Dhammacakka Day Gift

HS, thanks and I owe you once. 

Eighth core value: Reflection

  

Long long time ago, in a monastery, all the monks practice meditation every evening.  There is a kitten in the monastery always kacau the monks when they are meditating.  So the old Abbot tied this kitten on the pillar every time before they go to meditate.  After long long time, the Abbot passed away but the kitten is still being tied on the pillar every time they meditate until it grows old and dies. Then the monks buy another kitten and tied it on the pillar every time they want to meditate. They practise this for a long long time. Until there is a sutra and catatan on the benefits of tying a kitten on the pillar while meditating.  The moral of the story is we cannot follow tradition merely without asking why. We cannot follow things blindly but must understand why we do that.  E.g. why we must bounce three times when paying respect? Why we must offer fruit, flower and water to the Triple Gems so on and so forth.  The Buddha never taught us to do all these. The Buddha only shared with us the essential things that will lead us to the Nibbana which are the Four-Noble truths and Noble Eight-fold path.  This is because the Buddha knew that human mind is very easy to create ideology.  The way we do Puja is a cultural thing or a way of paying respect.  Once ideology is being created, human mind will cling on it and believe that it is the truth.  Clinging creates attachments.  Attachments are afflictions.  It is this affliction which keeps us in the Samsara and makes us not able to be freed.

We can do reflection in a truthful way to achieve liberation from affliction. Affliction refers to attachment due to greed, hatred and delusions.  We have to reflect every day: Do I have greedy thought today? Do I act greedily today? Do I say something which will lead to greedy action? Do I have any hatred thought? Do I get angry today? Why do I get angry? What are the objects and subjects that make me feel angry? Do I have frivolous thought, action and speech today?  We must reflect sincerely and truthfully. Or else it will become justification but not reflection.

One can study Buddhism very well, like an Abhidhammist.  But still there are Abhidhammists who are depressed. So, knowledge has to be coupled with reflection then only it is called as LEARNING.

Learning is not simply adding on information.  Learning only happen when a person reflects and finally realizes the truth then only a person can be transformed. A teacher cannot transform us. A teacher can only inform. Inform us the knowledge. We have to always reflect and walk the path on our own. The Buddha didn't save Angulimala. It was Angulimala did the reflection on the Buddha's word. Then he realized that was true and finally transformed himself to a better person. 

Adding more knowledge is like adding more water to a fountain.  But it is not like lighting a lamp which will dispel the darkness. Only wisdom can dispel darkness.

Footnote: 

Eight core values

·        Compassion: The passion to the community. Be passion in helping and supporting each other. 

·        Courage: Able to cope with adversities and having the courage to go on.

·        Respect

·        Integrity

·        Service

·        Faith

·        Learning

·        Reflection