Buddhist Fact of the week #7 - Robes or civara

What's the most timeless fashion ever? The buddhist robe! They are still worn 2500 years in the same fashion :D

I'm sure all of you have seen Buddhist monks wearing robes of the same designs, or with slight variations yet different colours.


The Sanskrit and Pali word for monastic robes is civara.
Wearing civara is the first of a monk's four traditional requirements (nisraya). Monks are instructed never to enter a village without wearing all three parts of their robe:

• an inner robe, from the waist to the knee
• an upper robe, around the torso and shoulders
• an outer robe used as an overgarment

Material for new robes is traditionally donated by laypersons in the kathina ceremony, which occurs across Southeast Asia after the rainy season. This is one of the few monastic ceremonies that involves the laity, and it helps them to gain merit.

There are a number of ways the monks wear their robes, depending on their sect and country. The most universal one is that which is worn for the alms-round, when the robe is covering both the shoulders.

Within the monastery or residence or when having an audience with a more senior monk, a simpler style is adopted, as a gesture of respect and to facilitate work. The right side of the robe is pushed under the armpit and over the robe on the left leaving the right shoulder bare.

The Buddhist monastic robe is so versatile that it can be used, besides what is already mentioned, as a blanket, a seat-spread, a groundsheet, a head-cover, a windbreaker, etc. It is easy to clean and repair. It is perhaps the oldest style of dress still in fashion after 2,500 years.

Source: http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/things/monks_robes_hats.htm

Buddhist Fact of the week #6: Jhanas

After the wonderful and detailed article shared by our fellow member on the Facebook group about suffering, and a touch on the idea of cessation of self(the highest stage of Jhana), here's a little more about the different stages of Jhana:

May you all attain the last stage of Jhana soon.

Samatha (Concentration/tranquility based on the Ananpanasati Sutta MN  118 - stages of

Concentration:
        1. Observation of thought.
        2. Silent moments appearing between thoughts.
        3. In these silent moments and as the mind becomes calm, the in breaths and the out breaths are noticed somewhere in the body, perhaps touching the nose tip area or rising and falling in the lower naval area.
        4. Minute details of the in breaths and out breaths are noticed.
        5. Awareness of the in breaths and out breaths disappears, replaced by the overwhelming beauty of complete stillness.
        6. This overwhelming beauty may manifest in the mind as a nimitta, which many times but not always appears as a bright light, or a deep sense of calm, or a feeling of elation, etc.
        7. Absorption into the nimitta or the feeling then brings up the jhanas, or deep states of concentration and calmness. Each subsequent stage of jhana is a refinement of the previous stage by the natural falling away of the previous stage's coarser factors. This refinement and falling away must occur naturally in the mind with no effort involved. The "doer" must stop all agendas, determinations and volitions, and merely be an observer.

                 Jhanas —

 First Jhana contains five primary aspects

         1. Vitaka (Initial thought directed toward meditation object)
         2. Vichara (Sustained attention on meditation object)
         3. Piti (Physical rapture in increasing stages of euphoria)
                   a. Hair raised as if seeing a ghost
                   b. Shocks, body jerks, like lightening hitting
                   c. Waves of water washing over the body
                   d. Bliss flooding the body
                   e. Feelings of the body Floating, levitating
         4. Sukkha (mental bliss much deeper than rapture above)
         5. Ekagata (absolute stillness, one pointedness of mind)

Second Jhana contains three primary aspects after dropping vitaka and vichara above:
         1. Piti (Physical rapture)
                    a. Hair raised
                    b. Shocks like lightening
                    c. Washing over like water waves
                    d. Flooding the body
                    e. Floating, levitating
         2. Sukkha (Bliss,Joy)
         3. Ekagata (One pointedness of mind)

Third Jhana contains two primary aspects after dropping Piti above:    
         1. Sukkha (Bliss,Joy)
         2. Ekagata (One pointedness of mind)
                     
Fourth Jhana contains two primary aspects after dropping sukkha above:
         1. Uppekha (Equanimity) replaces Sukkha
         2. Ekagata (One pointedness of mind)
                                     
Fifth Jhana:          Infinitude of  Space
Sixth Jhana:         Infinitude of consciousness
Seventh Jhana :   Nothingness
Eighth Jhana :      Between perception nor non-perception
(Ninth Jhana) :    Cessation of feeling and perception

Online Source: http://dhammarocksprings.org/5.html

A little more about Buddhism: Buddhist Fact of the Week(s)

Terribly sorry for the long hiatus! Hope that everyone has been enjoying their holidays thus far!

#4

The Buddhist Etiquette - Full prostrations

Three prostrations infer deep respect for Buddha’s teachings. By performing three full prostrations, one expresses his/her intention to adhere to The Three Jewels - the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Likewise, the act symbolizes the discarding of the Three Poisons - hatred, ignorance and excess.

Practioners will press the elbows, knees and forehead to the ground when prostrating. In Tibet, however, prostrations involve touching all five body parts (head, legs, arms, chest and abdomen) to the ground. The posture is intended to symbolically release the ego and respect the Buddha and other sentient beings:

• Put the palms of your hands together with the thumbs aligned and tucked into the center of your palms. Your folded thumbs represent offering a wish-fulfilling jewel to the Buddhas. 
• Touch your folded hands, with thumbs tucked inside the palms, to your crown, forehead (optional), neck, and heart as above.
• Bend forward, place your hands flat upon the ground, lower your knees to the ground, and touch your forehead to the ground.
• When standing up, first the head leaves the ground, then the knees, and finally the hands.
• Begin the next prostration by immediately placing your folded hands on the crown of your head. 

Text Source: www.thranguhk.org/

#5

Offerings

We make offerings not because the Buddha needs them - the Buddha is an enlightened being, He certainly does not need an incense stick to be happy!
Nor do we make offerings to win the Buddha's favour. The Buddha developed universal loving-kindness and compassion long ago and won't be swayed by flattery and bribery the way we ordinary beings are.
We make offerings to create positive energy and develop good qualities such as giving with a respectful attitude and gratitude.• Moreover, the offerings remind us of certain teachings of the Buddha.

Offering of Light (Lamp/Candle)

 Light symbolizes wisdom.• Light drives away darkness.• Similarly, the light of wisdom dispels the darkness of ignorance.

Offering of Incense

When incense is lit, its fragrance spreads.
Incense symbolizes the fragrance of pure moral conduct.• This reminds us to cultivate good conduct.

Offering of Water

Water symbolizes purity, clarity and calmness.• This reminds us to practise the Buddha's teachings, so as to cleanse our minds, which are full of desire, ill-will and ignorance, and to attain the state of purity.

Offering of Fruit

Fruit symbolizes the ultimate fruit of Enlightenment which is our goal.• Fruit also reminds us that all actions will have their effect.

Offering of Flowers

The freshness, fragrance and beauty of flowers are impermanent.• Fresh and beautiful flowers will soon become withered, scentless and discoloured.• This reminds us of the Buddha's teaching that all things are impermanent.• We should value what we have now and live in the present.

Text Source: www.buddhanet.net

Meditation or Dhyāna or Jhāna and BFoW #3

A sharing by Assaji, written by an attendee.

Meditation is usually misunderstood by many as a session to contemplate, to blank out or to bring oneself to a mental holiday. But the type of meditation, founded by the Buddha, or a state of vipassana is not a temporary solution to our daily stressful life. It is a method that brings us to a higher mental state which allows us to cope better with future problems. 

Two types of meditation

Samatha - usually associated with mindfulness. calmness. clearing your mind, focusing on the breath. most people regardless of religion usually practice this state of meditation

Vipassana - distinct(vi) observation(passana). It is encouraged to be practice together with Samatha. When one is in the state of vipassan, one is able to accept noise as noise and the changes to the environment or our body as the changes itself - being aware yet not disturbed or wavered by these changes. Soon, you will find how all these disturbances are impermanent and the state of peace during meditation can be brought out into our working life. People may be harsh on you but you will gain the ability to separate the content from the emotions, using the former to improve on yourself and ignoring the latter. 

Eventually, meditation will help to reach a point where the mind is free from the five hindrances — craving, aversion, sloth, agitation and doubt

Some people in the west tends to practice meditation without the understanding of the dhamma while some in the east perform rituals (check out buddhist fact of the week #3 below!) without much application of the dhamma to their life or having regular meditation. Both are not advised as they do not help with the improvement to our mental state. 

Below are a few types of meditation. 

- meditation on breath

- walking meditation

- mantra meditation

- metta meditation

    11 benefits to practicing Metta (loving kindness meditation:

             1.      You will sleep easily

             2.      You will wake easily

             3.      You will have pleasant dreams

             4.      People will love you

             5.      Devas (gods or angels) and animals will love you

             6.      Devas will protect you

             7.      External dangers, such as poisons, weapons, and fire, will not harm you

             8.      Your face will be radiant

             9.      Your mind will be serene

             10.  You will die unconfused

             11.  You will be re-born in happy realms

          (from Anguttara Nikaya 11.16)

          (from http://www.dhammawiki.com)

Quick sharing: I was at a bowling competition this weekend and i manage to make it to the semi-finals for the first time. It was very stressful as all eyes were down to the 2 competing trios team. Semi-final and finals were in the form of step-ladder, hence it was all down to one game each, adding more stress to every player. At that moment, I tried to practice mantra meditation. It was the most time-effective meditation in the noisy environment. I manage to cope with the mental stress and bowl my way into the finals, winning the highest game for female in the category I participate in. This goes to show that meditation can be a quick fix for our lives especially when we have so much emotions built up within ourselves that we can not handle it alone. Different meditation works differently with different people and under different situations.

So do take some time each week to try them all to find out what is best for you!

Buddhist Fact of the Week  #3

 Are you a victim of the Ten defilements that cause negativity in oneself?

1.       The Pali canon's Sutta Pitaka identifies ten "fetters of becoming"

2.       belief in a self (Pali: sakkāya-diṭṭhi)

3.       doubt or uncertainty, especially about the teachings (vicikicchā)

4.       attachment to rites and rituals (sīlabbata-parāmāso)

5.       sensual desire (kāmacchando)

6.       ill will (vyāpādo or byāpādo)

7.       lust for material existence, lust for material rebirth (rūparāgo)

8.       lust for immaterial existence, lust for rebirth in a formless realm (arūparāgo)

9.       conceit (māna)

10.   restlessness (uddhacca)

11.   ignorance (avijjā)

Another version of Ten defilements

1.       sensual lust (Pali: kāma-rāga)

2.       anger (paṭigha)

3.       conceit (māna)

4.       views (diṭṭhi)

5.       doubt (vicikicchā)

6.       attachment to rites and rituals (sīlabbata-parāmāsa)

7.       lust for existence (bhava-rāga)

8.       jealousy (issā)

9.       greed (macchariya)

10.   ignorance (avijjā).


Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Talk #1 - How to apply Buddhism to our (school) life and Fun Fact #2

Dear all,

Sorry for the delay in session updates.
Last week, we had a talk on 'How to apply Buddhism to our (school) life'
We were honoured to have Ven. Ariyarathana from London Buddhist Vihara to share with us how can we lead a more wholesome life in a learning environment.

**CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SYNOPSIS OF THE TALK**

A point to note, Bhante (or Ven.) replied to a question regarding how to meet deadlines, especially when there is still much to do with the limited time. He mentioned that, when needed, we have to sacrifice our time in order to meet your target or yield desired results. Waking at 4.30am to work is a good way to coop with your piling work as dawn is the time your brain function best.

Some may find it surprising that Bhante had such a view point and feel that buddhism should be about taking better care of the body than to risk your health in exchange for academic grades. Personally, I am sure that you all know piling up your work to the last minute is never the best plan. But if you are stuck in this situation, plan to sacrifice your sleep now only when you know you have sufficient time to recuperate after your deadline. Also, you may try to practice short meditations after you wake up, before your meals, before you start working and before you turn in. Soon, you will find that you do not have to sleep for a full 8 hours to feel refresh.

This leads to Buddhist Fact of the week #2: Buddhist Monks usually have 4 to 5 hours of sleep each day, to have physical rest. It is their mediation sessions that keep them mentally refreshed throughout the day.

A session update for this week's heart sutra sharing will be up soon.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Buddhist Fact of the Week #1

The first lesson in all Sunday schools around the world introduces children to the Triple Gem (also known as "Three Jewels", "Three Treasures" or "Three Refuges")

A brief explanation of the Triple Gem

The triple gem consists of Buddha, Dhamma (Dharma), and Sangha.
It is the central focus of inspiration and devotion for Buddhists.

Buddha means 'Enlightened One' or 'Awakened One,' and is generally used to refer to the founder of Buddhism. There have been other Buddhas before him, however, and will be other Buddhas in the future. 

The word Dhamma (in Sanskrit, Dharma) is often used to refer to the Buddha's teachings, but it also means the eternal Truth which the teachings convey to us. Dhamma is threefold: the Dhamma that we study, that which we practice, and the Dhamma of Realization.

 Sangha literally means 'community' or 'assembly.' The word has two meanings in proper Buddhist usage: the community of disciples (whether ordained or not) who have gained Realization of any of the stages of Awakening; and the community of ordained disciples--bhikkhus (monks) and bhikkhunis (nuns)

.Source: http://mettajon.tripod.com/