Essays on the Absolute

·期刊原文

Essays on the Absolute

Rev. Sariputra

貝葉

第七期 pp. A1-25

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Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 35

The Buddha and the Rest of Us
Often one hears the following pronouncement:- Religions are all the same! (Are they?) And their founders taught the same too. (Did they?)

Since archaeology is accepted a science, the urn found during very recent excavations in India is the only positive proof that a man existed called Sidhartha Gautama who became the renowned BHAGAVAN BUDDHA. Unfortunately such proofs hardly come to light to prove the existence of age-old teachers, saviours, messiahs, prophets, avatars, masters or gurus.

Mythology, however, does not bother at all to have such facts verified, owing to an abundance of "supernatural" revelations at our disposal; and we too feel there is no necessity to question the authenticity of such "stories" (HISTORIES). "Reliable" preachers (of whose "infallibility" we are firmly convinced) revealed to us that fact and fiction are inseparable. (?)

Imagination makes everything possible- except mutual AGREEMENT.

It is much lamented that in classical Indian philosophy, which accepts both modern science as well as mythology, the Buddha is rarely mentioned. Of course at random he has to be mentioned because the DHARMA can be very usefully interpreted in substantiating the Hindu predilection: all (different) religious systems lead to the same 'mountain-top'.

How far the orthodox Chinese mind was ready to accommodate the Buddha's Dharma is a matter left to be decided by the historians. The outpost of speculation was reached in the classical 'koan' which culminates in simplification and just says: "WUUHHH" - (=expression of Voidness).

Such a transformation originated here in the Orient and is by no means something "of Western make". The Western mind is down to-earth- technical - too busy in order to be alive to live THAT CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE. Yet a lot of buddhistic talk is going on - and if we cannot be silent, well, then we'll talk about SILENCE: ZEN and SATORI. A Westerner will ask: "What does Buddha do?" - Answer: He doesn't ... do ...

Everywhere in this world of ours the egoistic 'I' is regarded as the most important "thing" of which each individual should be "proud" of. Religion, science and philosophy take great care of the self, which to

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some is eternally existing and to others a mere necessary evil: to be got rid of! Well, and if you cannot destroy this "ego-self", then project the "I-self" on a "super-self"; hence the 'I' survives-and revives as a still Greater One (God), through self-identification.

This is in a nutshell what the intelligentsia taught and teaches us. They all start with the "I-self" - a doctrine void of self seems to be an impossibility; and yet that was precisely what the Buddha during his nigh 50 years' teaching nevertheless exemplified.

Mahayana looks down upon Hinayana as being "primitive". It matters little, the historical Buddha would have smilingly said, "Mere words, nothing else". What matters is 'anatta' (=no-I; no-soul; no-self); the UNDERSTANDING of SELFLESSNESS. Selfishness is the recognition of our ugly 'I' as being false/untrue and yet assuming it to be a soul, self or even a king-ego. In the Buddha's DHARMA (=Teaching) a soul, self or 'I' is of utter unimportance and categorically denied in every mandate. The DHARMA dispenses with every idea on which most religious and philosophical doctrines rest: soul, self, gods. That alone gives the Buddha a position comparable to that of a thumb in relation to the fingers. Neither are the fingers all the same, nor is the thumb a finger - a distinction easily over-looked.

It is maintained that differences are "non-existent" (only by weak minds, which fear their ideology might be wrong); but is not hereby a false sense of security imposed through our stubborn 'ego'? ("It is convenient to believe, and it must not be wrong - don't disturb us! Get out!") But: by affirming, "all is the same" (only in foolishness and selfishness are we alike) the Buddha loses his case of 'anatta' because the 'I-my-self' (note that triple affirmation) is again strengthened through our inability to reach LIBERATION. To Him it would matter little; but we, we continue to grope in darkness with all the ever unsolved problems and miseries.

We have to draw a line somewhere between this false sense of security maintained by the 'I-my-self', and THAT ABSOLUTE CERTITUDE to which we AWAKEN by the REALIZATION of 'anatta'. That is all.

This is the true reason why the Buddha has always remained "mysteriously" alien in his outspoken 'anatta' doctrine. A silent gesture of LOVE and WISDOM needs no words (anymore). Don't you see THAT? He who knows, does not talk - he who talks, knows not

Love
yours
Ooh Mee Toh hood

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Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 35

The Craze of Happiness
Everyone wants happiness. And according to temperament and individual (mental) make up this very strife to achieve the HAPPY-END, varies between persons as much as our bodily shape differs between you and me.

To an ordinary man, the worldling who ignores the DHARMA which says: The prize of pleasure is pain, happiness means nothing more than sensual pleasure: be merry, live and love, mate (and hate).

There are men and women who make eating the attainment of their "bodily" happiness. Very simple indeed, just eat! They like to dine with beer or wine, apparently enjoying all sorts of "gourmet" food. Well, even an infant cries for the mother's breast, and so we are prompted to say that nourishment indeed is basic happiness; if it is not extended to such extremes called gluttony, 'Ile faut manger pour vivre et non vivre pour manger' (=eat to live, but do not live to eat).

Then we come across gentlemen and ladies who eagerly crave for the mental food. Their "sophisticated" happiness is derived from reading by "devouring” almost every book they can lay hands (or eyes) on. Not just this, but they are also fond of investigation, and later on present a fantastic "theory" (of happiness) based on carefully put together text-book- information which they collected from all the world-famous libraries (P.S. Hurry on before the bookworms (termites) do their destructive job in really gobbling up the paper!)

Another kind of "emotional" happiness is the craze for glamour and sensation. Many "boys" and "girls" crave for this (treacherous) name and fame. The popular stage (to them) is just the right spot to chase after these overwhelming feelings of an "egocentric" happiness. The seal of authority never gives happiness, only respect; and pride, after all, is self- gratification. Is it not? "Feeling unites-thinking separates".

Rarely, but still existing, is the integrated happy family known as the Joint-Family System. It is very pleasant to observe when children obey and venerate their parents. The grand parents willingly bestow blessings on all of them because they do not live in an Aged Home, no, they do all together dwell under one roof. This patriarchal style of "traditional" happiness, surviving the olden centuries - the golden times - is nowadays severely challenged by our fast-living "Plastic-age". HOME sweet home, such true happiness most people will only then appreciate, when they have lost it. - When we are living in a state of happiness we neither remark upon nor note our happiness, but when we are no longer happy we immediately remark upon the loss of our happiness.

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Finally we have the happiness which arises from freedom of debts. TO OWE NOBODY ANYTHING, is extremely extraordinarily pleasant. Is it not?

Of course there is that kind of happiness which results from getting access to money - when one can do what one wants - but it is left to the reader to ponder and find out whether this "monetary" kind of so-called "luckiness" is happiness at all - deserving the name or not.

True enough we left something unmentioned: the 'KALYANA MITRA', the Noble Friend, the True Companion! He should never be forgotten! It is not just happiness, oh no, it is 'heavenly' Joy to meet the Real, Good Friend. In Thy presence my 'I' does not exist - every conflict is gone. All pollution of mind is left behind. BLISS alone survives as the crowning experience by meeting that Master, the Blessed One ... And so we have reached the core of REALITY, namely that Friend of Humanity reveals to us the ABSOLUTE. - Introspection enables us to overcome 'mara' the king of death. True and genuine Spiritual Happiness is SUPREME. All the other kinds are, according to the Buddha, not even worth 1/16, i.e. sixteen times better than any previously mentioned (gratification) is that BLISSFUL CONTENTMENT of MEDITATION - INEXPRESSIBLE JOY of renunciation.

Ladies and gentlemen, and this is the actual reason why a prince, a king: the Buddha lived a HOMELESS LIFE with no need whatsoever for any kind of material possession. 'Nil habenti nil deeste' (=he who possesses nothing, misses nothing).

Epilogue: -

By wearing the Yellow Robe internally (renunciation is the mental attitude) everyone who is inclined to live truthfully with himself will experience the above-mentioned homelessness of a World Citizen. An Original Thinker becomes automatically a Universalist, whereby the craze of happiness is transformed into an understanding FELICITY.

Many people talk about happiness - but only few know it .

Thank you very much.

Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 37

"Many intense events make life worth living you have to wait; and to live without waiting is divine Absolute which the Knower knows." living - but between them is divine, established in the

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PARADISE
SUDDENLY YOU SEEM TO BE PART OF AN ETERNITY to which they belonged - they certainly lived it. Time stands still. A pleasantness is today bestowed upon us, just as it were long, long ago - exceedingly delightful. Marvellous is this beautiful sphere on our earth, where in spite of the onslaught of a progressive civilization nothing has really changed-rigidity and fixity which modern scientific technology demands, did not yet affect the original simplicity of man's mind and heart. Those people's mode of living is just natural rhythm: that LAW which in itself is perfect. In that abode gentleness prevails - tenderness of an unspoilt virginity - for, once again the meeting of heaven and earth is accomplished ......

Beautiful girls - like flower plants - are extremely natural and unsophisticated, moving in a glory all of their own. Truly enchanting! So extraordinarily beautiful - unmatched by any "beauty-parlour-make-up". A heartfelt wisdom is so appealing to an entranced guest-visitor who wonders whether our educational system is a bit too much (pampering with data), or yet too poor; for these gorgeous people did not get (nor do they need) that so-called "White Civilization". Without any formal teaching, they already know (to behave) much more than the learned "ambassador" from abroad. The best specimen of 'homo sapiens' might be found among them. They are rich this blessed folks, natural abundance flows，both from their hearts as well as from a fertile soil. Self is source of all! Yet most of us do not have anything of our own, neither genuine WISDOM nor sound HAPPINESS which is capable of being shared by/with all! We are such - poor moderns.

The boys join the holy "army", which is neither a Salvation Army nor a militant group: just a yellow-clad brotherhood of religious men; and here the discipline is traditional - unaltered for centuries - though orthodox, yet with a human touch. So tough that 227 rules have to be learned by heart and, of course, must be recited many times. After all this is something laudable which enables "barbaric" lads to tone down into very refined and well-behaved 'gentle' men; humans who begin to know basic manners, and a bit more.

A tourist makes his appearance. Surely he comes from a new world, for his greeting clearly indicates such: "Heh you chaps... you boys can't you..."

To pay due respect to a 'sadhu' (=Holy Man) does not flatter him at all, on the contrary it first and foremost pleases your own SELF in making things pleasant to everyone who is humble - how great - which is the beginning of CULTURE. A culture emanating from Buddha Gaya towards all heavenly directions: namely via Sarnath (Benares) to Tibetan's Lhassa in. the North; via Burma, Siam and China to Japan's Kamakura in the East; via Sri Lanka's Anuruddhapura to Borobudur (Java) in the South; via Taxila, the oldest location of a University (now Pakistan), to Alexandria (Rome) in the West.

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From Cape Comorin's ocean shore up to Mt. Kalais, the highest Himalaya (Mt. Everest), every boy and girl, man or woman and naturally the grand parents too, know how to clasp their hands and say: "Namaste", which literally means "Not me, but YOU". What a greatness! Of course you may equally say: "Sabai dee..." ' Not the name (or guru) but the gesture is GREAT!

The Province needs no cars and aeroplanes. What for? Barefooted are people walking - very healthy they are! Swift and gracefully do they move through the paddy fields, that pleasing green of a pasture to all sentient-beings... Man interblends with nature - and NATURE provides us with a perfect Rhythm, that Dharma which cannot be improved. Can it? No!

Proper Guidance is not only essential, but also natural to humans, nay to all sentient-beings. Without conductor an orchestra is imperfect. It simply lacks beauty, harmony or integration: MUSIC is not just noise!!!

Royal patronage is visible on many colourfully constructed mansions in which apparent extremes blend together into a compact, whole-hearted tradition. Only sometimes one wonders whether this is still antiquity or mediaeval times, a fairy-land or an utopia of yankee outgrowth. Such disconcerted materialistic monstrosities confront us in Marco Polo's "Eastern Venice" where everything is so paradoxically "strange". However, far and away from the turmoil of such a city is a beautiful Meditation Centre. The place to relax body and mind, and maybe our emotional "soul" too. A spiritual theatre does not play "The king and I", for that is all "Gone with the wind". It rather caters for "profound" mental food - which must not be banal! We have to be reminded that everything is transient, and that the arch-enemy of spirituality is the opposite sex! Sunday afternoon visitors and religious devotees like such things very much, they want something to "hang-on" to, and here they get it. Since ancient times are mountains the abode of gods; and here too is a "Holy Hill", on which a few doz. "fakirs" are living - meditating in peace. Fantastic! How do they survive without any positive job? They live on alms; and mind you, in the jungle! The Lord Lama gives instruction both physically and metaphysically, promotes art and preaches an intellectual spirituality of "SAMENESS". Bon! (=good)

However nice, all this is still part of 'samsara' and certainly in a domain of (kusala) 'karma' (=good actions). Yet, only a few steps aside (SO TRUE: only a bit removed from our 'I'), there it is: the PARADISE! A wonderful meadow, flowers, trees, the water pond, a little brook winding serpentlike in the midst of all - source of inspiring life. Through an open field does this tiny stream flow into the dark jungle; water, an emotional/ motional "bridge" connecting extremes (the practical and the INTELLIGIBLE). This beautifying scene is entirely untouched by "progress" - a most beautiful dream in splendid, sunny daylight. ONLY within us will we find IT, and nowhere else! Cool water, that ravishing juice (from skies above) is poured over bodies of uninhibitedly bathing country-folks - we do the

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same and discover the source of "Eternal Youth": it is neither in fairy-tales nor far away, but paradoxically very near us! Things nearest to us are sometimes (everytime) most difficult to SEE. Do you see IT?

A paradise to him (or her) who can perceive IT. The 'gods' are living here - yes: God made the country (heaven) and man the town (hell).

The End.

Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No.

BEAUTY
Since ancient times did man sing of Beauty - the favorite ones are enraptured in themselves. Experiencing such blissful state is tasting that famous "thrice happy transport of delight"; and overjoyed - entranced- one becomes aware, how insufficient our language is.

ONLY a 'bellesprit' (=beautiful mind) will be able to appreciate BEAUTY, for it is absolutely essential to be in harmony with oneself - internal Beauty sees external Beauty. Beauty has many facets, yet we may roughly differentiate between the following three aspects: -

First of all we have artificial beauty, and here, there is no question whether this is beautiful art or not, it just happens to be the most common presentation i.e. the most popular show off. We are all familiar with these artificial creations of ambitious (perverted) minds who employ latest scientific discoveries and flood the market with such plastic stuff like artificial flowers, false hair and so on; those exciting (grotesque) decorations of what is known as charming refinements of the "feminine foundation" Beauty is but skin-deep! Well, objectively envisaged, we must admit the striking similarity between this "make-up-beauty" and that fabrication of a funeral parlour; namely in both cases the human body is regarded as pretty ugly- otherwise is there any need to pay so much importance in "beautifying" this mortal "frame" of flesh and blood?

Secondly, we have the wonderful Natural Beauty - without intervention of any human hand or mind, it comes all by itself. It simply is: self-glorious! A bit rare in modern days, due to the fashion to move away from Nature. Shy and tender, Natural Beauty at once disappears when man dares to manage/improve this self-bestowed manifestation of grace and simplicity.Unfortunately it is taboo to man's proudest achievements like science and religion: because it is ART! The passively alert seer BEHOLDS it.

Thirdly, the most lovely, purest and rarest of all is the Spiritual Beauty (of the Absolute). The Buddha, a Perfect Man, a Saint is ready and mature to see THAT, that COMPLETENESS - BALANCE and PERFECTION in ALL.

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Rarely mentioned in scriptures, though, the Buddha did commend the beautiful environments in which his disciples lived. The Pali word 'kalyana' had a very wide meaning, very much more than just beautiful, good or noble. It was used with significance, as a rich, inner expression - indicating rather TOTALITY than fragmentary outwardness.

Socrates had no regards whatsoever for aesthetics (=science of the beauty) and made his dear pupil (Plato) to be interested in ethics, i.e. study of moral BEHAVIOUR - BEAUTY of the profoundest INSIGHT. Probably such should be the way! Anyhow there is an external beauty: of the skin, and an internal beauty, that of CHARACTER. If men only could see their 'hearts' (samskaras/mental dispositions/psyche etc.) surely they would pay much more ATTENTION and CARE to what is called 'Development of Mind', instead of wasting time, money and energy on their frail bodies.

Let everything be wholesome, a great event in the Absolute - the DHARMA is BEAUTIFUL SIMPLICITY- Nature's unsurpassed Integration of body and Spirit (mind). - BEAUTY opens every door.

Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 39

ENLIGHTENMENT
The Olympia Stadium provides seats for 100,000 people, everybody is herein enabled to watch conveniently the games down on the ground. In this Berliner Stadium you may still witness an additional spectacle which is called "Grand Illumination", when every spectator present lights a match- stick. It is really touching to see the entire stadium illuminated in the spirit of Freedom and Unity for a short while until all the little, sparkling flames burn out. Everyone of them is sharing that climax of a grand event in an otherwise divided city. LIGHT brings men together.

Football-matches are sometimes taking place by nightfall under the floodlight. With this floodlight it appears that the night is turned into a day. What a world of difference is there between one single lamp, the spotlight, and that huge ensemble of bright floodlights -between a single beam of a searchlight and that immense sunlight flooding all our earth.

The statue of Japan's Great Buddha is known to many people only from photographs. Well, suppose you want to see that Great Buddha face to face, and it so happened that you arrive by midnight in Kamakura when all is dark. Your enthusiasm does not permit you to wait any longer and somebody, with the help of a torchlight, is presently going to show you the monument of the 'Dai Butsu'. Though there is darkness, bit by bit you will get a rough and vague picture of that Buddha. This is quite logical. How- ever, the grandeur, of that unsurpassed BEAUTY, reveals its magnificence only the next day when the sun is shining. THAT all embracing splendid

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brightness is ENLIGHTENING LIGHTNESS! But, maybe due to lack of time, this may not happen; well, then you will never come to KNOW, (and SEE the other of the two vastly differing experiences). The first one of a limited, partial, fragmentary, egocentric mind (unable to wait for the proper time), and the other, that of a mature, ripe 'NO-MIND', the saintly ART of an Absolutist/Bodhisattva (=Wisdom-Being).

Facts! Do you know legal language of lawyers and advocates? No explanations, only hard facts are accepted by judges. Their English, that of the court, is not the same as ours which you and I use. Procedures in law-courts are systematical advancements (bit by bit), one issue in sequence to another issue; and in this way they try (if at all) to arrive at the HIDDEN: getting a full picture put together. It is a well-known fact that at times convicted criminals are acquitted (because they could probably afford to engage a shrewd counsel). Yet, he culprit, tormented by his own conscience, leaves the bars and ... commits suicide. Well, tacitly it may be admitted that at time INNOCENT human beings have been sent to the gallows - miscarriage of justice! From this we see that logical "spotlight" operations might be inadequate means for UNDERSTANDING/REALIZING the whole TOTALITY of REALITY: ENLIGHTENMENT. The ABSOLUTE or the TAO is BEYOND thoughts i.e. not at all comprehensible by the intellect

Apparently coming from nowhere does organic LIFE display itself - from within growing towards without. When a baby is born it continues to grow in the same manner it did as foetus or embryo. It is for example impossible to witness the appearance of the head first, then hands, legs and so on: nowhere in NATURE is such sectional bit by bit system forming! No! Never is any organic growth observable other than in an all-pervading simultaneous TOGETHERNESS. But the Eiffel Tower or any other human construction is precisely done in a fashion whereby everything is manufactured piece by piece until the huge, colossal construction is all put together. Yet, the REALIZATION/ENLIGHTENMENT is certainly not like this! IT is SUCHNESS: a 'wholesale' VIEW of everything all at once; and a logical lawyer may actually have very great difficulties to comprehend THAT =VISION of ALL).

What is the use of small, little torchlights - even those of all electrical lights man has made so far - when the sun is shining brightly? In darkness, that of fundamental ignorance, will logic shine by itself - just as any tiny star on a nightly sky is self-luminous, so does man's reason shine to/for itself: only its own 'I' illuminating. When the sun (of Enlightenment) makes its appearance, all those wee little (ego) lights (stars) disappear, becoming insignificant and losing prominence.

On one occasion the Buddha said:"... oh Brahmana drop everything,.." Let everything fall - falling back on YOURSELF: and you get TOTAL VISION ...

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Purged of every selfish desire -
How wonderfully LIGHT -
So delightful -
Is ENLIGHTENMENT

Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 40

MEDITATION
We meet again - driven by hope - and the longing goes on.

His expectations are still unfulfilled. He tells me that now after reading the entire Lobsang Rampa Series on "astral projection" everything is still the same - there is no change ... (in him) ...

Why do you want change? Don't you already have the "know-how"? Purposiveness! Expecting to be ready for attainment of your goal? You have a definite answer, even long before you put your question. Have you not? Everybody knows!

How hypocritical! Pretending to be innocent (or ignorant) in wanting to be willing to learn- yet only willing to accept confirmation of the own-mind-fabricated, preconceived ideas.

Surely, such is not the WAY of transformation.

This problem cannot be solved by rational thought! In fact our mind usually creates many problems, and therefore ONLY more unhappiness.

Here is the ANSWER! (To your question: What is Meditation?)
MEDITATION is the absence of the meditator!
This is as simple as that - no thinker - stripped of everything.
Death to all that is known, which is the "ME" (self-justification).

"Meditation is an intensification of the mind which is in the fullness of Silence. The mind is not still like some tamed, frightened or disciplined animal; it is still as the waters are still many fathoms down. The stillness there is not like that on the surface when the winds die. The stillness has a life and a movement of its own which is related to the outer flow of life, but is untouched by it. Its intensity is not that of some powerful machine which has been put together by cunning, capable hands; it is as simple and natural as Love, as Lightning, as a full-flowing river." The Buddha's 'anatta' doctrine can be interpreted in many ways; yet it certainly means a denial of body, mind and soul in the absolute sense i.e. no-form, no-feelings, no-thoughts, no-self etc. are then present. So, when everything is tranquil, appeased - and one is not anymore conscious of the body and sensations, in having NO-THOUGHTS at all, (yet no black- out), well, that is MEDITATION.

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"Imagination has no place in Meditation; it must be completely set aside, for the mind caught in imagination can only breed delusion (moha). The mind must be clear without movement, and in the light of that clarity the timeless (akaliko), nameless (anamo) is revealed, a new creativeness comes into being. Meditation is a never-ending movement. It is not at your command. Its benediction does not come to you because you lead a systematized life or follow a particular routine or morality. It comes only when your heart is really open; not opened by the key of thought, not made safe by the intellect, but when it is open as the skies ...with that openness there is Love, and where Love is, there is Meditation. But you can never guard it, keep it, worship it..."

P.S. Any further question? Please do read previous essays.

Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No.41

FASCINATION
Yes that is it, whereto life boils down after all other pursuits have been regarded as being insufficient, dissatisfying and worthless.

Book-knowledge is dry as dust. The intellectuals are steeped in their literal pursuits: memory-work - being captive of the mind only! Of course this is different from an ordinary man's demeanour; yet nothing changes the fact that the learned man's perspective remains a groove too, just as the common man's routine is equally a groove - an inflexible bar: some sort of a mental-railway-track in which our mind is hovering around.

The fateline is clear. Everything seems to be predestined. Every 'milestone' in our life-span is likely to be noted prospectively as it is seen retrospectively. Event after event is marked with precise accuracy, that was even forecast by experts: by "gifted" palmists and astrologers.

Another look shows us that this is not a standard rule applied to/ by everybody. There are instances in which a fateline is not at all visible - the "makers" of their own destiny! The Joker is the highest trump, at least in bridge games, and as such he is never fixed to a standard pattern. He can be the King, an Ace or a Jack as well as any other number, nay he may change sex too, and can certainly be the Queen: it's the VALUE!

Are you fixed or flexible?

What role do you think you play in this "drama" of ours?" In this "game" called: The struggle for existence? Who do you think pulls all the fine strings? If we imagine us to be marionettes, does "God" do all the pulling (bullying) or not? And, do you really like to be FREE? Totally FREE, from everything that you cherish and love? Even from gods? As free as a Joker is? "With no place to put his tired head for rest."

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The final Happiness is inspiring Fascination! Only degrees are varying between vulgarity and Nobility -between obsessions and Contemplation between being haunted and Mysticism -between a "trip" and the Yoga- between "low-class" trances and "high-class" Inspiration. A guy drinking his glass of wine, the professor reading books, spectators watching ballet beauties, musicians listening to symphonies, men indulging and dissipating energy; yielding to their loves -all have a secret "fascination". God alone knows what sort of Muses do cause such "fascination", in prompting each in his own way to act (and succumb in his own peculiar manner). Particularly so-called visions of mediums are very much fascinating, and they do not hesitate to speak out how the thrill is felt ...

Without fascination there is no life going on! Tragic but true.
No love no fascination -but no frustration either!
And therefore: NO MORE SUFFERING!

What a contrast-NIRVANA: FULLY CONSCIOUS and AWARE one is Dying while Living! Severed are all connections from sex appeal, name and fame, money-craze, heaven and earth - THE WHOLE WORLD LOSES ITS GRIP: no more involved! DETACHED! Entirely sober-unimaginative - stands out the ABSOLUTE-the (absolute) FASCINATION.

The End

Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 42

THE MIDDLE PATH
Much has been said about the Middle Path, so much that actually we don't need to talk about it again. True enough we know that Middle Way; but in spite of having this great knowledge, we must frankly admit failure in realizing the same - namely until now we found ourselves more often walking on sideways, and thereby rather by-passing Buddha's Middle Way - we did actually swing from one extreme to another i.e. brilliantly over-stepping that Golden Middle of the Absolute. Please take into consideration, it required a Buddha, a WISDOM-BEING emerging like a lotus flower form the dross, the, mud of passion, to discover the 'Majjhima Padipada'; and only that Middle Path could bestow Light, Wisdom and Insight, because the faculty of SEEING, namely the unsurpassable 'Eye-of- Wisdom' known as 'Panna Cakkhu', was blind, hidden and forlorn. That Dhamma-Cakkhu-Eye is opened up to every Buddha by attainment of ENLIGHTENMENT. Enlightenment precisely is the DISCOVERY of the Golden Middle Path: to SEE and KNOW everything in Middle Terms! All over the world the people are accustomed to belong either to "this" or

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to "that" side (camp), we are advised to be either hot or cold - lukewarm attitudes are despised - exactly this is it, because the Middle Way is (or was) not known! Are you truly able to SEE no distinction as far as race, colour, creed etc. are concerned? Would you really not mind if your own child marries someone outside your own tribe? And would you get accustomed to unfamiliar music, different tastes and "smells" of other people? Truly you will! Provided you resist your instincts - this "lower house" division of our social-conscious "upper house" - by employing divine intelligence, that holy-thinking-spirit of sound reason and common sense. Surely after attaining Enlightenment such superficial barriers are non-existent, even then when you are provoked - anger, or might possibly be hungry - for a Noble Man (Bhagavan) is always a Great Man! And you will be GREAT too! Wouldst thou not? Surely!

In order to live the Middle Way - you cannot do that by making up your mind, or having passed a wilful resolution to do so, oh no THAT Middle Way only exist in WALKING continuously without fail the VIA MEDIA; and after going along the same for a considerable time, you will surely discover its existing REALITY: as a trodden Way. Never does the Buddha-Middle-Path stretch out before our egoistic version and conception. Yes, you honourable friend, that is it: the PARADOX, which you have to solve by mastering ENLIGHTENMENT. This only in case you TRULY want to know by yourself THAT MIDDLE (ABSOLUTE), for the SUPREME HAPPINESS of ALL BEINGS (including yourself: you undiscovered Buddha).

When everything is gone, and we are left alone (orphanage in God is at times quite disappointing!) and it is difficult to get rid of reoccurring thoughts, of frequently returning "ideas", those dreadful illusions ... so difficult to recognize and be put away as deception, as the greatest lie ever made known to us, then we face REALITY/TRUTH: we SEE eye to eye THAT GOLDEN MIDDLE PATH. A noble Bodhisattva goes along that Middle Way because there is no other choice, no alternative! It suits us! It fits fine! We walk on! So the Path exists, as an unequalled SAFETY!

Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 43

Gone by Hundred Years
Once upon a time there was a young Bodhisattva, a Holy Man known as Universal Yogi, who lived a normal life just as you and I are doing: keep on smiling even in difficulties. One fine day he decided to leave this daily routine, and hence he took a towel together with a mat (his bed) both he rolled up and walked off ... towards the mountains. The unusual quietness of that natural environment made it possible for him to be at once in tune

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with the ABSOLUTE: he got perfect 'samadhi', the yogi-trance in which all bodily animation is suspended. Unnoticed by anybody, he remained for a very long time meditating in a cave: his mountain-abode. Indeed he looked like a lifeless corpse, yet inwardly he was extraordinarily alive and aware: superconscious. In spite of this, anyone would have thought that this man is already dead and gone. Since nobody knew about him and his meditation- cave, time went on; about hundred years did pass-by until he awoke from his meditative absorption... Well, he looked very young and the white beard was the only indication that this "Youth" might after all be a mature, mellow Sage. All of a sudden he exclaimed: -

"Looking ahead or looking back, in both ways gone by 100 years!" - "Fire burns out," he spoke "ashes only remain! Grey ash looks good, does it not? being neither white nor black: representing zero point, the (neutral] ABSOLUTE. However that black stuff, the left-overs from our mundane earth-born fires, is less beautiful; when wars are over, all is black. Ordinary life is ardent, full of fierce passion, so much that nobody is cool enough to perceive the end and outcome of this emotional (temperamental) heat, which is ashes too: frustrating miseries of self-blinding fires..."

"When we were young," he continued "we were told to offer our seats in tramcars to elders. To-day's boys and girls don't do this anymore - they have 10 bus tickets and feet swell like tycoon-kids: demanding their sitting-rights - disrespect rooted in ill-mannered "better-knowing" theories. We, who got acquainted with the Absolute/Dharma, were taught to be meekly gentle, and thus avoided worship of our own intellectual mind only. Then faces are not screwed up, they look naturally relaxed! A healthy spirit is nourished through SPONTANEOUS veneration by listening to Wise Men - whose lovely presence makes us open-minded - THAT is immense HAPPINESS!"

"All children are part of One-Whole-Humanity when the mind is EMPTY! As more often you look at the beautiful sky with all the sparkling, countless stars in their VASTNESS, the sooner you will find that an all- embracing string of LOVE is uniting our hearts like colourful beads in a garland: the 'mala' of 'AUM MANI PADMA HUM'. The Buddha-Nature is reflected in your beautiful eyes and smiling, innocent faces (void of "bright" ego-self; void of fear; without prejudices). Do not think of yourselves as though you do know some/everything. Compared to all that which you do not know, you appear to be like a tiny speck of dust in a desert - which may be puffed-up with vainly-imagined, glorified super-self-estimation... ONLY the Buddha-Citta (Universal Intelligence) is (GREAT)! THAT Spark Divine which exists hidden, undiscovered in all of us. And nothing else is valid in the eyes of the Absolute."

... and off he went ... like the unseen wind ...

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Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 44

SPRING OF VESAK
Vesak is a spring month of the lunar calendar corresponding to the month of May/June respectively. The twenty first day of June is known as summer-solstice, i.e. on this day our sun occupies the highest position in the northern half of the globe: it is the longest day -and the shortest night. A person born in such a period shows distinctly different characteristics than a man born at the time of winter-solstice (December 21st).

Summertime! Life is easy - everything prevails in abundance, in gaiety, lightness and brightness, in many colours; ripe fruits are being offered readily, the food is fresh: newly harvested. Very different is winter where people have to, accept conserved, preserved (old) food-stuff. The entire outlook, character, mental-make-ups, traits, everything varies widely between a man born in December (Sagittarius) and a man born at the height of spring (Gemini) or at the summer's zenith: the royal "Lion".

Mysterious powers are frequently associated with the dark (shadow) side of our cyclical life, and this winter is symbolically known as "imprisonment of the spirit" where all is cold and man is left to his imagination: dreaming of beautiful flowers, green meadows, warm sunshine and ... paradise - heaven (and hell). The arctic is for example the place where man is longing and yearning for the sun to return; those long, dreadfully melancholic, ice-cold, nightly days, described in stories of Scandinavia: ... how wonderful one feels, after winters have finally gone, only to perceive the life-bestowing advancement of spring, the coming-back of LIGHT: the resurrection of the SUN! Warm air, pregnant with spicy aroma, is an advance messenger of the lovely spring... summer-joys are ahead...

The OPENNESS (of summer), especially manifested in the princely Lord Buddha has up to this very day remained unchallenged by anybody. Nothing is clouded in secrecy; like a beautiful full moon in spring when all clouds have vanished, so shines forth the DHARMA in its clarity: removing colossal veils of illusion. Says the Buddha: "... I am not an 'acchariya muti' a teacher with a closed fist; everything I have made known to you, and what did I make known to you? That which is for your, for everyones, WELL-BEING and HAPPINESS, namely the attainment of NIRVANA: LIBERATION from all ill and suffering. That has been clearly, openly, freely revealed as the NOBLE TRUTH ... and what has not been revealed that is of utter unimportance, because it leads again to bondage, to suffering ..." What a frank statement of a truly mature, mellow Wise Sage. Isn't it?

When one is placed, as the Buddha was, in green environments where nothing was lacking, it is probably possible to reach True Contentment. Fill the belly and empty the mind, this Chinese saying precisely confirms

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the above, because to get detached (free) from material things is relatively easier than to be freed from fixed, delusive ideas - the empty mind indicates FREEDOM from obsessions. Such mature outlook: the 'Weltanschauung' of wishlessness, we will only get through right UNDERSTANDING - by limiting ourselves to the minimum requirements, even if per chance we are placed in affluent circumstances. Once THAT is properly REALIZED, nobody is willing to leave That Divine Abode of Enlightenment from which our worldly life, here, appears to be like a filthy public latrine: unclean.

Probably it is youthful spring-time which is the most beautiful of all seasons. Youth, that boundless feeling of raptured intoxication, yet void of intoxicants, nature's abundance, without care, free from sorrows, a lovely time which all of us have once experienced. A man who is happy does not worry and bother, because he is in tune with himself. Such (youthful) Happiness is again reached by the Wise Ones through Insight Meditation of Timelessness: Enlightenment! That happened to Sakyamuni on the Vesak Day! Happy people have greater resources than miserable men. These joyful ones can better SEE, better UNDERSTAND, better PARTAKE - for they are able to SHARE. In fact only the Happy Ones can SHARE, others are bargaining: we give in order to receive back. And this is the blinding barrier of ignorance which prevents our Enlightenment. Such narrow-minded course of action (karma), makes us slavishly obedient to FATE, that "lunatic" pull of astrological moons and stars and planets. The Buddha Gautama discouraged those unhappy practices of fortune-telling and future prognosis!

Vesak is a re-discovery of our youthful resources by checking our own thinking and feeling. Precious energy is gained through BEING HAPPY! That Timeless Reality, deep-rooted, yet undiscovered in us must be nourished by SHARING, in every respect: mentally, emotionally, spiritually ...

Such is Vesak's Enlightenment.

Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 45

ABSOLUTE CONSCIOUSNESS or Body-Self-Conscious
An idea of which we are conscious of gives way to identification with that very idea: the so-called subject identifies itself with that very object, but neither one actually exists - only that which exists (in between them) as process, is operating, namely sangharas (=mental make ups).

It matters very little if one actually sees things with the eyes e.g. a golden Dollar, or mentally visualizing something - the coin - as far as our mind is concerned, it wants food which happens to consist of

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ideas only (have you ever tried to have no thoughts at all?); and hence the visible, touchable Dollar is registered in our brain as a mental image i.e. as an idea. Nobody would give importance to something, say the Dollar Note, unless he knows beforehand of its existing validity in terms of cash-value. Of prime importance are "preconceived" ideas, called know- ledge; and this, again, only shows that everything is MIND ONLY.

Suppose somebody is talking to you in an absolutely foreign language - in spite of hearing sound and seeing gesticulation you still will be utterly unable to UNDERSTAND - you cannot get any idea which makes sense or meaning. Therefore, in conversation we are only reminded, in getting re- acquainted with previous acquired ideas; yet paradoxically we believe to learn something NEW. Do we do that??? Nothing is new under the stars!

In most of us desire is the sole driving-force for any activity, this very wanting finds expression in our thoughts, words and deeds i.e. volitions of our so-called personality are nothing but cravings for recognition - getting and giving influence etc. - and finally all ends up in domination: making 'karma'. Such is an example of what is called ''dog-conscious" self, namely our body-conscious mentality functions at its lowest, that of our "brother-ass": the body. It we now for example revert the whole show - instead of "me", "WE" attitudes - what do you think will be the outcome? Answer: "god - conscious" self! Ho0wever, this too is still Kindergarten-stage and it has to be superseded - by the ABSOLUTE ITSELF. Because 'GOD' to many a man is nothing but an idea.

The doctrine of 'vidynana vada' (=consciousness only) is certainly nothing new, i.e. THAT which is left over when all our ideas are stripped off ('tis a bit hard to figure the EMPTY mind, isn't it?) is the beginning of 'samadhi' = meditation. Here memory creeps in as the mightiest barrier - yet, how powerful is memory while in BLISS? Non-existent! The memory belongs to the mind and has to be left behind too. Pure consciousness (citta) - AWARENESS - and-certainly no ideas, no thoughts, such is the test- stone of the existence of ABSOLUTE CONSCIOUSNESS which everyone can experience for himself, provided one knows 'HOW', (i.e. to be HAPPY in/by oneself).

Cleanliness of thoughts and feelings (no jealousy and suspicion) is absolute prerequisite for any worthwhile SPIRITUALITY. Guidance comes to an earnest, sincere seeker of TRUTH! Such genuine 'sadhu' is bound to meet with other co-fellow-travellers on this Supreme Path of the Absolute, which is satisfying both in this life as well as in other possible lives to come. Have 'DARSANA'(=sight/company)of those one hundred percent EARNEST Ones. Recognize THAT VALUE! And do not jump to hasty conclusions! Be WISE.

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Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 46

THE BUDDHA
BUDDHA is not a personal name -a BUDDHA is ONE who is AWAKENED, HE is a KNOWER or SEER. SAKYAMUNI the BUDDHA was a 'muni' (=sage) of the Sakya clan and his name was Sidhartha Gautama. Before realization of the Supreme Truth (Enlightenment) he lived a wealthy luxury-life which his father, King Suddhodana, in the hope to keep off sorrow and misery from his son, provided very comfortably. Many stories tell us about his royal mansions, one for the winter season, another for the rainy season and yet a third palace for the summer time, such was the background of the Buddha-to-be. Prince Gautama was born in spring 623 B. C. in Lumbini at the outskirts of the Himalayas of southern Nepal or northern India. At the age of nineteen he was married to the beautiful Yasodhara who bore him a son by the name of Rahula. On hearing the news of his son's birth Sidhartha is supposed to have exclaimed: "A fetter has been born" -LOVE is attachment! India of those days (2500 years ago) knew already the philosophy of rebirth or transmigration; and noble sons frequently became homeless wanderers in order to live the life of DETACHMENT, and thereby gaining FREEDOM from every renewed existence: earthly as well as heavenly - this "blown out" is known as NlRVANA= LIBERATION, which is the summum bonum of the BUDDHA DHARMA (=Teaching). Following the trend of his time, the handsome prince Sidhartha, at the age of 29, left his royal palace, shaved his beard and head, and became a RENUNCIATE. For about 6 years he lived a strenuous ascetic life of self-mortification. This must have led to his basic penetration: extremes are utterly fruitless; hence at the end of that period he abandoned self-torture and attained ENLIGHTENMENT by the discovery of the 'golden' MIDDLE PATH. Remembering his former existences, and seeing the misery of life thoroughly, he was determined to dedicate his life to the welfare and HAPPINESS of all mankind in so far as they were willing to listen to the DHARMA (=LAW) by putting the NOBLE TRUTH into practice.

He became the Teacher! (Of gods and men). Since that time quite a number of outstanding personalities have been influenced by the DHARMA - in fact the whole of Asia bears the emblem of the BUDDHA. The San- skirt word 'bodhi' is the root from which 'budhi' is derived which means intelligence/insight/wisdom, hence BUDDHA the KNOWER or UNDERSTANDING ONE. Bodhi (=Enlightenment) is something quite apart from intellectualization or sophistication: it is REALIZATION in toto! After 45 years of teaching the Buddha did not name a successor before he passed away (Paranirvana) at a ripe age of 80.

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King Asoka(250 B.C.) known as the 'Beloved of the Gods', did set a high example for mankind, namely at the height and might of a powerful career he abandoned the sword of violence and ruled for over 40 years without any warfare in accordance with the Noble Buddha Teaching of NON-VIOLENCE.

From this we see that Buddhism is not just a theoretical philosophy, far remote and outdated, oh no, it is scientific! Nay, it certainly goes beyond materialistic sciences of our times. It is equally a solace or consolation for the dejected ones as well as a critical inquiry into life for the intelligent ones. In every way it is an INTERPRETATION of REALITY - now as it was formerly - offering something for everybody - the greatest VALUE for an original thinker: THE GIFT OF TRUTH (DHARMA) EXCELS ALL OTHER GIFTS.

May all of you be well and HAPPY!

Ooh Mee Toh Hood
Series No. 47

Thus Have I Heard
The discourses the Buddha is supposed to have spoken all begin with this same sentence: - Thus have I heard ...

Talks, elucidations or sermons given by the Buddha, in the form as we have those collections to-day, are called in Sanskrit 'Sutras', and this literally means: what one has heard. These Sutras are systematically arranged according to length or contents or number and so on. However, do not let us forget that at the Buddha's time there was no such arrangement; for such organization was done in later times only. Just figure how the Buddha lived: he had no fixed home - without any great possession - free and detached from anything worldly. Thoughts of COMPASSION and LOVE were his constant companions. Ambition was foreign to the aristocratic Buddha- if he wanted anything at all, it was based on SYMPATHY, COMPASSION and BENEDICTION. Often, when the Buddha visited as village or a township, it just so happened that people requested him to talk, and thus experiencing the JOY and BLISS resulting from listening to a Wise Man. We must not forget that India is a land where Philosophers, Sages, Saints or 'Mahatmas' were always greatly honoured, respected and welcomed. Any man who went through all pleasures our world can offer will certainly know that the Joy, Bliss and CONTENTMENT one feels (tastes) in the presence of an Enlightened One (a true Renunciate) is SUPREME, and that this has nothing of its equal anywhere else. Therefore, great people who are cultured and mature did always know that a good way towards Realization, of the ULTIMATE REALITY, is by getting that excellent chance of serving a Noble Guest - the true embodiment of the Divine - like that of a living Saint; and such rare opportunity was very welcome.

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To get that PRIVILEGE of having the Buddha in their village, preferably in their own house, was thus the basic attitude in which most of the Sutras were spoken -and heard i.e. recorded verbally. And further, we must remember that the Dharma (Teaching of Reality) is an approach of unlearning i.e. giving up our prejudices and abandoning fixed notions - thereby acquiring a totally NEW attitude: that of the "EMPTY- MIND". In other words nothing more has to be learned; for "knowledge" is regarded as a burden - it is all 'moha' (=delusion). Well, THAT is REALITY: in every moment IT is new! The speeches and lectures the Buddha gave were always 'impromptu', arising from a request in a certain situation in which he was then placed - never were there previously arranged "ideas" based on academic training! It was always a presentation of first-hand UNDERSTANDING: INSIGHT coming from the depth of an individual penetration called 'vimutti' (=LIBERATION) - no formality, no staleness nor dullness; and this alone explains the JOY and FULFILMENT of listening to "LIFE-TALKS". The real Buddha-Words were very crisp, fresh, inspiring and ORIGINAL.

ORIGINALITY is LIVING - all else is copying! Hence the Zen-Masters put great stress on: "... forward to the (your own) SOURCES!"

...WALKON-and be of good cheer!

48 in number were the vows the Bodhisattva made in aid of human sufferings; and with this 48th article we complete our OOH MEE TOH HOOD Series.

MERCIFUL KUAN YIN GODDESS
To our own surprise we may find that there are many, if not all, HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS, which are certainly womanly in their basic make-up - others are un-womanly - and e.g. GRACE, and MERCY are such feminine qualities. In fact most of these intrinsic values - the very foundation of an individuality - evidently belong to the "ying" (female) context. The male is supposed to be strong, yet power (shakti) in itself is essentially female; and so are other qualities like fame, speech, memory, will- power, firmness, endurance, greatness, righteousness, justice, beauty, gratefulness, gentleness, modesty and so on. It seems that here are many more "ying" points than "yang" marks to be scored. Just as this is the case of our physical origination: the X as well as the Y chromosomes merge into the ovum (which again is of X nature) in order to be born of a mother's womb.

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How does Lao Tzu say:- "A man who is abiding by the (feminine) ying-principle, though being fully conscious of his own masculinity, the yang-principle, is able to occupy any (or every) position in this world."

Ever since man became aware of his own nature, particularly his sex, he made a striking division between the so-called "stronger" and the "weaker" sex. Yet, leaving aside biology, is there truly such a clear-cut distinction from a psychological point-of-view? Many dynamic "goddesses" have played main roles in our "human-drama" from time immemorial. In almost every established religion we may find vivacious women who got into the records of historical saintliness e.g. Helen; Joan d'Arc; Mary; Maya; Yasodhara; Parvathi; Sita; Ambapali; Sujatha etc.. It is the mother-principle after all, which keeps us going. Is it not? The "yang" (father) is the origin of everything, and the "ying" (mother) gives birth to all things. Many a man finds it easier, natural and possibly more fascinating to fall on their knees before a woman (worshipping), by paying respect to their counterpart (a goddess), than to see GENUINENESS, REALIZATION and WISDOM among their own sex; for it is equally an astounding phenomenon that a man nearly always wants to "knock-out" another male. Even "X" nature seems to rid itself of Y chromosomes as soon as possible - early boys and late girls...

The Buddhistic Kuan Yin Bodhisattva is the most valued and venerated symbolic manifestation of the Numinous in Asia. Originally, under the name of Avalokitesvara, a distinction was probably made a bit in favour of the male, but later on it became a very merciful "Lady" Goddess,because as we have already mentioned, potent womanhood is likely to bestow more tangible gifts on our life, here, than any mature man is willing to give ...

Legendary history refers to Kuan Yin as the royal princess of noble family who solely out of compassion renounced luxurious comfort, and thus dedicated her entire life to save all sentient beings by listening to the cries and prayers of millions of men and women who want help. She gives Benediction, Grace, Mercy and Blessings to the needy ever since the NAME came to be known to be called upon. To all sincere and earnest devotees She is very near: a Guiding-Light to seekers who have lost the WISDOM-WAY.

Reason fails to clarify what faith accomplishes.
Why not?
So! Then let us give IT a try!
By on hundred percent self-surrender and total dedication.
May all Sentient Beings be well and happy and CONTENT.

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WHAT DO YOU WANT?
1.) Mammon, 2.) Heaven, 3.) Hell or 4.) Freedom from all?

No. 1) The god of this earth -the devil - mara - satan - kala - known as "mammon" which means money, will serve you as long as you serve him; and if you want nothing but money, absolutely nothing besides this, you will surely get what you desire! Guarantee! 100% GUARANTEE!

But what then?

You have it - you have everything and nothing - you can buy what is available - what is exchangeable for money - that is all.

The finest, best and most precious things in life however money can never buy, e.g. Uprightness, Peace of mind. Tact, Joy, Goodness, Health, Freedom (from want). Immortality, BLISS as well as BEAUTY and TRUTH, and last but not the least LOVE.

No. 2) Suppose you will come to understand that this world of ours is rotten - bad - unjust and no good at all, well, it is only natural to long and yearn for a golden future and dream of a paradise with every expectation; imagined colourfully, described beautifully, presented so full of hopes that all the suppressed emotions, unfulfilled desires and countless wishes might get the maximum satisfaction ..... (if only you could reach there?).

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast!" People will torture themselves here in order to attain heaven later.

The most important factor: THE PRESENT MOMENT, is completely ignored, nay, even fully destroyed by allowing oneself to be miserable now, in view of future gains. However, the scholars did not yet decide who fools whom?

'ora et labora' = pray and work.

No.3) Crooked thinking, crooked action, in short the evil-way leads straightaway to hell. No need is felt to change falsehood, dishonesty, decadence and corruption - just keep on LYING, SLANDERING, BACK- BITING, STEALING, CHEATING, DECEIVING, KILLING.MURDERING and RAPING to the best of your abilities and nothing is more certain than this: without delay, forward to hell!

''All hope abandon, ye who enter here."

No. 4) And maybe, somehow, somewhere you will come across a beautiful Buddha-image- peaceful and serene - sitting quiet by itself; or a line of WISDOM written very simply, straightforward and laconic, so that only at a second glance - when you re-read it - your attention is arrested - appreciating something new: the state of unimportance and contentment.

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NO MORE EXCITEMENT - neither this nor that - all selecting and choosing has come to an end! Instead of being in the arena, (busybody) in the forefront, getting crowned with laurel-wreaths, (diplomas and medals or decorations) suddenly YOU find YOURSELF! - YOU discover your SELF, the central point around which all and everything turns; and you become an OBSERVER, an ONLOOKER, an U.O.P. which is the opposite of a V.I.P.-you become a SEER:

carefully listening to WISDOM -
remembering your NOBILITY-
serving OTHERS
in humility.

"Oh friend," the Lord, the BUDDHA said, "liberated from all views, theories, speculations, ideas and ... (foolishness), that is BLISS, it is FREEDOM FROM ALL."

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Dari Ooh Mee Toh Hood Series # 15
Translated by Bhikkhu Jinavamsa
Diterjemahkan oleh B. Jinavamsa

ADA IDAMAN ANDA?
1) Harta? 2) Surga? 3) Nerka? 4) Kebebsan?

1) Sang Raja Dunia, Mara, dikenal amat berjuasa. Dunia ini digenggamnya dengan Hartanya. Ia akan melayani anda, asal anda mau menjadi budak HARTA. Seandainya anda ingin memperoleh harta dunia ini, cuma harta melulu, anda akan bisa mendapatkan idaman anda itu. Pasti. 100% dijamin.

Tetapi kemudian?

Anda memiliki harta - anda memiliki segalanya, tetapi juga tak punya apa2. Anda hanya bisa membeli barang2 yang dapat dinilai dengan uang, dengan harta. Hanya itu saja.

Yang terbaik, terindah dan yang peling berharga dalam hidup ini tak bisa dibeli. Kejujuran, Ketentraman, Kebijaksanaan, Kegembiraan, Kesehatan, demikian pula KEBAJIKAN dan KEBENARAN, serta yang tak kurang pentingnya: KASIH.

2) Misalkan anda mengerti bahwa dunia kita ini penuh kebusukan, buruk, zalim dan brengsek sama sekali. Ya, tentunya wajar anda mencita2 kan sebuah idaman tentang masadepan yang gemilang, sebuah mimpi tentang Taman Firdaus beserta segenap hayalannya. Indah, mengagumkan, padat dengan harapan bahwa semua kekecewaan, keinginan dan cita2 yang tak terhitung banyaknya ini akan dikabulkan dan dipuaskan................... (oh, sungguhkah anda mungkin sampai kesana?).

Tiap detik jantung anda menyembukan harapan baru. Orang membiarkan diri tersiksa disini supaya beroleh surga yang kekal........ nanti.

Faktor terpenting: SAAT SEKARANG INI, sama sekali diperdulikan, bahkan dico-ba mati2an untuk dilupakan saja sambil membiarkan dirinya terus menderita, memandung kekejauhan yang

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belum pasti. Bukankah para cerdikpandai telah menyindir si tolol ini? - ora et labora = berdoa dan bekerja -

3) PENJELEWENGAN, PIKIRAN JAHAT, perbuatan jahat, semua cara2 jahatan akan langsung menyeret ke Neraka. Tiada ingatan untuk mengubah kesalahan, kenistaan, kebobrokan dan kehancuran. Hanya terus-menerus BERJUSTA, MEMFITNAH, HIANAT, MENCURI, MENIPU, MENGECOH, MEMBUNUH, MEMPERKOSA dan melakukuan kejahatan lainnya banyak2. Tentu arahnya jelas: tanpa ampun lagi, menuju Neraka: "Tiada harapan, bagi yang masuk kesini."

4) Mungkin, kebetulan, suata saat anda berhadapan dengan suatu. Area Buddha yang indah, darnai dan agung, penuh ketenangan. Atau membaca uraian tentang Kebenaran yang jelas dan sederhana, tidak berbelit2, gamblang, hingga anda segera merasa tertarik. Andapun mulai menghargai sesuatu yang baru: Keadaan puas, tidak lagi di-buru2 ribuan kebutuhan.

Tiada rangsang lagi - tiada satupun - masa memilih dan membedakan segala sesuatu telah berakir. Tidak lagi merasa diri diarena. terhias medali2. Anda tiba2 menernukan diri sendiri! Anda menernukan anda sendiri, sebuah titik pusat yang dikelilingi sermuanya, dikelilingi segalanya itu. Sungguh berubah sama sekali. Anda jadi Pengawas saja, Pengamat, Penonton:

penuh kebi jaksanaan
menyadari keluhuran anda;
melayani yang lain
dengan kerendahan hati.

"Tak terpengaruh oleh aneka macam pendapat, perkiraan, dungaan dan lain2, adalah Berkah," sabda Sang Buddha,

"itulah KEBEBASAN SEMPURNA"

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Anda menyulitkan diri sendiri -
Semua derita anda buat sendiri -
Siapa lagi Penyelamat anda?
Disiarkan dengan cuma2.
(Dhammapada)