SUPERSTITIONS AND DOGMAS

All ailments have cures but not superstitions. And if for some reason or other, any superstition crystallises into a religion, it easily becomes an almost incurably malady. In the performance of certain religious functions, even educated people of today forget their human dignity to accept the most ridiculous, superstitious beliefs.

Observing reality from every angle

Goenka explains how Vedananupassana (Mindfulness of Feelings) uproots our Cravings and Aversions.

Whatever arises in the mind is called dhamma. A sensation arises on the body with whatever dhamma arises in the mind: this is the law of nature. The mind and the body are interrelated. When a defilement arises in the mind, some sensation will arise in the body. Whatever sensation arises in the body at that time is connected to the defilement in the mind. This is what the Buddha taught. 

One understands that there is a defilement in the mind and observes sensation in the body. One practises this thoroughly, not just once or twice, but again and again-every sensation is impermanent. So the defilement that is connected to it is also impermanent, how long will it last? We are observing sensations and also observing how long the defilement lasts. It becomes weak and ceases, like a thief who enters a house, and finding that the master of the house is awake, runs away. 

Metta Bhavana:~ 慈悲觀

 

Aham avero homi, avyāpajjho homi,
Anīgho homi, sukhī attānam pariharāmi.

Mātā pitu ācariya, ñati samūhā
averā hontu, avyāpajjhā hontu, anīghā hontu,
sukhī attānam pariharantu.

Sabbe sattā, sabbe pānā,
sabbe bhūtā, sabbe puggalā,
sabbe atta-bhāva pariyāpannā,
sabbā itthiyo, sabbe purisā,
sabbe ariyā, sabbe anariyā,
sabbe manussā, sabbe amanussā,
sabbe devā, sabbe vinipātikā,
averā hontu, avyāpajjhā hontu, anīghā hontu,
sukhī attānam pariharantu.

Sabbe sattā sukhī hontu, sabbe hontu ca khemino.
Sabbe bhadrāni passantu, mā kiñci pāpamāgamā,
mā kiñci dukkhamāgamā, mā kiñci sokamāgamā.

True Friend - Thich Nhat Hanh

A true friend is someone who can offer peace and happiness. If you're a true friend to yourself, you need to be able to offer yourself true peace and true happiness.

SUPERSTITIONS AND DOGMAS

All ailments have cures but not superstitions. And if for some reason or other, any superstition crystallises into a religion, it easily becomes an almost incurably malady. In the performance of certain religious functions, even educated people of today forget their human dignity to accept the most ridiculous, superstitious beliefs.

Superstitious beliefs and rituals were adopted to decorate a religion in order to attract the multitude. But after sometime, the creeper which is planted to decorate the shrine as it were, outgrows and outshines the shrine, with the result that religious tenets are relegated to the background and superstitious beliefs and rituals become predominant -- the creeper eclipsing the shrine.

Like superstition, dogmatic belief also chokes the healthy growth of religion. Dogmatic belief and intolerance go hand-in-hand. One is reminded of the Middle Ages with its pitiless inquisitions, cruel murders, violence, infamy, tortures, and burning of innocent beings. One is also reminded of the barbaric and ruthless crusades.

Nanda-manava-puccha: Nanda's Questions ~ Sn 1077-1083

[Nanda:]
There are in the world sages, they say
— in what way?
Do they call one a sage
for possessing knowledge
or possessing a way of life?

[The Buddha:]
Not on account of his views,
learning,
or knowledge
do the skilled here, Nanda,
call one a sage.
Those who live
disarmed,
undesiring,
untroubled:
those, I say, are called sages.