faith without works is dead, and that faith must work together with works, and by works faith is made perfect. A man is justified by works, and not by faith only, for faith without works is dead.
Anyone who thinks that true faith does not include works is empty-headed, workless faith is completely useless. The Buddha taught us that if one desires a Heavenly rebirth then one must create the causes and conditions for such a rebirth.
Ten qualities that can lead to heavenly existence: 1. He does not take lives, avoids killing, and has compassion for all tiny creatures (The First Precept).
2. He does not take what is not given (The Second Precept).
3. He does not act wrongly in sensual desires (The Third Precept).
4. He does not engage in untruthful speech (The Fourth Precept).
5. He does not engage in slander (The Fourth Precept).
6. He does not engage in harsh speech (The Fourth Precept).
7. He does not engage in idle babble (The Fourth Precept).
8. He is not covetous and envious of others 9. He does not engage in harmful thoughts 10. He possesses Right Understanding (Anguttara Nikaya 10. 211)
We can see that a Heavenly ticket is found in the keeping of the secular moral precepts and the training of the Mind to be pure and wise. One can even see that there is NO 'religion' in there at all! Note the loud absence of any believe or creed or allegience or faith or ritual.
Have a holiday by doing what is right but let us not forget the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is reached by Insight into the Truth, and this insight only arises in the well prepared mind.
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