tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344745352024-02-08T06:35:28.032-08:00Buddhism TodayChronicles of my thoughts, practices and experiences in practicing Theravada Buddhism in daily lifeBernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-4022159758125231682011-04-09T08:10:00.000-07:002011-04-09T08:10:56.251-07:00Being nice equals weakness? Being nice and tolerant is normally associated with weakness. We see in movies a person being bullied and keeps silent, gazing down on the floor, shoulders hunched and walking away.<br />
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Does being nice and tolerant really give the impression of weakness?<br />
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I believe not. Instead it is a show of strength and inner self control.<br />
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The most difficult person to tame is oneself. The most difficult person to change is oneself.<br />
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If we can withstand, tolerate and guide a bully towards virtue, that is greatness. We should state our position truthfully, clearly and firmly, with kindness and integrity. We do not have to walk away with shoulders hunched. We should stand upright, stand tall, shoulders pull back in any circumstance.<br />
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Having self control is being mindful of your mental and physical processes. It is a chance to practice meditation to improve ourselves.<br />
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Bernard<br />
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Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006-2011. <br />
All Rights Reserved <br />
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http://www.bernard-ong.comBernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-45070369499857807402011-04-01T18:56:00.000-07:002011-04-01T18:56:08.971-07:00Mangala Vihara's (Buddhist Temple) 51st anniversaryI have been associated with this Theravada Buddhist temple for over 40 years. My grandfather was the temple's first chairman, and Ven. M.M. Mahaweera was the temple's resident monk.<br />
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This temple holds a special place in my life. It is a place of worship and a place of solace in my hectic life. Ven. M. M. Mahaweera (Bhante) was my teacher and guide and I am truly indebted to him for his wisdom and kindness. I attended Sunday Dhamma classes at this temple more than 30 years ago, when the environment was not so modern. We studied the Dhamma, I attending chanting classes and even played games and competition during the annual Sunday school sports day. Those were the simple days of yesteryear.<br />
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Mangala Vihara celebrated its 51st anniversary yesterday, 31st March 2011 with a whole night chanting session conducted. I attended the start of this activity and listened to more than 10 monks chant for about 45 minutes (Mangala Sutta, Rattana Sutta and Metta Sutta).<br />
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It was a wonderful experience and I wish Mangala Vihara many more productive years in conducting educational courses and to continue its excellent work in helping the community. I also wish its past, present and future members and management committee the very best in health and prosperity.<br />
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You can visit the temple at http://www.mangalavihara.org.sg <br />
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Bernard<br />
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Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006-2011. <br />
All Rights Reserved <br />
http://buddhismtoday.blogspot.com <br />
http://mrbolt.blogspot.com <br />
http://www.bernard-ong.com <br />
http://RescueSoftwareProjects.blogspot.comBernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-64919662675309895002011-03-30T05:37:00.000-07:002011-03-30T05:37:57.656-07:00Take a deep breath!Breathing in...breathing out. Meditation in action in every breath. No need to sit. No need to stand. No need to walk. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you are breathing. Be mindful in your breath. Be mindful in what you are doing. Be mindful of your movement. Be mindful of your thoughts.<br />
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Meditation can be done anywhere and anytime. It is easier said than done. A lot of practice is required. We all know discipline is the key. Discipline can only be cultivated with practice, one small step at a time. Build up you bank of discipline one day at a time, one minute at a time and it will all add up.<br />
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It is easier said than done. But we all need to start somewhere and stop giving excuses of why we have not started.<br />
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Bernard<br />
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Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006-2011. <br />
All Rights Reserved <br />
http://buddhismtoday.blogspot.com <br />
http://mrbolt.blogspot.com <br />
http://www.bernard-ong.com <br />
http://RescueSoftwareProjects.blogspot.comBernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-23311062015952146082011-03-25T07:39:00.000-07:002011-03-25T07:55:49.944-07:00Calmness in meditationCalmness in meditation is different from the calmness in simply taking a walk by the beach.<br />
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When under stress, a good way to de-stress is to exercise and 'sweat it out", either through a long run, a fast run, vigorous swim, contact sports. Such exercise brings some relaxation to the mind and body.<br />
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I have also found that doing meditation, especially when the mind becomes focused, the mind will not be able to worry or fret over things that bothered you. The mind can only focus on one thing at a time. When the mind becomes still and focused on the object of meditation, a detached form of calmness is achieved. This calmness is different from when the mind is at ease. Meditative calmness provides a very deep sense of well being, calmness and happiness that goes beyond the "normal" calm. It is like treading water at sea, bobbing up and down with the waves provides some sense of calmness. It is different kind of calmness when one scuba dives, floating under the sea, hearing nothing but your own breathing.<br />
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Kind of difficult to describe. Need to experience to appreciate.<br />
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Bernard<br />
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Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006-2011. <br />
All Rights Reserved <br />
http://buddhismtoday.blogspot.com <br />
http://mrbolt.blogspot.com <br />
http://www.bernard-ong.com <br />
http://RescueSoftwareProjects.blogspot.comBernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-78604983539668386912011-03-23T06:25:00.000-07:002011-03-23T06:25:18.650-07:00Seth Piritha - Jaya PirithI have never heard of the term Seth Piritha before, until I began searching youtube for Sri Lankan monks chanting in the Theravada tradition.<br />
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I truly enjoyed this video and everytime I listen to it, my mind calms down quickly by focusing on the words chanted.<br />
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I thank the person who uploaded this video. All copyright belongs to the original author of the video.<br />
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<iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Oz0h5FTvOEk?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br />
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---------------------------<br />
Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006-2011.<br />
All Rights Reserved<br />
http://buddhismtoday.blogspot.com<br />
http://mrbolt.blogspot.com<br />
http://www.bernard-ong.com<br />
http://RescueSoftwareProjects.blogspot.comBernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-66800699393140886882011-03-19T21:17:00.000-07:002011-03-19T21:18:04.053-07:00A meditator's diaryI bought this book titled "A meditator's Diary - A western woman's unique experiences in Thailand monasteries" by Jane Hamilton-Merritt several years ago. It is an excellent book that chronicles the experiences of the author in her journey through different meditation experiences from Samatha to Vipassana. She highlighted the struggles she underwent, and wonderful experiences of meditation. I have read and re-read this book countless number of times and never fail to be fascinated by her written words.<br />
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As I also slowly progress in my meditation practice, I gain inspiration from books like these. Meditation doesn't come easy for some. My mind is so used to switching from one task to another, condition by the hustle and bustle of my daily life. This context switching by the mind from one task to another is inevitable, and it conditions the mind to be highly "effective" in dealing with switching. However, achieving stillness of mind becomes elusive. Striking a balance is no easy task.<br />
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I also realise meditation is not an exercise undertaken sitting down. It is undertaken in every aspect of life. When the mind context switches from one task to another, mindfulness can still be maintained. I know this as a concept. To consciously practice it is another matter that I need to work on. I am sometimes conscious of the need to be mindful and often, not realising that I'm not mindful.<br />
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Still, a start is better than not doing anything.<br />
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Jane Hamilton-Merritt, if you read this post, I would like to sincerely thank you for writing this book. Thank you.<br />
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Bernard<br />
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Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006-2011. <br />
All Rights Reserved <br />
http://buddhismtoday.blogspot.com <br />
http://mrbolt.blogspot.com <br />
http://www.bernard-ong.com <br />
http://RescueSoftwareProjects.blogspot.comBernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-76248607795226526112008-07-26T21:18:00.000-07:002008-07-26T21:22:49.246-07:00Loving KindnessI read about this lion who was bought by two guys when it was a cub. They cared for it for about a year until it was to large to upkeep. They had to release it into the wild in Africa.<br /><br />A year later, they decided to go to Africa to look for their lion. Watch this video from youtube. Very heartwarming.<br /><br />An animal like this lion probably still remembers the loving kindness these two people showered it with. In return, look at the friendship it extended to these two people.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/adYbFQFXG0U&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/adYbFQFXG0U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br />Bernard<br /><br />---------------------------<br />Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006-2008.<br />All Rights Reserved<br />http://buddhismtoday.blogspot.com<br />http://mrbolt.blogspot.comBernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-18260524065971208412008-06-21T00:27:00.000-07:002008-06-21T00:42:40.067-07:00Update to buddhism todayI haven't been posting for some time, 2 years to be precise! hahaha. What have I been doing?<br /><br />I've been busy planning and executing on my goals. You can view my entries at http://mrbolt.blogspot.com.<br /><br />Buddhism has always been part of me and my life. It is my intensity and focus that increases and decreases over time. The Buddha did state, "Strive on with diligence". Time on this earth is short and many times, we tend to forget this and focus on other goals.<br /><br />This blog serves to remind me on my journey in life, to lead a balanced life and increase my focus on my Buddhist practices.<br /><br />I recently read a book "Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master (Paperback)<br />by Amy Schmidt (Author), Sharon Salzberg (Foreword), Jack Kornfield (Afterword), Joseph Goldstein (Introduction)". This is truly an inspring book. Dipa Ma was born an ordinary woman. The book describes her journey from her homeland to Burma, her journey as she embarked on Vipassana meditation. More importantly, the rationale of her path and the benefits she achieved.<br /><br />She has my utmost respect.<br /><br />Bernard<br /><br />---------------------------<br />Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006-2008.<br />All Rights Reserved<br />http://buddhismtoday.blogspot.com<br />http://mrbolt.blogspot.comBernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-1158922621317824922006-09-22T03:53:00.000-07:002006-09-22T03:57:01.326-07:00Conviction to improveSpending half an hour in the morning and evening to meditate, pray or just have quite solitude is very beneficial. Many of us know that. For me, its something I've been trying to do for a long time. Its difficult, with lots of distractions in our daily lives. Everything else seems more important that quiet solitude...until disaster strikes.<br /><br />We all believe that we will live a long life. We do not usually reflect on old age, sickness, death, separation from loved one. The Buddha advised us to reflect on these things daily. As long as we do not reflect, we will not have the sense of urgency to work on our mental and spiritual development...until its too late. Our development takes time. It doesn't happen suddenly (although it can if you are spiritually advanced through countless aeons of practice).<br /><br />On your deathbed, will you have regrets? On my deathbed, I will regret not spending more quality time with my family, not spending that 30 minutes in the morning and evening every day in quiet solitude to improve my mind. Think about it. Its a total of one hour out of twenty-four hours a day. We can spend hours in front of the TV but we can't spend 30 minutes meditating or praying? Ridiculous isn't it.<br /><br />My goal is to reflect on the cycles of life, suffering, old age, death, to spend 30 minutes a day in solitude doing meditation or praying. At least on my deathbed, I will know that I have done something to improve myself in my life, a life worth living for, a life with meaning.<br /><br />---------------------------------<br />Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006.<br />All rights reserved.Bernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-1158685584978724002006-09-19T09:57:00.000-07:002006-09-19T10:06:25.016-07:00Calming the mind in the morningThis morning was a really bad morning. I didn't feel good about the day. Must have work up on the wrong side of bed. I am overseas and alone in the hotel room. I felt really restless in mind and body. After breakfast was no better.<br /><br />I brought a book written/published by the late Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda called "Daily Buddhist Devotions". I recited the five precepts and did a short meditation on loving kindness. While reciting aloud in my room, I mindfully noticed the vibrations I felt caused by my voice while chanting. Together with the short meditation, my mind suddenly felt calmer and focused. It was an inner calm and inner peace.<br /><br />Then it was off to work. I must say that the morning recital helped to slow my mind into some calmness. Focusing the mind during meditation has a calming effect, very unlike the rest and calmness you get while sleeping. It is an inner peace, a kind of non-materialistic calm.<br /><br />Everyday, little by little, I am discovering myself and the value of the Buddha's teaching, how sublime and effective it is.<br /><br />---------------------------------<br />Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006.<br />All rights reserved.Bernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-1158598867277657322006-09-18T09:52:00.000-07:002006-09-18T10:01:07.286-07:00How long can you observe one of the five precepts?How long can you observe the five precepts? The five precepts are moral guidelines that every Buddhist observes daily. They are:<br /><br />1. I undertake to observe the precept of non-killing.<br />2. I undertake to observe the precept of non-stealing.<br />3. I undertake to observe the precept of abstaining from sexual misconduct. (Do not commit adultery)<br />4. I undertake to observe the precept of abstaining from falsehood. (Do not lie)<br />5. I undertake to observe the precept of abstaining from intoxicating drinks (including drugs)<br /><br />sounds simple enough?<br /><br />When I was a child, I couldn't even keep one precept such as non-killing or non-lying. One day, the late resident monk of Mangala Vihara Buddhist Temple in Singapore, Ven. M.M. Mahaweera Mahanayaka Thera, who was my Dhamma teacher, asked a simple question. How long can you observe the five precepts without breaking it?<br /><br />I was astounded. It was then that I made it a point to observe it earnestly. I recited the five precepts but paid attention to one, non-killing, for a start. I killed less ants. Even when ants were crawling in the sink, I would pick it up and put it on a window sill or in the garden. This went on until it became a habit. Then I focused on non-stealing etc.<br /><br />It is still difficult observing the precepts. Simple as it sounds, practicing it requires sustained effort. If we can't even observe the precepts for a long period of time, can you imagine if we did not? Imagine the damage we could do to others and to ourselves without this simple moral guidance. Scary isn't it.<br /><br />Take the effort to practice in earnest now. No better time to start than now, no matter what your age is. It only leads to goodness, and therefore should be done now.<br /><br />---------------------------------------<br />Copyright © Bernard Ong, 2006. All rights reserved.Bernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34474535.post-1158341383573833202006-09-15T10:28:00.000-07:002006-09-15T10:41:58.373-07:00What this blog is aboutI was born into a Buddhist family in Singapore. I guess I have always been a Buddhist at heart. Am I a practicing buddhist? I'm not sure. I do try to practice. But try as I may, sometimes during the course of my life, things get hectic and I 'forget' to practice the sublime qualities such as Metta (loving Kindness), Karuna (Compassion), Mudita (Sympathetic Joy) and Uppekha (equanimity). Its very simple to understand these concepts, but very difficult to realize it and practice it earnestly.<br /><br />This blog is about my experiences in practicing Buddhism in daily life, my reflections, my thoughts about what Buddhism means to me.Bernard Onghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11764764875543985479noreply@blogger.com2