Kumbhaghosakasetthi Vatthu

奮勉常正念，淨行能克己，如法而生活，無逸善名增。

Utthanavato satimato
sucikammassa nisammakarino
sannatassa dhammajivino
appamattassa yaso bhivaddhati.

Christmas in Java: Meditation in Klaten

Nothing could be further from the hubbub of western festive excess than a silent Vipassana retreat in Java, Johnny Langenheim, theguardian.com, Saturday 20 December 2014 07.00 GMT

It's Christmas morning and a bell is ringing. I feel a flicker of dread in my stomach. I’ve never been big on the festive season, but that’s not the issue. All I know is it’s 4am and I have to get up, take an ice-cold shower and prepare for 10 hours of cross-legged meditation, silence and hunger (our last meal is at 11am). The world of tinsel and turkey couldn’t be further away.

I’m in Klaten, an unexceptional town in central Java, the unlikely backdrop for my first Vipassana (“insight”) meditation retreat. Buddha brought this ancient Indian technique back into vogue 2,500 years ago. From the mid-1970s, Satya Goenka, an Indian-Burmese businessman-turned-meditation master, sparked another renaissance, establishing 120 retreat centres in 80 countries, all run entirely by donation.

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Don't struggle with Impermanence

Top 5 Common Misconceptions on Buddhism

#1. The more amulets I have, the more protection

The Buddha taught us that the best way to protect ourselves is through the usage of the five precepts. i.e: 

1. Abstain from killing 
2. Abstain from stealing or taking things that are not given. 
3. Abstain from adultery and sexual misconduct. 
4. Abstain from false speech. 
5. Abstain from any alcohol and addictive drugs that cause intoxication and heedlessness. 

These precepts are encouraged to be kept in order to cultivate wholesome qualities, free us from any harmful situations and create good conditions to develop a peaceful mind. Thus the fearless mudra (hand gesture as shown on the left) is often placed in temples to remind us of keeping the five precepts. When one were to commit harmful deeds (example: killing of another being), the number of amulets he or she wears will not free him from undesired/unfavorable results.