Practise a lot

A Buddhist view of homosexuality

By (the late) Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda, Published on the Buddhist Channel, June 30, 2015 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  We can no longer pretend that this aspect of human behavior - homosexuality - is something shameful and if we ignore it long enough it will simply go away.  "There is nothing intrinsically wrong with sex. What is wrong is attachment and slavery to it, on believing that indulgence in sex can bring ultimate happiness.."  Ven Dr K Sri Dhammananda (1919-2006) To begin with, present day attitudes are largely influenced by the Tudor-Christian approach in the Bible which was blown out of proportion by the narrow mindedness of the Victorian era in 19th Century England. In Asia, especially India and China, sex was never seen as something dirty only to be indulged in surreptitiously and only for the purposes of breeding. Stone sculptures on the Hindu temples of India amply testify to the fact that all kinds of sexual behavior (including masturbation) was an expression of KAMA, of sensual pleasure which could be indulged in within the limits of Dharma, which in this case meant virtue.

Prophetic Death Bed visions or How Gati Nimitta Arammana Appears

"At the proximate time of death, prophetic signs appear to indicate one's next life. If you are going to be reborn a Deva, you will see Devas, celestial mansions, beautiful gardens, etc. if hell is your destiny, then you see black dogs, hellfire, or hell demons. Those who will becomes petas (hungry ghosts) will see forests and mountains and streams where they will dwell.

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

The facial _expression of a dying person indicates his next rebirth. If his face is clear, cheerful he is sure to be reborn in higher abodes. A gloomy, sorrowful or stern face indicates rebirth in lower realms.

INDICATION BY MUTTERING

Sometimes a dying person mutters or murmurs indistinct words unconsciously. Once upon a time an old hunter, the father of the Arahat Sona, was ordained a monk after thirty years of hunting life. When he was about to die he saw black dogs charging at him in his death-visions. He repeatedly cries, "O son! Drive away the dogs."

The Arahat Sona knew his father was seeing bad nimitta and would be reborn in hell. So he took his dying father to the pagoda platform and laid him on a bed of flowers. He then said, "On your behalf, I have offered flowers to the Buddha. Father, pay homage to the Enlightened One!" So his father clapsed his hands in worship and paid respects. At that time celestial damsels came into his death-visions and he muttered, "I see your aunts (step mothers) coming. Please give them seats," before he died. The Arahat Sona knew his father would be reborn a Deva. "

Full article by Ashin Janakabhivamsa here.
http://www.buddhivihara.org/article93.htm

Dharmarajika – a Buddhist monastery in Bangladesh, feeds fasting Muslims over Ramadan

AFP, July 7, 2015

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- A Buddhist monastery in Bangladesh is serving food to hundreds of poor Muslims during Ramadan, in a rare example of social harmony between the religions in the South Asian nation.

Dharmarajika, in the capital Dhaka, has become a hit on social media since it started distributing daily food packs for Muslims who break their fast during Iftar.

“Buddhism taught us that serving humanity is the ultimate religion. We are feeding poor Muslims who cannot afford to buy proper meals to break their fast,” Suddhananda Mahathero, the head monk of the monastery, told AFP.

Seven common myths about meditation

Catherine Wikholm Friday 22 May 2015

Meditation is becoming increasingly popular, and in recent years there have been calls for mindfulness (a meditative practice with Buddhist roots) to be more widely available on the NHS. Often promoted as a sure-fire way to reduce stress, it’s also being increasingly offered in schools, universities and businesses.

For the secularised mind, meditation fills a spiritual vacuum; it brings the hope of becoming a better, happier individual in a more peaceful world. However, the fact that meditation was primarily designed not to make us happier, but to destroy our sense of individual self – who we feel and think we are most of the time – is often overlooked in the science and media stories about it, which focus almost exclusively on the benefits practitioners can expect.

If you’re considering it, here are seven common beliefs about meditation that are not supported by scientific evidence.

Beliefs Made Visible: Buddhist Art in South Asia

Uploaded on Nov 12, 2009

Explore Buddhism through clips of significant sites in South Asia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl6S0wdeWk4 

Calling came in primary school

PUBLISHED ON MAY 31, 2015 12:39 AM the Sunday times

Venerable Goh Chun Kiang collecting cooked food from people at a food centre. The food is then distributed as lunch to the monks and lay people at Palelai Buddhist Temple. -- ST PHOTO: JAMIE KOH

Ever since he was in primary school, Goh Chun Kiang has wanted to be a monk.

While in Bukit View Primary School, he came across some simple booklets on Buddhism on his father's bookshelves.

Venerable Goh, 29, who donned monastic robes six years ago, says: "I found the Buddha's intention to end human mental suffering very noble and I wanted to be like him."

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