Can I participate in Buddhist rituals?

Question: (Unedited)

Good Morning,

I was in Thailand last week and I was offered a water blessing by a monk which I accepted. Now I'm questioning whether I should have as I am not a buddhist and wish to respect and learn of all religions. I am still wearing the white thread he gave me as a reminder of him and his kindness. Was I wrong to accept and is this an afront to buddhists?

Answer: Hi H,

Buddhism is a very accommodating and peaceful "religion". It is about how to live in peace with oneself and with the world. Everyone is welcome to participate in Buddhist rites and rituals, irrespective of his or her belief. So long as the person is willing to participate, Buddhists will welcome him or her. No need to be Buddhist to be part of the community for peace and contentment. You have showed your respect by joining in the blessing. In return, you should feel happy and blessed! As for the thread, (usually it is orange in colour), if you decide to discard in due course, just bury it in the flower pot, or in the ground.

Smile from justinchoo :-)

The Great Compassion Mantra (大悲咒)

The Great Compassion Mantra


The Da Bei Zhou Mantra or Great Compassion Mantra
Here are The Lyrics:
1. na mo ho la da nu do la ye ye,
2. na mo o li ye,
3. po lu je di sho bo la ye,
4. pu ti sa do po ye,
5. mo ho sa do po ye,
6. mo ho jia lu ni jia ye,
7. an,
8. sa bo la fa yi,
9. su da nu da sia,
10. na mo si ji li do yi mung o li ye,
11. po lu ji di, sho fo la ling to po,
12. na mo nu la jin cho,
13. si li mo ho po do sha me,
14. sa po wo to do shu pung,
15. wo si yun,
16. sa po sa do na mo po sa do na mo po che,
17. mo fa to do,
18. da dzo to,
19. an, o po lu si,
20. lu jia di,
21. jia lo di,
22. i si li,
23. mo ho pu ti sa do,
24. sa po sa po,
25. mo la mo la,
26. mo si mo si li to yun,
27. ji lu ju lu, jie mong,
28. du lu du lu fa she ye di,
29. mo ho fa she ye di,
30. to la to la,
31. di li ni,
32. shi fo la ye,
33. zhe la zhe la,
34. mo mo, fa mo la,
35. mu di li,
36. yi si yi si,
37. shi nu shi nu,
38. o la son, fo la so li,
39. fa sha fa son,
40. fo la she ye,
41. hu lu hu lu mo la,
42. hu lu hu lu si li,
43. so la so la,
44. si li si li,
45. su lu su lu,
46. pu ti ye, pu ti ye,
47. pu to ye, pu to ye,
48. mi di li ye,
49. nu la jin cho,
50. di li so ni nu,
51. po ye mo nu,
52. so po ho,
53. si to ye,
54. so po ho,
55. mo ho si to ye,
56. so po ho,
57. si to yu yi,
58. shi bo la ye,
59. so po ho,
60. no la jin cho,
61. so po ho,
62. mo la nu la,
63. so po ho,
64. si la son o mo chi ye,
65. so po ho,
66. so po mo ho o si to ye,
67. so po ho,
68. zhe ji la o xi to ye,
69. so po ho,
70. bo fo mo jie si to ye,
71. so po ho,
72. nu la jin cho bo che la ye,
73. so po ho,
74. mo po li song ji la ye,
75. so po ho,
76. na mo ho la ta nu do la ye ye,
77. na mo o li ye,
78. po lu ji di,
79. sho bo la ye,
80. so po ho,
81. an si den,
82. man do la,
83. ba to ye,
84. so po ho.

(Click on picture to enlarge)

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.