The so-called "five aggregates" are:
Material Form (phenomena)
Feeling (sensations and feelings)
Thinking (conceptions of perceptions)
Volition or Mental Formation (the driving force of change and transformation)
Consciousness (discrimination and differentiation)
These "five aggregates" make up all outer,
impermanent, and changing conditions.
To find your "Buddha Nature," it is necessary to
relinquish all attachment to the "five aggregates."
Whether perceiving the "Emptiness" of the aggregates,
or relinquishing attachment to the aggregates, either one will do.
Complete "Emptiness" of the "five aggregates"
allows you to know how to recognize and experience
your inner nature - the true nature of the mind and heart.
If is just like when other people are wearing masks,
you can only recognize the masks,
but not the people themselves.
Detachment from the "five aggregates"
allows you to truly identify and experience the real face
behind the mask, your true nature.
Pursuit of Wealth
Question: For a businessman,
making money is the primary goal.
How does one contemplate and reflect on this
in order to gain true insight?
Will one fall into the trap of becoming too attached to
making money?
Master: No, you won't.
Because making money is "Emptiness,"
and not making money is also "Emptines."
So, it is okay to make money;
it is also okay not to make money.
When you need to make money,
it is not necessary to hesitate too much.
When you don't need to, then just leave it alone.
Question: Is it okay for a Buddhist practitioner to pursue wealth?
Master: Pursuit of wealth is "Emptiness."
Whether you pursue it or not,
there is not much of a difference.
making money is the primary goal.
How does one contemplate and reflect on this
in order to gain true insight?
Will one fall into the trap of becoming too attached to
making money?
Master: No, you won't.
Because making money is "Emptiness,"
and not making money is also "Emptines."
So, it is okay to make money;
it is also okay not to make money.
When you need to make money,
it is not necessary to hesitate too much.
When you don't need to, then just leave it alone.
Question: Is it okay for a Buddhist practitioner to pursue wealth?
Master: Pursuit of wealth is "Emptiness."
Whether you pursue it or not,
there is not much of a difference.
Asking for Directions
If you desire liberation,
recognize the nature of "Emptiness"
and you will attain liberation.
If you desire no more reincarnation,
recognize the nature of "Emptiness,"
and there will be no more reincarnation.
Beside this, you should also recognize the "Self."
You have to first recognize the "Self,"
then you will be able to keep yourself under control.
How does one do this? Through inquiry/
If you don't know, you should inquire.
For example, when we are driving toward a destination,
if we shoudl ask someone for directions.
Sometimes, you even have to ask more than once.
You have accomplished the task only when you have
arrived at the destination.
recognize the nature of "Emptiness"
and you will attain liberation.
If you desire no more reincarnation,
recognize the nature of "Emptiness,"
and there will be no more reincarnation.
Beside this, you should also recognize the "Self."
You have to first recognize the "Self,"
then you will be able to keep yourself under control.
How does one do this? Through inquiry/
If you don't know, you should inquire.
For example, when we are driving toward a destination,
if we shoudl ask someone for directions.
Sometimes, you even have to ask more than once.
You have accomplished the task only when you have
arrived at the destination.
Bubbles of Dream like illusion
All things and phenomena are but
bubbles and images of dreamlike illusion.
Everything that happened is like a dream, or like a dewdrop.
Whatever you see in front to our eyes is illusory,
dreamlike, and nothing other than "Emptiness."
So, is it really true that we have so much sorrow and sufering?
Or is it just that our mind and heart are not "letting go?"
Or is it that we have not sufficiently
developed the habit of "letting go" of the mind?
Chan meditation practice is learning to
let go of your mind and heart;
learning to release and relieve yourself.
bubbles and images of dreamlike illusion.
Everything that happened is like a dream, or like a dewdrop.
Whatever you see in front to our eyes is illusory,
dreamlike, and nothing other than "Emptiness."
So, is it really true that we have so much sorrow and sufering?
Or is it just that our mind and heart are not "letting go?"
Or is it that we have not sufficiently
developed the habit of "letting go" of the mind?
Chan meditation practice is learning to
let go of your mind and heart;
learning to release and relieve yourself.
Mirror and Circumstances
What is meant by,
"The sight of the environment gives rise to the inner state?"
Suppose we are watching a movie
and our mood follows the scenario of the story,
sometimes happy, sometimes sad.
Although the story has nothing to do with us,
we unwittingly go along with the scenario,
which gives rise to lots of non-liberated,
disturbing, and senselsess tensions.
If our mind and heart can be like a mirror
that is not affected by "circumstantial conditions,"
our life will be peaceful and serene.
So, what are we learning from the Buddha Dharma?
We are learning about a mind and heart of serenity.
What is a mind and heart of serenity?
It is like a mirror.
The mirror reflects everything,
but itself does not have this or that kind of feelings or sensations.
The mirror is simply a mirror.
The image of the circumstances is simply
the image of the circumstances.
"The sight of the environment gives rise to the inner state?"
Suppose we are watching a movie
and our mood follows the scenario of the story,
sometimes happy, sometimes sad.
Although the story has nothing to do with us,
we unwittingly go along with the scenario,
which gives rise to lots of non-liberated,
disturbing, and senselsess tensions.
If our mind and heart can be like a mirror
that is not affected by "circumstantial conditions,"
our life will be peaceful and serene.
So, what are we learning from the Buddha Dharma?
We are learning about a mind and heart of serenity.
What is a mind and heart of serenity?
It is like a mirror.
The mirror reflects everything,
but itself does not have this or that kind of feelings or sensations.
The mirror is simply a mirror.
The image of the circumstances is simply
the image of the circumstances.
What is the Rider on the Donkey Looking For?
What does the Buddha Dharma teach us?
It teaches us about our "awakened nature."
Where is the 'awakened nature?"
We are just like a rider on a donkey, looking for the
donkey, or a rider on a horse, looking for the horse,
unaware of the fact that we are riding on the back of the
donkey or the horse.
We keep on searching and searching.
What we are searching for is the feeling and experience
of the present moment.
What is this feeling and experience?
It is the consciousness within you.
It is not anything outside;
because anything outside is simply not you.
Hence the saying,
"Dharma cannot be attained outside the mind and heart."
Anything found outside the mind and heart is not yours.
It teaches us about our "awakened nature."
Where is the 'awakened nature?"
We are just like a rider on a donkey, looking for the
donkey, or a rider on a horse, looking for the horse,
unaware of the fact that we are riding on the back of the
donkey or the horse.
We keep on searching and searching.
What we are searching for is the feeling and experience
of the present moment.
What is this feeling and experience?
It is the consciousness within you.
It is not anything outside;
because anything outside is simply not you.
Hence the saying,
"Dharma cannot be attained outside the mind and heart."
Anything found outside the mind and heart is not yours.
How to Bath Together
Erotic Pointers for bathing.
written by Shan & Claude
Ask:
I would like to give my lover a bathing experience. I have always wanted to give him a bath but could use some erotic pointers. I've got the candles and the lotions but I also need some advice on how to make this experience unforgettable.
Reply:
This bath idea sounds exciting! You are on the right track and we are not sure what we can add to your fantasy. It seems you want some more romantic pointers on what could build excitement and anticipation and set the tone/mood of the bath is that right? We would recommend music that he enjoys. Maybe some bubbles (be careful thought they cause yeast infections in some people if you end up joining him)? Food is never a bad idea especially when you can wash it off easily in the bath! We are sure you can come up with lots of great ideas to physically set the mood, but we would like to suggest that you focus on your arousal. Things and objects can make a nice environment, but you could have a really hot experience in a dirty bathroom stall if you have a hot mindset. Your attitude and your libido will add a lot to the situation. If you fee hot and sexy he will most likely feel that more than he notices how many candles are in the room.
Think attitude that you are hot and that he is hot and sexy! If you examine and adjust your mindset you can make it as romantic or filthy as you like!
written by Shan & Claude
Ask:
I would like to give my lover a bathing experience. I have always wanted to give him a bath but could use some erotic pointers. I've got the candles and the lotions but I also need some advice on how to make this experience unforgettable.
Reply:
This bath idea sounds exciting! You are on the right track and we are not sure what we can add to your fantasy. It seems you want some more romantic pointers on what could build excitement and anticipation and set the tone/mood of the bath is that right? We would recommend music that he enjoys. Maybe some bubbles (be careful thought they cause yeast infections in some people if you end up joining him)? Food is never a bad idea especially when you can wash it off easily in the bath! We are sure you can come up with lots of great ideas to physically set the mood, but we would like to suggest that you focus on your arousal. Things and objects can make a nice environment, but you could have a really hot experience in a dirty bathroom stall if you have a hot mindset. Your attitude and your libido will add a lot to the situation. If you fee hot and sexy he will most likely feel that more than he notices how many candles are in the room.
Think attitude that you are hot and that he is hot and sexy! If you examine and adjust your mindset you can make it as romantic or filthy as you like!
My Princess
Lee Seol was an orphan, she was adopted when she was 5, since then, she had to work hard to make it into university, where she fell in love with one of her lecturer. This lecturer will later find out that she is actually a Princess. Park Hae young is diplomat in charge of teaching Lee Seol what a princess has to know. He's the heir of a big company CEO and graduated from Ivy League University; he's considered as a modern prince. He's nice to Lee Seol when other people are around and changes his behavior as soon as they're alone. Yet, somehow moved by this simple girl, who wants to talk to the citizens with her heart and more concerned about saving archeological treasures than learning how to dance. Park Hae Young is surprise when he's rich grandfather decides to give all the money he has earned to the community. Does it make sense? What are his reasons for doing this?
Birds in the Heart - Sowing Seeds
Studying Buddha Dharma enables us to spread the seeds
of "awakening" in the minds and hearts of everyone.
With it, we keep on expanding and spreading
out the seeds of "awakening" in the infinite field of life.
This is the way of the Bodhisattva.
In the process of reincarnation, life after life,
we are likely to get ourselves confused and lost.
Generating "Bodhicitta" (the enlightened mind)
and sowing the Bodhi seeds of enlightenment can pave
the way for our own realization.
At the same time, we are facilitating realization for others.
As each and every karmic connection is "awakened,"
the mind and heart will no longer be confused,
lost, or corrupted;
thus, ending the cycle of birth,
death, and reincarnation.
of "awakening" in the minds and hearts of everyone.
With it, we keep on expanding and spreading
out the seeds of "awakening" in the infinite field of life.
This is the way of the Bodhisattva.
In the process of reincarnation, life after life,
we are likely to get ourselves confused and lost.
Generating "Bodhicitta" (the enlightened mind)
and sowing the Bodhi seeds of enlightenment can pave
the way for our own realization.
At the same time, we are facilitating realization for others.
As each and every karmic connection is "awakened,"
the mind and heart will no longer be confused,
lost, or corrupted;
thus, ending the cycle of birth,
death, and reincarnation.
Birds in the Heart - Mongolian Yurt
If you wish to abandon suffering, attain happiness,
and gain freedom,
it is necessary to enlighten your mind and heart.
The mind without enlightenment is like a
Mongolian yurt that is very tightly wrapped.
Inside the yurt, you do not see the sky, the ocean,
or the beautiful green land.
When the mind and heart are not open,
how can you be free of strain and strife?
Hence, we should enlightened our minds and hearts,
and let them be as bright and clear as the sun.
Under a brilliant and clear sky we can see everything
without barrier or obstruction.
and gain freedom,
it is necessary to enlighten your mind and heart.
The mind without enlightenment is like a
Mongolian yurt that is very tightly wrapped.
Inside the yurt, you do not see the sky, the ocean,
or the beautiful green land.
When the mind and heart are not open,
how can you be free of strain and strife?
Hence, we should enlightened our minds and hearts,
and let them be as bright and clear as the sun.
Under a brilliant and clear sky we can see everything
without barrier or obstruction.
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