Don't hold on to anger

International Bhikkhuni Day, 2014 (Part 7)

Honouring Eminent Asian Buddhist Women in the Modern Era
B. Pioneers in Dhamma Propagation - Scholars and Teachers

 4.   Philippines – Ven Sui Miao (1922-1998). She was born in Philippines to non-Filipino parents who were from Fujian, China. She spread the Dhamma in Philippines, Taiwan, California and in Hawaii where she settled down. Her temple attracted many people of other faiths even though she spoke hardly any English or Japanese. Among the venerables she had ordained were Ven Jing Ping and Ven Jing Ru (Malaysian) who had continued her linage and work.                  

(Note: Dr Christie Chang of Taiwan and President of Sakyadhita International was introduced to Buddhism by Ven Sui Miao).

AN 4.5 PTS: Anusota Sutta: With the Flow

"These four types of individuals are to be found existing in the world. Which four? The individual who goes with the flow, the individual who goes against the flow, the individual who stands fast, and the one who has crossed over, gone beyond, who stands on firm ground: a brahman.

"And who is the individual who goes with the flow? There is the case where an individual indulges in sensual passions and does evil deeds. This is called the individual who goes with the flow.

"And who is the individual who goes against the flow? There is the case where an individual doesn't indulge in sensual passions and doesn't do evil deeds. Even though it may be with pain, even though it may be with sorrow, even though he may be crying, his face in tears, he lives the holy life that is perfect & pure. This is called the individual who goes against the flow.

"And who is the individual who stands fast? There is the case where an individual, with the total ending of the first set of five fetters, is due to be reborn [in the Pure Abodes], there to be totally unbound, never again to return from that world. This is called the individual who stands fast.

"And who is the individual who has crossed over, gone beyond, who stands on firm ground: a brahman? There is the case where an individual, through the ending of the mental fermentations, enters & remains in the fermentation-free awareness-release & discernment-release, having known & made them manifest for himself right in the here & now. This is called the individual who has crossed over, gone beyond, who stands on firm ground: a brahman.

"These are the four types of individuals to be found existing in the world."

International Bhikkhuni Day, 2014 (Part 6)

Honouring Eminent Asian Buddhist Women in the Modern Era
B. Pioneers in Dhamma Propagation - Scholars and Teachers

   3.  Sri Lanka – Venerable Kusuma (1930 - ) is the first nun to receive full ordination in Sri Lanka. Known as Mrs Devendra before her ordination, she studied molecular biology hoping to answer her question on what was the beginning of life. When the answers did not satisfy her, she turned to Buddhism and obtained her Masters in Buddhist Philosophy and two doctorates in Buddhism. She also completed a degree course in Pali. She taught in a university for 20 years.

Compassion must include yourself

World-first evidence suggests that meditation alters cancer survivors’ cells

Fiona Macdonald 8 Nov 2014

For the first time, scientists have found clear biological evidence
that meditation and support groups can affect us on a cellular level. 

We’re often told that being happy, meditating and mindfulness can 
benefit our health. We all have that one friend of a friend who says they 
cured their terminal illness by quitting their job and taking up surfing - 
but until now there’s been very little scientific evidence to back up these 
claims.

Now researchers in Canada have found the first evidence to suggest that support groups that encourage meditation and yoga can actually alter the cellular 
activity of cancer survivors.

What narrows your mind?

International Bhikkhuni Day Celebration, 2014 (Part 5)

Honouring Eminent Asian Buddhist Women in the Modern Era

B. Pioneers in Dhamma Propagation - Scholars and Teachers

  2. Bangladesh - Dipa Ma (Mother of Light) (1911-1989), is a lay Theravada Buddhist from Chittagong who studied meditation in Myanmar under the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition. She practiced meditation diligently and reached very high spiritual attainment.

International Bhikkhuni Day, 2014 (Part 5)

Honouring Eminent Asian Buddhist Women in the Modern Era
B. Pioneers in Dhamma Propagation - Scholars and Teachers

2.   Thailand – Ven Ta Tao Fa Tzu (1908 - 2005) was the first woman from Thailand to be ordained as a bhikkhuni under the Mahayana tradition in Taiwan in 1971. Also known as Ven Voramai Kabilsingh, she received the 8 precepts from Pra Prommuni, a member of the Supreme Council of Elders and vice abbot of Wat Bavornnives, the royal residence since Rama IV.

She subsequently wore light yellow robes instead of white. Her master ended the inquisition of Council of Elders by asking if that was the colour of the monks’ robes and if it was not, and also she was not impersonating the monks, they should not see any harm in it. 

Prior to that, in 1946, she married Kokiat Shatsena, a member of Parliament and representative of people in a southern province. She sat in Parliament as a journalist and was the only reporter trusted by the Muslims to do fact finding for the government during the crisis in the south. She submitted a twelve point proposal to the government to resolve the crisis. Presently, 50 years later, when the problem is not resolved, her paper was republished.

Compassion

The Buddha’s Five Protections: Part 2

by Sharon Salzberg on November 10, 2014 in BlogThis article was originally published on the Huffington Post, June 19, 2010

The Buddha spoke of five ways that we can nurture and protect the seeds of truth that we have planted: first through morality, and then through understanding and studying the teachings, as we described in the previous post.