Buddha's Relics

The stupas that were erected in temple compound were supposed to have at least a piece of the Buddha's relics on the base.   How true is this, is subject to debate.  

National Geographic under the History Channel has a documentary film on the site where the relics of the Buddha were found.  In 1898, an amateur archeologist discovered a vast ancient stupa in Piprahwa, near the Buddha's birth place.  

The video is 45 minutes long, so you need to take time to watch this.   This year, 2013, Wesak Day is on Friday 24 May. So it is opportune to share this video. 

Peace and happiness to all.

Drinking Alcohol

 

Question (Unedited)

Hi i was wondering if you could help me further. I am a firm believer in buddhism and the buddhist teachings and follw the eight fold path and the five precepts as best as i can. However i am having difficulty in relation to the abstaining from intoxicants i.e alcohol. I know buddha taught to abstain because of alcohols dulling effects on the mind and social problems it can cause but i was wondering if i could still enjoy alcohol on occasions or would doing this result in bad karma because of breaking the five precepts and would make me a non buddhist.

Sorry if thats not very clear.

My comment:
Hi C,
The fifth precept is to refrain from taking intoxicating substances. The reason for this is to avoid being intoxicated, leading to potential problems like drunk driving, wife bashing, and a thousand other mindless offences especially related to sexual abuses, even leading to murder. When our mind is intoxicated, we lose our ability to control ourselves. If you think a glass or two won't harm you, then I don't see any reason that you should deprive yourself of a little indulgence. But beware, if you don't want to get burnt, it's better you don't get near the fire! That is why it is better to avoid totally.

The beauty of the Buddha's teachings is that you have the freedom to chose. The Buddha never issued commandments forcing anyone to follow his teachings. He advised his followers to be wise to conduct their lives in a harmless and dignified manner. So remember, we have to be wise to realize that freedom comes with responsibility.

Future Buddha

Question Unedited):

 I have just read the story of Ram Bahadur Bomjon, the boy who apprently appears to be the future buddha, i was just wondering what is the geneneral feeling in the buddhist community toward these claims that he is the new buddha

My comment:
Hi C,

If you asked a million Buddhists, you'll get a million different answers!! Here is one of the million answers. In the final analysis, we just have to heed the Buddha's advice to use our common sense and human intelligence to think for ourselves. In the Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha had revealed that the NEXT future Buddha will appear just before this present world system disintegrates, which will be a very very long time to come if you care to read any book on space and astronomy. The future Buddha's name will be Maitreya (Sanskrit) or Metteyya (Pâli). He will appear after the present Buddha's dispensation had long disappeared and forgotten. Based on this information, it is up to you to form your own conclusion. This is the beauty of the Buddha's teachings; use your own common sense and human intelligence.

How could our effort be continued in our future lives

 

Question :(Unedited)

If a being in this existence spends their whole life trying to reach enlightenment but die before it is attained then would their lifetimes work be for nothing as they will not remember all they have learned in their new life?

My comment:

Hi C,

Within us there is this store-house of consciousness which stores all the data that we had accumulated since time immemorial. These data comprise the sum of all our past kamma, both good and bad. It is said that we are what we were, and we will be what we are. It is this store-house of consciousness that direct the life force. We may not remember our past lives and past experiences, but our store-house has all the data waiting to actualize when appropriate conditions surface. What a person achieves now is not the complete effort of this life alone, but the contributions of past lives as well. Likewise the achievements of his next life will be dependent on this present life.

There is danger in this world

Question:(Unedited)

 hi Justin,

from a lot of what i have read Buddhism stresses we should not buy into duality. there is no i or you, no right or wrong, no good or evil, there just is.

this morning a person almost broke into my house. he was crow-barring his way into our basement door. i yelled, he ran to his truck, and drove away.

about 10 yrs ago my wife and i had another house we lived in broke into. they didnt damage the house or kill our cats, just took computer, tv, vcr type stuff.

this morning's incident is bringing back a lot of that old anger about being invaded like this.

this is clearly wrong. there is right and wrong in the world. there are sides to choose. he had no right to break into our house.

i am having difficulty thinking about this. especially knowing that my wife and 2 daughters are usually home by themselves most of the time.

as a lay, wannabe, zen practicioner what should i think? what should i do? obviously i am replacing the door. we already have an alarm system. but how do i not let this consume the majority of my thoughts/thinking? what would you do? how would you move past something like this knowing that the guy is still out there (he's obviously staked our house out) and knowing that my wife and 2 small daughters will be here and more at risk than i am?

any help or advice would be appreciated Justin.

thank you.

My comment:

Hi P,

What you have read should not be taken as "Gospel" truths. Sometimes we have to use our common sense to live our worldly life. The real world is actually very vividly described by the Buddha. The first Noble Truth of "Unsatisfactoriness" or "Suffering" is what we are facing in our daily lives. The dangers we face are for real. There are millions of evil people out there to hurt us. We have to protect ourselves by intelligent means, just like when we cross the road we have to look out for traffic. Security is one of the top priorities amongst us. Let us not be good-hearted fools thinking that all will be well. Having done the necessary to protect our family and belongings, we then shift to the next level.

The natural law of attractions looms at every corner. Let not your mind occupy the fearful and negative thoughts. Train your mind to think positive and have the confidence that you have done your best and no harm will come to you. It is better to think such than to be negative. The Buddha reminded us that one who practises the Dhamma (the natural moral laws), the Dhamma will protect him. In one of his discourses, he spoke of the "Auspicious Day":

You shouldn't chase after the past or pin your hopes on the future. 

What is past is left behind. The future hasn't yet arrived.
What experience is present you clearly see..

Right There, Right There, not taken in, unshaken:
That's how you develop your heart.
Ardently doing what should be done today, for who knows tomorrow death may come. 

There is no bargaining with Death & his mighty hordes.
Whoever lives thus ardently, relentlessly both day and night has truly had an Auspicious Day!"
Smile from justinchoo :-)