Theravada Buddhism

Brahma-Vihara Bhavana Meditation on the Four Brahma Vihara Aham avero homi, abyapajjho homi,Anigho homi, sukhi attanam pariharami, Dukkha muccami, Yatha laddhasampattito,Mavigacchami kammasako. May I be free from enmity.May I be free from distress.May I be free from grief.May I care for myself happily.May I be relieved of suffering.May I not lose what I possess.May I bear my kamma as my own. Matapitu-acariya natimitta-samuhaavera hontu, Abyapajjha hontu, anigha hontu,sukhi attanam pariharantu dukkha muccantu,yatha laddha sampattito, mavigacchantu kammassaka May my mother, father, teacher, relativesand all be free from enmity, distress and grief.May they take care of themselves happily.May they be free from suffering.May they not lose whatever they possess.May they bear their kamma as their own. Sabbe satta, sabbe pana, sabbe bhuta, sabbe puggalasabbe attabhava pariyapanna, sabba itthiyo, sabbe purisa,sabbe ariya, sabbe anariya, sabbe deva, sabbe manussa,sabbe vinipatika Avera...

Living in a Grateful World Be grateful to those who have hurt or harmed you, for they have enforced your determination. Be grateful to those who have deceived you, for they have deepened your insight. Be grateful to those who have hit you, for they have reduced your karmic obstacles. Be grateful to those who have abandoned you, for they have taught you to be independent. Be grateful to those who have made you stumble, for they have strengthened your ability. Be grateful to those who have denounced you, for they have increased your wisdom and concentration. Be grateful to those who have made you firm and resolute and helped in your achievement From Ven. Master Chin Kung http://www.buddhismaustralia.org/index.htm

A Zen abbot went dressed in rags to the door of a rich man and was turned away with an empty bowl. So he returned in his formal robe of office and was invited in and served a sumptuous meal.Removing his robe and folding it, he placed it on front of the feast and departed with the words, "This meal is not for me; it is for the robe."

A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied, "There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs - millions of them. They all croak all night long and they are about to make me crazy!" So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the restaurant, five hundred at a time for the next several weeks. The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said, "Well... where are all the frogs?" The farmer said, "I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making a lot of noise!"

A turtle family decided to go on a picnic. Turtles, being naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their outing. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable place. During the second year of their journey they found a place ideal for them at last! For about six months they cleaned the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left. Three years passed and the little turtle had not returned. Five years... six years...then on the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hu...

Two artists were commissioned to create pictures which expresses the idea of stillness. One artist drew a lake. The surface of the water was as still and smooth as a mirror. In the background, he painted beautiful flowers growing around the lakeside. The scenery was reflected/mirrored in the perfect stillness of the water. The other artist, painted a picture of a waterfall. Streams of water rushed and tumbled in a turbulent cascade down to a creek. A small tree stood nearby. On the top of the tree there was a bird's nest, and there in the nest a little bird lay asleep. Guess, which of the artists expressed the meaning of stillness more convincingly? Artist number 2 won. Moral of the story:Painting 1 is lifeless and passive. Painting 2 expressed inner stillness. As the famouse Zen quote says "Change comes from within..."

Two monks were returning to the monastery in the evening. It had rained and there were puddles of water on the road sides. At one place a beautiful young woman was standing unable to walk accross because of a puddle of water. The elder of the two monks went up to a her lifted her in his alms and left her on the other side of the road, and continued his way to the monastery.In the evening the younger monk came to the elder monk and said, "Sir, as monks, we cannot touch a woman ?"The elder monk answered "yes, brother".Then the younger monk asks again, " but then Sir, how is that you lifted that woman on the roadside ?"The elder monk smiled at him and told him " I left her on the other side of the road, but you are still carrying her " Traveler: "What kind of weather are we going to have today?"Shepherd: "The kind of weather I like." Traveler: "How do you know it will be the kind of weather you like?"Shepherd: "Hav...

The Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty was a national hero for his success as both a statesman and military leader. But despite his fame, power, and wealth, he considered himself a humble and devout Buddhist. Often he visited his favorite Zen master to study under him, and they seemed to get along very well. The fact that he was prime minister apparently had no effect on their relationship, which seemed to be simply one of a revered master and respectful student. One day, during his usual visit, the Prime Minister asked the master, "Your Reverence, what is egotism according to Buddhism?" The master's face turned red, and in a very condescending and insulting tone of voice, he shot back, "What kind of stupid question is that!?" This unexpected response so shocked the Prime Minister that he became sullen and angry. The Zen master then smiled and said, "THIS, Your Excellency, is egotism."