May we live long in peace

May all misfortunes be warded off, may all ailments

cease; may no calamities befall on us; may we live

long in peace. 

Dr Richard Davidson on Deconstructing Mindfulnessat Davos 2015

Uploaded on Nov 6, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIxU3rjJqXIatch?v=tIxU3rjJqXI

Exclusive interview with Venerable Master Xuecheng: Buddhists need to advance with the times

by Han Bin, CCTV.com, Oct 25, 2015 Jiangsu, China -- The theme of this year's World Buddhist Forum is 'Exchange with Common Aspiration'. For two days, participants will discuss Buddhism's positive roles in resolving problems for human and social development. CCTV reporter has an exclusive interview with Venerable Master Xuecheng, President of the Buddhist Association of China. Why is this year's theme “Exchange with Common Aspiration”? Venerable Master Xuecheng said:"The forefathers say that if there is learning without exchange of ideas, knowledge will lead to narrow and short-sighted experiences. Whatever our school of belief or nationality, we need to exchange with trust, learn from others' strong points, and seek win-win development through cooperation." "Buddhism has a history of over 2,000 years. It’s very significant that Buddhist groups from different occupations, various ethnicities and schools of Buddhism, as well as countries and regions, come to share with each other." "Buddhism stresses thinking big with great motivation to act. We have the determination; the key is to implement and achieve."

CAN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?

Bhikkhu Bodhi

According to the Kalama Sutta, the Buddha has given four assurances that clearly meant bad things will never happen to good people even in their present life. And yet, we have come across numerous cases to the contrary. Even Bhikkhu Bodhi has affirmed this.

This post is not meant to judge any person past or present who has encountered such bad things in life, such as suffering from permanent disabilities, paralyzing stroke, mental illnesses, or dying a horrible death although we have known several well-known or prominent Buddhists in Malaysia and elsewhere who have suffered such fate, among the monastics as well as laity community. The most well known case internationally is perhaps that of TNH.

If bad things can happen to good people, where does that leave us? But the Buddha gave us his assurance, so is this a contradiction to the assurances?

An excerpt from Kalama Sutta AN3.65 follows:

“Sense Contact - the Fount of Wisdom" - Ajahn Chah

Where do happiness and suffering lie? Whatever we don't hold fast to, cling to or fix on to, as if it weren't there, suffering doesn't arise. Suffering arises from existence (bhava). If there is existence then there is birth. Upādāna - clinging or attachment - this is the pre-requisite which creates suffering. Wherever suffering arises look into it. Don't look too far away, look right into the present moment. Look at your own mind and body. When suffering arises... ''Why is there suffering?'' Look right now. When happiness arises, what is the cause of that happiness? Look right there. Wherever these things arise be aware. Both happiness and suffering arise from clinging.

The Art of Living~ S N Goenka,

Q: I was wondering whether there are people who cause suffering for us?

Goenkaji: "Nobody causes suffering for you. You cause the suffering for yourself by generating tensions in the mind. If you know how not to do that, it becomes easy to remain peaceful and happy in every situation."

Q: What about when someone else is doing wrong to us?

Goenkaji: "You must not allow people to do wrong to you. Whenever someone does something wrong, he harms others and at the same time he harms himself. If you allow him to do wrong, you are encouraging him to do wrong. You must use all your strength to stop him, but with only good will, compassion, and sympathy for that person. If you act with hatred or anger, then you aggravate the situation. But you cannot have good will for such a person unless your mind is calm and peaceful. So practice to develop peace within yourself, and then you can solve the problem."

Non-Release From Evil Deeds (From the Milinda Panha)

The king asked: "Venerable Nagasena, is there any being which transmigrates from one body to another?

Certainly not, your majesty."

"If, venerable Nagasena, there is no-one who transmigrates from one body to another, then would not one be released from evil deeds?"

"Yes, your majesty. If one is not reborn, then one would be released from evil deeds. But indeed because one is reborn, your majesty, then one is not fully released from evil deeds."

"Give me an analogy."

"Just as, your majesty, if some man were to steal the mangos of another, would this be an offense worthy of punishment?"

"Yes, venerable sir, it would be an offense worthy of punishment."

"But, your majesty, since these mangos that he stole were not the same mangos that the other had planted, why would it be punishable?"

"Venerable sir, they came into existence by means of those mangos that were planted, therefore it would be punishable."

"Indeed just so, your majesty, it is by the deeds that one does in this mind-and-body, lovely or unlovely, that one is reborn in another mind-and-body, therefore one would not be fully released from evil deeds ."

"You are clever, venerable Nagasena."