The Scholar Monk and the Arahat

Once there were two men who entered the monkhood at the same time but who followed different aspirations. One studied the sacred doctrines until he attained such a proficiency in them that quite a number of admiring students gathered around him to hear him teach.

The other practised very hard and eventually became an arahat with great spiritual insights.

One day, the two bhikkhus happened to meet each other for they had gone to see the Buddha at the same time. The proud master of the sacred texts, however, had no idea that the monk he just met was already one of high spiritual attainments.

Treating him with disdain, as he did most monks, the scholar wanted to embarrass the arahat in front of everyone by asking him questions from the texts which he was sure the arahat would not be able to answer.

What the scholar did not know, however, was that whoever brought harm in any form upon an arahat would end up being reborn in a lower world.

To prevent that from happening, the Buddha decided to choose and ask the questions himself. He put questions concerning the higher states of meditation to the scholar monk who, of course, could not answer them because he had not practised what he had recited and preached.

On the other hand, the second bhikkhu had no problem with the questions, answering them humbly but yet with evident authority. When the questioning session was over, the Buddha praised the arahat generously, but made no mention of the learned scholar.

The other bhikkhus wondered why the Buddha praised the arahat and not the illustrous teacher. The Buddha explained to them that although the first bhikkhu was well versed in and knowledgeable of the sacred scriptures, he did not live in accordance with the Dhamma.

The Buddha compared him to a cowherd who tended somebody else’s cows only to earn money and so did not get to drink any of the cows’ milk, while the one who practised the Dhamma was like the owner who enjoyed not only his cows’ milk but all the dairy products that could be made from it as well.

Similarly, the scholar monk only enjoyed whatever services his pupils afforded him but not the benefits of sainthood. On the other hand, though the arahat could barely recite anything from the sacred scriptures, through his diligent practise he had come to understand the essence of the Dhamma and so no longer harbored any greed, hatred, or delusion in his mind. He thus truly reaped the benefits of sainthood.

Though a person recites much of the sacred texts, but is negligent and does not practise according to the Dhamma, he cannot share the blessings of the holy life, just as a cowherd, counting other people’s cows, cannot taste the milk that comes from them.

Though a person recites only a little of the sacred texts, but practises according to the Dhamma and becomes truly wise, thus forsaking lust, hatred, and delusion, and no longer clinging to anything of this or any other world, he indeed shares the benefits of the holy life.

Suffering Within Suffering

An example of Suffering within Suffering is to be penniless and also without any food to eat or any place to live.

This suffering is experienced by poor people. Lacking the very necessities of life, they cannot even find work. This kind of suffering is not easy to bear.

But wealthy people suffer even more. They experience the Suffering of Decay.

Having money, they have to continuously calculate about it. "I'll put this much in the bank. I'll take this much out and put it into a business venture. I'll take that much…" and on it goes like that all day long. They keep on counting their money until their hair turns white, their teeth fall out, their eyes stop working, and their ears go deaf.

But then trouble comes. The robbers get their number. They break in at night and pick the safe clean. [Editor: Wealth can lead to welfare of one and many too, but becomes problematic when clung to without generosity or used without wisdom.]

People in poverty get accustomed to their suffering, but when the Suffering of Decay hits wealthy people, they can't take it. It's very bitter.

Well, then, if you're neither rich nor poor, there's no suffering, right? There's still suffering: the Suffering of Process. Everyone goes through the process of ageing.

From youth, people pass into middle age, and then become old. Once they're old, they die. This process never stops. It continues with every passing thought.

Prajna Paramita

Prajna Paramita is the Perfection of Wisdom, as preached in the Heart Sutra.

When we realize and can perceive that the 5 aggregates (form, feeling, pereception, mental formation and consciousness) are empty, we would have developed Prajna Paramita.

Without Prajna (wisdom), we cannot understand the principle of emptiness.

Developing Prajna is not about secluding yourself in some remote retreat to meditate and chant the Heart Sutra. Wisdom emerges in the midst of the ordinary activities of our daily lives. It is there while we are eating, walking, sitting, sleeping or interacting with our environments and other people.

Here is a beautiful story that illustrates this.

Once, there lived a monk who visited a great Chan Master well known for his wisdom and enlightenment.

He stayed with the Master for more than ten years, serving him faithfully and taking care of all his mundane needs.

One day, he approached his Master and told him that he wants to leave.

The Master asked, "Where do you want to go?"

The young monk answered, "I want to go in search of the existence of the Dharma."

The Master answered, "There is the essence of the Dharma right here. Where else do you want to search for it?"

The young monk replied, "I have been here for more than 10 years, serving you faithfully. You have never explained anything to me about the Dharma. So, how can it be here?"

The Master was astonished, "How can you say that there is no essence of the Dharma here? When you came to offer me tea, I always accepted it and drank it. When you brought me food, I ate it. When you joined your palms and bowed down to pay respect to me, I have nodded my head in response. All these things tell you about the essence of the Dharma. How can you say that the essence of the Dharma is not here? All these are the essence of the Dharma. They stand for the parjna in our daily life!"

The young monk answered, "Oh! This is Prajna! Let me think this over."

The Master said, "Don't think. Thinking arouses differentiation; thinking is no longer prajna."

The moment the young monk heard this sentence, he became enlightened.

So, what this story illustrates is that prajna is everywhere, and Buddhist teachings is everywhere around us. It is when you live mindfully that you will understand prajna.

If you have prajna, then you can clearly see that the 5 aggregates are empty. Once we understand that these aggregates are empty, then we are able to cross the ocean of suffering and achieve enlightenment. We will no longer be consumed by the differentiation of our lives, the dualities of existence.

We can then see that everything is emptiness and this world is illusory...

Giving With Wisdom

A long time ago there lived a Bodhisattva of great diligence who wanted to achieve Enlightenment as soon as possible.

In his practice, he emphasized the core principle of having no attachments even though he was very rich and prosperous. Therefore, he announced publicly that he would give away everything that he has.

Many people came to him and he gave generously - money, food and anything that anyone asked him for. Those who benefited from his generosity praised him for his kindness and his non-attachment to his wealth and property. The Bodhisattva was pleased.

One day, a rather disagreeable beggar came and asked him, "Is it true that you are ready to give away anything that people ask you for?"

The Bodhisattva replied, "Yes, I will give freely away everything I have, whatever you ask for."

The beggar then said to him, "Give me your right hand."

The Bodhisattva took a knife, cut off his hand, and gave it to the beggar with a smile.

The beggar then said. "I could never accept something given with the left hand. This is really improper!"

In that instant, anger arose in the Bodhisattva. "You are so ungrateful!" he shouted at the beggar.

And with that he abandoned the Bodhisattva path...

True giving is all about giving without attachment. Even if the recipient rejects your gift or treat it with disrespect, if you have given generously, with great wisdom, the response would not have mattered to you.

The karma would have be upon the recipient. If he is very grateful, he would have generated good karma. Being ungrateful and unappreciative would cause evil karma to be visited on the recipient.

So, the giver would have generated lots of merits if he gives with wisdom, gives without attachments and gives with equanimity...

Once the act of giving has taken place, the result of the giving is inconsequential to the given. That is giving with wisdom.

Get Wisdom at any Cost

Proverbs 4

Listen, my son, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.

I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.

For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.

Then he taught me, and he said to me,

“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.

Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.

The beginning of wisdom is this:
[a] Get wisdom, though it cost all you have,
[b] Get understanding.

Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”

Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.

I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.

Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.

For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.

Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;

For they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.

Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.

Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!

May 2011 be a year of Health and Happiness.

May the year be Peaceful and Joyful.

May you also be blessed with an abundance of Prosperity and Wisdom.

Have a wonderful year ahead!!

The Highest...

The highest skill lies in the realization of selflessness.
The highest nobility lies in taming your own mind.
The highest excellence lies in having the attitude that seeks to help others.
The highest precept is continual mindfulness.

The highest remedy lies in understanding the intrinsic transcendence of everything.
The highest activity lies in not conforming with worldly concerns.
The highest mystic realization lies in lessening and transmuting the passions.
The highest charity lies in non-attachment.

The highest morality lies in having a peaceful mind.
The highest tolerance lies in humility.
The highest effort lies in abandoning attachment to works.

The highest meditation lies in the mind without claims.
The highest wisdom lies in not grasping anything as being what it appears to be.

~ Atisha

Wisdom of a Mother

Over two thousand years ago, during the Warring States Period in China, a simple old woman had the common sense to realize that people need to be decently fed.

Zi Fa was a general in the State of Chu. In a battle with the State of Qin, his food supplies were running out and he had to dispatch one of his men back home and asked the King of Chu for fresh supplies.

While he was there the subordinate paid a courtesy call to the mother of General Zi Fa.

The mother asked, “How are the conditions of the soldiers?”

“The food situation is very tight. The men could only have some beans and grains,” the subordinate said.

“How about your general?”

“Don’t worry ma’am. Our General has Braised Meat to go with his fragrant rice.”

“Oh“ the mother said, shaking her head.

Not long after, General Zi Fa scored a decisive victory over the Qin army and he returned to his country a hero.

However, when he went to his own house, he found the gate locked and he was not allowed in.

His mother then sent a messenger to relay him her message:

“When Gou Jian, the King of Yue, was fighting the State of Wu, someone donated a cask of excellent wine. He poured the wine into the river and together with his men, he drank from the river. Would there be any taste of wine left? Of course not! But the morale of the men had increased five-fold.

Later somebody donate him some bags of grain. He divided them among his soldiers. Would the grain be enough to lessen their hunger? Of course not! But their battle resolve has increased ten-fold.

“In your case, while your men starved, you feasted. Why?

Did not the Book of Songs advised, “Don’t enjoy yourself too much, only then can the good man be peaceful and relaxed.”

Is your behaviour at the war-front something to be proud of? You sent your men to die and yet you live in comfort. Even though the war was won it has nothing to do with you but your men’s valour.

You are not my son. Don’t come home.”


The moral of the story is: all leaders who can influence the life of others must always think of the lowest denominator. No matter how rich we feel, there will always be a group of people struggling to survive. This is especially so when the income gap keeps widening more and more and the lower income group’s wages fall lower and lower.

By Dr Wong Wee Nam

The Dream Poem

Life is a dream
Everything is like a dream
What can be experienced is but a dream
Dream is even more so a dream

Closing our eyes is a dream
Opening our eyes is also a dream
Although dreams can be long or brief
They are dreams no less

Creating various karma in dream
Will similarly experience karmic outcomes in the dream
For the enjoyment of a moment
Leads to suffering of immeasurable eons

We are all the same in the dream
No distinction in wisdom or status
The mind rises and dream arises
The mind ceases and dream ceases

Recognizing dream as dream
The realization awakens us from the dream
Both the dreamer and dream cease
The clear mind is not a dream


The above poem was found engraved on the wall of the Zhulin Monastery in Mount Wutai. It was written by Master Danxu when he was about 82 years old.

It states that life is all a dream and all of us live in the dream thinking it is the real reality.

As life is a dream, you can change how the dream unfolds. Therefore, no circumstances is unchangeable if you have the strong desire and intention to change for the better.

Only the truly wise person, who has cultivated and understand the mysteries of life, will become enlightened and awake to see the truth about this dream that is life...

Energy Vampire

I have a BFF that I love to death.

We have known each other for many years and got along very well. We have shared a lot of our lives - the ups, the downs, the joys and the sorrows.

However, whenever I spent time with her, I felt drained and very tired. Even if I had spent less than an hour with her, doing nothing but just talking over coffee, I still felt that way.

I had always wondered why I felt this way when I am around her.

Over time, as I become wiser, I realized that there are certain people who brings very good energy with them. When you are around these people, you felt very alive, energetic and a lightness. You just enjoyed your time with them.

And there are people like my friend, whom you feel bad after spending time with them.

Why is that so?

I discovered that these people are actually "Energy Vampires". When you are around them, they literally drained your energy and you end up feeling very tired, depressed, down or melancholy.

I have observed that these "Energy Vampires" share some characteristics : -

• They are generally very self-absorbed individuals that only cared about themselves.
• They also think that their needs and priorities are more important than yours.
• Every incident or events that happened in their lives are filled with dramas.
• And they are quite deluded, in the sense that they do not learn the lessons that the Universe is teaching them and as a consequence, they make the same mistakes again and again.
• They are also not sensitive to the people around them.

When I realized these, I developed a stategy to only meet my friend when I am feeling good.

On those days when I am stressed or not feeling good, I tried to avoid meeting her. I would make some excuses to reschedule our appointment to another day.

When I meet her, I always picture a bright light surrounding me.

I maintain an aura of impenetrable energy around me to ensure that her negative energy does not seep into my being. And with that, I am able to interact with her and not feel drained at the end of the encounter.

You may be asking : - Why not just avoid her altogether?

Well, some times, life gives you the people who challenges you, who teaches you patience and help you to cultivate the path to enlightenment and wisdom.

And therefore, I still keep in touch with her, sharing my wisdom and learnings so that she can become aware about her own dramas and move forward to better experiences.

Wisdom In The Silence

We may think that we need to be surrounded by distractions, activities and noise to be truly alive.

But are you really HERE when you are in that kind of environment? Can you really think and contemplate the essences of life when you are surrounded with all these "busy-ness"? We delude ourselves by thinking that these thoughts and the inner commentary in our minds show that we know the world and we are therefore alive.

It is only when you are able to quiet down your mind that you realize that in the silence is where the true wisdom will arise.

If you seek the Truth, you should value the silence and be aware of the magnificence of the reality of NOW.

So, be silent... be still. And know the inner beauty that arises with the true wisdom in the silence.