Dhammapada 172-173

Another translation for Dhammapada 172-173:

Who once was heedless,
but later is not,
brightens the world
like the moon set free from a cloud.

His evil-done deed
is replaced with skillfulness:
he brightens the world
like the moon set free from a cloud.

Reference: www.intratext.com

Meditation on Death

Meditation on Death
Marananussati

Like a flame blown out by the wind,
This life-continuum goes to destruction;
Recognizing one's similarities to others,
One should develop mindfulness of death.

Just as people who have achieved
Great success in the world have died,
So too I must certainly die.
Death is harassing me.

Death always comes along
Together with birth,
Searching for an opportunity,
Like a murderer out to kill.

Not the least bit stoppable,
Always going forward,
Life rushes towards its end,
Like the rising sun to its setting.

Like lightning, a bubble, dew drops,
Or a line drawn in the water, life cannot last;
Death is like a murderer after his foe,
Completely unrestrainable.

Death slays those great in glory,
In strength, merit, powers, and wisdom,
And even the two kinds of conquerors;
No need to speak about one like me.

Due to a lack of the necessities of life,
To some inner or outer misfortune,
I who am dying moment after moment
Can die in the blink of an eye.

The life of mortals is signless,
Its length cannot be known in advance;
It is difficult and limited
And tied up with suffering.

There is no possibility
That mortals shall not die;
Having reached old age they die;
Such is the nature of living beings.

As a fruit, when ripe,
Has to fall,
So all beings live constantly
In the fear that they will die.

As a potter's earthen jars
Eventually must all break up,
So too does the life of mortals
Eventually come to an end.

The young and the old,
The foolish and the wise,
All move in the grip of death;
All finally end in death.

Impermanent are all conditioned things,
Affected by rising and falling away;
Having arisen they then must cease;
Blissful is it when they subside.

Before long this body will lie
Cast away upon the ground,
Bereft of all consciousness
Like a useless block of wood.

Uninvited he came here,
Without leave he departed.
He went just as he came,
So why lament?

Like gigantic boulders,
Mountains reaching to the sky
Moving in from all sides,
Crushing all in the four directions–

So aging and death come
Rolling over living beings–
Noble warriors, priests, merchants,
Workers, outcasts, and scavengers.
They spare nothing;
They crush everything.

Here elephants can hold no ground,
Nor can chariots or infantry.
One can't defeat them by a battle of spells
Or buy them off by means of wealth.

So a wise person,
Seeing his own good,
Secures firm conviction
In the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.

He who practices the Dhamma
In thought, word, and deed,
Receives praise here on earth
And after death rejoices in heaven.

Last weekend was Kathina weekend at the Bhavana Society.

There was also a merit making in remembering p'Krieng (Dr. Kriengsak Sukanich) who passed away last month.

I really like the "Meditation on Death" as it helps me contemplating death. There was one question I asked myself everyday when I was an undergrad.

Will there be any regrets if I die today?

What Would Buddha Do at Work?

What would Buddha do about rumors and gossip?

What is Right Speech?
Abstaining from lying, divisive speech,
abusive speech, and idle chatter.

Samyutta Nikaya 45.8

What would Buddha tell people who want to change themselves?

One who turns away from recklessness
Is like the moon emerging from the clouds
Her evil deeds give away to good and she
Is like the moon emerging from the clouds.

Dhammapada 172-173

Excerpts from this book: What Would Buddha Do at Work?

เรารักแม่

เพลงเรารักแม่
โดย รวมศิลปิน RS



Another song I have been practicing to sing for my mom.
:-D

พรของพ่อ (และแม่)

"วันนี้คุณบอกรักคุณพ่อคุณแม่หรือยัง"



The new year before my dad sickness, I did not realize how lucky I was to have such a great parents like my mom and my dad.

I just came back from Thailand. I called my dad on New Year's Eve just to say Happy New Year. That evening, I planned to go to Bhavana Society. Kaew was going to pick me up that afternoon.

Kaew called while I was on the phone with my dad. I told dad that I had to go because my friend was waiting for me. I felt angry a bit because my dad would not let me go. I was such a fool.

I hung up with dissatisfaction. I knew what I did was wrong. So, after met with Kaew, I called him again and explained the situation as I forgot to tell him at first. He never once was mad. He always expressed his kindness.

Still I felt bad, that day he gave me his blessing. It was the best blessing someone like me could ever get. I told him that my place was a mess. He said at least you know it was a mess, and that you will take care of that mess. He then said "ขอให้เห็นความรกรุงรังในจิตใจตนเอง".

That night at Bhavana Society, I could not sleep as I saw my thoughts all night long. It was a mess inside. I realized that I got the blessing of a lifetime from him.

After I learned of his sickness, I asked him many times for forgiveness for the incident that night. He said it was nothing. He forgave me always.

Last week it was memorial weekend here, I went on a camping trip with Nun. She brought a Thai CD along. The songs were about mom. She got them from the Internet. One night, after the trip, I searched for the songs with such value and found this one.

I cried very hard listening to this song.

You can change the word "พ่อ" with "แม่". The meaning would still be the same.