Happy Vesak Day 2025!

Happy Vesak Day! Last week, I visited the Buddha Tooth Relic temple at Chinatown to thank the Buddha and Bodhisattvas for safe trip and also to pray before Vesak Day.  I was surprised to see many tourists visiting the Buddha Tooth Relic temple last weekday. It is a popular attraction. Do take note to dress appropriately. If you wear shorts or short skirt, you be offered a wrap cloth to cover. 

On Vesak day,  Buddhists commemorate  the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni Buddha. The compassionate and kind Buddha spent 49 years teaching the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold path to end samsara. Buddhism or Buddha's teaching is not about pessimism. There is a way to end suffering and that is to follow the Noble Eightfold path which helps to end rebirth. 

Buddha is compassionate to all sentient beings. I try to practise too. Sometimes when I see ants on my cup (when I didn’t wash throughly),  I just move it and the ants will scramble away, trying to live. Looking at the small ants, I  told them to go away quickly, going back to where they came from and they really scurried off, reminding me that they value their lives too. All sentient beings want to live, so please don't hurt living beings when possible. What goes around, comes around. 

因果真实不虚。有果必有因。

The following is repost from my Heart Sutra and Buddhism blog  here https://heartsutrabuddhism.blogspot.com/

At Level 3, you can explore the museum where you can find out more about the Buddha and his relics in the relic chamber. No photography is allowed in the Relic Chamber.

At Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, there is relic museum. Beautiful relics also known as Sarira that looks like pearl or crystal-like beads are commonly found in the cremated ashes of Buddhist spiritual masters. 

From Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum website here

"Sariras, the Sanskrit name for relics, refers to the remains of a body part usually after cremation. In Buddhist context, sariras refers to the crystallization of solid remains of especially Buddha Sakyamuni after His cremation. Henceforth, relics are also broadly defined to include solid remains of other Buddhist practitioners, regardless of Sangha and secular disciples.

The emergence of relics signifies that the spiritual energy of Buddha or the spiritual practitioner during their lifetime is constant and serene, untainted by nature’s forces yet elevated due to persevering religious practices. Hence, this energy is converted to physical forms to what we known as relics. Relics are the essence of wisdom, the fruit of spiritual labour, which are free of lust, greed and wrath."

My colleague shared with me his Buddhist friend who practised meditation was found to have relics when his relatives collected his cremated ashes. 

Venerable Chao Khun Keng explained that the mind is like a laser beam. Due to the purity of the mind, for some of the monks, their hair can turn to relics. Pure mind that doesn't have greed, hatred and delusion. Pure energy that channel go to the body. 

Before enlightenment, Buddha spent 6 long years practicing asceticism and long fasting, causing his body to be weakened and he almost lost his life. While meditating one day, he heard someone playing a string instrument and came to the realisation that the Middle Path is the way for achieving the liberation of body and mind. 

"Cultivation is like playing a musical string instrument. The string will snap if it is too tight, or not make any sound if it is too loose. Indulgence in sensual pleasure or extreme penance are attachments. The Middle Path is the way for achieving the liberation of body and mind." 

After attaining enlightenment after 7 days of deep meditation, Buddha had compassionately taught sentients being the Four Noble Truths. Buddha reminded us to think and investigate his and others' teaching before accepting it.

The Four Noble Truths are

1) The truth of suffering. Like it or not, both rich and poor go through suffering. The suffering of old age, not getting what you want, separation, sickness. 

2) The truth of the  cause of suffering (craving, anger and delusion) 

3) The truth of the end of suffering. (There is a way to end suffering) 

4) The truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering is the Noble Eightfold paths.

The Noble Eightfold paths which helps to develop Sila (ethical conduct), samadhi (mental discipline or meditation) and panna (wisdom) 戒定慧 are as follows

1) Right Thought (be aware of your thinking with good intention. Eliminate greed, anger and delusion)

2) Right View (understanding of cause and effect, 12 links of dependent origination)

3) Right Speech (Refrain from lying, gossip, idle, harsh speech. If one has nothing helpful to say, be silent) Hmm, this is something I might need to work on it but hey I'm just stating the truth and my intention is to warn people. 

4) Right action (moral, honorable and peaceful conduct). Hmm sometimes I'm quite mischievous. 

5) Right livelihood (Honest living, Refrain from making a living that harm others like selling weapons, intoxicating drinks, and toxins) This is why I don't support people making use of Buddhism  to make money especially in places like night clubs that sell alcohol. Buddha warned his disciples not to drink alcohol as it might cause them to be careless in their action and thus create bad karma. If that dj wants to perform, don't wear monk robe as real monks and strict Buddhists don't drink alcohol. Not drinking alcohol is one of the five precepts for lay Buddhists.

6) Right effort (prevent unwholesome state of mind)

7) Right mindfulness (be aware and mindful of one's thoughts and feelings

8) Right concentration (meditation)

On Vesak Day, this is the day for me to remember Buddha's teaching and to remind me to be mindful. There were some days when I was not mindful and I reacted.

I like this story about how Buddha interacted with an angry man and was not affected by his insulting words. 

In this story, as Buddha was walking in a village, a very angry man insulted the Buddha and said that he had no right to teach others. Buddha was calm and serene as usual and he asked the man,  “Tell me, if you buy a gift for someone, and that person does not take it, to whom does the gift belong?”

The young man was surprised to be asked such a strange question and answered, “It would belong to me, because I bought the gift.”

The Buddha smiled and said, “That is correct. And it is exactly the same with your anger. If you become angry with me and I do not get insulted, then the anger falls back on you. You are then the only one who becomes unhappy.  All you have done is hurt yourself.” 

 

 Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is located in Chinatown. It is just next to Maxwell MRT station.

 Monks and lay Buddhist practitioners chanting at the main hall in the morning.

You can read more about Dendrobium Buddha Tooth orchid here.

At the roof garden. 

Sariras, relics (image from Google)

Chao Khun Keng explaining about relics 1:29:00.  The monk when they meditate, they focus on the body.  The mind is like a laser beam They use the mindfulness to scan the body. Due to the purity of the mind, the body can turn to relics. Due to the pure mind, the mind that does not have greed, hatred and delusion. It has the pure energy to channel into the body and clean up the body, it can also use pure energy to cure the sickness. In a way, meditation can enhance your health.

Buddha Relic Tooth Temple

I finally visited Buddha Tooth Relic Temple at Chinatown Singapore this Monday. I decided to pray and also to see Buddha's relic. Also I wanted to try the vegetarian food at the temple basement 1. To my shock, there were many people eating during lunch time on weekday.

At level 3 there is a Buddha museum where you can read the history of Buddha and see Buddha's relics and the tooth relic at level 4. Some tourists tried to take photo of the relic despite the sign indicating No photography. Some tried to take photo of people meditating at level 4 and they had to be stopped by the security guard.

I revere the compassionate Buddha and his selfless teaching for 45 years to both humans and heavenly beings on how to end suffering. He also taught us not to accept anything at face value but to question and investigate and relate it to our own experience. May all sentient beings be enlightened and end samsara.  

Namo Buddhaya Amitofo🙏

If you like to read more about Buddha's teaching, you can read another of my blog on Buddhism https://heartsutrabuddhism.blogspot.com/. 

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple 

https://www.buddhatoothrelictemple.org.sg/

Nearest MRT station: Maxwell MRT station

Did you know that there is Orchid garden at level 5? I will blog about it on my Blooming Flowers and Arts blog here https://bloomingflowersnarts.blogspot.com/  .

You can read previous post on the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple first published in 2019 June here. 

                       I like the crispy fried spring roll. Quite palatable.

We like this blueberry bun.

Alms Round at Tampines Blk 823

My friend shared with me that Buddhist monks from the Palelai Temple will go to Tampines Blk 823 Tampines Market for alms round on every Monday morning from 8.15 am to 8.45 am. This alms round practice started during Shakyamuni Buddha time, more than 2500 years ago. It is to teach the monks to be humble and also provide opportunity for people to learn about Buddha's teaching and make merit by giving. 

So during the June holidays, I brought some rice packets, a bottle of cooking oil to offer to the monks at Tampines market with my friend. I couldn't explain it but I felt light-hearted and joyful after offering the requisites to the monks. Please take note that real Buddhist monks don't accept money in the street. They accept cooked or/and uncooked food. 

 

When giving, you practise generosity. There are also different form of giving like giving advice, effort, or providing a listening ear. 

I realised my colleagues had been talking about me and shared wrong information about the religion I follow thinking I follow monotheism religion. Don't share wrong information if you don't know. If you want to know, I believe in Buddha's teaching. I don't like it when people spread wrong information. 

The gold pendant that I'm wearing has the compassionate Guanyin pusa  or Avalokitasvara Bodhisattva image.  I believe and follow Buddha's teaching on Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold paths, rebirths and karma so you can say I'm a Buddhist. Some people say Buddhism only talk about suffering which is not true. Buddha shared solution too and that is the path out of suffering is to follow the Noble Eightfold paths, one of which is Right Action which also include 5 precepts for lay Buddhists. One of the five precepts is no sexual misconduct. So if you follow the precept, by not committing  extramarital affair, you are not causing unnecessary suffering to your spouse and children. 

 

Buddha advised don't blindly believe. Investigate and see if it is true first. I realised the truth of Buddha's teaching after reading books like Dr Raymond Moody, Life after Life, Dr Brian Weiss, Many Lives, Many Masters and Near-death experiences website here, shared by those survivors who shared about their past lives. From the book, some shared how their current body moles were related to past life injuries which I read in some Buddhism books. I think I have affinity with Buddhism （与佛有缘） as I enjoy listening to dharma talks. Also I can relate to the dharma teaching. I feel so happy listening to dharma talks by Ajahn Keng and Venerable Sheng Yen.

Back to the alms round. If you want to offer requisites to the monks during their alms round, you can visit Palelai temple website here. https://palelaibuddhisttemple.org/visiting-palelai/#weekly-activities 

Monks went for alms round at Tampines Blk 823 on every Monday, 8.15 am to 8.45 am. Image from one of the videos below here.

You can find out more about Buddhism from Buddhist monk.

Pacified Mind from Zen Inspiration

I was reading the Zen Inspiration and find the following helpful. 

Where does a pacified or non-pacified mind come from when mind itself is non-existent?

Non-existent of permanent self. Everything is dependent on causes and conditions. So why be unhappy and think of what is over. 

From Zen Inspiration

Past Life Regression and Karma

Recently I read another inspiring book " Same Soul, Many Bodies" by Dr Brian Weiss, a Jewish American psychiatrist, hypnotherapist and best-selling author who used past-life regression to help his patients. Today I'm going to share about the core messages from "Same Soul, Many Bodies" and "Many Lifes, Many Masters". If you read Dr Brian Weiss books, he gave many examples of rebirths and karma. You can read on my earlier post on Many Lives, Many Masters here.

What is Karma? In Buddhism, Karma refers to intentional action which leads to future consequences and affect the rebirth in the six realms. There are 31 planes of existence. You can read it here. 

In Many Lives Many Masters, page 122, the Master Spirit shared that "Life is endless; so we never die; we were never really born." this this fear of death would dissolve. This reminds me of one of Heart Sutra verses, 不生不灭 or no birth no death. or neither arising nor ceasing. 

The Spirit from the lower level that spoke via Catherine, the patient that Dr Brian Weiss hypnotised said that" We have debts that must be paid. If we have not paid out these debts, then we must take them into another life... in order that they may be worked through. You progress by paying your debts. Some souls progress faster than others. When you are in physical form and you are working through, you are working through a life...If something interrupts your ability.. to pay that debt, you must return to the plane of recollection, and there you must wait until the soul you own the debt to has come to see you." 

We all have debts to pay. For example, husband has to pay debt to wife or vice versa or parents to children. In one Chinese article I read, a monk shaked his head when using his divine eye, he saw that the young man married his late grandmother who was reborn again. Before her death, the grandmother was upset she could not look after the grandson. There is a common saying in Chinese that your daughter was your past life lover. Indeed, Dr Brian Weiss's patient exclaimed that his current daughter was his wife in his past life. This life he has to take care of his daughter for not being a good father is his earlier life. 

In the book, Same Soul, Many Bodies, John a wealthy man was deeply unhappy despite his wealth so he went to see Dr Brian Weiss. During past life regression, he saw that in a previous life, he died in London great fire. He realised that he was slowly burned to death due to cruel actions he did due to an earlier life as a warrior raped the defeated ruler's daughter and set fire to a city filled with people and, bolting the gates closed behind him.

Evelyn another wealthy lady, a Jewish who felt strongly for Israel and hated the Arabs. During regression, she learned that she was a Nazi officer, a member of the SS who shot the Jews who tried to escape. Dr Brian Weiss shared that he discovered that the surest way to be reincarnated into a particular group of people, defined by religion, race, nationality or culture is to hate those people in previous life, to be prejudiced or violent against that group, Her intense pro-Israel stance in this life was a compensation for her anti-Semitism in her previous German life. 

Thought is energy. Regret, anger, pining, depending on the emotion before you pass on, it will decide on the next rebirth. 

This book is a confirmation of what Buddha, the awakened one who taught for more than 49 years more than 2500 years ago on karma and rebirth and the importance of observing the Noble Eightfold paths and precepts. Buddha taught that the action that you done in this lifetime will affect your next rebirth in one of the six realms. 

Thus Buddha taught sentient beings precepts and the Noble Eightfold path: Right View, Right Thoughts, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Meditation. Be mindful of your action. Do good and be compassion to all sentient beings. 

Karmic power and the unconscious by Master Sheng Yen. In terms of psychology, the unconscious is not something that we can control or are aware of, while karmic power, a Buddhist concept similar to the unconscious, is a kind of power produced by our actions in countless past lives, which we can change our karma by understanding its source and not letting it grow. This life is the result of causes accumulated in past lives. Master Shengyen shared that Karma this concept means that in countless past lives from beginning less time, life after life, we have performed all kinds of actions- bodily, verbal and mental actions. These actions produce a kind of power which persists through time and is concentrated in this life. This is called karmic power. Will all the karmic power of our past lives be manifested in this lifetime? Not necessarily. It depends on what kind of karma is the strongest. Also the type of karma which has the closest affinity with the circumstances of our current life. Shakaymuni Buddha taught us to believe the causality of the 3 periods in giving us guidance and explanation about our lives. I find the following quote by Master Sheng Yen really helpful. 

The four steps in dealing with any problem: face it, accept it, deal with it, let it go.  面对它， 接受它， 处理它，放下它。

How to reduce karma by Ajahn Keng

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

Last Saturday I finally went to Buddha Tooth Temple Relic at Singapore Chinatown . I went there for a Dharma talk. After the Dharma talk, I went to explore Buddha tooth relic which was a hotly debated topic regarding the authenticity of the tooth relic about 12 years ago. Singaporeans and local residents had donated more than 43 million dollars and 273 kg of gold to build the temple and the gold stupa for the tooth relic. Besides the tooth relic, I also went to explore the roof garden and other Buddha's relics at level 3 that look like beautiful crystals. 

Beautiful Buddhist relics also known as Sarira that look like pearl or crystal-like beads are commonly found in the cremated ashes of Buddhist spiritual masters. From Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum website here "Sariras, the Sanskrit name for relics, refers to the remains of a body part usually after cremation. In Buddhist context, sariras refers to the crystallization of solid remains of especially Buddha Sakyamuni after His cremation. Henceforth, relics are also broadly defined to include solid remains of other Buddhist practitioners, regardless of Sangha and secular disciples. The emergence of relics signifies that the spiritual energy of Buddha or the spiritual practitioner during their lifetime is constant and serene, untainted by nature’s forces yet elevated due to persevering religious practices. Hence, this energy is converted to physical forms to what we known as relics. Relics are the essence of wisdom, the fruit of spiritual labour, which are free of lust, greed and wrath."

Recently, my colleague shared with me his Buddhist friend who practised meditation was found to have sariras when his relatives collected his cremated ashes. 

Venerable Chao Khun Keng explained that mind is like a laser beam. Due to the purity of the mind, for some of the monks, their hair can turn to relics. Pure mind that doesn't have greed, hatred and delusion. The monks, when they meditate, they focus on the body. They use the mindfulness to scan the body. Due to the purity of the mind, the body can turn to relics. Due to the pure mind, the mind that does not have greed, hatred and delusion, it has the pure energy to channel into the body and clean up the body, it can also use pure energy to cure the sickness. In a way, meditation can enhance your health.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum 
Nearest MRT: Chinatown MRT
First posted on 5 June 2019

 Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is located in Chinatown. It is about 10 minutes walk from Chinatown MRT station.

At the main hall, the future Buddha,  Buddha Maitreya is seated between two Bodhisattvas

 Monks and lay Buddhist practitioners chanting at the main hall in the morning.

 At Level 3, you can explore the museum where you can find out more about the Buddha and his other relics in the relic chamber. No photography is allowed in the Relic Chamber and Buddha Tooth Relic museum.

At the roof garden. 

Sariras, relics

Chao Khun Keng explaining about relics 1:29.  The monks, when they meditate, they focus on the body.  The mind is like a laser beam They use the mindfulness to scan the body. Due to the purity of the mind, the body can turn to relics. Due to the pure mind, the mind that does not have greed, hatred and delusion, it has the pure energy to channel into the body and clean up the body, it can also use pure energy to cure the sickness. In a way, meditation can also enhance your health.

Happy Buddha's Birthday

Due to circuit breaker in Singapore, places of worships like the temples are closed. 
Today is Buddha's birthday and it's also the day to remember Buddha's teaching. I used to be very bad-tempered. To me, Buddha is like my teacher, teaching me the path to cessation of suffering through the Noble Eight-fold path. If you can't remember, just remember to be kind and not hurt others. 

缘起性空 All phenomena originates from emptiness

果从心生 Fruition is created from the heart

欲望因心而起 Desires arise from the heart

烦恼自生 Vexation comes from oneself

你要离苦得乐 If you want to abandon suffering and gain happiness

就要脱离贪,瞋,痴 You’ve to abandon greed, anger and ignorance.

Heart Sutra Concert at Singapore Esplanade Theatre by the Bay

Yesterday I finally got to listen to Imee Ooi live at Singapore Esplanade Concert theatre! I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hours plus concert. The concert started at about 7.35 pm and ended at about 10.05pm with 20 minutes intermission. Besides singing the Heart Sutra in 8 languages (Mandarin, English, Sanskrit,  Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, Japanese and Tibetan), she also sang the Great Compassion mantra with Jing gang (8 male singers) and Om Mani Padme Hum at the start of Heart Sutra concert. 

Whenever I feel frustrated or upset, I'll listen to the Heart Sutra by Imee Ooi to meditate and calm down. By chanting the Heart Sutra, I feel more at peace. I need to recite the following verse "照见五蕴皆空，度一切苦厄" (Clearly perceived the empty nature of the five skandhas, and transcended all suffering) to remind me of the impermanence nature of life and it is foolish to be angry for long since my identity as a human in this space and time is just a vehicle for me to experience life in this transient temporary material world. No matter how I take care of my body in this human realm, it don't last forever. It will be returned to the earth one day. 

照见五蕴皆空，度一切苦厄  means perceiving the five aggregates (skandhas) making up a person* is but an illusion (emptiness), and with this he was delivered from all sorrow and suffering.

five aggregates: : material form , sensation , discrimination, thinking , and consciousness. 

Heart Sutra is one of the Avalokiteśvara bodhisattva  (觀世音菩薩 ) (practices. In this samsara world, the imperfect world, I'm glad we still have the Dharma, the teaching of Buddha. However Buddha said that once you cross the shore, you also have to stop clinging to the Dharmma. Just let go. The Dharmma is just like a boat that helps you to cross the shore.

Although music is not really encouraged, but I think producing Buddhism music is a way to reach out to the young in the spread of Buddha's teaching.

Inside the Esplanade theatre Singapore.

I paid for $104 (second most expensive price). I sat on first row but was blocked by the speaker.

So happy to hear Imee Ooi sing live. Great awesome performance. Fans could pose with her at the end of concert.

 The Great Compassion Mantra by Imee Ooi and the Jinggang 

Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Keng

I'm delighted to know that Ajahn Keng will be giving Dhamma talk this month! But then I realised that my youngest brother has wedding dinner on late March. I could only attend 1 dharma talk. The talk is near Labrador Park and I really appreciate that Ajahn Keng is giving Dhamma talk. 

Even thought I'm more inclined towards Mahayana Buddhism, but I enjoy listening to Ajahn Keng, a Singaporean monk who is is also known as the forest monk which is the Theravada Buddhism whereby monks go for alms and meditate in the forest. For me I don't think there is not much different as both are Buddha's teaching.

Inspiring and Humorous Dhamma Talk by Venerable Chao Khun Keng

Yesterday I met my ex-colleague for lunch and he shared with me a very interesting and inspiring video on a Dharma talk by Venerable Chao Khun Keng. I enjoyed the talk with him as we had a good discussion on Buddhism. Normally I share what I learned on Buddhism on my Buddhism blog. But since Venerable Chao Khun Keng is a Singaporean, I decided to share in this blog. 

Known as Phra Ajaan Keng, Chao Khun Keng is the first Singaporean ordained in the Thai Buddhist tradition and was conferred the ecclesiastical title of Chao Khun by the King of Thailand. I enjoyed and learned a lot from his interesting talk. 

He is a humorous and engaging speaker and like typical Singapore, he uses mostly English with a mixture of Mandarin, Singlish and Hokkien (common Chinese dialect from the China Fujian province). He shared what he saw during his meditation and he  why he has no doubt on the transference of merit.

I highly recommend that you listen to his talk as shared in the video below. I agree with him on the importance of meditation and not just read the sutras. I experienced the bliss of rapture joy during meditation and it made me realised one does not need much in life to be happy. Now I am happy sharing what I learned from the dharma talks by Venerable monks who shared on  Buddha's teaching. Buddha had selflessly spent more than 45 years on teaching the Dharma more than 2500 years ago. 

I hope Venerable Chao Khun Keng is in Singapore and will conduct some more talks. I have some questions to ask him. 

Some quotes from this video by Chao Khun Keng.

When you meditate, then you can direct your mind from a very chaotic state and enter concentration. That is real. Enjoy the bliss of concentration.

With this support of concentration, are you able to see the truth of this five Skandhas your body, your feeling, your perception, your analytical mind and this consciousness? To say that this is not self, this is suffering if you are attached to it. And this is no self. Its not going to live forever.

Buddha always say We are our owner of our own action, heir of our actions, born of our action, related to action. Whatever we do for good or for bad, we must bear. 

Its from your practise of meditation that you see through the eyes of the mind, the wisdom that arises from meditation.

From another video: The highest happiness is the calm state of mind.