Dharma Tours in Laos and Cambodia
Live Like a Human Being - Live Like a Human Being
Before giving Dharma talk about my Dharma tour in these two countries on 1-10 April 1997, I would like to call on the power of the Buddha Dharma to give me wisdom.
In Laos, Ajarn Thongsa Amintharath, Head of Buddhist monk of Xaythany City, Vientiane, invited me to return to Laos more than 2 years ago, but I had no opportunity to do so. The main purpose of his invitation was that he would like me to come and assist to raise fund for the construction of the main gate of the Temple of Wat Phakhao which had been carried out for some time. But because of the lack of fund, the construction has been delayed. On my visit, I had donated my personal fund an amount of Kips 3,000,000 and (Lao currency) and another Baht 25,000 (Thai currency) during the ordination ceremony. Evidence of my donations is attached. On this occasion, I would like to dedicate the good deed I have done to the continued flourishing of Buddhism in this world. Sadhu Anumodhami.
10th April 1997 coincides with the New Year day of Buddhism, I arrived in Cambodia. I visited the 'Killing Field' which is known all over the world. At the 'Killing Field' I chanted for the innocent souls. On 16th April 1997 I returned to Bangkok, Thailand, where I began my fasting days for five days when I abstained from consuming any kind of food. During my Kammathana, I experienced that Dharma sustains life of all beings. If we know Dharma principles and use them in our life according to what our Lord Buddha has instructed, all of us will be very happy. In the Teachings of Lord Buddha, there are 84,000 Phra Dhammakhana which none of us is able to understand all. The purpose of my Dharma talk is to educate those who lack Dharma understanding and who wish to use Dharma in their daily life. The Topic of my Dharma Talk is 'Live Like a Human Being' which I have divided into 5 Sub - Sections as follows:
1. Live Like a Human Being - Live like a well cultured person. All human beings in this world, regardless of their ethnic origin and their religious beliefs would have their own culture which could be for his family or his country. Understanding culture leads us to know history of a particular nation. Culture generally means behaviours, manners, way of living as well as traditions which had been passed down from generations to generations since the birth of a country or of the population of that country. Even for people who live in dark jungles, they also have their own cultures. Therefore, a person who has no good culture is similar to a person who has no national backgrounds. The nation originates our life which, actually, is culture.We have been born as a human being, we should live our life like a human being, that is, live like a well cultured person in order to called as a full and complete person.
2. Live Like a Human Being - Live like a person who has Sila (Dharma Precepts) in his heart. Live like a person who knows how to control his body, mind and speech (Kaya, Citta and Vaca). Live like a person who is not encouraging people to misunderstand one another, not taking things that do not belong to oneself, not envying others, respecting parents, teachers, benefactors, not gossipping, not violating the 3rd Dharma Precept. Live like a person who is sincere and honest, and above all keep all the promises (Sacca) - a way to achieve prosperity and happiness in life.
3. Live Like a Human Being - Live like a person who has love, but Raga (not sensual pleasure) in his heart. Live like a person who cares about himself and cares about others. Live like a person who loves his parents, his country, his cultures, his family. If married, live and love only one wife or husband. If on the contrary, if a person loves and lives with 2 or 3 husbands and wives, in Buddha Pali it is called 'Live and Love like animals, they have no limit and no control. If they want to have sexual intercourse with any other animals, they just do so'. If we live like a human being, this must be avoided, otherwise, it is Tanha Raga which will never be satisfied - a way to destruction and decay.
Precious love is a love with Sila (Dharma Precepts), with culture, with one's future and education and above all live like a civilised and well cultured person who does not missing school classes, not addicted to any kind of drugs, not involving or participating and any kind of gambling, and at the same time respecting and obeying law of the country. Also, live with honesty sincerity and dedication.
4. Live Like a Human Being - Live like a person who has wisdom. Live like a person who knows how to contribute to oneself and others in the community. Live like a person who can differentiate between what is right and wrong, what is good karma and bad karma, what is Kusala and Akusala. Live like a person who knows how to contribute for the well being of his family, country, religion and community. Live like a person who will not use his wisdom and intelligence in a destructive way. Live like a person who knows how to carry out good causes which is good karma and knows how to earn his living in a righteous and at the same trying to eliminate or eradicate all bad habits. Live like a person who knows how the value of one's life.
5. Live Like a Human Being - Live like a person who attains true happiness which no one can give to the other person. If a person wants to be happy, he has to do it himself, even his parents cannot give it to him. The only his parents can give it to him is material possession which is external. Inside happiness develops in the Citta which must be practiced by oneself. Being satisfied with righteousness is happiness. Being satisfied with unrighteousness is sufferings. Happiness, Suffering, Righteousness, Unhappiness, are the results of our actions. We only have ourselves to blame. It is better to live happily instead of living with sufferings.
Finally, I would like to advise that all of us should live like a human being, but not like an animal as once we have been born in this world, we have already been blessed by Buddha Dharma as the most precious beings and as such we should live like a human being. So, all of us should carefully think about the way in which we live before we can consider ourselves to be living like a civilised human being.
While I practised my Dharma in Thailand, I was fully supported by Mr Vithoon Nithkorn and his family. In Cambodia, it was Mr Tang Peng Yu and his family who provided all the necessary assistance and I was accommodated at the Taiwan Hotel. On this occasion, I would like to pray for their happiness as well as happiness and prosperity for all Buddhamamaka. Sadhu.
LuongTa Chanhphy Panyano Manivong
Classic Palace Hotel
1574-1598 New Petchaburi Road - Bangkok - Thailand
20th June 1997