Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
ബുദ്ധ വിഹാരം (ബുദ്ധ മഠം ) ചിലർ കൈക്കലാക്കാനായി ഇടിച്ചു നിരത്തുന്നു
ഇടതൂര്‍ന്നു നില്‍കുന്ന വൃക്ഷങ്ങള്‍ക്കും കുറ്റി ചെടികളാല്‍ ചുറ്റപെട്ട് സാമൂഹ്യ വിരുദ്ധരുടെ താവളമായി മാറിയ വിഹാരം കേരളമാഹബോധി മിഷൻ പ്രവർത്തകർ സന്ദര്സിക്കാനായി ചെല്ലുമ്പോൾ ഇതിനകത്ത് സാമൂഹ്യവിരുദ്ധരുടെ മദ്യപാനമായിരുന്നു കണ്ടത് .
കാല്‍ നൂറ്റാണ്ട് മുന്പ് ഇവിടെ താമസിച്ചിരുന്ന ആറു എന്ന ബുദ്ധമത വിശ്വാസിയെ കുറിച്ച് പഴമക്കര്ക് അറിയാം. അവിവാഹിതനായിരുന്ന അദ്ദേഹം പിന്നീടു ഗയയിൽ ചെന്ന് ബുദ്ധ സന്യാസി ആകുകയും 1973 ല്‍ ഇവിടെ ബുദ്ധ വിഹാരം പണിയുകയും ചെയ്തു. ഇന്ത്യയുടെ വിവിധ ഭാഗങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്നായി ബുദ്ധ സന്യാസിമാര്‍ ഇവിടെ വരുകയും പ്രഭാഷണങ്ങള്‍ നടത്തുകയും ചെയ്തതായി പഴമക്കാര്‍ ഓര്‍ക്കുന്നു.
തന്റെ കുടുംബ സ്വത്തായി ലഭിച്ച സ്ഥലത്തല്ല അദ്ദേഹം വിഹാരം പണിതിട്ടുള്ളത് . പ്രശാന്ത സുന്ദരമായ പണ്ടാരംകാട്ടിൽ പണംകൊടുത്ത് വാങ്ങിയ 30 സെന്റ്‌ സ്ഥലത്താണ് കെട്ടിടം നിര്മ്മിചിട്ടുള്ളത് . സന്യാസിമാര്ക്ക് താമസികാനുള്ള സ്ഥലങ്ങളും , അടുക്കളയും ധ്യാന മണ്ഡപവും അടങ്ങിയതാണ് വിഹാരം .അടുക്കളയുടെയും മറ്റു കെട്ടിടങ്ങളേയും നശിപ്പിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞു
പുല്ലുപാരയിലെ പ്രമുഖ കര്‍ഷക കുടുംബത്തില്‍ ജനിച്ച ആറുമുഖൻ തന്റെ സ്വത്തുക്കള്‍ മുഴവനും ബുദ്ധ മതം പ്രചരിപ്പിക്കാനും, ദാനങ്ങള്‍ നല്‍കാനുമായി ചിലവഴിചിരുന്നതായി നാടുകാര്‍ ഓര്‍ക്കുന്നു.
എല്ലാ വര്‍ഷവും ബുദ്ധ പൂര്‍ണിമയൂടനുബന്ധിച്ചു ബീഹാറിലെ ബോധി ഗയയില്‍ ഉള്ള ബുദ്ധ വിഹാരത്തിലേക്ക് പോകുമായിരുന്ന അദ്ദേഹം അവസാനം ഒരു സഹായിയുടെ കൂടെ ഗയ യിലേക്ക് പോയ കാര്യം എല്ലാവര്ക്കും അറിയാം . ഇടയ്ക്കു വെച്ച് സഹായി തിരിച്ചു വന്നെന്നും പറയപെടുന്നു .
സന്യാസിയുടെ തീരധാനത്തോടെ ഈ ആശ്രമം അന്യാദീനമായി. ഇവിടെ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന ബുദ്ധ പ്രതിമ മോഷിടിക്കപെട്ടു .
ഇയാൾക്ക് സഹോദരന്മാരോ , സഹോദരിമാരോ അനന്തര അവകാശികലോ ആരുമുണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല
കുടുംബ സ്വത്തായി ലഭിച്ച നെല്ക്രിഷിയിടവും , പറമ്പും ഇപ്പോൾ അകന്ന ബന്ധുക്കൾ കൈവശപെടുത്തിയിരിക്കുകയാണ് . ഇതുകൂടാതെ ഈ കെട്ടിടവും കൈകലകാനുള്ള ശ്രമത്തിലാണ് അവർ.
ഇതിനെതിരെ കേരളമാഹബോധി മിഷൻ പ്രവർത്തകർ ഒരു വര്ഷം മുന്പ് അന്നത്തെ ജില്ല കലക്ടർ ശ്രി. മോഹന്കുമാറിനു പരാതി നല്കി . അത് ഉടനെ അന്വേഷിച്ചു റിപ്പോർട്ട്‌ നല്കാൻ ആലത്തൂർ തഹസിൽദാര്ക്ക് നിര്ദേശം നല്കിയെങ്കിലും തഹസില്ധാർ ഇതുവരെ അന്വേഷണത്തിന് ഉത്തരവിട്ടിട്ടില്ല .അതിനാൽ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി , പ്രതിപക്ഷ നേതാവ് , വകുപ്പ് മന്ത്രി തുടങ്ങിവരെ നേരിൽ കണ്ടു പരാതി സമര്പ്പിക്കാനാണ് പുതിയ നീക്കം .
Monday, October 14, 2013
57th anniversary of historic step to revive Buddhism in India
by Senaka Weeraratna, Sri Express, Oct 13 2013
Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar converted to Buddhism along with about 380,000 of his followers on October 14, 1956 at Deekshabhoomi which is situated in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Ven. Dr. Hammalawa Saddhatissa Maha Thera, a reputed monk from Sri Lanka, presided over this historic function.
Dr. Ambedkar and his wife Mrs.Savita Ambedkar took oath of Three Jewels and Five Precepts from the Burmese monk Mahasthavir Chandramani.
Dr. Ambedkar then gave the oath of Three Jewels, five precepts, and 22 Vows to his thousands of followers.
Devapriya Valisinha, General Secretary of the Mahabodhi Society was present at this function. Devapriya Valisinha had for long years been in correspondence with Dr. Ambedkar.
This is evidenced by the publication of many articles written by Dr. Ambedkar in the Maha Bodhi journal during this period. When Dr Ambedkar decided to become a Buddhist and asked his followers to join him, Devapriya Valisinha attended the mass meeting held in Nagpur with several Bhikkus of the Society and helped in arranging the religious ceremony. He spoke on the occasion and presented to Dr Ambedkar an image of Lord Buddha on behalf of the Mahabodhi Society.
Dr. Ambedkar had already declared in 1935 that although he was born as a Hindu he would not die as one..After this declaration, he extensively studied the doctrines of all the major religions to choose Buddhism for him and his followers.
He selected Nagpur for his conversion ceremony, because as he explained in his speech on that occasion, Nagpur was the homeland of Naga people who had embraced Buddhism and supported its cause in innumerable ways in its early period in India. A ground near Ramdaspeth area in Nagpur was selected for the ceremony.
Biographical sketch
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, politician, philosopher, anthropologist, historian and economist. A revivalist for Buddhism, he inspired the modern Buddhist movement in India. As independent India's first law minister, he was principal architect of the Constitution of India. President Barack Obama referred to Ambedkar as a founding father of modern India during his address speech in Indian Parliament.
He studied Buddhism all his life, and in 1950 he travelled to Sri Lanka to attend the inaugural meeting of the World Fellowship of Buddhists which was founded by Dr. G.P. Malalasekera of Sri Lanka. On this visit Dr. Ambedkar delivered a lecture at the Colombo YMBA on the topic ' The rise and fall of Buddhism in India' and during question time he was subject to a series of searching questions on Buddhism in Indian History by Asoka Weeraratna (later to play a pioneering role in sending Buddhist missions from Sri Lanka to Germany) who attended the talk. Dr. Ambedkar had been taken aback and had then thanked Asoka Weeraratna for his courage in posing such challenging questions.
Dr. Ambedkar died on December 6, 1956, just one and a half months after this ceremony. A two-mile long crowd formed the funeral procession. One of the biggest gatherings for a funeral in India up to that time.
SOURSE:BUDDHIST CHANNEL
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
What are the 8 Training Rules (Precepts), which brings Divinity?
The Blessed Buddha once said:
The habitual praxis of the observance day endowed with eight features
brings high reward and blessing, & is of sublime dignity and greatness.
And which are these eight features? Here, any Noble Disciple considers
within himself: Throughout their life the Arahats avoid the killing of any
living being, they do not hurt any of them. Without stick or any weapon,
tender-hearted, gentle, caring, & mild they think only of the welfare of
all living beings! So will also I, this day and night, avoid the killing and
hurting of all living and breathing beings. Without any cudgel or weapon,
tender-hearted, full of kindness, I will think only on the joyous welfare
of all living beings and creatures. In this regard I will follow the Arahats,
& I shall observe this observance day praxis perfectly! With this first
praxis is the observance day enriched. Observed in this very way, the
observance day endowed with eight features brings high - even divine -
reward & blessing & is of sublime dignity and immense greatness...
The habitual praxis of the observance day endowed with eight features
brings high reward and blessing, & is of sublime dignity and greatness.
And which are these eight features? Here, any Noble Disciple considers
within himself: Throughout their life the Arahats avoid the killing of any
living being, they do not hurt any of them. Without stick or any weapon,
tender-hearted, gentle, caring, & mild they think only of the welfare of
all living beings! So will also I, this day and night, avoid the killing and
hurting of all living and breathing beings. Without any cudgel or weapon,
tender-hearted, full of kindness, I will think only on the joyous welfare
of all living beings and creatures. In this regard I will follow the Arahats,
& I shall observe this observance day praxis perfectly! With this first
praxis is the observance day enriched. Observed in this very way, the
observance day endowed with eight features brings high - even divine -
reward & blessing & is of sublime dignity and immense greatness...
All sentient beings feel pain from violence...
All sentient beings fear death in panic!
Seeing other beings are like oneself;
Treating other beings like oneself;
One should never ever harm or kill ...
Dhammapada 129
All sentient beings fear death in panic!
Seeing other beings are like oneself;
Treating other beings like oneself;
One should never ever harm or kill ...
Dhammapada 129
Whoever never injures, neither with weapon nor stick,
beings searching for their happiness - when after death -
seeking same happiness, such gentle one always gain it!
Dhammapada 132
beings searching for their happiness - when after death -
seeking same happiness, such gentle one always gain it!
Dhammapada 132
Harmlessness protects Everyone!
The one who has left all violence,
who never harm any being,
whether moving are stationary,
who neither kill, nor causes to kill,
such one, harmless, is a Holy One.
Dhammapada 405
who never harm any being,
whether moving are stationary,
who neither kill, nor causes to kill,
such one, harmless, is a Holy One.
Dhammapada 405
More on Harmlessness and Non-Violence (Ahimsa):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
More on this Optimal Buddhist Behaviour of Observance:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://www.accesstoinsight.
http://www.accesstoinsight.
https://vimeo.com/53853543
Source (edited extract):
Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikāya AN 8:44
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
http://www.accesstoinsight.
http://www.accesstoinsight.
https://vimeo.com/53853543
Source (edited extract):
Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikāya AN 8:44
Best Buddhist Behaviour: Never Killing!
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest! Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
A Simple Way to Establish Awareness:
Friends, this highly advantageous praxis can be undertaken by anyone,
at any time, all day long, in all situations, and at all locations! Therefore
Do it!, Repeat it!, and Remember it!:
at any time, all day long, in all situations, and at all locations! Therefore
Do it!, Repeat it!, and Remember it!:
When walking, one understands: "I am walking.."
When standing, one knows: "I am standing.."
If sitting, one notes: "I am sitting down now.."
While lying down, one reflects: "I am lying down.."
When standing, one knows: "I am standing.."
If sitting, one notes: "I am sitting down now.."
While lying down, one reflects: "I am lying down.."
When moving forward or returning, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When looking forward or away, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When bending or extending a limb, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When dressing or carrying things, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When eating, drinking, or chewing, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When defecating or urinating, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When walking, standing or sitting, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When falling asleep or waking up, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When talking or dwelling in silence, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When looking forward or away, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When bending or extending a limb, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When dressing or carrying things, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When eating, drinking, or chewing, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When defecating or urinating, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When walking, standing or sitting, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When falling asleep or waking up, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
When talking or dwelling in silence, one clearly comprehends exactly that..
Rational and alert attention is thus a cause of ultra clear comprehension!
When continuous Awareness is established, it can prevent all mistakes,
and their painful after-effects... In this way does clear comprehension lead
to reduced frustration and gain of new satisfaction! If correctly cultivated,
and made much of, this praxis will be for all beings' welfare and happiness
for a long, long time... Why so? Clear comprehension purifies the purpose,
the suitability, the domain, and the unconfused focus of any activity!
More on Comprehension (Sampajañña): Clear_and_Aware_Comprehension
When continuous Awareness is established, it can prevent all mistakes,
and their painful after-effects... In this way does clear comprehension lead
to reduced frustration and gain of new satisfaction! If correctly cultivated,
and made much of, this praxis will be for all beings' welfare and happiness
for a long, long time... Why so? Clear comprehension purifies the purpose,
the suitability, the domain, and the unconfused focus of any activity!
More on Comprehension (Sampajañña): Clear_and_Aware_Comprehension
Source: The Exhaustive Speeches by the Buddha. Digha Nikāya 22
http://www.accesstoinsight.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.
http://www.accesstoinsight.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.
Clear Comprehension!
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest! Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Friendliness can cross any Border!
If friendship between animal beings can cross even remote species borders,
so can and should we humans also make our kind friendship extend beyond
any national, religious, cultural, gender, educational, job, and age border!
Only in this very good way, can we establish a society, where we can sleep
with the doors open, and dance with the children in our arms. So be it :-)
May all creatures, all breathing things,
all beings one and all, without exception,
experience good fortune only.
May they not fall into any harm.Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
With good will for the entire cosmos,
cultivate a limitless heart & mind:
Beaming above, below, & all around,
unobstructed, without trace of hostility.
Sutta Nipata I, 8
For one who deliberately & aware
develops Universal Friendliness
Seeing the fading away of clinging,
All chains are worn down & broken. Itivuttaka 27
Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer. Sutta Nipata I, 8
I am a friend of the footless,
I am a friend of all bipeds;
I am a friend of those with four feet,
I am a friend of the many-footed!Anguttara Nikaya 4.67
As I am, so are others...
As others are, so am I...
Having thus identified self and others,
Never Harm anyone, nor have any abused.
Sutta Nipata 3.710
Among tigers, lions, leopards & bears I lived in the jungle.
No one was frightened of me, nor did I fear anyone.
Uplifted by such universal friendliness, I enjoyed the forest.
Finding great solace in such sweetly silenced solitude…Suvanna-sama Jataka 540
Train yourself in doing good
that lasts and brings happiness.
Cultivate generosity, the life of peace,
and a mind of infinite universal love.
Itivuttaka 22
The 9th mental Perfection is Friendliness (Mettā):
Just as water refreshes and cleanses both just and unjust persons without
discrimination, so does the perfection of friendliness include both friends
and foes alike, and doesn't enact any distinction, favouritism, or partiality.
More on this fabulously fine Friendliness (Mettā):
Universal_Friendliness, Infinite_and_Divine_Classic, Calm_Kindness,
Released_by_GoodWill, Friendly_plus_Unselfish_
The_Grace_of_Goodwill, All-Embracing_Kindness, Unsurpassable_Radiance,
Safe_Medicine, Symbiotic_Sympathy, The-Effective_Saw, Blazing_Goodwill,
Genuine_Goodwill, Evaporated_Enemy, Release_of_Resentment, Hey_Friend,The_11_Advantages, Loving-Kindness, Cosmic_Goodness, Unbounded_Mind, Goodness_Galore, Advantageous_is_Friendship, Friendship_is_Universal
Friendship can cross any Border!
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest! Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Tribute to Acharya Buddharakkhita, founder of Maha Bodhi Society
The Buddhist Channel, October 1, 2013
BANGALORE, India -- Acharya
Buddharakkhita, 91, founder of Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore, passed
away here on Monday, September 23, at the society's headquarters in
Gandhinagar.
<< Acharya Buddharakkhita (1922 - 2013)The Acharya, born in 1922 in Imphal, studied automobile engineering in Kolkata. He participated in the "Quit India Movement" and was subsequently jailed for that activity. After studying Buddhist philosophy, psychology and meditation in Sri Lanka and Myanmar for six years, he returned to India and founded the Maha Bodhi Society in 1956.
Under his care, the society started schools, hostels, hospitals and an artificial limb centre. He has written over 150 books and published two magazines on Buddhism. The government of Myanmar has honoured him with Abhidhaja Aggamaha Saddhammajotika award.
"It is a great loss for us... We are extremely grateful to him for his selfless teachings and guidance and everything he so lovingly gave us," said Ananda Bhante, general secretary, Maha Bodhi Society.
The funeral was held on Friday, September 27, at Mahabodhi Dhammaduta Vihara, Alur, near Bangalore. The condolence meet at the society will start at 10am on October 6.
Biodata
Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita was born in the then eastern state of Manipur in India. He was born on March 12, 1922, a full moon day, in Imphal.
He was a bright student graduated from the Institute of Engineering Technology, Calcutta (Kolkata) in Automobile Engineering. He joined Government of India Defense Ordinance. The job took him to Malaysia, Singapore and various other places during the Second World War. He saw the destruction of life and property and misery that the war brought in the lives of people, which led him to turn towards spirituality. He resigned his job and left his home in search of truth and freedom. For some years he traveled through the length and breadth of India and studied Indian religions in various institutions.
Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita became monk on the Buddha Poornima Day of 1949 at Kusinagar under the illustrious monk Venerable Candamani Mahathera. He undertook extensive Buddhist studies both in India and Nepal the same year and left to Sri Lanka.
He studied Pali and Buddhism in Sri Lanka and practiced meditation under the renowned meditation master Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw in Burma. He was a member of the editorial board of the Chattha Sangayana - the Sixth Buddhist Synod held in Rangoon, which brought out a complete edition of the Pali canon.
For a short time he served as a professor at the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara in Nalanda. He taught Buddhology at the Nalanda Pali Postgraduate Institute, Bihar. In order to spread the teachings of the Buddha in his own quite way he resigned the job and started Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore on a piece of land offered by the niece of Ven. Anagarika Dhammapala, Maha Upasika Mrs. B. Moonasinghe, which was offered by the Maharaja of Mysore for the purpose of building a Buddhist center in Bangalore. Thus the Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore was founded in 1956.
Since then he has been active in conducting weekly discourses on Buddhism, writing articles and books, creating awareness among the people of Karnataka and India about Buddhism. He extended his activities to other countries of the world to disseminate the noble teachings of the Buddha.
His compassion prompted him to undertake many projects to alleviate suffering of people, like building medical centers, monastic institutes, residential schools in different parts of India for displaced and poor children.
In 2001 seeing the urgent need of training good monks in India, he started MAHABODHI MONASTIC INSTITUTE, BANGALORE, on the auspicious day of 2545th Buddha Jayanti Celebrations. Today the institute has the strength of 100 monks from different parts of India who are getting monastic training.
In 2006 at the age of 85 he established MAHABODHI ACADEMY FOR PALI & BUDDHIST STUDIES, which conducts Diploma courses in Buddhist Studies to spread the teachings of the Buddha. This is the result of his deep research and experience in the revival of Buddha Dhamma. The courses are offered in English and Kannada languages.
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