how to respect people who doesnt deserve our respect. likewise how to be kind and compassionate to despicable people?
Practising bodhicitta, aspiration before application,
or practice detachment, taking a dispassionate outlook.
Recently, I encountered this problem at the temple. Some affected dharma sisters and I have discussed and we decided to expose this person's bad deeds to the monk. This person is playing politics in the temple and is hindering other people especially young Buddhists from practicing.
We exposed her and the monk had taken actions. Being compassionate towards her will only allow her to harm other Buddhists. 慈悲也�用智慧。
Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:Recently, I encountered this problem at the temple. Some affected dharma sisters and I have discussed and we decided to expose this person's bad deeds to the monk. This person is playing politics in the temple and is hindering other people especially young Buddhists from practicing.
We exposed her and the monk had taken actions. Being compassionate towards her will only allow her to harm other Buddhists. 慈悲也�用智慧。
I see it differently from you, allowing someone to continue an unhelpful act unimpeded is the more unkind thing to do, only when his/her's bad actions have stopped, then he/she will stop creating negative karma for themselves.
Originally posted by Weychin:I see it differently from you, allowing someone to continue an unhelpful act unimpeded is the more unkind thing to do, only when his/her's bad actions have stopped, then he/she will stop creating negative karma for themselves.
Yeah, you got a point. Sometimes I feel that I'm not compassionate enough. More to learn.
Anyway, she is experiencing bad karma or Dharma protectors are at work. I understand from other dharma sisters that her legs will weaken and almost collapse whenever she is chanting. Doctor could not figure out what was wrong as X-ray showed there was nothing wrong with her legs.The monk reminded her to watch her actions.
One one is either compassionate or one simply is not. If one is justifying, rationalizing or even trying to cultivate compassion - it is still a power trip, though subtle. Beware the folly of the mind.
Compassion is a by-product of love and being free (inside). It emanates from one's being!
Muse over this - Does the rain choose whom to rain on? It simply rains. It does not discriminate, evaluate or question.
The moon, it waxes and it wanes,
The sea, it ebbs and it flows,
The skies, it rains and it stops,
Nature, it arises and it falls.
Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:
Yeah, you got a point. Sometimes I feel that I'm not compassionate enough. More to learn.Anyway, she is experiencing bad karma or Dharma protectors are at work. I understand from other dharma sisters that her legs will weaken and almost collapse whenever she is chanting. Doctor could not figure out what was wrong as X-ray showed there was nothing wrong with her legs.The monk reminded her to watch her actions.
wah... how did that happened...? Could it be the diet causing her legs to weaken?
Dharma Protectors....
Originally posted by 2009novice:
wah... how did that happened...? Could it be the diet causing her legs to weaken?Dharma Protectors....
I understand that she kept falling down for no reasons and her legs were weaken due to the falls. The monk said could be the Dharma Protectors because she is obstructing others from practicing and unlike Buddha, Dharma Protectors still have anger. Obstructing others from practicing the Dharma is a serious bad deed.
It is difficult to show some compassion towards someone who you hate him/her.
Just be ignoring him/her and talk less and detour when meet.
Even me I will find it hard to do it too if someone for eg backstab or bad mouth or making me angry.
Originally posted by Rooney9:how to respect people who doesnt deserve our respect. likewise how to be kind and compassionate to despicable people?
Normally, when living beings has thoroughly comprehend the above, usually they were renounced or become student "dharma protectors" in the monastery as volunteers and will be having the bless of enlightened dharma protectors and blessing of buddha :) kudos to all :D
According to Dharma master - the first is form while the second is merits and virtues.
The Ten Vows of Samantabhadra
In the Flower Garland Sutra, the Buddha states that Bodhisattva Samantabhadra made ten great vows in his path to full Buddha-hood:
I will try to learn to be compassion towards my enemy.
I am not joking.
Life is short, have more friends are better than more enemy.
Hi Rooney
I remember the first time when I was truly impressed with Buddha teaching. It was when I was reading the 4 noble truth, it mentions that in life there is Dukkha which can be translated as unsatisfactory. The suffering comes in physical and mental. One the suffering is being in contact with the enemy or hated one. I was impressed by the profundity of the truth of suffering which I can see in the daily living. The best part was I do not need believe in the Buddha in order to prove the validity of the truth in my life.
Well, in life there will be times when we are put into the situation with people whom we don’t like. It will be frustrating and painstaking. However, we do not know the karmic affinity, we had with the person.
Recently, I was doing some reading, I came across this jargon å–„çŸ¥è˜ which is common word used in Buddhist text and teaching. A lot of teacher will interpret this word as good spiritual advisor who will guide a person on the Buddhist path which is true. However, when I decided to do further search on this word, I realized that it was used in the context of Lotus Sutra in reference to Devadatta who was a Sangha traitor, a liar, a snobbish monk, a murderer and etc. However, Buddha call him a friend, he mentioned that it was Devadatta therefore I can attain Perfect Enlightenment.
Lotus Sutra Devadatta Chapter 12
The Buddha said to all the bhikshus: “ The former king was myself and the sage at that juncture was the present Devadatta himself. Through the good friendship of Devadatta I was enabled to become perfect in the Six Paramitas, in kindness, compassion, joy,……….the transcendent powers of the Way, the attainment of Perfect Enlightenment, and the widespread saving of the living-all this id due to the good friendship of Devadatta.
佛告諸比丘：「爾時王者，則我身是。時仙人者，今æ��婆é�”多是。由æ��婆é�”多善知è˜æ•…，令我具足å…波羅蜜，慈悲喜æ�¨ï¼Œä¸‰å��二相，八å��種好，紫磨金色，å��力ã€�四無所ç•�ã€�å››æ”�法ã€�å��å…«ä¸�å…±ã€�神通é�“力，æˆ�ç‰æ£è¦ºï¼Œå»£åº¦çœ¾ç”Ÿï¼Œçš†å› æ��婆é�”多善知è˜æ•…。ã€�
During my Nov Nichiren Shu retreat, a nun share this quote with us, “No one can escape suffering but we can choose how to accept and face the suffering.”
Hence wherever and whatever you are going through face with it with the courage of Buddha and compassion of Kannon Bodhisattvas. At times, you might blow your top but don’t give up keep trying because Perseverance is one of the 6 practice of Bodhisattvas.
Gassho
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo
Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:Recently, I encountered this problem at the temple. Some affected dharma sisters and I have discussed and we decided to expose this person's bad deeds to the monk. This person is playing politics in the temple and is hindering other people especially young Buddhists from practicing.
We exposed her and the monk had taken actions. Being compassionate towards her will only allow her to harm other Buddhists. 慈悲也�用智慧。
If correction needs to be taken, do correction based on the issue / actions... not on the person... without anger/self-righteousness but for the benefit of many others.
I agree very much, compassion is not just emotion, it requires great wisdom. But at the same time, one can also misuse intelligence and self-justify when actually what he really lacks is a heart for others... so not to fall into any wrong side... we have to always circumspect ourselves and our real agenda for doing somethings, not just follow our habits...
sometimes, i do some thing and i say to myself or others that it is for the benefit of so-and-so and other people... but i noticed that my 'altruistic' acts are always conveniently benefitting myself at the same time... why is that so? That is because we never really be honest with ourselves. And also lack someone to point out our problem.
So other people criticize us, whatever their motivation, their criticism can be used for self-reflection.
just sharing...
Originally posted by wisdomeye:
If correction needs to be taken, do correction based on the issue / actions... not on the person... without anger/self-righteousness but for the benefit of many others.I agree very much, compassion is not just emotion, it requires great wisdom. But at the same time, one can also misuse intelligence and self-justify when actually what he really lacks is a heart for others... so not to fall into any wrong side... we have to always circumspect ourselves and our real agenda for doing somethings, not just follow our habits...
sometimes, i do some thing and i say to myself or others that it is for the benefit of so-and-so and other people... but i noticed that my 'altruistic' acts are always conveniently benefitting myself at the same time... why is that so? That is because we never really be honest with ourselves. And also lack someone to point out our problem.
So other people criticize us, whatever their motivation, their criticism can be used for self-reflection.
just sharing...
Yeah, agree with you. Like many others, I left the temple. So, by bringing up the problem to the monk will only benefit the new comers. She did not criticize but discriminates new comers especially young Buddhists by gossiping and cause disharmony among the Buddhists. Young Buddhists will never get a chance to participate in some of the events in the temple. Anyway, the monk is aware of the problem now as earlier he was also wondering why new comers never stayed long in this temple.
i could not help but write something because i was drawn by the topic title...
i'm not buddhist, i'm catholic..
but we believe in this: be kind and compassionate to those who least deserve it because they are the ones who most need it..
at least that's what my parish priest taught... and that's what Mother Teresa did with her life..
Happen to come across this wisdom phrase :
To Love Perfectly :
Love those imperfect
because they can be perfect.
Love those trying to be perfect
because they will be perfect.
Love those perfect
because they are already perfect.
Originally posted by the Bear:i could not help but write something because i was drawn by the topic title...
i'm not buddhist, i'm catholic..
but we believe in this: be kind and compassionate to those who least deserve it because they are the ones who most need it..
at least that's what my parish priest taught... and that's what Mother Teresa did with her life..
If God is Love, and it should be unconditional.
But we are all conditional, therefore must try to keep mindful at all times.
Being compassionate requires us to be selfless and mindful at all times,
Being dispassionate requires us to have no self, and also being mindful at all times.
This is a website on the three poisons and how to remove them. It can be quite hard to practise it though
http://www.naljorprisondharmaservice.org/pdf/ThreePoisons.htm
I am learning not to get affected by any negative remarks and not to get angry easily. Not easy.....really not easy....
age old expire topic i posted 5 years ago.
Not discussing faults of others
http://www.sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/229222
http://buddhism.sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/318738
but the unconditional compassion will never expire. :)
/\
Originally posted by sinweiy:age old expire topic i posted 5 years ago.
Not discussing faults of others
http://www.sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/229222
http://buddhism.sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/318738
but the unconditional compassion will never expire. :)
/\
I think it depends very much on what is the intention of discussing faults of others. 慧律 fashi ever discussed faults of another Buddhist leader who did not preach true Buddhism and advised us not to believe what that leader said. He was doing the right thing though he was discussing the faults of others. So far, he is the most outspoken Buddhist leader who dare to speak up for the sake of Buddhism.
I learned something new yesterday. Don't always think "I am right",must always think "I am compassionate".
Ajahn Brahm said this. When I see a convict, I dun see a criminal. I see a person who has committed an unwholesome deed. what a profound saying.