Than Hsiang Temple Eight Precepts Cultivation Day (Part II)

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In Part I of this series we talked about taking the eight precepts at Than Hsiang Temple and also about the five and the eight precepts itself. Well as you know, the eight precepts day is a day when we try to live a simple life following the eight precepts instead of the normal daily five precepts. We also practice fasting, chanting, meditating and listening to dharma talks.

By living a simple life, we refrain from indulging in the use of ornaments, perfumes and cosmetics in accordance to the sixth precept. Observing the seventh precepts we refrain from using high or luxurious seat or bed as well as indulging in songs, dances, music and shows. Fasting refers to the abstinence of taking solid food after midday. Of course there is also the chanting of the sutras and meditating as well as spending the whole day mindfully. What better way to do all these, other than join the one day eight precepts cultivation retreat? The highlight would be the Dharma Talk where we get to listen to some good Buddhist advice and teachings.

This month, Venerable Wei Wu, the Abbot of Than Hsiang Temple in Penang used five stories to teach Buddhism to the 200 devotees who attended the eight precepts cultivation held on 10th April 2005.

Story 1 – Observing Silence
Once, four close friends decided to practice in a far away place that is quiet and peaceful in the country side for a week. They decided to make “Golden Silence” the theme of their practice.

So the four friends agreed that for one week they will observe mindful silence and will not speak for whole week. In the morning of the first day all went well with their practice and keeping their promise no one spoke.
The day went on successfully and when darkness drew near they lit a candle as there was no electricity supply in the country side. They then settled down to meditate. It was a really dark night. Suddenly a strong gust of wind blew out the candle light.
Upon seeing this, the first friend exclaimed, “Ah! ya! The light went off.” The second friend noticing that his friend has broken his silence said, “Why didn't you keep your promise? You spoke!” This started a small argument between the two friends.

The third friend soon got annoyed at the two friends for arguing and scolded them. Thus he also broke his promise of “Golden Silence”. Suddenly the three friends realized that they have broken the silence. The fourth friend upon observing all these burst out saying, “Ha! Ha! Ha! Only I, I did not speak… Oops!”

The moral of story is that it is very difficult to guard the mouth. However, we have to try to prevent our self from talking unnecessarily. We can recite the Buddha name or say a prayer instead especially whenever we feel like talking. This will help us to be mindful.

Story 2 – The Monk and His Hotel
One day a Buddhist monk walked straight into the king's palace without permission. None of the soldiers dared to stop him because the king is a Buddhist and has very high respect for Buddhist monks. The soldiers quickly informed the king of the monk's arrival. The king came to the monk and asked, “What brought you to my palace?” The monk said that he was looking for a hotel to rest.

On hearing this, the king said, “This is a palace and not a hotel. I think you have come to the wrong place.” The monk then stared at the king and asked. “Who lived in this palace before you?” The king answered, “My father.” “Where is your father?” asked the monk again. King replied, “He is no more.” The monk then asked, “Who stayed here before your father?” “My Grandfather.” answered the king.” And where is he now?”, asked the monk. The king replied, “He is dead and gone”. The monk then replied. “See all the people stayed here only temporarily. The palace is like a hotel. The palace only belongs to us temporary.”

The moral of this story is that we live in samsara thus we are in this world only temporarily. Living in samsara, is like living temporarily in a hotel. We lose a day of our life as each day passes by. Thus we must hurry and do all the things that need to be done. This includes having reverence for our religion. If we keep postponing attending to our need for reverence in our religion we may or will not have the time or the opportunity to do so.

Story 3 – The Man who wants to learn Kung Fu
Once there was a very impatient man who wanted to learn Kung Fu. He is greedy and likes to have things his way especially if it benefited him most. He went round to look for a teacher. One day he found a very famous teacher. He felt very lucky. He hoped to learn up all the Kung Fu skills in a very short time. He was not satisfied with his progress. He thought that he was learning too slowly. So he asked his teacher for permission to look for another teacher because he could learn more if he has two teachers. His teacher decided to tell him a story.

The story was about a hunter. One day while out hunting the hunter saw a rabbit. He was happy because he knew that he can catch it for sure. Then he saw another rabbit. The hunter thought that if he wanted to catch both the rabbits so that he would have two instead of one. So he tried to catch both the rabbits at the same time. The hunter tried to chase both the rabbits. It was not easy. He went this way, and then that way, and this way eventually both the rabbits got away. In the end he did not get a single rabbit.

The moral of story is that we are also like the hunter, today we go for one practice, for example, the Amitabha practice, the next day we try another practice, like Zen. The day after that we go for a different practice, say the Tibetan practice, in the end we become a “Jack of all trade but master of none”.

Here the Venerable advised that generally it is good to find a suitable practice and follow it through instead of hopping from one practice to another.

Story 4 – Rebirth In The Pure Land
An old lady has the habit of quarreling with her daughter-in-law. Whenever she quarreled with her daughter-in-law she would go to a temple and pray to the Amitabha Buddha. She would pray to Amitabha saying that she was so unhappy and asked Amitabha to please take her Amitaba's pure land.

In the temple, there was a youngnovice monk. This cheeky little monk always noticed this old lady coming to the temple crying and begging Amitabha to take her to the Pure Land. The little monk wanted to test the old lady to see if she really wanted to go to Pure Land. One day when the old lady came again to the temple he hid behind the statue of the Amitabha Buddha.

Just as the young novice monk expected, the old lady came and beg Amithabha Buddha saying, “Please Amitabha Buddha, faster take me to your Pure Land”.

A voice from behind the Buddha replied,”Actually it is not your time yet, but since you are so sincere I will take you now”.

The old lady, thinking that Amithabha really wanted to take her to the Pure Land right away, got frightened and ran away….

The moral of the story is that there is no need for us to want to remain in this Saha world that is full of dukkha (suffering). Should Amitabha Buddha really to come to take you, do not hesitate. Go straight to the Pure Land with him. Do not do what the old lady did.

Story 5 – Returning To This Saha World
A group of friends went traveling. They were lost in a dry desert area. Soon they finished drinking the water they had. In order to survive they had to find water, so they split into smaller groups to look for water. A and B were in the same group. They search and searched and then suddenly they heard the sound of running water. Filled with hopes they followed the sound of the water. After a long time they found a small hole in the ground. Water was flowing at the bottom of the hole. They were happy. They drink as much of the water as they could. After drinking the water, A told B that he wanted to go back. B asked A why he wanted to go back to the group. B said, “We found water with so much difficulty so why should we go back so quickly.” A replied, “Our problems are solved and our difficulties are over but the rest of our group is still in difficulty. So we need to show them the way to this water.

The moral of the story is that when you have succeeded, you should come back and assist those who have not yet succeeded. In the Pure Land practice we have to try to make a vow. What is this vow? That is to come back after attaining liberation in the Pure Land and help the others. The vow to take rebirth in the Pure Land is to develop renunciation; the vow to come back to this Saha world is development of Bodhicitta to attain Perfect Buddhahood for the sake of helping all sentient beings.

In conclusion, the Than Hsiang Temple Eight Precepts Cultivation Day is a Dharma Assembly for all its devotees so that they have the opportunity to learn, cultivate and practice Buddhism, not only in theory but also through the practical process of devotion, chanting, meditating, fasting and living a pious life following all the eight precepts in a very conducive temple environment for almost one whole day.