Message of Inspiration (Jan 2012)

Message given by 'Qian Ren' during the annual thanksgiving prayer at Tian Li, Melaka (31/Dec/2011).  It was immediately written when he went up to the rostrum.

 (zhong sheng wei zun, dao qin di yi)

Thankful & grateful.

Angutta Nikaya:



The Buddha has said "O Bhikkhus! There are two, to whom however much of worldly suport is rendered still that falls short of the gratitude due. The two are the mother and the father."



"O Bhikkhus! If a man can live for a hundred years, and by his so living, he were to nurse his parents, keeping the mother on his right shoulder and the father on the left, throughout his life time feeding them and doing every other service with his own hands - Bhikkhus! Even then the devoted hundred years' service so rendered by the son will not completely repay the debt of his gratitude to his parents."

"O Bhikkhus! Suppose a son places his parents in the position of a World Monarch with all the imaginable gifts of the worldly pleasures. Even so, O Bhikkhus! His debt of gratitude to them cannot be repaid in full. Why so? O Bhikkhus! Parents have helped the children much more. They protected their lives, fed them and made them to see the world. Therefore, how should a son attend on, support, and look after his parents so as to completely repay his debt of gratitude to them?"

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I am grateful and thankful to you.

Happy that you have found the Dao (way).

Cup Of Water

"Many of those who come to see me have a high standing in the community.  Among them are merchants, college graduates, teachers and government officials.  Their minds are filled with opinions about things.  They are too clever to listen to others.  It is like a cup of water.  If a cup is filled with stale, dirty water, it is useless.  Only after the old water is thrown out can the cup become useful.  You must emply your minds of opinions, then you will see.  Our practice goes beyond cleverness and stupidity.  If you think that you are clever, wealthy, important, and an expert in Buddhism, you cover up the truth of non-self.  All you will see is self - I and mine.  But Buddhism is letting go of self.  Those who are too clever will never learn.  They must first get rid of their cleverness, first empty their "cup"." - Ajahn Chah