what is buddhist practice?

hi there

kevin had a letter sent to our home address.  it was inadvertently opened by andrew.  i emailed kevin, told him about this and asked him to collect this letter.  last night, he came to get his letter but afterwards, he called me and asked: did u open my letter?

i must say that i was very disturbed because this means that he doubted in my integrity, though  this could just be his natural instinct.

what i had learned from my 16 yrs of buddhist practice from SGI is:

RESPECT and give, and this is the basis of  buddhist practice.

Which is sometimes mistaken as mysterious, superstitious, far-fetched,

so what is buddhist practice?  it starts from our daily lives, it is  just 'how we live our daily lives' to respect and give.

 

• respect  for our own life: it could be as simple as eat and dress sensibly, have enough rest, do the best in our jobs and at home, be happy in whatever we do, keeping ourselves clean,  try to improve our skills, etc....

 

• respect for others and our environment: simple things like not wasting food, water and all resources; turning off the lights when we leave a room; dont let the water run when we wash our hands; recycle whatever is recycleable.

 

i remember my mother used to remove banana skin when she saw one in the streets because she said: this will make people fall, and this, is Buddhist practice indeed.

 

give: Buddhism is giving.  it does not have to be monetary, sometimes a smile or kind words or a pat on the shoulder would be a great gift. 

 

consistently doing the above will bring forth our higher self (buddhahood) creating happiness for ourselve and other people, but sometimes though simple as it may seem, we may not be able to do so due to our emotions, situations, etc. 

 

 this is why we chant nam myo ho renge kyo everyday to keep us in a higher life condition. 

 

i apologize for this long email, but i sincerely hope that this will clarify some doubts and questions in our minds.

 

cheers

 

lydia

 

Kevin有一封信寄到我們的住址的信, 而Andrew無意中打開了。我通過電子郵件告訴Kevin，並請他來收這封信。昨晚他來到收他的信，後來他打電話給我，問：是不是你打開我的信？   我必須說，我非常不安，因為這意味著他對我的誠信表示懷疑，雖然這可能僅僅是他的自然反應。

從我16年從SGI教導的佛教實踐裹, 我學會了尊重和給予，這是佛法修行的基礎。那麼，什麼是修行? 很多時佛法修行會被誤認為是神秘的，迷信及牽強附會的. 其實佛法修行根本存在我們的日常生活中，佛法即生活, 它是要'我們學會尊重和布施.  

• 尊重我們自己的生命：這可以是非常簡單, 例如我們適當健康的飲食和穿衣; 有足夠的休息; 在我們的工作和家庭將自己的責任做到最好; 無論我們做什麼都能快樂及感恩; 保持自己清潔, 家居乾淨; 努力提高我們的技能; 等....

• 尊重他人及我們的環境：這也可以做簡單的事情比如不浪費食物, 水和所有資源; 當我們離開房間時耍掉燈; 我們洗手不要讓水不停的開着; 盡量用環保紙及放適當的紙, 膠樽, 玻璃入環保筒內等.....   我記得母親生前看到了街上的香蕉皮時，她一定會適當的處理，因為她說：這會使人跌倒，與人方便就確實是佛法修行。  布施：佛教教我們布施。而布施不一定是指金錢，有時一個微笑，–句好話或拍拍肩膀也可是一個偉大的布施。堅持做以上的行為將會令我們提高境涯（也是成佛之道）可以為自己和他人創造幸福. 但有時看起來雖然簡單，但由於種種因素, 我們可能不能時時做到.

這就是為什麼我們每天唸'南無妙法蓮華經'讓我們提高自己的生命狀態.   
我真心希望以上能澄清及解答一些對佛法上的疑問和誤會，令我們更喜悅的去做佛法修行, 令自他得到幸福! 

you are not alone

last night i saw on TV a group of hong kong artists, about 40+ in number, singing a japanese song called "you are not alone".  they say 'dont be afraid of the rain, the wind, the snow, the fierce sun, i want to be this person'.  everyone was trying their best to pronounce accurate japanese, singing with their hearts and at the end they all stretched out their helping hands.

i was moved.  i could see 40+ buddhas, singing and opening their hearts to support and encourage the japanese people.  this is buddhist practice indeed.

in my next email, maybe we can share some thoughts as to "what is buddhist practice?"

cheers

lydia

昨晚我在電視上看到一組香港藝術家，數量約 40+，一齊唱一首名為“你並不孤單"的日本歌曲。“他們說'不要怕雨，風，雪，激烈的太陽，我想成為這樣的人"。他們每個人都用心的, 盡力的去用準確的日文去唱出歌詞, 並在最後，他們都伸出了援助之手。

我真被他們感動。我可以看到40 多位佛，齊心的唱歌，並開放他們的心, 伸出他們的手去支持和鼓勵日本人民。的確，這就是佛道修行了。

在我的下一個電子郵件，也許我們可以分享一下，以“什麼是佛道修行？“

my little toyota

today i took my little toyota corolla for servicing.  the whole procedure took less than one hour.  during this time i sat in a very nice lounge drinking cuppacino, eating cookies, and reading a travel magazine (all compliments of toyota).  before i finished the magazine, the work was done.

everything was done to perfection, and they even cleaned the inside and outside of the car.  my car looks sparkling new.  i am very happy and impressed with toyota.  to me, this process is pleasurable and enjoyable.

as i was driving, i felt very very happy.  one year ago,  i said : due to vanity, i used to have branded cars (mercedes, BMWs, jacquars before) but its this little car that i like and enjoy best.  one year later, my feeling has not changed.

in my 16 years of buddhist practice, day in and day out,  chanting nam myo ho renge kyo helps me  purify myself, cleanse my bad thoughts and impurities, thus enabling me to find joy in little and simple things.

sometime ago, a senior SGI member said: the biggest benefit in budhhist practice is the 'purification'  of our six senses (六根清淨) , which helps us to think, see, hear, smell, taste and feel better, and this is the basis for happiness.

glad to share.

lydia

今天我把我的小豐田事進行維修。整個過程用了不到一小時。在此期間，我坐在豐田車行裹一個很不錯的休息室喝cuppacino，吃餅乾，和閱讀一本旅遊雜誌（所有是豐田免費供應）。在我未看完雜誌維修的工作已完成。
一切維修的工作都做得很完美，他們甚至把汽車的內外都抹得乾乾淨淨令我的車看起來閃閃發光。我感到非常高興。對我來說，這個維修的過程是令人愉快的。
當我開車時，我感到非常非常高興。一年以前，我說：以前因為虛名, 我擁有名牌汽車（benz，寶馬和jacquars等），但其實，我真正喜歡和享受的是這小小的豐田車。一年後，我的感覺沒有改變。
在我16年持續的佛法修行，天天唱誦南無妙法蓮華經幫助我淨化自己，淨化我的壞想法和生命的污濁，使我能夠開始懂得從很小的事和簡單生活裹得到樂趣。
很久以前，一位SGI的資深成員說：修行佛法最大的功德是六根清淨, (淨化我們的六個感官)，使我們能思考，看，聽，嗅覺，味覺，感覺得更清楚，這是幸福的基礎。

andrew and tissue

hi there

shaing something very funny with u about andrew.

yesterday after lunch i started chanting.  soon andrew came to join me.  i saw that he had a bit of white stuff at the corner of his mouth and thought it was food, so i asked him to wipe it off.

he touched it and said it was just a scrap of tissue he used to wipe his mouth. he took the scrap with his two fingers, wanting to throw on the floor.  i stared at him and said: pls dont throw onto the floor.    then he rolled the scrap with his fingers into a smaller pc and looked at the coffee table.

i said: dont put on the coffee table.  i dont want to clean again.  i continue to stare at him,  and in a couple of seconds, he put the little scrap in his mouth and swallowed it. 

so he'd rather swallow instead of getting up to the kitchen and throw!!!  the expressions on his face (like a naughty child caught by his parent) made me laugh and laugh throughout my chanting.

life can be fun.  he is sooo cute!!!  sometimes men are just like children.

lydia

ps i did not send this email to him la.


昨天午飯後，我開始唸經。andrew 來到和我一起唸。我看到了他他的嘴角有點白色的東西，以為是食物，所以我叫他擦掉。

其實這是他用來擦他嘴的紙巾。他想扔在地上。我看著他，說：請不要扔在地上。然後，他把紙巾用他的手指猜小，想掉在咖啡桌上。

我說：不要放在咖啡桌上。我不想再清潔。我繼續盯著他，幾秒鐘復，他把它放進嘴裡吞了下去。

他寧願吞而不想起來扔到廚房！他臉上的表情（像一個頑皮的孩子被他的父母捉个正音）讓我大笑，一住唸經一住笑。

生活其實是可以很有趣。andrew 有時很可愛！有時候男人就像孩子一樣。

a leisurely 4 hour

Today andrew works in the morning and plays mahjong in the afternoon and evening.  I have a WHOLE DAY to myself, without having to worry about cooking dinner, how nice. 

I drove downtown, got a 50% discount voucher for 4 hour parking and spent a leisurely afternoon downtown.  I went to a food court for a bowl of BBQ and wonton noodle soup 义燒云吞湯麵 for $9.30.  I even had one wonton with a shrimp inside!!! this is totally unheard of because wontons in sydney are only made of pork.  I thoroughly enjoyed my noodles, oblivious of the noise.

Afterwards i strolled around, window shopping and looking at passers by, like a tourist.  Then I went for a Thai massage because my back is still sore.  The massage was real good.  How I enjoyed this 4 hours.

A long time ago I read an article naming the 10 Greatest things in life, and one of them is:

The Greatest Enjoyment in Life is "LEISURE".
人生 最大的享受是悠閑!

its true.

lydia

andrew 在今天早要返診所開工, 下午和晚上打麻。我有一整天自己的時間，而不必擔心要煮飯，真開心。

我開車到市中心，買了一張有50％的折扣券4小時停車，花了一个悠閒的下午.我去了一個美食廣場, 吃了和一碗$9.30的义燒雲吞面湯麵。我什至發現有一個雲吞裡面有蝦！這完全是聞所未聞的，因為在悉尼所有餛飩是豬肉做的。我徹底享受我的麵，無視周圍的噪音。

後來我周圍散步，逛街，欣賞著路人，好像遊客一樣。然後因為我的背部仍然疼痛, 所以我去了做泰式按摩，。按摩司的技術是真正的好。我多麼的享受這4個小時啊。

很久以前我看過一篇文章，命名為: 人生10樣最偉大的東西，其中之一是：

人生最大的享受是悠閒！

這是真的。

the sun and the moon (太陽和月亮)

Last night as soon as i lied down in bed, thru my window, i saw the moon again (see photo1) , this morning when i woke up (see photo2) , i could see the sun shining brightly into my room.

I have taken photos to share my vision with you.

Interesting, these much hated window have now become my favorite.  the windows have not changed, and it was me who have changed.  My back injury has made me change.

Buddhist theory teaches that we can only attain happiness by changing ourselves, because the cause of our suffering always lies within us.

glad to share

lydia

昨晚當我躺在床上，從我的窗戶，我又看見月亮了（見附圖1），今天早上我醒來時（見附圖2），我能看到明媚的陽光透進了我的房間。

我將這些景像拍攝了照片，可以和你在一起分享我的視野。

有趣的是，這些非常討厭窗口現在已成為我的最愛。窗戶都沒有改變，是我的一念變了。是我的背傷令我改變。

佛教的理論教導我們，我們只能通過改變自己而獲得幸福，因為我們的痛苦的原因在於始終在我們自己。

see photo/ 見附圖 -1

see photo/ 見附圖 -2

 

My life is an open book!

Now that I have my own blog, i can share my life, my joy and my stories with all my friends and family, with the hope that they can be encouraged and be inspired.

the moon (床前明月光)

Last night i went to bed.  after turning off the light, i saw the moon shining brightly thru the sheers of my window.  the soft filtered light made me feel so relaxed and serene.  this reminds of a famous chinese poem:

床前明月光 (the moon shining in front of your bed).

you know what, i used to hate these two windows because the sunlight woke me uping  early in the morning.  i even blocked these windows with wood and thick black out curtains.  now that i have changed my lifestyle (after my back injury), ie going to bed early and dont mind waking up early, i decided to open all the thick curtains.

for the first time in 11 yrs (after i moved into this home), i saw the moonlight thru this much hated window and i felt sooo good.  i even enjoy seeing the bright sunlight in the morning.

yeah, a lot of times we block our own vision (for one reason or another) and miss out all the good things in life.

glad to share

lydia

以下是中文翻譯:

 

昨晚我上床睡覺, 在關閉了燈後，我看見月亮明媚的通過紗窗照入來。它柔和的光芒使我感到很寧靜。我想到了李白的詩： 床前明月光.

 

你知道嗎，我以前很討厭這窗，因為在早上陽光透過這兩個窗而喚醒了.我什至用木材和厚厚的窗簾遮了它。現在因為我的背部受傷後我已經改變我的生活方式，即早睡和不介意早起，我決定打開所有的厚厚的窗簾。
在我搬進這個家之後的十一年，我第一次看到了月光透過窗戶，我感覺非常很好.我什至喜歡在上午看到明亮的陽光。

是啊，很多時候，我們因某種原因擋住了我們自己的眼光,因此而錯過了在生活中一切美好的東西。

 

key to success (成功的關鍵)

my dear friends and family, i have read a book i bought from sgi hongkong bookshop and found the following quote which i would regard as our 'key to success': 人不管從事任何工作或與人交談, 一定要具備強烈吸引對方的魅力, 如果無法做到這一點, 將來也就沒有任何前途可言. "No matter what you do, or who you are communicating with, you must possess strong attraction and charm to the others, failing that, there will be no future for you." i remember  long time ago i read a guidance from President Ikeda : if you chant nam myo ho renge kyo and practice buddhism well, you will shine from within, you will be so attractive that tens and thousands of people will want to marry you."  cheers lydia 成功的關鍵 人不管從事任何工作或與人交談, 一定要具備強烈吸引對方的魅力, 如果無法做到這一點, 將來也就沒有任何前途可言 我看過一本書，發現上面的句子，我認為這是我們'成功的關鍵'. 我記得很久以前我讀了池田先生的指導。他說：如果你唸經唸和修行得好, 你內在會發光, 你的光芒會很吸引, 成千上万的的人都想和你結婚呀。 真的, 沒錯!

flowers and bees (蜜蜂和花兒)

hi there

sharing two interesting experiences with you, and one is 'fresh from the oven':

bees

you wont believe it!  this morning as i was sweeping a chair in my backyard, all of a sudden i was attacked by BEES!  it was so frightful and painful! i screamed and tried to brush them away and ran back into the house.  i found that my one thigh and one leg was very very painful and tried to tap, then two bees came down from my legs, and one of them bit me two times!!!!

i hurried upstairs and got a special cream which andrew and i bought in china, called: Bao Fu Ling (see photo 1) which is GREAT for bites, burns, etc.  very soon, i mean in about 20 mins, the pain was gone and the sweling gone down.

you know, only a few days ago, i was thinking of the song in the 'sound of music':  when the dogs bite, when the bees sting......, and here it comes.

flowers

on sat, i went to buy groceries and saw nice flowers in the supermarket.  i thought: maybe i will buy one bunch for home.  however after buying all groceries, i forgot about the flowers.

when i went home, i  saw a bunch of fresh orange tulips which andrew had bought for me!!!  (see photo2).  how interesting!  i find that a lot of times, whatever comes in my mind had been either said or done by andrew.

this happens even more often when andrew chants together with me, and we have acquired the same frequency.

more than ten years ago, when i was at the lowest of my life, i read a book called:

'the power of your subconscious mind', which says how powerful our mind is, to me, its very true.

lydia 

與你分享兩個有趣的經驗，一個還是'新鮮出爐的呢'：

蜜蜂

你真的不會相信！今天早晨我在我的後院打掃一張椅子，，突然我被蜜蜂攻擊！它是如此可怕和痛苦！我尖叫起來，想打掉他們離開，然後跑回屋裡。我發現我的左大腿和右小腿是非常非常痛，於是我大力拍打, 然後看到兩個蜜蜂從我的腿掉下來，，而其中一隻更咬了我兩口！
我急忙往樓上跑，拿了一個andrew 和我在中國買的藥膏，叫做：宝膚靈（見照片1），它對蚊蟲咬傷及燒傷等很快見效，大約 20分鐘，我疼痛消失了, 皮膚只是紅了兩處.
你知道嗎，僅在幾天以前，我在想這首歌的歌詞：當狗咬傷，當蜜蜂蜇......,等等, 而那麼快就來了! 

鮮花

星期六，我去超市買菜，看到漂亮的鮮花。我想：也許我會買一些回家。但是買完所有雜貨，我忘了花。
當我回到家裡，我看到了一束鮮橙色鬱金香在厨房, 是andrew給我買的！ （見附圖2）。多麼有趣！我發現，很多時候，我腦中所想的事, 會在andrew 口中說出來, 又或做了出來.  很奇妙, 是不是?
达是因為andrew 常和我一起念經，令我們有了相同的頻率。
十幾年前，在我生命最低潮時，我讀了一本書名為：你潛意識的力量' , 說明我們思想的力量有多大, 真的沒錯'

see photo/ 見附圖 -1

see photo/ 見附圖 -2