Tit-bits Index

84,000 ways to cultivate

There are 84,000 different ways to cultivate Buddha's nature, and the teachings are about helping others, doing good-deeds, to love & respect all sentient beings, perfecting ourselves, understanding, abstaining from "greed, hatred, and ignorance" etc. Other religions in this world also teach people similar caring and loving nature, ultimately will lead an individual to perfection.

Those who do not adopt any religion or teaching can also cultivate in their own WAY by not harming others and managing to abstain from negative activities in their daily lifestyle, which constitutes one of the 84,000 Ways.

Achieve our Goal

Waking up to real society requires an individual to make and take personal responsibility in order to fulfill one's ambitions or dreams. It is a tough society out there and not many people are fortunate to be born with a silver spoon in his/her mouth. One can certainly help to make a difference to society through industrious effort and participating with society. No doubt one may encounter obstacles along the way, treat it as part of survival and finding ways to overcome it. Take destiny into our own hands and change it for the better for those whom have not been trying hard enough in the past. Get up and try and try again until one is finally able to reach the finishing line. If one decides to give up trying, then one will not be able to reach the final goal.

Admitting wrongdoing

Admitting one’s wrongdoing should never make one feel ashamed and embarrassed, such action will only make you a better person. Just treat this as part of the lesson in one’s life cycle, and then continue diligently to progress further to become an even better person.

As human beings

Being reborn as human beings is rare and difficult; as Buddha picked up a handful of sand and said to Anada (Buddha's follower); this is the total amount of humans living in this world. Only human beings can easily gain merits by being doing good deeds ..etc to progress further.

That means, we better treasure whatever we have, no comparison with others, try our best to plough through our lifetime. Just like planting tomato from seed, water it, look after it, and one day we will have a fruitful reward. We all would like to have better credit book, surely, behind every success is a life-time full of tears, sweat, hard work, worry, failure(s), parents' guidance, support…etc. No pain no gain.

Ask and Understand

If one does not understand, one must ask! If one does not ask what they do not understand, then they will never understand.

"ASKING" results in "UNDERSTANDING".

Bitter life

a) Chasing after something badly which is beyond one’s capability or due to greed, will lead to a bitter life.

For example, if one already has lots of money, but is still craving for more, that is really a bitter, distressing and sorrowful state of life.

BUT, Getting rid of bitter life is bitter too; such as having to readjust our life style.

If one chooses (a), one will always experience sorrow and bitterness, but if one chooses (b), then the misery will slowly and gradually reduce; only then one’s future life will become less bitter.

Buddha's Heart

All Sentient Beings have Buddha's heart, and everybody was a Buddha before. To regain our Buddha's heart, one needs to cultivate to help to remove whatever obstructions cloud our heart.

Bull with a ring

One must have the right understanding, judgment or vision, otherwise, we will just be like a bull with a ring through our nose, just following the lead without knowing of what’s happening …etc!

If one does not understand, then one must ask in order to learn.