Buddhism - Three Dimensions 6/6

I would like to conclude with the following statements:

1 - Be mindful when you talk about Buddhism. It would reduce the conflicts or distortions if you know the dimension you are talking about.

2 - Be aware of the distortion that may occur in your description, judgment, argument... with the true essence of Buddhism when you use your intellect to discuss, research, debate on any Buddhist topic. Dhamma or Buddhism is not the product of the brain/mind/intellect. It is beyond that. The long discussion I have made here is also the intellectual product - I am mindful about the possible distortion. With this awareness, I will not be upset, or content if someone gives me different opinions. In contrast, I would be pleased to learn from him/her. Nonetheless, in my view, the intellectual discussion is still important as it is the outreach exercise for people to start knowing about Buddhism before they dedicate to practice VM and search for the essence of Buddhism.


3 - Be aware that Buddhist teaching or Dhamma is the spiritual product; so please use Buddha technique (Vipassana Meditation) if you want to learn about it or benefit from it. Without this technique, learning 84,000 dhammakhan of Buddha teaching would be exhausted and you understand it only with bias. If you want to learn less, it becomes incomplete - your view will be like the blind man who experiences only one part of the elephant body and describes "elephant" unrealistically based on the way he experienced. It will be more beneficial if you combine your theoretical learning of Buddhism with your VM practice. The two reinforce each other.

4 - Do not expect too much from the religious dimension of Buddhism, regardless how much you dedicate for it. At the end result, you will not be fully liberated as Buddha expected. But, do not ignore it since Buddhist religion already embedded into our civilization, culture, literature, ... for centuries. In addition, it also helps in your social life and helps reducing some burden in life, it will make you feel good about good deeds, ...


5 - Last, but not least, be aware that VM gives you immediate benefit, you don't need to wait until next life to collect that benefit. It helps you resolve from the deeper level of your mind (unwinding the subconscious records - that cause our reaction). Well, I know some of you don't want to go to Nirvana as you still love your beautiful wife, new villa and new car. Even though, VM is still good for you as it helps making your life happier, healthier, more effective in your work, less conflicts, more peace and harmony (see Lok Ok Serei Sopheak's message to Tayseng).

Buddhism - Three Dimensions 5/6

In the spiritual dimension, the essence of Buddhism is its ultimate goal to guide people to liberate themselves from Dukkha at the highest greatest level by breaking down the samsara (cycle of birth-death), and attaining Nirvana - the fullest liberation. This essence has been described by Chanthy in his earlier message called four noble truths (chatorareyasacha). It is amazing that Gautama, the Buddha put the order of these truths in a very well dialectic structure, very scientific way. In which, the fourth truth defines the way to liberate oneself from Dukkha - that is the Noble Eightfold Path (Areyathankikama). These findings are the natural law known as Dhamma similar to any other laws discovered by scientific process.

I consider Dhamma (natural law, or universal truth) as spiritual because Gautama, the Buddha discovered it through Vipassana Meditation (VM) that focuses on the interaction between mind and matter (neam-rub). It was not through the experiments in the lab like the scientific research. Deeper and deeper in his meditation, HE had developed greater and greater consciousness until HE reached a space beyond mind - HE enlightened (full consciousness). Then HE discovered the unlimited knowledge there (the knowledge gained from brain/mind/intellect is much more limited). This kind of knowledge is called pheavanea maya panha. With these knowledge, HE taught us Dhamma. Since this is the natural law or universal truth, it must be available for everyone. When Gautama, the Buddha can find it, you can also find it, if you apply the same technique as Gautama did. This is what HE insisted again and again that you have to experience yourself and do not believe anything because HE said.

Buddhism - Three dimensions 4/6

I would like to continue with the religious dimension of Buddhism. As a religion, Buddhism has long-established in the Cambodian civilization, culture, literature and daily life. Most of our people consider themselves as Buddhist. However, it is not certain whether Buddhist by belief or by true understanding/practicing of Buddhism. Gautama, the Buddha taught us not to believe, but to experience HIS teaching and establish our own pheavanea maya panha. HE gave us his Vipassana meditation technique so that we can gain this highest level of panha as the Buddha had experienced himself. But people know Buddhism from their personal belief, or from their understanding of the theoretical part of Buddha teaching, and ignore the practice of vipassana mediation. These can be the reason why there has been a surprisingly great distortion between the violence of the genocidal regime in Cambodia and the very pacific nature of Buddhism. This may also be the cause of moral degradation among monks in Cambodia in the current day including Net Khay scandal.

Gautama, the Buddha has provided a very complete teaching as recorded in Tripidaka including preah soth, preah viney, preah akphidham. Learning Tripidaka helps us to understand Buddhism, and practicing Vipassana Mediation help us to experience Buddhism. People can also benefit from learning Tripidaka and practicing seila for their positive personal transformation, but this transformation will appear only at the superficial level. They need to practice Vipassana Meditation, if they want to address the problems established in the inner mind (sub-conscious). Unfortunately, people gains no personal transformation from Buddhism when they establish in their mind a belief in Buddhism and not the truth of Buddha's teaching. As a matter of fact, we all know that there is no God in Buddhism, but people worship Buddha statute as God. People pray to Buddha for help fulfilling their greed or resolving their personal problems, and totally forget his teaching Attahi Attano Neatho (self-help).

Gautama, the Buddha set the goal for his teaching to serve people for five thousand years and HE had prepared a solid institution to support his goal. HE had recruited his army known as Sangha and trained them with knowledge HE obtained from HIS enlightenment. The role of Sangha is to help spread HIS teaching to serve people. In addition to train them with knowledge, HE set up strong rule and regulations known as Vineay (227 Dhammakhan for Sangha) for the proper functioning of HIS institution. Everything should be fine, but unfortunately, HIS institution is run by human being who has personal interest inherited with them. Some Sangha do not fully serve Buddha to spread his teaching, but take the advantage of the Buddhist institution to serve his personal interest. To gain more popularity, some sangha make great efforts to have title in sangha hierarchy, other try to build physical building for Pagoda as it is easier to show the greatness. They generally, ignore the non-physical value of Buddhism which aims to help people to fully liberate themselves from Dukkha.

As a religion, Buddhism shares the common characteristic with all religions which is to run by fear. This is because fear is an efficient means to control people. Hell, karma, etc are all the words to emphasize in many monk's discourses.To escape from this fear, the discourses lure or lull people with heaven, nirvanna. Instead of leading people to practice vipsaana mediation to liberate themselves, the discourses emphasize all means to refrain from enjoying life, to encourage people to put more monies for the Pagoda, or to do all the rituals including praying, reciting or chanting Buddhist scripts. Though these ways may help people at a certain level of benefits, they are not the way that Gautama, the Buddha want us to do. And these ways cannot bring us to the liberation.

it is important to highlight the rituals, ceremonies, or worship that are practiced in Buddhism as a religion as to distinguish from its philosophical and spiritual dimensions. This includes the involvement of Buddhist monks in various ceremonies organized by state, community, family, or individuals. The annual ceremonies like new year, meak bochea, visak bochea, pchum ben, chol vosa, chenh vosa, kathen are religious ceremonies. In our life from birthday to wedding, and to death, we perform various ceremonies involving monks - these are also the religious aspect. As mentioned earlier, these practices help fulfill some needs, or perhaps reduce some dukkha, but they are not the way to liberate from dukkha or to bring people to nirvana.

To conclude the religious dimension, it is also worth noted that stand-alone, separated or divided institutions which are often conflicted with each others are the characteristic of religions because they have different principles and view. The world religious leaders have organized different forums to promote mutual understanding and minimize these conflicts. Even within Buddhism itself, there are different secs: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana (or Tantric Buddhism - I don't know where it is practiced). While Cambodia is known as Theravada (henayean) Buddhist country, still we have two competed sub-secs Mohanikay and Dhammayut and the relationships between the two are not always good.

Buddhism - Three Dimensions 3/6

I would like to continue with the three levels of Buddhism. Actually the term 'three dimensions' is more appropriate as these three dimensions evolve together in our society without qualifying which dimension is better than the other.

The philosophical dimension stands firmly on the mind function. We use our mind to acquire knowledge about Buddhism through learning at school, reading book, listening to others, through older generation, through monks, etc. From this knowledge we form in our mind a concept of Buddhism. This kind of knowledge is called sutta maya panha. In this dimension, we see Buddhism from our worldview or personal judgement. It can be contentious when we exchange our personal view about Buddhism with other people as they have their own understanding, worldview or judgement different from us. In fact, there is no truth in there, but the mind believes what they know is true (illusion). The mind always suspects what they don't know as untrue (turtle talks about earth outside of the water, fish says no, the world is only water as far as fish knows - Leang's story).

The mind is very clever, it forms the logic as to develop or interpret thing. The material life that is growing up to now is the product of mind function. The mind uses the preliminary knowledge as we said earlier to relate, interpret, create theory, law, and produce something new to satisfy human needs. This is another kind of knowledge called chenta maya panha as I explained to Leang. Knowledge and experience about Buddhism are acquired in a similar way as we learn everything in our life. The mind uses logic as a vehicle to interpret, develop new concepts from what we learn/know. When talking about Buddhism economics, Buddhism and Development (sorry, Chanthy), the role of Buddhism in conflict resolution, Buddhism and Democracy, etc. I am afraid that Gautama, the Buddha didn't know all these things or HE may have no intention to go that far. HIS definite purpose is the liberation from Dukkha, not these stuff. But people use Buddha as an instrument to create something new to satisfy their own needs.

This dimension is very relevant for our group as we are intellectuals. There is nothing wrong to keep talking, discussing, writing essay, writing book, make presentation, conference. We can make our living from these works or become famous as well. All these activities would gain more and more knowledge. But these knowledge have been blended Buddhism with our own mind. It is not purely Buddhism. It is important to be mindful about this.

Buddhism - Three Dimensions 2/6

I thank you for your interest in Buddhism and I do admire your substantial knowledge of the matter far beyond the general Khmer public. I prepare to post my response to you in CAMPRO, but I withdraw it back over the concerns that some people may feel that I go off line. Anyway, I repeat again, don't believe too much of what I have said here. I am also a learner and not sure myself if I know the matter clearly. Please enjoy my response below:


You asked 'What is the difference between Panna (Panha- in Khmer sound), Samadhi and Vipassana." My understanding is different from the order you put these words in the question. I know only "Sila, Samadhi and Panha" (please allow me to write in Khmer sound). The three elements are in that order of sequence. Sila is the pre-condition before people can perform Samadhi. And then, Samadhi helps develop Panha. Panha that is developed from Samadhi is the highest one as it can reach the enlightenment. It is called Bhavana Maya Panha. Other two levels of Panha cannot reach the enlightenment: Sutta Maya Panha (from learning) and Chenta Maya Panha (from the ability to create something new by deriving from your Sutta Maya Panha). These concepts are explained in the course I learnt. I do not invent it.


Samadhi represents either Samadhi Kamathan or the Samadhi stage. The first one is the action to perform Samadhi and the second one is the stage of deep concentration reached during the meditation performance. At the Samadhi stage, the performer can temporary disconnect him/herself from the outside world including his/her own body. This may call Nirvana as described in your paper.

Vipassana is a specific Samadhi Kamathan developed by Gautama, the Buddha. There are over 200 kinds of meditations (Samadhi Kamathan), in which Vipassana is one of them. Vipassana (vi = special, great, high; + passana = see) means simply "see it objectively as it is." So, Vipasana Kamathan and Vipassana Samadhi kamanathan all refer to Gautama style of meditation performance. It is known as the shortest way or the direct route towards the enlightenment.

Before closing, just share with you for joking but real. You perhaps know that sexual intercourse is also a kind of meditation. This concept is widely objected, criticized, blamed by everyone. This is perhaps similar to your story 'fish cannot accept that there is land - the world is only water." But consider why there is famous story about Bhrama and Omar Pakdivathei. Generally, people rarely experience a true sex, except the pleasure sex. Even though, one however agrees that at the peak excitement, we temporarily disconnect from mind. It finally align with the purpose of Samadhi which is to go beyond mind.

Please feel free to provide your feedback to that response. I want to learn more from you.

Buddhism - Three dimensions 1/6

I am excited with your interest in Buddhism and the vast resources of knowledge on the topic in our group. I learn a lot from you and thank you for sharing. From your contribution and my knowledge, I try to put it into a structure. I found that our discussion centered well on philosophical and religious levels. However, it seems to me that we didn't touch the spiritual level yet.

The distinction of the three-level structure of Buddhism (philosophical, religious, and spiritual) would help us knowing what we are talking about and limit the confusion between different levels.

In the philosophical level, Chanthy, Sophal, Chanroeun, Leang and Mony make outstanding comments regarding what is the right teaching of Buddha and how it can be practiced in life, in our society. Other members make good questions about how it links to our daily life and economic development, including poverty reduction, conflict resolution, etc.

There are also many relevant complaints and frustrations about the degradation of Buddhist practice in Cambodia including recent Net Khai scandal. The discussion also covers the belief, fanaticism, the monk teaching and their practice, etc. These are the religious issues. At the religious level, Buddhism has it own set of principles and practice different from others. it has different groups or secs like Theravada, Mahayana, Dhammayut, Mahanikay, etc. In sum, it divides from one religion to another, from one group to another. These groups and sub-groups often conflict with each other. And it surprises us when we learn the fighting among religious group from time to time.

The spiritual level has no conflict, no boundary between religions, or group, sub-group of religion. Spiritual is universal. It connects one to another harmoniously, peacefully.


When Chanthy and Mony tell the famous story of a man stucks with an arrow in his chest, and conclude that he has to act now, or Chanty's words 'the Buddha is in yourself', there is question how to act now or to find Buddha in oneself. There are also common concerns about the accuracy of the Buddhist scripts. There will be no such a question at the spiritual level. Buddha gives the key to find the way to acquire the knowledge from your own experience. HE taught us 'don't believe or accept any dogma, teaching, words because it is said in the religious scripts, or said by an eminent person, you have to experience yourself what the truth is'. The key to get that truth is to practice Buddha technique of meditation called vipaassana. From that technique, you can experience yourself about anicca, samsara, and all illusion in our view (life). This experience or awareness or consciousness will change your life positively.

If you want to know all the truth go to the spiritual level. You will be independent from monks, monasteries, and other influences as you can practice Vipassana at home after you master its technique through a training from a qualified master. You won't need monastery or concern whose monk should you dealt with. You will enjoy your daily life like other people, but you are conscious of yourself gradually according to your level of practice. You will go to Pagoda, do religious ceremony like others, but at the different consciousness level. You will accumulate more loving kindness to people, your mind becomes clear, your decision will be sharp and efficient. You will have less conflicts in life and live happier - sure, you bring good deeds with you to the next life. It is easy and simple.


If you ask where to get training, please go to Phnom Trung Moan (BBang). After a 10-day course, you master the technique of Buddha meditation.

This is the first time I try to set the 3 levels of Buddhism and would like to learn from you if it is reasonable and useful.

God's Garden

In following Tonka replied to his invitation to visit the Church, Donald replied with additional comment:

Dear Tonka,

I respect your decision. I have heard people who also worship both Buddha and Jesus Christ equally. I called those people - skillful traders. They are facing 2 Deities and not sure whom to believe in and decided to deal with both of them and hoping one of the 2 Deities is real and saving them when they leave this world. Those people don't have real faith in any of the Deities.

Lord Jesus said: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." Matthew 6:24

Faith is trusting in what you can't see because of what you can see. Here's my zillion dollar question to you: Have you ever accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?

V/r

Donald
=========
Tonka responded:

Dear Donald,

Thank you for additional comment and I read it with great interest. The first interest is my admiration of your development in spirituality. It reflects in your personal character as a charming, confident, nice, peaceful, and smart man. This personality attracts to me which is the basis of our friendship. Regardless their religion, faith or belief, people who develop well in spirituality are equally great. They contribute to a peaceful and friendly world.

Second, I can see your loving kindness towards me. This loving kindness develops only in people with good progress in spirituality. You care and concern about me. This is a lovely sentiment and I thank you again. With care, parents concern about the safety of their child, the same as you do to me (Satan, personal Savior). I am being moved along the line of your care and concern. I surrender myself to God guidance (again this is God Father as I mean). The road ahead will be from within. I don't have to rush, but ready to accept the flow. Resistance and denial are sin.

This world is the God's Garden. It is so beautiful with the variety of flowers that God plants all of them. As a son of God, I admire and appreciate them equally. I can not love rose and hate tulip. Right now, I am standing on the part of the Garden where God plants lotus. Is it my choice? No, I was brought in to that place by God. Despite the location I am standing, I do admire the rest of flowers equally. Next when God moves me to the part where there is Jasmine, I will move accordingly and keep admiring the rest of the flowers equally. Who knows? one day I might move to the part where you are standing now, if God brings me there. Again, even I will be there, I still look back and enjoy the rest of the flowers equally. All flowers are flowers of my God Father.

I do see your question, and your comments (Trader, Deities, Master, Devotion, Personal Savior, Faith, Trust) and I am sorry that I have no direct answer to it. Generally, I refrain myself from discussing about God, Deities, and the holy scriptures, but accept all fully.

Again thank you for the opportunity to share my internal life that I never did it before.

Have a good weekend,