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Hi all,
Tonight was my first recitation, and i felt an amazing sense of peace , i also found my mind to be alot more one-pointed then usual it was much easier to follow along without getting distracted which is usually the norm , a big thanks to Siheng Marcus for setting up this thread and i hope to make alot more contributions ,
many happy blessings ,
chris
Thank you for starting the VSSG. There has been much wisdom learnt from this thread and its always a day to look forward to when we can all connect and recite Namo Amitabha Buddha.
I share the same thoughts as the posts made by Charles, Max and Joel and they were a delight to read. Most of my contribution to the VSSG has been from direct experience and maybe at times I have not found the best words to use. As I go further into my journey, my understanding of the Sukhavati book/Buddhism deepens as my heart and awareness opens further.
So thank you to the Buddha's and Bodhisattva's, thank you to Sifu and his family, thank you to Marcus and thank you to the Wahnam family.
Parveen
“So I say to you –
This is how to contemplate our conditioned existence in this fleeting world:” “Like a tiny drop of dew, or a bubble floating in a stream;
Like a flash of lightning in a summer cloud,
Or a flickering lamp, an illusion, a phantom, or a dream.” “So is all conditioned existence to be seen.”
We were busy for 10 days, Sifu Piti's visit to Venezuela needed all of my attention.
For me the VSSG has been an eye opener, a new road to travel. I will like to send you deepest gratitude. However, after thinking and meditating about why are we so silent on this thread I discovered that once the road has been explored it might not be in the first trip that you get all of the information the road has to offer you.
It is the same as if you were to enter the jungle... if you travel to far in you get lost, but if you go in a little and come back, go in and come back, etc. you are reassuring yourself the safest way to comeback, if you go in to quickly too soon you might not know the way to come back and I do not want that to happen to me.
If you can give us a clue on how to plan our incursions please let us know.
For now I will keep on reading and doing my daily meditation and hopefully contributing to the growth of the VSSG.
Greetings Siheng Marcus, Wahnam brothers and sisters.
During tonight's recitation the chapter on 'The Importance of Faith' passed my thoughts; 'Faith in Existence of the Western Paradise' and a question came to mind, I wonder what Sukhavati actually looks like?
The last few chapters are incredible in particular the part on seeing Amitabha Buddha and Sukhavati in this lifetime! and it seems as though I discover something new everytime I read this book, has anyone else found this to be the case?
Warm wishes to all,
Parveen
Last edited by veenie; 16 November 2008, 08:23 PM.
“So I say to you –
This is how to contemplate our conditioned existence in this fleeting world:” “Like a tiny drop of dew, or a bubble floating in a stream;
Like a flash of lightning in a summer cloud,
Or a flickering lamp, an illusion, a phantom, or a dream.” “So is all conditioned existence to be seen.”
I will like to ask if during this coming practice, Sunday 23rd, all of your thoughts and a big smile from your heart can be sent to my country Venezuela.
That day, November 23rd, Venezuela will be balloting for a new change and needs all the good thoughts from the universe to be able to approach a new rebirth of this country that has giving us many beautiful treasures.
We appreciate all of the positive energy you will be sending us from all over the universe.
Last edited by AColarusso; 22 November 2008, 02:15 PM.
I am smiling from the heart and my thoughts will be with Venezuela...
Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha.
“So I say to you –
This is how to contemplate our conditioned existence in this fleeting world:” “Like a tiny drop of dew, or a bubble floating in a stream;
Like a flash of lightning in a summer cloud,
Or a flickering lamp, an illusion, a phantom, or a dream.” “So is all conditioned existence to be seen.”
I want to express my gratitude to you for your very wise statement:
I discovered that once the road has been explored it might not be in the first trip that you get all of the information the road has to offer you.
It is the same as if you were to enter the jungle... if you travel to far in you get lost, but if you go in a little and come back, go in and come back, etc. you are reassuring yourself the safest way to comeback, if you go in to quickly too soon you might not know the way to come back and I do not want that to happen to me.
I've been contemplating this the whole week and I'm still struck by the profundity of it. It clears a lot of issues up for me regarding VSSG.
I sit down to recite at 8pm most evenings and will continue to do so, if anyone wishes to join me that'd be marvelous. But now I need to find my way back out of the jungle and will not be contributing to this thread.
However, I propose 2 ways of continuing:
As I "hosted" this round of exploration through the book Sukhavati, so another member of the VSSG can host the 2nd journey.
If no-one comes forward to host VSSG 2, then I will be happy to pick up the ball and start again in January 2009.
If someone does wish to run with VSSG 2 - can I please express my wish that there are no experts or authorities in the VSSG. If I catch anyone taking up that role I will be very disappointed. We are here to express our thoughts and experiences gained through reading Sukhavati and reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha and to help one another as and when. The VSSG is not about telling people what to do or how to do it.
Let's keep it light-hearted.
Speaking of which - here's a big smile from my heart for the beautiful country of Venezuela.
Kindest regards as ever to all of you
Marcus
Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha
I express deep gratitude with all my heart to all the Buddha's, Bodhisattva's, Sifu, Siheng Marcus and the Shaolin Wahnam family. Thank you for teaching me to be a more compassionate human being and to love all beings as a mother would love her child.
Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha
“So I say to you –
This is how to contemplate our conditioned existence in this fleeting world:” “Like a tiny drop of dew, or a bubble floating in a stream;
Like a flash of lightning in a summer cloud,
Or a flickering lamp, an illusion, a phantom, or a dream.” “So is all conditioned existence to be seen.”
I haven't had time to contribute much, but since my semester is winding down and I had some time to read I wanted to post some parts that really stood out for me.
p.120
Our world as we know it, exists because it is created by our mind, not just in the present lifetimes, but also throughout millennia and imprinted in our alaya or collective consciousness.
This gave me one of those "oooohhhhhh" moments.
p. 122 3rd paragraph
The self or soul or whatever term we may use for this concept, exists only at the phenomenal level. At the transcendental level, or the level of ultimate reality, the self or soul does not exist. In other words, the self or soul is an illusion: what we believe to be our personal self at the phenomenal level, is actually the universal self at the transcendental level. It is due to our ignorance that we imagine our illusory soul to be imprisoned inside our illusory body; when we are enlightened, we realize that we are actually the Supreme Reality. It is to help us understand and experience this great cosmic truth that the Buddha teaches the doctrine of non-self or non-soul.
Again, "ooooohhhhhh." I've read many times that our world is an illusion and our self is not real, but this was the first time I found an explanation that laid it out so clearly. I had to stop reading after this one and just ambled around for a bit.
Falafel,
Andrew
Last edited by Andrew R; 13 December 2008, 04:37 PM.
Reason: word choice
Recently I have been visited by Bodhisattva Guan Yin along with other spiritual beings. I had the most beautiful experience that I'd like to share. I'll try my best to put it into words.
Years ago I have always wanted to see Sukhavati, I tried so hard to meditate on it. After practising Shaolin Chi Kung, my practice changed. I did my practice out of joy of spiritual cultivation.
In meditation Bodhisattva Guan Yin came to me, I enjoyed the blessings and then Bodhisattva Guan Yin invited me to a journey to Sukhavati.
I surrendered and let Bodhisattva Guan Yin take me, I felt myself journeying and passing many realms. I finally arrived at a beautiful place and there were many spiritual beings, I travelled to the centre of this place and there was Amitabha Buddha! I made my Vows and stayed there for a while to enjoy the powerful energy of dharma, compassion and wisdom. Then a seed came out of my heart and was planted in a pond and it blossomed into a huge and beautiful lotus flower, which represented a place for me in the future in Sukhavati.
Sukhavati was just as it was described in the Amitabha Sutra.
Thank you Sifu for helping me experience the teachings of the past masters, they are no longer just words, they are alive!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Last edited by Ahmed S; 10 September 2010, 09:23 AM.
Ahmed, that is fascinating to me that you met Guan Yin. Did she say anything to you at any time? Did any of the beings that you saw say anything to you? Are there any words that you can use to describe this journey at all? Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions.
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