Noble Silence

Silence is an empty space, 

Space is the home of the awakened mind.

Folly of an Intelligent World

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- full text forwarded from a friend

Dream Scapes

Some say dreams are unconscious (creative) representations of your conscious thoughts. 

Others say dreams are signs or fore-sights of what might happen.

Yet others say dreams are the opposite of your real life.

Whatever they are, dreams are fascinating wonders.

Some dreams just appear to be so coherent and real that you wake up rather shaken.

This section compiles such dreams of mine.

(Best read with nonjudgmental mind; Any similarity is unknown)

Midnight - Dawn 17 Sep 2014
A long coherent dream occur, following is a sniplet:

I find myself in a mixed-ages classroom in a foreign land (from the text I read and the language I hear). All is well until the teacher asks us to do some homework to be submitted the following week. She poses the question to me, "Are you going to do it?". I find myself replying, "I am returning next week." So I must be here for a study/cultural exchange trip. 

Just then a tall and rather suave looking chap stands up. He draws out a long sword from no-where and starts challenging me. I refuse and he starts slashing 3 young classmates (around 5 years old) who then vaporize and vanish. 

I stand up and out of no-where draw out a long sword. We exchange a few strokes till he finally retreats. 

"That is called fencing." A young voice drifts in from the other side of the classroom door. The 3 slain children walk in. I reckon they must be coming back in spirit.

We chat awhile. I feel glad to see them again. Just as I keep my sword, I feel a sharp pain in my left waist. I look down and am greeted by the wide grin of one of the children, inserting a dagger where the pain is.

~~~

Word of the year: Austerity

austerity

noun

1. plainness, economy, simplicity, severity, starkness, spareness, Spartanism

abandoned buildings with a classical austerity

2. asceticism, economy, rigidity, abstinence, self-discipline, chastity, sobriety, continence, puritanism, solemnity, self-denial, strictness, abstemiousness,chasteness, exactingness, Spartanism 

the years of austerity which followed the war

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

In my high school days, when I first learnt about the word Austerity, I can remember its 2nd meaning: Strictness, but never the 1st: Simplicity. 

Back then, I can hardly see how Strictness is related to Simplicity.

As my spiritual life unfolds, I find this word popping up in spiritual literature frequently, and I take it for granted, especially in the context of spirituality, to mean strictness/self-dsicipline/ascetism, since this is the meaning I can only remember since high school days anyway.

However last month, while watching the documentary on the life of forest ascetics featuring Ajahn Chah, I caught this word ringing in my head again and found myself searching it online. 

Refreshing as the morning mist, the beauty of the word Austerity dawns upon me. The once diverse meanings "Strictness; Simplicity" of this word, now after yrs of spiritual practice, present themselves to me in one unity. 

Of course, when one is self-disciplined, abstained and strict (which is different from harsh), one lives a simple life, clutter-free, trouble-free, worry-free. 

The rules are meant to protect us, the righteous man stands unstained.

Morality, self-discipline and simplicity.

These qualities of spirituality encapsulated in one word - Austerity.

Austerity - the true essence of Spirituality!

What a beautiful word it is!

Austerity - the mantra for my spiritual practice 2012

Dear friends, your comments based on personal experience and insights of the word are welcomed. Pls post them below:

Mass Dana - Dtun Ajahn, 23 May 2012

This is one of the happiest days of my life - preparing food and offering dana to the noble one Ajahn Dtun and his disciples.

Ajahn Dtun is a Thai forest monk, a direct disciple of the late Ajahn Chah whom most people believe is an Arahant (an enlightened one).  

Ajahn Dtun's radiance, energy, compassion, composure and grace captivates me instantly when I first met him during his talk on Monday. He has an aura that calms and uplifts at the same. This inspires me instantly like a stroke of lightning.

I noticed Ajahn Dtun sit with his legs folded elegantly beneath him. Most people would agree that this sitting posture is not comfortable at all. He sat without even once shifting while delivering the 2 hours talk! During Q&A, he answered all questions with equanimity and child-like enthusiasm.
After the talk, people were reluctant to go home. Being too polite to leave before us, Ajahn Dtun stayed around while people started taking pictures of him. He sat in what I would call perfect poise with a nourishing smile.

From the beginning to the end, I only experienced sustained radiance, energy, compassion, composure and grace from him. Touched by the energies, I experienced joy and rapture. I am so inspired that I have a strong urge to go forth. It is as if I was transformed. At his point, I know that he is a stream enterer (a noble one).

Later, knowing that he only takes 1 meal a day impresses me even further. Given this and the fact he is recovering from a major illness, I cannot believe the energy I saw that sustained till 10+pm (at least) on Monday night.

His translating Caucasian disciple who speaks Thai fluently is a rare gem too. 

Speaking Thai and English back and forth non-stop, taking 1 meal a day, taking not even a single sip of water during the 2 hours, I did not detect even the slightest drop in energy. 

I only see a child-like face radiating with compassion and calm.

So austere is their training, so disciplined is their conduct, so polished are their attainments!

Ajahn Dtun is indeed a worthy one, worthy of offerings. Never have I prepared and offered any food with such joy and energy.

This has an instant cleansing effect - an opening of the heart and clarity of the mind.
Later in the day, I notice people who tend to not treat me well, start to change too (and I would not call it coincidental)!
Even the simple act of dana with joy brings me such benefits, what remains to say of even more meritorious deeds?

I am inspired and so may I inspire.

Be a living example and pay it forward.
Let's sustain the good triple gem for as long as we all exist...

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu everyone!

Ajahn Dtun and his disciples visit Singapore for the 1st time from 21st - 23rd May 2012. 
A devoted lay Singaporean Buddhist went all the way to his monastery in Thailand to request for him 3 times and Ajahn Dtun accepted on the 3rd time.

Appendix: Qualities of Ariya (noble people - stream enterer)

[ Reference: "Ten Suttas from Digha Nikaya", Burma Pitaka Association, 1984]

Ten Samyojanas Fetters	Seven Anusayas Latent Defilements		ArahatEnlightened	AnagamiNon-Returner	SakadagamiOnce-Returner	SotapanStream Winner
Avijja Ignorance	Avijja Ignorance	IS	EXTINCT
Uddhacca Restlessness		IS	EXTINCT
Mana Conceit, Pride	Mana Conceit, Pride	IS	EXTINCT
Arupa-raga Formless Realm Craving		IS	EXTINCT
Rupa-raga Fine-material Realm Craving	Bhavaraga Existence Craving	IS	EXTINCT
Patigha Aversion, Hatred, Ill Will, Anger	Patigha Aversion, Hatred, Ill Will, Anger	IS	EXTINCT	EXTINCT	PARTIALLY EXTINCT
Kamaraga Sensuous Craving	Kamaraga Sensuous Craving	IS	EXTINCT	EXTINCT	PARTIALLY EXTINCT
Silabbata Paramassa After Rules & Rituals		IS	EXTINCT	EXTINCT	EXTINCT	EXTINCT
Vicikiccha Sceptical Doubts	Vicikiccha Sceptical Doubts	IS	EXTINCT	EXTINCT	EXTINCT	EXTINCT
Sakkaya Ditthi Personality Belief	Ditthi False View	IS	EXTINCT	EXTINCT	EXTINCT	EXTINCT
Ten Samyojanas Fetters	Seven Anusayas Latent Defilements		Arahat Enlightened	Anagami Non-Returner	Sakadagami Once-Returner	Sotapan Stream Winner

In memory of my late grandma (1929 - 16 April 2012)

When this day has passed, you have 1 day less to be who you want to be...

Spirituality defined

Spirituality is the wholeness, oneness beyond the physical and mundane. 

It is the break-through beyond self.

It is the connection between self and everything, every being in the universe, in all dimensions - physical, mental, emotional, etherical etc... 

Spirituality is not the same as religion. 

The difference: Spirituality emphasizes on direct experience while religion emphasizes on faith. 

The common area: morality is the foundation for both.

My spirituality channels - nature, healing, wellness, meditation, yoga, martial arts, travel, music (esp playing piano), aromatherapy, arts therapy, contemplative writing (e.g. this blog), environmentalism, education etc. 
Anything that can help me establish the connection and oneness, the spreading, involution and evolution of self. 

Being spiritual helps me to gain the most clarity in life. 

The real insight, simplicity and grounding.