Happy New Year to Everyone,
Upon reading the subject line, that you might think that this post could
be some kind of organized or structured text from some book. Actually
they are just spur of the moment notions arising from within.
Yes, arising from within is actually what I like to share on this New
Years Day.
As you know the three principal practices of Buddhism is Precept,
Meditation and Wisdom.
Precept or discipline is a practice to surpass our habits -- habitual
food, habitual thoughts, habitual actions. Or in blunt terms, our
additions and our self-serving notions. This practice is like
detoxification. This practice feels somewhat like suffering through
"cold-turkey" conditions. :-)
Then we awake, we're purified, we become anew. We enter into a state of
pure awareness. Some call this state of being absolute detachment from
all forms. It is like a meditative state in our everyday life. It
feels calm and peaceful as well as joyful.
In this state of pure awareness, we are more able to be in sync with the
wisdom of the universe, some call it the Heart of Buddha, the true
cause(s) of all phenomena, the law(s) of nature. It is manifested
according to the nature of the universe, or our self-nature, or Buddha
nature. At this stage, we become clear to all causes and effects.
What for? To fulfill every encounter in our lives at each and every
moment, so that the karma of each phenomenon is eradicated. Then..
My Teacher added a fourth practice - the practice of Liberation.
Liberation of our spirit, the most elusive and abstract concept in the
universe. Yet it has always been there, without beginning or end. We
practice to let our spirit sore beyond the boundaries of our body and mind.
When we purify our karmic hindrance of our body and mind, then our
spirit is liberated, then we are able to witness the truth of the
universe and awaken to our true purpose of existence.
On this New Years Day, I wish everyone to be liberated from within and
be enlightened in this life time.
JMJM
Head Teacher
86th Generation
Order of Chan
1/1/2012
