Prince Siddhattha experienced anapana at age of 9 y.o

On the royal ploughing festival day, Siddhattha felt sad and pity on the lives of insects and other living existence victimized by the act of ploughing. He left the crowd of the ceremony and sat under a tree. He sat alone and began observing his breath - breath in, ... and breath out, ... after a while he experienced a deep silence. He mastered the first time the anapana practice at his age of 9 years old.

Cambodia is a wonderland, but lost her soul?

Cambodia known its peak as the Khmer Empire with a vast territory, a top civilization. Cambodia also known the weakness and powerless era where the country was controlled by two masters at the same time: Thailand and Vietnam. It was about to be eliminated from the world map.

The basis of its bright civilization was based on two religions: Hinduism and Buddhism. They are both great in term of high spiritual qualification as well as resourceful knowledge of engineering, construction, astrology, medicine, etc. Buddhism took the second part of Khmer history and continues to the current day. Buddhism is known as religion or philosophy of peace and accordingly Khmers are known as people of peace, calm, and polite. Nonetheless, one wonder how this country can turn into the genocidal atrocity that destroyed the life of millions of its citizen and the whole society structure.

The moral quality is degrading continually; crime, human trafficking, extreme sexual harassment even children, and other violence acts create concerns for everyone. The King father also expressed His concern in his message to the people. One wonders why?

There is no proper reasons to explain it. Some referred to the legacy of the Khmer Rouge doctrines, other blamed the poverty or absence of morality education. In common, many thought that Cambodia is losing her soul. Soul is a broad term; it is difficult to understand what is really meant, what are the components or elements of soul. The clear insight about soul would help us find it back or cultivate the new ones. Anyway, for soul, we can think of something very essential, very basic intrinsically built in Khmers.

In this respect, I consider Buddhism as one of the core values in Khmer society. It was the practice of Great King Jayavarman VII where Cambodia reached the peak of her history. If Buddhism is the core, there should not be a problem of loosing Khmer soul at the current day, because Buddhism is practicing widely in Cambodia and 90 percent of her people are Buddhist.

We need to look deeper in Buddhist practice, if there is something wrong or missing in there. It is really a hard question for the one who is not professional Buddhist like me to deine this difficult question. In this dilemma, I look at the picture of King Jayavarman VI. He sat in the meditation posture. He is really in the mediation position. He meditates. Then look back to Khmer society whether this practice has been carried on in their daily life like their ancestors. There is little fact to prove that Khmers are currently doing so, except some group of the society or persons such as monks (all monks?).

At this point, I question myself whether meditation is Khmer soul? Is it lost? one cannot find a complete answer to this great question. In this regard, I decide to bring this issue for public discussion and debate. To open the forum of pubic debate, I wish to initiate some insight of mediation in this book [to be written] to serve as background to public insight and discussion.

Peace and War

Maha Ghosananda said "individual peace, family peace, society peace, country peace, world peace"

This is what I remember. But I cannot find the reference article yet.

I learn from a book "War is just a reflection of individual anger and frustration. The combined individual anger and frustration creates the society anger and frustration. When the tensity increases up to a certain point, it is burst to be war." Hence, to avoid war, pepole need to reduce individual anger and frustration throught he practice of mediation.

Meditation: Key to Unlock the Inner Treasor

This book aims to serve young and middle-age laypersons for their enjoyable reading. It is not a bible, it is just a narration of stories or event I heard, I saw, I read from books. It would be written in simple language with very restricted jargon. It is not well organized under any specific writing model; I want to make it as simple writing style, original in myself, related to my level of understanding of the issue. It is really delicate - I know it for sure. However, I want to find the beauty of being delicate so that readers can participate in improving it. I consider this book as a garden, designed and planted by a non-professional gardener. The visitor (reader) would see it unique, distinctive but still messy. Visitors can bring in some of their flowers or leave a comment for the gardener to improve his/her garden. I am sure that "one flower cannot be a garden, but no garden is named if there is no flowers in it, even a single one." So in some parts, I may put a variety of flowers, others just one or two flowers. It is the opportunity for the readers make contribution. When the vase is not full, you can add some more water. It will not be possible to add any water if the vase it already full. I welcome you to come and contemplate my garden, the garden of "Meditation, Key to Unlock the Inner Treasor"

Venerable Chuon Nath

Difficult choice of 'simple'

I keep thinking deeper and deeper for the last few days about writing in a very simple book on Meditation, so that people could read and understand it easily. The book should not contain much jargon. Last night, my sub-consciousness asked me:

"Hey guy! 'simple' is good indeed; but what do you choose between 'radio' and 'vidhiu'?"

Of course, it is a difficult choice of 'simple', since many Khmers understand 'radio' better than 'vidhiu' officially known it as their own language. What should be my book? There will be an impasse at some points, anyway - I cannot avoid all of it, at least for a simple reason that there will be a variety of readers - variety of ideas. Many critics will definitely come after I release it.

My resolution to the impasse are the followings:

1. be aware of the critics that will come, accept it;
2. take advantage of the critics to improve my writing;
3. open dialogue through this Blog as a means of communication with the audience;
4. Collect the questions and answers, then put in a 'Q&A', for people who search for answer.

I feel proud that I am PRO-ACTIVE! I thank my sub-consciousness for reminding me.

Then, a voice comes from nowhere: WWWHHHEEERRREE YOOUUR BOOOOOK?

-- Ooop, no book yet, sorry! I have just completed the map of the book, I didn't write anything yet.

As a PRO-ACTIVE man, I quickly think of the question that may come 'what is your resolution?'

--Sorry, no appropriate answer to it. I have only promise. I will do it!!!. So my resolution is limited to promise. Who can believe in promise? - uncertain, really uncertain. Many lovers fall apart, though at the beginning they promise for eternal love.

Finally I have to close my eyes and my ears, so that my sub-consciousness would not make me embarrassing again. I bend my head, lower my pride as a less PRO-ACTIVE man, though I keep promising. I hope I can escape from the trouble by the way -- at least for some moments.

Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda

One of the rare Khmer famous venerable leaves us with pride. Many articles were honored him, including:

1. Maha Ghosananda
2. -Ven. Maha Ghosananda: Peace Walking in Cambodia

More about Him:

1. Maha Ghosananda brief biography
2. Author of the book "Step by Step: Mediation on Wisdom and Compassion"

Map of the book

To see bigger size, click on the picture.

New Year Resolution: Writing a book? - SAMADHI

Samadhi - Mediation - is great as it is the way to bring people to reach enlightenment.

I like this topic and I consider writing a book about it.

Some initial ideas on that books:

1. in Khmer language
2. it must be a kind of narration on the view regarding mediation
3. it must be simple for general public to enjoy it
4. it targets the young readers, not religious professionals
5. it is not the guideline for practice - just a narration, a set of stories
6. it must inspire readers for discussion

Three main parts of the book:

1. Samadhi is mysterious; it is scary
2. Samadhi is a way towards enlightenment
3. Samidhi is the art of living

References:

1. Public opinion; Khmer in particular
2. History of Buddha by Mr. Sophorn; audio read by Mr. Francois Kuoch
3. Goenka Dhamma Discourses for 10-day Vipassana course, audio read by Mr. Francois Kuoch
4. Vipassana Mediation website - Goenka in U Ba Khin Tradition [www.dhama.org]
5. The Art of Living by William Hart
6. Mindfulness Mediation in plain English by ?
7. The very life by Sayadaw U Bandita
8. ...

Supports:

1. Open for public comment
2. Khmer friends

Communication:

1. Through this blog
2. an e-mail group when needed

Happy Khmer New Year - Year of Golden Pig

Wishing you a Very Happy, Healthy, Prosperous, Safe, and Successful Khmer New Year - Year of Golden Pig.

Note:

• This wishing flyer was from a Khmer Blog
• other wishings by Khmer designers in the links below: file://new_year_2007.wmv/
  http://khmer_new_year-7.pps/