DHARMA PRACTICE IN NORWAY
JULY/AUGUST 1995
On 26 July 1995I visited Oslo City, Norway. This is where land ends because there is no more land to travel. Here one might be wondering why there is no more land. As far as eyes can see, there is only water. Land is not in sight. Once a year, for three months, there are only days – no nights. There is light for three months (June to August) – no darkness, After this time of the year, there are only nights – no days.
Here in Norway, I explained Lord Buddha Dharma to some of those who were interested in Buddhism. Dharma practice relies very much on observing Buddhist codes of conducts (Dharma Precepts – Sila) as this the foundation. Whether or not our Dharma practice is progressing well or not depends on how strictly we observe these Dharma Precepts.
Observing these precepts is, in a way, to cleanse our Kilesa and make our Citta free from being sad or worried, otherwise this will not only bring Dukkha to oneself, but to those surrounding you as well. I would like to explain the state of a distressed Citta by way of photographs below so that all of you can clearly see for yourself. This is the truth according to the Teachings of Lord Buddha. This is like one of the sayings in Pali:-
‘Silena Sukkhadhing Yanti Silena Bhokkasampa
Silena Nibbhudhung Yanti Thatsama Silangvisodhaye'
which briefly means whether there occurs happiness or prosperity it is because of the Five Precepts and not because of something else.
In Buddha ‘Silena Sukkhadhing Yanyti'. Sila is the best in the world. Sila is the most sought after by world beings as well as beings of the Five Worlds (Brahma World, Deva World, Naga World, World of Human beings and World of Lord of Hell). All of them want to be happy and to be free from sufferings. In another words, Sila means ‘Emptiness'.
If there is no happiness, peace and equanimity, Sila will not develop in the Citta. In this context, Emptiness means not mistreating oneself and other people. It also means, ‘Understanding what is good for oneself, for other people and people and for beings of the world'. Lord Buddha describes Sila principles in great length in his Teachings as it is foundation of all Dharma Kammathana practice.
Sila is the main principles of the Teachings of Lord Buddha. If there is no Sila, there will be no Dharma . If there is no Sila, there will be no Buddhism, or if there is, it will not be completed. If there is no Sila, there will be no Buddhism, or if there is, it will not be completed. If there is no Sila, there will have no codes of practice – everything will be chaos. Therefore, we can safely say that Sila is the source of all happiness for world beings including beings of the Five Worlds. Now I would like to touch on the Five Precepts.
The First Dharma Precept
‘ Panathipatta Vermiskkha Pathang Sammathiyami'.
Briefly, this means as ‘Emptiness'. Why? Because if there is no emptiness ‘Sila Pana' will not develop. Or if there is, it will not be completed or pure Emptiness from not killing oneself or from taking life of other beings. If there is no emptiness ‘love' will not develop in the Citta.
Therefore, it is absolutely essential to make the Citta empty before it can be classified as ‘Citta Parisudhi Sila Parisudthi Dharma Parisudthi', which in turn can be described as ‘Parisudthang Paramang Sukhang'. For Panathipatta to develop, the Citta must be empty. If this Precept is not being observed the consequence can be seen as in picture No. 1
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PICTURE NO.1
The picture explains the consequences for not observing the First Dharma Precept
The Second Dharma Precept
‘Let go' is Emptiness
The second Precept of the Pali is:-
‘Athinnathana Vermaniskkha Pathang Sammathiyami'.
Briefly it means a person is empty because he/she has no greed he/she is being careful by not taking someone else belongs. If an object has to yet being given, it means that object is not yet free, that is, it is not empty. But once it is being released (let go) it becomes empty, then it can be taken. On the contrary, if an object is taken without being released (let go) by its owner, the consequence can be seen as in picture No. 2
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PICTURE NO.2
The picture explains the consequences for not observing the Second Dharma Precept
The Third Dharma Precept
When it is still in someone else rights, it is not ‘Emptiness'
This is the source of the Third Precept
‘Kamesumicca Cara Vermanisikkha Pathang Sammthiyami'.
Briefly, it means ‘Make your Citta Empty by not interfering or messing around with someone else rights. This is an Emptiness. The outcome is that all of us will be happy. The consequence for violating this Dharma Precept can be seen in Picture No. 3
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PICTURE NO.3
The picture explains the consequences for not observing the Third Dharma Precept
The Fourth Precept
‘Musavatha Vermanisikka Pathnag Sammathiyami'
Briefly, it means ‘Make your Citta Empty like Nature by not directing you Citta from the Truth which is ‘Saccave'. There are two types of behaviors relating to the Fourth Dharma Precept, that is, when the Citta is not ‘Empty' it means that one is occupied by not telling the truth. The second behavior is just right when the Citta is in the state of equilibrium, which is ‘Emptiness' The consequences for violating this Dharma Precept can be seen in Picture No. 4
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PICTURE NO.4
The picture explains the consequences for not observing the Fourth Dharma Precept
The Fifth Precept
‘Surameraya Maccapama Dhadthana Vermanisikka Pathang Sammathiyani'.
This Precept means ‘Make your Citta empty from all ‘Apayamukkha – cause of ruin/ way of squandering wealth'. Apayamukha is one of the main factors causing our Citta to be saddened and suffered. Once we suffer, the rest of our family will suffer as well as those surroundings us. Therefore, observing this Dharma Precept with pure Citta is very important in our daily life as it will bring peace, happiness and harmony to ourselves, our family members our friends and all beings of the world, not only in this life, but also in the life beyond. The truth for beings of the world to observe so that they can live together peacefully.
One important point to remember at this stage is that:-
Emptiness is the Supreme Happiness. Emptiness can lead us to the world of Brahma, world of Naga and Garuda, Word of Indra and Devas, Word of Yommaraj (World of Lord of Hell) an Nibbana. The consequences for violating this Dharma Precept can be explained in Picture No. 5
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PICTURE NO.5
The picture explains the consequences for not observing the Fifth Dharma Precept
Observing (Sila Principles), for example, the (5) Dharma Precepts, the (8) Dharma Precepts, the (10) Dharma Precept, or the (227) Dharma Precepts, it simply means maintaining our Citta to be pure. It means that one must not do anything which wrong or bad.
By not being able to observe these Dharma Precepts, it all circles around the words ‘forget, neglect, carelessness, mistaken'. If we do not forget by killing a being, the Dharma Precept ‘Panathipata' will still be pure. If we do not forget to tell the truth, the Dharma Precept – ‘Musavaca' will still be pure. If we do not forget by consuming alcoholic beverage, the Dhrama Precept – Suramerayamaccapama' will still be pure.
I would like to give an example, why do we get lost occasional when driving a car? It is because we forget. Why do we forget? It is because we have no wisdom. Why do we not any wisdom? It is because we do not know; we are ignorant; we are careless. When we ask someone this question ‘Is it the right road?. When the answer is ‘Yes'. Then we take that road, but we still get lost. Why? It is because we forget by believing other people. It is also because we are careless. It is because we are being negligent.
Lord Buddha taught us not to be careless, not to be negligent, not to forget, not to be underestimate. Being forgetful is ‘Darkness'. Darkness leads to ignorance, decay and destruction. Decay and destruction is one of the causes of suffering which spring from ‘Avijja – ignorance'.
This is like two animals, any kind of animal, one male and one female standing on an opposite side of a busy street. They desire to be with one another. Without realising any danger that might occur, they rush out towards each other on a busy street and got hit by a passing vehicle. Both are dead. Why?
It is because they are not intelligent. They are ignorant. Occasionally, we tend to see carcasses of cats, dog's etc on the streets. It is because these animals cannot control their desires. They lack intelligence and wisdom careful to control their desires. If one can control his own desires, he is the winner. He is the conqueror. The reason why we are suffering in our daily life is because we cannot control our desires. We commit sins because we cannot control our desires. To be able to control our desires we must keep observing the Dharma Precepts and at the same time practice Dharma meditation.
The more we desire, the more sufferings we will accumulate. We must use goodness to combat badness. We must use our intelligence to differentiate between what is right and what is wrong. When we say that our Dharma Precepts (Sila) is nor pure, it means that our Citta is not empty. All beings of the world can live together peacefully if their Sila is pure. Emptiness is the foundation of all Goodness or Righteousness. Even our own body, we have rely on Emptiness.
If our body is full, it is as good as dead. We cannot do anything, it is impossible to breathe in and out. When examining our own body, we know that there are millions of tiny holes. Our body has been created by ‘conditioned/assumptions' to exist in an Emptiness environment. By nature, once it has been born it will be deceased. Once it disappears, only emptiness remains.
This is the original meaning of the Pali word ‘Anatta' (soulless/egoless/selfless). We live in an emptiness. All beings of the world live in an emptiness. If there is no emptiness, everything in the nature cannot exist. This is why I said Dharma is an Emptiness. Love, peace, tranquillity, happiness can only exist because of Emptiness.
Emptiness is very essential for our body.
If anyone is still doubtful, I would like to give a very simple demonstration. Let us try to block our nose with two fingers and then try to breathe in and out. You will find that it is extremely difficult to either breath in or out. You are still alive because you still have a little emptiness between your fingers and your nose.
On the contrary, if your nose is completely blocked (no emptiness anywhere) you will certainly suffocate and die immediately. This is why I said that Emptiness is very essential for all of us. Another example is that, when you are eating, it means that your stomach is empty. If it is full, you will not be able to consume any more.
By now you should understand why emptiness is essential. Every beings of the world, big or small, including Nature depends on Emptiness.
In our life, we should understand why emptiness is essential. Every beings of the world, big or small, including Nature depends on Emptiness.
In our life, we should never be careless, we should constantly be aware of ourselves and then we will know the truth. We should never overestimate ourselves. Lord Buddha Dharma is Annatta. Lord Buddha Teachings is Anatta. Anyone can practice and rely on Lord Buddha Dharma is Emptiness. Therefore, all of us should try to male our Citta Empty for Dharma to rise.
Also, for Dharma to rise our Citta must be free from all Kilesa and from all its creations and conditions. If our Citta is not empty, we will be drowned in an ocean of endless sufferings. Once our Citta is free, we will be happy. This can be attained through Vipassana Kammathana. We can say that all the Dharma Precepts (Sila) are ‘Emptiness'. Prince Siddhartha attained his Enlightenment and became Lord Buddha because of ‘Emptiness'. Once our Citta is empty, we are awake. Once we are awake, we are happy.
Lord Buddha is the Awakened One, the Enlightened One. All of us should follow Lord Buddha footsteps. Before ending my Dharma talk today, I would like to draw your attention to the distinction between the meaning of Endless or Limitless with Emptiness. In Buddha Pali, occasionally we see numerous reference being made to the Universe as the boundary.
This means that the limit of Dharma is within the boundary of the Universe Beyond the Universe there is no limit. This is similar to a Citta of some Dharma practitioners who Citta goes beyond the limit of Emptiness. We often refer to these practitioners, some times, as ‘out of mind practitioners' as there Citta is out of control – endless Citta.
On the other hand, when a Citta of some Dharma practitioners is within the limit of feeling (Aramana) they can feel hot or cold, smooth or rough, good or bad, happy or sad and so on. These practitioners have feelings because their Citta is Empty, otherwise, if their Citta is full, they will feel nothing.
Once our Citta is empty we can reduce or eliminate our sufferings. Therefore, I would like to emphasise that the happiness we achieve through an empty Citta is beyond imagination. This happiness can only be known, felt and experienced by Dharma practitioners whose Citta is empty. Therefore, once we start Dharma practice, we should start from inside ourselves – inside feelings. If our Citta is not empty we cannot commence.
For example, when we feel hungry – the feelings is form inside ourselves. On the other hand, the outside feelings are full of creations and assumptions. Once the inside feelings occurs, then actions would be performed by the outside body. This is what we called ‘Karma'. Once actions are carried out, consequences will follow. This is why we are prisoners of our own actions. This process is endless.
In conclusion, I would like to leave Lord Buddha Dharma with all of you, but remember that ‘Emptiness' is the source of all happiness. Emptiness is the source of reducing and eventually eliminating sufferings. We should look for ‘Emptiness inside ourselves and do not waste time by looking for ‘Emptiness' outside ourselves. I would like to call on the power of the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha to bless all of you be healthy, prosperity, happy above all to be free from suffering. Sadhu
LuongTa Chahphy Panyano Manivong
Delivered at the Residence of:
Engeway Ronnes – 4890 Grimtad, NORWAY
1 August 1995