[Buddha-l] Buddhism at the APA

Wed Apr 15 23:07:01 MDT 2009

Reminds me of this...

If a [practising] Bodhisattva acts in such a manner [which harms other Buddhists for personal advantage], he is no different from a worm in a lion's body, eating away at the lion's flesh. This is not something a worm living outside the lion can do. Likewise, only disciples of the Buddhas can bring down the Dharma - no externalist or demon can do so.

- Brahma Net Sutra

The lion is the fiercest of animals, and when he roars all the other beasts flee. In the same way, people who have taken the precepts are likened to a lion; no other beings will bother them. However, just as worms that live in the lion's body dare to feed on the lion's flesh, so too, disciples within Buddhism can undermine the entire system. Buddhist disciples themselves are capable of destroying the Dharma, more so than the people outside Buddhism.

- Master Yen-p'ei

-----Original Message-----
From: Piya Tan [mailto:dharmafarer at gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, 16 April, 2009 12:56 PM
To: Buddhist discussion forum
Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Buddhism at the APA

Weng Fai,

Interesting that you don't flip about such things.

But don't get me wrong, but I love music. It's that I do not want to
be construed as encouraging monastics to fall from their Vinaya.

Some years back, when Hong Choon was still abbot of PKS, there was a
young lively monk called Kong Hian who appeared in the Sunday Times
with a guitar.

He disrobed or was disrobed after the abbot died, and was not welcomed
back at the  temple (not sure what happened). He got himself ordained
in Theravada robes using the name Mahavira, and I was told he drives
around in a Mercedes, has a temple of his own, and goes to gambling
houses. He was caught and warned against returning, but he is quietly
back. Oh yes I'm told that he tries to get boys to sleep with him too.

It would be interesting to see what happens to this new singing
sensation in China in due course.

Being silent when we should speak is karmically accountable, too.

There are bad monastics because there are good Buddhist who do not
speak up. Or we rather wait until the law catches up with them.

 Piya Tan

> 2009/4/16 Weng-Fai Wong <wongwf at comp.nus.edu.sg>
>>
>> More Mahayanist keeping with the times that will make Piya flip :)
>>
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7996813.stm
>>
>> Weng-Fai
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com [mailto:buddha-l-
>> > bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of Piya Tan
>> > Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 11:59 AM
>> > To: Buddhist discussion forum
>> > Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Buddhism at the APA
>> >
>> > I only have two hand, Weng Fai. Maybe if I have Bodhisattva hands, I could
>> > point to more. Anyway thanks for pointing out more of the shadows.
>> >
>> > I agree with what you say of Thai magical Buddhism, and there are many
>> > more.
>> > Looks like we (that's the royal we) are the only good guy/s left (thumbs
>> > under armpits), and my thumbs are hurting.
>> >
>> > Piya Tan
>> >
>> >
>> > 2009/4/15 Weng-Fai Wong <wongwf at comp.nus.edu.sg>
>> >
>> > > Like you say Piya: a finger pointing outwards means 4 pointing back. To
>> > be
>> > > fair, just look at the charms and talisman business that Thai monks are
>> > > doing, esp. the big advertisements in the Chinese tabloid papers here.
>> > >
>> > > Bad apples are everywhere.
>> > >
>> > > Weng-Fai
>> > >
>> > > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > > From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com [mailto:buddha-l-
>> > > > bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of Piya Tan
>> > > > Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:51 AM
>> > > > To: Buddhist discussion forum
>> > > > Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Buddhism at the APA
>> > > >
>> > > > Some desperate or arrogant Mahayanists long ago invented the label
>> > > > HInayana,
>> > > > originally with good intentions to highlight the "lazy Buddhism" of
>> > the
>> > > > established Buddhist coenobites (settled non-meditating and moneyed
>> > > monks).
>> > > > But labels like "jesuit: can become double-edged.
>> > > >
>> > > > So Hinayana in due course became finger-pointing at what is not
>> > Mahayana.
>> > > > In
>> > > > fact, more Mahayanists today are embarrassed with the Hinayana label
>> > than
>> > > > the intended "inferior" siblings themselves.
>> > > >
>> > > > In other words, the Mahayanists are reaping the karma of bad
>> labelling.
>> > > > The
>> > > > Hinayanists generally do not mind referring themselves using the term
>> > > > vis-a-vis their grander siblings.
>> > > >
>> > > > The Mahayanists know ultimately that when two fingers point at others,
>> > > > three
>> > > > point back at them. And this is not good for business. And Mahayana
>> > means
>> > > > "big business" in many cases.
>> > > >
>> > > > A local Mahayana monk, Mingyi (Goh Kah Heng), a Gold Card holder, is
>> > > > facing
>> > > > mutiple criminal charges for mismanagement of funds and dishonesty
>> > (sic)
>> > > > in
>> > > > connection with a hospital he is running. Most Buddhists here are
>> > > > pathologically silent, some in denial, some enjoying the moment (the
>> > top
>> > > > honchos do not see eye to eye), and many others simply do not know
>> > what
>> > > to
>> > > > think.
>> > > >
>> > > > Narrow minded Hinayanists like myself feel as if we are not part of
>> > this
>> > > > surreal episode.
>> > > >
>> > > > The brighter side is that the younger Buddhists are working hard for a
>> > > > better future despite our terribly dysfunctional family.
>> > > >
>> > > > PIya Tan
>> > > >
>> > > > On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 7:30 AM, Jim Peavler <jmp at peavler.org> wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > > On Apr 14, 2009, at 1:00 PM, Jayarava wrote:
>> > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > --- On Tue, 14/4/09, Jim Peavler <jmp at peavler.org> wrote:
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >> I have switched from reading about all that Asian
>> > > > > >> philosophy to reading David Hume. Will become a Humanitarian?
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > And if I read Pāli will I become a Pāliamentarian?
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > JR
>> > > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Yes, I believe that would be correct. That would be the narrow
>> > church.
>> > > > > The wide church (probably Latitudinarian) would be empaliamentarian.
>> > I
>> > > > > think.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Jim Peavler
>> > > > > jmp at peavler.org
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > > _______________________________________________
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>> > > > > http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l
>> > > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > --
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>> > Singapore 650644
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>> > Website: dharmafarer.googlepages.com
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>
>
>
> --
> The Minding Centre
> Blk 644 Bukit Batok Central #01-68 (2nd flr)
> Singapore 650644
> Tel: 8211 0879
> Meditation courses & therapy: http://themindingcentre.googlepages.com
> Website: dharmafarer.googlepages.com

--
The Minding Centre
Blk 644 Bukit Batok Central #01-68 (2nd flr)
Singapore 650644
Tel: 8211 0879
Meditation courses & therapy: http://themindingcentre.googlepages.com
Website: dharmafarer.googlepages.com

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