Dhamma Reflection on Taking Refuge and Truth

The sun is very hot. When meditating under the shade of pagoda building that is not shined by sun yet, the feeling is relief from the heat, and when the cool wind touching the skin, there is a nice sensation.

This reminds me of a story in Tipitaka.

“After King Pasenadi’s death, which was brought about by the treachery of Dīghakārāyana in making Vidūdabha king (the son of Pasenadi), Vidūdabha remembered his oath, and set out with a large army for Kapilavatthu. The Buddha, aware of this, stood under a tree, with scanty shade, just within the boundaries of the Sākiyan kingdom. On the boundary was a banyan which gave deep shade. Vidūdabha, seeing the Buddha, asked him to sit under the banyan. ”Be not worried,” said the Buddha, ”the shade of my kinsmen keeps me cool.” Vidūdabha understood and returned home with his army. “(Pali Proper Name dictionary).

Actually, it occurs to me taking refuge in Triple Gems is similar to sitting under shade away from the hot sun.

Taking refuge in the Buddha means taking the Buddha as our teacher, who teaches us right and wrong, show us the way of life.

Taking refuge in the Dhamma means following the Dhamma as a way of life, doing good, avoid evil and purify the mind.

As for taking refuge in Sangha, sometimes it is not easy to do. Because the consumerism and moral degeneration are plenty, the renunciates are busy with other things than Dhamma. Young ones busy with football and chewing betel; Middle age ones busy with chewing betel leaf and cigarette; Old ones also busy with chewing betel and smoking.

It is very disheartening to see many renunciates in Buddhism smoking and busy with betel nuts. I met a few even asking money from me.  I refused to give them because they would use the money to buy cigarettes and other things.

In the last time, monks are supposed to stay under the tree or in simple dwelling, eat one meal (or two meal) a day, sleep in simple bed; spending more time in learning and practising Dhamma.

How to advise the beginners to Buddhism to observe five precepts, while those who are the main core of Buddhism themselves are not observing the fifth precepts i.e. non-intoxicants (no smoking etc.), though they might keep higher precepts? How to take refuge in them?

The best is to treat the Sangha as a community of noble monks and nuns that existed as in the Buddha’s time. They practised the right way to free from mental defilements and strived for the benefits of oneself and others.

If we have a teacher that we really respect because of the goodness in them, like the morality, concentration, and wisdom, then it is easy to take refuge in them, taking their advice as our guidance in life.

If we cannot meet such teacher, then we ought to seek them, because it convinces that such personality do exist in the world.

What if we cannot encounter them? The best is Mahākappina King, who renounced the world after hearing the three treasures or Triple Gem appeared in the world. His faith was admirably very strong.

If one sees the Buddha, one sees the Dhamma. If one sees the Dhamma, then one sees the Buddha. So, if one cannot see the community of monks as an incomparable pure one, what should one see?

Then one ought to see the Buddha who really existed 2500 years and proven by history as a real living person. By seeing the existence of the Buddha, then one sees the Dhamma as a natural truth of the world.

Kamma is the law of nature (niyāma), just as the law of plants or seed, law of mind, law of temperature and law of dhamma The mind and matter are ultimate truth whereas the self or soul is just a concept.

“Good begets good, bad begets bad.”-This law of kamma can be accepted by many.

Then by seeing Dhamma is about truth, just a teaching on truth, one believes in Buddha. By believing in Buddha and Dhamma, one believes there could be some person who really lives up to the teaching of Buddha.

But nowadays, there are still many noble ones exist in the world. If one really interested to find, one will definitely find them.

When taking refuge in Triple Gem, one frees from seeking refuge in external things, etc. By focusing the mind on the sublime qualities of the Triple Gem, one is away from the defilements of mind such as craving, hatred, etc.

So, taking refuge can be compared to sitting in a shade away from the heat in the sun.

End of Stress (dukkha) for everyone.

End of Stress (dukkha) for everyone.

Yesterday, the exams were over for the diploma, bachelor and masters students in my university. Yesterday, I also photocopied 4 sets and submitted my masters thesis with 130 pages. Thanks to many, including Pali teachers Sayadaw Dr. U Nodhi Nyana, U Pandita, U Thera and U Issariya who helped to check the Pali, and Lori Marsh and Jo Chan who helped to checked English in my thesis.

With numerous amendments and changes, I also got very stressed with my own paper. When trying to read my thesis, my eyes saw, but my mind could not see. This is stress. Nowadays, some writers translate the dukkha with the word 'stress'. This really applied to me.

In the first and second year, we have to attend only three hours for one week. But the subjects become more profound and deep, so we have to spend more time in reading and attend extra class.

During the second year, we have to write 50 pages, and then 100 pages for the third year in the masters. Since I take Pali as my major, my thesis title is 'Comparison study of Saddaniti and Kaccayana on Sandhi Kappa and Nama kappa'. Basically, this is a research on two ancient Pali grammar books that were written hundreds of years ago. It would be interesting if not for the stress.

I remembered in my diploma and bachelor studying time, I always had extra time to do whatever I want to read and do.
But writing masters thesis was certainly a real stress to my mind. All students are stressed at this time. Glad this challenge was over. Now, I can do my own reading, meditation and others.

When studying for my degree in computer science, that was when I was 25 years old, more than 17 years ago, the stress was there. But I was younger. Now, I am considered in the second part of life (33-66).
Hopefully, I can finish my Ph.D. before I reach the third part of life (66-100)!. I can definitely finish within another six years.

Not to say learning is compulsory for all, but of course, learning in an university has its advantage. One has to sit in the classes, listen to lectures, and also memorise for exams. One has to pass up assignments and thesis. Learning in the formal setting has its advantages.

Yesterday was also a new president for Myanmar. So yesterday was really a good day for everyone.
Now, the weather is very hot. Glad the stress and heat in the mind are gone now.