2014年08月17日
Aanaapaana Suttam - Breathing in, Breathing out -
Aanaapaana Suttam
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing Mindfulness of in and out breathing."
"Bhikkhus, in and out breathing developed and made much brings much results and great results. When it is developed and made much, the four establishments of mindfulness get completed. When the four establishments of mindfulness are developed and made much the seven enlightenment factors get completed. When the seven enlightenment factors are developed and made much the knowledge of release gets completed."
I heard thus:
At one time the Blessed One lived in the Pubba monastery in the palace of Migaara’s mother, with the thoroughly learned elder disciples, such as Venerable’s Shariputra, Maha Moggallana, Maha Kassapa, Maha Kaccana, Maha Kotthita, Maha Kappina, Maha Cunda, Anuruddha, Revata, Ánanda and other learned elder disciples.
------------------------------------------
On that full moon night the Blessed One was seated outside in the moonlight attended by the Community of Bhikkhus
The Blessed One observed the silent Community of Bhikkhus and addressed them:
"Bhikkhus, I’m happy and convinced with this mode of progress. Therefore Bhikkhus arouse much effort to attain the not attained, to realize the not realized, as I would be leaving Savatthi on the full moon day of the fourth month of the rains."
"Bhikkhus, this gathering is without idle talk, without empty talk, established in the pure essence. Such a gathering is worthy of honor, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings and reverential salutation, and it becomes an incomparable field of merit to the worldling."
"The sight of such a gathering is rare in the world. It is suitable to go a long distance to see such a gathering with provisions for the journey."
"In this gathering there are worthy ones, desires destroyed, lived the holy life, done what should be done, dismissed the weight, come to the highest good, destroyed the bond ‘to be’ and rightly knowing released."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus who have destroyed the five lower bonds of the sensual world and are born spontaneously, not to proceed but to extinguish in that same birth."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, who have destroyed three bonds and dwindling greed, hate and delusion, would come to this world once more and make an end of unpleasantness."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, who have destroyed three bonds and have entered the stream of the Teaching, not falling from there, are sure of enlightenment."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the four establishments of mindfulness."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the four right endeavors."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the four ways of making determinations."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the five mental faculties."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the five powers."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the seven enlightenment factors."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the Noble eightfold path."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing Loving kindness."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing Compassion."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing intrinsic joy."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing Equanimity."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the perception of impermanence."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing Mindfulness of in and out breathing."
"Bhikkhus, in and out breathing developed and made much brings much results and great results. When it is developed and made much, the four establishments of mindfulness get completed. When the four establishments of mindfulness are developed and made much the seven enlightenment factors get completed. When the seven enlightenment factors are developed and made much the knowledge of release gets completed."
"How does it bring much results and great results? The Bhikkhu, gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty house, sits legs crossed, the body straight, and mindfulness established in front."
"Mindfully he breathes in or breathes out. Breathing in long knows, I breathe in long. Breathing out long knows, I breathe out long. Breathing in short knows, I breathe in short. Breathing out short knows, I breathe out short."
"Calming the bodily determination I breathe in. Calming the bodily determination I breathe out."
"Experiencing joy I breathe in. Experiencing joy I breathe out"
"Experiencing pleasantness I breathe in. Experiencing pleasantness I breathe out."
"experiencing the mental determination I breathe in. Experiencing the mental determination I breathe out."
"Calming the mental determination I breathe in. Trains calming the mental determination I breathe out."
"Experiencing the mental state I breathing in. Experiencing the mental state I breathe out."
"With a rejoicing mind I breathe in; with a rejoicing mind I breathe out. "
"with a concentrated mind I breathe in. with a concentrated mind I breathe out."
"With a released mind I breathe in. With a released mind I breathe out."
"Reflecting impermanence I breathe in. Reflecting impermanence I breathe out."
"Reflecting detachment I breathe in. Reflecting detachment I breathe out."
"Reflecting cessation I breathe in. Reflecting cessation I breathe out."
"Reflecting giving up I breathe in. Reflecting giving up, I breathe out."
"Developed and made much in this manner, in and out breathing brings much fruit and great benefits."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing Mindfulness of in and out breathing."
"Bhikkhus, in and out breathing developed and made much brings much results and great results. When it is developed and made much, the four establishments of mindfulness get completed. When the four establishments of mindfulness are developed and made much the seven enlightenment factors get completed. When the seven enlightenment factors are developed and made much the knowledge of release gets completed."
I heard thus:
At one time the Blessed One lived in the Pubba monastery in the palace of Migaara’s mother, with the thoroughly learned elder disciples, such as Venerable’s Shariputra, Maha Moggallana, Maha Kassapa, Maha Kaccana, Maha Kotthita, Maha Kappina, Maha Cunda, Anuruddha, Revata, Ánanda and other learned elder disciples.
------------------------------------------
On that full moon night the Blessed One was seated outside in the moonlight attended by the Community of Bhikkhus
The Blessed One observed the silent Community of Bhikkhus and addressed them:
"Bhikkhus, I’m happy and convinced with this mode of progress. Therefore Bhikkhus arouse much effort to attain the not attained, to realize the not realized, as I would be leaving Savatthi on the full moon day of the fourth month of the rains."
"Bhikkhus, this gathering is without idle talk, without empty talk, established in the pure essence. Such a gathering is worthy of honor, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings and reverential salutation, and it becomes an incomparable field of merit to the worldling."
"The sight of such a gathering is rare in the world. It is suitable to go a long distance to see such a gathering with provisions for the journey."
"In this gathering there are worthy ones, desires destroyed, lived the holy life, done what should be done, dismissed the weight, come to the highest good, destroyed the bond ‘to be’ and rightly knowing released."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus who have destroyed the five lower bonds of the sensual world and are born spontaneously, not to proceed but to extinguish in that same birth."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, who have destroyed three bonds and dwindling greed, hate and delusion, would come to this world once more and make an end of unpleasantness."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, who have destroyed three bonds and have entered the stream of the Teaching, not falling from there, are sure of enlightenment."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the four establishments of mindfulness."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the four right endeavors."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the four ways of making determinations."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the five mental faculties."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the five powers."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the seven enlightenment factors."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the Noble eightfold path."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing Loving kindness."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing Compassion."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing intrinsic joy."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing Equanimity."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing the perception of impermanence."
"In this gathering there are Bhikkhus, yoked to developing Mindfulness of in and out breathing."
"Bhikkhus, in and out breathing developed and made much brings much results and great results. When it is developed and made much, the four establishments of mindfulness get completed. When the four establishments of mindfulness are developed and made much the seven enlightenment factors get completed. When the seven enlightenment factors are developed and made much the knowledge of release gets completed."
"How does it bring much results and great results? The Bhikkhu, gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty house, sits legs crossed, the body straight, and mindfulness established in front."
"Mindfully he breathes in or breathes out. Breathing in long knows, I breathe in long. Breathing out long knows, I breathe out long. Breathing in short knows, I breathe in short. Breathing out short knows, I breathe out short."
"Calming the bodily determination I breathe in. Calming the bodily determination I breathe out."
"Experiencing joy I breathe in. Experiencing joy I breathe out"
"Experiencing pleasantness I breathe in. Experiencing pleasantness I breathe out."
"experiencing the mental determination I breathe in. Experiencing the mental determination I breathe out."
"Calming the mental determination I breathe in. Trains calming the mental determination I breathe out."
"Experiencing the mental state I breathing in. Experiencing the mental state I breathe out."
"With a rejoicing mind I breathe in; with a rejoicing mind I breathe out. "
"with a concentrated mind I breathe in. with a concentrated mind I breathe out."
"With a released mind I breathe in. With a released mind I breathe out."
"Reflecting impermanence I breathe in. Reflecting impermanence I breathe out."
"Reflecting detachment I breathe in. Reflecting detachment I breathe out."
"Reflecting cessation I breathe in. Reflecting cessation I breathe out."
"Reflecting giving up I breathe in. Reflecting giving up, I breathe out."
"Developed and made much in this manner, in and out breathing brings much fruit and great benefits."
Posted by Gyokei Yokoyama at
21:20
2014年08月02日
Sermons at the funeral of Mr. Honda
玄誠邃実居士 Gensei Suijitsu Koji
Bhikku of deep truth that comes from Sincerity and Profound Thought
In the last part of the parting verse I read to see him off to the stream of life…
I read a poem which basically meant
Green grass covering the vast field
Withers and sprouts every year
The field fire doesn’t terminate its life
As the spring wind starts to blow, they come back again
Where is Minoru san going? What will he look like?
To this question, Buddha is known to have responded with silence.
Regarding this, there is one Zen riddle called Koan from Chinese tradition which goes:
What did your face look like before your parents were born?
Where were you? What did you look like?
Or this can be rephrased as
What will the face of the grandchild of your grandchild look like?
Where are they? What do they look like?
We can not answer.
Nonetheless, when the time comes and all the conditions are met.
Here you are. You can see your own face in the mirror and even touch it.
You are the manifestation of that very mystery.
When the time comes and all the conditions are met. There will be the face of the grand child of your grand child.
Where is Minoru san going? What does he look like?
It is not possible to draw the face in a blank piece of paper.
But it doesn’t mean the paper stays blank.
You will see it when you see it.
We will all see it when we see it.
This is like a trip to a foreign country you never visited before.
When I was in Canada, I had a chance to have this conversation with a priest from Anglican church.
He once told me a story of a 8 years old boy who was going to die from cancer.
He had been sick since soon after his birth so he already knew he was going to die.
One time, this boy asked my friend.
“What does God look like?” “So when I go to heaven I can find him.”
My friend, instead of telling him what god is, asked the boy.
“What do you think he looks like?”
Then he gave the boy a blank piece of paper and a pencil.
A few days later, he was told by the boy’s mother that the boy drew the picture.
If you are asked to draw a picture of the next life, the picture of the world you are entering and people you would meet.
What would you draw?
This boy drew a picture of an old man with a long white beard smiling.
He didn’t have to tell the boy what God was or how he looked.
It was all in his mind clearly.
Some time later, the boy passed away. The family told him that he passed away peacefully.
The boy’s mother gave the picture he drew to my friend.
He then learned later from one of the psychotherapists who were taking care of dying children that they almost always draw themselves in the picture whether consciously or subconsciously.
So, half believing it, my friend tried to find the boy in the picture, which took him a few days. He finally found the boy near the old man’s face. He found a small flower with a smiling face.
This big journey of life cannot be defined from a perspective of right or wrong… just like you cannot draw a right face of the grandchild of your grand child.
Still, Buddhism teaches us.
We ourselves are responsible for our own happiness.
We create our own heaven.
We are the architects of our own fate.
Let us be bold and try to draw a picture in this blank piece of paper.
Let us all hope that Mr. Honda will rest peacefully in the wonderful world that we can best depict and let his peaceful world be yours as well by living right through it.
Finally, let’s thank him for his wonderful family, his children and grandchildren, the greatest wonder and miracle he drew in his blank sheet of paper called “life”.
Bhikku of deep truth that comes from Sincerity and Profound Thought
In the last part of the parting verse I read to see him off to the stream of life…
I read a poem which basically meant
Green grass covering the vast field
Withers and sprouts every year
The field fire doesn’t terminate its life
As the spring wind starts to blow, they come back again
Where is Minoru san going? What will he look like?
To this question, Buddha is known to have responded with silence.
Regarding this, there is one Zen riddle called Koan from Chinese tradition which goes:
What did your face look like before your parents were born?
Where were you? What did you look like?
Or this can be rephrased as
What will the face of the grandchild of your grandchild look like?
Where are they? What do they look like?
We can not answer.
Nonetheless, when the time comes and all the conditions are met.
Here you are. You can see your own face in the mirror and even touch it.
You are the manifestation of that very mystery.
When the time comes and all the conditions are met. There will be the face of the grand child of your grand child.
Where is Minoru san going? What does he look like?
It is not possible to draw the face in a blank piece of paper.
But it doesn’t mean the paper stays blank.
You will see it when you see it.
We will all see it when we see it.
This is like a trip to a foreign country you never visited before.
When I was in Canada, I had a chance to have this conversation with a priest from Anglican church.
He once told me a story of a 8 years old boy who was going to die from cancer.
He had been sick since soon after his birth so he already knew he was going to die.
One time, this boy asked my friend.
“What does God look like?” “So when I go to heaven I can find him.”
My friend, instead of telling him what god is, asked the boy.
“What do you think he looks like?”
Then he gave the boy a blank piece of paper and a pencil.
A few days later, he was told by the boy’s mother that the boy drew the picture.
If you are asked to draw a picture of the next life, the picture of the world you are entering and people you would meet.
What would you draw?
This boy drew a picture of an old man with a long white beard smiling.
He didn’t have to tell the boy what God was or how he looked.
It was all in his mind clearly.
Some time later, the boy passed away. The family told him that he passed away peacefully.
The boy’s mother gave the picture he drew to my friend.
He then learned later from one of the psychotherapists who were taking care of dying children that they almost always draw themselves in the picture whether consciously or subconsciously.
So, half believing it, my friend tried to find the boy in the picture, which took him a few days. He finally found the boy near the old man’s face. He found a small flower with a smiling face.
This big journey of life cannot be defined from a perspective of right or wrong… just like you cannot draw a right face of the grandchild of your grand child.
Still, Buddhism teaches us.
We ourselves are responsible for our own happiness.
We create our own heaven.
We are the architects of our own fate.
Let us be bold and try to draw a picture in this blank piece of paper.
Let us all hope that Mr. Honda will rest peacefully in the wonderful world that we can best depict and let his peaceful world be yours as well by living right through it.
Finally, let’s thank him for his wonderful family, his children and grandchildren, the greatest wonder and miracle he drew in his blank sheet of paper called “life”.
Posted by Gyokei Yokoyama at
20:45
2014年08月02日
“Dana” or "Giving"
Practice of “Dana” or "Giving"
無畏施 To share the concern and fear of people and help them recover from them
和顔施 To smile at people and to cheer them up and make them feel happy
言辞施 To use words that won't offend people and make them feel accepted
Posted by Gyokei Yokoyama at
20:43