garryageez's Journal |
|
 View garryageez's private journals |
|
Total public posts: 14 |
Show: Posts
|
|
 |
Wednesday - Oct. 24, 2007
- 11:11 AM - GMT
- #14
|
 |
|
| |
Lets not forget Burma.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
BURMA LETS NOT FORGET.
Current mood:  Category: Life
Since the oppressive government of Burma have severed all contact with the outside world, through a ban on tv, radio and internet media, It can easily seem to those outside that the terrible oppression that the people of Burma are suffering is over, but far from it. Reports leaking from the Country suggest that things are still bad and getting worse. Here is what Amnesty international have to say on the matter. Burma crisis - Stop the bloodshed
Violent crackdown on protesters continues  A heavy military presence on Burma's streets, combined with mass arrests, has stamped out the massive protests of the past week. Huge numbers of troops are visible on street corners across Yangon, the focal point for the demonstrations, and fear is widespread.
The flood of reports in the city of alleged brutal killings, disappearances and arrests is causing major concern for the people of Burma and those watching the continuing crisis.
 Watch footage of protests in Burma (RealPlayer)
Background
Amnesty International has long documented Burma's appalling human rights record. This includes widespread and systematic human rights violations:
- The holding of more than 1,160 political prisoners in deteriorating prison conditions. Detainees include most senior opposition figures
- The use of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, especially during interrogation and pre-trial detention
- The use of child soldiers and forced labour
- Laws that criminalise the peaceful expression of political dissent
- People frequently being arrested without warrant and held incommunicado
- Judicial proceedings against political detainees that fall short of international fair trial standards
- Defendants being denied the right to legal counsel and prosecutors relying on confessions extracted through torture
clear=all>Written by garryageez1 Link to this entry | Blog about this entry |Add to del.icio.us|digg this
| |
|
| |
 Edit
 Delete | |
|
| |
Tags: Burma, Buddhism, Politics, world affairs, injustice, corruption, monks, protest, amnesty international
|
  Add comment |
|
| |
|
|
 | |  |
|
| |
Sunday - Feb. 4, 2007
- 12:35 PM - GMT
- #13
|
|
|
| |
Size: 2.5 million kilometers2
Capital: Lhasa
Population: 6 million Tibetans and an undetermined
number of Chinese, most of whom are in Kham and Amdo
Religion: Tibetan Buddhism is practiced by 99% of the
Tibetan Population
Language: Tibetan (of the Tibeto-Burmese language
family). The official language is Chinese after Chinese
occupation in 1959.
Staple Food: Tsampa (roasted barley flour)
National Drink: Salted butter tea
Typical Animals: Wild yak, Bharal (blue) sheep, Musk
deer, Tibetan antelope, Tibetan gazelle, Kyang (wild
ass), Pica
Typical Birds: Black necked crane, Lammergeier, Great
crested grebe, Bar headed goose, Ruddy shel duck, Ibis-
bill.
Major Environmental Problems: Rampant deforestation in
eastern Tibet; desertification, poaching of large
mammals
Average Altitude: 14,000 Feet
Highest Mountain: Chomo Langma (Mt. Everest) 29,028 ft
Average Temperature: July 58º F; January 24º F
Mineral Deposits: Borax, uranium, iron, chromite, gold
Major Rivers: Mekong, Yangtse, Salween, Tsangpo, Yellow,
Indus, Karnali
Economy: Tibetans: predominantly in agriculture and
animal husbandry. Chinese: predominantly in government,
commerce and the service sector
Provinces: U-Tsang (Central Tibet) Amdo (N.E. Tibet),
Kham (S.E. Tibet)
Bordering Countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, China
National Flag: Snow lions with red and blue rays.
Outlawed in Tibet
Political and Religious Leader: The 14th Dalai Lama. In
exile in Dharamsala, India
Government: Communist (after Chinese occupation in 1959)
Relationship with the People's Republic of China:
Colonial
Legal Status: Occupied Garrys view: Hi all sorry i
hav`nt made any entries for a week or so, im afraid work
commitments have kept me away. But never mind here I am
back again, and today I thought I would talk a little
about Tibet and the plight of the Tibetan people since
chinese occupation began back in 1959 . I hope that all
who read this entry, of all religious denominations,
will send their prayers and good wishes out to the
wonderful long suffering and deeply compassionate people
of Tibet. With the strong wish that someday soon the
Chinese government will find it in their hearts to
restore this beautiful and historically rich Himalayan
Kingdom back to those who can then once again rightfully
call it their homeland. To those who may not be familiar
with the situation, I have chosen to use the words of
one of the foremost interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism to
the west SOGYAL RINPOCHE. This piece was however written
some 14 years ago, and some figures I have changed to
bring them up to date, And so I quote... Forty seven
years after the Chinese occupation of Tibet, the world
is still ignorant of what has happened, ignorant of the
extent of the terror, destruction, and systematic
genocide that the Tibetan people have endured and are
still enduring. Over 2 million people out of a
population of 6 million have died at the hands of the
Chinese; Tibets vast forests, as indispensable as those
of the Amazon to the ecology of the world, have been cut
down; its wildlife has been almost totally massacred;
its plateaus and rivers have been polluted with nuclear
waste; the vast majority of its six-and-a-half thousand
monastries lie gutted or destroyed; the Tibetan people
face extinction, and the glory of their own culture in
their homeland has been almost entirely obliterated.
From the very beginning of the Chinese occupation of
Tibet in the 1950s, many terrible atrocities were
committed. Spiritual masters, monks, and nuns were the
first targets, because the Chinese Communists wanted
above all to break the spirit of the people by wiping
out all traces of religious life. Many, many stories
have reahed me over the years of extraordinary and
moving deaths, in the worst possible circumstances, that
witnessed and paid final tribute to the spleandor of the
truth the chinese were desperate to destroy..... When I
read words like this written by Tibetans. ( H.H. The
Dalai Lama is often quoted as saying he feels no hatred
toward the chinese, but feels sad for them that the bad
Karma they have accumulated can only come back on them
and cause them great harm.) I wonder how they manage to
exercise such restraint and still manage to feel even
great compassion for their aggressors. This to me bears
testament to the truly loving and spiritual nature of
the Tibetan people. And that their religion is not just
lipservice but a real practice incorporated into their
very being. This strength and belief must be an
inspiration to us all. As for us as onlookers, now this
situation has been made known to us surely there are
things we can do to help in our own small way. I for one
have decided to write to our prime minister Tony Blair
to ask what his Governments stand is on this situation.
and this I shall continue to do until I recieve a
satisfactory answer. I shall also become a member of the
free Tibet campaign all proceeds of which go toward the
continuing struggle for the freedom of Tibet from
Chinese occupation. Any one else who is interested in
doing more for this cause can find out more at
http://www.freetibet.org/ To end I would just like to
mention that Tibetan people find great strength in their
belief that all hardships that we Humans suffer help to
exhaust the negative Karma we have all produced over
many lifetimes and so help us to reach our goal of
perfection as Human beings. This strain of thought I
think can be a very strong source of inspiration to us
all. With Metta and may your God be with you allways
Garry D.
| |
|
| |
Edit
Delete | |
|
| |
Add comment | |
| |
|
|
| | | |
|
|
|
| |
Monday - Jan. 22, 2007
- 12:05 PM - GMT
- #11
|
|
|
| |
The fourfold noble truth is the basis of the Buddhas
teachings. It teaches us that life in Samsara is
suffering, what causes it and ultimately what we must do
to escape from it. The fourfold noble truth is 1) The
truth of suffering . 2) The truth of the cause of
suffering. 3) The truth of the cessation of suffering.
4) The truth of the path that leads to the end of
suffering. The best way to explain the meaning of the
fourfold noble truth is through the Buddhas words
himself, and so I quote from the teachings of the
Buddha. 1. The world is full of suffering. Birth is
suffering, old age is suffering, sickness and death are
sufferings. To meet a man whom one hates is suffering,
to be separated from a beloved one is suffering, to be
vainly struggling to satisfy one's needs is suffering.
In fact, life that is not free from desire and passion
is always involved with distress. This is called the
Truth of Suffering.
The cause of human suffering is undoubtedly found in the
thirsts of the physical body and in the illusions of
worldly passion. If these thirsts and illusions are
traced to their source, they are found to be rooted in
the intense desires of physical instincts. Thus, desire,
having a strong will-to-live as its basis, seeks that
which it feels desirable, even if it is sometimes death.
This is called the Truth of the Cause of Suffering.
If desire, which lies at the root of all human passion,
can be removed, then passion will die out and all human
suffering will be ended. This is called the Truth of
Cessation of Suffering.
In order to enter into a state where there is no desire
and no suffering, one must follow a certain Path. The
stages of this Noble Eightfold Path are: Right View,
Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Behavior, Right
Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right
Concentration. This is called the Truth of the Noble
Path to the Cessation of the Cause of Suffering.
People should keep these Truths clearly in mind, for the
world is filled with suffering and if anyone wishes to
escape from suffering, he must sever the ties of worldly
passion which is the sole cause of suffering. The way of
life which is free from all worldly passion and
suffering can only be known through Enlightenment, and
Enlightenment can only be attained through the
discipline of the Noble Eightfold Path.
2. All those who are seeking Enlightenment must
understand the Fourfold Noble Truth. Without
understanding this, they will wander about interminably
in the bewildering maze of life's illusions. Those who
understand this Fourfold Noble Truth are called "the
people who have acquired the eyes of Enlightenment."
Therefore, those who wish to follow the Buddha's
teachings should concentrate their minds on this
Fourfold Noble Truth and seek to make their
understanding of its meaning clear. In all ages, a
saint, if he is a true saint, is one who understands it
and teaches it to others.
When a man clearly understands the Fourfold Noble Truth,
then the Noble Eightfold Path will lead him away from
greed; and if he is free from greed, he will not quarrel
with the world, he will not kill, nor steal, nor commit
adultery, nor cheat, nor abuse, nor flatter, nor envy,
nor lose his temper, nor forget the transience of life
will he be unjust.
3. Following the Noble Path is like entering a dark room
with a light in the hand; the darkness will all be
cleared away and the room will be filled with light.
People who understand the meaning of the Noble Truths
and have learned to follow the Noble Path are in
possession of the light of wisdom that will clear way
the darkness of ignorance.
Buddha leads people, merely by indicating to them the
Fourfold Noble Truth. Those who understand it properly
will attain Enlightenment; they will be able to guide
and support others in this bewildering world, and they
will be worthy of trust. When the Fourfold Noble Truth
is clearly understood, all the sources of worldly
passion are dried up.
Advancing from this Fourfold Noble Truth, the disciples
of Buddha will attain all other precious truths; they
will gain the wisdom and insight to understand all
meanings, and will become capable of preaching the
Dharma (True Teaching) to all the peoples of the world.
| |
|
| |
Edit
Delete | |
|
| |
Add comment | |
| |
|
|
| | | |
|
|
|
| |
Sunday - Jan. 14, 2007
- 4:11 PM - GMT
- #9
|
|
|
| |
Samsara the cycle of life death and rebirth.
Samsara is the Buddhist word for the world of
life death
and rebirth. This is not the world as we know
it in the
conventional sense. It is the six realms of
existence,
the world of suffering. The six realms are as
follows.
1) The realm of Gods. 2) The realm of
Demigods. 3) The
realm of Humans. 4) The realm of Animals. 5)
The realm
of Hungry Ghosts (pretas). 6) The Hell realm.
Although
Samsara is considered the world of suffering,
the level
of suffering within each realm varies. I
shall now give
a brief de scription of each realm and the
beings that
dwell there. 1) The realm of Gods is the
highest of the
samsaric realms. The beings here have
attained a
rebirth in this Heavenly realm due to good
karma created
through right action in their life time and
having
purified negative karma in this and past
lifetimes. But
they have not reached the state of Nirvana
(The complete
freedom from the cycle of life death and
rebirth,
through the eradication of Human desire) As
they passed
by this paradise during the Bardo of death,
the lure of
of this Heavenly realm was either too much for
them to
resist, or they thought, mistakenly, that it
must be the
highest state attainable. The beings in this
realm are
also subject to the laws of impermanence.
Although there
lifespans can reach for several aeons. 2) The
realm of
Demigods. This realm is situated between the
realm of
Humans and the realm of Gods, and the beings
here are
jealous Godlike beings that wage war against
one another
on a regular bassis. 3) The realm of Humans is
considered by Buddhists to be the most
desirable of all
the realms, even more so than the God realms,
due to the
fact that it is the only realm where the
conditions can
be favourable for us to achieve enlightenment
and
ultimately Nirvana. It is a very rare and
special
privaledge to be born as a Human and this is
why the
Buddha stated that we must seize the chance in
this
lifetime to advance as far along the spiritual
path as
possible. 4) The Animal realm is the abode of
all non
human beings that dwell along side us in the
Human
realm,. Although people say sometimes that
they would
love to come back as a bird or dolphin or the
likes, in
reality the Animals are in constant danger
from
predators, and constantly fighting for
survival, The
Animal realm is not a desirable state as their
inteligence is not advanced enough to
comprehend
enlightenment and they have very limited free
will. 5)
The realm of the pretas or Hungry Ghosts. The
beings in
this realm are portraid as having very small
mouths and
very large bellies. They are allways hungry
and can
never be satisfied. It is also said that
everything they
touch turns to fire or filth. 6) The last of
the
Samsaric realms is The Hell realm, this is the
complete
opposite to the God realm and is portraid as
so in
illustrations of the tibetan wheel of life.
Beings who
have created a great ammount of negative karma
through
murder and similar extreme negative actions
find
themselves in this realm of extreme suffering.
They
exist in a constant state of torment, where
they burn
freeze and die continuous horrific deaths.
Once negative
karma has burnt itself out a rebirth in a
higher state
can be achieved. All samsaric realms are
impermanent.
The only way to be completely free from
Samsara is
through the following of the noble eightfold
path, as
set out by the Buddha. my next entry will be
on this
subject. With Metta Garry D.
| |
|
| |
Edit
Delete | |
|
| |
Add comment | |
| |
|
|
| | | |
|
| |
Sunday - Jan. 14, 2007
- 4:10 PM - GMT
- #8
|
|
|
| |
The Art of Happiness (Riverhead, 1998, ISBN 1-57322-111-
2) is a book written by the Dalai Lama and co-authored
with Howard Cutler, a psychiatrist who posed deeply
probing questions to the Dalai Lama. The book explores
training the human outlook that alters perception.
The purpose of life is happiness.
Happiness is determined more by the state of one’s mind
than by one’s external conditions, circumstances, or
events—at least once one’s basic survival needs are met.
Happiness can be achieved through the systematic
training of our hearts and minds, through reshaping our
attitudes and outlook.
The key to happiness is in our own hands.
Garrys view: The Art of Happiness By H.H. The Dalai
Lama and American Psychologist Howard C Cutler, is a
book that I would strongly recommend everyone to
read. Originally published in 1998, It is the meeting
of two very different minds. His Holiness The Dalai
Lama answers the many questions, concerning Human
Happiness and how it can be best achieved and
maintained, put to him, by The American Psychologist
Howard Cutler. The reading of this book, completely
changed my way of thinking and has had the definite
effect of making me a much Happier person. Many of the
things I have learned from this book, I have found of
great use when helping others when they are feeling down
or depressed. His Holiness shows us that by looking at
life and its problems from a different angle, we can
more easily accept the difficulties that life throws
before us, and hence live a Happier life and help to
make the life of others around us Happier. One of the
many things I like about this book, is how down to Earth
it is, filled with the compassion, wit and wisdom that
we all know and love hisHoliness for, it is a must read
for everyone, spiritual and athiest alike. Please,
please, please take the time to purchase and read this
book, I guarantee you will be glad you did. This was the
first book i read by His Holiness, and ever since I
cannot see a book on the bookshop shelf written by his
Holiness and not buy it. So Happy reading with Metta
Garry D.
| |
|
| |
Edit
Delete | |
|
| |
Add comment | |
| |
|
|
| | |
|
| |
Sunday - Jan. 14, 2007
- 4:10 PM - GMT
- #7
|
|
|
| |
Compassion and the practice of Metta.
Some of the pictures in this item today depict scenes
that may be distressing to people of a particularly
sensitive nature. So dont view if you dont want to see.
But I have included them, not to satisfy any kind of
morbid curiosity but to show it as it is. I could have
included many other war images but found them to be too
disturbing. GARRYS VIEW: I feel we are all now
suffering from the collective negative karma of our
predecesors, The result of past actions are now coming
to fruition and this is why our world is filled with so
much hatred and confussion. It is now time for us Humans
to turn our thinking around and start to make serious
effort to purify this bad karma and this can only be
done through right action. In general people have one
common interest at heart and that is to be Happy. But
many people are living the illusion that happiness is
found through the pursuit of personal gain and the
satisfaction of our bodily desires. It is time now for
us to realise that true happiness and joy is within all
of us. It is our own minds that create our own illusion
and this clouds over our view of who we really are, and
deprives us of true and lasting Happiness. All material
and earthly things are impermanent and this is why they
do not provide lasting satisfaction. Its like going on a
great Holliday while we are there we feel great joy but
when we have to return to normality we feel down. This
happens to us all, all of the time and leads many people
to depression. This is called the suffering of change.
When we come to realise this we can begin to become
free. Often people think that as an individual we can
make no difference to the world situation, And it is
this mode of thought that puts the greatest barrier in
the way of progress. It is now time for all people to
realise that making the world a better place begins with
each one of us. If we all change our attitudes and learn
to be more compassionate then the possitive change will
begin to take place. To learn to feel greater compassion
for our fellow beings, please try this Meditation
technique. First sit down and think about all the bad
things that have happened to you in your life, times
when you have lost loved ones or have been hurt deeply
by someone etc. As you begin to feel sad even maybe to
the point of wanting to cry, hold this feeling and then
realise that this common suffering is what we all
experience in this world of constant change. Then think
about Death and dying. This is a subject that most of us
brush under the carpet throughout our lives, yet it is
the only thing that is truly inevitable. We all know
someone that we dont like very much, someone who may
have mistreated us in the past, and we hold a very
strong grudge towards them. But if we hear one day that
they have died in a horrible way, we tend to think well
I may not have liked this person very much but I wouldnt
have wished this on anyone. This is compassion and it is
present in everyone, some greater than others i do
admit. But never the less it is still there. This
feeling is like a seed within just waiting for the right
conditions to grow, when we meditate in this manner and
equalise others with ourselves and realise we are all in
the same boat, our feelings of hate begin to subside
making us more understanding towards one another causing
better conditions for happiness for us all. It is also a
good exercise to try and visualise people as they would
have been when we where Babies. We all love Babies as
they have not yet created the conditions without to
cause others to dislike them. They are cute and cuddley
and their vulnerability makes us want to pick them up
and protect them. Now relise that we where all Babies
once and that we are all still vulnerable to the ever
changing nature of this world. In that sense we are all
still little children of the world with very little
control of the forces of nature that lift us up, pull us
down and toss us from side to side in the tempest that
is life. This is the practice of Metta (loving kindness)
And is vital for us to not just practice during
meditation but to incorporate within our daily lives
and our relationships with others. With Metta Garry D.
| |
|
| |
Edit
Delete | |
|
| |
Add comment | |
| |
|
|
| | | |
|
| |
Sunday - Jan. 14, 2007
- 4:09 PM - GMT
- #6
|
|
|
| |
MANTRA
A mantra (Devanagari मन्त्र) is a religious or mystical
syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language.
Their use varies according to the school and philosophy
associated with the mantra. They are primarily used as
spiritual conduits, words or vibrations that instill one-
pointed concentration in the devotee. Other purposes
have included religious ceremonies to accumulate wealth,
avoid danger, or eliminate enemies. Mantras originated
in India with Vedic Hinduism and were later adopted by
Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains, now popular in various
modern forms of spiritual practice which are loosely
based on practices of these Eastern religions. Mantras
are interpreted to be effective as sound (vibration), to
the effect that great emphasis is put on correct
pronunciation (resulting in an early development of a
science of phonetics in India). They are intended to
deliver the mind from illusion and material
inclinations. Chanting is the process of repeating a
mantra.
Mantras and prayers
A mantra is a sacred syllable, word or verse, which has
been revealed to a sage in deep meditation. A mantra,
when recited with devotion, concentration and
understanding, revitalizes the body and mind with mystic
power, and harmonizes thought and action.
A mantra, when repeated constantly during meditation,
first loudly and then through silent and mental
chanting, changes the consciousness.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying the mantra
(prayer), Om Mani Padme Hum, out loud or silently to
oneself, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and
blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion.
Viewing the written form of the mantra is said to have
the same effect -- it is often carved into stones, like
the one pictured above, and placed where people can see
them.
Spinning the written form of the mantra around in a Mani
wheel (or prayer wheel) is also believed to give the
same benefit as saying the mantra, and Mani wheels,
small hand wheels and large wheels with millions of
copies of the mantra inside, are found everywhere in the
lands influenced by Tibetan Buddhism.
Turn your hard drive into a prayer wheel.
Digital Prayer Wheels If you click on this link, it will
take you to a site where you can download this mantra
onto your hard drive. This acts as a digital prayer
wheel. The many thousands of times it turns in a short
ammount of time will bring you great
merit. Garrys view: Tibetan
Buddhists say, that if you write this Mantra on a flag
or stone and place it outside. When the wind passes over
it, its blessing are carried to all beings that the wind
touches. The power of a Mantra such as OM MANI PADME HUM
(OM MANI PEME HUNG. in the tibetan translation.) is
vast. It can protect you from harm and purify negative
Karma. When I was younger and going through a time of
great difficulty in my life I began to chant the Mantra
NAM MYO HO RENGE KYO. This mantra is known as the
mantra of the Lotus sutra. Even though I had no
religious beliefs and had little faith in anything I
tried it in desperation as I had heard that it works. As
I chanted the Mantra I felt a definite warm glow
growing within and all my troubles seemed to evaporate
from my mind, leaving me feeling happier and more
relaxed. I believe it was the chanting of this mantra
that led me to the path I now walk and helped to
cultivate my interest in Buddhism. If it hadnt been for
this Mantra helping me to free myself from a life of
drugs alchohol and crime, who knows where I would be
now. May the Merit gained from the publication of this
item be dedicated to all those who are suffering from
the same problems as I did then, and may all sentient
beings be free from the suffering of Samsara, become
Enlightened and ultimately reach the blissfull state of
Nirvana. With Metta Garry D. ( My intention is to
include many more Mantras and items on the subject in
this blog in the future.)
This is a mantra that I like to chant regularly, it is
said that the beautifull green tara was born from the
tears of chenrezig the boddisatva of compassion. Oṃ
Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā / Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha
Tara (whose name means "star" or "she who ferries
across") is the female Bodhisattva of compassion. In
Tibetan, Tara is known as "Dölma" (Sgrol-ma), or "She
Who Saves." In particular she represents compassion
in action, since she's in the process of stepping from
her lotus throne in order to help sentient beings.
Written by garryageez1 .
| |
|
| |
Edit
Delete | |
|
| |
Add comment | |
| |
|
|
| | |
|
| |
Sunday - Jan. 14, 2007
- 4:07 PM - GMT
- #5
|
|
|
| |
saddam hussein execution. Right or wrong?
Saddam Hussein, The tyranical x - leader of Iraq has
been executed. To many who have suffered under his
oppressive regime, the relief must be great, to know
that the dark shadow of his rule has gone forever. But I
cant help thinking that for every despot that the so
called civilised world gets rid of, there is another
waiting to take his place. I hope with all my heart that
the world will one day be free from such oppresion, war
and blood-shed. But the reality is, we are living in a
society rooted upon greed, led by rulers who act not
through wisdom but by their own vested interests. If it
hadnt been for the oil, I doubt very much wether Old
uncle sam would have had the slightest interest in
Kuwait when Saddam invaded. And if it had`nt been for
the so called war on terrorism following the tragic
events of september 11 and George Bush` own personal
hatred of saddam, that maybe he would still be in power,
killng all of those that opposed him. Lets also remember
that America was built on the foundation of the murder
and bloodshed of millions of innocent Native Americans.
May I also add that the whole of the western world was
built on this same unstable foundation of violence and
hatred and the collective negative karma created from
these times is beginning to come to fruition now . I
feel we are all now suffering from the collective
negative karma of our predecesors, The result of past
actions are now coming to fruition and this is why our
world is filled with so much hatred and confussion. It
is now time for us Humans to turn our thinking around
and start to make serious effort to purify this bad
karma and this can only be done through right action. As
Jesus Christ said "He who is without sin cast the first
stone". Please note this is not intended as a critisism
of the american people but of the present Government. If
this comment causes anyone offence I appologise most
sincerely, as this was not my intention. As a follower
of the teachings of the Buddha I have been taught to
feel compassion for all beings and to exercise love for
all. We are all victims of our own illusion and sadam is
the perfect example of where an undisciplined and
egotistical mind can lead us. The Tibetan people say
that our worst enemies can be our best teachers, as they
are the ones who give us the best opportunities to
practice compassion. So to round it off, What was the
motive behind his execution, was it Justice or out right
revenge? The truth is even though he has now been dealt
with the same Human problems still exists, and the
fallout yet to be suffered from this act will lead to
the death and suffering of many more innocents. Proof
that hatred cannot cease by hatred but by love alone can
it cease. Garry D.
| |
|
| |
Edit
Delete | |
|
| |
Add comment | |
| |
|
|
| | | |
|
| |
Sunday - Jan. 14, 2007
- 4:06 PM - GMT
- #4
|
|
|
| |
Albert Einstien. How Buddhist was his thinking?
Born in 1879, Albert Einstein is known today for his
incredible mathematical ability and… well, his wild
hair. But more important than the physical attributes of
his cranium, is the fantastic information which it
provided. He will probably always be remembered as the
greatest mathematical genius of the modern world. Honors
he has received for his works include the Nobel Prize,
which he was awarded in 1921, the Royal Society Copley
Medal, which he was awarded in 1925, he was elected as a
Fellow of the Royal Society in 1921, and he became an
AMS Gibbs Lecturer in 1934. He also was a very vocal
advocate against nuclear weapons, and spoke out for
international peace. Fittingly, a letter asking that his
name be put on a manifesto urging all nations to give up
their nuclear weapons, was the last he wrote before his
death in
1955. "Buddhi
sm has the characteristics of what would be expected in
a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a
personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both
the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious
sense aspiring from the experience of all things,
natural and spiritual, as a meaningful
unity"
Einstein and a Personal God.
There are many quotes on religion from Einstein. Here
isa sampling[3] :
Science without religion is lame, religion without
science is blind.
The Lord God is subtle, but malicious he is not
I am convinced that He [God] does not play dice
Perhaps the best quote of his that really captures his
views on God and religion are
A legitimate conflict between science and religion
cannot exist.
Although Albert Einstein was certainly not a Buddhist,
these statements sound much like it: "A human being is
part of a whole, called by us the 'universe', a part
limited in time and space.
He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as
something separate from the rest
- a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us
to our personal desires and to affectation for a few
people near us.
Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by
widening our circles of compassion
to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature
in its beauty."
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent
one."
From Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh:
Garrys View: When I read and study the Buddahs
teachings on Emptiness, I cant help thinking about
Einstiens study of atomic particles. The teachings on
Emptiness show us that nothing is self existent, But all
things in the universe are reliant on past causes and
conditions ( cause and effect) Even if we take a Human
Being and strip him down to atomic particles their is
nothing within that can be called a self. A human Being
is made of the elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
These are the bassic elements that make up all sentient
beings. When these four elements are brought together
with the correct causes and conditions a Human being is
the result. From appearance we are a human being, at
closer inspection we are an infinate number of different
causes and conditions, that make the appearance of a
Human. I believe that when the Buddah came to the
realization of Emptiness, he saw all matter fromits sub
atomic level. Maybe through the study of these
teachings, Einstien was inspired to look deeper into the
teachings and this lead him to bring these theories
away from the dogma of belief and into the realms of
science. Well one thing is for sure, he certainly had a
great respect for the teachings of the Buddah and
Buddhism as a whole. I also think that he was
absolutely spot on when he said that a conflict between
religion and science cannot exist. I would go as far as
to say they are two vital sides of the same coin, for as
the late great Bob Marley said, and I quote. "Noah had
tree sons ,Ham, shem and japhet , Japhet was given the
wisdom of Technology. Its Not Technology that is the
problem, It is man who has the technology for he doesnt
know what hes dealing with." To end - knowledge
without wisdom will ultimately lead to our downfall.
Science gives us Technologyand religion teaches us the
wisdom needed to use it. With Metta Garry D.
http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/wisd
om_emptiness.html
follow this link to the best site I have found so far
on my quest to learn more on the wisdom of Emptiness.
| |
|
| |
Edit
Delete | |
|
| |
Add comment | |
| |
|
|
| | |
|
| |
Sunday - Jan. 14, 2007
- 4:05 PM - GMT
- #3
|
|
|
| |
Reincarnation, literally "to be made flesh again", as a
doctrine or mystical belief, holds the notion that some
essential part of a living being (or in some variations,
only human beings) can survive death in some form, with
its integrity partly or wholly retained, to be reborn in
a new body. This part is often referred to as the Spirit
or Soul, the 'Higher or True Self', 'Divine Spark', 'I'
or the 'Ego' (not to be confused with the ego as defined
by psychology).
In such beliefs, a new personality is developed during
each life in the physical world, based upon past
integrated experience and new acquired experiences, but
some part of the being remains constantly present
throughout these successive lives as well. It is usually
believed that there is interaction between
predeterminism of certain experiences, or lessons
intended to happen during the physical life, and the
free-will action of the individual as they live that
life.
This doctrine is a central tenet within the majority of
Indian religious traditions such as Yoga, Vaishnavism
and Shaivism (from Hinduism), and also Jainism and
Sikhism. It was common belief among the Ancient Greeks
and Ancient Romans[citation needed]. Many modern Pagans
also believe in reincarnation as do some New Age
movements, along with followers of Spiritism,
practitioners of certain African traditions, and
students of esoteric philosophies. The Buddhist concept
of Rebirth although often referred to as reincarnation
differs significantly from the Vedic based traditions
and New Age movements in that the "self" (or soul) does
not reincarnate. Garrys View: When i once asked a
venerable Buddhist monk "when reborn, are we the same
person as we where ,when we passed from our last life"?
His answer was, "it is like milk and cheese". After
great consideration of these words, I began to realize
what he meant. We are who we are "personality wise,"
through the influence of those arround us, Our parents,
Our friends and teachers . As we grow we pick up little
traits from other people, and we take them on board.
This is our ego personality building, the personality
that becomes us. This personality is built in this
lifetime and passes away when we die. So the question
has to be, What is it then, that can be said, has been
reborn? Some Religous traditions hold on to the idea,
that a soul or spirit has been reborn. However Buddhist
teachings on this subject are quite different, as they
deny the existence of a spirit or soul. The Buddhist
view is that, Thought is an infinitely continuous cycle,
and their reasoning behind this view, is that a thought
cannot sponaneously exist. A thought can only precede a
former thought. (Think about it.) As the human body is
impermenant, So the conscious mind at the time of death
will need to continue via a new vehicle, ie a new body.
It is said that our karma is what pushes us toward our
new existence. If good, a more favourable rebirth, and
if bad, the opposite applies. But when we are reborn,
our old personality traits are left behind, in the
memorys of our former loved ones, and a fresh template
is born to become the new you. This is what I believe
the wise monk meant when he said "milk and cheese." It
is also said, that although we have no memory of our
former lives, they have in fact, left karmic imprints on
our subconcious minds. What actually convinces me is the
great knowledge the great tibetan sages, have on the
subject of reincarnation. When they speak or write on
the subject, reincarnation is presented as absolute
truth and not a theory. Their vast knowledge of the
stages one passes through, between death and rebirth is
far too great, to be ignored. http://reluctant-
messenger.com/tibetan
-book-of-the-dead.htm
(Please
follow this link and read.) I also find it too
dificult to disregard the teachings of those who have
the ability to find reincarnated lamas and monks. Nor
those who build their whole lives on the foundation of
truth. With Metta Garry D.
| |
|
| |
Edit
Delete | |
|
| |
Add comment | |
| |
|
|
| | | |
|
| |
Sunday - Jan. 14, 2007
- 4:03 PM - GMT
- #2
|
|
|
| |
Karma (Sanskrit: कर्म from the root kṛ, "to do") is a word
of ancient origin meaning action or activity and its
subsequent results (also called karma-phala, "the fruits
of action"). It is commonly understood as a term to
denote the entire cycle of cause and effect as described
in the philosophies of a number of Dharmic Religions
such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
Karma is a sum of all that an individual has done, is
currently doing and will do. Individuals go through
certain processes and accompanying experiences
throughout th | | |
