Virtual Sukhavati Study Group thread

[Marcus]

Dear all,

I know, we're supposed to start on Monday, but I'm so excited that I couldn't wait to get started. Below you'll find my "lets get the ball rolling" thoughts on the first two chapters of Sifu's "Sukhavati Western Paradise".

Please bear in mind that these are just the items I was struck by. They're not a comprehensive list. They're here to get things started. I very much look forward to reading your posts about your thoughts, insights and questions.

Things that struck me whilst reading the Introduction and Chapters 1 and 2

• The introduction sums up completely the "practise" part of how to go to Sukhavati. To me it is the most important part of the book. Remember, practise is vital to attainment in everything. Without practise what we are doing here is just theoretical waffle, an amusing way to pass the time. So whether you have been able to read these first 18 pages or not, make sure you join us tonight at 8pm GMT to start our virtual group practise. More about this later.
• p1 - The scale of Buddhist thought is truly massive. The explanation on this page of an Aeon really made me reconsider how attached I get to events in my life. Because in the "big picture" they are not even a drop in the oceans.
• p2 - I remember when I first read about there being "countless Buddhas in the cosmos", having only had access to Theravada teachings at that time, this statement came as quite a revelation to me.
• p5 - I also realised that going to heaven or Sukhavati is not the supreme goal, but "a paradise where beings could be reborn to continue their spiritual cultivation under the most favourable conditions to gain enlightenment". The first time I read this I remember being so excited by it that I couldn't sit down!
• p6 - Absolutely incredible stuff! Phenomena, perception, external reality, the manipulation of matter and the manifestation of ice cream! Make sure you read this page at least twice.
• p7 - Nagasena's explanation of the greatness of Amitabha Buddha's compassion to King Milinda is a wonderful metaphor. There really is hope for all of us.
• p12 - 3rd paragraph begins "Many people would be surprised ... ..." every time I read this paragraph I am reminded how little of reality I can actually perceive with my senses. When I first read this I finally understood and accepted that this place I call planet Earth is home to far more than I can normally percieve with my senses. Which I found gave me great comfort.
• p16 - Sifu's explanation of the the 4 Noble Truths is one of the clearest I have ever read.

Remember perhaps the most valuable part of our Virtual Sukhavati Study Group (or VSSG from now on!) is the practise part. So at 20:00 hours - 8pm Dawlish time. I will be sitting down in a quiet part of my house and for the next 15 minutes I will be reciting "Namo Amitabha Buddha" in my head (you might choose to chant it out loud). Then I'll probably make a post If you can I do hope you'll accept this invitation to join me.

8pm in the UK is 12pm in San Francisco, 1pm in Calgary, 2:30pm in Caracas, 3pm in New York, 9pm in Geneva, Frankfurt and Tychy, 2am in Bandung (sorry Joko!), 3am in Dalian (sorry Charles) and Ulannbaatar (sorry Claire)
If you want to find out what time it is where you are when it's 8pm here in the UK visit here.

Until the next time my friends
Kindest regards
Marcus
Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha

[Marcus]

I've got "fizzy legs" I still do after doing seated meditation.

Well for those of you who tuned in for the Buddha recitation, thank you. I don't know about you, but it was a very powerful experience for me. My mind still strays far to left and right as I try to attain a one focused state of mind, but tonight I really felt close to driving a straight line. Wonderful.

I usually end my Buddha recitation with a transference of merit like this: "Please transfer any merit from my Buddha recitation towards my rebirth in Sukhavati, Amitabha Buddha's Western Paradise of Eternal Bliss. There I vow to attain Buddhahood".

Some people like to transfer their merits for the benefit of others. It's up to you which you prefer.

I also like to spend a few minutes after my recitation just "being in the zone". I used to do seated meditation quite a while ago, but just couldn't seem to get anywhere with it. I found within a month of daily Buddha recitation that afterwards I could achieve a much better state of mind than by "mediation" alone. I've never looked back.

Then I focus gently on my dan tien and finish off with the facial massage and banging the heavenly drum.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha

[veenie]

Hello Siheng Marcus and the Wahnam family,

I also share the 'fizzy legs' .

The experience was wonderful and I have ended with a feeling of peace and warmth. My mind at first tried to wander off but once reciting 'Namo Amitabha Buddha' my mind began to focus and eventually quieten. I focus on my 'third eye'; seeing Buddha in my mind and then ears, mouth and heart, letting the vibrations of the Buddhas name resonate within me. At one point my mind became still and within the centre of the darkness was the light of Amitabha Buddha, I began to vibrate almost like having a chi flow whilst sitting down, does anyone else share this experience?

I then transfer the merits and finish off rubbing my eyes and head.

Joel and I have been reading the first few chapters of the Sukhavati book today and it makes you realise how much wisdom is captured within each page, we are really looking forward to deepening our understanding.

Thank you again Marcus.

Parveen

[MaxP]

'Tuning In'

Hello All..

First off, a big thankyou to Sifu Marcus for coming up with such an excellent way for us to collectively practice Buddha recitation - it really couldn't be more convenient!

I had an inkling that reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha with the knowledge that others were also doing so would be different, but didn't realize quite how profound that difference would be until tonight... just one or two minutes into the session, I felt something like I was having joy poured into my body! Literally like a physical sensation of being flooded with happiness - really wonderful.

Toward the end of the session, I felt like my mind was becoming more and more one - pointed, and I started feeling like my body was becoming 'less substantial'. Or merging with the surroundings. Or less actual. I can't really place this in words very well, but suffice to say, it was very cool.

I'm very much looking forward to 'tuning in' next time! It will be interesting to hear others' experiences..

-Namo Amitabha Buddha-

Max

[Joel]

Namo Amitabha Buddha

Dear all,

I hope that everyone had a pleasant experience reciting Amitabha's Buddha's name. I feel as though I've been given an injection of spirituality and what a nice feeling that is. If only this was available at a local pharmacy!

There was something special about sitting down with Parveen and reading the first 2 chapters of the Sukhavati book together. After a taxing week at work this was a timely reminder of the magical existence we find ourselves in and the importance not to limit ourselves by our sensory faculties, but to observe the Buddha's wisdom, follow a moral path and cultivate the mind, thus developing true wisdom.

At 8 O'clock we sat together and 'tuned' into the Amitabha recitation, recalling Sifu's advice to visualise Amitabha Buddha in my mind, aiming to 'attain intensity' in my recitation. I found myself going deeper into a meditative state of mind and about halfway through a feeling of emptiness my mind was quiet, inner silence. Some images of Amitabha Buddha seated on a lotus throne with flowing robes passed through my mind. I tried to observe them but to let them go, attempting non-attachment. When I finished reciting the name of Amitabha Buddha I remained still, seated in a blissful meditative state. Observing this state with watchful attentiveness.

A question, through Chi Kung practise we learn to 'merge with the cosmos' I feel the same state of 'being' after recitation? Do both paths meet the same end?

Thank you Sifu for sharing your wisdom and that of past masters in your book. Thank you to Marcus Siheng for energising my spiritual path.

Joel

[Don]

Great stuff - I could certainly 'hear' everyone's voices alongside my own. Looking forward to the next session!

Don

[joko]

Love and greetings,

It is still predawn here in Indonesia. I woke up at around 1.15 am; it was my intention before retiring to bed the night before to wake up in time to tune in with my brothers and sisters at 8 pm GMT, 2 am local time.
Then, I sat down in my living room, and enjoyed my reading.
How powerful our mind is, when I felt the air became cooler, I glanced at the clock and it said approaching 2 o'clock. I put down my book, then I began tuning in. It was no mistake, I certainly felt and enjoyed our togetherness.
.....
Love,
Joko

[Lumberjack Dan]

Hey all,

I would like to thank Marcus Siheng one more time for setting this up. Aswell as for taking the time to look up 20:00 GMT for my location. A very nice gesture on your part Siheng.

I am afraid I missed everyone in recitation today, I was fast asleep. However class begins again tomorrow, so I will be wide awake to join everyone next week.

Although I missed everyone today, I do recite the Da Bei Zhou everyday. Through my recitation practice I have felt the vibrations that you describe Parveen. I find it comes from very deep within, similar to marrow washing. Over time these vibratoins have grown stronger, to the point where it is now common during recitation for me to feel energy rising up my spine. Very recently I have felt hot sparks traveling up my back. And the previous two nights I have felt as if a cool stream of water was running from the top of my head down into my thrid eye. Which was followed by pulsing in my middle, then lower dantians. And finaly, it never ceases to make me smile from the heart and feel absolutely wonderful!

Best Wishes everyone,
Daniel

[Kingmonkey]

Hello all

I only shared one fizzy leg
I still do meditation in single lotus because I can only sit comfortable in full lotus for about 5 min. increasing gradually...

I did three rounds of 'Namo Amitabha Buddha' on my Mala, knowing that one round will take aproximately 5 min. then I added a short meditation session where I used my usual breathing thechnique, where you have to count to four repeatedly, but shouldn't count using numbers, so I once figured out that
Namo Ami tabha buddha fits very well.

A really nice experience, knowing that at least 30 people are joining.

I look foreward to more experiences and discussions.

PS: funnily, exactly 09:16 the phone was ringing, it was my Mother calling to make an appointment.

[Charles David]

Better Late Than Never

Dear Marcus Siheng, Dear Family,

I logged into this thread just a little too late to make our first chanting session. Instead, this morning I finished my usual Chi Kung Fu session with fifteen minutes of chanting "Namo Amitabha Buddha." Acheiving a one-pointed mind this way is a lovely experience. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I look forward to next weeks's group session; until then I shall reread the first chapters of Sukhavati.

Still,

Charles

[Fleur]

The Buddha recitation was amazing, the effects stayed with me all the next day.

Maybe because of the powerful group energy, I went into deep meditation very quickly. It was beautiful, but felt more like a pure state of zen, and I wanted to be respectful to the group effort and the devotional nature of the practice. I discovered I could ‘turn down’ the intensity a little by reciting aloud rather than internally (in my heart), as I had been doing. For a while I shared Don’s experience of hearing others recite with me, which was lovely.

Afterwards, I wondered if recitation fulfils a similar purpose to performing dynamic patterns in chi kung, ie if its prime purpose is as a means to attain a particular state of consciousness, just as the patterns are mainly a means to generate energy flow. Or do we strengthen our minds by continuing to recite one-pointedly, no matter how deep we go, and whatever energy effects we may experience?

After the fifteen minutes was up, I stayed in meditation, and it was just blissful. I’m pretty sure I could have sat there for hours, but unfortunately, I’d promised to make supper, so I only managed 10 minutes!

Heartfelt thanks to my brothers and sisters for this wonderful experience, especially to Sifu Joko for waking in the early hours to join us.

And thank you, Sifu.

With love and respect,

Fleur

[AColarusso]

Sifu Marcus,

I am still in Malasya I will join the discussion on the 14 th of sept.

[Marcus]

Joko - I'm deeply impressed and thank you for joining us.

I never seize to be amazed at the power of recitation. I find it interesting that both Fleur and Joel wonder about the common ground between Buddha Recitation and Chi Kung. I believe it's a question of what your needs are. If you have pain and illness, then Chi Kung will be more a more cost effective way of guaranteeing freedom from pain or illness. Personally I believe Buddha recitation is powerful Chi Kung - if we accept that Chi Kung is a unity of form, energy and mind then it certainly ticks all the boxes.

Anybody else care to share their thoughts on this subject? Don't be shy

Oh, and has anybody had any more thoughts (and insights) about the material in the Introduction and chapters 1 and 2?

I've been fascinated by the paragraph on P16 that begins: "Similarly, going up from the subatomic to the ... ... " For me this links in very closely with the concept that Sifu introduced during the Cosmic Shower course at the UK Summer Camp. That we are made perfect, that we all have Buddha nature.

My understanding is that my skin "is in reality only a linear concentration of subatomic particles constantly in motion". Due to my incredible ignorance my experience does not match up with this understanding. So more practice is in order.

Sifu gave a number of good examples about why we don't realise our Buddha nature, but I'd love to open up the discussion to your thoughts on what prevents us from stepping fully into our Buddha nature, or releasing our "imprisoned splendor"

I look forward to reading your thoughts, whatever they may be.

Kindest regards
Marcus
Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha

[Kingmonkey]

Anybody else care to share their thoughts on this subject? Don't be shy

Yes

We sometimes speak of the Shaolin arts, but I believe that it is in fact only one art, consisting of these various practices. Let's remember; Originally Gong Fu and Qi Gong were mainly practiced in a Ch'an Buddhist monastery side by side with meditation and recitation of mantras, sutras and Buddhas name. They were developed to serve the purposes of those monks, not only that, they were actually part of their spiritual cultivation.
If we practice them as we do in Shaolin Wahnam, who would be astounded that they let us progress spiritually, even if we may not be aware of it at the time.
So if you have practiced Shaolin Cosmos Qi Gong for a while and then go into chanting or meditating, you might find that you have progressed in your spirituality without consciousness.
To me neither Gong Fu or Qi Gong nor Meditation and Spiritual cultivation is dividable.
As Sitaigung Ho Fatt Nam Has once said, I have to transliterate :

If you want to reach the depths of Gong Fu, you've got to train Qi Gong.
To get to the depths of Qi Gong, meditate!

Of course you can do each one for itself, and still get a lot of benefits, but if you want to do the whole thing, you've got to do the whole thing.
It goes without saying that there are of course other possible paths to choose.

For me this links in very closely with the concept that Sifu introduced during the Cosmic Shower course at the UK Summer Camp. That we are made perfect, that we all have Buddha nature.

My understanding is that my skin "is in reality only a linear concentration of subatomic particles constantly in motion". Due to my incredible ignorance my experience does not match up with this understanding. So more practice is in order.

Sigung did also talk about that subject during the Cosmic Shower and tha Dantian Breathing course in Switzerland.
I really had an outstanding experience at the Cosmic Shower course and Sigung asked me to share it on the forum, so her you are;
During, I think it was our third session, after some time of flowing still, my breathing nearly stopped and my "body" started merging with the surrounding in the extreme. Its hard to describe but it felt somehow like there was nobody/ no body there anymore, I just fused with them and there was no hall anymore as well, there was no nothing. Just a blissful silence, no thoughts - wonderful.
This was not the first time I had such experiences, but it lasted soo long this time.
Its amazing, you can really feel that your skin is only a linear concentration of subatomic particles constantly in motion and everybody else's too, so merging is no problem once you got the skill.

Sifu gave a number of good examples about why we don't realise our Buddha nature,

Once we got hold of the idea of our body as an entity, we're doomed.
We will start to support "our body", we start craving for food, love, wealth, appreciation, etc., we disconnect our self from the universe.
At the time we hold on to our first thought, we are constrained to follow the endless string of thoughts into the web of endless strings. We're caught in the principle of cause and effect. We build an illusionary construct of imaginations and completely forget about our true nature.

I hope this does it for a start
I wish you all a pleasant week and enjoy yourself...
Pat

Namo Amitabha Buddha
Namo Amitabha Buddha
Namo Amitabha Buddha

[PatrickUK]

I have found Sifu’s explanation of the range of our perception invaluable in overcoming the delusion that we are aware of everything in our ‘world’. It can be difficult for many people to even entertain the idea of spirits and gods that share the same corner of this galaxy with us. It is amazing that we base our view of the universe on what we are able to see and ‘prove’, and yet when one considers how much of the electromagnetic spectrum we can perceive, the idea becomes laughable! (p 12)
The Buddhist view of the universe has totally changed my thinking in a very calming and ‘enlightening’ way. Whereas before I looked at the stars with a rather confused thought that ‘there must be some ‘alien’ life out there somewhere’, now I feel a comforting sense of understanding that the universe is full of countless worlds with countless Buddha’s! (p13)