amitabha

[sky]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

They want a better pure land, one where it is easier to become realized.

Don't we all

Originally Posted by sky123

Don't we all

Now the teachings of the Lord Buddha are teachings pointing to this. They're to awaken you rather than to condition you. We're not trying to grasp them as doctrinal positions to take, but expedient means to use to develop awakened awareness, mindfulness and intuition, to not fear sensitivity, to really open to it. Be fully sensitive rather than trying to protect yourself endlessly from possible pain or misfortune.

Knowing the world as the world is not a resignation in a negative way - 'Oh, you know how the world is!' - as if it were bad, that there's something wrong with it. That's not knowing the world as the world. Rather it's studying and taking an interest, examining experience, and being willing to look at and feel the negative side. It's not just seeking pleasurable experiences, but seeing even your most disappointing ones, your worst failures as opportunities to learn, as a chance to awaken; as devadutas or 'messengers' that tap us on the shoulder and say, 'Wake up!' That's why in Buddhism getting old, sickness, disabilities and loss are not seen as things to fear and despise, but as devaluates or 'heavenly messengers'. This word devaduta is a Pali word; duta means a messenger of some sort, deva is 'angelic' or 'heavenly'; so heavenly messengers sent to warn us.

A Christian asked me once if we had angels in Buddhism. 'We have angels in Christianity; all kinds of white and beautiful beings that play harps; they're very radiant, light beings.' I replied, 'Well, Buddhist angels are not that way. They're old age, sickness and death!' The fourth devaduta is the samana, the human being who has spiritual realisations...

In the First Noble Truth, the Buddha proclaimed that 'there is dukkha (suffering).' It is put into the context of a 'Noble Truth' rather than a dismal reality...

With the Noble Truth, 'there is suffering,' the advice to deal with this suffering is to welcome it, to understand it, to open to it, to admit it, to begin to notice it and accept it. It's a willingness to embrace and learn from that which we don't like and don't want - the pain and the irritation, whether it's physical, mental or emotional.

To understand suffering is to open to it. We say, 'We understand suffering because it's...' We rationalise it, but that's not understanding. It's in welcoming the suffering that we are experiencing - our frustration, despair, pain, irritation, boredom, fear and desires - just welcoming, opening, accepting. Then this is a Noble Truth, isn't it? Our humanity then is being noble; it's an ariyan truth. This word ariya means 'noble'.

The End of Suffering is Now: https://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/i...-awareness.pdf

[sky]

Originally Posted by janielee

When someone becomes a fully realized Buddha, peace and blossoming is in the heart.

Pure Land does not teach that this universe today is the Pure Land, but that in cultivation of the heart/mind (stillness, compassion, service) that all things are thus possible.

Here is a song for you:

Hakuin's Song of Zazen

Produced by the Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun

From the beginning all beings are Buddha.
Like water and ice, without water no ice, outside us no Buddhas.
How near the truth, yet how far we seek.
Like one in water crying, "I thirst!"
Like the son of a rich man wand'ring poor on this earth we endlessly circle the six worlds.
The cause of our sorrow is ego delusion.
From dark path to dark path we've wandered in darkness,
how can we be freed from the wheel of samsara?
The gateway to freedom is zazen Samadhi.
Beyond exaltation, beyond all our praises the pure Mahayana.
Observing the Precepts, Repentance and Giving,
the countless good deeds and the Way of Right Living, all come from zazen.
Thus one true Samadhi extinguishes evils. It purifies karma, dissolving obstructions.
Then where are the dark paths to lead us astray?
The Pure Lotus Land is not far away.
Hearing this truth, heart humble and grateful.
To praise and embrace it, to practice its Wisdom,
brings unending blessings. bring mountains of merit.
And if we turn inward and prove our True Nature, that
True Self is no-self, our own self is no-self, we go beyond ego and past clever words.
Then the gate to the oneness of cause-and-effect is thrown open.
Not two and not three, straight ahead runs the Way.
Our form now being no-form, in going and returning we never leave home.
Our thought now being no-thought, our dancing and songs are the Voice of the Dharma.
How vast is the heaven of boundless Samadhi!
How bright and transparent the moonlight of wisdom!
What is there outside us? What is there we lack?
Nirvana is openly shown to our eyes.
This earth where we stand is the pure lotus land!
And this very body, the body of Buddha.

Thanks for sharing,

JL

Beautiful....


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...UTD 42con1xGY

Originally Posted by Gracey

What do you know about amitabha?

Here's more info for you, Gracey:

http://www.dharmadrum.org/content/ne...w.aspx?sn=1682

The Practice Methods of Chan and Pure Land

The Practice Method of Chan

There are two categories of Chan practice methods. The first category is by use of the Five Methods for Stilling the Mind, which is to first stabilize the mind, and then progress toward liberation.

The second category of method is by use of the Huatou method from the Chinese Chan tradition, to totally crash the delusionary mind; in that moment self-attachment disappears, and wisdom manifests; such is enlightenment.

To practice Chan, we must first relax the body, the brain, and the emotion, and then our mind can become still. I often teach people a simple relaxation method, which is to pay attention to one’s own breathing. This can bring relief when one is tense or gripped with troubling thoughts. This method is sufficient for use in normal daily life, but if you want to continue on and go deeper, you need to ask a teacher for guidance.

The Practice Method of Pure Land

Pure Land or reciting Buddha’s name has developed into a standalone school of tradition uniquely in China and Japan. It emphasizes faith, vow, and practice. Its practice methods again include two categories. The first one is recitation of Buddha’s name with concentration, and the second one involves the cultivation of three virtuous acts, including the arousing of Bodhicitta – the inspiration to attain ultimate enlightenment and to help others do so before oneself.

“Faith” is faith in the vow of the Amitabha Buddha, which is that anyone who believes in and vows to be reborn to the pure land of the Amitabha can reach there. The practice method is to recite “Amitabhaya” or “Namo Amitabhaya” with concentration; you must listen to your own recitation of the Buddha’s name, to place your mind continually on the sacred grand name. This is actually similar to the method of observing one’s own breathing that I have just mentioned.

Yet, besides reciting Buddha’s name, one needs to purify one’s actions in this world – the actions of body, speech, and mind, so as to cultivate three kinds of virtuous acts. Otherwise one is not qualified to go to the Pure Land. And of course, if one does not have sufficiently strong faith, relying only on the vow and the compassion of the Buddha to be born into the western pure land, one would not be able to immediately see the Amitabha Buddha.

The essence of Buddhism is to learn from Buddha and to attain Buddhahood. In order to attain Buddhahood, one has to start from being a bodhisattva. Being a bodhisattva is to disregard one’s own enjoyment and help alleviate the suffering of sentient beings. Therefore, in pursuing rebirth to the pure land, the first thing one must do is to give rise to such altruistic Bodhicitta.

Originally Posted by sky123

Beautiful....


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...UTD 42con1xGY

Thank you!

Zazen instructions:

https://zmm.org/teachings-and-traini...-instructions/

[sky]

Originally Posted by janielee

Zazen instructions:

https://zmm.org/teachings-and-traini...-instructions/

Just noticed while reading your link the instructions to place the tongue on the roof of the mouth just behind the teeth, exactly the same practice in Bodhidharma's Qigong Forms.

I remember being told that for some people this helps with the flow of saliva.

Bodhidharma is considered the founder of Zen I think in China ("Chan")

[JustBe]

Originally Posted by janielee

I remember being told that for some people this helps with the flow of saliva.

Bodhidharma is considered the founder of Zen I think in China ("Chan")

It’s a yogic mudra or if your more interested in bridging energy flow, its an accupoint which according to Chinese energy practices, is said to complete the back and front sections of the microscopic orbit. Connecting the tongue this way, allows chi to circulate around the orbit rather than getting stuck in ones head.

Thanks JustBe