RE: [Dharmajala] Faith is Treasure - Ven Master Hsing Yun

[Suhendra Sulistyo]

Yah beginilah salah satu proses pembodohan orang-orang. Selalu menekankan “FAITH” dengan embel2 faith ke ajaran buddha supaya kelihatan lebih halus.   Coba diperhatikan lebih konsentrasi ke kata2 dibawah ini yang saya kutip dari artikel tsb: “To have faith is to uphold and observe the truth. To have faith is to practice the teachings of the Buddha without doubt. By having faith, our body and mind will be purified. By having faith, we will have unlimited strength.”   Mari kita pikirkan apa itu hubugannya kalau punya keyakinan/percaya pasti kita menjalankan kebenaran, kalau punya keyakinan pasti kita menjalankan ajaran Buddha tanpa ragu, kalau punya keyakinan badan dan pikiran kita akan disucikan.   Orang-orang yang bunuh diri dengan mengajak orang lain (suicide bomber) itu keyakinannya tinggi sekali bahwa mereka berbakti ke agama mereka, sehingga mereka bisa dibodohi untuk membunuh orang lain apakah mereka badan dan pikirannya menjadi suci?. Keyakinan itu juga adalah pisau bermata dua, sayang sisi satunya tidak dijelaskan di artikel dibawah ini dengan baik (sama sekali tidak). Bedanya kalau artikel ini seperti pada umumnya tujuannya memang tidak semulia (menurut yang percaya/yakin) para pem bom bunuh-diri itu, melainkan Dana (uang/materi). Saya tidak pernah membaca dimana sang Buddha meminta murid-muridnya supaya mempunyai keyakinan terhadap ajarannya sendiri. Malah selalu ditanamkan konsep ehipassiko dan kalama sutta. Konsep “Keyakinan” inilah yang selalu dipakai oleh para penjaring umat sebagai cara terampuh menakuti orang-orang supaya ikut jalan yang benar (maksudnya jalannya dia sendiri, yang lain itu sesat).   Saya sudah mengunjungi vihara2 organisasi kelompok asuhan penulis artikel ini dan yang saya temukan adalah kebanyakan intinya  anjuran berdana (tersedia daftar tarifnya) dan poster akibat karma baik/buruknya (yang mereka akui sendiri bukan bagian dari sutra Buddha setelah saya tanya secara detail) berdana ditempel dikotak dana yang tersedia dimana-mana. Kalau kita lihat patung sang Buddha/bodhisatva dipajang di hotel2 berbintang sebagai tempat sabun atau sebagai penghias suasana di bar, mungkin kita tidak heran karena ketidak mengertian mereka. Tetapi kalau di suatu vihara kita lihat patung bodhisatva difungsikan sebagai penghias kebun seperti yang telah mereka terapkan, apakah kita merasa terjamin bahwa mereka mengerti apa yang mereka ajarkan sendiri.   Jangan mudah percaya/yakin terhadap apapun termasuk terhadap tulisan saya ini… lihat dan buktikan sendiri… itulah yang sebaiknya kita jalankan       From: Dharmajala@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of TSUKUDU - Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 2:26 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; MABINDO@yahoogroups.com; dharmajala@yahoogroups.com; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Dharmajala] Faith is Treasure - Ven Master Hsing Yun   Faith is Treasure   Once upon a time, a philosopher was swimming in a lake when all of a sudden, a current pulled him under. As he frantically struggled to stay afloat, a thought entered his mind: "I am a philosopher, so I should not panic when faced with a life and death situation." When he began to relax his body and mind, the water's buoyancy pushed him to the surface and he was able to swim back to shore under his own power. This story shows that when one has faith in oneself, one will have infinite strength. Faith and confidence are our inner treasures. If we have belief, we will have faith. If we have faith, we will have unlimited resources. The problem with today's society is that people have limited themselves by searching for resources from without. Even if there were an abundance of material supplies in our world, they would eventually run out. The energy shortage has become a crisis for many countries, which forces them to send experts into undeveloped areas in search of a solution. In actuality, we are all experts in excavating new resources, as long as we are able to look within instead of without. If we are willing to uncover our inner treasure, our lives will be enriched indefinitely by our faith. To have faith is to have unwavering confidence. To have faith is to uphold and observe the truth. To have faith is to practice the teachings of the Buddha without doubt. By having faith, our body and mind will be purified. By having faith, we will have unlimited strength. In chanting the six-syllable dharani, "Om Mani Padme Hum," mispronunciation will not alter the effect of the dharani, if the chanter is sincere and focused. This is so because of the power that is inherent in the chanter's unquestionable faith. In addition to confidence, credibility is a very important human characteristic. A person who is confident and credible will be successful in whatever he does. In order to eliminate conflict, contradiction, discrimination, and the illusion of gains and losses, one must have faith. The Avatamsaka Sutra says, "Faith is the foundation of the right path, the mother of all merit. It nourishes the root of all that is good." Without faith, one would not set foot on the path to enlightenment. By being skeptical and doubtful, one will not have a glimpse of the ultimate Truth. Faith is like a ray of light that will show us the way when we are lost in darkness. Faith is like sunshine that will brighten our day when we are feeling down and out. Faith will rekindle our hopes when we have failed miserably. The Song of Faith reminds us, "One should acquire worldly wealth with the hand of faith. One should cross the vast ocean with the boat of faith. One should grow plenty of fruit with the root of faith. One should receive unlimited treasure by entering the gate of faith. To have faith is to have hope; to have confidence is to have strength. Faith is the source of all virtues, the caregiver of wisdom. There is unlimited treasure in faith and confidence." We are our own worst enemy. When we lack self-confidence, we are doomed to failure. However, if we have faith in ourselves, we will not only be successful in our worldly endeavors, we will also acquire the worldly karma necessary for enlightenment. Therefore, in this world, there is nothing more precious and valuable than faith and confidence.   ************************************************************************ DISCOVERING THE DHARMA. By : Master Hsing Yun Some People believe dharma to be profound, Something has to incomprehensible. This is not the case at all. The Dharma is something we all can understand and use. The Dharma is a guiding light which can help us to better evalute the material, Social, and spiritual aspects of life __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! 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